USA > Illinois > Tazewell County > History of Tazewell 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. History of Illinois Digest of state laws > Part 17
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THE FIRST MILL.
One of the greatest difficulties encountered by the early settlers was in having their milling done. By a liberal application of enter- prise and muscle they experienced but little trouble in producing an abundance of the cereals, but having it converted into breadstuff was a source of much hard labor. As to the establishment of the first mill in the county we quote from the pen of Nathan Dillon :
" Now let me tell you how we got along about mills. There were three or four horse-mills in Sangamon, at 40 or 45 miles distance. Sometimes we went to them; sometimes to Southwick's, situated at a distance of 60 miles. We did not mind the journey much, unless the streams were swollen with rains, in which case the task of going to mill was severe, as there were no bridges and ferries in those days. By and by, to remedy our wants, Samuel Tutter erected a small horse-mill in the neighborhood of Peoria; and a few years after William Eads put one up at Elm Grove, a publie improvement which made us feel quite rich. In those early times we took only corn to mill, paying one-sixth or one bit per bushel for grinding. The meal obtained was of an inferior quality when compared with what we now have. Our millers were good, honest fellows, and the somewhat heavy tariffs they laid on their customers not at all wrong, for their income was small. Times are changed. The reader who now looks at the fertile prairies of Illinois, what does he behold ? Large cities and flourishing towns. Behold the prairies, then wild and untrodden, now covered with fine farms and dwellings; behold
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the travel of our railroads and rivers, visit our county fairs and be- come acquainted with our intelligent farmers, and the vast and val- uable amount of products derived from the soil they till ; behold on every hand our numerous churches and school-houses, our court- houses and seats of justice, spread all over the wide territory which French, Philips and myself carly governed as humble justices, and . tell me, has not the changed improvement been both great and remarkable."
A FEW FIRST THINGS.
As related above, the first cabin built in the county was by Nathan Dillon, on Dillon creek, Dillon township, in 1823. He moved into this rude structure before a door or window was put in. He built a fire in one corner and tore up the clapboard roof to make an opening for the smoke to escape. Here Aug. 2, 1824, was born Hannah Dillon, daughter of Nathan Dillon, the first white child born in the county. Stephen Woodrow was the first white male child born in the county. The first improvement introduced in the county aside from the cabins of the pioneers, was a grist-mill erected by William Eads and William Davis. This mill was built in 1825, in Elm Grove township. It was generally run by four horses, and would not crack over three bushels of corn in an hour. It was what was called in those days a "band mill." Being geared to run by horse or cattle power, the customers, on all occasions, had to fur- nish their own power. About the asme time Elisha Perkins erected another band mill in the neighborhood of Circleville. Previous to the erection of these important improvements the nearest mill was at Elkhardt, ten miles northeast of Springfield. Perkins' mill was afterwards stockaded and used as a fort during the Black Hawk war.
The first water grist-mill built in the county was erected on Farm creek, in 1827, by a man named Leak. It had one run of stones. The bolting was done by hand.
The first water mill in the southern part of the county was built in 1831 by Summers, on Lick creek west of the town of Groveland. It was a common hand mill run by water. It was so constructed that it would drop but one grain at a time in the mill, thus consum- ing much time to grind a grist. The mill was built of logs roofed with linden bark, and was about ten feet square.
The first cotton gin in the county was built by William Eads in 'connection with his grist-mill.
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Theodorus Fisher built the first woolen factory ever operated in Tazewell county. It was built in 1832, on section 34, Elm Grove township. It was run by ox power. An inelined wheel was used upon which they trod to make the motion. This was an extensive concern for the time, and settlers came from Knox, Peoria, and Sangamon counties to get their wool carded.
The first school-house in the county was erected on seetion 27, Elm Grove township, in 1827. Samuel Bentley was the first teacher.
The first camp-meeting held in Tazewell county was by Peter Cartwright, in a grove on Dillon creek, Elm Grove township, in 1827.
The first postoffice of the county was kept by Thomas Dillon, Dillon township, in 1825.
Absalom Dillon kept the first store in the county, first at Dillon in 1826, and then at Pekin in 1830.
