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 26

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 26

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).

"The publication of the muster roll of Iles' company has induced this hurried notice of one of the almost forgotten incidents in the early history of Illinois. Most of Iles' company, after well spent lives, have gone to the grave, and a few still linger on its brink. They were a part of the hardy, brave and adventurous early settlers of Illinois, who fought and drove off the Indians, relieved it of wolves and wild beasts, built its first bridges, school houses and churches, and prepared it for that higher civiliza- tion it now enjoys."

THE MEXICAN WAR.

Texas, under Spanish rule, was a nearly unin- habited part of Mexico, lying between Louis- iana and the Rio Grande river. It was a fertile region, with a fine climate. The Spanish posses- sors of Mexico, in the bigoted and bitter spirit that was traditional with the Spaniards toward Protestants, and deeply hostile in feeling from the rather high-handed and vigorous proceed- ings of General Jackson before and after the cession of Florida, did not encourage the settle- ment of Texas, preferring to be separated by a wilderness from the United States. In 1821, the Mexicans finally threw off the Spanish yoke, and established an independent government.

About this time the Americans, and especially those of the South, foreseeing the probable spread of the northern part of the Republic to the Pacific, began to look with covetous eyes upon the fine savannas of Texas, as an excellent field for land speculations, and also for extend- ing the southern area, so as to keep its balance in the number of slave States, equal to the free States of the North. It was believed to be the

plan of Mr. Calhoun, an able and far-seeing statesman, thoroughly in earnest in the mainte- nance of slavery, and the political equality of the slave with the free States. Settlements were made by people from the United States. Ina few years they grew to be numerous, and came in contact with the rigid Spanish laws, still maintained by the Mexicans. The United States Government made advances toward purchasing Texas, but the Mexicans were resolute in their purpose to hold it, and bring its people under the dominion of strict Mexican law. The Americans resisted this with the settled determination of ultimate separation from Mexico, and probable annexa- tion to the United States.

The Mexicans undertook to reduce them to submission. The Texans, supported by bold and fearless adventurers from the southern States, resisted. The war commenced October 2, 1835, by a battle at Gonzalez, followed by various others. On the 2d of March, 1836, the Texans formally declared independence, which they maintained by force of arms. On the 3d of March, 1837, the United States Government recognized the independence of Texas. Eng- land did the same in 1842. Propositions of an- nexation had been made to Presidents Jackson, Van Buren, and Tyler, successively, by the Texas government, but as often rejected by them, as tending necessarily to a war with Mexico, that power having distinctly and repeat- edly declared that she should regard such a step as a declaration of war.

The Democratic party regaining the ascen- deney in the election of 1844, made this annexa- tion one of the issues of the Presidential cam- paign. A majority of the people were in favor of it. The Southern view, however, was not alone in its influence on this decision. Indig- nities and injuries, had been inflicted by the Mexicans on American citizen's in that country ; its haughty, exclusive and unfriendly spirit awakened strong indignation; and the Pacific coast of California, with the mining regions of the northern interior of Mexico, both nearly un- inhabited, were objects of desire to the Ameri- can people. Thus a wish to extend the bounds of the Republic, and to chastise an insolent neighbor, combined with the ardent wishes of the pro-slavery interest, to lead the nation to determine on a war, somewhat ungenerously, with a neighbor, notoriously too weak and disor- ganized for effectual resistance to the whole strength of the United States.

On the 12th day of May, 1846, Congress ordered the raising of 50,000 men and voted

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

$10,000,000, to carry on the war. A requisition being made upon the Governor of this State for three thousand men, a call was issued by Gov- ernor Ford upon the militia of the State, to volunteer for the war. John J. Hardin, com- mander of the Third Brigade of the Third Division of Illinois Militia, also issued an address to those who had served under him, urg- ing them to respond to the call. He closed his address by saying "The General asks no one to go where he is not willing to lead. Let volun- teers respond by enrolling their names in the service of their country."

