History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 84

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 84
USA > Illinois > Henderson County > History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc > Part 84

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the county of Warren was organized, and Judge Pence was elected commissioner with Adam (Sandy) Ritchie, and John B. Talbott. Warren county was then divided into two election precincts; the eastern being what is now Warren county, and the western being composed of what is now Her derson county, then known as the Yellow Banks precinct. In the latter precinct Judge Pence and Daniel McNeil, Jr., were elected justices. In 1830 the hostilities were com- menced by the Indians under the great chief, Black Hawk, and the settlers along Henderson river, near Judge Pence's place, feeling inse- · cure and fearing the attack of savages, assembled and erected a rude but substantial fort on the farm of Judge Pence, which immediately became the refuge of settlers in that neighborhood, who gathered in to be in readiness to repel anticipated raids of the savage foe. The site of the old fort is well remembered by the old settlers of this section of country. At this fort, during those stormy times, a son was born to the judge, who was known, until he became a young man, by the name of Black Hawk. Judge Pence was one of those noble, great-hearted men, always to be found upon the frontiers, ever ready to aid those around him in need. He lived and died loved and respected by all who knew him. His daughter, Mrs. Catharine Shores, thus remembers and speaks of her father : "Often he would bring the sick and afflicted home with him and take care of them, as though they were members of his own family, free of charge. I well remember the sides of bacon, sacks of flour and potatoes, the gallons of honey, that he from time to time, distributed among his needy neighbors. Our father, by industry and economy, always managed to have a good supply of necessaries of life around him, but he always felt that he held this world's goods only in trust for his suffering fellow man, as well as for himself. While he resided in Ohio and Indiana he was an ordained Baptist preacher, and sometimes, after he took up his residence in Henderson county, he occupied some unprovided pulpit and preached to his neighbors. He was a Christian, and at all times endeavored to live up to the teachings

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of the bible. He was the father of sixteen children, and raised six orphans besides. He died in 1841, at his old homestead, and his wife survived him two years."

Dr. Isaac Garland came to the present site of Oquawka, then known as the Yellow Banks, and erected the first house at that place in 1827. We find in the account compiled for the history of Warren county, that the doctor, in giving an account of his building of his house, says: "There were no white men to help him, save his teamster, and in the emergency he hired six or eight Indians. who were encamped at a point of timber below. He had to pay for each log as it was rolled to its place, and then give them a drink all around. As they were unused to such labor, and particularly after they had imbibed two or three drinks of liquor. thereby becoming unsteady in their movements, they were unable to perform heavy work. Often at this stage of the labor, the logs, which were unhewn and of black- jack variety, and coming down on their bare arms and breasts, would tear off great flakes of skin. They would give an ejaculatory 'ouch,' and at once quit work for the day. Their love of the .fire-water' was so great, however, that they would always return the following day, thereby repeating the process until the house was completed." A few other houses were built during this year (1827). In 1828-9 quite a number, of settlers came and located in different parts of the county. Judge John Pence settled on Henderson creek. at what is known as the " old Pence place ;" Jeremiah Smith settled on Henderson creek. about two miles east of Oquawka, near what was afterward known as the "Devil's Half Acre." James Ryason located a little lower down the creek.

Stephen S. Phelps in 1828 purchased the improved claim of Dr. Garland, at the Yellow Banks, and removed his family to their new home. Jeremiah Smith and Beatty settled nearly about the same time. At the election held in Warren county in the year 1830, Stephen S. Phelps was duly elected sheriff. At that election there were cast in the county of Warren, including the present territory of Henderson, forty-seven votes, and every voter in the county was present. save three. John Reynolds received thirty-four votes for governor, and for the same office, William Kinney received eleven votes. Mr. Phelps was a native of the state of New York. As a full biographical sketch will appear in this volume from the pen of Mrs. Phebe Button, his daughter, who is in possession of his journals and papers, it is not necessary here to speak more at length of one who performed a prominent part in the early settlement of the county.

