USA > Illinois > McLean County > The good old times in McLean County, Illinois : containing two hundred and sixty-one sketches of old settlers, a complete historical sketch of the Black Hawk war and descriptions of all matters of interest relating to McLean County > Part 27
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
In 1857 he bought out the interest of Dr. Wakefield in the drug store of Wakefield & Thompson, and the new firm became R. Thompson & Co. In 1867 he bought out Thompson and gave up the practice of medicine, but soon afterwards sold out the establishment to Ira Lackey & Bro. Since then Dr. Major has been engaged in trading.
In 1851 he married Adeline Elkin, the daughter of Dr. Gar- rett Elkin, of Springfield, who was one of the oldest settlers of
298
OLD SETTLERS OF
that place. He has a family of two hopeful and enterprising boys.
Dr. Major is of medium stature and rather slenderly built. He is very quick in his movements ; his eyes are very keen, and he is always ready for business. His nose is aquiline, and, like that of Tennyson's heroine, it is "tip tilted like the petal of a flower." He is a man of great energy and is far-sighted in his calculations. He has great versatility of talent, and sees into all things quickly. He is careful in business, and can make profits where many another would fail. He is very upright in all his doings, and is worthy of his father's reputation.
THOMAS FELL.
Thomas Fell was born June 11, 1806, on a farm in Chester County, Pennsylvania. His father, Jesse Fell, was a farmer and hatter. His ancestors were English and were members of the Society of Friends, but Thomas Fell now belongs to the Metho- dist Church. He is the second son of nine children (seven sons and two daughters). It seemed to be the practice in the Fell family to keep those children who were rugged and healthy at work on the farm, while those who were sickly were sent to school. It happened that Thomas Fell possessed a remarkably good constitution, and he was therefore kept at work, while his brother Jesse, whose health was somewhat delicate, was sent to school and received a better education than any of the other children. When Thomas Fell was about seventeen years of age he was sent to Cecil County, Maryland, to learn the trade of wheelwright. Two years of his apprenticeship were spent here and two years in Uwchlan township, Chester County.
Thomas Fell was married January 24, 1830, to Eleanor Evans, in Uwehlan township, where he finished his apprentice- ship. During this same year he commenced working at his trade on his own account in a place called Gallagherville, about thirty two miles west of Philadelphia. There he remained for two years when he moved to Pequa Valley, Lancaster County, where he stayed two years and then went to Chester County, where he stayed one year, after which he emigrated to the great West.
He left Chester County in May, and went to Lancaster, Ohio, and in September started for Bloomington, Illinois, where
299
M'LEAN COUNTY.
he arrived October 10, 1835. At that time his brother, Jesse W. Fell, who had come two years previous, was the only lawyer in Bloomington, that is, the only one who had earned a diploma. Here Thomas Fell went to work as a house-builder, and con- tinued at this business from 1835 to 1852.
In February, 1848, while Mr. Fell was living at Randolph's Grove, he was called upon to act as auctioneer to sell a large amount of cattle and other stock at Smith's Grove in McLean County. He left home the evening before the sale and came as far as Bloomington, the weather being as mild as in the month of May. The next morning he started for Smith's Grove, while the mercury was twenty-six degrees below zero. It began snow- ing, and the wind, which was in the northeast, blew with such terrific force that he was obliged to go back to Bloomington, as his horse would not face the storm. Within half an hour after his return the sun shone clear and bright and he started once more and arrived at Smith's Grove with frozen ears, but saved them by an application of snow. The sale lasted until late, and nearly every one stayed over night. The next morning he re- turned to Bloomington, while the mercury was down to thirty below zero, and went to the home of his father. It was all he could do to get into the house, and there he found himself so frightfully frozen that it was a hard matter to save his life. When he stepped into the house, he was so drawn up and dis- torted with cold that his own father did not recognize him.
In 1853 Thomas Fell and Jesse W. Fell furnished forty thou- sand ties and between three and four thousand cords of wood for the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad.
