USA > Illinois > Menard County > Petersburg > Record of the restoration of New Salem, New Salem State Park near Petersburg, Illinois, 1932-1933 > Part 5
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Kelso and his wife, having no children, probably found the one room sufficient. However, Miller no doubt had a loan-to built to the north, to accommodate his larger family. It was either built at the time the original house was built or at a later time. We have assumed the latter, and our details of this lean-to portion have been determined on this basis.
The logical locations of the fireplaces would have been on the west and east ends because of the ridge running the long direction of the building. The main doors lead to the common covered porch, and a door opening has been shown between Miller's two rooms. One fixed window has been shown on the south wall of Kelso's room. and another fixed window has been shown in the east wall of the lean-to, and a slid- ing window has been shown in the south wall of Miller's main room. This type of window is rather ingenious, but similar ones are known to have been used. and has been placed in this room because of the fact that Miller, being a blacksmith with a mechanical turn of mind. would have been able to work out a window of this nature.
Very little is known about the original Miller and Kelso cabin. and our restoration is based entirely on what we know of Miller and Kelso and their families, and what we know of the other residences at New Salem, and typical cabins erected in this section of the country at that time.
56 "The Far West" by Edmund T. Flagg.
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DENTON OFFUT'S STORE
In the summer of 1831 Denton Offut, Abraham Lincoln, Dennis Hanks and John D. Johnson piloted a flat boat from Sangamon Town, just north of Springfield, to New Orleans. The famous passage of the flat boat over the dam of the New Salem Mill occurred on this trip. Their duties at New Orleans having been completed they boarded an up- bound packet.
"Arriving at St. Louis about the first of July, Lincoln and Johnson found letters awaiting them from which they learned of the new loca- tion of the family, and immediately set out therefor. During this trip Offut had decided to establish a store at New Salem and employed Lincoln to operate it. After buying the stock of goods for this store at St. Louis, Offut took a boat going up the Illinois River and landing at Beardstown. From there he went to Springfield by stage coach and on the 8th day of July, 1831, secured from the County Commissioner's Court of Sangamon County a license to retail merchandise at New Salem, Illinois."57
"It was then necessary for Offut to secure a site and erect a store building. He purchased from William Batterton for $10.00 Lot 14 north of Main Street in the first survey, and erected a log store building thereon at the east brow of the bluff overlooking the Sangamon River, immediately northeast of the point where the road forked, one branch of which ran in an easterly direction down the face of the bluff to the mill and the other ran along the west side of the store building, north."58 (Note-After the lots of the old town were staked out. it was discovered that Offut's store did not occur on lot 14, but north of the town limits. Either he thought he was erecting his store on lot 14 and made a mis- take in its location, or he bought the lot for purposes of speculation).
"From its location it is quite evident that Offut, at the time, had in mind the patronage of those bringing their grist to the mill from both sides of the river as well as the convenience in loading in flat boats the products he would take in exchange for goods sold. . .
"The Offut store was opened for business about the first of Sep- tember, 1831. A little later Offut rented the mill from Rutledge and Camron, and operated it in connection with his store."59
"Offut spent his time between Springfield and New Salem. He was a man of strong social tendencies, and during his visits to New Salem spent considerable time at William Clary's .Grocery' where the boys from Clary's Grove and the River Timber' boys were prone to
57 Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 19.
58 Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 19 and 20.
59 Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 23.
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congregate. He was a great talker and liked to brag about what he had seen on his various travels" . . .60
". . . . No more picturesque - one had almost said, picaresque - character than that of Denton Offut is afforded by the short and simple annals of New Salem. His origin, as his end, is lost in mystery, but his colorful presence about the streets, for that one short year of residence, may not be forgotten . . . . Swaggering, posturing, humbugging with benevolent chicanery ; investing incident with an importance magnified to absurd proportions ; thinking in terms of millions ; living in terms of mastery; drowning in frequent and innumerable "deep potations" the insolence of those moments of clear vision that are the nemesis of every man of dreams, Denton Offut was the Barnum of New Salem . . His store was in the part of the village that was held in least esteem by the better element. That portion of the bluff had, hitherto, been domin- ated by but one building-Clary's grocery." . 61
It became apparent to Lincoln that Offut was nearing the end of his career as a merchant. He appears to have had other interests at other places, a sort of "Captain of Finance," and spread his resources so thinly that he failed, and, gathering together such funds as he could lay his hands on, fled the country, leaving his creditors to make what they could from the stock left."62
This little store which has become so famous served for the short period of eight months-from September 1, 1831. to April, 1832. Its ultimate fate is not known.
