USA > Illinois > Mason County > The History and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 72
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106
661
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
point of settlement, it reaches back through a period of fifty years, and to this feature of its history we will now direct our attention.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
The earliest settlement made in the township was in that portion of the woodland section first known as Price's, afterward Walker's Grove. To Henry Sears, who, although he has passed his threescore years and ten, is still in a fine state of physical and mental preservation, we are largely indebted for much that is interesting in the early history and settlement of this section. In 1829, the year in which O. M. Ross is said to have settled permanently in Havana, George Garman and brother, from North Carolina or Kentucky, made a squat- ter's elaim on the east side of the grove. They built a cabin and broke forty acres of the adjoining prairie. Like many other first settlers, they did not remain long before selling out their claim and returning to their native land. The year 1830 brought in a man by the name of Rose, also James Price, Enoch Estep and Spencer Clary. These all settled in the grove, excepting Estep, who located farther south. Of Rose no record has been given, either as to his for- mer place of residence or whither he went. He led a kind of nomadic life, and was probably more or less intimately connected with Price, with whom he came. James Price is well remembered from his intimate relation to the noble red men of the forest. His wife was an Indian squaw, a woman of fine mus- eular development and great physical endurance. On leaving Walker's Grove. Price next made a claim farther east, at what is known as Lease's Grove, in Salt Creck Township, and, after a few years, went west of the Mississippi to the reser- vation allotted to his red kinsmen by the General Government. Here he soon afterward lost his life while engaged in boating. Clary remained a citizen until the date of his decease, and his remains lie buried on land now owned by Unele Henry Sears. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and is referred to by those that knew him as a clever, hard-working man, but one who did not have the faculty . of acquiring property. He began life with nothing and held his own remark- ably well to the date of his demise. His family and immediate descendants have long been absent from the citizenship of the township. Estep was from North Carolina, and built his cabin at Revis' Springs, in the south part of this section. After a residence of some years, he moved to Jasper County. where he died. James A. Revis, from Warren County, Ky., came in 1831. From him Revis Lake and Springs derived their names. His father, Charles Revis, had been in the Territory in an early day, and is said to have erceted the first hotel in Vandalia in 1816. James A. died in 1838, and, with his companion and some of his children, was buried on a knoll overlooking the Sangamon. The plowshare of the more recent settler has long since made deep furrows over their last resting-place, and but few remain to-day who ean point with any degree of certainty to the spot of their interment. Long since, their moldering bodies have passed away, and the earth above them
602
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
has settled in to supply their places. This suggests to us the sad but certain fate that awaits all private places of interment. The little mounds recently formed in the old family burying-ground, where the violets and primroses. planted by surviving love, have blossomed but a few short years. will, when the old homestead shall have passed into the hands of those who knew not the loved sleepers, be trodden beneath unhallowed feet, and children's children shall look in vain for the graves of their grandsires.
In 1832. a number of additions were matle to the settlement in this section. John Yardley and his sons James and John, originally from North Carolina. but here direct from Kentucky, came and stopped a short time in Menard County. Soon afterward, they located on Crane Creek. The old gentleman, his son John and his son-in-law, Sol. Norris, after a few years' residence. sold out and moved to Texas. All are now numbered with the dead. James. and a number of his descendants, are still citizens of the township, all of whom have led upright and honorable lives. The same year, Josiah Cook, from Green County, Ky., put in an appearance. He made a small beginning in the way of an improvement, but did not move to it. He died, a number of years ago. in Menard County. He is represented as one of those shiftless fellows often met with, whose greatest gift was that of talking, and who moved from place to place as circumstances might permit or occasion demand By his death. many promises to pay were canceled. About the same date. James Sutton, from Maryland or Virginia, came to Walker's Grove. He bought out the claim of Rose, who has previously been mentioned. The year following. he sold to James Estep. brother to Enoch, and moved to Havana Township. The Estep family, originally from North Carolina, on leaving that State, first set- tled in Tennessee. From there, in an early day, they came to St. Clair County, Ill. In the spring of 1820, James Estep and his family came to San- gamon (now Menard) County. He laid a claim on land now included in the city limits of Petersburg. The first claim he gave up to his father. Elijah Estep, who came in the following fall