The first marriage celebrated in the county was that of Daniel Dillon to Martha Alexander. The ceremony took place in Elm Grove township, the license having been procured at Peoria.
The first marriage that occurred after the county was organized, and the first marriage license issued, were under the following ro- mantic circumstances : Mordecai Mobley, the first County Clerk, happened at old Father Stout's to stay all night. Mr. Stout lived about five miles from Mackinaw. Mr. Mobley says he noticed a boy and girl around but thought they were brother and sister. Soon the "old gentleman" called him aside and told him that "that ar boy had been comin' to see his darter for a long time, and they want to get married. Now," continued Mr. Stout, " we are livin in a new country and we don't know what's to be done, and we thinks as how you can tell us. They have to get some kind of a permit, don't they ?" Mr. Mobley told him they did, and that he could not only tell them how to get married, but that be was the man to issue the permit. This pleased Mr. Stout, and no doubt the young couple were delighted to think that the great obstacles that prevented them from being one-for they were both willing and so were the old folk -- were about to be removed. Mr. Stout wanted the license immediately. Accordingly, Mr. Mobley told them if they would get him pen and ink and some paper he would write the license. Not a sheet of blank paper could be found in the cabin. At last, Mr. Mobley asked them if they had a book. Mr. Stout thought
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they had, "as they used to have one." Finally an old book was found which happened to have one whole unmarked fly-leaf. Being thus provided with paper they found they had no pen. A pen was soon made, however. Mr. Mobley told them to go and catch the biggest chicken they had. This was done and a large feather pulled out of its wing and a pen made of it. Again they found themselves in a dilemma, but out of which the ingenuity of Mr. Mobley soon brought them. After being provided with paper and pen they were minus ink. He, however, took some water and gunpowder and made some writing-fluid that answered the purpose. With this ink and pen, and upon the fly-leaf of the old book, the first marriage license issued in Tazewell county was written.
The couple for whom such seemingly insurmountable obstacles were overcome were John Stout and Fanny Stout. They were mar- ried on the 25th of June, 1827, by Rev. William Brown.
The marriage of the celebrated Peter Cartwright was among the very first to take place in Tazewell county. He was married to Temperance Kindle, Oct. 14, 1827, by George Hittle, County Com- missioner. His was the sixth marriage license issued after the county's organization.
The first death of a white man occurring in the county was that of a Mr. Killum in the month of December, 1823. He left Sugar creek, in Logan county, to go to Peoria. Being compelled to wade the Mackinaw river at high water, and the weather turning suddenly cold, he perished on the prairie not far from where he crossed.
In February, 1825, Ezekiel Turner was killed by lightning, being the second death. Not a foot of sawed lumber being within reach, the rites of sepulture were performed in true pioneer style. Wm. Woodrow felled a straight walnut tree, cut a log the proper lengthi, split it, and hollowed one half and shaped it like a coffin. From the other half of the log a slab was hewn for a lid, and in this rude burial case the body was placed and consigned to mother earth ; and no doubt that what was mortal of Ezekiel Turner mouldered into its original element as peacefully as though it had been encased in satin-lined rosewood or polished iron.
THE FIRST STEAMBOAT
to ascend the Illinois river landed at Pekin, which at that time was known, from its fine location, as "Town Site," late in the fall of 1828. A steamboat was a novelty, or rather a mystery, to many
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of the early settlers. Coming up the river the boat passed Kings- ton in the night. Hugh Barr, who lived near that point, heard it coming, and being on rather unfriendly terms with the Indians, then quite numerous in the vicinity, concluded that it was some infernal contrivance of theirs to frighten or harm him. Seizing his gun and setting his equally bewildered dog at it, he pursued the offending mystery. The pilot, not being familiar with the channel, ran into Clifton's lake, and finding no outlet, he had to back the boat out. Barr, witnessing this, drew off his dog, and though still hugely puzzled to know what manner of craft it was, gave up pursuit. William Haines then lived about where Behrens' brick block, cor- ner of Front and Court streets, now stands. Hearing the puff of the escaping steam he hastily left his bed, and half dressed, crossed the street to Thomas Snell's, now the Bemis House, called neighbor Snell out of bed, and inquired as to what manner of creature was coming up the river. Snell replied : "I don't know, Bill; but if I was on the Ohio river I would think it was a steamboat." Old Father Tharp, hearing the noise of the paddles and the steam whistle, thought it was Gabriel blowing his horn ; that sure enough the end of the world had come in the night ; and calling up his family, en- gaged in prayer as a fitting preparation for the advent of a higher and better life.