In 1860 Thomas Fell went twice to Colorado and returned, crossing the plains four times. He was anxious to find gold. He started first with a company of about fourteen persons. Among them were his nephew, Henry C. Fell, W. O. Davis, the present proprietor of the Pantagraph, John Rese, William Hill and others. After remaining in the Rocky Mountains for some time, his health and that of Mr. Davis began to fail, and these two determined to return to Illinois. On their way they had a few little experiences with the Indians. Near Box Elder Springs on the plains they stopped to feed their horses and eat dinner, and when they had finished, Mr. Davis drove off with the team,
300
OLD SETTLERS OF
leaving Mr. Fell alone to write up his diary. Suddenly an In- dian made his appearance out of a gully near by, and then a second and a third, and Mr. Fell retreated pointing his pistol at them. At sight of his pistol they held up their hands for peace ; nevertheless they seemed to be working to surround him, but he ordered them away very peremptorily, and they left. At one time one of their party, a rather quick-tempered man, became involved in a difficulty with an Indian and attempted to strike him, but missed him and struck his horse instead. The Indian went away, but Mr. Fell, knowing their revengeful character, felt confident that the matter was not ended, and the man, who had become involved in the difficulty, hastened on ahead to Denver. The Indian soon returned with a squad of others to help him, and the whites, who were scattered around, all pointed the In- dians to some timber near by, all telling the same story, and the red-skins finally left. From Denver the party went to Colorado City, which is at the base of Pike's Peak, and here entered the mountains and crossed South Park for California Gulch, which is one hundred miles west of Denver in the second snowy range of the Rocky Mountains. At one place on this journey Mr. Fell broke his collar bone in lifting a wheel, while ascending the mountains. He had no physician to attend him, aud was obliged to allow nature to work her own cure. He returned to Bloomington, where he arrived in August, and by the following October he was so far recovered as to be able to do some work.
Mr. Fell has lived a pleasant life with his amiable lady. He is a heavy set man, of medium height, is very muscular and can endure much. He is very kind, good-natured and accommo- dating, and takes pleasure in giving help or information. He has had a family of twelve children, of whom five are living, four daughters and one son. All are married and settled in life. They are :
Rebecca R. Flesher, wife of Josiah Flesher, was born Oeto- ber 19, 1836. and lives in Bloomington.
Ellen Amanda Dawson, wife of George Dawson, was born December 16, 1838, and lives in Bloomington.
Rachel G. Luecock, wife of Thomas E. Luccock, was born August 14, 1841, and lives at Lexington, Illinois.
Thomas Hardin Fell was born November 26, 1847, and lives at Jacksonville, Illinois.
301
M'LEAN COUNTY.
Jane Ann Williams, wife of John A. Williams, was born May 20, 1850, and lives in Normal.
JOHN MAGOUN.
John Magoun was born June 14, 1806, in Pembroke, Ply- mouth County, Massachusetts, twelve miles from Plymouth Rock, and five miles from the farm of Daniel Webster, at Marsh- field. The century and a-half old house where he was born is still standing, and has always been in the possession of the Ma- goun family. The first of the Magoun family of whom any record exists was John Magoun, who was a freeholder in 1666. The name "John " has ever since been a favorite with the Ma- goun family, and nearly every generation has taken care that it should not be forgotten. The father of the John Magoun of whom we are writing was Elias Magoun, and his mother was Esther Sampson before her marriage. They had five sons : Elias, who was for a while cashier of the Hope Bank of War- ren, Rhode Island ; William, who graduated at Brown Univer- sity, Rhode Island, and died in Turin, Italy, in 1871; Calvin, who died at Marshfield, Massachusetts, and John and Luther. The parents of these five sons were earnest Christians, and lived honored and esteemed by all who knew them. The chil- dren were brought up on the Magoun farm, and learned habits of industry. John Magoun was seventeen years of age when his father died. After this sad event he went to Boston and for several summers worked there at the mason's trade, and during winters taught school in the country. While in Boston he saw Lafayette, during the visit of the latter to America ; he heard Webster's culogy on Adams and Jefferson, in Fanuil Hall ; he saw the corner-stone of Bunker Hill monument laid in its place, and he listened to the sermons of Dr. Channing, Dr. Lyman Beecher and Father Taylor. Mr. Magoun had, in his childhood, known Father Taylor, and the latter had in the beginning of his ministry made the Magoun farm his favorite home.