The excavations show that the main portion of the building was built on stone piers and was 14' north and south and 16' east and west. Two corner piers and a center pier existed on the north side of the building and the south side of the building was supported by similar piers.
The foundation of the restoration is a continuous wall however. for 1 the same reasons as outlined in the explanation of Dr. John Allen's residence.
On the north wall between the center and the cast corner post many brick were uncovered. It is quite evident that these bricks were used in the construction of the hearth of the fireplace and that the fireplace was located on the north wall. Some thought that the fireplace was over the spot where the brick were found. However, this would throw the chim- ney off center of the building, which is highly improbable. No doubt the brick fell to the east when the building collapsed or was de- molished. Having located the fireplace on the north, this would run the ridge north and south because the chimneys were always constructed at the gable ends. This is the short dimension of the portion over the basement, and it is quite certain that an extra room was built to the north and the roof ridge continued in the same line on the other side of the fireplace to the north. This would give a rectangular building with the ridge running north and south in the long direction of the building and the fireplace would be located in the proper relation to the ridge.
60 Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 24 and 25.
61 Chandler, New Salem : Early Chapter in Lincoln's Life, Journal, Ill. State Historical Society, P. 509.
62 Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 33.
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Another reason for supposing an extra room existed to the north is that Offut was known to have carried a stock of considerable size, and a room 14' x 16' would have been entirely inadequate for the sale and storage of his goods. There were no indications at the time of the first excavation in 1918 that an outside cellar door to the basement was originally built. Goods were raised and lowered from the basement through an inside trap door.
The front door probably faced the south and led to a porch. It is quite likely to suppose that the porch and door were on the south be- cause the road leading to the mill down the bluff ran past the south side of this store. For the same reason as outlined in the description of the Lincoln-Berry Store, it is quite likely that this fireplace and chimney were also built of stone.
Due to the fact that the north and west walls had the greatest exposure, the windows were probably located on the cast wall, and one is placed to light the front main room and another to give light to the rear store room.
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.
HENRY ONSTOT'S RESIDENCE
"Henry Onstott was a native of Kentucky where he married Susan Smiek. About 1826 he came to Illinois, settling at Sugar Grove in the east part of what is now Menard County. He was a cooper by trade. In 1830 he moved from Sugar Grove to New Salem, and built a log cabin on lot 11 south of Main Street, in which he lived until the spring of 1833. He also built on this lot a small cooper shop. In 1833 he moved into the Rutledge Inn, just vacated by James Rutledge who had moved to a farm on Sand Ridge. He operated the Inn for two years, during which time he built a larger and more commodius shop and a larger residence, in the west part of New Salem on lot 9 south of Main Street."63
There is no record of Onstot purchasing lot 9 (south of Main Street. second survey ) and according to our recent survey, lot 9 is some distance cast. Possibly Onstot purchased a small piece of ground west of the town limits, as then surveyed and never had the transaction recorded.
"The cooper shop was completed and used by Onstott a year or more before his new dwelling, and it was in this building that Isaac Onstott. his oldest son, fed the shavings to the fire to make the light for Lincoln to read by when he studied surveying. It was from Henry Onstott that Lincoln borrowed the auger to hore the hole in the bottom of the flat boat to empty out the water when it was hung up on the Salem dam. "63
He moved out of the Tavern and into his new house in the spring of 1835 and lived there until 1840.