William R. Jamison settled in Henderson county in 1829. He

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was born in Grayson county, Kentucky, January 8, 1808, and removed to Perry county, Indiana, with his parents. Here he remained until he became a man. He married in Perry county. In 1829 he came to Henderson county, landing at the Yellow Banks in the summer of that year, and made a settlement on a farin abont seven miles southeast of the latter place. He succeeded, as all enterprising and industrious settlers did, opening a large farm and making fine improvements of buildings, orchards and nurseries. In 1847 he removed to Oquawka and engaged in mercantile business with Alexander Moir. He closed his business in Oquawka and in 1865 removed to the state of Florida, where he engaged in the cultivation of an orange plantation, at which place he died on the 17th of June. 1882. Two of his sons still reside in Illinois, one in Minnesota, one in Nebraska, and one in Florida.

In 1838 Messrs. Robinson and Hopper built the first flour mill on the South Henderson creek, at a point where now Biggsville is located. and operated it as a toll mill to accommodate other settlers in the sur- rounding country. The property changed owners until it became the property of John Biggs, who, after years of experience in running a mill in a new country, disposed of his interest to Messrs. Moirs, of Oquawka, who continued to operate it until about 1860, when it passed into the hands of others.

Mr. Hopper had, prior to the year 1836, built a lumber mill at the place now known as "Hopper's Mills." Afterward it was changed to a flour mill and has continued as such to the present time. Lambert Hopper, son of the original proprietor, succeeded his father in business at "Hopper's Mill." He engaged extensively in mercantile business and carried on his business in all its varied branches with marked success. He established a woolen mill for the manufacture of woolen cloths, and by his enterprise aided in building up a thriving village. He was a man respected and trusted by all his neighbors. and his death was a great misfortune to the community in which he resided. No one succeeded him to carry on the business he had built up, and it gradually went to decay, and now there is little left to tell of the thriving business of which he was the life.

In 1836 Isaiah J. Brook came to this section of country, seeking a location for a home. He purchased the N. E. Į of Sec. 34, in T. 10 N., R. 5 W., in the present limits of Henderson county, and the fol- lowing year removed with his family to his purchase, and made it his future home. The country was new, and he improved his lands, and from time to time added to the same until he could claim the owner- ship of many broad acres. Industry, economy, and a peculiar apti- tude for business soon placed him among the foremost business men

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

of the county. His family of sons and daughters grew to maturity beneath the family roof, and are now all situated in homes of their own. Only a few weeks since his two remaining single daughters wedded husbands of their choice, and Mr. Brooks, finding himself and his estimable wife again alone, disposed of his home-farm and now will seek that repose and freedom from active business cares which his merited success will enable him to enjoy.

Another of the early settlers of the county was Matthew Findley, who settled near the Yellow Banks. He was of Irish parentage and born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1793, where he resided with his parents until he was seventeen years old, when his family removed to Muskingum county, Ohio. In the latter place on reaching manhood he married Miss Elizabeth Blackburn, and settled down to farming.

In October, 1835, he removed to Warren county, and spent the following winter on a farm near the present site of Kirkwood. In the spring of 1836 he removed to and settled in Sec. 36, T. 11 N., R. 5 W., in then Warren county, where three of his sons and one unmar- ried danghter still reside. He raised a family of six children, four sons and two daughters, all of whom survive him: David M., Alex- ander, Matthew M., John Q., Sarah, and Eliza Jane. David, one of the brothers, resided near the old homestead, a prosperous and re- spected citizen, until 1875, when, on account of his health, he removed to San Luis Obispo county, California, where he now resides, engaged extensively in farming. The other three brothers still reside on or near the place upon which their father first settled, engaged in extensive and successful farming. The father died at his home, surrounded by his family and friends, April 1, 1863. He had been chosen by the votes of his fellow citizens to county offices, the duties of which he discharged with signal fidelity. He was justly entitled to the reputa- tion he enjoyed among his fellow citizens of an honest man. His wife did not long survive him, and in her death a tragic event occurred.