or early spring of 1821. Elijah Estep . built the gear horse-mill, full account of which may be found in the history of Menard County and Petersburg Precinct. James, after giving up his claim to his father, moved across the river and located on what is known as Baker's Prairie. Being of a somewhat rambling disposition, he occupied various local- ities in the few succeeding years, but finally came and improved the north half of his first claim, and when the market opened entered it. In 1532, he moved to Arkansas, but returned in the fall of 1833, when he made his purchase at Walker's Grove, as above stated. He afterward sold out, moved to Menard County, thence to Southwestern Missouri, but again returned to Mason County. He died in 1857, on the farm where his son J. M. Estep now resides. His remains, with those of his faithful companion, who had preceded him to the spirit-land some two years, lie interred in New Hope Cemetery, in this town- ship. Mr. Estep, unlike most of his sons, was not successful in acquiring
663
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
property. He came poor and at no time in life was he possessed of great means. He was somewhat eccentric in his habits, he never rented but always bought and sold, sometimes more and sometimes less, always being governed by his financial ability to meet his promises. A number of his sons, who are among the substantial, well-to-do farmers of this section, are still residents of the township. Harvey Haskins was in and about the grove as early as 1833. No very substantial marks of improvement were ever known to have been the result of his indefatigable industry. He was one of those to whom the term "lived round," would aptly apply. It is said of him that he was able to change his location at almost any time with little or no inconvenience, as by walking and carrying the baby, attended by his wife who carried the household effects in a "poke," the feat of moving was readily and easily accomplished.
The year 1834, witnessed the arrival of Henry Sears. He was born near Raleigh, N. C., and with his parents came to Kentucky in an early day. In 1822, he came to the State of Illinois. He lived in various localities, most of the time, however, in Menard and Sangamon. In 1834, as stated, he came to Walker's Grove and purchased the improve- ment of James Estep. This he sold to James Walker in 1837, and the following spring moved to his present place of residence, on Section 17, in Crane Creek Township. He is one of the few ancient landmarks yet remain- ing. In the forty-one years of his residence in this one place, he has, by legis- lative enactment, been made a citizen of Sangamon, then Menard, and finally, Mason County, without once changing his location. While the eccentric man- ners of the man have contributed, somewhat, to his notoriety among the early settlers (and the later ones, too, for that matter), no one can be found who would gainsay the veracity of any statement he might make in good faith. Seeing the folly of dram-drinking exemplified in the life of his father, he has led a life of strict sobriety, and largely to this is, doubtless, due the fine state of mental and physical preservation in which we find him to-day. He was a member of petit jury for the first term of the Circuit Court ever held in Mason County. Not far from his residence was the site of the once famous Mount's mill, an institution in its day, and the "pocket distillery." both of which are fully described in the general county history. Abner Baxter, from Kentucky, settled at the grove soon after the coming of Sears. Ile remained but a year or two before selling out and moving to another portion of the county. He was an important factor at a "hoe-down," as he could handle a ' fiddle " and evoke such sweet strains of music as are wont to charm and edify the backwoodsman. He was honored as early as 1844, with a seat on the Board of County Commissioners. The year 1836 added Jesse Baker, a brother-in- law of Sears, to the settlement. Mr. Baker, at the advanced age of eighty- one, is still living, just across the line in Kilbourne Township. He was from Tennessee, and was a perfect Nimrod in his day. He has. perhaps, brought down more deer than any other citizen of the county, as he is
664
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
said to have been an unerring marksman, and to have slain great num- bers of them each fall. Alfred Summers came from Kentucky and settled on the farm now owned and occupied by Henry Sears, a short time after Baker made his claim. He died in October, 1837, and his death was one among the earliest to occur in the adult population of the township. Passing backward in our note of time, we find the year 1835 records the coming of Josiah Dobson, John Close and his sons, George, John Jr. (or Jack, as he was familiarly known), and Turner. These were all from Kentucky, and settled in the region of Crane Creek. The old gentleman and his son Turner remained citizens of the vicinity in which they settled till the date of their decease. John Close, Sr., died a number of years ago, and in buried on the farm now owned by the Widow Carter. Turner died in 1863, having amassed. during life, con- siderable means, much of which has found its way into the pockets of attor- neys as fees for their services in the litigation of various matters. George, after a short term of residence, moved across the Sangamon, and thence to Iowa. Jack moved to Morgan County, and, after the loss of his companion, returned and located in Havana. Some years later, he took up his residence in Shreveport, and has since died.
