USA > Illinois > Christian County > Past and present of Christian County, Illinois > Part 3
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The Richardsons all came from Christian County, Kentucky, and formed what has been known as the "Richardson Settlement" in 1829. Isaac Richardson, Jr., came with his parents to this county; lost his arm by accident in a threshing machine. He was a member of the firm of Amos Richardson & Bro., in the dry-goods business in Taylor- ville at the time of his death, Jan. 19, 1851; he was a bachelor.
William Richardson, brother of Robert Richardson, was a native of North Caro- lina : emigrated to Kentucky and from there, with his brother, to this county in 1829, and settled on the east side of the prairie. ITis wife's name was Jemima Richardson; they had nine children born to them.
Isaac Richardson, Sr., died Jan. 18, 1872; Harvey Richardson died May 10, 1873. These two brothers lived about a mile northwest of "Ralston's Bridge," and both lie buried in the old Finley graveyard.
Robert Richardson, a native of North Carolina, born July 3, 1785, married a Miss Elizabeth West in 1805 : emigrated to Ken- tucky in 1809 and from there to Illinois in 1829; settled on a farm ten miles west of
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
Taylorville, where he lived until his death, Nov. 17, 1855. His farm was on the west side of the prairie, and his brother William's on the east ; they both had large families and many of their descendants are still living in the county.
Robert was a great friend and supporter of religion, and through his energies a Methodist society was organized at an early clate. Services were held in the school-house near by until the erection of a new house of worship; it is now known as the Bethany M. E. church. When he arrived in this county. South Fork had but few inhabitants : he put up a double log house with an entry between late in the fall and did not get time to make doors, but hung up quilts instead. which afforded poor protection against the cold winds and drifting snow.
Amos Richardson was born in Ken- tucky Nov. 6, 18II : was married in Sanga- mon county and had a large family born to him: he held several offices in the county ; was elected Constable Aug. 5. 1839; was the first Deputy Sheriff in 1839: was elected Sheriff Aug. 1, 1842, and a member of the County Court Nov. 6. 1849: was an active member of the Methodist church, a good citizen and highly esteemed for his moral worth: died in Taylorville Nov. 1. 1852. He was the father of I. W. Richardson, at present a merchant in Taylorville.
Jesse Richardson lived on a farm near his father for many years, but subsequently moved to Taylorville: he came with his par- ents to the county in 1829: was never mar- ried; he was elected County Treasurer in 1849. and died Sept. 23. 1855.
James Minnis came to this county also in 1829 and settled and improved a farm on "Horseshoe Prairie," six miles northwest of Taylorville, where he died in 1860. His
wife survived him until 1873: they had 10 children, some of whom are still living.
Shadrick J. Campbell was a veteran of the war of 1812. and a soldier of the Black Hawk war: was born in East Tennessee and emigrated early in the fall of 1829 with his family to this county, and settled on Section 3, Township 14. 3 West.
The South Park timber projected out into the prairie at his place, and it took the name of "Campbell's Point." by which it was familiarly known for years: soon after his settlement, he was elected a Justice of the Peace, probably in 1831 ; he held that office until his death in 1836. He was a candidate for the legislature, which then held its ses- sions in Vandalia, but was defeated by only one vote. His wife, known as "Aunt Milla," was a noble, self-sacrificing, kind and hospitable woman and survived him over 33 years. Col. Thomas S., Marcus L., and John Young. natives of Kentucky, all came to this county in 1829 and settled on Flat Branch, south of Taylorville.
John Finley, his wife and son Andy, na- tives of Kentucky, moved to this county the same year; Andy was a great deer hunter.
Jesse Murphy, who figured quite promi- nently in the organization of the county, was a native of Tennessee, born Feb. 6. 1792 : came to this county in 1829. He set- tled and improved a farm about two miles west of Taylorville : raised a large family. some of whom still reside in the county. He was appointed. April 16. 1839, the first Collector; in 1843 he was elected Assessor and Treasurer for the county, and re-elected in August. 1847: in 1856 was elected to the office of Coroner. a term of two years : died in Taylorville Nov. 3. 1865, aged 73 years.
