USA > Illinois > Coles County > The History of Coles County, Illinois map of Coles County; history of Illinois history of Northwest Constitution of the United States, miscellaneous matters, &c., &c > Part 31
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On November 11, 1830, Mr. Hiram Tremble came to the infantile settle- ment, pitching his camp near the cabin of " Uncle Charley." He says it was the common camping-ground for all, and Uncle Charley was looked upon as the center of the little group. He was always a true friend to all who came; was a devout, earnest Christian, a Methodist, and was among the first to aid in planting that church at the Point.
Mr. Tremble is a local minister in that denomination, and is now living on his old homestead. He has been quite active in advancing the interests of this part of the county ; was a contractor and builder of part of the two railroads
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
centering at Mattoon ; helped build the first grain warehouse there, and was one of the first merchants in the town. He will be well remembered by many residents in his sketches of the early times here, published in the Mattoon Journal, under the title, "Forty Years Ago," and from which we have obtained much of our information respecting the early days of the western part of the county.
The settlers mentioned include about all who came prior to 1832. During this interval, Coles County was formed, and a voting-place established in this neighborhood. The first who came generally lived in their wagons until they could erect a cabin. These cabins were built of round logs, notched at the ends. so as to fit closely together. They were generally cut the required length in the woods, and, on the " raising-day," were hauled to the place selected for the future home of the pioneer. As fast as they were brought to the ground. they were notched and rolled into their place, two of the best men in the party acting as " end men."
When the cabin had reached the required height, the four last, or top, logs were often made three or four feet longer than the rest, thereby projecting over their fellows. The end pieces forming the cone were made each one shorter than its predecessor, until an apex was reached. On this, from end to end, was laid a stout center-pole, projecting like its fellows three or four feet at either end. About two feet below it, another was placed, and on down until the ends of the outstretching logs were reached. These were covered with split oak slabs, one-half inch thick, about a foot wide and often four feet long. They were held in their places generally by " weight poles," i. e., poles placed over each ". lap " of the clapboards, held in their places by short sticks placed endways between them. Sometimes stones were laid on the roof in addition to these. The cabin was now a simple pen, with no means of ingress and egress, and no apertures for light, save the cracks between the logs. They must not be left unclosed, as but little or no protection could be afforded with them open. A bed of " mud " mortar was made, the heart pieces of the oak, from which the clapboards or "shakes " had been made for the roof and puncheons for the floor and doors, were taken, inserted edgways between the logs and held in their places by pins driven into auger-holes in the logs, and all covered well with the mud mortar ; when thoroughly dry, the chinking and daubing completely covered the cracks and rendered the cabin comfortable.
An opening for the door was made in the side of the house by cutting a space about three feet in width by six feet in height, leaving the upper and lower logs half cut through, one to form a door-step, the other a secure upper-part. " Jambs " were next pinned to the ends of the logs, both to hold them in their places and to form a better door-frame. The door was made of split puncheons pinned to cross-pieces and hung on wooden hinges. The latch was made on the inner side of the door, and was raised from the outside by means of a leather thong passing through a gimlet-hole a few inches above the latch. At night,
H. Kuthufor OAKLAND
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it was drawn in and the door was practically locked. It was always out in the daytime, and was considered by the pioneer an open invitation to all to enter and partake of his hospitality. It was, in its mute way, a sign of welcome, and gave rise to the popular, earnest proverb, " My latch-string is always out." This was exemplified by the fact that when it was withdrawn it was considered that, for some reason, the invitation was for the time also withdrawn.
A window for the humble home was made, commonly opposite the door, by cutting out a space about two feet square and placing therein a window contain- ing two or four window-lights. In early pioneer times in the West, when glass could not be obtained, either owing to the distance to the settlements or the poverty of the pioneer, greased paper answered the place of glass, the windows. however, having only a dimension of the width of one log, and probably two feet long. Sometimes, especially in schoolhouses, several feet in length of a log was cut out and a window made in this manner. The next thing necessary to complete the cabins was the chimney or fire-place. That was always at one end of the cabin, and was often five or six feet wide and nearly three feet deep.
