Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 6

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228

USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois > Part 6

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The writer recalls the seene, when but a year or two later than the date of this chapter, a school was started by Mr. "Pedagogne Sey- mour," as he was called, we, the writer and his relatives, presented ourselves with Olney's geography, Kirkham's grammar, and Wor- cester's readers. Of some forty scholars, all but, say half a dozen, were equipped with read- ers. most of them Testaments, two or three the old Methodist green, paper covered little hymn book, one or two with an old novel or history, and three of the boys had an outfit unique. One had a French volume of Voltaire's life of Charles the XIl, which neither he, nor his parents, nor perhaps the teacher could read. another had a congressional pamphlet, which probably had been sent to his father on the "propriety of running the mails on the Sab- bath. " The last one, who, by the way, figured afterward briefly in congress, had a huge book (as a reader) nearly as big as himself, which in some way had fallen into his family's hands. It was the translation of an enormous volume of the life of Napoleon Bonaparte. We ean never forget his reading of the first lines of the hook. "Napoleon Bonaparte was born Angust 15th. 1779. at Ajacio, in Corsica." His voice always cracked at Ajaeio, and broke at "Cor- seeker," as he could not help calling it.

The school business was neither very exten- sive, nor profitable during these days, for the reason. that, there were but few "young ideas to shoot," and also that the older ideas shot mostly after another Fashion. For some years the log cabin court house was the only build- ing where "school was kept." It was also the "church" and was made use of for all general purposes, since it was the only strneture in the place big enough for such uses, or that could be spared. As has been before said, the business and social features of the place exhibited but little noticeable change since 1826. but there did, during this year, sweep over the West a most memorable wave of excitement, which, while it retarded rather than advanced the pros- pects of Quincy for a time, is worthy of a pass- ing mention.

This was the "lead fever" at Galena. equal

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

(taking into account the difference in the eon- ditions of the country) to that later furore which, in 1848, spurred westward that count- less swarm of eager seekers, crazed by the glitter of California's yellow treasures. Strange it is with what an universal and electric grasp, the mining mania will take possession of a peo- ple. Let but the rumor start that there has been found in a "hole in the ground," some- thing shining and new, and there is at once, "down with the shovel and the hoe, " away with the yardstick and pen, sell off the stock, shut up the shop, and all coat tails point horizon- tally, straight backwards as men frantically rush to where they hope to get rich in a min- ute. For one lueky blunderer who returns with a better suit of clothes than he wore away, there are a thousand who do not.

Out of the hundreds who left Quincy in 1848 for the Pacific Coast, we cannot remember one who came back with fortunes bettered. They had, however, acquired "experience."

This "lead fever" was a hot-ves a melting one. The tide of northern travel was wonder- fully increased in volume. Why it should then have become so, one cannot divine. Lead had been known to exist, and had been worked for in that seetion for many years, by the Indians long ago, but this year on a sudden, all "went for it." The creeping keel boat which until this time, had controlled almost the entire transportation of the river, was now outdone by rapid steamers. These, the Shamrock, and Indiana, and perhaps another which heretofore had two or three times during the season, made trips from St. Louis to "the mines," were now in constant motion, their deeks swarming with people. One-third, probably of the residents of Quiney. (many of them with their families ) moved up "ter Galeny," as the expression went, and made temporary settlement there.

It was from this streaming northwest of southern and central Illinoisians (soon to re- turn) that our State patronymie "Sucker." came. There is a clumsy, hubberly fish in our Mississippi waters, shaped much like the cat- fish and occasionally nearly as large, known as the "Sucker" or "Round-month," which swims mostly in the deep water near the bot- tom and rarely takes the hook.

It was onee quite numerous, but now is rarely seen. Its habit was to migrate northward early in the spring. there spawn, and descend in the fall. It was remarked that many of the fam- ilies went up at the same time and returned at the same time, with an increased family, like the "Suckers." Hence the name. Most of the emigrants from one section, soon discovered that a surer source of substantial wealth, with

less coarse toil, and more comforts, was in the rich lap of the prairie earth, of the lower sec- tions of the State, and this fever gradually abated, though continuing for some years. Among those of our early settlers who moved with their families to the mines and spent the season there, were the late Levi Wells and John Wood.

