USA > Illinois > Pike County > History of Pike County. A centennial address delivered by Hon. William A. Grimshaw, at Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, July 4, 1876 > Part 4
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THE BATTLE GROUND OF THE GIANTS
This county was famous for the political and forensic discussions of Lincoln, Douglas, John T. Stewart, D. M. Woodson, Orville H. Browning, Archy Williams, William Thomas, A. W. Cavalry, Judge Lyman Trumbull, E. D. Baker, Governors Yates, Palmer, and Oglesby, James Robertson, James Allen, Alexander Starne, Colonel Richardson, and numerous other public men have addressed the Court and popular assemblies in this county.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
YOUNGER AMERICA
Milton Hay, now ranking high as a lawyer at Springfield, resided here in his earlier days and was at our bar. He has since been in a Con- stitutional Convention and in the Legislature of the State.
John G. Nicholay edited the Free Press here, and has been Secretary to President Lincoln, Consul to Paris, and is now Marshal of the Supreme Court of the United States at Washington.
THE JUDICIARY
This county has had many good, useful and able men in the office of Probate Judge, thereafter called County Judge.
Abraham Beck was the first Judge, and the first estate administered upon was that of Peter Bourke-John Shaw, administrator-Belus Jones and Barnabas Haines, securities. The caption of letters issued ran as follows: "The People of the State of Illinois, by the Grace of God free and independent." The letters were dated May 21, A. D. 1821.
Second Judge, Nicholas Hanson.
Third Judge, William Ross-May 1st, 1823, to July, 1825-court being held at Atlas.
Fourth Judge, George W. Haight-from July, 1825, to January, 1827. Fifth Judge, William Ross-from January, 1827, to December, 1834.
Sixth Judge, M. E. Rattan-first term of court held by him, January 2', 1835.
Seventh Judge, William Watson-first term, April 1, 1837. Eighth Judge, D. B. Bush-first term November 6, 1837.
Ninth Judge, Parvin Paullin-first term October 7, 1839. Tenth Judge, I. B. Donaldson-first term October 2, 1843. Eleventh Judge, James Ward-first term August, 1847. Twelth Judge, Charles Harrington-first term December, 1853. Thirteenth Judge, Alfred Grubb-first term December, 1857. Fourteenth Judge, John W. Allen-first term November 21, 1861. Fifteenth Judge, R. M. Atkinson-first term November 24, 1865.
Sixteenth Judge, Strother Grigsby-first term December, 1873-and now in office.
The Circuit Court of Pike county, as part of the State system of Courts, has been presided over by many Judges at different periods from 1821 to 1876, men of upright characters and extended judicial fame. Pike county has been in several Judicial Circuits at different periods.
THE SYSTEM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
This was first by County Commissioners, three in number. Of these many were efficient, and none ever guilty of peculation. In 1857 a town- ship organization was adopted, as permitted by general laws of the State. Until 1876 twenty-one political townships existed. In the latter year Levee Township was organized for political and school purposes.
Under this system the county affairs have been well managed. No startling acts have been done endangering the public business affairs, and much has been effected to advance the county by a wise administration of her affairs, by the Board of Supervisors, of whom many have been wise as local and county officers.
THE CIRCUIT COURT
This is the leading court; his general, civil, common law and equity jurisdiction, with jurisdiction in criminal cases. The Hon. C. L. Higbee
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
is the able and dignified judge, unsurpassed in the State or elsewhere, for his legal ability and for dispatch of business.
George W. Jones is now, and has been at several periods, Clerk of this court, and is an able, upright officer.
James H. Crane has been Clerk of this court, and is now an efficient and gentlemanly deputy clerk in the office of Mr. Jones.
J. J. Topliff, M. D., now resident of Griggsville, was predecessor of Jones, and was a very gentlemanly, honest officer.
EXECUTION FOR MURDER
It may be well to mention that up to this Centennial year, but one execution for murder has been carried out under sentence of the law since Pike county has been of its present reduced limits.
LAND SUITS
Many and serious land suits have been decided in our courts. THE COUNTY COURT
This has jurisdiction as a Probate Court, and likewise in appellate cases of civil and criminal nature from justices of the peace, and has ori- ginal civil jurisdiction of cases, such as a justice has, but higher in amount, up to $500.
