USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 20
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When John Wood, afterward Governor of Il-
linois, and Mr. Keyes were on their way to what is now Quincy, they camped here on the creek, which was afterward named Keyes creek, now called Kizer.
Answering the query, "Did slavery ever exist in Pike county or Illinois?" No, but there was a mighty effort to make the state slave territory. At an election in 1822, when Edward Coles was elected governor, there then was an incidental test vote that showed about 2,000 in favor of mak- ing Illinois a slave state, but as the new governor was a strong opponent of the traffic in human chattels the great curse for Illinois was averted.
At an old-time public dinner were given the following toasts: "The means of introducing and spreading the African family." (Three cheers.) "The enemies of the convention; may they ride a porcupine saddle on a hard trotting horse a long journey, without money or friends." "The state of Illinois. The ground is good, prai- ries in abundance; give us plenty of negroes, a little industry and she will distribute her treasure."
Thus many of the old-timers felt, and it lasted for nearly forty years. It received its first quietus, however, during the great debate of Lincoln and Douglas in 1858, when Douglas said, "It matters not to me whether slavery is voted up or down," and the great Lincoln answered, "It does matter to me. I hope to live so long that under God I may see every man a freeman." And by the bless- ing of the great Father and the Union army his hope was realized.
The writer has seen the auction block in the old slave states, and witnessed a few sales of mothers from their children. Pleasant Vale has to-day a worthy colored citizen whose mother was sold away from him when he was about six months old.
Pike county had a few stations on what was known as the underground railroad in slavery times. Many honored old citizens were often very severely censured because they sheltered and fed the runaway negroes. Oftentimes a negro would be captured and returned and the captor receive $50 or $100, and be looked upon as a great hero by many for his bravery in capturing a poor fugitive from slavery.
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Old Pike is perhaps as well known as any county in any of the states. About thirty-five years ago I was in a city in Indiana and was pre- sented to an old gentleman as from Illinois. "What part?" "Pike county." 'Well, that's my old home. I resided there thirty-five years ago, and knew Ross, Scott, Barney, Grimshaw, Blair, Horton and the Burnetts. I never shall forget that good old county. It was a veritable garden spot then, and I presume it has made great strides forward since I was there." Well, if he could come from the echoless shore he would see the best county in the state, where all are happy and contented, if they so will it, and where we have no famines, but an abundance and to spare.
Some one, unidentified, at a gathering where they had a feast, when the toasts were on tap, re- sponded to the sentiment, "Man :"
"Here's to the man that has nothing to wear ; Nothing to live for but trouble and care. He dies ; he goes-we know not where.
If he's all right here, boys, he's all right there."
That expresses a very broad kind of Pike county religion and will fit many other counties and states. The old county has its share; good, bad and indifferent, but the good predominates.
In the past titles were few. It was plain Mr., or Uncle Dick, Uncle Jack or Grandpa Smith. Now all are judges, colonels or generals. This recalls the remark of a new arrival in this country who said, "Phat a great war they had; all the privates killed entirely, only colonels and gen- erals left."
At the meeting of the army of the Tennessee in Chicago, when General Grant returned from his tour around the world, a lot of big guns were at the Palmer House. There was a sort of love feast there and all the old boys were taken in and introduced to the notables. An old doctor from Indianapolis was among them, and when the Pike county boy was introduced as captain the old doctor said, "Why, bless you, Captain, shake again. I am glad to see you. I have been here three days and you are the only ordinary mortal I have met. I feel at home now. Shake."
Recently an incident at Jackson, Miss., in 1863, was recalled. During the afternoon, when the
sharpshooters of both armies were lying in wait for a shot at each other, the Johnnies were making it hot for our boys. In one squad was a very talkative soldier that annoyed his captain with many useless questions. At last the officer said to him, "Keep still, you will draw the Yanks' fire." After a short silence he said, "Say, Cap, don't you think South Carolina was jist a leetle bit hasty in fetching on this yer wah?"
