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 88

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 88

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).

Given under our hands this 10th day of March, 1824.

William Brisbin

Robert Penny

Strother Ball

John Duncan

John Ray

David Smith

Washington Hornbuckle David Bogan."

THE WEATHER.

The weather is always a fruitful topic for dis- cussion. The editor of a local newspaper, when he can find no other subject upon which to write, always has a fruitful theme in the weather. He can praise it if it is fine, grumble at it if bad. Friends or strangers, when meeting, always dis- cuss the weather. Lovers, when too bashful to discuss such themes as are ever nearest their hearts, talk sheepishly about the weather. The historian, neglecting this important theme, would be guilty of an unpardonable sin. Therefore it is a pleasing duty to record the following facts with relation to the weather, as illustrating how it has behaved itself in the three-score years of the organized existence of the county:

MILD WINTER.

The winter of 1832-33 was as mild as the winter of 1830-31 was severe. The Sangamo Journal for January 5, 1832, says:

"The season is certainly remarkable. - For several days past we have had no frosts, and the weather has been as mild as the latter part of April usually is. We hear the ,'melifluous notes' of frogs; the grass has started in many parts of the prairies; in the bottoms the May apple has sprouted from one to three inches; and most kinds of cattle do well without feeding. Plowing is going on in the vicinity of town. We have some fears the warm weather will cause the wheat to 'joint.' To prevent this, whenever it can be done, the wheat should be fed down by calves, &c. No doubt those of our citizens who left us for Arkansas last summer are congratulating themselves on the fine cli- mate of that country, while they suppose the Illinoisans are buried in snow and suffering from cold weather. Joy remain with them."

THE SUDDEN CHANGE.

The sudden change in the weather which oc- curred December 20, 1836, is vividly impressed upon the minds of many of the old settlers of Sangamon county. There were several inches of snow upon the ground, and early in the morning rain began to fall, continuing for some hours, and turning the snow into slush. Wash- ington Crowder, at present an old citizen of Springfield, then living about four miles south- west of the city, about eleven o'clock started to the city to procure a marriage license. Mr. Crowder carried an umbrella to protect himself from · the rain, and wore an overcoat reaching nearly to his feet. When he had traveled some- thing like half the distance, and had reached a point about four miles south of Springfield, he had a fair view of the landscape, ten or twelve miles west and north. He saw a very dark cloud, a little north of west, and it appeared to be ap- proaching him very rapidly, accompanied by a teriffic, deep bellowing sound. He thought it prudent to close his umbrella, lest the wind should snatch it from his hands, and dropped the bridle reins on the neck of his horse for that purpose. Having closed the umbrella and put it under his arm, he was in the act of taking hold of the bridle rein, when the cold wave struck him. At that instant water was dripping from everything about him, but when he drew the reins taut, ice rattled from them. The water and slush almost instantly turned to ice, and running water on sloping ground was congealed as suddenly as molten lead would harden and form in ridges if poured on the ground. Mr. Crowder expressed himself quite sure that with- in fifteen minutes from the time the cold blast

538

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

reached him his horse walked on top of the snow and water, so suddenly did it freeze. When he arrived in Springfield he rode up to a store at the west side of Fifth street, between Adams and Monroe, a few doors south of where Bunn's bank now stands. He attempted to dismount, but was unable to move, his overcoat holding him as firmly as though it had been made of sheet iron. He then called for help, and two men come out, who tried to lift him off, but his clothes were frozen to the saddle, which they ungirthed, and then carried man and saddle to the fire and thawed them asunder. After becom- · ing sufficiently warm to do so, Mr. Crowder went to the County Clerk's office, obtained his license, and by driving his horse before him, returned to where he had started in the morning. The next day he started on horseback, but found the trav- eling so difficult on the ice that he dismounted, tied up the bridle, left his horse to find the way back home, and went on foot to the house of his affianced, where he was married at the time ap- pointed. Mr. Crowder admits that it was a very thorough test of his devotion, but it must be conceded that he proved himself equal to the emergency.