The present judge is Hon. Strother Grigsby, who fills the office with dignity and impartiality. His decisions are sound and acceptable. He was a member of the bar.
Richard M. Atkinson, who is a member of the bar, was an upright and able judge in this court for several years, immediately before the term of Judge Grigsby.
We will file a list of the earlier County or Probate Judges and the dates of their terms of office.
All who served in that office were respected and proved to be honest men.
SCHOOLS
Of course, at the earliest days and for many years, there were none.
The earliest we know of was at Atlas, and the first brick school' house was likely there, long used as a meeting house by the few religious denominations. Gradually schools sprung up over the county and a com- mendable zeal for education has existed, especially since the public school system was adopted by the Illinois Legislature.
Griggsville erected, about twenty years since, a spacious and sightly two-story brick house which was burned, and is replaced by one similar to the former. In these have been kept large and excellent schools.
Pittsfield, in 1861, began and in about two years completed a very handsome two-story brick school house now in use, and containing a base- ment and eight spacious rooms for schools, all filled at times with scholars. It is conducted under the graded system of instruction and has a high or advanced school, teaching languages and sciences. Its principles and teachers have been of a high order of merit.
Brick or spacious frame houses exist in all the large towns in the county, and numerous sightly and well built school houses abound and are in view every few miles in all parts of the county.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
The pecuniary support is derived from local funds, in part from the land grant of the United States, of a section to each township; by taxa- tion by the school officers, and by a pro rata from a fund raised by legis- lative provision periodically.
The schools are free to all children from six to twenty years of age. The aforesaid houses in Pittsfield, Griggsville and other localities are successors of more simple or rude structures.
NEWSPAPERS IN PIKE
The Sucker began in 1842, and was the earliest published in the county. Its proprietor. and editor was Michael J. Noyes, a remarkable man, of frank manners, industrious, shrewd, of fair education, honest in his business. In early life as a land surveyor he laid off land for the United States under contract, when original surveys were made. He was a native of New Hampshire, and true to the views of his Northern ances- try, was an advocate of freedom. He was, before removing to this county, clerk of the circuit court of Pike County, Missouri. He died respected and honored, a leading officer in the Masonic fraternity, and leaving his wife, the partner of his early life, and a numerous family.
The Free Press was established in lieu of the Sucker. The first number it dated Pittsfield and Griggsville, Monday, April 13, 1846, pub- lished every Thursday (thereafter). Its second number is dated Thurs- day, April 23; editors and proprietors Z. N. Garbutt and M. H. Abbott. It was a Whig paper.
The Sentinel, established in 1845, by T. G. Trumbull and G. W. Smith, the former as editor. After it ceased its material and patronage went to the Union.
The Pike County Union, established on April 25, 1849, by John S. Roberts as editor and proprietor. That merged into the Pike County Democrat. Mr. Roberts has filled several responsible lucrative positions, and is now a justice of the peace in Pittsfield.
The Pike County Democrat was published under that name, and com- menced in May, 1857. Milton Abbott was editor and proprietor. He sold out, and it is yet continued by J. M. Bush, at Pittsfield, vigorously con- ducted. It advocates the doctrine of the Democratic party and has a large circulation.
T. G. Trumbull, editor of the Sentinel, was a member of the bar of Illinois. He came from Connecticut, and was a nephew of the celebrated painter, Col. Trumbull, of Washington's military family. T. G. Trumbull had but little business at the bar. He was peculiar, and if asked about early rising expressed himself, "That it was not best to be about until the world was well aired by the uprisen sun." His health was feeble, his instincts gentlemanly, his education good, and retiring habits. He has long been buried near Pittsfield. He had no relatives in this vicinity.
The Radical, for a brief time published as the exponent of a senti- ment. It was edited with vini, by Major Charles S. Sellon. He was after- wards a vigorous and useful editor of the Illinois State Journal, published at Springfield, Illinois. His bravery led him to the front, and he served for a short time in the Union Army. By deafness he was physically dis- qualified for army life. He died a young man, mourned by his family and many friends. He is buried in the graveyard of St. Stephen's Church Pittsfield, Ill. He was a son of the Rev. Mr. Sellon of New York.
