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 72

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 72

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).

" During the summer, my brother.Joseph broke thirty-six acres of prairie for Mr. Jarvis, for $1.50 per acre, in trade.

"There were many swarms of bees here in the timber in 1822, not having been hunted out so early in this part of the State as the north part. Early this spring, my father and I concluded on a bee hunting excursion. Being ready, we put into a covered wagon two large new vessels, as a repository for honey, two or three buckets, some cooking utensils, provisions, corn for the oxen, axes, a tent cloth, some dressed buckskin, and thread to repair torn pants, two or three books, etc. About the 10th of March, we started east. The first night, we encamped in the Buck Hart grove, the second night on Mosquito creek, op- posite to the two mounds in the prairie. The next day being too cold for bees to fly, we passed on to the creek before spoken of, entering into the north fork from the south. Here we pitched our tent, and remained three or four weeks, not more than one or two days, or parts of days, in a week being warm enough for bees to fly.

"My father usually kept camp, assisted in cutting trees, etc., but I did the hunting.

"In the timber on this stream, I found thirty or thirty-three bee trees.

"Here, on one very favorable day, I found ten, the greatest number I ever found on one day, the common average on good days being from two to seven.

" We returned home with about forty-tive gallons of honey, and fifty or sixty pounds of beeswax.

"Soon after our arrival at home I went to town to sell the wax, in company with two or three other persons This was my first visit to Springfield. The south fork of the Sangamon was high. Here, for the first time, I saw Mr. Edward Clark and his brother Philip. They with several hands, were busy preparing timbers for their mill. They sent over a man and their canoe to assist us in crossing. We had to swim our horses over by the side of the canoe, one at a time. When all was over we proceeded on to town. Mr. Elijah Iles was the only merchant here then; he kept his store in a log house, some distance northwest of what afterwards became the public square. I found him at leisure, he was quite social, and we soon made a trade, he giving me twenty-five cents per pound. chiefly in goods. There was not more than a dozen houses in town, if that many. In the fall, my father and I went out again to hunt bees; camp- ing the first nights at the same localities as in the spring. We proceeded on slowly, hunting up the North Fork timber till we came to the place where we struck it when moving. The bees were not plenty on this stream; we found about forty bee-trees this time. My father was unwell here for several days, which detained us longer than we had anticipated.

"There was much rainy weather at this time. During the first afternoon of our encampment here, a Pennsylvania Dutchman arrived at our camp on horseback, in a drenching rain. He was on his way to the Military Tract, to ex- amine a piece of land. He passed the night with us, and seemed quite intelligent on general matters, but was much discouraged.

"Looking down the bluff at the North Fork he enquired its name. On being told, he seemed much dejected, and exclaimed, in his Dutch ac- cent: " It that is the Sangamon river, of which I heard so much, I was badly deceived." He was on the point of turning back for home when, from the number of his land, my father thought it might be valuable, and pursuaded him to go and see it.

"He went on and found it a valuable tract in the Ross settlement, about twelve or fifteen miles from the month of Spoon river.

"He returned the day before we were intending to return home. He was in good spirits, now that his one hundred and sixty acres were valua- ble, and he intended to make his final home there. He was very thankful to my father for

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his advice, and in the morning, after breakfast, we bade each other a friendly adieu, he starting for his home and we for ours.

" During all our travels of these two excursions we saw no white man save the Dutchman. On the fourth day of March, 1823, my father and I started east for another bee-hunt. The third day being warm, I found three trees on Mosquito creek, near its head. From this point we struck off to the right of the North Fork and found seventy trees on the first branches of the Okaw. or Kaskaskia, river. Wecut forty and left three others to stand till fall. In August my father died, and in the fall one of my brothers accom- panied me to cut the bee-trees left standing in the spring. In the spring and fall of 1824, I went in the employ of Mr. Thompson to hunt bees.

"I think at the end of the season we came out even, finding one hundred and fifty trees each. If Major Iles has his old merchantile books they will show that Mr. Thompson and I dealt with him on a liberal scale in bees-wax. In all our hunting this year for miles up and down the dif- ferent branches of the Okaw, we found ro place where a white man had either settled or com- menced an improvement. We admired much of the beautiful prairie situated on the east and south sides of the North Fork, and some sit- uated on the Okaw; but we entertained no idea that one hundredth part of what we saw would sell for Congress prices during a common life time.

