History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 63

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 63
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 63

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GEORGE, son of George and Mary Bruington, was born in Breck- enridge county, Kentucky, in 1821. In 1852 he emigrated to Mercer county, Illinois, and bought land in section 24, Suez township. Mr. Bruington was married in 1842 to Miss Dowel, also a native of Ken- tucky. The names of their children, in the order of their ages, are as follows : Benjamin, James, and Amanda. He is a member of no church, but tries to do his duty toward God and his fellow men.

JAMES H. BROWNLEE, son of William and Catharine (Hutchison) Brownlee, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania. May 1. 1828. His family are of Scotch origin. He received his education in the public schools of his native county. In 1853 the family came to Illinois, and locating in Mercer county, purchased land in section 31, in Suez township. His father now resides in Labette county, Kansas. Mr. Brownlee was married September 20, 1855, to Miss Martha J. Barclay, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania. Their children, in the order of their ages, are as follows: Etha L., Blanch M. (deceased). Elmer F., Ulysses G .. Albin B., Ennis R., Nora K., and Roy. In the winter of 1855 he bought land on the N. E. { of Sec. 31, and he is now the possessor of a one-half section of fine land. Mrs. Brownlee is a member of the United Presbyterian church, having united early in life. The family are highly respected by all, and many and true are their friends.

MARTIN PEASE, son of Pelatiah and Nancy Pease, was born in 1824, in Waldo county, Maine. In 1837 the family emigrated to Mercer county, Illinois, and located on section 20, in Suez township, the nearest postoffice being Spring Grove. He saw the men building the first school-house in the township, which was of logs, and stood on section 21. In 1847 he was married to Miss Martha A. Pollok. daughter of Robert Pollok, one of Mercer county's pioneers. The fruits of this marriage are seven children : Alonzo U., Nelson S. (de- ceased), Edwin (deceased), Charles R. (deceased), Mary I., Martin A .. and May. Mr. and Mrs. Pease are both members of the United Pres- byterian church, with which they united in 1850. In 1850 he bought land in section 20, and now owns a fine farm of 150 acres. On

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SUEZ TOWNSHIP.

October 24, 1880, his house took fire from a defective flue, and burned to the ground. Loss $200, and no insurance. In 1881 Mr. Pease erected a handsome residence on the same foundation. He has many friends and is respected wherever he is known.

JOSEPH PEASE, son of Pelatiah and Nancy Pease, was born in Knox county, Maine, February, 5, 1822. The family on his father's side are of English origin. In 1837, the family emigrated to Mercer county, and bought a claim in Suez township. October 14, 1845, he was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Libby, who died March 15, 1852. January 24, 1853, he married Miss Sarah Stewart, who died Sep- tember 27, 1864. March 15, 1866, he was again married to Miss Christiana Sprowl. The names of his children are: Zorah E. (deceased), Laura G., Nancy F. (deceased), Joseph S., Campbell B., John A., Pelatiah, Ausley, Elizabeth J., Sarah L. (deceased), Mary L., and George W. Mr. Pease is a member of the United Presby- terian church, with which he was united in 1876. He is one of Mercer county's pioneers, and did his part toward paving the way for civil- ization.

JOHN A., son of Joseph and Sarah Pease, was born in Suez town- ship, June 23, 1858. He was married February 14, 1878, to Miss Susan Lafferty, daughter of John Lafferty, of Suez township. He and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian church, with which they united in 1879.

A. PEASE, son of Joseph and Sarah Pease, was born in Suez town- ship, Mercer county, May 8, 1859. He was married January 23, 1879, to Miss Maggie A. Wallace, a native of Warren county, Illinois. They have one child, whose name is Guy C. Mr. Pease owns land in sec- tion 16, where he, with his pleasant family, resides.

JAMES H. LAFFERTY, son of John and Grizelle Lafferty, was born in Suez township, Mercer county, May 24, 1844. He remained at home until August 8, 1862, when he entered the service of his country, in Co. E, 102d Ill. Inf., and remained with the regiment until June 9, 1865, when he received his discharge. On February 28, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Porter, a native of Pennsylvania. The fruits of this union are : Frank S., Mattie G., John (deceased), and Guy C. In 1874, Mr. Lafferty engaged in the stock business and keeps on hand from fifty to one hundred head of short horn cattle. While at his farm the writer had the pleasure of being shown some very handsome animals, a few of which were recently imported from England. ITis farm is admirably adapted to the business, and this fact, together with the enterprise of the proprietor, will, doubtless. render his labors highly successful.

