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 26
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Section 8. Any person who shall hereafter bring into this State any black or mulatto person, in order to free him or her from slavery, or shall directly or indirectly bring into this State, or aid or assist any person in bringing any such black and mulatto person to settle and reside therein, shall be fined one hundred dollars on conviction and indictment, before any justice of the peace in the county where such offense shall be committed.
Section 9. If any slave or servant shall be found at a distance of ten miles from the tenement of his or her master, or person with whom he or she lives, without a pass or some letter of token whereby it may appear that he or she is proceeding by. authority from his or her master, employer or overseer, it shall and may be lawful for any person to apprehend and carry him or her before a justice of the peace, to be by his order punished with stripes, not exceeding thirty- five, at his discretion.
Section 10. If any slave or servant shall presume to come and be upon the plantation or at the dwelling of any person whatsoever, without leave from his or her owner, not being sent upon lawful business, it shall be lawful for the owner of such plantation or dwell- ing house to give or order such slave or servant ten lashes on his or her bare back.
Section 12. If any person or persons shall permit or suffer any
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slave or slaves, servant or servants of color, to the number of three or more, to assemble in his, her or their outhouse, yard or shed, for the purpose of dancing or revelling, cither by night or by day, the person or persons so offending shall forfeit and pay the sum of twenty dollars with cost to any person or persons who will sue for and recover the same by action of debt or indictment, in any court of record proper to try the same.
Section 13. It shall be the duty of all coroners, sheriffs, judges and justices of the peace, who shall see or know of, or be informed of any such assemblage of slaves or servants, immediately to com- mit such slaves or servants to the jail of the county, and on view or proof thereof to order each and every such slave or servant to be whipped not exceeding thirty-nine stripes on his or her bare back.
MODE OF RUNNING THE U. G. R. R.
Very likely all of our readers have heard of the famous Under- ground Railroad, but very few know anything of its system of work. Happily the corporation does not now exist, the necessity for the enterprise not being apparent at the present time, as the class of freight or passengers transported over the line are not now pro- duced.
The question of slavery has always been a mixed one, from the time the first slave was imported into our country until, by the emancipation proclamation of Abraham Lincoln, all men were made free and equal in the eyes of the law. A strong anti-slavery party has long existed in the country. The framers of our constitution upon the organization of the Government had to deal with the ques- tion of slavery ; the successive administrations from Washington to Lincoln had to grapple with it ; various compromises were adopted which it was thought would quiet its spirit ; but like Banquo's ghost, it would not down at the bidding of any man or party. The death of Lovejoy at Alton, in 1837, a martyr to the anti-slavery cause, gave an impetus to the agitation of the question which never ceased until the final act was consumated which broke in pieces the shackles that bound the slave.
Growing out of the agitation of this question, and the formation of a party in sympathy with the slaves, was the organization of the so-called Underground Railroad, for the purpose of aiding fugitives to escape to a land of freedom. The secrecy of its workings justi- fied its name. Notwithstanding the system was an organized one,
James D Martin CINCINNATI,
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those engaged in it had no signs or passwords by which they might be known, save now and then a preconcerted rap at the door when a cargo of freight was to be delivered. Each relied upon the honor of the other, and, as the work was an extra-hazardous one, few cowards ever engaged in it. Pro-slavery men complained bitterly of the violation of the law by their abolition neighbors, and perse- cuted them as much as they dared : and this was not a little. But the friends of the slaves were not to be deterred by persecution. " The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church, " and persecution only made them more determined than ever to carry out their just convictions of right and duty. No class of people ever made better neighbors than the Abolitionists, or better conductors on a railroad. It is well, perhaps, in this connection, to note how the passengers over this road were received in Canada, the northern termination. From mere goods and chattles in our liberty-boasting nation they were transformed into men and women; from being hunted with fire-arms and blood-hounds, like wild beasts, they were recognized and respected as good and loyal subjects by the Queen as soon as their feet touched British soil. At the same time there stood, with open arms, Rev. Hiram Wilson, the true, noble-hearted missionary, ready to receive these refugees from "freedom's (?) soil," and ad- minister to their wants. In February, 1841, there came a day of jubilee to the doubting ones, when Queen Victoria's proclamation was read to them : "That every fugitive from United States slavery should be recognized and protected as a British subjeet the moment his or her foot touched the soil of her domain."
