History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois, Part 11

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Globe Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 704


USA > Illinois > Clay County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 11
USA > Illinois > Wayne County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 11


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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On April 23, 1854, the veterans of the Fortieth and the l'ifth Illinois Cavalry, which were home on a furlough, were given a reception by the people of this county.


86


HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


In May, 1864, Compamy D of the Eighty- seventh Mounted Infantry, participated in the fighting in the Red River region. Among. the wounded from this county were G. W. Creamer, James Shannon, Julius Smith and Harrison Frazier.


In May, 1864, Capt. Organ secured the enlistment of another company of men from this county for 100 days, and they were ac- cepted by Gov. Yates.


In May, 1864, the following members of Crews' Company G of the Eighteenth Regi- ment returned home, their three years' enlist- ment having expired: Capt. Dan Haynes, William Wood, Joseph Hooper, Leander Knowles, Sam Sailor, William Pendleton, Wesley Foreaker, C. W. Gaston, Wade Beach, N. S. McCown, Theodore Edmonson, Alfred Casper and Mark D. Smith.


On June 27, the Fortieth Regiment par- ticipated in the battle of Kenesaw Mount- aın. Lieut. Col. R. S. Barnhill, of this county, was shot through the head and in- stantly killed, while leading his column in a charge. Jasper Massey, of this county, who was in command of Company I, was also se- verely wounded, and fell into the hands of the enemy. Austin Burroughs, from this county, a private in Company E, was also killed in this battle.


On July 10, Lieut. Col. A. T. Galbraith was severely wounded near Atlanta, Ga. He was shot by a rebel sharpshooter, the ball taking effect, in his ankle and breaking both bones.


On July 23, 1864, the people of Hickory Hill and adjoining townships gave a recep- tion to Company K, of the Forty-ninth Reg- iment Illinois Veteran Volunteers. Over 1,000 people were in attendance.


August 5, 1864, Lieut. Baker, of Company M. Fifth Illinois Cavalry, died at Vicksburg, Miss., where the regiment was encamped.


In the fight at Atlanta, Ga., Company D, of the Fortieth, lost one man killed, James T. Butler, and five wounded. Among those from this county who were wounded in the campaign that summer, were Lient. G. I. George, Alfred W. Daisy, Pleasant Shores, who afterward died on July 8; James G. Price, James Lock, Isaac T. Steed and Sam. nel T. Chapman.


Lieut. George was reported missing at that battle of Kenesaw Mountain, and was for a long time thought to be dead. He was taken a prisoner and sent to Charleston, S. C., where he slowly recovered from his wound, and from where he finally communi- cated with his friends here, much to their joy. (See his biography elsewhere.)


Maj. Organ, while stationed at Cairo, died there in the last week in August, 1864. His body was afterward brought to Fairfield where it was interred.


November 5, 6 and 7. 1864. the people of Fairfield and vicinity held a very successful Sanitary Fair at this point. The fair netted the round sum of $575 above all expenses.


Thas it will be seen that Wayne County furnished during the war twelve full com- panies, to wit: Company G, Eighteenth Illi- nois: the officers are given above. Company D, Samuel Hooper, the first Captain, and William Stewart, his successor; at different times, the First Lieutenants were William Stewart, Joseph P. Rider and William C. Murphy; and the Second Lientenants were Joseph P. Rider and Gilbert J. George. And Company E, Capt. Daniel N. Uim, and the First Lieutenants were, in succession, Andrew F. Nesbitt and William H. Summers; Second Lieutenants, in the order given, were William H. Summers, Benjamin F. Best and William W. Dunlap. The last two compa- nies were in the Fortieth Illinois Regiment.


87


HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


Then there was Company I, of the Forty- eighth Regiment, Capt. Ashley T. Galbraith; First Lientenants, in the order, Elias M. Holmes, Stephen F. Grimes, Thomas L. B. Weems; Second Lieutenants, Stephen F. Grimes, T. L. B. Weems, William M. Gal- braith. In the Fifth Illinois Cavalry were two companies, Company D, Capt. Henry A. Organ; First Lieutenant. S. J. R. Wilson; Second Lientenant, Calvin Schell. Also Company M, Capt. Robert Schell, who was succeeded by Alexander Jessup: First Lien- tenant, Samnel Burrell; Second Lieutenant, Albert S. Robinson. Next was Company H. Fifty.sixth Illinois, Capt. James P. Files; First Lieutenant, Aaron E. Scott; Second Lieutenant, John J. Scott. Then there was Company D, Eighty-seventh Illinois, Capt. Jacob B. Borah; First Lientenant, James T. Price: Second Lieutenant, Lewis Mayo.


