History of White County Illinois, Part 9

Author: Inter-State Publishing Company
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 831

USA > Illinois > White County > History of White County Illinois > Part 9

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When the appointed hour arrived, the usual plan of commencing battle was for two of the young people who might agree to play against each other, or who might be selected to do so by the school- teacher of the neighborhood, to "choose sides," that is, each con- testant, or "captain," as he was generally called, would choose the best speller from the assembled crowd. Each one choosing alter- nately, the ultimate strength of the respective parties would be about equal. When all were chosen who could be made to serve, each side would "number," so as to ascertain whether amid the confusion one captain had more spellers than the other. In case he had, some compromise would be made by the aid of the teacher, the master of ceremonies, and then the plan of conducting the campaign, or counting the misspelled words, would be canvassed for a moment by the captains, sometimes by the aid of the teacher and others. There were many ways of conducting the contest and keeping tally. Every section of the country had several favorite methods, and all or most of these were different from what other communities had. At one time they would commence spelling at the head, at another time at the foot; at one time they would "spell across," that is, the first on one side would spell the first word, then the first on the other side; next the second in the line on each side, alternately, down to the other end of each line. The question who should spell the first word was determined by the captains guessing what page the teacher would have before him in a partially opened book at a distance; the captain guessing the nearest would spell the first word pronounced. When a word was missed, it would be re-pronounced, or passed along without re-pronouncing (as some teachers strictly

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followed the rule never to re-pronounce a word), until it was spelled correctly. If a speller on the opposite side finally spelled the missed word correctly, it was counted a gain of one to that side; if the word was finally corrected by some speller on the same side on which it was originated as a missed word, it was " saved," and no tally mark was made.

Another popular method was to commence at one end of the line of spellers and go directly around, and the missed words caught up quickly and corrected by "word-catchers," appointed by the captains from among their best spellers. These word-catchers would attempt to correct all the words missed on his opponent's side, and failing to do this, the catcher on the other side would catch him up with a peculiar zest, and then there was fun.

Still another very interesting, though somewhat disorderly, method, was this: Each word-catcher would go to the foot of the adversary's line, and every time he " catched " a word he would go up one, thus " turning them down " in regular spelling-class style. When one catcher in this way turned all down on the opposing side, his own party was victorious by as many as the opposing catcher was behind. This method required no slate or blackboard tally to be kept.

One turn, by either of the foregoing or other methods, would occupy 40 minutes to an hour, and by this time an intermission or recess was had, when the buzzing, cackling and hurrahing that en- sued for 10 or 15 ininutes were beyond description.

Coming to order again, the next style of battle to be illustrated was to "spell down," by which process it was ascertained who were the best spellers and could continue standing as a soldier the longest But very often good spellers would inadvertently miss a word in an early stage of the contest and would have to sit down humilia- ted, while a comparatively poor speller would often stand till nearly or quite the last, amid the cheers of the assemblage. Sometimes the two parties first "chosen up" in the evening would re-take their places after recess, so that by the " spelling-down " process there would virtually be another race, in another form; sometimes there would be a new " choosing up " for the " spelling-down " con- test; and sometimes the spelling down would be conducted with- out any party lines being made. It would occasionally happen that two or three very good spellers would retain the floor so long that the exercise would become monotonous, when a few outlandish words like " chevaux-de-frise," " Ompompanoosuc " or "Baugh-

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nangh-claugh-ber," as they used to spell it sometimes, would create a little ripple of excitement to close with. Sometimes these words would decide the contest, but generally when two or three good spellers kept the floor until the exercise became monotonons, the teacher would declare the race closed and the standing spellers ac- quitted with a " drawn game."

The audience dismissed, the next thing was to " go home," very often by a round-about way, "a-sleighing with the girls," which, of course, was with many the most interesting part of the even- ing's performances, sometimes, however, too rough to be com- mended, as the boys were often inclined to be somewhat rowdyish.

SINGING-SCHOOL.

