USA > Illinois > Menard County > Past and present of Menard County, Illinois > Part 13
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
lay they were obliged to open a pathway to : shock of corn in order to secure enough for themselves and their linnted amount of stock. James Meadows, who was a millwright by trade. built a mill in 1831 on what is now the H. 11. Marbold place. It was of the old 'tread-wheel" type, but it served to "crack the corn" for the hungry natives till they could do better. This mill continued in operation about eight years and then became obsolete The mill at "New Salem" did the greater part of the work supplying the people with corn- meal during this period, however. Many of the settlers got their supply of bread stuff from Springfield for a great many years. The Methodist circuit rider and the school teacher came into the settlement about the same time. Robert Rayburn taught the first school in Irish Grove. He had been a teacher in Kentucky before he came to Illinois. This was a sub- scription school and was taught in a log cabin in the grove. This was before the day of schoolhouse, and long before the day of Free schools. That old Methodist pioncer. Peter Cartwright. is claimed by many Methodists to have preached the first sermon that was ever preached in Trish Grove, but this is evidently a mistake for there had been services there be- fore he came to Illinois. True he preached at the cabin of Mr. Stone not only before the building of churches but before there were any Schoolhouse- built. Also two Methodist itin- prants. Revs. Hargus and MeLemore, were ear- ly in the feld doing the work of the Master.
About the year 1831 or 1832. a log school- house was built in the Grove, and soon after- ward the Rev. John G. Burgin. of Springfield, organized the Irish Grove congregation of the Presbyterian church. (O. S.) in that same house. This, in time, grow into an active and domi-hing congregation, built a neat and sub- stantial brick house of worship and a parson- age, and for many years had a settled pastor and did a great deal of good. But times of dearth at last came and by deaths and removals they incame so weak that they removed to Sweetwater and that is now the center of the congregation. See a further account of them in the history of the Presbyterian church in an- other place. The brick church in the Grove
3
was built in 1865 at a cost of about three thousand dollars and at that time the congre- gation numbered over one hundred.
The first death in this section of country that is remembered with any degree of certain- ty was that of Miss Mary Ann Walker, who died September 8, 1830. But doubtless there were deaths of early pioneer- before this time. A son of Mr. Lucas died here at an early date. the date can not be definitely fixed. but it was probably before that of Mr. Walker's daughter. Moses Stone, mentioned among the early set- tlers in another place, died in 1831. and his wife survived him only about two weeks. They left a family of twelve children, four of whom died within a year after the death of their pa- rents. These dead were laid to rest in the Irish Grove cemetery. a regularly laid-out plot of ground on section 21. where most of the pio- hver dead "sleep the sleep that knows no wak- ing." These grounds were afterward enlarged and incorporated. and it is now neatly kept and is one of the beautiful "Cities of the Dead" in Menard county. The first birth in this section was that of George Borders but the exact date could not be given. The first mar- riage was that of AAlexander Gilmer and Mis- Jane Walker. on the 4th of November 1830. the ceremony being performed by Rev. Bur- gen. They went, immediately after marriage to Kentucky, where they remained for three or four years, and then returned to the same neighborhood, where they spent the remainder of their lives, and were buried in the Irish Grove cemetery, near their old home.
Dr. Morgan, of "Old Sangamon Town." was the first disciple of Aesculapius to practico medicine in this section. At that time there was not a doctor's shingle swinging to the bronze at every crossroads and every country store as there was some years later. Nor did the people get sick then as often and easy as they do now and when they did get sick with the malaria ("breakbone" fever, as they called bilious fever) of the inevitable chills, they combated it with "roots and herbs." and either cured it or died without the aid of the doctor or the burden of his bill.
The first justice of the peace was John W. Patterson, but several years before his appoint-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
ment there had been two or three such dis- penser- of justice in the Sugar Grove. Polit- ically this section is Republican. usually giving a safe majority to that party. In the Civil war this section did it- duty fully, turning out a large number of brave and efficient soldiers. An entire company was raised in Irish Grove at an early period of the war, but by some in- evensable mistake the company was credited to Logan county. By failing in this manner to ret credit for recruits, the precinct afterward had to stand a draft-the result of pure neg- lect. This draft. however, was small as the quotas were filled in advance. Sammel IT. Blane enlisted as a private and rose to the rank of captain of Company K of the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. Owing to ill health he was forced to resign and was succeeded by Gage S. Grit- man, who was promoted to fill his place. Both. of these were from Irish Grove and were the only commissioned officers that the Grove could boast. The private soldiers were the sturdy sons of the soil and they most gallantly sus- tained the reputation of Illinois soldiers on many a bloody and hard-fought field.
