LIBRARY OF THE 

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 

AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 



H62 



111. Hist. Surv 




Lt68.2j 



HISTORY ^ 



Madison County, 



i^m ^ 






Bitli ^io0ra|iliifa! ^\^\i\\n of mniiu proiiiiiiciit l|{cii \\\\A pioiiccro 



PUBLISHED BY 

"w. K.. bi^hstk: &c go 

EDWARDSVILLE ILL. 



^^^i882^^J-*- 






PREFACE, 



^ 
^ 




HE picblishcrs desire to rcticni their 
sincere thanks to all who have 
aided in tnaking (his work thorough 
and complete. For some of the inci- 
dents relative to the early settlement 
of the county we a7'e indebted to a 
feT-o of the older inhabitants. 

In localizing events, and cor- 
recting dates, we acknowledge our 
obligations to the writings of ex- Governor 
Reynolds, Rev. fohn M. Peck, Henry Tanner, 
yudge Hall, Gov. Ford, Washbuni s Life of Gov. 
Coles, the Atnerican State papers, and the zvrit- 
ings of the fesuit Fathers. Many old and 
valuable manuscripts, both in the French atid En- 
glish languages, have been examined. These 
rare papers have -made ititelligible some of the 
earliest incidents pertaining to this region of 
the State. For other facts we are indebted to a 
class of intelligent men and women, who, amid 
the ordinary pursuits of life have taken pains 
. to inform themselves as to the passing events of the 
county. Among those who have specially contri- 
buted to the completeness of this history are, Joseph 
Gillespie, Abraham Breath, E. M. West, I. B. 
Randall, John A. Prickett, J. R. Newman, Jesse 
Renfro, Thomas 0. Springer, Amos Atkins, Lu- 
ther W. Lyon, Don Alonzo Spaulding, B. F. 
Long, Hon. Wm. F. De Wolf, of Chicago, aitd offi- 
cers of the Chicago Historical Society, G. C 
Lusk, Nelson Montgomery, Wm. A. Lantermaji, 
M. G Dale, Abrahatn Preuitt, Wm. E. Wheeler, 
E K. Preuitt, Wm. W. Pearce, J. A. Bruner, 
lA. J . Parkinson, John W. Coventry, Henry C. 
[Gerke, V. P. Richmond, Alajor Franklin Moore, 



Susan Paddock, Mrs. John Mason, Mrs. fane 
R. Holliday, Mrs. Nancy Eberhardt, D. B. Gill- 
ham, Joseph Cliapman, Samuel Squires, Wm. C. 
McAlilly, Mrs. Nancy S. Barnsback, Mrs. Nan- 
j cy J. Barnsback, Bennet Posey, Dr. T. J. Irish, 
Alonzo Foster, George Howard, and many others. 
I We were also permitted by Mrs. Flagg, to ex- 
I amine the writings and manuscripts of the late 
Hon. Willard C. Flagg. And particularly are 
we indebted to W. T. Norton, editor of the Altoft 
Telegraph,for the opportunity of examining many 
of the old files of that paper. We also de- 
sire to return our thanks to the county officials for 
the many cotcrtesies extended. The editors of the 
several newspapers have also rendered assistance 
in that prompt and cheerful manner so character- 
istic of the journalistic profession. 

To the Clergymen of the various denominations, 
whose articles appear in this work, we express our 
thanks for information fwnished relative to the 
history of their churches. Among the chapters 
most fruitful in interest to a gredt number of our 
readers, will be found those which treat of the early 
history of the churches. 

We have endeavored, with all diligence and care- 
fulness, to make the best use of the material at our 
command. We have confined ourselves, as nearly 
as possible, to the original data furnished. The 
subject matter has been carefully classified, and 
will be a great help to the public as a book of ref- 
erence concerning the past of the county. We ex- 
pect criticism. All we ask is that it be fnade in 
the spirit of charity. We hope our patrons will 
take into account all the difficulties to be overcome, 
the car'e Jiecessary in harmonizinsr various mem- 



41815 



PBEFA CE. 



ories, and of reconciling diverse dates, and localiz- 
ing evetits. The fads are gathered from a him- 
dred different sources, and depend largely, not on 
exact zvritten records, but on the recollections of in- 
dividuals. We have tried to preserve the inci- 
dents of pioneer histoiy, to accurately present the 
natural features and material resources of the 
cotinty, and to gather the facts likely to be of most 
interest to our present readers, and of greatest im- 



portance to coming generations. If our ? 
xvill take into consideration the difficulties of the 
task, luefeel sure of a favorable verdict on our un- 
dertaking. 

We present the work to the public, trusting that 
they will approve our labors, attd give the volume 
a generous reception. 

The Publishers. 







TABLE OF CONTENTS, 



COUNTY HISTORY. 

PAGE. 

CHAPTER I. 
A Brief Sketch of the Nokth-West 
Territoey. 
Geographical Position— Early Explora- 
tions — Discovery of the Ohio — Eng- 
lish Explorations and Settlements — 
American Settlements — Division of 
the North-West Territory — Present 
Condition of the North-West. . . .9 25 



CHAPTER II. 
Brief Histokical Sketch of Illinois. 
French Possessions— The first Settlements in 
Illinois — Founding of Kaskaskia — As 
a part of Louisiana — Fort Chartres — 
Under French rule — Character of the 
Early French Settlers— A Possession 
of Great Britain — Conquest by Clark 
—The " Compact of 1787 "—Land 
Tenures — Physical Features of the 
State — Progress of Development — 
Material Resources of the State — An- 
nual Products— The War Record — 
Civil Government — Territorial and 
State Officers — Miscellaneous Informa- 
tion 25-43 



page. 
St. Louis, Vandalia and Terre Haute ; 
Toledo, Cincinnati and St. Louis ; St. 
Louis Bridge 44-54 



CHAPTER IV. 
Geology. 
Loess, Drift, Carboniferous, Chester Lime- 
stone, St. Louis Limestone, Artesian 
Wells, etc ' 54-57 



CHAPTER V. 

ANTIQ.UITIES. 

Cahokia, or Monk's Mound, the Mounds of 
the American Bottom, The Mound 
Builders ; The Indians ; Antique Pot- 
tery ; Images, Copper Implements, etc., 
and Description of Plates, represent- 
ing them, etc 58-64 



CHAPTER VI. 
Flora. 
List of Native Woody Plants, Grasses, 



etc., etc. 



64 



CHAPTER III. 

Geography, Agricultural Besoubces and 
Railroad Facilities. 

Geography — Pojuilation — Topography — 
Timber — Hydrography — Mounds — 
Soil — Agriculture — Census — Trans- 
portation — Railroads, Chicago and 
Alton ; Wabash, St. Louis and Pa- 
cific ; Indianapolis and St. Louie ; 
Bock Island Division of C. B. and Q. , 



Fauna. 
Rodentia, or Gnawers, Reptiles, Class of 
Birds ; Raptores, Scansores, Rasores, 
Grallatores, Natatores, Insessores, etc. . 65 



C'lLVrTER VII. 
Pioneers .vnd Early Settlements. 
Early French Settlers — Old Land Claims — 
Pioneer Americans — Capture of the 
Gillham Children by the Indians — 
Monks of the La Trappe— Settlers 
During the War of 1812-14 — Indian 
Troubles — Wood River Mas.'sacre — 



PAGE. 

Citizens of the County in 1815 — Subse- 
quent Settlements — The McMahan 
family massacre — Early Marriages — 
Marriage Certificates — Character of 
the Early Settlers — Pioneer Customs 
and Modes of life — Early Financial 
Condition of the County — Articles of 
Household Use — Prairie fires— Pioneer 
Schools and Churches — Early Mills — 
Early Agriculture — The first Orchards 
— Birds and Animals — Prairie Flies — 
Indian Treaty at Edwardsville — Items 
Concerning Slavery — Remarkable sea- 
sons and changes of Weather — Earth- 
quake of ISU — Navigation of the 
Mississippi, etc., etc 67-103 



CHAPTER VIII. 
European Immigration. 
Early French Families — German Settlers 
— The Bohemians, The Irish, Swiss, 
English, Scotch, etc 103-113. 



CHAPTER IX. 
Civil History. 
Territorial Times 1812 to 1819— Slaves 
and Indentured Blacks— Slaves in 
the County — First Efforts of County 
Government — First will on Record 
— The Circuit Courts in Territorial 
Times — The County at the close of 
1818 — Letter by a Citizen of Ridge 
Prairie — George Churchill and Mica- 
jah Cox' Addresses — County Boards 
from 1813 to 1849 - Statistics, Official 
Accounts, Tables, etc. — The Courts 
from 1819 to 1849— Trial and Execu- 
tion of Eliphalet Green— 1824,March 
3 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

Term — Justices of the Peace from 1827 
to 1849 — Probate Courts — Retrospec- 
tion 1849 to 1882— Sketch of Edwards- 
ville, by H. C. Gerke (1831-'32)— 
Government of the County — County 
Courts from 1849 — Board of County 
Commissioners, January 24, 1847 to 
April 1876 — Addenda— Circuit Court 
Notes, 1849 to 1855—1855 to 1857— 
1861 to 1873— Circuit Court, May 
Term, 1865—1873 to 1879— Probate 
Court, 1S49 to 1882— Conclusion. 113-181 



CHAPTER X. 
The Besch and Bak. 
First Lawyers, Judges, and Early Courts 
—The Bench— The Bar— Non-Resi- 
dent Lawyers — Former Resident Law- 
yers— Present Members of the Bar. 181-197 



CHAPTER XL 
The Peess. 
The Discovery and Invention of the Art of 
Printing — Early History of the Press 
— First Newspaper in Illinois and in 
Madison County — The Slavery Ques- 
tion, etc — The Alton Riots and Mur- 
der of Elijah Parrish Lovejoy — A 
brief History of all the Newspapers 
published in the county 197-216 



CHAPTER XII. 
Patkiotism. 
War of 1812- The Black Hawk War 1831- 
1832— War with Mexico— The War of 
the Rebellion. A Roster of the Men 
who Participated in each of the Wars, 
with a short sketch of the Regiments 
to which they belonged 217-265 



CHAPTER XIII. 
The Common Schools. 
Early Schools iu the County — The Schools 

by Townships, etc 26^-272 

Shurtleff College 272 

Monticello Ladies' Seminary 275 

Wyman Institute 276 



PAGE. 

Baptist Church 301 

Christian Church 323 

Church of the Redeemer 328 

Cumberland Presbyterian Church 324 

French Congregation in Helvetia 331 

German M. E. Church 291 

Lutheran Church 329 

Methodist Episcopal Church 277 

Presbyterian Church 294 

Protestant Episcopal Church 321 

Roman Catholic Church 319 

United Denomination 324 



CHAPTER XIV. 
Ecclesiastical Histokv. 

A. M. E. Church 293 

Allgemeine Christliche Kirche, Highland. 331 



BIOGRAPHIES. 

Ambrosius, Conrad A 463 

Anderson, John 462 

Randle, Josias 359 

Barnsback, Thos. J 449 

Bartlett, Jesse 451 

Becker, John 463 

Boals, M. H 411 

Boeschenstein, Jr. Charles 436 

Bosom worth, Robert 359 

Brown, James R 371 

Brown, Ansel L 365 

Bruuer, Capt. Jno. A 403 

Brunner, Rudolph 499 

Eulkley, Justus 406 

Castagnetta, John 515 

Chipron, C. P 436 

Cole, HermonC 412 

Coles, Gov. Edwai-d 350 

Cotter, W. H 367 

Grossman, S. V 355 

Daech, William „372 

Dale, Judge M. G 360 

Estabrook, John 482 

Fahnestock, Capt. Jno. T 368 

Faires, William H 469 

Fangenroth, Charles W 366 

Forman, Wm. C 492 

Gillespie, Judge Joseph 351 

Gillespie, Judge David 358 

Gillespie, Judge Matthew 362 

Gonterman, Caleb B 450 

Gruaz, Timothy â–  436 

Hardy, Dr. I. E 404 

Hauskins, Elias 452 

Herb, C. A 408 

Hite, B. R 461 

Hill, William E. 526 

Hoerner, John S 437 

Hotz, George 548 



Ingham, Roland J 

Irish, T. J 

Jeffress, A. W 

Joesting, F. W 

Judd, M. D., Henry L 

Judy, Thomas 

Kleinwort, Hermann 

Lanterman, Wm. A 4S;_i 

Lindley, William 520 

Mason, John 516 

May, William 452 

Mclnerney, J. J 412 

McPike, Henry G 412 

Merriman, Charles 517 

Miller, Capt. John A 424 

Mills, B. H 422 

Mitchell, James 518 

Montgomery, Nelson 364 

Moore, Maj. Franklin 425 

Nelson, Abra 405 

Newsham, Maj.Thos. J 373 

Newman, Zadock 486 

Newman, J. R 4.S7 

Norton, Wilbur T 411 

Pearce, W. W 554 

Perrin, Thomas H 411 

Prickett, John A 353 

Pyle, Abner 470 

Searcy, George W 468 

Semple, Gen. James 401 

Smart, Alsey S 452 

Smith, John H 450 

Smith, W. A 488 

Spies, Jacob 498 

Springer, Thos. 0. ' 484 

Springer, Wm. M. T 370 

Squire, James 519 

Tonsor, John M 410 

Tontz, Jones 549 

West, Hon. E. M 356 

Worden, John C 542 



CITY & TOWNSHIP HISTORIES. 

Alhambra 55^^ 

Alton 374 

Chouteau 471 

CoUinsville 453 

Edwardsville 333 

Fort Russell 475 

Fosterburg 526 

Godfrey 505 

Hamel 531 

Helvetia 42bb 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



PAGE. 

Jarvis 438 

Leef 536 

Marine 493 

Moro 490 

Nameoki 500 

New Douglas 529 

North Alton 400 

Olive 523 

Omph-Ghent 538 

Pin Oak 444 

Saline 545 

St. Jacobs 463 

Upper Alton 396 

Venice 520 

Wood River 414 



ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Brown, C. C, Facing 528 

Brown, Z. Facing 512 

Brunner, Rudolph Facing 496 

Buescher, William Facing 552 

Cahokia Mounds, Facing 60 

Castagnetta, J., Facing 412 

Clark, James W., Facing 424 

County Map Facing 9 

Gulp, J. C Facing 424 

Custom and Merchant Mills, . . . Facing 424 

Ewan, J. T. Facing 424 

Flick, C. H. Facing 416 

Forman, William 0. Facing 420 

Gait, William Facing 480 

Gay, Hon. Newton S Facing 492 

Graaz, Timothy, Facing 436 

Harmist and Cook's Drug Store, . . Facing 348 

Harris, T. N. Facing 520 

Hickin, Edward Facing 524 

Jeffress, A. W., Facing 509 

Kaufmann, Gustav, Facing 552 

Kellermann, Simon Facing 348 

Klinke, Fritz Facing 524 

Laengle, Henry, Facing 436 



PAGE. 

Marsh, William W Facing 472 

May, William Facing 452 

Monk's Mound 58 

Moore, Maj. Frank Facing 388 

Mound Antiquities Facing 62 

Neisler & Randall Facing 412 

Old Log School House 267 

Places of Public Interest, Edwardsville, Fac.344 
Alton, . . Facing 396 

Prange, Charles W Facing 464 

President Park Mills, Between . . . 420-421 

Public Buildings, Facing 179 

Puncheon Bench 268 

Ramsey, William Facing 428 

Smart, Alsey S., Facing 495 

Smith, W. A. Facing 488 

Smith, John IL, Facing 448 

Starner, G. J., Facing 482 

Stenzel, Frank Facing 372 

The Building where Lovejoy was murdered 388 

Walter, Louis Facing 512 

Watson, Henry Facing 472 

Wiedmer, John Facing 424 

Wood River Fort, 1812-1814 415 

Worden, John C. Facing 542 

Wyman Institute 276 



PORTRAITS. 

Anderson, John 462 

Barnsback, Thos. J. self and wife .... 449 

Bartlett, Jesse 451 

Brown, James R 371 

Bruner, Capt. Jno. A 403 

Bulkley, Justus 406 

Cotter. W. H 3G7 

Grossman, S. V 355 

Daech, William 372 

Dale, JudgpM. G 360 

Estabrook, John, self and wife 482 

Fahnestock, Capt. Jno. T 368 

Faires, Wm. H 469 



Fangenroth, Charles W. . 
Gillespie, Judge Joseph . 
Gillespie, Judge David. . . 
Gillespie, Judge Matthew 

Hardy, Dr. I. E 

Herb, C. A •. . 

Hite, B. B 



I'AQE. 

.366 
. 351 
. 358 
. 362 
. 404 
. 408 
, .461 



Hotz, George 548 

Irish, T. J 504 

Joesting, F. W 409 

Judy, Thomas, self and wife 5.35 

Kinder, Mrs. Isabella 364 

Lanterman, Wm. A 489 

Mason, John, self and wife 516 

Merriman, Charles 517 

Mills, B. H 422 

Mitchell, James 51S 

Montgomery, Nelson, self and wife . . . .364 

Moore, Maj. Franklin 425 

Nelson, Arba 405 

Newman, J. R. self and wife 487 

Pearce, W. W 554 

Preuitt, Solomon Facing 480 

Prickett, John A 353 

Pyle, Abner 470 

Semple, Gen. Tames 101 

Smith, W. A. self and wife 4SS 

Springer, Wm. M. T 370 

Spies, Jacob 498 

Springer, Thos. 484 

Squire, James 519 

Tonsor, John M 410 

Tontz, Jones 405 

West. Hon. E. M 356 

Worden, John C Facing 542 



AmendraontB to the Constitution of the Uni- 
ted States 602 

Constitution of Illinois 5S6 

Constitution of United States 599 

Declaration of Independence 59S 

Partial List of Patrons 555 







JERSEY CO 




CLINTON H CO 



INTRODUCTION". 




I HERE are few stiulies more interesting and 
profitable to mankind than that of 
the past experiences, deeds, thoughts 
and trials of the human race. 
The civilized man and the untutored sav- 
age alike desire to know the deeds and lives 
of their ancestors, and strive to perpetuate 
their story. National patriotism and liter- 
ary pride have prompted many, in all times, 
to write and preserve the annals of particular 
peoples. But narrow prejudice and selfish 
interests too often have availed to suppress 
the truth or to distort facts. 
It is the aim of this work to coUe-taad preserve, in enduring 
and popular form, .some of the facts of the early settlement, and 
sub-sequent growth of a great county of a grand State. The fam- 
ilies whose ancestors were early on the ground, and whose mem- 
bers have made the county what it is, are worthy of remem- 
brance ; and their difficulties and sorrows, customs, labors and 
patriotism, should not be allowed to fall into oblivion. By a 
knowledge of these the present generation will be instructed, and 
the future will be guided. 

All history, if projjerly written, is interesting ; and there is 
not a town, city or hamlet, — nay, we might say, not a family or 
an individual on the globe, — whose history might not be more 
or less valuable to posterity. 

From the ancient days, away back in the dim aud shadowy 
past, when the human race first arrived at a state of intelligence 
sufficient to enable them to transmit a traditionary or written 
account of themselves, all along down the teeming ages, cue pro- 
genitors have left in various ways, and by different means, infor- 
m ition, more or less mythical, of the age and generation in which 
they played their ephemeral part on the world's ever-changing 
theatre of action. It is graven in bronze on tha wjnierful wjrks 
of the central nations of Africa, around those " dim fountains of 
the Nile ;" the gray old pyramids in the valley of " tweiiti/ thou- 
sand cities " are coverei with the hieroglyphical language of the 
" shadowy past." The vast and mighty " palaces and piles stu- 
pendous," hoary with the dust of unknown centuries, that be- 
wilder the traveler 'mid Egypt's drifting sands, upon the plains 
of the E.iphrates, and hidden away in the tiger-hunted jungles 
of the " farthest Ind ;" the gigantic ruins of Southern and Cen- 



tral America, under the snow-capped Cordilleras and among the 
wondrous forests of Yucatan ; the seamed and wrinkled pyramids 
of the Aztecs, in Mexico and California, and the ten thousand 
crumbling evidences of a powerful civilization scattered through- 
out the great valley of the Mississippi, all bear testimony of 
countless attempts to transmit knowledge to posterity. 

The written historj' of the American Continent dates back 
scarcely four centuries, yet within that comparatively short pe- 
riod its pages have garnered from her hills and mountains, from 
her grand rivers and mighty inland seas, valuable additions to 
the world's stock of knowledge. 

Like the Eastern Continent, our own has its historic points, 
— its nuclei around which cluster the memories of heroic deeds, 
the story of martyrs, and the legends of a barbarous past. St. 
Augustine, Jamestown, Plymouth Rock, Quebec, Montreal, Bos- 
ton, New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis and 
Kaskaskia are localities about which gather volumes of history. 

The advance of civilization on the North American Conti- 
nent has been more rapid than in any other portion of the globe ; 
and, within the memory of living men, the fairest and richest 
portions have been wrested from the dominion of the wilderness 
and the savage, and changed into a highly-cultivated region, 
filled with a race of industrious and thriving people. Prominent 
among the localities rich in historic lore is the region of the 
Mississippi river. It early claimed the attention of two of the 
most powerful nations of Europe, whose pioneers and avant cour- 
iers were boldly pushing into the then unknown countries lying 
towards the " Great South Sea," eagerly looking for gold and 
precious stones, for fabled Eldorados, and fertile lands. 

Dim traditions, fragmentary legends, stories of bloody war- 
fare, of disaster and defeat ; essays, letters, and public documents, 
all bearing, more or less, upon the history of the county, have 
been carefully examined. 

To collect and arrange in one volume these various frag- 
ments, this abundant material, and to give the cream of all the 
best authors who have treated the subject, together with all addi- 
tional information it was possible to obtain, and present it in 
readable form, has been the object of the publishers of the pres- 
ent work. 

We know, full well, the task was not a light one ; the con- 
templated work was by no means a holiday frolic. Hard, steady 
application aud untiring energy were necessary to accomplisli it. 



IXTRODUCTION. 



The utmost pains have been taken to read thoroughly and 
compare carefully the various writers, and to sift out and recon- 
cile discrepancies, for historians not unfrequently disagree upon 
minor points. The work of reading and comparing was no ordi- 
nary one, and the difficulty has not been so much in collecting 
as in nuiking a judicious and truthful use of the abundant ma- 
terial at hand. 

The traditions of the Indians, as given by Heckewelder and 
others, have been quoted, as an important factor in the sum 
total of knowledge concerning this region ; and the early discov- 
eries of Marquette, La Salle, Hennepin, and other French adven- 
turers in the valley of the Mississippi and the basin of the great 
lakes of the Northwest, with a brief sketch of the title to the fee 
of the millions of acres of prolific soil within its splendid domain 
have also demanded a large share of attention, as preliminary to 
tiie troubles which grew out of the conflicting claims of the 
French and English crowns, resulting in a contest for supremacy, 
md in which not only all the contiguous region, but the entire 
French and English possessions in America, a large share of Eu- 
rope, and immense regions in Asia and the islands of the sea, 
ivere interested and involved. 

Another object to be gained by this work, is to bring to the 
.ijtice of the people, the immense resources which a bountiful 
Providence has bestowed upon them, and which it becomes, not 
merely a privilege to use, but a duty to improve. How little is 
now known of these treasures, and how greatly profitable such 
information may be, needs only a thought to comprehend. Our 
fortile soils, our noble timber trees, our genial climate, our inex- 
iaustible mineral treasures, and our easy facilities for commerce, 
iro, in a great degree, unknown even to our own population. 
This volume seeks to develop an appreciation of them, and to 
itimulate a desire to improve and extend them. 

Tlien, local customs, old family traits and anecdotes are so 
•icli in interest and so full of instruction to the young, that they 
)Ught never to be forgotten. These, sa many as time and dili- 
;t'n(!e could gather, are hare recorded and will be found to form 
I ) unimportant or uninstructive portion of this volume. 

Amoug ihe most influential agencies in building a nation, 



and in establishing a character for its people, are the efforts of 
its citizens to educate their children and to provide for social re- 
ligious worship. These two interests will, therefore, show most 
accurately the tastes, the habits and aspirations of a community. 
Hence they have been made prominent in the ensuing nar- 
rative, and it is confidently hoped that they will not only interea 
our readers, but will be studied and appreciated. 

The work will be found embellished with views of public 
and private property, in various parts of the county, and with 
portraits and biographies of many of the prominent men of the 
past and present. 

The chapters on the North- West Territory, and on the early 
history of the State, will be found interesting and instructive. 

The Constitution of the United States and of this State, and 
a roster of the soldiers of the War of 1812, Black-Hawk, Mexican 
War, and of the late Rebellion, have been inserted with a view to 
make the work more creditable, alike to the publishers and people 
of the county. 

The work may be incomplete in some particulars. Nor in- 
deed is it possible for it to be otherwise ; but we hope, so far as 
it goes, it is truthful and accurate. 

We trust, however, that it will be the means of preserving 
from the empire of decay a host of incidents, recollections, and 
anecdotes, relating to the hardy pioneers and first settlers of the 
county, which, in the estimation of the historian and student of 
history, are of priceless value, but which otherwise would soon 
fade from the memories of the living. 

Whether this has been well done, is not for us to say. A 
generous and intelligent public must decide. It is not permitted 
any man to attain perfection. Its regions lie beyond our reach. 
We feel, however, in submitting this work to the inspection of 
the patrons, whose public spirit made possible its preparation, 
that satisfaction which results from a consciousness of faithful 
endeavor and an earnest desire to fulfil the expectations of all. 

Our work is accomplished, and its result is submitted, with 
tranquility, to your inspection. 



HISTORY 



MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



CHAPTER r. 



A BRIEF SKETCH GF THE NORTH-WEST TERRITORY. 




GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. 

,N 1784 the North Western Territory was 
ceded to the United States by Virginia. 
It embraced only the territory lying be- 
tween the Ohio and Mississipjii rivers; 
and north, to the northern limits of the 
United States. It coincided with the area 
now embraced in the states of Wisconsin, 
Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and 
that portion of JMinncsota lying on the 
east side of the Mississippi river. On the first day of March, 
I7S4, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee, and 
James Monroe, delegates in Congress on the part of Vir- 
ginia, executed a deed of cession, by which they transferred 
to the United States, on certain conditions, all right, title 
and claim of Virginia to the country known as the North- 
western Territory. But by the purchase of Louisiana in 
1803, the western boundary of the United States was ex- 
tended to the Rocky Mountains and the Northern Pacific 
Ocean. It includes an area of 1,887,850 square miles, 
being greater than the united areas of the Middle and 
Southern states, including Texas. Out of this magnificent 
territory have been erected eleven sovereign states and eight 
territories, with an aggregate population at the present time 
of 13,000,000 inhabitants, or nearly one-third of the entire 
population of the LTnited States. 

Its rivers are the largest on the continent, flowing thous- 
ands of miles through its rich alluvial valleys and broad, 
fertile prairies. 

Its lakes are fresh-water seas, upon whose bosom floats 
the commerce of many states. Its far-stretching prairies 
have more acres that are arable and^sroductive than any 
other area of like extent on the globe. 

For the last quarter of a century the increase of popula- 



tion and wealth in the north-west has been about as three to 
one in any other portion of the United States. 

EAKLY EXPLORATIONS. 

In the year 1512, on Easter Sunday, the Spanish name 
for which is Pascua Florida,* Juan Ponce de Leon, an old 
comrade of Columbus, discovered the coast of the American 
continent, near St. Augustine, and in honor of the day and 
of the blossoms which covered the trees along the shore, 
named the new-found country Florida. Juan had been led 
to undertake the discovery of strange lands partly by the 
hope of finding endless stores of gold, and partly by the 
wish to reach a fountain that was said to exist deep within 
the forests of North America, which possessed the power of 
renovating the life of those who drank of or bathed in its 
waters. He was made governor of the region he had visited 
but circumstances prevented his return thither until 1521 ; 
and then he went only to meet death at the hands of the 
Indians. 

In the meantime, in 1516, a Spanish sea-captain, Diego 
Miruelo, had visited the coast first reached by Ponce de 
Leon, and in his barters with the natives had received con- 
siderable quantities of gold, with which he returned home 
and spread abroad new stories of the wealth hidden in the 
interior. 

Ten years, however, passed before Pamphilo de Narvaes 
undertook to jsroseoute the examination of the lands north 
of the Gulf of Mexico. Narvaez was excited to action by 
the late astonishing success of the conqueror of Montezuma, 
but he found the gold for which he sought constantly flying 
before him ; each tribe of Indians referred him to those 
living farther in the interior. And from tribe to tribe he 
and his companions wandered. They suScred untold priva- 
tions in the swamps and forests ; and out of three hundred 
followers only four or five at length reached Mexico. And 
still these disappointed wanderers persisted in their original 
fancy, that Florida was as wealthy as Mexico or Peru. 

*Pascum, the old English "Pash" or Passover; " Pasciia Florida" 
is the " Holyday of Flowers." 



10 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Among those who had faith in that report was Ferdinand 
de Soto, who had been with Pizarro in the conquests of Peru. 
He asked and obtained leave of the King of Spain to con- 
quer Florida at his own cost. It was given in tlie year 13o8. 
With a brilliant and noble baud of followers he left Europe 
and in May, 1538, after a stay in Cuba, anchored his vessels 
near the coast of the Peninsula of Florida, in the bay of 
Sl)iritu Santa, or Tampa bay. 

De Suto entered upon his march into the interior with a 
determination to succeed. From June till November of 

1539, the Spaniards toiled along until they reached the 
neighborhood of Appalachee bay. During the next season, 

1540, they followed the course suggested by the Florida 
Indians, who wished them out of their country, and going 
to the north-east, crossed the rivers and climbed the moun- 
tains of Georgia. De Soto was a stern, severe man, and 
none dared to murmur. De Soto passed the winter with his 
little baud near the Yazoo. la April, 1541, the resolute 
Spaniard set forward, and upon' the first of May reached 
tlie banks of the great river of the West, not far from the 
35tli parallel of latitude.* 

A month was spent in preparing barges to convey the 
horses, many of which still lived, across the rapid stream. 
Having successfully passed it, the explorers pursued their 
way northward, into the neighborhood of New Madrid ; 
then turning w'estward again, marched more than two hun- 
dred miles from the Mississippi to the highlands of White 
river ; and still no gold, no gems, no cities — only bare prai- 
ries, and tangled forests, and deep morasses To the south 
again they toiled on, and passed their third winter of wander- 
ing upon the Washita. In the following spring (1542), De 
Soto, weary with hope long deferred, descended the Washita 
to its junction with the Mississippi. He heard, when he 
rf ached the mighty stream of the west, that its lower portion 
flowed through endless and uninhabitable swamps. 

The news sank deep into the stout heart of the disap- 
pointed warrior. His health yielded to the contests of his 
mind and the influence of the climate. He appointed a 
successor, and on the 21st of May died. His body was sunk 
in the stream of the Mississippi. Deprived of their ener- 
getic leader, the Spaniards determined to try to reach Mexico 
by land. After some time spent in wandering through the 
forests, despairing of success in the attempt to rescue them- 
selves by land, they proceeded to prepare such vessels as 
they could to take them to sea. From January to July 
1543, the weak, sickly band of gold-seekers labored at the 
doleful task, and in July reached, in the vessels thus built, 
the Gulf of Mexico, and by September entered the river 
Pauuco. Oue-half of the six huadred f who had disem- 
barked with De Soto, so gay in steel and silk, left their bones 
among the mountains and in the morasses of the South, from 
Georgia to Arkansas. 

De Soto founded no settlements, produced no results, and 
left no traces, unless it were that he awakened the hostility 
of the red man against the white man, and disheartened 

■« DeSoto probably was at the lower Chickasaw bluffs. The Spaniards 
called the Mississippi Rio Grande, Great River, which is the literal 
meaning of the aboriginal nauie. 

t De Biedna says tliere landed lijii niâ„¢. 



such as might desire to follow up the career of discovery for 
better purposes. The French nation were eager and ready 
to seize upon any news from this extensive domain, and 
were the first to profit by De Soto's defeat. As it was, for 
more than a century after the expedition, the west remained 
utterly unknown to the whites. 

The French were the first Europeans to make settlements 
on the St. Lawrence river and along the great lakes. Quebec 
was founded by Sir Samuel Champlaiu in 1608,* and in 1G09 
when Sir Henry Hudson was exploring the noble river 
which bears his name, Champlain ascended the Sorrelle 
river, and discovered, embosomed between the Green moun- 
tains, or " Verdmont," as the chivalrous and poetic French- 
man called them, and the Adirondacks, the beautiful sheet 
of water to which his name is indissolubly attached. lu 
1613 he founded Montreal. 

During the period elapsing between the years 1607 and 
1664, the English, Dutch, and sSwedes alternately held pos- 
session of portions of the Atlantic coast, jealously watching 
one another, and often involved in bitter controversy, and 
not seldom in open battle, until, in the latter year, the 
English became the sole rulers, and maintained their rights 
until the era of the Revolution, when they in turn were 
compelled to yield to the growing power of their colonies, 
and retire from the field. 

The French movements, from the first settlement at 
Quebec, and thence westward, were led by the Catholic 
missionaries. Le Caron, a Franciscan friar, who had been 
the companion and friend of Champlain, was the first to 
penetrate the western wilds, which he did in 1616* in a 
birch canoe, exploring lake Huron and its tributaries. 
This was four years before the Pilgrims 

" Moored their bark on the wild New England shore." 

Under the patronage of Louis XIII, the Jesuits took the 
advance, and began vigorously the work of Christianizing 
the savages in 1632. 

In 1634, three Jesuit missionaries, Brebeuf, Daniel, and 
Lallemand, planted a mission on the shores of the lake of 
the Iroquois, (probably the modern Lake Simcoe), and also 
established others along the eastern border of Lake Huron. 

From a map published in 1660, it would appear that the 
French had at that date, become quite familiar with the 
region from Niagara to the head of Lake Superior, includ- 
ing considerable portions of Lake Michigan. 

In 1641, Fathers Jogues and Raymbault embarked on 
the Peuetanguishine Bay for the Sault St. Marie, where 
they arrived after a passage of seventeen days. A crowd 
of two thousand natives met them, and a great council was 
held. At this meeting the French first heard of many 
nations dwelling beyond the great lakes. 

Father Raymbault ditd in the wilderness in 1642, while 
enthusiastically pursuing his discoveries. The same year, 
Jogues and Bressani were captured by the Indians and 
tortured, and in 1648 the mission which had been founded 
at St. Joseph was taken and destroyed, and Father Daniel 
slain. In 1640, the mis.sions St Louis and St. Ignatius 

« Western .\iiu.ils. 



HISTORY OF MADISOX COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



11 



were also destroj'cd, and Fathers Brebeuf and Lallemaud 
barbarously tortuivd by the same terrible and unrelenting 
enemy. Literally did those zealous missionaries of the 
Romish Church "take their lives in their hands," and lay 
them a willing sacrifice on the altar of their faith. 

It is stated by some writer that, in 1G54, two fur traders 
accompanied a band of Ottaivas on a journey of five hun- 
dred leagues to the west. They were absent two years, and 
on their return brought with them fifty canoes and two 
hundred and fifty Indians to the French trading posts. 

They related wonderful talcs of the countries they had 
seen, and the various red nations they had visited, and 
described the lofty mountains and mighty rivers in glowing 
terms. A new impulse was given to the spirit of adventure, 
and scouts and traders swarmed the frontiers and explored 
the great lakes and adjacent country, and a party wintered 
in lGo9-00 on the south shore of Lake Superior. 

In IGGO Father Mesnard was sent out by the Bishop of 
Quebec, and visited Lake Superior in October of that year. 
While crossing the Keeweenaw Point he was lost in the wilder- 
ness and never afterwards heard from, though his cassock 
and breviary wore found long afterwards among the Sioux. 

A change was made in the government of Xew France in 
IGGo. The Company of the Hundred Associates, who had 
ruled it since 1G3'2, resigned its charter. Tracy was made 
Viceroy, Courcclles Governor, and Talon Intendent.* This 
was called the Government of the West Indies. 

The Jesuit missions were taken under the care of the new 
goYcnment, and thenceforward became the leaders in the 
movement to Christianize the savages. 

In the same year (_lG6o) Pierre Claude Alloiiez was sent 
out by way of the Ottawa river to the far west, via the Sault 
St. Marie and the south shore of Lake Superior, where he 
landed at the bay of Chegoimegon. Here he found the 
chief village of the Chippcicag, and established a mission. 
He also made an alliance with them and the Sacs, Foxes and 
Illinois,'f against the formidable Iroquois. Alloiiez, the nest 
year (IGGG) visited the western end of the great lake, where 
he met the Sioux, and from them first learned of the Missis- 
sippi river which they called "Mcssipi." From thence ho 
returned to Quebec. 

In 1GG8 Claude Dablon and Jacques Marquette estab- 
lished the mission at the Sault called St. ^larie, and during 
the next five years Alloiiez, Dablon and Marquette explored 
the region of Lake .Superior on the south shore, and ex- 
tending to Lake jMichigan. They also established the mis- 
sions of Chegoimegon, St. Marie, Mackinaw and Green Bay. 

The plan of exploring the ^lississippi probably origijaated 
with ^larquette. It was at once sanctioned by the Inten- 
dent, Talon, who was ambitious to extend the dominion of 
France over the whole West. 

la 1 G70 Nicholas Perot was sent to the West to propose a 
congress of all the nations .and tribes living in the vicinitv 
of the lakes; and, in 1G71, a great council was held at Sault 
St. INIarie, at which the Cross was set up, and the nations of 

* The duties of Intendent included a supervision of t'.ie poliey, justice 
and finance of the province. 

t The m:;an!n3 of this word i.i said to be " Men." 



the great North-west were taken into an alliance, with much 
pomp and ceremony. 

On the loth of May, 1673, Marquette, Joliet, and five 
voyageurs, embarked in two birch canoes at Mackinaw and 
entered Lake Jlichigan. The first nation they visited was 
the " FoUes-Avoines," or nation of Wild Oats, since known 
as the Menomonie3, living around the " Baie des Puans," or 
Green Bay. These people, with whom Marquette was some- 
what acquainted, endeavored to persuade the adventurers 
from visiting the Mississippi. They represented the Indians 
on the great river, as being blood-thirsfy and savage in the 
extreme, and the river itself as being inhabited by monsters 
which would devour them and their canoes together.* 

Marquette thanked them for their advice, but declined to 
be guided by it. Passing through Green Bay, they ascended 
the Fox River, dragging their canoes over the strong rapids 
and visited the village, where they found living in harmony 
together tribes oi X\\& Miamis, i[ascoiLtens-\ ami Kikabeauz 
or Kicl-ajioos. Leaving this point on the 10th of June, they 
made the portage to the " Odisconsin," and descended that 
stream to the Mississippi, which they entered on the 17th 
with a joy, as Marquette saj-s, which he could not express.''^ 

Sailing down the Mississippi, the party reached the Des 
Moines River, and, according to some, visited an Indian 
village some two leagues up the stream. Here the people 
again tried to persuade them from prosecuting their voyage 
down the river. After a great feast and a dance, and a 
night passed with this hospitable people, they proceeded on 
their way, escorted by six hundred persons to their canoes. 
These people called themselves Illinois, or Illinl The name 
of their tribe was Periiaca, and their language a dialect of 
the Alfjonquin. 

Leaving these savages, they proceeded down the river. 
Passing the wonderful rocks, which still excite the admira- 
tion of the traveller, they arrived at the mouth of another 
great river, the Fclcitan^.ni, or Missouri of the present day. 
They noticed the condition of its waters, which they described 
as " muddy, rushing and noisy." 

Passing a great ruck, § they came to the Ouabouskigon, or 
Ohio. Marquette shows this river very small, even as com- 
pared with the Illinois. From the Ohio they passed as far 
down as the Alamsca, or Arkansas, where they came very 
near being destroyed by the natives; but they finally paci- 
fied them, and, on the 17th of July, they commenced their 
return voyage. 

The party reached Green Bay in September without loss 
or injury, and reported their discoveries, which were among, 
the most important of that age. Maniuette afterwards 
returned to Illinois, and preached to the natives until 1075. 

On the 18th of May of that year, while cruising up the 
eastern coast of Lake Jlichigan with a party of boatmen, 
he landed at the mouth of a stream putting into the lake 
from the east, since known as the river Marquette. He 
performed ma.s.s, and went a little apart to pray, and being 

• Sec legend of the great bird, the terrible " Piam," that devoured men 
and was only overcome by the sacrifice of a brave young chief. The 
rocks above jVlton, Illmois, have some rude representations of tliis 
monster. 

t Prairie Indians. ; ^I^ifl'^-'t'e's journal. J The grand (jw>:-. 



12 



If IS TOE Y OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



gone longer than his companions deemed necessary, they 
went in search of him, and found him dead where he had 
knelt. They buried him in the sand. 

While this distinguished adventurer was pursuing his 
labors, two other men were preparing to follow in his foot- 
step, and make still further explorations, and, if possible, 
more important discoveries. These were the Chevalier 
Robert de la Salle and Louis Hennepin. 

