The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 37

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 37
USA > Illinois > Menard County > The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 37

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).

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

and had several sons, viz., William, James, Stephen, Henry, Boyd and Oliver. James lives in Greenview Precinct, the others in Sugar Grove. . Henry lives on the old homestead with his father, who is still living. George Stone, a brother to John Stone, was an early settler, but is long since dead. A man named Parsons was a brother-in-law to the Stones, and came to the country about the Same time. He had two sons, William and Joseph, the former of which is dead, as well as the old gentleman, but Joseph is living, and is the mail-carrier between Greenview and Sweetwater. William Douglas was here as early as .1831-32, and settled in Irish Grove, and is still living. Matthew Bracken came in 1824-25, afterward sold out to Nicholas Propst, and removed to Woodford County, where he died. A man named Mckinney ranks among the old settlers, but there could be very little learned in regard to him. He, with several others, had been to a horse-race, one day, and on their way home got up a little race of their own, when Mckinney was thrown from his horse and injured to such an extent that he died from the effects soon after.

Enoch B. Smith came to the settlement in Irish Grove in 1821, and Josiah B. Smith, a nephew, came in 1824. The latter was an old Whig, and took an active part in politics. Enoch Smith settled in the south end of Irish Grove, and a son, Jordan Smith, settled in the same vicinity. Enoch Smith died in 1841. His sons are also dead, and the entire family, except Mrs. Jesse England, who is his daughter. Jesse England also settled in Irish Grove in 1834. He married a daughter of Enoch Smith, and is still living on the place where he originally settled. His father came from Ohio to Sangamon County in 1819, and was the first white man who came north of the Sangamon River, and his daughter the first white woman.

John S. Jenison was a native of the Old Bay State, and came to Sugar Grove about 1822-23. He sold his claim to Leonard Alkire, and moved into the present precinct of Indian Creek. A son, Luther Jenison, now lives near the village of Greenview. Joseph and Samuel Powell, two brothers and broth- ers-in-law to Leonard Alkire, came about 1825. They were from Ohio here, but natives of the Old Dominion. They raised large families, finally died here, and their families scattered and moved away, some of them to Fulton County, and some to the State of Oregon. Nicholas. Propst came from Virginia, and settled in Sugar Grove prior to the "deep snow," that epoch from which the pioneer dates so many events in his early history. He died here a number of years ago, and was an eccentric old gentleman of German descent. A cabinet- maker in the neighborhood owed him a debt, and not having the requisite funds on hand to cancel the obligation, told Propst that he would make him, anything in the furniture line that he might need. Propst said he did not need any- thing just then, but that he would some day need a coffin, and, if he chose to do so, he might make him one. The cabinet-maker went to work on the coffin, and Propst superintended it, and had it made according to his own taste. When finished, there was still a small balance due Propst, so he had the man make a

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

long bench to lay him out on when the time came, and he had "shuffled off the mortal coil." Being thus far prepared for final dissolution, he went still farther, and had a tombstone cut out of a limestone rock, nicely dressed, and the single words, "Nicholas Propst," cut in it. When he finally died, this stone marked his resting-place in the Sugar Grove graveyard, until the effacing hand of time crumbled it to pieces, without other words or letters. After his coffin was completed, he got into it to try it, and, as he said, " to see how it would fit." He afterward told Rev. John Alkire that it scared him like h-1 when he got into it.

John Wright came some time previous to 1830, and was, it is believed, from Ohio, though it is not remembered with certainty. He bought out one Samuel Alkire, a cousin to Leonard Alkire, who had settled here about 1824-25, and removed to Indiana after selling out to Wright. After living in Sugar Grove several years, Wright sold out and removed to Petersburg, and built the first bridge over the Sangamon River at that place. William Gibbs came from Bal- timore, but was an Englishman. He bought out Wright when he went to Petersburg, as above stated. His oldest son lives in the village of Sweetwater. Reuben D. Black came from Ohio, and, after living here awhile, married a daughter of Leonard Alkire. He was a physician, and, at last accounts, was living in Missouri.

1819-1879.