VILLAGE OF GREENVIEW.
The town of Greenview is eligibly located in a- time a section of farming lands as the birds fly over. It is four miles from Salt creek and six miles from the Sangamon river on the Jacksonville branch of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. in section 23. township 19, range 6 west of the third principal meridian. It was laid out October 2. 1856, by Elder William En- gle, elsewhere mentioned in this work as one of the pioneers of this county and as one who did more to make this section of country what it is than any other of the old settlers perhaps. and whose influence for good in many respects is still felt and will be felt for years to come. The land on which the town stands was orig- inally owned by Charles L. Montgomery. The name Greenview was given in honor of Hon. William G. Greene, a prominent and wealthy citizen of Tallula, who died there some years ago. The first dwelling house created in Greenview was put up by Robert MeReynolds soon after the town was laid out and in a very
short time .James Stone created a dwelling al-a. The first brick house was built by John Wil- kinson, who was an Englishman by birth. and of whom we speak more at length in another place. This was a substantial and roomy house. two stories high and, for that day. It was a line building. It has been for years, and is now. used as a hotel. The first business horse of any importance was built by Robert Mekey- nolds and was occupied by him as a store. There is a question as to whether MeReynolds or Emanuel Meyer & Brother were the first merchants in the place. It is a question of ah- solutely no moment but it serves to illustrate how easy it is for a whole community to for- get. just in a few years. matter- that it would seem that all would remember. The Chicago & Alton Railroad was completed through here in 1861. and about this time SDa- Bockmin opened a general store here. The first hotel was kept by John Wilkinson. Jacob Propet opened and conducted the first blacksmith shop in the place: and Drs. Davis and Call way were the first physicians to dispense quinine and Fowler's solution to the denizens of the vil- lage. Some years later a flooring mill was built by MeCormit Brother- at a cost of about ten thousand dollars. In January of 1875 this mill was burned to the ground and the town has never since possessed a mill. Harvey You- man was first to handle grain in Greenview. In 1868 he built an elevator on the ground now occupied by the one just across the railroad tracks from the depot. Yeaman run it for a tino and then sold out to Morse & Company. who raised it and built a story under it. This was on the principle of the Irishman's mode of building a chinmey: "Laying down a brick and then putting some others under it." But while it is common to build a story on a house. it is a recent addition to architectural skill to build a story under one. But a few years back the Old State House at Springfield-a solid stone building. was raised and an eleven foot story was put under it One or two elevators have been burned in Greenview but they still have two elevators there, which do an immense business.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organ- ized in Greenview in 188, the original organ-
PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
ization was formed in Old Newmarket, but when that historie town went down the church. or rather the congregation, was moved to the town of Greenview. Later they built a com- fortable building there, but at present they have no preaching. See the history of the Methodist church elsewhere.
Greenview was incorporated a- a village by special act of the legislature and its charter dated May 6. 1869. The first board of trus- ters were C. R. Pierer. G. W. Hatch, John Anderson. Fred Wilkinson and .A. 11. Bogar- dus. This was the board upon organization umler the charter, but as far back as March. Ists. the records show regular proceedings of a board of trustees, which was as follows: C. R. Pierce, J. W. Guver. John Anderson. Fred Wilkinson and 1. 11. Bogardus. These were -worn in by H. H. Marbold. Of the first board under the charter. C. R. Pierer was president. and W. S. Morse, clork. On the 7th of March, 1822. it was re-incorporated under the general law of the state, under which char- ter it is still run. It now has a population of about fifteen hundred and is a thriving. active business town. It has one large coal shaft do- ing an immense business: three first-class dry goods stores: five grocery stores: two hardware stores: two restaurants: two butcher shops: one drug store : two jewelers ; one harness shop : two lumberyards: one undertaker: one fui- niture store: two grain elevators; one bank : one hotel: two blacksmith shops: three sa- loan -: five churches: and two carpenter shops. Besides these there are five resident ministers : four physicians and one printing office. in which "The Greenview Leader" is printed and which does all kinds of job printing in the best of style. They also have a splendid pub- lie square, beautifully adorned with trees ; they also have electrie lights, and an excellent sys- tem of water works. One strange feature of the town is that it has no cemetery. Their dead are mostly taken to Petersburg for burial. There are several small cemeteries near there where many of their dead repose, but most of them. as above stated, are taken to Petersburg for interment. There certainly should be a cemetery. owned and controlled by the viti- zens of the town. nothing can be needed more.
