USA > Illinois > Pike County > History of Pike County, Illinois : together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history, portraits of prominent persons and biographies of representative citizens > Part 54
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James H. Conboy is a native of Ireland, and was born in 1833; his parents died when he was quite young, leaving him penniless; about the year 1837 he was brought to America; is a shoemaker by trade, at which he has been very successful. He now resides at Time, owning 400 acres of valuable land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1860 he married Lucy Bagley, and their children are John, William, Philip, Ella, Alvina and Raymond. We give Mr. C's portrait in this volume.
John Couch was born in Highland county, Ohio, April 4, 1833, and is a son of John and Elizabeth Couch; he was raised on a farm and came to this county in 1854; was married in 1855 to Margaret Colvin and they have 9 children, namely, Alfred M., Samantha A., Winfield S., Elizabeth J., John W., Benton, Charles, Wesley and Mary A. Mr. C. is engaged in farming and resides on sec. 27. P. O., Time.
Miss Ellen Cromwell, Principal of the Public Schools, Time, Pike county, Ill.
Benjamin C. Culver, sec. 20, was born in Chittenden county, Vt .; was raised on a farm and educated in the common schools at home. He came to this county in 1858, settling on sec. 20. He has been married 3 times and is the father of 9 children, viz: Lu- cina, Jackson, Clarissa, Giles, Judson, Jay L., Mary, Adell and Willy E., dec.
Jackson C. Culver, son of the preceding, was born in Erie county, Pa., April 20, 1834; came with his parents to Pike county in 1859; served 4 years and 7 months in the late war in Co. L, 12th Reg. Penn. Ca.v; was in the second battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, Winchester and others; was taken prisoner at Gettys- burg and confined in Libby prison 6 weeks; was then removed to Bell island in James river, where he was held 3 months and ex- changed. He was wounded near Harper's Ferry, in his right ankle, which rendered him a cripple for life. He is engaged in the mer- cantile business in Independence, this county, and carries a stock of about $3,000, consisting of dry-goods, groceries, boots and shoes, hardware, queensware,-in fact, everything kept in a first-class general store. He has won the confidence of the people and is doing a good business. Feb. 11, 1872, he married Martha, daughter of Samuel Smart, of Detroit tp.
James Dinsmore, an early pioneer, was born in Fleming county, Ky., Sept. 25, 1808; came to: Scott county in 1825, where he saw plenty of Indians, and in 1831 he went into the Black Hawk war; was present or near by at the evacuation by the Indians of an Indian town at Rock Island, Ill. In May, 1819, he was married to
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Sarah Mars, and they have had 14 children, 5 of whom are living, -Eldridge, Marshall, David, George and Jane, now Mrs. Dr. Scott, of Time. Mr. D. removed to this county in 1838, and has endured the hardships of the early pioneers; has ground corn in a hand-mill for bread.
Marshall Dinsmore, son of the preceding, was born March 4, 1827, in Scott county, Ill .; came with his parents to this county in 1838; went with the first emigration across the plains to Califor- nia in 1849, and returned with the first company that returned by way of the Nicaragua route. When he 'visited Sacramento City, there was but one house there, and San Francisco was about the present size of Montezuma in this county. IIe helped to erect the first house in Georgetown, California. Dec. 31, 1854, he married Martha January, who was born in Greene county, Ill., April 16, 1834, and they have 4 children,-Susan J., William H., Mary E. and Noah E. Mr. D. is engaged in farming and stock-raising, and resides on sec. 27, this tp .; has held various offices of trust. Four of his brothers were in the late war.
I. J. Dyer, lawyer, was born in Rutledge, Granger Co., Tenn., July 8, 1839, and is a son of W. M. Dyer, dec., who came to Jack- sonville with his family in 1841, where our subject was raised; but he educated himself after his marriage. He attended a common school, in company with his children, in this tp., and all the ex- penses of his edneation were defrayed by his own hand, by hard labor on the farm. He was in the late war and wounded in the left arm, disabling it for life. He has been married twice, and is the father of 3 children, namely, Lyman E. and Simon L., twins, and Effie B. He studied law in the Washington University Law School at St. Louis, and was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Illinois, Sept. 13, 1873.
