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 76
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 76
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RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
1870 he associated with him Mr. Noon, and added the lumber trade to his business. He married Miss Patience C. Stone in 1849. She was born in Rhode Island. Aug. 31, 1826. They have five children, -George H., Benjamin, William, Juliette and Charles F .; and three deceased. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and has been through all the chairs and encampments. He left home at the age of 15, was superintendent of the large woolen manufactory of Fox, Rice & Co., Worcester, Mass., at 20, and was the first to produce fancy cassimeres in the United States of home manufacture. The king of England had a pair of pants made from the first piece produced in England of a fancy pattern. Mr. Fox had a portion of the same piece sent him, which he submitted to Mr. Gallup, with the question if he could make it, which he set abont and successfully produced. This gave him great prominence in the manufactory. He owns 160 acres of land in La Prairie township and some seventeen lots in Sparland. Having made his "pile," he takes the world easily, and hunts, fishes or travels as fancy dictates. Last year he ascended to the headwaters of the Missonri and floated down in a canoe to its mouth.
MRS. MARY P. THOMPSON.
Mrs. Thompson is widow of the late Asa Thompson, and daughter of James and Sarah (Ramsay) Orr. She wasborn in Cecil county, Md., and came with her parents to Danville, Ill., and in 1833 to Lacon. going upon the old homestead, one mile above town. She married Mr. Thompson, February 8. 1834. He was a son of Joseph and Jane (Ewing) Thompson, natives of Virginia, but removed to Athens county, Ohio, in an early day, where their son Asa was born. Mr. Thompson first settled in Chillicothe, and worked at his trade of wagon making, bnt removed to Steuben township in 1835. where he lived until his death, Feb. 15. 1874. He left behind him a good name and six sons and daughters-Norton. who resides in Steuben; William E., in Lacon: Margaret (Mrs. Boys), in Livingston county: Melford J., in Blandinsville Ill .; Joseph A, and Mary at home, Mr. Thompson was a man of ability, and accumulated a large property. owning nearly 800 acres of land when he died. He held various local offices, and was respected by all who made his acquaintance. Since his death Mrs. T. has managed the estate with good judgment and prudence. One of the sons is treasurer of Marshall county, and another is a successful grain dealer. They inherit their father's prudence and their mother's executive ability, and are sons any parent would be proud of.
SAMUEL B. MCLAUGHLIN.
The subject of the following sketch comes from an old Scotch covenanter family that some 250 years ago lived on the coast of Scotland, and followed the occupation of millers as had their fathers before them. It was a time of bitter religious persecutions. When Catholics were in power they persecuted Protestants without mercy, whip- ping, branding and murdering, and when the disciples of Calvin obtained the upper hand they paid off in like kind. The Mclaughlins were Covenanters, and would not belie their religion. Through persecution and threatened death they clung to their faith, and when grim old Claverhouse, who was never known to show mercy, ordered the head of the family to recant, he stoutly refused, and told Black John to do his worst. Eleven times they strung him up, but life did not desert him, and still he refused to give up his religion. But it was not the Papist leader's purpose to take his life. Good millers were scarce and could not well be spared, so they left him more dead than alive, swear- ing to return again. Far in the distance across the blue channel the Irish coast was visible. The miller knew his vindictive enemies would surely return and then unless he recanted no mercy would be shown, so making his ar- rangements hastily and secretly, he embarked in an open boat with his family and such goods as he could carry and bade adien to his native land forever. He found an asylum in Ireland, where he lived and died, with his wife also. The family here became farmers, and nearly a hundred years later one of the name, bidding his relatives adieu, Bailed for the new world and settled in Virginia. Of their history there little is known in detail. The name is prom- inent in the annals of the time, and several members served in the war of the Revolution, fighting manfully on the side of the Colonists. After