"So much in reference to bee-hunting, and the uninhabited country of Central Illinois, seen between the spring of 1822, and fall of 1824.

"Late in the fall of 1822, my father and I started on foot for the military bounty land to examine the land, and ascertain the situation of the one hundred and sixty acre-tract, purchased while in Indiana. We passed north from Springfield, crossed the Sangamon river at the ferry, near where the bridge was afterwards built. Then we soon turned to the left and crossed Salt creek near its mouth.

"Not far from this we saw the ashes, yet fresh, where a Mr. Hawley had encamped on his way to convey a widow woman to some place, but in attempting to ascertain the depth of the ford, was drowned. Though I had never seen the man, my sympathy went out to his bereaved family when they heard the sad news. We went on till near the Illinois river, where we saw a man, but he could tell us little about the coun- try. He thought there might be one or two set- tlers on the south side of the Spoon river, eight

or ten miles above its mouth, he was not certain. We had with us some provisions, a gun, a hatchet, and a pocket compass.

" When we arrived at the Illinois river we got some Indians to take us over in a canoe. The land we wished to see lay in township twelve north, range two west, the southwest quarter of section thirteen. We traveled west from the river for some distance, and after a long search in the timber found a surveyor's corner. I knew how the sections were numbered, beginning at the northeast corner of each township. On ex- amination, I found we were about sixty miles south of the land.

"Mr. Babbit's land lay in town, five or six north, range two east. We got to it, finding it a rather broken, hickory and oak land. It ap- peared poor to us and so we reported it to him, but perhaps it is valuable now. Our provisions run short, and finding no game, we turned down Spoon river but could find no houses. We tried to cross over to the Ross settlement, but the river was very high, running swiftly over the bottoms, and we could not cross, so we conclu- ded to return; and re-crossed the Illinois river where we did before. We had now traveled sixty or seventy miles, over the military lands. Part of our route was over rough, broken tim- bered land, and part over rolling prairies. We did not see one white man or a house, west of the river. From this point we returned home by the same road that we came.

"Sometime in September, 1825, I started alone to see the military lands. I rode part of the way this time, and besides other necessary things took a hatchet with me, to cut off the new growth which now partly covered the sur- veyor's marks. I crossed the Illinois and Spoon rivers, near the mouth of the latter, and passed the night at a house, perhaps twelve miles dis- tant on my way.

"In the night my horse escaped and could not be found in the morning. So with my hatchet and some provisions, I started on foot to prose- cute my purpose. I found the way rather rough for some distance in the vicinity of the Spoon river and some of its tributaries, but as I passed further, I found beautiful, rich rolling prairies, extending far to the north, intersected occasion- ally with points of timber. After miles of travel I arrived at a small stream of water surrounded by beautiful timber, and running a northwest, course for several miles.

"After searching sometime in the timber I found a surveyor's line, traced it on west, to a corner stone, and found I was six miles east of

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

the southeast corner of the land which I wished to see. I had to guess as nearly as I could where the land lay. I passed on until I supposed I had reached the center of the tract. The stream I supposed to be a branch of Henderson river, passed through the land; it was here about twelve or thirteen inches deep, with a swift cur- rent. It was now growing dark, my tinder had become damp and with only my knife and flint I could not start a fire, and being unable to do better, I laid down by the side of a big fallen tree with a light blanket over me, in a rain storm till morning. When I arose, so far as I could ascertain, there was no settlement or road leading in the direction of this land nigher than thirty-five or forty miles; hence, the idea of at- tempting to settle on it under existing circum- stances, while good land was plenty in Sanga- mon county, seemed to me to be unadvisable.

"On my return, having walked a hundred miles or more, and camped out every night, I was glad to obtain my horse again. The man at whose house I staid over had found it soon after I lett. After two or three days travel I reached home not caring much for the one hundred and sixty acres, except that it had been the primary means of inducing us to leave the back country for the beautiful State of Illinois. These events all occurred before the close of the fall season in 1825.

