Past and present of Greene County, Illinois, Part 8

Author: Miner, Ed. (Edward), 1835-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 666

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they preferred to remain with him. Mr. Rattan was emphatically a man of business and always carried on a great deal of work. He hence had a large number of negroes in his family nearly all the time. They ate at the same table with himself and family and his guests, the colored part of the house be- ing placed on one side of the table and the white folks on the other side.

The last record we have of the posses- sion of slaves is found in the records of deeds in the recorder's office. There we find mention of the following deeds : One dated December 7, 1835, by which James H. Cra- vens and wife deed to James G. Berry, John H. Marmon and John C. Berry, in consid- eration of the sum of three hundred dollars the following property : "A negro boy slave called and known by the name of Jonathan, about fifteen years of age, of a light com- plexion, about five feet four inches high ; also a negro woman, Tener, about eighteen years of age, of a dark complexion : also Tener's child, named Margaret, about two years old, of a light complexion, and all other increase which said negro woman, Tener, may have from and after this date; said negroes are at this time in the state of Kentucky in possession of Lewis Grimes." On September 18, 1848, we find recorded a bill of sale, whereby, for the sum of one thousand one hundred dollars Larkin Rat- tan conveys to Thomas Rattan "one equal and undivided half of all my right, title and interest in the following slaves, to-wit : Charlotte, aged forty-three years ; Bill, aged fourteen years ; Mary, aged twelve years; George, aged about eleven years : Louisiana, aged about eight years; Gunn Iowa, aged about five years, and another slave boy, name unknown, about two years."

In this connection it may be interesting

PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY

to notice how the name "Nigger Lick" hap- pened to be applied to a stream in the east- ern part of the county. It is said that a company of negro slaves fleeing from their masters camped on the bank of this stream. They were followed and tracked to their hiding place. At the camp the pursuers found a negro woman lying by the fire, the smoke of which had guided them to her. By means of threats they persuaded her to point out the location where the rest of the runa- ways could be found. Proceeding in the direction she indicated they soon came upon the negroes near a bold, gushing spring that came up through a fissure in a solid sand stone just large enough to admit a man's hand. \ basin holding about ten gallons had been excavated from the top of the rock, either by the water or by artificial means. The water rises in the center of this basin and, running over the sides, flows off in a brisk current. Close by the stream was a salt deposit, where the deer often resorted. drawn by the saline taste. This fact, with the incident above related, gave to the stream the name of "Nigger Lick," which it has since borne.

THE WHIPPING POST.

During the early history of the county there stood in the court house park, three whipping posts, and we are informed that these were used as instruments of punish- ment several times. Two of these posts were situated near the northeast corner of the yard, and the other in the southwest corner. AAmong the culprits who received corporal punishment while closely embracing these posts was Thomas Anderson, who had been convicted of stealing a horse. As he was brought out upon the square a crowd of men

and boys gathered anmod, amil a large com- pany of ladies assend of ou ille social story piazza of a house situated very low where the Hotel Pierson now stante, Steril Young Wood had charge of the prisoner of-tel by his deputy. Jacob Fry. To com it was ordered to remove his shirt, 584 then huis hands were drawn up as high as possible and fastened to the top of the post :all Ins feet to the bottom. Then as he buried his face between his upstretched arms the sheriff coolly grasped a heavy rawhide with his distorted hand and commenced slowly to lay the heavy blows upon the bare shoulders of the sufferer. The deputy mentioned stood by and called out as each blow was given, "one, two, three," etc., until fifty long heavy welts were traced upon the culprit's back, horizontally and vertically, checking his flesh into squares like those of a chess board. After the punishment was over the victim declared to the bystanders that his keenest suffering arose from his knowledge of the fact that the ladies witnessed his disgrace.

THE COURT HOUSE.

In January, 1823. Morgan county was organized, thus cutting off the northern por- tion of the territory attached to Greene county. . At the time of its organization Morgan county included Scott and Cass counties, but these were soon cut off.

In 1820 the territory now constituting Macoupin county was separated from Greene county, and by act of the general assembly erected into a separate organization.

