The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 33

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 848

USA > Illinois > Mason County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 33
USA > Illinois > Menard County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 33

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This precinct originally embraced a part of Petersburg and all of Rock Creek, extending to the Sangamon River, with the voting-place at Old Salem. But the voting-place being remote from some of the inhabitants, after the laying- out of Tallula, boundary lines were changed, the precinct of Rock Creek laid off, and the voting-place of this precinct established at the village of Tallula. The fact that Old Salem, the venerated spot where once lived the martyred Lin- coln, was embraced in this precinct, is still cherished by many of the citizens. But as Salem is more particularly referred to elsewhere, we will not dwell upon it here.

The Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, as already noted, passes through this precinct, and was completed during the war. As stated in our general county history, this road was begun under the title of the Tonica & Petersburg Railroad, but was afterward leased or bought by the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company. A full history of the railroads of the county is given under another head, and for full information on the subject the reader is referred to that chapter. This road has been of much benefit in developing this section of the county, and, during the last years of the war, much grain and forage was shipped over it to our army. In building the road, in addition to the stock voted by the county, the people individually took considerable stock, some subscribing for as much as twenty shares.

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

VILLAGE OF TALLULA.

This little gem of a village is situated in the center of Tallula Precinct, and on the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, about eight miles from Petersburg, the county seat. It is in the midst of a fine rolling prairie, surrounded by a splendid agricultural region in all direc- tions. It was laid out in the latter part of 1857, by W. G. Greene, J. G. Greene, Richard Yates, T. Baker and W. G. Spears. The name of Tallula was given by the latter gentleman, and is said to be an Indian word signifying "dropping water," though what relation the word or its signification bears to the village, we are unable to discover. There is no dropping water near the place, except when it rains, and water drops from the trees and eaves of the houses. Nevertheless, it is a pretty name, whether appropriate or not, and its sound is as musical as the country around the village is beautiful. The first house was erected by W. G. Spears, soon after it was laid out, and is now owned by R. B. Thrapp. The next building was put up by Robert M. Ewing, and so nearly at the same time with that of Spears, that it is not easy to say which was first. It is now occupied by Dr. Sandford. The first store was opened in January, 1858, by Thrapp & Spears, which continued about eight months, when Spears retired and Thrapp continued the business alone. Mr. Thrapp is still in business in the village, and is one of the oldest business men of the county. A post office was established in 1858, with F. S. Thrapp as Postmaster. C. C. Smedley is at present the representative of the Post-Office Department in Tallula. Hugh Hicks opened the first blacksmith-shop in 1859, and still pounds away at his anvil. Dr. J. F. Wilson was the first prac- ticing physician to hang out his shingle in the new village.

The first grain-buyer was F. S. Thrapp, who commenced the business as soon as the railroad was opened. He bought and shipped mostly from wagons, but finally built a grain warehouse. A. T. Gaylord built an excellent grain elevator here two years ago, which cost about $4,000, but is at present stand- ing idle. It has all the modern improvements of steam power, cribs, shellers, grain-dumps, etc. F. S. Thrapp, Bell Brothers and C. B. Laning & Co., of Petersburg, are at present in the grain trade, and a large amount is handled annually. The first tavern in Tallula was kept by Mrs. E. Brooks; but the first building erected purposely for a hotel was put up by Frank Spears, who ran it for some time as such. The village has two hotels at present. The Wathen House -- J. F. Wathen, proprietor-is one of the best and most per- fectly kept hotels in Central Illinois. The Revere House is kept by Mrs. Zolman. A bank was established here in May, 1877, by. Wilson & Greene, which still continues under the same firm. A coal shaft was sunk some four years ago by Charles Greene and a man named Deal. It was finally sold in bankruptcy, and bought by C. B. Laning & Co., of Petersburg, who are now operating it. The shaft is about 200 feet deep, at which depth an excellent

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

vein of coal is reached, some six feet in thickness. The trains going north take coal at this point; besides this, much is shipped over the road to other points.