The velocity of the cold wave is not known. Preston Breckenridge gave it as his opinion that it moved at the rate of about seventy miles an hour. At the time he says he had just taken his dinner, and was sitting near a window, between 1 and 2 o'clock in the afternoon, in view of a pool of water, ten or twelve inches deep. Ile heard a terrific roaring sound. Sud- denly the rain ceased, and it became quite dark. The first touch of the blast scooped all the water out of the pool. Some of it returned, but in a moment it was blown out again, and scattered in frost and ice, leaving the pool empty, and the bottom frozen dry. He says it had been raining slowly all the fore part of the day and so warm that he thinks a thermometer would have stood as high as forty degrees above zero, possibly higher, and that the first touch of the tempest would have brought it down to zero in a second of time.

SNOW BLOCKADE.

On Wednesday evening, December 30, 1863, a snow storm set in which continued all night and during the greater portion of the next day, com- pletely blockading all the public highways and all the railroads leading into Springfield. The embargo on travel continued for five days, dur- ing which time there was but one mail received in the city from the east and one from the west. It was the worst storm for many years previous.

ALMOST A TORNADO.

On Friday night, December 23, 1871, a heavy rain passed over Springfield, accompanied by thunder and lightning. The next morning all was beautiful, but about nine o'clock, dark, heavy clouds came up, the wind began to rise, and gradually increased to a gale, and at ten o'clock it swept over the city with such force as to un- roof houses, knock down chimneys and signs, and destroy several buildings. The rink, erected at a cost of $12,000 in 1867, was leveled with the ground; the Rolling Mill was destroyed, as was also the round-house of the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield Railroad Company. The damage done amounted to several thousand dollars, but no lives were lost.

RAIN STORM.

"Old Probability" foretold a rain storm for Saturday, June 1, 1872, and, according to pro- gramme, it came, and the "oldest inhabitant" had to give it up-that he could not remember its equal. At eight o'clock, p. m, the storm in all its fury burst upon the city of Springfield, the flashes of lightning being dazzling and al- most incessant, accompanied by the sharp, crack- ling reports and roar of Heaven's musketry and artillery. From eight o'clock p. m., Saturday, until three o'clock a. m., Sunday, there did not seem to be a moment's cessation of the outpour- ing of rain from the "open flood-gates of Heaven." The falling of the rain sounded more like the "noise of many waters," pouring over a cataract, and soon the streets were full of water which could not be carried off by the over- charged sewers, and the pressure on these was so great as to cause much damage to them. Cel- lars were. soon full, and in some instances poured into the sleeping apartments and drove the in- mates to more comfortable quarters. The town branch, or main sewer, large enough to allow a double team and wagon to be driven into it, was soon filled with water, which poured out into the northwest. Ponds, which for years had been dry, were filled with water, and the placid San- gamon was made a roaring, dashing river.

HEAVY STORM OF WIND AND RAIN.

On Friday evening, August 3, 1860, a heavy storm of wind and rain passed over Springfield, resulting in a great deal of damage. Before seven o'clock its approach was indicated by the dark masses of clouds rolling up from the west, covering the whole earth with their gloomy darkness. Their pent-up fury burst a few min- utes after seven, and in a few minutes it was raging with terrific power. 'Buildings were

539

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

blown down and unroofed, trees were uprooted, and shrubbery and grain prostrated to the earth. An accompaniment of Heaven's artillery added to the terrible effect of the storm. Withey Brothers had their carriage manufactory blown down, entailing a loss of about $12,000 upon them. The building was a large three story brick. This was the heaviest loss experienced by any one man or firm. Many others were damaged in amounts ranging from one to five hundred dollars.

STORM AT WILLIAMSVILLE.

A terrific storm passed over Williamsville and vicinity, Friday, May 14, 1858. It spent its greatest force about one and a half miles north of the village, striking with all its force the dwelling of Evans Britton, and utterly demol- ishing the entire premises. The family, consist- ing of Mr. Britton, wife, child, and a hired man, were all in the second story, and, strange to say, neither of them were instantly killed, although Mr. Britton was dangerously wounded, his wife seriously hurt, but not dangerously, the child slightly, and the hired man badly hurt. The foundation timbers of the house, being of solid oak, eight inches square, and thirty feet long, were carried a distance of one hundred and fifty yards from where the house stood. The storm was accompanied with very heavy hail, damag- ing the windows of every house in the neighbor- hood, and a perfect deluge of rain carried off nearly every bridge in the surrounding country.

TORNADO ON SUGAR CREEK.

