History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 8

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 8
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 8

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The Denisons hesitated about departing three or four days, and all the while the Indians showed a truly anxious interest in their safety and did not relax their exertions to induce them to go away to a white set- tlement. Keokuk, who was employing all his influence to prevent his followers from joining the war party, promised them protection if they would come and live with him. Appearing still to be determined not to forsake their homes, an Indian calling himself Captain Pepo, who seemed to have a solemn concern about their respectable extermination, came to them and with all the fidelity of a friend urged them to go, telling them that the young warriors who would come would roughly insult and barbarously murder and mutilate them, and that to save them from so painful and humiliating treatment, if they would not leave for a place of safety, "he would come and kill them decently !" After this, discovering moccasin tracks among their garden-beds, they concluded that the savages were prowling around, and thought it no longer safe to tarry in the neighborhood. They were living about half a mile down the river, where the woodyard was, and opposite where the graveyard now is. Taking most of their goods, they began their removal one morning, and went down to Pence's Fort, which consisted of some block-houses, and was situated four miles northeast of Oquawka.

Having at the time nearly 150 cords of wood at the yard, the two sons of the senior Denison, William and Erastus, were left behind to

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

cord up what was not piled, and to sell as much as they could to the steamboats. In the turn that affairs took, this wood was all lost.

. A Frenchman by the name of Pentacosa, who called himself Coty, had a trading house at New Boston, and that evening the young Den- isons went up to stay with him. In the night the Indians surrounded the premises and assaulted the building ; the three inmates escaped by the back way, and gliding swiftly but cautiously down to the edge of the river, followed along precipitately under the bank, the Indians coming behind and whooping with vengeance. The fleeing men waded the Edwards at the mouth, and then struck for Pope creek, at a point where it was spanned by a foot-log, five miles distant. At this point a dog in pursuit closed up with them and Erastus Denison shot him. The Indians were last heard here, about a quarter of a mile back, and it is supposed they threw up the chase at the creek. The party con- tinned their flight apprehensive of pursuit until "Coty " gave out and was secreted by his companions in the tall grass. in a sink or basin. The two men now went forward as rapidly as the darkness of night would allow; and arrived at Pence's at two in the morning, having accomplished the flight of sixteen miles since nightfall. At daylight the men at the stockade turned out to go for the Frenchman, and when he had been safely brought in they went up the river together in boats to the Upper Yellow Banks, and brought away all his goods from the trading post. Two squaws were found sitting in the house, having been stationed there to take care of the place and prevent its being despoiled.

After peace was made and the families returned, the Indians affected to have much sport in telling the Denison boys that in their flight they made the brush crack as if they had been bucks.

Not being satisfied with their confinement at the fort, the Denisons, a week later, went to Monmouth to stay. John Denison bought a house and a small piece of ground, and lived there through the summer. In the fall they came back to New Boston in time to put up hay for winter. William Denison returned to his old place on the river, but John went back two miles, where he made a farm. Mrs. Denison had three small children, and that fall she stayed alone with the children in her house a week, while her husband went back to Monmouth to get his corn and potatoes. Mother Denison was a brave woman and felt no alarm, though she heard the guns of the Indian hunters as they were fowling, and her husband's absence was prolonged several days beyond expectation:

The same day that the Denisons left the Upper Yellow Banks, Benjamin Vannatta, who was living at Keithsburg, loaded up his goods

NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

at night and drove out on the prairie and remained in a low place, going from there next day to the fort.

Just before hostilities ended a party of seven Indians penetrated the country as far as Little York, and creeping up on a young man named Martin, who was mowing on the prairie, all fired upon him at once and shot him dead. They afterward said that they could have killed many more, but being acquainted with them, and having been fed and warmed by them, they were deterred from taking their lives. Unfortunately, Martin was a stranger who had never had the privilege of bestowing a favor. A company of rangers was raised that summer at Monmouth, and this command scoured the country between Oquawka, New Boston and Monmouth. A detachment of these was sent out after this prowl- ing band and pursued them so close that they threw away everything in their flight, and escaped across the Mississippi.