The first church erected in the corporate limits of the village was the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church, which was built in 1861. It is a frame build- ing, and cost about $3,000. Their first preacher was Rev. J. G. White, whose greatest forte seems to have been in fighting the Catholics, not with fisticuffs, but with his tongue. The Church is without a regular Pastor at present, and has but a small membership. Quite a flourishing Sunday school is maintained. The next church edifice was the Christian Church, erected in 1864. It was built under the pastorate of Elder H. Osborne; is a frame building, and cost about $4,000. The present Pastor is Elder H. O. Breeden. A Sunday school - is carried on, of which, Dr. Metcalf is the Superintendent. There was a church, at one time, of the German Reformed, but their society dwindled down and finally became extinct, and they sold their church building. The Baptist Church was erected in 1871, at a cost of $8,500, and is a handsome brick edifice. This is the original Clary's Grove Baptist Church, already noticed as having been organized in the little log schoolhouse, in 1824. Since that time, it has had fifteen pastors, viz. : Revs. Joseph Cogsdall, Williamson, Trent, J. H. Daniel, William Spencer, Tannehill, Evens, Theodore Sweet, Abraham Bale, J. L. Turner, Gouldsby, Winn, Gross, Jones and H. P. Curry. From this patriarchal Church have grown nine of the Baptist churches of this county, besides some located in the adjoining counties. Since its organi- zation, nearly fifty-five years ago, more than 2,000 members have been received into fellowship. There is no regular pastor at present. A large and flourish- ing Sunday school is carried on, of which George W. Bell is the Superin- tendent. There is no Masonic or Odd Fellows' Lodge in Tallula, a circumstance that is rarely to be met with in a village of its size in Illinois. There is, how- ever, a Lodge of the Knights of Honor.

The first school taught in the village of Tallula was by Miss Sarah Brock- man, in 1859, in the district schoolhouse, which stood just without the corporate limits. This may seem an Irish bull, but it was termed the village school, and patronized by children from the village. The German Reformed Church was afterward used for a schoolhouse. The brick school building erected in 1868-69 is one of the finest in the county, and cost between $8,000 and $10,000, besides three acres of land, upon which it is located, and donated by Mr. Greene. The corps of teachers employed for the coming year is as follows : George S. Montgomery, Principal, assisted by Miss Sallie A. Johnson, Miss Nellie Robertson and Miss Mary D. Riley. The usual attendance at the school is about one hundred and fifty pupils.

Tallula was incorporated as a village under the general law in 1871-72. The first Board of Trustees were J. F. Wilson, R. H. Bean, J. T. Bush, J. F. Wathen and F. S. Thrapp, who organized for business by electing

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

R. H. Bean President of the Board. The present Board is J. Q. Spears, S. T. Carrico, G. Bullock, Dr. E. T. Metcalf and Frank Wilkinson, of which John Q. Spears is President ; C. T. Spears, Clerk ; J. F. Wilson, Treasurer, and N. L. Randall, Police Magistrate. The population is about eight hundred, and the business may be summarized as follows : Eight general stores, embracing dry goods, groceries, hardware, drugs, etc., with the usual supply of blacksmith, wagon, shoe and harness shops. There is no saloon in the place, and has been but one since it was laid out as a town, and it was starved out, which speaks well for the high standard of its morals.

The cemetery of the village is a beautiful and well cared-for burying- ground. It has been carefully laid out and incorporated, and has a fund of about $1,500, with which to keep it in order. Col. Judy is President of the Association, and F. S. Thrapp, Secretary and Treasurer. About one-fourth of the lots have been sold, and, when the remainder have been disposed of, it is intended to spend the proceeds in beautifying the grounds, by laying out walks, planting trees and shrubbery and otherwise improving it. Nothing speaks more highly of a people than a loving care of their dead, and Tallula's pretty little cemetery bears many a token of affection to the loved and lost.

The village of Rushaway, once a thriving business place, almost the equal of what Tallula now is, has rushed away among the things that were. It was laid out by J. T. Rush and William Workman some time in the fifties, but just what time is not now remembered. The first store was kept by J. T. Rush and a man named Way. These two names, associated in business and combined together, gave the name of Rushaway to the village. F. S. Thrapp also had a store there. A post office was established, with Rush as Postmaster. When the railroad was built, it missed the town a few miles, and on the laying-out of Tallula, a portion of the place rushed to Tallula, and the remainder to Ashland. The post office was moved to Tallula, and its name changed to its new location. The proprietors of the railroad, it is said, would have run their road through the village, if they had received the proper encouragement, but the people of Rushaway, believing that the road would be compelled to come that way, stood upon their dignity and even refused to give the right of way, save at the highest market value. As a consequence, the road was located elsewhere, and Rush- away was left out in the cold. The completion of the road sealed their doom, and, as already stated, a part of the business men removed to Ashland, and the others to Tallula. At present, there is nothing left to designate the spot. The original site of the town is a flourishing farm and orchard, and the passing strangers would be surprised to learn that the place was once a thriving village.