La Salle was a native of Rouen, in Normandy. He was 
educated at a seminary of the Jesuits, and designed for the 
ministry, but, for reasons unknown, he left the seminary and 
came to Canada, in 1GG7, where he engaged in the fur trade. 

Like nearly every intelligent man, he became intensely 
interested in the new discoveries of the West, and conceived 
the idea of exploring the passage to the great South Sea, 
which by many was believed to exist. He made known his 
ideas to the Governor-General, Count Frontenac, and de- 
sired his co-operation. The Governor at once fell iu with 
his views, which were strengthened by the reports brought 
back by Marquette and Joliet, and advised La Salle to 
apply to the King of France in person, and gave him letters 
of introduction to the great Colbert, then Minister of 
Finance and Marine. Accordingly, in 1675, he returned 
to France, where he was warmly received by the King and 
nobility, and his ideas were at once listened to, and every 
possible favor shown to him. 

He was made a Chevalier, and invested with the seigniory 
of Fort Catarocouy, or Frontenac (now known as Kingston) 
upon condition that he would rebuild it, as he proposed, of 
stone. 

Returning to Canada, he wrought diligently upon the fort 
until 1677, when he again visited France to report progress. 
He was received, as before, with favor, and, at the instance 
of Colbert and his son, the King granted him new letters 
patent and new privileges. On the 14th of July, 1678, he 
sailed from Rochelle, accompanied by thirty men, and with 
Tonti, an Italian, for his lieutenant. They arrived at 
Quebec on the 13th of Septeaiber, and after a few days' 
delay, proceeded to Frontenac. Father Lewis Hennepin, a 
Franciscan friar, of the Recollet sect, was' quietly working 
in Canada on La Salle's arrival. He was a man of great 
ambition, and much interested in the discoveries of the day. 
He was appointed by his religious superiors to accompany 
the expedition fitting out for La Salle. 

Sending agents forward to prepare the Indians for his 
coming, and to open trade with them, La Salle himself em- 
barked, on the 18th of November, in a little brigantine of 
ten tons, to cross Lake Ontario. This was the first shij) of 
European build that ever sailed upon this fresh-water sea. 
Contrary winds made the voyage long and troublesome, and 
a month was consumed in beating uji the lake to the Niagara 
River. Near the mouth of this river the Iroquois had a 
village, and here La Salle constructed the first fortification, 
which afterwards grew into the famous Fort Niagara. On 
the 26th of January, 1679, the keel of the first vessel built 
on Lake Erie was laid at the mouth of the Cayuga Creek, 
on the American side, about six miles above the falls. 

In the meantime La Salle had returned to Fort Frontenac 



to forward supplies for his forthcoming vessel. The little 
barque on Lake Ontario was wrecked by carelessness, and a 
large amount of the supplies she carried was lost. On the 
7th of August, the new vessel was launched, and made ready 
to sail. She wa? about seven tons' burden. 

La Salle christened his vessel the "Griffin," in honor of 
the arms of Count Frontenac. Passing across Lake Erie, 
and into the small lake, which they named St. Clair, they 
entered the broad waters of Lake Huron. Here they en- 
countered heavy storms, as dreadful as those upon the ocean 
and after a most tempestuous passage they took refuge in 
the roadstead of Michillimackinac (Mackinaw), on the 27tli 
of August La Salle remained at this point until the middle 
of September, busy in founding a fort and constructing a 
trading-house, when he went forward upon the deep waters 
of Lake Michigan, and soon after cast anchor in Green Bay. 
Finding here a large quantity of furs and peltries, he deter- 
mined to load his vessel and send her back to Niagara. On 
the 18th of September, she was sent under charge of a pilot 
while La Salle himself, with fourteen men,* proceeded up 
Lake Michigan, leisurely examining its shores and noting 
everything of interest. Tonti, who had been sent to look 
after stragglers, was to join him at the head of the lake. 
From the 19ih of September to the 1st of November, the 
time was occupied in the voyage up this inland sea. On the 
last-named day, La Salle arrived at the mouth of the river 
Mlainis, uow St. Joseph. Here he constructed a fort, and 
remained nearly a month waiting for tidings of his vessel ; 
but, hearing nothing, he determined to push on before the 
winter should prevent him. Oa the 3d of December, leaving 
ten men to garrison the fort, he started overland towards the 
head-waters of the Illinois, accompanied by three monks 
and twenty men. Ascending the St. Joseph River, he 
crossed a short portage and reached the The-a-M-ki, since 
corrupted into Kankakee. Embarking on this sluggish 
stream, they came shortly to the Illinois, and soon after 
found a village of the Illinois Indians, probably in the 
vicinity of the rocky blufis, a few miles above the present 
city of La Salle, Illinois. They found it deserted, but the 
Indians had quite a quantity of maize stored here, and La 
Salle, being short of provisions, helped himself to what he 
required. Passing down the stream, the party, on the 4th of 
January, came to a lake, probably the Lake Peoria, as there 
is no other upon this stream. Here they found a great 
number of natives, who were gentle and kind, and La Salle 
determined to construct a fort. It stood on a rise of ground 
near the river, and was named Creve- Coeur -f (^brokeu-heart), 
most probably on account of the low spirits of the com- 
mander, from anxiety for his vessel and the uncertainty of 
the future. Possibly he had heard of the loss of the " Griffin," 
which occurred on her downward trij) from Green Bay ; 
most probably on Lake Huron. He remained at the Lake 
Peoria through the winter, but no good tidings came, and 
no supplies. His men were discontented, but the brave 
adventurer never gave up hope. He resolved to send a 
party on a voyage of exploration up the Mississippi, under 

® Annals of the West, 
t The site of the work is at present unknowa. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



13 



the lead of Father Hennepin, and he himself would proceed 
on foot to Niagara and Frontenac, to raise more means and 
enlist new men ; while Tonti, his lieutenant, should stay at 
the fort, which they were to strengthen in the meantime, and 
extend their intercourse with the Indians. 

Hennepm started on his voyage on the last day of Febru- 
ary, 1680, and La Salle soon after, with a few attendants, 
started on his perilous journey of twelve hundred miles by 
the way of the Illinois Kiver, the Miami, and Lakes Erie 
j.nd Ontario, to Frontenac, which he finally reached in 
safety. He found his worst fears realized. The "Griffin" 
was lost, his agents had taken advantage of his absence, and 
his creditors had seized his goods. But he knew no such 
word as fail, and by the middle of summer he was again on 
his way with men and supplies for his band in Illinois. A 
sad disappointment awaited hira. He found his fort deserted 
and no tidings of Tonti and his men. During La Salle's 
absence the Indians had become jealous of the French, and 
they had been attacked and harassed even by the Iroquois, 
who came the long distance between the shores of Lake 
Ontario and the Illinois -River to make war upon the more 
peaceable tribes dwelling on the prairies. Uncertain of any 
assistance from La Salle, and apprehensive of a general 
war with the savages, Tonti, in September, 1080, abandoned 
his position and returned to the shores of the lakes. La 
Salle reached the post on the Illinois in December, 1G80, or 
January, 1681. Again bitterly disappointed. La Salle did 
not succumb, but resolved to return to Canada and start 
anew. This he did, and in June met his lieutenant, Tonti, 
at Mackinaw. 

Hennepin in the meanwhile had met with strange adven- 
tures. After leaving Creve-Coeur, ho reached the ilis^is- 
sippi in seven days ; but his way was so obstructed by ice 
that he was until the 11th of April reaching the Wisconsin 
line. Here he was taken prisoner by some northern Indians, 
who, however, treated him kindly and took him" and his 
companions to the falls of St. Anthony, which they reached 
on the first of May. These falls Hennepin named in honor 
of his patron saint. Hennepin and his companions remained 
here for three months, treated very kindly by their captors. 
At the end of this time they met with a band of French, 
led by one Sieur de Luth,* who, in pursuit of game and 
trade, had penetrated to this country by way of Lake Su- 
perior. "Willi his band Hennepin and his companions re- 
turned to the borders of civilized life in November, 1680, 
just after La Salle had gone back to the wilderness. Hen- 
nepin returned to France, where, in 1684, he published a 
narrative of his wonderful adventures. 

Robert Dc La Salle, whose name is more closely connected 
with the explorations of the Mississippi than that of any 
other, was the next to descend the river in the year 1682. 
Formal possession was taken of the great river and all the 
countries bordering upon it or its tributaries in the name of 
the King. 

La Salle and his party now retraced their steps towards 
the north. They met with no serious trouble until they 
reached the Chickasaw Bluffs, where they had erected a fort 

* From tliio m:m undoubtedly comes the name cf Duluth. 



on" their downward vo3'agc, and named it Prudhomme. 
Here La Salle was taken violently sick. Unable to proceed, 
he sent forward Tonti to communicate with Count Fronte- 
nac. La Salle himself reached the mouth of the St. Joseph 
the latter part of September. From that point he sent 
Father Zenobe with his di.-patches to represent hira at court, 
while he turned his attention to the fur trade and to tha 
project of com])leting a fort, which he named St. Louis, 
upon the Illinois Kiver. The precise location of this work 
is not known. It was said to be upon a rocky bluff two 
hundred and fifty feet hi^h, and only acces-ible upon one 
side. There are no bluffs of such a height on the Illinois 
River answering the description. It may have been on 
the rocky bluff above La Salle, where the rocks are perhaps 
one hundred feet in height. 

Upon the comj^letiou of this work La Salle again sailed 
for France, which he reached on the 13th of December, 
1683. A new man. La Barre, had now succeeded Fronte- 
nac as Governor of Canada. This man was unfriendly 
towards La Salle, and this, with other untoward eircum- 
stances, no doubt led him to attempt the colonization of the 
^lississippi country by way of the mouth of the river. Not- 
withstanding many obstacles were in his path, he succeeded 
in obtaining the grai.t of a fleet from the King, and on the 
24th of July, 1684, a fleet of twenty-four vessels sailed from 
Rochclle to America, four of which were destined for Lou- 
isiana, ar.d carried a body of two hundred and eighty 
people, including the crews. There were soldiers, artificers, 
and volunteers, and also " some young women." Discord 
soon broke out between M, de Beaujeu and La Salle, and 
grew from bad to worse. On the 20th of December they 
reached the island of St. Domingo. 

Joutel* was sent out with this party, which left on the 
5;h of February, and traveled eastward three days, when 
they came to a great stream which they could not cross. 
Here thoy made signals by building great fires, and on the 
13th two of the vessels came in sight. The stream was 
sounded and the vessels were anchored under shelter. But 
again misfortume overtook La Salle, and the vessel was 
wrecked, and the bulk of supplies was lost. At this junc- 
ture M. de Beaujeu, his second in command, set sail and 
returned to France. La Salle now constructed a rude 
shelter from the timbers of his wrecked vessel, placed his 
people inside of it, and set out to explore the surrounding 
country in hope of finding the Mississippi. He was, of 
course, disappointed : but found on a stream, which is 
named the Yaches, a good site fir a fort. He at once re- 
moved his camp, and, after incredible exertions, constructed 
a fortification sufficient to protect them from the Indians. 
This fort was situated on Matagorda Bay, within the present 
limits of Texas, and was called by La Salle Fort St. Louis. 

Leaving Joutel to complete the work with one hundred 
men. La Salle took the remainder of the company and era- 
barked on the river, with the intention of proceeding as far 
up as he could. The savages foon became troublesome, and 

«.Toutol, histiirian of tlio voyage, accompanied La Salle, and subse- 
quently wrote his " Journal Uijtori.iue," wliicli w;u |)ubli:'hcd in Pari.s, 
1713. 



u 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



on the 14tli of July La Salle ordered Joutel to join him 
with his whole force. They had already lost several of their 
best men, aud dangers threatened them on every side. It 
would seem from the historian's account of the expedition 
that La Salle began to erect another fort, and also that he 
became morose and severe in his discipline, so much so as to 
get the ill will of many of his people. He finally resolved 
to advance into the country, but whether with the view of 
returning to Canada by way of Illinois, or only for the pur- 
pose of making further discoveries, Joutel leives in doubt. 
Giving his last instructions, he left the fort on the 12th day 
of January, 1687, with a company of about a dozen men, 
including his brother, two nephews. Father Anastasius, a 
Franciscan friar, Joutel, and others, and moved north-east- 
ward, as is supposed, until the 17th of March, when some 
of his men, who had been cherishing revengeful feelings for 
some time, waylaid the Chevalier and shot him dead. 
They also slew one of his nephews and two of his servants. 

This deed occurred on the 20th of March, on a stream 
called Cenis. 

In 1687, France was involved in a long and bloody war. 
The League of Augsburg was formed by the Princes of the 
Empire against Louis XIV., and England, Spain, Holland, 
Denmark, Sweden, and Savoy took up arms, and Louis 
found himself battling with nearly the whole of Europe, and 
only Turkey for an ally. This war ended with the peace of 
Eyswick in 1697. 

No material change took place in America, but the colo- 
nists were harassed and many of their people killed or car- 
ried captives to the Canadas. In 1688, the French posses- 
sions in North America included nearly the whole of the 
continent north of the St. Lawrence, and the entire valley 
of the Mississippi ; and they had begun to establish a line 
of fortifications extending from Quebec to the mouth of the 
Mississippi, between which points they had three great.lines 
of communication, to wit : by way of Mackinaw, Green 
Bay, and the Wisconsin River; by way of Lake Michigan, 
the Kankakee and Illinois Rivers ; and by way of Lake 
Erie, the Maumee and Wabash Rivers, and were preparing 
to explore the Ohio as a fourth route. 

In 1699, D'Iberville, under the authority of the crown, 
discovered, on the second c f March, by way of the sea, the 
mouth of the " Hidden River." This majestic stream was 
called by the natives " Malbouchia," and by the Spaniards, 
'â–  La Palissadc," from the great number of trees about its 
mouth. After traversing the several outlets, aud sati.sfying 
himself a-s to its certainty, he erected a fort near its western 
outlet, and returned to Franco. An avenue of trade was 
now opened out, which was fully improved. 

At this time a census of New France showed a total 
population of eleven thousand two hundred and forty-nine 
Europeans. War again broke out in 1701, and extended 
over a period of twelve years, ending with the treaty of 
Utrecht, in 1713. This also extended to the American Colo- 
nies, and its close left everything as before, with the excep- 
tion that Nova Scotia was captured in 1710. 

In 1718, New Orleans was laid out and settled by some 
European colonists. In 1762, the colony was made over to 



Spain, to be regained by France, under the consulate of 
Napoleon. 

In 1803, it was purchased by the United States, for the 
sura of fifteen million dollars, and the territory of Louisiana 
and the commerce of the Mi.ssissij)pi river, came under the 
charge of the United States. Although La Salle's labors 
ended in defeat and death, he had not worked and suffered 
in vain. He had thrown open to France and the world an 
immense and most valuable country. Had established 
several ports, and laid the foundation of more than one 
settlement there. " Peoria, Kaskaskia and Cahokia are to 
this day monuments of La Salle's labors; for, though he 
had founded neither of them (unless Peoria, which was built 
nearly upon the site of Fort Crevecoeur), it was by those he 
led into the west that these places were peopled and civil- 
ized. He was, if not the discoverer, the first settler of the 
Mississippi Valley, and as such deserves to be known and 
honored."* 

The French early improved the opening made for them, 
and before 1693, the Reverend Father Gravier began a 
mission among the Illinois, and became the founder of Kas- 
kaskia. For some time it was merely a missionary station, 
and the inhabitants of the village consisted entirely of 
natives ; it being one of three such villages, the other two 
being Cahokia and Peoria. This we learn from a letter 
written by Father Gabriel Marest, dated " Aux Cascaskias, 
Autrement dit de I'lmmaculee concepcion de la Sainte 
Vierge, le 9 Novembre, 1712." In this letter, the writer 
tells us that Gravier must be regarded as the founder of the 
Illinois mi sions. Soon after the founding of Kaskaskia, the 
missionary, Pinet, gathered a flock at Cahokia,! while 
Peoria arose near the remains of Fort Crevecoeur | 

An unsuccessful attempt was also made to found a colony 
on the Ohio. It failed in consequence of sickness.§ 

In the north, De La Motte Cadillac, in June, 1701, laid 
the foundation of Fort Poutchartrain, on the strait, (le De- 
troit), || while in the southwest efforts were making to realize 
the dreams of La Salle. The leader in the last named en- 
terprise was Leraoine D'Iberville, a Canadian officer, who 
from 1694 to 1697 distinguished himself not a little by 
battles and conquests among the icebergs of the " Baye 
D'Udson or Hudson Bay." 

The post at Vincennes, on the Oubache river, (pronounced 
Wii-ba, meaning summer cloud moving swiftly), was estab- 
lished in 1702. It is quite probable that on La Salle's last 
trip he established the stations at Kaskaskia and Cahokia. 
Until the year 1750, but little is known of the settlements 
in the northwest, as it was not until this time that the atten- 

'>The autliorities in relation to La Salle are Hennepin : a narrative pub- 
lished in the name of Tonti, in 1697, but disclaimed by him (Charlevoix 
III, 365. Lettres Edifiantes. 

t Bancroft, iii. 196. 
t There was an Old Peoria on the northwest shore of the lake of that 
name, a mile and a half above the outlet. From 1778 to 1796 the inhabi- 
tants left this for New Peoria, (Fort Clark) at the outlet. American 
State Papers, .wiii. 476. 

I Western Annals. 

II Charlevoix, ii. 284. Le Detroit was the whole strait from Erie to 
Huron. The first grants of land at Detroit, ). e., Fort Pontchartrain, 
were made in 1707. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



15 



tion of tne English was called to the occupation of this por- 
tion of the new world, which they then supposed they 
owned. Vivier, a missionary among the Illinois, writing 
" Aux Illinois," six leagues from Fort Chartres, June 8th, 
1750, says : " We have here whites, negroes, and Indians, to 
say nothing of the crossbreeds. There are five French 
villages, and three villages of the natives within a space of 
twenty-one leagues, tituated between the Mississippi and 
another river, called the Karkadiad, (Kaskaskia). In the 
five French villages arc, perhaps, eleven hundred whites, 
three hundred blacks, and some fcixty red slaves or savages. 
The three Illinois towns do not contain more than eight 
liundred souls all told* Most of the French till the soil. 
They raise wheat, cattle, pigs and horses, and live like 
princes. Three times as much is produced as can be con- 
sumed, and great quantities of grain and flour are sent to 
New Orleans. ' 

Again, in an epistle dated November 17th, 1750, Vivier 
says : " For fifteen leagues above the mouth of the Missis- 
sippi, one sees no dwellings ^= * * * New Orleans contains 
black, white and red, not more, I think, than twelve hun- 
dred persons. To this point come all kinds of lumber, 
bricks, salt-beef, tallow, tar, skins, and bear's grease ; and 
above all pork and flour from the Illinois. These things 
create some commerce, as forty vessels and more have come 
hither this year. Above New Orleans plantations are again 
met with ; the most considerable is a colony of Germans, 
some ten leagues up the river. At point Coupee, thirty-five 
leagues above the German settlement, is a fort. Along here, 
within five or six leagues, are not less than sixty habitations. 
Fifty leagues farther up is the Natchez pest, where we have 
a garrison." 

Father Marest, witing from the post at Vincennes, makes 
the same observation. Vivier also says, " Some individuals 
dig lead near the surface, and supply the Indians and Can- 
ada. Two Spaniards, now here, who claim to be adepts, 
say that our mines are like those of ^lexico, and that if we 
would dig deeper we would find silver under the lead; at 
any rate the lead is excellent. There are also in this coun- 
trv, beyond doubt, copper mines, as from time to time, large 
pieces have been found in the streams. "f 

At the close of the year 1750, the French occupied in ad- 
dition to the lower Mississippi posts and those in Illinois, 
one at Du Quesne, one at the Maumee, in the country of the 
IViiamis, and one at Sandusky, in what may be termed the 
Ohio Valley. In the northern part of the north-west, they 
liad stations at St. Joseph's on the St. Joseph's of Lake 
Michigan, at Fort Poatchartraia (Detroit), at Michilli- 
mackinac or Massillimaciuac, Fox Kiver of Green Baj', and 
at Sault Ste. Marie. The fondest dreams of La Salle were 
now fully realized. The French alone were possessors of 
this vast realm, basing their claim ou discovery and settle- 
ment. Another nation, however, was now turning its 
attention to this extensive country, and learning of its 
wealth began to lay plans for occupying it and for securing 
the great profits arising therefrom. 

"Lettres Kdiffanto3 (Parin, 17S1), vii. 97-100. 
f Wostoni Annul i. 



The French, however, had another claim to this country, 
namely, the 

DISCOVERY OF THE OHIO. 

The largest branch of the Mississippi river from the east, 
known to the early French settlers as la belle riviere, called 
"beautiful" river, was discovered by Robert Cavalier de 
La Salle, in 1669. While La Salle was at his trading-post 
on the St. Lawrence, he found leisure to study nine Indian 
dialects, the chief of which was the Iroquois. While con- 
versing with some Senecas, he learned of a river called the 
Ohio, which rose in their country and flowed to the sea. 

In this statement the Mississippi and its tributaries were 
considered as one stream. La Salle, believing as most of 
the French at that period did, that the great rivers flowing 
west emptied into the Sea of California, was anxious to em- 
bark in the enterprise of discovering a route across the 
continent. He repaired at once to Quebec to obtain the 
approval of the Governor and the Intendent, Talon. They 
issued letters patent, authorizing the enterprise, but made 
no provisions to defray the expenses. 

At this juncture the seminary St. Sulpice decided to send 
out missionaries in connection with the expedition, and La 
Salle ofiering to sell his improvements at La Chive to raise 
the money, the ofi'er was accepted by the Superior, and two 
thousand eight hundred dollars were raised, with which La 
Salle purchased four canoes and the necessary supplies for 
the outfit. 

On the 6th of July, 1669, the party, numbering twenty- 
four persons, embarked in seven canoes on the St. Lawrence. 
Two additional canoes carried the Indian guides. 

In three days they were gliding over the bosom of Lake 
Ontario. Their guides conducted them directly to the 
Seneca village on the bank of the Genesee, in the vicinity 
of the present city of Rochester, New York. Here they 
exjDected to procure guides to conduct them to the Ohio, but 
in this they were disappointed. After waiting a month in 
the hope of gaining their object, they met an Indian from the 
Iroquois colony, at the head of Lake Ontario, who assured 
them they could find guides, and oflered to conduct them 
thence. On their way they passed the mouth of Niagara 
river, when they heard for the finst time the distant thunder 
of the cataract. Arriving among the Iroquois they met 
with a friendly reception, and learned from a Shawnee 
prisoner that they could reach the Ohio in six weeks. -â–  De- 
lighted with the unexpected good fortune, they made ready 
to resume their journey, and as they were about to start they 
heard of the arrival of two Frenchmen in a neighboring 
village. One of them proved to be Louis Juliet, afterwards 
famous as an explorer in the west. He had been sent by 
the Canadian government to explore the copper mines on 
Lake Superior, but had failed and was on his way back to 
Quebec. 

On arriving at Lake Superior, they found, as La Salle 
had predicted, the Jesuit fathers, Marquette and Dablon, 
occupying the field. After parting with the priests. La 
Salle went to the chief Iroquois village at Onondago, where 
he obtained guides and passing thence to a tributary of the 
Ohio south of Lake Erie, he descended the latter as far as 



16 



HI8T0RY OF IIADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



the falls of Louisville. Thus was the Ohio discovered by 
La Salle, the persevering and successful French explorer of 
the west in 1669. 

When Washington was sent out by the colony of Virginia 
in 1753, to demand of Gordeur de St. Pierre why the French 
had built a fort on the Monongahela, the haughty com- 
mandant at Quebec replied : "We claim the country on the 
Ohio by virtue of the discoveries of La Salle, and will not 
give it up to the English. Our orders are to make prisoners 
of every Englishman found trading iu the Ohio valley." 

ENGLISH EXPLORATIONS AND SETTLEMENTS. 

We have sketched the progress of French discovery in 
the valley of the Mississippi. The first travelers reached 
tha- river iu 1673, and when the year 1750 broke in upon 
the father of waters and the great north-west, all was still 
except those little spots upon the prairies of Illinois and 
among the marshes of Louisiana. 

Yolney, by conjecture, fixes the settlement of Vincennes 
about 1735.* Bishop Brute, of Indiana, speaks of a mis- 
sionary station there in 1700, aud adds : " The friendly 
tribes and traders called to Canada for protection, and then 
M. De Vincennes came with a detachment, I think, of 
Carignan, and was killed in 1735. ''f Bancroft says a mili- 
tary establishment was formed there in 1716, aud in 1742 a 
settlement of herdsmen took place. J In a petition of the 
old inhabitants at Vincennes, dated in November, 1793, we 
find the settlement spoken of as having been made before 
1742.§ And such is the general voice of tradition. On the 
other hand, Charlevoix, who records the death of Vincennes, 
which took place among the Chickasaws, iu 1736, makes no 
mention of any post on the Wabash, or any missionary 
station there. Neither does he mark any upon his map, 
although he gives even the British forts upon the Tennessee 
and elsewhere. Such is the character of the proof relative 
to the settlement of Vincennes. 

Hennepin, in 1G63-4, had heard of the " Hohio." The 
route from the lakes to the Mississippi, by the Wabash, was 
explored 1676,|| and in Hennepin's volume of 1698, is a 
journal, said to be that sent by La Salle to Count Froutenac 
iu 1682 or '83, which mentions the route by the Maumee^ 
and Wabash as the most direct to the great western river. 

In 1749, when the English first began to think seriously 
of sending men into the west, the greater portions of the 
states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and 
Minnesota were yet under the dominion of the red men. 
The English knew, however, of the nature of the vast 
wealth of these wilds. 

In the year 1710, Governor Spotswood, of Virginia, had 
matured a plan and commenced movements, the o'ljcct of 
which was to secure the country beyond the Allegheniis to 
the English crown. In Pennsylvania, also, Governor Keith 
and James Logan, Secretary of the Province from 1719 to 

* Volncy's View, p. 33G. 
t Butler's Kentucky. 
J History U. S. iii. 346. 

I American State Papers, xvi. 32. 

II Histoirc Generul Dcs Voyages .\iv., 738. 
1[Now called Miami. 



1731, represented to the powers of England the necessity of 
taking steps to secure the western lands. Nothing, however, 
was done by the mother country, except to take certain 
diplomatic steps to secure the claim of Britain to this unex- 
plored wilderness. England nad from the outset claimed 
from the Atlantic to thj Pacific, on the ground that the dis- 
covery and possession of the sea coast was a discovery and 
possession of the country ; and as is well known, her grants 
to Virginia, Connecticut, and other colonies, were through 
from " sea to sea." This was not all her claims ; she had 
purchased from the Indian tribes large tracts of land. This 
was also a strong argument. 

In the year 1684, Lord Howard, Governor of Virginia, 
held a treaty with the five nations at Albany. These were 
the great Northern Confederacy, and comprised at first the 
Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. 
Afterward the Tuscaroras were taken into the confederacy, 
and it became known as the six nations. They came under 
the protection of the mother country, and again in 1701 they 
repeated the agreement. Another formal deed was drawn 
up and signed by the chiefs of the National Confederacy in 
1726, by which their lands were conveyed in trust to Eng- 
land, " to be protected and defended by his majesty, to and 
for the use of the grantors and their heirs." The validity 
of this claim has often been disputed, but never successfully. 
In 1774, a purchase was made at Lancaster of certain lauds 
within the " colony of Virginia," for which the Indians 
received £200 in gold and a like sum in goods, with a 
promise that as settlements increased, more should be paid. 
The commissioners from Virginia at the treaty were Col. 
Thomas Lee aud Col. William Beverly. 

As settlements extended, and the Indians -.egan to com- 
plain, the promise of further pay was called to mind, and 
Mr. Conrad Weiser was sent across the Alleghenies to Logs- 
town. In 1784,* Col. Lee and some Virginians accom- 
ptinied him, with the intention of ascertaining the feelings 
of the Indians with regard to further settlements in the west, 
which Col. Lee and others were contemplating. The object 
of these proposed settlements was not the cultivation of the 
soil, but the monopoly of the Indian trade. Accordingly 
after Weiser's conference with the Indians at Logstown, 
which was favorable to their views, Thomas Lee, with 
twelve other Virginians, among whom were Lawrence aud 
Augustine, brothers of George Washington, aud also Mr. 
Hanbury, of London, formed an association whi.h they 
called the "Ohio Company," and in 1748 petitioned the 
king for a grant beyond the mountains. This petition was 
approved by the Engli-sh government, and the government 
of Virginia was ordered to grant to the petitioners half a 
million of acres within the bounds of that colony beyond 
the Alleghenies, two hundred thousand of which were to be 
located at once. This portion was to be held for ten years 
free of quit-rent, provided the company would put there one 
hundred families within seven years, and build a fort suffi- 
cient to protect the settlement. The company accepted the 
proposition, and sent to London for a cargo suited to the 
Indian trade, which should arrive in November, 1749. 

» Plain Faet^, pp.40, 1^3. 



HISTORY OF MAD IS OX COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



17 



Other compauiea were also formed about this time in Vir- 
ginia to colonize the west. On the 12th of June, 1749, a 
grant of 800,000 acres from the line of Canada, on the 
north and west, was made to the Loyal Company, and on 
the 29th of October, 1751, another of 100,000 acres to the 
Greenbriar Company. * 

The French were not blind all this time. They saw that 
if the British once obtained a stronghold upon the Ohio, 
they might not only prevent their settlements upon it, but 
in time would come to the lower posts, and so gain posses- 
sion of the whole country. Upon the 10th of May, 1744, 
Vandreuil, the French governor, well knowing the conse- 
quences that must arise from allowing the English to build 
trading posts in the north- ivest, seized some of their frontier 
posts, to further secure the claims of the French to the 
west. Having these fears, and seeing the danger of the 
late movements of the British, Gallisoniere, then Governor 
of Canada, determined to place along the Ohio evidences of 
the French claim to, and possession of, the country. For 
that purpose he sent, in the summer of 1749, Louis Celeron, 
with a party of soldiers, to place plates of lead, on which 
were written out the claims of the French, in the mounds 
and at the mouths of the rivers. These were heard of by 
Willliam Trent, an Indian commissioner, sent out by Vir- 
ginia in 1752, to treat with and conciliate the Indians, 
while upon the Ohio, and mentioned in his journal. One of 
these plates was found with the inscription partly defaced. 
It bears date August lOth, 1749, and a copy of the inscrip- 
tion, with particular account, was sent by De Witt Clinton 
to the American Anti<|uariau Society, among whose journals 
it may now be found. These measures did not, however, 
deter the English from going on with their explorations. 

In February, 1751, Christopher Gist was sent by the 
Ohio Company to examine its lands. He went to a village 
of the Twigtwees, on the Miami, about 150 miles above its 
mouth. From there he went down the Ohio Elver nearly 
to the falls, at the present city of Louisville, and in Novem- 
ber he commenced a survey of the company's lands. In 
1751, General Andrew liCwis commenced some surveys in 
the Greenbrier country, on behalf of the -company already 
mentioned. Meanwhile the French were busy in preparing 
their forts for defence, and in opening roads. In 1752 
having heard of the trading houses on the Miami River, 
they, assisted by the Ottawas and Chippewas, attacked it, 
and, after a severe battle, in which fourteen of the natives 
were killed and others wounded, captured the garrison. 
The traders were carried away to Canada, and one account 
says several were burned. This fort, or trading house was 
called by the English writers Pickawillany. A memorial 
of the king's ministers refers to it as " Pickawellanes, in the 
centre of the territory between Ohio and the Wabash." 
This was the first blood shed between the French and 
English, and occurred near the present city of Piqua, Ohio. 
The English were determined on their part to purchase a 
title from the Indians of lands which they wished to occup)', 
and in the spring of 1752, Messrs. Fry,f Lomax and Pat on 

•' Revised Statutes of Virginia. 

t Afterwards CommanJer-in-cliief over Washington, at the commence- 
meut of the French War of 1773. 



were sent from Virginia to hold a conference with the 
natives aft Logstown, to learn what they objected to in the 
treaty at Lancaster, and to settle all difficulties. On the 
9th of June, the commissioners met the red men at Log.s- 
town. This was a village seventeen miles below Pittsburgh, 
upon the north side of the Ohio. Here had been a trading 
post for many years, but it was abandoned by the Indians 
in 1750. At first the Indians declined to recognize the 
treaty of Lancaster, but the commissioners taking aside 
Jlontour, the interpreter, who was a son of the famous 
Catherine Montour, and a chief among the six nations, 
being three-fourths of Indian blood, through his influence 
an agreement was efK'cted, and upon the 13th of June they 
all united in signing a deed, confirming the Lancaster treaty 
in its fullest extent. Meanwhllethe powers beyond the seas 
were trying to out-manmuver each other, and were professing 
to be at peace. The Eoglish generally outwitted the Indians, 
and secured themselves, as they thought, by their polite 
conduct. But the French, in this as in all cases, proved that 
they knew best how to manage the n.atives. While these 
measures were taken, another treaty with the wild men of 
the debatable land was also in contemplation. And in Sep- 
tember, 175;\ William Fairfax met their deputies at Win- 
chester, Virginia, where he concluded a treaty. In the 
month following, however, a more satisfactory interview took 
place at Carlisle, between the representatives of the Iroquois, 
Delawares, Shawuees, Twigtwees, and Wyandots, and the 
commissioners of Penu.sylvania, Richard Peters, Isaac Norris, 
and Benjamin Franklin. Soon after this, no satisfaction 
being obtained from the Ohio, either as to the force, position, 
or purposes of the French, Robert Dinwiddle, then Governor 
of Virginia, determined to send to them another messenger, 
and learn if possible their intentions. For this purpose he 
selected a young surveyor, who, at the age of nineteen had 
attained the rank of major, and whose previous life had 
inured him to hardships and woodland ways ; while his 
courage, cool judgment, and firm will, all fitted him fur such 
a mission. This personage was no other than the illustrious 
George Washington, who then hold considerable interest in 
western lands. He was twenty-one years old at the time of 
the appointment.* Taking Gist as a guide, the two, accom- 
panied by four servitors, set out on their perilous march. 
They Icfc Will's Creek, where Cumberland now is, on the 
15th of November, and on the 22d reached the Monongahcla, 
about ten miles above the fork. From there they went to 
Logstown, where Washington had a long conference with 
the chiefs of the six nations. Here he learned the position 
of the French, and also that they had determined not to come 
down the river until the fjllowing spring. The Indians were 
non-committal, they deeming a neutral position the safest. 
Washington, finding nothing could be done, went on to Ve 
nango, an old Indian town at the mouth of the French 
Creek. Here the French had a fort called Fort J\Iachault. 
On the 11th of December he reached the fort at the head of 
French Creek. Here he delivered Governor Dinwiddle's 
letter, received his answer, and upon the 16th set out upon 
his return journey with no one but Gist, his guide, and a few 

* Sparks' Washington, Vol. ii., pp. 42S-447. 



18 



fflSTOBT OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Indians, who still remained true to him. They reached home 
in safety on the 6th of January, 1754. From the letter of 
St. Pierre, Commander of the French fort, sent by Washing- 
ton to Governor DiuwidJie, it was perfectly clear that the 
French would not yield the West without a struggle. Active 
preparations were at once made in all the English colonies 
for the coming conflict, while the French finished their fort 
at Venango and strengthened their lines of fortifications to 
be in readiness. The Old Dominion was alive. Virginia 
was the center of great activities. Volunteers were called 
for, and from neighboring colonies men rallied to the conflict, 
and everywhere along the Potomac men were enlisting under 
Governor's proclamation, — which promised two hundred 
thousand acres on the Ohio. Along th's river they were 
gathering as far as Will's Creek, and far beyond this j^oint, 
whither Trent had come for aisistance, for his little band of 
forty-one men, who were working away in hunger and want, 
to fortify that point at the fork of the Ohio, to which both 
parties were looking with deep interest. The first birds cf 
spring filled the f jrest with their songs. The swift river 
rolled by the Allegheny hillsides, swollen by the melting 
snows of spring and April showers. The leaves were appear- 
ing, a few Indian Scouts were seen, but no enemy seemed 
near at hand, and all was so quiet that Frazier, an old In- 
dian trader, who had been left by Trent in command of the 
new fort, ventured to his home at the mouth of Turtle Creek, 
ten miles up the M jnongahela. Bat though all was so quiet 
in that wilderness, keen eyes had seen the low entrenchment 
that was rising at the fork, and swift feet had borne the news 
of it up the valley, and on the morning of the 17th of April, 
Ensign Ward, who then had charge of it, saw upon the 
Allegheny a sight that made his heart sink ; — sixty batteaux 
and three hundred canoes, filled with men, and laden deep 
with cannon and stores. The fort was called on to surren- 
der: by the advice of the Half-King, Ward tried to evade 
the act, but it would not do. Contrecoeur, with a thousand 
men about him, said 'Evacuate,' and the ensign dared not 
refuse. That evening he supped with his captor, and the 
next day was bowed off" by the Frenchman, and, with his 
men and tools, marched up the Monongahela." The French 
and Indian war had begun. The treaty of Aix la Chapelle, 
in 1748, had left the boundaries between the French and 
English possessions unsettled, and the events already narra- 
ted show that the French were determined to hold the coun- 
try watered by the Mississippi and its tributaries : while the 
English laid claim to thecouatr/ by virtue of the discoveries 
by the Cabots, and claimed all the country from New Found- 
land to Florida, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The 
first decisive blow had been struck, and the first attempt of 
the English, through the Ohio Company, to occupy these 
lands had resulted disastrously to them. The French and 
Indians immediately completed the fortifications begun at 
the fork, which they had so easily captured, and when com- 
pleted gave to the fort the name of Du Quesne. Washing- 
ton was at Will's Creek, when the news of the capture of the 
fort arrived. He at once departed to recapture it. On his 
way he entrenched himself at a place called the " Meadows," 
where he erected a fort called by him Fort Necessity. From 



there he surprised and captured a force of French and Indi- 
ans marching against him, but was soon after attacked by a 
much superior force, and was obliged to yield on the morn- 
ing of July 4th. He was allowed to return to Virginia. 

The English Government immediately planned for cam- 
paigns, one against Fort Du Quesne, one against Nova Sco- 
tia, one against Fort Niagara, and one against Crown Point. 
These occurred during 1755-6, and were not successful in 
driving the French from their possessions. The expedition 
against Fort Du Quesne was led by the famous Braddock, 
who, refusing to listen to the advice of Washington and those 
acquainted with Indian warfare, suflTered an inglorious de- 
feat. This occurred on the morning of July 9th, and is gen- 
erally known as the battle of Monongahela or " Braddock's 
defeat." The war continued through various vicissitudes 
through the years 1756-7, when, at the commencement of 
1758, in accordance with the plans of William Pitt, then 
secretary of state, afterwards Lord Chatham, active prepa- 
rations were made to carry on the war. Three expeditions 
were planned for this year : one under General Amherst, 
against Louisburg; another under Abercrombie, against 
Fort Ticonderoga ; and a third under General Forbes, against 
Fort Du Quesne. On the 2Gth of July, Louisburg surren- 
dered after a desperate resistance of more than forty days, 
and the eastern part of the Canadian possessions fell into the 
hands of the British. Abercrombie captu red Fort Fronte- 
nac, and when the expedition against Fort Du Quesne, of 
which Washington had the active command, arrived there, 
it was found in flames and deserted. The English at once 
took possession, rebuilt the fort, and in honor of their illus- 
trious statesman, changed the name to Fort Pitt. 

The great object of the campaign of 1759, was the reduc- 
tion of Canada. General Wolfe was to lay siege to Quebec ; 
Amherst was to reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point; and 
General Prideaux was to capture Niagara. This latter place 
was taken in July, but the gallant Prideaux lost his life. 
Amherst captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point, without a 
blow ; and Wolfe, af:er making the memorable ascent to the 
plains o{ Abraham, on September 13th, defeated Montcalm. 
and on the 18Lh the city capitulated. In this engagement, 
Montcalm and Wolfe bjth lost their lives. De Levi, Mont- 
calm's successor, marched to Sillery, three miles above the 
city, with the purpose of defeating the Euglish, and there, 
on the 28th of the following April, was fought one of the 
bloodiest battles of the French and Indian war. It resulted 
iu the defeat of the French, and the fall of the city of Mon- 
treal. The Governor signed a capitulation by which the 
whole of Canada was surrendered to the Euglish. This 
practically concluded the war, but it was not until 1763 
that the treaties of peace between France and England 
were signed. This was done on the 10th of February of that 
year, and under its provisions all the country east of the 
Mississippi and north of the Ibervill river in Louisiana, were 
ceded to Eugland. At the same time, Spain ceded Florida 
to Great Britain. 

On the 13th September, 1760, Major Robert Rogers was 
sent from Montreal to take charge of Detroit, the only re- 
maining French post iu the territory. He arrived there on 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, III IN IS. 



