USA > Illinois > Washington County > History of Washington County, Illinois > Part 19
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Mr. Smith may be justly regarded as one of the pioneers of Washington county. He encountered the hardships of the pioneer era of the state, and right manfully did he bear his portion of the burden. The two first years of his residence in the county was full of trials and difficulties. He was com- pelled to haul all of his supplies of every kind from St. Louis and Shawnee- town. This occasioned trips of considerable length, and through a country unsupplied with roads or bridges. To give the reader some idea of the state of the roads and the difficulty of crossing streams in those days, it may be mentioned that Mr. Smith was no less than seven days in coming from Mt Vernon to Ashley, a distance of only fifteen miles. If space would permit it would be our pleasure to recount more fully the trials and tribulations through which this hardy old pioneer passed, to safely emerge at last, and now as he glides serenely down the vale of life he sees the land around him filled with wealth, prosperity, and the enlightened intelligence of the nine- teenth century, which but for him and those like him, might yet be a barren waste. All honor to the sturdy, honest pioneers of the by-gone days.
Mr. Smith, in 1832, was one of the soldiers of the Black Hawk war, and in the late rebellion he gave freely of his means to its suppression, and furnished four stalwart soldiers in the persons of his sons. Frederick G. and John L. entered in 1861, in Company I, 44th Illinois Infantry. Frederick G. was killed at the battle of Adairsville, on the 17th of May, 1864. John L. was wounded in several engagements. Charles P. enlisted for three years in the 18th Illinois Infantry. He contracted disease while in the army, and died about one year after his term of enlistment had expired. S. R. Smith enlisted in Company C, 152d Illinois Infantry, and remained in the service until the close of the war. He was one of the gallant soldiers who accom- panied Sherman in his famous "march to the sen." At Peach Tree Creek he captured the sword, horse, saddle and bridle of Col. Baker, of the 7th Geor- gia regiment, for which he was complimented and received the sword as a reward for his gallant conduct.
Mr. Smith is a Republican in politics. He however was formerly a Dem- ocrat. He cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson in 1828. He had a per- sonal acquaintance with "Old Hickory," whom he admired, and regarded as the first statesman of the age. He remained steadfast to the party of his first choice until 1860, since which time he has voted the Republican ticket. He has occupied offices of trust in the gift of the people, and is one of the oldest justices of the peace in the county. It is with pleasure that we thus briefly outline the life of James Smith. In the community where he resides none
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RESIDENCE AND STOCK FARM OF MORGAN JONES, SEC. 35. T. 2. S.R.1W. (ASHLEY TP. ) WASHINGTON CoILL.
PLOW FACTORY.
J. L. RUNK. CARRIAGE & WAGON MAKER, SULKY & OTHER PLOWS, HARROWS & FARMING IMPLEMENTS GENERALY CONSTRUCTED & REPAIRED. NASHVILLE, ILLINOIS.
RESIDENCE & WORK SHOPS OF J. L. RUNK , NASHVILLE, ILL.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
stand higher in the estimation of the citizens than he does. He is regarded as an upright, honest, and honorable man.