On Saturday, May 29, 1846, a public meeting was held in Springfield addressed by Governor Ford, Dr. Merryman, D. L. Gregg, T. Campbell and Abraham Lincoln, on the condition of the country, and the necessity of prompt and united action of her citizen soldiery to sustain her na- tional character, secure our national rights, as well as an everlasting peace. The speeches were in the right spirit - warm, thrilling and effective. Some seventy men responded to the call and volunteered for the war. A glance at the names of those from this county will reveal some who greatly distinguished themselves and reflected honor upon that county in which they resided.

A treaty of peace was signed between repre- sentatives of the two governments, February 2, 1848, and formally ratified by the United States government, March 10th, and the Mexican gov- ernment, March 20th. The Mexicans relin- quished all claims to Texas and ceded Upper California and New Mexico to the United States. In return the United States gave them $18,500,000, of which $3,500,000 was due by a former treaty to citizens of this country, and paid them by our government.

Colonel E. D. Baker, who wielded the pen equally as well as the sword, and who com- manded the regiment, largely made up from Sangamon county, contributed to the press of that day, the following poem:

TO THE MEMORY OF THE DEAD OF THE FOURTII ILLINOIS REGIMENT.

Where rolls the rushing Rio Grande, Here peacefully they sleep; Far from their native Northern land, Far from the friends who weep. No rolling drum disturbs their rest, Beneath the sandy sod-

The mould lies heavy on each breast, The spirit is with God.

They heard their country's call and came, To battle for the right;

Each bosom filled with martial flame,

And kindling for the fight.

Light was their measured footstep, when They moved to seek the foe, Alas that hearts so fiery, then, Should soon be cold and low.

They did not die in eager strife, Upon a well fought field;

Not from the red wound poured their life, Where cowering foemen yield.

Death's ghastly shade was slowly cast Upon each manly brow;

But calm and fearless to the last, They sleep in silence now.

Yet shall a grateful country give Her honors to their name,

In kindred hearts their memories live, And history guard their fame.

Nor unremembered do they sleep Upon a foreign strand,

Though near their graves the wild waves sweep, Thou rushing Rio Grande.

The following is a copy of the roster as fur- nished by the War Department, to the Governor of this State, of those participating in the war from Sangamon county:

COLONEL E. D. BAKER'S REGIMENT.

FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS. Colonel-Edward D. Baker. Adjutant-William B. Fondey. Sergeant Major-James H. Merryman. Quartermaster General-Richard F. Barrett. Commissary-John S. Bradford.

COMPANY A. CAPTAIN. Horatio E. Roberts. FIRST LIEUTENANT. William P. Barrett.

SECOND LIEUTENANT. William B. Fondey.

SERGEANTS.

Walter Davis, Dudley Wickersham,

David Logan, Argyle W. Farr.

CORPORALS.

Thomas Hessey, Shelton Ransdell,

Edward Conner, Lawson Thomas.

MUSICIAN. William C. B. Lewis.

PRIVATES.

Addison, Grandison, House, Erasmus D.,

Ballard, Christopher A., James, George,

Balantine, John J., Keeling, Singleton,

Barrett, James A., Marsin, Joseph,

Brown, William W., Millington, Augustus O.,

Butler, Joshua, Murray, Matthew,

Peter, Peter C.,

Buel, Abel M Cabanis, Zebulon P., Ransdall, James B.,

Capoot, John, Rape Henry,

Chapman, John, Ryan, Jackson.

Crowl, Upton, Spottswood, James H.,

Darnell, Harvey,

Smith, Joseph H.,

Ferrill, William C.,

Wickersham, Wesley H.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Foster, John E., Wilkinson, Reuben, Wilcox, Enhriam,

Funk, George W ..

Frink, John S., Watson, Charles F.,

Gideon, Alfred L., Watts, Levi P.,

Garrett, Ezra L .. Whitehurst, Thomas,

Haines, Fletcher, Weber, George R.,

Harworth, George, Yeakles, Joseph,

RESIGNED.

Second Lieutenant-John S. Bradford.

DISCHARGED Before expiration of term of service.

