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 48

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 48

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).

"Charley, the decanter is nearly empty."

" Yes," replied the elerk, " but, never mind; there is enough for one dram. Help yourself."

The man poured out all there was, and drank it down almost at a gulp. He no sooner done so than he had an urgent call out in the rear of the house. The young clerk had placed a drop of croton oil in the decanter. The store lost a customer and the young man received a glorious thrashing from his unele.

As already stated, whisky was generally con- sidered necessary at every house-raising. It must be borne in mind by the reader that in the early day the houses built were invariably of hewn or round logs, and it required the assistance of a large number of men to erect one. The necessity of having a supply of whisky at these raisings often put the pioneer to considerable inconve- nience, and occasionally delayed the raising a much longer time than desired. Asan illustration :

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Maxwell Campbell, of Cartwright township, came to this county in the spring of 1823. He was so poor that he raised his three first crops with a single ox, which he used for all purposes as he would a horse, riding him to market, grinding his grain with him in a horse-mill, and then carrying it home on its back. He first built a small cabin, then prepared hewn logs for a much larger one. They were hauled to the site of the proposed building, and there lay for two years for the reason that he had no money to buy whisky for the raising. lle had bought a blind horse for five dollars in trade. The horse had a bell on it which Mr. Campbell sold for two gallons of whisky, and was thus enabled to raise his house.

Dawson McGinnis came to the county in 1827, and like nearly all other early settlers, he was poor in this worlds goods, but rich in faith of the "good time coming." He prepared his logs for his cabin and hauled them up to the place where it was to be erected. By that time all his money was gone except a twenty-five cent piece. He did not like to part with his last cent, not knowing where the next was to come from, but it was the universal custom to have whisky at the raisings. The raising was delayed for a time, hoping to find some way to obtain the whisky and save the money. The thought was entertained of inviting the neighbors to assist without the accustomed stimulant, though it was doubtful if they would come. Consulting with his wife, the two decided that even though they responded to the call and helped them he would always be regarded as the stingiest man in the whole county, and that it would be better to part with the money than to have such a name. The whisky was purchased and the house raised.

While intemperance largely exists, it is evi- dent that it has greatly decreased within the present generation. According to population there are not as many drunkards, nor is there as much liquor consumed as a third or a half cen- tury ago. This leads to the further declaration that can well be substantiated, that the efforts put forth by the temperance people in times past have not proven a failure. That organiza- tions have flourished for a time and then cease to exist proves nothing. These organizations were but human instrumentalities brought forth by the necessities of the hour, their design being to accomplish a certain purpose then apparent. It is not to be expected that they will be as en- during as the hills, or so strong that " the gates of hell shall not prevail against them." If they accomplish a good work for the time, well and

good. If it be found that there is a radical defect in their organizations necessitating a change, let it be made, and let it not be imagined because they are defective and have not accom- plished all the good their most sanguine sup- porters anticipated, that nothing has been done. All over the country can be found sober, honest and good men, who, but for the effort put forth by the members of some temperance organiza- tion that has ceased to exist, would now fill a drunkard's grave.

Whisky, in the early day, was generally sold for cash-all other goods on credit. Of course it was not expensive, as a good quality could be purchased for two or three shillings per gallon. Occasionally some impecunious persons, desiring to go on a spree, and having no money, were re- quired to resort to their wits to procure the liquid fluid. A good story is told of a crowd who were so sitnated. One of their number got a jug, and, filling it about half full of water, went to a grocery and called for a quart of whisky, remarking that some of the boys wished to have a little fun, but didn't have quite whisky enough. The whisky was drawn and the man picked up the jug and started for the door, with- out saying a word about paying for it. The pro- prietor told him to come back, as whisky was cash. The man replied that he had no money. " Well, you can't have the whisky then," was the answer. Appearing mad, the man stepped back, and with an oath, told the proprietor to take his old whisky. The quart was drawn out of the jug, when it was again taken to the public well, and more water put in. A second grocery was visited, another quart of whisky drawn and emptied back. Again he went to the well for more water. and a third place was visited, and a half gallon was called for, poured in the jng and drawn off. The man appeared mad, but it was just what he desired should be done; so he left the third place with a half gallon as good whisky as the merchant poured back in his barrel from the jug. This was a first-class article, and the boys were thus afforded a rare chance for a good drunk, after the most approved style.

