USA > Illinois > Morgan County > History of Morgan county, Illinois : its past and present, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; a biographical directory of its volunteers in the late rebellion; portraits of its early settlers and prominent men [etc., etc.] > Part 32
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but by hard work she got within one and one-half miles of there and stuck. The passengers walked to Bethel, rather disgusted with the . "pleasure car," as it was then called. Some hired wagons and came to Jacksonville, where the agent hired men and sent them down to shovel the snow off the track in advance of the train. Joseph E. Ware, editor of Mines, Metals and Arts, of this city, was a passenger on that trip, and remembers it well.
" We had the usual amount of strikes and fights, which would not be interesting. Under the old constitution nearly every one could vote, and the consequence was that between five and six hundred of the boys came to town to vote the " Dimmecratic " ticket, their candidate being "Jackson." When told there was no such candidate, they were about to take the town, and could have done it, but John J. Hardin, John Henry, Wm. Thomas, and others, suggested to the judge to open a poll for Jackson. This was done, and it prevented a bloody fight.'
In reference to the "Road Wagon," as it was called, which General Sample attempted to operate on the prairies, and to which reference has already been made, Mr. Harkness writes :
" If the State of Illinois is not entitled to claim the first railroad in the West, I think she is clearly entitled to the first attempt to use steam as a motor without even a graded road. Judge Sample, who was one of the early settlers, and one of the many enterprising men who have made Illinois the great State of this valley, after seeing a locomotive, conceived the idea of using one to haul goods and passengers from Alton to Chi- cago. He laid out an addition north of the penitentiary, where he built a large hotel, machine shops, etc. It was called Sampleton. At this time you could travel on prairie from there to Chicago and not touch either timber or farm. He had wheels about three feet wide, if I recol- lect right, attached to his engine. Every thing was new to the me- chanics, and it was after many trials and disappointments that it made a successful trip to Springfield, where it remained for years on the prairie."
Mr. Harkness, in one of his letters, relates two incidents of his fron- tier life in Illinois which we here append.
" Two farmers who were out looking at the country, as was the cus- tom at that time, were crossing from Lick Creek to the Mauvaisterre and Jacksonville. About half way across they struck the track of Sample's road engine, where the grass was fully three feet high.
" Both horses wheeled in terror and ran. After getting them back, the farmers examined the trail and concluded it was a big snake, and that they would follow it carefully and get a sight of the thing if possible. They followed it up to Springfield where they found the ' thing' resting very quietly.
" An 'early day' reminiscence, not strictly pertaining to railroads, but illustrating the perils of travel before railroad times, occurs to me. Several years after this occurrence above noted, I was crossing at the same points, and had my wife, child, and Judge Berdan, who is still liv- ing in Jacksonville, in a spring wagon, when a fire came down the prairie at race-horse speed, and nothing but my knowledge of the country saved us. I put on the whip for life and made for a mound where the cattle had eaten off the grass, but before reaching it the fire was all around us
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and it was the third attempt before I got through to the short grass and saved our lives. The horses and wagon were badly scorched. Two men on horseback about a mile from us were both burned to death. Such in early times was life in what is long since the richest portion of the best State in the Union."
The original survey was on the line of the present Wabash railway. When the work of laying the old flat bar track had reached nearly to the city of Jacksonville, the line of construction was changed, for various reasons, and brought up West State street to the center of the public square. Here a stopping place was made and here the cars were unloaded for some time. The track was afterward extended through East State street, making a bend about where the railroad tracks are now laid, passing northeasterly through the grounds of the Blind Asylum until it reached the original survey. In making the excavation for the foundation of the large chimney at the Blind Asylum, some of the old oak ties were un- earthed. These were in good condition and were, by the pupils of the Blind Asylum, made into boxes and trinkets, which are now in the pos- session of many of the citizens of Jacksonville. Colonel C. M. Morse, the division superintendent of the Chicago and Alton Railroad, has in his possession a box made from one of these ties, and in it one of the spikes used in fastening the old strap rail to the sill. Ties have also been found in excavating for the fountain in the public square, and in dig- ging for gas and water mains.
The old road gradually wore out, the strap rails were stolen to use as shoes for sled runners and other purposes. For stealing these, one man was arrested and imprisoned in the penitentiary. When the engine was abandoned and sold to General Sample, mules were used to haul the cars in which freight was mostly carried, passengers generally pre- ferring to travel in stages. Three mules, driven tandem, were usually attached to each car, their speed being accelerated by. any movable arti- cle in reach of the driver.
