Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois, Part 56

Author: Traylor, Jacob L
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 798

USA > Illinois > Montgomery County > Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois > Part 56

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Mr. Kastien was married in Madison county. Illinois, July 8. 1874. to Miss Emma Krums- sik, who was born in Madison county. Illinois.

and is of German lineage. They have three children : Della, the wife of E. W. Bockewitz, of Harvel; Frank, who follows the painter's trade : and Celia, at home.

Politically Mr. Kastien is independent in his voting at local elections, but where national issues are involved he supports the Democratic party. Ile has been elected and served as president of the village board, has also been alderman and tax collector, and for four con- secutive years filled the latter office. He be- longs to Harvel Lodge, 1. 0. 0. F .. in which he has filled all the offices and is a past grand. and is likewise a member of the Woodmen Camp at Litchfield and the Mutual Protective League. His residence in Harvel now covers more than twenty years, during which time he has made here a good home. developed an ex- cellent business and won an honored name.

WILLIAM S. GRUBBS.

William S. Grubbs. one of the early set- tlers of Montgomery county, dates his resi- dence in this locality from 1858, and his en- terprising efforts as a general farmer and stock-raiser have made him one of the sub- stantial citizens of the community. He was born in St. Clair county, Illinois, near Belle- ville, on the 25th of September, 1854, and when four years of age was brought to Mont- gomery county by his parents. Edwin and Sarah ( MeAdams) Grubbs, who settled upon the farm which is now the home of their son William. They had five children. and after the death of his first wife, who passed away in 1852, the father was again married. At his death the county lost one of its honored pioneer settlers and leading farmers.

In the usual manner of farmer lads Wil- liam S. Grubbs was reared. He attended the public schools, his time ocenpied by his text- books and the pleasures of the playground, and he was also instructed in the work of the fields, becoming familiar with every labor in- cident to the development and cultivation of a farm from the time of early spring planting until after crops were harvested in late autumn. He remained at home until twenty-

HI. P. KASTIEN

LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS ... Job

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four years of age, when he went to Colorado, where he remained one summer, and after his return he rented land near New Corners for two years. lle afterward spent one year in South Litchfield. and one year in Hillsboro, after which he returned to the old homestead, where he has since remained, with the excep- tion of a year passed in Kansas, He now owns one hundred and eighty aeres of land in three tracts, one hundred acres being in the home farm on section 9. Hillsboro township, about two miles west of the county seat on the old Hillsboro and Litchfield road. Here he car- ries on general farming, and for fourteen years he has been engaged in feeding cattle and hogs for the market. lle has good build- ings upon his place and his carefully directed labors enabled him to keep everything upon his farm in good condition. He utilizes the latest improved machinery in the cultivation of the fields and the care of the crops and his energy and ambition have been the means of bringing to him very creditable and grat- ifying success. Hle votes with the Republican party, with firm faith in its principles, but has never sought office as a reward for party fealty.

LEOPOLD SCHRAUT.

Leopold Sehraut, an enterprising business man of IFillsboro, is successfully conducting a meat market and in his business career has demonstrated what it is possible to accom- plish through energy, enterprise and careful management, for he started out in life empty handed and his success, therefore, is attributed entirely to his own efforts. He was born in Baden, Germany, in 1851, a son of Joseph Schrant, who was a farmer by occupation. Leopold Schraut acquired his education in the schools of his native country and there learned the butchering trade.

In 1871 he bade adieu to friends and fam- ily and sailed for the new world that he might take advantage of the business condi- tions in America, concerning which he had heard favorable reports. Locating in East. St. Louis, he there remained for twelve years en-

gaged in the butchering business and he also spent some time in the employ of the Clover Leaf Railroad. Removing from East St. Louis. he took up his abode in the city of St. Louis, where he conducted a meat market until 1881. In 1882 be established a butchering business at Donnellson, Ilinois, and in 1893 came to Hillsboro, where he established a market that he has since conducted with gratifying suc- cess. He now has a fine establishment and a very liberal patronage which is constantly growing. At one time he was proprietor of three shops, one in Coffeen, another in Don- Dellson and the third in Hillsboro. His busi- ness methods will bear the closest scrutiny and investigation and his reliable dealing has been one source of his prosperity. lle now owns a pretty home south of town and grounds covering seven acres.

