History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois, Part 58

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 58
USA > Illinois > Wayne County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 58

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Between the years 1835 and 1844, a number, of people settled in Bible Grove Township, but stayed only a few years and moved away, no

one knows whither; they belonged to that restless roving set of people that sometimes start from the coast of the Atlantic; go across the continent to the shores of the Pacitic, and sigh because they cannot go further west. Very few crimes have been committed in this township. In an early day, while Walker was Sheriff, a man by the name of Webb was killed on the old William Lewis place, at a shooting match, by John Easton, who stuck a knife in him; the usual causes, such as card-playing, drinking and quarreling, brought on the calamity. The accidental shooting of Frank Colburn by his little brother will also be remembered by our citizens. The most noted incident which occurred and which elicited the sym- pathy of the whole community in this town- ship, was undoubtedly the robbing and as sault with intent to kill of William Mc- Knight, the father of Cameron McKnight, whose sketch appears in this work. William McKnight was spending the night of Octo- ber 4, 1864, at the residence of his son-in- law, Dauiel Dillman, who was absent at the time, and was attacked and brutally beaten by five men, who then proceeded to rob him, and secured $3,320. They left William Mc- Knight nearly dead, he dying from the effects of his wounds the following year. The family spent considerable time and money to bring the perpetrators to justice, but failed, though several men were arrested. Mc- Knight had sold 600 acres of land, and as every man was his own banker in those days, it was naturally supposed by the villains that he had considerable money with him.

The words rail-making, corn husking and house-raising, together with dances and whisky stews, bring back pleasant memories to the old timers. People would come ten miles to a house-raising. In an early day, William Sundermann invited his neighbors to

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

a rail-making, who responded with a will, especially when it was understood that Billy, as Sundermann was generally called, had gone to Vincennes to get flour (a rare article in those days), rice, sugar plums, and five gallons of the best whisky. A dance closed the day, and those who had worked through the day took the floor, while the others were made to stand back by Billy, who seemed to believe in the saying, no work, no play. At another time, William Sundermann received a number of New Year's calls, and, so as not to be behind the times, had made a most ex- cellent whisky stew. when one of the visitors hit the glass which was presented to him by Sundermann with his fist, and spilt the contents over Billy's head, who promptly re- sponded by knocking his visitor down with the large hot can which contained the stew. No hard words or feelings existed afterward. This is but one of the many praiseworthy

characteristics of the pioneers which have nearly all passed away with them.

Game and wild beasts abounded in this part of the country. Deer and turkey were the only game on which the hunter would waste his powder. As an evidence of the abundance of deer, it is said that William Brooks, Sr., killed twenty-two the first fall after he came to the township.

Owing to the fact that the early records of Bible Grove Township have been lost, the list of township officers cannot be ascertained.

The following is a list of the present township officers: A. H. Harmon, Super- visor; John R. Lewis, Township Clerk; D. Rose and George W. Colburn, Justices of the Peace; Elijah Kepley, Noah Webster and John McKnelly, Township Commission- ers; Leonard Wolf and Moses Lewis, Con- stables; A. R. McKnight, Township Collect- or, and C. C. Hall, Township Assessor.

CHAPTER XX.

PIXLEY TOWNSHIP-GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION-SETTLEMENT BY THE WILITES-IMPROVEMENTS- MILLS AND ROADS-SCHOOLS, SCHOOLHOUSES, CHURCHES, ETC .- VILLAGE OF INGRAHAM.

" The ax rang sharply 'mid those forest shades, Which, from creation, toward the sky Had towered in unshorn beauty." -MRS. SIGOURNEY.

A LITTLE more than half a century ago,

this section was a wilderness, nndis- turbed by the enterprise of the white man. Its history begins with the year 1826, when the first settlers made their appearance, but the main influx of population commenced be- tween the years 1830 and 1835. The induce- ments which invited immigration to this part of the country were all that nature in her

most pleasant moods could offer. Forests of the finest timber, streams of flowing water, and broad stretches of rolling prairie lands were a consideration not to be overlooked by the pioneers in selecting homes for themselves and their posterity.