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

JOHN L., son of Henry and Jane Mclaughlin, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, in 1817. His father and mother were both of Irish descent. His mother was a niece of Gen. Potter, of Revolution- ary fame. In 1856, he emigrated to Illinois, and in 1857, bought land in section 2, Suez township. His father died in September, 1881. aged eighty-six, and was buried in the Norwood cemetery. Mr. Mclaughlin was married in 1844 to Miss Martha J. Angelo. also a native of Mercer county. The names of the children born to them are : Sarah J., James H. (deceased), Cassins C., Willis J., Mary M., and Josephine. Both are members of the United Brethren church, at Suez.

GEORGE W. SEDWICK was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, His father's given name was Washington, and his mother's Elizabeth. When thirteen years of age he went to Williamsport, Ohio, and entered a machine shop, for the purpose of learning the trade. After working here two years he went to Mount Jackson and worked two years more under instruction. At the end of that time he went to New Castle. Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1861. In that year he was married to Miss Caroline Peeble, a native of Bavaria. Their children's names are as follows : Willis D., Harry L., and an adopted child. Lillie R. In the spring of 1861, Mr. Sedwick came to Mercer county. Illinois. In 1864 he bought land in section 16, in Suez township. In 1870 he sold his farm and engaged in the mercantile business at Snez. which he continued until 1874, when he closed out his stock and bought a farm in section 9, where he now resides. He and Mrs. Sedwick are both members of the United Brethren church.

The Brownlee family are of Scotch origin. DAVID S., the subject of this sketch, was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, January 1, 1820. His father's name was David, and his mother's Betsey. In 1839 his father and family emigrated to Warren county, Illinois, and located near Little York. In 1842 the subject of this . sketch came to Mercer county, and for about a year was engaged in breaking prairie and threshing. In 1843 he bought land in section 16, Suez township. In 1873 Mr. Brownlee was elected supervisor of Suez township, in which capacity he served for several terms. He was married in 1845 to Miss Margaret Pollok. daughter of Robert Pollok, one of the earliest settlers in Mercer county. His first wife died November 23, 1872, and he was again married January 11, 1877. to Miss Maria Montgomery. May 27, 1881, his second wife died. The names of his children, in the order of their ages, are as follows : Robert B., Addie A., and Ida M. Mr. Brownlee is a member of the United Presbyterian church, with which he united in 1848.

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SUEZ TOWNSHIP.

DR. JAMES F. MOCUTCHAN was born in Adams county, Ohio, in 1833. His early life was spent on the farm. When twenty-two years of age he entered college at Washington, Iowa, and graduated from that institution in May, 1861. Immediately after completing his studies he enlisted in Co. H, 2d reg. Iowa Vol. Inf. During his connection with that regiment he became personally acquainted with Gen. James B. Weaver. In the fall of 1863 he was made captain of Co. D, 9th reg. Iowa Vol. Cav., and acted in that capacity until the close of the war. Previous to his promotion, however, he partici- pated in several engagements with the 2d Iowa, among which was the battle of Fort Donelson, where that regiment won for itself a name that will go down into the pages of history. The doctor was dis- charged in May, and was married in August, 1865, to Miss M. J. S. Graham, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania. The names of their children, in the order of their ages, are as follows: Mary Edna and Sarah Edith (twins), were born November 13, 1866; A. Joseanna, born December 14, 1870; Alma O., born June 12, 1876; and Clara G., born April 2, 1881. In the fall of 1865 he entered the office of Dr. Webster at Monmonth, and was under that gentleman's instructions one year. In the fall of 1866 he became a student at Keokuk, Iowa, and received his diploma in the spring of 1868. In that year he located at Norwood, and since that time has practiced in that vicinity. In conversing with the doctor the writer found him to be a gentlemen of more than ordinary intelligence, fluent in conversa- tion, and progressive in all things.

JAMES M. LEE, son of John and Eliza Lee, was born in Centre county, Pennsylvania, in May, 1836. In the spring of 1857 he came to Mercer county, Illinois, where he worked at carpentering until the spring of 1861. August 8, 1862, he enlisted in Co. E, 102d reg. Ill. Vol. Inf., and was with that regiment until the close of the war. He was married November 22, 1866, to Miss Harriet A. Lafferty, daughter of John Lafferty, of Suez township. Their children's names are : John A., Miriam E., Marietta, Lela I., and Ethel A. They are both members of the United Presbyterian church.