But the day is not far distant when some large- hearted and philanthropie citizen will rise up to supply this great need, and thus, not only do the community a lasting favor, but at the same time will rear a monument which will be more enduring than granite, brass or bronze.
There was never any school in the village propor till the year 1822. A long time back (in the latter part of the '50s. perhaps) a brick school house was built southeast of the town and here for several years they had school. In 1820 they completed a brick school building in the then south part of the town at a cost of about ten thousand dollars. This continued four large rooms, with halls, cloak-rooms, etc. Professor D. M. Harris taught the first school in this building. Some years later another building was erected on the adjoining lots. containing two large and elegant rooms, one for the high school and the other for the gram- mar grade. Since the erection of the first building they have hal from right to nine months school in the town every year. They have a regular four years' high school course. with a full corps of teachers for the lower grades. Professor Robert C. Hiett has been principal of this school for the past five years and under his ctlicient direction it is accom- plishing a noble work. See further account under the head .Education."
OLD SALEM
"New Salem." the ancient village of Menard county, now so completely obliterated by time that not a vestige of it is left. save a low place in the ground where the store stood in which Lincoln sold goods, was once the center of business for a large scope of country. It is. or was. situated on the "Heights of Abraham." some hundred feet or more above the waters of the raging Sangamon, and about two miles south of the town of Petersburg. On the 13th of October, 1829, it was surveyed and laid out by Rouben Harrison, for Rutledge and Cam- eron, the owners of the land. The first build- ings were a couple of cabins, erected as dwel- lings for John Cameron and James Rutledge.
PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
The first business house was erected by Sammel Hill and John MeNamar for a store, in which they soon after opened a stock of goods, prob- aldy the first store opened in the limits of what is now Menard county. The next store was opened by George Warburton, who, in a short time removed to Petersburg and became one of the proprietor- of that town. It is said that Warburton was an excellent business man. a fine scholar. and without an enemy, only his terrible appetite for strong drink. Afterward he was found drowned in the Sangamon where the water was not over six inches doop. Wheth- er it was a case of suicide or not. no one ever knew. Ile sold his store in Salem to two brothers by the name of Crisman, who came from Virginia. After remaining only a short time they sold all their possessions and moved away. A postoffice was established at Salem in 1830. and some say this was the first in the county. John MeNamar was the first post- master, but after a couple of years he was ste- veeded by Abraham Lincoln, who served in that capacity till he removed to Springfield. Dr. Allen was the first practicing physician to set- tle in Salem. He and his brother came here together. Dr. Duncan was another carly prae- titioner in this locality. Joshua Miller was the first blacksmith in the place. Edmund Greer. deep learned in law, was the first magistrate to deal out justice to the denizens of the infant city, and when the law business ran slack he played the pedagogue to fill in time and was the first school teacher here, as well as the first justice of the prace. John Kelso opened the first hotel. and in the hospitable walls of this hotel he played the host to whatever strangers might pass that way. Rutledge and Cameron built the first mill that was here and it sup- plied a much-felt want to the settlers in an area of at least fifty miles in every direction. This is the mill over the dam of which Abraham Lincoln piloted the flatboat and, with a display of tart and ingenuity wholly astonishing to those who witnessed the operation. relieved the boat of water, by a new style of pump. not much in ne on board of vessels in that day or at the present. for he bored an anger hole in the bottom of the sunken boat and let the water out. This is an actual fact. but the
story has been told sa often that we will not tax the reader's patience by repeating it here.