The Radical was reduced like a razed vessel, until it was The Radi, under command of O. W. Topliff, and lasted only a short time.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
The Pike County Journal was the offspring of the Free Press, and was established by Daniel B. Bush, Jr., in 1860, and edited by him until a sale thereof to Robert McKee. The Old Flag took the place of the fournal.
The Old Flag was the successor of the Pike County Journal, and owes its name to its first editor, Robert McKee, who was an able man when at his post. Its first issue was in the first week in March, 1868. This paper yet supports ably the principles of the Republican party. Robert Criswell, once a spicy editor thereof, is now in the far West. It is now owned by Messrs. Jas. Criswell and Jas. Gallagher, the latter being its efficient editor. It has a liberal patronage.
The Barry Adage, published weekly, is in it; second or third year. The Griggsville Reflector is now two or three years old.
The Milton Beacon is now in its second year.
The newspapers published in this county have issued only once a week.
EXPORTS OF THE FARM
This county is unsurpassed for its winter wheat. Large quantities are exported as flour and wheat. Beef and pork are staple commodities, and yield an immense revenue to the farmers. Corn is a most abundant crop and enters largely into commerce. Grass and hay are produced with- out stint.
Fruits of all kinds, great and small, abound. The apple corp when shipped yields a great income.
PIKE COUNTY OF 1876
Pike County in 1876 is composed of territory bounded on the south by the peninsula of Calhoun county, stricken off from the original terri- tory of Pike; beginning on the south and embracing range seven south of the base line, and west of the fourth principal meridian; meandering the Illinois River for its Eastern boundary, and then north, including Township three south two west, fronting on the river, and also including Township three south ranges three and four west; thence west from the southwest corner of Township three south four west, or Fairmount, to the Mississippi River, in Township four south eight west; thence meandering with the channel of said river to the township line of seven south five west in said river, including twenty-six townships and fractional town- ships, laid off for political purposes into twenty-four townships, and designated as follows:
Chambersburg, Perry, Fairmount, Flint, Griggsville, New Salem, Had- ley, Barry, Kinderhook, Levee, Detroit, Newburg, Pittsfield, Derry, Pleas- ant Vale, Montezuma, Hardin, Martinsburg, Atlas, Pearl, Spring Creek, Pleasant Hill. Sixteen of these townships are six miles square, and the fractional townships are of various sizes, as the land is shaped by the flow of the rivers Illinois and Mississippi .- The Illinois running in most places on the borders of the County nearly south; the Mississippi varying by its course the width of the County, from about thirty-eight miles on the north line to about eighteen on the south line, its course being to the southeast.
This County is varied in its surface. Its greatest altitude from the rivers being about three hundred' and ten feet on the summit ridge. Various large water courses flowing to each river furnishing, with living springs which abound, abundance of good water. The soil is much diver-
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
sified. On both rivers and on several large creeks, there is a large acre- age of fine alluvial land, which is productive when properly drained, and much of it required no drainage. The uplands adjacent to the bluffs of the two rivers are rolling, originally mostly timber, now largely in culti- vation. Nearly every Township in the County had much rich and beau- tiful rolling prairie. The growth on a portion of the land, in many town- ships, was black-jack, a species of scrub oak. These were called barrens, but falsely so-called, as some of the finest farming, and especially wheat and grass lands, are in the former barrens.
The productions of the County are diversified. Corn, wheat, oats, rye, and all small grains and grapes grow and with . great luxuriance; sweet and Irish potatoes and all garden vegetables flourish. Fruits of every kind and the lesser berries yield large crops. The County is famed for its fine stock raising qualities.
The minerals are varied and numerous, but none developed to much extent. Abundance of fine stone and some superior quarries exist. There is a species of sandstone which opens out in rectangular figures from natural fissures. Limestone is plentiful. Near Rockport there is stone nearly similar to marble and beautifully veined. Perry and other medi- cinal springs have deserved celebrity. Salt springs exist, but as yet have not availed much for salt producing. It is evident that some races of people have delighted to inhabit this county. Many ancient mounds exist. Stone cises, or coffins, in considerable numbers have been found. and all the implements of the stone age are seen as original here. In a state of nature all the wild fruits of this latitude were abundant, but cul- tivation has done away with them.