An aperture was made in the logs of the required length, and a space meas- ured off outside, and covered either with clay or more often with flagstones. Split pieces of oak were made, one end of which was placed just inside the logs of the wall, the other projecting outward, where it was crossed by a similar stick, both notched to fit closely together. The inclosure was built up in this manner until the required height was reached. The inside was securely covered with stones or a thick layer of mud, more commonly the former, to prevent the chimney from burning. On the top of this pen, a chimney was made of sticks and mud firmly cemented together. At the bottom, it was of the same size, or nearly so, of the fire-place, but grew narrower as it neared the top, where it was often not more than one foot square. This chimney, when properly constructed, was perfectly safe, and possessed an excellent draught. On the inner side, a crane was hung, to which were suspended the various pots and kettles used by the good wife or her daughters in their cooking. No stoves at this date were to be seen. Even had they been easily obtained, the poverty of the average pio- neer would have prevented him from obtaining one.
The floor was laid with puncheons split, like the clapboards for the roof, with a frow, from a clean, straight-grained oak-tree. They were from four to six or eight feet in length, and were laid, commonly, on short, round poles, a few inches above the ground. Often the pioneer's cabin did not possess even the luxury of such a floor, the earth, tramped hard, answering the purpose. If a loft was desired, it was made by running stout poles, three or four feet apart, from the top of the last round of logs on one side of the cabin to the other, and on these were laid puncheons similar to the ones on the floor beneath. A lad- der, leading from below, stood'in one corner of the cabin, generally just behind the door and near the fire-place.
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
The early emigrants rarely brought an extensive outfit for housekeeping. They were mostly poor, and in this regard were all equal. The cabin had been built, it will be observed. without a single piece of iron being put into its con- struction, pegs answering the place of nails. Where beds, tables, chairs and other such articles were needed, they were made. The bed was a rude, strong affair, made in one corner of the room, by placing an upright post about four feet from one wall, and six or seven from the other. Poles were laid from this post to both walls, slats laid thereon, whose outer end extended through between two logs, and on them the bed was spread. Dried prairie-grass was often used until feathers could be obtained. Under this bed, a smaller one was made that could be pulled out at night, and shoved under again in the morning. We have seen them in this manner, and have also seen, about two feet above the main bed, another made, and at the same distance above that, another, not unlike the berths in a steamboat. A table was made of a stout oak plank, or two of them fastened together with cross-pieces pegged on and supported by four upright posts inserted at auger-holes near each corner. Stools were made in the same manner, only they were small and commonly three-legged. Pegs were driven in auger-holes in the wall, on which the wearing apparel of each one could be hung, or where any article not needed could find a resting-place, were it something adapted to that way of support. Shelves for dishes were made from small split boards, placed either on pegs or inside two uprights made in the same way, and held to their place by means of notches.
These were the main features of the cabin-home. Many did not possess as many articles as we have enumerated, and some had more, and often much better habitations. The luxuries of life were generally not seen the first years of the settlement, but appeared as the residents could obtain them.
After the neighborhood had become established in this part of Mattoon Township-for by such boundaries must they be designated, even though the townships did not then exist-some of the young men and women concluded they could get along better together, and a new home was to be provided for them. Land was plenty and cheap, and not so much was required then to com- mence married life as now. A cabin, similar to the one we have described, was erected for the young couple, and was commonly dedicated with a dance or frolic, in which all the young folks of the community joined.