In 1837, James Walker, from Dearborn County, Ind., came and purchased a large tract of land in what, at that date, was called Price's Grove, but to which we have often referred as Walker's Grove, a name it has borne since the date of his coming. Here he lived and reared a family, which has been largely identified with the earlier and later interests of the county. He built the first frame house in this entire region of the county. The closing years of his life were spent as a citizen of Havana, in which city he died at an advanced age. Robert Cavin, from South Carolina, is thought to have settled in the township in 1837. Of him but little record can be made, as he did not remain long, and his place of removal cannot be determined. Charles and John Haynes, from North Carolina, became citizens of Crane Creek in 1838. They are still largely represented in the township. As early as the close of 1839. Isaac Teeters, George and Hiram Walker, Huff Hines. Henry Norris and Lemuel Pelham were settlers here. Teeters came from St. Clair County, and, leaving his residence here, moved with his family to Texas. Hiram Walker, after a few years' sojourn, moved to Greene County, Ill., where he died some years ago. Henry Norris was from Barren County, Ky., and was the brother of Solomon Norris, who was among the first settlers of the township. Hines was a man who made for himself little or no reputation, an easy-going fellow, who, at this date, but few remember. Lemuel Pelham, however, was of a different charac- ter. Ile was a Buckeye by birth, if full eredence might be given to his state- ment in regard to his birthplace. He was one of those rare exotics upon which, after the lapse of long intervals, the early settlers were permitted to gaze. He was one of those who, to use Uncle Henry's expressive phrase, " shackled round " from place to place, and, from the various localities in
665
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
which he had lived, and the length of time spent in each locality, Mr. Sears thinks, must have been not less than one hundred and fifty years of age at the time of his settlement here. Thoroughly wedded to his migratory habits, he did not remain long, and no trace of him has been kept by those who once knew him since his removal from their midst. He is thought, however, to have gone to St. Clair County, where, a number of years ago, he made his final exit from terra firma. Asher Scott, from New Jersey, settled about the last-men- tioned date, possibly a year earlier, in the northwest corner of the township and is still living. His brother Martin accompanied him, but settled across the line in what is now Sherman Township. During the year 1840. Charles Veach, Elijah Riggin, Ensley Hall and John Fumphelan were added to the population of this portion of the county. Veach was from Delaware, and settled where Eli C. Cleaveland now lives. He lost his life, in 1851, by the accidental caving-in of a well, which he was engaged in sinking. Riggin was a " Sucker " by birth and settled in the northeast corner of the township, where a number of the family, in comfortable circumstances, still reside. Ensley HIall came from Ten- nessee to Menard County, thence to Mason, and, after one year, again located in Menard. Fumphelan, as his name implies, was from " der Faderland." He located southeast of where Henry Sears now lives, on land owned by J. H. and E. C. Cleaveland. He was a quiet, inoffensive, well-meaning Dutchman, who, after a few years' residence, moved away, and all further trace of him has been lost.