Joseph B. Perkins, Samuel Cole,

George W. Hall, Alexander J. Seehorn,

George C. Whitlock, Samuel O. White,

Nicholas Algaire, John C. Butler,

John Dupuy, Silas Dowdall,

Benjamin F. McDonald, Marion F. Matthews,

William R. Goodell,

Isaac Davis,

Presley Ransdell, James A. Waugh,

Henry Westbrook, Jacob Wise,

Vincent Ridgely, William W. Pease,

Joseph H. Fultz, Levi Gorley.

TRANSFERRED.

James H. Merriman, Richard F. Barrett.

DEAD.

Henry J. Moore, James Connelly,

Joseph Stipp, Daniel Hokey,

William Hardin, Joseph Newman.

Killed at battle of Cerre Gordo. James McCabe.

COMPANY B.

SECOND LIEUTENANT. William L. Duncan. SERGEANTS.

B. M. Wyatt, John D. Lawder,

E. D. Dukshier, Sanborn Gilmore,

CORPORALS.

Samuel Ogden, John G. Cranmer,

E. W. Nantz, A. J. Mason.

PRIVATES.

Baldwin, William F., Jenkins, James M.,

Baker, Mason, Johnston, Thomas P.,

Brumfield, William,

Lash, William,

Burnett, William, Lanier, William,

Brown, Isaac,

McCarroll, Justus,

Dodson, Ichabod,

McIntyre, R. N.,

Mitchell, Wilson,

Depew, James, Elliott, Edward, Newton, Anderson, Good, John, Owen, Thomas J. V.,

Gwinn, William, Palmer, Allen,

Graham, Levi, Rule, Alexander,

Glimpse, Joseph,

Serles, Julius H.,

Graham, Joseph, Seaman, Sylvanus,

Guy, R. B. R.,

Stout. James,

Harbard, William, Smock, Fulcard,

Harris, A. J.,

Tennis, John F.,

Hampton, Felix T., Vanhorn, William M.,

Harris, J. C., Walker, J. E.,

Hall, John,

Walker, John,

Jones, John,

Williams, David,

Williams, Peter. RESIGNED.

Captain Garrett Elkin, Sec. Lt. J. M. Withers. DISCHARGED.

Eskew, James W. or John Reamer, E. C. H., Parks, James E.,

Savage, Nicholas, Haines, Thomas H.,

Fling, Charles H., Hall, Samuel,

Moor, Thomas, Daponte, Durant,

Mahew, David, Johnson, John S. W.,

Davis, Wm. S., Crumbaugh, John F.,

Lash, Henry, Toppas, William A.,

Miller, James M.,

Poindexter, Clinton,

Little, William I., Palmer, Leroy G.,

Gwinn, Alexander. DEATHIS. Lieut. Andrew J. Wallace, Andrew J. Hodge, John Misner, George Perry.

E. B. Young, Marion Wallace,

George Ruth. WOUNDED.

John D. Lander, James Depew, John Walker.

COMPANY D.

FIRST LIEUTENANT. Alfred C. Campbell. SECOND LIEUTENANT. John D. Foster. SERGEANTS.

Henry M. Spotswood, David Meigs,

John Davis,

Jonathan Morris.

CORPORALS.

William Campbell,

Thomas Higgins,

Chris. C. Holyer, Hugh Paul.

PRIVATES.

Alsbury, Edward R., Jones, T. B.,

Bloyd, James B , Kent, Alexander,

Cast, Archibald, King, John W.,

Cutter, William, Morris, Hamilton R.,

Dunlap, James T., Morris, Randall G ,

Daly, John, Meigs, Severell,

Darneille, Harvey, Odell, John,

Dodd, John C.,

Philps, Joshua,

Dillman, David,

Rhodes, William G.,

Duncan, Jerome,

Shoemaker, Thomas C.,

Edwards, David,

Emmett, Robert S.,

Shelton, John,

Foster, William,

Skinner, John H.,

Hillyard, James P.,

Thompson, Samuel M.,

Howey, William,

Terpin, James,

Huckelbury, John,

Williams, John R.,

Huffmaster, Edward,

Wilcox, Daniel,

Huffmaster, William,

Workman, Benjamin,

Hoskins, John S.,

Braunan, Josiah .