"Lincoln boarded with Onstott during most of the two years he operated the hotel, and they became very good friends. Henry Onstott. who was a Whig in politics, was one of Lincoln's strongest supporters. He was a man of strong religious convictions, and of pronounced views against the use of liquor as a beverage and affiliated with the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church. He was a regular attendant at the camp meetings held by this church at Berry's Grove, on Rock Creek. and con- tributed, probably more than his share, considering his financial cir- cumstances, toward the establishment of the school of this denomination at Lincoln. Illinois."64
Onstot was a busy man. Demands for his barrels were great. He cut the timber which was close at hand and ". . . . The wood was al- lowed to season for a year in advance of its use and yielded a pleasant odor on the evening air. He supplied not only the home trade of farmers, bringing their corn and wheat to the mill. but manufactured a surplus to be shipped to Springfield and Beardstown."65
His son. T. G. Onstot relates that ". . . . Coopering was a great trade then and the best of white oak timber was close at hand. He
63 Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 111.
H Recp. Lincoln at New Salem, P. 111.
65 Chandler, New Salem: Early Chapter in Lincoln's Life,-Journal of Illinois State Historical Society, P. 533.
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would eut a dozen trees in the spring and have the staves seasoned a year ahead. Bale's mill used a great many flour barrels and there was a good demand for country trade. The surplus was sent to Beardstown and Springfield."66
In 1840 ". . . . He bought lots 6 and ? in block 31 in the town of Petersburg, and moved his buildings there. A branch ran through the lots and he erected his dwelling on the south side and his shop on the north. The cooper shop had been weatherboarded, an addition built onto it and same used for many years as a dwelling. In 1922 the Old Salem Lincoln League purchased the lot at partition sale, stripped the shop part of the protecting weatherboards and removed and replaced it on its original site at New Salem."67
The following statement by T. G. Onstot indicated a clue in tracing the location of the old house in Petersburg: "Next we made a visit to our old home. Sacrilegious hands had so nearly obliterated the original design that we hardly knew it. The old house had been moved back and a new front had been built. Mrs. Gibbs kindly showed us the old part, which still stands, but the 'old home ain't what it used to be.' "65
In tracing this house it was found to be the residence of Mr. Cleon Dallman, 516 South Main Street, Petersburg. Of course, this was no new discovery because the cooper shop had been erected just to the north. However, the old basements at Now Salem had been uncovered and it was desired to obtain the dimensions of the original log portion and check it with our assumptions. The house from the outside appears to be a frame house with the logs forming a portion of the south wall. The east and west walls are now interior partitions and the present owner has, at different times, cut through them in building new doors. The north wall was evidently cut away at one time because now the present wall is thin and could not possibly contain logs between the exterior clapboards and interior plaster. It is the author's opinion that after the cabin was brought from New Salem to Petersburg. it probably rested on shallow stone piers, until sometime later when it was decided to modernize it by adding additional rooms, sheathing it on the outside. and plastering it on the inside. At that time it was raised and a brick foundation was built under it. Also at that time. the north wall must have been removed. and the northern portion of the east and west walls cut away by several feet. The house now measures 18' east and west. and 26' north and south, inside dimensions. Adding the portion ent away to its length, this building would fit perfectly over the basements which were excavated at New Salem on the location where it is thought that Henry Onstot had his home. This fact tends to prove the authenticity of both the house in Petersburg and the location at New Salem as established by the Lincoln League at the time the cooper shop was erected.
Recently portions of the sheathing of the south wall of the house at Petersburg were removed and the original logs were seen and found to have been furred with vertical strips and sheathed. The logs
06 T. G. Onstot, Lincoln and Salem, P. 154.
67 Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 111.
68 T. (i. Onstot, Lincoln and Salem, P. 167.
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appeared to be in fine condition, were beautifully weathered and were chinked with lime mortar.
This house was first erected in New Salem in the spring of 1835 and was occupied until 1840. The shop was built a year earlier.
The excavations at New Salem disclosed two basements each 11' wide east and west, and 14' north and south. They were placed side by side in an east and west direction, separated by virgin soil about 31/2' wide. The original walls must have been supported by shallow stone piers, because there were no traces of foundation walls or deep piers. The sides of the basements sloped inward toward the middle from top to bottom, and there were indications of a cellar door to the cast basement in the northeast corner, entering the basement on the north side.
