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 43
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 43
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510
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
a shrug, "You couldn't get dad to sleep in this house," pointing to the room which the missing man had occupied, "for $1,000."
WOLF HUNTING.
On Christmas day, 1830, Mr. Lucas P. Root and twelve or fifteen neighbors, among whom he remembers the Clevelands, Silliman, Reddick, Cooper, Holmes, Miner and Reed, well known early settlers of that re- gion, organized a wolf hunt on horseback. The party were well mounted upon their swiftest young horses, but having no dogs, the wolves were to be run down, and then despatched with clubs. They started at an early hour, "to make a full day of it." A light snow of an inch depth had fal- len the night previous, enabling them to track their game very easily. Soon they struck a trail, and directly routed a wolf which after a short hot chase they killed.
Not long after they came upon another which gave them a lively run. Mr. Root's horse lead and had nearly overtaken the brute, when stepping in a gopher hole, horse and rider came to the ground without serious dam- age to either. The wolf was caught and killed with the stirrups of the saddle. Wolves when so caught often lie down like whipped curs, and make no resistance.
After this event the hunters took a long circuit south, thence to Senachwine timber, and back homeward, catching two more.
Mr. Root once set a steel trap near the carcass of a cow and caught a large, heavy timber wolf, breaking one fore leg, and to save itself the animal gnawed off the leg above the jaws of the trap.
Mr. R. was one day in the timber when a couple of small dogs found the wolf and drove him down the road toward where their master was at work, when the brute took to the woods. Mr. R. wore a pair of broad bottom shoes, and with care could keep upon the crust, while the wolf went through at each jump. He was very fleet on foot, and soon coming up with it caught it by the tail. He had no weapon, and when the animal turned to bite struck him with his coon-skin cap. Thus the struggle went on, the wolf getting away and again being caught as before, until it got under the roots of a fallen tree. The dogs soon came up, and with the aid of a club it was soon slain.
During the winter of 1845 the settlers organized a wolf hunt on an extensive scale. Men were sent to all the country round to notify the
511
DEACON SMITH PARTICIPATES IN A WOLF HUNT.
settlers, and on a given morning all were to start on foot or horseback, surrounding many miles and converging towards a common center at a place called "tow head," south of Lawn Ridge. The people gathered according to programme and the hunt began. One of the rules was that no fire arms should be carried, a measure of precaution against accidents, · which proved to be a safeguard. not only to the men but the deer and wolves also. The only weapons were clubs and spears, which in the hands of novices, mounted on frightened horses, were of no use what- ever. The day was beautiful and everything lovely and successful, so far as the starting of game was concerned. Occasionally a herd of deer was aroused, and with their white flags raised they would charge the advan- cing lines until met and turned back by others, and this was often re- peated.
Deacon Smith, an active participant in the sport, was mounted on an ancient and trusty animal borrowed for the occasion from Lucas Root, warranted for sober and discreet deportment. In early days he had led the hounds in many a chase, but age had tamed eis youthful fire, and left him a serious, solemn old nag, who had seen too much of the world to be scared at trifles, nor be urged to a less dignified gate than a sort of com- plicated movement between a trot, amble and walk, in which the latter predominated.
However. when the game was started and men and horses began to feel the excitement, Old Dobbin caught some of the spirit of the hour, and made his old joints crack in hot pursuit. , Soon the latent fires of youth were stirred and the old beast pricked up his ears, elevated his tail, and seizing the bits in his teeth dashed on with surprising vehemence, un- mindful of his riders' efforts to the contrary; in fact he ran away, clear beyond the line, and coming upon a drove, of sixteen bucks charged directly upon them, to the great consternation of the unwilling "Deacon," who in relating the circumstance, says he was thereby reminded of the condition of the Irishman, who in a similar fix was asked why he did not get off, and responded : "An' how could I, when it was all I could do to sthick on!" The Deacon just then wished for his gun and some one to hold the horse, when he thinks he might have brought down some of the game. .