JOEL G. CARTER, (DECEASED,)
WAS born in South Carolina, May 8th, 1820; he was the son of Joel and Elizabeth Carter ; his father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and his grand- father was a soldier of the revolutionary war. During the revolutionary war Joel Carter was a small boy, and the Tories came to his father's house in search of his gun; in order to make the boy tell where the gun was con- cealed they resorted to the vilest means, and small as he was they hung him three times in order to get the desired information, but every time they would let him down his answer was, I don't know where father is or his gun. Joel Carter with his family moved to Alabama, in the year 1833, where he followed the life of a planter until his death in 1852. The subject of our sketch was principally raised in Alabama and brought up to farming pur- suits ; he received a common school education. He was united in marriage Feb. 20th, 1845, to Miss Amelia S. George, who was born in Lincoln coun- ty, Tennessee, March 7th, 1829. Her grandfather was one of the early set- tlers of Indiana. By this union they have had a family of nine children born to them, five girls and four boys in the order of their ages. They are, William Joel, Amanda C., Adkins Harrison, Martha Amelia, George D., Artelia E., Robert Henry, Emma Z., and Minnie May. During our late civil war Mr. Carter, whose interests were identified with the south, and his adopted state, whose institutions and liberties he believed to be imperiled by the arrogant manner of the northern abolitionists, like a patriotic citizen he was among the first of the sons of the south to rally to that standard which had for its object the preservation of its homes, firesides and property ; he fought with a patriotic zeal, and was willing to lay down his life in the cause he thought a just one. Though the armies of the south were vanquished by the superior numbers, yet the cause they thought a just one still lives in the minds of those who participated in that sanguinary conflict. But after the war was over and peace and quiet restored, Mr. Carter forgot the past, and in March, 1868, he with his family emigrated to Washington county, Ill., and settled in the south-east part of Ashley township, where he lived until his death, Jan. 26th, 1878. During his residence in this county he built a fine farm residence on his place, a view of which can be seen elsewhere in this work. A lover of nature and a farmer of choice he sought by all means to improve and adorn his rural surroundings; and he cherished an ambition to excel in agriculture. His wife is still in possession of and carries on the farm. He was a member of the M. E. Church, South. He professed his faith in that church as early as 1842; he was a faithful member, and for twenty years was class-leader, steward and Sabbath-school superintendent in the church of his choice. As a man, the various duties of life, enjoined by the laws of associa- tion upon each member of a community were performed by Mr. Carter with a full sense of his responsibility in those essentials and with laudable hearti- ness. He was a master mason and a member of the chapter where he always proved himself worthy, and when his brothers were called to perform the last sad rites and consign him to his narrow home in the valley, they could all say with sorrowful hearts, one more good and true brother has gone to his lodge celestial; " that building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens."
ROBERT. P. CARTER.
AMONG the substantial farmers of Washington county, Robert P. Carter, of Ashley Precinct, is justly accorded a place. He was born in Tennessee, Nov. 8th, 1813. His father, Richard P. Carter, was a native of Virginia, and of English ancestry. When a young man he settled in Tennessee, where he married Miss Sarah Winrow, a native of Tennessee. In about 1819 he emi- grated with his family to Illinois, and settled in what is now Clinton county,
where he lived three years; he then removed his family near Nashville, where they remained for about seven years. In 1829 he removed to Mor- gan county, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1837. The subject of our sketch, at the death of his father, returned to Washing- ton county, where he has since resided. Dec. 24, 1840, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha J. Logan, a resident of Washington county, but a native of Tennessee ; by this union they have a family of five children ; viz. : William H., now living in the town of Ashley, Lydia A., now the wife of J. W. Hudson, county school superintendent, James M., teacher, Philander A. C., now living at home, Marietta J., wife of C. W. Mitchell, now living in Nashville. For nearly forty years Mr. Carter has lived upon section twenty- two, near Ashley. He has a fine, well-improved farm. He has grown with the growth of the country. Sixty years has wrought a wonderful change in the civilization of the west; then a wilderness with Indians, trees and grasses indigenous to the soil, overspreading the entire state. Now we have rail- roads, cities, villages and fruitful fields, with the promise of a future that is designed to startle the world with its wonderful progress. The pen never tires eulogizing those hardy pioneers, the forerunners of civilization; but pioneering will soon cease, and we will know of it only in song and history. In politics Mr. Carter was formerly a Whig, and when the Republican party sprang into life he identified himself with that party, and has always been a strong supporter of its principles. Religiously, he and his wife have been members of the M. E. Church for the last forty-five years. Such is a brief sketch of one of the oldest citizens in Washington county. Quiet in his demeanor, industrious and honest, he is a fair type of the early pioneers of the west.