Salem mill was known far and near and was patronized by a very large district. It stood under the bluff on which the town was located and was a very primitive affair. It is thus described by a local writer of the time: "It consisted of two or three log pens. anchored with cocks, upon which was created a platform. where a pair of rough stones were placed. and driven by a water-wheel attached to an up- right shaft." It was considerably improved, however, before Salom became extinet. In 1852 it was bought by Abraham Bale, who set to work to remodel and improve it but before he accomplished this purpose he was taken ill and died. His sons, however. finished the work that he had undertaken. completed it and operated the mill for many years. One of these sons. T. V. Bale, continued to run it till about twenty or twenty-five years ago, when it was burned to the ground. No sign of ally part of the mill remains but a few rotted sticks, protruding from the mud and sand. showing where the dam once was, but the river. in seeming disgust. has changed its channel and left the site of the dam out on dry land. On the hill where the village stood there is no sign to tell where it was, save the depression in the ground. where the cellar of Lincoln's store was. Out of the center of this, seeming- ly from one root. arises two trees, an chn and a sveamore, but one is dead, and the other dy- ing. from the countless names that have been ont in their bark. No human habitation is near and it seems the dwelling place of desola- tion. This is a synopsis of the carly history of Salem except the connection with it of Abraham Lincoln. Upon this point there has been so much written that we will not dwell upon it here. With the statement of a few facts we will close this chapter. Mr. Lincoln was born in Kentucky. Stuve in his history of Illinois says: "Abraham Lincoln was born in La Rue (now Hardin ) county. Kentucky. about two miles south of the village of Hodgens- ville. February 12. 1809. Here his father had taken up a land claim of three hundred acres. rough, broken and poor, containing a fine spring, known to this day as the 'Lincoln
SKETCH FROM MEMORY
BUILT IN 1831.
THE
BY J.G. SPEARS. TALLULA. ILL.
FIRST "MILL ERECTED IN OLD SALEM WHERE
ARE LINCOLN WORKED.
PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
spring. Unable to pay for the unproductive land, the claim was abandoned and the family moved from place to place, in the neighbor- hood. being very destitute. These removals. occurring while Abraham was scarcely more than an infant, have given rise to different statements as to the exact place of his birth. It is said that in that part of Kentucky no less than four places claim the honor. Thomas Lincoln. Abraham's father, moved to Spencer county, Indiana. in 1816. Hore he remained till 1830, when he removed to Ilinois, and settled in Macon county, on the north fork of the Sangamon river, ten miles northwest of Decatur. In 1833 he removed to Coles county. where he died several years later. There in a quiet little cemetery. known as "Gordon's grave- vard." he sleeps the last sleep. In 1869 Robert T. Lincoln visited his grandfather's grave and erected over it a marble slab, with suitable inscription. So after almost forty years this humble grave has been marked. As appropri- ate in this place, we give a poem, written by a citizen of Coles county, on Thomas Lincoln's death, which went the rounds of the press at the time and appeared in several of the lead- ing magazines, entitled the "Grave of the Father of Abraham Lincoln."
"In a low. sweet vale by a murmmring rill. The pioneer's ashes are sleeping : Where the white marble slabs are lonely and still.
In silence their vigils are keeping.
On their sad, lonely faces are words of fame. But none of them speak of his glory ; When the pioneer died. his age and his name. No monument whispers the story.
No myrtle. no ivy, nor hyacinth blow> O'er the lonely grave where they laid him : No cedar nor holly nor almond-tree grows Near the plebeian's grave to shade him.
Bright evergreens wave over many a grave. O'er some how the sad weeping willow : But no willow tree hows. nor evergreens wave, Where the pioneer sleeps on his pillow.
Some'are inhumed with the honors of state. And laid beneath temples to molder : The grave of the father of Lincoln the Great. Is known by a hilloek and boulder.
Let him take his lone sleep. and gently rest.
With naught to disturb or awake him : When the angels shall come to gather the blest To Abraham's bosom, they'll take him."
When Abraham Lincoln lived at Old Salem he boarded with John Armstrong. Some years later Mr. AArmstrong was killed by a horse and his wife was left a widow, with a house full of little children. Shortly before the beginning of the war, her oldest son, Wil- liam. "Duff" as he was called, was charged with the crime of murder, said to have been committed in Mason county. AAll are familiar with the story, that has been told a thousand times, of Lincoln defending and clearing him of the charge, and of Mrs. Armstrong's eternal gratitude for this act of kindness on the part of Mr. Lincoln. We feel that it is a duty to give, in "The Past and Present of Menard County." a brief sketch of this family. as they lived in this county.
