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 43
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lead. There were ten in the party : Mr. and Mrs. Warlow and their six children, and Joshua Bond and his hired man. They camped out only once, about six miles this side of the Sanga- mon River. There they had two crackers for supper and one cracker a piece in the morning. They came on to Bloomington, where they arrived at three o'clock in the afternoon. It was then a very insignificant little place. The tavern was kept by a man named Caleb. No bell or gong was kept, but a steel bar was suspended by a string, and each morning the servant girl beat it with her pot-hooks to call up the boarders. Mr. Bond bought two hundred acres of land for one thousand dollars, and entered eighty aeres more. On this land Mr. Warlow, sr., lived for two years, and then moved to land of his own, in what is now Allin township, immediately west of Richard A. Warlow's resi- dence. IIe bought of Joshua Bond eighty acres of timber land in Brown's Grove. This was land which Bond had entered on his arrival. It was situated in the middle of the grove. It seems that the settlers, who had come in, entered land around the grove, but forbore to enter this, as they all used timber from it at Uncle Sam's expense. Warlow bought it of Bond for four dollars per acre.
Jonathan Warlow attended at Dry Grove a school taught by Milton Williams. The scholars all studied aloud and shouted their lessons, while the schoolmaster read his paper and smoked his pipe by the fire. Mr. Warlow has seen the difficulties and troubles of the early settlers. He sold pork in Pekin for one dollar and a quarter per hundred, and took his pay in trade, but was not allowed to take all his trade in groceries. He was often obliged to live for long periods on corn and potatoes, as it was impossible sometimes to get grinding done. He has also made the usual trips to Chicago, where he sold wheat for forty-five cents per bushel.
He married, November 15, 1838, Catherine Bartlett Hay, who came from Christian County, Kentucky, with her brother, John Hay. Mr. and Mrs. Warlow live in Danvers township. They have had eight children, of whom six are living, five daughters and one son.
Elizabeth Warlow lives at home with her parents.
Mary M., wife of Jesse Brainard, lives in Dry Grove.
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George L., Celia Jane, Adelpha P. B. and Ida Catherine Warlow, the baby, all live at home.
Mr. Warlow is about five feet and eleven inches in height. His hair is white, and stands up from his head. He has a promi- nent nose and light gray eyes. He has rather a sanguine tem- perament, and he likes to tell funny things. He has been very successful in life and is hospitable and kind.
DOWNS TOWNSHIP.
LAWSON DOWNS.
Lawson Downs was born about the year 1809, near Nash- ville, Tennessee, where he lived until he was nine years of age. Then his parents moved to White County, Illinois, and there Lawson Downs remained until he was grown. In the year 1829 he came to McLean County, Illinois, and entered his land in the present township of Downs. He was accustomed to raise pigs in the timber, which were so wild, that when he fattened them, he threw down corn and went away, or they would never eat it. When they were fat he hunted them with his rifle and shot them in the timber.
During the winter of the deep snow Lawson Downs had his sheep covered by the snow, but he found them by looking for the holes which their breath melted up through the crust. In order to get wood during that memorable winter, he was obliged to shovel his way to a tree, cut it down and haul it in with oxen.
Lawson Downs served in the Black Hawk war, having been out thirty days under Covel. For this service he afterwards ob- tained a warrant for a quarter section of land. He sold the warrant cheap and never located the land.
Lawson Downs and Henry Jacoby hauled goods to Bloom- ington, for James Allin, at an early day. It was great work and small pay. It was very hard, in early days, to earn a little money, but it would buy a great deal. One dollar and a quarter would buy an acre of land.
The prairie grass in the early days was as high as a man's head while riding on horseback. While hunting for game, the dogs, being down on the ground, could not see far. Mr. Downs
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hunted with a greyhound belonging to Henry Jacoby. Downs would look ahead and see the wolf or deer running through the grass, and would tell the hound to jump on the horse. It would do so, and Downs would point out the game. The dog would immediately take after it, and was sure to bring it down.
Mr. Downs was something of a hunter. He hunted bees in the fall, and he trapped otter on the Kickapoo. He often trap- ped wolves. At one time he found in his trap not one of the large wolves, but one of his neighbors' black hogs. This was, indeed, " catching the wrong pig by the ear."
During the sudden change in December, 1836, many of Mr. Downs' sheep and hogs froze fast in the slush, and many chick- ens had their feet frozen in it.