C. E. HAMMOND
Is a native of Illinois, and was born in Galena, August 12th, 1830. John R. Hammond, his father, was a native of New York. He emigrated to Equality, in Southern Illinois, in 1822, where two years later he married Miss Catherine Tomlinson, who was a native of North Carolina. In 1827, Mr. Hammond removed to Galena, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1832. There were three children born to John R. and Cathe. rine Hammond, two of whom are yet living ; viz. : the subject of our sketch and Hahala, wife of Samuel H. Scales, Shullsburg, Wis. C. E. Hammond remained at home until his fourteenth year, when he entered the printing office of W. T. Carpenter, and learned the printer's trade. He remained so engaged for one year and then returned home, where he remained for some time, and then again entered the printing office. After eight months had passed he quit the office, and in the fall of 1849, went to California via New Orleans. He remained in the gold diggings until 1852, when he, in connec- tion with J. O. P. Burnside, started the Freeport Bulletin. In 1855 he re- turned bome and sold the paper. He afterwards settled in Nora, in his native county, and engaged in general merchandising, and continued the business until 1858, when he received the Democratic nomination for sheriff, and was beaten by a small majority, although the county was largely Re- publican. In 1860 he removed to Nashville, in this county, where he en- gaged in the printing business, publishing the Washington County Herald until 1862, when he sold out and removed to Tamaroa, Ills., and in the spring of 1863 removed to Ashley, where he has since resided. On the 1st of May, 1856, he married Miss Mary C. Graves, a native of Kentucky, but a resident of Illinois at the time of her marriage. Six children have been born to them, three of whom are living. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the M. E. Church. Me at present is actively engaged in the hardware and grocery trade, and is also one of the firm of Pace, Bros. & Co., bankers, Ashley, Ills. He has an interest likewise in a bank at Marion, Williamson county, Ills. Mr. Hammond is one of the true, energetic busi- ness men of Ashley, and has been eminently successful in his business pur- suits during the last fifteen years. As a man and a citizen he is universally respected for his sterling worth and strict probity of character.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
HISTORY OF IRVINGTON PRECINCT.
w S situated in the extreme north-eastern part of the county, bounded on the north by Clinton county, east, by Marion and Jefferson counties, south, by Richview, and west, by Hoyleton. It com- prises a good body of land, a portion of which was originally tim- ber land, and is now occupied by a thrifty, intelligent class of farmers.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first settler was a Mr. Scott and family, who located on section 16, in the year 1827. In 1828 came Richard and Abner Jolliff, and John Lock in 1829. In 1830 John Faulkner, Daniel Waller, John Williams, Thomas A. Nichols and William Crabtree. In 1831 came M. G. Faulkner, and the next year, 1832, Jhiel Williams.
The early settlers who continued to locate in what is now Irvington pre- cinct, prior to the year 1840, were L. B. Baldwin, Miles Hewett, William Trout, Robert Davis, R. Foster and Charles Downer.
The early residents above mentioned were from the States of Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana, and were a hardy, honest, industrious people.
EARLY SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.
The first school-house built in the township was on section 22, in the year 1844, and the first teacher was William Leeper. Prior to 1844 schools were held at different places, in vacant cabins.
The first school taught was by Alexander Ford, who was soon taken sick, and Alexander Faulkner finished his term. This school was held in a vacant residence on section 16, belonging to M. G. Faulkner. There are now seven school-houses in the precinct.
CHURCHES.
The preaching in the early days was done for many years at the resi- dences of the settlers. There are now four church buildings in the precinct- three in the village of Irvington, and one on section 23.
IRVINGTON,
a town situated on the line of the Illinois Central railroad, is quite an enter- prising place, and the centre of a large portion of the trade of the precinct.
The town was laid out by S. Y. Henry, and the first house built in the place was the depot of the Illlinois Central railroad. The second was by Louis Mienzer. It was a store-house, and he was the first person to establish a store.
Irvington has a population of about three hundred; two stores-General store by L. Fouts; Drug Stores kept by Henry & Goodner and John M. Scott; Blacksmith and Wagon shop by George Wright.
