History of Sangamon 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 180

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

USA > Illinois > Sangamon County > History of Sangamon 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 180

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

SCHOOLS.

The first school was in a log cabin on the north side of Lick creek, previous to the big snow. The first free school was near Woodside station, in 1845. There are now eight frame school buildings in the township, valued at $5,400.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

RELIGIOUS.

It isunknown who preached the first sermon in the township, but it is thought to have been Rev. James Sims. His co-laborer, Rev. Peter Cartwright, was one of the first in the township, and is remembered more than any other minis- ter of the Gospel.

In the fall of 1837, Daniel Megredy, of Port Deposit, Cecil county, Maryland, while on a visit to his brother Enoch, left with him $20 as a nucleus for a subscription for building a church edifice. During the next year, 1838, a subscrip- tion was started, and in 1839, Old Harmony Church was built on the site still occupied as the graveyard, near Woodside station. The princi- pal part of the subscription was for timber and work, as money could not be had .. The frame was hewed out, and the weather-boarding was of clapboard shaved smooth. This was among the first frame church buildings in the county. It was twenty-four by thirty feet in size, a very commodious building for that day. Although used for many years, the seating arrangements were never completed. The building has long since given place to a more modern building. Previous to the building of Old Harmony Church, the preaching appointment was at the dwelling house of Adam Safley, near by. This was a cabin fourteen by sixteen feet, with one small window in the west side, near the corner. Near this window the preacher stood while con- ducting services, thus monopolizing nearly all the natural light when the door was shut. On one occasion, previous to occupying his position by the window, the preacher was engaged in placing his saddle-bags securely under the bed, when a member of the congregation, who, hav- ing just come in, mistaking him for a stool, pro- ceeded to seat himself on the preacher's back, much to the amusement of the spectators and surprise of the dominie. Mr. Safley was a faith- ful, earnest Christian, and by his Christian walk exercised a moral influence over those with whom he came in contact.

The Bethel Christian Church was organized in 1839, by Elder A. J. Kane, of Springfield, with William Caldwell, William Bridges and wife, George Trimble and William Shumate among the number composing the original mem- bership. The congregation met for worship in a school-house in the neighborhood until 1861, when a house of worship was erected in conjunc- tion with the Baptists, who have a claim to one- fourth of the building. The house is a frame, thirty-two by fifty. Jesse Smith, Gordon Cloyd

and Matthew Cloyd are the present Elders, and Joseph Cloyd, Montgomery Crane and James A. Trimble are the present Deacons. Among the ministers who have served the congregation are Elders Kane, Sweeney, Vawter, Mallory, Goode, Smith and Corwin.

PATRIOTIC.

The war record of Woodside is commendable. Notwithstanding the frequent calls of the Presi- dent, the immense bounties offered elsewhere, and the great difficulty experienced in obtaining men, the township filled its quota under each call, and never had occasion to offer a bounty, or to levy a tax for that purpose.

COAL MINES.

The discovery of coal by E. P. Howlett, at Riverton, in 1865, and the assurance given by the State Geologist that underneath, probably, the entire county, good working veins of coal existed, stimulated further explorations, result- ing in the fact being made known that this township was rich in " black diamonds."

The Powers coal mine was first opened in 1866, but mining was not carried on until the following year. A shaft two hundred and fifty feet deep was sunk, when a vein of coal from five and a half to six feet in thickness was discov- ered, which has since been continually worked. At the present time from eighty to one hundred men are worked in the mine, and some ten or twelve employed in work on the outside. From three hundred and fifty to four hundred tons of coal can be taken out each day. They now av- erage thirty cars per day of ten tons each. Three grades of coal are placed upon the market- lump, chestnut and nut, which are supplied to the railroad and city trade. The Wabash Coal Company are proprietors of the mine at the present time, with an office in the Library Build- ing in Springfield. Jacob G. Loose sunk the first shaft at the Junction soon after the war.

The Black Diamond Coal Mine is located near the Junction, and a shaft two hundred and fifty feet deep was commenced June, 1880, and by October, coal was being taken out from a six foot vein, which now yields three hundred tons per day. Every protection is afforded the men working in the mines, a heavy fan ventilator be- ing used to furnish fresh air and drive out foul air when necessary. Speed Butler is the pro- prietor of the mines, which cost the sum of $30,- 000 to commence operations.

DAIRY.