On Thursday, May 26, 1859, a tornado passed over a portion of this county on Sugar creek, and in the vicinity of Rochester. Its course was toward the northeast, and its violence was so great as to entirely demolish the residence of James Bell, a two-story house. It also tore the roof from the mill of Ranny & Bell, both of whom were within and seriously injured. The house of Mr. Patterson was blown down, but no one injured. Mr. Higgins' house shared the same fate, while the barn of Mr. Peddecord was destroyed. Two boys who were in the barn were blown some distance, but received no in- juries. Mr. Highman's barn was prostrated, and Mr. Inslee's orchard completely destroyed, and his house, one and a half stories high, built of logs, was blown away, nothing being left but the foundation logs. Large hickory trees, two feet in diameter, were twisted off like pipe stems. It was fortunate no loss of life occurred.

CHOLERA.

In 1832, that dreadful disease, Asiatic cholera, broke out in the county, and before its ravages were checked twenty-two deaths occurred. The physicians of the county, including Drs. John Todd, Gershom Jayne, J. M. Early, Ephraim Darling, E. H. Merryman, T. Hurghan, Garret Elkin and James R. Gray, issued an address to the people of the county in which they discussed the question at some length of the origin of the disease and its treatment, including measures to prevent its spread. In 1833, it again appeared, but only two or three cases were reported, neith- er of which were fatal. In 1851, the county es- caped having the disease, notwithstanding it spread almost throughout the entire country, but in 1854 it appeared much to the alarm of the citizens, but without fatal results.

SHOEMAKING.

It is reported by Albion Knotts that when his father came to this country, in 1819, he soon learned that the next supply of shoes for his family would have to be manufactured by him- self, although he had never made a shoe. This discovery was barely made when he found that he must produce the leather also, as there were no tanners in the country. He first cut down a large oak tree, peeled off the bark and laid it up to dry. He dug a trough in the log as large as it would make for a tan-vat. He then gathered up all the hides he could obtain. The next question was how to remove the hair. It was known that it could not be done by regular tan- ners' process, both for want of the proper ma- terials, and the knowledge in using them. Some person suggested that it might be done with water and ashes, but great caution would be nec- essary, lest the solution be made too strong. In that event it would ruin the hides. In his ex- treme caution he did not make it strong enough, and so removed but a little more than half the hair. In place of grinding the bark he beat it upon a stump with the poll of an axe. He then put the hides in the trough, covered them with the pulverized bark, put on weights to keep the mass down, and filled the trough with water, changing the bark several times during the sum- mer. As winter approached he took the hides out, though not more than half tanned, and made them into shoes. He made them on what was called the stitch down plan. That is, in place of turning the upper leather under the last, it was turned outward and sewed with a straight awl through the upper and sole. This would make a walk around the shoe that a mouse might

540

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

travel on. It was frequently the case that awls could not be obtained. Then they would take a common table fork, break off one of the tines, and sharpen the other for the awl. Shoes made as I have described, with the upper leather hair side out, not more than half of it removed, and without any blacking, would certainly look very odd. There can be little doubt that the above is a fair description of the first tanning and shoe- making ever done in Sangamon county.

MATRIMONIAL.

When Adam was created and placed in the garden of Eden, a help-meet was provided for him in the person of Eve. This, therefore, is the natural state of man. The married state is a solemn one and should be sacredly protected. "What God hath joined together, let no man tear asunder." In various lands the marriage rite is solemnized in different ways, and by dif- ferent ceremonies; in all the acts of the con- tracting parties must be understood by each and by the community in which they live, as being a mutual agreement to hold the relations towards one another as man and wife. In this State a license has always been required, or in lien thereof, for many years, a couple could be married by publishing their intentions through a public asssembly. It is stated that even in Sangamon county, it was customary in order to save the license fee for parties desirous to wed to have an announcement made three times, on Sunday, before the congregation with whom they were in the habit of worshiping.

The first marriage that appears on the record books of this county was solemnized April 20, 1821, more than sixty years ago. The parties were William Moss and Peggy Sims. They were married by Abraham Sinnard, Justice of the Peace, by virtue of a license issued under the official seal of Charles R. Matheny, Clerk of the county. It was the first marriage solemn- ized in the county subsequent to its organ- ization.

In the early days of this county, young men and maidens were not married in the grand style which usually characterizes marriages of the present time. They did not wait for riches to come before marriage, as is generally the present custom, but married and lived in simple and comfortable style, and generally lived hap- pily and gained the respect of their neighbors by attending to their own business. There were no "diamond weddings" in those days, and the extravagance that often now attends the mar-

riage ceremony was unheard of. The old folks were plain, economical and hospitable people, and the young folks were imbued with the same attributes that characterized their fathers and mothers. They were willing to commence housekeeping in a style corresponding with their means, trusting to the future for larger houses and more expensive furniture.