Mrs. Maden keeps the only Hotel of the town.
A Flouring Mill is owned and operated by William Brownlee. This mill was built in the year 1865 by N. E. Way. It has three run of burrs. Dr. J. G. Munsell is the only Physician of the place.
There is one Harness shop, carried on by L. Baldridge, and a Saw-mill by James A. Baldridge, and an Elevator by J. T. Henry.
CHURCHES.
There are three Churches in the town; namely, Methodist, Baptist and Christian.
IRVINGTON LODGE NO. 381 I. O. O. F .*
was organized on the 11th of March, 1869, by D. A. White, Special Deputy. The following were Charter Members : John F. Mitchell, John C. Wilson, Wilson D. Frost, Henry M. Johnson, David Fouts.
The first officers were: Wilson D. Frost, N. G. ; John C. Wilson, V. G .; John F. Mitchell, R. S .; Henry M. Johnson, P. S .; David Fouts, Treas.
The Trustees were : John F. Mitchell, H. M. Johnson, D. H. Reeves, J. C. Wilson. The first Deputy was W. D. Frost.
The present officers, elected January 1st, 1879, are : J. G. Munselle, N. G .; R. D. Baldwin, V. G. ; B. O. Mitchell, Sec. ; David Fouts, Treas. ; B. O. Mitchell, Deputy.
The Lodge is in a prosperous and healthy condition.
IRVINGTON LODGE A. F. & A. M. NO. 650.
was organized November 4th, 1870.
The Charter Members were: George B. Renfro, J. T. Mitchell, J. L. Cox, Samuel Davis, G. H. French, W. C. McDowell, Enoch Armstrong, L. L. Palmer, Frank Baldwin, C. C. Bleven, W. H. Brown, J. M. Pirtle, G. W. Clay, Ed. S. Dewey, J. M. Grismore, William Fisher, L. S. Gillot, T. L. Ratts, Samuel C. Davis, J. G. Clay, N. M. Tabb, Charles C. Bleven.
The first officers were : Thomas Quick, W. M .; N. E. Day, S. W .; E. Melton, J. W .; G. H. French, Treas. ; E. S. Dewey, Sec .; Geo. B. Renfro, S. D .; J. L. Cox, J. D .; J. F. Mitchell, Tyler ; W. C. McDowell, S. Stew- ard; J. M. Pirtle, J. Steward.
Present officers elected for the year 1879 were installed by R. W. Bro. E. C. Pace, D. G. M : F. B. Anson, W. M .; T. Reatts, S. W .; William Brown, J. W .; J. M. Pirtle, Treas. ; J. M. Scott, Sec. ; S. Davis, S. D. ; William Fisher, J. D .; R. R. Faulkner, Tyler ; E. Armstrong, Chaplain ; H. Bruse, S. Steward; G. Armstrong, Jr. Steward.
ILLINOIS' AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE OF IRVINGTON, ILL.
This Institution was incorporated in 1861. The original project, as ex pressed in its charter, was to make it a School for instruction in agricul- ture and the mechanical arts. By act of the legislature in 1867, the charter was so amended as to authorize the board of trustees to introduce the teach- ing of any and all branches of science usually taught in the higher educa- tional institutions of the country, and to confer degrees.
In 1869 the corporation became insolvent in consequence of the financial embarrassment of its treasurer.
The same year an act was passed by the legislature to have the lands turned over to the State to secure the endowment fund; but no action was taken by the incorporators, and the act was rendered inactive.
In 1872 an effort was made by the incorporators to turn the institution with all its assets and liabilities, over to the State, but failed of consum. mation.
In 1875 suit was brought by the attorney-general to get possession of the lands for the State, to secure the funds originally appropriated by the State, and the matter has ever since and still is in litigation.
The institution has been inactive since 1869.
. From data furnished by B. O. Mitchell.
