USA > Illinois > White County > History of White County Illinois > Part 32
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
High School and subsequently at the Lexington, Ky., law school. He was first admitted to the bar in Carmi, where he practiced un- til his death, His legal abilities were of the first order, and the large amount of business entrusted to him proved the full reliance the people placed upon him, his practice extending over a territory embracing twelve counties. During the war he raised a regiment of volunteers from the immediate vicinity of his home, of which he was appointed Colonel, his commission dating from Oct.3, 1862. After two years' service he resigned, his health being impaired, and the war being virtually at an end. His death, Oct. 25, 1866, was caused by cholera, and was very sudden and unexpected, he hav- ing been in perfect health six or seven hours before his decease. Politically, Mr. Whiting was a life-long Republican, and took an active part in every important election canvass. His first political speech was made when nineteen years old. He served one terin in the Legislature. He was unquestionably the leading spirit of his day in Republican politics in White County and vicinity. Colonel Whiting was married Feb. 22, 1855, at Phillipstown, to Miss Laura Buckner, of Carmi. They had four children, three of whom are living-Charles W., John E., and Phillip E. Vir- ginia B. died in infancy. Chas. W. is a professor of music, hav- ing graduated at Warren, O. John E. is practicing law in Dakota, and Phillip E. is teaching music in Southern Illinois. He, how- ever, intends to make the law his profession. Mrs. Whiting has a pleasant home in Carmi.
JOHN STORMS,
a native of Harrisburg, Penn., settled in Carmi about 1825, and was soon appointed County Surveyor by the Governor, and elected and re elected to that porition until he had fi led it thirty year . The oldest, and for a long time the most prominent, business block in Carmi was his property, well known at the present day as the "Storms Place." Mr. Storms was a Pennsylvanian of true Qua- ker honesty, steady and reliable, and at his death, May 9, 1857, had the respect of all his fellow citizens. For a notice of his fam- ily, see the sketch under the name " Hail Storms," near the close of the history of Carmi.
HOSEA PEARCE,
for a time Sheriff of White County, was a Colonel of a regiment of volunteers in the Black Hawk war. He executed the sen-
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tence of capital punishment upon Wm. B. Ledbetter, the only case of hanging ever done in this county. Mr. Pearce was from Ten- nessee, and resided in what is now known as Herald's Prairie Town- ship, where he lived about sixty years, and died about 1875. For a more full account of this eminent man, see the history of Herald's Prairie Township, toward the latter part of this volume.
CAPTAIN JAMES FACKNEY.
This genuine philanthropist was a native of Scotland and a tailor by trade. He was born in Argyleshire, Sept. 17, 1817; learned the tailor's trade; came to this country in 1832, settling in Cincinnati; afterward he resided for a time in Grayville, this county, and in 1839 he came to Carmi, in all these places following his vocation. In Carmi his place of business was the building now occupied by E. W. Gaston's clothing store, under the Courier office, where he enlarged his business to that of merchant tailor. In 1845 he mar- ried Mrs. Mary Ann Wilson, and after her death he married, Sept. 24, 1850, Miss Elizabeth Bozeman, a native of White County, near Carmi. After this last marriage he began to buy property, especially land, and entered the grain business and general mer- chandising. During the war he was Captain of Company F, in the famous White County regiment, the Eighty-seventh Illinois; was present at the siege of Vicksburg, where his health failed, and after the taking of that city, which was also near the close of a year's service in the army, he was discharged. After his return home he recuperated and pushed forward with his business. He aided the railroads through this county, and probably did more than any other man to build up Carmi. At one time railroad building on the Cairo & Vincennes route would have entirely stop- ped did he not step in with about $8,000 worth of supplies, nearly all of which he ultimately lost. Other losses added to this, and the great stringency of 1873, and Asiatic cholera in this region,- all at the same time,-broke the camel's back in 1877, while he was on a visit to his native country.
He died Aug. 11, 1879, at his residence in Carmi, and his funeral was more largely attended than that of any other person in the whole history of the place.
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CHAPTER XIV. MISCELLANEOUS.
SOHOOLS.
The free-school system was first adopted in this State in the spring of 1855, and the first annual report of the schools of this county under this law was made for the year ending Oct. 1, 1860, by R. S. Graham, School Commissioner. From this report we collate the statistics of the several townships, in the history of which they are given, and compared with the statistics of 1882, showing a remarkable rate of progress. In this place we give for the whole county, the statistics of the two years-1860 and 1882 -for comparison.
SCHOOLS OF 1860.
