USA > Illinois > Mercer County > Past and present of Mercer County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 12
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"The last call! Fill up the old regiments! Enlist now, secure the bounty and avoid the draft! The undersigned has received authority to enlist men in the United States service under the late call of 'Father Abraham.' All persons desiring to serve their country and at the same time receive a liberal bounty should do so imme- diately and avoid the draft. Call at my office, Main street, New Boston, Illinois. M. R. Good."
On Thanksgiving, 1863, a collection of nearly one hundred dol- lars was taken up at the Free Presbyterian Church in Aledo for the purpose of purchasing reading matter for the soldiers.
The Viola soldiers' aid festival on Thanksgiving Eve, 1863, at the Viola House was attended by a large assemblage of citizens and over one hundred dollars net was realized. The hotel was packed with people ready to aid the cause of the soldier. A "postoffice" and a "grab bag" yielded much amusement and a goodly sum of money. It was noted that nearly all the receipts were in the new postal currency of the government.
In November, 1863, at a public meeting near Bridger's Corners, a squad of Copperheads wearing butternut pins was attacked by a band of soldiers who tore off and destroyed the emblems. The soldiers were arrested by the civil authorities upon warrants sworn out by the Copperheads, taken to Keithsburg and tried for assault and battery, but were acquitted. The trial cost the Copperheads about three hundred dollars, not counting the butternuts.
At a large massmeeting of the citizens held in the courthouse, Aledo, early in December, 1863, a committee consisting of three from each township was appointed to devise ways and means to clear the county of its quota. Several eloquent speeches were made and the determination to escape the threatened draft was manifest. A few days later, December 12th, another large meeting was held, S. R. Moore serving as chairman and J. B. Rathbun as secretary. Col. W. I. Nevius stated the object of the meeting. J. W. Miles sub- mitted the following resolution, which was adopted unanimously :
Resolved, That the board of supervisors be and are hereby peti- tioned to pay a bounty of $10 per month to all who now have or may hereafter volunteer in the service of the United States for the term spent in said service, to them or their heirs, guardians or assigns, as the case may be. The following introduced by J. S. Hughes was also passed.
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Resolved, That a committee of two from each township be ap- pointed to procure subscribers to a petition asking the board of su- pervisors to meet on Thursday, the 17th inst., to act upon a petition that will then be laid before them.
The following were named as such committee: North Hender- son-Joshua Bruner, William Jones; Rivoli-J. W. Miles, Lyman Smith; Richland Grove- Dr. J. B. Rathbun, E. S. Roberts; Suez- James Hughes, Robert Caldwell; Greene-J. V. Frazier, William N. Carnahan; Preemption- George Morey, David Little; Ohio Grove-S. M. Dihel, A. G. Burnett; Mercer- H. S. Senter, Elisha Miles; Perryton-Alvah Coffman, Benjamin Dunn; Abington- M. R. Gushee, J. C. Ogle ; Millersburg-William M. Brown, W. A. Bridgford; Duncan-William Shafer, Martin Boyd; Keithsburg- Washington Wolf, B. F. Taliaferro; New Boston-B. F. Thompson, G. W. Sanders; Eliza-M. A. Cook, D. F. Noble.
It was later figured out that if the county board should really pass a resolution to give each volunteer a bounty of $10 per month while in the service that the 1,500 men already in the field, should they serve three years each, would receive $540,000. It was then seen that this sum was too high.
By December 22, 1863, Colonel Nevius had secured fifteen re- cruits and dispatched them to the front to join the old companies. At a big war meeting in New Boston in December ten recruits were secured and $400 was raised for soldiers' families; there were sev- eral $50 subscriptions. There was great enthusiasm, the recruits being for Company I, Seventeenth Regiment. A soldiers' festival at the house of George Simms, Rivoli Township, in December, netted $60. A big supper by the Union League of Aledo about the same time netted over one hundred and sixty dollars; it was held at the Barton House. A supper given by the Ladies' Soldiers Aid Society of Suez Township on the 23d yielded $156. Speeches were made by J. H. Nash, Rev. D. G. Bradford and others. This society sent large quantities of hospital stores to the sanitary commission.