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TENANT HOUSE
STOCK FARM & RESIDENCE OF H. S.HARR, SEC.29, T.IN.R.IW. WASHINGTON CO.ILL.
R
LIVERY STABLE
JOHN MARLIN
MARLIN'S BLOCK, OPPOSITE THE COURT HOUSE, NASHVILLE, ILL. JOHN MARLIN, DEALER IN GROCERIES, GLASSWARE &C. & c.
TENANT HOUSE.
THE FARM RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM TATE, SEC.2, T.2, R.2,WASHINGTON CO. ILL.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
HISTORY OF RICHVIEW PRECINCT.
m S SITUATED in the eastern part of the county, bounded on the north by Hoyleton and Irvington precincts, east by Jefferson county, south by Ashley, and west by Nashville, and comprises a good body of land, and is admirably situated in reference to the transportation of its product. The Illinois Central railroad runs through the east side of the precinct, about two miles from the Jefferson county line.
EARLY SETTLERS.
James Severs is regarded as the first settler. He located at Greene Point in 1828. Samuel White and M. Castelberry settled at Grand Point in 1829. White came from Randolph Co., Ill., and Castelberry from Georgia. Robi- son Flanagan, now living in Richview, settled near the head of Little Crooked creek in the year 1830, and in 1833 removed to and settled on land now embraced in this precinct. Other early settlers, with their families, were William Nichols, Asa Foster, E. Smith, Samuel White, Joseph Barber, John Tate, Josiah Thompson, Thomas Livesay, William B. Livesay, William H. White, Smith McWilliams, James Gore, Matthew and H. G. W. Wittenburg. All the above came here prior to 1840, most of whom were from Tennessee.
FIRST SCHOOL-HOUSE was a log-structure built at Grand Point (Sec. 3) in the year 1830 or '31.
FIRST STORE
was kept by Cornelius Dorsey in 1839.
THE FIRST CHURCH was built in Richview by the M. E. denomination.
VILLAGE OF RICHVIEW.
(Old Richview) was laid out in 1839 by William B. Livesay on Sec. 10. It was formerly called Richmond. It gradually grew, and became quite a business centre, having five stores, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, three physicians and a population of between five and six hundred. About the year 1852 the name was changed to Richview. When the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad was built, the track was laid about a half mile east of the " old town." The railroad company built a depot and switch about three-fourths of a mile north-east of the village on a forty-acre tract of land owned by the company in the year 1854, and in 1855 laid out an addition to the town. They named the station Richview. The year previous Shipley and Barber laid out an addition between the two towns. Subsequently four other addi. tions to the town have been laid out by the following parties : one by George Lowe, J. M. Livesay, L. D. Livesay, and one by Foster and Phillips. In 1857 Lem. Brown laid out an addition. Richview now (old and new) has a population of about one thousand inhabitants.
The following are the principal business-houses of the town :
GENERAL STORES
are House & Bingham, J. A. Edminston, C. W. Oppenlander, W. W. Shanks, Samuel G. House, Cooper & Wall, and L. R. Barnes. Druggists, W. S. Merrell and B. F. Willis. Hardware and tinware, John H. Askins, William Sproul. Furniture and undertaker, R. B. Keyes. Meat shops, H. P. Ingraham and J. Dillingham. Blacksmith shops, N. F. Tate, Wm. Sproul, James Whitchurct. Wagon shops, L. Benjamin and Morgan Woley. Tombstone manufacturer, H. H. Harkness. Flouring mill, S. J. Chapman. Castor Oil mill, Cooper & Holcomb. Exchange Bank of Richview, S. P. Cooper, Prop. Mr. Cooper is also engaged in the grain trade.
HOTELS.
E. Hussey, Prop'r " Richview House." S. T. Howard, Prop'r " American House."
LUMBER.
John Bell, lumber dealer.
