USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Records of the olden time; or, Fifty years on the prairies. Embracing sketches of the discovery, exploration and settlement of the country, the organization of the counties of Putnam and Marshall, biographies of citizens, portraits and illustrations > Part 19
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Records of the olden time; or, Fifty years on the prairies. Embracing sketches of the discovery, exploration and settlement of the country, the organization of the counties of Putnam and Marshall, biographies of citizens, portraits and illustrations > Part 19
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The midwife in those days was an important personage, with whom it was well to be on good terms. Her will was law, her advice was regarded, and her name commemorated in the families of her customers. One of the most noted of these was Mrs. John Strawn, who, it is claimed, attended to over four hundred cases without an accident. Many gray-haired men and women of to-day obtained their first "start" in the world at her hands.
As before stated, when sickness came, reliance was mainly upon nurs- ing, and every neighborhood had its good motherly woman ready to go without money and without price, whenever called upon, and many an old settler can attest the tender soothing care with which they smoothed the ailing brow, or administered the cooling draught.
Those dear old hands are folded in death, those loving, benevolent faces, so full of tender, solicitude, have gone from our gaze forever, the eyes of love have lost their brightness, and their voices are hushed forever.
True and faithful were those tender watchers at fevered bedsides, and may we not hope "they too have their reward."
The latch-string always "hung outside," which meant that visitors were welcome, and strangers were not turned away. Hospitality was universal, and he who did not practice it would have been shunned. In those halcyon days, neighbors were neighbors, and distance was never taken into account. Farmers stocked their own plows -a clumsey, heavy, awkward implement with a wooden mould-board. They tilled corn with a sort of shovel plow, which covered corn as well as weeds, and left ready for a fresh start as many weeds as it killed.
Each cabin had a rough pine table, and if the occupant was "well to do," three or four splint-bottom chairs; but these were regarded as luxu- ries, and most settlers were content with good stout puncheon slabs
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
mounted on legs and christened a stool. The bedsteads were made by setting up posts and extending transverse poles into the wall, which sup- ported a "tick " filled with prairie grass, and on this, if the occupant came from the east, was often laid a good feather bed -the sole bridal dower of the woman of the house. A few plates and dishes of what was termed "delf ware" or in their absence, plain tin or pewter plates, an iron spoon or two, half a dozen knives and forks, an iron pot for boiling, a tea-kettle, an iron baking kettle and cover, on which live coals were placed, and the swinging crane or "trammel" on which to suspend the kettles for boiling constituted about all the cabins afforded. Outside was a capacious stone oven, where once a week the family bread was baked, and when it could be afforded, a "tin baker" added much to the housekeeper's comfort; but this was a piece of luxury that did not come until after years.
The family cradle-which must not be forgotten- was made from the section of a hollow tree split in halves, and rockers added.
The average farm laborer received from ten to fifteen dollars per month and his board. The price allowed for making rails was fifty cents per hundred. Female help cost one dollar a week.
It may be remarked that the cost of living has not materially changed between then and now. Though wages have increased, grain can be raised as cheaply. now as then, owing to our improved machinery, consequently the farmer ought to accumulate wealth as rapidly.
The plows of those days were clumsy contrivances, merely pushing the dirt to one side. They never "scoured," and various were the plans adopted to make them. A dweller upon the Illinois River used to stretch over the mould board the smooth skin of the gar, a fish allied to the shark family, which answered the purpose while it lasted.
Notwithstanding these disadvantages, they raised corn averaging forty to fifty bushels per acre, for which they got about twenty to twenty-five cents a bushel. They also raised excellent crops of wheat, which were hardly ever known to fail, and yielded twenty to thirty bushels per acre, bringing about fifty cents a bushel. They threshed it out with horses.
In those days labor was plenty and tramps unknown. Book agents or canvassers, lightning rod men and insurance agents had not made their appearance, and a person who attempted to swindle his neighbor, or spec- ulate upon one's misfortune, would have been driven from the settlement.
The prices for cows was $10.00 to $15.00 per head. A lot of fat steers, which a venturesome settler drove to St. Louis, netted him six dol-
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VALUE OF FARM PRODUCTS-COST OF LIVING.
lars per head. He became disgusted with it as a market, and never visited that city again ! Hogs were easily raised, as they got their feed in the timber, and pork sold for $3.00 per hundred pounds ; but in 1833, owing to a sudden rush of immigration, it went up to $10.00 per cwt.