Daniel Lisle, who was the first settler in Adams county, was this year elected County Commissioner. Ile first located not far from the present town of Liberty. Wesley Williams, brother of the well known Archie Williams, was appointed county treasurer.

At the March term of the county commis- sioners' court, it was ordered that a jail be built at an expense of not over $150.50, on lot 6, block 11, with very detailed and precise speci- fications. The upper story of the courthouse was ordered to be raised "two logs higher." Our fathers were evidently getting their heads up.

CHAPTER X.

1828.

THE "LEAD FEVER" HELPED QUINCY. JUDGE LOCKWOOD AND JUDGE YOUNG. NEW JAIL. FIRST CLERGYMAN. HOLMES OPENS A STORE. THE SECOND IN QUINCY. GOODS FREIGHTED ON KEEL BOATS. GENERAL APPEARANCE OF THE TOWN. ADVANCE IN PRICES OF LOTS. HIGH PRICE OF GOODS. STYLE OF DRESS. FASHIONS. THE LOG CABIN COOKING UTEN- SILS AND FURNITURE.

Quiney was now three years of age, and still growing- or perhaps we should say growing still, for its growth was very modest and still. There were, however, some influences in oper- ation during this year, that tended materially to promote its future welfare. Most of the "Suckers" by this time had returned, sati- ated, from Galena. The attention that had been attracted to Illinois by the "lead fever" excite- ment was productive of some valuable results. It left stranded on our western or northwestern border, men of enterprise and activity whose industry and energy greatly aided the growth of the State.

Now. as before, and for some years. the county progressed in population more steadily than the town. Some political and business changes appear upon the record. The cirenit court was still presided over by Judge Loek- wood, who was regularly accompanied on his periodie semi-annual visit by a bevy of from a half-dozen to a dozen of lawyers. A. W. Caver- ly, of Greene county, was the prosecuting attor-

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

ney. Judge Caverly died in 1875 at Ottawa, IIl. Ile was at the time of his death, the oldest practicing lawyer of Illinois; second only in legal seniority to Judge Sidney Breeze, who also passed into death soon after his life-long friend, Judge Caverly. Judge Breeze's legal life from 1818, had been mainly passed upon the bench, while Caverly practiced as a lawyer. Ilow these eirenit riding lawyers managed to live was phenomenal, but they did and the like live yet, and that same mystery exists today. Perhaps they lived off of each other like Sam Slick's two boys, whom he deseribed as being "so smart that, if shut up together in a room, they would make two dollars a day each by swopping jaek knives."

The precision, dignity and decorum which the personal character and recognized capacity of Judge Lockwood, and also his successor Judge Young, impressed upon the administra- tion of law in this section, contrasting greatly with the laxaties in propriety that too much do- faced the western forum, were of strong and long effect in early establishing the marked pre- eminence of the Quiney bench and bar, which had been since so well maintained.

Judge H. II. Snow continued to be the gen- eral office holder of the county and probate judge, county and circuit clerk and reeorder and kept singing school beside. Ira Pierce was re-elected sheriff, an office which he held for ten years, until he left for Texas. Hugh White was surveyor, and Wesley Williams treasurer. Ilerman Wallace succeeded Asa Tyrer as coroner at the August election. The county commissioners were James White and George Frazier. H. J. Ross, of Pike county, snoreeded Carlin to the State senate : and 1. W. Caverly of Greene, JJohn Turney of Peoria, and John Austin of Jo Daviess county, were elected State representatives.

One can obtain an idea of the sparseness of population by noting the extent of this repre- sentative district, and the distance between the residences of the members. Joseph Dunean, of Morgan county, was re-chosen representative to congress. His distriet embraced all that portion of the State north of and including Morgan county. His unsuccessful opponent was George Forquier of Sangamon county. The presidential vote of the State and of Adams county, was east for Andrew Jackson over John Quincy Adams.

The county commissioners on September 3, 1828, ordered that lot 4, block 11, should be re- served "for the sole and only purpose of ereet- ing thereon a school house or school houses, or an academy or seminary of learning," for the people of Adams county, and that the same

should be exempted from taxation. It will be remembered that in the platting of the town in 1825, the west half of block 11 was "reserved for publie purposes." On this ground were erected the first two courthouses and jails.