As it was, the gap made by his horse made an opening in the circle, through which the deer safely escaped. As for his spear, it was worse than useless, for between keeping it from "jabbing" his unmanageable steed
512
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
or his own legs and holding on, he had all he could do. Upward of a hundred deer and wolves were at one time within the lines, but the re- sults were wholly disproportionate to the display, only one deer having been killed, and all the wolves escaping. 1
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
Lawn Ridge has always been noted for its advanced ideas upon the subject of human freedom. Indeed, with such men for its leading citi- zens, and in such a community of intelligent reading and thinking men, it could not be otherwise. Men like Nathaniel Smith, Charles Stone, the Wilmots and others, could not fail leaving their impress on the com- munity and tinge its life to a less or greater extent with their opinions. It was a season of revolution. Ideas, like mighty armies, were sweeping resistlessly onward; public sentiment was undergoing a change, and these men kept abreast the car of progress, moving step by step, and never looking backward. They were the pioneers, the evangelists of the advancing army of freedom, whose mission it was to break the bonds of four million human chattels. Silently but earnestly they worked, and happily they lived to see the fruition of their labors. Verily they shall have their reward.
The first fugitive that passed through here was brought by Dr. Cut- ler, of Princeville, under a feather bed. The next was a colored man who had been pressed so closely by pursuers that to escape their clutches he had to dodge under a bridge at Farmington, where he remained hidden a day and a night. A friend of the cause then brought him to Lawn Ridge, one of the few places where a fugitive slave was safe.
The next business of the "station" here was to receive two escaping chattels, one a Baptist preacher and the other a member of his church. One of these was accompanied by his wife and children, who, with the other man, were boxed up. Deacon Smith took them to Providence, twenty-five miles away.
Escaping slaves were usually brought at night, but went forward by daylight, as there was little danger beyond this.
The "agents" here had become so used to being awakened in the night that when aroused by a knock at the door after hours, they knew what it meant, and always kept ample preparations in the way of food and lodgings for these ever welcome guests.
513
THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
.
Of course no pecuniary recompense was asked or received by Mr. Smith and his co-workers for handling this human freight, but they considered themselves richly repaid for all trouble by the gratitude of the poor fugi- tives, and their fervent "God bless you." On one occasion two middle- aged men came along, who were so nearly white that they readily passed for white men.
On another occasion seven colored people were delivered in one load to the Deacon. One, the wife of a Methodist minister and a cripple from rheumatism, had to be carried.
Deacon Smith had a brother, who besides being a Democrat of the old school was an inveterate wag. He had his own ideas upon the subject, and while perhaps condemning the system, believed in obeying the laws of his country as interpreted by the statutes. Yet above all political bias he had a heart that throbbed with the instincts of true philanthropy and regulated his conduct toward the fugitives.
One day a party arrived at the Deacon's, and William E., who could never resist an opportunity to perpetrate a practical joke, arrayed him- self in the traditional slave drivers' costume, and entering the room where the chattels were, pulled from his pocket a formidable roll of papers and began to read: "In the name of the people," but before the sentence was completed each one had emptied himself or herself out of the windows and back doors and were "streaking " it for the corn field ! His brother spent much of the forenoon hunting up the frightened negroes.
On a certain occasion the Deacon's carryall had broken down, and as a fresh invoice of chattels had arrived it was necessary to send forward that night, he hitched on to a rusty vehicle belonging to his Democratic brother without asking any questions. When the latter found it out his wrath at the wagon knew no bounds, and he relieved his loyal feelings by then and there smashing it into kindling wood, saying as he did so, it should never carry niggers again.
A SCOTCHWOMAN'S VIEW OF IT.
At an early day the Presbyterians held meetings at Archie Riddle's barn, and occasionally at the old log school house. The dominie had grown old and tedious and his sermons were long and dull. On one occa- sion one of his flock known as "Geordie," had listened to this style of preaching until his patience was exhausted and as the parson, warming to
514
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
the work, had reached his sixteenthly and cleared his throat for another long pull, the dissatisfied member arose and remarked with characteristic Scottish accent : "It is better to be gospel hungry than gospel weary," strode out of the congregation. Not long after the absent brother joined the Baptist Church, and was duly initiated into that Society. An old Scotch woman hearing of the event drawled out: "An' noo there's auld Geordie, he's jined anither kirk and been took doun to the burn an' had a' his sins swashed awa'."
TWO PATRIOTIC CITIZENS.
When our liberties were in danger and the perpetuity of the Union demanded the sacrifice of her bravest and best, La Prairie contributed her full quota. Melchi Grove sent three stalwart sons, and when the call came for six hundred thousand more, though too old to endure the hard- ships of a campaign, he felt himself young enough to stop a bullet and save another's life, perchance for his country, so leaving his plow in the furrow and the farm to the care of those too young to fight he shouldered a musket and went into the fray. And so did his neighbor, E. S. Jones, the hero of two wars. Brave and 'patriotic men! To such as them we owe the preservation of the Union, and their deeds shall not be forgotten.