The farmers raised sheep enough to make their own clothes, and their wives and daughters spun and wove the wool by hand, until they found it was more profitable to exchange it for cloth and woolen yarn, which was knitted at home. They hauled their wool fifty miles to get it carded, and many went as far as the Sangamon Mills near Springfield.
A dinner in those days cost a "bit" and supper, lodging and breakfast three bits. The food was abundant and wholesome.
From 1826 to 1832, Indians were numerous and peacable, bringing the settlers little delicacies which they did not possess such as honey, maple sugar, game and fish.
JEREMIAH STRAWN'S PRAIRIE.
This fertile region north of Magnolia, in Putnam County, was settled by white people over fifty years ago. The first comer was Jeremiah Strawn, who traveled on horseback from the Wabash River to Spring- field, and thence north to his future home, arrriving there in September, 1828; and in the spring of 1829, assisted by George Hollenback, Jr., he put up a log house on his claim. The logs were too large for two men to handle, so they were split in two. Strawn's nearest neighbor was a Mr. Payne, on Clear Creek, about two and a half miles away. While himself and hired man were building the house they lived on " pork and pone," the latter made of corn pounded on a stump, and saturated with hogs fat and baked on hot stones laid in ashes.
Mr. Strawn `returned for his family as soon as his cabin was com- pleted, and started on his return trip August 19, 1839. He had two teams, one a large Ohio wagon, drawn by four horses and the other by three. They found no settlers between the Wabash River and Spring- field, save one, in a log house, near the head of Sangamo River, as it was then called.
The first birth on this prairie was that of Zelphia, daughter of Jere- miah Strawn, in 1832, and the first death was December, 1831, a son of Mr. Basone, one of Mr. Strawn's tenants.
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
The first wedding was that of Mr. Abner Boyle and Miss Wilson, in 1831, and the next, a few weeks later, in December, 1831, was the mar- riage of James Harper to Miss Ash.
Rev. Mr. Royal was a circuit preacher then. His circuit was of im- mense extent. It reached from Mackinaw, Ills,, to Galena; thence to Chicago, and down the river to Joliet, Morris, Ottawa and Strawn's, and it required four weeks for him to "get around!" He traveled it for a couple of years, beginning in 1831.
The first school house was a log building, put up by Strawn and Whittaker in 1833. It was superseded by a frame house in 1836, a few weeks after Strawn had finished his own new house, the first frame structure in the settlement. He built a fine church and donated it to the Methodists in 1856.
ROBBERY OF JEREMIAH STRAWN.
From 1840 to 1846 the Mississippi Valley was infested by a gang of robbers known as the " Banditti of the Prairies." They were a regularly organized band of villians, ready to steal a purse, rob a house, or cut a throat to further their ends. They had rendezvous at different places all over the country-hiding. places for themselves and plunder. Generally the keepers of these resorts were quiet, well appearing men, who were reasonably free from suspicion in the community in which they lived. Whenever it could be done they contrived to get members of their gang appointed or elected to office, and especially the, to them, important posi- tions of sheriff, jailor and constables, and even now and then a justice of the peace. They conducted their business secretly and systematically. A horse stolen in one neighborhood was promptly sent to some remote settlement for sale or trade. Up to 1845 they had confined their opera- tions principally to stealing horses, but this year they concluded to ad- vance into the more hazardous and, when successful, more remunerative department of house breaking and robbery.
On the first week of June, 1844, a man made his appearance at the residence of Jeremiah Strawn, in Putnam County, pretending to be a ped- dler of oil-cloths. He exhibited them to the women, and remained awhile as if to rest, but really to take a survey of the premises. On seeing Mr. Strawn approach he hastily left, and Strawn did not see his face. This was Birch, captain of the robbers.
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AN OLD -TIME GANG OF THIEVES AND BURGLARS.
On Sunday soon after, a very sanctimonious young man appeared and "wanted accommodations-ah, during the holy Sabbath-ah, for himself and beast- ah, as he never traveled on the Lord's day-ah!" They kept this picus individual, who spent most of his time in reading the Bible, and showed very little inclination to carry on conversation. This was Long, the business man of the gang. The horse he rode he had stolen a few nights before from Mr. Lewis.
