USA > Illinois > Greene County > Past and present of Greene County, Illinois > Part 5
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"Her footprints appeared neatly pressed in the loose sand, where she had walked along the dry bed of the stream. Men gath- ered around and examined them with the most intense interest, and with shouts of joy, rushed through the woods in every direction, elated with the hope of finding her before night. The same little tracks were soon afterward found in various places, where fallen trees had been consumed by fire, leaving a soft bed of ashes, in which she had delighted to walk, as there were no briars or thorns to wound her feet. These discoveries so animated those in search for her that they forgot the fatigues they had undergone, and leaped for joy : everywhere they were seen moving on with life and
spirit, galloping over the hills or groping through masses of grapevines until, with painful forebodings, they discovered that in several places the little footprints were ac- companied by those of a bear. Apprehen- sions were now felt that she had been de- stroyed but the search was continued with unabated vigor until near night, when some one in the company had the good fortune to kill the bear. A post mortem examination relieved all apprehensions and quieted all fears entertained on his account.
"During the night the dark clouds moved away, and the morning came bright and beautiful as ever dawned on those green hills. A flood of mellow light came down among the branches and dispelled the vapors of the previous day. Sweet strains of music floated on the passing breeze that played among the trembling leaves. The face of nature glowed in smiling radiance and serenity unusual for the season, and even on those grave countenances, marked by the lines of care and anxiety induced by the labors of three days' search, there shown a brighter ray of hope and a smile of satisfac- tion at the prospect of success.
"Whilst all were assembled on that morning, Major Pruitt stood among them, bearing on his countenance traces of the deepest sorrow. He had spoken but seldom, and those few words bore evident marks of mental suffering. His friends gathered around him to offer consolation and learn his wishes in regard to plans of the day. He stepped upon a fallen tree, and in a sad but firm voice, addressed them substantially as follows: 'My neighbors and friends: No event in my humble life ever placed me under so great and lasting obligations to others as the present. The deep and abiding interest you have manifested in my present unhappy
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condition and the tender sympathy shown toward my lost chikl, impress themselves upon my heart too deeply to be ever effaced by the hand of time. I return you my heart- felt thanks for the kind assistance and the generous sympathy you have so freely ex- tended to me during the last few days of sorrow and bereavement. The alacrity with which you flew to my aid and the untiring energy and perseverance with which you have prosecuted this prolonged and laborous search have cheered me through the darkest hours of bitterness and enabled me to endure the most painful suspense and the deepest sorrow. Happy would I be if I could dis- pense with your aid now. This day will probably crown our efforts with success : then with what joy will your wives and chil- (ren, who in their lonely cabins have so long and anxiously wished your return, greet you when you meet them at the door and tell them the poor little wanderer is found at last. Your wives will shed tears of joy. and your children clap their little hands and shout : "I'm glad, O. I'm glad."" As he brought his brawny hands together, tears gushed from the eyes of those standing around and for a few moments all were silent. The search was renewed with all the spirit and eagerness manifested on the day of its commencement. There were many noble men engaged in that-old settlers of prominence and respectability, whose influ- ence was powerfully felt by the younger and less considerate, who sometimes ventured to express their opinion that all chances of find- ing the child were hopeless, and the search must of necessity be abandoned. Nor is it wonderful they should entertain such senti- ments, as their impatience increased under the labor and hardships that accumulited from day to day. Prominent among the
friends of Major Frugt was one Walter Me- Farland. He had akars dorp wirst mo everything relating or fe surle prom pe commencement, .1 from Afost v.c. learn of him he vos a von of cory and determination not cash flowmangel in de verse circumstances, nor diverted ir git ant object he had set his heart upon. He we always consulted when any pijn af wpery- tion was being discussed and his a vice VG received with much respect.