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

ATHENS PRECINCT.

The year immediately succeeding the admission of Illinois Territory to a position among the sisterhood of states, immigration commenced to flow steadily into the Sangamon country, and during the following half-decade quite a num- ber of settlements were formed within the present limits of Menard, County. Settlements, cotemporaneous with those at Clary's Grove, which are recorded as the first made in the county, were begun in the present precinct of Athens. But first as to its position and topography. It is situated in the extreme south- eastern portion of the county, and is bounded on the north by Indian Creek and Sugar Grove Precincts, east and south by Logan and Sangamon Counties, respectively, and west by the Sangamon River and Petersburg Precincts. In shape, it very closely resembles the capital letter L, being ten miles along its northern boundary, by two and one-half on the east, and five and one-half on the west. The surface is pretty nearly equally divided between woodland and prairie. Congressionally, the precinct is included in Townships 17 and 18 north, Ranges 4, 5 and 6 west of the Third Principal Meridian. The northern half of this section is far better adapted to purposes of tillage and pasturage than the southern. The soil is of the finest quality, and yields abundant har- vests of the various cereals commonly cultivated in this latitude. Handsome and costly private residences, such as are seen mostly in the suburbs of populous cities, are not infrequently met with in traveling through this part, and these, along with the finely cultivated farms which they adorn, bespeak the success which has attended those who were fortunate enough to secure a firm footing here in an early day. Nearly the entire surface is sufficiently elevated and roll- ing to obviate the necessity of artificial drainage. The timber area is con- fined to the western portion, along Indian Creek and the Sangamon. The west and middle fork of Fancy Creek crosses the eastern portion, and affords drainage to a vast area of the prairie portion of the precinct. Indian Creek flows in a general western direction through the northwest part, and with streams of lesser importance on the west side, all tributary to the Sangamon, drains effectually the woodland district. The Springfield & North-Western Railroad crosses it in a general northwestern direction. Having taken this somewhat cursory glance at the topography of this section, we will next direct our attention to its

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

As was the unvarying custom, these were made in the edge of the timber, and not far distant from the water-courses. And here, upon the very thresh- old of our investigation, we are environed with difficulties. To designate any one of the earliest settlers as being the first, would be to assume a risk that we do not feel disposed to take upon our shoulders. A number came in at so

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

nearly the same date, and the testimony is so evenly balanced in making each first, that we are rather inclined to think that that honor cannot, at this late date, with safety, be accorded to any single individual. Among the earliest, however, we may chronicle the arrival of Robert White and William B. Short. Both were from Green County, Ky., and settled in the northeastern part of the precinct, in Indian Point timber. They are said to have staked off their claims and commenced their improvements in the fall of 1819. Short settled near the creek, while White laid his claim a short distance north and west of him. The claims first staked off they improved and afterward entered, and these they con- tinued to hold during their lifetime. Short died in 1863, and was buried at the old Lebanon Cemetery, near his place of residence. He was the "most married " man in the entire community, as he plighted his love at the nuptial altar no less than five times. White's decease occurred a few months ago, he having lived to a ripe old age. The old homesteads are owned and occupied by James C. Short and R. F. White, sons of the early pioneers. An elm tree, bearing the initials "W. B. S.," yet stands not far distant from the family residence, and marks the corner of the Short claim made in that early day. The same - fall, or possibly in the early spring of 1820, Joseph Smith, who came from the southern part of Kentucky, made a claim on the south side of Indian Point timber. Smith was a wagon-builder by trade, and, as he had a shop at his residence in quite an early day, it was, beyond question, the first in the precinct .. He improved the farm now owned by Alfred Turner. He died a number of years ago, and lies buried at Indian Point Cemetery. William Holland, a brother-in-law of Smith, came from Ohio and laid a claim, also on the south side of the creek. Holland was a blacksmith, and, like Smith. was the first mechanic of his kind in this entire section of the country. He was appointed by the Government blacksmith to the Kickapoo Indians in this sec- tion, and received for his services $500 per annum. Some years later, by order of the Government, he went to Peoria, or Fort Clark, as it then was, where he was similarly employed for some time. He finally moved to Wash- ington, in Tazewell County, where he died several years ago. Some of his- descendants are still living in and around the city. Matthew Rogers, from Otsego County, N. Y., built a log cabin one mile north and east of the present village of Athens. This he did not occupy, however, until the spring of 1821. Four years later, the claim was surveyed, and as soon as it came into market, he entered quite a body of land. The closing years of his life were spent in the village of Athens, where he closed a long and well-spent life in 1847. Three of his children are yet residents of the precinct-Henry C., its oldest citizen, Mrs. Amsberry Rankin and Mrs. Harry Riggin. The life of Mr. Rogers was so prominently connected with the early settlement of this section, that he seems worthy of more than a passing notice. He is a descendant from the same stock with the celebrated Jolin Rogers, who was burned at the' stake, a martyr to his devotion to meligious principles. He married Anna, daughter