Rev. John L. Turner, from Kentucky, a minister of the Baptist denomina- tion, made a settlement near the present residence of James L. Hawks, in 1840. He was a minister of fine ability, and served the county in important offices, as the records testify. His death occurred twenty-odd years ago. The same year, Samuel C. Conwell came to the grove; he is a native of Delaware, but was reared from early boyhood in Indiana. He was a young man of prepossessing appearance, and, as the cut of his garments and style of manners differed mate- rially from those of the pioneers by whom he was surrounded, and with whom he was in almost daily contact, he soon discovered that he was growing into general disfavor. Coonskin caps, buckskin breeches and moccasins was the ordi- nary apparel, at that day, among the carly settlers. Con's dress indicated a more advanced stage of civilization and refinement, and he soon acquired to himself the distinction of "that d-d Yankee," throughout the settlement. He was here as the agent of some fine stock, the property of his brothers-in- law, and a sharp trade or two served to bring him prominently before the brist- ling bar of justice. In no instance, however, was he convicted on the charges preferred, the failure of which led Jesse Baker to exclaim, " It is not worth our while to bother longer with this Jerusalem over-taker, since we cannot convict him of anything." "Con " says a residence of forty years among this people has not served to make him Governor, simply on account of the bad impression he made in an early day. His connection and prominence as the first man in the
666
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
county to introduce improved agricultural implements, has been fully noticed in the general county history.
The years 1841-42 brought in Henry Seymour, James H. and Joseph Norris, George Hall, Christian, Trueman and Harvey Stone. The Norrises were from Kentucky, and settled near the north line of the township. Joseph moved to Texas a number of years ago, where he soon after died. George Hall purchased the James Walker farm at the grove, where he still resides. The Stones were from the Buckeye State. Christian and Trueman were brothers. while Harvey was their uncle. The latter. after a few years, went back to Ohio; Christian moved to lowa, and from there to Missouri: Trueman is still a resident of the township. Henry Seymour was from Germany, and died in the vicinity in which he settled. a number of years ago. Samuel Neely. with his sons, William, John. George and James, came from Tennessee and settled in this section in 1844-45. Two or three of the families are still living here. Harvey B. Hawthorne was here in 1846: he was born in Kentucky and is of Scotch descent. The name originated during the war between the Scots and Danes. which was continued through a period of more than one hundred years. The Scots, when vanquished on the plains and in the valleys, fought their invaders from the hawthorn brush and groves, within the mountain fastnesses, and from these circumstances, the name of the shrub passed to that of a family. Mr. Hawthorne is still a citizen, and has been very successful in his various enter- prises. The same year. a number of the Tomlins settled in the northeast cor- ner of the township, many of whom still reside there. As early as 1850. Allen Robinson and James L. Hawks became denizens of Crane Creek. Rob- inson was from New Jersey. and came to Menard in 1846. In 1849. he settled in Walker's Grove, on the farm once owned by Solomon Norris; here he at present resides in affluent circumstances. Hawks was from Kentucky, and has been a continuous resident since his first settlement. Upon the formation of the township, he was chosen to the office of Supervisor, a position in which he has served his fellow-citizens twelve or thirteen years. Elisha T. Davenport came from Kentucky to what is now Mason County, in 1831. but did not become a citizen of Crane Creek Township prior to 1849 ; he resides on Section 9, and is one of the substantial, well-to-do farmers of this section. Others there are, doubtless, who were settlers in this division of the county as early as 1850, and whose names, in justice to all. should be mentioned : but that omissions will of necessity occur, we confidently believe, will be readily granted by any one who will undertake to trace the early history of a township in which the settlements began as early as those in Crane Creek. Having taken this somewhat hasty glance at its early settlement. we next pass to notice some other matters of interest connected with its history.
667
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
WALKER'S GROVE.