The latitude of this county is a little south of Philadelphia, Penn. It is about eighty miles from St. Louis to its southern boundary.
The leading wagon roads of emigrant travel pass through this county.
Numerous old ferries exist on the rivers which once swarmed with emigrant wagons.
The navigable waters of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers on the East and West are yet of immense value to our farmers and business men. These could be used to much greater advantage and less cost for freight, were the boats all properly constructed to avail of the water at its lower stages; presupposing that the National Government improves the rivers by narrowing and deepening the channels, upon the principle of constructing jetties at the mouth of the Mississippi. In the future, great developments will be made of how to manage the mighty rivers to economize and to use the water in times of drouth.
It is possible, we hold, to scour out and thus deepen our rivers in. and bordering on Illinois. Competition will thus increase in the means of transportation as freights increase. Who can foretell the destiny of the West with deeper rivers and sea-going vessels? Perhaps ascending many hundred miles above New Orleans for freights. We confidently anticipate this.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
The public buildings and improvements generally, are very good Moderate in cost-not pretentious in structure.
The first Court House in Pittsfield was a small frame, standing on the alley on the north side of the street facing, and north of the Public It is now used by Joseph Heck as a store. The order for its Square.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
erection was made by the County Commissioners on the 4th day of June. 1833.
The second Court House in Pittsfield. now in use, was built in 1838-9 by County funds, derived from proceeds of sales of town lots of Pittsfield, by the County Commissioners. The first sale was on the 15th day of May, 1833. Subsequent sales were made by the Commissioners of town lots all on the old plat. The first Court House was also built out of proceeds of early sales. The present Court House is a large two-story brick with a dome and high roof. It is in good repair. The court room for the Circuit Court is in the second story, and has two jury rooms on the east thereof.
The first story is used for the County Court and public offices. This house stands in the center of a public square, set out with trees. The plat of ground is three hundred and forty feet square, streets surrounding it. There are fire-proof County offices near the West entrance to the square. It is handsomely enclosed with a plain, painted, wooden fence. Trees are well-grown and mostly of native kinds. Blue grass and white clover clothe the ground.
An ornamental two-story brick jail is upon the Northeast corner of the streets surrounding the square.
These now in use are the second structures of the kind in Pittsfield. The first jail was of brick; it was sold and afterwards burued.
POPULATION AND SETTLEMENT
This County is now densely settled for a farming country, and yet there are lands now . unoccupied, and vast tracts owned and occupied by few families. The county is capable of supporting a very much larger population than is now therein. Its people are from every State in the United States, and from every foreign land, almost, which has sent set- tlers to the middle states, and are intelligent, industrious and enterprising. Public roads lead to all the towns in the county from Pittsfield. Ferries exist at many points on the rivers. There is a railway and wagon road bridge crossing from Pike county to Hannibal, Mo., and a railroad bridge at Louisiana.
TOWNS AND VILLAGES
Pittsfield is the County Seat, and laid out 1833. Railroad here. Griggsville is about the same age. Railroad here.
Barry was Wooster, and is not quite so old. Railroad here. These are the leading towns.
Perry is a beautiful town, once Boonville.
Milton was laid out about 1836, and is a neat village, and has a large flour mill.
Washington was laid out in 1836; is a neat village and has a large flour mill.
Chambersburg is a sightly town.
Kinderhook is handsomely situated; has many good buildings, and is on the H. & N. R. R., and has a large flour mill.
Pleasant Hill is, as its name signifies, and well located. A railroad at its limits, and a large flour mill, business houses and churches in town.
Rockport, on the Sny Carte, for fifty years nearly the site of water mills; is an interesting business location; some neat stores and houses, and a very nice, roomy brick school house ornament it. A large trade has existed there.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
We cannot enumerate all the steam flour mills, but many of the towns have such which we have not specified.
Pleasant Vale, the oldest, and New Canton, are so united as to be one. A flouring mill and the usual shops for trade are run here.