John Gore, Sr .. known as the 25-cent man, settled on a farm four miles west of the county seat in 1830. He was called the
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"twenty-five cent" man from the fact that in selling his surplus corn crop, he would never take less than twenty-five cents per bushel, nor would he ever charge more, even if the market price was 50 cents per bushel ; he was a zealous member of the M. E. church, and his house was a noted stopping place for the preachers of that denomination.
The second school in the county was taught by William McCollough in 1831, in an old log house, about two miles cast of Taylorville, above the Hall's wood pasture on Flat Branch road. The school-house was on the land then owned by John Brents ; McCollough is said to have been a good teacher, but at times a little intemperate, and on such occasions many amusing things would happen in his school.
The first settler on East Bear Creek was Walter Clark, born in Virginia, April 12, 1788; married a Miss Young, daughter of Peter Young of Ohio, by whom he had six children; his son, Dennis Clark, was Judge of Knox county, Illinois, for a number of years. Mr. Clark came with his family to Illinois in 1821; after several removals to different parts of the state, he settled on Bear Creek in this county, March 26, 1831. Hle located on the east side of the creek timber, not far from Palmer; they came from Sangamon county on foot, not able to own a team, bringing with them a yearling heifer, a gun, ax and hoes ; they soon built a log cabin, 16x18 feet in size, with large fire- place and puncheon floor ; that spring they cleared five acres in the edge of the timber, and with their hoes dug places in the ground, dropped the corn and attended it the whole season with nothing but the hoe and raised a fair crop. The following win- ter was a trying one on the family; with 110 team to go to mill, they beat their corn in a mortar and used a piece of punctured
buckskin, drawn over a hoop, for a sieve. At this date, deer and all kinds of game were plentiful in this section, and they did not want for meat; in 1832, John Baker. who settled about three miles north, was his nearest neighbor. Christopher Durbin was also living in the neighborhood. At one time there were 350 Indians encamping over Sunday on Bear Creek. They were very religious and held services on the Sabbath. An Indian preached. Clark was at one time arrested at the instance of the Durbins for killing an Indian, who was very trouble- some in the neighborhood, but he was ac- quitted on trial, and those causing his arrest again secured the friendship of Walter Clark. He moved to Alton in 1836, and died in St. Louis. April 12. 1846.
John Davis was one of the earliest set- tlers of Mt. Auburn Township in this county ; was a native of Nashville, Tenn .; emigrated to Illinois in 1818 and settled in Mt. Auburn township, three and a half miles west of Mt. Auburn in 1832; he mar- ried Miss Sarah D. Milligan and there were born to him four sons, Henry, Dial, Will- iam and John, and a daughter named Sarah, now the wife of M. V. Swick; these chil- dren have been residents of this county most all their lives, and William, Dial and Henry died but a few years ago.
Esquire W. M. Thomas was a Kentuck- ian, and emigrated to this county in 1832: his first wife died in 1846: their daughter was the wife of Samuel Brents. December 6, 1847, Thomas married Mrs. Polly Wal- lis, both of whom are now dead. The Es- quire was a soldier in the war of 1812 under General Jackson, to whom he was devotedly attached. He was elected Justice of. the Peace on the organization of the county in 1839. and held the office successively for over 15 years and until his death. A great
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
many amusing stories are told about Thomas that occurred during his official life; he was greatly respected.
In 1833 Thomas Young, Sr., a native of South Carolina, settled about one mile southwest of the county seat. Five of his sons came to this county; Col. Thomas S. in 1829, James in 1830 (mentioned above) and the other three, Frederick, Ezekiel S. and John W., came with their father in 1833. "Old Father Young" died on his farm March 24, 1845; his wife followed him a year or two afterwards.
Gavin Ralston, Sr., was a native of Scot- land; married Miss Cynthia Vandeveer in Indiana; emigrated and settled in South Fork on the banks of the Sangamon in 1834. The bridge over the stream has taken his name (Ralston) ; a member of the first County Court ; he died in 1846.
J. M. Wilkinson, a Kentuckian, and James Harris, from Tennessee, were among those who settled in this county during the same year.
Gabriel R. Jernigan, born in North Caro- lina, May 9, 1802, came with his family to this county early in 1835, settling on Bear Creek; they lived with Walter Clark until a cabin was built on his place ; he was an ac- tive Democratic partisan and took a promi- nent part in the formation of the county. On its organization he was appointed by the County Court the first County Treasu- rer; in 1840 he was elected to the same office for a term of two years; was also elected Sheriff of the county, and in No- vember, 1849, was elected one of the asso- ciate justices of the County Court for a term of four years; was also honored with an election as State Senator in November, 1852; he held the office of Police Magistrate of Taylorville in 1858. and other minor of- fices ; died Aug. 3, 1866.