In writing the history of even so small a part of the earth's surface as is contained in a single township, it is evident that nothing like absolute justice and impartiality can be obtained. No history absolutely correct in all its details was ever written. To give just the right amount of importance and space to

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

each individual and interest would manifest- ly be impossible. It might be a curiosity to see a book wherein each person was allowed to dictate or write up his own consequence and that of his family; such a production would give a very incorrect idea of individ- uals and their affairs. Some would be swelled out of all proportions as to their real merit or standing in the community, while others, through modesty, would only occupy a few lines, if they allowed themselves to ap- pear at all. It will be readily seen, there- fore, that the historian's task is one beset with many difficulties, but it is hoped that the following pages may contain a brief synopsis of history free from any serious error.

The township of Pixley to which the fol- lowing pages aro devoted, is comprised of forty-eight sections; it is bounded on the north by Jasper County, on the cast by Rich- land County, on the south by Richland Coun- ty and Clay City Township, and on the west by Hoosier Township. Its twelve northern sections are situated in what, in the Congres- sional survey. is known as Town 5 north, Range 8 east; and the other thirty-six sec- tions are in Town 4 north, Range 8 oast. The sections on the west side of the township are not full sections, owing to the correction made in surveying.

The surface is composed of prairie and woodland of almost equal proportion, the latter boing confined principally to the west- ern and central parts, where in many places the land is irregular and somewhat broken. The forest growth of the township comprises the varieties of timber common to Southern Illinois, and was at one time the source of considerable revenue to the lumber men, several of whom operated saw mills at differ. ent points along Big Muddy Creek. The walnut and other valuable wood once so

numerous is fast disappearing, and the most valuable timber now standing is oak, of which several varieties are found growing in abundance. The prairies in their natural state, were covered with a dense growth of grass, so tall, that a person riding through it would be entirely hidden from view, and so thick that the sun's rays were entirely excluded from the soil beneath. As a con- sequence the ground was always damp and slushy, and served as the breeding place of myriads of greenhead flies. the common enemy of man and boast. These pests, to- gether with the miasma that hirked in the dank, decaying vegetation, caused the pio- neers often to shun the prairies, on which at present, some of the best farms are, and lo- cated on the higher grounds and on the streams. The soil in the township rests upon a clay sub-soil in some places, and in others on the dreaded hard pan, and is covered with an alluvial mold, varying in depth from ton to twenty inches, and is well adapted to any kind of grain and fruit. The soil in the wooded districts is lighter and more clay mixed, and not so well calculated for general farming as the prairies. It produces good wheat, to which it seems peculiarly adapted, and by proper tillage, good crops of the other cereals can be raised also. There are some fine grazing sections in different parts of the township, and more attention should be given to stock-raising, an industry too much nog- lected in this part of the State. The princi- pal streams by which this region is watered and drained are Big Muddy Creek and its tributaries flowing into it from the east- Laws Creek, Wet Weather and Hurricane Croek. The first namod enters the township from the north in Section 30; it leaves it on the west side, and for nearly two miles trav- erses Bible Grove and Hoosier Townships; its main course is in a southeasterly direction,

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

it leaves the township in Section 35. Laws Creek enters the township in Section 27, flows southwest and unites with Big Muddy in the north part of Section 17; Wet Weather enters the township in Section 25, flows south and west, uniting with Big Muddy in Section 22. Hurricane Creek enters the township in Sec- tion 12, flows southwest and unites with Big Muddy in Section 26. Along the banks of the water-courses is an abundance of timber, the creeks also affording a splendid system of natural drainage, so that no tiling is needed, except in the southwest part of the township, which is called Levitt Prairie, deriving its name from the first settler on its virgin soil. The township itself was named after Osman Pixley, one of the wealthiest and most enterprising men in Clay County, who came here many years ago and opened a store in the Ingraham neighborhood, and there, by economy and frugality, laid the foundation of his fortune.

The first white settler in Pixley Township was James Levitt, who came here from Posey County, Ind., about 1826, and settled on Section 21, on the old Louisville & Vin- cennes Road, near where Buckville, afterward called Pleasant Hill, now stands. He was a good farmer, and at one time a well-to-do man; he died here, and his descendants are yet living in the township. A brother of In 1833, James Levitt, Section 21. James Levitt, named Noah Levitt, came here 1836, William Lewis, Section 21. shortly afterward. He was a restless man, 1837, Joseph Rodgers, Section 17; also John Ditter, Section 18, and Caleb Mans- burg, Section 30. and moved from place to place; finally died in this township. Another old pioneer was David Simco; he, like many other people in 1838, James McKinney, Section 30. those days, was possessed with a restless, rov- 1839, Philo Ingraham, Section 29; Will- iam Ingraham, Section 28; A. W. Park, same section; Noah Levitt, Section 22; Hamilton Baldwin, Section 32; Joseph Maswell, Sec- tion 33; Henry Kenley, Section 33; David Hansley, Section 34; John Rodgers, Section ing disposition, but a good man. He was a great hunter, often killing as many as seven and eight deer a day. He finally moved to Texas. He had several brothers who did not enjoy the very best of reputation; one of them, named Rob, stabbed his uncle in , 27; Hezekiah Pope, Section 27 (he afterward