In the county were sixty-four schools, fifty of which were taught by male teachers, nine by female, ten by both sexes at the. same time, and six by both at different times; whole number of schol- ars, 3,078, of whom 180 were under six years of age; 1,523 were males, and 1,210 female; persons in the county under twenty-one, 7,107, of whom 2,354 were reported to be over five years of age ; whole number of school districts, sixty-eight, in sixty-six of which school had been kept six months or more; average length of schools, six and one-half months. There were thirty-three log school-houses, twenty-five frame, and two brick. Only two school- houses contained more than one room. There were two private schools, comprising forty-six pupils ; three graded schools. Aver- age monthly wages paid male teachers, $30.08; female, 821.95. Total of township funds, 89,290.08 ; of State funds, $7,589.16; tax, 88,882.85; total amount paid teachers, $10,453.72 ; amount received for school purposes, $14,886.20 , amount expended, $13,- 781.66
SCHOOLS OF 1882.
In the county there are 5,748 males and 5,495 females under twenty-one years of age, being a total of 11,243 ; 3,846 males and 8,755 females between the ages of six and twenty-one-a total of
(515)
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7,601 ; two districts during the year had no school, and ninety-one had school, ten were graded schools, and eighty-two ungraded ; total number of months of school, 593.67 ; avera :« number of months of school, 6.45 ; pupils enrolled, 5,742 ; number of teachers, 139 ; total day:' attendance of pupils, 447,967. There are four brick school-houses, seventy-one frame and nineteen log; total, ninety- four ; ur private schools, with 427 scholars, fourteen male teach- ers an four female teachers. Highest monthly wages paid male teachers, $100; female, $50; lowest paid male teachers, $17.50 ; lowest, female, $20. Total amount earned by male teachers, dur- ing the year, $19,683.73 ; by female, $7, 731.57; average monthly wages paid male teachers, $38.88; female, $33.39. Amount of istr ct tax levied for the) support of schools, $25,577.56 ; estima- ted value of sch 1 property, $66, 155 ; school apparatus, $345 ; : m unt of bonded school debt, $16,158.60.
Balance of distributable funds on hand June 30, 1881, $365.66 ; income of township fund received during the year, $1,251.26 ; total of receipts by township treasurers from the superintendent of this county, $7,952.20 ; from the superintendent of Gallatin county, $795.66 ; from error in April distribution, $817 ; total funds, $10,372.95. Incidental expenses of treasurers and trustees, $87.09 ; paid for publishing annual statement, $52.85 ; compensa- tion of treasurers, $1,158.44 ; distributed to districts in White County, $7,623.59 ; in Gallatin County, $764.82 ; taxes and mort- gaged lands, $67.21; balance of distributable funds on hand, $619.95.
The township treasurers, in account with the school districts, re- port totals as follows: Balance reported on hand June 30, 1881, $13,- 155; received from distribution of trustees, $3,897.11; amount of spe- cial district taxes received, $27,269.94; loans of district funds paid in, $357.93; fees of pupils who paid tuition, $36,45; from sale of school property, $337,45; amount received from district bonds is- sued for building purposes, $6,779.97; received from other town- ship treasurers, $605.47; fees of transferred pupils, $40.20; from error in balance of June 30, 1881, $10.90; total receipts, $57,- 490.42. Per contra: Amount paid teachers; $27,613.14; paid for new school-houses, $4,412.91; for school-house sites and grounds, $65.75; for repairs and improvements, $1,700.47; for school furniture, $898.05; for school apparatus, $292,77; for books for poor children, $84.47; for fuel and other incidental expenses, $2,843.94; paid clerks of district boards, $181.60; amount
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of interest paid on district bonds, $1,449.13; paid on principal of district bonds, $1,742.06; paid treasurers of other townships, $751.56; error in balance of June 30, 1881, $60.43; total expendi- tures for the year, $42.096.28; amount of loans of district funds, $645; balance, $14,749.14; total of expenditures and balance, $57,- 490.42.
Of the county fund, the loans on personal security amount to $2,757.75; on real estate, $8,607.05; total, $11,364.80.
From the report concerning those persons between twelve and twenty-one who are unable to read and write, and the causes there- for, we have the following footings for the county. Four on ac- count of indigence; ten, ill health; nine, mental weakness; one, inaccessibility of school; one hundred and sixteen, negligence of parents; two, mutes; six, partially blind; one, blind (idiotic or insane); total one hundred and forty-nine, ninety-six of whom are males.
Many other items are given in the superintendent's annual re- ports, covering twenty-seven folio pages.
WHITE COUNTY BIBLE SOCIETY.