New Hartford and Summer Hill are neat little villages. Postoffices. there, and churches. Very sightly situated, both towns.
Cincinnati, on the Mississippi river, is an old town, but has not grown much. The Sny levee may promote its growth. There are stores and warehouses there, and usual shops.
Atlas, the first town laid out, has lost standing by the removal of the county seat. A pretty situation, but is eclipsed by its neighbor, Rockport and little other than farming is now carried on there.
Detroit, Time and Nebo are all neat little villages, each having one or more churches, and stores and shops. Time and Nebo each have a flour mill.
Florence, first called Augusta, was laid out by Green, Barber, Wor- thington and Davis, and if big hopes could have so made, it would have rivalled Peoria. This was once a place of a good deal of business, and the landing for Pittsfield from steamboats. In 1849 the stampede to Cali- fornia set it back, and it has dwindled ever since.
PERRY AND PERRY TOWNSHIP
Considerate friends, residents thereof, have furnished the following as to that locality and we record the same:
The first settler was Mr. Lovelady, in 1829. David Callis, John Bond, the Akins, Dorsey and Gregory, in 1830. David Johnston and B. L. Mat- thews, in 1832.
Mr. Sutton ( Baptist) preached the first sermon at the residence of Mr. Callis in 1829.
The first school was taught by Miss French in 1831. She now resides in Brown county, Illinois.
The first merchant was J. S. King, who was the first postmaster. Mails then once a week.
The town was laid off in 1834 by Boone Scholl, and called Booneville. The next year relaid by N. M. Jones, and given the name Perry. First brick kiln by Shepardin, 1833. First blacksmith, W. Vanpelt, 1838. Chenowith and Carpenter first Justices of the Peace, 1835.
In 1836 population poured in.
In 1836 Hugh L. Sutphin became resident physician and was after- wards a very worth State Senator. He is dead.
Perry was incorporated in 1851, with but five hundred inhabitants.
BUSINESS HOUSES NOW
Five dry goods stores, two hardware and tin shops, three grocery stores, one foundry, three blacksmith shops, two cabinet shops, six church buildings, a public school house of four departments, and three hundred and fifty pupils, three physicians-Dunn, Harris and Walling-and three shoe shops. This is a sightly town and does a prosperous business.
Mrs. Fifield is postmistress. Mails daily. The Township has four hundred and seventy-five voters and increasing its vote every year.
J. K. Cleveland, who has for many years been on the Grand Jury at intervals, is the leading Justice of the Peace.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
MANUFACTURES
The towns in Pike. Many of them carry on manufactures.
Barry has mills, pork houses of large capacity, blacksmith and other shops, and adjacent a large woolen mill, established by the Messrs. Wike.
Griggsville has a large carriage shop and flour mill, and the usual stores and shops of lesser trades.
Milton has many shops and has a pottery doing considerable business. Handsome stores with large stocks of goods are here open.
Pleasant Hill has mills and tobacco factories. That Township adja- cent is first-class tobacco land, and good for other crops.
New Hartford and Summer Hill each have blacksmith shops and stores. Coopers make barrels here to a large amount.
El Dara has a large flour mill and usual small shops.
Perry has a woolen mill, flour mill, and the usual shops of trades. Chambersburg has a flour mill, stores and usual shops of trades. Kinderhook has a flour mill and usual shops of trades.
Rockport has some shops of trades, and recently a large flour mill was burned. Coopers made or sold a large amount of barrels at this place. Pittsfield has two large and well-equipped flour mills, a woolen mill, three or four wagon shops, two considerable carriage shops, two tobacco factories, and some lesser workers in tobacco, a foundry, several black- smith shops a large factory for fan mills to clean grain and seeds, numer- ous large stores of various kinds; and some subdivision of business exists. The grocery is distinct from dry goods. Stores for finer wear for men and women, and hats, caps and boots exist. Four hardware stores, and all selling more or less machinery. Sale and manufacturing shops of furni- ture are carrying on business, and the lesser trades are carried on. Three drug and medicine stores, shops to sell candy and small wares, and three barber shops.
SOCIETIES
This county has numerous literary and other societies.