The Sangamon County Dairy, operated by Tisdale & Whitcomb, was started in 1876, with

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY .?

forty-five cows, their products netting them $4,700. The number of cows has been increased from time to time, until they now number one hundred and twenty-five. The annual sales foot up over $13,000, which includes what is derived from the sale of milk, cream and butter.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

Benoni Bell was born in Virginia July 24, 1822, the son of Zebulon and Rachel, nee Single, Bell, natives also of the same State, who settled in this township in 1834; mother died in Decem- ber, 1852, but his father is still living, now eighty-two years of age. The subject of this sketch came with his parents to this county, and in 1847 he married Eliza J. Wills, who was born in Kentucky in 1823, and died in 1856. Their two children were, Cornelia, now Mrs. Doake; and William S., deceased. In 1859, Mr. Bell married Anna Taylor, who was born in Penn- sylvania in 1823; they have five children. Mr. B. in 1856, purchased the mill which he now owns and forty-five acres of land, which is worth $45 an acre. Politically, he is a Republican.

John L. Bliss was born in Bath county, Ken- tucky, August 20, 1846, the son of Charles A. and Mary A. (nee Badger) Bliss, natives also of that State; father died in 1848. John L. at- tended the public school in Kentucky, and one term at the Commercial School, in Springfield, Illinois, in 1860. In 1870, he married Eliza Jane Gatton, who was born in this county, Feb- ruary 1, 1847; they have four children; Luella M., Carrie L., Josephus G. and Charles G. Mr. Bliss was engaged in the stock business for a number of years, and in 1870, bought his present farm of eighty acres, worth $65 an acre. In politics he is a Democrat.

Colonel Speed Butler is the second child and eldest son of Hon. William Butler; was born in Springfield, Illinois, August 7, 1837. He grad- uated from the Lutheran University, at Spring- field in 1854, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1860. Upon the inauguration of the late civil war in 1861, he was selected by Governor Yates to carry a dispatch to Washington City asking for an order to remove the United States arms front the arsenal at St. Louis to Alton, Illi- nois. Railroad and telegraph communication to the capital had been cut off, but he made his way successfully to the capital, performed his mission and returned in safety. The arms were removed just in time to save them from falling into the hands of the rebels. Soon after completing this service, Mr. Butler was appointed commissary with the rank of Captain, but was soon after

assigned to duty on the staff of General Pope, and was with that officer during his campaign through Northern Missouri, at Island No. 10 and other points. In September, 1861, he was appointed Major of the Fifth Illinois Cavalry. In June, 1862, he was promoted to Colonel in the regular army for gallantry on the battle-field of Farmington, Mississippi, but by permission of General Wool, still remained on the staff of General Pope, and shared the fortunes of that officer in the Virginia campaign, and also in Minnesota against the Indians. He was honor- ably discharged after the close of the war, in 1865. On May 26, 1864, Colonel Butler united in marriage with Miss Jennie Mckenzie, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was born Septem- ber, 4, 1845, in Poughkeepsie, New York.

David H. Hall was born in the "Corn- cracker" State, January 19, 1829; his parents were Moses and Elizabeth (Crawford) Hall, na- tives also of that State, but now deceased. He first married, in Kentucky, Anna E. Delph, who died in 1860. In 1866, Mr. Hall emigrated to this county, settling near Mechanicsburg, and this year he married Maria B. Hall, daughter of Benjamin Logan Hall; only two of their six children are now living, Evelin L., and Anna B .; the deceased are Robert Lee, Bessie, Franklin, and an infant. In 1871, he moved upon his pres- ent farm, which consists of four hundred and five acres, well improved and worth $75 an acre. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the First Presbyterian Church, at Springfield, and politi- cally he is a Democrat.

Elijah F. Iles was born in this county Feb- ruary 28, 1838; the son of Washington and Ann (Foster) Iles, natives of Bath county, Kentucky. His father first came to this part of the country when only eighteen years of age, on business for another man, and finding that the soil was rich he concluded to settle here, which he did in 1825. He was married May 4, 1822; his wife was born in December, 1804, near Owensville, Kentucky. Mr. Iles was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and resided in this county until his death, July 4, 1871; Mrs. Iles died August 25, 1866. Mr. I. aided in bringing the steamboat "Talisman" up. the Sangamon river opposite Springfield, the only steamboat that ever ascended that stream so high. Elijah F., the subject of this notice, was raised on a farm and was married October 6, 1868, to Mildred Steele, who was born in Lincoln county, Missouri, Feb- ruary 16, 1844, and their seven children are Lewis W., David S., Elijah F., Frank B., Malcomb G., Joseph and Thomas. Mr. Iles owns nine

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

hundred and twelve acres of land near Spring- field, worth $50 an acre. Mr. and Mrs. I. are members of the M. E. Church, and in politics he is a Democrat.

