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 40
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Harshbarger has in his possession a Seth Thomas clock which has kept good time for fifty years.
MR. SAMUEL HARSHBARGER, farmer, was born in Ohio in 1811. He moved from Ohio to Montgomery county, Indiana, in 1823, and from there to Piatt county in 1837. He was married in Indiana, to Sarah Quick, who had eleven children, seven of whom are living. Clarrissa was the wife of Nathaniel Shonkwiler. Aaron married Arvilla Wildman, who had seven children. He moved to Texas, and next married Jennie Romine. His third wife was a Miss Waters. Elizabetlı Harshbarger married Alfred Taylor (now deceased), and las five children. She lives in Champaign county. Ambrose Harsh- barger married Margaret Richardson and lives on the old homestead place. They have six children, Samuel, Caroline, who married Wm. Taylor, and lives in Douglas county, Lucy, Effie, Williamn and Henry. Jefferson Harshbarger married Francis Sexton and has four children. He lives in Champaign county. Isaac married Mary J. Goff. He has a large family of children, and lives at Atwood. Samuel married Eminazilla Wildman, and lives in Unity township. . They have a family of children, some of whose names are : Della, Arthur, Clara B. and Reuben Horace. Naomi Harshbarger is the wife of David Corell, a sewing machine agent of Bement. They have two children living, May and William. Sylvia Harshbarger, deceased, was the wife of David Cade, of Douglas county. He was married again in 1881, and lives in Champaign county. The death of the first Mrs. Harshbarger occurred in 1853. Mr. Harshbarger next married Mrs. Melissa Holden, the widow of an old settler in that part of the county. She died about 1870, and Mr. Harshbarger took for his third wife Miss Eliza Randolph. The second year after Mr. Harshbarger
moved to the county, there were seven families in the neighborhood, and at one time every member of the seven families was sick except himself and son Aaron. Mr. Harshbarger had to leave the sick and go to mill at Eugene, Indiana, seventy miles distant. Before going he threshed the grain by having the horses tramp it. He was gone eight days, and upon his return did not expect to find all the family alive. Mr. Harshbarger relates one of his deer hunts in the following manner : "I was standing in the woods on a log when I saw a big buck coming toward me. I let him come close and then shot. The gun cracked and the deer came bawling and jumping toward me, and I-climbed up a sapling." Mr. Harshbarger has long been regarded a "bee hunter." He has worked with bees ever since he was
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
fifteen years old. He has had bees every year since. He lias made hundreds of dollars with his bees alone. He has found at least seventy bee-trees in his lifetime. The most honey he ever got out of a tree was ten gallons after it was strained. Mr. Harshbarger was ordained a minister in the Christian church in 1843, and has preached on a large circuit extending throughout this county and into Macon, DeWitt, Champaign, Vermilion, Douglas and Moultrie counties. He has evidently done a great deal of good in his lifetime, and his kindly countenance and earnest words indicate that he will do much more yet.
MR. MICHAEL O. HARSHBARGER, farmer, near Atwood, is a native of Indiana. and came to Piatt county in 1837. He was married October 30, 1862, to Emeline Stevens, who died in 1865, leaving one boy, Charles M. He next married Arvilla Whetsel in 1869. She had two children, Dora May and John Lee. Mr. Harshbarger owns about 460 acres of land, part of which lies in Douglas county. He has evidently been a hardworking man, as the result of his labors shows. In 1876 he built. one of the finest houses in the county. It contains fifteen rooms and cost $8,000. The brick for the house were made on his own farm. He burnt some 180,000 brick and sold enough to pay for putting up the walls of his house. This is an example of thrift and energy not often shown in this country. In 1881 he built one of the best frame barns in the county. It is 68×60 feet, is two story, will hold sixteen horses and contain one hundred ton of hay. Mr. Harshbarger has made his money by farming and raising stock. When he was married he had $600 and some land which his father, Mr. Daniel Harshbarger, gave him. In conversing with Mr. Harsh- barger we quite readily discovered strong filial devotion, which most men of his age, if they have it, are quite successful in covering up. Since taking the above notes from Mr. Harshbarger, we have regretted to hear that his wife died on January 9, 1882.