PROFESSIONAL. Physicians, W. H. Burns, H. B. Lucas, G. W. Downey, J. B. Houston. John H. Breeze, lawyer. Justices of the Peace, George Lowe, George T. Hoke. E. Wright, Police Magistrate. Trustees of the town of Richview : W. S. Merrell, President of the Board, H. P. Ingram, S. T. Howard, E. C. Matthews, I. R. Johnson and L. A. Gamble. E. Wright, town clerk.
GRANT LODGE, NO. 452, A. F. & A. M. OF RICHVIEW, ILLINOIS. *
The Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois granted a charter to this lodge on the 23d day of October, 1865. The following were the officers: H. P. Walker, W. M .; W. M. Phillips, S. W .; R. G. Williams, J. W .; G. T. Hoke, Treas .; C. E. Chapman, Sec. H. B. Lucas and S. J. Chapman were stewards. The charter-members comprised the following names : J. B. Wax- ham, H. G. Whittenberg, H. P. Walker, W. M. Phillips, R. G. Williams, George T. Hoke, R. B. Keyes, William H. Walker, J. B. Logan, H. B. Lucas, S. J. Chapman, C. E. Chapman and J. H. McGuire. Officers elected De- cember 27th, 1878 (being the present officers), are-John L. Cox, W. M .; C. W. Oppenlander, S. W .; John H. Wall, J. W .; W. D. Frost, Treas .; John H. Askins, Sec'y. Prosperity has marked the course of this lodge since the date of its organization. It is at present one of the most flourishing lodges in the county. Many of the original members of Grant lodge have journeyed "to that bourne, whence no traveller e'er returns."
.WASHINGTON SEMINARY. +
Washington Seminary was projected in 1856 or 1857 by a few leading citizens of Richview, who desired, as is said, in the first deed, " to establish & seminary of elevated character, to diffuse the benefits of a good education, and advance the great interests of civilization, morality and piety." On the completion of the Illinois Central Railroad, the company found it best to establish their station for Richview on their own land, nearly a mile distant from the village. As a compromise the railroad company gave about sev- enty-five lots near the station, for the establishing of a school in Richview. These lots were sold for about four thousand dollars in June or July, 1857, and in October, 1857, the foundations of the present building were laid. Hon. Wm. M. Phillips was one of the agents in the compromise and the lots. On Dec. 31st, 1857, about four acres, the land on which the Semi- nary stands, was sold for $200 by E. A. Spooner and Joseph Barber to Alex- ander Shipley and Wm. M. . Logan, Trustees T. 2 S. R. 1 W. About eight hundred dollars in possession of the school district was also added to the fund. The lower story was divided into two rooms, and a graded school opened in 1859 by N. E. Way, Esq., assisted by his sister, Mrs. Cope, who taught about two years. Miss Minnie Graham, now Mrs. Moudy, also taught. Prof. H C. Hillman followed for a year, assisted by Mrs. Cope and Mrs. Ballou. Miss Irwin and Mrs. Ballou followed. But the building was found too large and expensive to finish; the grounds were not enclosed; and by vote of the . ilistrict, the trustees sold the seminary to R. G. Williams for $1,500, August 22d, 1864. Rev. R. G. Williams sold out July 8th, 1870, to S. J. P. Ander- son, D.D., of St. Louis. The heirs of Dr. Anderson sold it April 1st, 1874, to Rev. Edgar W. Clarke, A.M., from Sterling, Ill. He has been assisted by
From data furnished by John H. Adkins.
t From notes furnished by Edgar W. Clarke.
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HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Miss Nanny Anderson, Mrs. Helen Keeney, Mrs. M. A. Clarke, and his sons, E. L. and A. O. Clarke. The attendance at Washington Seminary, espe- cially under Mr. Williams, was large; but after graded schools were estab- lished in the neighboring villages and cities, the number of scholars decreased. The " hard times." and also the normal schools established by the state, have lessened the attendance here, as in similar institutions. Some of the promi- nent men in the county, and some of its successful teachers have been trained in this seminary. The number of students for several years has been small ;
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