USA > Illinois > Piatt County > History of Piatt County; together with a brief history of Illinois from the discovery of the upper Mississippi to the present time > Part 16
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Among the names of the teachers of the Morain school are Samuel Morain, Kate (Piatt) Bryden, Jack Bryden, Charles Welch, Mr. Johnson, Philip Lewis, and many others. Others teachers of the township are Rachel Huston and William Smith, now deceased.
The De Land school, the ouly village school in the township, employs but one teacher. The De Land district maintains also another school one aud a half miles from the town. E. E. Carrier teaches the village and L. S. Kidd the rural school. Benjamin F. Stults, now of the Weldon school, taught the De Land school for several ternis.
Sangamon Township .- The first school in Saugamon township was taught by George A. Patterson in a log school-house, which stood south of where the White school-house now stands. James Outten, who was one of the first teachers also in Champaign county, taught this school at an early day. Soreno K. Bodman, of Bement, William H. Reese, Harry Timmons, Charles Hughes, Pamelia (Combes) Hughes, Sadie Reed, and others, have taught in the schools of Sangamon town- ship. Centerville, Galesville and Slabtown have school-houses, while White Heath and Lodge depend upon the rural schools about one
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167
THE SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY.
'mile from home. The Sangamon river forms the boundary line between all districts touching it. In this respect it is unlike any other township in the county. John E. Andrew is township treasurer of town 19, which lies wholly in Sangamon township, and D. E. Carberry, of town 20, a part of which lies within the township. Camp Creek and Slabtown districts have lately built new school-houses.
As an incident showing some of the old ways of creating sport in connection with the early schools would be interesting, doubtless, to' some of our readers, we subjoin the following, as related to us by one of the old settlers.
One teacher, having school near what was then known as Sonder's Branch, declared to the gentleman he was boarding with that if the scholars locked him out at Christmas time he would treat, provided the boys would come out and attack him. The man went over to see the fun. Sure enough, the teacher was locked out, and after a time the scholars came out and attempted to get him down. There were two boys about thirteen or fourteen and four or five from ten to twelve years of age, and, several little girls. The teacher was a great.strong man and for a time was entirely too much for the scholars. Finally they got the better of him, and with the girls' assistance succeeded in tying him with ropes. The children had taken the precaution to bring over a wheelbarrow to take him to the stream. They tried, but could not keep him on it. Finally one of the boys said, "Ill fix him," and off he went for a horse and sled. They got him on the sled at last, and finally they reached the side of the branch. A long debate followed about throwing him into the cold water. Finally, one of the boys said, "Well, I'll throw him in," so with an effort he rolled him over and in he went. The man who had gone to witness the sport enjoyed himself hugely. When the teacher was in the water, and it began to flow almost entirely over him, the man told him he had better sign the article for treating the scholars to a bushel of apples. The agreement was made, but the boys would not let him out of the branch till the other man went his security to treat if he failed to do so. The teacher was released and started to the house for change of clothes. By the time he reached the place his clothes were frozen stiff. The apples were given to the scholars forthwith. That teacher is now a preacher in Iowa and his name is John Lyons.
Willow Branch Township .- The first school in this township was taught by Judge Edward Ater, about 1840, in a log school-house on Willow Branch. There are no village schools, as Cisco is divided by a
168
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
district line and is one mile distant from a school-house. Robert L. Barton, J. Hull Brown, Caleb and Riley Tatman, the Suver sisters and Thomas Lamb, jr., are among the early teachers of this township. Mr. Barton once taught the Willow Branch school, and once in the district which now includes the Oak Grove and the East Cisco schools. Concord, Shady Nook, Wildcat and Oak Grove are suggestive names of some of the districts of Willow Branch township.
Unity Township .- The first school was taught about 1842, by John Collins, in a little house with paper windows and on land now belonging to the Benjamin Quick estate.