Sixty years ! But a little space, as reckoned in the six thousand years since the creation of the world; even time itself is only

-" a brief arc, Cut from eternity's mysterious orb, And cast beneath the skies"-

and yet what a vast record these sixty years have borne with them from the world., Revolutions have swept over the earth, as troubled visions sweep over the breast of dreaming sorrow. Cities have arisen and flourished for a little sea- son, then disappeared, leaving no trace to tell where or when or how they sunk. New empires have sprung into existence, gathering in a brief time the strength of centuries, and then suddenly sunk from the world forever. The changes and mighty events that have occurred in our own country in those years are equally astounding. The building of railroads and steamboats, and the invention of the telegraph, are but a few of these great events. Sixty years ago, when James Meadows erected a cabin in Sugar. Grove, he would not have believed that to-day would present all the changes and improvements that it has presented, " though one had risen from the dead " to proclaim it to him. The wild prai- ries, and the timbered groves and dells, inhabited then by Indians, deer, wolves, panthers and other savage animals, are now vast fields of waving grain ; and the farmers' palatial dwellings are seen now where there were the hunter's cabin and the Indian's wigwam. All these changes are difficult of realization by others than those who have witnessed them.

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

The pioneers of this section had the same difficulties in procuring meal and flour as the new-comer had in other localities. Sometimes a trip was made to St. Louis for such supplies as flour, salt, and sugar and coffee when the settlers could afford such luxuries. James Meadows made more than one trip to that city in a canoe via the Sangamon, Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. He built a mill also in 1823, which was a great convenience to the people in the Sugar Grove end of the precinct. Those in the Irish Grove end used to go to Athens to mill, and even to Springfield, until a mill was erected in the village of Sweetwater, which will again be referred to. The erection of this mill secured to this district the best of facilities for obtaining the "staff of life." Jacob Boyer was the first blacksmith, who followed the trade for the benefit of others. Leonard Alkire kept a forge for his own benefit, as did Propst and James Meadows. Meadows was a wheelwright, but also kept a blacksmith-shop, prin- cipally for his own work. Josiah B. Smith was the first Justice of the Peace in the Irish Grove end of the precinct. Who was the first in Sugar Grove we did not learn.

James McNabb taught the first school in the limits of the present precinct of Sugar Grove in a small log cabin near where Gregory Lukins now lives. He is still living, and the cabin in which he taught was erected for school purposes -the first temple of learning built in the precinct. As his old pupils look back to the days when he ruled them with rod of iron they call to mind, no doubt, Goldsmith's familiar lines :

" Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way, With blossomed furze unprofitably gay, There, in his noisy mansion, skilled to rule, The village master taught his little school ; A man severe he was, and stern to view, I knew him well, and every truant knew ; Well had the boding tremblers learned to trace The day's disaster in his morning face ;

- Full well they laughed with counterfeited glee At all his jokes, for many a joke had he ; Full well the busy whisper circling round Conveyed the dismal tidings when he frowned ; Yet he was kind, or if severe in aught, The love he bore to learning was in fault.

* * *

Amazed the gazing rustics ranged around ; And still they gazed, and still the wonder grew That one small head could carry all he knew."

The precinct has now six schoolhouses, including the one in the village. These schoolhouses are commodious and comfortable, and furnished with all the modern improvements. Good schools are taught during the usual school term by competent teachers, and every facility is offered to the youth of the neigh- borhood for obtaining an education.

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

The religious history of Sugar Grove is somewhat complicated, as related to us by those who have been close observers of its mission in this region. It will be more fully given in connection with the village. Rev. John Alkire and Rev. Hughes were two of the early divines of the Christian Church in the precinct; also Rev. Abner Peeler, who afterward removed to Woodford County. A Christian Church was erected at an early day near where Gregory Lukins now lives. It was built of logs with puncheon floor, clapboard roof and a stick chimney at each end of the building. This served the double purpose of church and schoolhouse until 1838, when a frame building was put up 18x20 feet, and also used for church and school purposes. About the year 1848, a brick church was built on the site of the original house. It was quite an edifice for that day and was built upon a stone foundation. After the laying-out of the village of Sweetwater, the society moved their quarters, and built a church in the village. This building was then remodeled and changed into a dwelling-house.

William Engle and Elizabeth Alkire were married in 1823 and this was the first marriage in the present bounds of Sugar Grove Precinct, or in the eastern part of Menard County. The first birth and death are not remembered. But in proof that there have been a number of both, we refer the reader to the present population, and to Sugar Grove Cemetery. In its quiet shades sleep many of the early settlers of the neighborhood, as well as those who were cut down in the bloom of youth. It has been incorporated, and is beautifully situated on an elevated piece of ground about two miles from the village; is substantially inclosed and well cared for.