DISCHARGED.

Joseph Bridges, Samuel Drennan,

Newton Dodds,

William Penix,

Levi Campbell, Riley Cross,

Asa L. Morris,

Logan C Snyder,

Benjamin Henwood,

Jefferson Finger,

Daniel Cross,

William Terpin,

William Sampson,

William Vermillion,

David Lindsay,

Ashley Walker,

LaFayette McCrillis, Joel H Walker,

Christopher R Pierce, Rowan I. Short,

James Morris,

Wilson Robbins.

Captain Achilles Morris, William F. Nation,

Jacob Morris, Henry B. Reed, John Hillyard, John Allison, James Jones, Morris Shelton

William Morris, James Harralson,

Samuel McKee.

Short, James F.,

Foster, Peyton,

Smith, Alonzo H.,

Henwood, William,

Tinker, William,

Calvay Sexton, Benjamin Sullivan, DEAD.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

CHAPTER X.

REMINISCENCES.

In the following chapter is presented a few pioneer reminiscences, in most cases written by pioneers or their descendants. In no case has the compiler of this work attempted to change the diction of the writers, thus giving variety to the style of the reminiscences given.

COTTON PICKING.

Previous to the winter of the deep snow, cot- ton was raised 'to some extent in Sangamon county, and it was once thought that it would be a profitable article to raise in the State. Ex- Governor John Reynolds, the " Old Ranger," as he was familiarly known, contributed the fol- lowing to the State Journal, in 1857, as part of a series of articles on " Pioneer Times."

"Cotton, at as early a day as 1800, and for many years after, was cultivated to a considera- ble extent in Illinois. My father had resided in Tennessee previous to his emigration to Illi- nois, in the year above named, and we were tolerably well acquainted with the culture of cot- ton in that State. At that time I had often heard it computed, that an acre of good cotton land in Illinois, would yield in the seeds, ten or twelve hundred pounds. This was then considered such a crop as would justify cultivation. We cultivated the crop in Randolph county, where the climate is more congenial to its growth than the north of the State.

"At that early day, more than half a century back, the disadvantages in the article of cotton was the labor in picking the seeds from it so as to prepare the cotton for the spinning wheels. There were then no improved spinning jennies invented, and the old fashioned wheels were the only means of preparing the threads for the looms. Two classes of wheels were used at that day; the little wheel, so called, was turned by the spinner, with a crank on an axle running

through the centre of the wheel. The other was known as the big wheel. The person spinning on this wheel was always on foot and in motion. The thread was drawn out as the motion was given to the wheel. The operator on the little wheel sat still, and produced the motion with their feet. The big wheel gave opportunity for the display of elegant and graceful motions, which I have often seen performed, even to the steps of the dance, by the modest and pretty pioneer lasses of the olden time.

" The cotton cloth was at that day wove in the country, or at least so far as Illinois was con- cerned, in looms worked by either men or women. It was rather an art or trade to weave, and people thus accomplished traveled frequently over the country for work. The invention of a cotton jenny, made with wood or iron rollers, was subsequently perfected, which aided much in extracting the seeds from the cotton, but the great invention of Whitney, of the iron saws, propelled by horse power, laid all previous dis- coveries in the shade and immortalized the in- ventor. That illustrious man has accomplished as much for the benefit of mankind as the inven- tor of the steam engine, and has acquired a fame which will hand his name down to posterity as one of the great benefactors of the human race. It will be borne in mind that probably two- thirds or more of the human race are clothed in cotton, and that before this invention, cotton fabrics were almost as costly as silk.