its close they drifted to the "dark and bloody ground," and one became a noted Indian fighter. After the border tribes were defeated and dispersed they settled down to peaceful pursnits, one .branch lo- cating on Green River, where, on the 17th day of Feb., 1813. Samuel B., the subject of this sketch, was born. His father was a tanner and likewise cultivated a small farm. The country was new, the people poor, and though soil and climate were unsurpassed, the imperfect means for tilling the earth made life one continued struggle for ex- istence. Imagine the artistic steel plows of to-day transformed into a clumsy affair, with a short beam, a blunt iron point, and a wooden mould-board, warranted never to scour, and you have the "Clipper" plows of our forefathers, It was commonly drawn by a mule, the lines and traces made from homespun and twisted hemp, passing through the wooden hames and tied with a knot; a shock collar, and the whiffletrees fastened with withes of hickory bark to the plow. Wagons were unknown, a clumsy sled being the only means of conveyance in summer or winter. Good schools there were none. During the winter months some tramping pedagogue would gather a few scholars, and ply the birch and ferrule in some out of the way cabin until cleaned out by the larger boys, which usually happened about the middle of the term, when there would be no more school that year. The knowledge obtained under snch circumstances could not be great, yet he learned sufficient to transact ordinary business, and it must be a sharp one who can profit by his want of information. The food of those days was plain and simple, corn bread and bacon, or "hog and hominy," formed the living of rich and poor, the luxuries of wheat bread and home-made coffee being indulged in only once a week-on Sunday mornings. Very little sugar or coffee was used or to be had if desired. Books and newspapers in that benighted region were unknown, and information from the onter world came through those adventurous voyagers who made annual trips by flatboat to New Orleans. and for six months thereafter were the self-appointed oracles of the village. When sixteen years old his father promised as a reward for extra labor, that all the corn raised, besides filling a certain crib, should be his. It may be believed the weeds had little show that season, and his labors were rewarded with a surplus of 150 bushels. A Christmas, and then left me. On this day commenced what has ever since been remembered and designated as the
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BİOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.
neighbor, the proprietor of a keel-boat, was going on his annual voyage to the gulf, and young Mclaughlin har- gained, in consideration of the aid he should give, for ten feet of space therein. In addition to his share of the corn, he loaded it with a thousand hoop-poles, while his mother sent along a venture of chickens, ducks. etc , with many admonitions as to the careful expenditure of the proceeds, which were to be laid out in such products as most delight the maternal heart. The question of getting the hoop-poles on board involved much thought and Ia- bor. A team to haul them to the boat was out of the question, so a place was selected as near the river as possible, and then cut, conveyed by hand, and rafted to where the boat lay, tour miles helow. For a sixteen-year boy this was an undertaking, unaided, of no small magnitude, but it was accomplished after infini e labor and prins, and the craft was got afloat. All went well until it struck a sand-bar, and refused to budge another peg. Throwing off his clothes, although it was November, he swam ashore, walked tour miles to where a six-foot brother-in-law lived, and by their united efforts at lifting and pushing, the raft was afloat again. The venture was a sncceess, the corn, hoop-poles and chickens finding a ready market, and with the proceeds laid out in a suit of store clothes, some su - gar and coffee for his mother, a drawing-knife for his father-a wonderful implement in those days-he returned to enjoy his well earned laurels, and relate his surprising adventures. For the next three years he lived at home When 19 he started on horseback for Illinois, ostensibly to see the country, but in reality to find the possessor of a pair of bewitching eyes that had stolen his heart away and had it in her keeping. Both were found, and during the season he was married to Rachel L. Hammett. His choice was a good one, and to her industry , frugality and careful management he is indebted for much of his after success.