William Engle kept the first store in the precinct, and the first in the east- ern part of Menard County, except at Athens. He opened a store on his farm (where John Engle now lives) several years before the laying-out of Sweetwater. After the village was laid out he moved his store into the corporation, where it is again alluded to. In politics, Sugar Grove is pretty evenly divided upon the great questions of the day. At one time, Irish Grove, lying partly in this pre- cinct and partly in Greenview, gave but one Democratic vote, but the sentiment has somewhat changed since then. The precinct taken altogether, is perhaps, Republican by a small majority. During the late war, it did its full share in furnishing troops to maintain the Union. If it had a draft at all, it was for but a very few men, as all calls were promptly filled. Our space will not admit of an extended sketch of the precinct's war record, and we pass with the tribute, that its soldiers did their duty.

VILLAGE OF SWEETWATER.

Sweetwater was laid out by William Engle and the Alkires on Sections 31 and 32, of Township 19, about the year 1853. It is located in Sugar Grove, a beautiful body of timber, some three miles from the village of Greenview. It is surrounded by a fine farming community, and has a large trade for so small a place. The first store was opened by the Alkires, and about the same time

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

William Engle moved his store from his farm, and opened up in the village. A post office was established with William Engle as Postmaster. Just here arises the name of Sweetwater. P. M. Harris was the representative of this district in Congress at the time, and through him the post office was obtained, and des- ignated in the petition Sugar Grove. But it was found that there was already . a Sugar Grove in the State, and Harris wrote Mr. Engle to select another name. After some deliberation with those interested, Sweetwater was decided upon as being nearest Sugar Grove-the water of the sugar maple being sweet, and thus the name of Sweetwater was obtained. The present Postmaster is Joseph Schofield. When the office was first established, the mail was received on the line from Petersburg to Elkhart, mostly on horseback. It is received now from Greenview. Jacob Propst, Jr., was the first blacksmith in the village, and Dr. John H. Hughes was the first physician. A mill was built soon after the village was laid out, by Deal & Hughes. It is still in operation and doing excellent work, though the building shows the ravages of time. The firm name of Deal & Hughes has never changed since the mill was first built ; the present Hughes, however, being a son of the one concerned in its erection. It is a frame edifice, operated by steam, with two run of buhrs, and it is said makes as good flour as any mill in the county. The business of the village may be thus summarized: Two general stores, including in their stocks dry goods, groceries, drugs, hardware, etc., etc .; one shoe-shop; one blacksmith and wagon shop; one post office; one mill; one schoolhouse; one physician (Dr. Hurst) and two churches.

The schoolhouse was built about 1868 or 1870, is an elegant two-story brick, and cost something like $4,500. James Steele taught the first school in it. Prof. Ayers has been the teacher for the past two years, and is engaged for the coming year. It is conducted as a graded school, and is fully up to the average standard of that class of schools.

If we could write the church history of Sweetwater in the same language in which it was told us, it would be highly entertaining, no doubt, to many of our readers, at least. But we feel inadequate to the task, and hence we give it in our own words. The first church built in village was that of the Christians, or New Lights, and is a sort of continuation of the one mentioned in the history of the precinct as erected near Gregory Lukins'. It is a spacious brick edifice, and cost about $3,500 at the time it was built. There is no regular pastor at present, but transient ministers frequently call and preach to the flock who are wont to worship within its walls. The original society underwent several changes, as we understand it-that is, New Lights, Campbellites and then Apos- tles, or Christians. It finally became somewhat stirred up as Adventists, or a part of the congregation did, when they sold their interest in the building and erected the present frame church, at a cost of about $2,500. When the Advent- ists went up, or, more correctly speaking, failed to go up, some got disgusted, and, as a result, the church was sold to the Methodists, who worshiped in it for

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

a time, with services held occasionally by the Presbyterians. The Methodists, eventually, broke down, and, as our informant expressed it, "all went into the mush-pot together." The church was again sold, and this time was bought by the Old-School Presbyterians, who still own it and hold regular services, though the congregation is composed of several creeds. It was re-organized under the Presbyterians by Rev. Mr. Crosier, of Indian Point. A union Sun- day school of the two churches is carried on, but the Superintendent's name we did not learn.