When Black Hawk returned from his tour to Washington, he had the candor to tell his people that Keokuk was right in his estimate of the strength and number of the whites, and assured them that instead of being as numerous as the trees of the Mississippi valley they were as numberless as the trees and the leaves together.

William Denison had a very handsome daughter by the name of Julia, about fifteen years old, for whom the savages conceived a great fancy and to buy whom they exhausted every means. Mother Den- ison cannot remember the offers that were made by her savage admirers, but thinks that they at one time brought thirty ponies. They came several times to urge a bargain. That young lady is now the wife of Judge Ephraim Gilmore, of Aledo.

Nancy Denison, daughter of John Denison (now Mrs. William Willett, of Keithsburg), was another white child whom the savages were bent on possessing, and several times attempted to kidnap. The squaws would pick her up and wrap her in a blanket, but before they could get away the vigilant watch dog would discover their movements, and assailing them furiously, compel them to leave her. They were often at the house, and by making much of her, and giving her presents, had artfully won her childish confidence so that she was greatly pleased at the prospect of going with them. She learned to converse in the Indian as early as in her own tongue.

All the Indians drank whisky. When they went on a spree two or more kept sober to take care of the others. When any got trouble- some and ungovernable, these would bind them till they recovered themselves.

Mrs. Denison is living in New Boston at the age of eighty.

In 1833 Wmn. Drury came to this vicinity and made a claim near

HISTORY OF 'MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

the bluffs. At the first glance he felt convinced he had found "God's. country, " and he has never felt that he made a mistake in so estimating it. At that time there were but four distinct white families in the township.

Very soon after this, as the richness of the soil became tested, set- tlers began to come in rapidly. At about the same time land specula- tors from the east also turned their attention to this locality. The inordinate cupidity of these speculators often involved them in bitter contests with the settlers. As soon as the lands were surveyed and came into market, the settlers, in order to compete more successfully with the speculators, were in the habit of forming a ring around the land office, and endeavoring to keep out the " land sharks, " as they were called, by physical strength. Nearly all the land sold in this locality, was sold from the government land office in Galena. The settlers usually ap- pointed some one person to attend the land sale and bid off the several lots upon which they had made claims. The settlements mere made principally along the river, the settlement of the upland country being regarded as an absurdity.

In 1834 Wm. Wilson made a settlement. During this year the number of settlers increased so rapidly as to cause great inconvenience in some parts of the country on account of the great extent of territory embraced in the jurisdiction of Warren county.

In September of this year, 1834, the town of New Boston was laid out (the first of any in the county). The land, as has been previous- ly stated, was owned originally by Wmn. Denison. He sold out his claim, or two-thirds of it, to Elijah Iles, of Springfield, and Edward Bur- rall, of Massachusetts. An honor attaches to it of more than usual importance from the fact that the surveying was done by Abraham Lincoln, the Martyr President of the United States. The site possessed peculiar natural advantages, and had been known as the upper Yellow Banks, the Lower Yellow Banks being located at Oquawka. To say that site was more favorable for a city than any other point for miles either way is certainly no discredit to the larger cities that have since been founded and hold populations largely in excess of New Boston. Situ- ated opposite the mouth of the Iowa river, which is a navigable stream for some distance ; located on high banks, without the inconvenience of bluffs in the rear ; with Sturgeon Bay as a safe and commodious har- bor ; a rich agricultural country surrounding it, and no large city with- in a great distance ; what more natural than to suppose it simply a question of time when it should be the city of the west ! The thought- ful reader will undoubtedly satisfy himself why these expectations were; not fulfilled as he pernses the subsequent history.

NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

In 1835 the legislature passed an act erecting the new county of Mercer, and appointing New Boston as the tempoary county seat. By the provisions of the act an election was directed to be held on the first Monday in April, 1835, in the town of New Boston at the house of Eli Reynolds. Thirty seven votes were deposited for county officers.

S. V. Prentiss located here during this year, as did also Mr. Ed. Drury and M. L. Willits. They are all living in the township at present. and have been since their settlement here.