When the young couple repaired to their new home, generally on horse-back or on foot (if by the former method, both? on one horse), they found it ready for use, with its puncheon table, tripod stools, słab cupboard and wide chimney. It would contain a few articles of household utility given by the parents of the pair ; for a bride's dower consisted then of a few such articles, some good advice, and, mayhap, a horse and side-saddle. The young husband had an ax. a few other tools. a few farming implements, and, possibly, a horse. Thus equipped, they started in life. The young bride had no confidential friend ; knew nothing of milliners and mantua-makers : did not take a fashion-journal
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or the New York Weekly to beguile leisure hours and give her foolish nothings to think about. She entered on life conscious of a duty, fully prepared to do her part, with a healthy body, vigorous, crude mind, and earnest purpose. Before a few years elapsed, other tripods were needed for the children that had come to the frontier home; and comforts and blessings of life, though they entailed hardship and toil, came to the rude, cheerful home.
As much as old people love to dwell upon these pleasant memories, we can- not but think there are equally brave and willing brides to-day, who, though they do not meet trouble in the way our ancestors found it, find it in other ways, calling for as much resolve and resolution as of old, whose trials are met as bravely as those met and overcome by their grandmothers of the early day of Central Illinois.
As soon as the old cabin-home had been established, the next care was the planting and cultivation of a crop. A space was cleared in the woods (as they had no plows that would turn the prairie sod), and, after being turned by the barshare plow, was planted in corn, potatoes and a few other garden vegetables, while a portion was sown in wheat, could any be obtained. Corn, however, then, as now, was the main staple. It furnished the meal for food, and, by boiling in strong lye, made by filtering water through wood ashes, an excellent and nutritious hominy was produced. Honey was abundant at this day, the woods abounding in bee-trees. In a year or two after the first settlers located, maple-sugar and molasses were additional articles of food, and most excellent ones, too. No molasses brings as high a price as maple-sirup now, owing to its scarcity ; the sugar, however, is not considered possessing the same qualities as other kinds, hence is not much in demand. These articles, found so abun- dantly in frontier life, added much to its comforts. Cornmeal could be made on the old grater or mortar, and, when baked as the native Kentucky house- wife knew how, made a most nutritious and palatable article of food. The appetites of the pioneers were generally sharpened by violent exercise in their daily vocations, and did not need any tempting viands to induce them to eat.
Pork was obtained by allowing the hogs to run wild in the woods, subsisting on the mast then so plenty. To prevent them from roaming over the cultivated fields, a brush fence was made by felling a great number of small trees with their tops altogether in a continuous line around the field. Hogs fattened on the mast made good pork, and as corn was not so abundant then as now, and mast plenty and free, they were allowed undisturbed access to it. They often became in a measure quite wild when allowed to roam, and when wanted at killing season generally had to be shot. While young, they were kept near the house and securely penned, as the wolves soon evinced a fondness for fresh, tender pork, and did not scruple in the slightest to take all they could get. When the pigs were large enough to resist the wolf, they were allowed their freedom.
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
Deer, bears, wild turkeys and prairie chickens provided an abundant supply of wild meat for the settlers. Deer were as plenty as cattle now. and it was not an uncommon affair, for the pioneer to shoot one from his cabin-door did he want a fresh venison steak for his breakfast. So common was the article it was not considered the luxury it is now, and was not , thought as much a company dish as pork er beef. Turkeys grew very fat when the mast became ripe, and were very tender eating. Prairie chickens were not often eaten, their flesh not being considered very palatable. Bears, while they were not so plenty here as in some parts of the West, were by no means a rarity, and often furnished food for the settlers. Buffaloes were very scarce, even if any were to be found. Their bones, old settlers tell us, were thickly strewn over the prairies when they came, but the live animal was a rarity. .
Wolves were the most troublesome animals to be found. They would kill the young pigs, depopulate chicken-roosts, carry off young lambs, slay their mothers, and all the time render night hideous with their howlings. They were very numerous, too, so much so, that grand hunts were organized to extermi- nate them. Mr. Elisha Linder tells how that in one winter he killed one hundred of them, generally by riding them down and clubbing them, or shooting them. The wolf was generally a great coward, preferring to pillage at night. During the day they would retire to their dens on some little knoll or in the edge of the timber. After the country began to settle, bounties were offered by the coun- ties for wolf-scalps, whereby many paid their taxes. Now they are all gone from this part of Illinois, and should one adventurous wolf show himself, such a hunt would be organized to capture him, as would almost rival the hunts of early times.