"He manifested a considerable . netan f shrewdness in all that related to, fromher life, and frequently pushed his researches far in advance of his comrades, roaming the wild woods alone. Thus it was on Thurs- day morning, the morning of the fourth day of the search, Mr. McFarland found himself alone in a grove of giant vaks overskuds- ing the bluffs of Apple creek in the neigh borhood of Beeman's old mill. The deep shade of the thick grove had kept the earth clestitute of vegetation : it was carpeted only with a light covering of short grass. He looked around him, admiring the beauty and seclusion of the place. It was indee.] a lovely spot, cool and shady, fanned by a gentle breeze, and enlivened with the notes of countless little birds. "Just such a spot, thought he, 'as I wonkl like to find Matilda in, and why may I not find her here?' 'She has wandered through briars and thorns, her feet are lacerated and give her pain at every step. She is exhausted, and would love such a place as this in which to lie down and go to sleep. We have searched! che woods thus far and have not found her, she must be somewhere in this shady grove' And as he thus mused a presentiment cine over him that she was near. Ilis step quick- ened, he went peering about in every direc- tion as if in a state of excitement, ocersten-
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ally listening attentively to catch any sounds that might come from the woods around; suddenly his pulse became quick, perspira- tion ran from his brow, his heart beat audi- bly, a trepidation came over him, and he sat down and buried his face in his hands for a few moments. 'Well, this is singular,' said he. 'It is strange; what can cause it? It certainly means something.' After becom- ing somewhat calmer he proceeded to the foot of the bluff, and upon examining a small pond in the creek bottom, discovered where, in the soft earth, a little child had laid down to drink from the pond. ,
"There even the prints of her toes in the mud, and her finger marks in the edge of the water which was yet turbid, showing that she could not be far away. He stood as if confined to the spot, and closely gazed in every direction, but was unable to discover the child. 'Well, I felt a presentiment she was in that lovely grove,' said he, 'and now its certain she is somewhere near. I have a proof that I was right in thinking she was near: why should it be so? I can not tell. but if that presentiment means anything, she is in that grove, and I need go nowhere else to look.' Thus reasoning he turned back, and passing a little to the right of where he came down, proceeded nearly to the summit of the bluffs, when his attention was ar- rested by the rustling in the leaves, and a little squirrel ran chattering high up the stem of a magnificent oak, and disappeared among its thick foliage. He walked around the tree, peering through its thick branches to catch a glimpse of the squirrel, which still evaded his sight. It occurred to him that he had seldom seen so grand a tree. Its greit size, its immense height, the great spread of its branches, and the beautiful sym- metry of its shape, at once marked it as the
'King of the forest.' His eyes ran down along the large and tapering trunk to the ground. He started with silent wonder ; his rifle dropped from his hand; there, wrapped in sleep and motionless as if in death, lay the lost child.
"No language can describe the joy he felt at finding her still alive. He raised her softly in his arms and called her name. She startled, stared wildly and strangely around, and drew to him as if for protection. Pres- ently she looked imploringly in his face, while large tear drops gathered in her eyes, and said: 'I want to go to my mother.' The touching appeal melted the strong man to tears, and when he had fully discovered the extent of her wretched condition his heart overflowed with sympathy. Her scanty clothing was torn in tatters, her neck and shoulders blistered with the heat of the sun, her feet and ankles lacerated and swol- len, and her flesh everywhere pierced with briars and thorns that still remained sticking in the wounds. She had subsisted alone on the green leaves of the wild sorrel. Mr. McFarland gave her a part of a biscuit, which she instantly devoured and pleaded for more. He soon remembered that there were others in the woods to whom the child was dear, and who would greatly rejoice to see her. He therefore discharged his gun twice in quick succession. As the last re- port rang through the forest, and, reverbe- rated among the hills, dying away in the dis- tance, there came back the wild shouts of a hundred voices and a response of a hun- dred guns, and soon a hundred horsemen come dashing over the hills, leaping logs and ditches, waving their hats and shouting in a frenzy of enthusiasm. Such a scene as followed utterly baffles all powers of de- scription : it was a scene of most tumultuous
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joy. Men sent up shout after shout, threw up their hats, clapped their hands, leaped, laughed and cried at the same time. Those who had dismounted soon sprang again into their saddles, and, with Major Pruitt at their head, carrying the child in his arms, galloped off to the house of the sick mother, still filling the woods with their joyful shouts. She was in transports of joy, and while the family were gathered around the little girl in the cabin, the men outside rode around the house, firing guns, shouting. laughing and talking. Those who were pres- ent declare that they had never heard so many guns fired, or so much shouting on any other occasion. . After the tumult had partially abated, provisions were brought out and the friends of the good old Major par- took of a comfortable dinner and departed for their homes.