The road proved a source of expense to the State. It had cost a million of dollars, and was bringing no revenue ; individuals, enthusiastic in this system of improvements, stood ready to buy the road and it was deemed best to sell it. In 1847, it was sold at public auction at the State House, in Springfield, to a company composed of Colonel Mathers, H. N. Ridgley, James Dunlap, and Governor Mattison. The price paid was $100,000 in State bonds, then below par. These gentlemen went immediately to work, changing the tract from State street, in Jackson- ville, to its original survey in the northern part of the city. A better track was laid, repairs made wherever necessary, the route being changed at Bluff City to run to Naples, a point on the Illinois River four miles below Meredosia. The road received a new charter, purchased new equipments, and made preparations to continue its route from Springfield, eastward, to the State line on the old survey. Three loco- motives, the Morgan, Sangamon, and Frontier, were procured and placed on the road, Mr. Jonathan Neely, of Jacksonville, was appointed station agent, freight agent, ticket agent, conductor, etc. Soon after, the strap rails were discarded, and the "U" rail was adopted, this was, how- ever, soon replaced by the "T" rail, now in use. The road was in operation in the Fall of '49 as far as Springfield. Work was continued
HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY. 317
on the road, which, by 1853, had progressed as far as Decatur. In 1851, the first railroad crossing in the State was made at Springfield, being that now known as the Chicago and Alton, over the road of which we are now writing. The old Northern Cross Railroad, afterward the Great Western, and now the Toledo, Wabash and Western, after the change in 1847, has maintained a steady, continuous growth, and is now one of the best operated railways in the West.
The Chicago, Alton and St. Louis Railroad received its charter Feb- ruary 27, 1847, under the name of the " Alton and Sangamon Railroad Company." The incorporators were, Robert Furgeson, Simeon Ryder, Benjamin Godfrey, Thomas Clifford, Robert Dunlap, and William Martin. The route was to be " from the City of Alton, on the Mississippi River, in Madison County, by the way of Carlinville, in Macoupin County, New Berlin, in Sangamon County, to the City of Springfield, in Sangamon County."
Work was commenced in the Spring of 1851. On the 9th of Sep- tember, 1852, the first train, reached Springfield. The rails and ties for this end of the road were brought from Naples, over the Great Western Railroad. The junction of these two roads was the first railroad crossing made in the State of Illinois. At the special session of the General Assembly in 1852, the charter was amended, extending the line to Joliet, and changing the name to the "Chicago and Mississippi." On the 18th of October, 1853, the track was finished to Bloomington, and conveyed passengers to Chicago by way of the Illinois Central and Rock Island Railroads. On the 4th of August, 1854, the road was finished to Joliet, and the cars run over the Chicago and Rock Island Road to Chicago. After the Joliet " cut off" was made, the trains run to Chicago over that road by way of " Matteson." After the "Joliet and Chicago Road " was built, it was leased by the Chicago and Alton Road, the name having . been changed in February, 1854.
What is now the Jacksonville branch of the Chicago and Alton . Railroad was commenced at Jacksonville in 1858, and opened to Man- chester, south, and Petersburg, north, in 1860. It was extended to White- hall, probably in 1862, and to Godfrey, January 1, 1865. The line was extended north to Mason City, in June 1867, and completed to Bloom- ington, September 23, 1868. This road, known as the St. Louis, Jack- sonville and Chicago Railroad, was leased to the Chicago and 'Alton Company in April, and taken possession of June 1, 1868. By this lease, the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company obtained a direct line from Alton to St. Louis, in connection with the line from Chicago to Alton, this gives them direct communion between the two greatest cities in the West.
Desiring a direct connection with the great railways west of the Father of Waters, the company, in 1871, under the charter granted to the St. Louis, Jacksonville and Chicago Railroad, constructed a line from Roodhouse, to Louisiana, Missouri, crossing the Mississippi River on a bridge 2052 feet in length. , This bridge cost $800,000, and is leased by the company. The line was extended from Louisiana to Mexico, Mo., the same year. The next spring it was opened to Fulton, and in July to Cedar, on the Missouri River, opposite Jefferson City. All the line in
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Missouri was built under a charter granted to the Louisiana and Missouri River Railroad Company.
The company are building a line from Mexico to Kansas City, a distance of 160 miles, crossing the Missouri River at Glasgow. . The entire length of this road, including its branches and extension, is 837.2 miles. The length of the Jacksonville Division is 150.6 miles. It affords the citizens of Jacksonville and Morgan County a direct and easy com- munication with the cities of Chicago and St. Louis. The division is under the supervision of Colonel C. M. Morse, and to his efforts and experience the success of this division is largely due.
The Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville Railroad was built first from Pe- oria to Virginia. In 1869, it was extended to Jacksonville. This gives a direct route from Jacksonville to Peoria, at which city it connects with the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, thereby forming a compet- ing line with the Chicago and Alton to Chicago and the Eastern cities.
The Jacksonville, Northwestern and Southeastern Railroad was con- structed during the Summer and Fall of 1870, from Jacksonville to Wa- verly. It was afterward extended to Virden, a distance of thirty-three miles, where it connects with the main line of the Chicago and Alton. It is the intention to extend this road to Mt. Vernon, there to connect with the St. Louis and Southeastern road. The road runs through a 'good farm- ing country and enjoys a good local traffic. The officers are, M. P. Ayers, President ; W. S. Hook, Secretary and Treasurer ; Ed. S. Greenleaf, Su- perintendent.
The Rockford, Rock Island and St. Louis Railroad was completed in the Summer of 1870. It passes through the western part of the county, the only towns on its route therein, being Concord and Chapin, the lat- ter place being at the junction of this road with the Wabash. The road gives direct communication for this part of the county with St. Louis, and does chiefly a local business.
The railroads solved an important problem in the history of the West. By them, transportation and communication between the two great por- tions of the country, were made easy, and emigration by rail instead of the slow wagon road, was the consequence. Morgan County in common .with all counties in Illinois, was benefited by the change. Towns had grown up in her midst, along these public thoroughfares, and her people were beginning to enjoy the fruits of their labors. Schools had been es- tablished, churches founded, mills erected, post-offices created, and the busy tide of industry supplanted the former condition of the county. A retrospective view of the increase of the population, shows pretty accu- rately the growth of the county.
. In 1820, the population of Morgan County was probably little more than one hundred persons. By the United States census in 1830, it was 12,714. It then included Cass and Scott Counties. During the follow- ing decade, these were created, and the census of 1840, notwithstanding this diminution of territory, shows a population of 19,547. The census of 1850, shows a population of 16,064; that of 1860, 22,112; and that of 1870, 28,463.
The old plan of subscription schools had been supplanted by the present admirable common school system. No man in Illinois has done more to bring about this change than Judge William Thomas. He early
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
advocated a system of popular education, and ably seconded every effort made by the friends of education. In fact nearly every plan which has had for its aim the advancement of the masses, has been vigorously aid- ed by the venerable Judge, and but few bills in the early days of legisla- tion but emanated from his mind, or bear the marks of his hand, where the object was the advancement of civilization.
Judge Thomas, to whom reference is so often made in these pages, and who is so intimately connected with the history, is a native of War- ren-now Allen-County, Kentucky. He was born November 22, 1802. He began the study of his profession in the law-office of Governor James T. Morehead, continuing at Bowling Green with Hon. J. R. Underwood. July 5, 1823, when twenty-one years of age, he obtained his license to. practice law, remaining with Mr. Underwood until September, 1826. That fall, with a horse, a little money, and an abundance of energy, he started for the Sangamon country. He describes his trip, his arrival at Jacksonville, and what he saw there, elsewhere in these pages, and repe- tition here is unnecessary. From the date of his arrival, he has been always prominently before the people of the county, and has been one of the foremost citizens in every good work. To him may be attributed the founding of many of the State institutions, the establishment of the common schools, the act of incorporation of colleges in 183 -the first act of the kind in the State-the public city institutions, and, in fact, every beneficent object. Everything tending to the welfare of town, county, and State, bears the impress of Judge Thomas' hand.
He has been a faithful chronicler of events during his life here, and to him, more than to any citizen of Morgan County, are the pub- lishers of this volume, and its readers, under lasting obligations for the accuracy and detail of its statements. He has freely given every aid in his power, every fact in his possession, and deserves from his fellow-citi- zens a lasting place in their memories.
Morgan County contained at first all that country now comprised in Scott and Cass Counties. By reference to the Political History preced- ing this narrative, the reader will learn the causes leading to these divis- ions, and the time they were made. The division left the county with its present limits, save that portion on the north side, which, in 1843, was set off to Cass County.
THE OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.