Lot 4, set apart as above, is that part of this reserved ground, on which stood the north half of the lately burned courthouse, the line run- ning thence northward along Fifth street some sixty or seventy feet. It does not appear that this order of the court was permanently com- plied with, nor were the other reservations, but the land was gradually disposed of, there re- maining only in the possession of the county that central portion on which the old court- house and jail stood and this, after the destruc- tive fire of 1875, and the erection of the present courthouse on Jefferson Square, passed at pub- lie sale in private possession.

At their meeting on December 4th, the county commissioners ordered that a clerk's office should be built and also a jail. These orders were carried out after a fashion, and completed some years later. The second story of the courthouse, which was then the office of the county, the cireuit clerk, recorder, and of Judge Snow generally, as he was the official "Omnium" of the county, was afterward the law office of the late Senator Browning, and vet later, when the courthouse was burned in 1835, was occupied as a carpenter shop. The jail now ordered and finished a year or two later, was a quaint contrivance in the dungeon style ; the cell or place of confinement being in the lower story which had grated windows, but no entrance opening except through a trap door from the second story floor. The moral im- pressions entertained by culprits when being sent down to punishment might, perhaps, be of value to the present time theologians in their controversies over what should be the most forcible and significant version of the word "Hades."

The building was constrneted of large logs, square hewn, and laid double thick in the wall.

Jabez Porter has been mentioned as the first minister to hold regular services. There were other clergymen who appeared from time to time of various denominations and equally vari- ous qualifications and characteristics. Some were excellent, intelligent men and some otherwise, with a graduated seale of fitness, running be- tween the two extremes of qualifications and otherwise. There was a Mr. Bogard from a neighboring county, a very worthy, well-seem- ing, quiet man on the street, but when in the pulpit he stamped and roared almost so as to be heard in Morgan county, his home. There

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

was the Rev. Mr. Roberts, who was mich given to "damn those sins he had no mind to and fol- low those he felt inclined to." He dropped into one of Mr. Porter's meetings one Sunday at the courthouse, and when Judge Snow com- menced tuning at his bass viol to lead the sing- ing. he left in holy horror and went a fishing in the bay. There was also old unele Johnnie Kirkpatrick, one of the best men that ever lived and who always drew a full cabin when he preached. Ilis style was not patterned on Princeton or Harvard rules, but it was peculiar and effective. I remember one of his sermons. "Christians." he said, "don't go through the world blindfolded ; they know jist whar thaire bound; that they are on the right track to heaven. Supposin', my brethren, you was going to AAtlas, you wouldn't strike out back in the prairie, and take round the corner of Keyes' fence. No. that would take you to Fort Ed- ward, but you'd take down the river and he sure you was on the right road. because you'd see three notches on the trees, and it's jist so with the Christian. Ile knows he's on the straight road to heaven, and there's notches all along the way.'

lle was a worthy man and did much of good. and was better than the usual type of most of the wandering preachers of the time.

Additional to the other favorable inthienees operating this year, was the establishment of

The boat reached Alton on the fourth day out. This seemed almost as slow as being at St. Louis. Meeting there a descending steamer, the Black Rover, and finding that it would return in a day or two on its last trip up (this was November). Ur. Holmes took passage. reaching Quincy in advance of his goods, which came along safely after a twenty days' trip from St. Louis. Keel boats which were then the a store by Charles Holmes and Robert Tillson. . most usual mediums of transportation (as Up to this time Asher Anderson was the only merchant and held the monopoly of the trade. His "store." on the northeast corner of Maine and Third streets was the only regular trading place in the village. There were the occasional groceries, where the ownership of a barrel or more of whiskey and nothing else, christened as "grocery." the cabin where the said whiskey was peddled out by the drink, but no varied stock of goods had until now appeared to con- test with Anderson for a share of the general trade. The story of Mr. Holmes, who preceded his partner in settlement, may be worth recital as picturing the primitive condition of things in those early days.