G. E. Fletcher, a native of Littleton, Massachusetts, was born Nov. 10, 1832; came with his parents to Pike county in 1838, where they remained until 1846, when they removed to Clarksville, Mo. He is a cooper and miller by trade; also operated a steam- engine. In 1855 he came to Pike county; here he engaged in farm- ing for 2 seasons; has been married twice and is the father of 3 children,-John H., Mary E. and Sarah O., dec. In the fall of 1867 he engaged in the mercantile business in Time, and is doing a large business; carries a stock of $2,500, consisting of dry-goods, groceries, boots and shoes, queensware, etc.
Aaron Fuller was born in Jefferson county, Pa., Jan. 26, 1833; came to Greene county, Ill., in 1844; has resided in the States of Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas since he had a family. In Feb., 1854, he married Elizabeth Oaks, and they have had 7 children, of whom 4 are living, namely, Mary E., Ida H., Clara M. and Lillie B. Mr. Fuller is engaged in blacksmithing and wood work in Time, and does a good business; he manufactures a very good plow, which has an increasing demand.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
R. H. Griffin, physician; was born in Georgetown, Brown Co., O., March 29, 1833, and is a son of William Griffin, dec., who emi- grated with his family to this county in 1852. He graduated at the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati, O., receiving his di- ploma in 1879. He began the practice of medicine in this tp. in 1871; had been a medical student for 3 years previous to entering upon the duties of physician; during this time he taught school; he served in the late war in Co. E, 99th Reg. I. V. I., as First Lieutenant, and was in the battles of Magnolia Hills, Raymond, Jackson, Miss., Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, siege of Vicksburg, and others. In December, 1858, he married Louisa Hooper, daughter of William Hooper, dec., once County Treasurer of Pike county. They have had 9 children, of whom 7 are living, viz .: William W., Jessie G., Maggie, Nannie, Fannie, John and Hattie.
Otis A. Haskins, P. O. Time; was born in Bristol county, Mass., Nov. 21, 1816; came to this county in 1844, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for one year; then began farming as a renter. He now own's over 1,000 acres of valuable land, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. March 12, 1844, he married Nancy Thomas, daughter of Samuel Thomas, of Greene county, Ill., and they have 4 children,-William H., Idelia, Mary J. and Samnel.
J. G. Haydon, Teacher of Pleasant Grove School, was born in Hendricks county, Ind., Oct. 13, 1842, and is a son of Abner Hay- don, dec., who brought his family to Sangamon county, Ill., in 1844. He labored under great disadvantages in obtaining his edu- cation; at the age of 16 he was unable to write his name, but by industry and perseverance he has educated himself, and is now teaching. The pupils of his school are advancing rapidly in their respective studies. Oct. 29, 1869, he married Lovena J. Kent, daughter of Henry Kent, well known in the early settlement of this county. Their 4 children are,-Henry, J. G., Charley and Nellie.
George A. Henry, son of Jacob Henry, who came from Warren county, Ky., was an early pioneer, and has seen many hardships; he did the milling for 2 families ; carried corn on a horse, and so thronged was the business at the old horse-mill at Milton that he. would be compelled to arise at midnight and go to mill in order to get his grinding done in time to get home the next night; would frequently have to remain all night at the mill for his grinding, with no place to sleep, and nothing to eat but parched corn. On one occasion, he and another boy were there all night, and toward morning, becoming tired of parched corn, they concluded to have a change of diet. The proprietor retired, leaving them in charge of the mill. There was an old rooster on top of the mill, which, after chasing for some time, they succeeded in catching, and which they picked and roasted, and ate with a relish. Notwithstanding the hard times, there was plenty of wild game and honey to be obtained. July 24, 1850, Mr. Henry was married to Nancy J.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
French, and they had 14 children; of these, 10 are living, and all at home but the eldest; their names are as follows: Franklin P., James M., Emeline, William, Austin. Mary, Flora, Ella, George and Minnie .. Mr. Henry resides on sec. 2, this tp., on the old home place, and is engaged in farming and stock-raising. The house where he attended school was 12 by 14 feet, and had a mud- and-stick chimney and a clapboard door; the seats were sawed from a log with a whip-saw; they had no stove, but a large fire- place; the window consisted of a log cut out of one side of the house, with cloth pasted over the crack. On windy days the fire- place smoked so badly that the school would retire to the house of Mr. Henry. The ceiling consisted of poles covered with boards.