From a comparatively early day, organizations have existed in the county, under the auspices of the State or National Society for the supply of the people with Bibles and Testaments, but finally a permanent county organization was effected. Among those who took a prominent part in this work were Hon. Chauncey S. Conger, Richard Spicknall, Ross Graham, Alexander Grant, Geo. W. Wissinger, Rev. J. M. Waller, James C. Howell, E. J. Conger, J. T. R. Bozeman, J. I. McClintock, Robert P. Orr, George Will- iams, George S. Staley, Jasper Partridge and Rev. B. C. Swan. In 1879 the sales in the depository amounted to 0, and by 1881 they increased to 867.05, with books on hand valued at $169.10. The depository is now at George Williams's store, in Carmi.
Present officers: C. S. Conger, President; H. L. Bozeman. Seere- tary; George Williams, Treasurer and Depositary; Executive Com- mittee, N. Holderby, R. P. Orr, Israel Turner and Joseph Mair. Prof. F. O. B:air, of Albion, Edwards Co., is county agent for this part of Illinois.
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HISTORY OF WHITE COUNTY.
WHITE COUNTY SUNDAY-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
This association was organized about 1870, with the usual officers. Township committees, etc., were appointed, and all the necessary arrangements made for rendering Sunday-school work more effi- cient. All the Protestant Evangelical churches participate in the work of this association, including even [the "Christians" or " Disciples," and the " Latter-Day Saints." The meetings of this association partake much of the nature of a normal, are lively and instructive, and are held from place to place in the country. Town- ship conventions are also held with increasing attendance. The dates and places of county meetings since 1875 have been: Sept. 13, 1876, in the Cumberland Presbyterian church at Enfield; Oct. 12, 1878, in the Methodist Episcopal church at Carmi; Sept. 26, 1879, at Grayville; April 27-29, 1880, at Carmi; April, 1881, at Norris City; Sept. 11 and 12, 1882, at Enfield.
The presidents of this association have been Hon. C. S. Conger and Mark M. Miller; and the secretaries, R. C. Willis, 1871-'81, and H. L. Bozeman, the present incumbent.
During the period above mentioned (1872-'82) the number of Sunday-schools in the county has increased from thirty to fifty-five, and those that are open all the year from fifteen to forty; Sunday- school teachers' institutes, from three to thirteen; total member- ship in the school, from 2,252 to 3,338 in 1881, which this year dropped to 2,962; total average attendance, from 1,529 in 1876 to 2,287 in 1881; the number of volumes in the library has decreased from 2,729 to 821, the reading for the children being supplied lately more in the form of periodicals; S. S. papers from about 1,000 to 59,603! The members of the Sunday-schools received into the church per annum range from 12 to 400. Amount raised for missionary and benevolent collections, from $42.30 in 1871 to $311.07 in 1881. Amount expended in the schools have ranged from $250 to $1,257 per annum. They have paid the State Asso- ciation about $50 a year.
The last convention adopted a resolution favoring a prohibitory amendment to the State Constitution.
Among the most active Sunday-school workers may be men- tioned all the ministers, and Messrs. M. T. Brockett, W. H. John- son, J. E. Willis, G. W. Montgomery, W. M. Gowdy, James Morrison, A. K. Tate and Terry Brockett. W. B. Jacobs, State Agent, is sometimes present and gives most instructive lectures.
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D. L. Moody, the world-renowned evangelist, has participated in Sunday-school work in this county.
EARLY MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL.
From the marriage returns in the County Clerk's Office we compile the following list of ministers' names from 1819 to the close of 1835:
Rev. Charles Slocumb, 1819-'34; Rev. Samuel Slocumb, 1819- '34; Rev. Thomas Ezell, 1818-'9; Rev. Archibald Roberts, 1820-'33; Rev. Charles Carpenter, 1820; Rev. James Locke, 1821; Rev. David Sharp, 1822; Rev. Jesse Pierce, 1822-'35; Rev. W. M. Hamilton, 1823; Rev. Joel Knight, 1824; Rev. Moses Pearce, 1825-'32; Rev. J. O. Slocumb, 1826-'27; Rev. B. F. Spilman, 1826-'35; Rev. Charles Whiting, 1826-'35; Rev. Wm. Watkins, 1826-'33; Rev. G. A. Colberd, 1827-'30; Rev. Benjamin Bruce, 1825-'28; Rev. John Emmett, 1828; Rev. Elias Roberts, 1828-'30; Rev. R. B. Baren, 1828; Rev. Robert Dunlap, 1829; Rev. Thomas Cottingham, 1830; Rev. William Davis, 1829-33; Rev. Stephen Williams, 1829-'34; Rev. Thomas H. Files, 1832-'33; Rev. Will- iam Hamilton, 1832-'34; Rev. H. Bloodworth, 1833; Rev. John Pearce, 1832-'35; Rev. Richard Harris, 1834-'35.