We have departed, somewhat, from the direct thread of the narrative, to notice the accidents to which the first pioneers were liable in the erection of their cabins, and their start in their new homes. We will now return, in part. to the narrative of the settlement, and note a few subsequent events.
We had brought the story down to the year 1832. About this year, Charles W. Nabb, now a resident of Mattoon, came up from Lawrence County, Ill., purchased the farm of George M. Hanson, and became one of the permanent settlers. Mr. Hanson went to Whitley's Point and settled on the farm where now Deck Dole lives. Among other old settlers of this date, may be reckoned David Hanson, from Virginia, who may have been a year or two earlier than 1832; John Young, from Kentucky; William Moore, who removed first from Kentucky to Cumberland County, then to Coles ; James Waddill, an early teacher ; Barton Randall ; James James, another early local preacher ; Nathan Curry, who came in the spring of 1830, raised one crop, then moved to Shelby County, where he lived many years ; and a few others, whose names we have not been able to obtain. These are, however, the majority, of those who came to this settlement prior to the Black Hawk war. Until after that event, there were very few residents in the territory included in the present bounds of Mat-
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toon Township. The settlement was all one, though it extended over many miles of country. All were neighbors : all were poor ; all were ambitious, and nearly all came to enjoy the comforts of life they expected to find as the fruit of their privation and toil.
The winter of 1830 and 1831 was one of unusual severity. It is known in the annals of the West, especially in the northern part, as the " winter of the deep snow." The snow fell almost continuously from the latter part of November till late in January, covering the ground in Northern Illinois to the depth of nearly four feet. In the southern part of the State, it was not so severe or lasting, and was a little more than half that depth. The winter was. however, very cold, and as the settlers were generally poorly provided against any such contingencies, much suffering ensued. About the latter part of Feb- ruary, a warm spell came, which quickly melted the snow, covering the entire face of the country with water. At this juncture, a reverse of temperature arose, and a continuous glare of ice was the result. People could not go any- where with horses or oxen, as they were not able, in a majority of cases, to shoe their teams. Had skates been as common then as now, what glorious sport the boys would have enjoyed ? While this ice was on the ground, a few emigrants arrived, after a tedious journey over the icy prairies. Often the women were obliged to walk, the emigrant teams scarcely able to draw the wagons. The ice was succeeded in the spring by another thaw, the like of which has rarely been seen since. The people were obliged to resort to various measures to obtain meal, fuel, meats, etc., while they were compelled to carry water and food to their stock, none of which could travel over the smooth surface every- where presented. During this time. the old mortar and grater came vigor- ously into, use to supply cornmeal, and many evenings did the male mem- bers of the family devote their energies to one or the other, generally the former. to supply food for the rest. Neither was an easy task. The grater was made by puncturing the bottom of an old tin pan with a nail a great many times. On the outer edges of the rough pieces of tin thus presented, the car was rubbed until worn to the cob. This could be successfully done only when the corn was a little soft. When hard, it would shell from the cob too casily. Then the mortar came into use. This instrument was made by burning a hollow in a block or stump, of a sufficient depth to hold about a peck of shelled corn. A pestle was then made of a heavy piece of wood, that would fit the cavity toler- ably closely. Sometimes, to give it more weight, an iron wedge was fixed securely in the end. Corn would now be placed in the hole and pounded fine with the pestle. Ofttimes, to render the task easier, the pestle was rigged to a pole, not unlike a well-sweep, and worked in this way. When rigged to the sweep, it was a great saving of labor, and could be made much more effective. The meal made in this manner was not very fine, it was true, but it could be sifted, what went through the sieve being taken as the meal while the rest was made into what was known as beaten hominy.
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HISTORY OF COLES COUNTY.