Company F. Eighteenth Regiment, Capt. Jabez J. Anderson; John Olney, Mordecai B. Kelly and George Miller, First Lienten- ants; and William M. Thompson, George Miller and Samuel P. Carmer, Second Lien- tenants. This company was partly composed of men from other counties than Wayne.


In 1864, Capt. Organ enlisted a full com- pany of men from Wayne County for the hundred-day service.


In September, 1862, Company K, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment, Capt. James H. Morgan, was organized. The First Lientenants were Thomas J. William and Stephen N. Saunders; Second Lieutenants, Stephen N. Saunders and Hiram Hall. While this was a Wayne County company, yet a portion of the men were from other parts of the State, and we believe the com- pany was finally completed by being consol- idated with another part of a company at Centralia.


In addition to these companies there were


squads in the Forty-ninth Regiment, and also in the Ninety-eighth Regiment.


As Fairfield is honored by having among its citizens one of the soldiers who was "in at the death " of the rebellion, we believe we cannot more appropriately close this chapter than by giving the following documents that fully explain themselves; first, however, re- marking that Col. Thomas W. Scott is the present urbane and efficient Postmaster of this city.


MACON, Ga., May 12, 1865, 11 o'clock A. M. HON. EDWIN M. STANTON, SECRETARY OF WAR, WASHINGTON, D. C .:


The following dispatch, announcing the capture of Jeff Davis, has just been handed me by Capt. Scott, A. A. G., Second Division Cavalry.


J. 11. WILSON, Major General.


HEADQUARTERS FOURTH MICHIGAN CAVALRY, CUMBERLANDVILLE, Ga., May 11, 1883. 5


CAPT. THOMAS W. SCOTT, A. A. G., SECOND DIVI- SION CAVALRY, MILITARY DIVISION OF MISSIB- SIPPI:


Sir-I have the honor to report to you that at daylight yesterday at Irwinsville I surprised and captured Jeff Davis and family, together with his wife's sisters and brother, his Postmaster General, Reagan, his Private Secretary, Col. Harrison, Col. Johnson, Aid-de-Camp on Davis' Staff. Col. Morris Lubbeck and Lieut. Hathaway; also several import- ant names and a train of five wagons and three ambulances, making a most perfect success.


Hlad not a most painful mistake occurred, by which the Fonrth Michigan and First Wisconsin came in conflict, we should have done better. This mistake cost us two killed and Lieut. Bouth wounded through the arm, of the Fourth Michigan, and four men of the First Wisconsin wounded. This occurred just at daylight, after we had captured the camp, by the advance of the First Wisconsin, and they were mistaken for the enemy.


I returned to this point last night and shall move right on to Macon, without waiting orders from you as directed, feeling that the whole object of the ex- pedition is accomplished.


It will take at least three days to reach Macon, as we are at least seventy -five miles ont, and our stock much exhausted. I hope to reach Hawkinsville to- night.


I have the honor to be your obedient servant


B. D. RICHARD,


Lieutenant Colonel Fourth Michigan Cavalry. Com- manding.


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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


CHAPTER VII.


MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST-BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES-CENSUS OF 1845 -LITERARY SOCIETIES-OLD STORE ACCOUNTS, ETC., ETC.