Samuel M. Little was born March 1, 1811, in Fleming county, Kentucky, and was the son of Samuel and Mary Little, nee Newcomb, who was born in Virginia, and moved to Kentucky, where he raised a family of nine children; then to St. Clair county, Illinois, and thence to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1820, where he settled two and a half miles southwest of the present State House, and resided there until his death, Janu- ary 1, 1847; his wife died in July, 1823. Samuel M. was married January 29, 1843, to Eliza M. Morgan; she was born in Fleming county, Ken- tucky, August 24, 1824, and is the daughter of Daniel and Mary Morgan, nee Woods, who came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1828; her father died September 6, 1866, at the age of eighty-two, and her mother January 20, 1876, in her ninety- first year; their family consisted of seven children, four of whom are living: Gersham J., Sanford H., Harriet C., now Mrs. John W. Crafton, and Fannie Z. William H. was killed August 16, 1873, by an accident on the C. & A. Railroad, at Sag Bridge, near Chicago; Mary E. died October 30, 1855, and Minerva C., August 1, 1857. They still reside on the farm which his father settled in 1819, worth $15,000. Samuel M. Little engaged in the livery business, in 1852, and carried on the same until he lost his health, since which the business has been conducted by his two sons.

Jacob G. Loose, one of the early and success- ful business men of Springfield, was born De- cember 14, 1812, in Washington county, Penn- sylvania, and there grew to man's estate on a farm. Desiring to obtain a knowledge of, and identify himself with, the great and growing West, he came to Illinois, and began his busi- ness life as a clerk in a dry goods store in Springfield, in 1836. Some years later, he be- came a proprietor in the business, and was at one time, for a year or so, a partner with Colonel John Williams, and subsequently, for seven or eight years, in partnership with E. B. Hawley. Purchasing a tract of land southwest of the city, in Woodside township, Mr. Loose withdrew from commercial pursuits, and engaged in farm- ing. Meantime, on December 18, 1845, he united in marriage with Elizabeth Iles, daughter of Washington Iles, one of the pioneers of Sanga- mon county. Prosperity attended every step of his career, and Mr. Loose added from time to time to his farm by purchase, until at his death,

November 4, 1874, he owned seventeen hundred acres of splendid farming land, southeast of and adjoining the city of Springfield.

Becoming satisfied that his land contained coal, he arranged with P. L. Howlett, who was then boring for coal at Riverton, to use his ma- chinery, but afterwards decided not to wait, and sent to the oil regions of Pennsylvania, and ob- taining a complete outfit, commenced boring in June, 1866. Coal was reached in quantities which satisfied him that it would pay to mine it, and he began sinking a shaft in September. The first coal was taken out from the shaft in April, 1867. This was the first shaft within fifteen miles of Springfield to supply the market with coal, and when the first load of coal was mined and hauled to the city great excitement and enthusiasm prevailed among the citizens. It was decorated with banners and miners, and upon reaching the city, was sold and re-sold for the benefit of the Home of the Friendless, a number of times, some of the philanthropic citi- zens paying as high as a hundred dollars for it, and re-donating it to the Home. The mine is two hundred and thirty-seven feet deep, and taps a vein of coal five feet, ten inches in thickness. The entire cost of opening it, including engine, hoisting machinery, and equipments, was eighty thousand dollars. It is located two miles south of the State Capitol, at the junction of the C. & A. and W., St. L. & P. Railways, and is yet owned by the heirs of Mr. Loose. This was the beginning of the utilization of Nature's under- ground treasures, which have become such a rich boon to Sangamon county and the Capital City.

Ten children were born to Mr. aud Mrs. Loose, seven of whom survive, namely: Sallie C., now the wife of Junius D. Crabb; Jessie V., the wife of Dr. Jacob S. Price; Joseph 1., Frank E., George P., Robert D., and Elizabeth. Mr. Loose was a careful, energetic business man, and was noted for his genial, cheerful disposition and social domestic qualities. Mrs. Loose was born August 4, 1825, in Flemingsburg, Bath county, Kentucky; was the second of a family of nine children of Washington Iles and Ann Foster, who married there and came to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1825.