The first school in Mackville was taught by James Lewis, in the present school-house, which was built in 1858. Peter A. Hamilton once taught here before studying law. Later teachers were the present county superintendent, 1867; George W. Poole, now of Bement, 1868; J. A. Hawks, present supervisor of Unity township, 1869-70, and was followed by John H. Easton, who taught several terms. The village had by this time increased in population so inch that an assistant teacher was employed. Mrs. J. A. Hawks was one of the first assistant teachers. Joseph Trenchard, now of Windsor, John A. Hardenbrook and wife, now of New Mexico, C. H. Righter and Miss Anna Davies have been teachers here. The latter is now again in charge after a lapse of several years. Other teachers in the township were Frank Landers, of Moultrie county, in the Harshbarger school, and Joel Dunn and Samuel McDowell, Shonkwiler school. Jolin H. Easton taught for several years in various schools of the township, and is now in charge of the Baker school. The first school in the Mackville district was in a log house on land now owned by the widow of Adam Shonkwiler.
Atwood is in the Mackville district, and has no school-house of its own.
Hammond has just completed a new school-building of two depart- ments. George S. Morris, of Lovington, is principal and Miss Emily Godwin, of Bement, assistant.
Blue Ridge Township .- So far as we could learn the first school- house in this township was the "Stringtown" school-house, near where Gardner switch now stands. Isaac Thomas helped to plaster the house and says it was built in 1854. It has been moved from its former location. Others say that the Cope school-house was the first and was built in 1854. This house is reported as having been moved into Mansfield.
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THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.
The Mansfield schools consist of two departments. George N. Snapp, of Sullivan, is principal, and Miss Clara Kline, of Le Roy, assistant. The school-building is large, not all the room being in use. Former teachers of this school are Frank Pittman, of Monticello ; W. A. Wetzell, of Ford county; George R. Shawliam, now county superintendent of Champaign county, and Allen S. Stults, now prin- cipal of schools at Farmer City.
John T. Carle, now principal of Wapella schools, taught one year in the Klinger district. Edwin L. Drake, now treasurer of town No. 21, range 6, taught the West Point school for several years, and Reed Matheny taught the Blue Ridge school for two or three years. One obstacle to education in Blue Ridge township is the large size of many of its school districts, which tends to canse irregular attendance.
In the preparation of this article on the schools of the county we have taken up all the facts we could obtain. If more items occur relative to any school or township than to others it is because the people, or some one of them, have contributed more items to us. We are proud of all the schools of the county and wish them continued prosperity.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT IN THE COUNTY.
BY MRS. E. P. MOFFITT.
TN the pioneer days of Piatt county the use of alcoholic liquors, both as a medicine and as a beverage, was very common. They were kept in every family and brought ont on all extra occasions, at harvest time, log-rollings, barn-raisings, etc.
While some drank to excess, nearly every one drank moderately. In those days drinking was not considered an evil only so far as it was taken in excess. This sentiment prevailed not because the people were naturally bad or immoral, but because it was not generally known that alcohol was a poison, and because its effects on the human tissues were not understood or even dreamed of. It was thought as long as a man drank moderately that he was safe ; not understanding that it irritated and inflamed the mucons membrane of the stomach ; that it gradually
170
HISTORY OF PLATT COUNTY.
became thickened and corrugated ; that the gastric jnice was vitiated, hindering digestion ; that the blood, the supporter of life, was made morbid and impoverished, and that, therefore, the moderate drinker was less able to withstand disease, and was in constant danger of be- coming the victim of an increased and depraved appetite. Neither was it understood that the appetite for the drink, with all its attendant physical and mental conditions, strengthened and intensified, were transmitted to the offspring; that the offspring of moderate drinkers might be the drunkards of the next generation.
However, as the county progressed in other lines of civilization, so it began to improve in public sentiment on drinking habits. As the county began to be settled from older counties, as educational and church facilities increased, so in proportion did the people begin to think of the evils of drink. It began to be noticed that the boy not only followed the example of his father in drinking moderately, but that he did not stop at that point. This set parents to thinking, and for the sake of the boy alcoholic liquors began to be exchided from use in individual families ; thus a sentiment against drink slowly but surely arose.
About the year 1855 a Good Templars' lodge was organized in the town of Monticello, which for a time did some active work by draw- ing within its fold many who had been long addicted to drink, many of whoni have ever since been total abstainers. This organization was also instrumental in organizing other lodges throughout the county. thus laying the foundation for a healthy sentiment necessary to root out the traffic. This was accomplished for the first time about five years ago, the last saloon being closed out at Mansfield through the aggressive efforts of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of that place.