Next to the night spelling-school the singing-school was an occa- sion of much jollity, wherein it was difficult for the average singing- master to preserve order, as many went more for fun than for music. This species of evening entertainment, in its introduction to the West, was later than the spelling-school, and served, as it were, as the second step toward the more modern civilization. Good sleighing weather was of course almost a necessity for the success of these schools, but how many of them have been prevented by mnd and rain! Perhaps a greater part of the time from November to April the roads would be muddy and often half frozen, which would have a very dampening and freezing effect upon the souls, as well as the bodies, of the young people who longed for a good time on such occasions.

The old-time method of conducting singing-school was also some. what different from that of modern times. It was more plodding and heavy, the attention being kept upon the simplest rudiments, as the names of the notes on the staff, and their pitch, and beating time, while comparatively little attention was given to expression and light, gleeful music. The very earliest scale introduced in the West was from the South, and the notes, from their peculiar shape, were denominated " patent " or "buckwheat " notes. They were four, of which the round one was always called sol, the square one la, the triangular one fa, and the "diamond-shaped " one mi, pro- nounced me; and the diatonic scale, or " gamut," as it was called then, ran thus: fa, sol, la, fa, sol, la, mi, fa. The part of a tune nowadays called " treble," or "soprano," was then called " tenor:" the part now called " tenor " was called " treble," and what is now "alto " was then "counter," and when sung according to the oldest rule, was sung by a female an octave higher than marked, and still

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on the "chest register." The "old " " Missouri Harmony " and Mason's " Sacred Harp " were the principal books used with this style of musical notation.

About 1850 the " round-note " system began to " come around," being introduced by the Yankee singing-master. The scale was do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si, do; and for many years thereafter there was much more do-re-mi-ing than is practiced at the present day, when a musical instrument is always under the hand. The Car- mina Sacra was the pioneer round-note book, in which the tunes partook more of the German or Puritan character, and were gener- ally regarded by the old folks as being far more spiritless than the old " Pisgah," " Fiducia," " Tender Thought,"" New Durham," " Windsor," " Mount Sion," " Devotion," etc., of the old Missouri Harmony and tradition.

GUARDING AGAINST INDIANS.

The fashion of carrying fire-arms was made necessary by the presence of roving bands of Indians, most of whom were ostensi- bly friendly, but like Indians in all times, treacherous and unreli- able. An Indian war was at any time probable, and all the old settlers still retain vivid recollections of Indian massacres, murders, plunder, and frightful rumors of intended raids. While target practice was much indulged in as an amusement, it was also neces- Bary at times to carry their guns with them to their daily field work.

As an illustration of the painstaking which characterized pioneer life, we quote the following from Zebulon Collings, who lived about six miles from the scene of massacre near Pigeon Roost, Indiana: "The manner in which I used to work in those perilous times was as follows: On all occasions I carried my rifle, tomahawk and butcher-knife, with a loaded pistol in my belt. When I went to plow I laid my gun on the plowed ground, and stuck up a stick by it for a mark, so that I could get it quick in case it was wanted. I had two good dogs; I took one into the house, leaving the other out. The one outside was expected to give the alarm, which would cause the one inside to bark, by which I would be awakened, hav- ing my arms always loaded. I kept my horse in a stable close to the house, having a port-hole so that I could shoot to the stable door. During two years I never went from home with any certainty of returning, not knowing the minute I might receive a ball from an unknown hand."

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Carmi Ill. Main St.

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Main Street in Horse and Buggy Days, about 1900

Portrait of President Martin Van Buren, which has been hanging in the Senator Robinson house since 1841. It was presented to the Senator by Felix Grundy, of Tennesee, Attorney General of the United States.

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THE BRIGHT SIDE.