One night at Vicksburg a few 99th boys were on guard near the chevau de frieze, or sharpened sticks as the boys called them. While the lonely hours wore away, and both sides were watching for the gray dawn, one of the 99th said, "Say, Johnnie, don't you want some paper for some flat tobacco?" The exchange was made and our boy inquired, "What regiment is yours?" "The 14th Georgia, sah, what regiment is you all's?" "The 99th Illinois." "Gee whiz! How many regiments has that state got?" England remembers York- town, the world remembers Appomattox and Pike county will never forget Vicksburg. There in the national cemetery of 16,000 federals old Pike has many a gallant boy.
Rev. Father Newman, the good old-time Meth- odist who said to a fashionable and as he intimated a rather cold congregation, "If you hear that Mr. A, the rich man, is sick, you need not go to see him as he has all the attention needed. But if you hear that Mr. B, the poor man, is sick, go. He will need you. Take supplies and minister unto him, for as you do unto him you do unto me."
The blunt old brother knew the weakness of the human family, and how much they were blinded by gold and position.
In 1822, when Rock Island was in Pike county, an election for county commissioners was held. The county was divided into three precincts, and as this section or precinct was the largest, David Dutton, of this town, J. M. Seeley and Q. M. Ross of Atlas were elected. Their election was con- tested, and it took Judge Reynolds some time after dispossessing them to reinstate them, which was done in September, 1822. Dutton and See- ley I knew personally, and in a social and busi- ness way have known many of their descendants in the past sixty years.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
The first courthouse at Pittsfield cost about $1,100. The second, which was completed in 1839, cost about $15,000. In 1843 I was with my mother in Hodgen's store which stood about where Clayton's hardware store is now, and some tinners were repairing the cupola. Seeing a fire break out on the roof I called mother's attention to it, and in a few minutes the men about the square extinguished it. .
The new courthouse stood until 1895, when the present large and beautiful one was erected to take the place of the old Pike county tem- ple of justice. A very appropriate and fitting se- lection was made at the dedication of the new courthouse in November, 1895, when Hon. J. M. Bush, who was at the first term of court in the old house in 1839, was made chairman. The exercises were very impressive and interesting. It is sad to think of how many who participated in the dedication of Pike's new court temple only a decade ago have ended life's journey. But so it is. Time and tide wait for none, and the great reaper is constantly at work.
The old courthouse had as attorneys within its walls many men that were noted among the great and able men of America. Abraham Lin- coln, "the greatest man that ever came in the tide of time ;" Gens. E. D. Baker and John J. Hardin ; Senators Douglas, McDougal, Richardson and Browning; and eminent lawyers like Bushnell, Blackwell, Hay, Higbee, Skinner and Wike.
In 1848, when Cincinnati Landing was the big town of the county, there was an old pioneer named Mitchell, of great physical powers but quiet and unobtrusive, who was a resident there. Near Barry was a good old citizen, P. McDaniel, who was of a fiery temper, and he concluded that Mitchell should be given a "licking" for some alleged affront. So he went to Cincinnati and told the men he came to give Mitchell a thrashing, and asked where to find him. The by- standers told him he would find Mitchell in his field near town. McDaniel started up to meet Mitchell, but when he came in sight of him he found him grubbing and pulling up by hand the small saplings and doing it with such ease he did not let his mission be known, but came back
and told the boys that Mitchell was a steam stump puller, and that the fight was postponed without date.
It was quite lucky those times that the Samsons were quiet and harmless unless aroused, and then they were a terror to the intruders. In 1853 a boat was loading flour made at the Israel mill near Barry and the captain asked for idle men to as- sist in loading the boat. Two Pike county giants engaged with him. They would take a barrel of flour under each arm and carry them on board as easily as an ordinary man could carry a sack of wheat. The boat was soon loaded and the extra help paid off. The captain said he would not dare to carry such men as, if they should become an- gered, they would take the boat.
At another time a powerful colored man was freight handler on one of the Keokuk packets and the mate abused him and ended by striking him with a light barrel stave. The darkey said, "Look out, boss, don't do dat any more." The mate attempted to strike again, and was caught and held so tightly that he could not move. Then quiet and cool the darkey said, "Boss, I don't want to hurt you, but if you do dat again I will crunch de life out of you." The mate desisted, and said he was the best man in strength and temper ever on the boat.