Ile had a store in St. Louis at that time. and happening to stop over at Quiney, while on a trip to Galena, liked the prospects of the place and concluded to settle here. Hle found much difficulty and delay in getting his goods from St. Louis. Steamboats ran only occasional- ly and it was late in the season when several of them had been up for the year. The owners of the keel boats were unwilling to start unless fully freighted, and always charged the same for way freight that they did for what was to be transported to the end of their ronte. The

reason for this was, that these boats rarely ob- tained many passengers or much freight after leaving port, either on the passage up or the return. Ilence the keel boats often laid long in port. It was also somewhat the same with the steamboats. Old settlers ean remember how steamboats, partially laden, would lie at the St. Lonis wharf for days in succession, with steam up and wheels moving, and in apparent instant readiness to move, while the captain would vigorously ring the bell about every fifteen min- utes, constantly declaring that he would "leave right away." "Ile can lie like a steamboat captain," was the phrase which expressed the "ultima thule" of falsehood.

Becoming wearied with waiting for a steamer. Mr. Holmes, in connection with two other young men, one of whom had a stock for Hannibal and the other for Pahnyra, chartered a keel boat on which he shipped his goods, about four thousand dollars' worth of miscel- laneous merchandise.

steamers were few and irregular as well as expensive) were propelled up stream sometimes by poling : but generally by "cordelling." that is, by passing long lines ahead. fastening them to trees on the bank, and drawing the boat up thereby. This slow and monotonous process gave an average daily progress of about eight miles. Sometimes a favoring south wind brisk enough to overcome the current sprang up. and by spreading a large square sail. the speed would be greatly increased. with also much say- ing of labor.

The first salutation that Mr. Holmes received when his goods were landed was from Elam S. Freeman, who died at Baseo. Hancock county. about a year and a half ago. Freeman was a substantial. excellent man, who acquired the title of major from service in the Black Hawk war in 1832-3. He was a blacksmith of hereulean frame, and used a voice in full keeping with his size. "Young man." said he, "have you brought any vises with you." "No," said Mr. Ilolmes with a characteristic touch of humor, "but from the looks of things here I expert to get some soon."

The town was indeed a forlorn looking place. The bluffs were nearly barren of timber and

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

seamed with ragged gullies; along the river's brink was strung a seanty fringe of feeble trees. A few cabins lay along Front street look- ing as if they might have tumbled down the hill and were too feeble to return. These were mostly north of Hampshire street. and extend- ing in a broken string as far up as the little cove in the bluff, where Spring street comes through. Among these was the cabin of Wil- lard Keyes, about the corner of Vermont street. and just south of this, with some houses be- tween, was a little larger double cabin than the others, which was George W. Hight's "Steam- boat Hotel." Three or four of the buildings were groceries, of the style spoken of hereto- fore, and patronized mostly by boatmen and Indians. Thence southward on Front street was the cabin of JJohn Wood at the foot of Delaware street. Between these two points was the cabin of Levi Wells, half way up the hill near State street, and farther north three or four more such structures hung against the hillside. The steamboat landing was at the foot of Vermont street. There, the rock from under the bluff dropped out at the river's edge, so as to be visible at an ordinary stage of water. Three or four ragged looking trees grew near the bank, convenient for the boats to tie to. These appearances continned for many years, even until the small landing was made at the foot of Ilampshire in 1839.

There were but two routes by which wagons could ascend the hill: one, south of the village along the Milnor creek and where now is Dela- ware street ; the other, by a very steep and virenitous track, which, wandering upward from near the corner of Front and Vermont streets, finally reached the level of the public square at Hampshire street, between Third and Fourth. On the hill the main settlements lay. Around the square on the north, west and sonth. were scattered cabins, about half a dozen on each side. Near the corner of Maine was the courthouse. Sonth and southwest of the public square and east along Hampshire street, or "Pucker Street" as it was nicknamed, for two or three hundred yards were similar strne- tures, with here and there a cabin located farther east. The square was out diagonally from northeast to southwest by a wagon road, running across it, such as no ravine, but the wagon road made. It boasted a Ixuriant growth of hazel brush, intersected by footpaths. and also supported three or four small trees and one large white oak.

And this was Quincy. There were then the store and three hotels, one under the hill, one at the southwest and the other at the north- east corners of the square. They made no pre-

tense to aristocratic elegance or sumptuous gastronomy, yet the "big bugs" frequented them in profusion and force. All of these build- ings were of logs, mostly round or unhewn. Brick, plaster, laths and weather boarding were factors yet to come, as they did in the follow- ing year.

