USA > Illinois > Pike County > Past and present of Pike County, Illinois > Part 22
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Take your choice of the two versions, but keep in mind that the Suckers are a mighty people. The Sucker State is the third in the nation, and the world is proud of Illinois, which gave a Lin- coln, a Grant, and nearly 300,000 others that as- sisted in keeping the old flag flying in the free air of America.
In the days when Illinois was a county of Vir- ginia and before the Ross's came to Atlas, a very old Indian trapper told Daniel Barney that when he was a boy he saw the river washing the bare rocks that now show along the bluffs. All the creek valleys between the bluffs that led up to what is called the watershed of the county were great inland seas. A fair evidence of the truth of the statement is that all the highest points on the bluffs were the burial places of the Indians, and 'tis many moons since this was their hunting grounds.
While Pike county has held its own in its mod- est way, her citizens past and present have been alert in aiding to advance civilization, educating old and young pupils in the great study of every- day life and how to make good citizenship and to leave behind something to show that their lives were not all vain. Longfellow says:
"A millstone and the human heart Are driven ever round,
If they have nothing else to grind They must themselves be ground."
The old citizens that Pike county knew have answered the inevitable summons. Many hearts have ground out good and some evil, but the good they did will live on and the evil will be for- gotten and forgiven.
In the past when the pioneers were converting the virgin fields into homes, farms and orchards, they led happy lives and did not know much of luxuries. Rich old mother earth furnished an abundance of the plain necessities, a few stores with supplies ran accounts with the farmers for a year and often longer. When settlements were made and the crop was not enough to pay the bill, notes were given drawing thirty-seven and one-half per cent annual interest. Notwithstand- ing this large interest they were paid. Later, when interest was down to 18, 15 and 10 per cent they still kept their credit good.
Many that left large estates paid their notes and made money by the advance in the price of land, and in those days almost never failing crops. There was no cry then for cheap and shoddy stuff. All had the best, and it was a glory of the times that adulteration in food products and sup- plies was unknown. A host of good fellows sized up the old German's remark, "I youst as vell haf his vord as his note." But now, alas, a few are at large whose word or note is not as good as it should be.
The good old county has been very fortunate in having a majority of its officials that were ever alert, and sought earnestly to advance pub- lic interests. Edwin Markham's finely expressed thought is here given, not that it applies to Pike county, but that future officials may be impressed by it for their own and our citizens' glory : "What de we need to prop the State? We need the fine audacities of honest deed, the homely old integrities of soul, the swift temerities that take the part of outcast right, the wisdom of the heart, brave hopes that Mammon never can de- tain or sully with his gainless clutch for gain."
The county for many years had fairs at Pitts- field and Barry that were always well attended and enjoyed by all. But time with its rapid changes soon crowded them out. Griggsville
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still conducts a good fair, but the larger ones have taken much of its patronage. It seems the public is too exacting, and want a world's fair for a quarter.
I remember very pleasantly many of the man- agers of the Pittsfield and Barry fairs, and the fine entertainment they put up for the people. Whither are we drifting! Unless we turn about and sustain home enterprises our good old county will be as dry and uninteresting as an Egyptian mummy. The public should plead guilty to this charge. We have done too much for the cities and larger counties, greatly to the detri- ment of the home towns. Don't forget that the great cities are only interested in you for the money they get from you.
In 1851 the great flood in the Mississippi river did great damage. The river was from six to eight miles wide, the backwater coming out to the farm of Joel Morey and within half a mile of New Canton. The Louisiana ferryboat, then run by Frank and Wash Burnett, made trips from Louisiana to Atlas. The water was from six to ten feet deep all over the Sny bottom. The cordwood industry was quite extensive at Cin- cinnati Landing and there were over 5,000 cords of choice wood on the banks, as in those days the steamboats used wood exclusively. The flood took all the wood and completely ruined a few men who had their all in cordwood. The Sny bottoms were a wreck and a ruin till they were reclaimed by the great Sny levee, fifty-two miles in length. There were floods before and after. but that of 1851 was the greatest in the memory of our citizens.