By referring to the records of the county commissioners court we find that at this time their attention was mostly occupied m caring for the poor and laying out roads ind county improvements. The first court house was

PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.

not finished until 1824, and March 27, 1830, the contract was let for the erection of the square brick edifice that stood for sixty years until replaced by the present structure. The proceedings of the commissioners give in full the bond entered into by Thomas Rattan for the erection of the building for the sum of seven thousand dollars to be paid in yearly installments of one thousand dol- lars each. The edifice was to be forty-six feet long and forty-four feet wide and to be built of durable materials. The contract did not provide for dressing the stone for the foundation, and the citizens of Carrollton raised the necessary antount by voluntary contributions. It was furnished with five outside doors, three on the east and one each on the north and south sides; these doors were double, and the windows were all sup- plied with blinds. The first floor contained one large court room and two small offices. The court room was entered by the middle east door or by either the north or the south door. The floor was of brick except that of the bar, which was of wood and considerably elevated. This important part of the court room was situated in the western part of the first floor and towering above it was the judge's bench. Opening out of the court room and also communicating with the out- side by doors on the east, in the northeast and southeast corners of the building, were the offices of the circuit and the county clerk. Although small, these rooms were ample for the purpose and were sometimes found large enough to contain the bed of the clerk, who made the department at once his office and bed chamber. Up stairs there was one long room used by the grand jury and as a public hall. There were also two rooms above for the accommodation of the petit juries. The edifice when finished in 1832 was the pride

of the county and it was universally admitted at the time to be the finest court house in the state.

Thomas Rattan, the builder, was one of the most active, energetic men of business ever in the county. He first lived north of. Apple creek. When the county was estab- lished he moved to Carrollton and kept the first hotel in the town. He was soon found on his farm again, north of Apple creek, where he erected an ox mill and ground grists of corn, principally, for his neighbors .. During this time he was elected to the legis- lature and was repeatedly sent to the gen- eral assembly of the state. Beside the court house he built the Macoupin bridge and the Turpin and Erisman's mills. He removed to Texas and died there, November 11, 1854.

In the commissioners' records we find the following order passed June 9. 1824. from which may be formed an idea of the amount of taxes compared with the revenue of the present day : "Ordered, that Jacob Linder, treasurer of the county, be allowed sixty- eight dollars for assessing the tax for the present year." The first statement of the financial condition of the county was made in December. 1825, by Young Wood. sheriff. It will be noted that it deals in figures ridi- culously small when compared with those of the present day. The following is the report in full as it stands upon the records :

Amount of county tax for 1824. $561 4375 Amount of delinquent tax for 1824. 16 50

Total tax for year $544 9313

Tax for 1825. 555 25

Fines assessed by circuit court 1825. 290 00

Fines assessed and paid in by justices of the peace 9 00

854 25

Add taxes of 1824.

544 9.313

Amount of Sheriff's debits $1.399 1812

PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.

Onfera pant ..... . . . . . . . .. . $787 50

Sheriff's comoosson on taxes

of 1841-25 at 7 per cent .. 82 51 870 10 :

Due Crainty $ 529 0814

Amount of orders on treasury up to the first day of this term, estimating specie claims as double their amount in State paper $ 619 39 %

The entire revenue of the county ( in- cluding the tax on real estate which had been entered five years) for the year 1830 was $1.846.47 : in 1840 it was $8.641.58: in 1850. $15.034.78: in 1860, $48.299.62; in 1870. $98.410.94.

MEANS OF COMMUNICATION.

During the early history of the county the Illinois river was of great value as a means of communication with the outside world. Farmers built flat boats and floated their produce and stock to St. Louis and sometimes to a more southern market : ca- noes and keel boats coming up the river brought many of the conveniences and lux- uries which could not be procured in other ways. The first steamboat passed up the river in 1826, and then the stream became more valuable to the county. The popula- tion had. in the meantime, been increasing and large quantities of merchandise from the markets were demanded. These nearly all were brought up by river and distributed to Carrollton and other points in the county, which method of delivery continued until the completion of the railroad from St. Louis to Jacksonville through the county.

THE DEEP SNOW AND OTHER EVENTS.