Thomas C. Shepherd, a native of Jefferson county, Virginia, was born June 28, 1806, at the village of Shepherdstown, where he passed his boyhood days, received his education, and grew to manhood, and where he married Miss Ellen Miller, on the third day of July, 1834. Miss Miller's parents resided at his own native town, at which place she was born June 24, 1813.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

After their marriage they took up their resi- dence at Blackford's Ferry, Maryland, where their first child was born. At the death of Mrs. Shepherd's father, he assumed the responsi- bility of the care of the family, and with that well-directed energy and characteristic enterprise which has marked his whole life, he determined to avail himself of the opportunity of hewing out a fortune in the then far West. Animated by a desire to better the condition of his family, and himself, he left Maryland, in the fall of 1836, for the wilds of Illinois, where he arrived after a six weeks' overland journey in wagons, accompanied by his family, his mother, sister and two brothers, on the 17th day of November, 1836, at a farm purchased some months before by Mr. Shepherd, and on which he still resides. The Shepherds have always entertained a strong preference for the name of Thomas, and for six generations the name has been transmitted to the first male child, Mr. Shepherd's grandson being the sixth child who has received the heritage of the name Thomas. Mr. and Mrs. Shepherd are the parents of five children, all natives of San- gamon county, except one; their names are, Thomas B., John H., William B., Charles M., and Mary E. Mr. Shepherd has accumulated a fine estate, being the owner of nine hundred and thirty-five acres of valuable farm land lying about six miles south of Springfield, Mr. Shep- herd, at the age of seventy-five years, enjoys good health and lives in comparative retirement and ease from active business, enjoying the fruits of his well-directed efforts, an ample for- tune, surrounded by his family and a large circle of friends. He and his wife are consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church; their children are all married and own farms in this county, where they reside. T. Shepherd, grand- father of our subject, emigrated to this country from Wales, in an early day, the Government had no land office, and the boundary of lands was not made by surveys, but by streams of water, ridges of rocks, remarkable trees, etc .; lands thus marked were known as " Tomahawk Claims."

The town of Shepherdstown, which bears his name, was laid out in half-acre lots, sold at very low prices, but of course bearing an annual rent of five shillings, which was paid for many years, but finally bought off. As might be sup- posed, where land could be obtained so cheap that large bodies were marked off as individual claims. Many of his descendants were made rich by his large claims of land laying border- ing on the Potomac river; the father of Mr. T.

C. Shepherd owned a mill in Shepherdstown, Virginia, where he died. The subject of this sketch, T. C. Shepherd, came to Illinois when it was a wild country. He has work through the hard times of the early days, and has always had good health, and has never regretted com- ing to Illinois. In 1848, was elected county commissioner, and served in that office four years, being the last of the county commission- ers under the old constitution, the county com- missioners at that time doing the same business the board of supervisors now transact, in addi- tion settling up estates now transacted by the county judge. 'After the revision of the consti- tution of the State, the business of the county was transacted by a county judge, and two asso- ciate judges, until the township organization took effect. Mr. Shepherd was elected the first supervisor from Woodside township, and re- elected to same office the second year, and served fourteen years as treasurer of the school fund of his township, he turned over to his suc- cessor an increased amount of school fund, never having lost a debt.

Joseph Shepherd was born in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, July 11, 1816; son of Thomas and Mary (Byers) Shepherd; father died in 1832, and Joseph resided with his mother; came to this county with the family which consisted of two brothers and one sister. He was married March 16, 1848, to Fanny Smith, who was born October 25, 1818, in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. They had seven children, John Thomas, Jane H., Salome C., Joseph T., Amanda E., Mary A. and Fannie N .; the two latter are deceased. February 19, 1863, Mrs. Smith died, and for his second wife, Mr. Smith married Mrs. Lydia Haggard, nee Byers, who was born in Butler county, Virginia, March 31, 1828. She had one child by her former marriage-Margaret C. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have two children, William A. and Lydia. Mr. S. moved upon his present farm in 1850, and now owns four hundred and eighty acres of well cultivated land, worth $60 an acre. Both are members of the Methodist Church, and he is a Republican.

Rev. James Shinn was born in Harrison county, West Virginia, Angust 30, 1823, son of George and Sarah (Kirke) Shinn, the latter was the daughter of Samuel and Agnes Kirke; her father came to Adams county, Illinois, landing at Quincy, May 5, 1838, and purchased a farm in Fall creek, where he engaged in farming until 1856; then moved to Hancock county, where he purchased a farm, and resided there until his death, in March, 1861; his wife died at

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

her residence, in Augusta, Illinois, March 25, 1872; both were members of the M. E. Church.