This village used to go by the pseudonym of Chloeville, and when we inquired of an old gentleman why it was so called, he said it was for an old lady who once lived in it, whose first name was Chloe, "and some one, in acknowledgment," said he, "of her general cussedness, as a burlesque, called the town after her."

INDIAN CREEK PRECINCT.

The prairies of the West, though favored with a soil scarcely equaled in the world, and possessed of climate and water unsurpassed, yet, apparently, lacking in the means of producing warmth, were slow to attract the emigrant; while the eastern portion of the United States, though not so highly favored in these respects, was settled two hundred years earlier than those vast Western plains. When Illinois began to fill up with the Anglo-Saxon race, we find its first occu- pants steering their " prairie schooners" for the groves of timber and the streams of water, where they rightly concluded lay, with a productive soil, also plenty of fuel and water. It was not until nearly every acre of timber-land lying adjacent to water-courses had been " claimed," that people in this section of the country turned their attention to the prairies. With the utmost caution, they ventured out beyond the protecting shelter of the forest, and, as cabins rose up on the broad plains, the croakers, who are ever ready to prophesy evil, indulged in all manner of predictions in regard to the fearless pioneers-such as freezing to death, and being blown away by storms. This was the case in this county and in this precinct, as well as elsewhere, and no settlements were made beyond the timber, until necessity compelled the increasing population to " move on."

Indian Creek Precinct, the subject of this chapter, is as fine a body of land as, to use a familiar expression, "a crow ever flew over." The greater portion of it is fine rolling prairie, neither hills nor bluffs, nor low, flat levels, but more resembling the swells of the ocean. It is well watered and drained by Salt Creek on the north boundary, Sangamon River on the west boundary, Indian Creek on the south boundary, and Little Grove and Sugar Grove Creeks flow- ing through it, so that it has no lack of water facilities. It is bounded on the north by Mason County, on the west by Sandridge Precinct, on the south by

$. 2, Shears

TALLULA

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

Petersburg and Athens, and on the east by Sugar Grove and Greenview Pre- cincts, and lies in Townships 18 and 19 north, Range 6 west of the Third Principal Meridian, according to Government survey. No villages or towns break the monotony of its vast productive fields at the present day, though quite a village at one time existed in its territory, as noticed in another page. The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad runs through from southwest to northeast, and, while it is a vast benefit to the precinct as a means of trans- portation, yet there is no station within its borders. The shipping point is *Greenview, principally, which is but a mile or so from the line. This is the smallest precinct in Menard County except Rock Creek, having but about twenty-nine sections of land. But while the land of Rock Creek is rather inferior in quality, taken altogether, that of Indian Creek is of the best, and its farmers, judging from their spacious farms and elegant residences, are among the most prosperous in the county.

SETTLEMENTS OF INDIAN CREEK.

This precinct was settled mostly from Kentucky, with a few Virginians thrown in to perfect the state of society. The following recruits were received from the old Blue Grass State: James Short, Solomon Taylor, Robert and James Bracken, Andrew Trumbo, John Moore and sons, Robert White, William McDougall, Abraham Hornback and sons, Elijah Scott, Francis Rayburn, William Brewer and son, Samuel Rogers and son, Alexander Crawford, David Onstott, John Pentecost and sons, Michael Killion, William Denton, William and James Estill, Coleman Smoot, Hamilton Elliott, Isaiah Low, and, perhaps, others. James Short is supposed to have been the first white man to settle in the present precincts of Indian Creek. He located here in 1824, and, in 1828, removed to Sangamon County. Solomon Taylor came in about 1828. He is 'still living; resides in the village of Greenview, and is, perhaps, the second oldest living settler of this precinct. Robert and James Bracken, brothers, came in 1826-27. Robert died here, but his widow is still living on the place where her husband settled more than fifty years ago, and is in her eighty-first year. She is a sister to Walter Turner, in Athens Precinct. James Bracken removed to Missouri. Andrew Trumbo came in 1828-29, and died in the neigh- borhood some years ago. Solomon Taylor's wife having also died, Mr. Taylor and Mrs. Trumbo were recently married, and though a rather aged couple to embark, or, rather, to re-embark on the sea of matrimony, it is said to have been an excellent arrangement for both, and that they are living comfortably together in Greenview. John Moore and his five stalwart sons, John, Joseplı, Andrew, Samuel and William, came in 1828. They were a fine family, and ranked among the prominent people of the neighborhood. The old gentleman and most of the family are dead. William and Joseph, we believe, are all that are left. The latter lives in De Witt County, and Joseph in this county. Robert White came about 1826-27, and was monarch of all he surveyed, from