19 



the 9th of November, and summoned the place to surrender. 
At first the commander of the post, Beletre, refused, but on 
the 29th, hearing of the continued defeat of the French army, 
surrendered. The North-west Territory was now entirely 
under the English rule. In 1762, France, by a secret treaty, 
ceded Louisiana to Spain, to prevent it falling into the hands 
of the English, who were becoming masters of the entire 
West. The next year the treaty of Paris, signed at Fon- 
tainbleau, gave to the English the dominion in question. 
Twenty years after, by the treaty of peace between the United 
States and England, that part of Canada lying south and 
west of the great lakes, comprising a large territory, was 
acknowledged to be a portion of the United States. In 
1803 Louisiana was ceded by Spain back to France, and by 
France sold to the United States. By the treaty of Paris, 
the regions east of the Mississippi, including all these and 
other towns of the north-west, were given, over to England ; 
but they do not appear to have been taken possession of until 
1765, when Captain Stirling, in the name of the Majesty in 
England, established himself at Fort Chartres, bearing with 
him the proclamation of General Gage, dated December 
30th, 1764, which promised religious freedom to all Catho- 
lics who worshiped here and the right to leave the country 
with their effects if they wished, or to remain with the priv- 
ileges of Englishmen. During the years 1775 s-nd 1776, by 
the operations of land companies and the perseverance of 
individuals, several settlements were firmly established be- 
tween the Alleghenies and the Ohio river, and western land 
speculators were busy in Illinois and on the Wabash. At a 
council held in Kaskaskia, on July 5th, 1773, an association 
of English traders, calling themselves the " Illinois Land 
Company," obtained from the chiefs of the Kaskaskia, Ca- 
hokia, and Peoria tribes two large tracts of land lying on the 
east side of the Mississippi river south of the Illinois. In 
1775 a merchant from the Illinois country, named Yiviat, 
came to Post Vincennes as the agent of the association called 
(he "Wabash Land Company." On the 8th of October he 
obtained from eleven Piankeshaw chiefs a deed for 37,497, 
600 acres of land. This deed was signed by the grantors, 
attested by a number of the inhabitants of Vincennes, and 
afterward recorded in the office of a Notary Public at Kas- 
kaskia. This and other land companies had extensive 
schemes for the colonization of the West ; but all were frus- 
trated by the breaking out of the Revolutionary war. On 
the 20th of April, 1780, the two companies named consoli- 
dated under the name of the " United Illinois and Wabash 
Land Company ; " they afterwards made strenuous efforts to 
have these grants sanctioned by Congress, but all signally 
failed. When the war of the Revolution commenced, Ken- 
tucky was an unorganized country, though there were several 
settlements within her borders. 

In Ilutchins' Topography of Virginia, it is stated that at 
that time Kaskaskia contained 80 houses, and nearly 1,00!) 
white and black inhabitants, the whites being a little the 
more numerous. Cahokia contained fifty houses, 300 white 
inhabitants, and 80 negroes. There were east of the Missis- 
sippi river, about the year 1771 — when these observations 
were made — " 300 white men capable of bearing arms, and 



238 negroes." From 1775 until the expedition of Clark, 
nothing is recorded and nothing known of these settlements, 
save what is contained in a report made by a committee to 
Congress in June, 1778. From it the following extract is 
made : " Near the mouth of the river Kaskaskia, there is a 
village which appears to have contained nearly eighty fam- 
ilies from the beginning of the late Revolution ; there are 
twelve families at a small village at La Prairie Du Rochers, 
and nearly fifty families at the Cahokia village. There are 
also four or five families at Fort Chartres and St. Philip's, 
which is five miles further up the river." St. Louis had been 
settled in February, 1764, and at this time contained, inclu- 
ding its neighboring towns, over six hundred white and one 
hundred and fifty negroes. It must be remembered that all 
the country west of the Mississippi was under French rule, 
and remained so until ceded back to Spain, its original owner, 
who afterwards sold it and the country including New Or- 
leans to the Uaited States. At De'roit, there were, accord- 
ing to Captain Carver, who was in the north-west from 1768 
to 1776, more than one hundred houses, and the river was 
settled for more than twenty miles, although poorly cultiva- 
ted, the people being engaged in the Indian trade. 

On the breaking out of the Ravolution, the British held 
every post of importance in the West. Kentucky was 
formed as a comfjonent part of Virginia, and the sturdy 
pioneers of the West, alive to their interests, and recog- 
nizing the great benefits of obtaining the control of the 
trade in this part of the New World, held steadily to tht-ir 
purposes, and those within the commonwealth of Ken- 
tucky proceeded to exercise their civil privileges of electing 
John Todd and Richard Gallaway burgesses, to represent 
them in the assembly of the present state. The chief sjiirit 
in this far-out colony, who had represented her the year 
previous east of the mountains, was now meditating a move 
of unequalled boldness. He had been watching the move- 
ments of the British throughout the north-west, and under- 
stood their whole plan. He saw it was through their 
possession of the post at Detroit, Vincennes, Kaskaskia, and 
other places, which would give them easy access to the vari- 
ous Indian tribes in the north-west, that the British intended 
to penetrate the country from the north and south, and 
annihilate the frontier fortresses. This moving, energetic 
man was Colonel, afterwards General George Rodgers Clark. 
He knew that the Indians were not unanimously in accord 
with the English, and he was convinced that, could the 
British be defeated and expelled from the north-west, the 
natives might be easily awed into neutrality ; by spies sent for 
the purpose, he satisfied himself that the enterprise against 
the Illinois settlements might easily succeed. Patrick Henry 
was Governor of Virginia, and at once entered heartily info 
Clark's plans. The same plan had before been agitated in 
the Colonial Assemblies ; but there was no one until Clark 
came who was sufficiently acquainted with the condition of 
affairs at the scene of action to be able to guide them. 

Clark, having satisfied the Virginia leaders of the feasibility 
of his plan, received on the second of January two sets of 
instructions : one secret, the other open. The latter authoriz- 
ed him to proceed to enlist seven companies to go to Ken- 



20 



HI8T0RY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



tucky, subject to his orders, and to serve three months from 
their arrival in the west. The secret order authorized him 
to arm the troops, to procure his powder and lead of General 
Hand, at Pittsburg, and to proceed at once to subjugate the 
country. 

With these instructions Clark repaired to Pittsburg, choos- 
ing rather to raise his men west of the mountains. Here he 
raised three companies and several private volunteers. 
Clark at length commenced his descent of the Ohio, which 
he navigated as far as the falls, where he took possession of 
and fortified Corn Island, between the present sites of Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, and New Albany, Indiana. Remains of 
this fortification may yet be found. At this place he ap- 
pointed Col. Bowman to meet him with such recruits as had 
reached Kentucky by the southern route. Here he an- 
nounced to the men their real destination. On the 24th of 
June he embarked on the river, his destination being Fort 
Massac or :\Iassacre, and then marched direct to Kaskaskia. 
The march was accomplished and the town reached on the 
eyeniug of July 4. He captured the fort near the village, 
and soon after the village itself, by surprise, without the 
loss of a single man or killing any of the enemy. Clark 
told the natives that they were at perfect liberty to worship 
as they pleased, and to take whichever side of the conflict 
they would, and he would protect them from any barbarity 
from British or Indian foes. This had the desired effect- 
and the inhabitants at once swore allegiance to the Ameri- 
can arms, and when Clark desired to go to Cahokia on the 
6:h of July, they accompanied him, and through their in- 
fluence the inhabitants of the place surrendered. Thus two 
important posts in Illinois passed from the hands of the Eng- 
lish into the possession of Virginia. During the year 
(1779) the famous " Land Laws " of Virginia were passed- 
The passage of these laws was of more consequence to the 
pioneers of Kentucky and the north-west than the gaining 
of a few Indian conflicts. These grants confirmed in the 
main all grants made, and guaranteed to actual settlers their 
rights and privileges. 

After providing for the settlers, the laws provided for sell- 
ing the balance of the public lands at forty cents per acre. 
To carry the Land Laws into effect, the Legislature sent 
four Virginians westward to attend to the various claims 
over many of which great confusion prevailed concerning 
their validity vote.* These gentlemen opened their court on 
October, 13, 1779, at St. Asaphs, and continued until April 
26, 1780, when they adjourned, having decided three thou- 
sand claims. They were succeeded by the surveyor, — George 
May, who assumed the duties on the 10th day of the month 
whose name he bore. With the opening of the next year 
(1781) the troubles concerning the navigation of the Missis- 
sippi commenced. The Government of Spain exacted such 
measures in relation to its trade as to cause the overtures 
made to the United States to be rejected. The American 
Government considered they had a right to navigate its 
channel. To enforce their claims, a fort was erected below 
the mouth of the Ohio on the Kentucky side of the river, f 

* Butler's Kentucky. 

t American Stat* Papers. 



The settlements in Kentucky were being rapidly filled by 
emigrants. It was during this year that the first seminary 
of learning was established in the West in this j-oung and 
enterprising commonwealth. 

The settlers did not look upon the building of the fort in 
a friendly manner as it arou.sed the ho.stility of the Indians. 
Spain had been friendly to the colonies during their struggle 
for independence, and though for a while this friendship ap- 
peared in danger from the refusal of the free navigation of 
the river, yet it was finally settled to the satisfaction of both 
nations. The winter of 1779-80 was one of the most unusu- 
ally severe ones ever experienced in the West. The Indians 
always refered to it as the " Great Cold." Numbers of wild 
animals perished, and not a few pioneers lost their lives. 
The following summer a party of Canadians and Indians, 
attacked St. Louis, and attempted to take possesion of it in 
consequence of the friendly disposition of Spain to the revolt- 
ing colonies. They met with such a determined resistance 
on the part of the inhabitants, even the women taking part 
in the battle, that they were compelled to abandon the con- 
test. They also made an attack on the settlements in Ken- 
tuckv, but, becoming alarmed in some unaccountable man- 
ner, they fled the country in great haste. About this time 
arose the question in the Colonial Congress concerning the 
western lauds claimed by Virginia, New York, Massachu- 
setts and Connecticut. The agitation concerning this sub- 
ject finally led New York, on the 19th of February, 17S0, to 
pass a law giving to the delegates of that State in Congress 
the power to cede her western lands for the benefit of the 
United States. This law was laid before Congress during 
the next month, but no steps were taken concerning it until 
September 6th, when a resolution passed that body calling 
upon the states claiming western lands to release their claims 
in favor of the whole body. This basis formed the Union, 
and was the first after all of those legislative measures, 
which resulted in the creation of the States of Ohio, Indiana, 
Illinois,Michigan,Wiscousin and Jlinnesota. In December of 
thesameyear, the plan of conquering Detroit again arose. The 
conquest might easily have been effected by Clark, had the 
necessary aid been furnished him. Nothing decisive was 
done, yet the heads of the Government knew that the safety 
of the North-West from British invasion lay in the capture 
and retention of that important post, the only unconquered 
one in the territory. 

Before the close of the year, Kentucky was divided into 
the counties of Lincoln, Fayette, and Jefferson, and the act 
establishing the town of Louisville was passed. Virginia in 
accordance with the resolution of Congress, on the 2d day 
of January, 1781, agreed to yield her western lands to the 
United States upon certain conditions, which Congress would 
not accede to,* and the Act of Cession, on the part of the Old 
Dominion, failed, nor was anything farther done until 1783. 
During all that time the colonies were busily engaged in the 
struggle with the mother country, and in consequence thereof 
but little heed was given to the western settlements. Upon 
the 16th of April, 1781, the first birth north of the Ohio 
River of American parentage occurred, being that of Mary 
» American State Papers. 



HI8T0RY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



21 



Heckewelder, daughter of the widely known Moravian Mis- 
sionary, whose baud of Christian Indians suffered in after 
years a horrible massacre by the hands of the frontier settlers, 
who had been exasperated by the murder of several of their 
neighbors, and in their rage committed, without regard to 
humanity, a deed which forever afterwards cast a shade of 
shame upon their lives. For this and kindred outrages on 
the part of the whites, the Indians committed many deeds of 
cruelty which darken the years of 1781 and 17S2 in the his- 
tory of the North- west. During the year 1782 a number of 
battles among the Indians and frontiersmen occurred, and 
between the Moravian Indians and the Wyaudota. In these, 
horrible acts of cruelty were practiced on the captives, many 
of such dark deeds transpiring under the leadership of fron- 
tier outlaws. These occurred diiefly in the Ohio Valleys. 
Contemporary with them were several engagements in Ken- 
tucky, in which the famous Daniel Boone engaged, and who, 
often by his skill and knowledge of Indian warfare, saved 
the outposts from cruel destruction. By the close of the 
year victory had perched upon the American banner, 
and on the 30th of JS^ovember, provisional articles of 
peace had been arranged between the Commissioners of 
England and her unconquerable colonies; Cornwallis had 
been defeated on the 19th of October preceding, and the lib- 
erty of America was assured. On the 19th of April follow- 
ing, the anniversary of the battle of Lexington, peace was 
proclaimed to the Army of the United States, and on the 3d 
of the next September, the definite treaty which ended our 
revolutionary struggle was concluded. By the terms of that 
treaty, the boundaries of the West were as follows : On the 
north the line was to extend along the centre of the Great 
Lakes ; from the western point of Lake Superior to Long 
Lake, thence to the Lake of the Woods ; thence to the head of 
the Mississippi River ; down its center to the 3 1st parallel of 
latitude, then on that line east to the head of the Appalach- 
icola River; down its center to its junction with the Flint ; 
thence straight to the head of St. Mary's River, and thencj 
down along its center to the Atlantic Ocean. 

Following the ce.3sationof hostilities with England, several 
posts were still occupied by the British in the North and 
West. Among these was Detroit, still in the hands of the 
enemy. Numerous engagements with the Indians through- 
out Ohio and Indiana occurred, upon whcse lands adventur- 
ous whites would settle ere the title had been acquired by the 
proper treaty. To remedy this evil. Congress appointed 
Commissioners to treat with the natives and purchase their 
lands, and prohibited the settlement of the territory until 
this could be done. Before the close of the year another 
attempt was made to capture Detroit, which was, however, 
not pushed, and Virginia, no longer feeling the interest in 
the North-west she had formerly done, withdrew her troops, 
having on the 20th of December preceding, authorized the 
whole of her possessions to be deeded to the United States. 
This was done on the 1st of March following, and the North- 
west Territory passed from the control of the Old Dominion. 
To General Clark and his soldiers, however, she gave a tract 
of one hundred and fifty thousand acres of land, to be situ- 
ated anywhere north of the Ohio wherever they chose to 



locate them. They selected the region opposite the falls of 
the Ohio, where is now the village of Clarksville, about mid- 
way between the cities of New Albany and Jeffersonville, 
Indiana. 

While the frontier remained thus, and General Ilahli- 
mand at Detroit refused to evacuate, alleging that he had no 
orderj from his king to do so, settlers were rapidly gather- 
ing about the inland forts. In the spring of 17S4, Pittsburg 
was regularly laid out, and from the journal of Arthur Lee, 
who passed through the town soon after on his way to the 
Indian council at Fort Mcintosh, we suppose it was not very 
prepossessing in appearance. He says, " Pittsburg is in- 
habited almost entirely by Scots and Irish, who live in paltry 
log houses, and are as dirty as if in the North of Ireland, or 
even Scotland There is a great deal of trade carried on, 
the goods being brought at the vast expense of forty-five 
shillings per hundred lbs. from Philadelphia and Baltimore. 
They take in the shops flour, wheat, skins and money. There 
are in the town, four attorneys, two doctors, and not a priest 
of any persaasion, nor church nor chapel." 

Kentucky at this time contained thirty thousand inhabi- 
tants, and was beginning to discuss measures for a separation 
from Virginia. A land office was opened at Louisville, and 
measures were adopted to take defensive precaution against 
the Indians, who were yet, in some instances, incited to deeds 
of violence by the British. Before the close of this year, 
1784, the military claimants of land began to occupy them, 
although no entries were recorded until 1787. The Indian 
title to the Northwest was not yet extinguished, they held 
large tracts of lands, and in order to prevent bloodshed Con- 
gress adopted means for treaties with the original owners 
and provided for the surveys of the lands gained thereby, as 
well as for those north of the Ohio, now in its possession. 
On January 31, 1786, a treaty was made with the Wabash 
Indians. The treaty of Fort Stanwix had been made in 
1781, that at Fort Mcintosh in 178.5, and through these 
vast tracts of land were gained. The Wabash Indians, how- 
ever, afterwards r-'fused to comply with the provisions of 
the treaty made with them, and in order to compel their 
adherence to its provisions, force was used. 

During the year 1786, the free navigation of the Mis- 
sissippi came up in Congress, and caused various discussions, 
which resulted in no definite action, only serving to excite 
speculation in regard to the Western lands. Congress had 
promised bounties of land to the soldiers of the Revolution, 
but owing to the unsettled condition of aflairs along the 
Mississippi respecting its navigation, and the trade of the 
Northwest, that body, had in 1783 declared its inability to 
fulfill these promises until a treaty could be concluded be- 
tween the two governments. Before the close of the year, 
17S6, however, it was able, through the treaties with the 
Indians, to allow some grants and settlements thereon, and 
on the 14th of September Connecticut ceded to the general 
government the tract of land known as the '' Connecticut 
Reserve," and before the close of the year a large tract of 
land was sold to a company, who at once took measures to 
settle it. By the provisions of this grant, the company were to 
pay the United States one dollar per acre, subject to a de- 



HISTORY OF 2IADIS0N COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



ducticjii of one-third for bad lands and other contingencies, [ 
they received 750,000 acres bounded on the south bj the 
Oliio, on the east by the Seventh range of townships, on the , 
west by the Sixteenth range, and on the north by a line so 
drawn as to make the grant complete without the reservatioa. 
In addition to this Congress afterward granted 100,000 acres [ 
to actual settlers, and 214,285 acres as army bounties under 
the resolutions of 1789 and 1790. While Dr. Cutler, one of 
the agents of the company, was pressing its claims before 
Congress, that body was bringing into form an ordinance 
for the political and social organization of this Territory. 
When the cession was made by Virginia, 1784, a plan wag 
offered, but rejected. A motion had been made to strike from 
the proposed plan the prohibition of slavery, which prevail- 
ed. The plan was then discussed and altered, and finally 
passed unanimously, with the exception of South Carolina. 
By this proposition the Territory was to have been divided 
into ten States by parallels and meridian lines. There were, 
however, serious objections to this plan ; the root of the diffi- 
culty was in the resolution of Congress passed in October, 
17tO, which fixed the boundaries of the ceded lands to be 
from one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles square. 
These resolutions being presented to the Legislatures of Vir- 
ginia and Massachusetts they desired a change, and in July 
1786, the subjeet was taken up in Congress and changed to 
favor a division into not more than five States, and not less 
than three ; this was approved by the Legislature of Virginia. 
The subject was again taken up by Congress in 17S6, and 
discussed throughout that year, and until July 1787 when 
the famous " compact of 1787 " was passed, and the founda- 
ti.jn of the government of the Northwest laid. This compact 
is fully discussed and explained in the sketch on Illinois in 
this book, and to it the reader is referred. The passage of this 
act and the grant to the Kew England Company was soon 
followed by an application to the Government by John Cleves 
Symmes, of New Jersey, for a grant of land between the 
Miamis. This gentleman had visited these lands soon after 
the treaty of 1786, and being greatly pleased with them, 
ofilTed similar terms to those given to the New England 
Company. The petition was referred to the Treasury Board 
with power to act, and a contract was concluded the follow- 
ing year. During the autumn the directors of the New 
England Company were preparing to occupy their grant 
the following spring, and upon the 23d of November made 
arrangements for a party of forty-seven men, under the 
superlntendt ncy of General Rufus Putnam, to set forward. 
Six boat-builders were to leave at once, and on the first of 
January the surveyors and their assistant^, twenty-six in 
number, were to meet at Hartford and proceed on their 
journey westward, the remainder to follow as soon as possi- 
ble. Congress in the meantime, upon the 3d of October, 
had ordered seven hundred troops for defense of the western 
settlers, and to prevent unauthorized iutrusions, and two 
days later appointed Arthur St. Clair Governor of the Ter- 
ritory of the Northwest. 

AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS. 

The civil organization of the Northwest Territory was 
now complete, and notwithstanding the uncertainty of In- 



dian affairs, settlers from the east began to come into the 
country rapidly. The New England Company sent their 
men djring the winter of 1787-8, pressing on over the Alle- 
ghenics by the old Indian path which had been opened into 
Braddock's road, and which has since been made a national 
turnpike from Cumberland, westward. Through the weary 
winter days they toiled on, and by April were all gathered 
on the Ycmghiogheny, where boats had been built, and a 
once started for the Muskingum. Here they arrived on the 
7th of that mouth, and unless the Moravian missionaries be 
regarded as the pioneers of Ohio, this little band can justly 
claim that honor. 

General St. Clair, the appointed Governor of the North 
west not having yet arrived, a set of laws were passed, writ- 
tea out, and published by being nailed to a tree in the 
embryo town, and Jonathan Meigs appointed to administer 
them. Washington in writing of this, the first American 
settlement in the Northwest said : " No colony in America 
was ever settled under such favorable auspices as that which 
has just commenced at Muskingum. I know many of its set- 
tlers personally, and there were never men better calculated 
to promote the welfare of such a community." On the 2,1 
of July a meeting of the directors and agents was held on 
the banks of the Muskingum, " for the purpore of naming 
the new born city and its squares." As yet the settlement 
was known as the " Muskingum," but was afterwards changed 
to the name. Marietta, in honor of Marie Antoinette. 
Two days after, an oration was delivered by James M. Var- 
num, who with S. H. Parsons and John Armstrong had been 
appointed to the judicial bench of the territory on the IGth 
of October 1787. On July 9, Governor St. Clair arrived^ 
and the colony began to assume form. The act of 1787 pro- 
vided two distinct grades of government for the Northwest, 
under the first of which the whole power was invested in the 
hands of a governor and three district judges. This was 
immediately formed on the governor's arrival, and the first 
laws of the colony passed on the 25th of July: these provid- 
ed for the organization of the miiitia, and on the next day 
appeared the Governor's proclamation, erecting all that 
country that had been ceded by the Indians east of the 
Scioto River into the county of Washington. From that 
time forward, notwithstanding the doubts yet existing as to 
the Indians, all Marietta prospered, and on the second of 
September the first court was held with imposing ceremonies. 
The emigration westward at this time was very great. 
The commander at Fort Harmer, at the mouth of the ]\Iusk- 
ingum reported four thousand five hundred persons as having 
passed that post between February and June 17S8, many of 
whom would have purchased of the " Associates," as the 
New England Company was called, had they been ready to 
receive them. On the 2Glh of November 1787 Symmes 
issued a pamphlet stating the terms of his contract and the 
plan of sale he intended to adopt. In January 1788, Mat- 
thias Denman, of New Jersey, took an active interest in 
Svmmes' purchase, and located among other tracts the sec- 
tions upon which Cincinnati has been built. Retaining one- 
third of this locality, he sold ihe other two-thirds to Robert 
Patterson and John Filson, and the three about August 



HISTORY OF MADISOX COUNTY, ILLIXOIS. 



23 



commenced to lay out a town ou the spot, which was desig- 
nated as being Licking River, to the mouth of which they 
proposed to have a road cut from Lexington ; these settle- 
ments prospered but suffered greatly from the flood of 1T&9. 
Ou the 4th of March 1789, the Ci.nflitution of the United 
States went into operation, and on April oOih, George 
Washington was inaugurated President, and during the next 
summer an Indian war was commenced by the tribes north 
of the Ohio. The President at first used pacific means, but 
these failing, he sent General Harmer against the hostile 
tribes. He destroyed several villages, but was defeated in 
two battles, near the present city of Fort Wayne, Indiana 
From this time till the close of 1795, the principal events 
were the wars with the various Indian tribes. In 1790, 
General St. Clair was appointed in couimand, and marched 
against the Indians ; but while he was encamped on a stream, 
the St Mary, a branch of the Maumee, he was attacked and 
defeated with a loss of six hundred men. General Wayne 
was then sent against the savages. In August, 1794, he met 
them near the rapids of the Maumee, and gained a complete 
victory. This success, followed by vigorous measures, com- 
pelled the Indians to sue for peace, and on the oOth of July, 
the following year, the treaty of Greenville was signed by 
the principal chiefs, by which a large tract of country was 
ceded to the United States. Before proceeding in our uar- 
ra.ive, we will cause to notice Fort Washington, erected in 
the early part of this war on the site of Cincinnati. Nearly 
all the great cities of the North-west, and indeed of the whole 
country, have had their nuclei in those rude pioneer struc- 
tures, known as forts or stockades. Thus Forts Dearborn, 
Washington, Ponchartrain, mark the original sites of the 
now proud cities of Chicago, Cincinnati and Detroit. So of 
most of the flourishing cities ea t and west of the Mississippi. 
Fort Washington, erected by Doughty in 1790, was a rude 
but highly interesting structure. It was composed of a num- 
ber of strong'y-built hewed log cabins. Those designed for 
soldiers' barracks were a story and a half high, while those 
composing the oiBeers' quarters were more imposing and more 
conveniently arranged and furnished. The whole was so 
placed as to form a hollow square, enclosing about an acre 
of ground, with a block house at each of the four angles. 
Fort Washington was for some time the headquarters of both 
the Civil and Military governments of the North-western 
Territory. Following the consummation of the treaty vari- 
ous gigantic land speculations were entered into by difierent 
persons, who hoped to obtain from the Indians in Jlichigan 
and northern Indiana, large tracts of lands. These were 
generally discovered in time to prevent the schemes from 
being carried out, and from involving the settlers in war. 
On October 'II, 1795, the treaty between the United States 
and Spain was signed, whereby the free navigation of the 
Mississippi was secured. No sooner had the treaty of 1795 
been ratified than settlers began to pour rapidly into the 
west The great event of the year 179G, was the occupa'ion 
of that part of the North-west including Michigan, which 
was this year, under the provisions of the treaty, evacuated 
by the British forces. The L'nited States owing to certain 
conditions, did not feel justified in addressing the authorities 



in Canada in relation to Detroit and other frontier posts. 
When at last the British authorities were called upon to give 
them up, they at once complied, and General Wayne who 
had done so much to preserve the frontier settlements, and 
who before the year's close, sickened and died near Erie, 
transferred his headquarters to the neighborhood of the lakes, 
where a county named after him was f jrmed, which included 
the north-west of Ohio, all of Michigan, and the north-east 
of Indiana. During this same year settlements were formed 
at the present city of Chillicolhe, along the Miami from 
Middletowu to Piqua, while in the more distant West, settlers 
and speculators began to appear in great numbers. In Sep- 
tember the city of Cleveland was laid out, and during the 
summer and autumn, Samuel Jackson and Jonathan Sharp- 
less, erected the first manufactory of paper — the " Kedstone 
Paper Mills" — in the West. St. Louis contained some 
seventy houses, and Detroit over three hundred, and along 
the river, contiguous to it, were more than three thousand 
inhabitants, mostly French Canadians, Indians and half- 
breeds, scarcely any Americans venturing yet into that part 
of the North-west. The election of re[)resentative3 for the 
territory had taken place, and on the 4th of February, 1799, 
they convened at Losantiville— now known as Cincinnati, 
having been named so by Gov. St. Clair, and considered the 
capital of the territory, — to nominate persons from whom the 
members of the Legislature were to be chosen in accordance 
with a previous ordinance. This nomination being made, 
the Assembly adjourned until the 16. h of the following Sep- 
tember. From those named the President selected as mem- 
bers of the council, Henry Yandenburg, of Yincennes, Robert 
Oliver, of Marietta, James Findley, and Jacob Burnett, of 
Cincinnati, and David Yauce, of Yanceville. Ou the IGth 
of September, the Territorial Legislature met, and on the 
24:h, the two houses were duly organized, Henry Yanden- 
burg being elected Prejident of the Council. The message 
of Gov. St. Clair, was addressed to the Legislature Septem- 
ber 20th, and on October l-'Jth, that body elected as a dele- 
gate to Congress, General Wra. Henry Harrison, who re- 
ceived eleven of the votes cast, being a majority of one over 
his opponent, Arthur St. Clair, son of General St. Clair. 
The whole number of acts passed at this session and approved 
by the Governor, were thirty-seven — eleven others were 
passed but received his veto. The most important of those 
l)assed related to the militia, to the administration, and to 
taxation. On the 19th of December this protracted session 
of the first Legislature in the West closed, and ou the SOlh 
of December the President nominated Charles Willing Byid, 
to the office of secretary of the Territory, vice Wm. Henry 
Harrison, elected to Congress. The Senate confirmed his 
nomination the next day. 

DIVISION OF THE NORTH-WEST TEEKITOEY. 

The increased emigration to the north-west, and extent of 
the domain, made it very difficult to conduct the ordinary 
operations of government, and rendered the efficient action 
of courts almost impossible ; to remedy this it was deemed 
advisable to divide the territory for civil purposes. Con- 



24 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILIINOIS. 



gress, iu 1800, appointed a committee to examine the ques- 
tion and report some means for its solution. 

Tliis committee on the 3d of March reported : " In the 
western countries there had been but one court luiviug cog- 
nizance of crimes, iu five years, and the immunity which 
offenders experience attracts, as to an asylum, the most vile 
and abandoned criminals, and at the same time deters useful 
citizens from making settlements iu such society. The 
extreme necessity of judiciary attention and assistance is 
experienced in civil as well as in criminal cases. * * * * 
To remedy this evil it is expedient to the committee that a 
division of said territory into two distinct and separate 
governments should be made, and that such division be 
made by beginning at the mouth of the Great Miami river, 
running directly north until it intersects the boundary 
between the United States and Canada." 

The report was accepted by Congress, and, in accordance 
with its suggestions, that body passed an act extinguishing 
the north-west territory, which act was approved May 7th. 
Among its provisions were these : 

" That from and after July 4 next all that part of the 
territory of the United States north-west of the Ohio river, 
which lies to the westward of a line beginning at a point 
opposite the mouth of the Kentucky river, and running 
thence to Fort Recovery, and thence North until it shall 
intersect the territorial line between the United States and 
Canada, shall for the purpose of temporary government, 
constitute a separate territory and be called the Indian 
Territory." 

Gen. Harrison (afterwards President), was appointed 
governor of the Indiana Territory, and during his residence 
at Vincennes, he made several important treaties with the 
Indians, thereby gaining large tracts of land. The next 
year is memorable iu the history of (he west for the purchase 
of Louisiana from France by the United States for $15,000,- 
000. Thus by a peaceful manner the domain of the United 
States was extended over a large tract of country west of 
the Mississippi, and was for a time under the jurisdiction of 
the north-western government. The next year Gen. Harri- 
son obtained additi )nal grants of land from the various 
Indian nations in Indiana and the present limits of Illinois, 
and on the 18th of August, 1804, completed a treaty at St. 
Louis, whereby over 51,000,000 acres of land were obtained. 

During this year. Congress granted a township of land 
for the support of a college and began to offer inducements 
for settlers in these wilds, and the country now comprising 
the state of Michigan began to fill rapidly with settlers 
along its southern borders. This same year a law was 
passed organizing the south-west territory, dividing it into 
two portions, — the territory of New Orleans, which city was 
made the seat of government, and the district of Louisiana^ 
which was annexed to the domain by General Harrison. 

On the 11th of January, 1805, the territory of Michigan 
was formed, and Wm. Hull appointed governor, with head- 
quarters at Detroit, the change to take effect June 30th. 
On the 11th of that month, a fire occurred at Detroit, which 
destroyed most every building in the place. When the 
officers of the new territory reached the post, they found it 



in ruins, and the inhabitants scattered throughout the coun- 
try. Rebuilding, however, was commenced at once. While 
this was being done, Indiana passed to the second grade of 
government. In 1809, Indiana territory was divided, and 
the territory of Illinois was formed, the seat of government 
being fixed at Kaskaskia, and through her General Assem- 
bly had obtained large tracts of land from the Indian tribes. 
To all this the celebrated Indian Tecumthe, or Tecumseh, 
vigorously protested,* and it was the main cause of his 
attempts to unite the various Indian tribes in a conflict with 
the settlers. He visited the principal tribes, and succeeded 
in forming an alliance with most of the tribes, and then 
joined the cause of the British in the memorable war of 1812. 
Tecumseh was killed at the battle of the Thames. Tecum- 
seh wa.s, iu many respects, a noble character, — frank and 
honest in his intercourse with General Harrison and the 
settlers ; in war, brave and chivalrous. His treatment of 
prisoners was humane. In the summer of 1S12, Perry's vic- 
tory on Lake Erie occurred, and shortly after, active pre- 
parations were made to capture Fort Maiden. On the 27th 
of September, the American army under command of 
General Harrison, set sail for the shores of Canada, and, in 
a few hours, stood around the ruins of Malilen, from which 
the British army under Proctor had retreated to Sandwich, 
intending to make its way to the heart of Canada by the 
valley of the Thames. On the 20th, General Harrison was 
at Sandwich, and General McArthur took possession of 
Detroit and the territory of Michigan. On the 2d of Octo- 
ber following, the American army began their pursuit of 
Proctor, whom they overtook on the 5th, and the battle of 
the Thames followed. The victory was decisive, and practi- 
cally closed the war in the north-west. In 1806, occurred 
Burr's insurrection. He took possession of an island in the 
Ohio, and was charged with treasonable intentions against 
the Federal government. His cajsture was effected by 
General AVilkinson, acting under instruction of President 
Jefferson. Burr was brought to trial on a charge of treason, 
and, after a prolonged trial, during which he defended him- 
self with great ability, he was acquitted of the charge of 
treason. His subsequent, career was obscure, and he died 
in 1836. Had his scheme succeeded, it would be interesting 
to know what effect it would have had on the north-we teim 
territory. The battle of tiie Thames was fought October 
6th, 1813. It effectually closed hostilities in the north-west, 
although peace was not restored until July 22J, 1814, when 
a treaty was made at Greenville, by General Ilarri.son, be- 
tween the United States and the Indian tribes. On the 24th 
of December, the treaty of Ghent was signed by the repre- 
sentatives of England and the United States. This treaty 
was followed the next year by treaties with various Indian 
tribes throughout t!ic north-west, and quiet was again 
restored. 

PRESENT CONDITIOX OF THE NORTH-WEST. 

In former chapters we have traced briefly the disoveries, 
settlements, wars, and most important events which have 
occurred in the large area of country denominated the 

* American State Papers 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



25 



north-west, and we now turn to the contemplation of its 
growth and prosperity. Its people are among the most 
intelligent and enterprising in the Union. The population 
is steadily increasing, the arts and sciences are gaining a 
stronger foothold, the trade area of the region is becoming 
daily more extended, and we have been largely exempt from 
the financial calamities which have nearly wrecked com 
nmnifSes on the seaboard, dependent wholly on foreign com- 
merce or domestic manufocture. Agriculture is the leading 
feature in our industries. This vast domain has a sort of 
natural geographical border, save where it melts away to 
the southward in the cattle-raising districts of the south- 
west. The leading interests will be the growth of the food 
of the world, in which branch it has already outstripped all 
competitors, and our great rival will be the fertile fields cf 
Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico. 

To attempt to give statistics of grain productions for 1880 
would require more space than our work would permit of. 
Manufacturing has now attained in the chief cities a foot- 
hold that bids fair to render the north-west independent of 
the outside world. Nearly our whole region has a distribu- 
tion of coal measure which will in time support the manu- 
factures necessary to our comfort and prosperity. As to 
transportation, the chief factor in the production of all articles 
except food, no section is so magnificently endowed, and 
our facilities are yearly increasing beyond those of any 
other region. 

The principal tradeand manufacturing centres of the great 
north-west are Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, 
Detroit, Cle\'€land and Toledo, with any number of minor 
cities and towns doing a large and growing business. The 
intelligence and enterprise of its people ; the great wealth of 
its soil and minerals ; its vast inland seas and navigable 
rivers ; its magnificent railroad system ; its patriotism and 
Jove of country will render it ever loyal in the future as in 
the past. The people of the Mississippi Valley are the key- 
stone of the national union and national prosperity. 



CHAPTER H. 



BRIEF HISTOmCAL SKETCU OF ILLIXOIS. 




EGINNING the history of this great State 
we direct attention briefly to the discovery 
and exploration of the MUaksipjn. Hernando 
De Soto, cutting his way through the wilder- 
ness from Florida, had discovered the Missis- 
sippi in the year 1542. Wasted with disease 
and privation, he only reached the stream 
to die upon its banks, and the remains of 
the ambitious and iron-willed Spaniard found 
a fitting resting-place beneath the waters of the great river. 
The chief incitement to Spanish discoveries in America was 
a thirst for gold and troa?ure. The discovery and settle- 
ment of the Missicsippi Valley on the part of the French 



must, on the other hand, be ascribed to religious zeal. 
Jesuit missionaries, from the French settlements on the St. 
Lawrence, early penetrated to the region of Lake Huron. 
It was from the tribes of Indians living in the West, that 
intelligence came of a noble river flowing south. Marquette, 
who had visited the Chippewas in 1GG8, and established 
the mission of Sault Ste. Marie, now the oldest settlement 
within the present commonwealth of ilichigan, formed the 
purpose of its exploration. 

The following year he moved to La Pointe, in Lake 
Superior, where he instructed a branch of the Hurons till 
IGrO, when he removed south and founded the mission at 
St. Ignace, on the Straits of Mackinaw. In company with 
Joliet, a fur-trader of Quebec, who had been designated by 
M. Talon, Intendent of Canada, as chieftain of the explor- 
ing party, and five French voyagcurs, Marquette, ou the 
10th of June, 1G73, sot out on the expedition. Crossing 
the water-shed dividing the Fox from the Wisconsin rivers, 
their two canoes were soon launched ou the waters of the 
latter. Seven days after, on the 17tli of June, they joy- 
fully entered the broad current of the Mississippi. Stopping 
six days on the western bank, near the mouth of the Des 
Moines River, to enjoy the hospitalities of the Illinois 
Indians, the voyage was resumed, and after passing the 
jierpendicular rocks above Alton, on whose lofty limestone 
front were painted frightful representations of monsters, 
they suddenly came upon the mouth of the Missouri, known 
by its Algonquin name of Pekitanoni, whose swift and 
turbid current threatened to engulf their frail canoes. The 
site of St. Louis was an unbroken forest, and further down 
the fertile plain bordering the river rejjosed in peaceful 
solitude, as, early in July, the adventurers glided past it. 
They continued their voyage to a jioiut some distauee below 
the mouth of the Arkansas, and then retraced their course 
up the river, arriving at their Jesuit Mission at the head of 
Greeii Bay, late in September. 

Robert Cavalier de La Salle, whose illustrious name is 
more intimately connected with the exploration of the 
Mississippi than that of any other, was the next to descend 
the river, in the early part of the year 1682. La Salle was a 
man of remarkable genius, possessing the power of originating 
the vastest schemes, and endowed with a will and a judgment 
capable of carrying them to successful results. Had ample 
facilities been placed by the king of France at his disposal, 
the result of the colonization of this continent might have 
been far different from what we now behold. He was born 
in Rouen, France, in 1C43, of wealthy parentage, but ho 
renounced his patrimony on entering a college of the Jesuits 
from which he separated and came to Canada a poor man 
in 1666. The priests of St. Sulpice, among whom he had a 
brother, were then the proprietors of j\[ontreal, the nucleud 
of which was a seminary or convent founded by that order. 
The Superior granted to La Salle a large tract of land at 
La Chine, where he established himself in the fur trade. 
He was a man of daring genius, and outstripped all his 
competitors in exploits of travel and commerce with the 
Indians. In 16G9 he visited the hea'lquarters of the groat 
Iroquois Confederacy, at Onondaga, i:i the heart of New 



2(3 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



York, and obtaining guides, exjjlorcd the Ohio River to the 
falls at Louisville. 

In order to understand the intrepid genius of La Salle, 
it must be remembered that for many years prior to his 
time the missionaries and traders were obliged to make their 
way to the North west by the Ottaway River (of Canada), 
on account of the fierce hostility of the Iroquois along the 
lower lakes and Niagara River, which entirely closed this 
latter route to the Upper Lakes. They carried on their 
commerce chiefly by canvas, paddling them through the 
Ottaway to Lake Nipissing, carrying them across the port- 
age to French River, and descending that to Lake Huron. 
This being the route by which they reached the North-west, 
accounts for the fact that all the earliest Jesuit missions 
were established in the neighborhood of the Upper Lakes. 
La Salle conceived the grand idea of opening the route by 
Niagara River and the Lo^er Lakes to Canadian commerce 
by sail vessels, connecting it with the navigation of the 
Mississippi, and thus opening a magnificent water communi- 
cation from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to the Gulf of Mexico. 
This truly grand and comprehensive purpose seems to 
have animated him in all his wonderful achievements and 
the matchless difliculties and hardships he surmounted. 

