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 32
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and harmony amid these western wilds. Forty years ago the bear and the panther reared their hopeful cubs where now the seat of justice stands. Forty years ago the musical howl of the prairie-wolf arose on the stilly night where now the chords of the pianos trill sweeter than the harp of a thousand strings. Forty years ago the rattlesnake and the copperhead, the blue- racer and the massasauger wound their sinuous, tortuous coils among the reeds and grass and rushes. Forty eventful years have passed since then, and here we stand, my friends, amid the crash of bottles and the wreck of breaking glass. I see you, gentlemen, before me who have witnessed these changes. I see you, my friends, all lit up with Rhine and Sherry wine, and though the sun should be darkened and the moon refuse to give her light, we should be enlivened by the beverage within."
Though planet worlds around us whirl And solar systems erash, We still will punish sherry wine And drink the brandy smash!
The Captain might not feel like expressing all of these senti- ments, but if he chose he would probably say something pretty good. He has a poetic turn of mind and is particularly fond of a piece of poetry which was written by a Yankee who visited Illinois, while it was still a territory. The lines were written in answer to a letter received from his eastern friends, who wished to know about the Western World. As they are pretty good we give them here.
" Great western waste of bottom land, Flat as a pancake, rich as grease ; Where mosquitoes are as big as toads And toads are full as big as geese.
" Beautiful prairie, rich with grass, Where buffaloes and snakes prevail ; The first with dreadful looking face, The last with dreadful sounding tail.
" I'd rather live on camel's rump And be a Yankee Doodle beggar, Than where they never see a stump And shake to death with fever ager."
23
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Captain Scogin is a man of medium size, well built and well .proportioned, of a lively, active and wide-awake nature, with eyes always on the alert, noticing everything and everybody around him. His countenance shows his pleasant and jovial disposition. His conversation is very entertaining, particularly when he talks of the old pioneers. His hospitality is unbounded and is extended alike to the poor and the rich. These pleasant and engaging qualities have made him the most popular man in the section of country where he resides.
Captain Scogin was married December 26, 1844, to Elizabeth Karr, daughter of Dr. Thomas Karr of Randolph's Grove. She died October 13, 1845, leaving no children. He married, Jan- uary 19, 1847, Eliza Low, daughter of Nathan Low. She died November 15, 1863. The children of this marriage are :
Lee Scogin, who was born April 22, 1849, is married and lives on the old Nathan Low place.
Jay Scogin was born April 29, 1851, is unmarried.
John Scogin was born June 22, 1853, is married and lives in Bloomington.
The following children live at home :
Frank, born December 20, 1855.
Hester, born April 9, 1858.
Joseph W., born August 14, 1860.
William Scogin, who was born July 13, 1863, is dead.
DOCTOR C. WAKEFIELD.
Dr. Cyrenius Wakefield was born July 12, 1815, at Water- town, New York. He is a direct descendant from Thomas Wakefield, who emigrated from the town of Wakefield in York- shire, England, to Reading, Massachusetts, about the year 1680. Wakefield is the same town which gave the name to Goldsmith's beautiful story, "The Vicar of Wakefield." Joseph Wakefield, the father of Cyrenius, was one of the first party of emigrants to Jefferson County, New York, in the year 1800, when that part of the country was a densely timbered wilderness. He came there from Vermont with his employer to cut away the timber and open up a farm. He became so expert in chopping that he cut regularly an acre a week of the heavy hard-wood timber, and made it ready for logging. He thus cleared several
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hundred acres. A few years after emigrating to New York he married Susan Sawyer, daughter of Deacon Thomas Sawyer, who emigrated from New Hampshire the year previous. They were afterwards blessed with a family of six children, one girl and five boys ; of these, three were older than Cyrenius.
After Cyrenius had served out his minority faithfully and had earned a little money by teaching school, he started for the West to try his fortnne in a new country.
In May, 1837, he came over the lakes to Chicago, thence by stage to LaSalle, and from there by boat to Pekin. As there was no stage to Bloomington he had his trunk placed on an ox team load of goods going to that place, and worked his passage by footing it.