Long had with him a pair of old saddle-bags, which Strawn judged to be empty, but from the fellow's appearance, supposed him to be some poor preacher, and thought no more of it. The fellow said his name was Allen, and he wanted to buy a small farm. On leaving he pulled out a five dol- lar gold piece to pay for his keeping. Strawn was not disposed to charge anything, since he was likely to be a prospective neighbor, but the Rev. Allen was very anxious to get the money changed, the object being to find where Strawn kept his valuables.
In a few days there came another confederate,- a little old man ar- rayed in a suit of clothing a tramp would scarce be seen in. His coat would have fitted a giant, but on his diminutive form the waist came little above the knees, the skirts were cut down to suit his form, the sleeves also being served in like manner. He was barefoot and lame, and had straggling gray hair and whiskers. This was Fox, rigged out for the occasion, and Fox, as his name indicates, was one of the cunningest men in the band. Mrs. Strawn gave him some food and fifty cents in silver.
On the day succeeding Fox's visit came a slick-looking young man, who sold types and ink for marking linen. He was extremely voluble, and seemed to be quite a wide-awake and, withal, agreeable youth. This was Luther, -no relation to the celebrated Christian of that name, but a bold villain. All except Long had evaded Strawn, for the reason that they did not wish him to recognize them afterward.
On the night of June 17, 1845, toward twelve o'clock, four rob- bers came to Strawn's house, and Long entered by a window, the occu- pants, having no reason to expect such visitors, seldom fastening either windows or doors.
Long was armed with an ax, to be used in an emergency, but especially to break open the chest supposed to contain valuables. He at once un- bolted the door and let in his confederates, provided with candles, and while some helped themselves to eatables, others made their way to Strawn's room, who was awakened by a man standing over him with a
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
cocked pistol in hand, and ordered to lie still and cover up his head, which was done.
What money Strawn possessed was in a chest under the bed where the children slept, in another room. He told the robbers where the money would be found, but begged them not to scare the girls. They did not frighten the young ladies more than they had already, as by this time they were nearly scared to death. The chest was made to yield up its contents, and the robbers returned in high passion. They had ex- pected to find $8,000 or $10,000, and instead had discovered only about one hundred and twenty dollars. They were greatly disgusted, and threatened to burn down the house unless more was forthcoming, swear- ing it did not pay for the cost and trouble incurred. Next they asked who slept up stairs, and were told it was a preacher, which seemed to please them, and they visited his room. The poor minister, a Mr. Burr, trembled with fear while they were taking his watch and nine dollars in cash, all he had. They debated about killing him, one fellow heartlessly remarking there would be little or no harm, as he was a preacher and bound to go to heaven anyhow. Once he attempted to look out, where- upon a man brandished an ax and told him to lie still or he would split his head open.
They pretended to have a gang of twenty men outside, all armed to the teeth, and threatened to kill Strawn if he dared follow or give any alarm.
They tried to find more money, and asked for the keys of a bureau, which was locked. Mrs. Strawn told them where the keys were. They got them, and on failing to unlock it they were about to slash it to pieces when Mrs. S. told them the particular key to use. They searched all the drawers in vain, and at length departed, failing to extort a promise from Strawn not to follow them.
They obtained one hundred and twenty dollars in silver and a watch, and from Rev. Mr. Burr, nine dollars and a watch. There was an old black bag which hung in plain sight, which they did not think of open- ing. It contained fifteen dollars.
As soon as they had left Strawn got up and lighted candles. After some exertion he managed to get the preacher out of bed, still nearly pet- rified with fear. He wanted to have all go back to bed and remain there until toward noon, by which time he thought the gentlemen of the road would be too far away to molest them!
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227
CONFESSION OF ONE OF THE BURGLARS.
Strawn engaged detectives and officers in various directions, and at length found two of the robbers at Rock Island, in jail for the murder of Col. Davenport, a tragedy which greatly excited people all over the country, and resulted in arresting the ringleaders and bringing some of them to the scaffold.
After killing Davenport they went down to St. Louis, and thence up the Missouri River, where they remained in hiding a few days with Reeves, an old acquaintance, banished the preceding season from Marshall County. Fearing to remain here, they descended the river and went to Ohio, tracked with the fidelity of a bloodhound by an able detective named Bonney, who effected their arrest at Sandusky.
Birch told Strawn that Fox shot Colonel Davenport by accident, as he only meant to frighten him and get his money, but the pistol went off unexpectedly.
Two Long brothers and Young were hung at Rock Island. Fox managed to escape from an officer in Indiana in some mysterious and unex- plained way, and was never heard of after.