The county board passed the following preamble and resolution in January, 1864: Whereas, It has been ascertained by members of this board that C. H. Bell & Brother (of New Boston) have donated largely to the relief of families of volunteers in furnishing them with meat; therefore, Resolved, That the thanks of this board be and are hereby tendered to them on behalf of said families. In January the citizens of New Boston raised by subscription $500 more for the relief of soldiers' families. At one of their meetings several declared that the community must raise the amount of $1,000. In
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this respect New Boston led the county at this time. In January the citizens of Keithsburg to the number of twenty-five with a dozen teams or more chopped and hauled wood for soldiers' families across the frozen river, to the number of seventy loads-four loads for each family needing wood. On February 18th, a free dinner to all sol- diers and their families was given at the North Henderson United Presbyterian Church. It was a grand reunion for the soldiers and was conducted by a special committee of the citizens.
The citizens of Suez Township met at Caldwell schoolhouse, February 6, 1864, to devise means to fill the quota of the township. E. D. Crouch presided and J. S. Hughes served as secretary. C. S. Richey, C. S. Caldwell, James Buchanan, S. R. Moore and Christ Hart prepared a program of action. The meeting passed resolutions deciding to offer a special bounty of $100 each for about fifteen recruits to free the township from the draft and appointed C. S. Richey, W. A. Dryden and B. W. McLaughlin a special committee to circulate the subscription paper. The meeting subscribed $400 at once.
The Ladies' Union League of Aledo held a dinner and sociable at the Barton House, February 18th, and in addition rendered a musical entertainment; a large sum for the soldiers was realized. On February 22d, an elaborate concert at the Methodist Church, New Boston, secured a large sum for the soldiers; the New Boston String Band furnished free music. About this time Serg. D. T. Hindman secured seventeen recruits for Company I, Seventeenth Regiment, in this county. Miss Martha N. Thornton, of Millers- burg, had done so much for the soldiers in the field, camp and hos- pital, that Company I, Forty-fifth Regiment, purchased and sent her a present costing $30 as a reward for her efforts and success in softening the rigors of war for them.
In 1858 an indentured apprentice named George Pickup lived with George Scott at High Point, Mercer County. Suddenly he became missing under what were alleged to be suspicious circum- stances. Mr. Scott inserted the following advertisement in the Aledo Record :
"Reward $5. Runaway from the subscriber on the 12th of Au- gust, George Pickup, an indentured apprentice. All persons are hereby forbid to harbor or trust the said George Pickup on my account, as I will pay no debts of his contracting and will pay the above reward for his return. George Scott, High Point, August 31, 1858."
Why such a suspicion should arise is not known, but it is a fact that rumors began to circulate that all was not right and that the
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
advertisement was inserted as a mere blind to conceal foul play. Once started the rumors grew in extent and magnitude until there was a general belief throughout the county that Mr. Scott was guilty of some criminal act. Witnesses appeared who stated that articles of the boy's clothing had been found, bones discovered, etc., until finally the grand jury were induced to investigate the alleged murder of the boy, but sufficient evidence to convict could not be found and the matter was dropped, though the accusation still remained to condemn Mr. Scott and the members of his family. Nearly six years passed. In the meantime the boy had lived in or near Oquawka, had enlisted in the Tenth Illinois Infantry Regiment, had served bravely with his company and had recently reenlisted. Mr. Scott heard of his existence about the same time that the boy learned of the suspicion attached to the Scott family. Early in February, 1864, the boy, now a man-bronzed and bearded-returned to the Scott farm in order to dispel the false suspicion. He received a hearty welcome at the Scott home. In company with Mr. Scott he visited Aledo and announced that he had not been killed by Mr. Scott, was very much alive and desired to see an end of the unjust suspicion against Mr. Scott. Immediately all the scandal-mongers who had fed Mother Rumor with suspicions and lies, became the warmest friends of. Mr. Scott, had known always that the reports were false and had done their best to counteract the rumors, etc. Had the boy been killed in battle or never been heard of again, the suspicion would still rest against this worthy family-would probably never have been wholly removed or dispelled. There was a general demand that the witnesses who had come so near convicting Mr. Scott should be punished for their perjuries, but nothing was done.
In March, 1864, the Mercer County volunteers, in Companies A and G, Thirtieth Regiment, who had reenlisted for the war, or veteranized, came home on a furlough and were received with un- bounded joy and pride by their friends, relatives and acquaintances. They left Vicksburg March 5, came up the river by boat and landed at Keithsburg on the 18th, where they were warmly welcomed by the whole populace. There was no formal reception, because the date of their arrival was unknown. But they were welcomed at hundreds of firesides.