PIONEER LANDLORDS.
As amusingly illustrating the peculiar characteristics of the pio- neer hotel keepers, we incorporate the following account of two hotels in Pekin. It is taken from the "Pekin City Directory," published in 1870 by Sellers & Bates :
" FIRST-CLASS " HOTELS.
The year 1848 witnessed the establishment of two "first-class" hotels. The Eagle, which stood on the site now occupied by the Bemis House, was kept by Seth Kinman, who afterwards acquired considerable celebrity as a hunter and trapper in the far West, and by presenting buck-horn and bear-elaw chairs, of his own make, to Presidents Lincoln and Johnson.
The other, now the Mansion House, but then known as the "Tay- lor House," was presided over by William A. Tinney. "Uncle Bill" still resides here, good-natured and hearty, notwithstanding the arduous duties of his offices of Justice of the Peace, Police
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Magistrate and Acting Coroner. He distinguished himself in his old days by being the first white man in Pekin to lead a negro to the polls to vote.
The manner of welcoming guests to these hotels was somewhat peculiar, as the following instance will illustrate: A traveler came off a boat one day, and went to the Eagle Hotel. There had been a little western " scrimmage" at the "Eagle" the night before, and though things had not yet been put in order, the proprietor, Seth Kinman, was sitting in front of the door, playing his favorite tune, the "Arkansas Traveler," with the greatest self-satisfaction. The stranger stopped and asked Seth, "Are you the proprietor here ?" Seth, without resting his bow, replied, "Wall, I reckon I be, stranger." "Do you keep tavern?" "Of course I do; keep tavern like h-1," said Seth, fiddling away with all his might. "Just pile in ; hang your freight up on the floor and make yourself at home. The boys," continued Seth, " have been having a little fun, but if there's a whole table or plate in the house I'll get you some cold hash towards night." The stranger didn't like the place, and took his departure, leaving the "proprietor" still enjoying his violin. Late in the afternoon the traveler presented himself at the "Taylor House." 'Squire Tinney met him outside with his most austere expression and "Good morning-good morning, sir; walk in, sir; take a seat, sir ; shave you as soon as the water gets warm." The stranger, not requiring the services of a barber, walked off in haste and amazement, and the 'Squire swore audibly " that he was some infernal Yankee come out West to steal honest people'smoney." The next steamboat that came along found our discomfited traveler on the beach, awaiting passage for anywhere out of Pekin.
THE DEEP SNOW.
The big snow of 1830 will be vividly remembered by all the old settlers. The snow began falling on the night of the 29th of De- cember, and continued to fall for three days and nights, until it reached an average depth of about four feet, but drifting in places as high as from eighteen to twenty feet. Great suffering was expe- rienced in consequence. The settlers relied for their daily food up- on the Indian corn which they were enabled to raise, together with wild game, which was abundant at that time. Plenty of the former was raised to supply the wants of all until the next season's crop; but when the snow fell very little had been gathered. Game could
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not be had. The great depth of snow was a barrier to all travel, and it may well be imagined the sufferings of the people were very great indeed.
This was the heaviest snow that ever fell in Illinois within the memory of the oldest settler of this part of the State. According to the traditions of the Indians as related to the pioneers, a snow fell from fifty to seventy-five years before the settlement by the white people, which swept away the numerous herds of buffalo and elk that roamed over the vast prairies at that time. This tradition was verified by the large number of bones of these animals found in different localities on the prairies when first visited by the whites. The deep snow is one of the landmarks of the pioneer. He reek- "ons, in giving dates of early occurrences, so many years before or so many after the deep snow. He calculates the date of his coming, his marriage and the birth of his children from it, and well might it make a lasting impression upon their minds. Could we picture the suffering of that winter; the dark forebodings that crept into every cabin, starvation staring the inmates in the face; the meagre meal that for months was their only portion, we, too, would never forget it. But human tongue or pen can never adequately picture the trials endured by the pioneers who were here during that long and eventful winter. For weeks the sun was not visible, and so intense was the cold that not a particle of snow would melt upon the south sides of the cabins. People were for weeks absolutely blockaded or housed up, and remained so until starvation compelled them to go forth in search of food.