"How many anxious mothers came from the doors of their lonely cabins, to inquire of the passers-by if the lost child had been found and thanked God for the good news. we can not now tell, but we are sure that they were not few. By this time it was known in St. Clair county that the child was lost, and General Samuel Whitesides hastily collected a company of men, and hurried on to assist in finding her. They met their Madison county friends, from whom they learned that she was recovered, and they all returned to their homes, spreading the glad tidings to all the settlers on their way, by shouting and firing their guns. Mrs. Pruitt was a woman of frail constitution and feeble health and such was the shoek upon her tender frame that during the time her child was lost. she never closed her eyes in sleep or took a mor- sel of food. She lingered for a short period, but her days were soon numbered and she sank into her grave."
THE FIRST ROBBLEY 100 MONDE
During the carly lostor. of bio county, the pioneers had the unnf ast roffileto & firme another. Nearly every one bad nome or less money with him to be uoi Ih pintorring lands, and many were possessed var se ceral thousands of dollars. This was affon gold and silver, and although very hews and in- convenient to handle, the absence of banks made it necessary to keep it at hand. Chil- dren playe I with the silver pieces on the cabin floor. The money was kept in sulle bags, boxes, sacks and in any other conven- ient receptacle. Very little effort was made to conceal it and it was secured by no heavy iron bars or wakeful guards. For several years this mutual confidence was not abuse.l but, in 1821, a little later than the incident of the lost chikl, a violent robbery took place in the southern part of the county. In the southwest corner of Lofton's prairie there live I a family named Dixon, considerably advanced in years. They were English peo- ple and were believed to have a large sum of money in their possession. One night a mimber of men came to the lonely house of the worthy okl couple and with threats and manifestations of violence comman lel Mr. Dixon to deliver his money. Theoold man had no alternative but obedience, and the robbers escaped with twelve hundre I dol- lars. An alarm was at once raise l and a company, headed by Judge John ti. Lofton, started in pursuit. Mr. Dixon recognized two of the party as Robert Smckur and William B. Whitesides. The latter was a very prominent man in Madisony conlity, having served as its sheriff, and the former was also a citizen of that region. They were overtaken near AAlton, and Whitesores and Sinclair were brought to Carrdoncder trial.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
Sinclair was found guilty and sentenced to state's prison. Either while out on bail, or when in charge of the sheriff, he managed to slip away and reach a very fast race-horse near the present (1879) David Black farm. Mounting this he sped away to the south- west with the sheriff in hot pursuit. But the superior blood of the steed gave him the ad- vantage and he made good his escape. He was afterward heard of in Arkansas, where he arose to some distinction and became a member of the territorial legislature.
The celebrated Thomas H. Benton, then a rising young lawyer, appeared for the peo- ple in this case. The people's witnesses were William Dixon, John G. Lofton, James Barnes, Thomas G. Lofton, William David- son, Ezekiel Gilham, John Finley, William Prickard, Henry Hopkinson, Charles Geer and Joab White. Whitesides also escaped the just punishment of his crime. On the jury which tried him was a strong friend of his. Charles Kitchen, who, it is said, hung the jury. This caused delay which White- sides continued to prolong by the departure and death of witnesses, until finally the death of Mr. Dixon left the state without testi- mony, and the case was dropped. This robbery created a profound sensation throughout this part of the state and for ten years later it was still a matter of common talk.
THE SILVER MINE EXCITEMENT.