A very singular circumstance in connection with this road was the fact that, although people well knew who were engaged in it, and where the depot was located, freight could seldom be found, search as carefully as they might. A consignment would be forwarded over the line, notice of which would reach the ears of slave hunters, and when ready to place their hands on the fugitives, like the Irishman's flea, they wouldn't be there. The business of this road for a num- ber of years was quite extensive, but to-day all its employes are dis- charged, and, strange to relate, none are sorry, but all rejoice in the fact. As illustrating the peculiarities of this line we append several incidents that occurred in this county :
THE MATTHEWS DEPOT.
The main depot of the U. G. Road in Ehm Grove township was
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at Josiah Matthews', on section 24. Mr. Matthews was an earnest anti-slavery man, and helped to gain freedom for many slaves. He prepared himself with a covered wagon especially to carry black freight from his station on to the next. On one occasion there were three negroes to be conveyed from his station to the next, but they were so closely watched that some time elapsed before they could contrive to take them in safety. At last a happy plan was conceived, and one which proved successful. Their faces were well whitened with flour, and with a son of Mr. Matthews' went into the timber coon-hunting. In this way they managed to throw their suspicious neighbors off their guard, and the black freight was safely conducted northward.
One day there arrived a box of freight at Mr. Matthews', and was hurriedly consigned to the cellar. On the freight contained in this box there was a reward of $1,500 offered, and the pursuers were but half an hour behind. The wagon in which the box containing the negro was brought was immediately taken apart and hid under the barn. The horses, which had been driven very hard, were rubbed off, and thus all indications of a late arrival were covered up. The pursuers came up in hot haste, and, suspecting that Mr. Matthews' house contained the fugitive, gave the place a very thor- ough search, but failed to look into the innocent-looking box in the cellar. Thus, by such stratagem, the slave-hunters were foiled and the fugitive saved. The house was so closely watched, however, that Conductor Matthews had to keep the negro a week before he could carry him further. This station was watched so closely at times that Mr. Matthews came near being caught, in which case, in all probability, his life would have been very short.
THE CROSBY DEPOT.
Mr. Uriah H. Crosby, of Morton township, was an agent and conductor of the U. G. R. R., and had a station at his house. On one occasion there was landed at his station by the conductor just south of him, a very weighty couple,-a Methodist minister and wife. They had a Bible and hymn book that they might conduct religious exercises where they found an opportunity along the way. On conducting them northward Mr. Crosby was obliged to furnish each of them an entire seat, as either of them were of such size as to well fill a seat in his wagon. The next station beyond was at Mr. Kern's, nine miles. He arrived there in safety, and his heavy cargo was transported on to free soil- Canada.
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The next passenger along the route that stopped at Crosby station arrived on election day. A company had passed on northward when a young man hastily came up. He had invented a cotton gin, and was in haste to overtake the others of the party as they had the model of his invention. He was separated from them by fright. J. M. Roberts found this young man in the morning hid away in his hay-stack, fed him, and sent his son, Junius, with him in haste to Mr. Crosby's. On his arrival Conductor Crosby put him in his wagon, covered him with a buffalo robe, and drove through Wash- ington and delivered hin to Mr. Kern, who took him in an open buggy to the Quaker settlement. He overtook his companions.
AN ACCIDENT ON THE U. G. R. R.
One of the saddest accidents that ever occurred on the U. G. Road in Tazewell county was the capture of a train by slave hunt- ers. Two men, a woman and three children, were traveling together. The woman and children could journey together only from Tremont toward Crosby station, as they had only one buggy. The negro men coneluded to walk, but stopped on the way to rest. Waiting as long as they dared for the men to come up, Messrs. Roberts started on with the women and children, but had not gone far before they were stopped by some slave hunters and their load taken from them. The mother and her three children, who were seeking their liberty, were taken to St. Louis and sold, as the slave hunters could realize more by selling them than by returning them to the owner and receiving the reward.
When the two men came up it was thought best to take them on by a different route, the people determining they should not be cap- tured. J. M. Roberts arranged to take them on horseback to Peoria lake. Several men accompanied them, riding out as far into the water as they could, and by a preconcerted signal parties brought a skiff to them, into which the men were taken and conveyed across the river and sent on the Farmington route in safety. All other routes were too closely watched.