Lawson Downs was married in 1836 to Sarah Welch. He had nine children, all boys, six of whom grew up to manhood. They are :
William G. Downs, who lives near Paoli in Miami County, Kansas. He is rather a large, fine-looking man. During the war he was a captain in the Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry.
George W. Downs now lives at Diamond Grove. He is a man of medium stature, has black hair and dark, expressive eyes. He served three years during the war as a private in the Ninety-fourth Illinois.
John D. Downs is a man of medium size and light com- plexion. He was not old enough to get into the army. He lives about three miles south of Gillem Station in Downs township.
Solomon F. Downs lives near Cheney's Grove.
Albert P. and Alfred E. Downs live with their brother George at Diamond Grove.
Lawson Downs was slenderly built, and had a dark though rather sanguine complexion. He was rather slow to make up his mind, but when he had it once made up it was not easily changed. He was universally respected as an honest, upright citizen, and the township of Downs was named after him. He was no respecter of persons, except as they deserved respect by their ability or goodness of heart. He died September 7, 1860.
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WILLIAM WEAVER.
William Weaver was born February 10, 1783, in Lee Coun- ty, Virginia. He was of English descent. His father came from England at a very early day, and was a soldier in the Rev- olutionary war and served under General Green.
William Weaver received the little education he had at home. When he grew to manhood he made a profession of re- ligion and became a Baptist preacher. In the fall of 1831 he came to Washington County, Illinois. In the fall of 1832 he settled in Old Town timber, McLean County, near the present line between Downs and Old Town, and there he lived until his death, which occurred September 3, 1838. He was accustomed to preach in the first school house in Empire township. When he came to McLean County he brought about sixty head of cat- tle to stock the farm which he opened up. He was the first farmer who brought any grafted fruit to the county ; this he ob- tained from Curtis' Nursery in Edgar County, on the Wabash.
The settlers were greatly annoyed by fires on the prairie, and made use of all means to protect their farms from destruction. The settlers in the southwestern edge of Old Town timber were protected by a wide slough, and could fight the fire successfully.
The following anecdote is given in the language of one of the sons of the early settlers :
" About the year 1843 a certain would-be prophet, named Miller, upon whom the mantle of Elijah did not fall, predicted that on a certain day the world would come to an end. As the time approached for the termination of sublunary affairs, more or less excitement prevailed. On the south side of Old Town timber, and not far from where the village of Downs now stands, lived a boy named Mark C-, who was much affected by Mil- ler's prediction. About a mile south of Old Town timber, and running parallel with it, was a broad marshy slough, which then afforded water the year round during the ordinary seasons. Be- tween this slough and the timber were located the most of the farms of the early settlers, and as each succeeding year the autumnal fires swept over the prairies, stretching twenty miles away to the south, the settlers relied mainly upon this slough to save their farms from destruction. One day, while the excite- ment aroused by Miller was at its height, Mark and a neighbor
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boy, who unfortunately lived on the other side of the little stream, were diccussing the probabilities of the impending judgment when the fire of the Lord should come upon them and wrap the world in flames. Suddenly a new idea seemed to strike Mark. Thinking of the slough, he exclaimed with joy and re- assurance : 'Well, thank God, it can't get to our house; it can't cross the big slough !"
It was many years after the first settlement of the country be- fore the people could believe that the prairies would be worth anything. John Hendrix was among the first to see the rich- ness and utility of the prairies. While he and John Benson and John Rhodes were once discussing the matter it seemed to be their opinion that if the edges of the groves could be settled that would be all they could expeet. But Hendrix said: "I don't know about that, boys. This is mighty rich prairie."
Joseph Weaver was known among the settlers as "Old Fath- er Weaver." He was five feet and eight inches in height, had a quick, lively step, and never used a cane. He was full of fun and good humor. He died of congestive chills, and, it is thought, some disease of the spine. He married, December 12, 1803, Mary Sims. He had thirteen children, twelve of whom lived to grow to manhood and womanhood. Eight are now liv- ing. They are :
Elizabeth Weaver, born January 30, 1808, died about the year 1858 ; was never married.
Nancy Weaver, born June 16, 1809, was married to William Jessee, and lives in Douglas County, Kansas. She is now a widow.
Mary Weaver, born November 3, 1810, married Rev. Mr. McPherson and died April 22, 1853.
Lucy Weaver died in infancy.