This grove, to which such frequent reference has already been made, was the nucleus around and in which all the earliest settlements were made. It was known as Price's Grove prior to the purchase of James Walker, in 1837, since which date it has been called by its. present name. The grove proper embraces an area of not more than four hundred acres, and, in an early day, was as fine a body of timber as could be found in the county. A fine growth of the oak family, black walnut, soft and sugar maple, hickory, both shell-bark and smooth-bark, white walnut or butternut, mulberry ; and of shrubbery, the red bud, papaw, dogwood, and many other varieties were found here. But little that is valuable, except for purposes of fencing and firewood. remains to-day. Most of those who erected their log cabins near this spot, in the days of its early settlement, have long since crossed over the still waters, and have been succeeded by a class of unpretending citizens, that for industry. intelli- gence and moral worth will compare favorably with any portion of the county or State. While the present inhabitants are eager for the daily papers, lest their interests may be affected by the "spring " or "decline " in the " hog market," the pioneers were content with mails once a week, or less frequently during bad weather or high water. Amid the difficulties and discouragements by which they were often surrounded, they had their social enjoyments, as those who have listened to their animated discussions of the respective merits of " gourd-seed " and " flint " corn, or the prominent points of a favorite " coon dog," can abundantly testify. In and around this point were the beginnings of those enterprises which in their nature tend to the permanent establishment and development of society, and which are handmaidens in the onward march of civilization. We refer to churches and schools. "The groves were God's first temples," and here in nature's sanctuary, where the breezes came laden with the perfumes of a thousand flowers, early meetings were held. Rev. Thomas Plasters was the first to lift up the Gospel banner in this section. He was here as early as 1834, and belonged to that order of worshipers known in the West as " Hardshell Baptists," or, as they are otherwise called, the " Forty-gallon Baptists." His preaching was somewhat after the style of the famous " Come. Buck-ah " sermon, recorded in the " Hoosier Schoolmaster." He had " the see-sawing gestures, the nasal resonance, the sniflle and melancholy minor key." which seems to be for an everlasting inheritance to his reverend brethren. And in addition to all these, as he warmed with his discourse, he had a habit of tugging vigorously first at one ear and then at the other, by way of lending emphasis and solemnity to his remarks. Still it was enjoyed by those early settlers who had been for some time without the privileges of the church. He discoursed many times at the residence of James A. Revis, in the southern part of the township. Rev. John L. Turner, who came in 1840, and of whom mention has already been made, was an early minister in the Baptist Churches
668
HISTORY OF MASON COUNTY.
of this section. Rev. Abraham Bale, who should have been classed among the settlers of 1842-43, was a minister in the same connection. He settled on the farm where George Thomas now lives, and was the second resi- dent minister in the township. He built what is known as Bale's Mill, in Menard County, and which passed from his hands to those of his brother. Jacob, but is at present owned by a son of Abraham Bale. Rev. Ross, a radical Methodist minister, preached at the residence of Solomon Norris, in quite an early day. Of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Revs. William Coder, Wallace and Moreland were among the earliest. A church was built a number of years ago, near the site of New Hope burying-ground, in Walker's Grove, but was destroyed by fire just about the time of its completion, and before ser- vices had ever been held in it. The house was never rebuilt. Another was erected in the Sandridge timber, about the year 1859, but its use has been discontinued for some years. and the building is fast going to rack. Both of these houses were the property of the Baptist brethren, and the latter is the only public house of worship in the township.
EARLY POST OFFICE, STORES, SCHOOLS, ETC.
A post office called Walker's Grove Post Office was established at the house of James Walker, in 1839. It was on the mail route from Springfield to Havana. James Walker was the first Postmaster. After a period of about eighteen months, it was moved across the river into Menard County. An office was established at the grove, at a later date, and was there in 1854, at which time William Warnock, Jr., now of Mason City, was Postmaster. Jack Close. who afterward occupied rather a prominent place among the carly merchants of Havana, had a small country store in the township as early as 1841. This was doubtless the first attempt made at merchandising in this section. Not long after Close began playing merchant. William Walker opened a small stock of dry goods and groceries at the grove. For several years, a small establishment was kept here by different parties, that of William Warnock, Jr., and his uncle being about the last. There is no store in the township at present ; those at Kilbourne, Easton and Mason City, are, however, easily accessible to the citi- zens of Crane Creek. The first schoolhouse built in the township, was on land belonging to Henry Sears, and was built in 1836. It was rather a rude affair, put up by those in the neighborhood for the benefit of their children. It drew patronage from a large extent of country. William Lease kept the first school and was paid for his services by individual subscription. James Buckner, M. D., was from Kentucky and came to this part of the county in 1839. He was the first physician to locate, and stopped for a time at the residence of John Yardley. He is said to have been a well-read and successful practitioner. The prevailing diseases were bilious and lung fever with an occasional case of chills. Dr. Buckner lived a number of years on rented land in Walker's Grove, and then moved to Petersburg. His last place of residence was near Bloomington,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.