The first library was founded in Atlas in 1833-4. Part of the books now exist in the Pittsfield Library, an incorporated institution, the second, of a general nature. It has several hundred, and, perhaps, exceeding one thousand volumes. Libraries exist in other towns.
Pike County has had more than one organization as an Agricultural Society, and one now exists, located at Pittsfield. It has twenty acres or more of beautiful ground on section twenty-five, south of Pittsfield one- half a mile. A Horticultural Society Antiquarian Society, and Old Settlers Society exist.
CHURCHES AND RELIGION
Religion, or the worship of Almighty God, is in high repute.
Houses of worship of brick and frame, and even stone, exist. In all the larger towns will be found the following denominations, and even over the country, a diversity of church fellowship exists. The churches are: Methodist Episcopal, and other styles, as well as German Methodist; Baptist, Presbyterian, Congregational, Christian, Lutheran, Protestant Episcopal, United Brethren, Roman Catholics, and there may be others.
HOTELS IN PITTSFIELD
The Pittsfield House, kept by George T. Edwards on Northwest cor- ner of the Square.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
The Oregon House, kept by Abraham Butz, on Southwest corner of the Square.
The Mansion House, kept by Joel Pennington, south side of the Square. All the foregoing are brick houses.
LIVERY STABLES
George Edwards, on South side of the Square.
James F. Stobie, West of Oregon House-same lot.
Pennington & Co., Southwest corner of the square. All well equip- ped, and carriages, close and open, as well as horses and buggies for hire.
STEAMBOATS
Up to 1833 a boat by. steam was rarely up the rivers-Illinois and Mississippi-more than once in two weeks. Special trips were made to Spring Lake, in Pike, near Atlas, by the William Wallace, and one or two other steamers up to 1835, to carry goods to Atlas and to take out freight.
Now five steamers, elegantly equipped, make daily trips in good stages of water, on the two rivers, unless in winter when ice-bound. But few weeks occur when a daily packet does not ascend the Mississippi for Quincy and above. Packets ply on the Illinois river daily, ascending as high as the canal at LaSalle.
Tow boat steamers run up and down with fleets of large barge-like boats, with grain, stone and lumber on the Illinois river; these being the freights descending.
The mode of navigation in an earlier day was in keel boats with poles and by cordelling; and descending, only flat bottom boats and rafts were floated down stream.
COUNTY SURVEYORS
This office has usually been filled by men of upright character and very able. We cannot pretend to enumerate them.
David Johnson, one of those Surveyors, in office about thirty years ago, is yet alive. He was an energetic man and Surveyor and of great worth.
A. G. Chamberlain, who lives at Barry, has been a deputy surveyor several times under the County Surveyor. He is a superior surveyor, and an intelligent, honest man.
Gordon, of Griggsville, in his ripe old age, survives. He was a good Surveyor in his day.
Joseph Goodin we have spoken of elsewhere.
Harris, recent incumbent of the office of County Surveyor, is a gen- ius, a good companion, an upright man, and useful in his office. His suc- cessor is Mr. Clare, elected in 1875. He opens out well for a young offi- cer. We predicta useful career for him.
APOLOGY OF THE HISTORIAN
In ending these outlines for history, biography and memoirs, pre- pared in a brief space of time, almost without books of reference, and with little aid from other sources, the historian craves your lenient judg- mient.
With the conqueror, but not as a conqueror, I say "Veni, Vidi," "I came, I saw," but the Vici, the last word of that phrase, I am not vain enough to appropriate.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY
If, like the swan, this be my expiring song, I say with the Roman, "dignum et decorum est pro patria mori."
May this County and Nation have many Centennials, but to offer up the prayer that any of my adult fellow citizens might enjoy the next Cen- tennial, would be in vain since the days of Methuselah.
It is my anticipation, in the march of events, that the next Centen- nial History of Pike will be offered by a lady.
The ladies, God bless them, by that time, will have superseded the men and put them aside as false gods. The men will then enjoy "Otium cum dignitate."
Farewell kind friends; may your paths be strewed with flowers, and every blessing attend you.
Adieu, until the next Centennial. The volume is closed.
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.345G88H C001 HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY. PITTSFIELD
3 0112 025391431
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