MR. RICHARD HELTON, merchant, was born in 1822, in North Caro- lina. His parents were natives of the same state, from which they moved to Wayne county, Indiana, sixteen miles in the woods from Newport. They, with eight children, landed at this place between Christmas and New Year's, and the snow was knee-deep. They lived here beside a big log and a camp-fire until spring, hauling all pro- visions on a one-horse sled from Newport. Mr. Helton moved to Douglas county in 1857 or 1858. He was married in 1838, to Ann Willis. . They have lived for ten or twelve years in Piatt county. He
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was the first person who built a house in Atwood. His store was the first in the town and he opened the first grain office in the place. Henry Helton and wife, née Josephine Willingham, have one child, and live in Douglas county. Joel married Francis Smitson and is a grain trader in Atwood. Alexander married Mary Faulhaber, lives in At- wood and is also a grain dealer. He has three children, Birdie and Gertie, twins, and Alfred. George and Rebecca, the youngest daughter, lives at home. Janie married Thomas Barnes, a carpenter, and lives in Atwood. Mr. Helton is a member of the masonic order and of a life insurance society.
MR. J. A. HAWKS, a miller and tile maker, of Mackville, is of English and German descent, and is a native of New York. He came west in 1869. He taught school at Mackville for four terms after he first came to the county. He was in the general merchandise business for a time with Mr. Gross and then began milling. In 1876 lie bought the mill which Griggs & Marshall had built. He was married in 1877, to Mary Mitchell, a native of Ohio. They reside in Mackville and have no children. Mr. Hawks went to the war from New York, in Battery G, 3d N. Y. Lt. Art. Roanoke Island, Plymouth and Kingston were the principal battles in which he engaged. He was never wounded, but was taken prisoner and was one month bby prison. Mr. Hawks has been superintendent of a Sunday school and township treasurer and supervisor.
MR. S. V. HAGEMAN, hardware merchant, Hammond, is a native of Pike county, Illinois. He moved from there to Logan county in 1863 or 1864, and in 1875 settled on a farm in Piatt county. After staying there five years he left his farm, not selling it, however, and moved into Hammond, built a store building and, with his brother, A. J. Hageman, opened a hardware and grocery store in June, 1881. He was married in 1874, to Lizzie Rathbun, of Pike county. They have had three children, two of whom are living, Oscar Y. and Silas.
MR. JOHN W. KAGEY, a farmer of Unity township, is a native of Virginia. He moved from that state to Illinois in 1869, and in 1870 moved to Piatt county. In 1876 he bought his present home of 80 acres. He was married in 1865, to Mollie E. Shaver, a native of Virginia. Two children, B. Frank and C. Claudius, have blessed their union.
MR. SAMUEL KARICOFE, farmer, Voorhies, was born in Virginia, from which state he moved to Indiana, and thence to Piatt county, where he bought land in 1869, and now owns 160 acres. He was
27
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
married in 1868, to Mary Ann Cummins, and has three children, Minnie, Charles and Sylvester.
MR. T. J. KISER, a lumber merchant of Hammond, is a native of Macon county. He came to Piatt county in 1873, and began his present business. He is school treasurer of his township. He was married in December, 1873, to Eliza Adamson. They have two children, Etlilyn E. and Loran P.
MR. WILLIAM R. KISER came to Piatt county in 1876 and went immediately into partnership with T. J. Kiser in the lumber business. He was married in 1879, to Miss May Baldwin.