A FATAL ACCIDENT.
In 1835 a man named John Kirkpatrick met his death in a horrible manner near Drake's Grove. He was mounted on a spirited horse and had shot a deer, and dismounting to cut its throat, he fastened the reins. around his wrist. The smell of the blood and sight of the dead animal frightened the horse, which giving a sudden jump threw down its master, and started to run, kicking viciously until the man was dead and all sem- blance of humanity gone. The horse ran until tired out, dragging the dead man by its side, and was discovered the next day, still fastened to its unnatural burden.
INCIDENTS.
Although prairie fires were numerous and destructive it was seldom or never they were fatal to citizens or travelers. They raged in certain local- ities with incredible fury, but on high lands the grass was shorter and it
515
INCIDENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.
burned slowly and feebly. A person not knowing this might get caught and be in considerable danger, as was the case with Adam Crawford, who came to the County in 1854, and had occasion to go to Spoon River for a load of coal. The track ran across the prairie, and it was in the fall when everything was dry as tinder. Returning with his load, he saw ahead an advancing line of fire, through which his road lay, and knowing no way of avoiding it he pushed on, meeting it in a low valley, where the grass had grown with unusual rankness. A fierce wind was blowing, and an advancing wave of flame struck his horses, which dropped to the ground as though they had been shot. A woolen blanket partially shielded his face and prevented his inhaling the fierce flanes, which only lasted but an instant and passed on. After a while his horses were persuaded to get up and he reached home, but the driver was considerably burned, the hair was nearly singed off from his horses and great pieces of skin came off before they recovered. Had Mr. C. remained on the high ground until the fiery cyclone swept by no harm or danger would have resulted.
During the absence of the men in the ill-starred Stillman expedition, the women went to Reed's fort. The days and nights were passed in gloomy forebodings by the inmates, none of whom but had some near and dear relative among the Rangers. In these days there were no telegraphs, and the mails only came semi-occasionally. About a week after the dis- aster to Stillman's command, news came to the fort that nearly every man of the force had been killed or captured by the Indians. This was agony and suspense almost beyond endurance for the poor women. Who had been killed? Who had been, made prisoners and suffered the fiendish tor- tures which only Indian devils incarnate knew how to inflict? These were the soul-harrowing questions that drove the women almost to mad- ness. In about ten days, Mr. Jones, reported killed, walked in to the camp alive and well, to the joy of every one, as he brought good news for all his friends, and while his wife cried for joy, Jones observed, " Its all right, my dear; you must learn not to believe all the foolish yarns people may. start about me!" "You see I'm here, alive and well; and the man who says I've been killed and scalped, I wouldn't believe under oath !"
In 1837 a stranger named Lawrence came from Boston to view the country and to hunt and fish. He went out in a boat on Senachwine Creek, when that stream was high, accompanied by his dog. The boat
.
516
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
was a dugout, a most treacherous craft and wholly unmanageable save by an expert. Getting within shooting distance of some ducks,he was taking aim. when the dog suddenly jumped up throwing his weight upon one side of the boat and upsetting it. The man was drowned although the whole occurrence was in plain sight of his distressed companions, who, powerless to save, gazed helplessly and horror stricken upon his struggles.
In 1852 a party of gentlemen from Peoria were out in the edge of Marshall and Stark counties hunting deer and prairie chickens. There had fallen a considerable snow during the previous night which had drifted. It was late in the season, and though not thawing the sun shone with un- usual brilliancy and its dazzling effects soon told upon the eyes of the hunters. Of the thirteen men three managed to get to a house, while the others, rendered totally blind, were left perfectly helpless in the snow, and would have perished had not relief come quickly. Some of them were blind for weeks afterward and their eyes rendered permanently sensitive to brilliant light.
In 1861 Nathaniel Smith's son, aged 14 years, while out hunting prai- rie chickens, in drawing a loaded gun from a wagon, discharged it, the shot taking effect in his stomach. He was instantly killed.
It is said of Nathaniel Smith that he made the first corn planter built in the State. It was invented by Job Brown, a citizen of the place. He also built the first dwelling in the village, and it still exists.
517
DESCRIPTION OF SARATOGA TOWNSHIP.
SARATOGA TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XLVI.
TOPOGRAPHICAL.