At the spring session (1864) of the county board a large sum of money was paid out from the military fund for the relief of soldiers and their families. They ordered that all bills for medical attendance to soldiers or soldiers' families presented for allowance should be accompanied by affidavit of services rendered, the number
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
of visits made and that the patient was a soldier or a member of a soldier's family.
It was planned late in March, 1864, to give all the soldiers at home on veteran furlough a grand and formal reception at the Barton House on March 31st. In order to meet this big outlay all the citizens were asked to contribute large baskets of eatables, etc. A large crowd assembled from far out in the country until fully twelve hundred were present. The ladies took possession of the viands and soon the tables were loaded with the good things and tastefully decorated with flags, evergreens and mottoes. So great was the crowd that the tables were kept full for six hours. The soldiers and their wives or best girls were feasted first. There were nearly one hundred and fifty soldiers present and all were treated royally. Rev. J. S. Poage welcomed them to the county, to their homes and to the bounteous repast set before them. He was followed by Colonel Shedd on behalf of the soldiers. The Thirtieth Regiment was rep- resented by the veterans of Companies A and G; the Twentieth by the veterans of Company G; the Forty-fifth by the veterans of Com- pany I; besides other commands were represented by small squads. The banquet was greatly enjoyed by the veterans and by all present.
By April 2, 1864, Lieutenant Kidd had secured forty-seven re- cruits from all parts of the county for nearly all of the old com- panies that had gone to the war from this portion of the state. They were permitted to join any company and regiment they wished. Of the number eleven came from Keithsburg and eight from Mercer Township.
Upon receipt of the call for 100 day men, in April, 1864, the county prepared to raise its quota. Meetings to secure recruits were at once held in Keithsburg, New Boston, Aledo, Viola and other centers. In ten days seventy-one volunteers were raised and sworn in at Aledo alone. They left for the front on May 18th and were commanded by Russell S. Osborn, captain; George Boone, first lieutenant; Van R. Harriott, second lieutenant. At this time there were six or eight cases of smallpox in the county.
In March, 1864, the citizens of Preemption Township held a fair and festival for the soldiers and the receipts amounted to $175. A similar festival given by the citizens of Suez Township for the soldiers' benefit netted about one hundred and fifty dollars. Over six hundred persons were present. Gen. A. C. Harding was one of the speakers. The soldiers were feasted free; all others were re- quired to pay.
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The North Henderson Soldiers' Aid Society was organized in July, 1863. In one year they sent five tierces and six boxes of cloth- ing and hospital stores-total value of the articles sent was $467.58. They were forwarded to the sanitary commission at Cairo. Total amount raised, including the above, $602.68.
In July, 1864, came the call of President Lincoln for 500,000 more men. This staggered the county, but all went to work hero- ically to raise the assigned quota. It was openly announced that every able-bodied man must go or furnish a substitute. The quota for this county was about one hundred and sixty men. Large bounties were offered and volunteers were permitted to enlist for one, two or three years and were paid accordingly. The One Hundred Day Com- pany became a member of the One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment, of which Lorenzo H. Whitney became colonel. In August came the news that Colonel Shedd and part of his company had been captured at Atlanta. Also came the news of the terrible fighting at Chancellorsville, Spottsylvania and other places in Virginia.
The draft for the Fourth Congressional District came off at Quincy, September 5, 1864. Just before it occurred the following letter was received from the district provost marshal :
"PROVOST MARSHAL'S OFFICE, "Fourth Congressional District, Illinois "Quincy, August 30, 1864.
"Editors of Aledo Record. Sirs-Let me congratulate you on the war record of your County of Mercer. The quotas for this dis- trict have reached us today from the office of the acting assistant provost-marshal-general of Illinois, Springfield, where all quotas are made due. They show that Mercer County has to raise seventeen men : Six from Abington and Ohio Grove, and eleven from Perry- ton, Preemption and Richland Grove. Can't you raise these men and avoid the draft?
"Yours respectfully, "HENRY ASBURY."
A later letter from Captain Asbury showed that the county as a whole was 117 men ahead of all calls, but that notwithstanding this fact the county sub-districts that were behind would have to furnish their full quotas. The following was the official record :
Sub-Districts
Total Quotas
Total Credits
Excess
Deficit
Suez and North Henderson.