As the first step in the accomplishment of this object he 
established himself on Lake Ontario, and built and gar- 
risoned Fort Frontenac, the site of the present city of 
Kingston, Canada. Here he obtained a grant of land from 
the French crown and a body of troops by which he beat 
back the invading L-oquois and cleared the passage to 
Niagara Falls. Having by this masterly stroke made it 
safe to attempt a hitherto untried expedition, his next step 
as we have seen, was to advance to the falls with all his 
outfit for building a ship with which to sail the lakes. He 
was successful in this undertaking, though his ultimate pur- 
pose was defeated by a strange combination of untoward 
circumstances. The Jesuits evidently hated La Salle and 
plotted against him, because he had abandoned them and 
co-operated with a rival order. The fur traders were also 
jealous of his superior success in opening new channels of 
commerce. At La Chine he had taken the trade of Lake 
Ontario, which but for his presence there would have gone 
to Quebec. While they were plodding with their bark 
canoes through the Ottaway he was constructing vessels to 
command the trade of the lakes and the Mississippi. These 
great plans excited the jealousy and envy of the small 
traders, introduced treason and revolt into the ranks of his 
own companions, and finally led to the foul assassination by 
which his great achievements were prematurely ended. In 
1082, La Salle, having completed his vessel at Peoria, 
descended the Mississippi to its confluence with the Gulf of 
Mexico. At its mouth he erected a column, and decorating 
it with the arms of France, placed upon it the following 
inscription : 

LOUIS LE GBAND, ROI DE FRANCE ET DE NAVAKKE KEGNE ; 
LE XEUVIEME AVRIL, 1682. 

Thus France, by right of discovery, lay claim to llio 
Mississippi Valley, the fairest portion of the globe, an 



empire in extent, stretching from the Gulf to the Lakes, 
and from the farthest sources of the Ohio to where the head 
waters of the Missouri are lost in the wild solitudes of the 
Rocky Mountains. La Salle bestowed upon the turritory 
the name of Louisiana, in honor of the King of France, 
Louis XIV. 

The assertion has been made that on La Salle's return up 
the river, in the summer of 1682, a portion of the party 
were left behind, who founded the village of Kaskaskia and 
Cahokia, but the statement rests on no substantial foun- 
dation. 

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS IN ILLINOIS. 

The gentle and pious Marquette, devoted to his purpose 
of carrying the gospel to the Indians, had established a 
mission among the Illinois, in 1^75, at their principal town 
on the river which still bear stheir name. This was at the 
present town of Utica, in La Salle County. In the presence 
of the whole tribe, by whom, it is recorded, he was received 
as a celestial visitor, he displayed the sacred pictures of the 
Virgin Mary, raised an altar, and said mass. On Easter 
Sunday, after celebrating the mystery of the Eucharist, he 
took possession of the land in the name of the Saviour of 
the world, and founded the "Mission of the Immaculate 
Conception." The town was called Kaskaskia, a name 
afterwards transferred to another locality. The founding 
of this mission was the last act of Marquette's life. He 
died in Michigan, on his way back to Green Bay, May 18, 
1675. 

La Salle, while making preparations to descend the 
Mississippi, built a fort, on the Illinois River, below the 
Lake of Peoria, in February, 1680, and in commemoration 
of his misfortunes, bestowed upon it the name of Creveca:ur, 
"broken-hearted." Traces of its embankments are yet dis- 
cernible. This was the first military occupation of Illinois. 
There is no evidence, however, that settlement was begun 
there at that early date. 

On La Salle's return from this exploration of the Missis- 
.=ippi, in 1682, he fortified " Starved Rock," whose military 
advantages had previously attracted his attention. From 
its summit, which rises 12.5 feet above the waters of the 
river, the valley of the Illinois speeds out before the eye in 
landscape of rarest beauty. From three sides it is inacces- 
sible. This stronghold received the name of the Fort of 
St. Louis. Twenty thousand allied Indians gathered round 
it on the fertile plains. The fort seems to have been aban- 
doned soon after the year 1700. 

Marquette's mission (1675), Crevecosur (1680), and the 
Fort of St. Louis (1G32), embrace, so far, all the attempts 
made towards efi'ecting anything like a permanent settle- 
ment ia the Illinois country. Of the second few traces 
remain. A line of fortifications may be faintly traced, and 
that is all. The seed of civilization planted by the Jesuit, 
Marquette, among the Illinois Indians, was destined to pro- 
duce more enduring fruit. It was the germ of Kaskaskia, 
during the succeeding years of the French occupation — the 
metropolis of the Mississippi Valley. The southern Kas- 
kaskia is merely the northern one transplanted. The 
Mii^ion of the Immaculate Conception i.s the tame. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, IIIINOIS 



27 



FOUNDING OF KASKASKIA. 

On the death of Marquette, he was succeeded by Alloiif z, 
and he by Father Gravier, who respectively had charge of 
the Mission on the Illinois River Gravier is said to have 
been the first to reduce the principles of the Illinois lan- 
guage to rules. It was also he who succeeded in trans- 
ferring Marquette's Mission from the banks of the Illinois 
south to the spot where stands the modern town of Kas- 
kaskia, and where it was destined to endure. The exact 
date is not known, but the removal was accomplished some 
time prior to the year 1685, though probably not earlier 
than 1G82. 

Father Gravier was subsequently recalled to Mackinaw, 
and his place was supplied by Biueteau and Pinet. Pinet 
proved an eloquent and successful minister, and his chapel 
was often insufficient to hold the crowds of savages who 
gathered to hear his words. Bineteau met with a fate 
similar to that which befell many another devoted priest in 
his heroic labors for the conversion of the savages. Ho 
accompanied the Kaskaskias on one of their annual hunts 
to the upper Mississippi, that his pastoral relations might 
not suffer intermission. His frame was poorly fittfd to 
stand the exposure. Parched by day on the burning 
prairie, chilled by heavy dews at night, now panting with 
thirst and agiin aching with cold, he at length fell a 
victim to a violent fever, and " left his bones on the wilder- 
ness range of the buffaloes." Pinet shortly after followed 
his comrade. 

Father Gabriel Morrest had previously arrived at Kas- 
kaskia. He was a Jesuit. He had carried the emblem of 
his faith to the frozen regions of Hudson's Bay, and had 
been taken prisoner by the English, and npon his liberation 
returned to America, and joined the Kaskaskia Mission. 
After the deaths of Bineteau and Pinet, he had sole charge 
until joined by Father Mermet shortly after the opening of 
the eighteenth ceutur}*. 

The devotion and piety of Mermet fully equalled those of 
his compauion. He had assisted in collecting a village of 
Indians and Canadians, and had thus founded the first 
French port on the Ohio, or, as the lower part of the river 
was then called, the Wabash. At the Kaskaskia Mission 
his gentle virtues and fervid eloquence seem not to have been 
without their influence. " At early dawn his pupils came 
to church dressed neatly and modestly, each in a large deer- 
skin, or in a robe stitched together from several skins. 
Afler receiving lessons they chanted canticles ; mass was 
then said in presence of all the Christians in the place, the 
French and the converts — the women on one side and the 
men on the other. From prayer and instruction the mis- 
sionaries proceeded to visit the sick and administer medicine, 
and their skill as physicians did more than all the rest to 
win confidence. In the afternoon the catechism was taught 
in the presence of the young and the old, when every one, 
without distinction of rank or ago, answered the questions of 
the missionary. At evening all would assemble at the 
chapel for instruction, for prayer, and to chant the hymns 
of the church. On Sundays and festivals, even after vespt rs 
a homily was pronouncsd ; at the close of the day parties 



would meet in houses to recite the chaplet in alternate 
choirs, and sing p=alms until late at night. These psalms 
were often homilies with words set to familiar tunes. Satur- 
day and Sunday were days appointed for confession and 
communion, and every convert confessed once in a fortnight. 
The success of the mission was such that marriages of 
French immigrauts were sometimes solemnized with the 
daughters of the Illinois according to the rites of the 
Catholic Church. The occupation of the country was a 
cantonment of Europeans among the native proprietors of 
the forests and the prairies.* A court of law was unknown 
for nearly a century, and up to the time of Boisbriaut there 
was no local government. The priests possessed the entire 
confidence of the community, and their authority happily 
settled, without the tardy delays and vexations of the courts, 
the minor difficulties which threatened the peace of the 
settlement. Of the families which formed part of the 
French population in the early history of Kaskaskia, there 
is some uncertainty. There is, however, authority for 
believing that the following were among the principal 
settlers: Bazyl La Chapelle, â– Michael Derouse, (called St. 
Pierre), Jean Baptiste St. Gemme Bcauvais, Baptiste JIoii- 
treal, Boucher de Moutbrun, Charles Danie, Francois 
Charlesville, Antoine Bienvenu, Louis Bruyat, Alexis D<iza, 
Joseph Paget, Prix Pagi, Michael Antoyeu, Lauglois De 
Lisle, La Derrou to and Nova!- 

AS PAUT OF LOrrsiASA. 

The settlements of Illinois had been a separate depend- 
ency of Canada. In 1711, together with the settlements on 
the Lower Mississippi, which had been founded by D'lher- 
ville and Bienville, they becama united in a single province 
under the name of Louisiana, with the capital at Mobile. 

The exclusive control of the commerce of this region, 
whose boundless resources, it was believed, were to enrich 
France, was granted to Anthony Crozat, a merchant of 
great wealth. "We permit him," says the king in his 
letters patent, " to search, open, and dig all mines, veins, 
minerals, precious stones and pearls, and to transport the 
proceeds thereof into any part of France for fifteen years." 
La Motte Cadillac, who had now become royal Governor of 
Louisiana, was his partner. Hopes of obtaining great 
quantities of gold and silver animated the proprietors, as 
well as agitated France. Two pieces of silver ore, left at 
Kaskaskia by a traveler from ]\Iexico, were exhibited to 
Cadillac as the produce of a mine in Illinois. Elated by 
this prospect of wealtli, the Governor hurried up the river 
to find his anticipations fiule away in disappointment. Iron 
ore and the purest lead were discovered in large quantities 
in Jlissouri, but of gold, and silver, and precious stones not 
a trace was found. After Crozat had expended 42.3,000 
livres, and realized only 300,000, he, ia 1717, petitioned the 
king for the revocation of his charter. The white popula- 
tion had slowly increased ; and at the time of his departure 
it was estimated that the families comprising the Illinoi.s 
settlements, now including those on the ^V abash, numbered 
three hundred and twenty souls. 

* riancroft. 



28 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



The commerce of Louisiana was next transferred to the 
Mississipjii Company, instituted under the auspices of the 
notorious John Law. The wild excitement and visionary 
schemes which agitated France during Law's connection 
with the Cjrapany of the West, and while at the head of 
the Bank of France, form the ruost curious chapter in the 
annals of commercial speculations. These delusive dreams 
of wealth were based mainly upon the reports of the fabu- 
lous riches of the Mississippi Valley. Attempts to colonize 
the couutry were conducted with careless prodigality. 
Three ships landed eight hundred emigrants in August, 
1718, near Mjbile, whence they were to make their way 
overland to the Mississippi. Bienville, on the banks of that 
river, had already SL'lected the spot for the Capital of the 
new Empire, which, after the Regent of France, was named 
New Orleans. From among the emigrants, eighty convicts 
from the prisons of France were sent to clear away the 
coppices which thickly studded the site. Three years after 
in 1721, the place was yet a wilderness, overgrown with 
cauebrakes, among which two hundred persons Lad en- 
camped. 

Phillip Renault was created Director-General of the 
mines of the new country, and an expedition was organized 
to work them. Renault left France, in 1719, with two 
hundred mechanics and laborers. Touching at Ban Domingo 
he bought five hundred negro slaves for working the mines. 
On reaching the Mi.ssissippi, he sailed to Illinois, the region 
in which gold and silver were supposed to abound. A few 
miles from Kaskaskia, in what is now the south-west corner 
of Monroe Count}'^, was the seat of his colony. The village 
which he founded received the name of St. Phillip's. From 
this point various expeditions were sent out in search of the 
precious metals. Drewry's Creek, in Jackson County, was 
explored ; St. Mary's, in Randolph ; Silver Creek, in 
Monroe; and various parts of St. Clair County, and other 
districts of Illinois. On Silver Creek, tradition has it that 
considerable quantities of silver were discovered and sent to 
France, and from this the stream has its name. By the 
retrocession of the territory to the crown, Renault was left 
to prosecute the business of mining without means. His 
operations proved a disastrous failure. 

FORT CHAETEES. 

Meanwhile war had sprung up between France and Spain 
and to protect the Illiuois settlements from incursions of 
Spanish cavalry across the Great De.sert, it was thouo-ht 
advisable to establish a fort in the neighborhood of Kas- 
kaskia. A Spanish expedition had, indeed, been fitted out 
at Santa Fe, but their guides, leading it by mistake to the 
Missouri Indians, instead of the Osages, enemies instead of 
friends, the whole party was massacred, with the exception 
of a priest who escaped to relate the fate of his unfortunate 
omrades. Previous to this La Salle, on the occasion of his 
visit to Paris, had shown the necessity of building a chain 
of forts from Canada to the Gulf, in order to secure the 
territory to the crown of France. lu 171s, Boisbriant was 
despatched to Illinois. He began the building of Fort 
Cbartres, long the strongest fortress on the Western Conti- 



nent, and of wide celebrity in the subsequent history of 
Illinois. 

Fort Chartres stood on the east bank of the Mississippi, 
seventeen miles north-west of Kaskaskia, and between three 
and four miles from the location of the present village of 
Prairie du Rocher. The Company of the West finally built 
their warehouses here. In 1721, on the divi.sion of Louisi- 
ana into seven districts, it became the headquarters of Bois- 
briant, the first local Governor of Illinois. Fort Chartres 
was the seat of the Government of Illinois, not only while 
the French retained possession of the country, but after it 
passed under English control. When the fort was built, it 
st)od about one mile distant from the river. In the year 1724 
an inundation of the Mississijipi washed away a portion of 
bank iu front of the fort. 

Captain Philip Pitman visited Illinois in 1766. He was 
an engineer in the British army, and was sent to Illinois to 
make a survey of the forts, and report the condition of the 
country, which had recently passed under British control. 
He published in London, in 1770, a work entitled, " The 
present State of the European Settlements on the Missis- 
sippi," in which he gives an accurate description of Fort 
Chartres : 

" Fort Chartres, when it belonged to France, was the seat 
of the governmeut of the Illinois. The headquarters of the 
English commanding officer is now here, who, in fact, is the 
arbitrary governor of the couutry. The fort is an irregular 
quadrangle. The sides of the exterior polygon are four hun- 
dred and ninety feet. It is built of stone, and plastered over, 
and is only designed for defence agaiust the ludians. The 
walls are two feet two inches thick, and are pierced with 
loopholes at regular distances, and with two port holes for 
cannon in the facies, and two in the flaaks of each b.astion. 
The ditch has never been finished. The entrance to the fort 
is through a very handsome rustic gate. Within the walls 
is a banquette raised three feet, for the men to stand on when 
they fire through the loopholes. The buildings within th». 
fort are, a commandant's and a commissary's house, the 
magazine of stores, corps de garde, and two barracks. ^ ,These 
occupy the square. Within the gorges of the bastion are a 
powder-magazine, a bake-house, and a prison, in the floor of 
which are four dungeons, and in the upper, two rooms and 
an out-house belonging to the commandant. The command- 
ant's house is thirty-two yards long and ten broad, and con- 
tains a kitchen, a dining-room, a bed-chamber, one small 
room, five closets for servants, and a cellar. The commis- 
sary's house is built on the same line as this, and its propor- 
tion and the distribution of its apartments are the same. 
Opposite these are the store-house, and the guardhouse, each 
thirty yards long and eight broad. The former consists of 
two large store rooms, (under which is a large vaulted cellar), 
a large room, a bed-chamber, and a closet for the storekeeper. 
The latter of a soldiers' and officers' guard-room, a chapel, 
a bed-chamber, a closet for the chaplaiu, and an artillery 
store-room. The lines of barracks have never been finished. 
They at present consist of two rooms each for officers, and 
three for soldiers. They are each twenty-five feet square, 
and have betwixt a small passage." 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, IIIINOIS. 



29 



Such was Fort Chartres, believed at the time to be the 
most convenient and best built stronghold in Xorth America ! 
Just before the French surrender, forty families lived in the 
neighboring village, in which stood a parish church, under 
the care of a Franciscan friar, and dedicated to St. Anne. 
At the time of the surrender to the English, all, with the 
exception of three or four families, abandoned their homes, 
and removed to the west bank of the Mississippi, preferring 
the government of La Belle France to the hated English 
rule, ignorant that by secret treaty the territory west 
of the Mississippi had been ceded to Spain, even before 
the transfer of the region eastward was made to the 
English. 

But the glory of the old fortress soon departed! In 1756 
nearly half a mile intervened between Fort Chartres and the 
bank of the Mississippi. A sand bar, however, was forming 
opposite, to which the river was fordable. Ten years later 
the current had cut the bank away to within eighty yards of 
the fort. The sand-bar had become an island, covered with 
a thick growth of cottonwoods. The channel between it 
and the eastern bank was forty feet in dep^h. In the great 
freshet six years afier, in 1772, in which the American Bot- 
tom was inundated, the west walls and two of the bastions 
were swept away in the flood. It was abandoned by the 
British garrison, which took up its quarters in Fort Gage, 
on the bluff opposite Kaskaskia, which then became the seat 
of government. From this date its demolition proceeded 
rapidly. In 1820 the south-east angle was still remaining. 
Only vestiges of the old Fortress can now hi traced. Much 
of the stone was carried away, and used for building pur- 
poses elsewhere. Trees of stately growth cover the founda- 
tions. The river has retreated to its original channel, and 
is now a mile distant from the ruins. A growth of timber 
covers the intervening land, where less than a century ago 
swept the mighty current of the Father of Waters. 

UNDER FRENCH RULE. 

During the few years immediately succeeding the comple- 
tion of Fort Chartres, prosperity prevailed in the settlements 
between the Kaskaskia and the Miss'ssip|)i rivers. Prairie 
du Rocher, founded about the year 1722, received consider- 
able accessions to its population. Among the earliest French 
settlers to make their homes here were Etienne Langlois, 
Jean Baptiste Blais, Jean Baptiste Barbeaux, Antoine 
Louvier, and the La Compte and other families, whose de- 
scendants are still found in that locality. New settlements 
sprang up, and the older ones increased in population. At 
Kaskaskia, the Jesuits established a monastery, and founded 
a college. In 1725 the village became an incorporated town, 
and the king, Louis XV., granted the inhabitants a com- 
mons. The Bottom land, extending upward along the Mis- 
sissippi, unsurpassed for the richness of its soil, was in the 
process of being rapidly settled by the larger number of new 
arrivals in the colony. Fort Chartres, the seat of govern- 
ment and the headquarters of the commandment of Upper 
Louisiana, attracted a wealthy, and for Illinois, a fashionable 
population. 

After having been fourteen years under the government 



of the Western Company, in April, 1732, the king issued a 
proclamation by which Louisiana was declared free to all his 
subjects, and all restrictions on commerce were removed. 
At this time many flourishing settlements had sprung up in 
Illinois, centering about Kaskaskia, and the inhabitants were 
said to be more exclusively devoted to agriculture than in 
any other of the French settlements in the West. 

M. D'Artaguette, in 1732, became commandant of Fort 
Chartres, and Governor of Upper Louisiana. Between New 
Orleans and Kaskaskia the country was yet a wilderness. 
Communication by way of the Mississippi w'as interrupted 
by the Chickasaws, allies of the English and enemies of 
France, whose cedar barks shooting boldly out into the cur- 
rent of the Mississippi, cut off the connection between the 
two colonies. It was in an attempt to subdue these that 
M. D'Artaguette, the commandant, lost h's life. An officer 
arrived at Fort Chartres from M. Prerrier, Governor-General 
at New Orleans, in the year 1736, summoning M. D'Arta- 
guette, with his French soldiers, and all the Indians whom 
he could induce to join him, to unite in an expedition against 
the enemy. With an army of fifty Frenchmen, and more 
than one thousand Indians accompanied by Father Senat 
and the gallant Vincennes, commandant of the post on the 
Wabash, where now stands the city bearing his name, 
D'Artaguette stole cautiously in the Chickasaw country. 
His Indian allies were impatient, and the commander con- 
sented, against his better judgment, to an immediate attack. 
One fort was carried — another — and then in making the as- 
sault on the third, the j'oung and intrepid D'Artaguette fell 
at the head of his forces, pierced with wounds. The Indian 
allies made this reverse the signal for their flight. The 
Jesuit Senat might have fled, Vincennes might have saved 
his life, but both preferred to share the flite of their leader. 
The captives afterward met death at the stake under the slow 
torments of fire. 

La Buissoniere succeeded as commandant at Fort Chartres. 
In 1739 a second expedition was undertaken against the 
C.iickasaw country. La Buissoniere joined Bienville, then 
Governor-General of Louisiana, with a force of two hundred 
Frenchmen and three hundred Indians. The whole force 
under Bienville was twelve hundred French and five hun- 
dred Indians and negroes. His men suffered greatly from 
malarial fevers and famine, and returned the following 
spring without conquering the Chickasaws, with whom after- 
ward, however, amicable relations were established. 

The period from 1740 to 1750 was one of great prosperity 
for the colonies. Cotton was introduced and cultivated. 
Regular cargoes of pork, fljur, baaon, tallow, hides and 
leather, were floated down the Mississippi, and exported 
thence to Frauoe. French emigrants p)ured rapidly into 
the settlements. Canadians exchanged the cold rigors of 
their climate for the sunny atmosphere and rich soil of the 
new country. Peace and plenty blessed the settlements. 

La Bui-ssoniere was followed, in 1750, by Chevalier Ma- 
carty as Governor of Upper Louisiana, and Commandant of 
Fort Chartres. Peace was soon to be broken. The French 
and English war, which terminated in 1759 with the defeat 
.jf Montfalm on the plains of Abraham, and the capture of 



30 



JimTORY OFIfADISON COUNTY, ILLINOM 



QuebeCj began with a struggle for tlio territory on the Upper 
Ohio. Fort Chartres was the depot of supplies and the place 
of rendezvous for the united forces of Louisiana, and several 
expeditions were fitted out and dispatched to the scene of con- 
flict on the border between the French and English settle- 
ments. But France was vanquished in the struggle, and its 
result deprived her of her princely possessions east of the 
Mississippi. 

CHARACTER OF TFE EARLY FRENCn SETTLERS. 

The early French inhabitants were well adapted by their 
peculiar traits of character for intercourse with their savage 
neighbors of the forest, with whom they lived on terms of 
peace and friendship. For this reason, the French colonists 
almost entirely escaped the Indian hostilities by which the 
English settlements were repressed and weakened. The 
freest communication existed between the two races. They 
stood on a footing of equality. The Indian was cordially 
received in the French village, and the Frenchman found a 
safe resting-place in the \r^dg^ of the savag3. In sce-ies of 
social pleasure, in expeditions to remote rivers and distant 
forests, in the ceremonies and exercises of the church, the 
red men were treated as brothers, and the accident of race 
and color was made as little a mark of distinction as possi- 
ble. Frequent intermarriages of the French with the In- 
dians strongly cemented this union. For nearly a hundred 
years the French colonis's enjoyed continual peace, while the 
English settlements on the Atlantic coast were in a state of 
almost constant danger from savage depredations. 

It was doubtless greatly owing to the peculiar facility with 
which the French temperament adapted itself to surround- 
ings, and the natural address with which Frenchmen ingra- 
tiated themselves in the favor of the savages, that this happy 
condition of afiliirs existed. But something must be ascribed 
to the differences of character between the French and Eng- 
lish in regard to their aggressiveness. The English colonists 
excited the jealousy and fear of the Indians by their rapid 
occupation of the country. New settlements were constantly 
being projected, and the white population pushed farther 
and farther into the wilderness. When the Indians saw 
tlieir favorite haunts broken up, and their hunting grounds 
invaded, a natural feeling of distrust and jealousy led them 
to warfare against the English. With the French it was 
different. There was but little disposition to found new 
settlements, or occupy the wilderness. They were essentially 
a social people, and the solitary life of a pioneer in the forest 
was repugnant to their disposition. They lived in compact 
villages. Their houses were in close proximity. With 
abundant room for spacious streets, they yet made them so 
narrow that the merry villagers could converse with ease 
across the street, each from his own cottage. Hunting was 
a favorite pursuit, and the chief means of support. With 
this mode of life the French were content. Ambition failed 
to incite them to conquer the wilderness, and push their set- 
tlements to unknown regions, and avarice was wanting to 
lead them to grasp after great possessions. The development 
of the " territorial paradise," as La Salle had called the re- 
gion through which he passed on his first voyage down the 
Mississippi, was to be accomplished by another race. 



A POSSESSION OF GREAT BRITAIN. 

By the treaty of Fountainbleau, 1762, the vast possessions 
of France, east of the Mississippi, with the exception of the 
island of New Orleans, passed under British control. Fort 
Chartres and the other Illinois posts were surrounded by an 
impenetrable barrier of hostile savages, friends to the French 
and enemies to the English, and the French officers were 
authorized to retain command until it was found possible for 
the English to take possession. M. Neyon de Villiers was 
commandant of Fort Chartres, and upon his retiring in 1764, 
St. Ange d'Ballerive took upon himself the duties of that 
position. It was the time of Pontiac's conspiracy, when the 
Indian tribes, inflamed by the savage spirit of that warrior, 
were precipitating themselves on the English settlements 
from Canada to Carolina. The French commandant of Fort 
Chartres was besieged for arms and ammunition to be used 
against the English. The French flag was still flying over 
the Fort, and the fact of the territory having been ceded to 
Great Britain was not generally known except to those in 
authority. The commandant was visited by embassies from 
the Illinois, the Delawares, Shawnees and Miamis, and 
finally Pontiac himself, at the head of four hundred warriors, 
entered the council hall. St. Ange d'Bellerive, unable to 
furnish arms, offered instead his good will. The reply was 
received with dissatisfaction. The Indians pitched their 
lodges about the Fort, and for a time an attack was seriously 
apprehended. Finally Pontiac dispatched a chosen band of 
warriors to New Orleans to obtain from the Governor there 
the assistance St. Ange refused to grant. 

Pontiac was killed a fdw years after. Disappointed by 
the failure of his plans against the English, he retired to the 
solitude of the forests. In the year 1769, he suddenly made 
his appearance in the neighborhood of St. Louis. Arrayed 
in the French uniform given him by the Marquis Montcalm 
a short time previous to the latter's death on the Plains of 
Abraham, he visited St. Ange d'Bellerive, who at that time 
had removed from Fort Chartres to St. Louis, where he had 
become one of the principal inhabitants and commandant of 
the Spanish garrison. While at St. Louis, he crossed the 
Mississippi to attend a social gathering of Indians at Cahokia. 
Becoming iutoxicated he started to the neighboring woods, 
when an Indian of the Kaskaskia tribe, bribed by an Eng- 
lish trader with a barrel of whiskey, stole up behind him and 
buried a tomahawk in the brain of the renowned warrior. 
St. Ange procured the body, and buried it with all the honors 
of war near the fort under his command in St. Louis. The 
tramp of a great city now sweeps over his grave. 

Two attempts, on the part of the English, to take posses- 
sion of Illinois and Fort Chartres, had been made by way of 
the Mississippi, but hostile Indians on the banks of the river 
had driven back the expeditions. Meantime a hundred 
Highlanders of the Forty-second Regiment, those veterans 
" whose battle cry had echoed over the bloodiest fields of 
America,'' had left Fort Pitt, now Pittsburg, and descending 
the Ohio, appeared before Fort Chartres while the forests 
were yet rich with the varied hues of autumn. St. Ange 
yielded up the citadel. It was on the tenth day of October, 
1765, that the ensign of France on the ramparts of the Fort 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



31 



gave place to the flag of Great Britain. Kaskaskia had now 
been fouuded nnre than three-fourths of a century. 

On the surrender of Fort Chartres, St. Ange with his gar- 
rison of twenty-one soldiers retired from the country, and 
became commandant at St. Louis, an infant settlement just 
founded. A large number of the French residents of Kas- 
kaskia and other settlements refused to live under English 
rule. Many of the wealthiest families left the country ; some 
removed across the Mississippi, to the small village of Ste. 
Genevieve, under the impression that on the west bank of the 
Mississippi they would still find a home under the govern- 
ment of France, while in truth that territory had been ceded 
to Spain by a secret treaty in 1762. Others joined in found- 
ing the city of St. Louis. The French settlements in Illinois, 
at a period immediately preceding this date, were at the 
zenith of their prosperity. From that day the French in- 
habitants have declined in numbers and influence. In 1705, 
the population of the Illinois settlements was computed as 
follows : White men able to bear arms, seven hundred ; white 
women, five hundred ; white children, eight hundred and 
fifty ; negroes, nine hundred ; total, two thousand nine hun- 
dred and fifty. One-third of the whites, and a still larger 
proportion of the blacks, removed on the British taking pos- 
session. A population of less than two thousand remained. 
Few English, or Americans, with the exception of the British 
troops, were in the country. 

Captain Stirling, who now had command of the Fort, issued 
a proclamation guaranteeing the inhabitants the liberty of 
the Catholic faith, permission to retire from the country, and 
enjoyment of their full rights and privileges, only requiring 
an oath of fidelity and obedience to Ilis IMajesty, the English 
King. Captain Stirling died .some three months after his 
arrival. In the period that elapsed before the coming of his 
successor, St. Ange d'Bcllerive returned from St. Louis, and 
discharged the duties of commandant. Major Frazier, from 
Fort Pitt, exercised for a time an arbitrary power, and his 
successor, Col. Reed, proved still worse. He held the office 
eighteen months, and during that time aroused the hatred of 
the settlements by his oppressive mea.sures. Lieutenant Colo- 
nel Wilkins assumed command in 17G8. 

Captain Pitman, to whose book on " The Present State of 
the European Settlements on the Mississippi " reference has 
already been made, gives the following description of Kas- 
kaskia, as it appeared in 17GG. 

The vilage of Notre Dame de Cascasquias is by far the 
most considerable settlement in the country of the I linois, 
as well from its number of inhabitants as from its advan- 
tageous situation. 

" Mons. Paget was the first who introduced water mills in 
this country, and he constructed a very fine one on the river 
Cascasquias, which was both for grinding corn and sawing 
boards. It lies about one mile from the village. The mill 
proved fatal to him, being killed as he was working 
it, with two negroes, by a party of Chcrokees, in the 
year 17G4. 

" The principal buildings arc the church and the Jesuits' 
house, which has a small chapel adjoining it; these, as well 
as Rome of the other hou.scs in the village, are built of stone, 



and, considering this part of the world, make a very good 
appearance. The Jesuits' plantation consisted of 240 arpents 
(an arpent is 85-100 of au acre) of cultivated land, a very 
good stock of cattle, and a brewery which was sold by the 
French commandant, after the country was ceded to the 
English, for the crown, in consequeuce of the suppression of 
the order. 

" Mons. Beaiivais wa? the purchaser, who is the richest of 
the English subjects in this country; he keeps eighty slaves; 
he furnishes 86,000 weight of flour to the King's magazine, 
which was only part of the harvest he reaped in one year. 
Sixty-five families reside in this village, besides merchants, 
other casual jjeople, and slaves. The fort which was burnt 
down in October, 1766, stood on the summit of a high rock 
opposite the village and on the opposite side of the river. 
It was an oblong quadrangle, of which the extreme jwlygon 
measured 290 by 251 feet. It was built of very thick square 
timber, and dove-tailed at the angles. An officer and twenty 
soldiers arc quartered in the village. The officer governs 
the inhabitants under the direction of the commandant at 
Fort Chartres. Here are also two companies of militia." 

Of Prairie du Rocher, Pitman writes that " it is a small 
village, cousistiu^ of twenty-two dwelling-houses, all of which 
are inhabited by as many families. Here is a little chapel, 
formerly a chapel of ease to the church at Fort Chartres. 
The inhabitants are very industrious, and raise a great deal 
of corn and every kind of stock. The village is two miles 
from Fort Chartres. It takes its name from its situation, 
being built under a rock that runs parallel with the Jlissis- 
sippi river at a le.ague distance, fjr forty miles up. Here is 
a company of militia, the captain of which regulates the 
police of the village." 

In describing the distance from Fort Chartres, the author, 
doubtless, refers to Little Village, which was a mile or more 
nearer than Prairie du Rocher. The writer goes on to de- 
scribe "Saint Philippe" as a "small village about five miles 
from Fort Chartres on the road to Kaoquias. There are 
about sixteen houses and a small church standing; all of the 
inhabitants, except the captain of the militia, deserted in 
1765, and went to the French side (Missouri ) The captain 
of the militia has about twenty slaves, a good stock of cattle, 
and a water mill for corn and planks. The village stands 
on a very fine meadow about one mile from the Mis- 
sissippi. 

From the same authority we learn that the soil of the 
country is in general rich and luxuriant. It was favorably 
adapted to the production of all kinds of European grains 
which grew side by side wit'i hops, hemp, flax, cotton and 
tobacco. European fruits arrived to great perfection. Of 
the wild grapes a wine was made, very inebriating, and in 
color and taste much like the red wine of Provence. In the 
late wars. New Orleans and the lower parts of Louisiana 
were supplied with flour, baef, wines, hams, and other pro- 
visions, from this country. At present, its commerce is 
mostly confined to the peltry and furs which are got in traf- 
fic from the Indians ; for which are received in turn such 
European commodities as are necessary to carry on that cjia- 
racrcc and the sujiport of its inhabitants." 



32 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



CONQUEST BY CLARKE. 

On the breaking out of tlie War of the Revolution, it is 
probable that the British garrison (removed in 1772 from 
Furt Chartres to Fort Gage, opposite Kaskaskia,) had been 
withdrawn. Illinois was remote from the theatre of action, 
and the colonists were little disturbed by the rumors of war 
which came from the Atlantic coast. The French inhabitants 
were rather in sympa'hy with the Americans than the Eng- 
lish, but probably understood little of the nature of the 
struggle. Illinois belonged to the jurisdiction of Virginia. 
George Rogers Clarke, who visited Kentucky in 1 775, seems 
to have been the first to comprehend the advantages which 
would result from the occupation of Illinois by the Ameri- 
cans. He visited Virginia, where he laid his plans before 
Patrick Henry, the Governor of the State. Clarke received 
his instructions, January, 1778, and the following month set 
out for Pittsburg His instructions were to raise seven com- 
panies of men, but he could only succeed in enlisting four 
commanded by Captains Montgomery, Bowman, Helm, and 
Harrod. On Corn Island, opposite Louisville, on the Ohio, 
Clarke announced his destination to the men. At the mouth 
of the Tennessee, a man named John Duff was encountered, 
with a party of hunters, who had recently visited Kaskaskia, 
and also brought the intelligence that one Rocheblave, a 
French Canadian, was in command at that point, that he 
kept the militia well drilled, and that sentinels were posted 
to watch for the " Long Knives," as the Virginians were 
called, of whom the inhabitants were in terror. Securing his 
boats near Fort Massacre (or Massac,) Clarke undertook the 
journey across the country, one hundred and twenty miles, 
to Kaskaskia. It was accomplished with difficulty. On the 
afternoon of the fourth of July, 1778, the exhausted band of 
invaders came to the vicinity of Kaskaskia, and concealed 
themselves in the hills to the east of the town. After dark 
Clarke proceeded to the old ferry-house, three-fourths of a 
mile above the village, and at midnight addressed his troops 
on the banks of the river. He divided his force into three 
parties. Two were to cross to the west side of the river, and 
enter the town from different quarters. The third, under the 
direction of Clarke himself, was to capture the fort on the 
east side. Kaskaskia at that time was a village of about two 
hundred and fifty houses. The British commander last in 
charge had instilled in the minds of the people the impres- 
sion that the Virginians, otherwise the " Long Knives," were 
a ferocious band of murderers, plundering houses, slaughter- 
ing women and children, and committing acts of great atro- 
city. Clarke determined to take advantage of this, and so 
surprise the inhabitants by fear as to induce them to submit 
without resistance. Clarke effected an entrance to the fort 
without difficulty. The other parties at a given signal en- 
tered Kaskaskia at the opposite extremities, and with terri- 
ble outcries and hideous noises, aroused the terrified inhabi- 
tants, who shrieked in their alarm, " The Long Knives ! ' 
" The Long Knives are here !" The panic stricken towns- 
men delivered up their arms, and the victory was accom- 
plished without the shedding of a drop of blood. M. Roche- 
blave, the British commandant, was unconscioui of the pres- 
ence of the enemy, till an officer of the detachment entered 



his bed-chamber, and claimed him as a prisoner. In accord- 
ance with his original plan of onquering the inhabitants by 
terror, and then afterward winning their regard and grati- 
tude by his clemency, Clarke, the next day, withdrew his 
forces from the town, and sternly forbade all communication 
between it and his soldiers. Somo of the principal militia 
officers, citizens of the town, were next put in irons. The 
terror now reached its height. The priest, and a deputation 
of five or six elderly men of tha villigs, called on Clarke, 
and humbly requested permission to assemble in the church, 
to take leave of each other and commend their future lives 
to the protection of a merciful G^d, since they expected to 
be separated, perhaps never to meet again. Clarke gruffly 
granted the privilege. The whole population convened at 
the church, and after remaining together a long time, the 
priest and a few others again waited upon the commander of 
the American forces, presenting thanks for the privilege they 
had enjoyed, and desiring to know what fate awaited 
them. 

Clarke now determined to lift them from their despair, and 
win their gratiiuda by a show of mercy. " What!" said he; 
" do you take us for savages ? Do you think Americans will 
strip women and children, and take bread from their mouths? 
My countrymen disdain to make war on helpless innocents." 
He further reminded them that the King of France, their 
former ruler, was an ally of the Americans, and now fighting 
their cause. He told them to embrace the side thoy deemed 
best, and they should be respected in the enjoyment of their 
liberty and the rights of property. 

The revulsi )u of feeling was complete. The good news 
spread throughout the village. The church-bell rang a 
merry peal, and the delighted inhabitants gathered at the 
chapel, where thanks were offered to God for their happy 
and unexpected deliverance. The loyalty of the inhabitants 
was assured, and ever after they remained faithful to the 
American cause. The French inhabitants of Kaskaskia 
were readily reconciled to a change of government. In 
October, 1778, the Virginia Assembly erected the conquered 
territory into the County of Illinois. This County embraced 
all the region north-west of Ohio, and five large states have 
since been formed from it. Colonel Clarke was appointed 
military commander of all the western territory north and 
south cf the Ohio, and Colonel John Todd, one of Clarke's 
soldiers, who next to Clarke had been the first man to enter 
Fort Gage, was appointed lieutenant-commander of Illinois. 
la the spring of 1779, Colonel Todd visited Kaskaskia, and 
made arrangements for the organization of a temporary 
government. Many of the French inhabitants of Kaskaskia, 
Prairie du Rocher, and the other settlements, readily took 
the oath of allegiance to Virginia. Colonel Todd was kilkd 
at the famous battle of Blue Licks, in Kentucky, August, 
1782, and Timothy deMontbrun, a Frenchman, succeeded 
him as commandant of Illinois County. Of his administra- 
tion but little is known. 

THE "compact of 1787." 

la 1G82 Illinois became a pos.session of the French crown, 
a dependency of Canada, and a part of Louisiana. In 1765 
the English flag was run up on old Fort Chartres, and 



HISTOEY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



33 



Illinois was counted among the treasures of Great Britain. 
In 1779 it was taken from the English by Col. George 
Rogers Clark : this man was resolute in nature, wise in coun- 
cil, prudent in policy, bold in action, and heroic in danger. 
Few men who have figured in the early history of America 
are more deserving than he. Nothing short of first-class 
ability could have rescued " Vincins " and all Illinois from 
the English, and it is not possible to over-estimate the in- 
fluence of this achievement upon the republic. In 1779, 
Illinois became a part of Virginia. It was soon known as 
Illinois county. In 1784 Virginia ceded all this territory 
to the general government to be cut into states, to be republi- 
can in form, with "the same right of sovereignty, freedom 
and independence as the other states." 