ARATOGA TOWNSHIP lies in the north-west corner of Marshall County, contains thirty-six sections, and takes its name, as well as the lake within its borders from Saratoga, in New York, said to have been suggested by Geo. Scholes, an early settler within its boundaries. It has a rich soil of dark loam upon the prairies, with alluvial deposits on the bottoms, and brings forth heavy crops to reward the hus- bandman. Senachwine Creek, with numerous tributary riv- ulets runs through its borders, irrigating the land and making it valuable for stock growing and agricultural pursuits. Although comparatively new, it contains a great deal of wealth, and is settled by an unusually intelligent class of citizens. Along its northern border lies the body of water before referred to, occupying the highest ground in the Township and fed exclusively by springs. It was long a noted resort for migratory aquatic birds, and a paradise for hunters, until systematic draining reduced its borders and decreased its depth.
In 1879.owners of the adjoining lands combined, and digging a canal for some distance, led off its surplus waters, and it now promises to become the most productive part of the Township. Saratoga is peopled by an energetic community, who pride themselves on their good buildings, well fed stock and nicely trimmed hedges. Especially is it productive of "hogs and corn," in which its wealth mainly lies. The rapid settlement of the Township and its equally rapid development are one of the many marvels of our rich and fertile State.
FIRST SETTLERS.
The first house erected in the Township was by Malachi Hill in about 1836. It stood on Section 27, by the side of the old Galena road, on
518
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN . TIME.
Senachwine Creek, near where a bridge spanned that stream. The stages ran past here several years. The farm was sold to George Scholes in 1849.
The first settler on the north side of the Township is believed to have been a man named Ford, who made some improvement on Section 2, on land since owned by the widow of J. Cooney, in about 1840.
The next place opened was near by, on Section 3, now the property of J. D. Hatfield.
Next in order came Jonathan Day's farm, on Section 3, about 1845.
J. and S. Divilbliss came in 1849 or '50, settling on Section 24, at the east line of the Township.
William D. Louder improved the south-west quarter of Section 22 in 1850.
Archibald Mc Vicker and his son David improved the south half of Section 14 in 1851.
The school section (16) was improved by Mr. Stout, Stephen Fry and Arch. H. Elson.
John C. Townsend, Isaac Torrey and Peter Smith came on the same Section about 1856.
S. Cartmell made his farm on Section 10, and Richard Tyrrell on Sec- tion 3 between 1853 and '55.
Thomas Jameson bought an improved place from J. Clark on the now Hatfield farm, about 1851.
The settlers who came into the west side of the Township were John Boland, who located about 1852, near his brother, G. Boland, who sub- sequently sold to Lombard.
All the west side of the Township was then Congress land and un- entered.
Artemas Whitman, in 1852 or '53, improved near Andrew Kline's, on Section 18, and George W. Kline on Section 27.
John McNamara commenced his labors on Section 15 in 1854, and Patrick about the same date.
O. Martland, afterward of Lacon, lived on Section 15, near the School Section, in 1853, and Mason Seelye opened a farm on the same Section about the same time.
C. Camery stuck his stakes on the north-west quarter of Section 14, in 1854.
James Carse on Section 11, in 1853.
519
EARLY SETTLERS OF SARATOGA TOWNSHIP.
Miner T. Jay on Section 28, and William Letton near the former, both in 1852.
Hugh McVicker arrived here in 1854.
P. Deyo opened a farm on Section 6 about 1855.
B. L. Lombard and F. Bovinger's places were improved by J. and G. Boland.
A. Seichter bought his farm, on Section 2, from Mr. Carse.
J. and R. Hallock came here in 1859, and improved part of Section 5. W. Schofield opened his place, on Section 6, in 1858-9.
William Owens improved Section 7 about 1860.
B. G. Howes, 66
66
7
1855.
J. H. Merrill, 66
66
8
1854.
J. E. Noyes, 66
66
8
66 1852.
G. T. Coleman,
66
-66
10 66 1857.
D. D. Bond,
F. and D. Yaeger,
66
66
11 66 1860.
C. Huffman,
66
12
66
1857.
F. J. Higgins,
66
66
12
66
1860.
M. Hartley,
60
12
66
1860.
R. and D. McDonough,
66
9
66
1855.
William Jones,
66
8
66
1854.
Josh. Castle,
66
66
17
66
1855.
J. S. Essex,
66
16
66
1854-5.
J. Buchanan,
66
66
13
66
1857-8.
J. Greenlee,
66
66
14
66
1858.