In 1882 Mr. Schraut was united in mar- riage to Miss Frances Windhalt, a daughter of Frederick and Jerusha (Stanley ) Wind- halt, the former a farmer by occupation. Mrs. Schraut was born near Coffeen in 1864 and by this marriage there are three children : Charles. Annie and Lena. Mr. Schraut be- longs to the Catholic church, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge, the Court of Honor and the Mutual Profeetive League. Ilis study of the political issue and questions which affect America's welfare has led him to give his al- legiance to the Democracy. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in America for he found that the re- ports of business conditions were not exagger- ated and that the new world offered excellent opportunity to the young men of determina- tion and resolute purpose.

LOUIS SPINNER.

Louis Spinner is one of the younger farm- ers of East Fork township, but his years do not seem any bar to his ability and in carry- ing on agricultural pursuits he has gained very gratifying success. He was born in East Fork township. October 27, 1873, and is a

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son of George and Ernestine ( Huber) Spin- from Ireland at an early day and established ner, who are represented on another page of this volume. In that township he was reared and attended school. He started out in life for himself when twenty-five years of age, up to which time he assisted in the development of the home farm, as did his brother. In his business career he has been successful because of his perseverance and earnest labor. He has eighty acres in the old homestead and he raises both grain and stock. His father made all of the improvements upon the place, save in the fall of 1904 Mr. Spinner erected a good residence upon the place.

In 1900 at St. Louis' Catholic church in No- komis, Mr. Spinner was married by Rev. C. Johannes, to Miss Paulina Mast, a daughter of Charles Mast, of Witt township, and they have two children: Cyril Francis and Ma- tilda Frances. The parents are members of St. Agnes' Catholic church at Hillsboro, and Mr. Spinner is a Democrat in his political views. He served as collector in 1901 and 1903, but has never been active as a politician in the sense of office seeking. He has, how- ever, been deeply interested in the success of his party and for several years he has been elected by a large majority to the position of school trustee. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen camp and with the Equitable Life Insurance Company. He has always lived in Montgomery county, is well known to its settlers, especially in East Fork township, and in his life has displayed. many strong characteristics that have ren- dered him popular with his many friends.

WILLIAM C. GOODIN.

William C. Goodin, whose record for fidel- ity and capable service as chief of police of Litchfield is unsurpassed, received substantial evidence of the trust reposed in him when at his re-election he was given the largest vote that has ever been cast for any incumbent of that office. He was born in Bond county. Illi- nois, July 3, 1866. His father, Charles M. Goodin, was a native of Ohio and was of Irish lineage. his parents having emigrated

their home in Ohio. Charles M. Goodin re- mained in the Buckeye state until 1857, when he removed to Illinois, settling in Bond county upon a farm which he cultivated and improved until the outbreak of the Civil war. He then enlisted in the Third Illinois Cavalry as a mem- ber of Company D. being enrolled at Green- ville for three years' service. He took part in the battle of Pea Ridge and other en- gagements and never faltered in his allegiance to the nation's starry banner and the cause it represented. When the war was over he be- gan taking contracts for public work in Louis- iana and Mississippi, building levees along the Father of Waters from St. Louis to Louisiana. Later he engaged in the dairy business at Greenville and there his death occurred on the 12th of March, 1894, when he was sixty-four years of age. He was a member of the Green- ville Post, G. A. R. ITis political allegiance was given to the Democracy until the outbreak of the war, when, being a great admirer of John A. Logan, he voted with him and became a Republican. remaining a stanch advocate of the principles of the party until his demise. Ilis funeral was one of the most largely at- tended in Greenville in many years, a fact which indicated his personal popularity and the high regard in which he was uniformly held. He was married in early manhood to Miss Mary E. Gillespie, who was born in Bond county. Illinois, and is now living with her son, William C., in Litchfield, at the age of sixty-seven years. Her father was James E. Gillespie, a farmer and one of the early set- tlers of Bond county, who served as the first constable there. Mrs. Goodin in her younger days was a school teacher in Bond county and took a great interest in her work. She has been a lifelong member of the Methodist Epis- copal church and a most earnest and consist- ent Christian woman. By her marriage she he- came the mother of six children: Jeanette, John. Ella and Lee. all of whom have passed away: William C .; and Maggie. the wife of Jonah Dodson, of Mayfield, Kentucky.