Chas. V. Johnson, farmer, sec. 21, was born in St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., May 15, 1815, and is a son of Charles and Rachel Johnson, dec .; he was raised on a farm and came to this county in 1837. In 1838 he married Emily Span ; 4 of their 8 children are living, viz: Mary, Rebecca, Phila and Emma, all married: Mr. J.'s father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his son was lost in the late war.
Henry Kent was born in Fayette Co., Ky., in 1801, and is a son of Henry and Mary Kent, dec .; he was educated in a log cabin, with round poles for seats, a log cut out of one side of the house, with a greased paper pasted over the crack for a window, and a huge fire-place in one end for warming the room. Coming in 1836 to this wild West, Mr. Kent has killed many a deer in this county, and witnessed the scenes of pioneer times. He is a black- smith by trade, but has engaged in farming and stock-raising and speculating in land since coming to Illinois. He has been married twice, and is the father of 15 children, of whom 8 are living,- George W., Martha, Mary, Eliza J., Fannie, Lovina, Charlotte and Henrietta. Two sons, Walter D. and Newton P., were soldiers in the late war.
David Lacy, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 12, was born in Da- vidson Co., N. C., June 25, 1818, and is a son of Daniel and Eliza- beth Lacy, dec., who brought their family to Pike county in 1839. Our subject came to this county in 1842, where he engaged in the masonry business until 1851 ; he was married in 1855 to Mrs. Catharine M. Devol, and they have 6 children,-Margaret A., Juliet F., Lincoln S., Sarah E., Lucretia B. and Amanda J. Mr. Lacy went overland to California in 1852, and returned by ship in 1853.
Alvin Main, son of Andrew Main, was born Jan. 17, 1844, in this tp. He was raised on a farm, and when in his. 18th year he enlisted in the late war, in Co. B, 28th Reg. I. V. I., and served 3 years ; he was in the battles of Shiloh, Hatchie River, siege of Vicksburg and others. Sept. 7, 1865, he married Miss Lydia Foot, daughter of George D. Foot, of Newburg tp .; they have 6 chil- dren,-Clara M., Rufus H., Josiah S., Blanche M., R. I. and Geor- giana. Mr. M. resides on sec. 8, this tp., and is engaged in gen- eral farming.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Andrew Main, farmer and stock-raiser, sec. 5, was born in Jack- son Co., O., Aug. 6, 1817, and is a son of Solomon and Susan Main, so well known in the early settlement of this county, who came here in 1828. He loaned his gun to a friend to use in the Black Hawk war, which, at the close of the war, was returned, and he was also a soldier in that war. Andrew Main was educated in a log house with slab seats, greased paper for windows, and a large fire-place in one end. · Mr. M. used to go to a horse-mill on horse- back. and in the earlier part of their pioneer life he ground corn in a hand-mill ; he hunted with the Indians and killed deer with them. Sept. 28, 1838, he married Lutilia Johnson, and they have had 15 children, 9 of whom are living ; their names are Alvin, Andrew P., Colonel, Philip, George, William, Thomas, Jane and Minerva.
George Main was born in Beaver, now Lawrence, county, Pa., Dec. 17, 1838, and is a son of Daniel Main, dec., who brought his family to this county in 1859, settling in this tp., where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1873. Our subject was married in 1866 to Miss Myra Williams, and their children are Fred, George, Owen, Myrtle and Ralph. Mr. Main is a blacksmith, wagon and plow maker, in company with Mr. Philip, in Time ; they do a good business, and give general satisfaction. Mr. Main has held various offices of trust in this tp .; served over 3 years in the late war in Co. K, 2d Reg. Ill. Cav., and was in 54 engagements, among which were the following : Middleburg, Lamare, Holly Springs, siege of Vicksburg, Sabine Cross Roads, Pleasant Hills, Yellow Bayon, etc. He was captured at Middleburg and held prisoner at Vicksburg for 6 weeks, when he was exchanged.