In the latter part of November, 1830. snow commenced to fall and continued with

short interva's until Jomar 1531 Acome snow fell upon anotlier atoi Sos sloveni be fore the cold wind it soon recherchited in many places to a depthof fron seven is twelve feet, and whole fieils were coveredl with a white mantle five of 5/6 Feet thick. Fences and small buildings were entirely hidden, windows were darkened, and great distress was caused to the inhabitants, as well as to stock and game. The sun would occasionally melt the top of the snow, and then a cold night would freeze it into an al- most impenetrable crust. For years before the weather had been very mild until after Christmas, sometimes continuing all winter so warm that the cattle wouldl brouse and feed with but very little care from man. Many farmers had not gathered their corn and were compelled to go to the field and dig down beneath four or five feet of snow to secure the grain to preserve the lives of their families or stock. Being unable to go to mill, a great deal of corn was broken in a wooden mortar, so that it could be eaten. Many suffered from lack of clothing and from the airy construction of their cabins, as this was, to the most of them. the first inti- mation that they were living in a region where extreme cold weather was possible. The deer and other game suffered severely : prairie chickens and rabbits were easily caught, and the deer, in running over the snow would often cut through the crust and be unable to extricate themselves, and this became an easy prey to mankind or wolves.

This "deep snow" is one of the events most deeply impressed upon the theme ry bi the "old settler" and it is usel as a base line from which to calculate time in both difco tions. Only those who came to the CHPt before "the deep snow " are deemol gemme "old settlers," although smee the staff-

PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.

ment of the old settlers' society this rule is not rigidly enforced. Many interesting inci- cents of this year are related. Mr. Tunnell states that in October, 1830. Elisha Cheaney and his wife lay sick at Mr. George Wright's residence at "White Oak Springs" east of Carrollton. Mr. Wright and Mr. Norris set up with them in turns every night until February, when Mrs. Cheaney died. The snow had already lain on the ground for over two months, and as the winter was excess- ively cold, the task of wading two or three miles, frequently at night, and sitting up all night with the sick, could not have been a pleasant one. About the time of the lady's death a rain fell which filled the ravines and rendered the snow soft and yielding. It was then Mr. Wright set out very early to obtain lumber witli which to build a coffin for the deceased. But to travel a few miles required a great deal of time, and after a laborious day's tramp, he returned home without hav- ing accomplished his errand. He and Mr. Norris then cut two boards from a log with a whip saw, when night compelled them to retire. Hearing that Dr. Throckmorton had commenced building a house at a place called Mt. Airy, two or three miles distant, Mr. Wright set out early the next morning with the hope of getting some lumber from him. Although the soft snow was deep and heavy, and the low grounds covered with water, in many places three feet deep, he made the best of present troubles and pushed boldly on. Hle succeeded in obtaining only a portion of the lumber necessary and com- pleted the coffin with a board ripped from the bottom of a wagon bed. The next day Mr. Wright conveyed the corpse to the bury- ing ground in a wagon drawn by oxen wad- ing "up to their bellies in snow." and, though the distance was not great, the day was con-

sumed in going and coming. He and his friend Norris continued to wait on the sick man until "plow time," when he had so far convalesced as to dispense with their serv- ices. Similar tales are told in every neigh- borhood, and the memory of the deep snow is faithfully preserved. Until the latter part of February, when the snow went off with a great freshet, the ground was not seen.

Another event which was used as a base from which to calculate time was the "high water of 1844." In June of that year the Illinois river overflowed its banks and ex- tended quite to the bluffs on the Greene county side, from the mouth of the Ma- coupin creek to the northern line of the county, higher than was ever known by the citizens of this county, before or since. The state convention for nominating state offi- cers was held at this time, and delegates and others from Greene county were conveyed thither on two steamboats lashed together, the first installment taking passage at Graf- ton, and the second, which included those from Carrollton and vicinity, at the bluffs opposite Newport.

The summer which followed the "deep snow" was a very wet one and at its close, on the 12th of September, came a biting frost which nipped the corn in the fields and rendered it valueless for bread or seed. The succeeding winter was a very severe one, and in the spring following seed corn was a scarce article. It was at this time that southern Illinois received the name of "Egypt," because the people of the northern counties had to go into the south part of the state for corn.