After the wedding he went back to Kentucky with his wife and worked on a farm, built a boat, etc., in which he returned to Illinois in 1833 with ten dollars in his pocket. He took up a claim above Chillicothe, put a cabin of primitive construction, which to its owners seemed a palace. The floor was made of puncheons, the roof of shakes, and the windows of greased paper. Wooden stools sufficed for chairs, a store box in which their goods were packed " answered for a table, and the cradle-soon needcd, was hollowed out from a log of wood. In this primitive style many of the now wealthy families of Marshall county began housekeeping. During the winter he cleared five or six acres of land, which with the aid of his wife he planted to corn and potatoes. A severe cut in the foot disabled him. but the corn was properly cultivated and produced a good crop, though he was obliged to labor supported by a crutch. They lived here four years. Markets were too distant and transportation too expensive to make the raising of grain profitable, so he turned his attention to raising cattle and hogs, marketing the latter with Jabez Fisher. at Lacon. It was a great event to him, when after paying all his [debts he had a clean surplus of $50 left. He has sold wheat for 15 cents and corn for 8 cents a bushel. Occasionally a trip was made to Chicago, loading in with grain aud out with lumber, salt and household necessaries. When lands came into market there was much difficulty in raising the entrance moncy-many losing their homesteads. McL. had little money, but he had two yoke of oxen and a cow, with which he started for Galena, hoping to convert them into money. A cash customer cou'd not be found, and he sold them on credit with the solemn promise that payment should be sent down before the sales. There were no banks or express, and the money must be risked by mail, carried by a tow-headed boy on a blind horse for a hundred and fifty miles. But those were days when men were honest and women virtnous, and the cash was duly paid according to promise, and safely arrived. The homestead was saved, and from this time prosperity was theirs, and riches came almost unhidden. In due time the old cabin gave way to a showy house with all the modern improvements. The home made chairs were replaced with costly mahogany; the old spinning-wheel to a thousand dollar Knabe piano; the puncheon floor to costly carpets; the gourd cup and tin plates to cut glass and china. He owns nearly 1300 acres of land, is out of debt, has corn and wheat in the crib, hogs in the pen, and "cattle on a thonsand hills." To himself and wife thirteen children have been born, nine of whom survive, Their names are Martha J., John B., Andrew J., Jefferson M., Jennette C., Susan R .. Samuel A., Harriet A. and George W. Are members of the Presbyterian church. He has filled various local offices, and is a good neighbor and citizen.
MRS. RACHEL L. MCLAUGHLIN.
My maiden name was Hammett, and I was born in Warren county, Ky., six miles from Bowling Green, in 1812, My father was a farmer, and likewise a blacksmith, cultivating a few acres of ground on which the necessary food for a numerous family was grown, together with the cotton for our clothing and tobacco for home consump- tion. Money was scarce in those days, and with many mouths to fill we were early taught to work, and I remember when but ten years old of carding and spinning sufficient cotton to make half a yard of cloth. It was my duty to attend to this department, and I early learned to plant and tend the cotton, to pick it when the time, and separate the seeds. This was onr summer labor, and the winter was devoted to carding, spinning, coloring, weaving and making up, leaving but little time for going to school. My father had a numerous family, and was anxious to get where land was cheap and the boys could each get a farm. We heard much of Illinois; many of onr neighbors went, and they sent back such glowing accounts that in the year I was twenty he started with his family. We had two large wagons, five yokes of oxen, with sheep, horses and cows. Myself and sister drove the sheep, my younger · brothers drove the cattle and horses. After a long but not eventful journey we reached the hoped-for land of . promise and settled on Senachwinc creek, one mile north of Chillicothe, where the railroad now crosses. Father and my brother-in-law immediately set about preparing for a crop, and succeeded in breaking, fencing and plow- ing sufficient for a few acres of corn. A rongh cabin was made out of rails, into which we moved until a larger and better one could be built. We had been here but two weeks when all but father and mother were taken down with the ague. Peoria, twenty-one miles distant, was the nearest place where either doctors or drugs abounded, and I - thonght I should surely die; but a good constitution pnlled me throngh. My attack of fever and ague lasted until "great snow storm." On the 1st of February there came a heavy rain, carrying off the snow and creating a great
756
RECORDS OF THE OLDEN TIME.
flood. The Senachwine overflowed its banks, and the back water from the river came up so rapidly that our stock was like to drown. At ten o'clock at night my brother and sister waded out to the canoe and made their way through the driftwood to Brother John's, while the rest of us climbed on the beds to keep out of the water. My father was not at home. When he returned he entered the house in his canoe and took us off. In the spring we made sugar, and the next summer succeeded in raising a very good crop of all kinds. There was no mill in the country at that time, and our corn and wheat was ground on a hand mill made by my father. and the bran separa- ted by a sieve. My wedding cake was made from flour ground in this manner. In the fall of 1831 I was married to 8. B. Mclaughlin. We returned to Kentucky and lived there two years, but didn't get ahead much, and determined to return to Illinois. We reached my father's with ten dollars in cash and a pair of ponies. gave five dollars to a Mr. Jones for a claim, and paid five dollars for dishes. Our first labor was to build a cabin, after which we cleared ten acres and built a fence. After the land was "logged" and the brush piled, my husband cut his foot and could do nothing, so the burning them up devolved on me. Women of now-a-days, with a young babe and no "hired girl." if left in similar circumstances would have very likely sat down and cried, but I had no time for that, and so set to work and burned the log heaps and brush and hired the ground broken np and laid off, and then planted it, my husband being able to stand on one foot and assist some. We raised a good crop, and have since been. on the whole, quite successful, for which I sincerely thank the Lord. In course of time the cabin on the bottom gave place to a more convenient house on the place where we now live, and this in its turn has been replaced by one of more modern style, yet after all I think I found as much true enjoyment in the little cabin where we began housekeeping as I have since. I have had thirteen children, nine of whom survive ; seven are married, and I have fourteen grand- children.