T THE first marriage license ever issued in the county was dated June 8, 1819, to William Clark and Peggy Carson. 'Then came a long resting spell in this line, until September 6 Elkana Bramblett and Sally Lofton were authorized to marry. On the 18th of same month, William Clark and Ame- lia Hamilton received license. This was all the marrying done in the first year of Wayne County's existence. There was no other wedding in the county until the 21st of July, 1820, when John Johnston and Hannah Mc- Cormick (widow) were married. August. 13, John P. Farley and Milly Ramsy were mar- ried, Esquire Anthony Street performing the ceremony. On the 30th of July, 1820, Robert Penick and Elizabeth Clemmons were married by Owen Martin, Justice of the Peace; August 20, John Owen and Malinda Vaughn were married, and Joseph Martin and Eliza- beth Bird on August 29. On the 24th of the same month, David Monroe and Nancy Crews. John Moffitt and Sarah Campbell were mar- ried on the 7th of September, 1820, and Samuel McNeal and Polly Shepherd on the 17th; and Zachariah Hews and Sarah Bain on December 14. This was all the mar- riages in the county in 1820.


The next year the business commenced by the marriage of Joel Ellidge and Mary Close on January 13. On the Ist of February, Thomas C. Gaston and Sally Conner. On the 19th of November, 1820, James Fitzger- ald and Clara Slocumb; on the 14th day of January, 1821, Jeremiah Job and Rachael


Campbell; on March 4, Nathan Harris and Nancy Stanley; on the 25th, Jonathan Hart and Cynthia Turney; on the 6th, James Clark and Sally Bradshaw; on the 15th of May, Charles Wood and Sarah Dubois (wid- ow); June 19, James Cyrus Gaston and Peg- gy Clark; August 16, Owen Martin and Mary Crews; September 2, Samuel Close and Catharine Coonrod; September 8, David Ray and Jane Goode; September 27, Alexander C. Mackay and Polly Carson; November 8, Alexander Ramsey and Nancy Thrasher; November 28, James Bolen and Nancy Tay. lor; October, Joseph C. Reed and Mary Cox. In the year 1822, the following marriage licenses were issued: January 10, Stephen Merritt and Elizabeth Harris; April 2, John Wyatt and Jane Reed; 3d, William Cald- well and Betsey Martin; 6th, Jonas Habday and Sally McCracken; May 10, Joseph Campbell and Elsy Campbell; 13th, Abra- ham Beach and Anna Price; June 1, Jacob M. Borah and Pamelia Fulkinson; July 29, Zachariah Simpson and Mary Gray; August 26, Joseph Martin and Sally Walker; Nov- ember 5, Joseph White and Elenor Woods; December 14. Daniel P. Pennick and Coley Clement; December, James Taylor and Mary Kelly; January 4, 1823, John A. Grant and Abigail Seward; February 12, John David- son and Sally Travis, and George Meritt and Elizabeth Files; February 26, Collins Mc- Donald and Nellie Gallagher; March 3, Rob- ert Fenton and Karah Whitney; June 3, George Borah and Ellen Bradshaw; 14th,


HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


David Martin and Elizabeth Walker, and William Taylor and Margaret Gray; 28th, Enoch Wilcox and Sebra Catt (widow); July 21, Abner Ellis and Franky Drew; Septem- ber 15, Van Lofton and Milly McHaws; 18th, Lewis Black and Sally Martin; October 9, Charles Gallagher and Sally R. Roberts; Jan- uary, 1824, Richard Berks and Winna Will- iams; January 26, William McCormick and Nancy McCracken.


The Legislature, by act of February 10, 1821, created the "Courts of Probate" in the several counties. Previous to this time, the Circuit Courts granted letters testament- ary and of administration, and performed other duties of a probate nature. In accord- ance with this law an election was held in Wayne County, and Samuel Leech was elected Probate Judge. The first court convened at the house of Samnel Leech, in Fairfield, on the 2d day of July. 1821. Samnel Leech was then Circuit and County Clerk and Pro- bate Judge.


The first business in this court was the ap- plication to the Clerk, on the 10th day Jan- uary, 1821, of Anu Slocumb for letters of administration upon the estate of Samuel Slocumb, deceased. She gave bond in the sum of $300, with Rigdon B. Slocumb and Ephraham Meritt as sureties. This was the total of the business of the first term of this court.


At the next term of the Probate Court, De- cember 18, 1821. the only business transacted was the proof of the death of Joseph Mar- tin, and the fact that his wife Betsey had re- linquished her prior right to administer on the estate, whereupon Owen Martin, Henry Martin, and Joseph Martin came into court and applied for letters of administration, which was granted upon their entering into bond with James Baird, Alexander Jones, John Barnhill and Rigdon B. Slocumb, securities,


in the penal sum of $11,000. Thomas Brad- shaw, John B. Gash and James Baird were appointed appraisers. These two cases were all the business in the Probate Court until the term of June 17, 1822, when Sarah Mc- Whirter, administratrix of the estate of Isaac Mc Whirter, proceeded to make settlement with claimants against said ostate.


