History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 47

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 47
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 47

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

remained with his parents till they died. He received but little educa- tion except that afforded by the farm. He was married June 25, 1863, to Mariah Webster, daughter of Hammond and Louisa Webster. She was born in New York state February 28, 1840. After marriage Mr. Parkinson secured 100 acres of section 28, which he now owns, together with the N. E. { of Sec. 28. He was for three years road commis- sioner. They have had seven children, six of whom are living. Mrs. Webster's parents are noticed in connection with the sketch of Ham- mond Webster. Her mother, Mrs. Louisa Webster, after the death of her husband, was married October 12, 1845, to Joseph Robinson. Mr. Robinson was born in Alleghany county, New York, April 7, 1812. He left home when twenty-two years old, going to Weaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1834, and the same year to Quincy, Illinois. In 1842 he came to Mercer county. He has improved a good farm, and is now one of the county's oldest citizens. He has been school trustee and road commissioner.

LEMUEL GUSTIN, farmer, son of Samnel and Elizabeth (Diltz) Gus- tin, was born July 29, 1823. His parents settled in Madison county, Indiana, about 1845, and there died. Lemuel was raised on the farm and inured to all the toils and pleasures incident thereto. He is the oldest of eight children. In 1847 he was married to Catharine Noland, daughter of Stephen Noland. Her father, Stephen Noland, was born in 1801, and raised in Kentucky near Cumberland mountain. He moved in a very early day to Wayne county, Indiana, where he lived on the twelve mile purchase when the Indians were bad. He was on the frontier in the war of 1812, and lived partly in a fort or block- house, traded with the Indians, etc. There is a stream in Indiana called Noland's fork, the name deriving from the Nolands. Mr. Noland and wife, Nancy E. (Adams), a native of Ohio, lived in Madi- son county, Indiana, from 1823 to 1856, when they settled in Mercer county, Illinois. Mrs. Noland died July 20, 1877. In 1856 Mr. and Mrs. Gustin came with the Nolands to Mercer county, Illinois, settling for a time in Eliza township. In 1868 they purchased sixty acres in section 2, Ohio Grove township, and have lived on it since. Mr. Gustin

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HIENDERSON COUNTIES.

has been justice of the peace; he has been school director six years. He has six children living and two dead.

JAMES FEATHER, farmer and stock raiser, is a son of Jacob and Mary (Siggens) Feather. Jacob Feather spoke the German tongue, his father being a native of Germany, who emigrated early and fought in the revolution ; his wife receiving a pension for his services. Jacob died about 1851 in West Virginia. His wife is living at an advanced age. The family are: Susan, Mary (dead), Ezekiel (dead), Jane, James, Sarah E., Sophia (dead). James, the subject of these notes, was born in West Virginia, October 17, 1839. There he was reared in the country and educated in the schools of his day. In 1856, he made his home in Iowa; remaining there three years. He worked around by the month in Warren county, Illinois; was in the mercan- tile business in Monmouth four years. In 1868 he went to Missouri. In the meantime he owned the store at Sunbeam for two years. In 1869 he located permanently in Mercer county. Mr. Feather was first married, December 7, 1865, to Miss Martha C. Hayes, daughter of the late Judge Wm. M. Hayes. She died in 1874. Mr. Feather was next married December 26, 1878, to Katy M. Gourley, daughter of Robert Gourley. She is a native of Pennsylvania. Mr. Feather has one child by his first wife, Aurie L.

ELIJAH FORSYTH, son of William and Eleanor Forsyth, was born August 6, 1810, in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. When he was four years of age his parents settled in Ohio. There Elijah was educated in the common schools and became a schoolmaster at the age of nineteen years, teaching twenty-two years in Ohio. He was married in Mus- kingum county, to Ann Dawson, daughter of Thomas and Catharine Dawson, and a native of Ohio. In 1855, Mr. Forsyth emigrated over- land to Mercer county, bringing his family of seven children : John, William, Elijah Jr., David, Mary, Eleanor, and Nancy J. He settled on the S. } of S. E. } Sec. 7, Ohio Grove township, which he purchased. He has since added some timber. For eighteen years he has taught, part of each year, in Mercer county. Reference to the official table will show his interest in public affairs and the trust placed in him by the people. . He has been an elder in the United Presbyterian church for over twenty years. His father was a native of Rockbridge county, Virginia ; was in the war of 1812; died in Ohio in 1827. His mother died in 1835. Mr. Forsyth's son, John, was a member of the 102d reg. Ill. Vol. in the civil war, and was promoted captain of a colored company. He served two years when he was discharged on account of sickness.