Dne to the fact that it is necessary to construct this cabin on sub- stantial foundations which will withstand the elements, the piers must go down below the frost line. For the same reason it is also necessary to add extra piers in locations where we are quite certain original piers did not exist.
Quantities of brick and stone were found in the filled in earth and most of it was concentrated in the west portion of the west basement. However, there were some brick found in the east basement also.
Knowing the north and south direction of the cellar to be 14' and the width of the old Onstot Residence now in Petersburg to be 19', we have centered the cabin over the basements which would leave 21/2' each side from the edge of the basement to the outside of the cabin wall. Allowing the same distance from the edge of the basement to the outside of the end walls. would establish the total length of the residence to be 30'6" long. If this is correct, during the alteration of the original house in Petersburg, the log house was shortened four feet.
The fireplaces were located in the east and west walls and doors were located on the north and south walls opening into the east room which we have designated the living quarters. This room was made a little larger than the room to the west because the daytime activities would have been carried on in this room which was on the warmer side of the house.
T. G. Onstot refers to a map and says ". ... No. 15 was my father's house after 1835. It was a large log house with a frame room on the west end. The house was used for preaching. Rev. J. M. Berry preached here for a number of years."69
A search was made on all sides of the west wall for traces of this addition, but none were found. No doubt the frame addition rested on corner stones, traces of which have disappeared. We have placed the frame addition on the south side of the west room where it would have the mildest exposure.
This cabin was built in early 1835. by the prosperous cooper along about the time when New Salem was at its height. hence we feel that this cabin was built employing the better methods. Therefore, the fire- places, chimneys and mantels were made of stone with brick hearths, and the floors are of sawn boards.
69 T. G. Onstot, Lincoln and Salem, P. 154.
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DR. FRANCIS REGNIER'S OFFICE
"Henry Sinco bought a lot on the north side of Main Street near the west end of the first survey, and erected a residence just south of the wool house in the fall of 1831. About a year later he sold out to Dr. Francis Regnier who lived in the house for a short time and engaged in the practice of his profession, later removing to Clary's Grove."70 Because of recorded transactions it is known Sinco and Rutledge pos- sessed a stock of goods which was later sold. It is quite possible that Sinco used this building as a store.
In 1832 Dr. Regnier bought the cabin and probably lived here until 1834, when he married and settled in Clary's Grove three or four miles southwest of New Salem. He probably continued to use the cabin as a New Salem office until the town was deserted in 1839 or 1840, when he moved his family and office to Petersburg.
Dr. Francis Regnier, son of a French physician, Dr. John Baptiste Regnier, a loyalist who came to America after being forced to flee from Paris during the French Revolution, was born in Marietta, Ohio. Deceni- ber 9, 1802, where in May 1827 he was graduated and licensed to prac- tico medicine and surgery.
Later, he and his brother. Dr. Felix Regnier, came to Beardstown. after traveling the entire distance from Ohio by water, using in turn the Ohio, Mississippi and Illinois rivers. After a short stay in Beards- town, the two brothers were called to Jacksonville where, with Dr. Roberts of Harrisburg. Pa., they valiantly fought the epidemic of Asiatic Cholera. Having finished their work they separated in 1832. Francis coming to New Salem and Felix settling in Monmouth, Doctor Francis Regnier lived at New Salem until August 28, 1834, when he married Sophia Ann Goldsmith, sister-in-law of Dr. Roberts. The young couple settled in Clary's Grove, becoming members of the household of George Spears and their first three children were born to them there.
Later, when Petersburg was laid out and the town began to grow. the doctor and his family settled there and soon he began the construc- tion of a two story frame house in the block southeast of the public square, where three daughters and a son were born. In the same block later on. he built the eight room brick home now used as the Petersburg City Hall, and a frame office building in the corner of his yard. All three buildings still stand and are in use today.