Continuing the reminiscences of Mr. Holmes -as giving a good insight to the appearance of those pristine days and as affording personal information in regard to Quiney, it appears that his, the second store of the place, was first established in a small shanty on Hampshire street, west of and near Fifth, adjacent to what was then the "Log Cabin," afterwards the * Land Office Hotel," owned and kept by Bar- zillai Clark.

Requiring larger and safer accommodations for his business than his leaky cabin afforded, Mr. Holmes soon after bought of Col. Wheelock 196 feet, fronting, both on Maine and Fourth streets, being lots 6 and 7, of block 13, diagonal- ly across from the Quiney llouse, long after- wards known as the post office corner.

For this he paid $175, one half cash. the re- mainder in goods or "store truck," as it was called. He was the recipient of a good deal of quizzing for having paid such a price for lots that had been sold two or three years earlier for about $30, but he consoled himself and sat- isfied his partner Tillson, who arrived in the following spring, by the comfortable fact that the $175 of "store pay" was a very pliable sum, taking into areonnt the margins between eastern purchases and western prices.

Prices of goods ruled very strangely, and were as unfixed on many articles as are mining stock quotations to-day. The arrival of two or more boats at the same time; the receipt of a stock of eastern or southern goods after a long delay, or earlier than was expected, gave them a very elastic vale, in one direction or the other. It is true that a few of the more needed and more easily obtained staples were held at nearly the same relative cost at all times, but the profit on these was high. Eastern goods especially soll dear. The cost, risk and time involved in their transportation by sea to New Orleans, thence the slow travel up the Miss- issippi, and re-shipment of St. Louis, and their weighty or bulky and damageable nature caused the selling figure when they arrived to be well set up.

Prints ranged from 30 to 40 cents ; hardware was quite costly; axes, for instance, brought from $2.25 to $2.50, and all other agricultural and mechanical implements were priced in like proportion. Boots and shoes were rated high. Good crockery was scarce and sold at a high

PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

figure. Ordinary and plain ware was far cheaper, for the reason that the quantity of household utensils was very limited, and the needs in this direction were made up by the use of gourds and domestic "earthen ware." Flour, which brought from $8 to $10 per barrel. as also bacon and all salted provision, was al- most entirely imported at this time, and after- ward, until about the year 1832. Sugar, coffee, rice and southern prodnets generally ruled lower.

Clothing was mostly home made. Jeans, blue as the best looking. yellow or butternut, the most common, was the almost universal male garh. Sometimes Buekskin was used, which, when carefully dressed, dyed and fitted, made a handsome, indeed often an elegant suit, with wonderful durability of wear. Women generally wore homespun, the linsey-woolsey, with the printed muslin, or calico, to be donned on Sunday, and on the head the huge horn comb, covered by the universal sun bonnet. worn at all times, indoors and out. Shoes were a dress article, used by all who could afford them. and carefully hoarded up by all for win- ter needs.

It was not uncommon for women walking to meeting or to a gathering of any kind, to take their shoes in hand and put them on just before they reached the place of assemblage, taking them off again while on their return. The least used article of what we deem necessary apparel, was the stocking. This garment. the most modern invention of all our useful clothing, utterly unknown in ancient times, was almost equally unknown in the early times of our West. Stockings were of wool, home knit. gen- erally, white or gray, except when taste or coqmetry would give them a walnut, grape, or some other modest dark vegetable dye. Flashy colors were unknown. The exhibition of a pair of the flamingo-lmed longitudinals worn at the present day would have made a decided sensa- tion.

Fashion is Protean-limitlessly so-and is mostly itself when extreme. It is equally wor- shiped and intolerant in the Modoc wigwam and the Paris salon. The London snob or the French dandy, and their ludicrous imitators here, are not more obects of reverential admiration and imitation than was the aspiring savage, who, to do honor to his white brothers. presented himself at an Indian council clothed only with an old military chapeau and plume-exhibiting. as Washington Irving humorously tells us. the general officer on top and big Indian at bottom. The passion for finery prevails among all classes without regard to "age. race, color or previous condition," and it often has eminently

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 6

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1228

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228