At a very early period in the history of the eastern part of Greene county, there was one James Rawlings who settled in the edge of the timber on the north side of Taylor's Prairie and about a half a mile north of the present village of Rockbridge. About the year 1826 it was whispered around the
neighborhood, among a circle of confidential friends, that a few miles farther up the Ma- conpin creek there was a place that bore the appearance of an ancient silver mine of very respectable richness. A number of pits from which mineral had been dug and large mounds of earth formed from the clay from the pits were said to be visible. Moreover, it was understood that some person had ac- tually discovered a furnace at which the silver had been separated from the ore; while others pretended to have seen specimens of considerable richness, picked up on the hill- side near the old mine, and it was repre- sented that the hills and points throughout the neighborhood bore unmistakable evi- dence of rich deposits of silver. No man was perhaps more deeply interested with the recital of these stories than James Rawlings, and visions of wealth occupied his midnight dreams and haunted his waking hours. Whether reposing quietly by his own fireside or driving the plow or chasing the wild deer over the plain, it was all the same to him, his active imagination constantly held up to his view untold mines of wealth lying just be- neath the surface, inviting the diligent, the energetic and the enterprising, who are ever awake to their own interest, to dig them out and fill their coffers. He was one of those who believe there is a crisis in the affairs of men which, taken at its ebb, leads on to in- evitable success, and a silent monitor within his breast seemed to say: "Seize then the golden moment ere it flies." It is very natural that any good, kind-hearted man, about to become the possessor of a fortune so ample as to insure him an independence for a lifetime and afford not only all the lux- uries his wishes might require, but untold sums besides, should desire to make his near- est relatives and favorite friends happy par-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY-
ticipants of his good fortune. This desire. so characteristic of a good heart, induced Mr. Rawlings to communicate, in a letter to his father. the venerable Roderick Rawlings. a pious minister of the gospel, residing some five miles north of the present site of White Hall, the particulars of the important dis- covery which was about to be made in which he expressed the sanguine belief that a little labor and expense of exploration and pur- chase of the land on which mineral deposits might be found would be rewarded by a for- tune sufficient to make life easy ever after- ward. He closed by affectionately inviting his beloved father to co-operate with him in securing the prize and participate in its enjoyments.
Upon receiving the letter the good old man very sagely took the subject under con- sideration. Ile meditated upon it during the night, consulted the "old lady" in the morn- ing and at last arrived at the conclusion that it was best to proceed in the matter with great circumspection : it should be kept a profound secret, at least for the present. But after further reflection, he was con- vinced of the wisdom of confiding the whole subject to two or three confidential friends, w hose services would be valuable in assisting himself and son to make the discovery of the precise spot where the mineral was situated, the proper numbers of the land to which it belonged, and to test any mineral that might be found in order to ascertain whether it was valuable or base metal. There was no man within the circle of his acquaintance in whom he could more implicitly confide and who was better qualified to distinguish between real silver ore and other combinations of min- eral substances than John Allen, Esq. He had poured over many volumes of geology, mineralogy, metallurgy, etc. He also pos-
sessed a retentie nemoyen Pre deci- ment and a great amount of phone Sil perseverance in his mvestige time of somy tific subjects and withal was a agli nl 2001. sound sense, unerring judgment aund gret prudence in all his undertaking- Ilie elder Rawlings determined to lay the wave che- fore him, without reserve, for his @vonder- tion and approval and endeavor to secure mis services in maturing his plans and testing the mineral, that might be found er arriving at the premises. Mr. Allen did not enter into the enterprise with as much assurance of success as his elderly friend, but expressed his willingness to be one of the company, and lend the expedition any service in his power.
He rationally concluded that if the enter- prise proved a failure, the loss attending the exploration would be but trifling, and in case of its ultimate success it might prove profita- ble to all parties. John Allen was a son of Thomas Allen, of Allen's Mill, and Thomas was a brother of Zachariah Allen. Now the family of Zachariah Allen was so numerous (consisting, besides his wife and four daugh ters, of seventeen sons and himself ), and had been so instructed in their training, that among them might be found a man fitted for almost any purpose desired. Mr. Rawlings was on good terms with the family, and they were esteemed relatives of his friend and present advisor ; therefore it was determmed to direct their attention toward that family for further assistance. But upon visiting them they found them busily engaged m their young corn, running nearly a dozen plows and an equal number of hoes. This was deemed a discouraging circumstance, for it seemed very rational to conclude that men so busily engaged and so pleasantly and profitably employed would not very readily
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PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.
forsake their work to engage in an enter- prise which was at best only an experiment. But soon it was discovered that one of the younger sons. named George, was not just then engaged in the crop.