Jacob Main was born in Beaver Co., Pa., Sept. 14, 1848, and is a son of Daniel Main, deceased, who first came to this county about the year 1850, and moved his family here in 1852. Our subject was married Sept. 7, 1868, to Mary Mortion, daughter of Matthew Mortion, deceased. They have had 4 children, of whom 3 are liv- ing, viz: Effie, Ottie and Almira. Mr. Main is a farmer, and resides on sec. 19. P. O., Pittsfield.
Philip J. Main, brother of the preceding, was born in Beaver Co., Pa., Jan. 12, 1845; he is a brother and partner of George Main, of Time. He came to Illinois with his parents in 1859, and in 1871 was married to Josephine Horton, by whom he has had 2 children; only one, Vinnie, is living. He served 100 days in the late war, in Co. H, 137th Reg. I. V. I., and was in the battle of Memphis, Tenn.
Cyrus McFaddin was born in, Brown Co., O., Jan. 16, 1840, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth McFaddin. He came to Illinois in 1852, remaining one year, when he returned to Ohio; came back to this county in 1855; he served 3 years in the late war in Co. G, 99th Reg. I. V. I., and was in the battles of Magnolia Hills, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., and others. Feb. 11, 1869, he married Miss Rebecca J.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Mitchell, and they have had 6 children; of these 4 are living, namely, Mary N., Frank W., Charles L. and George A. Mr. Mc- Faddin resides on sec. 22, and is engaged in farming and the rais- ing of stock.
James B. Miller, deceased, was born in Fayette Co., Pa., April 25, 1818, and was a son of Samuel and Lydia Miller, deceased. He came to this county in the fall of 1853, and settled in Monte- zuma tp. 2 years, then removed to this tp., where he engaged in farming on sec. 16 until his death, which occurred Feb. 11, 1874. He was a worthy member of the New-School Presbyterian Church for many years; was also an Elder for 30 years. IIe was a gen- erous, kind-hearted man. In 1841 he married Miss Mary Griffin, daughter of Win. Griffin, deceased, who brought his family to this county in 1852 ; she is also a sister of Dr. Griffin, of Time ; Mr. and Mrs. Miller had 11 children; of these 8 are living, to-wit: Sam- uel W., Sarah F., William F., Elizabeth G., Lydia, Anna, Robert B. and James A. Mrs. Miller resides on the old home place. We give Mr. Miller's portrait in this volume.
James V. Moore, a veteran of the Mexican war, was born March 4, 1818, and is a son of James and Mary Moore, deceased, who moved with their family from Russellville, Ky., to Charleston, Coles Co., Ill., in 1836. Our subject was a school-mate of the noted des- peradoes, the James boys, rear Russellville, Logan Co., Ky. He served one year as 2d Lieutenant in Co. C, 5th Reg. I. V. I., when he became diseased, from the effects of which he has never recovered. He draws a small pension. In 1849 he married Mary A. Norton, and their children are Laura Tyler, of Fort Scott, Kansas, Charley, telegraph operator at Tallula, Ill., and Dora Smith, of St. Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Moore reside in Time.
William R. Moore, teacher of Union school, district No. 4, Hardin tp., is a native of Kentucky, and was born April 18, 1848. He was educated at North Missouri Normal School, at Kirksville, Mo. Dec. 24, 1872, he married Miss Jennie, daughter of William H. Bennett, of Pittsfield. Mr. Moore conducts his school on the latest normal plans, and is a successful teacher.
Alvin Petty was born in Pike county, Mo., Oct. 15, 1826. His father, Fisher Petty, came to this county in 1828, having emigrated from Columbus, Ohio, to Pike county, Mo., when a young man. When the Petty family located here, the land was nearly all vacant between their residence and where Pittsfield now stands. Atlas was then the county-seat. Deer, turkey, wolves, etc., were plenty at that time, deer being nearly or quite as tame as modern sheep; they would frequently come within a few rods of the house, and turkeys would pass through the yard. Feb. 7, 1849, Mr. Alvin Petty married Julia A. Duffield, daughter of James Duffield, of Martinsburg tp., who was a soldier in the war of 1812, and is 82 years old. Mr. and Mrs. Petty have had 8 children, of whom 7 are living,-Marion M., Catharine, Isaac N., James F., Ella, William and Frederick. Mr. Petty is a natural genius, and has worked at
James B. Miller
HARDIN TP
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
nearly all kinds of mechanical labor; but his general occupation is farming and stock-raising. He resides on sec. 5; owns 293 acres of valuable land.