" Among the numerous privations endured by some of the earliest settlers of Sangamon county, none was felt more sensibly than the lack of schools. In different localities one or two fam- ilies might be found having few or many child- ren .. The parents felt anxious to see their intel- lectual faculties cultivated; but what were they to do? three or five children were too few to constitute a school. In connection with this, if in some neighborhoods a small school could be made up, where was a competent teacher to be found to instruct them? But this state of things could not long last in Sangamon county. Em- igrants were coming in from both the Southern and Eastern States, and children in sufficient numbers to make up schools would not long be lacking.

"In the summer of 1824, Daniel Parkinson and one or two others insisted that I should teach their children. I was aware that my limited ed- ucation and experience rendered me inadequate to perform so great a task, and I expressed my feelings freely to Mr. Parkinson. In reply he said that the few children in the neighborhood greatly needed instruction; that the most of them had never been to school, and that to teach them

to read and spell was all that was necessary in the present instance. After some hesitation I consented to teach for a few days-not for any limited time.

" With a little band of ten or twelve dutiful children I labored for the space of three months. The children made good progress in their studies, and at the end of the school I had the pleasure to know that my employers were well satisfied.

"Mr. Parkinson, Mr. Warwick, and one or two others were patrons of the school. Also Francis Cooper, who afterwards married George Dickson, attended.

" I placed but little confidence in the predic- tions of some that in process of time the inex- perienced teacher would become a good school- master.

" About this time Mr. Parkinson loaned me Lindley Murray's Grammar to peruse; it was the first grammar I think that I ever held in my hands.

"I soon saw that it would afford me much use- ful knowledge, so purchased it for my own pri- vate use, not supposing at the time I would ever teach again.

"Late in November, 1823, Mr. Thomas Black, who lived on Sugar creek, sent word that he wanted to see me. I went and found him in his cornfield, with his boys, busily engaged gathering corn. He was glad to see me, and said he had heard of my teaching in the 'forks' (of the Sangamon river), and had sent for me. He went on to state that there were several children in the neighborhood who ought to be at school, but not persons enough who would send to make up a school by subscription. Under these circum- stances, he had concluded to hire some one to teach three months for the benefit of his own children and others that could be induced to attend. He proposed if I would teach to give me $12 in trade per month and board me, I to teach all children that should attend for a term of three months. I told Mr. Black that my opportunities for obtaining an education had been very unfavorable, so much so that I knew I was not well prepared to teach school. He thought as none of the children were far ad- vanced, and the most of them would have to commence with the a, b, c's, I would be fully competent to teach the school. After some hesitation I accepted the offer.

"About the Ist of December, 1823, I com- meneed. I cannot now recollect the names of the persons who sent to this school, but will name those who are remembered: Thomas Black, James Patton, William Woods, Herman

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Ilusbands, Widows Paine and Stout, Mr. Crow and Noah Mason. Besides these, Ezekiel Dren- nan (son of old William Drennan) attended most of the winter and Charles D. Nuckons several days; most of the scholars called him Dab Nuekolls. Such orderly and studions scholars as attended this school are a credit to any community. I now considered my position as a very responsible one, and I, not to betray such confidence as had been reposed in me, therefore improved my spare hours in studying my grammar, dietionary and other available helps, that I might improve myself and be the better able to teach my pupils.

In December, 1824, I commenced a school on Horse creek. The employers' names were, as far as I can remember: Joseph Diekson, Henry Funderburk, Mr. Neely, two of the Fergusons, Mordecai Hamilton, Elias Thompson and James Snodgrass, Jr. Besides these, some other per- sons sent occasionally.

"In the summer of 1825 I taught in the South- wiek settlement. The employers were Mr. Southwick, Dexter Pease, William Seeley, Zaek- ariah Peter, Mr. Stout, Widow Paine, Mr. Twist, and a Mr. Harty. I still remember with pleasure many agreeable hours spent with my employers around their social firesides.