On the 18th of November, 1822, Hugh Stuart, John Livergood and Sally Warren came into court and applied for letters upon the state of William Warren, which was granted upon their entering into bonds of $4,000, with Owen Martin, William B. Daws and Robert R. Gaston as sureties.


On the 26th of December, 1822, Ann Bradshaw was granted letters upon estate of her husband, Thomas Bradshaw. Bond, $2.000. Her securities were James Brad- shaw, John B. Gosh and Archibald Roberts. In February, 1823, Hugh Stewart and John Livergood returned inventory into court of the estate of William Warren, deceased. The infant heirs of Joseph Martin, deceased, were Nathan Martin, Martha Martin and Elizabeth Martin. The oldest son Joseph being over fourteen years of age, selected Owen Martin as his guardian. Sally and Mary Martin, two other heirs over fourteen years of age, selected Joseph Martin as their guardian.


November 29, 1863, Isaac Harris was granted administration of the estate of Stephen Vicars, deceased.


December, 1823, Mary Clark and Rennah Wills were granted letters on the estate of Joseph Clark, deceased. Bond, 2,000, with David Wright and Cephas A. Parks, seenri- ties.


April 13, 1824, letters were granted upon the ostate of Henry Hall, deceased, to Alfred Hall. His securities were Andrew Kuyken- dall and John Barnhill.


On the 19th of April, 1824, the first will


90


HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


was probated, that of John Travis, with John Davidson and Thomas D. Travis, subscribing witnesses, also Peggy Travis, and Rebecca Travis, Allen Travis and James Stephenson were executors.


September 25, 1824, the last will and tes- tament of James Dickerson was probated. James Jaggers and David Thompson were subscribing witnesses. Michael and Lewis Dickerson were executors, and they declining to act the court appointed Charles Pugsley.


On 23d of November, 1825, Sally Ellis was appointed adıninistratrix of estate of John Ellis, deceased.


May 15, 1826, Susanna Wood and John Wood were appointed administrators of es- tate of Thomas G. Wood, deceased. The next will filed was that of Mary Book, De- cember, 1826, with Tyrey Robinson and Alexander Clark, subscribing witnesses.


The records of January, 1827, on records, note the fact that Sally Martin, late Sally Ellis, administratrix of estate of John Ellis, was no longer a widow. Also that Sara Mc- Whorter had married Daniel Williams.


On May 24th, 1827, George Walton was appointed administrator of estate of Thomas Walton, deceased. The same year, Green Lee was appointed guardian of Nancy Ann and Elsey M. Clark, heirs of Joseph Clark.


On the 7th of January, 1828, appeared the following minutes on the probate record: Joseph Martin, one of the administrators of Joseph Martin, deceased, having given no- tice required by law in the Illinois Corrector, a public newspaper, printed at Edwardsville, Ill., that he would attend the Probate Court in Fairfield, etc.


In April, 1828, Robert Jones reported to the court that he had made sale of the per- sonal estate of his brother, James Jones, without letters of administration, for the sum of $300, etc.


In October, 1828, Richard Owen having departed this life, and his widow, Nancy, having relinquished her prior right of admin- istration, letters were granted to Epaphrody- tus C. Owen (and the Judge and Clerk, Leech, wrote the name in full and survived, without pension).


On the 3d day of January, 1829, proof was made of the death of Jacob M. Borah, and Panela and John Borah were granted letters of administration.


In April, 1829, letters were granted Eliza Block on the estate of Robert Block, deceased.


In July of the same year, Felix H. Barn- hill was granted letters upon the estate of John Barnhill, deceased.


In November, 1829, similar letters were granted Polly Ann Holmes, widow, on the estate of Zephaniah Holmes, deceased.


In October, 1830, similar action in estate of Daniel J. Wilson, deceased; letters to George Wilson. The next month, Novem- ber, same action in case of Samuel Watkins, deceased; letters to George Close and Elijah Watkins.