Pike county people will be long remembered for many deeds of charity. There never has been a call in vain. Once they sent money and sup- plies to sufferers in Europe, and several times to Kansas and Nebraska, when their crops failed and gaunt famine was staring them in the face. Our grand old county did not stop to ask who, what color or what society they belonged to, but it was sufficient to us to know they were our brothers and that they were in distress. Our peo- ple were thankful and now remember very grate-
fully the generous people who contributed s freely to the Sny bottom sufferers of 1888, when the levee broke and so many lost all they had The donation of money and food for man an animal came from as far east as Boston, and many other cities of the East and North.
The old time school passes in review, and whil the present system with all its advantages an the able and earnest instructiors claim our prais and encouragement, yet the old-fashioned schoo with its "readin, ritin and rithmetic," the ol time "spellin' skules" and the log school house with but few conveniences and less comforts stil hold the palm for the good they accomplished Methods now are different, and it is an unsettle question if there are as many useful and prac tical products, numbers considered, as in the ol time schools. The great army of illerates is no far different from the past, and who is to blame Perhaps it is safe to say lack of interest in th pupils is the cause. Too many alleged studies too much hurrying through the books and to little actual practical knowledge gained.
This is not a pleasant truth, and is not a re flection on the schools of today, but all wish tha the youth could properly see and apprepricat the great feast of knowledge daily set befor them .. There are many youngsters that can they will be a Clay, a Webster, a Lincoln or Garfield, and we must have them as the time still need useful men. Did those named wast their time on football, baseball, club regattas an athletic sports? Did they draw on the "gover nor" for more money? Did they come home a the latest fashion plates and society darlings These thoughts are given to warn the rising gen eration that it takes work and hard unremittin study to fit yourself for the race of life. Be hero, be a close student, gather useful knowl edge, make yourself a great and useful citizen.
"Love theyself last, cherish those hearts tha hate thee.
Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace. To silence envious tongues."
And if you fail, you have the pleasant assur ance that you made the effort and did your best
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS.
C. L. Higha
Biographical
HON. CHAUNCEY L. HIGBEE.
Hon. Chauncey L. Higbee, legislator and jur- ist, carved his name high on the keystone of the legal arch of Illinois. He was a representative of that rare element in modern life which, al- though an invaluable part of it, yet rests upon a basis of something ideal and philosophical. In a worldly sense he certainly made his mark, serv- ing most creditably in Illinois as one of the ap- pellate judges, being recognized as an astute law- yer, politician and statesman. Whenever he came in contact with men of note not only was he val- ued as an equal of practical strength and re- sources but also as one whose integrity was be- yond question. Judge Higbee was not only practical, drawing to himself the strongest minds of his profession, but was imbued with the best scientific and philosophical thought of the day and his mind reached out with a statesman's grasp of affairs to the mastery of the important questions involving the welfare of the common- wealth.
A native of Clermont county, Ohio, Judge Hig- bee was born September 7, 1821, and died on the 7th of December, 1884. In 1844, at the age of twenty-three years, having in the meantime ac- quired only a comparatively limited education, but nevertheless ambitious and energetic, he took up the study of law with his uncle, Judge James Ward, of Griggsville, Pike county, Illinois, and after two or three years preliminary reading was
admitted to the bar and entered upon the prac- tice of his profession. Within a few years he had worked his way steadily upward to a posi- tion in the front ranks of the legal fraternity of this section of the state and had a large practice in his own county and throughout the military tract. He continued successfully as counsellor and advocate before the bar until 1861, when he was elected to the circuit bench for a term of six years, and no higher testimonial of his capability can be given than the fact that he was three times re-elected to this office, making nearly twenty- four consecutive years of service therein. In 1877, when the system of appellate courts was es- tablished, the supreme court selected Judge Hig- bee as one of the three circuit judges from the third appellate district and upon his re-election in June, 1879, he was again assigned to the high position and at the time of his death was presid- ing justice of that body. He took to the bench the highest qualities necessary for the impartial hearing of litigated interests. He had the faculty of freeing his mind from personal prejudices and peculiarities and giving unremitting attention to the cause in argument and the application of legal principles thereto, and his decisions were regarded as models of judicial soundness by many of the most distinguished lawyers and jurists, representing the judiciary of Illinois.