307
318
11
Abington and Ohio Grove.
242
236
6
Keithsburg and New Boston
276
346
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
Sub-Districts
Total Quotas
Total Credits
Excess
Deficit
Eliza, Duncan and Millersburg
281
293
12
Mercer. Greene and Rivoli ..
232
274
41
. .
Perryton. Preemption and Richland Grove
301
290
. .
11
1,639
1,757
134
17
At the September term, 1864, of the county board soldiers' claims to the amount of about thirteen hundred dollars were ordered paid out of the military fund upon recommendation of the committee on military claims. The board also levied 20 cents on each $100 valua- tion for the military fund and 30 cents for general county purposes. An amendment to make the military levy 15 cents instead of 20 cents was defeated.
The ladies refreshment stand at the County Fair for the soldiers in 1864 was a fine success, the total receipts being $371.42, and the expenses only $31.56. The Agricultural Society donated the ground and stand free and otherwise aided in the success of the movement. In addition Graham Lee presented the proceeds of the sale of a premium hog and the premium itself amounting in all to about forty-five dollars, to the stand. The ladies of Millersburg deserved and were given credit for the success of the movement.
In the fall of 1864 so many of the old soldiers returned on their veteran furloughs after three years of service that they were pub- licly and ceremoniously received at several places in the county. The reception at New Boston was particularly fine and imposing. There was an immense crowd present for that time and all enjoyed the barbecue of four beeves, four sheep and dozens of turkeys and chickens, besides the speeches of the citizens and the replies of the brave boys. Captain McManus delivered one of the principal speeches. The Aledo Sax-Horn Band furnished the music.
Formal notice was given on October 5, 1864, by Assistant Provost Marshal R. B. Ungles, of the Fourth Congressional District, Keiths- burg, that the draft would take place in this county that week unless the quota was filled. The number required was four from Ohio Grove and Abington and five from Perryton and Preemption. The two sub-districts not having furnished their quotas, were subjected to the draft on October 29, 1864. Three men and their alternates were drafted from Ohio Grove and Abington and five from Perryton, Preemption and Richland Grove.
On October 26, 1864, the Soldiers' Aid Society of Keithsburg gave a public festival which netted $105. The attendance was large and all cheerfully contributed to the wants of the suffering boys
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
in the hospitals. The Mellengers donated the free use of the hall, and Rev. Samuel Hart delivered an appropriate address. The Sun- beam Glee Club and the Keithsburg Brass Band supplied the music. Ad Wolf was secretary of the society at this time.
In November, 1864, Judge E. Gilmore distributed $4,262 which had been sent him by the members of Company K, One Hundred and Second Regiment, to be handed to their families. There were twenty-seven sums of one hundred dollars each or over thus dis- tributed, the largest being $160.
Sherman's march to the sea late in 1864 was watched with intense interest and enthusiasm in this county. Mercer County boys were with him. At Thanksgiving services in Aledo over one hundred dollars was contributed to the sanitary commission. No doubt every other church in the county made similar collections and contributions. The North Henderson Soldiers' Aid Society raised over one hundred and fifty dollars in December, 1864, and January, 1865. Late in Decem- ber came the news that Sherman's army had found a base on the Atlantic, had captured Savannah and was sweeping through the heart of the Confederacy, and the joy was spontaneous and prolonged. All now saw that a few decisive engagements would end the rebel- lion, end slavery, save the Union and reward the heroes for their wounds, losses and sacrifices. About this time came another call for 300,000 men, and again the county bent to the task of filling the quota. Its quota was comparatively small, owing to the excess under pre- vious calls.
OFFICIAL QUOTA AND EXCESS, FEBRUARY, 1865
TOWNSHIPS
QUOTA
EXCESS
North Henderson
20
. .
Rivoli
15
. .
Richland Grove
17
. .
Suez
5
. .
Greene
9
. .
Preemption
17
. .
Ohio Grove
22
. .
Mercer
14
Perryton
22
. .
Abington
22
. .
Millersburg
6
. .
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
TOWNSHIPS
QUOTA EXCESS
Duncan
19
. .
Keithsburg
12
New Boston
I
Eliza
12
. .