Mrs. Armstrong's maiden name was Hannah Jones, sister of Fiddler and Butcher Jones, as they were nick-named. She was born in 1811. When quite young she was married to John Armstrong. They lived for a time near Old Salem, and during that time Lincoln boarded with them. After Armstrong was killed she lived on a forty acres of land that she had bought. in Mason county. It was while liv- ing there that this great trouble on account of "Duff" came upon her. After some years she was married to John Wilcox. with whom she lived happily for many years. They removed to lowa and Mr. Wilcox died there, In Au- gus1, 1890. "Aunt Hannah" died in Winterset. lowa, and her remains were brought to Peters- burg for burial. and the writer preached her funeral, in the Cumberland Presbyterian church. in that place. She died August 21. 1890. William t"Duff") died at his home in Ashland. Illinois. May 2. 1900, at the age of sixty-three years. Four of the Armstrong children are still living: AA. P. Armstrong. Ashland, Illinois: John Armstrong. Oakford. Illinois: Eliza Smith. Mason City, Illinois : and Robert Armstrong. Winterset, lowa. Mrs. Armstrong was an uneducated woman. but one of the clearest-minded women the writer ever
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
met. Her gratitude to and admiration for Mr. Lincoln was something sublime.
OVERSTREET.
John Overstreet. Sr. was born in Bedford county. Virginia, in 115s, and served in the patriot army during the seven years of the Revolutionary war. He was married to Nancy Dabney, in the year 1283. They had four children born to them in Bedford county. They afterward removed to Cavell county. West Virginia, where they lived the remainder of their lives. Their son John Overstreet. who was born in Bedford county. Virginia, was mar- ried to Suzan Roberts, in Cabell county. West Virginia, some time prior to the breaking out of the second war with England. in 1812. He volunteered in the American army (the son of a Revolutionary soldier, could not well do otherwise), and leaving his young wite. he want to the front. to fight the battles of his country. At thattime the Indians. taking ad- vantage of the disturbed state of the country. and. perhaps, incited by British emmissarios. gave great annoyance to the people of the Virginias, by frequent forays of murder. pil- lage and rapine. While in the army, he heard that his wife had been murdered by the In- dians, a common event in these times-and not a great while after he was, himself. made a prisoner by one of the savage allied tribes of the English. Soon after his capture preparation- were made to burn him at the stake. A- was the enstom of the red demons, they began to prepare to subject him to all the torture that their fiendish nature, could invent. He knew it was but death. in its most cruel form. and so when one of the "big braves" offered him a foul indignity. Overstreet's blood boiled at the mult and collecting all his strength. he gave the heartless brave such a crushing blow that it sent him headlong into the fire that had been kindled to torture Overstreet. This act of daring bravery. in the face of what seemed certain death, so aroused the admiration of the other Indians, that he was saved from torture. he being considered too noble a brave to die this. some time afterward he was sold to
another tribe and by them taken to Canada. where after a time he by some chance fell into the hands of white men, by whom he was held. for two or three years, in a kind of semi- slavery. but was finally given his full liberty. Not long after this he met a woman between whom and himself there sprang up a mutual affection and they were married. In due course of time a child was born to them. but Dante Fortune seemed again to frown upon him. for soon after this the child and then the mother died. Once more he found himself alone in the world and for a time wandered aimlessly from place to place, until at last he was seized with a yearning desire to again visit the - ene- of his earlier and happier life. So he at oner began preparations for the long and weall journey from Canada to Virginia. After many hardship- and danger- he at last arrived. font- sore and weary. in the vicinity of his former home. A strange and impelling power led him to visit once more the cabin where he had lived for a few short months, in comfort and happiness, with the wife he had loved so fondly. He came in sight of the old home: there stood the same rude cabin. under the shadow of the same wide-spreading trees, and from the chimney that his own hands bad Imilt, the bhie smoke purled upward and his heart filled with emotion. a- memory carried him back to other and happier days. Aimlessly and dreamily he approached the door and rapped for entrance. In a moment footsteps were heard within. the rade door turned on its wooden hinges, and the wife of his youth stood before him. They gazed upon each other for a few moments in amazed and bewildered astonishment. She had heard of his capture by the Indians and his death of torture. Being a woman of refine- ment and beauty, she was not compelled to live long in widowed loneliness, but for a long time the repelled the advances of a host of suitors. until convinced in her own mind of her hus- band's death, and wearying of her lonely life. she at length married again. Overcome by the sudden appearance of one so long supposed to be dead. she fell to the floor. in a deathlike -woon. Just at this time the loisband appeared on the scene and after she had sufficiently re- vived. the three hold a most solemn and painful
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