W. Lawless,
66
20
66
1855.
D. Holmes,
66
24
66
1855.
Fred. Reinback,
66
24
66
1855.
M. P. Sims,
66
66
20
66
1855.
P. Lawless,
66
29
66
1855.
A. P. Webber,
66
28
66
1855.
Thomas Doyle,
66
66
27
66
1856.
Joseph Ray,
66
26
66
1855-6.
H. G. Breese,
66
66
25
66
1855-6.
James Beaks,
·
66
25
66
1855.
J. H. Bell,
66
66
25
66
1860.
.
66
10
66 1857.
H. Hulce,
15
1854.
1853.
R. Harrison,
21
66
520
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
The farm of the latter was improved by Thomas Henderson, in 1855.
Julia Jacobs improved Section 26 about 1855. She was formerly Mrs. Martin, and her husband run the ferry at Lacon many years ago.
J. G. Carson improved Section 34 about 1857-8. H. R. Trim, 66 66 34 1856-7.
William M. Rickey 66 66 36 66 1855.
William Marshall, 66 66 35 66 1860.
The latter's farm was previously improved by James Gordon, in 1852.
PATRIOTISM.
Saratoga has a war record few townships equal. Her brave sons freely volunteered, and their blood was poured out on many a Southern battle-field. Among those deserving of mention are J. C. Town- send, who, enlisting as a private, returned a Captain. His son, who likewise began a private, was promoted to a Captaincy. Major Town- send's company was attached to the Forty-Seventh Regiment, and was mainly recruited in the Township. Another brave soldier was Royal Olmstead, who won the rank of Major by good conduct in the field. Alanson P. Webber was chief musician of the Eighty-Sixth Illinois In- fantry, and a noted sharp-shooter, doing valuable service. He still retains the gun which he carried,-a sixteen-shooter repeating rifle.
A MIRAGE.
In the autumn of 1844 a traveler crossing the Saratoga prairie ob- served a sight occasionally seen in other lands, but very unusual here., He was several miles from the river, yet before him laid out as in a pan- orama was extended a plain view of the river seemingly but a few rods away. The indentations of the bluffs; the windings of the river; the islands, ponds, and familiar points of land, trees, etc., were reproduced with the most faithful accuracy. On the hills, cattle were grazing, a steamboat was passing up the stream, and half a dozen fishermen were landing a net. Seemingly he was near enough to converse, yet it was all a trick of the eye,-an optical illusion or mirage, in which the scenes rep- resented were reproduced in the clouds.
A town was laid out on Section. 16, and named Centreville. Sixty-
521
THE PROJECTED TOWN OF CENTREVILLE.
four town lots were laid out, and streets with noble names ran through the place. The proprietors were Isaac Torrey and Samuel Divelbliss, but the place never "achieved greatness nor had greatness thrust upon it," and after patiently waiting for purchasers, the owners pulled up stakes and turned it into a farm.
-
522
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
WHITEFIELD TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XLVII.
DESCRIPTION.
HIS Township was named complimentary to John B. White its first Supervisor and a prominent public citizen. It is the usual Congressional size, made up of timber and prairie, well watered and fertile. On the East it borders on the river, and the surface is broken and hilly, with frequent ravines extending inland, running into broad, level prairies covered with farms in a high state of cultivation. The ravines are covered with dense thickets, which in early times afforded protection to freebooters, but now they resound only to the woodman's ax or the hunters's rifle.
There is no village within its borders, no costly churches or school houses. Its products are mainly agricultural and its citizens tillers of the soil. In wealth and productiveness it compares favorably with all others, and in intelligence and industry it is not excelled.
The first settlers of the Township are supposed to have been two brothers named Reeves, who removed here from Putnam County not long after the Black Hawk war. They did not long remain, transferring their claim to their brother George, whose after exploits made his name noto- rious, and whose memory is preserved in the creek that bears his name. His history is given elsewhere.
The patriarch of the Township was Warford Bonham, Sr., known far and near as Father Bonham, who came in 1835. He brought with him a large family, consisting of his daughters Mahala and Eliza, wedded to James Tanquary and John S. Hoskins; George, who afterward moved to Chicago ; Jeriah, now living at Peoria; William, at Sparland; Warford Jr., living under the bluffs near the old homestead; Mary Ann, married to Henry Hoskins; Clayton, who died in 1870; Hanson D., who occupies the old home farm, and Emily, deceased.
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