Although the whisky of that carly day was said to be pure, yet it would " make the drunk come;" men would become shiftless from its continual use; houses would be neglected; heart-broken and sorrowing wives, ragged and hungry children existed, and all from the use of rum.

Notwithstanding whisky is thought to be a preventive for nearly every disease, it has been proven by actual statistics to be a source

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

of disease, the habitual drinker being more liable to attack from various diseases than the total abstainer. Especially has this been proven to be the case in diseases of an epidemic nature, such as cholera.

The Temperance Recorder, November 6, 1832, contains what it says is "An authentic record of deaths by cholera in the city of Albany, from the commencement to the cessa- tion of daily reports, in the summer of 1832, omitting all under the age of sixteen years " Nine physicians testify to the truth of the record. The following is an abstract from the report:

Whole number of deaths 336

Intemperate .. 140

Free drinkers. 55

Moderate drinkers, mostly habitual. 131

Strictly temperate .. 5

Members of temperance societies 2

Idiot . 1

Unknown 2

336

EARLY TEMPERANCE MOVEMENTS.

During the summer of 1829, Dr. Jayne placed in the hands of Rev. J. G. Bergen, a copy of Dr. Lyman Beecher's six sermons on intemperance, which he read one by one to the people on six successive Sabbath afternoons. Curiosity about drunkenness in the East brought the people out. Mr. Bergen prepared the constitution of a tem- perance society, and, after reading that well- known tract, " Putnam and the Wolf," invited the congregation to sign the pledge. Eleven persons put down their names In a short time there were more than fifteen hundred signers in the county. This was the first temperance society in Central Illinois, and probably the first in the State.

In 1834, a society known as the Springfield Temperance Society was in existence. This society pledged its members to "abstain from the use, and use all lawful means to put a stop to vending and drinking distilled ardent spirits." This society was composed only of adults. At the same time a juvenile temperance society was organized, showing the people realized the truth of the old proverb that " an ounce of pre- vention is worth a pound of cure," and were de- termined to use every means to prevent the young from forming habits of intemperance.

A county temperance society was organized about this time, under the name of the "Sanga- mon County Temperance Society," with branch societies in the various townships and villages

in the county. The local papers of the period failed to record the proceedings of any of the meetings, until 1837, when an account of an an- nual meeting held in Springfield, February 28, is given. At this meeting, the following named officers were elected: C'has. R. Matheny, Presi- dent; Thomas Moffett and C. B. Francis, Vice- Presidents; S. M. Sill, Secretary; John Dickey, Treasurer.

THE WASHINGTONIANS.

In the month of December, 1841, some men from Alton came to Springfield to inaugurate the new temperance reform, which began its career in the winter previous, in the city of Bal- timore, and had spread like wildfire all over the land. Success had crowned the efforts of the workers, from the commencement of their la- bors. The places in which their meetings were held were crowded to suffocation. Like the Athenians of old, many attended out of curi- osity, desiring to "know what these babblers had to say." The plea they presented was such as to appeal to the heart and reason of everyone. A local paper under date of December 31, 1841, says:

"The cause goes gloriously on. The society in this city has more than three hundred and fifty members. The spirit seems to have been caught in the neighboring settlements of this county. At two small gatherings near Spring- field, about one-half of the persons present joined the standard of reform.

" A Christmas like that just passed was never before witnessed here. Our streets the whole day were free from exhibitions which before had been common; not an intoxicated man was seen on them; and those who had once spent the day in drinking and carousals, enjoyed it most hap- pily in the society of their families. What a change! What happiness to themselves and to those whose weal and woe are committed to their charge!

"Not a Washingtonian has flinched the fiery trial he has been compelled to undergo. Though the desire to indulge in former courses in some instances, we may well suppose, has been ter- rible, yet bravely and triumphantly they have borne themselves up against it. They have proved themselves worthy soldiers of the immortal chief- tain whose banner waves over them.