The county has at different times had a number of temperance organi- zations, among which were the I. O. G. T., a County Alliance, some two or three juvenile temperance organizations or "Bands of Hope," a county organization of the W. C. T. U., and four local societies of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Scientific temperance text books, treating of the effects of alcohol on the human tissnes have been used in some of the public schools of the county. It is hoped that the good people of Piatt county will look into this matter and see that their boys and girls are taught the evils which drink brings to them mentally, physically and morally. Let the youth of the county be so fortified against strong drink by an intelligent understanding of
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LIBRARY THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.
the evil effects of alcohol that we need have no fears for the manhood of the rising generation. Five years of practical prohibition in the county have done much, as nearly all agree, to advance the real interests of the people. This is true in nearly every respect, as has been ascer- tained by actual investigation, and by comparison with the official records in other counties where saloons abound. The towns of Piatt county are out of debt and have money in the treasury. The expenses for crime and pauperisin are comparatively light.
Only occasional murders have occurred, and very seldom a convict has been sent to the State prison. The towns have good sidewalks, good churches, and the state of intelligence and morality is good. Piatt county would no doubt have a still better record were it not for the fact that it is joined to counties on either side where saloons abound in great numbers.
This state of affairs has been brought about by prohibition under local . option, and it is claimed by some that this method is more effectual than prohibition by constitutional amendment. While local option is perhaps better than nothing, and may have served a good purpose, it has many objections :
First-Local option in its results is not a legal obligation, only a moral one. It is the sole prerogative of a city council or town board to / say whether or not a vote for license or no license shall stand; cases being on record where towns have voted no licenses, and the board has, notwithstanding, granted license, and vice versa.
Second-The work against the saloons has, as a rule, to be done over every year, causing men and women to spend much time and money, besides the towns being in danger every year of coming under license rule.
Third-Under local option, where the question of license or 110 license is voted on by towns, the farming portion of a community can have no voice in deciding the matter. And yet he may, against his will, through his family, be forced to submit to the evil effects of the saloons of the town, while prohibition by constitutional amendment gives all an equal chance.
This question of prohibition by constitutional amendment will, sooner or later, come before the people of Illinois for final settlement, and it is earnestly hoped that the citizens of Piatt county will be as progressive in this as in other matters. Let the voters investigate this subject for themselves. It is not well to depend on newspapers for reports on prohibition. Remember inany of them are paid by the line.
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174
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
for publishing reports unfavorable to prohibition. Let convictions be formed from the 'examination of official records in states where prohi- bition has been tried (see J. N. Stearn's "Is Prohibition a Success?" and the "Prohibitionists' Text Book," National Temperance Publishing House, 58 Reade street, New York), and whatever is done let Piatt county not fall behind in the good work of elevating humanity. Let the citizens be foremost in throwing aside all selfish motives and narrow prejudices and do their part to rid the country of the greatest curse of history.
We quote the following article, prepared by Mrs. Blair, President of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of the nineteenth congres- sional district.
STATISTICS OF FOUR LICENSE COUNTIES IN TIIE STATE OF ILLINOIS, COMPARED WITH THOSE OF FOUR ANTI-LICENSE COUNTIES IN THE SAME STATE.
Nearly every item has been taken from official records, and where no qualifying statement is made they may be depended upon as accu- rate. They all cover a space of twelve months, citlier wholly in the year 1879, or partly in 1879 and partly in 1880. The four counties of the seventeenth congressional district are reported as follows :
MACOUPIN COUNTY.
Number of voters.
8,000
Breweries.
1
Distilleries.
0
Saloons, about.
50
Number of barrels of beer manufactured, about.
100
Convicts sent to State prison.
10
Persons committed to jail.
16
Persons maintained in almshouse.
33
Expense of jail. .
$2,329 76
Expense of almshouse.
$4,118 40
Number days occupied by terms of court.
90
MONROE COUNTY.
Number of voters.
3,000
Breweries.
1
Distilleries
0
Saloons. .
55
Barrels of beer.
1,585
Convicts sent to State prison.
0
Persons in jail (when reported).
2
Persons in almshouse.
S
Expense of jail.
$153 40
Expense of almshouse.
... .
.