It was on September 25, 1863, that Mrs. Findley, who resided with her son and daughter on the old home place, told her daughter that she was going out to pick some wild grapes that grew near the edge · of a corn field not far from the house, in a skirt of timber, as she was very fond of them. Her daughter sought to dissuade her from going, as she was old and feeble, although in good health, but the .old lady replied that she could go alone, as the distance was short, and she would not be absent long. She took her little tin bucket and started out at about three o'clock in the afternoon. Her daughter being

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EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

engaged in work did not fear any danger, although her mother was absent for a considerable length of time. At last, her mother not returning, the daughter grew anxious, looked out for her. She became alarmed and sought her brother and told him of the mother's absence. They, together with other members of the family, went in haste to make search for their mother. Night set in and they found her not. They searched every path and place where she might have wandered, the friends assisting, and with lanterns and torches they still continued their efforts until at last some time after darkness had set in they came upon the lifeless remains of their mother. She lay near a small tree, upon the ground where she had been picking grapes, her bucket by her side. At first it was supposed that she had fallen, perhaps with some sudden attack incident to old age, and had thus died. They took her up and mournfully proceeded to carry her to their home. She was buried in the family cemetery. The friends felt that a mys- tery was connected with her death. On the day following her burial it was learned that two boys from Oquawka had been in the vicinity where the body was found, on the afternoon of her death, hunting, and that they had told that one of them had fired at something in a grapevine or tree in the thicket, that he thought was a turkey, and that he saw something like a person fall. The boys were frightened and fled without looking to see what they had shot. The body was exhumed, and R. W. Richey, county judge, acting as coroner, held an inquest on the body. Upon surgical examination being made, it was found that a leaden shot had penetrated through the upper lid of the eye and entered the brain, causing death in a short time. The boys, Frank Dallam and Greely Mathews, aged respectively fourteen and and ten years, admitted being in the vicinity and shooting as above described, but claimed that they had no knowledge or intention of doing anything wrong. The friends of Mrs. Findley never charged or believed that the act was an intentional one, but felt that it was the result of that reckless habit of neglect on the part of parents in permit- ing such mere boys to have the control of fire-arms to use at their pleasure. Many casualities, for we cannot call them accidents, have occurred in this county by allowing such reckless, not to say criminal, use of fire-arms by inexperienced boys. This should have been a sufficient lesson, teaching those who have charge and care of such boys, to lay a more careful restraint upon them in this direction. The coro- ner's jury, in this case, found a verdict in accordance with the facts herein stated.

John Curts came to this county prior to the year 1836, and settled on Sec. No. 35, T. 9 N., R. 6 W., about three miles east of Sho-

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

kokon, on the Mississippi river. At first he engaged in farming and stock raising as it was carried on in that early day. He had come from the State of Pennsylvania, and was educated in early life in those habits of industry and economy, which lay the sure foundation of com- peteney and wealth. He had three sons and five daughters all of whom reached the age of majority. He rapidly, by his business capacity, acquired property, and, assisted by his two sons, Horatio and John Fredericks, he managed a large farm to which he gradually made additions. To make a better market for the products of his farm he shipped his pork and grain to the Wisconsin pine regions, taking in exchange pine lumber which he brought by river to Shokokon and established a humber trade. Finding this a profitable trade his son Horatio located in Wisconsin, purchased largely of pine lands, and thus with his two sons Mr. Curts carried on a successful and profitable business. Three of his daughters married and settled in Henderson county. One married in Texas, and one in Iowa. His son Thomas lived and died in Pennsylvania. Horatio died in Shokokon. The father, John Curts, purchased a beautiful home in Burlington, Iowa, just south of the railroad bridge, and removed there to spend the eve- ning of his days, leaving John Fredericks Curts, his son, in possession of the home place known as the "Bear Grove" farm in Henderson county. In 1874 the old gentleman met with a severe accident by falling down the basement stairs of his dwelling which resulted in his death in a few days. He died at Burlington March 12, 1874. Upon opening his will it appeared that he had left nearly all of his property, which consisted of lands in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin and Arkansas, bank stock, and other personal property to his son, John Fredericks Curts. For so doing he felt his reasons were sufficient. His son thus favored had been a true and faithful son, companion and assistant to his father, and his loyalty to his father found this return. The other legal heirs, feeling that they had been dealt unjustly with by the terms of the will, commenced in the circuit court of Des Moines, Iowa, legal proceedings to set aside the will on grounds of undue influence, and mental incapacity.