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

GREENE TOWNSHIP.

GEOLOGY.

CONTRIBUTED BY DR. J. V. FRAZIER, OF VIOLA.

Greene township is traversed throughout its length from east to west by an irregular. broad and elevated plateau or water-shed. the drainings from which on the north bear a north and westerly direction to the Edwards river. while on the south the water courses bear south and westerly to join Pope creek.

The Edwards river. coming from the east. flows just north of and along the northeastern portion of the township, for two and a half miles. when it enters the township about midway of the north line of section 3, running thence nearly west until it passes beyond our town- ship's line on section 6. Pope creek enters the township at near the the southeast corner and passes in a westerly direction entirely through it on its southern border. The Donohue and Skunk runs, as also two or three unnamed deep-cut water-ways. fed here and there by springs. carry the surface waters from the north half of the township into the Edwards river. while North Pope. Collins. or "Nigger" run, with two or three deep ravines. serve to drain the south half into Pope creek.

These streams and water-courses, while furnishing an abundant sup- ply of water, at the same time shape the surface of the country and determine the quality of the soil. Not more than three-fifths of the township is prairie. Along the immediate valleys of the larger streams there is a deep black soil. rich in humus, and in some places covered by heavy growths of timber, while upon the ridges bordering the water-courses are the so called .. barrens." The soil of the prai- ries is mostly deep and of a blackish or chocolate colored loam. with a yellow or light brown clay subsoil. The soil of the "barrens" is similar to that of the prairies, only lighter colored and less in depth. becoming of a light brown or yellowish color along the sides and over the tops of the ridges. on account of the character of the sub- soil which comes near the surface.

The surface deposits of the township comprise the ordinary sub- divisions of the quarternary period. alluivium, loess, and drift. The alluivium deposits are mostly confined to narrow belts along the larger streams. Some of this land is so low as to be too much subject to overflow for growing cereals. but affording excellent meadow and grazing grounds.

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GREENE TOWNSHIP.

The loess deposit is found sparingly, capping some of the high points along Pope creek, but not sufficient in quantity to require special notice.

Drift .- The deposits of this subdivision consist of a series of brown and blue clays, mixed here and there with sand, gravel and small peb- bles, which are spread over the entire surface of the township. Quite a number of boulders of igneous or metamorphic rocks lie scattered along the borders of the streams and in the valleys of most of the tem- porary water courses.

Coal Measures .- The stratified rocks. exposed in this township all belong to the coal measures and include the lower gronps, from coal No. 3 of the Illinois section down to near the base of this formation. They consist of various strata of limestone, sandstone, clay, shale, and coal, and are supposed to reach a thickness of from 100 to 150 feet. A boring on section 14, near Viola, reaches 130 feet without passing entirely through this formation.

There have been three seams of coal found and more or less worked in the township, although No. 3 and No. 1 have been the most exten- sively mined. Coal No. 3 has been found only on sections 31 and 32. The mines of Mr. Martin and Mr. Morrow are on this seam, while about twenty-five feet lower down coal No. 2 was formerly worked by Mr. Martin by a drift into the hill. The discovery of the thicker and more profitable vein No. 3 above caused its abandonment several years ago. Coal No. 3 at Martin's bank varies from three to five feet in thickness, is safely and profitably worked, and affords one of our very best fuel coals.

Coal No. 2 of the Illinois group, in all the exposures thus far made in the township, has shown too thin a vein for profitable mining at present, varying from one and a half to two feet in thickness. This seam has been found at several points, notably on the Gilmore farm, S. W. ± of Sec. 23, on the Morey farm, N. E. } of Sec. 27, and at Mar- tin's bank in the S. W. ¿ of Sec. 31. Besides the mining formerly done on this vein on Martin's bank, the openings on the Gilmore farm and on B. F. Morey's old farm afforded a fair quantity of fuel coal, but were never operated except for the use of the owners' families and some of their neighbors. At the two last named farms the coal was mined by stripping the soil, clay and slate overlying it, but the increasing depth of the overlying clay and shale as they neared the higher ground rendered its mining unprofitable by this process, and the promise of a poor " roof" over the coal discouraged the owners from running a drift into the hills.