It would doubtless be of interest to many to give the record of marriages for the first five or six years of the county's existence, but they are too numerous, therefore only the first year is here given as taken from the record in the office of the County Clerk:

William Moss and Peggy Sims, by Abraham Sinnard, J. P., April 20, 1821.

Jesse Cormack and Nelly Robinson, by Zach- ariah Peter, J. P., May 10, 1821.

Thomas Perkins and Anna Durham, by Abra- ham Sinnard, J. P., April, 1821. In lien of a license issued by County Clerk, public announce- ment was made of the intended marriage of this couple.

William C. Brown and Patsy Vincennes, by Rev. James Sims, February 18, 1821.

Jesse Burvard and Betsy Anderson, by Rev. James Sims, March 26, 1821.

David Barnes and Acsah Andrews, by Rev. Stephen England, March 15, 1821.

James Pervine and Mary Cox, by Rev. James Sims, August 2, 1821.

George Ruby and Nancy Mathias, by Rev. James Sims, October 7, 1821.

John Brownell and Nancy Pulliam, by Zach- ariah Peter, J. P., November 29, 1821.

Shadrach Reddick and Nelly Smith, by Zach- ariah Peter, J. P., November 6, 1821.

Edward Clark and Sally Sincy, by Rev. Rivers Cormack, December 16, 1821.

Thomas Howey and Peggy Snodgrass, by Rev. Rivers Cormack, December 16, 1821.

Charles Orendorf and Matilda Stringfield, by Rev. Stephen England, April 5, 1821. This couple were also announced to be married in- stead of securing a license.

Henry Morgan and Lucy Simms, by Abraham Sinnard, J. P., November 8, 1821.

Hezekiah M. Herbert and Elizabeth Carlock, by Abraham Sinnard, J. P., October 27, 1821.

The following table shows the number of marriages contracted from 1821 to 1880, in- clusive:

541

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

1821.

1852

280

1822.

1853.

302

1823.

1854.

346

1824.

1855

344

1825.

1856. 362

1826.

1857.

371

1827.

1858.

414

1828

1859.

385

1829.

116

1860.

346

1830.

121

1861.

369

1831.

128

1862.

298

1832.

141

1863.

388

1833.

158

1864.

447

1834.

194

1865.

474

1835.

181

1866.

643

1836.

199

1867

597

1837.

.225

1868

530

1838.

.187

1869.

513

1839

217

1870.

444

1840.

205

1871.

445

1841.

173

1872.

442

1842.

.212

1873.

481

1843.

.201

1874.

456

1844.

172

1875.

485

1845.

179

1876

475

1846

167

1877.

461

1847.

.184

1878.

1848.

231

1879.

482

1849.

.246

1880.

496

1850

238

1851.

225

Total

17 029

A glance at the foregoing figures shows con- clusively that the matrimonial market is affected by the state of the times. In 1837 hard times set in, but this county was not visibly affected until the following year. For ten years business of all kinds was dull and many were forced into bankruptcy. It will be seen that it took ten years to restore the normal condition of the mat- rimonial market. Again in 1858, banks suspend- ed and a season of depression set in and fewer marriages were contracted for several years. Still again in 1874, the same state of affair exist- ed. The war, too, caused a falling off in the number of marriages annually contracted, but in 1866, when the boys got home, there were a larger number of licenses issued by the county clerk than in any year since the organization of the county.

RENDITION OF A FUGITIVE SLAVE.

The rights of property in slaves, and the appli- cation of the Fugitive Slave Law were often contested in the courts of the Northern States, previous to the rebellion of the slave-holding States. As late as February, 1860, a case was tried in Springfield before United States Com- missioner Corneau, on the application of George M. Dickinson, of Shelby county, Missouri, for the delivery of a fugitive slave, which he claimed was his property.

At the opening of the case, W. A. Herndon, one of the counsel for the fugitive, moved a post- ponement of a few days, giving as a reason for his motion, that he expected papers from Quincy that would prove the negro a free man. He ad- vocated the motion with eloquence, and made an affidavit setting forth the facts he expected to prove. He also offered the negro's affidavit, but the Commissioner refused to receive it, and overruled the motion for a continuance.