ANTI-SLAVERY MEETING.
In those exciting days of the U. G. R. R. old Father Dickey and Owen Lovejoy, strong anti-slavery men, made an appointment to speak at Washington. On the notice of the meeting being an- nounced the pro-slavery men took forcible and armed possession of
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the church to be occupied by these speakers, and determined, at all hazards, to prevent the meeting from being held there.
A prominent man of conservative views on the slavery question advised the anti-slavery men not to attempt to hold the meeting as they were determined to do, as the mob, he said, were frenzied with liquor, and he feared the consequences. So they concluded to go to Pleasant Grove church, Groveland, where they addressed one of the most enthusiastic anti-slavery meetings ever held in this part of the State. Owen Lovejoy was the orator of the day. The mob were determined to follow and break up that meeting also, but were de- terred by being told that as the anti-slavery men were on their own ground they would fight, and doubtless blood would be shed.
CHAPTER X.
PIONEER LIFE.
LOG CABINS.
W E shall, in this chapter, give a clear and exact description of pioneer life in this county, commencing with the time the sturdy settlers first arrived with their scanty stores. They had migrated from older States, where the prospects for even a compe- teney were very poor, many of them coming from Kentucky, for, it is supposed, they found that a good State to emigrate from. Their entire stoek of furniture, implements and family necessities were easily stored in one wagon, and sometimes a cart was their only vehiele.
As the first thing after they arrived and found a suitable location, they would set about the building of a log cabin, a description of which may be interesting to the younger readers, and especially their descendants, who may never see a structure of the kind. Trees of uniform size were selected and cut into pieces of the de- sired length, each end being saddled and notched so as to bring the logs as near together as possible. The cracks were "chinked and daubed" to prevent the wind from whistling through. This had to be renewed every fall before cold weather set in. The usual height was one story of about seven or eight feet. The gables were made of logs gradually shortened up to the top. The roof was made by laying small logs or stout poles reaching from gable to gable, suit- able distances apart, on which were laid the clapboards after the man- nner of shingling, showing two feet or more to the weather. The clapboards were fastened by laying across them heavy poles called " weight poles," reaching from one gable to the other, being kept apart and in their place by laying pieces of timber between them called " runs." A wide chimney place was cut out of one end of the cabin, the chimney standing entirely outside, and built of rived sticks, laid up cob-house fashion, and filled with elay, or built of
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stone, often using two or three cords of stone in building one chimney. For a window a piece about two feet long was cut out of one of the wall logs, and the hole closed, sometimes with glass, but oftener with greased paper pasted over it. A doorway was also cut through one of the walls, and the door was made of spliced clapboards and hung with. wooden hinges. This was opened by pulling a leather latch-string which raised a wooden latch inside the door. For se- curity at night this latch-string was pulled in, but for friends and neighbors, and even strangers, the "latch-string was always hang- ing out," as a welcome.
In the interior, upon one side, is the huge fire-place, large enough to contain a back-log as big as the strongest man could carry, and holding enough wood to supply an ordinary stove a week ; on either side are huge poles and kettles, and over all a mantle on which was placed the tallow dip. In one corner stood the larger bed for the old folks, under this the trundle-bed for the children; in another corner stood the old-fashioned large spinning wheel, with a smaller one by its side ; in another the pine table, around which the family gathered to partake of their plain food; over the door hung the ever trustful rifle and powder-horn ; while around the room were scattered a few splint-bottomed chairs and three-legged stools; a rude cupboard holding the table ware, which consisted of a few cups and saucers and blue-edged plates, standing singly on their edges against the back, to make the display of table furniture more conspicuous.
These simple cabins were inhabited by a kind and true-hearted people. They were strangers to mock modesty, and the traveler, seeking lodgings for the night or desirous of spending a few days in the community, if willing to accept the rude offering, was always welcome, although how they were disposed of at night the reader may not easily imagine ; for, as described, a single room was made to serve the purpose of kitchen, dining-room, sitting-room, bed-room, and parlor, and many families consisted of six or eight members.
SELECTION OF HOMES.