About 1835 a school was organized at the bluff about four miles east of New Boston. This was also the first school-house in Mercer connty. The first school teacher was the Hon. Geo. W. Julian, since that time almost countless numbers of teachers have been engaged in the work in the town ; but perhaps the most prominent and deserving of mention is the name of Simeon P. Smith. Hardly a man now living in the vicinity but knows personally or by hearsay of his good work as an educator. ' Of him Dr. Thomas Willitts says : "Among the aims and interests of human life, opening wide the avenues to independent thought and efficient intellectuality is paramount, and he who has been successful as an educator, is most truly a benefactor.

Having lived long, and been an interested observer of human pro- gress in many of its phases, I can most conscienciously say that no other instance has come under my notice in which so much was achieved in common schools in the same time (short or long) as was done by my friend Simeon L. Smith in the town of New Boston and vicinity (begining about forty years since), in awakening the latent possibilities of the infant mind.

The causes and reasons for his singular and marked success in school were no doubt many ; perhaps some that were peculiar and purely intellectual.

But he seemed to form a clear and correct judgment quickly of the capacity of each pupil, and of their home discipline, and was so intensely earnest himself that his feeling and action seemed contagious. He seemed to know just what a pupil could do, or should do, and was careful to know that it was done, or to require a suitable reason why it was not. If one in a class failed, he seemed to know whether idleness or ina- bility was the cause, and promptly used the appropriate remedy. Even- ings, mornings, Saturdays ; indeed, any unoccupied time the class, or the pupil, or any number that he deemed required awakening aid, were called to the residence of some employer, his boarding place, or the school- house, where the appropriate exercises, instructions or questions were presented. Prompt and absolute obedience of every scholar seemed a prerequisite, and understanding every principle in the branches.

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

taught himself, knew the cause of failure or embarrassment, and lifted or led the pupil so gently into the light that he was impressed that he had found it himself. Scholars thus energized went on and up to greater and more successful efforts, opening wider the way to greater at- tainments in the more advanced and progressive series of scholarly developements. Every pupil under his teaching for a few years is now easily distinguished from the mass in this, that they are good spellers, good readers, and prompt, ready and accurate mathematicians, all achieved by a thorough, clear, and logical mental analysis of the problem, ever making their own rules, and never committing those of another. Of his religious sentiments I can say that he was an admirer of puritanic rigidity in the observances of an ideal straight edge, as a guide in re- ligions and moral duties. Ifnot an apologist for its bigotry of the inspira- tional elaim for or of the bible, he said or cared little, but ever observed, applanded and advocated the clearly marked moral duties as expressed by the life and precepts of Jesus, with little or no respect for the cere- monies and formalities of the churches, regarding them as figments of catholicity that the world would be the better for losing.

Johnson Noble settled in the township in this year, 1835. Mr. Ephraim Gilmore was the first assessor and treasurer, appointed April 13, 1835. He was also the first surveyor and first postmaster.

The following settlements were made in 1836. John W. Ditto, who settled on S. E. ¿ Sec. 27, having previously made the claim in March of the same year. His was the only house ont on the prairie except Joseph Denison's on the S. W. ¿ Sec. 34, which was built the same spring. John Denison was living in the timber out on the Edward's Flats, having settled there on his return after the Black Hawk war in the autumn of 1832. John Pratt, Milton L. Willits, Isaac Lutz, James M. Mannon, Gilbert Ives, and Harley Ives, also made settlements in this year.

During this year a somewhat animated discussion arose in regard to the removal of the county seat. New Boston being situated at the ex- treme west of the county lacked a central location, an item of great im- portance in the days of horseback conveyances, and this fact was strongly urged as sufficient grounds for the removal of the county offices to a more accessible point. Those who favored its retention did so on the grounds that as New Boston was the town of the county, and always destined to be, so far as could be ascertained at that time, nothing could be more appropriate than to let the county seat remain.

In 1837 the legislature enacted a law by which Wm. Me. Murty, of Knox county ; Thomas Spragins, of Jo. Daviess ; and John S. Stephen- son, of Ogle, were appointed a commission to locate a permanent seat

NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

of justice. The provisions of the act required that the proprietors of the place selected should donate to the county lots equal to at least twenty acres, the proceeds of the sale of which should be used in the erection of public buildings. The commissioners fixed the site at Millersburg on the N. E. ¿ Sec. 3, T. 14, R. 4.