481

MERCER COUNTY POOR FARM AND INFIRMARY.

CONTRIBUTED BY L. B. DOUGHTY.

Among the public institutions of the county, the Poor Farm and Infirmary are specially worthy of mention, for they are a standing monument, evincing the practical generosity of our citizens. But in our search for material for this chapter, we have found the records so vague, incomplete and unsatisfactory, that we almost despaired of finding sufficient data to make our history of this institution complete or interesting.

From William Wilmerton, Esq., of Preemption township, and Tyler McWhorter, of Mercer, we have obtained some interesting facts, which will help us to, in some measure, fill the gaps we find in the public records.

For years after the organization of our county, those unable to support themselves, and whose families or friends were unable to sup- port them, were cared for by the overseers of the poor of the several townships, who were appointed by the county commissioners. Some- times they were kept by contract ; sometimes they did what they could for themselves, and were partially provided for by the overseers. In many cases merchants provided them with the necessaries of life, taking their chances of having the bills allowed by the board. In all cases the county was expected to pay the bills for their maintenance, whether kept on contract, furnished by order of the overseer, or through pity (or cupidity) of the merchant.

At each recurring session of the commissioners' court, pauper bills increased in number and grew in magnitude, and more and more care was necessary, and was exercised, to sift out and pay only those which were for the necessaries of life, cutting off and rejecting any and all which bear the least taint of suspicion. For instance, some bills pre- sented would, perhaps, show that sugar enough had been furnished to a pauper in three months' time, to have lasted him or his family, for a year, and this would raise a suspicion in the minds of the commis- sioners, that perhaps something else than sugar had been furnished - an article for which it was known payment would be refused. Investi- gation would follow, which would generally result in the rejection of a part of the bill.

We do not wish to make any invidious references, but esquire Wilmerton related a story to us, the other day, which comes to our mind in recording the above. Some years ago he received a large number of bills from a house in Rock Island, for collection, upon

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IIISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

parties living in Pre-emption and adjoining townships. One of these particularly attracted his attention, owing to the frequent charges for "headache medicine " by the quart, half gallon and gallon ; this item occurring with alarming regularity, showing each and every visit to the city of the good old farmer against whom it was made. The 'squire was well acquainted with him, and had never known of his being subject to severe attacks of this disease, and his curiosity was aroused to know what this remedy was, and on his first visit to Rock Island he asked the maker of the bill to enlighten him. The dealer laughed, and for answer beckoned him into a back room and silently pointed to a barrel labeled "whisky." "Headache medicine " looked better on the bills ; but like the " sugar " on the pauper bills, it looked suspicious.

Again, most of the adjoining counties had provided poor-houses, and refused longer to support indigent persons unless they would become inmates thereof; and while there were many who were not too proud to receive their entire subsistence from the county, there were few who would willingly "go to the poor-house," as they had a false idea that this course was degrading. Rather than go where they could not only be better cared for, but would have an opportunity to do what they could for their own maintenance, they prepared to emigrate to some county not possessed of this bugbear, and not a few crossed the borders into our county and soon became a county charge.

Under these circumstances, the commissioners in 1853 (E. Gilmore, Jr., county judge, and William Wilmerton and John Glancey, asso- ciate county justices of the peace), after much deliberation, decided to purchase a farm for the county, upon which might be erected suitable buildings for an infirmary. Mr. Wilmerton soon found what he thought would be a suitable farm, and a special meeting of the com- missioners was held at the court-house in Keithsburg, September 20, 1853, which is the first record we can find relating to the subject of a poor-house. At this meeting they ratified a provisional contract made · by Mr. Wilmerton with John I. Clark and Gersham Vannatta, whereby the latter sold to the county 110 acres of land lying in the S. } of Sec. 33, T. 15, and in the N. 3 of Sec. 4, T. 14, both in Range 3, W. of the 4th P.M., the latter being timber land. The consideration was $1, 400, and two orders were drawn at this meeting, for $700 each, in favor of Clark and Vannatta. The deed was made September 23, 1853, and acknowledged before W. A. Bridgford, J.P., of Millersburg, and was recorded January 12, 1854, by T. B. Cabeen, Recorder, in Book M of Deeds, pages 307 and 308.

