USA > Illinois > Shelby County > Tower Hill > History of Tower Hill and vicinity > Part 2
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The manner of life of those early pioneers, living in the crudest of cabins at the start, and improved as advantages of skill be- came more evident. With the lack of even the direst of accom- modations as compared to modern improvements, it is a marvel that the pioneer raised his large families. Yet we see large fam- ilies of ten to fifteen children occupying less than half the house space that the modern family has with even one or two children. I am assured that the death rate was not as high a percentage then as now. It looks like we have thrown away the secret of a healthy family.
Most of us are acquainted with the old log house of our ances- tors. Hewn from mostly the walnut or whiteoak tree, it gave promise of long life. By way of interest, on my recent visit, it was my priviledge to see some pieces of logs used in the cabin of John May, my great-grandfather, north of Tower Hill, which are marly one hundred years old.
The mode of construction was of the most economical, built in square rooms, sixteen to twenty feet square, and with a large open fireplace in one, or sometimes both ends of the building. For wind- ows the early cabins resorted to oiled or rather greased paper, or thin skins. No hinges of iron, but leather or wood. No locks but the draw-pin. The fireplace served as a heater and a cooker. The swinging crane, from which swung a large kettle used for all sorts of purposes. The fireplace skillet with three legs, and three legs on the lid was a much favored utensil. These were used from boiling the water to the roasting of the venison, the baking of the bread, and the stew pot.
Items of tableware were few consisting of pewter plates for table use, home made vessels for various uses in cooking. Knives and forks and spoons were very rare in the early pioneer life but later, they with additions of china, made matters more agreeable.
The household furniture was all home made in the early day, until the modes of transportation and ability to purchase, enabled one to visit the larger trading centers and possess those articles of necessity, which even today are eagerly sought after.
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I have heard my mother say, that she saw her father on one occasion, step to the door on a spring day, when the deer jumped into the garden for snip at the tendered lettuce, and bring him down with a well directed shot. And this took place at the old Sharrock homestead during the early 60's.
The matter of securing ground meal and flour was one of the dilemmas the early settler had to contend with. It is recorded that the first mill of any consequence, to accommodate the very early settlers in Shelby was in Bond county at Greenville. Later a grist mill was established at Robinson Creek by Thomas Craddick when he first came to this country, and one at Williamsburg by Chas. Wakefield in 1821. And as the settlers increased, likewise the advantages sought after by antique hunters.
The interior arrangement of these pioneer log houses was made as comfortable as skill and tools would permit. Usually there was an attic, reached by pegs driven into the wall. It was in this sort of an attic that the immortal Lincoln climbed up at evening to lay his weary and tired body down upon a pallet of straw, with but scant covering. And in the winter time, God Himself seemed to pity this child of the forest, and through the openings in the clapboard roof, sifted a mantle of pure snow upon him for pro- tection.
The eatables were of the forest mostly, such as meats, fruits, honey, nuts, berries, dried fruits, together with the cultivated ar- ticles which enabled the average family to live well. In the mat- ter of what we call store groceries they were few. Salt and spices, New Orleans dark brown sugar, tea and coffee were the most one could purchase and these not even in the very early days of the pioneer. It is said that tea and coffee were used only for weddings and the coming of the preacher.
The products of the forest were the one redeeming feature of the early settler. He could step to the door and bring down his winter meat. And by the aid of the grist and saw mill could take care of their needs. But it was always a task to go to the mill and secure the grist. It is a matter of family record in the Eiler family, that my uncle, the late William Eiler, upon several occasions when going to get the grist, was compelled to stay over until the next day to get his "turn."
The wearing apparel was of the home made article, the work of the family, from the cultivated flax, and the raising of the wool, and the preparing of the skins of animals into the finished pro- duct. Weaving was an art perfected by the women of the family who were deft in preparing many grades of cloth from the flax
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and wool for the various needs of the home. The old spinning wheel of that day is treasured today as a precious heirloom. For the early settlers buckskin pants for the men and even skirts for the women. Shoes from the home made tanned skins of the animals. The famous "coonskin" cap for headgear has been pre- served in memory and adoration. I have heard my relatives say that on many occasions the women folk would walk barefoot to church or some social gathering, carrying their shoes, until near their destination.