"In the pioneer times of which I have spoken, much amusement and innocent mirth were en- joyed at the "cotton pickings," as these parties were called. The whole neighborhood would assemble on these occasions, and the log cabins, in the evening of a winter's night, would be brushed up to perfect neatness, and made still more attractive by the large fire in the wooden

Samuel Williams

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

chimney, with rocks under the fore sticks in place of andirons. A large pile of cotton was spread out to dry, so it could be picked the easier. Generally, two sprightly young ladies were elected to divide the heap of cotton, and then the hands began to pick it; so that a con- test for victory would excite the two contending parties, by which the more cotton would be picked, and with additional merriment. The last, indeed, was the main object of the young folks. The lady leaders chose their side to pick alternately, and then a general tornado of ex- citement began-picking, talking, and hiding the cotton, and all sorts of frolicking in the sphere of a backwoods cotton picking. A per- fect equality and the best good feeling pervaded the whole company, and each one enjoyed as much innocent merriment as is generally allotted to man. Art or improper education had not spoiled either the morals or the symmetry and beauty of their persons; but they exhibited the superior workmanship of Nature over the foolish fashions of wealth, without sense, and spurious refinement without taste. The words of Nature's poet involuntarily forces itself upon us:

" ' Yes, let the rich deride and the proud disdain The simple blessings of the lowly train;

To me more dear, congenial to my heart,

One native charm than all the gloss of art.'"

"Frequently, at these gatherings, the young- sters presented masterly models of symmetry and beauty, and such that neither wealth nor fashion can ever surpass. But as the pen cannot describe the beauty and brilliancy of human ex- cellence, the comeliness of the figures of the early pioneers of Illinois must pass away and be forgotten.

"At these 'cotton pickings' love always be- came the ruling theme, as this passion always will occupy the virtuous and elevate the heart; and many a pioneer courtship and marriage re- ceived their date from some such gathering. But those happy times have passed away, and the race has now well nigh passed away with them."

BY GEORGE BRUNK. *

"I emigrated from the State of Ohio, leaving Fort Harrison and arriving in the . 'St. Gamee country' in the fall of 1821, making the first track that could be followed to the forks of the 'St. Gamee' to the head of the Okaw.

"The first cabin I saw was where the village of Rochester now stands. There were no settlers

on the north fork of the St. Gamee, except a few in and about Mechanicsburg. But above that point, there were none except where Decatur now stands, a man by the name of Stephens having made a settlement there. I found Elijah Iles and Charles R. Matheny where is now the city of Springfield. The Kickapoos were here then, and I have had many a social hunt with Bassena and Joe Muney, the chiefs of that na- tion.

"In the spring of 1822, myself and the Dillons raised a cabin, broke the prairie and planted corn in Tazewell county, where stands the town of Dillon. There were no settlers on the east side of the Illinois river from thence to the lake, except Mr. Kinzie's, where the city of Chicago now stands.

"On my return I crossed the Illinois river by putting my wagon in two Indian canoes and swimming my horses alongside. On the west bank I found Abner Eads and another settler. During that fall the land in Sangamon county came into market. The first entry was made by Israel Archer, being the west half of the north- west quarter of section eight, township fourteen north, range four west, and the tract of land on which now stands the present Cotton Hill Meth- odist Church.

" It is well known now that Robert Pulliam built the first cabin in Sangamon county. The first barn was built by Mr. Rogers, near Athens, in what is now Menard county.

"In the spring of 1826, J. Miller and myself, left Sangamon county for the lead mines on Fever river. We fitted out in Peoria, and started in a northwest direction, carrying our provisions on our horses. In consequence of being unacquainted with the route we missed our course, and suffered almost starvation for three days-so much so that all the nour- ishment we had was a fish about as long as my hand, and coffee made from the boiling of a coffee sack. With hard travel, and greatly fatigued, we reached Fever river in seven days, where we found a few miners. I believe we were the first from Sangamon county. In a few days we heard of Lake Phelps being there also. I am not able to say whether he landed previous to us or not.

" Much has been said about the origin of the word 'Sucker,' in its application to the people of Illinois. Late in the fall of that year I was standing on the levee, in what is now Galena, watching a number of our Illinois boys go on board a boat bound down the river, when a man

* Written in 1859, as a contribution to the Old Set- tlers' Association.