The case was tried before Judge Drayer and a jury. in the city of Burlington, in 1875, and attracted much attention in this county on account of the magnitude of the amount involved, the interest mani- fested by the citizens of this county, the length of time consumed, and the array of counsel participating in the trial. The trial lasted about four weeks, and on account of the engagement of attorneys in the case belonging on this cirenit, the Henderson county cir- cuit court was compelled to adjourn for one week to enable them to

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ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

complete the case. Mr. John Curts had long resided in this county, and a deep interest was felt in the determination of the contest. For the proponents of the will there appeared Hon. B. J. Hall, of Burling- ton, Charles M. Harris, Jonathan Simpson, James HI. Stewart, and J. H. Jennings, of Illinois. For the complainants there appeared Hon. P. H. Smythe, Messrs. Tracy & Son, Thomas Hedges, and Mr. Antrobus, of Burlington, and Hon. John J. Glenn, of Illinois. After a long contest, as above stated, the case was finally submitted to a jury, who, after a deliberation of two days, were unable to agree, and were discharged by the court. Then a change of venue was applied for, and the case sent to Fairfield, Jefferson county, Iowa, for trial. Not long after, the attorneys, with the consent of all parties interested, made an amicable adjustment of the matter by dividing the property. By this decision John Fredericks Curts received two-thirds of all the estate of his deceased father, and the other heirs received the other third, to be divided among them. Thus ended a contest which gained more notoriety than any case that had been tried in any of our courts for many years. John Fredericks still lives on the old home farm, known as Bear Grove farm, happy, prosperous, and contented. On an eminence near his house he has laid out and beautified a private cemetery. In this spot repose the remains of his father, mother, and brother Horatio. On their graves he has erected three costly marble monuments, to mark the spot where rests all that remains of that father, mother, and brother, whom in life he loved so well. It is his constant care to adorn and beautify this place, and thus keep green the memories of his departed ones. May he long live to enjoy his surroundings, which he has so justly earned.

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

In accordance with said act of the general assembly of the state, the first meeting of the commissioners met at Oquawka, the county seat, April 19, 1841, and organized a term of the county commis- sioners' court of Henderson county, by entering upon their records the following proceedings :

" STATE OF ILLINOIS, Records of the County Commissioners' Court, Vol. I. HENDERSON COUNTY. J

"According to the provisions of an act of the general assembly of the State of Illinois, passed at the session commencing the first Mon- day in December, A. D. 1840, entitled 'An Act to Establish the County of Henderson,' an election was held at the different precincts of said county on the fifth day of April, 1841, when Preston Martin and Benjamin C. Coghill were duly elected county commissioners, who,

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

together with James C. Hutchinson, who had previously been elected county commissioner of Warren county, and being included in the new county of Henderson was retained in office by said act, met at the town of Oquawka, the county seat of said county of Henderson, on Monday, the nineteenth day of April, 1841, agreeable to a further provision of the above-recited act, to hold a term of the county com- missioners' court therein provided for, and the said Preston Martin and Benjamin C. Coghill, being duly qualified as the law directs, pro- ceeded to business."

Alfred Knowles, who had at said election been elected clerk of the county commissioners' court, filed his bond and was duly qualified. William D. Henderson, who was elected sheriff of said county at the same time, was duly qualified as sheriff. John McKinney, recorder- elect, was likewise duly qualified as recorder of the county.

Then after transacting some routine business adjourned until the following day, when it again convened for the transaction of business. On this day an order was entered of record for a venire for the first grand jury that convened in the county. As these names are among the early settlers of the county, and are composed of a class that will ever be remembered as pioneers of sterling worth, whose examples in life are worthy of being imitated, we give the list in full : Isaac Cren- shaw, James Scott, William Rhodes, Edward R. Adams, Sidney Owens, Matthew Findley, Michael Crane, Daniel Drew, Frederick Davidson, George P. Rice, Obadiah Edmunds, Joseph Watson, Isaiah J. Brook, S. S. Leet, Jonathan Perkins, James Jamison, Hugh Lee, John R. McQuown, William L. Stockton, Samuel W. Lynn, Thomas D. Wells, Ebenezer Chapin, Jesse L. Ellett. These were men of ster- ling qualities, well qualified by nature to perform the duties of pioneers, who would lay properly the foundations of society in a new country. The most of these men have gone, after attaining an honored old age, and left bright examples of a well-spent life to be imitated by those who have succeeded them. A few of this list still reside among us, with lives bonnteously lengthened out in order that they might behold the almost magicial prosperous change in the country of their adoption. At this first meeting of the commissioners of the county, Stephen S. Phelps and Alexis Phelps, the proprietors of the town of Oquawka, in compliance with the conditions of the location of the county seat at Oquawka, as set forth in the act of the general assembly, presented to the board a deed, conveying to the county 200 town lots, of average value of the lots in the town of Oquawka, for the purpose of erecting public county buildings from the proceeds of the sale of the same.