As I view this early pioneer who settled around Tower Hill, I see in him many staunch qualities that we lack today. His posi- tive stand for a real citizen of the community. At all times at the service of his neighbor. His Christian character infusing into those large families the necessty of clean lives. The old family Bible, now a tradition, was then the sacred object of the family circle. Many descendants can today testify that at the close of the day's toil, the father with reverent hands opened the Book, and after reading words that seemed to fit into the tired body sat- isfying a longing desire, then raised his voice in the earnest pray- er that echoed through the forest, and with a resounding echo, brought a contentment amid the most desperate hazards that could confront any human creature.
It has been said that "we are the heirs of the ages," and how thankful we ought to be, that we can refer to such an ancestry, and become amazed that we owe to them such a debt of gratitude we never can repay.
However meager the opportunities were for schooling and so- cial and spiritual culture, yet we have it recorded that they grasped every chance to enrich their very being along needed lines.
It is fitting here that we record the history of perhaps the oldest village in Shelby County, namely: Cold Spring, afterwards known as Williamsburg in Cold Spring township.
We have related the coming of Charles Wakefield, Sr., to this place in 1818, settling on what is now known as the Horsman Place, so as to be close to the noted spring prized so highly by the Indians.
The first trading was carried on by Mr. Wakefield with the Indians, but it was not long until other settlers made it possible to increase the extent of the business. It was Charles Wakefield, Sr., who in 1821 erected the first horsepower grist mill in Shelby county, and it not only served the community, but for great dis- tances settlers came for their grinding. The mill continued for
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years. The records show that John O. Prentiss was among the first merchants of Cold Spring. It may be of interest to many to know that this John Prentiss is the father of Owen Prentiss, who became in after years a very prominent merchant in Shelbyville.
John O. Prentiss in 1828 bought a cabin from Simeon Wake -- field and opened a general merchandise store. Note that this is twenty years before Westminster opened up as a trading place, and thirty years before Tower Hill was a place of business. This gives you some idea of the age of Cold Spring and Williamsburg's early settlements.
Prentiss was soon sucessful in getting a postoffice established in his store, and became the first postmaster. The first physician was a Dr. Rooks, a sort of herb doctor. but very successful. The first schoolhouse was erected on the Wakefield place and Moses Storey was the teacher. Gradually the name Cold Spring gave way to Williamsburg when another enterprise opened up in 1839 by William Horsman and a Dr. Thomas H. Williams erected a new store building and changed the name of the place to Williamsburg in honor of Dr. Williams. The new town of Williamsburg was now doing a very extensive business with settlers in all directions, with a grist mill and blacksmith shop, and two doctors, and a postoffice.
Dr. Thomas Williams died in 1844 and a brother, Dr. Ralph Williams, took up the practice, remaining there for several years, finally removing to Kansas.
The church organizations kept pace with the progress of the business interest, and this community was specially noted for its camp meetings because of the splendid accommodations in shade and water. The noted Peter Cartwright held camp meetings here frequently in what is known as the "Ridge Camp Ground." So strong did the religious element grow that the Methodist organ- ization entered into a partnership with the Masonic Lodge in Williamsburg, to erect a two-story building, the lower for church and the upper for Masonic meetings.
The Masonic Lodge was organized July 26, 1866, as number 513 with the following charter officers: I. B. McNutt, Thos. J. Fritts, W. C. Mcclanahan, G. B. Jones, J. W. Henderson, A. J. Corley, C. Corley, and J. C. Whittington.
Cold Spring has the record of the first land entry in Shelby county issued to Charles Wakefield, Sr., July 19, 1821. But the coming of the railroad to Tower Hill spelt the doom of Williams- burg and all other near frontier villages, so that today they are only a memory.
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I have spoken of that earliest settler, the Wakefield family. Clcse upon their coming was Thomas Pugh with his family from Kentucky about 1820, and settled also in Cold Spring, near the Wakefield settlemest. Later he removed to the Knobs vicinity, and there raised his family. The name Pugh is a household word to this day in Tower Hill and vicinity, and many descendants still live here. The Rhodes family, the Thomas Eiler family, and many who still carry the same Pugh in the male line.