" What is strange, singular, and not to be won- dered at, all our Washingtonians seemed to have been imbued with the missionary spirit, and all are engaged with their might in urging on the great work of reform. It is the talk of the

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mechanic's bench, the slaughter-house, the wood- cutter's stand, the merchant's counter. Few, in- deed, there are that are not affected by its influ- ence. May the spirit progress until it extends over the length and breadth of our land! This reform is producing a most kindly feeling among our citizens. A class of men who felt they were degraded almost beyond the reach of hope; that their condition could not be changed, and who had been inclined to look upon those who had by industry, sobriety and economy, rendered themselves more comfortable and happy than they were, with jealousy and distrust if not with hate, under the influence of this reform, find themselves surrounded with friends where they did not expect them, and the sympathies and well-wishes of all enlisted in their behalf. Need we wonder that such a state of things opens almost a new world upon the reformed? That their step is light, that their heart is filled with hope, and that those who are connected with them by the endearing ties of wife, children, parent, or brother, are rejoicing almost 'with joy unspeakable? It is so. Every man among us see it-and feels it-and blesses the day when the three Baltimoreans raised the banner of ' Washington Reform.'"'

The meeting for the organization of the so- ciety was held Monday afternoon, December 12, 1841. Messrs. Todd, Webster, Powell, Matheny and Pease were appointed a committee to nomi- nate officers. They reported the following named, who were duly elected:

President .- William D. Herndon.

Vice-President .- Gould Butler, W. W. Wat- son, and Jesse B. Thomas.

Directors .- A. R. Robinson, Thomas J. Tur- ley, Allen Francis, Frederick C. McComas, Strother J. Jones.

Recording Secretary .- William W. Pease.

Corresponding Secretary .- James H. Ma- theny.

Treasurer .- William Lavely.

A committee on Constitution was appointed who reported the following:

CONSTITUTION OF THE SPRINGFIELD WASHINGTON TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.

We, the friends of temperance in the city of Spring- field, who have signed the pledge of the Washington Temperance Society, believe that when men have so far indulged in the use of intoxicating liquor as to render themselves wretched and miserable, and in many cases their families destitute and unhappy, that they may and can be redeemed and reinstated to com- fort, peace and happiness by the aid and assistance of their fellow men. And being desirous to preserve in-

violate our own pledge, and to see every man in our community, as well as the whole country, rescued from that degradation, which sooner or later awaits those who continue to indulge in the accursed draught, and believing, as we do, that in union alone there is safety, do associate ourselves under the following Con- stitution.

ARTICLE 1. This Society shall be called the First Springfield Washington Temperance Society.

ART. 2. This Society shall give no preference to any political party or religious sect, but its sole object shall be to advance the cause of temperance, and especially direct its efforts to the redemption of our fel- low men who have been degraded by the use of intoxi- eating liquors.

ART. 3. Any person having signed the Washington Temperance Pledge in this city, and who adheres strictly to the same, shall be a member of this Society, and if any one shall be so unfortunate as to violate said pledge, his ease shall be brought before the Society, whose duty it shall be to use every other means to restore him before he shall be expelled.

[Articles 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 refer to the officers, their duties, and to time of meetings, and amend- ments to the constitution, how made.]

ART. 9. No political or religious question shall be discussed at any meeting of this Society; and no per- son shall be permitted to take any part in the proceed- ings of the meeting, or address the Society, except those who have signed a Washington Temperance pledge, unless they be specially invited by the Society.

The pledge adopted by the Society was a very simple one, as follows:

The undersigned, being desirous of carrying out the principles of temperance, do pledge our honor that we will abstain from all intoxicating drinks:

The Society proposed to be charitable and missionary, as witness the following resolutions, passed at one of its meetings:

Resolved, That the Society pledges itself to assist the members of this Society and their fam- ilies, who may now or hereafter be in necessi- tous circumstances.

Resolved, That the President be authorized to appoint delegates to explain the objects and prin- ciples of this Society in the neighboring settle- ments, and that such delegates report their pro- ceedings and the results of their labors, at the regular meetings of this Society.

It will be observed that reformation seemed to be the watchword of the Society-to restore to their families, and to society in general, those who had fallen. The mantle of charity was to be thrown around a weak brother who violated his pledge, and every effort was to be made to restore him, and to help him keep inviolate his sacred obligation, rather than to expel him.