March 8, 1854, the county farm was leased to Joseph G. Gilmore

James Musgovr

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MERCER COUNTY POOR FARM AND INFIRMARY.

for one year, but the terms of the lease are not given in the record. A part of the contract, however, was that he should keep a pauper and his wife, named Golden ; and we find that at the March session (1855) of the board of supervisors he was allowed $8.50 as balance due him on the contract.

From the minutes of the June session of the board. of supervisors (1854), the first session after the adoption of township organization, we copy the following order :

"It is ordered by the board, that Graham Lee, Elisha Miles, and Tyler McWhorter be and are appointed a committee to examine the condition of the county farm and its requirements, with respect to accommodating all the paupers of the county."

In September of the same year, Graham Lee was appointed agent for the county to lease the farm, etc.

In March, 1856, Mr. Gilmore was paid $58.50 as balance due him on contract or lease. At the same term the board unanimously pass a resolution recommending to their successors the urgent necessity of improving the farm, so that it would "accommodate all the paupers in the county," this action being suggested by the large number of pauper claims presented at that session.

At a special term in June, 1856, Graham Lee, Thomas Likely, and Tyler Mc Whorter were appointed a committee to prepare and report a plan for a poor-house, and as nearly as possible the cost of the same. They made their report at the same session, which was accepted, and Mc Whorter, Lee, and N. P. Partridge were appointed to make a design, advertise for and receive bids, and contract for the erection of the house.

Said commissioners reported at the September meeting that they had received, on the 28th of August, five bids : two for brick and three for stone buildings ; that four of the bids had ranged from $4,200, to $4,600; that the fifth was for $3,400 for a stone building; that this latter figure was deemed reasonable, but the bidder, Mr. Ralph Growe, required partial payment in advance, and it was necessary to provide funds before closing the contract. Accordingly an arrangement was made with the drainage commissioner to borrow money from the swamp land fund. That the first payment had been made, and the work of excavating the cellar commenced ; that owing to the failure of the drainage commissioner to make collections, they were unable to get money for the second payment, whereby the work had been greatly hindered and delayed. They request the board to sanction their action, and to decide upon some definite system of managing the farm in future ; both of which requests we presume were granted, but we can

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

find no record of any action beyond receiving and recording their report. This, however, was the last year the farm was leased, as a whole, a steward or superintendent having since been employed.

In March, 1857, Mr. J. G. Gilmore's lease terminated, and this time he owed the county $124.50. The county bought of him fourteen acres of land adjoining the poor-farm for $324.50, getting one year's time on the $200 balance, at ten per cent. They also appropriated $1,300 for prosecuting the work on the infirmary ; authorized the com- missioners to borrow $800 of the swamp land fund, and made provis- ions for the repayment of all sums heretofore borrowed from the fund.

In September, 1858, a committee was appointed to visit the poor- farm and report. They suggested that the "steward " system be abol- ished, and that a competent man be employed to superintend the farm, under the direction of a standing committee in regard to improvements, purchase of stock, etc. This report was adopted, and a committee appointed who made a contract with Humphrey Riddell, at $350 per year, his term commencing March 8, 1859. Mr. Riddell was re-em- ployed from year to year for nine successive years, which fact attests his eminent fitness for the position, which was recognized by the board in an increase of his salary from time to time until instead of $350 they paid him $500 per year. This was, of course, in addition to the board and keeping of himself and family.