In 1787 it was the object of the wisest and ablest legisla- 
tion found in any merely human records. No man can 
study the secret history of The Compact of \1%1 and not 
feci that Providence was guiding with sleepless eyes these 
unborn states. ^ The ordinance that on July 13, 1787, finally 
became the incorporating act, has a most marvelous history. 
Jefferson had vainly tried to secure a system of government 
for tho north-western territory. He was an emancipationist 
of that day, and favored the exclusion of slavery from the 
territory Virginia had ceded to the general government, 
but the south voted him down as often as it came up. In 
1787, as late as July 10, an organizing act without the 
anti-slavery clause was pending. This concession to the south 
was expected to carry it Congress was in session in New 
York city. 0\ July 5, Rev. Dr. Manasseh Cutler, of 
Massachusetts, came into New York to lobby on the north- 
western territory. Everything seemed to fall into his hands. 
Events were ripe : the state of the public credit, the growing of 
southern prejudice, the basis of his mission, his personal 
character, all combined to complete one of those sudden and 
marvelous revolutions of public sentiment that once in five 
or ten centuries are seen to sweep over a country like the 
breath of the Almighty. Cutler was a remarkable man ; a 
graduate of Yale, he had studied and taken degrees in the 
three learned professions, law, divinity and medicine. Har- 
vard had given him his A. M., and Yale had honored herself 
by adding his D. D. He had thus America's best literary 
indorsement. He had published a scientific examination of 
the plants of New England. His name stood second only to 
that of Franklin as a scientist in America. He was a courtly 
gentleman of the old style, a man of commanding presence, 
and of inviting face. The southern members were captivated 
by his genial manners, rare and profound abilities. He 
came representing a company that desired to purchase a 
tract of land now included in Ohio, for the purpose of plant- 
ing a colony. Government money was worth eighteen cents 
on the dollar. This Massachusetts company had collected 
enough to purchase 1, .500, 000 acres of land. Other specu- 
lators in New York made Dr. Cutler their agent ; on the 
12th he represented a demand for 5,500,000 acres. This 
would reduce the national debt. Jefferson and Virginia 
were regarded as authority concerning the land Virginia 
had just ceded. Jefferson's policy wanted to provide for the 
public credit, and this was a good opportunity to do some- 



thing. Massachusetts then owned the territory of Maine, 
which she was crowding on the market. She was opposed 
to opening the north-western region. This fired the zeal of 
Virginia. The South caught the inspii'ation, and all exalted 
Dr. Cutler. The English Minister invited him to dine with 
some of the Southern gentlemen. He was the centre of in- 
terest ; the entire South rallied around him. Massachusetts 
could not vote against him, because many of the constituents! 
of her members were interested personally in the western 
speculation ; thus Cutler, making friends with the south, and 
doubtless using all the arts of the lobby, was enabled to 
command the situation. True to deeper conviction, he 
dictated one of the most compact and finished documents of 
wise statesmanship that ever adorned any human law book ; 
he borrowed from Jefferson the term " Articles of Compact," 
which preceding the federal constitution, rose into the most 
sacred character. He then followed very closely the constitu- 
tion of Massachusetts, adopted three years before, — its most 
marked points were : 

1st. The exclusion of slavery from the territory forever. 

2d. Provision for public schools, giving one township for 
a seminary, and every section numbered IG in each town- 
ship ; that is, one thirty-sixth of all the land for public 
schools. 

3d. A provision prohibiting the adoption of any consti- 
tution, or the enactment of any law that should nullify 
pre-existing contracts. 

Be it forever remembered that this compact declared 
that " Religion, morality, and knowledge being necessary 
to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools 
and means of education shall always be encouraged." Dr. 
Cutler planted himself on this platform and would not yield. 
Giving his unqualified declaration that it was that or nothing 
— that unless they could make the land desirable they did 
not want it — he took his horse and gig and started for tho 
Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. On July 13, 
1787, the bill was put upon its passage, and was unanimously 
adopted, every Southern member voting for it, and only one 
man, Mr. Yates of New York, voting against it, but as the 
States voted as States, Yates Jost his vote, and the compact 
was put beyond repeal. Then the great States of Ohio, In- 
diana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin — a vast empire, 
the heart of the great valley — were consecrated to freedom, 
intelligence, and honesty. In the light of these ninety-five 
years, it is evident to all that this act was the salvation of 
the republic and the destruction of slavery. Soon the south 
saw their great blunder, and tried to repeal the compact. 
In 1803 Congress referred it to a committee, of which John 
Randolph was chairman. He reported that this ordinance 
was a compact, and opposed repeal. Thus it stood a rock 
in the way of the on-rushing sea of slavery. With all this 
timely aid it was, after all, a most desperate and protracted 
struggle to keep the soil of Illinois sacred to freedom. It 
was the natural battle field for the irrepressible conflict. In 
the southern end of the State slavery preceded the compact. 
It existed among the old French settlers, and was hard to 
eradicate. The southern part of the State was settled from 
the slave States; and this population brought their laws, 



:;4 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



customs, and institutions with them. A stream of popula- 
tion from the North poured into the northern part of the 
State These sections misunderstood and hated each other 
perfectly. The Southerners regarded the Yankees as a skin- 
ning, trick_y, penurious race of peddlers, filling the country 
with tinware, brass clocks, and wooden nutmegs. , The 
Northerner thought of the Southerner as a lean, lank, lazy 
creature, burrowing in a hut, and rioting in whisky, dirt 
and ignorance. These causes aided in making the struggle 
long and bitter. So strong was the sympathy with slavery 
that in spite of the ordinance of 1787, and in spite of the 
deed of cession, it was determined to allow the old French 
settlers to retain their slaves. Planters from the slave 
States might bring their slaves, if they would give them a 
chance to choose freedom, or years of service and bondage 
for their children till they should become thirty years of age. 
If they chose freedom they must leave the State in sixty 
days or be sold as fugitives. Servants were whipped for 
offences for which white men are fined ; each lash paid forty 
cents of the fine. A negro ten miles from home without a 
pass was whipped. These famous laws were imported from 
the slave States, just as they imported laws for the inspec- 
tion of flax and wool when there was neither in the State. 
These black laws are now wiped out. A vigorous efibrt was 
made to protect slavery in the State Constitution of 1818 ; it 
barely failed. It was renewed in 1826, when a convention 
was asked to make a new constitution. After a hard fight the 
convention was defeated ; but slaves did not disappear from 
the census of the State until 1850. There were mobs and 
murders in the interest of slavery. Lovejoy was added to 
the list of martyrs — a sort of first fruits of that long line of 
immortal heroes who saw freedom a3 the one supreme desire 
of their souls, and were so enimorcd of her that they pre- 
ferred to dis rather than survive her. 

LAND TENURES. 

The early French settlers held the jjossession of their land 
in common. A tract of land was fixed upon for a Common 
Field, in which all the inhabitants were interested. 

Besides the Common Field, another tract of land was laid 
off on the Commons. All the villagers had free access to 
this as a place of pasturage for their stock. From this they 
also drew their supply of fuel. 

Individual grants were likewise made. Under the French 
system, the lands were granted without any equivalent con- 
sideration in the way of money, the individuals satisfying 
the authorities that the lands were wanted for actual settle- 
ment, or for a purj)ose likely to benefit the community. The 
first grant of land, which is preserved, is that made to Charles 
Danie, Maj' 10th, 1722. The French grants at Kaskaskia 
extended from river to river, and at other places in the Bot- 
tom they commonly extended from river to bluff". Grants of 
land were made for almost all the American Bottom, from 
the upper limits of the Common Field of St. Phillip's to 
the lower line of the Kaskaskia Common Field, a distance 
of nearly thirty miles. 

The British commandants, who assumed the government 
on the cession of the territory hy France, exercised the pri- 



vilege of making grants, subject to the approval of his Ma- 
jesty, the King. Colonel Wilkins granted to some merchants 
of Philadelphia a magnificent domain of thirty thousand 
acres lying between the village of Kaskaskia and Prairie du 
Rocher, much of it already covered by French grants pre- 
viously made. For the better carrying out their plans, the 
British officers, and perhaps their grantees, destroyed, to 
some extent, the records of the ancient French grants at 
Kaskaskia, by which the regular claim of titles and convey- 
ances was partly broken. This British grant of thirty 
thousand acres, which had been assigned to John Edgar, 
was afterward patented by Governor St. Clair to Edgar and 
John Murray St. Clair, the Governor's son, to whom Edgar 
had previously conveyed a moiety by deed. Although much 
fault was found with the transaction, a confirmati(m of the 
grant was secured from the United States government. 

When Virginia ceded Illinois, it was stipulated that the 
French and Canadian inhabitants, and otlicr settlei's, who 
had professed allegiance to Virginia, should have their 
titles confirmed to them. Congress afterwards authorized 
the Governor to confirm the possessions and titles of the 
French to their lands. In accordance with this agreement. 
Governor St. Clair, in 1790, issued a proclamation directing 
the inhabitants to exhibit their titles and claims of the lands 
which they held, in order to be confirmed in their possession. 
"Where the instruments were found to be authentic, orders of 
survey were issued, the expense of which was borne by the 
parties who claimed ownership. The French inhabitants 
were in such poverty at this time that they were really una- 
ble to pay the expenses of the Eurveys, and a memorial 
signed by P. Gibault, the priest at Kaskaskia, and eighty- 
seven others, was presented to Governor St. Clair, praying 
him to petition Congress for relief in the matter. In 1791, 
Congress directed that four hundred acres of land should be 
granted to the head of every family which had made improve- 
ments in Illinois prior to the year 1788. Congress had also 
directed that a donation be given ti each of the families then 
living at either of the villages of Kaskaskia, Prairie du 
Eocher, Cahokia, Fort Chartres, or St. Phillips. These were 
known as the " bead-right " claims. 

At an early date, speculation became active in the land 
claims of different kinds; bead-rights, improvement rights, 
militia right-, and fraudulent claims were produced in great 
numbers. The French claims were partly unconfirmed, 
owing to the poverty of that people, and these were forced 
on the market with the others. Trie official report of the 
commissioners at Kaskaskia, made in 1810, shows that eight 
hundred and ninety land claims were rejected as being ille- 
gal or fraudulent. Three hundred and seventy were 
reported as being supported by perjury, and a considerable 
number were forged. There are fourteen names given of 
persons, both English and French, who made it a regular 
business to furnish sworn certificates, professing an intimate 
knowledge, in every case, of the settlers who had made cer- 
tain improvements upon which claims were predicated and 
when and where they were located. A Frenchman, clerk 
of the parish of Prairie du Rocher, " without property and 
fjnd uf liquor," after having given some two hundred depo- 



HISTORY OF IIABISOy COUNT T, ILLINOIS. 



sitions iu favor of three land claimant speculators, " was 
induced,' in thelduguage of the report, "either by compen- 
sation, fear, or the impossibility of obtaining absolution on 
any c-thcr terms, to declare on oath that the said depositions 
were false, and that in giving them he hud a regard for, 
something beyond the truth." 

The report of the commissioners raised many doubts in 
regard to the validity and propriety of a number of confir- 
mations by the Governors, and much dissatisfaction among 
the claimants ; and in consequence, Congress in 1812, passed 
an act for the revision of these land claims ia the Kaskiiskia 
district. The commissioners under this law were Michael 
Jones, John Caldwell, and Thomas Sloo. Facts damaging 
to persons who occupied positions of high respectability in 
the community, were disclosed. They reported that the 
English claim of thirty thousand acres confirmed by Gover- 
nor St. Clair to John Edgar and the Governor's son, John 
Murray St. Clair, was founded in neither law or equity ; that 
the patent was issued after the Governor's power ceased to 
exist, and the claim ought not to be confirmed. Congress, 
however, confirmed it. 

For a period of several years, emigration was considerably 
retarded by the delay iu adjusting land titles. The act of 
Congress passed in 18L3, granting the right of pre-emption 
to settlers, was influential in bringing the public lands into 
juarket. Emigrants poured into the country, and improve- 
ments were rapidly made. 

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE STATE. 

In area the State has 55,410 square miles of territory. It 
is about 150 miles wide and 400 miles long, stretching in 
latitude from Maine to North Carolina. It embraces wide 
variety of climate. It is tempered on the north by the great 
iidand, saltless, tideless sea, which helps the thermometer 
from either extreme. Being a table-land, from 690 to 1,600 
feet above the level of the sea, one is prepared to find on the 
health maps, prepared by the general government, an almost 
clean and perfect record. In freedom from fever and mala- 
rial diseases and consumptions, the three deadly enemies of 
the American Saxon, Illinois, as a State, stands without a 
superior, She furnishes one of the essential conditions of a 
great people — sound bodies ; we suspect that this fact lies 
back of that old Delaware word, Illini, superior men. The 
great battles ofhistory have been determinative; dynasties and 
destinies have been strategical battles, chiefly the question of 
position ; Thermopyhc has been the war-cry of freemen for 
twenty-four centuries. It only tells how much there may be 
in position. All this advantage belong to Illinois. It is in 
the heart of the greatest valley in the world, the vast region 
between the mountains — a valley that could feed mankind 
for a thousand years. It is well on toward the centre of the 
continent. It is in the great temperate belt, in which have 
bcenf)und nearly all the aggressive civilizations of history. 
It has sixty-five miles of frontage on the head of Lake Michi- 
gan. With the Mississippi forming the western and south- 
ern boundary, with the Ohio running along the south-ea.stcrn 
line, with the Illinois river and Canal dividing the State 
diagonally from the lake to the Lower Mississippi, and with 
the Rock and Wabash rivers furnishing altogether 2,000 



miles of water-front, connecting with, and running through, 
in all about 12,000 miles of navigable water. But this is 
not all. These waters are made most available by the fact 
that the lake and the State lie on the I'idge running into the 
great valley from the east. Within cannon-shot of the lake 
the water runs away from the lake to the gulf The lake 
now empties at both ends, one into the Atlantic and one into 
tlie Gulf of Mexico. The lake thus seems to hang over the 
land. This makes the dockage most serviceable; there are 
no steep banks to damage it. Both lake and river are made 
for use. The climate varies from Portland to Richmond. 
It favors every product of the continent including the tropics, 
with less than half a dozen exceptions. It produces every 
great nutriment of the world except bananas and rice. It 
is hardly too much to say that it is the most productive spot 
known to civilization. With the soil full of bread and the 
earth full of minerals; with an upper surface of food and an 
under layer of fuel; with perfect natural drainage, and 
abundant .springs and streams and navigable rivers; half 
way between the forests of the North and the fruits of the 
South ; within a day's ride of the great deposits of iron, coal, 
copper, lead and zinc: containing and controlling the great 
grain, cattle, pork, and lumber markets of the world, it is 
not strange that Illinois has the advantage of position. This 
advantage has been supplemented by the character of the 
population. In the early days when Illinois was first admit- 
ted to the union, her population were chiefly from Kentucky 
and Virginia. But, in the conflict of ideas concerning sla- 
very, a strong tide of immigration came in fron the East, and 
soon changed this composition. In 1880, her now native 
population were from colder soils. New York had furnished 
143,290: Ohio gave 172,623: Pennsylvania 108,352: the 
entire South gave us only 216,734. In all her cities, and in 
all her German and Scandinavian and other foreign colonies, 
Illinois has only about one-fifth of her people of foreign 
birth. 

PROGRESS OF DEVELOPMENT. 

One of the greatest divolopments ia the early history 
of Illinois, is the Illinois and Michigan canal, connecting the 
Illinois aad Mississippi rivers with the lakes. It was of the 
utmost importance to the State. It was recommended by 
Governor Bond, the first governor, iu his first message. Two 
bright young engineers surveyed it, and estimated the cost 
at $600,000 or $700,000. It finally cost $8,000,000. In 
1825, a law was passed to incorporate the canal company, 
but no stock was sold. In 1826, upon the solicitation of 
Daniel P. Cook, congress gave 800,000 acres of land on the 
line of the work. In 1828, another law-commissioner was 
appointed, and work commenced with new survey and new 
estimates. In 1834-35, George Farquar made an able 
report on the whole matter. This was, doubtless, the 
ablest report ever made to a western legislature, and it be- 
came the model for subsequent reports and action. From 
this the work went on until it was finished in 1848. It cost 
the State a large amount of money ; but it gave to the indus- 
tries of the State an impetus that pushed it up into the first 
rank of greatness. It was not built as a speculation. But 
it has paid into the Treasury of the State an average annual 



36 



HI8T0RY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINO... 



nett sum of over 111,000. Pending the construction of the 
canal, the land and town-lot fever broke out in the state, in 
1834-35. It took on the malignant type in Chicago, lifting 
the town up into a city. The disease spread over the entire 
State and adjoining States. It was epidemic. It cut up 
men's farms without regard to locality, and cut up the purses 
of the purchasers without regard to consequences. There 
was no lack of buyers ; speculators and money swarmed into 
the country. This distemper seized upon the Legislature in 
1836-37, and left not one to tell the tale. They enacted a 
system of internal improvement without a parallel in the 
grandeur of its conception. They ordered tha construction 
of 1,300 miles of railroad, crossing the State in all directions. 
This was surpassed by the river and canal improvements. 
There were a few counties not touched by either railroad or 
river or canal, and those were to be comforted and compen- 
sated by the free distribution of $200,000 among them. To 
inflats this balloon beyond credence it was ordered that work 
should be commenced on both ends of each of these railroads 
and rivers, and at each river-crossing, all at the same time. 
The appropriations for the vast improvements were over 
$12,000,000, and commissioners were appointed to borrow 
money on the credit of the State. Remember that all this was 
in the early days of railroading, when railroads were luxu- 
ries ; that the State had whole counties with scarcely a 
cabin, and that the population of the State was less than 
400,000, and you can form some idea of the vigor with 
which these brave men undertook the work of making a 
great State. In the light of history it appears that this was 
only a premature throb of the power that actually slumbered 
in the soil of the State. It was Hercules in the cradle. At 
this juncture the State bank loaned its funds largely to 
Godfrey Oilman & Co., and other leading houses for the 
purpose of drawing trade from St. Louis to Alton. Soon 
they failed, and took down the bank with them. In 1840, 
all hope seemed gone. A population of 480,000 were load- 
ed with a debt of $14,000,000. It had only six small cities, 
really only towns, namely: Chicago, Alton, Springfield, 
Qiiincy, Galena and Nauvoo. This debt was to be cared 
for when there was not a dollar in the treasury, and when 
the State had borrowed itself out of all credit, and when 
there was not good money enough in the hands of all the 
people to pay the interest of the debt for a single year. Yet 
in the presence of all these difficulties the young State 
steadily refused to repudiate. Gov. Ford took hold of the 
problem and solved it, bringing the State through in triumph. 
Having touched lightly upon some of the most distinctive 
points in the history of Illinois, let us next briefly consider 
the 

MATERIAL RESOURCES OF THE STATE. 

It is substantially a garden four hundred miles long and 
one hundred and fifty wide. Its soil is chiefly a black sandy 
loam, varying from six inches to six feet thick. On the 
American Bottoms it has been cultivated for over one hun- 
dred and fifty years without renewal. About the old French 
towns it has yielded corn for a century and a half without 
rest or help. It produces nearly everything green in the tem- 
perate and tropical zones ; she leads any of the other States 



in the number of acres actually under plow. Her products 
from 25,000,000 acresare incalculable. Her mineral wealth 
is scarcely second to her agricultural power. She has coal, 
iron, lead, copper, zinc, many varieties of building stone, 
fire clay, cuma clay, common brick and tile clay, sands of 
all kinds, gravel, mineral paint, everything needed for a 
high civilization. Left to herself, she has the elements of 
all greatness. The single item of coal is too vast for an 
appreciative handling in figures. We can handle it in gene- 
ral terms, like algebraical signs, but long before we get up 
into the millions and billions, the human mind drops down 
from comprehension to mere symbolic apprehension. Nearly 
four-fifths of the entire State is underlaid with a deposit of 
coal more than forty feet thick on the average, including all 
strata (now estimated by recent surveys, at seventy feet 
thick). You can get some idea of its amount, as you do of the 
amount of the national debt. There it is, 41,000 square 
miles, one vast mine into which you could bury scores of 
European and ancient empires, and have room enough 
all round to work without knowing that they had been 
sepulchered there. Put this vast coal-bed down by the 
other great coal deposits of the world, and its importance 
becomes manifest. Great Britain, has 12,000 square miles 
of coal; Spain 3,000; France 1,719; Belgium 578; Illi- 
nois about twice as many square miles as all combined. 
Virginia has 20,000 square miles; Pennsylvania, 16,000 ; 
Ohio, 12,000; Illinois has 31,000 square miles ; one-seventh 
of all the known coal on this continent is in Illinois. 

Could we sell the coal in this single State for one-seventh 
of one cent a ton it would pay the national debt. Great 
Britain uses enough mechanical power to-day to give each 
man, woman and child in the kingdom the help and service 
of nineteen untiring servants. No wonder she has leisure 
and luxuries. No wonder the home of the common arlisan 
has in it more luxuries than could be found in the palace of 
good old King Arthur. Think, if you can conceive of it, of 
the vastarmy of servants that slumber in Illinois, impatient- 
ly awaiting the call of genius to come forth to minister to 
our comfort. At the present rate of consumption England's 
coal supply will be exhausted in 250 years. At the same 
rate of consumption (which far exceeds our own ) the deposit; 
of coal in Illinois will last 120,000 years. Let us now turn 
from this reserve power to £ho 

ANNUAL PRODUCTS 

of the State. We shall not bo humiliated in this field. Here 
we strike the secret of our national credit. Nature provides 
a market in the constant appetite of the race. For several 
years past the annual production of wheat in Illinois has 
exceeded 30,000,000. That is more wheat than was raised 
by any other State in the Union ; with corn, she comes for- 
ward with 140,000,000 bushels, twice as much as any other 
State, and one-sixth of all the corn raised in the United 
States. She harvested 2,767,000 tons of hay, nearly one- 
tenth of all the hay in the Republic. It is not generally 
appreciated, but it is true, that the hay crop of the country 
is worth more than the cotton crop ; the hay of Illinois equals 
the cotton of Louisiana. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



37 



The valuation of her farm implements is §230,000,000, 
and the value of her live stock, is only second to the great 
State of New York. She raises from 25,000,000 to 30,000,- 
000 hogs annually, and according to the last census packed 
about one half of all that were packed iu the United States. 
This is no insignificant item. Pork is a growing demand of 
the old world. Illinois marked $04,000,000 worth of 
slaughtered animals ; more than any other State, and one- 
seventh of all the States. 

Illinois is a grand and wonderful State, peerless in the fer- 
tility of her soil, and inexhaustible resources. She is fast 
marching on towards her predestined 2ilace as first among the 
sisterhood. 

We subjoin a list of the things in which Illinois excels all 
other States. 

Depth and richness of soil ; per cent, of good ground ; 
acres of improved land ; large farms — number of farmers ; 
amount of wheat, corn oats, and honey produced ; value of 
animals for slaughter; number of hogs; amount of pork; 
and number of horses. 

Illinois excels all other States in miles of railroads and in 
miles of postal service, and in money orders sold per annum, 
and in the amount of lumber sold in her markets. She pays 
a larger amount of internal revenue to the general govern- 
ment than any other state. 

Illinois is only second in many important matters. This 
sample list comprises a few of the more important: 

Permanent school fund (good for a young State) ; total 
income for educational purposes; number of publishers of 
books, maps, papers, etc ; value of farm products and im- 
plements, and of live stock ; in tons of coal mined. 

The shipping of Illinois is only second to New York. Out 
of one port during the business hours of the season of navi- 
gation she sends forth a vessel every ten minutes. This does 
not include canal boats, which go one every five minutes. 
No wonder she is only second in number of bankers and 
brokers or in physicians and surgeons. 

She is third iu colleges, teachers and schools ; cattle, lead, 
hay, flax, sorghum, and beeswax. 

She is fourth in population ; in children enrolled in public 
schools, in law schools, iu butter, potatoes, and carriages. 

She is fifth in value of real and personal property, in theo- 
logical seminaries and colleges exclusively for women, in 
milk sold, and iu boots and shoes manufactured, and in book- 
binding. 

She is only seventh in the production of wood, while she is 
the twelfth in area. She now has much more wood and 
growing timber than she had thirty years ago. 

A few leading industries will justify emphasis. She man- 
ufactures §210,000,000 worth of goods, which place her 
nearly equal to New York and Pennsylvania. 

In the number of copies of commercial and financial news- 
papers issued, she is only second to New York, and in her 
miles of railroads she leads all other States. More than two- 
thirds of her land is within five miles of a railroad and less 
than two per cent, is more than fifteen miles away. 

The Eeligion and Morals of the State keep step with her 
productions and growth. She was born of the missionary 



spirit. It was a minister who secured her the ordinance of 
1787, by which she has been saved from slavery, ignorance, 
and dishonesty. Rev. Mr. Wiley, pastor of a Scotch congre- 
gation in Randolph County, petitioned the Constitutional 
Convention of 1818 to recognize Jesus Christ as King, and 
the Scriptures as the only necessary guide and book of law. 
The Convention did not act in the case, and the old cove- 
nanters refused to accept citizenship. They never voted 
until 1824, when the slavery question was submitted to the 
people. But little mob violence has ever been felt in the 
State. In 1817 the regulators disposed of a band of horse 
thieves that infested the territory. The ^Mormon indignities 
finally awoke the same spirit. Alton was also the scene of a 
pro-slavery mob, in which Lovejoy was added to the list of 
martyrs. The moral sense of the people makes the law 
supreme, and gives the State unruffled peace. With about 
$23,000,000 in church property, and 4,321 church organiza- 
tions, the State has that divine police, the sleepless patrol of 
moral ideas, that alone is able to secure perfect safety. Con- 
science takes the knife from the assassin's hand and the blud- 
geon from the grasp of the highwayman. We sleep in safety 
not because we are behind bolts and bars — these only de- 
fend the innocent ; not because a lone officer sleeps on a 
distant corner of the street ; not because a sheriff may call 
his posse from a remote part of the couoty ; but because con- 
science guards the very portals of the air and stirs in the 
deepest recesses of the public mind. This spirit issues within 
the State 9,500,000 copies of religious papers annually, and 
receives still more from without. Thus the crime of the 
State is only one-fourth that of New York and one-half that 
of Pennsylvania. 

Illinois never had but one duel between her own citizens. 
In Belleville, in 1820, Alphonso Stewart and William Ben- 
nett arranged to vindicate injured honor. The seconds 
agreed to make it a sham, and make them shoot blanks. 
Stewart was in the secret. Bennett mistrusted something, 
and, unobserved, slipped a bullet into his gun and killed 
Stewart. He then fled the State. After two years he was 
caught, tried, convicted, and, in spite of friends and political 
aid, was hung. This fixed the code of honor on a Christian 
basis, and terminated its use in Illinois. The early preachers 
were generally ignorant men, who were accounted eloquent 
according to the strength of their voices. Gov. Ford says, 
" Nevertheless these first preachers were of incalculable ben- 
efit to the country. They inculcated justice and morality- 
To them are we indebted for the first Christian character of 
the Protestant portion of the people." 

In. Education, Illinois surpasses her material resources. The 
ordinance of 1787 consecrated one thirty-sixth of her soil to 
common schools, and the law of 1818, the first law that went 
upon her statutes, gave three per cent, of all the rest to Educa- 
tion. The old compact secures this interest forever, and by its 
yoking together morality and intelligence it precludes the 
legal interference with the Bible in the public schools. With 
such a start it is natural that we should have about 11,500 
schools, and that our iliteracy should he less than New York 
or Pennsylvania, and about one-half of Massachu.sett.'^. What 
a grand showing for so young a State. These public schools 



38 



HI8T0RY OF MADmON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



soon made colleges inevitable. The first college, still flour- 
itlilng, was started in Lebanon in 1828, br he M. E. Church, 
and named after Bishop McKendree. Illinoia college at 
Jacksonville followed in 1830, supported by the Presbyterians. 
In 1832 the Baptists built ShurtlefF college at Alton, and 
Knox college at Galesburg followed in 1838, and Jubilee 
college at Peoria in 1847, and the good Catholic missionaries 
long prior to this had e.-tablished in various parts of the State, 
colleges, seminaries and parochial schools. After these early 
years colleges have rained down. A settler could hardly 
eucarap on the prairie but a college would spring up by his 
wagon. The State now has one very well endowed and 
equipped university, namely the North-western University, 
at Evanston, with six colleges, ninety instructors, over one 
thousand students, and $1,.'jOO,000 endowment. Eev. J. M. 
Peck was the first educated Protestant minister in the State. 
He settled at Rock Spring, St. Clair County, about 1820, and 
lias left his impress on the State. He was a large contribu- 
tor to the literature of that day in this State ; about 1 837 he 
published a Gazetteer of Illinois. Soon after John Russell, 
of Bluflllale, published essays and tales showing genius. 
Judge James Hall published the Illinois Monihly Magazine 
with great ability, and an annual called The Western Sou- 
venir, which gave him an enviable fame all over the United 
States. From these beginnings, Illinois has gone on till she 
has more volumes in public libraries even than Massachu- 
setts, and of the 44,500,000 volumes in all the public libra- 
ries of the United Spates, she ha? one-thirteenth. 

In 18G0 she had eighteen colleges and seminaries ; in 1870 
she had eighty. 

That is a grand advance fur the war decade. Her growth 
in the last ten years has been equally marvellous. 

This brings us to a record unsurpassed in any age. 

THE WAR EECORD OF ILLINOIS. 

We hardly know where to begin, or how to advance, or 
what to say, as we can at best give only a broken synojisis 
of her gallant deeds. Her sons have always been foremost 
on fields of danger. In the war of 1812 she aided in main- 
taining national sovereignty. In 1831-32, at the call of 
Gov. Reynolds, her sous drove Blackhawk over the Missis- 
sippi. 

When the Mexican war came, in May, 1846, 8,370 men 
offered themselves when only 3,720 could be accepted. The 
fields of Bueua Vista, Chapultepec and Vera Cruz, and the 
storming of Cerro Gordo, will perpetuate the bravery and 
the glory of the Illinois soldier. But it was reserved till 
our day for her sons to find a field and a cause and a foe- 
man that could fitly illustrate their spirit and heroism. 
Illinois put into her own regiments for the United States 
government 2.'JG,000 men, and into the army through other 
states enough to swell the number to 290,000. This far ex- 
ceeds all the soldiers of the federal government in all the 
war of the revolution. Her total years of service were 
G00,000. She enrolled men from eighteen to forty-five 
years of age when the law of Congress in 1864 — the test 
time — only asked for tho.se from twenty to forty-five. Her 
enrollment was otherwise excessive. Her people wanted to 



go and did not take the pains to correct the enrollment. 
Thus the basis of fixing the quota was too great, and then 
the quota itself, at least in the trying time, was far above 
any other State. Thus the demand on some counties, as 
Monroe, for example, took every able-bodied man iu the 
county, and then did not have enough to fill the quota. 
Moreover, Illinois sent 20,844 men for ninety or one hundred 
days, for whom no credit was asked. When Mr. Lincoln's 
attention was called to the inequality of the quota compared 
with other states, he replied, " The country needs the sacri- 
fice. We must put the whip on the free horse." In spite 
of these disadvantages Illinois gave to the country 73,000 
years of service above all calls. With one-thirteenth of 
the population of the loyal States, she sent regularly one- 
tenth of all the soldiers, and in the peril of the closing 
calls, when patriots were few and weary, she then sent one- 
eighth of all that were called for by her loved and honored 
son in the White House. Her mothers and daughters went 
into the fields to raise the grain and keep the children to- 
gether, while the fathers and older sous went to the harvest 
fields of the world. What a glorious record there is treas- 
ured up in the history of this great country for the patriotic 
Illinois soldier. Her military record during the Rebellion 
stands peerless among the other States. Ask any soldier 
with a good record of his own, who is thus able to judge, 
and ho will tell you that the Illinois men went in to win. 
It is common history that the greater victories were won in 
the West. When everything else was dark, Illinois was gain- 
ing victories all down the river, and dividing the confederacy, 
Sherman took with him on Lis great march forty-five regi 
ments of Illinois infantry, three companies of artillery, and 
one company of calvary. He could not avoid going to the 
sea. Lincoln answered all rumors of Sherman's defeat with 
" It is impossible ; there is a mighty sight of fight in 100,- 
000 Western men." Illinois soldiers brought home 300 
battle-flags. The first United States flag that floated over 
Richmond was an Illinois flag. She sent messengers and 
nurses to every field and hospital, to care for her sick and 
wounded sons. When individuals had given all, then cities 
and towns came forward with their credit to the extent of 
many millions, to aid these men and their families. Illinois 
gave the country the great general of the war — Ulysses S. 
Grant — since honored with two terms of the Presidency of 
the United States. 

One other name from Illinois comes up in all minds, 
embalmed in all hearts, that must have the supreme place 
in this story of our glory and of our nation's honor : that 
name is Abiaham Lincoln, of Illinois. The analysis of Mr. 
Lincoln's character is difficult on account of its symmetry. 
In this age we look with admiration at his uncompromising 
honesty. And well we may, for this saved us thousands 
throughout the length and breadth of our country who knew 
him only as "Honest Old Abe," and voted for him on that 
account; and wisely did they choose, for no other man could 
have carried us through the fearful night of the war. 
When his plans were too vast for our comprehension and 
his fivith in the cause too sublime for our participation, 
when it was all night about us, and all dread before us. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



39 



and all sad and desolate behind us : wlien not one ray shone 
upon our cause ; when traitors were haughty and exultant 
at the south, and fierce and blasphemous at the Korth ; 
â– when the loyal men here seemed almost in the minority ; 
â– when the stoutest heart quailed, when generals were defeat- 
ing each other for place, and contractors were leeching out 
the very heart's blood of the prostrate republic : when 
everything else had failed us, we looked at this calm, patient 
man standing like a rock in the storm and said, " Mr. Lin- 
coln is honest, and we will trust him still." Holding to this 
single point with the energy of faith and despair we held 
together, and, under God, he brought us through to victory. 
His practical wisdom made him the wonder of all lands. 
With such certainty did Mr. Lincoln follow causes to their 
ultimate effects, that his foresight of contingencies seemed 
almost prophetic. He is radiant with all the great virtues, 
and his memory shall shed a glory upon this age that shall 
fill the eyes of men as they look into history. Other men 
have excelled him in some points, but taken at all points, all 
in all, he stands head and shoulders above every other man 
of six thousand years. An administrator, he served the 
nation in the perils of unparalleled civil war. A statesman, 
he justified his measures by their success. A philanthropist, 
he gave liberty to one race and salvation to another. A 
moralist, he bowed from the summit of human power to the 
foot of the Cross, and became a Christian. A mediator, he 
exercised mercy under the most absolute obedience to law. 
A leader, he was no partizan. A commander, he was un- 
tainted with blood. A ruler in desperate times, he was 
unsullied with crime. A man, he has left no word of pas- 
sion, no thought of malice, no trick of craft, no act of 
jealousy, no purpose of selfish ambition. Thus perfected, 
without a model and without a peer, he was dropped into 
these troubled years to adorn and embellish all that is good 
and all that is great in our humanity, and to present to all 
coming time the divine idea of free government. It is not 
too much to say that away down in the future, when the 
Republic has fallen from its niche in the wall of time; when 
the great war itself shall have faded out in the distance like 
a mist on the horizon ; and when the Anglo-Saxon language 
shall be spoken only by the tongue of the stranger, then the 
generation looking this way shall see the great President as 
the supreme figure in this vortex of hist ry. 

CIVIL ORGAXIZATIOS. 

The history of Illinois has been traced while a possession 
of France, and when under the British government ; and 
the formation of Illinois as a County of Virginia has been 
noted. The several States afterwards agreed on the adoj)- 
tion of Articles of the Confederation, to cede their claims to 
the western land to the General government. Virginia 
executed her deed of cession March 1st, 1784. For several 
years after, there was an imperfect admistration of the law 
in Illinois. The French customs partly held force, and 
affairs were partly governed by the i)romulgations of the 
British commandants issued from Fort Chartres, and by tlie 
regulations which had subsequently been issued bv the Vir- 
ginia authorities. 



By the ordinance of 1787, all the territory north-west of 
the Ohio was constituted into one district, the laws to be 
administered by a governor and secretary ; a court was insti- 
tuted of three judges. A general assembly was provided 
for, the members to be chosen by the people. General 
Arthur St. Clair was selected by Congress, as Governor of 
the north-western territory. The seat of government was at 
Marietta, Ohio. 

In the year 1795, Governor St. Clair divided St. Clair 
County. All south of a line running through the Xew 
Design settlement fin the present County of Jlonroe) was 
erected into the County of Randolph. In honor of Edmund 
Randolph of Virginia, the new county received its name. 

Shadrach Bond, afterwards the first Governor, was elected 
from Illinois, a member of the Territorial Legislature which 
convened at Cincinnati, in January, 1799. In 1800 the 
Territory of Indiana was formed, of which Illinois consti- 
tuted a part, with the seat of government at Vincennes. 
About 1803, among other places in the West, Aaron Burr 
visited Kaskaskia in an endeavor to enlist men for his 
treasonable scheme against the government. In 1805, 
George Fisher was elected from Randolph County a mem- 
ber of the Territorial Legislature, and Pierre Menard was 
chosen member of the Legislative Council. 

By act of Congress, 1809, the Territory of Illinois was 
constituted. !Xinian Edwards was appointed Governor of 
the newly organized Territory, and the seat of government 
established at Kaskaskia. Xathaniel Pope, a relative of 
Edwards, received the appointment of Secretary. 

For nearly four years after the organization of the Terri- 
torial Government no legislature existed in Illinois. An 
election for representatives was held on the eighth, ninth, 
and tenth of October, 1812. Shadrach Bond, then a resi- 
dent of St. Clair County, was elected the first Delegate to 
Congress from Illinois. Pierre Menard was chosen from 
Randolph County member of the Legislative Council, and 
George Fisher of the House of Representatives. The Legis- 
lature convened at Kaskaskia on the twenty-fifth of Novem- 
ber, 1812. 

In April, 1818, a bill providing for the admission of Illi- 
nois into the Union as a sovereign State was passed by Con- 
gress. A Convention to frame a Constitution assembled at 
Kaskaskia in the following July. The first election under 
tlie Constitution was held in September, 1818, and Shadrach 
Bond was elected Governor, and Pierre Menard, Lieutenant 
Governor Illinois was now declared by Congress admitted 
to the L^nion as on an equal footing in all respects with the 
original States. The L3gislature again met at Kaskaskia in 
January, 1819. This was the last session ever held at Kas- 
kaskia. Vandalia, the same year, was selected as the Capital 
of the State. It was stipulated that Vandalia was to be the 
Capital for twenty years. At the end of that period it was 
changed to Springfield. Below we give list of governors 
and staff officers of Illinois. 

Illinois was constituted a separate Territory by act of Con- 
gress February 3d, 1809. The boundaries were described 
as follows : 



40 



HI8T0RY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



ILLINOIS TERRITORY. 



FROM 1809, 




TO 1882. 



* " That from and after the first day of March next, all 
that part of the Indiana Territory which lies west of the 
"Wabash river and a direct liuedrawn i'rom the said Wabash 
river and Post Yincennes due north to the territorial line 
between the United States and Canada, shall for the purpose 
of temporary government, constitute a separate territory, and 
be called ' Illinois.' " 

The seat of government was fixed at Kaskaskia. 

The territorial government was continued under the first 
grade from 1809 until 1812, when by a vote of the people 
the second grade was adopted. 

Under the first grade, the Governor and Judges, who 
received their appointment from the President, constituted 
the Legislative Council, and enacted laws for the govern- 
ment of the people. The Governor possessed almost un- 
limited power in the appointment of ofiicers ; the Secretary 
of the Territory being the only ofiScer, not appointed by the 
Governor. 

Lender the second grade, the people elected the Legisla- 
ture, which was composed of a Legislative Council and a 
House of Representatives. The Legislative Council was 
composed of five members, and the House of Representatives 
of seven members. 

The Legislature enacted the laws for the government of 
the people, but the Governor was possessed of the absolute 
veto power, and was therefore in position to dictate the laws, 
if he cho.se to exercise the power. 

The peojjle also elected the Delegate to Congress by popu- 
lar vote. 

Territorial OlHcers. 

The following is a complete roster of territorial officers 
from 1S09 until the organization of the State government 
in 1818: 

GOVEKNOES. 

.Tnhn Bovie March 7, 1809. Declined. 

Niuian Edwiinis April 24, 1809, to December 0, 1S18. 

The term of the Governor's appointment was two years. Governor Edwards 
was re-appointod from time to time, as his term expired, and served through 
the entire territorial government. 

SECRETARIES. 

Nathaniel Pope Jlarch 7, ISon, to December 17, ISlfi. 

Joseph Phillips December 17, 1816, to October 6, 1S18. 

AUDITORS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS. 

H. H. Maxwell 1812 to 1818. 

Daniel P. Cook January 13, 181S, to April, 1S17. 

Kobert Blaekwell April 5, 1817, to August, 1817. 

Elijah C. Berry August 38, 1817, to October 9, 1818. 

ATTORSETS-GENERAL. 

Beni.amin IT. Dovie July 24, 1809, to December, 1809. 

John J. C'rittenilen December 30, 1809, to April, 1810. 

Thomas T. Crittenden April 7, 1810, to October, ISlo. 

Benjamin M. Piatt October 29, 1810, to Jun(7, 1813. 

William Mears June 23, 1813, to February 17, 1818. 

* From Legislative Directory, published 1881. 



TREASURERS. 

John Thomas 1812 to 181S. 

DELEGATES TO OOXGRESS. 

Sh.adrach Bond December, 1812, to 1814. 

Benjamin Stephenson .September 29, 1814, to 1817. 

Nathaniel Pope 1817 to 1818. 



Obadiah Jones, March 7, 1809. 

Ale-fander Stuart March 7, 1809. Resigned. 

Jesse B. Thomas March 7, 1809. 

Stanley Griswold March 16,1810. T'iceStuart. 

William Sprieg July 29, 1813. 