Greene county had been in existence ten years before a murder occurred within its borders. In September, 1831, the first hu- man life was violently taken since the organ-

PAST AND PRESENT OF GREECE COMETS

ization of the county. There was in those days, on the Macoupin. a distillery where those who loved the fruit of the still were in the habit of gathering and indulging their appetites. Among those frequenters of the place was John Lofton, who was the father of a very bright little boy, named Samuel. One Saturday the distiller sent this boy on horseback to Mills' store on the Mississippi river, to collect about fifteen dollars due him. The boy started off with permission to stay over night with some friends at Gellham's Mound if he wished. He was successful in prosecuting his business and started home with the money. As he was passing Car- roll's tanyard he was accosted by an old ac- quaintance, an Irishman, known as James Sullivan, though Patrick Cavanaugh was af- terward learned to be his true name.

Cavanaugh was a man about forty years of age who had been working for various persons in various parts of the county. He asked the boy to allow him to ride with him on the horse. To this the lad consented. and lifting himself out of the saddle, took « fession. The gallows for his execution con- the place behind in order that he might give Cavanaugh the easier seat. As they rode along Samuel related the day's experience and displayed the money he had collected. .After a time Cavanaugh turned the horse off the road into a wood. The boy objected to this and became somewhat frightened. but Cavanaugh proceeded until he reached a secluded spot, whereupon, dismounting and picking up a club, he knocked the little fel- low senseless. After Cavanaugh had pos- sessed himself of the money, the boy showed signs of returning consciousness, upon which his brutal assailant completed his work and murdered him. Ile then turned the horse loose and tled the country. Young Lofton's parents were not uneasy about his failure

to return until Mye Ine che wy Borskie of the next week. Search was the cusnoted and on the latter day the volture- gw let them to the spot where los body The On Friday an inquest was held by innudy P' x Rampey. The horrible broedityand the out rage cast a gloom urer the oshele smenti. and a large reward was offered for the ap- prehension of the murderer.

The next spring a citizen of the county took some produce to New Orleans in a tar boat. In that city he saw Cavanaugh and recognized him. He enticed him into a saloon and. when they were about to drink. proposed as a health. "Here's hoping we may meet in Greene county, Illinois." These words almost paralyzed the murderer. and he dropped the glass from his hands. Ile was promptly arrested, secured and taken to Greene county, where the case against him was so clear and he was so completely with- out money and friends, that he was promptly convicted and sentenced to be hung. He subsequently made a full circumstantial con- sisted merely of a frame supporting the beam from which the noose was suspended. It was erected about a mile northwest of Carrollton on the land that C. W. Keely now owns. On the day appointed for the execu- tion an immense concourse of people gatle ered at the county seat. Every one in range of twenty or thirty miles who could possibly leave home was present, and the roads were thronged. Cavanaugh was placed in a wagon seited upon his coffin, and sur rounded by a guard appelintel for the it- casion, of whom the late Judge Mored Ilin ton was one. Before they had procedaPer the prisoner signified a desire to walk, which was granted. At the gallows the ceremowes were brief. Jacob Fry, sheriff, Ind chrge

PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY.

of the execution and a Catholic priest offered the condemned man the consolations of re- ligion. He was placed in a wagon immedi- ately under the beam, the noose adjusted and the wagon driven from under him. The body was afterward cut down and buried under an oak tree in a corner of the field, where the bones lie today. Just about the time the execution was consummated a re- markably heavy rain storm set in, and there were. doubtless, in Carrollton that day more wet people than at any time before or since. The ladies of the aristocracy of those days wore immense paper bonnets of various hues and plentifully adorned with ribbons; the effect upon them was magical and they were soon ruined. The worthy dames were obliged to cast them aside and the roads leading to Carrollton were strewn with the wrecks of their head gear, which did not disappear for weeks.