On the thirtieth of September, 1835, John Magoun and his cousin, Calvin C. Sampson, and S. P. Cox left Boston for New Orleans. These three friends, who went out together to seck their fortune, had many adventures. Mr. Sampson died in Marshfield, August 9, 1868, a few days after he and John Ma-
302
OLD SETTLERS OF
goun had met each other in accordance with aprevious arrange- ment. S. P. Cox is now a resident of Bloomington. The voy- age of these friends to New Orleans was a rough one of twenty- one days, and all on board were sea sick. All three were soon engaged in business, but Magoun and Cox could not be satisfied. They had read " Peck's Guide for Emigrants to Illinois," and nothing could prevent them from making a visit to this mar- velous country. They took a steamer for St. Louis, and made the acquaintance of the river boatmen. Mr. Magoun says that the latter patronized the bar very extensively, and this showed to his satisfaction the cause of the accidents which were con- stantly occurring. He found St. Louis a city of eight thousand three hundred and eighteen inhabitants. From St. Louis, Ma- goun and his companion went to Naples, on the Illinois River, and from there to Jacksonville, where a colony was being form- ed with the intention of settling somewhere. They each bought a share in the colony, and this entitled them each to a quarter section of land and three town lots. The locating committee, Horatio N. Pettit, John Gregory and George F. Purkitt, located the land and reported that they had entered twenty-one sections at Haven's Grove, about ten miles north of a little town called Bloomington, in McLean County. The hopeful colonists were soon on their way to the promised land, and on their ar- rival put up at the houses of Jesse Havens, sr., and his sons-in- law, Benjamin Wheeler, David Trimmer and John Smith. Of these colonists five are now living : James HI. Robinson, Presi- dent of the National Bank of Bloomington, who joined the com- pany at Springfield, James F. and Joseph D. Gildersleeve, S. P. Cox and John Magoun. Messrs. Cox and Magoun assisted Mr. Dickason, the County Surveyor, to survey the colony lands and lay off the colony town, which was afterwards called Hud- son. On the fourth of July, 1836, the colonists made their se- lection of town lots. After this Mr. Magoun came to Bloom- ington, where he had the honor of laying some bricks in the old court house.
In the latter part of December, 1836, Mr. Magoun started on foot with two others, Joseph Bedell and Chester Foster, to re- visit their homes in the East. A record of their travels was kept and published by Joseph Bedell. From his little book the following incident of their journey is given :
303
M'LEAN COUNTY.
" The first night we put up at a farmer's house, and one of his daughters, scarcely out of her teens, of no extraordinary beauty, attracted my special attention. In reply to an inquiry of one of my companions, in the simplicity and awkwardness of her nature, exclaimed : 'Mar ! Mar! that are feller wants some grease to grease his boots,' causing one of my companions to bite his lips tightly while the other burst into a fit of laugh- ter. We turned it off upon some other incident, and the young lady never knew that she was the object of our sport." The same author says : " The ladies in the West in those days were downright home-made looking, no artificial fancy fixings to adorn their persons."
The three travelers walked twenty-two miles per day on an average; but in Ohio they bought a horse and jumper and rode to Morristown, New Jersey, and went from there to New York by stage, where they arrived February 5, 1837. On their route they visited the capitols of Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and saw the assembled wisdom of all these States in their legislative halls.
Shortly after Mr. Magoun arrived at his old home, his mother died. Just before her last change took place she said to her son : " I greatly desired to see you once more; this desire is now gratified, and I am ready and willing to depart."
While on a subsequent visit to his old home Mr. Magoun as- sisted in building the tall chimney of the Roxbury Chemical Works. While at work on this chimney, at the height of one hundred and seventy-six feet from the ground, the inside scaf- folding gave way and precipitated Mr. Magoun and two others a distance of one hundred and thirty feet, among the broken fragments. One of the three was killed, another nearly so, but Mr. Magoun escaped with a few bad bruises and scratches. He says of the one who was killed : " He seemed to have a pre- sentiment of his sad fate. The moment before he fell he sud- denly said, as he looked eastward over Boston harbor : 'I must have one more look towards my dear old Ireland home.'"
Mr. Magoun was in business in Clinton, Illinois, with James Miller, and afterwards in Bloomington with J. E. MeClun and others. At present he is one of the partners of the Home Bank in Bloomington. IIe has some eleven hundred acres of land of the Hudson colony in a farm.