William (. Goodin acquired his education partly in Tennessee and partly in Greenville. Illinois. After leaving school he was employed

W. C. GOODIN

L'SPARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA

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for two years on a farm and in 1885 he came to Litchfield, where he learned the blacksmith's trade, following that pursuit for seventeen years in the employ of the Litchfield Foundry & Machine Company. Ho afterward worked for a year for the Conneaut & Pittsburg Dock Company at Conneaut, Ohio.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Goodin has been an advocate of Republican principles. stanch in his support of the party and its platform. In the spring of 1903 he was elect- ed chief of police of Litchfield and was re- elected in the spring of 1904. He has made a clean record and won a notable reputation for fearlessness and fidelity. Because of his capable service he is a menace to all law- breakers, while the law-abiding community has the utmost confidence and trust in him.

On the 9th of January, 1901, Mr. Goodin was married to Miss Lottie E. Price, a daugh- ter of Evan and Ann Price, the former a miner. Mrs. Goodin was born in England in 1862. Mr. Goodin holds membership with the Catholic church and the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Ile is popular in Litchfield among all classes and has a large circle of friends who esteom him highly.

ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL.

St. Francis Hospital was established about 1875. with Sister Fredeline as the sister su- perior, the mother house being at St. Mauritz. Minster, Germany. There were twenty sis- ters who came from Germany in that year, leav- ing that country on account of religious

troubles there. They arrived in Litchfield at the time of the pastorate of Father Michel, who is now located at Alton, illinois, and they be- gan their work in a little frame house where they continued until 1889. The building lots for the new hospital were purchased on the 12th of April. 1889, and in the same year they moved into their present building, which is a large three-story, brick structure, in which they are treating twenty patients, with accommoda- tions for thirty. The hospital is fitted up with all modern appliances and conveniences for the care of the sick, with baths, hotwater heat, electric lights and everything to facilitate the work of caring for the patients. The rooms are pleasant, light and airy, are cool in summer and warm in winter, and there is a reading room supplied with interesting literature. There is a beautiful lawn surrounding the building, which was erected at a cost of ten thousand dollars, and in the summer of 1905 there will be an addition made, costing a sim- ilar amount. There are now nine sisters in charge and the sister superior is Sister Gerome, who came in 1900 from St. Francis, Spring- field, while Father Huison is director. Mother Pauler is mother superior of the whole St. Francis congregation in the United States and in Springfield there is a training school for the sisters. The institution first had a struggle for existence but it is now on a substantial basis and it is the only hospital in this section, so that patients come to it from long distances. The new building was dedicated September 17. 1891. by Rov. 1. Huison, director, and since that time its efficiency has been continually pro- moted and the work has been constantly ex- tended.

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS UNDANA

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JACOB L. TRAYLOR

HISTORICAL

By JACOB L. TRAYLOR

INTRODUCTION

"The pleasant books that silently among Our household treasures take familiar places And are to us as if a living tongue Spake from the printed leaves or pictured faces."

As we look upon the picture of the past, per- spective lengthens the lines of fact until they seem lost in the haze of traditions. In our preparation of the present volume we have tried to present from the mass of material at hand only the credible. Where we have allowed some interesting anecdote to creep in, it has been done but to illustrate phases of character that have had to do with the story of a people. It would seem an easy task to write the history of some particular place or state, especially if appearance in time, were easily determined, yet we find it not a little difficult to gather proofs concerning important events in the history of our own county. It is much easier to get cor- reet biography of our worthy pioneers than to get data that has to do with the experiences of those brave and noble spirits. Our purpose, however, is to assist the reader in bringing him- self into such close association with the fathers that we may be able to share his joys, his sorrows. his bounty and his privation. The vears that fill up the gap between the Then and Now we shall attempt to draw aside and present the picture which shall tell the story of a plain people, struggling to establish for them-

selves and for their children, a home in the wilderness. In other words, we hope to pre- serve to other generations at least a glance into the practical life of the fathers. That all those who came to settle the prairies and wood- lands of Illinois were model characters, we shall not attempt to establish, but that quite all were men and women of sturdy habits and unques- tioned virtue, is matter of absolute knowledge.