He lived in the vicinity of Bloomington for two years and taught school in the Orendorff district fifteen months of the time. From this time until June, 1843, he taught school and worked his farm in De Witt County. He built a house on his farm, and
"One early day in leafy June,
When birds and bees were all in tune"
he went to Watertown, New York, and married Miss Harriet Richardson, an old schoolmate. With her he again came over the lakes to Chicago. Here he had left a horse, and having brought with him a buggy and harness, he hitched up, and the happy young couple completed their bridal tour with a four days ride over the prairie. Probably Dr. Wakefield has never before or since been happier than during this period of his life.
A short time before his marriage his father died, leaving him a few hundred dollars, which greatly aided him in opening out a large farm and furnishing it with young stock. His plan then was to have a large stock farm, but other events changed his course.
In 1845 an elder brother, Dr. T. Wakefield, came to visit him from southwestern Arkansas. Dr. T. Wakefield had prac- ticed medicine there for ten years, but was so well pleased with Illinois and the people here that he determined to settle up his business in Arkansas and make his home in Illinois. This he did, and by July, 1846, he was ready for business in Illinois. The two brothers now entered into partnership in a farmers'
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store. They opened up a stock of goods and conducted their business quite successfully. But circumstances changed their plans entirely. Dr. T. Wakefield had gained great skill in the South in treating malignant congestive fevers, and he began here the same treatment which he found so successful. His first sea- son was a famous one for fever and chills, and with his medi- cines and cold water applications he succeeded in breaking up the worst attacks in a few hours. His fame spread with amaz- ing rapidity, and to satisfy the pressing demand for his services, he kept a change of horses and a driver, and improved his time to the best advantage. His practice soon extended over a por- tion of country of fifty miles radius, and he was obliged to do much of his sleeping while riding from one distant patient to another. When the people could not get him they wanted his medicine, and the brothers Wakefield were induced to prepare them in advance of orders. The demand continued to increase and they were obliged to change their store into a medicine fac- tory. Their medicines were introduced into several counties ; when Dr. T. Wakefield, after much exposure, took a violent congestion of the lungs and died within thirty-six hours. This left Dr. C. Wakefield in a very embarrassing position, but, hav- ing had two years experience with his brother, and having done all of the work of manufacturing the medicines, he wisely con- cluded to go on and extend the business. He bought his brother's interest from his young widow (as they had married but two months previous to his death) and prepared to push the business extensively. He sold his property in De Witt County and in February, 1850, removed to Bloomington, as this was a good central point. He has ever since driven his business with wonderful energy, and now his remedies are sold in nearly every town in five entire states. The doctor has made quite a fortune by the sale of his remedies, but aside from any pecuniary con- sideration he is glad to know that he is doing a useful work. When he came to Bloomington he built a factory, and in con- nection with it a drug store, which he carried on with Robert Thompson. They built the first three story brick builing in town, But this and another brick building adjoining, which was erected by the Doctor during the following year, were burned to the ground in the great fire of October 16, 1855. In
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this fire the losses of Wakefield & Thompson were very heavy as their insurance was light. But they rebuilt their drug store and the doctor rebuilt his factory near his residence, on its pres- ent location. Since then he has made additions to it as his business required.
In February, 1854, his fine residence was burned, but these losses and disappointments only caused him to double his exer- tions. In 1857 he sold out his drug interest, and gave his whole time and attention to his medicine business, and now he reaps the reward of foresight, of care and hard labor. IIe gives em- ployment to forty persons in his medicine business (one-half of whom are females) and his annual sales amount to $100,000. He converts twenty-five tons of paper into almanacs every year for free distribution, for the purpose of advertising his reme- dies. His largest sales are made where fevers are most danger- ous and most common, particularly in new countries where he is glad to know that his remedies are the means of doing great good. It seems now well recognized among advertisers that ad- vertising is of only temporary benefit unless the article pre- sented to the public has intrinsic merit. The Doctor has made himself quite independent by the judicious advertising of good and reliable remedies.