J. H. Rainwater, teacher of Honey Creek school, this tp., was born Dec. 11, 1858, and is a son of John Rainwater, deceased, who died in Nashville, Tenn., during the Rebellion. Mr. R. was edu- cated in Pittsfield, and has chosen teaching as his vocation. His school is well conducted, and he has won the confidence of parents and pupils.
Joseph M. Russell, a native of this county, was born in Martins- burg tp., May 7, 1837, and is a son of John and Mary Russell, de- ceased, so well known in the early history of this county; his father helped survey the present town plat of Pittsfield. The Indians were their nearest neighbors, and the wolves made the night hid- eons with their howling. Our subject was raised on a farm, and now resides on sec. 19. Aug. 26, 1859, he married Martha Kiser, daughter of Samuel Kiser, deceased. They have 6 children, - Eliza, John, Mary, George, David and Elmer. Mrs. Russell was born in Warren county, Ind., March 5, 1843, and was brought by her parents in the fall of 1844, to this county, where she has since resided.
Anthony Sonner was born Oct. 17, 1830, in Highland county, Ohio, and is a son of Jacob Sonner, deceased. He came to Pike county in 1860, where he has since resided; he is a miller by trade, but has been engaged in farming since coming to Illinois, until the last 3 years. In Oct., 1855, he married Miss Sarah Hicks, and they had 6 children; of these, 3 are living,-Charley, Ora and Brady.
Evans Scott, physician, was born in Somerset county, Pa., Feb. 7, 1835. He was educated partly in Ohio and partly in Pennsyl- vania. He graduated at the Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1864; he served over 3 years in the late war in the 3d Ill. Cav .; the greater part of the time he had charge of a ward in a hospital at Keokuk. He began practice at Time, in 1865. He now has a · large practice.
Richard Thornton was born in this tp., May 18, 1840, and is a son of Nathan and Lucinda Thornton. He was raised on a farm and is now engaged in farming and stock-raising, and resides on sec. 17. He was married March 16, 1864, to Margaret Watson and their 4 children are James A., Benjamin F., Flora H. and Nella J. Mrs. Thornton died Jan 20, 1875, and March 10, 1876, Mr. T. married Phila V. Johnson, daughter of Charles V. Johnson: they have one child, Richard S.
John L. Troutner was born in this tp. May 11, 1847, and is a son of the late Rev. Joseph Troutner, who came to this county from Ohio, in 1838, settling near Pittsfield, and was a farmer and stock- raiser, and was also Deputy Sheriff of the county about as early as 1841; he was Justice of the Peace 24 years in succession, and was School Treasurer 12 years; also filled other offices of trust; he clerked in the first store at Pittsfield; he died at his residence in
35
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
this tp. Oct. 22, 1878, highly esteemed by all. John L. is the eldest of 12 children, all living; was married in July, 1849, to Isa- bella Elder, who was born in Florence, Pike Co. He resides on sec. 19, and is engaged in farming.
Hurry White, son of Silas and Louisa (Jones) White, was born May 19, 1845, and raised as a wool-carder; he operated the woolen mills in Time from 1865 to 1870; he served 3 years in the late war in Co. D, 1st Reg. M. V. I .; was for awhile in Benton Barracks at St. Louis; has worked in a mill all summer and traveled in the winter; has gone from Buffalo to Denver; owns a farm in Franklin county, Kan .; was a farmer and stock-raiser in Kansas 4 years. In 1876 he married Mattie Bagby, daughter of E. D. Bagby, dec .; they have one child, Trula. He is a farmer and stock-raiser on sec. 9. While in the service he was in the battles of Pilot Knob, Round Pond, Mill Creek and others.
Samuel Willard, a native of this county, was born Aug. 25, 1843; was educated in a common school and raised on a farm. . At the age of 19 he enlisted in the war and served 3 years in Co. E, 99th I. V. I., and was in the battles of Fort Gibson, Black River Bridge, siege of Vicksburg, Fort Blakely, Spanish Fort and others; was also detailed musician; was honorably discharged July 31, 1865. He was married in 1867 to Miss Frances Miller, daughter of James B. Miller, dec. Mr. W. owns 120 acres of land in Mar- tinsburg tp., but now resides in Time.