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

of Timothy and Miriam Lee Morse, through whom the family is connected with the late Professor S. F. B. Morse, the illustrious inventor of the electric tele- graph. While in New York, Matthew Rogers occupied a prominent position in the community, and was a colonel of militia. The family emigrated to Illinois in 1818, but so tedious and slow were the means of travel in those early days, that, leaving home in September, they did not reach Troy until the fol- lowing February. He built a frame barn in 1825 or 1826, and this is said to be the first frame building erected in the State north of the Sangamon River. He established the first nursery in the same limits, and kept the first post office. In the fall of 1819, Thomas Primm came from St. Clair County, and laid a claim southeast of where Athens now stands. After taking the preliminary steps necessary to secure his claim, he returned to his family. He returned in the summer of 1820, and raised a crop, but did not bring his family until the fall following. On his first visit, he sold the animal on which he rode, to Stephen England, in payment for which England was to build him a cabin and make a stipulated amount of rails. His cabin was built in 1819, but was not occupied till the fall of 1820. The family of John Primm, his brother, was here in the summer of 1820. The advent of the Primm family to Illinois dates back to a very early day. John, the father of Thomas and John above men- tioned, came from the Old Dominion to St. Clair County in 1802. The date of coming on their mother's side reaches even farther back. Mrs. Primm was a daughter of Abram Stallings, who came down the Ohio River from Virginia, and settled in the present bounds of St. Clair County in 1796. Their father, with his three brothers, William, James and Thomas, were soldiers in the Revo- lutionary struggle, and fought in Washington's command. Thomas Primm died at his home, near Athens, in May, 1856, at the age of seventy-four. Three of his sons still reside in the precinct; viz. : William, Dr. Thomas L. and Abra- ham. Daniel, Ninian, James and John died after arriving at manhood, each having acquired considerable property. The sons of John still living are Elisha, John and Enoch. The settlements now mentioned were the very first made in what is now Athens Precinct. Orimal Clark laid a claim on the site of the village of Athens as early as 1820. He did not remain long before he sold out to Rev. John Overstreet, and moved to Fancy Creek, below Williams- ville. He finally moved to Springfield, where he died a number of years ago. A number were added to the citizenship of the precinct during the year 1820. Martin Higgins, John Moore, a Mr. Terry, William Armstrong, James Haynes and John Good, all came during the last-mentioned year. Higgins was from New York, and was a son-in-law of Matthew Rogers. He settled the farm on which William Primm now resides, and which, in an early day, he sold to his father, Thomas Primm. Higgins next located south of Indian Creek, and con- tinued to live there until the date of his decease. Moore and Terry were both from Vermont, and settled at Indian Point. Moore was a cabinet-maker by trade, and had the first cabinet-shop in this section. Terry and his wife were

Kate Yates Greene TALLULA .