In his political views Judge Higbee was a dem- ocrat and took an active interest in the work of the party up to the time of his elevation to the
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bench. Afterward he allowed nothing to inter- fere with the faithful performance of his duties, standing as he did as a conservator of justice and right. In 1854 he was elected to the state legis- lature and in 1858 was chosen to represent his district in the state senate, where he served until his elevation to the bench. He took a conspicu- ous part as one of the four delegates at large to the democratic national convention held in St. Louis in 1876. As a citizen as well as a politi- cian, judge and statesman he was conspicuous by reason of his worth and activity and his city profited largely by his efforts in its behalf. The large school building at Pittsfield is a monument to the activity of Judge Higbee and others, for he took a most helpful interest in the cause of education and his labors were an effective agency for its advancement. That the Methodist people of Pittsfield worship in so handsome and commo- dious a building is largely due to his efforts. He was an earnest promoter of the Pittsfield House, was a charter member of the First National Bank of the city, and for years acted as its president.
In 1854 Judge Higbee was married to Miss Julia M. White, a niece of the Hon. I. N. Mor- ris, deceased, and a native of Clermont county, Ohio. They had a son and daughter, Harry and Sue, the former now circuit judge.
Judge Higbee was the contemporary and friend of many of the distinguished lawyers of Illinois. His intellectual energy, professional in- tegrity and keen insight combined to make him one of the ablest lawyers of the state. He was by nature endowed with the greatest of human qualities-integrity-which wealth can not pur- chase, power can not imitate or dying men decree. Upon the bench he was the soul of judicial honor and his career was distinguished by a masterful grasp of every question that was presented for solution. In his social life he had the quality of winning warm, personal regard and strong friendships. It may be said of him that he has left to his children and to his country the record of a life
"Rich in the world's opinion and men's praise And full of all he could desire but praise."
EDWARD PENSTONE.
Edward Penstone, a veteran of the Civil war, is now living in Pittsfield but for many years was closely associated with farming interests, belong- ing to a family that has taken a prominent part in the development and progress of the county in agricultural lines. A native of England, his birth occurred in the city of London in 1842, his parents being Giles and Sarah (Stratton) Pen- stone, both of whom were natives of Berkshire, England. When a youth of fifteen years the father was apprenticed to learn the dry-goods trade and was connected with commercial pursuits in his native country until 1849, when, attracted by the possibilities of the new world he came to the United States with his family and at once made his way into the interior of the country, settling in Newburg township, Pike county. His capital was invested in eighty acres of land which he at once began to cultivate and improve, and in later years, associated with his sons, he invested in property until their realty holdings covered seven hundred and sixty-five acres of very valua- ble land in Newburg township. To the develop- ment of the property he gave his energies with the result that in due course of time he was the owner of a very valuable farm which had been brought to a high state of cultivation. In 1867 however, he put aside business cares and he and his wife spent their remaining days in Griggsville. Their family numbered four sons and two daughters, of whom three sons and the daughters are yet living, as follows : Giles H., who is mentioned elsewhere in this work; Edward, of this review; Stratton, who is living in Newburg township; Sarah, the wife of David Dolbow; and Ellen R., the wife of W. E. Kneeland, of Griggsville.
Edward Penstone spent the first seven years of his life in the land of his nativity and was then brought by his parents to Pike county, where he pursued his education as a public-school student and in the periods of vacation aided in the farm work. When a young man of nineteen years he donned the blue uniform of the nation and went to the front as a member of Company H, Seventy- third Illinois Infantry, with which he served for three years. Being captured he was held as a
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prisoner of war in Libby prison for three months. He took part in the battles of Perryville and of Stone River and in the latter was wounded by a shell. He was also shot in the left arm and side in the battle of Chickamauga and was there cap- tured, after which he was sent to Atlanta and later to Libby prison. After three months he was re- leased, paroled and exchanged, and he then re- turned to the army in April, 1864. He took part in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, the siege of Atlanta and the engagements at Jonesboro, Frank- linville and Nashville. While at Libby prison he was reported dead. He held rank of corporal and proved a loyal soldier, never faltering in any duty that was assigned to him.