The subject of this notice came to this State with his parents, and received his education principally in the common schools of Adams county; he attended the Institute, near Quincy, about one year. After leaving school he bought a farm on section thirteen, Fall Creek township, and engaged in farming. In 1849, he married Elizabeth Reeder, born March 19, 1831; her parents were Daniel and Frances Reeder, who located near Quincy, in 1831. Mr. and Mrs. Shinn had thirteen children, of whom six are living, viz: Maxwell Hardin, Wilber, Leroy, Horace, Homer and Pettie. Rev. Mr. Shinn was licensed a preacher by the M. E. Church, in 1855, ordained as Deacon in 1859, and Elder in 1863, since which time he has been actively en- gaged in disseminating the Gospel. When he commenced life he had very little means, but plenty of energy; he improved one of the finest farms in the township, raised large quantities of fruit, and dealt in fine stock, which proved a good investment. He served in various town- ship offices, was justice of the peace ten years, and foremost in the advancement of education; he was one of the directors in the Adams County Agricultural Society many years, and was one of the trustees of the Quincy College. His first vote was cast for Henry Clay for Presi- dent. He sold his farm in Adams county, in 1876, and located on his present farm in this county, which consists of two hundred and eighty acres of land, situated two and a half miles southwest of the State House; he is now en- gaged in farming, and for three years has made butter and cheese.

J. D. Smith, merchant, postmaster and rail- road agent, Woodside, was born in this county, September 29, 1845; son of William C. and Rebecca (Walker) Smith, natives of Virginia; father now resides in Curran township. J. D., remained on the farm with his father until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1867, he married Martha Alsbury, who was born in this county, and died in 1875, leaving three children: Anna L., Bertha C., and John C. Mr. Smith carried on farming till 1879, then sold out and bought the store which he now owns, and is stocked with goods sufficient to supply the demands of his customers. For his second wife, Mr. Smith married Mary L. Crane, a native of Rush county, Indiana.

John Smith, son of John and Maria Smith, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, March 7, 1814, and of German ancestry. His

mother died in 1846, and his father in 1861, in Ohio. John came to this county in 1841, and worked by the month for a number of years. In 1853, he married Salome Snyder, who was born in Pennsylvania, March 16, 1821. He moved upon the farm he now owns, in 1850, which at that time consisted of one hundred and seventy-eight acres; he now owns two hundred and fifty-eight acres which is under a fair state of cultivation, and worth $50 an acre. In poli- tics he is a Republican.

William Southwick was born in Seneca county, New York, February 9, 1907, and was the son of Jesse and Nancy (Moore) Southwick, the former born in 1762, near Lebanon, Connecticut, and the latter in 1770, also in Connecticut. They moved to Oneida county, New York, thence to Seneca county, same State, where they resided for a number of years, then embarked on the Allegheny river at Olean Point in a family boat and arrived at Shawneetown, Illinois, in December, 1819. James Stewart was in company with them, and they moved from Shawneetown to a village called Milton, near Alton, where they remained till March 20, then moved to Sugar creek and settled in what is now Woodside township, six and a half miles southeast of Springfield, where they commenced farming. His father died Septem- ber 25, 1826, and his mother in February, 1845. William received only a common school educa- tion, and was fifteen years old when his father came to this county. He was married in Septem- ber, 1831, in this county to Louvicy Proctor, born November 23, 1811, at Charleston, Clarke county, Indiana. They had seven children, six of whom are living, viz: Eunice, now Mrs. Fox, David, James W., John H., Philip S., and Laura A., now Mrs. Henry A. Stevens; Nancy E., who was Mrs. Jerome Duncan, is deceased. Mr. South- wick is now situated on the farm where he first located in 1820, and owns three hundred and fifty-five acres of well improved land worth $50 an acre. Politically, he is a Republican.

Thomas Strawbridge, deceased, was born Feb- ruary 8, 1798, in county of Donegal, Ireland and was the son of Thomas and Jane (Mitchell) Strawbridge, also natives of the same place. They came to America, landing at Baltimore in May, 1810, and went to North Umberland coun- ty, Pennsylvania, in the fall of 1811; they then moved to Clark county, Ohio, and from there to this county in October, 1823. His mother died in May, 1809, in Ireland, and his father died in September 24, 1834, in what is now Fancy Creek township, in this county, in the eightieth year of his age. The subject of this sketch learned

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History of Sangamon 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 180

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Interstate publishing co., Chicago. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Inter-state publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084