MR. JOHN LOVE ("Capt. Love"), a farmer near Hammond, is a native of Pike county, Missouri. His father was a native of South Carolina, and his mother was born in Ireland. They moved from South Carolina to Pike county, Missouri. His father was one of a little colony that went out in 1815, and in 1818 he died in Missouri. Capt. Love's stepfather, Mr. Welch Allison, moved to Macon county in 1834 or 1835, and his mother died near Decatur in 1836. Capt. Love was one of a family of four children. His brother Andrew moved from Decatur to near Lovington, on the old Snyder place. Andrew had a post-office in his house, which was named Lovington. After the town was built it was named the same. Capt. Love came to Macon county from Missouri in 1834, then returned to Missouri, and again in 1835 came to Decatur, and in January, 1836, began clerking for Mr. William Cantrall. After about seven months he began clerking for Renshaw & Finley (afterward Renshaw alone), and remained here for several years. From what we hear of Mr. Love at this time, he must have been considered quite a business manager. Although but eigliteen years old, he had a man's business entrusted to him. His health having failed somewhat, Mr. Love went to his brother's farm, near Lovington, and went into the stock business. He was with his brother most of the time from this on, until his marriage, in 1842, to Charlotte Emerson, a sister of Judge Emerson. He then settled on a farm of his own near Lovington, which place he afterward sold, and moved to Judge Emerson's place, in Macon county. In 1853 he stopped farming, and bought out a little store in Lovington, and remained there till 1856. He sold out then, and somewhat unex- pectedly went to Sullivan, where he remained till 1859, when he sold out. During the year 1860 he was out of business. After his return from the army, he bought a farm in De Witt, and remained there till 1868, when he moved to the farm lie now lives on. He owns all the
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section except 160 acres, which he gave to his daughter. Capt. Love's first wife died in 1869. Their eldest daughter, Mary Ellen, married Dr. J. W. Snyder, and they, with their two children, live in Gilman. M. Jennie married John R. Cantrall (see his name). Mr. C. H. Love married Adaline Evans, and lives in Christian county. They have two children. He helped Mr. C. D. Moore to lay out the town of Hammond, and was the second grain merchant in the place. Capt. Love was married in '1871, to Sarah A. Cooper, a native of Iowa. Her mother, sixty years of age, is living with Mrs. Love. Her parents moved to Iowa in 1844, in which state her father died, after which her mother moved to Sangamon county. On June 28, 1861, Mr. Love went to the army as captain of Co. E of the 21st Ill., Grant's own regiment, organized from the seventh congressional district. He did a great deal of traveling about, but was in only one regular battle, that of Frederickstown. He was taken sick with a severe attack of pneumonia, and was ultimately discharged because of chronic diarrhea. Although sick, he had been with the company several times. Upon Capt. Love's leaving the regiment the officers and his men gave him articles in sealed envelopes, with the injunction that he was not to open them until he reached Nashville. Upon our urgent and repeated appeals, and against his protestations, we have at last succeeded in gaining his permission to have these testimonials printed in connection with the sketch of his life.
TESTIMONIALS TO CAPT. JOHN LOVE.
CAMP 21ST ILL. VOLS., NEAR MURFREESBORO, TENN.
February 20, 1863.
WHEREAS, Owing to long and almost irreparable ill health, our honored com- rade in arms and fellow officer, Capt. John Love, of Co. E, 21st Ill. Vols., has been compelled to retire from our present field of labor; therefore be it
Resolved, I. That Captain John Love has our warmest sympathies in his afflictions, and that it is with feelings of sincere and profound regret the decrees of an inevitable fate have declared that we must give him the hand of a long and perhaps final farewell.
II. That in Capt. Love we recognize all the attributes of a refined gentleman, an agreeable associate, a noble companion in arms, and that in him the Govern- ment loses one of his brightest ornaments, most valuable, patriotic, devoted and faithful in all of his duties.
III. That bidding adieu to our old associate- the ever faithful companion of all our hardships, privations and dangers, such as only a soldier can realize - we can heartily breathe an earnest " God bless you," and when in the future we are , engaged in the arduous duties of the soldiers' life, we will recur with memories of
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
sweet pleasure and an honorable pride to the days and times when Captain Love made one of our number.
IV. That we make this voluntary testimonial to his virtues and moral worth, because such are alone due to the brave, earnest, hopeful and uncompromising defenders of the right-the Government of our Fathers.
Signed by officers
WM. P. CARLIN, Col. Commanding Brigade, 38th Vols. WM. E. McMACHIN, Lieut .- Col. Commanding, 21st Ill. Vols. J. E. CALLOWAY, Major, 21st Ill. Vols.
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W. C. HARRIS, Captain.
WALTER E. CARLIN, Lieut. and Brigade Inspector.
S. VORIS, Brigade Adjutant.
ALBERT WOODBURY, Lieut.