Jesse Elgan, a native of Maryland, came here in 1835; located 10 miles northwest of Taylorville, near Elgan's mill, which he owned for a time. He was one of the con- tractors in building the first court-house ; was twice elected a member of the County Court. He was married to Miss Nancy Vandeveer.
John C. Whitecraft, a native of Tennes- see, was born in November, 1784. His father emigrated and settled in Kentucky when he was a boy, where he lived to man- hood; he was married in Kentucky in 1816 to Miss Rachel Arnett. Being attracted with the glowing accounts of the great "Prairie State," he emigrated with his fam- ily in the fall of 1835 and settled in Chris- tian county on Clear Creek, about twelve miles west of Taylorville. He purchased 160 acres of land of a Mr. Rathbone, which he improved as his homestead. He com -. pleted and run the mill which was partly built on his place for a number of years ; in time his children grew up and most of them settled around him. They were among the prominent and respected citizens of the county; from numbers and position, the lo- cality has been known as the "Whitecraft settlement." The old gentleman was gath- ered to his fathers on the 25th of July, 18.47, at the age of 63. His widow was ac- cidentally killed by being thrown from a wagon with a runaway team in Springfield, Ill., Sept. 23, 1875.
Elder A. D. Northcut was a native of Montgomery county, Ky .; was born Sept. IT, 1813; was married on the 25th of Au- gust. 1835, to Miss Salena Masterson, and emigrated to this county in 1836. He first located and lived for many years on a farm in Mosquito Township; at that early day there were but few settlers living in that sec- tion, probably not over 8 or 10 families.
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In speaking of the many hardships and in- conveniences of the early settler, he says they had no milk, no stores, no markets for their surplus produce; St. Louis, Beards- town and Springfield were the nearest trad- ing points. Elder Northcut attended the first religious meeting in the county, and was among the first to preach the truths of the gospel in this section of the county. He was several times honored with official po- sitions by his fellow citizens; was a Justice of the Peace in Sangamon before the for- mation of this county, and was one of the first justices after its organization in 1839. which office he continued to fill for eight years; was a member of the first board of supervisors in 1866, and served in that ca- pacity for a term of four years ; he had been a life-long Whig and Republican. In 1854, he changed his residence to Prairieton Township, settling on the Esquire Hammer farm on Flat Branch, where he resided for many years. He was highly respected for his ability and integrity.
Another early settler whom we mention with pride and as one of the most distin- guished citizens of this county in the early days, and in fact up to the time of his death was Judge H. M. Vandeveer ; he came here in the pioneer era and began life a poor boy, and with commendable energy and industry became an honored and useful citizen of the county at an early day, and retained this position until the day of his death. He was undoubtedly a man of great wis- dom; his knowledge of human nature was equal to, if not exceeding, that of any man's I have ever known; was many times hon- ored by his fellow citizens with positions of honor and trust, and for many years prior to the date of his death, was the wealthiest man in the county.
In the latter years of his life he had
grown so wealthy and his interests so mul- tiplied . that they became identified with that of many citizens of the county, so much so that it became a matter of general remark. and the writer at one time heard Governor Palmer remark that it was as impossible to enter upon any enterprise with the citizens of this county and not encounter the inter- ests of Judge Vandeveer as it was to stick a knife in the human body without severing some of the veins of the body. With all his acquisitions of wealth, he was a very indulgent man to those in whom he had con- fidence and believed to be treating him fairly, so much so that this indulgence fre- quently permitted men to take undue ad- vantages and in protecting his own rights frequently brought upon him criticisms that were in many instances unjust. His name became a household word in this county ; he was called by those who knew him inti- mately by the name of "Horatio" or "Rash" Vandeveer, and to this day he has many namesakes in the county. H. M. Vande- veer was a native of Indiana, born in Wash- ington county, March 1, 1816: his father, Aaron Vandeveer, removed to Sangamon county, Ill., in the fall of 1829, and im- proved a farm on Horse Creek. Here the Judge lived until the age of 21 years with his father, most of the time laboring on the farm : he attended a pioneer log-cabin school about three months; most of his education was acquired during his hours of leisure, at night and at other convenient times, which he never failed to improve. His taste for reading and study of books was ac- quired at an early day in life, and his in- dustry and ability attracted the attention of the Hon. John T. Stewart of Springfield, who tendered him the use of his law library, by means of which he acquired some knowl- edge of the law. In 1836, he taught school
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in a log cabin on Andy Finley's farm, about 12 miles west of Taylorville.