The county has had a few cyclones, the first nearly sixty years ago, that destroyed the brick dwelling of Alfred Grubb, the "Little bay horse of Pike," as he was best known. It was equidis- tant between New Canton and Kinderhook. In 1855 a disastrous and perhaps the heaviest ever in the county, passed over this town and struck on the hills between sections 13 and 14, and 23 and 24. At the time the lands were covered with great oak, hickory, ash and hackberry trees, and were monarchs of the forest; some two or three feet in diameter. The cyclone mowed them down on the east of the hill for nearly a mile, and per- haps two hundred feet in width. The fine timber then destroyed would make a comfortable fortune now. Lighter storms have done considerable damage in Pittsfield, Derry and a few other town- ships. Happily no loss of life occurred in any of them.
The following towns have had disastrous fires,
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PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
entailing great loss to the property owners and in cases of insurance there was some remuneration. Pittsfield, Griggsville, Barry, Rockport, New Canton, Eldara, Kinderhook, Milton and Baylis. Perhaps the greatest fire was when Barry was nearly wiped out of existence in its business por- tion. The others were great sufferers also, but with a spirit of pluck and enterprise they were all rebuilt and better than before.
From 1876 to 1889, when the Sny levee broke, the owners and tenants had trying times and great losses. A careful estimate of the losses in the district for the years 1876, 80, 81 and 88 was nearly one and a half million dollars. Our citi- . French brandy zens were not dismayed, but made necessary re- pairs and soon had the lands teeming with good crops, and our people with their adversity were soon putting it away and striving for better things.
" "Tis easy enough to be pleasant
When life flows by, like a song,
But the man worth while, is the man with a smile
When everything goes dead wrong."
This captured verse is a fair index to many of our Pike county people, and may they ever con- tinue to laugh at adversity.
Pike county was laid out January 31, 1821, was named and its boundaries defined. It then contained all the territory between the Missis- sippi and Illinois rivers, extending east in one portion of the line of what is now Indiana, and north to Wisconsin. The large and populous counties of Cook, Peoria, Adams, La Salle, with about fifty other counties, were once in old Pike. Now the original Pike county has a population of nearly 3,000,000 people.
Coles Grove was its first capital, and at the first election only thirty-five votes were cast. The great county then had but about 750 people. Now in the original old Pike Illinois is proud of one city that is second in the nation, and has nearly 2,000,000 inhabitants.
John Kinzer was Pike county's first justice of the peace and resided near where Chicago now is. Belus Jones was the first constable, and Na-
thaniel Shaw, a great uncle of the writer, was Pike's first treasurer. "My Lord Coke," James W. Whitney, was its first clerk. All these in 1821.
In that year the county commissioners issued a tavern license to a Mr. Hinksley, and here are the prices he was permitted to charge:
Victuals, for meal. .25c
Horsekeeping, night 371/2C
Lodging 121/2C
Whiskey, per half pint 121/2C
Rum and gin 25c
50c
Wine 371/2c
The county seat was moved from Coles Grove to Atlas in 1823, and from Atlas to Pittsfield in 1833. . Of the pioneers of the grand old county the writer in his boyhood knew Cols. Ross and Barney, Nathaniel Shaw and "My Lord Coke," and later Col. Seeley, David Dutton and James Gay. The latter is now living at the age of ninety-one in Atlas township.
James W. Whitney, "My Lord Coke," was an eccentric character and dressed oddly and rather carelessly. He always had his hair tied up with a shoestring, or something else that came handy, in the style of the old-fashioned cue of colonial times. He was a great show for our folks the time he was in New Canton half a century ago. He often visited the state capital, and would or- ganize the lobbyists and call it the third house. He was always a speaker, self-elected, and mon- arch of all he surveyed. He died in 1860, over eighty.
His last session of the "third house" was in 1857, when Bissell was governor. The writer saw him there in his cue and quaint dress, the observed of all. He was quite a scholar, but lacked a balance wheel to apply his knowledge in a practical way.
Marcellus Ross, now of California, was said to be the first white child born in the county. He was the first adjutant of the Ninety-ninth Illinois regiment in 1862.
In 1821 Pike county organized the Regiment of Pike. It was formed in two battalions and
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PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
was to be in readiness for Indian attacks, which were common and much feared. From that came the old-fashioned training or muster days. The custom passed out of observance in my boyhood days, but the musters are remembered, and now come up in a panoramic way, showing the motley crowd that participated therein, with their march- ing and counter-marching, their sweating, swear- ing and awkwardness, as they only met once or twice a year. Then the hucksters with their slabs. of gingerbread, cider and whiskey.