C. B. STEELE, Adj., 21st Ill.
GEO. F. EATON, Capt. Co. A, 21st Ill.
E. D. Cox, 1st Lieut. Co. A, 21st Ill.
J. P. H. STEVENSON, Capt. Co. B, 21st Ill. PHILIP WELSHIMER, 1st Lieut. Co. B, 21st Ill.
B. F. REED, Capt. Co. D, 21st Ill.
J. S. TAYLOR, 2d Lieut. Co. D, 21st Ill.
JNO. A FREELAND, 1st Lieut. Co. E, 21st Ill.
DAVID S. BLACKBURN, Capt. Co. F, 21st Ill.
J. W. VANCE, 1st Lieut. Co. F, 21st Ill. W. J. HUNTER, 2d Lieut. Co. F, 21st Ill.
A. GEORGE, Capt. Co. G, 21st Ill.
A. W. SONGER, 1st Lieut. Co. G, 21st Ill.
EDWIN HARLAN, Capt. Co. H, 21st Ill.
N. S. McKEEN, 1st Lieut. Co. H, 21st Ill. CHAS. HOWE, 1st Lieut. Co. I, 21st Ill. J. S. Cox, 2d Lieut. Co. I, 21st Ill.
J. L. WILSON, 1st Lieut. Co. K, 21st Ill.
E. M. SEELEY, Surgeon, 21st Ill.
E. D. WILKIN, Chaplain, 21st Ill.
J. E. JONES, Quartermaster, 21st Ill. DICK L. SMITII, 2d Lieut., 21st Ill.
MEMORIAL OF RESPECT.
Presented to Capt. Love on the morning of his departure from Co. E 21st Ill. Vols.
About to take farewell of your company and rejoin your family in Illinois, it may be a pleasure to yourself and friends, that your company thus express their lasting friendship and esteem for one who has been so long their captain, and our serious regret for the misfortune, and sympathy for the long and lingering sick- ness that has at length deprived us of one whom we will so sadly miss.
We shall always admire the high sense of duty that stamped all your actions ; try to imitate the purity of morals and principles that characterized all your con- duct; reflect the indefatigable zeal that has always actuated in all your effort to suppress this foul rebellion; and feel grateful for the anxious care you always
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manifested even in your sickness for your company. In you we feel not only the loss of an earnest, dutiful officer, but a sincere, tried and impartial friend. While we remain in the field with a determination to fight to the last, the execrable friends' fiends of this hideous rebellion, we hope health may be restored, that your life may be spared for many years of usefulness, that you may long enjoy the sweets of social intercourse, a blessing to your family, an honor to your friends.
JOIN A. FREELAND, 1st Lieut. Co. E, 21st Ill.
RICHARD BENETT,
JNO. W. NAZWORTIIY, Serg. Co. E, 21st Ill. GEO. W. LYNN, Serg. Co. E, 21st Ill.
WILLIAM MILLISON,
EZEKIEL NORRIS,
A. W. McPHEETERS.
ALFORD NASH,
J. H. McGUIRE, Corp. Co. E, 21st Ill.
JAS. A. FRUIT, Corp. Co. E, 21st Ill.
JAS. M. MOORE, Corp. Co. E, 21st. Ill.
PERRY HOSKINS,
ENOCH WALKER, Corp. Co. E, 21st Ill.
JAS. H. NAZWORTHY,
SAMUEL BOGGS, Corp. Co. E, 21st Ill.
JAS. R. DUNCAN,
A. M. ASIIMORE,
JNO. WILBURN,
CHISTOPHER BICK,
J. B. REESE, JEFFERSON BROWN,
H. A. SMITH,
A. M. BONE,
ROBERT BEAN.
THOMAS SMITH, MORGAN J. RAY,
PETER CORFER,
DAVID P. CLARK,
ANDREW K. BONE,
DANIEL CLIFFORD, HENRY BAKER,
E. HANEY,
JNO. ABBOTT,
GEO. W. SHERWOOD,
MORRIS MACKABOY,
J. A. MITCHELL,
W. H. HOSKINS.
A. M. MITCIIELL,
MARLETUS HILL,
THOMAS FARREL,
MOSES HILL, JAMES HILL,
FINIS E. KENNEDY,
W. I. C. MCCLURE,
JOHN E. HINES,
GEO. K. JENKINS,
JNO. GAULDING, PATRICK KENEDY,
GEO. P. McDOWELL.