While upon the subject we will give the list of stewards and super- intendents in their order, so far as can be ascertained: Joseph G. Gilmore leased and managed the farm the first three years. It was then placed under the charge of committees, as before mentioned, who employed stewards to care for the inmates, etc. While the building was in progress, Tyler MeWhorter, as chairman of the building com- mittee, had the oversight of the farm, and Justus Southwell and Wm. Clark held the stewardship under his administration. Then came Mr. Riddell for nine years; Samuel H. Darbyshire from 1868 to 1875; John W. Dihel from 1875 to 1880; and from February, 1880, to the present time, Mr. J. McWillis, who is now holding the position for the third term. His salary is $600, which is at least $400 less than should be paid.

The building is well arranged and will accommodate comfortably about thirty inmates. A commodious wing accommodates the superin- tendent's family, and a frame kitchen was added to the building some years ago. What is known as the "old house " was put in tolerably decent repair, and is used for sleeping apartments when the main building is overcrowded, but it cannot be so used in extreme cold weather.

487

MERCER COUNTY POOR FARM AND INFIRMARY.

The farm is provided with ample barns, granaries and tool houses ; is well stocked with horses, cattle and hogs; has a large orchard and an abundance of small fruits.

The inmates are all required to perform such labor as they are able or fitted for; the women doing their own cooking, washing, ironing and chamber work, and a part of their own sewing; while the men work in the fields or about the barns. Discipline is necessarily very strict, but is seldom severe. Among them are the weak-minded, idiotic and insane ; and for the latter special provisions in the way of cages or barred windows and doors are a necessity.

The position of superintendent is one of great responsibility and of constant trials, vexations and watchfulness, and it is to the honor of each and all who have held the position that they have served year after year in that capacity. That any one of them has served one or more years to the entire satisfaction of everybody could not be expected ; that each has left the farm in better condition than he found it is most highly commendable.

Since the completion of the building the number of inmates has averaged about thirty per year. The largest number ever upon the books at one time was fifty-four, during the administration of S. H. Darbyshire ; and every available resource of the farm and infirmary were then taxed to the utmost.

Among the present inmates are the following, who have been there for eight years or more, with date of entry : Dedimus Black, April 5, 1859 ; Mrs. King, December 19, 1861; Logan Smithers, June 7, 1864 ; John Hall, December 30, 1865; Norman Powers, May 12, 1866; Sarah Albee, August 17, 1869; Elizabeth Krouse, October 2, 1871; Richard Bell, May 24, 1874.

Whenever children are admitted it is the rule to advertise at once for homes for them, and where possible secure their adoption by good families. Where this is not possible they are allowed to go and work for their board, or board and clothing, owing to their capabilities.

February 1, 1865, forty acres adjoining the farm were purchased of John Dellett, and on March 1, 1882, 200 acres were purchased of Peter Blue, being the N. E. 4, and the S. E. ¿ of the N. W. } of Sec. 33, T. 15 N., R. 3 W. of the 4th P. M., for which they paid the sum of $10,000 cash. Small timber lots in Sec. 4, T. 14, R. 3, have been purchased at different times, and the farm now comprises 395 aeres. One man is hired by the county, in addition to the superintendent, and what he cannot work advantageously with the resources at his command, is leased on good terms to responsible tenants.

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

The farm is becoming nearer sulf-supporting year by year, and has proven from the first a paying investment, to leave out all other con- siderations. It is true that it has not put an end to a deluge of pauper bills from the several townships at each recurring session of the board, but it has largely reduced them in number and amounts asked for, and the bills receive a close scrutiny and thorough investigation before being allowed. But so long as supervisors are allowed to assist pau- pers in their respective townships, at public expense, these bills must be paid ; and some of our supervisors seem to think their townships will be disgraced if they are represented by an inmate in the infirmary, and to prevent this will issue orders and indorse bills that aggregate much more than it would cost to keep the pauper where he or she most properly belong, at the county farm.

The visitor to our county farm and infirmary will see no grand pile of masonry, erected with a view mainly for architectural effect, but a large and substantial building, well adapted for the purpose erected. That improvements might now be added, or that a different plan might embody them if a building was now to be built, which would better the accommodations and lessen the labor, is readily conceded ; but it has and will for some years to come furnish ample accommodation for all who have been or may be consigned to its friendly shelter.