Occasionally there was considerable drunken- ness, but there was one good feature observed. It was an unwritten law that no boys should be al- lowed to have whiskey or hard cider, but ginger- bread and apples galore for the boys.
When the muster was over it was a nine days' wonder, and then apparently forgotten till the next meeting. The officers with their swords, uniforms and prancing horses, the fife and drum, recall the old verse:
"Oh, were you never a soldier, And did you never train And feel that swelling of the heart You never can feel again?"
I remember about a dozen lads at school in the old days that had their regular floggings for failing to memorize that and other verses.
Here is Pike county treasurer's first report, March 5, 1822 :
Amount of money received during the current year. $765.00
Paid out.
703.13
Treasurer's salary 38.25
Balance on hand. 23.62
Was everybody happy those days and were there any resentments ? Perhaps the majority were happy and there were but few resentments. An incident in the life of "old Bullion" Thomas H. Benton, the great Missouri senator, may fit in here, and also apply to the present generation. Senator Foote, of Mississippi, said to Benton one day : "Senator Benton, I shall write a book some day, in which you will figure very small." Ben- ton replied quickly : "I shall write a book some day in which you shall not figure at all."
Senator Benton was near here not many years ago, and was to make a speech in an adjoining town, across the river. There were people from the two Pikes there, as well as nearly all of Marion county, Mo. The ordinary mortals were following everywhere he went, till he became dis- gusted and turning to them said: "Keep away from me. I am only a common man."
Our old Pike, in its eighty-four years of his- tory making, has had a great host of useful and noted men, pioneers and others that in their mod- esty felt that they were only "common men," but as nearly all have answered the dread summons, those who are left hold them in veneration for what they did for God, for home and country. May coming generations learn the story and keep their memories green for what they did for the development of old Pike, and the part they played in the march of civilization.
The early pioneers were not idle. Gradually they subdued nature. Cabins were erected, land cleared and the virgin soil broken. The new set- tlement was a happy one. All were on an equality, and sociability, generosity and neighborly kind- ness reigned supreme.
The first settlements were invariably made near the edge of a piece of timber and within easy reach of a spring, many of which were found in the townships. Some fields were. cleared and plowed, generally with yoke of oxen, and occa- sionally with teams of horses. This work was hard as the soil was tough or the ground stumpy. No extensive farming was attempted. Corn and wheat in small quantities were raised, some flax, oats, etc., and occasionally some settler who had come from a southern state, would undertake to raise cotton, but it was not considered a success and was soon abandoned. Sheep were raised for the wool, which was found a necessary article. Farming was not as easily done in those days as now. Instead of the riding plow of to-day, the early settler was content to use the old "bar- share" plow of rude structure and deficient mechanism, with its wooden mold-board as nature had fashioned it. Seed was sown or rather brushed in by dragging a sapling with a bushy top over the ground. Grain was harvested with the sickle or cradle, and threshing was done with
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PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
a flail, or the grain was trodden out by horses or oxen instead of with the modern appliances.
The resources of the early settler were very limited. They were all poor and in debt and everything was bought on credit. When money was borrowed it was at an exorbitant rate of in- terest. Corn sold at 10 cents a bushel and wheat at 377/2 to 40 cents for the best grade, and it was sold on credit. All kinds of merchandise was high, calico selling at 50 cents a yard and com- mon domestics at 25 cents.
Parched corn, ground hickory nuts and wal- nuts were used in place of coffee. Taxes were paid in coon skins, or anything the farmer or trapper could spare. The mode of travel in those days was principally on horseback, except short distances of a few miles, which were made on foot. Teaming was done with oxen and wooden wagons. Horse wagons and buggies were few. Wearing apparel was of home manufacture. Men wore buckskin pantaloons and coats, coonskin caps and moccasins or rudely made shoes for the feet, itinerant shoemakers visiting the homes of the settlers to supply the footwear. The women wove and made up the material for their wear.