The Doctor has four children to rejoice with him in his pros- perity ; two of these are married and enjoying comfortable homes. IIe has contributed a great deal to the growth and prosperity of Bloomington, and takes pride in the fact that his efforts in that direction have been successful. He is a man of sterling integrity and substantial credit. He performs well and carefully whatever belongs to him to do. He is a member of the Board of Education in Bloomington, and active in the discharge of his duties. Although he is a Republican, he is not ultra in politics, and has never accepted an office of profit. He is conscientious, and believes it to be the duty of every one to work out practically his own spiritual elevation.
The Doctor is a lover of the beautiful as well as the useful. His present residence is a very fine illustration of his ability to combine good taste with great convenience and usefulness. It was built in 1871, at a cost of about thirty thousand dollars.
The Doctor relates a funny incident in the carly history of Bloomington. He says that the first year he lived in the place,
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1837, the county had a a hewed log or block house jail standing near the site of the present fruit house grocery. It had no win- dow in it, but on the north side was a peek-hole five or six feet from the ground, large enough for a man to look through, but supposed to be too small for any one to make an egress. This was the only jail in the county, and owing to the good morals of the citizens it was seldom occupied. But there was in Bloom- ington a notorious character known as Len Marrow, who was much addicted to drinking, and when he was under the influ- ence of spirits he was very noisy. He was often put in this old jail to sober off. While in there he would stand at the peek- hole and halloo and give a long exhortation to every one who came in sight and tease them for a treat. Finally William Mc- Cullough agreed to treat him if he would get out of the jail. In less than half an hour he had squeezed himself through the peek-hole and was hunting for McCullough to get the treat !
Dr. Wakefield is about five feet and nine inches in height, is well proportioned, and has a wiry, good constitution. His features are regular, and his eyes are small but sharp and pene- trating. His hair and beard are dark and full, but now are ยท turning gray. His whole appearance is that of a careful, calcu- lating, straightforward, energetic business man.
WILLIAM OSBORNE VINEY.
William Osborne Viney was born May 15, 1806, in Fleming County, Kentucky. His father's name was John Viney and the name of his mother, before her marriage, was Elizabeth Martin. His mother was born in Culpepper County, Virginia, and his father in Greenbrier County, same State. His father was of mixed Welch and German descent, and his mother was of English.
John Viney came to Kentucky from Virginia in 1803 or '04, and in about the year 1810 he moved to Champaign County, Ohio, where he lived until his death, which occurred in 1813. William O. Viney went to school in Ohio, but it grieves the author to learn that young William was up to his pranks. He assisted the boys once on Christmas day in barring out a school teacher, named Lafferty ; but Lafferty came through the roof and made the children scamper. Er. Viney also helped to bar out a man named McLean, and tied him and made him give a holiday.
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In those early days the Indians were plenty. Mr. Viney has often seen Tecumseh, and although the former was very young, he remembers Tecumseh clearly. Mr. Viney remembers seeing Simon Kenton, the great Indian fighter of Kentucky. The latter wore a hunting shirt, and sometimes one of leather. He was about six feet in height, and his features showed resolution and determination.
Mr. Viney was not celebrated as a sportsman, but he fre- quently hunted coons and foxes with hounds and had some very exciting chases. At one time he went on a fox hunt with hounds, but one of the dogs was crippled and could not run fast. The fox ran in a circle and the crippled dog, being unable to run fast, cut across and caught it.
Mr. Viney loved his practical jokes and was up to a great many of them. He had a friend, named Phillips, who was large and awkward, and a fine "subject" to work upon. Phillips was a bashful youth and much afraid of the girls. At one time, in the dusk of the evening, while the two young men were passing a place where some girls were milking, Viney gave Phillips a push and sent him over on a steer that was lying down. Phillips thought it was a log and awkwardly fell astride of it with his face towards the tail. The "log" jumped up and began running and kicking, and poor Phillips was lifted into the air so that blue sky could be seen between him and the steer at every jump. He finally took a seat on the ground, and from the expressions used would not have been considered a pious young man.
At the age of twenty Mr. Viney set out with his friend Phillips on foot for Indianapolis. There Viney worked in a brickyard during the summer and in a shoeshop during winter.