In fact he was the very one of the large family best suited for their purpose. From childhood he had manifested a fondness for study ; he had read many scientific works on various subjects ; and for the last year or two, while engaged in teaching school in the neighborhood, had frequently improved his leisure hours in the practice of surveying. With his compass and some of the larger pupils to carry the chain, he had marked out on a small scale whole states and territories, establishing base lines and meridians, and finishing with the sub-division of townships, sections, etc., making the proper entries in his books with as much care and precision as if he were surveyor-general in the employ of the general government. Being then a young man, of active imagination, easily inflamed with a love of whatever was new and romantic and viewing the proposed ex- pedition in the light of a very pleasant recre- ation, in which he would be afforded an opportunity of exercising his skill at sur- veying, of which at that time he was very fond, he was easily persuaded to unite with his reverend friend. Mr. Rawlings, and his esteemed cousin, 'Squire Allen, in their search for the hidden treasure. The com- pany was now complete, notwithstanding the fact the services of some person skilled in searching for ores were as indispensable as those of a surveyor or metallurgist. the company was already in the possession of such an individual in the person of the ven- crable Mr. Rawlings. He had already ac- quired an enviable reputation as one particu- larly skilled in the art of pointing out the
precise spot where water might be obtained by digging, and he unhesitatingly declared his readiness to detect the presence of min- eral deposits with equal facility. For this purpose he supplied himself with a brass "rod." being a piece of brass wire three feet in length, which, being wound once around a stick in the middle, formed an eye or loop the size of the stick; the ends crossed each other at the loop, and extended out at an angle of forty or forty-five degrees. A small buckskin sack was tied by a string to the loop, after the stick had been removed, and was filled with some mysterious substance supposed to possess the power over silver ores that the magnet does over steel. The manner of using this instrument will be de- scribed hereafter.
It has perhaps but seldom occurred that so much has been accomplished in a single day toward organizing a company for an object of so much moment to those con- cerned. The comprehensive ability dis- played by the Rev. Mr. Rawlings in his selection of men so eminently fitted for their respective duties reflects much credit upon his discrimination.
But the primitive simplicity of his method of detecting the presence of valuable ores outstrips even science itself, in bringing to view the treasure sought. before she could get her boots on for the expedition. The little company felt such a lively interest in the result of this noved expedition which was to be undertaken very early on the suc- ceeding morning, that they reluctantly sep- arated for the night, with mutual injunctions and promises to keep their designs a pro- found secret. Scarcely had the faint glow of the morning twilight arisen beyond the east- ern hills, when our eager little company of adventurers had shaken off the unconscious-
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ness of slumber and sallied forth to breathe the morning air and complete their prepara- tions for the coming adventure. The house- hold were also busy with their ample prep- arations for an early breakfast. No time was to be lost, for at the hour of sunrise the parties were to be on the ground, ready for a start. We deem it unnecessary to dwell on the minutia of the morning's preparation. Those who have witnessed such scenes can readily apprehend the hurry and confusion with which such hasty preparations were performed, when all manifested such interest in the enterprise, and the parties were So eager to be on the ground at the appointed time. All along the low lands the rich mass of vegetation was still dripping with the morning dew and the light floating vapors forming themselves in sinnous clouds, hov- ering over the winding little streams, shut- ting out the light that shot across them from the opposite hills, when our gallant little company, now increased in numbers to six or seven persons, drew up their reins on the north bank of Apple creek, reconnoitered the ford for a moment and plunged boldly in and emerged on the opposite bank. "It is very well," observed 'Squire Allen, "that our young surveyor has filled his portmanteau so liberally, for if its ends had not stood out pretty nearly in a horizontal line, he'd got his instruments wet." "And lost his books, also," suggested Mr. Roderick Rawlings. "But worse than all he'd a spoiled his din- ner." said a third. "No doubt. gentlemen, you think I'm poorly mounted," retorted George, "but soon we'll be among the thick brush and grape vines, when you will dis- cover that I can easily pass through. while you will be compelled to walk and lead your horses." "We do not think you are very badly mounted," replied Mr. Rawlings, "but
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