Jonathan C. Corley of Kentucky came about 1823 settling first at Robinson Creek, which had at that time attained quite a settle- ment. In fact many of the Tower Hill residents can claim that section as the first settlement of their ancestors. It is recorded that Mr. Corley was the first blacksmith in Shelby county.
Levi Casey, another Kentucky pioneer, also settled in Robin- son Creek about 1824.
Tower Hill vicinity was largely settled by Kentucky folks. This is true of my own ancestors through the Sharrock-May line. John May, my great-grandfather, came from Prestonburg, Ky., about 1830, finally locating with his large family of ten children, about two hundred yards or more directly northwest of where Charley Smith now lives on the old Sammy Smith homestead. Here he lived for several years, but after the death of his wife and the children had married off, he went to live with his daughter Catharine, the wife of John Sharrock, where he died in 1849, and is buried in the Middlesworth graveyard, about a mile north of Tower Hill. The reader will please pardon a personal allusion, but upon a recent visit to this spot, it was easy to follow the foundation outline one hundred years ago. The rotted stumps of mulberry trees is the yard were still visible. All these spoke to me in greater volumes than words, of the children who had romped about, and especially little Catharine, who later became my Grandmother Sharrock.
James Abbott, another Kentuckian, who preceded John May, was the original one to enter this old May homestead, selling out to him.
The great immigration to old Shelby seems to have been in the 30's and the majority from Kentucky and Tennessee. Later in the 40's the settlers were from Ohio and the eastern states.
From the records I find a Burwell Massey settled near the Knobs about 1830. Also one Daniel Agles at the same time, but I am not able to place that name. The Smith family came from Kentucky,
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settled in this vicinity about 1831, and our old respected Uncle Sammy Smith was a boy of about 7 years of age when his father cast his lot as a pioneer among these early settlers.
A talk with Charley Smith, one of Tower Hill's most respected citizens and a descendant of this Smith family, can reveal to you the sturdy nature of these old pioneerrs, and the deep seated re- ligious nature practiced in their daily walk. And how when the Sabbath day was approaching it became necessary on Saturday to make all due preparations to carry the family over the hallowed day with the least bit of labor. It was to this pioneer famiy a day so sacred that the utmost precaution was made to see that the family was not molested at all in their holy devotion.
Peter Killam, another Kentuckian, was a settler in the Knobs region about 1830. Here is a family that for all these years have been among the respected residents of this community. Many de- scendants still live in the vicinity.
Franklin Hudson settled in 1832 on what is now the Neil place. The Neil family were from Tennessee and came early in the 30's settling in the Knobs region. Here is another old family who have been active in all affairs that build up for a better community. There are many descendants still living near the old home site.
W. W. Peek, also from Tennessee, settled near Shelbyville at first about 1834, later in Rose township. A few descendants still live near the Hill. Washbourne Wade came from Ohio about 1837 settling on the land where we recorded Westminster. He lived to a very old age. Benjamin Hobson from Ohio settled in this region.
Jonathan Riley came also the same time from Ohio. Gassett Horace, also from Ohio in 1837, settled on what was later known as the Jester place. In fact he sold out to Stephen Jester about 1841. Daniel Puckett, another pioneer from Ohio about 1837 settled in the vicinity of Westminster. Most of these names are still house- hold memories, and descendants of nearly all still live in the vicinity of the residences of their ancestors.
Thomas W. Craddick, a familiar name in Tower Hill during he passing generation, and specially remembered because they followed merchandising for most of their lives in this community, First settled near Robinson Creek, where it is recorded that he erected the first mill in western Shelby county. He soon removed to Westminster where we recorded he bought out the store of John Sharrock, and then to Tower Hill. Thomas Craddick was not only the first postmaster in Tower Hill, but the first justice of the peace, the first railroad agent.
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It was amidst such surroundings that the son Ambrose, known better by his initials as A. M., learned the merchandise game which he followed for many, many years in the Hill. In the early 70's A.M. and my father Lewis Eiler were in the general merchan- dise business, under the firm name of Craddick & Eiler.