Dissatisfaction still existing, the question of its removal was agitated still further, until the legislature, in 1839, authorized an election to be held in April of that year, to decide its location by vote ; providing, however, that, if it resulted in locating it at New Boston, the proprietors "should donate not less than two acres of land and the sum of four thousand dollars in money," the money to be paid in four semi-annual installments. The effort was unsuccessful. The matter did not stop; but, as the topic is a matter of county history, we we will return to our settlements of the year 1836 and 1837.

Lots in New Boston were held at high figures in these earlier times, prices ranging from $200 to $700. The lot where the old "Drury Warehouse" stands brought $900. James S. Thompson settled and commenced business in New Boston in 1836, and from that time until his death, 1868, was closely connected in public and private life with the welfare of the community. In 1837 John Roberts, J. C. Sloan, N. N. Larrance and John Davis settled in the township.

In 1838 Isaac Lutz came to this township, and began the erection of a grist mill on Edwards river, on section 1. This mill has been kept up ever since, and is still running and doing good work. It belongs to some of the heirs of Isaac Lutz.

Elias Pullen, E. A. Crapnell and Joseph Alyea, with their families, settled in the towhship in this year. Elias Pullen settled on section 9, E. A. Crapnell on section 14, and Joseph Alyea in town, which at that time contained twelve or fifteen buildings. This was four years after the survey and plat of the town was made; and, although the town was laid out, only a small portion had been subdivided into lots. This, together with the fact that the majority of the proprietors were non-residents and held their property at high figures, partially accounts for the slow growth of the town.

In 1839 Jacob Beard settled on section 9, and Charles and Christian Rader settled on section 27. The settlements up to this time had been located mostly along the rivers Mississippi and Edwards ; but from this time forward the settlements increased rapidly in number and take a wider range.

In 1840 Dr. Mark Willits settled in New Boston, the first resident doctor of the place.

He is still living in the town at this date, April, 1882, and has had

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

a wide and extensive practice almost continually during his long sojourn in the county. Drs. Hereld, Shiner and Howey were early physicians.

Mr. M. Poffenbarger settled in the town in 1840.

In 1845 the first newspaper in the county was established at New Boston, under the name of the "New Boston Advertiser." The name and management were changed several times, being successively "The Yeoman of the Prairie Land," the "New Boston Broadhorn," "The Golden Age," "The New Boston Nonpareil," "The New Boston Re- porter," and lastly, the "New Boston Herald," the last number of the latter being published in 1872, C. A. Ballard, editor.

The township was organized in 1852; and the first supervisor from New Boston was I. N. Bassett; the first town clerk, Thomas Alyea ; the first justice, G. W. Warner.

The following have been supervisors for the township : I. N. Bassett, one year ; Sidney Chidester, one year; Amos Prouty, one year; Wil- liam Drury, one year; John Roberts, five years; D. J. Noble, two years ; Thomas Martin, four years ; Walter Pryne, one year ; William A. Wilson, twelve years. Mr. Wilson is supervisor at the present time.

The following is a list of the town clerks : Thomas Alyea, one year ; R. Thomas, one year; Isaiah Alyea, one year ; G. B. Tyler, one year ; Simeon Sheldon, one year; J. E. Griffin, six years; A. F. Waterman, two years ; D. T. Hindman, one year; George Lytle, one year ; C. A. Ballard, three years ; R. S. Scudder, two years ; T. H. Doughty, eight years.

The justices of the peace have been : G. W. Warner, sixteen years ; J. C. Swafford, two years ; Amos Prouty, fourteen years ; John Sharp, four years; C. W. Bras, twelve years; W. C. Austin, eight years ; John Roberts, four years.

The village of New Boston is situated on a part of sections 31 and 32. It received an addition, known as Turner's Addition, in 1856, and in 1859 was incorporated under a special charter, having at that time about 700 inhabitants.

At the breaking out of the war in 1861, New Boston responded promptly to the call, and was always ready to aid the cause with men or money. To say there were none who sympathized with the South, would, of course, be an exaggeration ; but the town may justly feel proud of her war record. We give elsewhere a detailed history of company "G," 27th regiment. The whole interest of the town, during the four years of this bloody struggle, seemed centered in the welfare of her "boys in blue" and the success of the Union forces.