Thomas Towles October 28, '815. 

Daniel Cook. (Western cinniii.) January 13, 1818. 

John Warnoek. (Western circuit.) June 8, 1818. 

John McLean. (Eastern circuit) January 13, 1818. Declined. 

Elias Kent Kane. (Eastern circuit.) February 17, 1818. 

William Mears. ^Eastern circuit.) February 17, 1818. 

Jeptha Hardiu. (Eastern circuit.) March 3, 1S18. 

ADJUTANTS-GENEE.^L. 

Elias Rector Mav 3, isnn, to Julv 18. 1809. 

Robert Morrison Julv 18, 1ko<i, to May 28, ISIO. 

Elias Rector Mav 28, ISKi, to October 2S, 1813. 

Benjamin Stephenson December 13,1813, to October 27, 1814. 

Wm. Alexander October 27, 1814, to December, 1818. 

First Territorial liegislatnre— 1813. 

Convened at Kaskaskia on the 25th day of November, A. D. 1812. Adjournod 
the 26th day of December, 1812. Second session convened and adjourned 
November 8, A. D. 1813. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 
OFFICERS. 

President Pierre Menard. 

Secretary John Thomas. 

Doorkeeper Thomas Van Swearingen. 

MEMBERS. 

Pierre Menard Randolph. Samuel Judy Madison. 

Benjamin Talbott Gallatin. Thomas Ferguson Johnson. 

William Biggs St. Clair. 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
OFFICERS. 

Speaker George Fisher. 

C(erk William C. Greenup. 

Doorkeeper Thomas Van Swearingen. 



George Fisher Randolph 

Alexander AVilson Gallatin. 

Phillip Trammel Gallatin. 

John Grammar Johnson, 



MEMBERS. 

Joshua Oglesbv St. Clair. 

Jacob Short St. Clair. 

William Jones Madison. 



Second Territorial Ije'^islatnre— 1814. 

FIRST SESSIOX. 
Convened at Kaskaskia the 14th day of November, A. D. 1814. Adjouri 
December 24, A. D., 1S14. 

LEGISL.iTIVE COUNCIL. 
OFFICERS. 

Presiiient Pierre Menard. 

Secretary John Thoma-s. 

Doorkeeper Thomas .Sttiart. 

MEMBERS. 



Pierre Menard Randolph. 

William Biggs St. Clair. 

Benjamin Talbott Gallatin. 



Sjimiiel Judy Madison. 

Thomas Ferguson Johnson. 



HOUSE OF REPUESENT.4.TIVES. 



Soeaker Risdon Moore. 

Clerk William Mears. 

Doorkeeper Thomas Stuart. 



Phillip Trammel Gallatin. 

Thomas C. Browne Gallatin. 

Owen Evans Johnson. 



Risdon Moore St. Clair. 

William Rabb Madison. 

Jiimes Lemen, Jr St. Clair. 

James Gilbreath* Randolph. 

Second Territorial Ijeglslatnre — 1815. 

SECOND SESSION 
Convened pursuant to adjourumeut, the 4th day of December, A. D. 1815. 
Adjourned January 11, A. D. 1816. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 
OFFICERS. 

PreMcni Pierre Menard. 

Secretary John Thomas. 

Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk Wm. C. Greenup. 

Doorkeeper Ezra Oweu. 

MEMBERS. 

Pierre Menard Randolph. William Biggs St. Clair. 

Samuel Judy M.adi.son. Thomas Ferguson Johnson. 

Benjamin Talbott Gallatin. 

* Expelled. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



41 



HOUSE OF RDPnESEXTATIVES. 
orncEKS. 

Speaker Risdon Moore. 

Clerk Daniel P. Co..k. 

Doorkeeper Ezr.i Owen. 

Enrolling and EnjrMting Clirk VVm. C". Greenup 

MEMBERS. 
Bisdon Moore St. Clair. 



John n. Lofton Mndiao 

William I!.il)b Madisr 

James Lemen, Jr St. Cla 



Pierre Menard. 
I.i-eph Conivav. 
U K.MeLaugh'lin. 
Lzri Owen. 



Phillip Trammel Oallatin. 

Thomas C. Browne (Gallatin. 

Jarvis flazeltoa Uandulph. 

Third Territorial I^eglslatnre— 1816-17. 

FIBST SESSION-. 

Convened at Ka.skaskia the 2d day of December, A. D. I81G. Adjourned 
January IJ, A. D. 1S17. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 

OUICLI' 
President 
;^i:crefan/ 

Enrolling and Engro Sinrj Clerk 
Doorkeeper 

MEMBERS. 

Pierre Menard Randolph. John Grammar .Johnson. 

John G. Lofton Madison. Thomas C. Browne Gallatin. 

Abraham .Amos St Clair. 

HOUSE OF REPRESEXTATIVE-S. 
OFFICERS. 

Speaker George Fi.«her. 

Clerk Daniel P. Cook. 

Enrolling and Engro^ng Clerk R. K. MeLauglilin. 

Doorkeeper Ezra Owen. 

MEMBERS. 

Joseph P.almer Johnson. 

Seth Gard Edwards. 

Samuel Omelveny Pope. 



George Fisher Randolph 

r. R. Mathenv St. Clair. 

•\Vm. H. Br.idsby St. Clair. 

Nathan Davis Jackson. 

Tblrd Territorial lieglslatnre— 1817-18. 
SECOXD SESSION. 

C nvened at KasUaskia the Isl day of December, A. D. 1817. 
January 12, A. D. 1818. 

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. 



Presidoit 
Seerctary 
Enrolling an 
Doorkeeper 



I Engrossing Clerk 



Pierre Menard. 
Joseph Conwav. 
R. K. MeJ^aughlin. 
Ezra Owen. 



Pierre Menard Randolph. 

Abraham Actos Monroe. 

John Grimmar Johnson. 

HOUSF. OP REPRESENTATIVES. 

OFFICERS. 

Speaker George Fisher. 

CUrk Daniel P. Cook. 

Enrolling and Engrossing Clerk R. K. McLaughlii 

Doorkeeper Ezra Owen. 

MEMBERS. 



George Fisher Randolph 

Cha«. R. Matheny St. Clair. 

Willis Hargraves White. 



Wm. H. Bradsby St. Ciair. 

Joseph Palmer Juhnson. 

M. S. Davenport Gallatin. 



First Constitutional Convention. 

CONVE.VTIOX OF ISls. 

Assembled at Kaskaskia, July — , 1818. Adjonrneil .\ugnst 26, 
1818. Thirtv-three delegates. One member from Washington county 
died during tlie .sitting of the convention ; name unknown. Constitu- 
tion adopted in convention without being submitted to a vote of the 
people. Approved by Congress, December 3, ISIS. 

OFFICERS. 

President .Tes«e B. Thomas. 

Secretary William C. Greenup. 

DELEGATES. 

St. Clair — Jesse B. Tliomas, John Messinger, James Lemen, Jr. 
Il'indolph— George Fisher, Elias Kent Kane. 

Madison — Benjamin Stephenson, Jo.seph Borough, Abraham Pric- 
kett. 

Gatom— Michael Jones, Leonard White, .\dolphus F. Hubbard. 
Johnson — Hezekiali West, Wm McFatridge. 
Edwards Seth Gard, Levi C'ompton. 
lIViiVc— Willis Ilargrnve, Wm MoIIcnry. 
Jl/onroe— Caldwell Cam-;, Enoch Woore, 
Pope — Samuel Omelveny, Hamlet Ferguson. 
JacAwon— Conrad Will, .James Hall, Jr. 
CW(«.'/br<Z —Joseph Kiichell, Edward >?. CiiUom. 
5omi— Thomas Kirk Patrick, Snmuel G. Mor.se. 
Union — William Echols, John Whiteaker. 
Wa'<hinglon — Andrew Bankson. 
Franklin — Isham Harrison, Thomas Roberts., 



EXECUTIVE DEPAIIT.MEXT. 

Underthe constitution of ISIS the elective officers were the Gover- 
nor and Lieutenant-Governor, who held office for four years. The 
election returns were transmitted by the returning officer.', directed to 
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, whose duty it was to 
open and publish them in the presence of a m.ajority of each hou.se of 
the General Assembly. In case of a tie, the choice was made by a 
joint ballot of both houses. The first election for Governor and 
Lieutenant-Governor was held on the third Thursday of September, 
A. D. 1818. Thereafter the elections were held every four years 
on the first Monday of August. 

The Secretary of State was appointed by the Governor, with the 
advice and consent of the Senate. 

The .\uditor of Public Accounts, Treasurer and ."Vtlorney- General 
were elected by the General Assembly, and held office for two years 
respectively. 

By the constitution of 1S4S, all these officers were made elective by 
the people, except the Attorney-General, which office was abolished. 
The term of office for each was four years, except the Treasurer, 
which was two years. 

The office of .^.ttorney-General was again created by law, in 1867, 
and the term fixed at two years. The office was first filled by 
appointment by the Governor, and at the e.Kpiration of the term by 
election by the people. 

The constitution of 1870 provides that the Executive Department 
shall consist of a Gorernor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, 
Auditor of Public .Accounts, Treasurer, Superinlendeut of Public lu- 
struclion, and Attorney-General, who sh-ill each, with the exception 
of the Treasurer, hold office for four years from the second Monday in 
January next after election. The Treasurer holds office for two years, 
and is ineligible for re-election until the expiration of two years next 
after the end of his terra. The first election under the constitution of 
1870 was held November 5, A. D. 1872. 

By a law pas.sed in lS49the Secretary of Siate was made ex-officio 
State Superintendent of Public Sohools. In 1S.54 the law establish- 
ing a svstem of free schools created the office of State Superintendent, 
and provided for the appointment by the Governor, upon the taking 
effect of the law, of some person to hold office until the elec;ion in 
1855, when a State .Superintendent should be elected, and every two 
years thereafter. 

The offices of Adjutant-General, State Geologist, and Entomolo- 
gist, are created by law, and filled by appointment of the Governor. 

STATE OF ILLINOIS. 
Ciovemors. 



When From wh.at 

inaugurated. county I 



Shadrach Bond.. 

Edward Coles 

Ninian Edwards 
John Reynolds... 



.Oct. 
.|Dec. 
.iDec. 
• Dec. 



5, 1824.... Madi.'<ou.. 

6, 1S20... Miidison.. 
9, 1830.... St. Clair... 



Wm. J>. D. Ewing 

Joseph Duncan 

Thomas Carlin 

Thomas Ford 

Augustus C. French.. 
Augustus C. French.. 



Joel A. Mitteson.. 
Wm. II. Bissell... 
John Wood 



Resigned Nov. 17, 18;!4. 
Elected Rep. to Congress. 

.Nov. 17, 1834..: Fayette [Vice Reynolds. 

. Dee. 3, 1S34 iMorgau 

. Deo. 7, 18.38 Greene ' 

.Dec. 8, 1842 Ogle I 

. Dec. 9, 1846 Crawford 

.iJau. 8, 1819 [Crawford lRe-elecl3d under Const'a 

I I I of 1847. 

.'.Jan., 1853 Will 

12, 18.^.7.... Monroe 'Died Mareh l.l. 1800. 

.21, 1860..., Adams 



Richard Yates 

Richard J.Oglesby.. 

John M. Palmer 

Richard J. Oglesby.. 



John L. Beverid.^e... 



Shelby 51. Ciillom.. 
Shelby M. Cullom.. 



. 14, 1801... Morgan 

. 10,180.-..,,. Macon 

. 11, 1809... Macoupin . 
. 13, 1,S73... Macon 



Jan 23, 1873... Cook.. 



. San gam 
.'Sangamo 



Resigned Jan. 2,3, 187!. 

Elected U. S,Seni»or. 
Succeeded to office, vice 

Oglesby resigned. 



42 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Ijleutcnant-Govemors. 



When 
inaugurated 



Pierre Menard Oct. 6, 1S18., 

Adolplms F. Hubl.ard..|Dec. 5, lS2i. 

William Kinney Dec. 0, 182C. 

Z.ailolc CasBV I Dec. 0, 1S3I). 

Wm. L. D. Ewing [Mar. 1, 1833. 



Stinson H. Anderson.. 

John M- ore 

Joseph B. Wells 

Wm. McMiuuy 

Gustavus Koerner 

John Wood 



Thomas .\. Marshall.. 

Francis .4. Holfman.. 

Willi.-im Bross 

John Douirhcrty 

John L. iieveridgi... 



Archibald A. Glei 



Dee. ', 
Dee. S 
Dee. 1 
Jan. ' 
Jan. 
Jan. 12 



.Jan. 14, ISOl. 
.Jan. ir., is;ri., 
. Jan. 11, isc;p. 
.|Jan. 1 , IS73. 

.Jan. 23, 1873. 

.Jan. 8, 1875. 




1838.. Jefferson.. 

is4i. ;Ar,-i.i-.aii... 

isl.i K,,rk I-la: 



ReSisned March 1, 1833 

Presidentof Senate and Act- 
ing Licut-tioveruor. 

Resigned. 

Presidcntof Senate and Act- 
ing Lieut-Governor 



vice Bissell dcc'd Mar. 21, 

1800. 
Presidentof Senate and Act- 

o- I.ieiit-Gi'vc'rn..r. 



Cook 

Oool: 

Union 

Cook 

Winnebag 

Brown 



SecretAries of State. 



Elia^i Kent Kane 

Samuel D. Loclcwood.. 

D.avid Blackwell 

Morris Birkbeek 

George Forquer 

Alexander 1*. Field 

Stephen A. Iinuu'lus... 
Lym:ui Tiiiiii'-ill 

ThoTlip. -I . .■:,■•- 'li 

llora. ^ - . ' 
Uorao.j .-. I â– â– â– A' X 



Appointed o 
qiiaiitied. 



â– From what 
county. 



Oct. 6. 1818.. Kaskaski 
Dej. IS, 1822.. Madison 
April 2, lS2i..'St. Cla 
Uet. '" "^ • '" 

'^'nv. 

F..1,, 



:4.. IM\i 



\^i'< 



.. Resignea Dee. 10, 1822. 
Resigned .ipril 2, 1823. 
Rosisned Oet. l.i. 1824. 

RrM-Ti-.l I i-i T.. 1S25. 



iK-.i .Miui li 4,1813. 

^ned Dec. 23, 1846. 

.\ppointed by Gov. French. 



David L.Greggs i April in, I860.. | Cook.. 

Alex.snder Starne .Ian. 10, 18o3..|Pike . 

Ozias M. Hatch Jan. 12, ls-,7.. Tike . 

OziasM. Hatch Ilan. 14. K-l. ri!:- 

Sharon Tyndale iJan. V, I -â–  'I 

Edward Rummel Jan. li. I ' I 

tieoree n. Harrow ;Jan. 1;. i-. ; li â–  ^\ 

George H. Harrow I.an. .â– ?. Is77.. I azrn 

Hcnrv C. Dement Jan. 10, ls81..iLee ... 



Elected under Constitution 
o( 1818. Died April 2, 1860. 



Auditors of Public Accounts, 



When From what 
qualified. county. 



Elijah C. Berry 'Oct. 9, 1818.. Fayette . 

Elijah C. Berry .\pril 6, 1819.. 

James T.B. Stapp \u.15. 27, 1831.. •' , 

Levi Davis Nov. 16, 1836.. " 

James Shields Mar. 4, 1841.. Randolph 

Wm. D. L. Ewing ilar. 20, 1843.. F.iyett^ Died. 

Thomas H. Campbell... Mar. 26, 18M.. Randolph.... Vice Ewing, deceased. 
Thomas H. Campbell... Jan. 7, 1847..| " 

Jesse K. Dubois Jan. 12, 1857.. Lawrence .. 

Jesse K. Dubois Jan. 14, 1861.. " 

Orlin H. Mmer Dee. 1 ', 1864..!Sangamon.. 

( harles E. Lippincott..|Jan. 11, 183!l..|Cass 

Charles E. Lippincott... Jan. 13, 187.3.. " 1. 

Thomas B. Needles .Ian. 8, 1877.. Wi.shington 

C harles P. Swigert Wan. 10, ]881..lKankakeo...l, 



Superintendent of Public Instruction. 



When 
qualiiied 



Ninian W. Edwards , 

Wm. H. Powell 

Newton Bateman 

Newton Bntemau 

John P. Brooks 

Newton Bateman.... 
Newton Bateman.... 
Newton Bateman.... 



. Mch. 24, 1854. 
. Jiin'y 12, 1857. 
.. .lan'v 1,1869. 
,. Jan'y 4, 1861. 
,. .lan'v 12, 1803. 
"y 10, 1805. 

Jan'y — , 1867. 

Jan'y - , 1871. 



I 



From what 
county. 



Sangamon.. 

Peoria 

Morgan 



State Treasurers. 



When From what 

qualified county. 



John Thomas ] 

R. K. McLaugnlin Aug. 

Abner Field Jan. 

James Hall iFcb. 

John Dement Fob. 

Charles Gregory Dec. 

John D. Whiteside , .Mch. 

Milton Carpenter jMch. 

John Moors -Vug. 

John Moore iDec. 

.James Miller Jan. 

William Butler Sept. 

William Butler 'Jan. 

Alexander Starne Jan. 

James H. B-veridge Ian. 

George W. Smuh .l:in. 

Erastus N. I.:it.~ Iilil 

Erastus N. 1 .ii - N>'\- 

Edward Rm:- Ian. 

Thos. S. Ridguway .J.an. 

Edward Rutz Jan. 

John C. Smith IJan. 

Edward Rutz ;Jan. 



. 1818. 
, 1810. 

, 1S23. 



St. Clair., 
j Fayette .. 



Appointed by the Governor 



, 1.S41. 
, 1848. 
, 1850. 
, 18,'.7. 
, 185 J, 
, 1801. 
, 1863. 
1S65. 



Uaniilton ... Died. 

IMcLean [Appointed vice Carpenter. 

! Elected. 

.i " iRcsigned Sept 3, 1859. 

.iSangamou...|Appointcd, vice Miller. 



Attorneys- General. 




Daniel Pope Cook iMch. S, 

William Moars {Deo. 14, 

Sam'l D. Lock wood iFcb. 26, 

James Turney iJan'y 14, 

James Turney Jan'y 15, 

George Forquer Jan'y 23, 

James Semple 'Jan'y 30, 

Ninian W. Edwards ISept. 1, 

Ninian W. Edwards J.an'yl'.l, 

Jesse B. Thomas, Jr.... Feb. 1-2, 

Walter B. Si-ate.s |Jan'yl8, 

Usher F. Lin.Irr Frli. 1. 

George W. < Mn 'n luni' -â– â– , 

Wickliife l\ii li. 1; M !.. 'â– â–  

Josiah Lai 
James A. Jlciii 



Randolph ... Resigned March 5, 1819. 

St CLair â–  

Madison Resigned Dec. 28, 1822. 

Washington Resigned Jan'y 7, IS'25. 



Monroe JResigned Dee. 3, 183'2. 

Madison ' 

Sangamon... 



jdison l: - , y s, 1830. 

ffersou .. 1;. .-i.. I r •■■ 2ii, 1830. 

Ins U.,-muc.i Ju..l: 11, 1838. 

.dison .Resigned Fcb'y 1, 1S39. 

awford iResignod Nov. 19, 1840. 



mall laiiy 12, 1.^ 



David B. Campbell [Dec. 21, 

Robert G. Ingersoll . ...;Feb. '28, 
W'ashington Bushnell.. Jan'y. 11, 

James K. Edsall Jan'y 13, 

James Iv. Edsall ,. Jan'.v. 8, 

James JlcCartney [Jan'y. 10, 



1840. 
1867. 
1873. 
1873. 

1877..! " 

1881..iWayne 



Sangamon 

Peoria App-. 

LaSalle 

Lee 



State Geologists. 



When 
appointed. 



Joseph Norwood July 21, 1851.. Sangamon.... Act of Feb. 17, 1851. 

H. A Ulffers 1S53.. Hardin Topographer. 

Amos H. Worthen Mch. 2-2, 1858.. Hancock '\ lee ^orwood. 



Leopold Riehter iDec. 1, 18o9..|St.Louis,Mo. .\rtist. 

Henry Engelmann L\pril 19, 1S61 . St Clan- I. \ssistant Geologist. 

William Billingtou April 20, 1804..ISangamon...,Yice Richer. 



State Elntozuologlsts. 



D.B.Walsh 

Wm. LeBarron.. 
Cyrus Thomas... 



When From whatl 
appointed. county. 



.June 11, 1807.. Rock Island Died. 

.lApril '2, 1870.. ICane Died. 

.JApril 13, 1875..; Jackson 

Adjutants-General. 



When 
appointed. 



From what 
county. 



Wm. Alexander April 24, 1819.. Randolph.. 

Elijah C. Berrv June 11, 1821.. Payette.. 

James W. Berry Dec. 

Moses K. Audo son Dee. 16, 1839..;Sangamon. .. 

Simon B. BueUntr ipril ,3, 1 8.37..! Cook 

Wm.C. Kc.MMV I>fo. ;', l.^.-.T.. M. Clair 

ThomasS. M it!i. 1 ivt. k. \^:.^ ^.tviiiamo-a... 

AllenC. Full, i N'.'v. 11 

Ishani.N. 11. Mil.' .lan-yli'. 



Resigned Nov. 11, 1839. 



\ 



Hiram Hilliard.. 



.;Mch. ; 

.Jan'y; 

.July 

.iJuly 

.'July 



l.sfi.-,,. .Uc-xandt-r.. 

1869..iSangamon.. 
1873..! " 
1874.. I 

1875..lCook 

1877..I " 



Resigned Nov. 7, 1857. 

Died. 

Vice Kinney, deceased. 



MISCELLANEOUS IXFOEMATION". 



Presidents. 



No. 



NAME. 



QIA 



1 George Washington April 30, ITS'i 

Msr. 4, IViit 

2 John Adams Mar. 4, 1797 

S Thomas Jeflerso i Mar 4, Isiil 

" " Mar. 4, 18Uj 

4 James Madison Mar. 4, 18(.0 

" " Ma', 4, I81i 

5 James Monroe Mar. 4, 1«17 

" '• Mar. 5, 1821 

6 John Quiaey Adams .... Mar. 4, ]825 

7 Andr.-w Jackson Mar. 4, 1829 

•• " Mar. 4, 1833 

8 Martin Van Biiren Mar. 4, 1837 

9 Wm. Henrv Hani on....Mar. 4, 1841 

10 John Tvier April B, 1841 

11 James K. Polk Mar. 4, 1815 

12 Zacharv THVlor Mar. .">, 1849 

13 Millard Fillmore .July 10, 18.10 

14 Franklin Pi.-roe Mar. 4, 1853 

l.l James BuohHiian Mar. 4, 1857 

16 Abraham Lincoln Mar. 4, 1861 

" .Mar. 4, 1865 

17 Andrew Johnson April l.'i, 1865 

18 Ulysses S. Grant Mar. 4, 1869 

â– ' Mar. 4, 1873 

19 Rutherford B. Hayes ....Mar. 5, 1877 

20 James A. Gnifield Mar. 4, 1881 

21 Chester A. Arthur Sept. 2li, 1881 



Vice-Presidents. 



Secretaries of State. 



Secretaries of 'War. 



No. 



APPOINTEP. No. 



APPOINTED. 



1 John Adams June 3, 1780 

" " Dec. 2, 1793 

2 Thomas Jefferson Mar. 4, 1797 

3 Aaron Burr Mar. 4, 1801 

4 George Clinton Mar 4, Iso.'i 

" Mar. 4, 18IHI 

6 Eldridge Gerrv Mar. 4, 1813 

•John Gaillarri Nov. 2.^, 1814 

6 Daniel D. Tomokins Mar. 4, 1817 

" •' Mar. 5, 18-1 

7 John C. falho.in Mar. 4. 1825 

Mar. 4, 18-'9 

8 Martin Va'i Knren Mar. 4, 1833 

9 Rifhar.l M. Johnson Mar. 4, 18:i7 

10 John Tyler .Mar. 4, 1841 

•Sam'iel L. S.iu hard Amil n, 1811 

•Willie P. Manirum Mav 31, 1842 

11 George M. Ualla' Mar. 4, 1S4S 

12 Millard f'iilmnrn Mar. !,, 1849 

•William It Kiu'.; July 11, 1850 

13 Willi^iMi i:. Kill' Mar. 4, 1853 

•Davi I R. Vlchi on April 18, 18.53 

•Jesse 1). Hright Deo. 5, 1854 

14 John C. Breckinridge. .. Mar. 4, 18.57 

15 Hannilial Hamlin Mar. 4, isrd 

16 Andrew Jnhnson Mar. 4, 1865 

•I.afave fe S. Foster April 15, IPGo 

•Benjami-i F. Wade Mar. 2, 1867 

17 Schiiyirr Colfax Mar. 4,1869 

18 Henry Wilson Mar. 4. 1873 

•Thoma.< W. Ferrv Nov. 22, 1875 

19 William A. Wheeler Mar. .5, 1877 

20 Chester A Arthur Mar. 4, 1881 

21 D.iTid Davis Oct. 13, 1881 

•Acting Vi-*e-Presidcnt and Pre ident 
j>ro (em of the Senate. 



Secretaries of State. 

1 Thomas Jeffersoi Sept. 2 

Mar. 

2 Edmon<l Randolp'i Ian. 

3 Timothy Pickering Ii-c. 1 

Mar. 

4 John Marshall May 1 

B James Madison Mar. 

.Mar. 

6 Robert Smiih Mar. 

7 James M -nroe ^pril 

Mar. 

8 John Qui i"y Ad.arn Mar 

" " Mar. 

9 Henry Clav Mar. 

10 Martin Van Biiren Mar. 

11 Edward LivioKStou May 2 

12 Louis McLane May S 

13 John Forsyth lune i 

Mar. 

U Daniel Web«ter Mar. 

„ " " April 

5 Hugh S. Lepare May 5 

10 Abel P. Upshur July s 



17 J-»hn C. Calhoun Mar. 6, 

IS James Buchanan Mar. 6, 

19 John M. Clayton Mar. 8, 

Daniel Webster July 22, 

•20 Edvvard Everett Nov. 6, 

21 William L. Marcy Mar. 7, 

22 Lewis Ca3.s Mar. 6, 

•a Jeremiah S. Black Dee. 17, 

24 William H.Seward Mar. 5, 

Mar. 4, 

" " .April 15, 

25 E. B. Washburne Mar. .5, 

26 Hamilton Fish „Mar. 11, 

" Mar. 4, 

27 William M. Evarts Mar 12, 

28 James G. Blaine Mar. 4, 

29 Frelinghuysen, F. T Dec, 



Secretaries of the Treasury. 

1 Alex. Hamilton Sept. 11, 1789 

Mar. 4, 1793 

2 Oliver Woleott Feb. 2, 1795 

Mar. 4, 1797 

i Samuel Dexter Jan. 1, ISul 

( Albert Gallatin May 14, 1801 

" " -Mar. 4, 1809 

" " Mar. 4, 1813 

j Geo. W. Campbell Feb. 9. 1814 

i Alexander J Dallas Oct. 6, 1814 

r Wm H. Crawford Oct. 22, 1816 

" " Mar. 6, 1817 

" " Mar. 6, 1821 

1 Richard Rush Mar. 7, 1825 

I Samuel D. Ingham Mar. 6, 1S29 

) L'Miia McLane ..Aug. 2, 1831 

! William J. Duane May 29, 1833 

! Roger B. Taney Sept. 2.3, 1833 

1 Leri Woodbury June 27, 1834 

Mar. 4, 1837 

I Thomas Ewiiig Mar. .5, 1841 

" April 6, 1841 

i Walter Forward Sept. 13, 1841 

; John C.Spencer Mar. 3, 1S43 

' George M. Bibb lune 1.5, 1844 

I Robert J. Walker Mar. 6, 1845 

I Wm. M. Meredith Mar. 8, 1849 

I Thomas C.irwin July 2.3, 1850 

JamesGuthne Mar. 7, 18.'i3 

: Howell Cobb Mar. 6, 18.57 

; Philip F.Thomas Dec. 12, I860 

John A. Dix Jan. 11, 1861 

I Salmon P. Cha.se .. Mar. 7, 1861 

1 Wm. Pi't Fessenden July 1, 1864 

Hugh McCalloch Mar. 7, 1865 

" •' April 1.5, 1865 

: George S. Boutwell Mar, 11, 1869 

Wm. A Richardson Mar 17, 1-73 

' Benj. H. Bri.stow June 4, 1874 

Lot M. .Morrill July 7, 1876 

John Sherman Mar. 8, 1877 

William Windom Mar. 4, 1881 

: Chas. G. Folger Dec, istft 



Secretaries of War. 



2-^ William L. Marcy Mar. 6, 1845 

23 George •' . Crawford.. . Mar. 8, 1849 

24 Charles M. Conrad Aug. 15, 1850 

25 Jetferson Davis Mar. 5, 1853 

26 John B. Floyd Mar. 6. 18.57 

27 Joseph Holt Jan. 18, 1861 

28 Simon Cameron Mar. 5,1861 

29 Edwin M. Stanton Jan. 15, 1862 

Mar. 4, 1866 

â– ' " April 15, 1865 

U. S. Grant, aJ tn(enm...Aug. 12. 1867 

L Thomas. " " ...Feb. 21,1808 

30 John M. Schofield May 28, 1868 

I 31 John A. Rawlins Mar. 11, 1869 

I 32 Wm. W. Belknap Oct. 25, 1869 

I " " Mar. 4, 1873 

• Si AlphonsoTaft Mar. 8, 1876 

34 James D. Cameron May 22, 1876 

35 Geo. W. McCrary Mar. 12, 1877 

36 Alexander Ramsey Dee. 10, 1879 

37 Robert T. Lincoln Mar. 4, 1881 



Secretaries of the Navy. 



Postmasters-lx^ueral 



1 Benjamin Stoddert May 

Mar. 

2. RobertSmith July 

3. J. Crowninshield ..Mar. 

4 Paul Hamilton Mar. 

5 William Jones Jan. 

" " Mar. 

6 B. W. Crowninshield Dec. 

" " Mar. 

7 Smith Thompson Nov. 

" " Mar. 

8 Samuel L. Southard Sept. 

Mar. 

9 John Branch Mar. 

10 Levi Woodbury May 



..Ma 



11 Mahlon Dickerson June 

Mar. 

12 James K. Paulding June 

13 George E. Badger Mar. 

" *• April 

14 Abel P. Upshur Sept. 

15 David Henshaw July 

16 Thom,as W. Gi mer Feb. 

17 John Y. Mason Mar. 

18 Geoge Bancroft Mar. 

John Y. Mason Sept. 

19 William B. Preston Mar. 

20 William A. Graham July 

21 John P. Kennedy July 

22 James C. Dobbin Mar. 

23 Isaac Toucey Mar. 

24 Gideon Welles „ Mar. 

" Mar. 

" '' April 

25 Adolph E. Borie Mar. 

26 Geo. M. Robeson .....June 

" 'â–  Mar. 

27 Rich. W.Thompson Mar. 

28 Nathan Goff, Jr Jan. 

Lt) W. H. Hunt Mar. 

30 W. E. Chandler April, 



21, 1798 
4, 1801 

15, 1801 

3, 1805 

7, 1809 

12, 1813 

4, 1813 
m, 1811 

4.1817 
9, 1818 

6, 1821 

16, 1823 

4, 1825 
9, 1829 

23, 1831 
4.1833 

30, l&i4 
4.1837 
25, 1838 

5, 1841 
6,1841 

13, 1841 

24, 1843 I 
15, 1844 

14, 1844 I 
10, 1845 1 

9, 1846 I 

8, 1849 I 

22, 1850 
22, 1852 

7, 1853 

6, 1857 
6, 1801 
4, 1865 

15, 1865 
6, 1869 

25, 1869 
4 1873 

12, 1877 
6,1881 
4, 1881 



No. NAME. APPOINTED. 

4 Gideon Granger Nov. 28, 1801 

'; â– ' Mar. 4, 1805 

„_' , ' Mar. 4,1809 

5 Return J. Meigs, Jr Mar. 17, 1814 

" " Mar. 4.1817 

„ , . „ , " Mar. 5, 1821 

6 John McLean lune 26,1823 

»„'.„. ,„"„ Mar. 4,1825 

7 W illiam T. Barry Mar. 9, 1829 

■• Mar. 4, IKtt 

8 Amos Kendall May 1, 18.35 

„ ,", ,, " Mar. 4,1837 

9 John M. Niles May 25, I84ii 

10 Francis Granger .Mar 6, 1841 

„, " " April 6, 1841 

11 Cha.s. A. Wickliffe Sept. 13. I8J1 

12 Cave Johnson M»r. 6, i815 

13 Jacob Collamer Mar. 8 1849 

14 Nathan K. Hall July 23, 1850 

15 Sam'l D. Hubbard Aug. 31, 18.52 

10 James Campbell Mar 5, 1853 

17 Aaron V. Brown Mi.r. 6, 18.57 

18 .loseph Holt Mar. 14, 18.59 

19 Horatio King Feb. 12, 1861 

20 Montgomery Blair Mar. .5, .861 

21 William Dennison Sept. 24, 1804 

" " Mar. A, 1865 

" " April 1.5, 1»65 

22 Alex. W. Randall Inly 2,5, 1866 

23 John A. J. Cre.sswell Mar. 5, 1809 

" " Mar. 4.1873 

24 Marshall Jewell Aug. 24, 1874 

25 James N. Tyner July 1.-, 1H76 

26 David McK Key Mar. 12^ 1S77 

27 Horace Maynard June 2, 18-0 

28 Thomas L. James Mar. 4, 1881 

29 Timothy O. Howe Dec, 1881 



Attorneys-General. 



1789 
1793 
1794 



1801 
1805 
1809 
, 1811 
, 1S13 



1841 
1841 
, 1843 
, 1843 



1 Henry Knox Sept. 12, 

" •' Mar. 4, 

2 Timothy Pickering Jan. 2, 

3 J.tmesMcHenry Jan, 27, 

Mar. 4, 

4 Samuel Dexter May 1.3, 

5 Roger Griswold Feb. 3, 

6 Henry Dearborn Mar. 5, 

Mar. 4, 

7 William Eustis Mar. 7, 

8 John Armstrong Jan. 13, 

-Mar. 4, 

9 James 5lonroe Sept. 27, 

10 Win. H. Cra»ford Aug. 1, 

11 George Graham ad interim 

12 John C.Calhoun Oct. 8, 

'â–  Mar. 5, 

13 James Barbour„ Mar. 7, 

11 Peter B. Porter Mav 20, 

15 John H. Eaton Mar. 9, 

10 Lewis Ca.ss Aug. 1, 

" " - Mar. 4, 

17 Joel R Poinsett Mar. 7, 

18 John Bell Mar. 5, 

" " .April 6, 

19 John C. Spencer Oct. 12, 

20 James M. Porter Mar. 8, 

21 William Wilkins -Jeb. 15, 



1789 
1793 
1795 



Secretaries of the Interior. 



Thomas Ewing Mar. 

Alex. H. Stuart Sept. 

Robert McClelland Mar. 

Jacob Thompson Mar. 

Caleb B. Smith Mar. 

John P. Usher Jan. 

" " Mar. 

" " April 

James Harlan May 

O. H. Browning July 

Jacob D. Cox .Mar. 

Columbus Delano Nov. 

'â–  M.ar. 

Zachariah Chandler Oct. 

Carl Schurz Mar. 

Samuel J. Kirkwood Mar. 

Henry M. Teller \pril, 



8, 1849 
12, 1850 
7, 1853 
6, 1857 

5, 1861 
8, 1863 
4,1865 

15, 1865 
15, 1865 I 
27, 1806 

6, 1869 
1, 1870 
4, 1873 

19, 1875 

12, 1877 

4, 1881 

1882 



Postmasters-General. 



1 Samuel Osgood Sept. 26, 1789 

2 Timothy Pickering Aug. 12, 1791 

Mar 4, 1793 j 

3 Joseph Habersham F b. 2.5,1795 

Mar. 4. 1797 . 

" " Mar. 4, 1801 , 



1 Edmund Randolph Sept. 

M.-.r 

i William Bradford Jan. 

3 Charles Lee Dec 

" Mar. 

t Theophilus Parsons Feb. 

3 Levi Lincoln Mar. 

3 Robert Smith Mar. 

r John Breckinridge Aug. 

i t-pesar A. Rodney Jan 

â– ' Mar. 

) William Pinkney Dec 

" " Mar. 

) Richard Rush Feb. 

•■ Mar 

1 William Wirt Nov. 

•' Mar. 

" ** Mar. 

2 John M. Berrien Mar 

J Roger B. Taney July 

'• Mar. 

1 Benjamin F. BuHer Nov. 

" M,n. 

j Felix Grundy July, 

5 Henry D. Gilpin Jan. 

J John J. Critlendeu Mar. 

" " April 

i Hugh S. Legare i-ept. 

(John Nelson July 

) John Y. Mason Mar. 

I Nathan Clitfoid Oct. 

i Isaac Toucey Tune 

I Reverdy Jonnson Mar. 

John J Crittenden Inly 

I Caleb Cu'hing Mar. 

j Jeremiah ,S. Slack Mar. 

; Edwin JI. Stanton Dec. 

1 Edward Bates Mar. 

T. J. Coffey, ad int June 

i James Speed Dee. 

" Mar. 

" April 

) Henry Stanbery July 

( Willi.am M Evarts July 

I E. Rockwond Hoa- M:ir. 

i Amos T. Akerman lune 

! George H. Williams Dec. 

Mar. 

1 Edward Pi-rrepont Ajiril 

i Alphonso laft Mav 

> Charles Devens Mar. 

r Wayne MacVeagh „.Mar. 

J Benj. Harris Brew8ter...Dec., 



26, 1789 
4, 1793 

27, 1794 
111, 1795 

4, 1797 

20, 1801 
fi, 1801 

3, 181IS 

7, 1805 

28, 1807 

4, 1809 
11, 1811 

4, 1813 

10, 1814 
4, 1817 

13, 1817 
6, 1821 

4, 1825 
9,1829 

iO, 1831 
4,1833 

15, 1833 
4,1837 
6, 1838 

11, 1840 
6, 1841 

0, 1841 

13, 1841 

1, 1843 

6, 1845 
17, 1840 

21, 1848 

8, 1849 

22, 1850 

7, I8-.3 
6, 1857 

20, I860 

5. 1861 

22, 1863 

2, 1864 

4, 1865 
15. 18i;5 

23. 1806 
IS, 18i;8 

5, 1869 
23, 1870 

14, 1871 
4. 1873 

26, 1875 
22, 1870 

12, 1877 
4 1881 

1881 



F. A. Miihl«Qberg .. 
Jonathan Trumbull.. 
F. A. Muhlenberg... 
Jonathan Dayton .... 



Joseph B. Varnum.. 
Henry Clay 



Langdon Cheves.. 
Henry Clay 



SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 
Stated 



Pennsylvania 
Connecticut... 
Pennsylvania 
New Jersey... . 



Coiisress. j Term of Service. 

1st C 'ngress April 1, 1789, to Mareli 4, 1791 

•id Congress Oetober 24, 1791, to March 4, 1793.. 



December 2, 1793, to March 4, 1796.. 
December 7, 1795, to March 4, 1797.. 
May 15,1797, to March 3, 1799.. 



John W. Taylor 

Philip P. Barbour j Virginia 

Henry Clay I Kentucky. 



3d Congress 
4th Congress. 

5th Congress ^.^aj .lu,xi^i, ^^ ^.jia.,.,i u, m,^ 

6th Congress.. December 2, 1799, to March 4, 1801 

;th Congress December 7, 1801, to March 4, 1803. 

- 8th Congress October 17, 1803, to March 4, 1805.. 

" " :!ith Congress |December 2. 1805, to March 4, 1807. 

Massachusetts - !lotli Cbngress IOctober2C, 1807, to March 4, 1809.. 

1 nil ConL'ioss May 22 1S09, to March 4, ISll 

- :> ' . ii-r.'s.s November 4, 1811. to March 4,1813 

- 1' " jMay 24, 1813, to January 19, 1814.... 

' iiLM -^ iJanuary 19, 1814, to March 4, 1815.. 

I'll ' 'iigiiss jDeoember 4, 1815, to Mnrch 4, 1815. 

I.itli Congress 1 ecember 1, 1S17, to March 4, 1819. 

liith Congress [December 6, 1819, lo May 1.5, 1820 



Kentucky.. 



South Carolina, 2il - 
itucky 



New York, 2d Session.. 



Itjth Congress.. 
I7th Congress.. 
18th Congress., 
luth Congress.. 
20th Congress.. 
21st Congress.. 
J-d Congress . 



Tennessee, 2d S'-~- 



Robert M. T. Hunter 

John Wuite Kent 

John W. Jones IVirt 

John \V. Davis Indii:, i 

Robert C. Wintlirop Ma-- i 

Howell Cnho ili. M, _ 

Linn Boyd Ktiiii i ^ 

Nathaniel P. Banks Massachu.e 

James L. Orr riouth Car' 

Wm. Pennington {New Jer.^o 

Galusha A. Grow 'Pennsylva 

Svdiuvler Colfax Indiana.... 