For a great many years but few thought it advisable to attempt farming in the prairie. To many of them the cultivation of the prairies was an untried experiment and it was the prevailing opinion that the timber would soon become very scarce, a fear soon proven to be without foundation. Another obstacle that was in the way for
.*
Daniel Grabb
DILLON TP
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a great many years was that no plows suitable for breaking the prairie land could be had. The sod was very much tougher then than it was in after years when the stock had pastured the prairies and killed out the grass to some extent. It would be astonishing to the younger residents to see the immense crops of prairie grass that grew upon the fields which are to day in such a high state of cultivation. It grew in places six to twelve feet high. It was these immense crops of grass that furnished the fuel for the terrible fires that swept over the prairies during the fall. Then, again, there was so much of the prairie land that was considered too wet to be ever suitable for cultivation. Many of the older settlers now liv- ing well remember when farms that are now in the highest state of cultivation were a vast swamp. There was another drawback in the settlement of the prairies, and that was the great labor and cost of fencing. But the principal reasons for locating in the timber was that many of their cabins were poor, half-finished affairs, and pro- tection from the driving storms was absolutely required. The timber also sheltered stock until such times as sheds and out buildings could be erected. That the time should soon come when intelligent, enterprising farmers would sce that their interest lay in improving prairie farms, and cease clearing fields, when there were boundless acres presenting no obstacle to the most perfect cultiva- tion, argues nothing in the policy of sheltering for a time in the woods. In regard to the pioneers settling along the timber, we often hear remarks made as though the selection of such locations implied a lack of judgment. Those who are disposed to treat it in that manner are asked to consider carefully the above facts, when they will conclude such selection argued in their favor.
Clearing of timber land was attended with much hard labor. The underbrush was grubbed up, piled into heaps and burned. The large trees were in many cases left standing, and deadened by gird- ling. This was done by cutting through the bark into the wood, generally through the " sap," all around the trunk.
MILLING.
Not the least of the hardships of the pioneers was the procuring of bread. The first settlers must be supplied at least one year from other sources than their own lands. But the first erops, however abundant, gave only partial relief, there being no mills to grind the grain. Hence the necessity of grinding by hand power, and many
21
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families were poorly provided with means for doing this. Another way was to grate the corn. A grater was made from a piece of tin, sometimes taken from an old worn-out tin bucket or other vessel. It was thickly perforated, bent into a semi-circular form, and nailed, rough side upwards, on a board. The corn was taken in the ear and grated before it got dry and hard. Corn, however, was eaten in. various ways.
Soon after the country became more generally settled, enterprising men were ready to embark in the milling business. Sites along the streams were selected for water-power. A person looking for a mill- site would follow up and down the stream for a desired location, and when found he would go before the County Commissioners and se- cure a writ of ad quod damnum. This would enable the miller to have the adjoining land officially examined, and the amount of dam- age by making a dam was named. Mills being such a great public necessity, they were permitted to be located upon any person's land if the miller thought the site desirable.
A horse-mill was built on the southeast quarter of section 1, Sand Prairie township, in 1830-1, by Elisha Perkins. People for many miles away came to this mill, but its capacity was small. During the Black Hawk war John Essex and others came from the extreme northern part of Knox county to this mill to have their grain ground. During these perilous times a fort was began at this mill. It was intended to enclose it with a heavy palisade so that the set- tlers would not be cut off from food, and also to protect the people. But the fort was never fully completed. The puncheons of which it was made remained in position for several years afterward.
Mrs. Parmelia Brown, widow of Rev. William Brown, the pioneer preacher, tells us that during the winter of the deep snow they, as well as many others, had to pound their corn in a mortar.
NATIVE ANIMALS.