The following touching song was a favorite with the Washingtonians:

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

WASHINGTON SONG.

TUNE-"' There's nae Luck About the House."

And are ye sure the news is true, And are ye sure he's signed ?

I can't believe the joyful tale, And leave my fears behind.

If John has signed and drinks no more, The happiest wife am I

That ever swept a cottage hearth, Or sung a lullaby .

For there's nae luck about the house, There's been nae luck at a'; And gone's the comfort of the house Since he to drink drink did fa'.

Oh! yes, we're sure the news is true; Indeed, your John has signed;

This happy day you'll never rue, Nor past misfortunes mind.

Your John has signed and drinks no more, The happiest man is he

That ever sat in cottage door,

Or loved a bonny e'e. There was nae luck about the house, There was no luck at a'; But comfort now will bless the house, And fortune soon will fa'.

Whose eye so kind, whose hand so strong, Whose love so true will shine,

If he have bent his hand and heart The total pledge to sign?

But what puts doubting in my heart? I trust he'll taste no more;

Be still, be still, my beating heart- Hark! hark! he's at the door.

For there's nae luck about the house, There's been nae luck at a'; And gane's the comfort of the house Since he to drink did fa'.

"Tis true, 'tis true, my lovely Kate, The total pledge I've signed; No longer I'm intemperate, No more to shame consigned. Let not distrust your heart affect, I'll never taste it more; This sacred pledge I'll e'er respect, And run a different score! There was no luck about the house, There was no luck at a'; But comfort now will bless the house, And fortune soon will fa'.

Now blessings on the helping hands That sent thee back to me;

Haste, haste, ye little ones, and run, Your father's face to see. And now I'm sure, my John, you've signed, And I am sure 'tis past,

That mine's the happiest, brightest home, On Temperance shores at last. There was no luck about the house, But now 'tis comfort a', And heaven preserve your own gude man, That he may never fa'.

As an organization, the Washingtonian Socic- ties of Sangamon county, have long since ceased to exist, but there are living to-day, some whom but for the pledge signed in the winter of 1841 and 1842, would doubtless be filling to-day drunkard's graves.

A GRAND JURY'S CERTIFICATE.

At the March term, 1843, of the Circuit Court, of Sangamon county, an unusual number of indictments were found, and previous to their adjournment the members comprising that body left the following upon record:

" We, the undersigned, members of the Grand Jury of the county of Sangamon, State of Illi- nois, at the March term of the Circuit Court of said county, believe, from the investigations had before us, that most, if not all, the crimes and misdemeanors which have been brought before this jury, had their first, if not immediate cause, in intemperance."

William Butler, foreman, V. Hay,

B. A. Watson, Abner Riddle,

David Newson, James Stephenson,

John Branson, John Broadwell,

Gershom Keyes, E G. Johns,

James G. Webb, W. Armstrong,

William II. Marsh, P. C. Latham,

Robert Irwin.

One of the jury made the following state- ment: "I, S. Britton, believes that intemper- ance is the means from which many of the crimes that came before the jury, originated."

SONS OF TEMPERANCE.

After the Washingtonians came the Sons of Temperance, an organization having for its motto, "Love, Purity, and Fidelity." The "Sons" were composed of males above the age of eighteen, and held their meetings in secret, be- lieving that they could more fully carry out the object of the order. To enable the wives and daughters of members to engage in the good work, the "Daughters of Temperance" were or- ganized; and for the benefit of males between the age of fourteen and cighteen, the "Cadets of Temperance" were organized. Thus every member in the family were secured as workers in the good cause. The "Sons" formed their first Division in this county in 1848, and for many years were in a flourishing condition.

As already stated the motto of the order is "Love, Purity and Fidelity." The three divine principles enunciated by this motto are poet- ically expressed in the following.

Three sunny islets on life's river, Three golden arrows in life's quiver,

ROBERT IRWIN

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

Three stars that never fade or dim, Three notes that angels love to hymn. Three charms that guard the heart from sorrow, Three whispers of a brighter morrow; Three links that bind with silken bands, Three words whose might should rule all lands. Three life preservers on Time's ocean, Three voices 'mid that heart's commotion; Three fragrant flowers most fair to see, Three garlands twining round life's tree; Three gems of pure etherial light, Three paths still lovely, pure and bright;

Three rays of light from Heaven's throne, Where naught but happiness is known.