A. M. Craddick became one of Tower Hill's foremost citizens holding many public offices, finally becoming county treasurer. He married the daughter of another pioneer merchant, namely John Moore, of the firm of Corley & Moore.
Abraham Middlesworth was another Kentucky settler but near Shelbyville at first, later living on what is now the old Middles- worth homestead about two miles north of Tower Hill. Here the son, Ner, built a substantial brick residence in the early 60's that is a credit to any community to this day. (By the way of personal mention, my father when a young man helped burn the bricks for that house.) Ner Middlesworth raised a large family here, and several are yet alive and live in old Shelby.
Thomas May, the son of our John May, settled in 1840 near Westminster on what is now known as the Weller place. In 1846 he sold out and removed to Oregon where he became a prominent citizen in his community. It might be of general interest to say here that the history of Oregon records our Thomas May as being among the first who set out extensive orchards in Oregon, he having purchased the sprouts in San Francisco enroute.
Everard Sharrock, our great-grandfather, came from Ohio about 1832 and first settled in Christian county, but soon moved over the line into old Shelby settling on Flat Branch. We have re- corded his doings at Westminster and later removing to Oregon.
Conrad Hanson was an old settler coming directly from In- diana about 1832, settling just west of the John May settlement. He had a large family of twelve children who mostly settled around Tower Hill in their early married life. There are many direct descendants still living in the community. Conrad died in 1853 and is buried near John May, his brother-in-law, in the Middlesworth graveyard.
The Perryman family were very early settlers over on Mitchell Creek near Shelbyville, but later moved near the Rocky Branch region where the family grew up as part of the Tower Hill citi- zenry. One son born on Mitchell Creek in 1836 named J. W. Perry- man is still alive, aged 90 years, and lives near Oconee. I under- stand he has written a book entitled, "Ninety Years in Illinois."
I'll warrant it would be interesting reading. He had already published a volume of poems and early reminiscences.
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Conrad Eiler came to Tower Hill with the immigration from Ohio and the east that came in the 40's he coming in 1849, settling cn the old Eiler homestead, now occupied by Oscar Warren. Here with the family of four boys born in Ohio, he grappled with the task of making a home, succeeding amidst all the hardships that come to all pioneers. Conrad Eiler though had a greater vision than the bounds of his own homestead, it was the interest of the community. So the Eiler Church became the great center for religious and social welfare, and to this day is a household name far and wide.
With Conrad Eiler came other Ohio folks, the Warrens, Mes- sicks, Wireys, Jesters, and others, all names being among the prominent families of this community. And the list is lengthy, and time and space would fail me to mention them all, but these are familiar names as follows: Boncer, Metsker, Andes, Higgin- botham, Brownback, Hooks, Harper, Story, Evey, Cannon, Stumpf, Morgan, Fringer, Fluckey, Scovil, Hunter, Bowman, Dutton, and scores of others. But a visit to the old time cemeteries will reveal other names whose descesdants moved away years ago, or death has ended the line.
FLOUR MILLS
Flour Mills-Tower Hill can look back with a great source of pride, forty or more years ago to her milling interests. Those were the days when you had to get in line for your grist. People came here far and near to the Tower Hill mills for all manner of grists. Tower Hill flour was of a high grade and its well known brands were asked for in all the nearby markets.
I remember as a boy that old red mill with its sloping roof, located on the old mill site, familiar to all. I believe that a Mr. Oliver was the first owner. Then a Mr. Warner. In the early 80's this mill burned down and was afterwards rebuilt with a three- story structure, with all the latest improved roller process of flour making. Your own citizen, Crawford Ward, was for many years an employe here, continuing through several ownerships, and during the last ownership of Wolf and Evey it was destroyed and never rebuilt.
MERCANTILE INTERESTS
Mercantile Interests-On Feb. 22, 1884, my father, Lewis Eiler, bought out his father-in-law, John Sharrock, in the general mer- chandise business. It is from this date that I began my business career. It is with much surprise that I look back to those days of merchandising in methods and general lines to the present. I
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know greater strides and improvements have been made in the line of merchandising than in any other vocation. In the early days we had not as many of the conveniences as the present merchant.