Birch was in prison some time at Knoxville, on a change of venue, and finally through the help of two confederates broke jail, and a story after- ward got abroad that his accomplices, fearing he would turn State's evi- dence and reveal the names of the gang, got him out of jail, and it is sup- posed drowned him in the Mississippi River.
BIRCH'S CONFESSION.
The following confession was taken down from Birch's own lips by the Sheriff of Knox County, and afterward read to and signed by Birch :
"On or about the 17th of June last (1845), Wm. Fox, John Long and Wm. Luther [he leaves out himself, though he admitted being present], robbed Jeremiah Strawn of about $100 cash, $100 in scrip, two watches, and one horse pistol, which said pistol they flung away in the yard. They also got one bogus dollar. One watch was silver case, thick square stem, compass, square and some Masonic fixings inside. John Long kept it until it was flung into Lake Michigan by Birch, on the way to Rock Island. The other watch John Long left with his father, Owen Long, who lived near Galena. Fox had the $100 scrip, and gave it to Baxter toward his share of the money taken in the robbery of Messrs. Knox & Dewey's office in June last, and Baxter afterward sold it to Negus, of
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
Rock Island. The $100 cash was divided between the boys about the first of June. I saw all the above men, and they then informed me that they intended to make the above robbery, to-wit: Intended to rob Strawn; and I saw them all again in Nauvoo, Ill., between the 10th and 20th of June, and they informed me that they had committed the robbery as above stated.
"Fox is twenty-eight years old, low, heavy set, weighs 180 pounds, light complexion, large blue eyes, light hair, slow spoken, and talks through his nose a little.
" Lewis, of Peru, who formerly kept tavern there-I think his name is Jonathan - and kept the National, got up the show, and was to have a share in the plunder. About the last week in May I saw Lewis in Peru. John Long was present. Lewis told us that Fox had been wait- ing for us, and became alarmed about a horse that he had stolen and sold in Chicago; and then he had advised Fox to leave and go to Nauvoo, and there wait for Birch and Long, and then make arrangements to come up and burst Strawn. We then went directly to Nauvoo, and found Fox and Luther there. The arrangements were all made, and Long, Fox and Luther went up to the neighborhood of Strawn's; and Long went and staid one night with him to ascertain the situation of his house, and in a few nights afterward they robbed him as before stated, and Luther immedi- ately left for Nauvoo, and Fox and Long headed toward Rock Island, but all met at Nauvoo.
"Shortly afterward Lewis stated that Strawn had a large pile of money; said that a man who bought hogs of Strawn told him that he paid him $200, and that Strawn had more money than he had ever seen out of a bank, and also that he (Lewis) knew that he had a large amount.
"(Signed) R. H. BIRCHI.
"Rock Island, November 15, 1845."
AARON PAYNE.
As stated elsewhere, the family of Aaron Payne, during the Black Hawk troubles, found protection in the stockade of Jeremiah Strawn. Although a minister and a man of peace, he felt it his duty to avenge his murdered brother's death, and when volunteers were called for he became a soldier until they were disbanded, and then followed the army in pursuit
.
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AARON PAYNE-PIONEER PLOWS.
of Black Hawk. While pursuing the retreating Indians, he passed a squaw and a small Indian boy crouched behind a fallen tree, but thinking the party harmless, passed on without molesting them. After the rangers had passed the boy raised his gun and shot Payne from his horse, and in return they were riddled with bullets. Two balls entered Payne's shoul- der, lodging near the spine, and he was thought to be mortally wounded, but was carried to the hospital at Fort Crawford, where the wounds healed, but he could not walk upright thereafter.
About three months after this event, Payne, pale and emaciated, rode up to his cabin door, and was hailed by his family and friends as one risen from the dead.
The following sketch relating to this event is taken from General Scott's autobiography, a book published many years ago:
"While inspecting the hospital at Fort Crawford, I was struck with the remarkably fine head of a tall volunteer lying on his side and seeking relief in a book. To my question, 'What have you here, my friend ?' the wounded man pointed to the title page of 'Young's Night Thoughts.' I sat down on the edge of the bunk, already interested in the reader, to learn more of his history.
"The wounded volunteer said his brother, Rev. Adam Payne, fell an early victim to Black Hawk's band, and he (not in the spirit of revenge, but to protect the frontier settlements) volunteered as a private soldier. While riding into the battle-field of Bad Axe he passed a small Indian boy, whom he might have killed, but thought him a harmless child. 'After passing, the boy fired, lodging two balls near my spine, when I fell from my horse.' The noble volunteer, although suffering great pain from his wound, said he preferred his condition to the remorse he should have felt if he had killed the boy, believing him to be harmless."