Shortly before the war, in May, 1859, the township held an election

NEW BOSTON TOWNSHIP.

to vote for or against a subscription of $18,000 to aid in the construc- tion of the Western Air Line railway. The bonds were voted, but the road was never completed. In June, 1868, another election was held to vote for or against a subscription of $18,000 to aid in the con- struction of the American Central Railway Company. One hundred and eighty-four (184) votes were polled for the subscription and three (3) against. The township bonds were to run ten years, bearing ten per cent interest. In June, 1879, the unpaid bonds were refunded at a lower rate of interest, and there now remains but $5,500 indebtedness against the township, a mere trifle when her magnificent resources are taken into consideration.

The village of New Boston voted bonds to the amount of $30,000, running twenty years and bearing seven per cent interest, for the same purpose. All these bonds were voted with the understanding that the road was to be extended to Fort Wayne, thus making connections with the eastern seaboard lines, and westward to Council Bluffs. The reac- tion in railroad speculation set in before the road was completed, and the company soon found themselves in want of capital, being finally compelled to sell the road to the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road Company, by which company it is now owned and operated. Had the road been completed as projected, crossing the Mississippi at its present western terminus, there is hardly a doubt that New Boston would to-day have been one of the most thriving cities in the west. At the present time a new road is surveyed from Rock Island south- ward, crossing the Mississippi at or near New Boston, and making con- nections through to Kansas City. Should this road be completed, the future prospects of the town are indeed bright.

SCHOOLS.

The first school was held in a log cabin out at the bluff, and pre- sided over by the Hon. George W. Julian, in 1834 or 1835. The township was finally divided into eight districts, each supporting school for six or more months each year. The only graded school is the New Boston public school, it being divided into five departments. The first school-house built in the city district still stands in a rather dilapidated condition on lot 1, block 3.

At the last census there were 517 school children in the township, district No. 5 furnishing 312.

The religious sentiment of the people is quite diversified, a large number being in opposition to the orthodox church. Of the three or more church organizations, but one, the Methodist, supports a resident pastor.

HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH SOCIETY.

This society was organized in July, 1838, at the residence of Emily Burleigh, with the following members, viz : Joseph Alyea, Thorlea. Alyea, Thomas Alyea, Mary Alyea, Dr. Edmond Harrell, - Butler, Emily Burleigh-7. New Boston at that time was in what was called the Mercer Mission. There were so many appointments that the preacher was compelled to preach almost daily, having but two or three rest days in a monthi.

The first resident preacher was George Smith, who was pastor over the society. The first meetings of the class were held at the residence of Emily Burleigh, but after Joseph Alyea had built his house in the town of New Boston, the meetings were moved to that point. Mr. Smith remained with the church but one year, and but little is remem- bered concerning him. Henry Summers was the presiding elder at the time of organization. The next year Thomas M. Kirkpatrick was the preacher in charge. This was about the year 1839. The preacher in those times had to be economical. He was allowed for that year, $75 for table expenses, and $100 salary, and a trifle for traveling expenses. He also remained a year, and accomplished a good work. He was fol- lowed by Brothers McMurtry, Wilson and Burr. Brothers Doughty and Ross at this time were local preachers, and as the circuit was very large, most of the work devolved upon them.

In 1866 the society built the parsonage on lots 7, 8 and 9, block 4, in Thompson's addition. It cost about $1,500. The church building, in which the congregation has since worshiped, was erected in 1876, on lots 2, 3 and 4, block 13, in Thompson's addition. At the time of its erection it was the best in the county, and it still remains one of. the best. Its cost was nearly $6,000. The present board of trustees con- sists of T. H. Bras, J. T. Bell, E. Stevens, John Stevens, W. A. Wil- son, Eli Craft and Thomas Alyea. The last named has been trustee, with the exception of one year, since 1845, and class leader thirty-four years. Three of the members of the first class, Emily Burleigh, Mary Willits and Thomas Alyea, are yet alive and members of the church, having been engaged in the good work forty-four years.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 8

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