Wabash County, from where they all came. He skulked about for many years, and finally ran off with his brother's wife. Bill Blake- man lived in this township about 1830; he afterward moved to Effingham County, where he died. John Ditter came here in 1829; he was born in Tennessee in 1807, and is yet living in the township; he first settled on the land where Sailor Springs now stands, where he owned forty acres of land, which he sold, and moved to Section 18, where he yet resides. His descendants are yet living in the township. Joseplı Rodgers came here about 1826, sold his improvements to James Mckinney, and moved to Section 17, where he and his family died. James McKinney came here in 1830 from Tennessee, while quite a young man, in company with his brother-in-law, John Ditter, who had been here a number of years, but had returned to his old home in Tennessee on a visit. He entered some land, on which he moved event- ually, and became one of our most esteemed citizens; a better history of him and some of the foregoing people and other old settlers appears in the biographical department of this work.

The following is a copy from the entry book, showing the names of men who entered land between the years 1833 and 1843:

Je 1

HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

473

went to California); John Ingraham, Section 33; Eli Read, Section 2; George Gibson, Section 3; William Read, Section 3; Milley Ditter, Section 7; S. L. Heflin, Section 8; M. C. Mennis, Section 18; John Modrell, Section 21; B. F. Williams.

1840, Hiram Winkler, Section 34.

1841, Jacob Toliver, Section 10; J. W. Maxwell, Section 11.

1843. Benjamin Ulm, Section 12.

The latter came here from Wabash County. Another, and one of the very first settlers, is Wright Phillips, who was born about 1822 in Palestine, Crawford County. He came while quite young, and until recently lived in Pixley Township; he is now a resident of Hoosier Township.

The present generation of Pixley has no conception of the hard times the pioneer ex- perienced, and when the tale of their priva- tion and suffering is told, it often falls upon incredulous ears. We doubt if a young man of the present time would or could go through the hardships they endured. Had they them- selves known the extent of the privations and sore trials they would have to endure, we have no doubt that a good many of them would never have left the old home in the East or South. But, luckily they did not, and it was best for them. Among other diffi- culties which they experienced, was that of traveling, which was slow in those days, partly owing to the absence of roads.

The first legally established highway was surveyed through the southern part of the township, and was known as the Louisville & Vincennes road, and passed through the township from east to west, aud is still ex- tensively traveled. But long before this road was built, the settlers cut roads in all directions to facilitate travel, and in the course of fifteen years the township was well supplied with highways. The roads of the

township at the present time, while not so good as in some other parts of the county, are well improved, and kept in fair traveling condition during the greater part of the year.

As the population of the township in- creased, the want of milling facilities was felt, and a saw and flouring mill was erected by Wesley Woods on Laws Creek, a brauch of Big Muddy Creek. Afterward, a steam saw and flouring mill was erected at Buck- ville (now called Pleasant Hill), and after its removal another was built by Galewood & Co. on the same ground. These mills for many years did good service to the people in Pixley and adjoining townships. At one time a carding mill was connected with Gale- wood & Co.'s steam mill, but it flourished only a few years. At present, a good steam grist and saw mill does a flourishing business in the little village of Ingraham.

The early educational history of Pixley is involved in considerable obscurity, and it is not definitely known when or by whom the first school was taught. It is believed by many that Bill Bishop, who was one of the old-fashioned pedagogues which are so mi- nutely and vividly described in other parts of this work, and who. though lacking in college " larning," made up for it by an admirable perseverance to instill in the young minds the mysteries of the three " R's," viz. : " Read- in'," "Riting " and " Rithmetic," and ever evinced their readiness to use force as a gen- tle reminder that time and tide wait for no man. It must not be supposed that these schools did no good, for some of our best and most substantial men of to-day received their instruction in some of these schools. Bishop taught in Section 32, on the old sub- scription plan, in a log house given to the people by James Mckinney.

The following is a list of pedagogues who wielded the rod in an early day: Bill 27

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HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY.