At the age of twenty-one he was married to Miss Dorinda Bay, the daughter of Squire William Bay, of Indianapolis. Squire Bay had come from Champaign County, Ohio. He had served in the war of 1812 as a spy. At one time during the war of 1812 Squire Bay was sent out with a squad of men under the command of a certain Captain Wood to watch the move- ments of the British and Indians near the Maumee River. During one night they saw what they thought was a body of Indians, but it proved to be a drove of cattle. They were ob- liged to travel during the night and remain hidden during the
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day, but were passed by Indians who came uncomfortably close to them. While they remained hid a snow fell about two inches deep, so that they could be tracked. Then they knew that they must return to the army with all speed, which they did, a dis- tance of thirty-five miles. The Indians, who were following up the spies, came up about the time the latter reached the army. Bay said, that on one of his expeditions he became very sick, so sick that he was crazy, and was left to die, but was found and brought into camp on a sled.
Mr. Viney remained at Indianapolis nine years. Game was plenty there. He remembers seeing forty wild turkeys on a four acre block. He says that when turkeys are chased a long dis- tance, they hide their heads as ostriches are said to do in the desert.
In March, 1837, he made a visit to McHenry County with his brother-in-law, Simpson Bay, and in August following he came to McLean County to make it his home. Deer were then exceedingly plenty. At one time, while marking out a claim with his brother-in-law, Simpson Bay, they started a drove of thirty deer, which ran past Bay and he fired at the herd, not at any particular deer, and succeeded in killing one.
Mr. Viney came to Bloomington, where he lived one year, then went to Monmouth, in Warren County, where he lived five years, then he returned to Bloomington, where he lived until about five years ago, when he moved to the place where he now resides, on the east side of Blooming Grove.
Mr. Viney tells of a change in the weather which took place in 1840 or 1842, which reminded him of the celebrated sudden change of December, 1836. One morning, when the snow was on the ground and the weather was cloudy and warm for winter, he went to mill six miles north of Monmouth. He stayed at the mill over night, and in the morning he found that it had rained and the snow was gone. He started home with the flour and bran of six bushels of wheat. When he arrived at Monmouth it snowed and turned very cold. There he caught sight of one of his neighbors about a quarter of a mile distant, starting for home, and tried to catch up with him. Viney kept within about a quarter of a mile of his neighbor, all the time they were going home, but could not gain on him. When the neighbor crossed
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the first creek and went through with his horse, he left a mark which Viney could watch, and Viney says that by the time he could travel a quarter of a mile and reach the place, the ice would almost bear his weight. The cold was most intense, and though he was wrapped up in bed-clothes and had the wind to his back, it sometimes seemed that he must freeze.
Mr. Viney's amiable wife died October 21, 1871, at the age of sixty-three. He has had a family of twelve children, of whom six are living. All the living are in Illinois, except one who went to California. They are :
William M. Viney, who lives in California.
David Viney lives a mile and a half north of his father's.
Mrs. Lucinda M. Cox, wife of Rev. Amos Cox, lives in Vir- ginia, Cass County, Illinois.
Mrs. Martha J. Clary, wife of James Clary, lives with her father, or rather her father lives with her.
Alvin L. Viney lives in Bloomington.
Edwin Ray Viney lives at his father's house, and makes his home there.
Mr. Viney is about five feet and ten inches in height, weighs a hundred and thirty or forty pounds, is muscular and never was afraid of work. He made great exertions to support his family, in the days when it seemed hard to do so. He is full of fun, loves a joke, particularly a practical joke. His head is bald, and his eyes have a pleasant, practical-joking smile. He is a man of the best of sense, and what his hands find to do he does with his might, industriously and perseveringly. He is a good sharp judge of character and sees through men easily.
JOHN T. GUNNELL.
John T. Gunnell was born in Fairfax County, Virginia, ten miles from Washington, on the first of May, 1796. His father, Allen Gunnell, was descended from Welch and English stock and was quite wealthy. He was blind from his birth, but his blindness was not noticed until he attempted to walk. He had a plantation and about forty slaves. Some of these he liberated and would have done so with all, but was prevented by the pass- age of a law by Virginia prohibiting the liberation of slaves. This kind gentleman died in 1822 at the ripe age of seventy-two.