Joseph Allen -

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ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

It was at this first meeting of the board, that the first saloon license was issued for Henderson county ; John A. Lynn, thus, for the sum of twenty-five dollars, being authorized to vend at retail in Oquawka intoxicating liquors, without having attached the dangers that beset the dealers of to-day, by virtue of the provisions of the dram-shop act.

April 21, 1841, at the same session of the board, William R. Jami- son, who had been elected treasurer of the county, filed his bond and was qualified. The board appointed William D. Henderson collector of taxes for the current year. The board also appointed Samuel MeDill assessor of the county for the same time.

At a regular meeting of the board September 5, 1841, Joseph B. Jamison filed his bond as school commissioner and was duly qualified. William C. Rice who was elected county surveyor at the same time as other county officers were elected, was duly qualified. At this meet- ing of the board Thomas McDill, William Graham and James Jamison were appointed trustees of school lands for township No. 10 N., 5. West. Jeremiah Baker, John Hopkins and William P. Toler were appointed to like offices for township 12 N., 4 West. Thomas M. Bonham, Wil- burn Walker and Joseph DeHague were appointed to like offices for township 9 N., 6 West. Peter Nichols, Obadiah Edmunds and Jolın A. Smith were appointed to like offices for township 8 N., 5 West. Asahel Johnson, George W. Penney and George Huston were appointed to like offices for township 8 N., + West. Alexander Rankin, Frederick Davidson and John Pogue were appointed to like offices for township 9 N., 4 West. Abner Drew, John Bay and T. Morgan were appointed to like offices for township 10 N., 6 West. Matthew Find- ley, Thaddeus Eames were also appointed to like offices for township 11 N., 5 West.

At this meeting the clerk of the county court and the clerk of the circuit court were authorized to procure seals for their respective offices, the design of the seal for the county commissioners court to be an Indian in a canoe, and that for the circuit court to be the temple of liberty. At this meeting of the board the first action was taken look- ing to the erection of a court-house, as appears by the following order entered of record : "Ordered, that the clerk give public notice that on the 28th day of October the commissioners will contract at public sale for the delivery of 175,000 of brick and 227 perch of stone in the town of Oquawka, on lot Nos. 13 and 16 in block 58 ; one-half of the brick to be delivered the first of July next, the other half by the twentieth of the same month ; the stone to be delivered by the middle of April next. Also twenty-two window frames and six door frames."

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HISTORY OF MERCER AND HENDERSON COUNTIES.

At this time the first ferry license was granted by the board, to keep and maintain a ferry across the Mississippi river at Burlington, Iowa, to land on the east bank of said river at any accessible point, to William H. Mauro, not however to trespass upon the established rights of others engaged in ferrying at the same point.

Called meeting of the board of commissioners August 15, 1842; the following proceedings were had : the court proceeded to open and compare the proposals received for building the court-house, according to a notice previously given, and Alexis Phelps offered to do the work proposed for the sum of $1,219, which was the lowest offer; it is there- fore ordered that Alexis Phelps have the sum of $1,219 for laying the walls and putting on the roof of said court-house, and that he receive payment therefor eight months after the work is done, and if not then paid to receive eight per cent until paid. Said Phelps filed his bond, with James Ryason and Samuel Darnell for sureties, for the completion of the work. Ordered further that the foregoing contract is approved by the court, and filed by the clerk in his office.

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History of Mercer and Henderson Counties : together with biographical matter, statistics, etc, Part 84

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