304
OLD SETTLERS OF
During the year 1849 Mr. J. Seeley, of Hudson, went to England for his family. On his return, he left them at Chicago until he could go to Hudson to procure a conveyance to trans- port them to their new home. On his way to the latter place he stopped at Mr. Lillie's, was there attacked with the cholera and soon died. The most of Mr. Lillie's family and also the attend- ing physician died of the same disease. This event of course caused general alarm in Bloomington and elsewhere; neverthe- less but one case occurred in Bloomington. Lucian A. Samp- son, a merchant and worthy citizen, was the victim. He had been to Chicago, where the cholera was prevailing, and on his return was stricken down without a moment's notice with this disease in its worst form. Mr. Magoun was told of the condi- tion of his friend Sampson and asked to attend him in his sick- ness. This was not a pleasant task, but Mr. Magoun could not endure the thought of seeing his neighbor in distress, and went to his assistance, resolving to take the consequences whatever they might be. This was in the afternoon. During that night Mr. Sampson bade adieu to his child and weeping wife, saying : " We shall meet again in heaven," and died the following morn- ing. Abraham Brokaw and Goodman Ferre assisted in the preparations for the burial. Every precaution was taken to pre- vent the spread of the disease, and no other cases appeared in Bloomington. Nevertheless this single case created a panic. One of the citizens, who was called in and assisted in placing the body in the coffin, inquired the disease, and, when told it was cholera, ran for life, and leaped a high fence, which would have been impossible in his usual state of mind.
Mr. Magoun was too old a man to serve in the army during the rebellion ; but he once saw a day or two of service. On the second of September, 1862, at nearly midnight, a dispatch was received requesting a force of two hundred men to be instantly raised in Bloomington, and sent to Springfield without delay. Mr. Magoun and thirty others enlisted at once, and the entire force was made up in the morning and sent to Springfield, where it was ascertained that it was required to guard the confederate prisoners at Camp Butler. He was discharged after a few days service, and returned home with the pleasant reflection that he had done no one any damage and no one had damaged him,
305
M'LEAN COUNTY.
Mr. Magoun is a strictly temperate man and believes in total abstinence. While a boy he often visited a good aunt, the eldest sister of his father. Her once kind and loving husband was made a drunkard by a wealthy neighbor, who kept a licensed saloon at one end of his country store. There this rum-seller sold liquor to the man, whose nerves were so shattered and whose resolution was so wanting that he was absolutely without self-control, and when the wretched man's broken-hearted wife pleaded with the rum-seller, with tears in her eyes, not to make her home desolate, he would tell her that her husband's money was as good as any other man's money, and that a license was issued to sell liquor to all comers. It was then that John Ma- goun learned to hate all intoxicating drinks, including beer and wine, and then that he became a strong advocate of the Maine Liquor Law. The unfortunate man, who was so completely un- der the influence of liquor, died at last a victim of intemper- ance; but in this case poetic justice was done, and the liquor- seller himself died of strong drink.
John Magoun is also opposed to the use of tobacco, and thinks it "the vilest of weeds."
From Mr. Magoun's well known philanthropy it may be sup- posed that he was an opponent of slavery, when the questions relating to that American institution were being agitated ; and hardly the bondmen themselves were more rejoiced than he, when the proclamation of President Lincoln was issued to free the slaves of America. And the same benevolent feelings, which cause him to sympathize with the distressed, make him an ad- vocate of peace, and he desires and hopes for the coming of that brighter day "when nations shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they war any more."
Mr. Magoun is very fond of children and very highly esteems the gentler sex, among whom he is a great favorite. Ile was never married but advises all young men not to follow his exam- ple, and exhorts them earnestly to go and not do likewise.
Mr. Magoun is about five feet nine inches high, has dark hair, blue eyes, weighs one hundred and sixty pounds, and though sixty-seven years of age he would not be taken by a stranger for more than fifty. Few gray hairs have obtruded themselves upon his temples; his carriage is erect and his step
20
306
OLD SETTLERS OF
elastic. He enjoys the society of friends, especially of ladies, as he used to do in days gone by, and looks as if his lease of life was good for many years to come. Few men have lived in any community so distinguished for kindness of heart, for charity and purity of life. For thirty-seven years he has lived in Bloom- ington, and perhaps no man is better known throughout the county of McLean. Though generous and liberal almost to a fault he has accumulated considerable personal and real estate, and has thus verified in his own history the truth of the scrip- ture which says, " there is that which scattereth and yet increas- eth." He liberally assisted the Wesleyan University when that institution was struggling in its infancy and he is now one of its trustees and rejoices in its prosperity. He is a man of the warmest affection and cherishes the memory of his dear brother, who a few years since died at Turin in Italy. Perhaps the best idea of his character will appear from the language of one of his friends who wrote of him :
"No man ever lived whose heart has been more warm and open to the wants of the poor. Crowds of the distressed and destitute have always waited upon him, and the worthy and needy applicant has never been turned empty away. It may be said of him in this community, as it was in relation to one of old, that " the ear that hears him blesses him, and the eyes that see him give witness to him," for he has delivered so many poor who have cried, and the fatherless and him that had none to help him. The blessings of those who were ready to perish are bestowed upon him, and he has caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. Eyes has he been to the blind and feet to the lame. He has been a father to the poor and the cause, which he knew not he has sought out. Such has been the life of John Magoun. He has sought neither honor nor position in the world, but has striven only to do good and to make all with whom he came in contact happier and better, and when he lays him down to die the people among whom he has lived so long will rise up and call him blessed, rea, they will weep over his grave and say in their hearts 'HERE LIES THE POOR MAN'S FRIEND.' "
THOMAS JEFFERSON KARR.