When.the war was over Mr. Penstone returned to his home and the following year was married to Miss Maria Glenn, a native of Flint township, Pike county, and a daughter of William Glenn, of Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Penstone began their do- mestic life upon a farm and in 1872 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Newburg township which he still owns. He afterward bought eighty acres more and he now owns two hundred and forty acres constituting a valuable property, on which he raises hogs and sheep. He retired from the active work of the farm in 1895 and removed to Pittsfield, where he purchased a fine residence and now makes his home, while his son operates his farm.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Penstone have been born two children: William E., who married Alice Turnbull, and lives upon the home place; and Mabel G., who is the wife of Thomas Pence, and lives on a farm in Salem township. His son has two children-Lena M. and Frank E. The daughter, Mrs. Pence, has five children, Edward W., Orville E., Louise M., Thomas H. and Glenn P.
Politically Mr. Penstone is a republican and has served as township school trustee and school director. He belongs to W. W. Lawton post, No. 38, G. A. R., of Griggsville, and also to the Modern Woodmen camp and to the Masonic lodge, while both he and his wife are affiliated with the Eastern Star. Mr. and Mrs. Penstone are Congregationalists in religious faith and for twenty years he has been a church trustee, acting
in that capacity for nine years in Pittsfield. He made a creditable record as a soldier and an equally creditable one as an agriculturist, and he owes his success largely to his own efforts, for with little financial assistance he started out in life and has worked his way upward through deter- mined purpose, close application and unremitting diligence. He is to-day the owner of valuable farming property which is the visible evidence of his life of well directed effort and persever- ance.
W. H. HASKINS.
W. H. Haskins, living on section 3, Hardin township, is one of the large landowners and suc- cessful stock feeders of Hardin township. His realty holdings embrace one thousand acres, with two hundred acres in the home farm, constituting a well improved and valuable property equipped with all modern conveniences and accessories. Born in Newburg township on the 5th of January, 1845, he was a son of Otis A. Haskins. His father was born in Massachusetts, in November, 1817, and was there reared to manhood, coming in 1838 to Illinois. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade and his first location was at Alton, where he worked at his trade until 1844. He was married in Greene county, Illinois, to Miss Nancy Thomas, whose birth occurred in that county. In the year 1844 he removed to Pike county and pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Newburg township. He resided upon that farm and later on another farm in Newburg township for several years. He then bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, where his son S. T. Has- kins now resides. He was an active and pros- perous farmer and a man of good business ability, making careful investments of his capital until he owned over two thousand acres of land. He dis- played keen discernment, executive force and in- defatigable energy as he gave his time and atten- tion to farming and stock-raising. He also fed stock for a number of years. Eventually he pur- chased property in Pittsfield, where he erected a large, neat and substantial residence and there he located, spending his remaining years in honora-
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ble retirement from further labor save the super- vision of his invested interests. He died January 28, 1897. His wife passed away February 16, 1885, and both were laid to rest in the West ceme- tery in Pittsfield.
William H. Haskins is the eldest in a family of four children, two sons and two daughters, all of whom are yet living. He was reared upon the old home farm in Hardin township and although he received ample training in farm labor his educa- tional privileges were somewhat meager, so that he is largely a self-educated man and although now well informed his knowledge has been ac- quired greatly through reading, observation and experience since attaining man's estate. He re- mained upon the old homestead with his father until twenty-eight years of age and assisted him in the work of tilling the soil and caring for the stock and crops.