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His death was occasioned by eating too many cherries, of which fruit he was very fond. John received his early education at a district school, and later, at the age of eighteen, he finished at Alexandria, which was about ten miles from his father's home. He was not specially educated for any profession or trade, but was trained to attend to his father's affairs. His father was so strongly opposed to slavery that in the year 1814 he sold out and removed to Nashville, Tennessee. After remaining there two years his father moved to Christian County, Kentucky, where he bought one thousand acres of land and commenced raising pro- duce, particularly tobacco. In May, 1820, John T. Gunnell married Elizabeth Major, a double cousin of William T. Major, of whose life we have made a sketch. She was an only daugh- ter and was usually called Queen. This was near Frankfort, Kentucky. By this marriage he had one son, Thomas Allen Gunnell. Two years after the marriage of John T. Gunnell, his wife died, and his son Thomas was brought up by his grand- mother near Frankfort, and now lives in Saline County, Missouri. Thomas was for some time a slaveholder, as he obtained a great many by marriage, and was obliged to take care of them, and when they were liberated by the war of the rebellion he was glad to be relieved of the responsibilities of their charge. Mr. John T. Gunnell was for a while clerk of the Circuit Court and held his office at Hopkinsville, while his mother and sisters re- mained to oversee the farm; but when his sisters went the way of the world and were married, his mother came to town and kept house for him. On the first of November, 1827, he married Catharine Athelia Mckenzie, near Hopkinsville, and moved to his farm. They have had a family of nine children, seven of whom are living, four boys and three girls.
In 1833 Mr. Gunnell sold out with the intention of moving to Texas ; but this country was then under the government of Mexico, which had passed a law requiring all marriages to be performed after the ritual of the Catholic Church, or they would not be recognized as legal and binding. But Mr. Gunnell was a Protestant, and as this little matter could not be arranged satis- factorily the plan of going to Texas was given up, and the family came to Tazewell County, Illinois, in the year 1834. During the fall previous to his removal he entered a quarter section of
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land in Tazewell County, Illinois, had a house built on it and made arrangements to have ten acres planted in corn. His goods were sent by water and the family started in carriages with two other families. The party consisted of Mr. Gunnell, his wife and three children ; William Davenport, his wife and two children, and Mordecai Bullock, his wife and two children. The party was two weeks on the road, but at last arrived safely on the twenty-fifth of April, 1834. No accidents or adventures occurred on the journey except that at one time Mr. Bullock came very near being drowned. Davenport and Bullock settled in Walnut Grove, now called Eureka, Woodford County. Mr. Davenport was intended for the profession of the law, but he became a preacher and was the principal mover in building up Eureka College.
After living in Tazewell County for three years (until 1837) Mr. Gunnell sold his land there for ten dollars an acre and moved to Stout's Grove, now called Danvers Township, where he bought two hundred acres of land at seven dollars an acre. Here he lived for thirty years until the day of his death, which occurred April 28, 1867, after two weeks severe illness. The farm still belongs to the family and is managed by the eldest son.
Mr. Gunnell was not an active politician and held but one office of profit, which was that of circuit clerk in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. For twenty-one years preceding his death he was treasurer of Danvers township, which shows very clearly the confidence reposed in him by his neighbors. In politics he was a Whig and afterwards a Republican. He was a member of the Christian Church and for many years was a deacon in that or- ganization.
Mr. Gunnell was commanding in stature, being nearly six feet in height. His hair was dark and curly, his whiskers had a reddish cast, but late in life were gray. His forehead was high and full, and the expression of his countenance was intellectual. His eyes were large, the color of hazel, and had an intelligent, penetrating expression, and when pleased had a very kind, pleas- ant look. He was an excellent business man and very careful with all of his accounts. He thought a great deal of his family and was always anxious for their welfare. He was buried at Stout's Grove.
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The following are Mr. Gunnell's children born during his marriage with his wife Catherine :
John T. Gunnell, jr., lives at home; Dr. James Lincoln Gun- nell lives in Mackinawtown ; Mrs. Lizzie Vaughan, wife of Mr. Vaughan, General Manager of the Chicago & Alton Railroad ; Joseph Manson Gunnell is a farmer, and lives at Minier on the Little Mackinaw; Washington Mckenzie, Margaret Ann and Mary Belle, live at home. The latter is the pet, of course, keeps the house lively and makes the mischief.
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