.
$1,019 20
Number days occupied by term of court.
.. . .
. . .
.
. . . ...
16
.
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THE TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT.
MADISON COUNTY.
Number of voters.
7,637
Breweries .
4
Distilleries
4
Faloons. .
217
Number barrels of spiritnous liquors manufactured.
658
Beer manufactured ..
10,185
Convicts sent to State prison.
10
Persons sent to almshouse.
395
Expense of jail ..
$4,020 08
Expense of almshouse.
$7,498 92
Number days occupied by term of court.
75
ST. CLAIR COUNTY.
Number of voters
12,000
Breweries, about.
11
Distilleries
2
Salcons
317
Number of barrels of spirituous liquors manufactured.
3,650
Beer manufactured.
54,076
Convicts sent to State prison.
22
Number of persons committed to jail.
150
Persons in almshouse.
125
Expense of jail, about.
$4,500
Expense of almshouse.
$10,920
Total expense of pauperism, about. $15,920
120 to 150
With these we will compare four temperance, or no license, counties :
PLATT COUNTY.
Number of voters
3,600
Breweries.
0
Distilleries
0
Saloons .
0
Convicts sent to State prison .
0
Persons committed to jail (belonging to the county).
0)
Persons maintained in almshouse .
8
Expense of jail.
0
Almshouse or county farm, partly self-sustaining.
43
{Time largely spent on old cases; only three new ones.)
All the towns are out of debt and have money in the treasury. The calaboose built in saloon times at the county seat is now of no use, except as a lodging place for tramps. The sidewalks of Monticello are said to be the best of any town of its size in the state. Some of us have been hearing for years that we owe our sidewalks to the revenue from the liquor traffic.
WAYNE COUNTY.
Number of voters.
4,800
Breweries
0
Distilleries.
0
Saloons.
. . .....
Number days occupied by term of court ..
Number of days occupied by terms of court, from.
176
HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
Number convicts sent to State prison.
0
Persons committed to jail. ..
7
Persons maintained in almshouse.
18
Expense of jail ..
$52 00
Expense of almshouse. .
$850 00
Number days occupied by terms of court.
38
WABASH COUNTY.
Number of voters
2,000
Breweries.
0
Distilleries
0
Saloons. .
0
Convicts sent to State prison .. .
1
Persons committed to county jail.
11
Persons committed to city jail.
22
Number of persons maintained. in almshouse, average.
6
Expense of county jail.
$404 26
Expense of city jail.
$200 00
Expense of pauperism for the whole county. .
$800 00
Number days occupied by terms of court.
7
EDWARDS COUNTY.
Number of voters, near.
1,700
Breweries
0
Distilleries.
0
Saloons.
0
Convicts sent to State prison
0
Persons committed to jail.
5
Expense of jail.
$52 00
Total expense of paupers and temporary relief for the destitute ..
$2,256 68
CHAPTER IX.
PATRIOTISM OF PIATT COUNTY.
* *
'Mid storm of shot and shell, Contending nobly for the right, Her heroes fought and fell !
For in the battle's fiercest shock, Where charging squadrons met,
Where gory sabers rose and fell, Where gleamed the bayonet, Where the dying and the dead Most thickly strewed the ground,
Amid the thickest of the fight, Her sons were ever found !
All honor to her noble slain, To her heroic dead ;
Soft be the turf, and bright be the flowers, Above their lowly bed! The story of their gallant deeds, Engraved on history's page, To future ages shall descend, A priceless heritage !"
T THIS has ever been a patriotic county. Alnost ever since its organi- zation, Fourth of July celebrations have been held at the county- seat. Judge Emerson delivered the first Fourth of July oration in the county in 1837, and his toast on that occasion, "May this Monticello bring forth another Jefferson," is yet remembered by many of the older citizens. Of late years not only has Monticello held celebrations on the day mentioned, but Bement and almost all the towns of the county have shown their individual patriotism.
The citizens of this small portion of the state's territory are justly proud of the part Piatt county played in the rebellion. It has been published more than once that this was the banner county of the state for sending soldiers to the war in proportion to its population. Piatt county even outranked Illinois in this particular. Reckoning on the census of 1860 as a basis, Illinois sent out 100 soldiers for every 742 inhabitants, while Piatt county sent out 100 men for every 580 inhab-
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
itants. Out of a population of 6,124 Piatt county sent out 1,055 soldiers, which was 240 men in excess of the county's share.