The counsel for the claimant introduced two witnesses, both of whom swore positively that the smiling African before them was the prop- erty of George M. Dickinson, of Shelby county, Missouri, and that he ran away some time dur- ing the fall of 1857. Their testimony was very direct, and the cross-examinations did not' tend to weaken it. One of the witnesses said the negro had a slight defect in one of his legs, and therefore the counsel for the claimant asked the negro to take a short walk. Chairs were accord- ingly set aside and a clear way made for him, but when he was told by one of his counsel that he could walk or sit still, just as he pleased, he said that he would rather remain in his seat.

The defense called several witnesses, but the evidence did not go to prove that the negro had lived here prior to the time of his alleged de- parture from Missouri. At the conclusion of the testimony, the counsel for the claimant asked that the negro be delivered by the Commissioner to the custody of Mr. Dickinson. Mr. Herndon rose and said that no proof had been offered of the existence of slavery in Missouri, and he thought that the Commissioner had no right to presume from historical knowledge that Missouri was a slave State. He spoke at considerable length, and his remarks in favor of the poor outeast, for whom, as he bitterly said, he was only allowed to appear by courtesy, touched the hearts of a large majority of his hearers. John E. Rosette followed in behalf of the slave, tak- ing the same ground as Mr. Herndon, that clear proof was necessary that Missouri was a slave holding State, and quoted from the Fug tive Slave Law to make his position good.

George F. Pearson, counsel for the claimant, followed Mr. Rosette, and on the conclusion of his speech the Commissioner decided to deliver the negro to Mr. Dickinson.

FIRST ENTRIES OF LAND.

Although Sangamon county was settled as early as 1817, yet the land did not come into market until 1823. The first entry was made by Israel Archer, being the west half of the north-

542

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

west quarter of section eight, township four- teen, north of range fourteen west, on the 6th day of November, 1823. Mason Fowler, on the same day, made the second entry, being the east half of the southwest quarter of section twenty- seven, township fourteen, north of range four west. The next day-November 7, 1823-Elijah Iles, Thomas Cox, John Taylor, and Pascal P. Enos entered the four quarter sections on which the city of Springfield now stands.

DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN.

On Sunday night, July 1, 1855, Archibald Turner died, aged 106 years and 17 days. Mr. Turner was a native of Ireland, and came to this country when a young man, and at an early day to Sangamon county. He was an excellent,

unobtrusive and Christian man, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years.

SANGAMON COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.

The dissemination of the word of God early enlisted the attention of the good people of this county, and a branch of the American Bible So- ciety was organized here as early as 1824. For fifty-seven years the Society has had an organ- ized existence, the good accomplished by which will never be known in this world. Thousands of Bibles and Testaments have been distrib- uted in the county and many have been permit- ted to read the word who would never had access to it, but through the enterprise of this Society.

543

HISTORY OF SANGAMON COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXV.

AGRICULTURE AND AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

Sangamon county is recognized as one of the best agricultural counties in the State. The county was originally settled by men trained in agricultural pursuits, the larger part being immi- grants from the South. They brought with them but little capital-in many instances only sufficient to buy the land on which they located. However, they brought with them that which is better than money-industrious habits; and under the guiding influence of a superior intel- ligence, they soon brought their lands into a high state of cultivation, so that to-day Sanga- mon county occupies the proud position of being one of the best agricultural counties in the State, and where it pays to farm.

Few counties in the State as large as Sanga- mon but have more land not fit for cultivation. The proportion of unimproved land here is quite small. In many counties along the margin of the streams, after extending back for more than a mile, the land is unfit for cultivation, but not so in Sangamon. Along the banks of its river and principal ereeks, lie some of the most pro- ductive farms in the county.

Among the products of Sangamon county, as well as throughout the Union, corn takes the precedence as being the most profitable and pe- culiarly adapted to the soil. Winter wheat, next to corn, is the most important grain raised in the county. In its early history abundant crops were raised, with scarcely a failure, but finally, for some cause, little could be raised, and it be- came exceedingly unprofitable to sow the grain. In the last decade a change has again occurred and winter wheat has again got to be one of the staple productions of the county. In 1880 there were planted one hundred and twenty-three thousand eight hundred and forty-two acres of corn; and fifty-five thousand seven hundred and fifty-eight acres of wheat were sown. In that

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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 88

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