The wild animals infesting this county at the time of its settle- ment, were the deer, wolf, bear, wild-cat, fox, otter, raccoon, wood- chuck or ground-hog, skunk, mink, weasel, muskrat, opossum, rab- bit, and squirrel; and the principal feathered game were the quail, prairie-chicken, and wild turkey. Several of these animals furnished meat for the early settlers ; but their principal meat did not consist long of game. Pork and poultry were soon raised in abundance. The wolf was the most troublesome animal, it being the common
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enemy of the sheep. It was quite difficult to protect the sheep from their ravages. Sometimes pigs and calves were also victims of the wolf. Their howling in the night would often keep families awake, and set all the dogs in the neighborhood to barking. Their yells often were terrific. Says one old settler : "Suppose six boys, having six dogs tied, whipped them all at the same time, and you would hear such music as two wolves would make." To effect the destrue- tion of these animals the county authorities offered a bounty for their scalps and besides big hunts were inaugurated for their destruction, and " wolf hunts " are prominent among the memories of the early settlers. Such events were generally turned into a holiday, and everybody that could ride a nag or stand the tramp on foot joined in the deadly pursuit. A large circuit was generally made by the hunters, who then closed in on every side, driving the hungry wolves into the center of the corral, where they were despatched. The return home with the carcasses was the signal for a general turn-out, and these " pleasure parties " are still referred to by old citizens as among the pleasantest memories of carly life in Tazewell county. Many a hungry wolf has been run down on the prairies where now is located a town or fine farm residence. This rare old pastime, like much of the early hunting and fishing the pioneers indulged in here, departed at the appearance of the locomotive.
Mr. J. Mooberry, his friend, Mr. Hudson, from Ohio, and a number of young men of Groveland, started on a wolf hunt one day many years ago. The young fellows were careful to take the best and fleetest horses, leaving, as they laughingly said, "the plugs for the old men." A wolf was soon found and chase given. After running a long distance it went through a herd of horses. This checked all the dogs save two, which followed it. It ran directly toward the two "old men," and plunged into the thick, tall grass of a slough ; but soon the dogs came up and jumped upon the fatigued animal. Before the dogs killed it, however, the men jumped from their horses, muzzled the wolf and secured it alive. Mr. Mooberry took it upon his horse in front of himself. Soon the laugh was on the "boys," as the old men had captured the game.
Kezer Hancock, an early settler and quite a noted hunter, was out hunting in Groveland township in the year 1839, when he sent his very large bull-dog after a panther. He followed it until it gave a terrible yawl, when the dog hastily retreated to his master, and would not leave him again while in the woods. The wily pan-
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ther kept apace with them, and only about fifteen feet away all through the timber. It was doubtless the presence of the dog that kept the panther at bay and enabled Mr. Hancock to escape.
Mr. Hancock has killed as many as 23 deer within three weeks' time. At one time while out hunting without a dog, he shot a large buck deer, causing him to fall. On attempting to rise Mr. Han- cock siezed him by the hind leg, and with his hunting knife struggled with him for about three quarters of an hour, gashing his body, until finally, he succeeded in thrusting his knife to the heart. Often has Mrs. Hancock chased the wolves from her door-yard to save her chickens. Once a wolf caught a big sheep by his tail, and pulled him back as he attempted to jump the fence, but Mrs. Han- cock frightened the wolf away and saved her sheep.
Louis White, of Spring Lake, in relating to us a number of inci- dents of early times in Tazewell, tells of a scare he received by being lost on the prairie, and being surrounded by the pesky wolves. While the wolves were not generally dangerous to persons, yet they would occasionally attack them, and especially after night. Mr. White had been at the carding-mill in Dillonville to have some wool carded for home use. He returned by way of Tremont and Pekin, and it was well after dark when he passed through Pekin. He had a very trusty pair of horses, and after getting a good start on the road, as he often did he tied the lines around his body and lay down in the wagon for a nap. He was awakened, after going he knew not how far, by the yelping and howling of the wolves which were following him. It was pitch dark, and the horses were greatly excited. He could not induce them to go as he wished. They wanted to go one way and he another. He got out of the wagon and found he was off the road, and in reality lost on the prairie with packs of ravenous wolves howling on every side. Un- fortunately he had no fire-arms to defend himself against their attack. He became alarmed at the unpleasant, yes, dangerous, situation he was in. Who would not? Finally he thought he would let his horses go where they would and trust to them and Providence for his safety. After going a little ways they again stopped, and he could not possibly urge them further. Here was a dilemma worse than the first,- in the midst of the prairie, pitch dark, with wolves all around to eat him, and his trusty animals unwilling to move. At last he ventured to get out of his wagon to examine and dis- cover, if he could, what prevented his horses from going, and to his
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