The history of pioneer life generally presents the dark side of the picture; but the toils and privations of the early settlers were not a series of unmitigated sufferings. No; for while the fathers and mothers toiled hard, they were not averse to a little relaxation, and had their seasons of fun and enjoyment. They contrived to do something to break the monotony of their daily life and furnish them a good hearty laugh. Among the more general forms of amusements were the " quilting-bee," " corn-husking," "apple-par- ing," " log-rolling" and "house-raising." Our young readers will doubtless be interested in a description of these forms of amuse- ment, when labor was made to afford fun and enjoyment to all par- ticipating. The "quilting-bee," as its name implies, was when the industrious qualities of the busy little insect that " improves each shining honr " were exemplified in the manufacture of quilts for the household. In the afternoon ladies for miles around gathered at an appointed place, and while their tongues would not cease to play, the hands were as busily engaged in making the quilt; and desire as always manifested to get it out as quickly as possible, for then the fun would begin. In the evening the gentlemen came, and the hours would then pass swiftly by in playing games or dancing. " Corn-huskings " were when both sexes united in the work. They usually assembled in a large barn, which was arranged for the oc- casion; and when each gentleman had selected a lady partner the husking began. When a lady found a red ear she was entitled to a kiss from every gentleman present; when a gentleman found one he was allowed to kiss every lady present. After the corn was all husked a good supper was served; then the "old folks" would leave, and the remainder of the evening was spent in the dance and in having a general good time. The recreation afforded to the young people on the annual recurrence of these festive occasions was as highly enjoyed, and quite as innocent, as the amusements of the present boasted age of refinement and culture.

The amusements of the pioneers were peculiar to themselves. Saturday afternoon was a holiday in which no man was expected to work. A load of produce might be taken to "town " for sale or traffic without violence to custom, but no more serious labor could be tolerated. When on Saturday afternoon the town was reached, "fun commenced." Had two neighbors business to transact, here it was done. Horses were " swapped." Difficulties settled and

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free fights indulged in. Blue and red ribbons were not worn in those days, and whisky was as free as water; twelve and a half cents would buy a quart, and thirty-five or forty cents a gallon, and at such prices enormous quantities were consumed. Go to any town in the county and ask the first pioneer you meet, and he would tell you of notable Saturday-afternoon fights, either of which to-day would fill a column of the Police News, with elaborate engravings to match.

Mr. Sandford C. Cox quaintly describes some of the happy feat- tures of frontier life in this manner:

We cleared land, rolled logs, burned brush, blazed out paths from one neighbor's cabin to another and from one settlement to another, made and used hand-mills and hominy mortars, hunted deer, turkey, otter, and raccoons, caught fish, dug ginseng, hunted bees and the like, and-lived on the fat of the land. We read of a land of " corn and wine," and another "flowing with milk and honey;" but I rather think, in a temporal point of view, taking into account the richness of the soil, timber, stone, wild game and other advantages, that the Sugar creek country would come up to any of them, if not surpass them.

I once cut cord-wood, continues Mr. Cox, at 31} cents per cord, and walked a mile and a half night and morning, where the first frame college was built northwest of town (Crawfordsville). Prof. Curry, the lawyer, would sometimes come down and help for an hour or two at a time, by way of amusement, as there was little or no law business in the town or country at that time. Reader, what would you think of going six to eight miles to help roll logs, or raise a cabin? or ten to thirteen miles to mill, and wait three or four days and nights for your grist? as many had to do in the first settlement of this country. Such things were of frequent oc- currence then, and there was but little grumbling about it. It was a grand sight to see the log heaps and brush piles burning in the night on a clearing of 10 or 15 acres. A Democratic torchlight procession, or a midnight march of the Sons of Malta with their grand Gyasticutus in the center bearing the grand jewel of the order, would be nowhere in comparison with the log-heaps and brush piles in a blaze.

But it may be asked, Had you any social amusements, or manly pastimes, to recreate and enliven the dwellers in the wilderness! We had. In the social line we had our meetings and our singing- schools, sugar-boilings and weddings, which were as good as ever

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came off in any country, new or old; and if our youngsters did not " trip the light fantastic toe " under a professor of the Terpsi- chorean art or expert French dancing-master, they had many a good "hoe-down" on puncheon floors, and were not annoyed by bad whisky. And as for manly sports, requiring mettle and muscle, there were lots of wild hogs running in the cat-tail swamps on Lye creek, and Mill creek, and among them many large boars that Ossian's heroes and Homer's model soldiers, such as Achilles, Hector and Ajax would have delighted to give chase to. The boys and men of those days had quite as much sport, and made more money and health by their hunting excursions than our city gents nowa- days playing chess by telegraph where the players are more than 70 miles apart.

WHAT THE PIONEERS HAVE DONE.