RACHEL L. MCLAUGHLIN.
MRS. DELIA DORAN.
Mrs. Doran was born in Athens county, Ohio, in 1824. Her father was Frank B. Drake, the pioneer settler of Drake's Grove, from whom it received its name. When ten years old she came to this county, and in 1853 married Thomas Doran, a native of the Isle of Man. They came to the old homestead to live, and have ever since remained there. Two children have blessed their nnion, Mai and Lessie. When Mrs. D. came to this country it was almost a desert, and their journey here is best described by herself. The journey was made in company with her parents, two brothers Frank and George, and the children of the latter. one of whom is now Mrs. Sherburn and the other Mrs. Cotton. of Sparland. The little company passed through a wild and nncultivated country, infested with game and innumerable snakes, and often made a reluctant halt beside swamps in place of a better locality. F. B. Drake, who is noted for his able rending of a good yarn, describes the traveling as endured with less fortitude when some poor soul would startle them with a deafening yell of "Get off my head!" Their team being part oxen and not de- cidedly fleet, were forsaken at one point by Mrs. D., who describes the self importance with which she set forth. re marking she would walk to the next house and wait till they arrived the following day, but was met with the withering reply there was not a house within 15 miles. Thev intended wintering at Springfieldi, but could find no habitation excep.ing those whose former inhabitants had all died of the cholera, and not liking these, they pushed on 8 miles further to a settlement of southern people, who had been there for 20 years, and owued 300 acres of splendid land and large droves of cattle, feeding them on unhusked shocks of corn, which the following spring was burnt if not consumed by the stock, preparatory to another crop. Their food consisted of bread ground on an ox or horse mill, and pork fried to a cracklin over their fire-places-stove + being unknown-no fruit or vege- tables, excepting a very few sweet potatoes. Their school house, 12 by 14 feet square, furnished 'light from one window having but fonr small panes of glass, and scholars numbering abont 60, all of whom, both boys and girls. had learned to chew tobacco. In the winter these resolute emigrants received a visit from Dr. Wm. Thompson, who having some acquaintance with the country and being most pleased with what is now Marshall county, advised their removing there, which they accordingly did in the year 1835 and found the country very sparsely inhabited, save with wolves, deer, wild hogs, prairie chickens and wild turkeys.
They settled on Senachwire Creek, what has since been called Drake's Grove, in honor of Mrs De's father, F. B. Drake, sr., who was the first white settler. Their nearest neighbor on the east was a Mr. Graves, living where Spar- land now stands; on the west was Gen. Thomas, at Wyoming, a distance of 16 miles: on the north lived Elder Chenoweth, a Baptist minister, this being 15 miles distant. I_ Lacon there was but one house, though there were several scattered along the river bottoms. The wild animals were fierce and quite dangerous, wild hogs sometimes "treeing" settlers and keeping them there until friends came to their relief, which might not be until starvation seemed imminent. Deer were so plenty that the hunters killed several a day, while the Indians were peaceable, but caused mnch anxiety from their peculiar mode of association, coming into the honse and searching for something they wished, and upon finding it, would offer to swap their venison and wolf meat, the latter of which the settlers invariably declined. The distance to mill being twenty-five miles, the trip, including detention at the mill, would often occupy a week, while those at home would pound corn upon which to subsist during their absence. Obliged to travel over a trackless prairie, they often became lost from' wandering round and round, supposing they were taking a direct route for home. To pay for their land they took their cattle on foot to Chicago, receiving $6 to $10. a head for the best, while Mrs. Drake's mother took cheese, etc., to St. Louis to lighten the family expenses. Mr. Drake was once employed by William Fenn, then engaged in merchandising, to plongh & furrow from Sparland to Wyoming, to direct people here. It may be set down as the longest advertisement ever made. While living in the state of New York himself and two others discovered a den of rattlesnakes, and destroyed 30J. One of the men fell in convulsions from the poison inhaled and died on the ground, the other died not long after, while Mr Drake was ever after subject to cramps, and finally died from cancer in the face, the effect, as stated by physi- ciana, of inhaling the poison,
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BIOGRAPHICAL DEPARTMENT.