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

finely educated, and found themselves ill at ease among their less fortunate backwoods neighbors. Both sold to Martin Higgins, and moved to Springfield. Here Moore followed his trade for some years, and then located in Macomb, Schuyler County. The last that was seen of him in this section, he was trav- eling in the capacity of a colporteur for the Presbyterian Book Concern. Terry, after his removal to Springfield, engaged in clerking, and his wife in teaching school. A few years later, they again returned to their native State and never returned West subsequently. William Armstrong settled near Indian Creek, and in a few years sold to Eli Branson and moved to what is now Sandridge Precinct, near the present village of Oakford. A number of his family reside there at present. Pleasant Armstrong, a single brother, lived with him and was an early Justice of the Peace in this section. Haynes and Good were both Buckeyes. The former settled south of Indian Creek, and, after some years, sold to Martin Higgins and moved to Texas. Good settled further west on the prairie between Indian Creek and Oak Ridge timber. He sold to the father of Judge Tice, and, in company with Haynes, moved to Texas. The name of James Gardner, also, should appear among those of the settlers of 1820, Gardner was from the Empire State, and laid a claim where the Widow Riggin now resides. His father, quite an aged man, lived with him. He remained but a few years, then sold to Harry Riggin and moved over into Ful- ton County. In 1821, Walter Turner made a claim on the south side of Indian Creek, which he improved and occupied until the date of his demise. His son Walter now occupies the old homestead. Harry Riggin also came the same year, purchased land and engaged in tilling the soil. His ancestry dates back to Ireland, and there bore the name of O'Regan. Soon after coming to America," having renounced Catholicism and espoused Protestantism, the family name was changed to Riggin, the form it has since borne. During his lifetime, he was often heard to express himself sorry that a change in the name should ever have been deemed necessary. He was an enterprising and useful citizen, and his name was many times prominently before the people. He was a member of the first Board of County Commissioners for Sangamon County, whose duty it was to locate the county seat. He was at different times a candidate for office, but was defeated, his competitors for popular favor being such men as Stephen F. Logan, Ninian Edwards and Abraham Lincoln-men who afterward achieved success in a wider field of fame. His long and public-spirited life closed in 1874, after he had attained to the ripe age of eighty-one years and six months. Elisha, Abner and James Hall, brothers, came from Ohio and settled in the vicinity of the present village of Athens as early as 1822. Some of their descendants are still living in and around the village. Phillip Smith was a Buckeye, also, who made an improvement where Theophilus Turner now lives. Smith was a blacksmith by trade and followed his profession in connection with farming. William Johnson and James Williams were from Bath County, Ky., and made settlements in 1823, north of Indian Creek. Johnson died in 1843.

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

His wife, having reached the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey, is yet living, and is passing her few remaining years in the families of her children. Her son Jefferson now owns the old homestead, and a naked spot in the yard, but a few feet distant from his excellent farmhouse, marks the location from which but very recently the pioneer cabin of his father and family has been removed. Williams located west of Johnson and further down the creek. He was a farmer and tanner by trade. He reared a large family, and amassed a goodly amount of this world's goods. He died in 1837, and was buried on the farm which he improved and which is now owned by Col. John Williams, his son. Although Col. Williams has been a citizen of Athens Precinct only for the past three years, still we deem it apropos to give a short sketch of his life in this connection. At the time of his father's removal from Kentucky, he was a lad of some sixteen or seventeen summers, and was engaged in clerking in a village store. His employer was unwilling to release him, and, consequently, he did not come until the year following. He made the trip on horseback, bringing the sale-money of his father, and, as the currency at that time was almost exclusively silver, to successfully conceal it and bring it safely to its des- tination was no small feat for a boy of his age to accomplish. This, however, he did, after a long, tedious journey. John's inclinations were for the life of. a merchant and soon after coming he obtained a situation as clerk in Springfield, afterward became partner and finally proprietor. His success fully attests the wisdom of his choice. He continued to make Springfield his home until about three years ago, when he erected his splendid mansion on his father's old home- stead and brought his family from the city to enjoy the retreats of his quiet country home. In a business way, he is largely identified with the city of Springfield to-day, and is one of the solid business men of the capital. To him more than to any other one individual is Menard County indebted for the suc- . cessful completion of the railroad which links with iron bands her county seat to the State capital. John H. Moore, from Kentucky, was here as early as the fall of 1823, possibly a year earlier. Included among those who came prior to 1830, we find the names of John Turner, William Stanley, Scott Rawlins, Jonathan Dunn, Asa Canterberry, John S. Alexander, William McDougal, Theophilus Bracken, Allen Turner, Amberry A. Rankin and Fleming Hall. They were mostly from Kentucky and Ohio, and settled near Indian Creek and in the vicinity of Athens. Fleming Hall had emigrated from Virginia to Mis- souri, in 1828, and, in 1829, he came to Menard and pre-empted the land on which the village of Athens now stands. He remained two years upon his pre-emption claim, then entered it and sold it to Abner Hall and a Mr. Catter- lin. Mr. Hall removed to his present place of residence, a short distance from the village, some forty-eight years ago. Here, in the family of his son Elihu, the father, having attained the age of eighty-five and the mother the more advanced age of ninety-one, are passing quietly their few remaining days. When Mr. Hall and Benjamin and John Wiseman were laying off the school

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The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 33

Author: Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 848

Author:
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Chicago : O.L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 848