Sarah Weaver, born July 15, 1814, is married to Amos Neal and lives in Farmer City.
Lora Weaver, born April 20, 1816, was married to A. P. Craig, and lives in Downs township.
Hanna Weaver, born February 18, 1818, married Isaac Keeran, and lives in Miami County, Kansas.
James Weaver, born December 21, 1819, married Nancy Price, daughter of John Price, and lives in Miami County, Kansas.
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Sylvia Weaver, born May 20, 1822, married John Worley, of MeLean County. She died October 3, 1842.
Rebecca Weaver, born March 18, 1824. married John Camp- bell, of MeLean County, died September 12, 1846.
Martha Weaver, born February 6, 1826, married J. M. Hol- loway, and lives in Miami County, Kansas.
William Weaver, born August 7, 1827. lives in Miami County, Kansas.
Joseph B. Weaver, born April 13, 1831, lives on the home- stead. He was elected Supervisor in 1867, Justice of the Peace in 1870. He served three years during the war in the 94th Illi- nois Volunteers. He married, September 30, 1855, Margaret Kimler, and has four children.
WILLIAM BISHOP.
William Bishop was born September 8, 1794, in Fauquier County, Virginia. He was of English, Irish, Scotch and French descent. ITis father moved to Fleming County, Kentucky, when William was probably only one or two years of age, and when he was five or six years of age the family came to Clark County, Ohio. There he received some little education from a tutor, who was employed to teach in the family.
During the war of 1812 William Bishop was a teamster in the army, and went to Fort Meigs and to Fort Wayne. He frequent- ly camped out when the snow came over him. On the campaign one of the oxen belonging to his team died, and he put a harness. on the other and used it as a leader. Sometimes he was unable to get feed for his oxen and gave them salt bacon, which they ate very readily and seemed to be much strengthened by it. He often fed it to his cattle afterwards, and it made them healthy.
In about the year 1820 Mr. Bishop went to Virginia, and there married Margaret Lake. In 1833 he came to Illinois and settled in Old Town timber. When the family first arrived there, they were obliged to sleep in a wagon for three weeks. No plank could be had for love or money. At their first arrival they built a fire near an elm tree and made dinner. They found a hunter's abandoned hut, cleaned it out and lived in it during their first winter. During the next year they built the six mile house, a double log cabin, which was used for many years as a stopping
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place for travelers. All of the water used was hauled from the prairie, two miles distant. They twice attempted to diga well, but at the depth of fifty feet the ground was still dry. It was very difficult indeed to haul their water, as they had no barrel. But a circumstance occurred by which they obtained a water bar- rel. General Gridley at that time kept store in Bloomington. He had a barrel of honey standing outside his door, as no space was left for it inside. Some mischievous boys pulled out the plug, and the honey was lost. General Gridley used some very unparlia- mentary language about the matter, but as he had no further use for the barrel, gave it to Mrs. Bishop.
Mr. Bishop commenced farming on an abandoned claim. He was much troubled by prairie fires, which sometimes ran into the timber. A great hurricane swept through the timber in 1827, and piled it up in every direction, and when the prairie fire swept in among the logs it would sometimes burn for many weeks.
The memorable sudden change in the weather in December, 1836, came when Mr. Bishop was two miles from home. He im- mediately came home on horseback, driving a yoke of cattle. The dumb creatures insisted on going into the brush for protection against the piercing wind, and it was with the greatest difficulty that he brought them home. His chickens were many of them frozen up in the shish.
Mr. Bishop was about five feet and six or eight inches in height, and weighed about one hundred and forty-five pounds. He had dark hair, gray eyes, a sandy beard and was somewhat bald- headed. He was a hard-working man, but a lively trader. In 1842 and '43 he bought pork at Pekin and shipped it to the St. Louis market. He served for a while as County Commissioner. He died in October, 1855. He had nine children, six boys and three girls. They are :
Harvey Bishop lives in the western part of Old Town. He has light hair and a light complexion. He has his farm well im- proved.
Henry Clay Bishop was named after the great statesman of Kentucky, whom William Bishop admired so much. He is rather less than the medium stature, has dark, hazel eyes, is very pleasant in his manner, and is very kind and accommodating. He is a bachelor and lives about one mile south of Gillem station.