Payne lived many years at his home on Clear Creek, greatly respected by all. He was an earnest preacher of the Gospel, and equally noted as a bee hunter.
Afterward he emigrated to Oregon, where he still lives, a hale and hearty old man. He has filled several public offices, and served one term in the State Legislature.
PIONEER PLOWS.
From the crooked stick of the Egyptians to the old-fashioned bull
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RECORDS OF THIE OLDEN TIME.
plow of our forefathers, with its rough handle and wooden mould-board, was a long stride of progress. Then came a two-handled "calamity," with cast point and land side, which answered tolerably well in certain soils, but on our sich, "mucky" prairies only stirred it to some extent, without turning it over. It required a strong propelling power, and must be cleaned every few rods to work at all. These were the plows of the early settlers for many a year, and with them the soil of this country was first broken.
In 1836 George W. Ditman brought to Magnolia two wrought iron self-scouring plows, from Philadelphia, but they were not adapted to our soil, and failed to do the work required.
In 1841 or 2, James Ramage, of Magnolia, worked out an idea which had found life in his brain-that a plow could be made that would scour. After one or two experiments he produced the celebrated "Diamond Plow," forerunner of all self-cleaning implements of the plow kind. It worked well, turning the soil smoothly and neatly, covering up the weeds and leaving the soil in the best possible condition. Farmers pronounced it a success, and for several years he carried on the business until others with better facilities for manufacturing took away his trade.
Besides the plow manufacture, another enterprise was carried on here for many years, and one of vast consequence to the people. This was making reaping machines. Mr. Wm. E. Parret came to Putnam County in March, 1841, and settled in Magnolia. He claims to have invented the scallop-sickle in 1847, and built reaping machines, commencing in 1849, putting up the first reaper probably ever built in the State of Illinois. They were not the perfect machine of the present day, but the man who first invented the sickle-bar, and the place where first made, deserves recognition. It was the basis of success of all the machines of to-day, and if Mr. Parret can substantiate his claims, he deserves to rank among the public benefactors of the age.
MRS. HILTABRAND.
Of those who helped redeem the prairie from a state of nature, few re- main lingering on the confines of that bourne from whence no traveler ever returned. Among these is Mrs. George Hiltabrand, who with her husband came to Ox Bow in March, 1829. He was gathered to his fath-
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RECOLLECTIONS OF MRS. HILTABRAND.
ers ten years ago, while she lives in the possession of all her faculties, and at seventy-six her memory is distinct, her eye bright, and her face in- voluntarily lightens at the recollection and mention of those old time scenes, in which she was an actor. To her we are indebted for many sketches connected with ye olden time on Ox Bow Prairie. .
The Indian war excitement caused the settlers to hand themselves for protection, and they hastily constructed a log stockade where Caledonia now stands. The room inside the fort for exercise was reasonably large, but the eating and sleeping quarters were sadly crowded. The families that here sought safety were those of Messrs. Hiltabrand, Hannum, Hunt, Hart, Graves, Gunn, Allen, Loyd and Lotripp. They remained here about six weeks, which seemed an age to the inmates, and when the day came for their release there was a grand jubliee.
The first school in the vicinity was at Caledonia, taught in 1832 by Hosea Smith. It was broken up or suspended during the war troubles.
The first child born on Ox Bow Prairie was a son to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Knox, in August, 1829. Austin Hannum was the second, and the third born was Mary J., a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hiltabrand, whose birth was October 28, 1829.
Mrs. Hiltabrand is the only person of the original old settlers who brought a family to Ox Bow Prairie.
Another estimable lady still living is Mrs. Anne Shields, who, along with her husband, came to Ox Bow from Tennesse, in 1833. He died May 16, 1871.
Mrs. Sarah Glenn is another venerable lady, relict of Isaac D. Glenn, who with her husband came here in 1832. Mr. Glenn died in 1850. She is remarkably well and active, and is eighty-three years old.
The first preacher on the circuit remembered by Mrs. Hiltabrand was the Rev. Mr. Young, a Campbellite, who held religious services at the cabin of Isaac D. Glenn, in the winter of 1832-3. In that winter a school was taught on the farm of Mr. Carter, by a Mr. Hatfield.
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