It is situated three and one-half miles due north of Aledo. A beautiful drive leads to the house, the site for which was selected by an artistic eye. Inviting shade trees, the lawn, the orchard, the fruit, the waving grain on either side in summer, the well-filled granaries in winter, all present an inviting appearance ; nothing repulsive meets the eye. It is a home for the unfortunate and the imbecile : an insti- tution that is a credit to the generosity and liberality of the citizens of Mercer county.

In addition to the gentlemen mentioned as furnishing data for the foregoing, we are indebted to county clerk C. C. Wordin for kind assistance in examining the records in his office, and a long, though fruitless, search for some reports which would have proven valuable could they have been found; to superintendent J. McWillis for like assistance, and to numerous others for the pains taken in answering our numerons inquiries. In the name of the readers of this history we earnestly thank each and all.

489

MERCER COUNTY AGRICULTURAL BOARD.

CONTRIBUTED BY L. B. DOUGHTY.

In starting out for data for this sketch we were confronted with the to us startling fact that the first record book of the society, embracing the records from its first organization up to 1873, was missing. Secre- tary and ex-secretaries were appealed to, but no trace of the missing record has as yet been discovered. Here was a dilemma for which we were not prepared, and one that necessitates a mere sketch, which, while generally correct, is so incomplete and barren in detail as to be, to us, at least, very unsatisfactory. An appeal to those who were prominent in the organization and during the first years of the society was made, and while all were willing to render assistance, not one was willing to trust his memory as to details of the beginning. Three men were mentioned as the first secretary ; two of them we have seen, and each thinks the other was the man, but neither is sure. Under these circumstances the reader will pardon us for any inaccuracies or omis- sions he may discover.

The society was organized in 1853, by prominent farmers in the county, for the encouragement and promotion of agricultural and mechanical pursuits. Among the organizers were Tyler McWhorter, Graham Lee, Joseph Trego, Dudley Willits, J. E. Bay, Walter Pryne, Elbridge G. Howe, William Green, Cruser Gray, James and William P. Strong, Washington Wolf, the Drurys, Nobles, and many others. We shall not attempt to give the officers; we cannot learn with certainty who they were.

Millersburg was chosen as the place for holding the exhibitions, and the citizens of that village purchased three acres of land of Elbridge G. Howe; cleared it of the timber and undergrowth, and built a fence around it (three sides being fenced with the brush taken from the land, the front only being a substantial board fence), and the whole was donated to the society. The consideration was $50, and the deed was made, September 30, 1854, to "the treasurer of the Mercer County Agricultural Society and his successor in office."

The exhibitions were held during the last of September or the first of October of each year, and have been a success from the start, the society always paying its premiums in full, and with but few excep- tions has had something left after so doing and meeting current expenses.

The three acres soon became too small, and two more acres were purchased of Mr. Howe; and when it was decided to add trotting to the

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

exhibition, eight acres were leased from H. W. Thornton, upon which a one-fourth mile track was prepared.

Two features of our early fairs will bear mention, although both have long since lost a place on the programme. An agricultural address, often delivered by a professional politician, who perhaps knew no more about raising corn and potatoes than he did of Greek, was for awhile considered the main attraction ; and the equestrienne exhibi- tion was also relied upon as a drawing feature. It is needless to say that the latter was of the two the most popular, and drew by far the largest and most enthusiastic crowd.

Owing to the excitement consequent to the breaking out of the war of the rebellion in 1861, no fair was held that year, but they were resumed in 1862, and have been held regularly ever since.

When the railroad was completed to Aledo, in 1869, the society decided to remove to that point, owing to the increased facilities for getting to and from the fair, and twenty-seven acres of ground were purchased of D. V. Reed, situated about one mile southwest of the business center of town, and the fair of 1869 was held on the new grounds.

During the first years of the society, membership tickets were sold at $1 each, and the purchaser was presented with a badge which not only entitled him to admission during the fair, but also admitted all members of his family, except children, who were "of age." Under this plan gate receipts were always small in proportion to the number in attendance, and it was finally displaced by the regular ticket system, the purchaser of four twenty-five cent tickets being enti- tled to a certificate of membership, which latter gives him a vote in society, but will not admit him to the grounds.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 47

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