Starting out in life on his own account Mr. Haskins was united in marriage in Atlas town- ship, on the Ist of September, 1873, to Miss Emily Yokem, a native of Pike county, reared and educated here, a daughter of William Yokem, one of the early settlers who came to Illinois from Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Haskins located upon a farm in Hardin township where they lived for two years and then removed to what is now the home farm on section 3 of the same township. Mr. Haskins began to further improve and cultivate this property and success resulted from his ear- nest, well directed and practical efforts. As his financial resources increased he bought other lands from time to time and he now owns six good farms comprising more than one thousand acres. He also owns the Haskins home in Pittsfield, the former residence of his father. In connection with the cultivation of the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate he has for a number of years made a business of raising, feeding and dealing in cattle and hogs, selling each year quite a large herd of well fattened cattle and also a goodly number of hogs. He is accounted one of the far-sighted, enterprising and successful agriculturists and stockmen of the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Haskins have eight children: Mary; William O .; Kate, the wife of Selden Formen, of Jacksonville, Illinois; Nellie; Nancy ;
Nettie; Verd I .; and Wallace. They also lost a son, Herbert, who died at the age of about three years. The children have been students in the Pittsfield high school and Mr. Haskins has pro- ·vided his sons and daughters with good educa- tional privileges, thus equipping them for life's practical and responsible duties. In 1868 he proudly cast his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant and he has supported every presi- dential nominee on the republican ticket since that time but is 'without aspiration for office. Rather than to enter into public life as an office holder he has preferred to do his public service as a private citizen and give the greater part of his attention to his business interests. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has taken the Master's degree in the lodge at Time. He and his estimable wife have been life-long residents of Pike county and are familiar with much of its history as the work of develop- ment and growth has been carried forward. They have also been identified with the improvement and progress of their community and genuine worth insures for them warm friendship and kindly regard.
HON. JEFFERSON ORR.
Hon. Jefferson Orr, a prominent member of the Pittsfield bar, who in the practice of his pro- fession has made consecutive advancement until he occupies a position in the foremost rank among the leading lawyers of western Illinois, was born in the 'vicinity of Deersville, Harrison county, Ohio, on the 20th day of July, 1842, his parents being John and Ary (Moore) Orr, the latter a daughter of Alexander Moore, a resident of Ohio. John Orr was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1810 and was of Scotch descent, his father, John Orr, Sr., being a native of Scotland although reared in Ireland. The father of our subject ac- companied his parents to Ohio when he was a small lad and passed the days of his boyhood and youth in his parents' home, early becoming famil- iar with agricultural pursuits. He was married in the Buckeye state to Miss Ary Moore, and,
LIBRARY Of THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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PAST AND PRESENT OF PIKE COUNTY.
turning his attention to farming, was thus en- gaged until 1852, when he came with his family to Pike county, Illinois, settling in Fairmount township, where he made his home for twenty- two years. Subsequently he took up his abode in Mount Sterling, where his death occurred on the 3d of June, 1890. His wife had died in Oc- tober, 1860, and thus he survived her for almost a third of a century. They reared a family of ten children, of whom the subject of this review is the seventh in order of birth. One son, Albert, was killed at the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, while serving as a member of the Forty-first Illi- nois Infantry in defense of the Union. Most of the other members of the family are still resi- dents of Illinois.
Jefferson Orr was a youth of ten summers when his parents came to this state and his edu- cation, begun in the district schools of Ohio, was continued in the public schools of this county, and afterward at Mount Sterling, Illinois, prior to his matriculation in the Illinois College at Jacksonville. He later spent three years in the Chicago University, the last two years of that period being passed in the law department, from which he was graduated with honors in the class of 1864. Soon afterward he went to Atchison, Kansas, where he practiced for about nine months and on the expiration of that period he returned to Pittsfield. He has since been an able member of the bar of this city and in 1872 was elected prosecuting attorney of Pike county, to which position he was elected until he had served for eight consecutive years. He has since given his attention to the private practice of law and in 1877 formed a partnership with Edward Yates, which was continued until 1880. In the following year he became a partner of A. G. Crawford under the firm style of Orr & Craw- ford, and they enjoyed an extensive clientage. For the past few years, however, Mr. Orr has been alone and has controlled a legal business which in volume and importance indicates his high standing at the bar.
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