In time he was admitted to the practice of law and soon became prominent in the profession. For many years and up to the time he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court, was the leading lawyer of the county, always employed upon one side or the other of every case that came up before the courts for investigation, and so prominent did he become that a litigant felt sure of winning his case if he could only secure the services of "Rash Vandeveer." Mr. Vandeveer par- ticipated in the organization of the county, and at the first election held on the first of April, 1839, was elected County Recorder ; a few days later was appointed by the County Court as School Commissioner. June Ist of the same year was appointed by Judge Treat Clerk of the Circuit Court, which office he held for many years. He was elected a member of the House of Rep- resentatives in 1842 over Martin White, the former representative, and Henry T. Lucket. both popular men. On his return home, at the close of the session, 1843, he was re- appointed Clerk of the Circuit Court and was the same year elected Justice, and sub- sequently appointed postmaster at Taylor- ville, and it has been said of Judge Vande- veer by the early settlers that at one time he held all of the offices of the county, and while this may not be strictly true, it is cer- tain he did hold many of the important of- fices at the same time.
In 1846 he answered to the first call of his country and raised a company of sol- diers for the Mexican war, and was elected its Captain, but the company was rejected by the Governor, as the call of the govern- ment had been filled; he was shortly after- wards appointed by President Polk as As- sistant Quartermaster in the United States
army, with the rank of Captain, and served in that position in the Mexican war. Upon his return home, he was one of the promi- nent candidates for Congress, but withdrew his name. He had been twice elected as County Judge of the county ; in 1860 was again returned to the legislature, and two years later was elected to the State Senate, and while in the State Senate he showed himself to be the peer of any in that body. The writer has read with pleasure one of the speeches delivered by him while in that body, and it certainly was a remarkable ef- fort, and one of which his constituents could well be proud.
In the fall of 1870 he was elected Judge of the roth Judicial Circuit, to fill the unex- pired term of Judge E. Y. Rice, and again in 1873, which position he held for a term of nine years, but owing to the great pres- sure of his private business he refused re- election. In politics he was a stanch Demo- crat, and no resident of the county has ever enjoyed the confidence of the people more than did Judge Vandeveer.
James Funderburk came to Christian county in the spring of 1836 and settled two miles west of Taylorville, where he re- sided until about 15 years ago, when he sold his farm and moved to Kansas; his father, Henry Funderburk, came from Ten- nessee to this state in 1815, and settled first on "Turkey Hill," in St. Clair County, where he resided for two years and moved to Sangamon county in the spring of 1817 and settled on Horse Creek, built a cabin and raised a crop that year, with the assist- ance of William Nelson. He was probably the first settler in that part of Sangamon county, and probably raised the first crop in that part of the county and was among the earliest settlers of the county. His son
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James was quite young when his father moved to this state.
James R. Lucas also came to Christian county in 1836 and first located on the west side of Flat Branch timber, where he lived about five years, when he moved to Taylor- ville in April, 1840. He was the first land- lord of the "Lucas Tavern," afterwards known as the "City Hotel," and located on the north side of the square where the Jayne & Cheney building now stands.
Lucas was born in Tennessee, Oct. 7, 1807. and came with his father, Edward Lucas, to Sangamon county, and settled on Horse Creek in 1827. He was married to Miss Elizabeth M. Harris, daughter of Isaac Harris, in 1828. Mr. Lucas was elected the first constable in Taylorville pre- cinct, after the organization of the county; he died June 2, 1862.
Frederick Hammer was also a prominent settler in 1836; he lived to an advanced age and died Nov. 26, 1866.
James Waddell. an old settler, settled upon and improved a farm now adjacent to Taylorville : he died on this place and the farm passed into the hands of James Young.