MR. JOHN LOWE, farmer, is a native of Kentucky. He moved from there direct to Illinois in 1861, and to Piatt county in 1869. He lived for a time in Sangamon township. He married Sarah T. Atkin, who has three children, Edward, Willian and Albert, living. Mr. Lowe went to the army from Vermilion county in Co. B of the 25th Ill. He was out four years, serving one year in the 149th reg. He engaged in the battles of Pea Ridge, Perryville, Murfreesborough, Mission Ridge, and also those of the Atlanta campaign. He was never wounded or taken prisoner.
MR. T. F. LIVENGOOD, farmer and minister, is of German descent, and was born in 1830, in North Carolina. He moved from there to Indiana, and thence to Moultrie county, Illinois, and to Piatt in 1861. He married Catharine Pearson, of Indiana, in 1850. His son, Athan
E. M. McGUIRE,
W. B. THOMPSON,
PETER BURG,
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
A., married Margaret Moore, and lives in Champaign county. David F. married Barbara Meeker, and lives in Douglas county. Permelia is the wife of Vincent Quick, and has two children, Oscar and Lena. The names of the remaining children are Mathias E., Albert, Sarah, Lilley, Cora, Ella Pauline and Addie. Mr. Livengood was ordained as a minister in the Christian church in 1866. He formerly preached on a circuit running through Champaign, Piatt, De Witt, Moultrie, Doug- las and Vermilion counties. Now he travels only in Douglas, Ver-
milion, Champaign and Piatt counties. He has organized seven churches in Champaign county, where most of his preaching has been done, one in DeWitt and one in Piatt county. When he settled in this section of the country he found the people hospitable. At an early day here the people always called upon the new settlers, congratulating them on coming into the county. Mr. Livengood preached his first sermon in the Taylor school-house in Douglas county. Upon our ask- ing him in regard to the first couple he married in this county, he said: "I remember how I was scared, but don't remember their names." He told us of once going fifteen miles, swimming the West Okau and traveling bad roads, to marry a couple. He says he " had a good time otherwise, but got no pay." Since he was ordained a minister he has made an average of one hundred conversions each year. The largest amount he has ever received in one year from one church has been $140; the least amount, nothing.
MR. WILLIAM G. LEAVITT, farmer, Hammond, was born in 1825, in New Hampshire. He was married in his native state, to Mary French, a widow. They had ten children, eight of whom are living. Sarah and Margaret are married and living in New Hampshire. Har- riet, the wife of V. C. Sleeper, lives in Wellington, Kansas, and has three children. Abbey married Scott Moonan; has six children, Willie Walter, Fred, Park, Charles and Sarah. James William is married, has one child, and lives in Cerro Gordo township. Herbert married Elnora Simms, has one child, and lives in Kansas. Harry W. and Luther M. are living at home. Mrs. Leavitt died in 1872, and Mr. Leavitt, in 1873, was married to Mrs. Mary T. Osgood. Mr. Leavitt, upon moving from New Hampshire, settled in Menard county, from which place he moved to Piatt county, and bought the half section of land upon which he still lives. At present, however, he owns 240 acres of land. He improved the farm himself, and has planted out at least five hundred trees.
MR. WILLIAM A. LISTON, carpenter and farmer, of Hammond, was
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born in Ohio in 1822. He moved from that state to Macon county, Illinois, in 1859, and to Piatt county in 1872. At a previous time lie moved into Piatt county, but only remained two years. He was justice of the peace for about six years. About 1843 he and Phebe Cooper, born in Ohio in 1825, united their lives, and ten children, nine of whom are living, is the result of their union. Jeremiah E. was killed in the late war ; Rachel L. is married and lives in Maroa ; Albert is married and lives in Missouri ; William is in Decatur ; Sarah C. is mar- ried to N. B. Wallace, and lives in southern Illinois ; Walter H. is a barber in Decatur, while Joseph, Jacob, Matthew and Zarelda A. are at home.