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Samuel Bishop is a physician and lives at Moline, Illinois. He is a graduate of a homeopathie institution in St. Louis, and How practices medicine. Before this he went to Hamilton College, New York, where he studied for the ministry. He preached for a year or two, but left the pulpit and began the study of medi- cine.
George Bishop is a farmer in Dwight. He also studied for the ministry and was a preacher for a while, but went to farming.
Elizabeth, wife of B. R. Price, lives on the west line of Old Town township.
Susan, wife of James Reyburn. lives in Old Town, near Har- vey Bishop.
William H. Bishop lives on his brother Luther's place, where his father died.
Mrs. Sarah B. Ayres, a widow, keeps house for her brother Samuel, in Moline.
Luther Bishop, the youngest, is a farmer, and lives with his brother William.
After the death of Mr. Bishop, Mrs. Bishop lived for five years in Bloomington, and sent her two youngest sons. William and Luther to the Normal School to be educated. She then re- turned to the old place, where she is still living. She is a very kind old lady, and seems vet to be enjoying the best of health.
ELIAS HENRY WALL.
Elias Henry Wall was born December 3, 1797, in Warren County, Kentucky. His remote ancestors were Irish, Scotch and Welch. His grandfather, Henry Wall, came from Ireland, and his maternal grandfather, Elias MeFadden, was of Scotch de- scent. His father was George Wall, a preacher in Kentucky, of the Methodist denomination, and his mother was Margaret Me- Fadden.
Mr. Wall received his common school education in Kentucky, where he lived until he was thirty-six years of age. When he was eleven years of age he heard Peter Cartwright exhort. The latter had missed his way in traveling to an appointment and came to Mr. George Wall's house, and while there, gave the ex- hortation. While going from one point to another Mr. Cart- wright was in the habit of marking his way by blazing the trees
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with a hooked knife which he carried for that purpose. It was this habit which suggested a joke to Mr. Cartwright. When he was in a public house in New York, a room in the highest story was given him, and he inquired for a broad-axe to blaze his way up in order that he might find it without assistance. Elias Wall joined the Methodist Church when he was twenty-one years of age, and has been a consistent member ever since. He was a class-leader for fourteen years in Warren County, Kentucky, and when he came to Illinois, some of the old members of his class raised for him a class of nine members. Within a few years it increased to seventy, but has since been divided and subdivided.
Mr. Wall remembers very little of the war of 1812, besides what is written in history. When the draft for men was made he drew for his brother-in-law, James Price, and obtained a blank.
In the year 1830 Mr. Wall came to the West on a visit, and was much pleased with the country. He attended a camp-meet- ing on the Ox-bow prairie, and heard the celebrated Father Walker preach. In the fall he returned to Kentucky. He was married December 21, 1830, to Martha P. Savidge, daughter of Littlebury and Rhoda Savidge.
The winter of the deep snow (1830-31) was memorable in Kentucky. It fell to the depth of a foot and a half, which was remarkable for that climate.
In the latter part of October, 1833, he came to the West, but, like so many of our pioneers, had great difficulty in becoming acclimated. For eight years he was sick with various diseases ; at one time he had the cholera, and after the disease was broken, his life was dispaired of, even by the attending physician. But a good constitution at last restored him.
When Mr. Wall came to the West he brought with him a black man, named Elijah Thomas, who was allowed to be free by Mr. Wall, sr. This colored man had a younger brother, named Andrew Jackson, who remained in Kentucky. He was allowed his liberty and considered free by his master, George Wall. But in course of time, George Wall died, and left no will relating to young Andrew Jackson. Everyone who had any claim on him was in Illinois, and perfectly willing that he should be free ; nevertheless, the administrators of the estate bound him out
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until he became twenty-one. When his time was up. he ran away to Illinois, but had great difficulty in getting through. While on the macadamized road, he passed himself off as a laborer going to work, but when he came to the border this little story was " too thin." The border was carefully watched by men with bloodhounds, and when Andrew Jackson came there, they took after him. But he was a plucky fellow: he knocked down one of the bloodhounds and left it for dead, outran the rest and tri- umphantly crossed the Ohio River to Illinois. Here he thought himself free, but was seized by the sheriff as a runaway slave, in the first town he came to. But fortunately he was recognized by a neighbor, who had known him in Kentucky, and the sheriff released him from custody. However, young Andrew would have soon released himself from custody, as the sheriff had kindly given him the bounds of the town. He came to Illinois and was safe. Hle was a smart boy, and learned to read and write, and became a very effective exhorter in the Baptist Church.