Henry J. Williams was born in Scott county, Ky., Sept. 25, 1826, and is a son of Thompson Williams, who removed with his family to Jacksonville, Ill., in 1832, and in 1833 came to this county, locating in Montezuma tp., on what was known as Franklin Prairie, on sec. 9. Our subject was raised a farmer, and received his education in an old log school-house with a stick chimney, slab benches, and a fire- place in one end, between 7 and 8 feet wide. Mr . Williams was in Pittsfield when there was but one house there; the prairie grass was as high as a horse's back. He moved to Pittsfield in 1856, remaining there about 6 months, when he removed to sec. 22, this tp., where he still resides, and is engaged in farming and stock- raising; he has had a fine two-story brick residence, which was burned in 1861. He now owns 1,100 acres of valuable land. June 6, 1850, he married Ruth A. Chenoweth, who was born in Macomb, McDonough county, Ill. They have 11 children, viz: Abbie, Laura, Amanda, Henry, Mary E., Robert, Nola, Rose, John, Charley and Stella. The eldest is about 29 years old. It is a remarkable fact that there has never occurred a death or a wedding in this family. Mr. Williams' father and Jacob Hodgen founded the first Chris- tian Church in Montezuma tp., which was the first Church of that denomination in the eastern part of Pike county. They had to grind their corn in a horse mill or an ox mill. Mr. W. has actually gone to mill every day in the week and returned with no meal on Saturday night, so thronged was the mill. He has ridden 10 miles on horseback many times to mill, and arrived there before daylight.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Andrew Yaeger, a native of Germany, was born Oct. 24, 1828; .came to America in 1853, settling in Newburg tp., where he re- sided until 1867, and then removed to this tp., locating on sec. 14, where he still resides, engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1853 he married Barbara, daughter of Adam Kern, dec. Not having money enough to marry according to the laws of Germany, Mr. Yaeger brought his intended wife to America and married her here. They have had 8 children, of whom 7 are living, namely, Lucy J., Mary A., John G., Barbara M., William F., Henry C., and Anna C.
SPRING CREEK TOWNSHIP.
This is one of the southern tier of townships, and is bounded upon the north by Hardin, the east by Pearl, south by Calhoun county, and upon the west by Pleasant Hill township. It is a full Congressional township and received its name from the principal stream which runs through it. The surface is very broken and principally covered with timber, with small necks of prairie. Many springs of sparkling water are found gushing from the hillsides in this township.
Silas Wilson came to the township in 1832, and erected a log cabin and made other improvements, on sec. 8, where he remained for many years. Benj. Allison, David Scranton, Barnard Col- lins, J. P. Stark and Mr. Hollis came in soon after. These early pilgrims did not find all the conveniences which makes life pleasant. The hunting was better than now, but all those things which are now thought to be necessaries, were then wanting. Money was so scarce that it was hardly talked of as a commodity. In place of the Short-horn cattle and Berkshire hogs, which can be seen in every pasture and feed-yard in this magnificent county, were the black, brindle, pie-bald, polled, streaked and speckled cattle which, for the want of a name were usually called natives. They were as uneven in quality as variegated in color, and lacked all the beef qualities for which their successors, the Short-horns, are so famons. They answered the purpose for which they were wanted, however, per- haps full as well if not better than the present popular breed would have done. The working cattle were lively and endured fatigue and heat well, and even after they were fatted they stood the long drives which the then system of marketing demanded, much better than the cattle of the present day would. They could hardly have been called handsome, but they were in all ways the chief help and profit of the farmer. Asmuch can hardly be said of the wind-splitting prairie rooters that were the only hogs then known in these parts: but they were hogs, and did not like to be trifled with. They lived on roots and nuts and could outrun a horse. When the farmer went to feed them he put the corn where he was sure the contrary fellows would find it. If he had tried to call them with that long, sonorous half shout and half groan now in use to bring hogs to their feed, the chances are decidedly that he would have scared them out of the timber and might never have seen them; but they were handy to drive, as men then had to drive hogs to market.
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