The following history of the Association, with its list of members, was prepared by the Secretary, Mr. Timothy Chamberlain. The society is one of the best organized in the Western States. Mr. Chamberlain has taken great pains in keeping the records of its meetings, and the list of its members, in an exceedingly neat and systematic manner in a book pre- pared by him expressly for this purpose :
At a Fourth of July celebration at Arcadia in 1869, there were found to be a large number of the early settlers of the county, and the conversa- tion naturally turning to things and events of the past, and a desire having been expressed by many of the aged persons present to meet their friends of early days, it was decided among them that a call should be · issued in the papers, and all invited to be present at a picnic.
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
The following appeared in the Jacksonville Journal, of September 2, 1869 :
"OLD SETTLERS' MEETING .- A meeting of the old settlers of Mor- gan County will be held at Arcadia, Thursday, September 9th, in D. G. Henderson's grove, at which time Judge William Thomas, J. T. Jones, and M. P. Ayres, will speak. Other speakers are expected, and without doubt the picnic, for such it is to be, will be an occasion of great interest. It is desired that all those residing in the territory, which in 1830 was embraced in Morgan County, should be present and participate in the exercises. Old settlers are particularly invited."
The first regular meeting of the old settlers of Morgan, Cass, and Scott, was held in the grove near Arcadia, on Thursday, September 9th, 1869. Pioneers from all parts of these counties were on hand at an early hour. The exercises were opened with prayer, by Rev. Joel Goodrick. Hon. Joseph Morton, Capt. Yaples, Judge Whitlake, Bradley Thompson, M. P. Ayres, and others, made remarks appropriate to the occasion. A letter was read from Judge William Thomas, apologizing for and explain- ing his absence. Mr. Charles Cox was First Marshal of the day, and Mr. John M. Wilson assistant. Dr. John Craig was Secretary. Not less than 500 persons were present. An ode was sung, composed by Major George M. McConnel, of Jacksonville. The following resolution, offered by Mr. M. P. Ayres, was unanimously adopted :
" Resolved, That we cherish tenderly the recollection of the names of our honored dead, the early pioneers of our county, and we realize that though dead, yet through their works they still speak, and we trust we may imitate their virtues, and show by our works our appreciation of the toils and trials endured in our behalf."
It was intended that a regular association should be organized, so that hereafter annual meetings might be held, and every valuable act concerning the history of the county be preserved. However, the time · was so fully occupied with other matters, that such an organization could not be effected, and a meeting was called for August 25, 1870, which met in Henderson's grove, near Arcadia, and after listening to speeches from Hon. Newton Cloud, Rev. N. P. Heath, Major G. M. McConnel, Senator Richard Yates, and others, a society was organized. A constitution was presented and read by Judge Wm. Thomas, and after being slightly amended, was adopted. According to its provisions all can become members who were in this region previous to the deep snow of 1830 and 1831.
CONSTITUTION.
On this 25th day of August, A. D. 1870, the old settlers residing in the counties of Morgan, Cass, and Scott, composed of the territory originally included in the County of Morgan, being assembled in Hender- son's grove, near Arcadia, in order to secure annual meetings with each other, and to perpetuate the acquaintance and friendship which existed among them during the first years of their residence, agree to organize a society to continue without limit of time, and that the following shall be the constitution :
First. The society shall be called and known as the " Old Settlers of the County of Morgan."
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Second. The society shall hold annual meetings at such times and places as each annual meeting shall designate for the next meeting.
Third. For the present, the society shall be composed of those who settled within the limits of the county previous to the deep snow of 1830 and 1831. . Subsequent settlers may hereafter be admitted.
Fourth. The officers of the society shall be a president, to preside at the annual meetings, three vice presidents, six directors, a secretary, a treasurer, a chaplain, and a marshal, all to be elected or appointed annually.
Fifth. The general business of the society shall be superintended and directed by the president and directors, four of whom shall constitute a quorum.
Sixth. The secretary shall make and keep a roll of the members, and record of the proceedings and action of the president and direc- tors, and of the society.
Seventh. The treasurer shall safely keep the funds of the society, and pay them out on orders of the president and directors of the society. Eighth. The chaplain shall attend and open the annual meetings with prayer.
Ninth. The marshal shall have the general superintendence of the grounds, or place of meeting, and act under orders of the presiding officer.
Tenth. Each member of the society shall sign his or her name to this constitution, or cause the same to be signed, adding thereto the date of settlement and nativity.
Eleventh. This constitution shall be subject to alteration or amend- ment at any regular meeting.
An ode was sung, composed by Mrs. J. R. Bailey, entitled the " Pioneer," tune of "E. Pluribus Unum." Some slight amendments have since been made to the constitution, one of which admits members to the society who settled here previous to 1840.