Almost a century has gone by since the first settlers came from Virginia. Kentucky and the Carolinas to plant civilization in the wilds of what is now Montgomery county. That these performed well their part in laying the founda- tion of our present social, political and moral conditions, that their hopes wore fully realized, that their aspirations have long since realized their fruition furnishes for our picture its most delicate coloring and affords to us. their children, the keener appreciation of what they have done. From the stately and palatial homes that cover our land to-day is but a nar- row space that separates between the settler's rabin with its privations and the former with all the comforts and convenience of a modern home. Nowhere in the annals of story do we find a tale so pleasing, so full of adventure and interest as is to be found in a study of the experiences of the pioneers in American life. The men and the women who braved the wilder- ness were peculiarly fitted for the self-imposed task of subdoing the wild woodlands and the broad extending prairies into safe habitations for men. The wild beasts that prowled about

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the settler's cabin and made night hideous with their howlings, the treacherous red man, who yet lingered in the forests, doubtless filled with forebodings the settler and his famdy. While we have no evidence of midnight massacres, vet the story of their atrocities lingered in the minds of the early settlers. We know, however, that the Indian children often sought the play- grounds of the pioneer schools to mingle with the boys and girls of that early day. It is not surprising to us that the red man yielded the hunting grounds of Illinois under great protest and when the struggle for his removal beyond the Mississippi came in 1832, quite a number of Montgomery county's pioneers were called upon to take part in what is known as Black Hawk's war of 1832. In the preparation of this work, however. it is not our province to

discuss the justice of the removal of the Sacs and Fox Indians from the territory of Illi- nois. We shall content ourselves with the sim- ple narrative without embellishment of our earlier inhabitants as we find it told in the sto- ries, legends and traditions, extant among our people. I acknowledge indebtedness to many of our older citizens, to books and papers in which they have left records of their experiences. If this volume meets the approbation of the chil- dren and children's children of those who strug- gled, and whose triumph is told in these pages. I shall feel repaid for whatever effort has been made to collect some of the more interesting facts concerning the fathers. I am,

Very truly yours JACOB L. TRAYLOR.

ILLINOIS

A broad and fertile plateau, bounded on the west by the Mississippi, upon the south by the Ohio and the east by the Wabash. gives us the state of Illinois. Possibly nowhere in the world is an area of fertile soil of such extent. In the carlier history of the country it at- tracted the attention of the French and their occupation of it is evidence that they con- sidered it of great importance in the building up of "New France." Fort Chartres, the most impregnable fortress then known in the western world, was built by France that her claim to the Illinois country might not be disputed. The carlier settlements of Illinois were made by the French at Kaskaskia, Prairie Du Rocher and ('ahokia. It was here that they remained in undisputed possession, until 1:59. at the close of the French and Indian war, when by the treaty terminating that struggle, it came into possession of England. The bitterness of the In lians in this special territory toward the Eng- lish made it somewhat ditheult to establish Eng- lish rule over the different Indian tribes of this section. The passing of this territory from the possession of the French to that of the English is marked by a fierce and bloody strug- gle on the part of the Indian tribe, who were friends of the former and bitter foes of the English. One of the most persistent and stub- born resistances to English rule was made by Pontiac, possibly the greatest Indian leader over known to the northwest. Although the English held this territory from 1:63 until the close of the Revolutionary war, little was done to

colonize it or to take advantage of the great opportunities for building up an English em- pire in Illinois territory. The French popula- tion of Illinois villages in 1263 was about 2,000. There were also about tive hundred slaves, which latter fact establishes the point that Illinois, under the French, was slave territory. In the autumn of 1265 the Forty-second Highlanders. consisting of one hundred and twenty men under Captain Sterling, arrived at Fort Char- tres, and on the 10th day of October, for the first time within the limits of the state of Illinois, the Lillies of France were displaced by the Cross of St. George, The early French people were law-abiding, simple and happy folks. The first English governor of Illinois was Captain Sterling, who lived but three months after receiving his commission. He was succeeded by Major Frazier, who in turn gave way to Colonel Reed. The latter made him- self so odious to the inhabitants by his op- pressive military ediets that he was soon dis- placed and the command was given to Colonel Wilkins, who established a court of justice of seven judges. This was the first English court ever convened in Illinois, and hold its first ses- sion at Fort Chartres, December 9. 1168. The proclamations issued by George III clearly show that he intended to divide the Illinois country into baronial estates. Private ownership to the soil was forbidden. and had it not been for the Canadian Frenchmen, such an attempt to establish feudalism might have been successful in this great northwestern territory. In 1224