Israel Shreves, who came to Tazewell county from Decatur county, Indiana, located first in Elm Grove township, where he remained two years, and then moved to section 23, Morton township, where he passed the remainder of his days, dying there Aug. 26, 1861. Here he reared a large family of children, eight of whom are still living. His son Julius resides upon the old homestead. During the deep snow Israel Shreves and Major R. N. Cullom (father of the present Governor of Illinois), went to the mill at Pleasant Grove, Elm Grove township. This mill was some eight miles from Shreves' farm, and still farther from Cullom's; but necessity compelled them to make an effort to obtain some meal. Each of them took a horse to carry their sack of corn. The men traveled upon snow shoes and led their horses. The snow was so deep that it was only with the greatest difficulty that they could get along at all. On the elevated
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places where the wind could strike, the snow would bear their horses up; but in the "swags" it was so soft that they would sink, and but for their snow shoes the men would also have gone down. In places the snow was so deep that it would strike the sacks on the horses and brush them off. At such places the men were obliged to take the sacks upon their shoulders and carry them on to a spot that would bear their horses. They would then return to their horses and lead them on. Ofttimes it was quite difficult, owing to the great depth of the snow, to get the horses upon the hard snow. The cold was so intense, and the wind so high, that persons were in great danger of freezing to death ; but the two determined, sturdy pioneers pushed ahead and at last arrived at the mill.
On the following day after their arrival at the mill Mr. Shreves started for home, and after a long and painful journey reached his destination in safety; but so great was the physical exertion he made that nothwithstanding the intense cold he wiped the streaming perspiration from his brow.
Mr. Cullom remained another night at the mill before attempting to leave for home, which he reached in safety after a tedious, dan- gerous journey.
Mr. Shreves had seven large, fat hogs running in a ten-acre field. Their bed was quite a distance from the house, and they could not be reached very soon. When found they were all frozen to death.
Major R. N. Cullom, during this winter, carried corn on his back from Mackinaw to his cabin, a distance of ten miles, to feed his horses. He traveled on snow-shoes.
Rev. Wm. Brown and his brother-in-law, Alfred Phillips, who lived two and a half miles from Mr. Brown's, cut browse for their cattle till they could shovel a path to Holland's Grove, now Wash- ington, to drive them there. This was a hard task.
So much extra work was to be done in the building of homes that in the fall the pioneers did not gather in and crib their corn. They let it remain in the field until winter came before gathering. The big snow therefore found many of the settlers without any prepara- tion for a long siege. They would go out into the field, and where they could see the top of a corn stalk sticking up through the snow they would dig down until they came to the ear. To get wood they would cut trees at the top of the snow, and when spring came and the snow had disappeared, they often found the stump long enough to cut into fence rails. The snow lay on the ground until about the
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first of April; and we have little doubt that many a weary one during that long winter sighed for the comforts of the "old home ;" still, notwithstanding its great dreariness and the greater sufferings of the people, none became disheartened, for we find them in the spring of 1831 as determined as ever to carve out for themselves a home in this truly beautiful country.
During this winter, from Dec. 29, 1830, till Feb. 13, 1831, it snowed nineteen times. After the snow had melted we are told that the bones of deer were so numerous in some places that for one- quarter of an acre one could step from bone to bone over the whole surface, so many deer had perished there.
The season following the winter of the deep snow was a very late one, and frost came every month in the year. The erops were poor, as may well be supposed, and the corn did not ripen.
The longest winter ever experienced since this country was settled by the whites was that of 1842-43. The cold weather set in No- vember 4, and lasted until the following April.
SUDDEN CHANGE.