The present officers of the society are: President, Wmn. Thomas; Vice-Presidents, Elliott Stevenson, William Lindsey, and Jesse Henry ; Secretary, Timothy Chamberlain ; Treasurer, John Robertson ;. Chaplain, Rev. William Gallaher; Marshal, Charles Sample ; Finance Committee, Bazzill Davenport, John A. Wright, John Tureman; Executive Com- mittee, Huram Reeve, John Bergen, Joseph Morton, Keeling Berry, Samuel Brockman.
There is no charge made, and all who have been in the limits of old Morgan previous to 1840, have frequently been invited to sign the consti- tution, or send their names to the secretary. Yet there are a great many persons who have neglected to attend to this matter, and their names therefore do not appear in the following list of members:
Atherton, Ann, born New York, 1810 ; settled Morgan co. 1828. Anderson, James S., born Ky., 1810 ; settled Morgan co. October, 1830. Angel, John, born Ind., 1823 ; settled Morgan co. 1827.
Adams, Joseph, born Ky., 1805; settled Morgan co. 1830.
Aedor, Jacob, born Md., 1792 ; settled Morgan co. 1831.
Adams, G. W. born Ill., 1835 ; settled Morgan co. 1835.
Antel, James, born Ky., 1815 ; settled Morgan co. 1820.
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HISTORY OF MORGAN COUNTY.
Ayres, Marshall P., born Pa., 1823 ; settled Morgan co. 1830. Ayres, Augustus E., born Pa., 1826 ; settled Morgan co. 1830. Akers, Peter Rev., born Va., 1790 ; settled Morgan co. 1834.
Braner, John, born Va., 1803 ; settled Morgan co. October, 1830. Black, Samuel, born Va., 1798; settled Morgan co. Fall, 1828 .. Bancroft, J. H., born Conn., 1813 ; settled Morgan co. 1834. Bergen J. F., born N. J., 1812 ; settled Morgan co. October, 1828.
Broad well, Wm. H., born Ill., 1823; settled Morgan co. 1823, born in Morgan co.
Bennett, Isaac R., born Ky., 1802 ; settled Morgan co. September, 1829. Bridgeman, Hezekiah, born Va., 1797; settled Morgan co. Dec. 9, 1830. Beggs, Wm. Harvey, born Ind., 1817 ; settled Morgan co. Sept. 1829. Buckley, Mary E., born N. Y., 1813 ; settled in American bottom, 1819. Bedwell, Rachel, born Ohio, 1799. Was in Morgan before Jacksonville was laid out. Husband hauled logs for jail.
Boyer, J. H., born Ky., 1823 ; settled Morgan co. November, 1830. Boyer, Jacob, born N. C., 1797 ; settled Morgan co. October, 1822. Bridgeman, Franklin, born Va., 1821 ; settled Morgan co. Dec. 9, 1830. Black, Mildred Mrs., born Va., 1802 ; settled Morgan co. 1826.
Boyce, Elizabeth Mrs., born Tenn., 1800; settled Morgan co. 1830 ; died 1875.
Becroft, Aquilla, born Md., 1798 ; settled Morgan co. 1833. Birdsal, Clark, born N. Y., 1800 ; settled Morgan co. 1821.
Brown, Bedford, born Ky., 1799; settled Morgan co. 1828 ; died 1873. Brown, Geo. S., born Ky., 1823 ; settled Morgan co. 1828. Beers, N. B., born Conn., 1817 ; settled Morgan co. 1845. Bateman, Samuel, born Eng., 1804 ; settled Morgan co. 1830. Buckanan, Hardin, born Ill., 1820 ; settled Morgan co. 1820. Beavis, William, born Eng., 1803 ; settled Morgan co. 1832. Berry, Keeling, born Va., 1818 ; settled Morgan co. 1823. Black, William, born Ga., 1796 ; settled Morgan co. 1833. Brown, James, born Tenn., 1825 ; settled Morgan co. 1830. Brown, John, born N. C., 1800 ; settled Morgan co. Fall, 1828. Barton, J. M. Mrs., born Mass., 1797 ; settled Morgan co. 1827; died 1877. Barber, Thomas, born Eng., 1809; settled Morgan co. 1835. Brown, L. W., born Ky., 1824 ; settled Morgan co. 1833. Brewer, W. T., born Ky., 1817 ; settled Morgan co. 1823. Bridgeman, Isaac, born Ill., 1831 ; settled Morgan co. 1831.
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