"In person. Dr. Regnier was tall, with a stout athletic frame. features well formed, full gray eyes, hair very dark brown in youth. As a man, he was characterized by his ready wit, his indomitable energy
10 Reep, Lincoln at New Salem, P. 14.
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and perseverance, and as a physician, cool, firm and ready for any emergency. He had an extensive practice and was active in the civic affairs of Petersburg. At the time of his death he was President of the Illinois Central Medical Association to which office he had been twice elected."71
The doctor was a good story teller, and was fond of telling them to the children who gathered about him on his shady lawn. Intending to take a nap, he was often bothered by his little friends who would insist that the nap could follow the story. "There is no record of his contact with Lincoln in New Salem, but it is highly improbable that such a man should fail to be attracted by, and to, the story telling Lincoln. That they were acquainted at this time may be inferred however, from the fact that later Mr. Lincoln tried a lawsuit for Dr. Regnier." (71A)
The doctor died when 52 years old, at Petersburg, Illinois, Septem- ber 14, 1859.
We are indebted to the generosity of Mrs. Craig for the loan of the original metal sign which was nailed to the front door. This sign has been duplicated and the replica is now secured to the exterior of the restored cabin. Mrs. Craig has presented the original sign to the State of Illinois, along with two original wooden benches used in the old cabin by the doctor.
A basement was discovered on the lot known to be purchased by Sinco and undoubtedly this is the site of the Sinco-Regnier residence. This basement measured 18' north and south and 14' east and west. The sides of the basement sloped in toward the bottom so that the clear floor space of the basement measured about 16' north and south and 12' east and west. No signs of stone walls or piers were found, and un- doubtedly the walls were built outside the basement and rested on shallow stone posts, traces of which have long since disappeared. As described in other explanations stone footings, extending down below the frost line. support the floor and walls of the restored eabin.
Brick and ashes were found in the excavation on the north side and undoubtedly the fireplace was located on this side of the cabin. This wall being the wall with the greatest exposure is another reason why it is logical to locate the fireplace there.
A search was made on all sides of the basement for traces of addi- tional rooms but none were found. Allowing the proper distance out- side the sides of the basement for the location of the log walls, the cabin would be 18' x 23'. In the southeast corner an outside base- ment entrance was uncovered showing the old steps. The treads and risers sloped and measured about 10" for the former and 8" for the latter. The outside measurements for this feature were about 4' wide and 8' long.
Little is known of the plan of this cabin, hence, the conventional arrangement of doors and windows has been established, the main door is on the south wall leading to Main Street. Two windows have been located close to the fireplace, one on the west, and another on the east
71 This quotation and the facts regarding the life of Dr. Regnier were taken from "Dr. Regnier", a manuscript prepared specially for this work by his grand- daughter, Ella Regnier Branson Craig, of Petersburg.
("A) Craig, "Dr. Regnier" manuscript referred to in footnote 71.
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wall, and a third window has been added on the south wall close to the door. The north wall has been left windowless.
The hearth of the fireplace has been restored using brick because of the brick found in the cellar, otherwise, the fireplace and chimney are of the early type of wood with plaster covering. This being an early cabin, and knowing little of Sinco's tastes and financial status, we have used a puncheon type floor. Wood hinges and lock have been used be- cause the cabin was erected before the arrival of Miller, the blacksmith. Sash are small and are fixed and sealed with glass.
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MARTIN WADDELL'S RESIDENCE
"Martin Waddell, the hatter, lived across the street north of Robert Johnson. At this time hats. other than those made of straw, were not sold at the stores and Waddell had a monopoly on this trade at New Salem. His prices ranged from fifty cents for a hat of rabbit fur to two dollars for one made of coon skin. He also made hats out of wool. The large iron kettle, used by him to boil his wool, was sold to the Bales family and is now on exhibition at the museum at New Salem State Park. 272
T. G. Onstot relates that Waddell ". . . . had one son and several daughters. There were Jane and Polly Waddlle and the boy's name I have forgotten. I think Waddell had all the work he could do. though the hats he made would be a curiosity now."73
The house was built in 1832 and since T. G. Onstot knew him well. it is safe to say he remained in New Salem until 1837 or 1838.
The excavations disclosed a basement which was 12' wide east and west, and 16' long north and south. The sides of the basement sloped in towards the bottom so that the inside bottom dimensions were about 10' east and west and 12' north and south. There was no evidence of stone piers or walls, and it is very probable that the basement was merely a cold cellar located under the main room of the house. The log walls of this room were located outside the basement.
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