Lewis II. Jernigan was born in Tennessee in 1808; emigrated to this county and set- tled on Bear Creek in the year 1836; was married in Tennessee to Miss Sallie Currie. They came to this country in wagons drawn by oxen.
Isaac Harris, a native of Nashville, Tenn., was born in 1780; married to Miss Rhoda Parker of Virginia in 1802, and emigrated to Sangamon county, Illinois, in December, 1820: moved to Christian county in the fall of 1836; located and improved a farm four miles cast of Taylorville where he spent the remainder of his years.
Among others who came to this county during the year 1836 were Ellington Adams,
a native of Kentucky, who emigrated with his family and settled and improved a farm on the ridge five miles above Stonington ; Hiram Walker, a native of Virginia, pur- chased and located on a farm six miles northeast of Taylorville, near the Flat Branch timber; Rev. Isaac Haines, a native of Virginia, born in 1809. emigrated to this State and preached for two years, 1836-7. on the Buckhart Circuit. He was highly esteemed for his many Christian virtues. Died in September, 1838, and left descend- ants residing in this county.
Henry Dickerson came also in the spring of this year. He served as Constable and Justice of the Peace in Taylorville precinct for many years and died in Johnson town- ship. He was a man of strong convictions and had the nerve to follow them. At one time when summoned to serve upon the jury in Circuit Court he refused to serve and publicly stated that he would not serve be- cause "there were two murderers on the jury and he would not serve with them." He was excused.
Judge Wm. S. Frink figures prominently in the early history of this county; was born in Connecticut in December, 1790: moved with his father to Stonington, Conn., where he lived until he was forty-one years old: in 18341, he went to New York City. where he engaged in business for three years; in May, 1837, he with his family emigrated to this state and settled at Allen- ton in this county, where he resided until January, 1853, when he moved to Taylor- ville : he was a soldier of the war of 1812. He took quite an active part in the organi- zation of the county, and by his efforts as much as any one else, was due the acqui- sition of the towns of Pana, Assumption and Prairieton to Christian county ; he was elected Probate Judge Aug. 7. 1843, for a
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CHRISTIAN COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
term of four years, and it is said that on Court days, the Judge would be seen enter- ing town with the archives of the office in a basket on his arm; he also held other posi- tions of honor and trust ; he resided in Tay- lorville until his death, which occurred about sixteen years ago. He lived to the ripe old age of ninety-seven and was much honored and respected by all who knew him.
Wm. L. Hammer, who recently died at Decatur, was also one of the pioneer settlers of this county; he was born in Kentucky, Nov. 2, 1817, and at the age of ten years, emigrated with his father to Sangamon county, Illinois, in 1827, where he lived until the spring of 1837; at this date he re- moved with his father and family and set- tled on the Flat Branch in Prairieton town- ship. At the first general election held after the organization of the county in August, 1839, he was elected Constable of Stoning- ton precinct and was selected as bailiff of the grand jury at the first term of the Cir- cuit Court. It held its session in the open air where the present brick jail now stands. He served as Deputy Sheriff in 1844, and in 1846 was elected Sheriff. He was politically a Whig, and was very popular and influ- ential in that party. October 11, 1853, he was married in Taylorville to Miss Isabella East. In December, 1854, they moved to Decatur, where he held many positions of honor and trust, and resided there until the time of his death, which occurred about two years ago.
In 1837, Thomas P. Chapman came to this county, and joined the Stonington col- ony .at Old Stonington, where he continued to live until his death, Jan. 16, 1867, at the ripe age of 75. He was born in Stonington, Conn., Sept. 12, 1791. He served his coun- try in the war of 1812 in the capacity of drummer boy. In early days he was a
strong Democrat. Upon meeting a new ac- quaintance, a familiar question with him is said to have been, "Be you a Whig or a Democrat?" His strong patriotic feelings led him, during the late rebellion, to be a "War Democrat," which culminated in his becoming a Republican and voting for Abra- ham Lincoln for President in 1864. On the formation of the county in 1839, he was chosen one of the first members of the Court, which station he filled with honor to him- self and credit to his constituency. To his industry and perseverance, the citizens of Stonington settlement were much indebted for the establishing of a post office in their midst ; he was first postmaster and carried the mails weekly to and from Taylorville on horseback ; he held several offices of trust, and was extensively known throughout the county and highly esteemed for his many social virtues. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and at his death was buried with Masonic honors.
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