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

From the shales overlying coals No. 3 and No. 2 our amateur geologists have gathered many of the fossils peculiar to the coal measures of this part of the state. Besides several species of bryozora, these sections furnish conularia, haniproartes creuistro, lima retifero, spirifer lunitus, attryrus subtitito, productus nebrascensis, pleurophorus solenifornius, etc. The greater portion of the coal pro- duced, for which our township is somewhat famous, comes from coal No. 1 of the Illinois section. This seam varies in thickness from three and a half to four and a half feet, the general average reaching about four feet. The deposit of this coal seam stretches across the township from east to west, being a part only of the great Edwards river seam. It has been found and extensively mined on sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and the N. W. { of 11. The principal shafts now in operation are N. B. Frazier's, on the S. E. of section 2, Russell Park's and H. Boone's on section 3, Wm. Blaine's, W. P. Collins' and Guthrie's shafts on section 4; Bell Brothers' on section 5; Geo. Pinkerton's and Hegg's works on section 6. This vein of coal probably underlies a very considera- ble portion of the township, particularly along the northern half, but will be found at a considerable depth, if found at all, under the higher water shed of the township, all the openings heretofore made being located in the valleys of the streams, fully 150 feet below the plateau upon which Viola stands. This vein shows, in some localities, a

peculiarity worthy of mention. Starting from the east side of the township, where we find but little admixture of slate, there is a gradual development of this material westward until we reach section 4, where it constitutes a parting strip of about four inches, about midway of the seam, and from thence west thickens out so rapidly that on section 6 it forms a parting varying in thickness from eighteen to twenty inches. While this layer of shale between the upper and lower coal does not impair its quality seriously, still it renders mining tedious and expen- sive on account of the necesssity of taking care of so much refuse matter.

Potters' Clay .- A test of some of the whitish or pale blue clay found above coal No. 1. proves it to possess excellent qualities for the manufacture of stoneware. Several barrels of it were shipped, a few years ago, to a firm in Iowa who pronounced it, after a thorough trial, worthy of the attempt to erect a factory near by it. Some negotiations were entered into with the manufacturer alluded to and parties here, but the enterprise was finally abandoned.

A superior deposit of clay, suitable for the manufacture of sewer tile and fire-briek has been developed within the past few years. This deposit is just below coal No. 2. and the heaviest body of it is found

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GREENE TOWNSIIIP.

on the S. W. { of Sec. 35. The Monmouth Manufacturing Company, of Monmouth Illinois, purchased forty acres of this land and have shipped, for several years past, as high as 150 tons per year of their elay, the greater portion of which they use in making fire-brick and in heavy sewer tile. They claim it to be the best clay in the west for their purposes.

Lime .- Some of the blue limestone found above coal No. 1 has been burned for and yielded a fair quality of lime, but on account of impurities needs to be sorted and screened before using, and the amount so obtained is comparatively small, rendering its manufacture scarcely profitable.

Building Stone .- The sandstone lying just above Coal No. 2, Illi- nois section, is of a light color, varying from a dull white to yellow, and soft when first quarried, but hardens on exposure. There are several quarries of this rock in the township, some of which are yield- ing a fine quality of building stone. In some of the quarries it can be taken out in blocks of almost any desired size. This stone is found on section 33, near F. McGanghey's house ; on the N. W. ¿ of Sec. 26; on the N. E. { of Sec. 34; and inferior qualities at other places. The best and most extensive quarry is that of H. Gilbert on section 34, from which has been taken a large portion of all the sandstone for cutting and use in heavy masonry about Viola and the surrounding country.

The limestone which overlies Coal No. 1, of the Illinois section, is a drab-colored, impure limestone, varying from eight to fifteen feet in depth, with about two feet of a very solid blue limestone just below. In some localities we find a flinty limestone interposed between the blue and gray. The blue limestone is of small value for building material, as it soon falls to pieces on exposure to the atmosphere. This drab- colored rock is extensively quarried on sections 3, 4, and 5, and is held in high esteem for building purposes, many hundreds of tons having been hauled out into other portions of the county for economic uses. The roek is found mostly in layers from two to eight inches in thiek- ness, the layers growing thicker gradually from above downward. Some of the lower layers can be broken into almost any desired sizes, up to ten or twelve feet square. The large slabs that form the floors and roofs of the cells in the county jail were quarried on section +, as also the large slabs lining and covering the vaults of the Aledo bank.