Totals
186
27
Several of the townships began in February, 1865, to take sub- scriptions for a fund to be used to secure volunteers in order to escape the draft. In other. portions of the county clubs were formed, a fund was raised, and in case a member should be drafted he received a portion of the money thus provided. The draft was finally post- poned to the 8th of March in order to give the townships the chance to clear themselves. The citizens of North Henderson raised, by subscription, $5,000 and secured ten volunteers by paying each $500. Mercer Township citizens assembled to do the same thing, when they learned that the township was already ahead fourteen men. They, therefore, raised $200 for the benefit of the families of volun- teers already in the service. Millersburg Township raised $3,000 and cleared itself of the draft. Suez raised $2,000 for five men. Rivoli filled her quota of fifteen men. Preemption raised $8,000 with which to secure seventeen men. Perryton raised $11,000 for the same purpose. Ohio Grove raised eight or nine thousand dollars.
At a big meeting in the Free Presbyterian Church, Aledo, in March, 1865, $700 was raised for the Christian Commission. It was announced that the famous Chaplain McCabe would be present, but he was unable to be, and James Tompkins spoke in his place. At this time William Willits donated fifty barrels of apples to be dried for the soldiers. The Teachers' Association of this county was asked to participate in the Sanitary Fair at Chicago.
Early in April, 1865, came the news that Richmond and Peters- burg had been taken, and almost immediately afterward came the news of the surrender of General Lee. The whole of Mercer County at once gave itself up to spontaneous and continued rejoicing. The Record said : "The day of jubilee has come! Lee has surrendered ! He and his whole army are prisoners! The military power of the rebellion is broken! The laws are vindicated! The Union is per- petual ; not a rope of sand. We have a Government able to protect itself alike from internal and external foes. This news reached here
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
early on Saturday afternoon by private conveyance and was gen- erally known before the arrival of the mail. When the mail came a crowd collected waiting for a confirmation of the news. When informed by the driver that Lee had surrendered, a deafening shout burst from every lip; flags were flung to the breeze, and at night bonfires were kindled, speeches made and every demonstration of joy exhibited. The rejoicing was kept up to a late hour. The de- struction of Lee's army is tantamount to the end of the rebellion. All praise to the gallant army and navy whose glorious deeds have made the land vocal with shouts of joy.
"Richmond has fallen! The rebel capital that has withstood the assaults of our army for nearly four years has at length had to suc- cumb to the genius and valor of Grant and his brave men. The great event of the war has come to pass. The news caused the wildest excitement. Men, women and children were frantic with joy. Busi- ness was partly suspended and the day was devoted to rejoicing."
While the people of the county were still shouting with joy over the capture of Richmond and the surrender of General Lee, the awful and sickening news came that President Lincoln had been assassinated. The Record said: "The first news of the assassination of President Lincoln and Secretary Seward reached here about half past five on Saturday afternoon. The report was doubted by most of our citizens. The general feeling was that it was impossible. During the evening the report was brought from two or three places and accompanied by so many details as to leave no doubt about the matter. A deep gloom pervaded the people. Political dissensions were forgotten. All felt that a terrible crime had been perpetrated ; that the head of the nation had been stricken down by an assassin and hoped the fiend who struck the blow would be caught and pun- ished. On Sunday all the flags in our village hung at half mast and our citizens did little else than talk about the sad event. The distress- ing news was announced in the Sabbath schools and churches and formed the staple of conversation in the family circle and upon the streets. Strangers coming in to attend court brought full particu- lars which were eagerly read and attentively listened to by grief- stricken people. Monday was the gloomiest day we ever witnessed. Court was in session, and a large number of people from the country were present. Grief was visible on every countenance. A general gloom pervaded the mass and tears trickled down many manly cheeks as they listened to the recital of the horrible crime."
On the day appointed for the funeral of President Lincoln, court adjourned and the courtroom was appropriately draped in mourning. Vol. 1-9
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MERCER COUNTY
Rev. J. S. Poage preached on the assassination at Millersburg, April 30th.
When the news of the assassination reached Keithsburg and New Boston the same gloom settled upon all hearts, business was partly suspended, many buildings were hung with the trappings of death, and sincere sorrow was shown by nearly all. In this county, as in almost every other in the North, were men who had formerly lived in the South, whose sympathies were with that section and who now were much sorrier over the defeat of the rebels than over the assas- sination of the President. In some instances they refused to take part in the Lincoln obsequies.
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