Bishop, Maria Ingraham (who is a daughter of Daniel Ingraham and is yet living), James Russell, Wm. Lloyd, Jack Shores and others.

The progress in educational matters was slow, till the free school system, like a bright meteor, flashed upon the horizon of Pixley and shed its blessed rays of light, and made its influence felt far and wide, was introduced in the year 1857. Since then, there has been a gradual increase in educational matters. At present, there are nine frame school- houses and one log in the township. Esti- mated value of school property, $4,500; num- ber of persons of school age, 620-males 318; females, 302; number enrolled, 532- males, 281; females, 251; number of teach ers, 14-males, 7; females, 7; total expendi- tures, $2,951.95.

The religious history of Pixley Township dates back almost to its first settlement. Many of the pioneers had been active mem- bers of different churches in the States from whence they came, and did not neglect their religious duties upon the arrival in the new country. Meetings were at first held at pri- vate houses and groves, and were generally conducted by traveling preachers of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church.

The first Methodist Episcopal Church was

located in Section 33. At present, there are nine church buildings in the township, of which one, a Baptist Church, is located in Ingraham; another, of the same denomina- tion, is situated in Section 3; near it is a Christian Church. Another Christian Church is in Section 22, also called Pleasant Hill. A Methodist Episcopal Church is in Section 13. Two Catholic Churches are in the north part of the township, which is mostly settled by thriving, honest, hard-working Germans, who have done much for the development of the country. One of the churches is located in Section 36, and the other in Section 1. Another church is in Section 32, and still another in Section 19, opposite the Sailor Springs. Near the latter church, directly opposite the Springs, is a small village, called into life by the attractions the Springs have, and in it are several stores.

The little hamlet of Ingraham, the only village in the township, is situated on the corners of Sections 28, 29, 32 and 33. It was named in honor of the Ingrahams, who were old settlers, and very prominent and respectable people. At present, it contains one very fine general store, which does an immense business, one drug store, two black- smith shops and one cabinet shop.

PART IIL.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

WAYNE COUNTY.

PART III.

WAYNE COUNTY.

BIOGRAPHICAL.

CITY OF FAIRFIELD

ROBLEY D. ADAMS, lawyer, Fairfield, is the third of a family of six children of Dr. David Adams and Cynthia (Dodds) Adams. His father. Dr. David Adams, well known in Richland and Wayne Counties, was born in the city of New York in 1802. He graduat- ed from Yale College while a young man, and in 1828, came to l'aoli, Ind., and there embarked in the retail drug business. He was there married to a lady named Chapman, who died in Illinois soon after their removal to this State. In the pioneer days of Olney, Richland Co., Ill .. Dr. Adams located there for the practice of medicine, and continued there in the active practico until the day of his death. His second wife, Cynthia Dodds, was boru near Charleston. S. C., and died in Richland County, Ill. Dr. Adams, after sev- eral years' residence in Richland County, re- moved to Fairfield, Wayne County, about 1852, but after a few years returned to Rich- land, locating at Prairieton. His death, which occurred April 8, 1868, was the sudden re- sult of heart affection, dying in his carriage while on the road. He was an honored mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

R. D. ADAMS was born May 22, 1846, and in boyhood days had the advantages of a common school, and when but fifteen years old ran away from home to become a member of the First Missouri Cavalry, which he did in the summer of 1861, serving abont three years, and was mustered ont at St. Louis in August, 1864. He took part in the famous charge at Springfield, Mo., led by Maj. Zago- nia, at the head of 310 men against 5.000, in which one-half the number were lost, he hav- ing a horse shot under him. He participated in the battle of Pea Ridge, and was in the ad- vanced guard at the capture of Little Rock, Ark., taking part in seventeen distinet battles. After returning from the war, he began the study of law under Hon. R. P. Hanna, his present partner. From 1866 to 1869. he was a student in the MeKendrec College, of Loba- non, Ill., and was admitted to practice in 1869, since which time he has been associated with Mr. Hanna, taking charge of the chancery and abstract business of the firm. He is the owner of several hundred acres of land in Wayne County, besides a quantity of very valuable eity property in Fairfield. Ile is a

BIOGRAPHICAL :

member of the order of Masons and of the A. O. U. W. Mr. Adams was married, Feb- ruary 18, 1869, to Caroline R. Barkley. She was born in Fairfield, September 25, 1845. They have had four children-Joseph D., born January 1, 1870; Harry L. Adams, born September 10, 1871, died October 22, 1881; Willie Adams, born in May, 1874, died in in- fancy, and Kate P. Adams, born October 16, 1875.