WHITE COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY.
Pursuant to a call a meeting was held at the court-house in Carmi, July 8, 1879, when, at the first session, the following phy- sicians were present: E. L. Stewart, J. F. Burks and J. M. Min- ick, of Carmi; W. L. Hallam, Grayville; A. Hodge, Mill Shoals; R. B. Lemmon and C. F. Ingersoll, Norris City; C. T. Hunter, Springerton; F. M. Aldridge and W. S. Swan, New Haven; R. C. Taylor, School; and S. H. Pearce, Mount Vernon, Ind. At & subsequent meeting Dr. Hodge was expelled for embezzlement. On the afternoon of the first day the following were elected officers of the society: E. L. Stewart, President; F. J. Foster, First Vice- President; W. L. Hallam, Second Vice-President; O. F. Ingersoll, Secretary; and J. F. Burks, Treasurer. The latter has since re- moved from the county.
After remarks by various members present on matters pertaining to the profession, the meeting adjourned, subject to the call of the president.
The next meeting was held at the county court-room, May 25, 1880. Drs. V. H. Parker and S. L. Monrony were admitted to
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membership. Papers were read and interesting points discussed. Sept. 28 following another meeting was held at the court-house. Nov. 23 the meeting was at the county court-room; May 24, 1881, at Dr. Stewart's office; Ang. 24, 1881, at the court-house, and the last session at Grayville.
The present officers are: J. M. Minick, President; S. L. Mon- rony, Secretary; and J. R. Spicknall, Treasurer.
WABASH VALLEY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
was organized in the fall of 1881 by Dr. L. Burdick, Dr. J. G. Stokes, Dr. G. W. Haynie, Dr. Messic, of Brown Station, Dr. Ed. Hunter, Dr. Frank J. Foster, Dr. H. W. Stokes, Dr. A. Milner Dr. J. H. Harris, charter members. The association now numbers abont twenty members. The officers are: President, Dr. Milner; Secretary, Dr. Messic.
The association was organized in the office of Dr. L. Burdick, Grayville.
THE COLD PLAGUE.
This was the name of a very fatal disease which prevailed in Eu- rope at times during the last two centuries and in this country on several occasions; but, if it ever occurs nowadays, it passes under another name. The victim would first feel ominous pains in some part of the body, begin to have fever and congestion, then become cold and exhausted, and soon collapse into death. This plague struck White County in 1820, and almost all died who contracted the sickness. No one knew how to treat it, and many citizens fled from the country to avoid its formidable ravages.
CHOLERA.
This awful scourge has made five visits to White County,- namely, in 1832, 1848, 1856, 1866 and 1873.
Siege of 1832 .- During this year the Asiatic cholera raged in various parts of the United States. At this time there were nearly 400 inhabitants in Carmi, and a proportional population in the county. It is not known how many cases of cholera there were, but the number of fatal cases was about fifteen or twenty. Four or five died in one family-that of a Mr. Robinson in Carmi, on the cast side of the river, and two or three in the family of the Brittons, in West Carmi, just below the bridge. Three died in he family of Mr. Galbraith, in the country, and Peter McHenry
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was a victim. Dr. Shannon was a prominent physician here at that time, and was very successful in his treatment of this epidemic. The citizens did not undertake to run away, as many have done since, under similar circumstances.
1848 .- In this year there were a few cases imported from New Orleans, which proved fatal. The scourge prevailed West princi- pally in 1849, and was particularly violent and very fatal.
1856 .- This year there were two cases of Asiatic cholera in White County, but neither of them was fatal. These were appar- ently "sporadic" cases, and such are not so violent or fatal as those of the "epidemic " kind, as in 1832 and 1858.
1866 .- This year there were but eight or ten fatal cases in White County, and they occurred in October; but they were well marked as sporadic cholera. Six or seven miles northea-t of Carmi, four in one family died in one night. The lamented Jobn E. Whiting died Oct. 25, 1866, of this mysterious plague.
In 1873, cholera having become epidemic at the city of Evans- ville and the town of Mount Vernon, the former thirty six miles and the latter eighteen miles east of Carmi, an effort was made to place the town in a good sanitary condition. A Board of Health was organized, which consisted of Dr. E. L. Stewart, who was at that time the Mayor of the city, and Drs. Linthicum and Cook. All debris possible was removed and destroyed; stables and other out- houses were cleansed, and every precaution was taken to leave no spot in condition favorable to the rapid propagation of the cholera poison, should it be carried into the town. Early in the epidemic a pest-house was organized, to which cases were removed.