TEMPLE OF HONOR.

Almost contemporaneous with the Sons of Temperance was the Temple of Honor, which combined the principles of temperance with the benevolent features of such organization as the Masons and Odd Fellows. Every person desiring to become a member of the order had to be proposed for membership and was required to be of the requisite age and in good health. A fair degree of success attended this order.

TIIE. MAINE LAW.

Shortly after the passage of the prohibitory liquor law in the State of Maine, the question of a similar Jaw began to be agitated in this State. In Sangamon county it had many and strong advocates, among whom were B. S. Ed- wards, S. W. Robbins, James II. Matheny, J. T. Stuart, and others.

In January, 1853, a State Convention was held in Springfield, at which were representative men from all parts of the State. Judge Lockwood presided, and S. W. Robbins, of Springfield, was one of the Vice-Presidents. B. S. Edwards made an eloquent and logical address, which met the approbation of all in attendance. The convention petitioned the General Assembly, which was then in session, for the submission of a prohibitory law to the people for adoption or rejection. The prayer of the petitioners was granted and the question was voted upon a few months after. The people were not then ready for the law and it was defeated, Sangamon county giving a majority against the law.

GOOD TEMPLARS.

The Independent Order of Good Templars originated in 1851, and was the outgrowth of a desire to unite all the members of a family in one order, and with the laudable object of "sav- ing the fallen and preventing others from fall- ing." It may be said the latter object has been more fully met in this order than in any other

temperance organization. "Here yon find the entire family united around one common altar." Many of the strong temperance advocates to-day were in early life initiated in this beautiful and noble order, and had the principles of temper- ance thoroughly inculcated in their mind before habits of intemperance were formed. They bless the day they were made "Templars;" and even if not actively engaged in the work, they pray the blessings of God to rest upon the order.

The first lodge of Good Templars was in- stituted, in this county, about the year 1858, since which time the order here has had seasons of prosperity and seasons of adversity. Like all other human organizations, its members at times are enthusiastic, and work together in harmony, and success therefore attends their every move- ment. Again, divisions occur; the members re- fuse to co-operate with one another,-and the order takes a backward stride.

WOMEN'S TEMPERANCE CRUSADE.

In the winter of 1873, a movement was inau- gurated in Ohio, which was denominated the "Women's Temperance Crusade," from the fact that a few noble women, despairing of snecess for the cause of temperance as advocated and enforced by the professed temperance people, proceeded to try the efficacy of prayer. Bands of praying women visited the various saloons in the neighborhood, and the songs and prayers forced the rum-sellers to close their shops. Their very earnestness had its effect upon all classes of society, and men and women who were luke- warm in the cause became aroused, and renewed their fight against the enemy. The "crusade" spread with great rapidity throughout the whole North. The movement had been as startling in its character as a clap of thunder from a clear sky, and the cloud which had been at first no bigger than a man's hand had suddenly over- spread the whole heavens. The opponents to the reform all claimed to be friendly, but-they thought some other method of bringing it about preferable. Moral suasion was urged as the one sure remedy, and the I'quor sellers wanted their opponents to be careful to keep within the bounds of the law. Mrs. Emma Malloy, who took a very active part in the movement, and who for many years has been a worker in the cause of temperance, said that she was often asked what she thought of the movement, but hesitated to give a reply, lest her answer should be less reverent than the subject seemed to demand. She could not doubt but the move- ment was a natural revulsion, an eruption of the

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

smoldering fires that for centuries past had been pent up in the heart of woman. She could not doubt but that the hand of God had shaken these internal fires, and could only gaze with awe and reverence at the mighty upheaving that thrilled the Nation from center to circumfer- ence. She was convinced that woman was not satisfied to sit with folded hands while the first- born of the Nation was being slain, while the fairest and purest of every household in the land were the victims of the fell destroyer. The heart of woman had thrilled with silent anguish; she had wept her night of sorrow through; and now had arisen the host of Israel. The foe was being routed. "The glad dawn whose early twilight" all had been gazing down the centuries of Time to see, had come.

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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 48

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