The grocery line has had the greatest improvements. In those days most every item was sold in bulk, such as sugar, coffee, tea, crackers, spices, etc. Then we had no bags for containers, but old fashioned brown paper was used for most everything. Paper twine mostly for binding. California canned goods were unknown and what little canned fruits were of the east in small cans.
In dry goods, there was nothing of ready-to-wear, as all wear- ing apparel was sold by the yard and 10 yards or more was a dress pattern as compared to three or four today. In shoes it was mostly calf skin or for fine wear the kid, and built for service and wear. Today the slipper variety with a fancy strip or two above the light sole.
Forty years ago or more, Tower Hill was as busy a place for business as one could wish, especially on a Saturday. Heavy stocks of goods of all variety. Three splendid clothing stores, and dry goods stores, besides large heavy stocks of grocery stores, large hardware and furniture stores, and all else in comparison. Busi- ness in all lines was flourishing. The railroads were busy with shipping grains, stock, hay and produce. Space forbids to enu- merate the amount and variety of business, that attracted trade from all directions.
TOWER HILL SPOKE FACTORY
Tower Hill Spoke Factory-I wonder how many of the older generation remember and how many of the younger generation ever dreamed that at one time Tower Hill had a spoke and handle factory of considerable prominence. An uncle of mine named Frank Sharrock, after his return from the Black Hills, where he had gone with the great gold rush of 1875-76, established a factory of this nature on the site where the Andes property is now located. If I am correctly informed also this Frank Sharrock was the owner of the first steam threshing engine in Tower Hill township and possibly in a greater scope of territory than that. It was the Huber engine, and I, though a very small boy, somehow remember that engine as it was to me one of the many wonders of the world to my boyish mind.
During the fall and winter, this factory which employed around 10 to 12 men, was busy turning out spokes for wagon and buggy wheels, also handles of various sorts. The sheds were full of the finished products, ready for shipping in March 1876, and in fact, the empty cars were on the siding ready to begin loading on a Monday morning when on the Saturday eve preceding, the whole plant, stock, machinery, and all, was burned to the ground. There
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had been considerable mutterings from certain neighbors as to its location, and while no proof could ever be found, yet it is con- sidered a fire of incendiary origin. It certainly was a great loss to the owner, Frank Sharrock, and put an end to a highly prospective proposition, that was giving employment to several men in the town, besides making a great market for the immense amount of available timber that grew within a few miles of the village.
An experienced man named Gus Williams had been brought from the city to superintend the manufacture of this much de- manded article and he too with the rest of those interested felt it a great loss, because of its prospective prosperity. So little by little that great demon, "FIRE" has wiped out many interesting and profitable institutions, and business houses in the Hill.
OUR BURYING GROUNDS
Our Burying Grounds-Part and parcel of any community, is its burying grounds. It is the sacred spot where friend and foe meet on the same level. We may be a Croesus in worldly goods, but our last habitation of ownership is a space of only 3 by 6. The country around Tower Hill abounds in many old graveyards. Perhaps the oldest is the one near Williamsburg in Cold Spring township. It is reported as the oldest in the county. Here are buried the first settlers not only of this entire community, but the first in Shelby county. In those days it was necessary to fill the upper part of the grave with rock to prevent the wolves and other fierce carnivorous animals from burrowing down to the bodies. In fact, I am told that graves located in this ancient spot, bear evidence of that fact.
There is an old burying ground at New Hope in the Zion neigh- borhood, where many of the old settlers are buried. Here are found the ancestors of most of the present residents of that section of the country.
One among the oldest, and perhaps the largest, is the Eiler cemetery, located near the Eiler church, one of the earliest centers of community interest in the region round about. No doubt here are buried more of its early settlers, and relatives reaching to the present than any other spot. It is a sightly place on a hill, that commands a view in every direction. On a recent visit there I was pleased to note the neat appearance and well kept grounds, so different from forty years ago when it was a briar patch and the surroundings was the favored region known far and near for its profuse growth of blackberries. Thanks to someone with a vision of civic pride. This spot is very dear to the writer, as the resting place of numerous of my kin.
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