Virginia I^nth Congrei 

ky ]27throng: 



Michael C. Kerr Indiana 

Samuel J. Rnndall Pennsylvania, 2d Se 



November 15, 1820, to March 4, 1821.. 
December 4, 1S21, lo March 4, 1823.... 
December 1, 1823, to March 4, 1825.... 
December 5, 1825, xo March 4, 1827.. . 
December 3, 1827, to March 4, 1829.... 
December 7, 182ii, to March 4, 1831.... 
December 5, 1831, to March 4, 1833.... 

j:;d Congress |l)ecember2, 183:i, to Juno 2, 1834 

- :;d Congress 'June 2, 1834, to Man h 4, 18;i.i 

-ith Congress jDecember 7, 183.5, to March 4,18.37.... 

"th Congress September 5, 1837. to March 4, 1839..., 

' " December Ki, 18.18, to March 4,1841.., 

May 31, 1841, to March 4, 1843 

December 4, 1843, to March 4. 1845.... 

â– S ' ,ii-r.-> December 1, 1845, to March -I. ll!l,7.... 

II' 11-1.=^ iDeeember 6, 1847, to March 4, 1849.... 

I-' ' un s> Decembrr22, 1S49, to M«n li 4, bWl.., 

i ' i,^'u-s- December 1, 18.51, to Man-li 4, IS.iH.. ., 

;'l Congress December 5, 18.i3, to March 4, l^-SS.... 

4th Congress ' Pebruary 2 1856, to Wa'-ch 4, 1857 

itlt Congress December", 1857, to March 4, 1N.59,... 

iith Conaress February 1, isrn, to March 4, 1801 

::ii 'â–  n-'.'-< July 4, IsCl, to March 4, 1863 

I I I - - December 7, 18ra, to March 4, 1865 

'I ' J - December 4, 1865, to March 4,1867 

^ I -- March 4, 1867, to March 4, 1869 

• I _'icss March 4, 1SI>9, to March 4, 1871 

ifioss March 4, 1871, to March 4, 1873 

-i.-ss December 1, 187.3, to March 4, 1875 

December 6, 1875, to August 20, 1876 . 
December 4, 187i>, to March 4, 1877...., 

45ih Congress October 15, 1877, to March 4, 1879 

46th Congress i March 18, 1879, to 



1805 
1S05 
1799 
1809 
1H5 
18U0 



1.S22 
1796 
1823 
1823 



ngres: 



Pled. 

1801 



1821 
1852 
1857 



1845 

1848 
1850 



POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES AT EACH CENSUS, FROM 1790 TO 1880, FROM THE OFFICIAL CENSUS. 
1790. 1800. 1 



States and Territories. 



18^0. I 1830. 



Alabama... 
Arkansas.. 
California, 
Colorado... 
Connectlct 
Delaware.. 

Fl..rida 

Georgia 

Illinois 

Indiana 



2S2433 

. 12282 

24520 



340985 
65162 
147178 



297675 
7i;748 
34730 

516823 



309978 
78085 
54477 
69139i 
476183 
68.5866 
43112 



771623 
209897 
92597 

"370792" 
91S32 I 
S7445 j 
90G185 
851470 
988416 1 
192214 1 



Maine •,.. 

Maryland 

Massachusetts., 

Michig .n 

Mmnesota 



9!i640 
3197i8 
3787S7 



151719 
341548 
422845 



Mississippi . 

Missouri 

Nebraska 

Nevada.. 



New Hampshire. 

New Jersey 

New York 

North Carolina,... 

Ohio 

Oregon.. 



14 1 885 183858 
1S4139 211149 
.341020 589051 
393761 478103 
I 45365 



Pennsylvania... 
Rhode Island... 
South Carolina . 
Tennessee 



434373 
68825 

249073 
35691 



Vermont 

Virginia .... 
West Viruii 
Wisconsin . 



002365 
69122 
3455U1 
1U5602 



400511 
70556 
2J8705 
380.540 
472040 
4762 



564135 
152923 
298269 
407350 
523159 
8765 



637917 
215739 
399455 
447040 
610408 
31G39 



352411 

501793 
470019 
737699 
212267 



214460 
215562 
959049 
5!')5,500 
230760 



244022 
277428 
1372111 
0388 '9 
681295 



810t)!ll 
70931 
415115 
261727 



1047.507 
83016 
502741 
422771 



bi iiio "-""""â– "" 14093 24023 mm 



260328 
320823 

1918601 
737087 
937903 



13482,33 
97199 
681185 
681904 



284,574 
37.3:»6 

2428921 
75 !419 

1519467 



1724033 
108830 
594.398 
829210 



982405 
517762 
583169 
683034 
994514 
397654 
6077 
6065-.'6 
6820<M 



317976 
489555 

3097334 
869039 

1980329 
13294 

2.311786 
147545 
668507 

1002717 
212592 
314120 

1421661 



306.391 



17019041 â–  230672C2- 



Montana.. 
New Mexict*. 

Utah 

Washington.. 
Wyoming 



The Territories 

Total Population.. 



5308483 7239SS1 



9033822 12866020 17069453 



864::01 
43545P 
379994 
34277 
460147 
112216 
1404i4 

10,57286 

1711951 

1360428 
674913 
107206 
115.568 
708002 
628279 
087049 

123105G 
749113 
172023 
791305 

1182012 

28841 

6867 

326073 

672036 

3880736 
992622 

23S9511 
62466 

2906215 
174620 
703708 

1109801 
604215 
3151198 

1596318 



775881 



93516 
40273 
11594 



23191876 31443,321 



991992 
484471 
660247 
39864 
537454 
125015 
187748 
1184109 
2539891 
1G80637 
1194020 
304399 
155684 
72C915 
626915 
780894 
1457351 
1184059 
4397116 
827922 
1721295 
122993 
42491 
318300 
906096 
43827.59 
1071361 
266526 
90923 
3521951 
217353 
70,5606 
1268620 
818579 
330661 
1226163 
442014 
1054070 



1262794 
802564 
864686 
194649 
622683 
146654 
267351 
1530048 
3078760 
1978362 
1G24G20 
995966 
1648708 
940103 
648945 
934632 
1783012 
1636331 
780806 
1331.592 
2108804 
452433 
62266 
346984 
1130892 
5083810 
1400047 
3198239 
174767 
4282786 
276528 
995622 
1642463 
1592574 
332286 
151 2806 
618443 
1315480 



3811.5641 



14181 
131700 
14999 
20595 
91874 
86786 
23955 
9118 



49309695 



40441 
135180 
177638 
32611 
301.57 
1184.30 
143906 
75120 
20788 



442730 ( 783271 



Increase [ Increase Increase, Increasei Increasei Increase Increase Increase Increase 

percent. ' per cent.i percent. ' per cent, per cent.l per cent, per cent, per cent per cent. 

1700-1800. 1801-1810 1810-1820. 1820-1830.11830-1840.1840-1850. 1850-1860. 1860-1«70. 1870-18 

35,10. 3G.-!«. ^n.Ol--. 3?..51. I 33.52, 3.5.83. 1 35.11. 22.6.5. ai.nr. 



26.66 
65.65 
64.34 

388.28 
15.85 
17.30 
42.39 
29.97 
21.22 
17.70 
86.06 

173.14 
24.80 
29.32 
3.16 
19.68 
22.34 
38.19 
77.67 
36.67 
25.99 

2li7.83 
46.53 
9.01 
24.80 
15.99 
30.67 
19.9<l 
92.21 
21.60 
27.22 
40 05 

2i.50 
94.-55 
.62 
23.42 
39.91 
24.72 



29.52 



318.73 
853.24 
34.88 
117.42 
90.12 
X8.90 
65.81 
213.58 
127.98 
78.91 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS, 



43 



POPri^ATIOX OF FLLIXOIS. 



r 1380, and date 



I 180n. i 1810. , 1820. 1 1S30. 



Aduins 

Alexander 

Bond 

Boone 

Brown 

Bureau 

Calhoun 

Carroll 

Cas«i 

Champai^ \ 

C hnsti m 

Clark 

CUy 

Clinton 

Coles 

Cook 

Crawf rd 

Cumberland 

Dekalb 

DeWitt 

Doni^las 

BuPage 

I dear 

E d wards 

i tfin»ham 

F a\ ette 

Fiinl hu 

Full n 

Gallatin 

Grtene 

Grundy 

Hamilton 

Hancock 

Hardin 

Henderson 

Henry 

IroquoM 

Jackson 

Jasper 

Jeneraon 

Jerse\ 

JoDa\ip "< 

Johnson 

Kane 

Kankakee 

Kendall 

Knox 

Lake 

LaSalle 

Lawrence 

Lee 

Livingston 

L0!»1M 

Wa-^on 

Waco ipin 

Madi«on 

M anon 

Marshall 

Mason 

M assa" 

McDonongh 

McHenrj 

McLean 

M engird 

Mercer 

Monroe 

Montgomery 

Morgan 

Moultrie 

Ogle 

Peoria 

Perrv 

Piatt 

Pike 

Pope 

Pula«ki 

Putnam 

Randolph 

Richland 

Rof*k IsH id 

Saline 

Sangamon 

S< huyler 

Stott 

Shebly 

SI ark 

*&t CKir 

SleVienson 

Tazewell 

Union 

Vermilion 

A\ ftbi-ih 

W arren 

"VSishingt )a 

Wavne 

White 

WhitesidL 

Will 

^\ illiamson 

\\ innebft^o 

Woodford 

Atrjrotrito 



I I 101 7 '>73 



1,^»n| ^ iD7J S 248 



1 111 

4 8^1 



2 1S( 


14 47G 


26, 508 


41,323 


1 U( 


3 31; 


2,48- 


4,701 


2,03 


1 0(X 


6,14- 


0,815 




1 705 


7,62- 


11, 67f 




4 IS 


7,19) 


9,93i 




3 or,; 


8,841 


20, 426 


1,0!K 


] 741 


3,231 


.5, 141 




1 02-: 


4, .580 


11, 7:11 




â– > 981 


7,2.->; 


11,325 




1 475 


2,01! 


14,620 




1 87« 


3,20: 


10, 492 


SO* 


7,4-.S 


9, 532 


11,987 


7oo 


3,2>f 


4,28! 


0,336 




3,71S 


5, 13! 


10.011 




9,616 


9,335 


11,203 




10 201 


43, 386 


144,954 


3 11- 


4 42:i 


7,13: 


11,. 551 






3,71S 


8,311 




1 097 


7,54( 


19,080 




3,217 


5,002 


10, 8-20 
7.140 
14,701 




i 535 


9,290 


4(171 


8 215 


l'\ 002 


10,925 


IGII 


3 070 


3, 52) 


5,454 




l,r,75 


3,7911 


7 816 


2-lM 


r -.n 


8,075 


11, !S9 
1,970 
0,393 


4 08.1 


i 082 


5, 681 


1811 


11 Hi 


22,f.0S 


33,338 




10 ?i;(i 


5,44s 


8,0.55 


7,1-^ 


11 931 


12, 42J 


10,093 






3.02a 


10, .370 


2111 


3 [llo 


6, 362 


9,915 


483 


<1 !>tfi 


14, 652 


20,061 




1 W8 


2,887 


3, 7.50 






4,612 


9, .501 


41 


] 200 


3, 807 


2", 000 




1 095 


4,149 


l',325 


1 &iS 


i 566 


S, 862 


9,580 




1 172 


3, 220 


8, .304 


2j > 


5 rG2 


8.109 


12, 005 




4 JTS 


7, .364 


12, 0.51 


i 111 


r ISO 


18, 6(M 


27,325 


1 lOr 


•5 620 


4,114 


9, 342 




f iOl 


1".,703 


3 1 002 
15 412 






7,73 


13 (174 


274 


7,0C0 


13, 270 


2S, 003 


„ 


7 654 


ll,22(^ 


18,257 




1 118 


17, SI."-' 


48.. 332 


3«-C8 


7 092 


6,121 


0,214 




2,035 


6,202 


17, 651 




r59 


1, 562 


11,637 




2 i33 


6,12s 


11,272 


1 l"' 


T 039 


3,088 


13,738 


1 01(1 


7 82li 


1\ 3.55 


21,002 


C "1 


14 m 


20,441 


31,3.51 


21')o 


4 r42 


6, 72(1 


12,7.30 




1,840 


5,180 


13,4.37 






.5, 9.'] 


10,931 






4,09 


6,213 




6 108 


7,Gir 


20, org 




2 i78 


14,078 


22,080 




6 ;go 


10,163 


28,772 




4 \X\ 


6,349 


0,584 


m 




,5,240 


15,042 


2 0(10 


4 181 


7.079 


12,832 


21 1 


4 190 


6,277 


13 070 


19 711 


11 vn 


10, flr4 


22,112 






3,234 


0,385 




i 479 


1'', 020 


22, 888 




6 153 


17, .547 


36, 601 


1 I 


3 !22 


5,278 


9,552 






l,6or 


6,127 


2ior 


11 728 


LSSl!- 


27 249 


3 31G 


4 094 


3,97r 


6,742 






2,204 


3, 043 


1 ild 


2 isi 


3,92r 


.5. .587 


4 42) 


7 144 


11,07!' 


17.205 






4,012 


9,711 




/,010 


6, 9.37 


21,005 






.5, .58P 


9, .331 


12 ICO 


14 -l- 


10, 22« 


32,274 


21j0 


r 172 


10, .573 


14,084 




r !15 


7,914 


0,069 


^97 


r 659 


7,807 


14 613 




1 i73 


.1,710 


0,004 


7 078 


n 6:11 


20,180 


37, 694 




2 800 


lt.06f 


25,112 


4"ir 


7 21 


12,0,52 


21,470 


3 m 


1 i24 


7, 615 


11,181 


r (j (- 


9 lOT 


11,492 


10,K0O 


2 710 


4 110 


4,000 


7,313 


!0? 


r no 


8,170 


18,330 


1 '•7 


4 81" 


6,953 


13.731 


2 ,a1 


5 133 


6, 825 


12,223 


COOl 


7 019 


8 025 


13,403 




" 14 


6, 301 


lS,ri7 




10 107 


l-,703i 


29,321 


' 


â– " 457 


7.21c; 


12,205 


' 


4 009 


11, 773| 


21,491 






4,415 


13,282 



56, 302 
10, 564 
13 1.52 
12, 042 
12, 2(15 
34,415 
C, .562 
15,705 
11,, 580 
32, 737 
20, 3!Vi 
18,719 
15, 875 
16, 285 
2.5,235 
340, 906 
13,S'!9l 
12, 223 
23,265 
14,768 
13, 4,84 
16,6S5 
21.450 
7, .565 
15,65:! 

10, 63< 
9,103 

12, 0.52 
3'<,291 
11,134 
20, 277 
14,9:t8 
13,014 
35,93 
6,113 
12,5S. 
.35. .51 ■« 

25. 782 
19, 6;i4 

11, 239 
17. 864 
1.5, 0.54 
27, 820 

11, 24S 
39, (Wl 
24,352 

12, .309 
30.. 522 
21,014 
60, 792 
12.533 
27, 171 
31,471 
23,05:i 
26,481 
32,726 
44,131 
20,622 
10,050 
10, 184 

0,581 
20,500 
23,702 
53,988 
11, 7:15 
18,700 
12, 082 
25, 314 
28, 403 
10, 385 
27,412 
47.540 
13,7-23 
10,953 
.30, 768 
11,437 
8, 7.52 
0,280 
20,859 
12 803 

20. 783 
12,714 
46, 352 
17,410 
10. .5.30 
25. 470 
10, 751 
."â– l.OOS 
.30, 008 
27. 003 
1"',.518 
3>,.388 

8,811 
23, 174 
17, .='00 
10,758 
16, 846 
27, .503 
4:!, "13 
17,3-20 
29, .301 
18,9.50 



Counlv .Scat-!. 



,5,105 Fi-hrn:n-> 1:, :â–  > r, â–  : 

6, 1-29: January -, i ; . > 1 

1,'249i.Ianilary L-. I 

2,802 Septem't T 1 l ! 1 ~i. , w ,. . 

3, 014 January 2. 1, \<l\ i;irr..lito 

6,;:iS February 17, 1.S41 Morris 



i2 Februarys, 1821 MeLeansboro .. . 

>,'352. January 1.3. i-'25 ("arthape 

i, 0-24 March 2, 1 . rii ii . thtown ... 

),755'.Tanuarv J , ' â– . ka 

">, 609 .lanuarv 1 1 ' ::.l»e 

),457|Fehruary : '., !~:; Wn-.ka 

2,508|january l'>, lsn: Mtirphv>boro. .. 

t,5;5rFebruary 1.5, 1831 iNcwton 

1, 03o!March20, 1819 Mt. Vernon 

i, 5161 February 2-*, 1839 Jersevville 

r, .5.34 1 February 17, 1S27 Galena 

!, 079 September 1 1, 1-12 | Vienna 

l,056lJanuary 1 % \?'\f\ .Geneva 

1, 061 1 February It, 1S5I Kankakee Citv.. 

t,08i:Februarylfi, l>fU Yorkville 

!,36o!Janu.ary i:i- 1S2'> Galcsburg.. 

l,209|March 1, ls;.i Waukoian 

1, 42ii.Tanuary 1"., 1^:1 nitnwaV «.... 

:,' ; lii'i; \- 11 l.awrenceville ... 

; ; 1 I ,- j: i'ixon 

,11^ .â–  : : ., P'lntiac 

.,"11 r.i'iiii.-l ;â– . Lincoln 

1,071 .lanna'-vl'i, 21 Decatur 

â– ,705 .January IT, 1820 'Carlinville 

1, 141 September 14, 1812 E'lH-ardsville 

1,001 'January 24, 1823 Salem . 

i,030;january 10, 1S30 Lacon 

i, 244 January 20, 1811 Havana 

I, 443:February8, 1843 IMctropoIis 



1S26 



,iMa 



l\Voo<l^tock 

', !i' I' . 1-111 iBloominptin 

;. '-'- r . 1 . i;!( Pctereburg 

', 1 ' 1,1 -'-. i.Mcdo 

, -J '1.1 Waterloo 

, ! - I , l-Jl HiP'^boro 

:■ 1 . i '. Jaek.«onvi le 

,;: '. 1.1 ; -,-1 . Ill Sullivan 

I, IIJO .Tanuarv 10. l^:l': jOrepon 

;,419|.January 13,182.5 Peoria 

1,008 January 20, 18-27 IPiucUnevville 

1,.583 .Taniia-v 27, 1S41 :M..nticcllo 

1,761 J:r,'i ,■■.• :.:. 1-Jl I' !-.•". 'H 

1,250 \: !'. - : I 

1,507 -M . â– - :, 1 1 . '1 II itv 

1,555 .I:i-ii, ,-v 11. l-_". II. iih. pin.". 

1,601 April:;*. 1S11 Chester 

1,546 February 24,1841 joiney - 

1,314 February 9, 1S31 Rock Island 

., OW February;-"., 1^17 Ilarrisburi; 



I April 23. 1809 Belleville. 

I March 4,1837 Freeport. 

â–  iiuary31,1827 Pekii 



) .Ianuary2. 1818.. 

l.I.anuarvlS, 1826 

1 Deceuiber27. 1824.. 

I .Tanua'-v 1.3, 182.5 

â–  January 2, 1818 

â– March 25,1819 

I; December 0,18(5... 

I January 16, 18-iO 

1 .lanuary 12, 1830 

1 February 23, 1839... 

I January 16, 1836 

iFebrusjry 27, 1841... 



Joncsbftro... 

D:mville 

Mt. Oarmel.. 
Monmouth... 

Nai^viPe 

Fairfield 

Carmi 

MorrLson 

.loliet 

Marion 



51,47(1: 1,711,951 -2..531. Rill 3,07«.e3_ 



(ountj WW orscani7cd \pnl ""th, I'll Iv \rlliur«t Clair I 
no river ro-organizid aft<r Ilhnoi= li 1 J 1 n talliliedi 



crnor a-i'l Commander-in-chief uf" The territory of the United States north- 
il.iry, April -2Stli,ISri1. 



44 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



CHAPTER III. 



GEOGRAPHY, AGIilCVLTUEAL RESOmCES AND RAIL- 
ROAD FACILITIES. 




'I* 



GE(XJRAPHY, POPULATION, TOPOGRAPHY, TIMBER, HYDROGRAPHY, 
MOUNDS, SOIL, AGRJCULTURE, HORTICULTURE, CENSUS, ETC, 
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES, RIVER, RAIL, AND EARLY 
PACKET LINES. 



of coDforma- 
Illinois, it is 
^||^.l^l><^; hard to locate Madison county speci- 
'^r "-V' Jw ^j"^tl fically ; to speak of it as one of the 
south-western counties is eminently pro- 
per. Geographically it lies wholly with- 
in the degree belt lying south of the thir- 
ty-ninth parallel of latitude, whilst the 
thirteenth meridian of longitude west 
from Washington bisects it north and south. Its northern 
boundary is 39° north latitude; its southtrn 38° 33'norlh ; 
whilst its eastern is 12° 36' 30" west longitude, and its 
most western point 13° 16' west. Its greatest length east 
and west is thirty-four miles. It? width twenty-four miles. 
It contains 72008 square miles or 461,315.86 acres. It 
is bounded on the north by Jersey, Macoupin and Mont- 
gomery counties; on the east by Bond and Clinton, on 
the south by Clinton and St. Clair, west by the Missis- 
sippi river and Jersey county. The Mississippi river 
washes its western boundary for a distance of over twenty 
miles. The county derives its name from James Madison, 
the fourth President of the United States, during whose 
administration it was organized. The geographical situation 
of the county is unsurpassed It embraces sixteen full and 
eight fractional parts of congressional townships and is 
divided for political purposes into twenty-three townships as 
follows: Helvetia, Saline, Leef, New Douglas, St. Jacobs, 
Marine, Alhambra, Olive, Jarvi«, Pin Oak, Hamel, Omph, 
Ghent, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Fort Russell, Moro, 
Nameoki, Chouteau, Wood River, Fosterburg, Venice, Alton 
and Godfrey. 

Edwardsville, situated a little southwest of the geographi- 
cal and almost exactly upon the population centre of the 
county, is its capital. It is eighteen miles distant from St. 
Louis and ninety miles from Springfield, the capital of the 
State. 

The first surveys of land under the government of the 
United States were made in January, 1808, in what is now 
Collinsville township by John Messenger. During the 
same year J. Milton Moore, and J. Messenger, a sub- 
contractor under William Rector, ran several township 
lines. The entire work of setting forth the metes and 
bounds of such townships was not completed until some 
time in January, 1819. At various times between the dates 
above given lines were run by J. Messenger, J. M. Moore, 



Thomas W. Thurston, Enoch Moore, J. S. Conway, Charles 
Powell, H. Morley, E Barcroft, George Frazer, G. Marshall, 
C. Lockhart, J. Judy and Joseph Borough. Prior to any 
entries of these lands were claims located in accordance 
with various provisions for such, which were set forth in 
a report made by ISIessrs Michael Jones and E. Bockus, 
commissioners to sit in judgment upon the various claims 
brought under the provisions of various acts of Congress. 
Their first reports bear date December 31st, 1809. '' There 
are," say the commissioners, "four species of claims upon 
which, as commissioners for this district, we have had to act. 
1st. Those founded on ancient grants or allotments derived 
from former government or from the Indians. 2d. Those 
founded on the grant of a donation of four hundred acres to 
ea(.h of those who were heads of famiies in the county at 
or before the treaty with England in 1783. 3d. Those 
founded on having actually improved and cultivated land in 
the country, under a supposed grant of the same by court 
commandant. 4th. Those founded on their having been 
enrolled on the 1st of August, 1790, and done duty in the 
militia." The first and second of these classes were under 
the act of June 20, 1778, and third and fourth under that 
of March 3d, 1791. To the second of these belong the first 
confirmations of lands within the limits of Madison County. 
To the third were several, whilst to the fourth were more 
than half the whole number. These claims will be presented 
properly elsewhere in this work. 

POPULATION. 

The population at different periods is as follows : 

1818. (Dana's Geographical Sketch). . . . 5,456 

1820. (State census. Edwardsville Spectator). . 8,549 

1820. (United State? census,) '• " . • 13,550 

1830. (Peck's Gazeteer) 6,540 

1840. (United States Census) 14,433 

1850. " " " 20.441 

1860. " " " 31,556 

1865. (State Census) 42,042 

1870. (United States Census) 44,.322 

1880. 'â–  " " 50,141 

Discrepancies in this table are partially accounted for by 
changes in territory. Madison county at one time reached 
to the north line of the United States and embraced a terri- 
tory now divided not alone into counties but states as well. 

TOPOGRArHY. 

The surface of the country presents a pleasing variety, 
gently rolling prairies predominating. The majestic bluff's 
of the Mis.sispippi present a rocky wall along its shore from 
the mouth of the Illinois to Alton and then tending inland 
around the great American bottom, round their fronts into 
grassy sloped hills that go down more gently to the fertile 
fields of the garden spot of Illinois. These bluifij, like 
adamantine walls checking the course of destruction of 
raging floods, are from eighty to one hundred and fi'ty feet 
in height. From their crest a lovely panorama spreads out 
to view, comprehending as it does a view of the valley of 
the great Jilisscuri which commingles its muddy waters with 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



45 



those of the Mississippi in their onrushingto the sea, and the 
intervening landscape of cultivated fields, here and there 
marred by stretches of sand or slouyhs waiting to be made 
to bloom and blossom as the rose before the hand of in- 
dustry when once redeemed by drainage- Eastward from 
the blufti are far-reaching prairies relieved by grove-crowned 
eminences, beautiful valleys and inviting hillsides. On 
many of the prairies are stretches of young and vigorous 
timber, where once was an open space consequent upon 
annual fires sweeping everything before them. The timber 
tracts, in the main, follow the meanderiugs of the various 
streams or crown the bluffs that hem in the valleys. The 
principal prairies are known as Ridge Prairie, Marine 
Prairie, Round Prairie, Liberty Prairie, Looking Glass 
Prairie, Six Mile Wet, or formerly Gillham's, Rattan's 
Prairie and Sand Prairie. All are fertile ; indeed are unsur- 
passed in the great Mississippi valley. 

TIMBER. 

The native kinds of timlier are fully set forth in the 
chapter on the Flora of the county, hence demand but 
brief mention here. The largest bodies of timber skirt the 
streams. Oak in great variety abounds, embracing black, 
white, overcup, post, &c. There are also white, black and 
shcllbark hickory, soft and sugar maple, ash, sassafras, 
black and white, or English walnut, wild cherry, elm, pecan, 
sycamore, honey locust, box alder, paw-paw, buckeye, red- 
bird, persimmon, hackberry and other woods indigenous to 
south and central Illinois. Of shade trees there are black 
locust, elm, maple, and representatives of the numerous 
family of evergreens. The preservation of the forest growth 
is a matter of vital importance. When it is remembered 
that wood is an article of constant daily consumption, posi- 
tively indispensable to nearly every use and appliance of 
modern civilization ; that railroads require millions of ties 
annually for purposes of construction as well as reparation, 
it becomes a que.stion of moment when will the supply be 
exhausted? The cessation of prairie fires, with their besom 
of destruction, admits a growth not enjoyed before the occu- 
pation of the land in the interests of agriculture. This is 
but an aid. Will nature's work be supplemented by intel- 
ligent action ? 

IIYDROGR.VPHV. 

The county is well supplied with natural water courses. 
Along a part of its western boundary roll the waters of tl e 
Mississippi, whose volume is here augmented by the addition 
of those of the Missouri. The eastern part of the county 
is drained by Sugar and Silver creeks together with their 
tributaries. Sugar Creek rises in Saline township, flows a 
southerly course, leaving the county at a point less than two 
miles distant from the south-eastern corner. 

Silver Creek, (so named because of a belief by the early 
French settlers of the territory in the existence of silver along 
its course) rises in the northern part, ami flows a southerly 
course leaving the county south of the village of Troy. 
Both of these streams are affluents of the Kaskaskia 
River. 

The west central \ya\-1 of the county is drained by Caho- 



kia and its branches. The north-western by Wood river and 
Piasa Creek, and their tributaries. In addition to these 
natural means of drainage, tiling has been resorted to with 
excellent results. Wet, marshy lauds have, through its 
agency, been reclaimed and made to gladden the hearts of 
progressive husbandmen by the rich harvests of the cereals 
they have borne. This tiling, which is fast coming into 
general use, is made out of a species of fire-clay, of which 
extensive beds are found in the county. As the benefits of 
tile draining become more manifest it will be still more ex- 
tensively used, and millions will be added to the wealth of 
the county. 

Here and there in deep valleys, or along the hillsides 
which fringe them are perennial springs of clear, pure, cold 
â– water. 

MOU.VDrt. 

Much speculation has been indulged in, respecting the 
group of mounds known as the Cahohia in the southwestern 
part of the county and of which "Monk's Mound" is the 
chief attraction. This matter is treated elsewhere in the 
chap'er on antiquities. 

Soil. — This county contains nearly all the elemental classes 
of soil known to agricultural writers. Argillaceous, calcare- 
ous and silicious soils, vegetable and alluvial loams, are re- 
presented by turns in the different geological formations 
which abound, often blended with each other in such minute 
gradations as to make it a task of some difficulty to classify 
them without preceding analysis. Part of these soils are 
characterized by a spontaneous growth of natural grasses and 
forest trees. Cultivation of the soil has greatly diminished 
the former, so that where once a luxuriant growth of wild 
grasses furnished sustenance to herds of cattle and droves of 
hogs, cultivated fields more than compensate for their extin- 
guishment. Here we find a stretch of the great sedimentary 
basin of the Mississippi valley, with its aggregations of cen- 
turies constituting a soil of inexhaustible fertility, and des- 
tined yet to be the great market garden whence will be sup- 
plied the wants of one of our nation's greatest cities. Hard 
by, frowning down upon this valley, save above Alton where, 
rock-ribbed in perpendicular walls, it overlooks the bright 
waters which reflect them back again, are the bluffs, whose 
heights are crowned with clay loam, or here and there but a 
thin covering of silicious soil, whose unfruitfulncss, by a wise 
dispensation of nature, is compensated for by the coal meas- 
ure beneath. 

Then again, farther to the oast aTid north are reached vast 
prairies with a wondrous wealth of black soil, from one to 
six feet in depth, and commonly termed vegetable mould, 
from the fact that for untold ages, extending back to the 
glacial period, immense accumulations of decayed vegetable 
matter have been successively adding their treasures, fertiliz- 
ing these plains, fitting them to become the supply stations 
for a dense population. Imperceptibly do the different va- 
rieties of .soil blend and intermingle. There is, too, a cold 
yellowish clay protruding itself to the surface in places on 
the upland-', but its extent is limited. With proper appli- 
ances such as drainage, there is but little land in the county 
not susceptible of cultivation. 



46 



HISTORY OF 21 AD ISO N COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Agrmdture. — lu none of the arts has such progress been 
made during the past hundred years as in that of agriculture. 
The pioneers depended largely upon the chase, the stream, 
and a bountiful nature for the supply of their wants. Small 
patches were cultivated, after a fashion, immediately about 
their door yards, and if one essayed to grow a larger area of 
corn or wheat recourse was had to the old wooden mould 
board plow with which to put the ground in condition. The 
earliest records we have of any agricultural labor within the 
limits of Madison county was that put forth by Catholic 
Missionaries in what is now the northwestern part of Na- 
nieoki township on land now occupied and owned by Samuel 
Squire. Here there were planted pear trees a hundred and 
forty years ago, here, too, on the then outskirts of civiliza- 
tion, was the first production of ct reals. It is a remarkable 
fact that from Green Bay in Wisconsin, to Kaskaskia, the 
route of these missionaries can be traced by pear trees now 
old and mostly decayed. 

Among early farmers who were devoted to their calling and 
brought skill to the aid of agricultural art were such men as 
Col. Samuel Judy, who planted an apple orchard nearly 
eighty years ago, the first in the county ; the Whitesides, 
whose especial delight was the improvement of the stock of 
horses ; the Gillhams, the Pruitts and others whose descendents 
have contributed largely to Madison's agricultural wealth. 
On the 9th day of February 1822 a meeting of farmers was 
held in the Court House in Edwardsville, who organized the 
first Agricultural Society in the county. Micajah Cox, Esq., 
was elected to the chair and Geo. Churchill was chosen Sec- 
retary. Upon perfecting their organization the following 
resolutions were adopted. 

Resolved. That a piece of plate of the value of five dollars 
be presented for the most approved essay on the best mode 
of pickling and preserving pork, and pointing out the cause 
of the difi'erence in value between New England and Wes- 
tern pork. 

Resolved. That a premium of sirailar value shall be given 
to the person who shall make the best specimen of malt liquor, 
not less than thirty gallons. 

Resolved. That a premium of similar value be presented 
to the person who shall present the greatest number of wolf 
scalps, not less than five, taken by himself within the limits 
of Madison county. 

Resolved. That a premium of similar value be presented 
to the person who shall manufacture the best piece of linsey- 
woolsey, not less than twenty yards. 

Resolved. That a premium of similar value be given to 
the member who shall raise a year old lamb which shall pro- 
duce the greatest quantity of wool. 

Resolved. That a piece of plate of the value of three dol- 
lars be awarded to the person who shall make the greatest 
quantity of proof spirit, not less than thirty gallons, from a 
given quantity of grain. 

This effjrt was not successful. Whether the premiums, or 
the matters selected on which to base them were the cause of 
abandonment does not appear. 

In 1831 an agricultural paper, called the Plotiffhboij, was 
established in Edwardsville. It is worthy of mention that 



choice nursery stock was advertised in its columns. As early 
as 1820 there appeared in the Edwirdsvil/e Spectator accounts 
of wonderful fields of various cereals, evidently intendel to at- 
tract the attention of immigrants. In 1822 Daniel A. Lauter- 
man raised five hundred bushels of oats on ten acres of land. 
Solomon Truitt harvested fifty-two bushels of wheat from a 
single acre. One hundred and twenty bushels of corn were 
raised on an acre. Castor beans were quite extensively raised 
sixty years ago. John Adams commenced the manufacture 
of castor oil in Edwardsville in 1825, and in 1831 turned out 
12,000 gallons. 

The first vineyard in the county was near Highland in 
1844. In 1847 Mr. KoefHi made the first wine. 

Improved varieties of apples were planted by John Collet, 
E. J. West, Gershom Flagg and D. A. Lautermau as early 
as 1820. The trees planted by Messrs. Collet & West were 
procured from New York, those of Flagg from Greenville, 
Bond county. Among the varieties were Kirkbridge, White, 
Rambo, Pryor's Red, Penuock, Pennsylvania, Red Streak, 
Newtown Pippin, Rawle's Janet. The first established nur- 
sery was that of Collet & Masson Mr. Collet was an Eng- 
lishraau, and Mr. Masson a French-Swiss. Their stock of 
fruit trees ivas largely of foreign origin. The nursery was on 
section 22, Tp 5, R 8, from whence it was moved in 18:!2 to 
section 8. 

In 1829 or 30, Mr. Charles Howard obtained some poach 
pits from a Mr. Fitchenal, which he planted within the 
present limits of Alton. Of the trees which grew from them 
he transplanted one to his farm near Greenwood. From 
records kept by the Alton Horticultural Society, from which 
much of the above is gleaned, we learn that a s-iugle peach 
from one of these trees sold in St. Louis fir two dollars. 

The Agricultural Society formed in Edwardsville on the 
31st of October, 1854, also the Alton Horticultural So- 
ciety organized November 12th, 1853, receive elsewhere in 
this work full attention. 

The Madison County Farmers' Club holds monthly meet- 
ings from house to house Its deliberations have resulted in 
great good Its contributions to agricultural literature have 
been of practical value. 

To show the progress of agriculture in Madison county 
the following tables compiled from the Census of 1850 are 
placed in contrast with those of 1860 and 1870. 

Census of ld:'-)0 : Acres of land in farms ; improved 93, 
251; unimproved 165,067. Valueof farms and implements 
— farms S2,435 145 ; implements and machinery $142,457. 

Live Stock: Horses 6,745; asses and mules 317; milch 
cows 6,414 ; working oxen 2,056 ; other cattle 1 2,740 ; sheep 
9,085 ; swine 40,233 ; value of live stock $480,668. Value 
of slaughtered animals 81 15 680. 

PRODUCE DURING TUE YE.VR ENDEXG JUNE IST, 1850. 

Whe.it bushel S8,S93 

Rye " 611 

Indian Corn biHliel 1,1.^),S,183 

O.its bushel, 202,0o9 

Tub,iceo pound?, 100 

Wool pounds, 19,878 



HIS TORY OF MADISON COUNTY, II L I NO IS. 



47 



Peas and Beana bushel, 1,6G9 

Hay tons, 0,499 

Irish Potiiloes bushel, 270,204 

Clover bushel, 14 

Hops pounds, 56 

Oiher Grass Seeds, 71 

Sweet potatoes bushel, . . ■ ' • • . . . 6,732 

Barley bushel, 220 

Buckwheat-bushel, 839 

AVine gallons 023 

Value Orchard Products $17 411 

Cheese pounds, 14,136 

Produce Market Gardens, Value, $2,269 

Butter pounds, 2')1,S24 

Value Home Made Manufactures, $2S,9oO 

Honey and Beeswax pounds, 11,006 

Census of 1860 : Acres of lauds in farms ; improved 1 28, 
988; Value $4,137,910. Value impleiuents aud machinery 
$385,770. 

Livestock: Horses 9,22.5 ; asses and mules 1,317; neat 
cattle 24,269; sheep 4,062; swine 26,085; Value of live 
stock 8736,171. 

Censiis of 1870 : Acres laud improved, 183,026 ; horses 
12,417; mules 2,976; sheep 5,275; swine 45,407; wheat 
bushel, 410,257; corn bushel, 3,191,140. No. of cattle 
14,101. 

In 1860 there were eight manuflicturiug establishments 
divided between agricultural implements, plows and thresh- 
ers and horse powers which gave employment to sixty-one 
men ; employed an aggregate capital of 853,450, and turned 
out manufactured articles to the value of §63,525. 

t'e«.«i(.« of 1880: Inasmuch as elsewhere in this work will 
be found complete returns Census of 1880, for the present 
purpose we insert only statistics of cereals, as follows : Barley 
5 acres, 54 bushels ; buckwheat 9 acres, 80 bushels ; corn 98, 
780 acres, 4,058,15-5 bushels; oats 13,905 acres, 351,505 
bushels; rye 161 acres, 2,299 bushels; wheat 129,861 acres, 
2,607,969 bushels. 

By comparison with other counties of Illinois, Madison 
stands first in production of wheat. In orchard products, 
striking an average of all varieties of fruit she stands second. 
Several counties produce more peaches, others again more 
apples or pears as the case may be, but when great variety 
coupled with production is jiresentcd Madisou county takes 
her rank among the foremost of the iStatc 

In production of wheat she stands fourth in the Uniied 
States. Her product is greater than either of the following 
States, Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, all the New Eug- 
land States combined, Delaware, Florida, ]Missis.-ippi, New 
Jersey, South Carolina and Te.xas. 

TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES. 

In 1805 feeble eiforts were put forth by farmers living in 
the American bottom to ship their produce to market directly 
upon their own account, thus exhibiting considerable enter- 
prise. They constructed several rude rafts on Grand Isle, 
now Chouteau, which thty loaded with corn, cattle, hrgs, 
chickens, Ac, and went do«n the Mississippi to New Orleans. 
Some reached their destined port in safety, others were 
wrecked on the voyage for want of proper skill in the navi- 
gation of the river. These trips consumed much time, as 



they were carried forward by the force of the current and 
were compelled to return by laud. In a few years rumors 
of successful steamboat navigation of the Hudson reached 
these pioneers, but they shook their heads and gravely said 
the current of the Mississippi would never admit of such 
navigation here Their doubts were however dispelled on 
the 2d of August 1817 when the " General Pike " command- 
ed by Capt. James Reed landed at St. Louis. 