Mr. Wall settled first a little to the west of the present station of Downs, on the Indianapolis, Bloomington and Western Rail- road; but he now lives about four miles west of Leroy, on the road from that place to Heyworth. His farm first joined that of John Price, who was his most intimate friend. Not many years after his arrival in the West, he and John Price determined to have a school-house. Some of their neighbors in Old Town wished one also, and they all joined together and built one on the line, which divided the townships, on land given by Wall and Price. It was afterwards used by various denominations as a meeting-house. Back of the meeting-house they donated land for a camp-ground. On the third of July, 1848, Mrs. Martha Wall died. She was a very excellent lady and highly respected by all of her acquaintances. On the twenty-second of October, 1850, Mr. Wall was married to Mrs. Clarissa Karr. She was a widow lady of very kind disposition and very estimable qualities of mind. Her maiden name was Clarissa Garrison. She is still living and enjoys a happy old age.
Among the many diseases which visited the West, was the erysipelas, which came like an epidemic. Mr. and Mrs. Wall were siek with it, and five of their relatives died with it. Mr. Wall took care of the children of his relatives who died with this
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disease, and had parts of four families with him at one time, making his own family number eleven persons. This was in 1840, when the census was taken. Mr. and Mrs. Wall have no children of their own. Their son is dead, and also all of Mrs. Wall's children by her first marriage. They took care of their grandson, Asbury Barnard, for eight years, and sent him to the Wesleyan and Normal Universities. He now lives on his farm at the head of Old Town, and is in very prosperous circumstances, Ile loves to visit his grandparents, who have the greatest affection for him. They have raised two sets of orphan children, and seem to feel that Providence has placed them upon earth for the purpose of allowing them an opportunity for doing good.
Mr. Wall has always been a worker in the cause of Christian- ity, and thinks he should miss no opportunity for reproving sin. A few incidents will show this disposition. A man named Hamp- ton kept a mill down on Kickapoo Creek in Randolph's Grove. He was a very determined man, and his neighbors stood in fear of him. He was accustomed to go hunting on Sunday, and on one of his Sabbath day hunting excursions he fell in with Mr. Wall, who was on his way to meeting. The latter said : "Mr. Hampton, if you have no respect for the Sabbath day, I hope you will respect the feelings of this neighborhood. We are a civil people here, and don't hunt on Sunday." The impressive man- ner in which this was spoken, cansed Mr. Hampton to turn back and abandon his hunt. Shortly afterwards, when Mr. Wall went with a grist to Mr. Hampton's mill, the latter said : " By Guinea, Wall, I want you to mind your business. Mr. Randolph says you did wrong in talking to me as you did." Mr. Wall replied : " Mr. Randolph and I are two people: it is my duty to reprove sin wherever I find it." Hampton said it was hard to know the law on the subject ; but Mr. Wall replied that he went by a higher authority than the law, and he said furthermore, that people had been telling him that he could not have his grinding done at Hampton's mill because of the circumstance, but thought the latter should be glad to do it as no one in the neighborhood dared to reprove him for his sin except Mr. Wall. Hampton said : " Get down here," and ground the grain very willingly. A short time after this, some young hunters killed three deer on Sunday and they were about to carry the deer on horseback past Mr.
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Wall's door: but Mr. Hampton told them they had "better let Elias Wall alone." Hunting on Sunday was quite common. At one time Mr. Wall heard shooting on Sunday, and on going to the timber found two men with a large buck, which they had killed. He was acquainted with one, and, after an introduction to the other, Mr. Wall said : " You are both of you peace officers and you hunt on Sunday and disturb the peace ; were you raised in that way ?" One of the gentlemen afterwards told Mr. Wall that the reproof was severely felt, as his own mother was a Chris- tian woman. Mr. Wall talked to the gentlemen and walked with them for a half a mile, and they promised him never to dis- turb him again on Sunday, and they kept their word.
Mr. Wall gives his experience with the sudden change in the weather which occurred in December, 1836. He says, it turned cold so suddenly that a chicken had its feet frozen tight in the ice. The sudden cold, after the snow and rain, covered the country with a glare of ice, and on this Mr. Wall was obliged to travel eight miles with an unshod horse to collect money to meet his engagements. The horse frequently slid down the slippery hills on his bare feet.
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