In November, 1830, last will of John J. Davis probated.


In January, 1832, Charles Wood was ap. pointed administrator of Otho Wood, de- ceased; and in March, same year, the last will of Micajah T. Walker was probated, and, same day. letters of administration on the es- tate of Jesse McCracken, deceased. In An- gust, same year, letters were grauted on the estate of George Frazer, deceased, to William Frazer. In November, same year, Andrew T. Stator died, and letters were granted to Peter Stator.


In February, 1833, the last will and testa- ment of Thomas Cox was probated; Griffin T. Snodgrass and Henry Tyler were subscrib- ing witnesses. On the 14th of November,same year, the will of James Lock was probated.


91


HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


In February, 1834, proof of the death of William McVay was made, and letters granted Aquilla McCracken.


In September, 1834, George Phenix, an orphan fourteen years old, was apprenticed to Edward West, by the consent of Judge Leech and Thomas Sloan, his grandfather. He was to remain until twenty-one years old, and then to have a new Bible and two suits of clothes.


-


In October, 1834, James Clark died; let- ters granted Naoma Clark and B. A. Clark. Elsberry Armstrong died in October, 1834; letters granted Abuer M. Downer, with Jo- seph White, Hugh Stewart and James Denney as securities. At same court, similar letters were granted Samuel Hooper upon the estate of Dempsey Hooper, deceased. Tirey Robin- son's last will and testament was probated in April, 1835. Alfred Hall died in June, 1835, and letters were granted Jane Hall and Jef. frey Robinson, with R. B. Slocumb and Tyra Taylor as sureties. September of the same year, letters were granted Joseph Wilson and Nancy J. McLin on the estate of David Mc- Lin, deceased.


In January. 1836, letters were granted upon the estate of Peter Kenshalo, deceased,


1 to Daniel Kenshalo. February 20, 1836, let- ters were granted on the estate of Benjamin A. Clark, deceased, to James N. Clark. On 6th of June of the same year, similar action was taken in case of Nathaniel Cbilson, de- ceased.


Judge Leech continued to act as Probate Judge, County Clerk, Circuit Clerk, and Re- corder. as well as Colonel of the Wayne County Militia Regiment from the formation of the county until the early part of 1837. He then resigned the office of Circuit Clerk, and here, as well as in nearly all his other official positions, he was succeeded by Judge Rigdon B. Slocumb. At a, court held in


Fairfield, March, 1837, by Judge Harlan, the following is the opening entry upon the records: " I, Justin Harlan, sole Judge of the Fourth Judicial Circuit, do hereby ap- point Rigdon B. Slocumb Clerk of the Cir- cuit Court in and for the county of Wayne, etc."


On the 26th of July, 1826, Samuel Leech and Rigdon B. Slocumb entered into a part- nership for the purpose of vending goods in the town of Fairfield. Their stock on hand invoiced $1,508.52}.


Enoch Wilcox leased Hubbard's place, September 22, 1819.


Census of 1845 shows a total population of 6,497; of these, 1,090 reported as subject to military duty. There were eight negroes, four males and four females. The total amount of machinery or manufactories is re- ported seventeen horse mills, two distilleries, one carding machine, one cotton gin, five saw mills, seven tanneries, one steam mill for sawing and grinding, and four water grist mills. Jesse Lord had a saw and grist mill; Horatio P Porter had a tannery and bark mill; Charles Wood had a water saw and grist mill; Abraham Martin had a horse mill: Alexander Ramsey, Sr., and Jesse Fly had each a horse mill; James Martin had a bark mill; Newberry Cline had a water saw and grist mill: George Campbell, Sr., had a horse mill: Hampton Weed had a steam saw and grist mill; John Kimmel had a distill- ery ; David Wright a horse mill; P. L. Funk- houser, a bark mill; Hiram Stats, a tannery; R. B. Slocumb, horse mill; H. H. Cook, tan- nery; James Harper, carding machine and cotton gin; John Skelton, horse mill; R. F. Jenkins, horse mill; Walter Burch, tannery; Enos Maulding, water saw and grist mill; Able Dewitt and Francis Hayney had each a stump mill. These were probably the last of these kind of mills ever in use in the county.