Before the pioneers made outdoor ovens, bread was baked in a skillet or on a board before the fire. Corn-bread made in this way had a peculiar relish, it is claimed by the old settlers. Probably their appetites had much to do with the relish. Mush and milk was also a favorite which even yet has not lost its strength.
The season following the " deep snow " produced a very fair crop. A few more emigrants came to the settlement, and helped swell its numbers. No troubles with the Indians, who were very few, had been experienced in this part of Illinois, and everything here seemed in a fair way to prosperity. The northern portions of the State had, however, not been so fortunate in this regard. The Sac and Fox Indians, whose villages were near the junction of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers, had refused to leave their homes and remain beyond the Father of Waters. Black Hawk was chief of the Sac nation, whose principal village was on a romantically commanding site just above the mouth of Rock River. It had been their home for more than one hundred and fifty years, and was endeared to them by all the ties of home and human nature. By the seventh article of the treaty of 1804, the lands belonging to this nation were actually to accrue to the United States whenever they were sold to private individuals. Until such a time the Indians could remain on them and hunt as usual. In 1816, Black Hawk recognized the validity of this treaty ; but when, in 1829, some of the land in his native home was sold by the General Govern- ment and became thereby the property of others, he refused to recognize the treaty and to leave his village. Adjacent to it was a large field of nearly seven hundred acres which had been the common field for the cultivation of corn, pease and squashes. This field some of the more lawless whites seized before they had a right to it, and by wanton acts of cruelty to the Indian women and children provoked the savages to retaliatory measures. The whites also brought considerable whisky, which they sold and traded to lawless Indians, against the law and the express commands of the chiefs, which so enraged them at the carousals it produced, that in one or two instances the exasperated chieftains went to the houses of the settlers, and, knocking in the heads of the whisky barrels, emptied their contents on the ground. One thing brought on another until war was declared. The first call for volunteers was made by Gov. Rey- nolds early in the spring of 1831. No county south of St. Clair and east of Sangamon was included in this call, as it was thought the Indians could be easily driven across the Mississippi, where they had been for a time living. Black Hawk refused to go, and force was used. At first the Indians conquered the whites, and more calls were made for volunteers. Numbers responded from every part of the State. In these calls, Coles County furnished but few men, and the Wabash Point less than a dozen. Those that went were required to furnish their own guns, ammunition, horses, etc., and provisions enough to last them to one of the forts where the general rendezvous took place. There they were supplied with ammunition and food, and were attached to some regiment.
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The recruits generally went in companies under self-appointed leaders. The State militia law was then in force, and each man knew, or thought he knew, the tactics of war. The sequel showed some ludicrous sides of human nature. Many brave men at home were cowards on the field, and ready to run at the first opportunity. It was observed, then, that the bravest were the modest ones, and those that commonly had the least to say about their own valiant deeds were the ones who merited praise.
It might not be amiss to mention the " old muster-days," as they were called. They were days of a general gathering, when all able-bodied men were required to meet at some designated point and drill. The day began to be regarded as one of general frolics, rather than muster, for, as the danger from the Indians decreased, the need of the militia diminished, until, so apparent (lid its uselessness become, and so obnoxious to those who could not spare the time, that, by a common decree of the people, who ridiculed the day in every way they could, it was abolished by the General Assembly. From the return of the troops from the Black Hawk war down to the opening of the railroads in 1855, but few things occurred out of the regular course of events. That war settled the Indian question in Illinois, and peace, with the red men in her borders, was the result. They were gradually withdrawn from their homes in the Prairie State, and, in a few years, none were to be seen. They followed the course of the westward sun, and seem destined, erelong, to be swallowed up by the mighty race which has taken their country.
Emigration set in anew to the West, and throughout the entire length and breadth of Illinois a continuous train of settlers poured in. Chicago was now coming into prominence, and utopian visions of wealth began to dazzle the eyes of the denizens of Illinois. Before proceeding to note the rise of the improve- ment system and its inglorious end, we will notice two events of unusual occur- rence which happened, and which many of the old residents in Mattoon Town- ship will remember. The first of these is
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