DR. JOHN E. ADAMS, elder brother of R. D. Adams, was born February 14, 1843, is a graduate of the St. Louis Medical Col- lege, tirst began practice at Cherryvale, Kan., afterward at Enfield, Ill., and since 1878 at Poplar Bluff, Mo., where, besides an extensive general practice, he holds the appointment of Surgeon of the Iron Mountain Railroad Com- pany. He was married in Richland County, Ill., in 1865, to Miss Martha Snyder.

ELIAS S. AYLES, machinist, Fairfield. Rev. Elias S. Ayles, the son of Pay- ton and Susan (Carmichael) Ayles, was born in Washington County, Ohio, October 7, 1831, and removed with his parents to Lees- burg. Ind., in 1838, where his father died in 1839. Subject, at the age of fifteen years, engaged on the river as a steamboat engi- neer, in which occupation he remained five years. On October 16, 1849, lie was married to Miss Parlia A., daughter of George and Amy (Truax) Brock, of Stafford, Ohio, and to them were born Anna E. (Jackson), Mary J. (Harper), George M., Payton (deceased), Emma S. (Reese, deceased), Amanda E. (de- ceased), Mabel M., Carrie B. and Laura U. In 1853, subject came to Fairfield, Ill., and engaged in business as a tinner, which occu- pation he followed for four years, and then entered the service of the Ohio & Mississippi Railway Company as engineer, which posi- tion he held, at different periods, for eighteen years. In the meantime, he engaged in the

avocation of a farmer near Jeffersonville, Ill. for three years, and while there, in 1866, he was licensed as a minister of the Gospel in the Christian Church, in which capacity he has been very useful, and is regarded as a man well advanced in ecclesiastical affairs. In 1876, he moved to Belleville, Ohio, where he was engaged for the term of two years as a silversmith, after which he returned to Fairfield and has occupied the position of chief engineer and machinist in the Fairfield Woolen Mills to the present time. Payton, the son of David Ayles, was born in Wash- ington County, Ohio, in 1800. David came from England. James Carmichael was a Colonel, from Ohio, in the war of 1812. Su- san died in Ohio in 1848, at the age of forty- seven years. George Brock was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Wayne County, Ill., in 1868. His children were Jane (Clev- enger), Parlia A. (Ayles), Philip, and Eli (who died in the army in 1864). Payton's children were Mary J. (Lemaster). Elias S., Hannah L. and David J. Subject is a man of varied information, being conversant with many subjects, and especially is he well versed on scientific matters, in addition to being regarded, and justly, too, as one of the most expert machinists in Southern Illi- nois.

ALLEN H. BAKER, manufacturer, Fair- field, was born December 7. 1839, in Chester County, Penn. His father, whose name was Lewis H. Baker, was born in 1804, on Prince Edward's Island, where he remained until 1837. when he came to Pennsylvania and located in Chester County. Here he married Mary A. Ward. She was born in Pennsylva- nia in 1817, and is now a resident of Wayne County, residing with a daughter, Leonora, wife of James Barnhill. This family re- moved to Wayne County in 1853, and here Lewis H. followed his trade -- that of carpen-

CITY OF FAIRFIELD.

ter. He died in 1870, leaving two children, three having died previous to the decease of the father. Allon H. Baker is the oldest of this family of five children. In July, 1861, he enlisted in the Fortieth Illinois Regiment, and was a non-commissioned officer in Com- pany D. At the end of the first year's serv- ice he was discharged in consequence of im- paired eyesight. In 1863, having recovered from this affliction, he accepted a clerkship in the Paymaster's Department at Cincinnati, under Judge E. Beecher, where he remained until the close of the war in 1865. He then went to Olney, Ill .. where he was employed for sometime as book-keeper. Here he mar- ried on June 24, 1868, to Mary E. Carroth- ers, daughter of Dr. George W. Carrothers. She was born in Ohio, November 9, 1839. In 1871, they removed to Fairfield, Ill., to en- gage in the drug business, which he did with William G. Carrothers. In the spring of 1873, he was induced to take the position of Superintendent of the Fairfield Woolen Mills. He continues in this position, and in 1882 became a part owner of this extensive estab. lishment. His family consists of George C. Baker, born December 16, 1869, and Katie Baker, born March 30, 1874. He is an ar. dent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as is also his wife.

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History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois, Part 58

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

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