In no better way can we portray the patriotic spirit of the county than in quoting some from a speech by our fellow-citizen, Mr. C. D. Moore.
Referring to the late war he remarked : "It is difficult for us to realize what our little county did. It is easy enough for us to read the simple statement that Piatt county sent out 1,055 men, but that, when compared with the vast armies that were marshalled upon the field of strife, is a very insignificant number. It can only be made a large number in a relative sense. Suppose there were 2,500 to 3,000 of the able-bodied men of the county drawn up and ready to march from the county to-day. Think, if you can, what a depletion that would make in the present population of the county. Why that number of mnen would have made, in the days of the revolution, a very respectable army, a rather formidable force ; and yet the number would be no greater in proportion to population than 1,055 was at that time."
While it is true that Piatt county takes a position in the front rank, and the same is easy to say, "yet the full brightness and glory of that record cannot be seen and fully appreciated without taking into con- sideration a fact or two. Piatt county more than filled her quota, and that, too, without a draft. She did her duty by making au enrollment of all her able-bodied men, according to law, yet she passed through the fiery ordeal without even the 'smell of the draft being found on her garments.'"
"' Not one of that brave band of 1,055 men were induced to go to the front by the offer of a bounty. No bounties were necessary. The only thing in the shape of a local inducement held out was that the county, through the authorities, guaranteed the protection of their families while they were absent at the front doing battle for the right. This guarantee was made good by the county. No, there were no drafted men or bounty-jumpers among them. They were volunteers, in the highest and noblest sense of the term. They saw that the nation's life was in jeopardy ; they saw the uplifted hand of treason prepared to strike at her vitals; they beheld her in a deadly grapple with gigan- tic rebellion ; they heard her call for help, and bravely and heroically answered that call. To them it was no holiday parade, no boy's play, but work-earnest, terribly earnest work. They placed their lives upon their country's altar, and dedicated their best energies to the preserva- tion of the country's integrity, the vindication of the nation's houor,
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PATRIOTISM OF PIATT COUNTY.
All
and the re-establishment of the glory and supremacy of our flag. honor to the soldiers of Piatt county."
War Incidents and Anecdotes .- In this connection we cannot refrain from relating a few items that have come under our notice relative to life in the army. We give almost verbatim the majority of war incidents that have been given to us. Doubt- less these few will awaken in the minds of the readers many equally interesting tales that might be told, yet the following will serve . as examples of the alternating grave and humorous sides of army life.
A soldier of the Mexican war now living in this county remembers a little joke on a Dutch sentinel. While on duty the sentinel heard some one coming, and called out "Who comes there?" The answer came, "A friend." The sentinel called, "Halt! You cannot pass until you give the countersign, which is Mexico."
In the early days of the late war a number of men in this county organized themselves into a company for drilling purposes, and styled themselves "The Home Guard." Their object was to be the better prepared when their turn came to enlist in the army. One morning, when the men were drawn up ready for drill, the captain suddenly read an order or telegram for men to go to the war. The captain then spoke to the men, asking all who could answer the call at once to ride forward. Alas, where was the patriotism of the men ? One lone horse struggled forward against the will of the rider, and Joseph Mallory's credit was saved. It was soon discovered that the order to the front was a false one, and the order of the Home Gnards was revived. They resolved next time not to show such tardy patriotism, and they kept their word. The joke was too good, however, to be soon forgotten.
Another organization, known as the Home Guards, was made in the county, in the southeastern township. The object of the organization was the protection of the people. One of the ladies of the vicinity reported the fact that she saw some rebels making an embankment preparatory to an attack on the neighborhood. Further observations were made, and, sure enough, one of the guards reported seeing the confederates, as he supposed. The information seemed to be sufficient to call out the company. After numerous deployments in sight of the supposed rebels, the captain gave the order to "open fire." After a few minutes of rapid firing they were ordered to advance. The advance was anxiously made, and the enemy was discovered to be-dead sheep. It afterward was found out that the lady giving the first alarm had only seen a man in the distance fixing fence.
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