Illinois is a grand State, in many respects second to none in the Union, and in almost every thing that goes to make a live, prosperous community, not far behind the best. Beneath her fertile soil is coal enough to supply the State for generations; her harvests are bountiful; she has a medium climate, and many other things, that make her people contented, prosperous and happy; but she owes much to those who opened up these avenues that have led to her present condition and happy surroundings. Unremit- ting toil and labor have driven off the sickly miasmas that brooded over swampy prairies. Energy and perseverance have peopled every section of her wild lands, and changed them from wastes and deserts to gardens of beauty and profit. When but a few years ago the barking wolves made the night hideous with their wild shrieks and howls, now is heard only the lowing and bleating of domestic animals. Only a half century ago the wild whoop of the Indian rent the air where now are heard the engine and rumbling trains of cars, bearing away to markets the products of our labor and soil. Then the savage built his rude huts on the spot where now rise the dwellings and school-houses and church spires of civ- ilized life. How great the transformation! This change has been brought about by the incessant toil and aggregated labor ot thousands of tired hands and anxious hearts, and the noble aspira- tions of such men and women as make any country great. What will another half century accomplish? There are few, very few, of these old pioneers yet lingering on the shores of time as connect- ing links of the past with the present. What must their thoughts

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be as with their dim eyes they view the scenes that surround them? We often hear people talk about the old-fogy ideas and fogy ways, and want of enterprise on the part of the old men who have gone through the experiences of pioneer life. Sometimes, perhaps, such remarks are just, but, considering the experiences, education and entire life of such men, such remarks are better unsaid. They have had their trials, misfortunes, hardships and adventures, and shall we now, as they are passing far down the western decliv- ity of life, and many of them gone, point to them the finger of derision and langh and sneer at the simplicity of their ways? Let us rather cheer them up, revere and respect them, for beneath those rough exteriors beat hearts as noble as ever throbbed in the human breast. These veterans have been compelled to live for weeks upon hominy and, if bread at all, it was bread made from corn ground in hand-mills, or pounded up with mortars. Their children have been destitute of shoes during the winter; their families had no clothing except what was carded, spun, wove and made into garments by their own hands; schools they had none; churches they had none; afflicted with sickness incident to all new countries, sometimes the entire family at once; luxuries of life they had none; the auxiliaries, improvements, inventions and labor-saving machinery of to-day they had not; and what they possessed they obtained by the hardest of labor and individual exer- tions, yet they bore these hardships and privations without mur- muring, hoping for better times to come, and often, too, with but little prospect of realization.

As before mentioned, the changes written on every hand are most wonderful. It has been but three-score years since the white man began to exercise dominion over this region, erst the home of the red men, yet the visitor of to-day, ignorant of the past of the country, could scarcely be made to realize that within these years there has grown up a population of 2,000,000 people, who in all the accomplishments of life are as far advanced as are the inhabi- tants of the older States. Schools, churches, colleges, pala- tial dwellings, beautiful grounds, large, well-cultivated and produc- tive farms, as well as cities, towns and busy manufactories, have grown up, and occupy the hunting grounds and camping places of the Indians, and in every direction there are evidences of wealth, comfort and luxury. There is but little left of the old landmarks. Advanced civilization and the progressive demands of revolving years have obliterated all traces of Indian occupancy, until they are only remembered in name.

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CHAPTER IV.

REMINISCENCES.

BY HON. SAMUEL H. MARTIN.

The following reminiscences were published in the Carmi Times, in December, 1879, over the name of "Ishmaelite." They are solidly full of interesting historical facts:

In August, 1830, two families of Henry County, Ky., concluded to make Illinois their future home. A boat was purchased of the following dimensions: fifty feet long, fourteen feet wide, six feet high, with running boards on the sides and oars attached near the bow, hung on the gunwales for the purpose of rowing. The run- ning boards were to be used in propelling the boat up stream by the use of setting poles placed in the water from each side, with the upper end resting against the shoulder, the feet placed firmly against the cleats, then moving rapidly from bow to stern. A dis- tance of ten or twelve miles could be made in a day.