It is further related concerning the above incident. that, some years after, a traveling expounder of the science of phrenology stopped at Carrollton to give lectures and celineations of character, and that the late George Wright, anxious to test the profes- sor's skill, dug into the grave of Cavanaugh, and taking up his skull, presented it to the phrenologist. He examined it carefully and proceeded to describe the man whose frame it once formed a part, as a person of intel- lecturil habits, gentle temper, very kind hearted, very just, etc. When told that the skull was taken from the grave of a con- fessed murderer, the delineator collapsed and lectured no more in Carrollton.

In 1833 the county was stricken with the scourge of Asiatic cholera so severely that in the space of a few weeks there were some fifty deaths from this disease. Of these thirty two died in Carrollton, two or three

along the Illinois river, a few at White Hall, and others in other parts of the county. Business was almost entirely suspended in various towns, and grass grew in the busiest street in the county. Many of the inhabi- tants of the county were panic-stricken, and would not leave their house for fear of suf- fering from the infection. Fifty deaths may seem a small number to produce so much commotion, but it should be remembered that there were, at that time, less than eight . thousand people in the whole county from Alton to Roodhouse.

The fall of 1836 is made memorable by the event known as the "sudden freeze." This was occasioned by a remarkable current of cold air passing from the northwest to the southeast directly over Greene county. . Its width extended over the entire central portion of the state. Its velocity, as near as can now be determined, about thirty miles per hour. It was felt at Jacksonville about noon and was in Lebanon, Ohio, just above Cincinnati, at nine o'clock that evening. Mr. Washington Crowder, a resident of Sangamon county, was married on the 21st day of December, 1836, and distinctly re- members going for his license the day be- fore; so that this circumstance fixes the day beyond a doubt. He was on his way to Springfield on the afternoon of the 20th. and, when a few miles below the city, had a fair view of the landscape in every direc- tion. IIe saw in the northwest a heavy, black cloud rapidly approaching him, accom- panied by a terrific, deep, bellowing sound. Closing the umbrella he was carrying over him to protect him from the falling rain, he was in the act of drawing his reins tant, when the wave came over him. At that in- stant the snow and slush under his horse's feet turned to ice, while his coat, wet with

PAST AND PRESENT OF GREENE COUNTY

the rain, became instantly as stiff as a board. He went on to Springfield when he found his clothing frozen to the saddle, and. being unable to dismount, was compelled to call an, assistant, who carried man and saddle to the fire to thaw them apart. He obtained his license, returned the same day and was mar- ried the next. The wave passed over Greene county about one or two o'clock, and came so suddenly that chickens and small an- imals were frozen in their tracks. Several inches of snow had fallen in a short time be- fore, but on that day it was quite warm, with light, spring-like showers, and the whole earth was covered with slush and wa- ter. The change was so sudden and the wind so strong that the water in the ponds in the road froze in waves, sharp-edged and pointed, as the gale had blown it.

One old settler remembers the day as warm and showery during the forenoon : but about two o'clock in the afternoon it grew dark as if a rainstorm was coming, and, in an instant, the strong wind, with the icy blast, came and all was frozen. Hurrying around to save some stock that he was fat- tening, he was able to get part of it under shelter, but most of the animals suffered se- verely. The creek was about bankful of wa- ter, and as his horses, wagons, etc., were on the north side, and his house on the south side, he was anxious to get all near the house that he might take better care of them. The next morning early, with his brother and some other help, he went to the creek to get the animals across, but the horses, not being shod and the ice smooth, they cut the ice in pieces to get a track wide enough for a wag- on. and with poles punched it to one side and then drove through the water. The ice had frozen in the short time between two o'clock p. m. and nine o'clock the next morn-

ing fully six makes think. The de Tours

zen to death. Walking delyes ile Lgs diey were suddenly chilled, and. failing off. they were unable to move agam Travel wasap most entirely suspended, and the whole cons- try had the appearance of a vast field of ice. When it was absolutely essential to venture out, the unshod horses were unable to make any progress and very little use was made of them. This remarkable event fixes the date of many occurrences in the history of the county. It is yet vividly remembered by the residents of that date, who relate many interesting reminiscences concern- ing it.

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Past and present of Greene County, Illinois, Part 8

Author: Miner, Ed. (Edward), 1835- Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 666

Author: Miner, Ed. (Edward), 1835-
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 666