MR. J. W. LYNCHI, blacksmitlı, Hammond, is a native of this state, and moved from southern Illinois to Christian county, and thence to Piatt county in 1868. He was raised a blacksmith, and was the second blacksmith in Hammond, having bought out George Ragland, of that place. Mr. Lynch first married Miss Nancy Booker, who died, after having one child, William Henry. He next married Elizabeth Balmer, who is the mother of six children, Edward, Sally, Jolın, Myrtie, James and Charles.
MR. JESSE MONROE (deceased), a farmer, was born in Maryland. His father was a soldier in the revolution. He married Sarah Gordon, a native of Ohio. Her father was a captain in a spy company in the revolutionary war. At an early day, 1828, Mr. and Mrs. Monroe settled in Indiana. Later, in 1836, after some of their family were married, they moved to Piatt county, Illinois, to help locate their children. William Monroe and James Utterback came and entered land for themselves and Mr. Jesse Monroe, in 1836, which was the first entry of land in Unity township. Mr. Monroe, the subject of our sketch, had seven daughters and six sons. Four of his sons died in their youth. At the time of his settling in this county, four of the children were married. Two of them, however, moved with their father, and the others came at a later date. William Monroe married Sarah J. Moore in Indiana, and moved to Piatt . county in 1836. Eliza married Mr. William Crain, and lived on what is yet often called the Crain farm, although owned by a near dozen different persons. She had three boys and two girls. Harvey married Cynthia Lane, of Indiana. After living two years in this county, he moved to Indiana, where, after coming home from the army, he died, leaving three children. Sarah E. married Samuel Hamilton, and moved into Douglas county. They have three
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HISTORY OF PIATT COUNTY.
children. John Crain is married, and lives on a part of the Crain farm (see his name). Emily married John Clapp, and lives on the old Crain homestead. Frank Crain, now of Gainesville, Texas, was married in 1874, to Mary E. Layson, who died in 1877. He next married Lizzie Tutin, a native of Wisconsin. They have one daughter. He went to Texas in 1877, and is a stock dealer there. Martha Monroe married Mr. James Utterback in Indiana, and moved to Piatt county in 1836. They lived in this county for about twenty years, and then moved to Iowa, where he has become quite a wealthy and prominent citizen. Ruth Monroe married Mr. Samuel Mosbarger, and lives in Douglas county. They have seven children, all grown .. Sarah Monroe and Mr. Joseph Taylor married about 1838, and were the first couple married in Unity township. The wedding ceremony was performed on the place where Richard Monroe now lives. Mrs. Taylor married Mr. Thomas Goodson, and now lives in Tuscola. Nancy Monroe married Ezra Fay (see his name). Lydia Monroe married Mr. John Cook, and moved to Champaign. Both are dead. Two of their daughters married, but died of consumption, each leaving one child. Three of Mr. Cook's sons are living. Richard Monroe lives on the old homestead place (see his name). Mary E. Monroe married Mr. Gamalial Gregory (see his. name). Two of Mr. Jesse Monroe's children, Jesse, Richard's twin brother, who died at the age of fourteen, and Harrison H., died within two days of eath other, and were the first ones buried in Unity township.
MR. WILLIAM MONROE, formerly a resident farmer in this county, moved back to Indiana in 1865 and has remained there since. He was married January 28, 1835, to Sarah J. Moore. They have never had any children, but have done their share of taking care of others' children. During their married life they have had in charge as many as thirty-four children, sending twenty-two of them to school. Eight girls have been married from their house. The first winter, 1836-7, that Mr. Monroe spent in Piatt county he lived in the same house with Mr. James Utterback and family. On January 8, 1837, he moved into his own house, a log cabin 16×18 feet. The cabin was not yet complete. The roof was on and the floor laid, but a bed-quilt served as a door, while the fireplace was only built half-way to the mantle- piece and the hearth was not filled up. Two elm logs were thrown in the back of the fireplace to build the fire against, and in lieu of chairs and table Mr. and Mrs. Monroe sat in front of the fireplace on the edge of the floor, having their food placed on the floor between them.
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