Port Royal, a little town on the Kentucky River, was the start- ing point. When the day came for embarkation, a large assembly of strong men, women and children lined the banks of the river to take leave of their departing friends. It was a solemn scene to behold. First, a regular old-fashioned Kentucky hand-shaking took place, and many a woman and maiden set up a wail of true heart-felt grief; the moistened eye of bold Kentucky men was spontaneous on that occasion,-men who had met the British and Indians at Tippecanoe, the Thames, River Raisin, and Lord Pack- enham's veteran hosts at New Orleans. And to those who were to take passage it must have been doubly sad,-the idea of leaving the land of orators, pretty women, fast horses and good whisky. But such is fate.

All ready. Our captain took command, cried, "All on board! Turn her noddle loose from the shore." The order was obeyed, and our little boat set her face toward the setting sun, bound for the promised land, Illinois, then the El Dorado of the West. As we went dashing down the swift waters of the Kentucky, it was

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delightful to look upon the grand view presented. The high, solid walls of limestone upon either side, capped with the stately cedar, historic with once being the hunting ground of Daniel Boone.

Our first stoppage was at the month of the Kentucky River, where we landed at Carrollton, a little town in Gallatin County, Ky., and entered the waters of the beautiful Ohio. When near the town of Madison, Ind., my eyes for the first time looked upon a steamboat, the " Whig." From the noise she made, with fire and smoke in view, I supposed it was some monster that preyed upon the families of the sea, and in all probability all on board of our craft would be swallowed up without the benefit of clergy. To use plain Saxon, I thought it was the devil.

We reached Jeffersonville well and all in fine spirits. Here the women and children disembarked, and walked across the country through the beech forest to New Albany, a distance of some two and a half miles, while the men took on a falls pilot and descended the Ohio over the falls. While the women and children were seated on the bank of the river at New Albany, anxiously waiting for the coming boat, our eyes beheld her triumphantly riding the furi- ous billows and splitting the foaming waters. She came into port as safe as a " 'coon " and as sound as a " dollar." The women and children were taken on board. We all felt thankful to a merciful God for our safe arrival below the falls.

Supplies were purchased at Louisville, then quite a city, con- taining at least 10,000 souls. New Albany contained some 1,000 or 1,200, while Jeffersonville not more than 800 all told. At this time the General Government was digging the Louisville & Port- land Canal. It was thought by many that the undertaking would bankrupt the Government; but Gen. Jackson was President and, " by the Eternal!" it had to be put through .

Our voyage down the Ohio was pleasant but not fast. The shores on either side presented new houses and small farms, but no large towns. Brandensburg, Leavenworth, Troy, Cloverport, Rockport, Yellow Banks (now Owensboro), Newburg, Evansville, Red Bank (now Henderson), Mount Vernon-all small places, Mount Ver- non making the best appearance of all towns between Louisville and the mouth of the Wabash. We entered the latter about Oct. 1, and made a landing in the cane-brake on the Illinois side. All on board felt thankful to a kind Providence for our safe arrival in the promised land.

A large camp-fire was lighted up. There was great joy in the

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camp that night. All engaged in singing such blessed, old-fash- ioned hymns as, "Am I a soldier of the cross, a follower of the Lamb," etc. As for myself, then a small boy, I felt as if I could get down and kiss the ground.

On the following day we put our boat head up the stream with the setting brought in use. The running boards were kept warm by the tread of strong men. The Bone Bank was reached before night. The shores of the Wabash were one dense cane-brake. Only a log cabin, at long intervals, indicated that civilization had reached the shores of the Wabash. While the men propelled the boat, the women and children footed through the cane or walked the dry sand-bars that skirted the water. Our progress was slow, but in due season we reached the first serious obstruction, the Grand Chain. In approaching the Chain at that time from below, the deepest water was found between a small tow-head and the Illinois shore. We made a cordell out of a grape-vine and started to ascend the swift water that dashed over the Chain. When about over the grape-vine parted, and down went the boat with a rushing dive, stern foremost, against the shore, and came near being a total wreck; but fortune saved us. A second effort was crowned with success, and we glided up the stream.

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History of White County Illinois, Part 9

Author: Inter-State Publishing Company Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Number of Pages: 831

Author: Inter-State Publishing Company
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 831