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

where he located to the mouth of Salt Creek, no family having squatted between the two points. He died here many years ago. William McDougall came about the same time, and was a son-in-law of White. He died a few months ago at the age of seventy-two years. Elijah Scott came about 1825-26. He moved away some twenty-five or thirty years ago. Abraham Hornback and his sons, John, Jesse and Andrew, came about 1826. The old gentleman is long since dead, as well as most of the others, except Andrew, who lives in this precinct. Francis Rayburn came in 1828. He finally died in Iowa, to which State he removed some time before. William Brewer and his son, John Brewer, came about 1827-28. Both died in this precinct. Samuel Rogers and his son, Joseph Rogers, came about 1825. They also died in the precinct. Squire Godby relates the following anecdote in which he and Joseph Rogers were actors : Rogers was a Captain of the militia, and, as such, used to call the "able-bodied citizens " together for the purpose of "muster." At one of these periodical musters, Godby failed to put in an appearance, for which delinquency, Rogers had him appointed Fourth Corporal in his company. Soon after this, Rogers returned to Kentucky, where he remained some time. Several other officers died, moved away or resigned, so that Godby, the Fourth Corporal of the company, became the senior officer. In this state of affairs, the Black Hawk war broke out, and the Governor made his call for troops, when this company presented the novel spectacle of being commanded by its Fourth Corporal. But, bearing his " blushing honors " with becoming dignity, he summoned the company together, called for volunteers, made up the requisite number, sent them to the front, and then, Cincinnatus-like, returned to his plow.

Alexander Crawford came in 1827, and died here some twenty-five or thirty years ago. David Onstott came as early as 1825, and erected a mill and dis- tillery, which is noticed on another page. He was a character that could not be surrounded, as an old gentleman expressed it to us, and as people moved in, he gathered together his worldly goods and took up his journey to a far coun- try-to Arkansas, it is believed. He said he had waded through h-1 to get here, and did not propose to be crowded, so he again struck out for the wilder- ness when people got too thick around him. Coleman Smoot bought him out in this settlement. John Pentecost and three sons, William, Henry and John, came in 1827. They were originally from Virginia, but emigrated to Ken- tucky in early times, whence they came to Illinois, as above. They are all dead or moved away from the precinct. William Denton came in 1830, and died here many years ago. Michael Killion came in 1830. He lived in the Moore neighborhood, and came from the same section that they came from. He died here years ago. When Squire Godby settled here, in 1830, he built his cabin on the prairie, about half a mile from the timber, and Killion remarked that 'that - fool Virginian would freeze to death so far from the timber.' William Estill, a brother-in-law of Killion's, came about 1825-26. He is still

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HISTORY OF MENARD COUNTY.

living, and in his eighty-fifth year, quite an active old man, and the oldest liv- ing settler in the precinct. James Estill, his brother, was also among the early settlers, and died long ago. Hamilton Elliott and two sons, Richard and Had- den, came in 1830-31. Richard removed to Fulton County. He is described as an enterprising man, speculated considerably, and, as our informant expressed it, "would risk his life for a coon-skin." He finally went to California, and amassed quite a fortune. Hiram Chapin and Benjamin Day came very early, but did not remain long in the settlement. William Day was another of the early ones. He was a brother to Benjamin. The latter gentleman had entered the ferry on Salt Creek, where the State road from Springfield to Havana crossed, and when William came a few years later, he took charge of this place. He finally moved to Iowa. Coleman Smoot came about 1831, and bought out Onstott. He is dead, and his son, William C. Smoot, lives on the old home- stead. The elder Smoot was an enterprising farmer, a prominent man, and accumulated a handsome property. His son is also a man of wealth and influ- ence in the community. Isaiah Low came in 1831-32, and a few years ago moved to Iowa. These settlers, so far as names are given, all came from Ken- tucky to Illinois, though some of them, and perhaps a majority, were originally from Virginia, as Kentucky was settled principally by Virginians. Squire Godby informed us that when he came to the country, he " squatted right in a nest of Kentuckians, and as jolly good fellows, too, as ever lived."

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The History of Menard and Mason Counties, Illinois, Part 37

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