The living consisted principally of wild game, pork meat and corn dodgers. Wild honey was plentiful, also wild fruits, but vegetables were a rarity. The habitations were log cabins. They were built of rough logs, with mud plastered be- tween the cracks to keep out the winter's cold. The cabin consisted of one room, in which was combined the sitting-room, parlor, bed-room and kitchen. There was one door, but no windows. The floor was of puncheon and on one side was a large fire-place with a blackened crane for cook- ing purposes. Overhead from the rude rafters hung rows of well cured hams and around the chimney were long strings of red pepper pods and dried pumpkins. The furniture consisted of a puncheon table, a clumsy cupboard, a couple of bedsteads made by driving stakes in the floor, in which were placed the uprights to support clapboards on which the beds rested, the wall furnishing the other support; some blocks for seats, a spinning wheel, a well-kept gun and the family dog. The cooking was done in iron ves- sels on and around the log fire. If the weather
was cold, the family large or company present, which frequently happened, the wood was piled on so as to raise the heat and cause "all hands to set back and give the cooks a chance."
The earliest settlers, those who came prior to 1830, were subjected to considerable trouble in obtaining legal title to their farms. Before that year the general government did not offer the land for sale, and all the titles they held were "claims." By agreement among themselves each man was permitted to "claim" as much timber land as he might need, generally not over a quar- ter section, upon which he might build his cabin and make other improvements, and woe unto the speculator or new comer who attempted to jump a "claim" occupied by a bonafide settler.
Pike county had a regiment of volunteers in August, 1861, formed in one day and night, and it was in service only about two weeks. Its brief but useful existence will be a bit of news to our citizens, but more especially will it be historical reminiscence to those that were members of the regiment that never was numbered or mustered in.
In the latter part of August, 1861, word came to Pittsfield, Barry, Rockport and New Canton that a body of "secesh" as they were called were marching upon Louisiana, Mo., and as their Pike was the other Pike that made the kingdom of Pike, and was also known as the state of Pike and the home of Joe Bowers, what could they do but call on their other Pike for assistance, as they all knew their call would be answered. So in a day and a night about enough of our' Pikers from the towns named and other parts of the county to make a good regiment were on the east bank of the river.
The next morning they were in camp out at the old Fritz house, armed and equipped. Their arms were rifles, shotguns and revolvers, all very old style. Soon they were divided up into com- panies. Pittsfield had Captain Rockwell's, Barry Capt. Richards', New Canton Capt. Jackson's, and the other commanders I do not recall.
Louisiana did the best she could to feed them, but about the time the boys first felt hungry there was some scolding done. Their wrath, however, was soon turned to joy, for the noble women of cur old Pike sent the next day several
-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
wagonloads of good eatables. The first load was from Pittsfield, and the next from Barry and New Canton, and soon all had a plenty and to spare. We all felt that if we were to be so well fed that war was not such a terrible thing. We remained two weeks and if the "secesh" had started they must have changed their minds and counter- marched, so the Louisiana war was over.
There were ten companies with Dr. A. E. Mc- Neal in command. George W. K. Bailey, A. C. Matthews and two companies of scouts made a tour of the country west of Louisiana, and found all quiet and peaceable. Nearly all who were in the "Louisiana war" went out to the real thing a year later in the Ninety-ninth and other regi- ments, and soon we wished for the good things our mothers, wives and sweethearts sent us at Louisiana. But we fell into line and became ac- quainted with the poor fare Uncle Sam's big boarding house put up. Nearly forty-four years have flown since that time, and but few of Pike county's un-named and un-numbered regiment of two weeks' service are left.
The Ninety-ninth Illinois, was organized at Pittsfield by volume from all the townships in Pike county. August 21, 1862, they left the county seat and were mustered into the United States ser- vice August 23, at Florence, on the Illinois river. by Major J. P. Rathbone. They embarked that night on the steamer Post Boy, arrived in St. Louis the 24th, and went to Benton barracks, where the regiment was armed and equipped.
It left St. Louis September 8 and went to Rolla. in Phelps county, Mo. Left Rolla September 17 and went into camp at Salem, Dent county, Mo., left Salem November 20, and remained at Hous- ton, Texas county, Mo., till January 27, 1863. Moved to West Plains, Mo., and Pilot Knob March 3. Thence to St. Genevieve, Mo., and on the 15th embarked for Milliken's Bend, La. Stopped for a short time at Cairo, Memphis and Helena, Ark.
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