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the British parliament passed the Quebec bill, which extended the limits of Canada so as to include all the territory north of the Ohio river. This was the first feudal act of parlia- ment, to which the colonists took offence. The Virginia colony, which claimed the territory north of the Ohio, took exception to this act of intrusion upon territory belonging to that col- ony. It would seem that at the close of Wil- kins' term that the English soldiery were with- drawn from the Illinois country, that the sweet- spirited French priest, St. Ange, returned to take charge of the post deserted by the English conquerors. Following St. AAnge in the govern- ment of the settlement comes Rocheblave, who was in command of the Illinois country at the time of the conquest by George Rogers Clark. This adventurous spirit was a native of Albe- marle county, Virginia, but had joined the Ken- tucky settlements prior to October 12. 1:26. on which date we find him arguing before Pat- rick Henry, governor of Virginia. for a com- mission to invade the Illinois country.

After several interviews Governor Henry yielded his consent to the plans of Colonel Rogers, who immediately thereafter set about the execution of them. It was absolutely neces- sary that secrecy as to the purpose of Rogers should be maintained, and covering his real purpose by rumors that his expedition was to defend the Kentucky settlement against the at- tack of the Indians, enabled him to deceive the English who might have thwarted his purposes by strengthening the post which in reality he expected to capture. Colonel Clark's expedi- tion embarked at Pittsburg, and after an une- ventful journey down the Ohio, they "shot the falls" at Louisville and, on the 24th of June. landed a little above Fort Massac. From this point he marched directly across the country to Kaskaskia. It was on the evening of the 4th of July that Clark arrived at his destination. The complete surprise of the garrison made it a bloodless victory. It has been rumored that the surprise was not altogether unpleasant to the French inhabitants. The broad humanity of Colonel Clark was shown in his treatment of this people. Some had expected to be driven from their homes, to be plundered of their prop- erty and to be denied the rights of their re-

ligion, but when Clark assured them that Americans left every man free to settle his re- ligious matters with his God, a shout of re- joicing went up from the assembled multitude, and when Clark further told them that France was allied to the new government, which they sought to establish, they very readily promised allegiance. Cahokia and all the adjacent towns promptly yielded to Clark's authority, and the young republic became firmly established, and on the soil of Illinois. Clark's conquest forever settled the destiny of Illinois. The treaty of Paris, 1283, all rights to this territory was ceded to America. The general assembly of Virginia, 1:28, provided a temporary govern- ment, and in 1:49 Illinois became a county of Virginia, styled the Illinois county. John Todd, a colonel under Clark, administered the atlairs of government. In 1182 Todd was suc- ceeded by Timothy Montbrun. a French priest. From this time until the occupation by St. ('laire, the records are silent and we are led to infer that the priestly goverment was eminent- ly satisfactory, both to the state of Virginia and to the people of Illinois county. The first American settlement made in Illinois was made at a place named New Design, and is located in the present county of Monroe. Five families, consisting of that of James Moore, Shadrack Bond, James Garrison, Robert Kid and Larkin Rullaford, made up this first primitive settle- ment. Kid and Rullaford had been soldiers in General Clark's army. This notable settlement was made in the summer of 1781. Having crossed the Allegheny mountains from their homes in Virginia. they embarked from Pitts- burg on a vessel called the Ark, and on reach- ing the mouth of the Ohio river, no little dif- fieulty was found in directing their crude vessel up the current of the Mississippi. These Vir- ginia settlers had no sympathy for the Indians and in consequence. a spirit of hostility soon manifested itself, and it became necessary to build block houses for protection. In 1:84 the state of Virginia ceded all her rights in the northwest country to the general government. thus severing her connection with the territory which at no distant day should lead in the grand galaxy of states. In 1785 lands purchased from the Indians were, by previous aet of congress.

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Past and present of Montgomery County, Illinois, Part 56

Author: Traylor, Jacob L Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 798

Author: Traylor, Jacob L
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 798