The most extraordinary atmospheric phenomenon occurring within the knowledge of the oldest settler took place in January, 1836. The intensest suffering was caused to man and beast by this sudden change. Quite a snow had fallen the day previous to the change, and upon that day a slow, drizzling rain fell, making of the snow a " slush." The storm came from the northwest, and the clouds, upon its approach, assumed a threatening and extraordinary aspect, those higher being dark, and those below of a white frosty appearance. As fast as the storm advanced it instantaneously changed the tem- perate atmosphere to that of frigid coldness. Ineidents are related in connection with this sudden change which are indeed marvelous. William Hodgson, who had just moved upon the farm he now occu- pies, section 32, Groveland township, says he went into the timber for a load of wood just before the change. While he was loading his wagon the storm came upon him, and so sudden and terrible that he could scarcely manage his team. Before he could get to his house, which was only forty rods distant, the shish had frozen hard. The next day the surface of the country was one vast sea of ice. Two miles south of Hodgson's farm a drove of hogs out from protection froze to death. Cattle that were in the fields were held fast by the slush freezing about their feet, and it became necessary
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to cut away the ice to liberate them. J. Roberts, of Morton town- ship, speaks of this change in the following language: "In the winter of 1836, when there was some four inches of snow upon the ground, a warm rain fell which transformed the snow into slush. I was some thirty rods from my house when it began to freeze. I immediately started for it, and before I reached there it was frozen sufficiently hard to bear me up."
HIGH WATER.
We have spoken of the deep snow and the sudden atmospheric change ; we now wish to record the seasons that the greatest amount of water fell. It is claimed that the greatest rain-fall that has ever occurred in this country was in 1835. There was no record kept of the amount of water that fell by any of the methods in use at the present time, and all we have to judge by is the high water in the streams. The Illinois and tributaries are said to have been higher than at the breaking up of the big snow in the spring of 1831, or at any time since. The rains commenced falling in the early spring and continued throughout the early summer. There have been, perhaps, other seasons just as wet, but the streams were never so high at any other time. During this period there were many hard rains. In the early part of July a storm of rain, thunder and light- ning occurred, which for severity has scarcely ever been equaled. It spread throughout the West. The great prairies, then uncultivated and undrained, were a vast lake, and fish were plenty in almost every locality. The large ponds found here and there over the prairies in an early day contained fish large enough for domestic purposes. These ponds would dry up in the summer but in spring- time were well filled with water, and how the finny tribe managed to get there is a query the "old settler" cannot answer in a more satisfactory way than "they rained down when small." During this season but little in the way of erops was attempted to be raised. Hogs were fattened in the fall upon the mast, and those that were not killed for food had to subsist during the winter upon acorns ; with them it was literally "root hog or die."
The years 1842, 1844, and 1858, are also notable as years of great rain-fall. During the early history of the county, when there were no bridges, great difficulty was experienced in getting from place to place in the spring-time on account of the high waters. At such times ferrymen were allowed to charge double fare for carrying
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people or goods across the streams. It is remarkable that so few lives were lost during these seasons of high water, but the pioneers were all expert swimmers, and it was very seldom one was drowned
LAND SALES.
In regard to the first land sales of government land in this part of the State, we copy from John W. Dougherty's "History of Washington : "
"The first land sales for this district were held in Springfield in 1830 or 1831. Prior to that date no title could be acquired to any land in this district. The settlers, however, recognized the justice of securing to each of their number the benefit of their labor, and gave effect to this idea by appointing one of their number, Col. Ben- jamin Mitchell, agent or registrar of claims. By this arrangement,' and the paying of twenty-five cents to the registrar, each applicant secured the registration of his elaim, and the right to buy the land he had improved when it came into market. This gave the lands a commercial value in the hands of the holder, and also enabled the person making the claim to sell and transfer it if he so desired. These claims soon became an important item in the limited com- merce of these early times,-the other items of which were grain, beef, and pork. The principal purchasers were immigrants, most of whom had little if any money, but labor and good promises passed current at par, the latter being secured by the honor of the prom- isor. They were usually religiously observed. Indeed, men usually make much of their honor when it is their only stock in trade. Still, we are inclined to think the pro rata of honesty was greater in those days than now, and for the following reasons: These men were not speculators or fortune hunters, but earnest men, seeking homes in the virgin soil of the Great West, and actuated by these generous impulses, honesty was the natural consequence."
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