SARATOGA TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM J. TOWNSEND.
Mr. Townsend is a merchant residing in Camp Grove, Saratoga township. He was born in Pike county, Ohio, n 1850, and came west with his parents in 1853. His father located at Camp Grove the same year. Mr. T. married Miss J. E. Houghtaling in 1875. She was born in Beardstown, and have had three children, one of whom died in December, 1879. Stella and Henry Everet are living. Mr. Townsend has been in the mercantile business since 1876. He carries a general stock of all goods snitable to his trade. He owns a fractional 80 acres of land where he is doing business,-section 31. He has been postmaster since 1877. He is a successful yonng business man.
PETER CARY.
Mr. Cary is a farmer, living on section 33. Postoffice, Sparland. He was born in Albany connty, New York, in 1830, and located in this county in 1854, where he has followed farming ever since. He married Miss Henrietta Halsted in 1869. She was born in Albany county. New York. They have one son. Charles D. Mrs, Cary is a mem- ber of the M. E. church. Mr. C. is justice of the peace at the present time, and has been for the last seven years, and has also been school trustee. He owns 160 acres of land, all in good cultivation.
JOSEPH RAY.
Mr. Ray was born in Ohio county, Va., in 1815, and located in this state in 1853. He married Miss Mary Becks in 1837, born in Washington county, Pa. They have three children,-Elizabeth, Newton and Lnther. He is an old resident of the township, owns a good farm of 160 acres, and is very pleasantly situated. He has filled several local offices, and is well known agd widely respected.
PATRICK DORAN.
Mr. Doran was born in county Meath, Ireland, in 1827. He came to this country in 1851, locating first in New York, and iu Illinois in 1854. He married Miss Ellen Mornan in 1854, also born in Ireland. They have eight chil- dren,- Ann, Walter, Philip, Johanah, John, Ellen, Patrick and Bridget E. They are members of the Catholic church. He owns 80 acres with fine improvements. Mr. Doran is a successful farmer, generous and hospitable.
GEORGE SCHOLES.
Mr. Scholes was born near Manchester, England, in 1826, and came to the United States when only two years old with his parents, who located in Providence, Rhode Island. They came to Peoria county in 1838, and to this county when he was 18 years of age. He married Miss Lola Wilmot in 1848. She was born in New York, and moved to this state when 18 years old. They have five children living-Ann, Elizabeth, Clarissa F. (Faris), William and Walter (twins), and George. Has served as justice of the peace for 12 years, school director and trustee, and road commissioner, etc. Mr. Scholes owns one of the finest farms in the township, and his home is the abode of every comfort. He is a leading citizen in the county socially, politically and financially, and his family is one of which any parent may be proud.
MRS. NANCY CAMERY, Widow
Mrs. Camery was born in Rockingham county, Va., in 1801. She married Mr. Christopher Camery in 1821. He was born in Winchester county, Va., in 1791, and died March 11, 1875, leaving nine children-John, James. Chris- topher, David, Isaac, Elijah, Samuel, Mary and Armand J. Her maiden name was Nancy Messick. Mr. Camery was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served with distinction, and Mrs. C. claims a pension on his acconnt, She owns 160 acres of iand with good improvements.
PATRICK COLLINS.
Mr. Collins was born in Connty Wicklow, Ireland, in 1829. He came to the United States in 1847, when only 18 years old, and at once assumed his position in the world as a man prepared to battle for his share of God's gifts, clothed with integrity and armed with the strong bow of determination and perseverance. He first worked at daily labor at $6.00 per month, but his aim was npward. He soon discovered that under the bright rays of the western snn-under the glorious constitution of this free republic the young shoots of honest labor would bloom for all men alike, the foreigner as well as the native born. He has successfully demonstrated by his grand success, that the narrow-minded prejndice of the few can in no way impede the progress of the many who come to this
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