About July 13 a man named Frederick Sell went to Evansville, Ind., to attend the funeral of his father-in-law, who had died at city of cholera. On the 15th he returned to his home in Carmi, and the next day was attacked with cholera. Sell was a brick-maker, lived near to his yard, and a number of hands in his employ lived in the house he occupied. After an illness of eight or ten days he recovered and was able to resume business. Dur- ing the evening of July 16 William Sell. aged sixteen, son of Frederick, was attacked with cholera. The disease was fully developed. After being collapsed for some hours, reaction was established, but he committed some imprudence, relapsed, and died July 20. July 19 a Mrs. Taylor, who occupied a portion of the same house, was attacked, and died at an early hour the next day: July 21 Mrs. Sell and her daughter, and a man named Haf-
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fala, who was in the employ of Sell, were taken sick; the women recovered, but the man died after an illness of eight hours. July 22 a man named May was attacked and died, and July 24, a man named Deitz died of the same disease; both were occupants of the same house. July 25 a young child of Sell also died.
During the progress of these cases the excreta had been buried, after careful disinfection with carbolic acid; but as it was deter- mined that this process had not reached all the material that had become infected, the survivors were removed, and all articles of bedding and clothing were burned. From this house the disease spread and became epidemic in the town. Thirty-four cases are reported, with fifteen deaths, as having occurred after the last case at the Sell house.
July 31 a Mrs. Burrell was attacked with cholera at her home in Carmi, and died after a few hours' illness. Before she died, her brother, Mr. Rabstock, a farmer, living some five miles north of Carmi, came to visit her. He remained until after her death, then returned at once to his home. The next day Rabstock had diarrhea, which was neglected for several days, and Aug. 5, cholera was developed, from which he was not convalescent till September. Aug. 10 Mrs. Rabstock was taken sick and died after a few hours' illness. Before the death of the mother, her three children had been taken sick with the same disease, one of whom died. Aug. 11 a young daughter of Rabstock was taken ill; she re-acted, but being excessively imprudent the disease was re- developed, and she died on the 16th. This family had been nursed during their illness by a married daughter and her husband, named Swale. After the death on the 16th the survivors moved to a house some miles distant that had been unoccupied for a length of time; but on the day after their removal both Swale and his wife died of cholera.
During the illness of Mrs. Burrell, a young man named Hon, who lived at Phillipstown, came to town. That night he slept at Mrs. Burrell's house and the next day returned home. After a few days, during which he neglected a diarrhoea, he was taken with cholera and died after an illness of ten hours. He was nursed by his sisters, Mrs. Ray and Miss Hon, and by his brother. Aug. 8, two days after Hon's death, Mrs. Ray was attacked and died the next day. Ang. 12 the brother was attacked, but recovered after a serious illness. Aug. 14 Miss Hon was taken sick and died. Aug. 15 Mrs. Hon, who had been in attendance upon her husband, who
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was still ill, and upon her two sisters-in-law, took the disease and died. Aug. 16 Dr. George B. Tucker, who had attended profes- sionally this group of cases, also died. Aug. 31 a man named Birdsong, who had been at Carmi on a spree for several days, was taken with cholera at his home in the country, three miles west of town. The disease was developed at 3 o'clock A. M., and at 1 o'clock P. M. he was dead. Every member of his family suffered from diarrhea, but by rest and active treatment all recovered.
A total of fifty-five cases are reported as having occurred in White County, of which thirty-four terminated fatally. Of these cases thirty were males and twenty-five were females. Fifty-four were whites, one was a negro. Twelve cases occurred in individuals less than twenty years of age, six of whom died.
An amusing circumstance occurred in Carmi during the cholera siege of 1873. While many fled to other parts of the country to avoid the contagion, making the streets of the town desolate as Egypt, one man had the heroism to remain and defy the plague. He was given to somnambulistic fits; and one night he got under a lounge and made a terrible racket, frightening a Mr. Axe, a tran- sient honse painter, out of his sleep and away from the premises. He actually ran for very life.
POOR FARM AND HOUSE.
Previous to 1845 an overseer of the poor was appointed in each election precinct by the county mmissioners, who took charge of the dependent poor, letting them out by contract. These over- seers made their reports periodically to the commissioners, who audited and allowed their claims. During the year here mentioned the court purchased of Colonel William H. Davidson, about three miles northwest of Carmi, a farm of eighty acres, for about $500. On this was a log cabin, but other buildings were erected, so that fifteen or twenty paupers could be taken care of on the premises. The number taken care of at this place varied from one to two dozen.
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