92


HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


Daniel Gregory, horse mill; William Hallo- way, horse mill; Moses Garrison, tannery; Wesley Staton, saw mill; Jonathan Whit- ston, horse mill; C. L. Carter, John Bovee, James Cooper and Benjamin Haws each had a horse mill; Lewis Myers, a distillery.


Literary Society .- As early as 1823, the leading citizens of the county met and or- ganized a debating and literary society. Articles were drawn and signed by John Mc- Makin, A. W. Sorgenfry, J. T. Hefford, George and Richard Grant, A. C. McKay, Elihu Farley, John Carson, R. B. Slocumb, Jeffrey Robinson, Andrew Carson, Cephas A. Parks, George Turner, John Johnston, J. R. Taylor, Samuel Leech, Alexander Campbell, and John Barnhill.


C. A. Parks was appointed President; Samuel Leech, Secretary.


An excellent constitution was adopted. among other things providing that nothing said by any speaker should be considered his personal sentiments.


The first question, " Is there more pleasure in the pursuit of an object or actual posses- sion ?" Discussed with great ability and learning for possession by John Barnhill, George Grant, George Turner, Elihu Farley, Joseph T. Hefford and Samuel Leech. On the negative, Enoch Wilcox, John McMackin and Andrew Carson. The records say: " The President, after mature deliberation, gave the following decision: That the most forcible argument was used in favor of pos- session."


The second question discussed was: "Are ideas natural or acquired?" This must have been an exciting debate, and it never seems to have been imagined by any of the learned disputants that, generally speaking, ideas are neither natural nor acquired, but to the most of men the Sheriff's return of non est inventus would apply, and, in fact, the im-


proved returns of the Sheriff when he said, "in swampum, and none could not come at him," would not be much out of place.


The third question was unique in phrase- ology, as follows : " Does a man possessed of extreme wealth, or one moving in a middling sphere in life, enjoy the most real happi- ness." The next question was a stunner in the following: "Which are the most happy, a married or single life ?" Then, " Which is the greatest benefit to society, a penitentiary or a gallows?" It was warmly argued, and aroused a deep and thrilling interest. These people were inclined to be luxurious and ease-loving. The elderly members said there was more solid comfort in the rope, while the younger and more hopeful members thought the ball and chain the more durable of the two.


The society amended the constitution and provided a fine of 50 cents against any mem- ber who might be appointed to any duty and failed, and the record of nearly every meet- ing has entries against members for absence, etc., etc.


Weekly meetings continued until October, 1823, and then after a big discussion meet- ings were abandoned for two years, when, pursuant to a public notice by Sam Leech, Secretary, the society again met, and it was unanimously agreed that the Fairfield Debat- ing Society be "organized and commence operations immediately." The society re- solved to take up where it had left off the great question, "Which are the most benefit to society, a penitentiary or a gallows?" and it was resolved to discuss this at the next meeting. Of this meeting, we find the fol- lowing entry on the record: "Dr. C. A. Parks, A. C. Mackay, W. F. Turney, James B. Brown and F. C. Turner spoke in favor of the penitentiary, and Samuel Leech, R. B. Slocumb, Jeffrey Robinson, John Barnhill, George Turner and John Wood in favor of


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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY.


the gallows; and the President (Andrew Carson), "after due deliberation," decided that the most forcible argument was used in favor of the gallows, and, therefore, that the gallows is the most benefit to society, from which said decision Dr. C. A. Parks prayed an appeal, which was granted. "It is, therefore, ordered that said question be again debated at the next regular meeting of the society," The excitement, continued to in- crease, and men and women took sides, and in the houses and upon the loafers' corners it was from morn till night gallows and peni- tentiary and penitentiary and gallows, and when the society met the disputants were "freighted to the water's edge" with the subject. But again was the gallows triumph- ant, and only thus and thus, after nearly three years of discussion and hot contention was the great question permanently settled. The society then turned to the more peaceful and quieting question of "Which are the most benefit to community, commerce or agriculture?" This was decided in favor of agriculture. Then they tackled the follow- ing: " Which is and has been the most advantage to the United States, gunpowder or printing?" In reference to this discus- sion, we find the following: "The President, after mature deliberation, decided in favor of gunpowder as of more use to the United States than the press."




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