From the shale above the coals of Greene township and the over- laying limestones are gathered nearly every species of our Mercer ceunty coal measures fossils ; in fact, the fossils found in this township

656

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

are the typical fossils of the coal measures in the county. It would be tedious and uninteresting for many of your readers were we to name a tenth part of these interesting relics of a by-gone period of our earth's growth, which have only in recent years possessed anything of interest or significance to human understandings ; but we will say, in general terms, that in addition to those already noted above, we find some species of the nautilus, the goniatite, the straparolus, murchisonia, pleurotomaria, bellerophon, productus, and several varities of cren- oidiæ, more or less broken and fragmentary.

Of fossil ferns, some of them very well preserved, we have several species, while fragments of the rhododenden and sigillaria, with the roots of the latter (stigmaria), are common trophies of our amateur collectors.

That many of the monster mammals of the quarternary period once had a home in our neighborhood and roamed over the then marshy and fern-clad plains, which now constitute the high rolling prairie and grass-covered valleys of Greene township, there can be but sinall doubt. Their bones, which were buried here in that distant age, are now and then recovered from their unmarked burial grounds, and stand as witnesses of their former occupancy of the soil. In my cabi- net are a part of a tooth of the mastodon, and a large and well-pre- served tooth of the elephas primogeneous (?) found on section 3 in this township. The locality where found bore evidence of having been in former times a marsh or swamp, and the evidences from the place and its surroundings are strongly suggestive that the monsters whose teeth now grace my cabinet died where the teeth were found.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first actual settler in what is now known as T. 14, R. 2, west of the 4th P.M., was David Williams, who came in 1836 and entered a claim on the S. W. { of Sec. 14. In the following year came Nathan McChesney, who located in the eastern part of the township, and Thomas Weir, who located in section 9. In the spring of 1839 John Collins, formerly a resident of Columbiana county, Ohio, came from the eastern part of the county, where he had located in 1837 near the present site of Joy. Mr. Collins located on the W. } of N. E. } of Sec. 15. He erected a log cabin about twenty rods east and on the opposite side of the road from the present residence of his son, William P. The last vestige of this rude habitation has disappeared, and immediately over the spot daily passes the "iron steed, swifter than eagles fly."

In the same year came John Cowden, who located on the N. W. }

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GREENE TOWNSHIP.

of Sec. 17; William Brownlee, who located on the N. E. ¿ of Sec. 17; John Linn, who located on S. E. } of Sec. 14; and Elijah Stewart, who bought the claim of David Williams. John Carnahan, Sr., for- merly of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, came and located on section 18. His sons, William and David, and his son-in-law, Frank Anderson, took elaims in the same section.

William Pinkerton, Sr., came in 1840, and also settled on section 18. John Walker also came at a very early day. The Park family came in 1839. George McFerren, Matthew Doak, and Henry Griffin were also among the early settlers of the township. Charles Durston was the first white child born in the township.

Although the strong armed pioneer experienced many hardships, privations and difficulties, his life was not destitute of sunshine. His rude log cabin, with its inmates, was as dear to him as though it had been a palace. After a hard day's work in the "clearing," he would retire to rest with his loved ones about him, and was rewarded for his toil by a night of sound sleep

"Unbroken by the wolf's long howl, Or the panther springing by."

Being neighbors and companions in a wilderness cut off from civil- ization, a genial spirit of friendship generally existed among the set- tlers, and a neighbor was as welcome to share the rude comforts of the pioneer's cabin as a brother. Nor did the settlers lack for amusement. "Corn huskings," "spelling schools," "taffy pullings, " and "shooting matches," were frequent, young and old participating, and on the "puncheon floor" the young men and blushing maidens tripped the "light fantastic toe" as merrily, if not as gracefully, as the more accomplished dancers of the present day. While the traditional "back woods' fiddler" patted the floor with his number ten "cow- hides," and made the log cabin ring with such melodies as the "fisher's horn-pipe," and the "devil's dream."

If a "new-comer" desired to build a house, he had the services of all the settlers in the surrounding neighborhood at his disposal. Car- pentering was then in its simplicity, a broad-ax, an auger, and a cross-cut saw constituted a set of carpenter's tools, and out of a pile of logs of various sizes a cabin was soon constructed, the cracks "chunk and dobbed," with a kind of mortar made of clay and prairie grass. A chimney and fire-place made of the same material, and the house was ready for its occupants.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 63

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