"In December, 1825, my brother Elias and I concluded to go to Edwardsville to see a man who had advertised some land to sell in the Mili- tary Tract. We hoped to be able to obtain some on terms within our reach, and if we did not sue- ceed in this, we would search for employment for which we could obtain our pay in money; there being no chance to obtain money in San- gamon. With some provisions in an old knap- sack, and between two and three dollars in money, and not a garment except those in use, we started on a clear bnt cold December day for Edwardsville. We reached Macoupin point late in the afternoon, but thought we could make the nearest point on the St. Louis (twelve miles dis- tant) road before dark, but got on the wrong road and had to travel about eight or ten miles farther, when we came to a Mr. Stewarts, seven miles from Hillsboro; we enquired how far we were from Macoupin Point, and he said twenty- one miles. The reason I mention this is to show how far it was in 1825 from Macoupin Point to the first house on the Hillsboro road. As we proceeded toward Edwardsville the houses be- came rather more frequent. On inquiry we found that the man we had come to see was not at home, and as we could get nothing to do, we proceeded on toward St. Louis; the weather be-

ing very cold. We tarried over night at a house in the Great American Bottom, but could hear of no demand for labor in this neighborhood, so started the next morning for St. Louis. When we arrived at Wiggins' ferry, opposite St. Louis, we found we would have to wait, as the boat could not cross on account of running ice in the river. We here met Governor Edwards, who was very talkative and jolly. The Governor came to us and asked us where we were going, and where we were from? When I had told him what had induced us to leave our home in Sangamon, he said as it was now winter, and as there are many blaeks in St. Louis, I think the chances for employment there must be unfavor- able; but times are good down Missouri, at the lead mines, on Sandy creek, thirty five or forty miles below St. Louis, and I think you can do better there, as labor is in demand. We told him that we were used to hard labor, but that we had heard that there were many rough characters at the mines, so felt a degree of hesitancy about going to that place.

"The Governor replied: 'I am aware that what you say is true, but I think you can do well at the mines; industrious men who are quiet, will find friends, and be respected there, and he added: I am acquainted with Mr. Glas- gow and Bryant, proprietors at the Sandy Mines, and if you will conelude to go down I will write a line or two to them, and state your case to them.'

" After some consultation with Ellis, we con- eluded to go to the mines. To think that so in- telligent a man as Governor Edwards should manifest so warm an interest in behalf of two youthful strangers, was very encouraging to us.

"After taking leave of the Governor we started for the lead mines. About night of the second day we arrived at the ferry opposite the Herculaneum. The ice was still running in the river, in the morning. After some delay we crossed and reached the mines, eight miles dis- tant, in good time. We staid there fifteen months, cutting cord wood and working in the lead mines. We then went to Galena, where we staid two years and nine months, making in all about four years we were in the mines."

FOURTII ANNUAL MEETING.

Cherry grove, or Irwin's grove was selected as the place for the fourth annual meeting of the Old Settlers of Sangamon county. Cherry grove is a beautiful and romantie spot, contain- ing forty aeres of most magnificent timber, per- fectly cleared from undergrowth and brush, and

George Power

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

presenting a deep, unbroken shade, with a car- pet under your feet of the deepest green. The speakers' stand was beautifully decorated with wreaths, evergreens and blooming flo vers, over which floated that grand old banner, the stars and stripes. A large number of dignified look- ing old settlers, attired in their best, and appear- ing as young as the youngest settlers in the crowd, graced the platform. Among others were William Drennan, Wilson Dodds, Elijah Iles, S. G. Nesbitt, Samuel Cloyd, Samuel Grubb, John B. Weber, J. C. Bone, Henry Converse, Isaac and E. B. Hawley, Jacob Ball, R. Coley, George Miller, Job Fletcher, Robert Wilburn, James Parkinson, D). Wadsworth, James W. Patton, Squire Campbell, E. Barnes, George Weaver, P. Wyman, James Scott, Uriah Mann, D. H. Shennan, Joel Johnson, J. R. Coleman, John Brownell, Davis Meredith, John DeCamp and William Sutton, together with Mother Archer, seventy-eight years of age, and who has lived in the county since 1821, making her the oldest lady settler.