20-

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

by the name of Walker, a Missourian, stepped up and said:

"'Boys, where are you all going?'

The ready reply was:

"'We are going home.'

"'Well,' said he, "you put me in mind of the 'suckers'-up in the spring, and down in the fall.'

" Those who stayed over received the humble name of 'Badgers.' That was the first time I ever heard the term 'sucker' applied to the people of Illinois. After that, all Illinoisans were considered suckers, and when Judge Saw- yer came to the mines, he was called 'King of the Suckers.'

"That same fall, Van Noy was hung in Spring- field, the first in the county.

" In the spring of 1827, a great number of Mis- sourians came to the mines. The Illinois boys returned the compliment of the Missourians by saying that 'Missouri has taken a puke,' and after that all the people from that State were called ' Pukes.'

"At this time, we had a serimmage with the Winnebago Indians, which has been made the subject of history. I returned to Sangamon county in the fall of 1828, from my northern tour.

"The winter of 1830-31 was the winter of the deep snow. It was with the greatest difficulty we could find our shocks of fodder, they were so enveloped in the snow. My father-in-law lost his life in the snow-drifts on the prairies of Sangamon. Game, which had heretofore been always plenty, was nearly destroyed by the cold. Then was the time to try men's metal. The men of our day think that they see hard times. They forget the want of conveniences and pri- vations encountered by the pioneers-oftentimes compelled to wade through the streams up to the arm-pits and break ice to get the teams across, and, to cap all, to ride through perfect fields of fire, caused by the burning grass of the prairies, in the fall and winter, and lie out all night wrapped in a blanket on the cold, bleak prairies. And yet, freed as is the present gen- eration from such privations, we hear more grumbling from them than from men who had in reality to earn their bread by the sweat of their brow.

"I am now in my fifty-fifth year, and claim to be the father of eleven children, and can say with certainty that I have never been intoxi- cated, have never used tobacco in any shape or form, or any narcotic, and never was sued for debt of my own contracting."

AUBURN AND VICINITY FORTY YEARS AGO-BY M. G. WADSWORTHI.

"The young people of the present day can have but inadequate conception of the appearance of this country forty years ago. The prairies were generally a trackless waste, save the Indian trails that were still visible, and an occasional, and rarely used wagon track. The settlements, with very rare exceptions, were confined to the timber line. When the writer first knew this region, there were but two fields fenced between Old Auburn and the farms along Lick Creek. One of them belonged to George Eastman, on the west side of Panther Creek, (now a part of John L. Mason's farm), and the other was owned by Platt S. Carter, now of Loami township, and is included in J. M. Lochridge's farm. No one re- sided on either of these places, though Mr. Carter had a barn built and an unfinished house, into which he moved the following winter. The first settlers, who were almost exclusively from Virginia and Kentucky, universally selected their land with a view to its contiguity to the forests, and embracing a good proportion of the same, not seeming to think it probable that the vast prairies would ever be occupied. Indeed, any man who bought and improved land out in mid- prairie, at that day, was laughed at for his folly. Ile labored under several disadvantages, it is true. The wild prairie grass growing to a height of five to seven feet, was the nursery of myriads of horse flies, that, in hot weather, tortured the stock fearfully. Then, in the winter, stock owned by prairie farmers, suffered terribly from the bleak winds, as hardly any one had any bet- ter shelter for his animals than a rail fence, and, during severe weather, if not kept up, they would find their way to the woods for comfort.

"The first houses were all unhewn log cabins. In 1840, a few of the most prosperous had begun to 'put on style,' and there were a number of story and a half mansions of hewed logs. Some people even were so extravagant as to have their houses clapboarded, and there were in Southern Sangamon a number of small frame houses, and an occasional small brick building. The lumber used at that day was all hard oak. walnut, cherry, ash, sycamore. Pine lumber had not been intro- duced here, there being no railroads, and to haul it in wagons from St. Louis or Alton, would make it an expensive luxury.

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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 26

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