Thomas Jefferson Karr was born in Whitewater township, Hamilton County, Ohio, near Miami Town, close to the Miami
307
M'LEAN COUNTY.
River, February 10, 1821. His father, Thomas Karr, was a farmer born. Young Thomas received some little education in Ohio. He came with his father to Randolph's Grove, about eight miles from the present city of Bloomington, in 1835. Here he attended a district school in a log school house. In 1843 he married Elizabeth Low, the daughter of Nathan Low, one of the old settlers of MeLean County. Mrs. Karr is still living, and with her youngest son Guy manages the property acquired by the patient toil of her husband. Mr. Karr was an extensive farmer and dealer in stock. IIe commenced life with some as- sistance from his father, but the most of his property was ae- quired by his own foresight and patient toil. He was rather delicate in his constitution, and died on the 17th of February, 1866, in consequence of a railroad accident received about two weeks previous.
Mrs. Karr could not claim damages of the railroad company for the loss of her husband because she refused to allow a post mortem examination.
Mrs. Karr remembers very clearly the Black Hawk war in 1832. At that time many of the settlers moved South for fear of an Indian massacre ; but Mr. Low and his family, of which Mrs. Karr was a member, remained. Mrs. Karr has lively re- collections of the trips to Chicago, which required from fifteen to seventeen days. Mr. Karr hauled wheat to Chicago for thirty cents per bushel. There were four stopping places on the road between Blooming Grove and Chicago. These were Oli- ver's Grove, Brewer's Grove, Ephard's Point and Kankakee.
The weather in early days was more changeable than now. Mrs. Karr remembers that very often there were four decided changes of the weather in twenty-four hours. During the win- ter of the deep snow she walked on the hard erust to school at the Hinshaw school house.
The late Thomas Jefferson Karr was a man of medium height, slender and well proportioned. He was very keen in business matters, but upright and honest in his dealings. His eyes were mild and gentle in expression. He was well known and universally respected ; he was very kind and hospitable and always ready to help his neighbors.
308
OLD SETTLERS OF
The following are Mr. Karr's children :
Harvey B. Karr, born October 26, 1843, lives on his farm near Shirley. IIe deals in stock. He has a family.
Mrs. Lizzie Bradley, wife of Dr. Bradley, was born Decem- ber 8, 1845. She lives in Pekin.
Guy Karr was born May 20, 1850. He lives with his mother.
Martha Karr was born December 9, 1853, died July 2, 1856.
Dora Karr was born April 16, 1857 and lives at home with her mother.
HON. JAMES MILLER.
James Miller was born May 23, 1795, in Rockingham Coun- ty, Virginia. His ancestors were Scotch-Irish ; his grandfather was a Presbyterian minister in Ireland. Young James received such an education as could be obtained in a district school, for his father had quite a flock of little ones to take care of; there were ten of them in all, nine boys and one girl. In 1811 his father moved to Madison County, Kentucky, on account of his ill health. This was when James was sixteen years of age. It was intended that James should be a farmer, and he was raised with a view to this occupation ; but, having a talent for trade, he became a merchant. When he was twenty years of age he was filling the offices of collector and sheriff, positions of trust and responsibility. At that time he became a member of the Methodist church. Christianity was not then fashionable. Popular feeling was against it, and especially against the Meth- odist denomination. It was in the face of this popular feeling, and in spite of the fact that he was holding a position depend- ent, in a great measure, upon popular will, that he took his stand for the Lord and determined to lead a Christian life. Mr. Miller was earnest and devoted and soon was made a class leader, and afterwards a recording steward. During the whole of his remaining life he occupied positions of trust and respon- sibility in the church, and was indeed one of its brightest orna- ments.
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.