After prayer by Daniel Wadsworth, the Pres- ident, Preston Breckenridge, called the meeting to order and expressed his gratification at meet- ing so many old friends. Samuel Williams was then introduced and made a few remarks, after which John M. Palmer was introduced and pro- ceeded to deliver one of his happiest and most effective speeches. He said it was a true, sin- cere pleasure to be present at this meeting. He saw gentlemen before him who had known this county when it contained less than three hun- dred people; when Springfield existed only in name. We can hardly comprehend the past and its difference from the present. Young ladies can hardly comprehend that the women of other days could be beautiful, wearing only their own hair, and yet those women were as lovely as those of to-day. Thank God, this idea will last for a life-time. We see not the change in the faces of those we love, but love them more and more as time goes steadily on. Ile knows a wealthy citizen of Sangamon who came here on foot, with only a horse, axe and gun. That was the stutt of the old settlers. We love and honor the memory and associa- tions of men of the past, for they are worthy our love and respect. At one time in his life he thought the driver of a six-horse team occupied the highest position in the world. He had been strongly democratic in his opinions in regard to the rights of the people, among which were cut- ting timber where they wished, and taking up hogs running at large. The people in early days 52-

considered this legitimate, and he must confess at this time he thought so to. He remembered how sparking was performed forty years ago, and had taken a part in it himself. The best plan was to take a sweet young lady behind you on horseback, and this method was thought style. If you had no horse, you must do your sparking in some other style, for it had to be done. Ile wore a linsey coat down to his knees, and his father a dress coat, brass buttons, and a bell-crowned hat. He granted the superiority of the educational advantages of to-day, yet educa- tion could not make purer, sterner, better men than the men of the past. Now the noblest of all colleges, the common school, is open to all, and God bless the efforts of our young men to make themselves great and good. His reading book was called "Citizen of the World," and each scholar read such works as he could get. He remembered the singing schools, when the girls sang "fine hand," and squealed high up. The men who are passing are worthy the imita- tion of the present generation, and it was his fervent prayer that they would follow the bright example set them by their fathers, who had gone before. The Governor concluded with a bril- liant and touching tribute to the old settlers, and was greeted at its close with three hearty cheers.

A letter of regret was read from John A. Mc- Clernand, and short speeches were made by James H. Matheny and John T. Stuart. The following resolution was then adopted:

" Resolved, That whereas his Excellency, the Governor, an eminent statesman and profound lawyer, in his address this morning, clearly showed that two of the old settlers of this county, to-wit: Weber and Hawley, were not entitled to vote, in consequence of their being unnaturalized citizens, not having had the ague or chills and fever during their residence of forty-nine or fifty years; that it respectfully requests that his Excellency, the Governor, and all good citizens, unite in using their influence in effecting the passage of an act of the next legislature of the State, whereby the said par- ties may be properly entitled to the rights of franchise."

Preston Breckenridge was re-elected Presi- dent; Noah Mason, Vice President, and Thomas Parks. Secretary.

FIFTHI ANNUAL MEETING.

The thirtieth day of August, 1872, was the day set apart for the fifth annual meeting of the Old Settlers' Society. On that day the pioneers again met together.

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HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

As a change in the usual programme, the so- ciety proceeded at once to the election of officers for the ensuing year. Job Fletcher was elected President, with seventy Vice Presidents, and Noah W. Matheny, Secretary. After dinner, General John A. McClernand was introduced and spoke about three-fourths of an hour in a chaste and eloquent style. The next speech was by Rev. William J. Rutledge. He said that thirty- three years before he had run a saw-mill on Spring creek and sawed stringers used in laying the track of the first railroad ever built in the State of Illinois. The latter part of his speech was exceedingly humorous and closed amid a roar of laughter. Major Elijah Iles then took the stand and in a conversational way related many interesting incidents of his experience among the early settlers. Hle was followed by Revs. J. D. Randall, of Edwardsville, and William S. Prentice and F. H. Wines, of Spring- field. George R. Weber made the closing speech, and the meeting adjourned.

SIXTHI ANNUAL MEETING.

This meeting was held at Irwin's grove, near Pleasant Plains, August 29, 1873. Job Fletcher called the meeting to order, and John Slater, of Pleasant Plains, delivered an address of wel- come. John M. Palmer was the first speaker. HIe said:

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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 72

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