In 1818 continuing until 1S20 boats under charge of Col. 
James Johnson i brother to Richard M.) shipped supplies for 
Fort Osage — far up the Missouri — under contract with the 
United States Goverument, from Alton. This was the time 
of the origin of the expression ''St. Louis is a village twenty 
miles below Alton " And in 1834 when the "Piskilwa," 
Captain Chambers commanding, commenced making regular 
daily trips between Alton and St. Louis, letters directed "St. 
Louis, twenty miles from Alton, III." were not uncommon. 
At the time Arthur Phillips was contractor for carrying the 
mail and Bruner was postmaster at Alton. 

lu 1837 the "Alpha" was put into the trade. She was 
succeeded by the ''Eagle,' owned and run by Captains Wil- 
sou, Reed and Clay, of St Louis. In 1843 Captain William 
P. Lamothe, of Alton, bought her, and the Altou and St. 
Louis Packet became an Alton institution. From Hair's 
Gazetteer are gathered the following facts relative to this 
trade. In January 1844 Lamothe in connection with Starnes 
and Springer of St Louis, built the Suella. In 1845 Frink 
and Walker, the old Stage proprietors of Chicago, put the 
steamer "Geo Briggs," Captain James E. Starr, in opposi- 
tion to her. This competition was, however, soon checked by 
the proprietors joining hands and forming a joint stock com- 
pany. In 1848 Messrs. S. and P. Wise in connection with 
Captain Thomas C. Starr and other citizens of Alton bought 
the " Tempest," and started opposition to the old line ; at the 
time the fare to and from St. Louis was one dollar. In 1849 
the old company gave the 'Tempest," a hot opposition ; the 
"Suella," Captain. George E. Hawley; Jno. A. Bruner, 
Pilot. Bruner and Hawley had chartered the boat, put the 
fare to seventy-five cents, then to fifty, then to twenty-five, 
then to ten and finally carried passengers free, and freight 
for nearly nothing Both boats carried bands of music, leav- 
ing as they did at the .same hour; racing was regularly in 
order and great quantities of rosin and turpentine were used 
in connection with their wood for fuel. Parenthetically it 
may be remarked that this was before law restricted engi- 
neers in amount of steam to be employed. The result of this 
ruinous p ilicy was a compromise effected in 1849, when con- 
solidation of interests took effect. The Suella ran in the 
trade during the spring of 1850, and the Tempest the balance 
of the year and the whole of li^51. Frink and Walker sold 
out to Captain Joseph Brown, who in connection with S. and 
P. Wise, and Gaty, McCune & Co., of St. Louis, built the 
" Altona," which commenced running in December 1851, and 
was the fastest boat on the western waters. She made the 
run from St. Louis to Alton in one hour and thirty-seven 
minutes; the fastest time ever made to Alton from that city. 
In September 1852 the Chicago and Mississippi railroad 
company bought the Altona, D. C. Adams, Captain. 



48 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



This was done to give the road connection with St. Louis, 
and was in accord with the old internal improvement scheme 
of politicians of the day, who desired to concentrate every- 
thing within state boundaries as far as possible, and recog- 
nized Alton as the future great meiropolis. They also bought 
the steamer "Cornelia," commanded by Captain Lamothe, 
the same year, for the passenger busine-s, making two trips per 
day. The Cornelia sank in December 1853, when in charge 
of Captain Jno. A. Bruner, and the Altona January l>-t, 
1854. The "St. Paul," commanded by Captain Lamothe 
then did all the business until March, when the " Winchester " ; 
was bought by Samuel J. Owens for the company, simulta- 
neously with the purchase of the "Keiudeer" by Captain, ; 
Adams. These boats not proving to be profitable invest- 
ments were sold. Jno. J. and Wra. H. Mitchell and Joseph 
Brown were the purchasers, they contracting to do the rail- '• 
road business between the two points. There were some 
changes in ownership to 1857, wllen the company had three 
boats, the "Reindeer," "Baltimore," and "York State." 
On November 10, the Reindeer sank. There were several 
different boats chartered to do the work until the company 
built the famous "City of Alton," commanded by Captain 
George E. Hawley, which came out in the fall of 1860. 
She ran in the trade until the war broke out, when on ac- 
count of the railroad company seudiug their passengers 
through by rail over the Terre Haute and Alton railroad to 
St. Louis, she was withdrawn from the Alton trade, and ran 
from St. Louis south, in command of Captain Wm. Barnes. 
In June, 1862, the company bought the steamer "B.M. 
Runyan," Captain, Jas. S. Bellas. She ran in the trade 
until 1864, when she was sent south, and sunk July 21st, 
proving a total loss. The compauy then ran the "Tatum" 
in the Alton trade, until the Chicago and St. Louis company 
extended their road to St. Louis, taking all the railroad 
freight from the boat in the winter of 1864. The company 
ran the Tatum during January and February 1865, but not 
paying expenses she was withdrawn and sent elsewhere, thus 
abandoning the trade to the through packets. There was no 
packet for a month when Captain John A. Bruner in con- 
nection with Tunstal and Holmes and others of St. Louis, 
put in the steamer " May A. Bruner." She was withdrawn 
and the "South- Wester" took her place, the May A. Bru- 
ner being put on the Arkansas trade to ply between St. Louis 
and Little Rock. The South- Wester ran in the trade until 
1868, and was succeeded by the Comet. In May 1869 the 
Belle of Alton came out and ran in the trade until 1871, when 
she was sent south. She was completely destroyed by fire at 
New Orleans, March 28th, 1871. In September same year 
the Schuyler took her place. In 1874 a rivalry was insti- 
tuted between the Illinois, the successor of the Schuyler, 
owned by the Illinois River Packet Company, and the De 
Smet, purchased by Messrs. Bruner and Labarge. After 
two months and a half the Illinois was withdrawn. Soon 
after the Spread Easrle owned by the Eagle Packet Company 
entered into competition with the De Smet. This generous 
rivalry ended in consolidation of interests in 1874. 

The Eagle Co. was the outgrowth of the Eagle, a small 
boat put into the trade between Keokuk, Alexandria and 



"Warsaw, many years ago by Hamilton Branum. Branum 
had the contract for carrying the U. S. Mail between these 
points, which he did for a time in a skiff, which was laid aside 
for the Eagle. Branum has been known to take a horse 
across the river at Keokuk in his skiff. 

The Eagle Packet Company is officered as follows: 
J. R. Williams, of Warsaw, President. 
G. W. Hill, of Alton, Secretary and Treasurer. 
Henry Leyhe, " Superintendent. 

William Leyhe, " Ass't. Supt. 

The Spread Eagle is one of the best and ftistest boats on the 
upper Mississippi. The company also own the Imperial and 
the Little Eagle. 

The Alton packets commenced the extension of their run 
to Grafton in 1869. The " Jack Robinson," a propeller 
owned by Capt. Jno A. Bruner, made a trial trip up to that 
point, carrying many merchants and business men of Alton. 
Citizens of Grafton promised their trade, and from the start 
the trade proved lucrative. In 18T1 a daily line was com- 
menced between Grafton and St. Louis, which arrangement 
has since been maintained. 

In addition to the regular packet of the Northern Line 
Company, the " Diamond Joe," the Illinois River and 
Clarksville packets make regular trips, stopping at Alton, 
and competing with the local packets for a share of her 
trade. 

KAILKOADS. 

j Railroading is comparatively a new industry. Six thous- 
and years have added their contributions to science, yet 
during fifty years only have railroads been known. Seieu- 
' tists of all ages have grappled with problems of govern- 
ment, social life, and questions of demand and supply, and 
1 left the records of their efforts for our instruction. The 
I accumulated wisdom of centuries furnish store-houses from 
whence we can draw such instruction ; but railroads are 
J things of to-day Our fathers died after welcoming their 
i birth, and yet, brief as the span of time since their concep- 
tion, what mighty levers they have become in the advance- 
ment of the world's material industries ! Archimedes said 
"Give me whereon to stand, and I will move the world." 
Railroads have found the standing-space, reached forth 
i their iron arms, and moved the world. All this, ton, within 
I the memory of living men. The locomotive steam engine 
was invented by George Stephenson, of England, and was 
first successfully used September 27, 1825, on a short road 
built from Stockton to Darlington. la 1830 there were 
only twenty-jhree miles of railroad in the United States. 
The road between Baltimore and Ellicott's Mills, Maryland, 
11 J miles iu length, was the first regularly opened for pas- 
senger traffic, which was in July of that year. The train 
was termed a " Brigade of Cars." It was the first road to 
present a time-card. The "Brigade of Cars " was drawn by 
horses or mules. It had not then been demonstrated that 
locomotives could attain a speed of over six miles an hour, 
nor was it until later in the same sea.son, when George 
Stephenson's " Rocket " attained the then remarkable speed 
of fifteen miles an hour. In the Baltimore American of 
July, 1830, was the advertisement of this road, stating that 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



49 



a sufficient number of cars had been provided to accommo- 
date the travelling public, and that a brigade would leave 
the depot on Pratt Street at 6 and 10 o'clock, a.m., and at 
3 and 4 o'clock, p.^r; returning, would leave the depot at 
EUicott's Mills at 6 and 8,V o'clock, a.m., and 121 and 6 
o'clock, P.M. This time-card was accompanied with posi- 
tive orders prohibiting any passengers from entering the 
cars without tickets, also with a provision for engaging cars 
by the day, where parties were so disposed. 

In 1837 the internal improvement scheme was in its hey- 
day. Railroads were projected everywhere. The first road 
located in Madison county was the Alton and Mt. Carmel, 
via. Edwardsville, Carlyle, Salem, Fairfield and Albion to 
Mt. Carmel. Not only was the road located but contracts 
were entered into by the state for the grading and bridging of 
the road, and considerable work was done between Alton and 
Highland. About the same time branch roads were in con- 
templation from this " trunk " line as follows : one diverg- 
ing from Edwardsville to Shawneetown, passing through 
Lebanon, Nashville, Pinckneyville, Frankfort and Equal- 
ity: one from Lebanon to Bellville, for which $1,750,000 
was appropriated. A railroad from Alton via Upper Alton, 
Hillsboro, Shelbyville, Charleston, Paris, and from thence 
to the state line in the direction of Terre Haute, Indiana, 
where it was to connect with the railroad and canal commu- 
nications through that state both in an eastern and southern 
direction. For this road there was appropriated $1,250,000. 
Also a survey was made and stock taken for one from Alton 
to Springfield, seventy-five miles, which was designed to 
open au importau tline of communication with the interior, 
and eventually became connected with the great line of the 
Atlantic cities. 

In November of 1837 the financial crash swept over the 
whole country. General bankruptcy followed, and all these 
railroad schemes yielded to the inevitable. The laurels of 
being first in the field with a railroad were wrested from 
Madison county in favor of her sister upon the south, St. 
Clair, where the Illinois and St. Louis railroad, the first in 
the Mississippi valley, was built. It was built independent of 
state aid by Governor Reynolds, Samuel B. Chandler, 
George Walker and Daniel Pierce. 

CHICAGO AND ALTON RAILROAD.* 

This is one of the most important roads of the great 
system of railroads in the Mississippi Valley. The length 
of line within the limits of Madi.son county, including the 
"cut off" from near Alton Junction to a point above God- 
frey, including switches and side tracks, is 48 miles, 2265 
feet. The air-line between St. Louis and Chicago, the two 
most prominent cities of the Great West, and the most pro- 
nounced commercial rivals, occupies a prominent position 
among the Trans-Mississippi railroads. This maj' be attri- 
buted partly to the persistent manner in which the manage- 
ment has fostered and developed the local business along the 
line of the road, and partly to the fact that since its reor- 

* For some of the data on C. and A. R. R. we are indebted to an article 
by Vernon, in a work entitled, " Railway and River System of St. Louis." 

7 



ganization in 1862 the company has, until recently, been the 
only one in the railroad system of St. Louis, east of the 
Mississippi river, which paid dividends to its stockholders. 
Little did they dream who obtained a charter, in or about 
1S47, for the Alton and Sangamon Railroad, and who were 
indefatigable in securing subscriptions along the proposed 
lioe,(72 miles in length), for its construction and equipment, 
that they were laying the corner-stone of one of the most 
valuable railroad properties in the country, and that withiu 
the comparatively brief period of thirty j'ears, the line 
between Alton and Springfield would be merely a small link 
in an extended railroad system, under one comprehensive 
management, of more than 840.34 miles. The road between 
Alton and Springfield was commenced in 1846, and com- 
pleted in 1852, with the proceeds of bona fide local sub- 
scriptions to .stock, under the management of a local board 
of directors.* After the completion of the road to Spring- 
field, additional legislation was obtained for extending the 
line to Bloomington. Mr. Henry Dvvight conceived the 
idea of extending the road to Joliet, and making a connec- 
tion at that point for Chicago and the East. In furtherance 
of this idea he obtained a charter for a company called the 
" Chicago and Mississippi Railroad Company," and having 
obtained a board of directors in his interest, issued bonds to 
the amount of $3,500,000 in 1856, with the proceeds of 
which the line was completed through to Joliet. Subse- 
quently a lease of the road from Alton to Joliet was made. 
The road was sold at auction, and it was bid ofl' by 
Governor Mattison and one or two associates in December, 
1857, for the paltry sum of $5,000. The road between 
Alton and Joliet, at the time of this sale, represented 
a cost for construction and equipment of $9,535,000, or 
about $46,640 per mile of road. The purchasers at this 
auction sale organized themselves into a company, called the 
"St. Louis, Alton and Chicago Railroad Company," and 
perhaps under ordinary circumstances might have made 
their venture a success ; but the business and general inter- 
ests of the whole country were so crippled by the panic of 
1857, that failure seems to have been accepted as a foregone 
conclusion, and after various struggles for existence, the 
property passed in 1860 under the hands of a receiver, Mr. 
James Robb, formerly a banker of New Orleans, and a 
gentleman of recognized executive and financial ability. 
Under Mr. Robb's management an era of prosperity was 
inaugurated, and the affairs of the company were so success- 
fully managed that in 1862 measures were taken for reorgan- 
izing the company, and in October of that year the Chicago 
and Alton Railroad Company was formed, with the former 
receiver, as president of the new company. The attention 
of the management, after the reorganization, was directed to 
securing an independent line under their own control be- 
tween Chicago and St. Louis, which were recognized as the 
future termini of the property. In furtherance of these 

*No one was so persistent in ellbrt or so liberal in sacrifice in securing 
the construction of this part of the C. & A. as was the late Capt. Godfrey. 
Mr. Godfrey lived in a car as the work progressed, labored as a day 
laborer, and mortgaged everything in his possession to secure the build- 
ing of the road. 



60 



BISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



views, a lease in perpehiity was first secured of the Joliet 
aud Chicago Railroad. 

It was at this juDCtiire that Mr. John J. Mitchell, a warm 
friend and supporter of the Chicago and Alton interests, 
offered to build an independent road from Alton to East St. 
Louis, provided that the Chicago aud Alton, on completion 
of the road, merge the franchises of the Alton and St. Louis 
charter, obtained in 1850, ihen owned and controlled by Mr. 
John J. Mitchell, with their own. The proposition was 
accepted, and during the winter of 1864 trains of the Chi- 
cago and Alton Railroad were running to East St Louis, 
and terminating on valuable depot grounds, obtained by Mr. 
Mitchell for the Chicago and Alton Railroad from the Wig- 
ging's Ferry Company. From this date forward this railroad 
company assumed an independent position in the metropolis 
of the Mississippi Valley, as the chief transportation line 
between St. Louis and Chicago. Four years later, viz : in 
1868, the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company secured 
control of the line from Bloomington to Godfrey, a distance 
of 180 miles, built under the charter of the St. Louis, Jack- 
sonville and Chicago Railroad Company. The lease of thJs 
valuable property covers a period of nine hundred and ninety 
years, and the rental paid is 40 per cent, of gross earnings 
with the understanding that such 40 per cent, shall in no case 
amount to a less sum annually than $240,000." 

Subsequently in 1870-71, arrangements were made with 
the St. Louis, Jacksonville and Chicago Railroad Company 
for building a branch road from Roodhouse to Louisiana, on 
the Mississippi river, a distance of 3S miles, under an agree- 
ment, whereby the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company 
guaranteed the annual interest on bonds issued on construc- 
tion of such branch. At the same time control was obtained 
of the charter and franchises of the Louisiana and Missouri 
River Railroad Company, which has been incorporated by 
the legislature of the state of Missouri, to build a railroad 
from Louisiana to Kansas City, an estimated distance of 216 
miles, together with a branch from Me.xico to Cedar City, 
opposite to Jefferson City, five miles in length. It is believed 
that in consideration of building this road in Missouri, the 
Chicago and Alton Railroad Company were to receive $80, 
000 i)er mile, §15,000 mortgage bonds, $10,000 preferred, 
and $5,000 ordinary stock of the Louisiana and Missouri 
River Railroad Company, and in addition such county aud 
local aid, as has been donated in favor of the enterprise. 
The fifty miles of road from Louisiana to Mexico were 
opened for traffic in the winter of 1871-72, the line from 
Mexico to Fulton, 242 miles, March 6lh, 1872, and the line 
from Fulton to Cedar City, 25V miles, in July of the same 
year. At the time when the Chicago and Alton Railroad 
Company assumed control of the road in Missouri, it was 
intended to build an independent line from Louisiana to 
Kansas City, but when the road had reached Mexico, and 
when considerable grading had been done between that 
point aud Glasgow, legal questions were raised as to the 
legality of certain county and township aid which had been 
voted beyond the Missouri river at Glasgow, and the courts 
held that the charter only contemplated a line between the 
Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and not crossing the river 



at various points, hence the subventions beyond Glasgow 
were illegal. The decision involved the susjjeusion of the 
through line project, and arrangements were made with the 
St. Louis, Kansas City aud Northern Railway Company for 
traffic arrangements, over its road from Mexico to Kansas 
City, and for running through passenger and sleeping cars 
on the line between Chicago and Kansas City, via Blooming- 
ton, Roodhouse, Louisiana and Mexico. It is almost needless 
to say that the advantages for through business thus obtained, 
have been abundantly utilized, to the pecuniary advantage 
of both railroad companies interested in the through line; 
also that the Chicago and Alton Kansas City line has been 
one of the most popular for passenger traffic between the 
east and west. The rapid, and it might be truly said un- 
paralleled development of Kansas, Colorado and South-west- 
ern Missouri, during the past six years, convinced the man- 
agers of the Chicago and Alton Railroad of the necessity for 
owning and controlling an independent line from Mexico to 
Kansas City, and the views thus entertained assumed a 
practical shape during 1878, by the formation of an inde- 
pendent company, to build what is known as the Missouri 
Extension, from Mexico to Kansas City, it being understood 
that the extension, when built, should be leased in perpetuity 
by the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company, and thus 
become an integral part of that extended railroad system. 
The through line from Chicago to Kansas City, via Mexico 
and Glasgow, will not exceed 4S5 miles iu length, and the 
distance will be about four miles shorter than that via Gales- 
burg and the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad. 

CHARACTERISTIC'S OF THE KOAD. 

Main Line — Chicago to Joliet, perpetual lease 37.20 miles 

Joliet to East St. Louis, owned 243.60 " 

Western Dirision — Dwight to Washington, owned . . . 69.80 '* 

Branch to Lacon, owned 10.00 " 

Chicago and Illinois River, leased 23.86 '' 

Coal Branch, owned, 3.98 " 

Jacksonville Division — Bloomington to Godfrey, leased, . 150.60 '' 

Roodhouse to Louisiana, including bridge, owned . . . 38.10 " 

Louisiana and Missouri Railroad — perpetual lease ... " 

Louisiana to Mexico 50.80 " ' 

Mexico to Cedar City 50.00 " 

Missouri Extension — perpetual lease " 

Mexico and Glasgow. Marshall to Kansas City . 162.50 " 

*Upper Alton Division • 7.00 " 

Total length of road owned and leased 847.30 " 

Number of counties in the state of Illinois traversed by 
Chicago & Alton Railroad sixteen, 15.68 per cent, of the 
whole number of counties in the state. 

True value of real and personal estate in .said sixteen 
counties, 44.42 per cent, of the total value of real and per- 
sonal estate in the state. 

Number of acres of improved land in said sixteen counties. 
23.25 per cent, of the whole improved property of the 
state. 

~ The contract was let for constructing the Upper Alton Division of the 
St. Louis, Jacksonville & Chicago R. R. (controlled by the C. & A. R. R. 
Co., February lst,1881. The object of constructing the same was to avoid 
the heavy grade through .\lton or from Godfrey to Alton, also making a 
saving in distance of nearly 2 V miles, tiit;il length of new road constructed 
7 miles. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



61 



Value of farms in said sixteen counties, 26 46 per cent, of 
the total value of improved farms in the state. 

Estimated value of farm productions in said sixteen coun- 
ties, 23.09 percent, of the total estimated value of farm pro- 
ductions in the state. 

Value of live stock in said .sixteen counties, 24 per cent, of 
the total value of live stock in the state. 

Number of counties in the state of Missouri traversed by 
Chicago & Alton Railroad, eight, 7 per cent, of the whole 
number of counties in the state. 

Population of said counties, about 16 per cent, of the total 
population of the state. 

As.*essed value of real and per.sonal estate in eight coun- 
ties, about !â– ") per cent, of the total assessed valu ) of real and 
personal estate in the state. 

True value of real and personal estate in said eight coun- 
ties, 981 per cent, of the total true value of real and personal 
estate in the state. 

Number of acres of improved land in said eight coun- 
ties, 15.92 per cent, of the whole improved property of the 
state. Value of farms in said eight counties, 14.88 per 
cent, of the total value of improved farms in the state. 

Estimated value of farm productions in said eight counties, 
13.50 per cent, of the total estimated value of farm produc- 
tions in the state. 

Value of live stock iu said eight counties, 13.66 per cent, 
of the total value of live stock in the state. 

In brief the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company has, 
by a judicious system of permanent improvement, and by the 
introduction of all the modern appliances which tend to the 
preservation of life and propert}', placed itself in such a con- 
dition, materially and physically, that its financial future 
cannot be affected by the contingencies which severally affect 
other roads. Its success as one of the great highways of the 
west is an assured reality. It might be appropriately noted 
here that while much of this road's past success may be attri- 
buted to its admirable geographical location, embracing a 
very rich section of the country for li)cal traffic, and with 
termini on Lake Michigan and the Missisjippi and Missouri 
rivers, equally as much is due to the stability and manage- 
ment during the past decade and a half, and to the fact that 
the property has never yet become the foot-ball of specula- 
tors Nothing, perhaps, has a greater tendency to demoral- 
ize the working force on any railroad, and, it might be said, 
impair its usefulness to the public, than the spasmodic 
changes in the control and managment, which have charac- 
terized the history of most western railroads, and from these 
vicissitudes the Chicago and Alton Railroad has been happily 
exempt. The executive management and the entire directors 
have been practically the same for the past fifteen years, 
and where to recognized skill in opsrating there has been 
added the financiering and engineering ability of the presi- 
dent, and the solid unanimous support of wealthy stockhold- 
ers, and directors distinguished for business ability, it is not 
surprising that the Chicago and Alton Railroad has main- 
tained a firm position as an investment in the moneyed cen- 
ters of the world, and has acquired a well-merited popularity 
with the traveling and shipping public. 



Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Railway — More widely 
and commonly known as the Watash, has a length of about 
forty-four miles in this county, including side tracts, running 
diagonally across from the south-west to a point ten miles 
west of the north-west corner. Through a system of consol- 
idation, unparalleled iu American railways, it has become a 
giant among them. This consolidation it is estimated, has 
added 850,000,000 to the value of bonds and shares of the 
various companies now incorporated in the Wabash system. 
The road takes its title from the river of that name, a tribu- 
tary of the Ohio, which in part separates the States of Indi- 
ana and Illinois. Twenty-nine years ago, in April 1853, the 
initial steps were taken in behalf of a line of road to ex- 
tend from Toledo, Ohio, to the Mississippi river, such road to 
be subject to the direction and control of one official man- 
agement. Upon examination of tht laws of the States 
through which it was to pa^s it was found impracticable to 
prosecute the enterprise under one corporate organization, 
and consequently distinct corporations were organized in 
each State. In April, 1853, the "Toledo and Illinois Rail- 
road Company " was incorporated under the general railroad 
laws of Ohio, with power to build a railroad from Toledo to 
the western boundary of the State. The capital stock was 
originally fixed at S500,0'IO, but in 1855, was increased to 
82.500,000. In August, 1853, the " Lake Erie, Wabash and 
St. Louis Railroad Campany" was incorporated in the State 
of Indiana, with power to construct a railroad from the east 
line of the State to a point on the western line in the direc- 
tion of Danville, Illinois. The road was constructed in 1856 
and the companies consolidated under the name " Toledo, 
Wabash and Western." Financial embarra-ssraents con- 
fronted the company during the panic of 1857. Various 
changes in management and name followed. St. Louis as an 
objective point — as indicated in the name of one of the cor- 
porations, was lost sight of — the road was built across Illinois, 
terminating at Meredosia with a branch from Bluffs to Na- 
ples. From Meredosia to Camp Point a road was owned by 
the " Quincy and Toledo," company. In conformity to laws 
of Ohio, Indiana and lUiouis, then but recently adopted, 
authorizing consolidation where the roads of various com- 
panies formed a continuous line, these roads were placed 
under one management, the "Toledo, Wabash and West- 
ern Railway Company." In August, 1870, arrangements 
were made with the " Decatur and East St. Louis Railroad 
Company, for the construction and equipment of a railroad 
between Decatur and East St. Louis, the understanding be- 
ing that on completion thereof the bonded debt of the Deca- 
tur and .St. Louis Railroad Company to the extent of ?25,000 
per mile should be assumed by the Tidedo, Wabash and 
Western, and that the capital stock of the Decatur and East 
St. Louis Railway Compmy to the amount of 815,000 per 
mile should be exchanged at par for the stock of the Toledo. 
Wabash and Western The road to St. Louis was completed 
and opened for business in 1871. During the two years fol- 
lowing the Wabash acquired by lease the "Hannibal and 
Missouri Central," the " Pekin, Lincoln and Decatur," and 
the "Lafayette and Bloomington." In the early part of 
1873 the "Toledo, Wabash and Western" controlled and 



52 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



operated 905 miles of road, with average gross earnings for 
the whole system of more than §6,000 per mile per annum, 
and it promised, although capitalized at a high figure, to re- 
alize the most sanguine expectations of its owners. The 
financial panic of 1873 seriously affected the road so that it 
failed to meet its obligations and in 1874 the property was 
placed in the hands of Hon. John D. Cox, as Receiver. 
The road remained in the receiver's hands and under control 
of the court until 1?77, when arrangements having been 
effected by the company, transfer of tlie property was made 
to the "Wabash Railroad Company." 

Soon after it underwent a reorganization under the name of 
Wabash, St Louis and Pacific Railway Company. From 
the last annual report the following facts are gathered. 

" During the past year there has been added to the Wabash 
St. Louis and Pacific system, the following roads, either by 
purchase or lease, viz : 

On July 15, 1881, the Peoria, Pekin and Jacksonville, 
72.9 miles in length, was acquired by purchase; on July 15, 
1881, the Springfield and Northwestern R. R., 47.2 miles in 
length, was also acquired by purchase; on August 15, 1881, 
the Detroit and Butler Road, 112.6 miles in length, complet- 
ing our line to Detroit, was acquired by purchase; on Sep- 
tember 1, 1881, the Indianapolis, Peru and Chicago Road, 
running from Indianapolis to Michigan City, 161 miles, was 
acquired by purchase; on October 1, 1881, the Cairo and 
Vincennes, the Danville and Southwestern, and the St. Fran- 
cisville and Lawrenceville Railroads, 267.3 miles in length, 
forming our "Cairo Division," were acquired by purcha.se. 

The Quincy, Missouri and Pacific Road was extended from 
Milan to Trenton, a distance of 31 miles, and opened for 
business August 5, 1881. The Attica and Covington Branch, 
extending from Attica to Covington, 14 5 miles was built by 
this company and opened for business September 1, 1881. A 
branch road leading from our Chicago Division to the Braid- 
wood Coalfields, a distance of 12 miles, was built by this com- 
pany, but has not yet been opened for business. The Des 
Moines and Northwestern Railway (narrow gauge), leading 
from Des Moines, Iowa, to Jefferson, Iowa, a distance of 66 9 
miles, was acquired by lease. 

We have also under process of construction, a branch line 
from Champaign to Sydney, a distance of 10.5 miles, con- 
necting our Champaign, Havana and Western Road with the 
main line, which will soon be completed and ready for use. 
The St. Louis, Jerseyville and Springfield Railroad, built 
under the auspices of this company, from Bates to Grafton, 
111., a distance of 75 miles, is now nearly completed and will 
soon be opened for business. The Dts Moines and St. Louis 
R. R., from Albia to Des Moines, a distance of 69 miles, is 
being built under a lease to this company, and will probably 
be completed early in the coming summer. The Des Moines 
and Northwestern Road is being extended north of Jefferson, 
and will soon be opened for business to Eads station, 21 miles 
beyond Jefferson. This company is also building, in connec- 
tion with the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy R. R., the 
Humeston and Shenandoah Rjad, from Humeston to Shen- 
andoah, for the purpose of forming a connection between our 
Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska Road and our Council Bluff's 



Branch, which when completed, will reduce our distance be- 
tween Omaha and Chicago nearly one hundred miles, and 
give us a short and direct line between Omaha and all points 
East. In connection with the Missouri Pacific Road, this 
company perfected a lease of the St. Louis Bridge, taking 
eflTect October 1, 1881. During the year 1881, we have laid 
20.450 tons of steel rails (213 miles) in the track of our main 
lines, and 2,000 tons of iron on branch lines. The total num- 
ber of miles of road in operation at the close of the year was 
3.348 miles. 

Miles of Road Operated, December 31, 1881. 
Lines East of the Mississippi. 



Toledo, 


to E. St. Louis, 


435.7 


Decatur, 


" Camp Point, 


129.2 


Camp Point, 


'' Quincy, 


22.8 


Bluffs, 


" Hannibal, 


49.9 


Maysville, 


" Pittsfield, 


0.2 


Clayton, 


" Elvaston, 


34..5 


Edwardsville, 


'' Edwardsv'lCroFs' 


g. 10.2 


Detroit, 


" Logansport, 


213.8 


Michigan City, 


" Indianapolis, 


1(11.0 


Attica, 


" Covington, 


14. .5 


W. Lebanon, 


'' Leroy, 


7.5 7 


P. & D. June, 


" St. Francisville, 


109.3 


Vinceunes, 


" Cairo, 


1.58,0 


HoUis, 


" Jacksonville, 


75.3 


Springfield, 


" Havani, 


47.2 


Sireator, 


" Altamont, 


15G.5 


Shumway, 


" Effingham, 


8.5 


Strawn, 


" Chicago, 


99.7 


Urbana, 


" Havana, 


102.2 


White Heath, 


'• Decatur, 


29.7 


Lafayette to Slate Line (C, I , St. L & C, 




46), h for 


W., St. L.&P., 


23.0 


State Line, 


to Keokuk, 


223 7 


Hamilton, 


" Warsaw, 


5.0 


La Harpe, 


" Burlington, 


19.7 2,211.J 


Lines 


West of the Mississippi 




St. Loui.s, 


to Kansas City, 


276.8 


" Levee, 


" Ferguson June, 


10.4 


Centralia, 


" Columbia, 


21.8 


Glasgow, 


" Salisbury, 


1.5.9 


Moberly, 


'' Oltuniwa, 


1310 


Brunswick, 


" C. Bluffs 


224 4 


Roseberry, 


" Clarinda, 


21.5 


N. Lexington, 


" St. Joseph. 


77.1 


W. Quincy, 


" Trenton, 


135.9 


Keokuk, 


'' Humeston, 


131.0 


Relay, 


" Albia, 


24.0 


Des Moines, 


" Jefferson, 


66.9 1,136 7 



Total miles, 3,348.0 
INDIANAPOLIS AND ST. LOUIS R. R. 

Its general offices are located at Indianapolis, which point 
is its eastern and St. Louis its western terminus. The 
length of the line of this road in Madison county is 35 
miles and 3.149 feet, and the entire length of the track from 
either terminus is 261 miles. The road-bed is of substantial 
build, and well ballasted, tied and ironed. In January, 
1851, the " Terre Hnute and Alton Railroad Company," 
(now I. and St. L.) was incorporated by special act of the 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



53 



Illinois legislature, with power to liuikl and operate a road 
between Terre Haute and Alton. Subsequently, in 18o2, 
the" Belleville and Illiiioistowu Railroad Company" was 
authorized by act of the Illinois legislature to construct a 
road from East St. Louis, or Illiuoistown, to Belleville, also 
to extend the same in the direction of Alton. In February, 
1854, a special act was passed, authorizing the coiisolidatiou 
of the two roads. The two companies did not avail them- 
selves of this act until October, 1856, at which time the 
whole line was put in operation and opened to traffic. 

The stations along the line of this road in Madison 
county are Venice, Kinder, Xamooki, Long Lake, Edwards- 
ville Crossing, Alton Junction, Bethalto, Moro and Dorsey 
stations. From Alton Junction a branch extends to Alton, 
originally the terminus of the road. The I. and St. L. is a 
link in what is known as the " Bee Line." For years its 
prosperity was problematical, but through the untiring 
l)erseverance of interested parties it is fast taking its place 
among the leading roads of the country. 

KOCK ISLAND DIVISION OF THE CHIC.VGO, BURLINGTON AND 
QUINCY E. R. 

This line operates nine miles .3.149 feet of road in this 
count)', including side track entering on .section six in Foster- 
burg township and terminating on section sixteen in Wood 
river township where it forms a junction with the Indian- 
apolis and St. Louis railroad, whose track it uses thence to 
St. Louis. Little did the farmers and tradesmen along the 
line of this road, whose money built it in 1869 and '70, sus- 
pect that it would ever become the property of one of the 
most influential and aggressive railroad corporations of the 
day. The beginnings of the Rockford (as it i.s familiarly 
called) were humble, its construction was slow and unpromis- 
ing. Numerous changes took place until 1876, when it 
passed into the hands of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy 
by lease, the terms of which make it practically perpetual. 
The length of this division, in all, is 271 miles. As at 
present managed, it is proving a valuable acquisition to the 
C. B. and Q. 

ST. LOUIS, VANDALIA AND TERRE HAUTE R. R. 

The length of line of this road including side tracks in 
Madison county is about 27 miles and .351 feet, and in July 
1868, trains were first run between East St. Louis and 
Highland, and in July of the following year the road was 
completed from East St. Louis to Effingham, ninety-eight 
miles, and a through service established between East St. 
Louis and Chicago in connection with the Illinois Central 
R. R. and in July 1870, the last rails were laid between 
Effingham and the Indiana state line. Immediately there- 
after a through line of sleeping cars, was established between 
New York and St. Louis, and the "Vandalia route" at 
once became the popular route from St. Louis to the sea- 
board. The most important stations on the line of road in 
this county are ColliusviJle, Troy, St. Jacobs, Highland and 
Pierron. This road has contributed largely to the develop- 
ment of the agricultural and mineral resources of the south- 
ern part of the county. 



TOLEDO, CINCINNATI AND ST. LOUIS R. R. 

This is a narrow-gauge road, the first survey was made in 
January, 1881, and a part of the line located in May follow- 
ing. AVork was begun in this county in June 1881. There 
are about forty-five miles of this road within the limits of 
Madison county. The principal stations in the county will 
be Edwardsville, Alhambra and New Douglass. The road 
is being constructed by a compan}' of Eastern capitalists. 
It is to be a link in a great chain of narrow-gauge roads 
uniting the east, west, and south, and when completed will 
be a valuable acquisition to the railroad system of Madison 
county. 

As the railroads passing through Madison county all use 
the great bridge as a means of getting into the city of St. 
Louis, it is proper that we make a brief mention of the 
same. 

ST. LOUIS BRIDGE. 

Spanning the Mississippi from East St. Louis, 111., to St. 
Louis, Mo., is the great railway and roadway bridge. The 
initial step toward commencing this celebrated structure 
wa?, An act passed by the Missouri legislature in 1864, in- 
corporating the " St. Louis and Illinois Bridge Company." 
This act was approved February 5, 1864. An amended 
act was passed and approved February 20, 1865. About 
the same time the legislature of Illinois passed an act 
authorizing the incorporators under the Missouri act, under 
certain stipulations, to build a bridge to the Illinois shore 
near the dyke. An act of Congress was also passed and 
approved July 25, 1866, authorizing the consiruction of 
certain bridges, one of which was to be built at St Louis. 
Having thus secured the necessary legislation, the projec- 
tors directed special attention to the work itself. Prelimin- 
ary steps were taken, soundings made, plans proposed, and 
estimates considered. May 1st, 1867, the company was 
organized ; and contracts for the masonry were soon after 
let, and the first stone was laid on the western abutment 
pier, Jan. 2oth, 1868, and the pier had been built above the 
water-level by the spring of 1868. Captain James B Eads 
was chief engineer of the work. 

The four piers of the bridge are as follows in their height 
above, and depth below, low-water mark, respectively: 

W. abut. Pier, 22 ft. bel. low-water mark, 130 ft. ab. low-water mark. 
Wtst " 78 " " " " 18G " •' " 

Ea.^t " 92 " " " " 200 " " " 

East abut. " 102 " " " " 210 " " " 

In the construction of the masonry, 12,000 cubic yards of 
gray granite from Portland, INIaine, were used. 12,000 
cubic yards of sandstone from the St. Genevieve quarries in 
Missi/uri are used in the approaches, and two thousand cubic 
yards of granite from the quarries at Pilot Knob, Mo., were 
used in the base course of the approaches. 

Superdrudure — The superstructure is made of chrome 
steel, and every possible test was made long in advance of 
its use, so as to prove that its tensile strength corresponded 
with the general requirement of the whole structure. In 
placing the spans in position, Mr. Flad, the chief assistant 
of Captain Eads, introduced a system of hog-chains reach- 
ing over immense wooden structures on the top of the piers. 



54 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



These were let down and made fast to the growing spans, 
and as each part grew from the pier towards the centre in 
open space, chains were applied from time to time to support 
the great weight of the growing arch. By the method of 
working with hog-chains, Mr. Flad was enabled to dispense 
with the old cumbsrsome way of scaffolding below to sup- 
port the span, as it was being built out from the pier. The 
superstructure contains 2,200 tons of steel, and 3,400 tons 
of iron. The tons of metal aggregate 5,600 tons. 

The bridge proper consists of three spans or arches; the 
center being 520 feet, and the others 502 feet each. The 
arches or spans and abutments, make 2,046 feet, including 
the approaches on each side of the river; the total length 
of the bridge is 6,220 feet, or more than one mile. The 
bridge is connected with the yard of the Union depot, St. 
Louis, by means of a tunnel 4,866 feet in length, and double 
tracked through the whole distance. 

The cost of the bridge and tunnel, at the time of its being 
thrown open to the public in June, 1874, had been between 
$12,000,000 and §13,000,000. It was amid great parade 
dedicated to the traveling public, July 4th, 1874. It may 
be mentioned here, that on the top of the arches a road is 
constructed for vehicles, animals and streetcars; there are 
also suitable paths for pedestrians. Thus we have given a 
brief sketch of probably the greatest bridge in the world ; 
the building of which was one of the great engineering 
triumphs of the age. 



CHAPTER IV. 



GEOLOGY OF MADISOX COUyTT. 




BY HON. WILLIAM McADAMS- 



HE geology of this county may be illus- 
trated by the following section, taken 
principally from the exposures of the 
strata along the bluffs of the Mississippi 
river, where it forms the boundary line 
of the county of the west. 



i 

& 


Alluvial 100 feet. 


Loe.<=s 100 feet 


Glacial drift 80 feet. 


i 
s. 




'S 


Coal measures 450 feet. 


6 




3 

2 
'S 


Chester Limestone 15 feet. 


St. Louis Limestone 200 feet. 


2 






Keokuk Limestone 200 feet. 


cc 





The surface deposits of clay, sind and soils, which overlie 
the harder rocks are known under the general name of 
Quaternary. 

This system is by far the most important geological for- 
mation in the State, since it determines in a large degree, 
the character of the soils which forms the materia! wealth of 
Illinois. 

The Quaternary iu Midison county may be divided into 
three distinct deposits; tha Alluvium or bjttom deposits, 
the Loess, and the true drift of the glacial age. The allu- 
vial is the most recent. 

The great American Bottom is largely alluvial, although 
there is reason to suspect that this great basin was once 
filled with true drift clays which have since been much 
modified by the overflowing floods of the Mississippi and 
Missouri rivers. This bottom commences, a short distance 
below Alton near where Wood river emerges from the high- 
lands. Here the harder limestones of the sub-carboniferous 
dip beneath the surfice give place to the coal measures. 
The softer shales, sandstones and limestones of the coal 
measures being more easily exoded away, give the valley of 
the Mississippi here a wide expanse. In Madison county 
this bottom is some ten miles in width, and comprising some- 
thing over one hundred sections or square miles, a majority 
of which are among the richest lands in the United States. 
Originally a larger portion of this was a kind of bottom 
prairie on which flourished an enormous growth of wild 
grasses. The higher portions of this bottom, and this in- 
cludes the greater part, are now mostly under cultivation 
producing quantities of market produce, such as potatoes, 
cabbage, &c. Good crops of both corn and wheat are 
raised, but much of the land, especially near St. Louis, is too 
valuable to be planted in these cereals Much of the land 
does not overflow, while the lower portions, are being ra- 
pidly brought under cultivation by being drained and pro- 
tected by levees. 

The geological character of the subsoil of this region is 
peculiar, being in some place a sandy or gravely strata, 
alternating with layers of silt and a black vegetable mould, 
some of which has the consistency of putty, and goes by the 
name of sticky; at other places the deposits seem to be a yel- 
lowish or brownish clay resembling glacial deposits. 

The soil is in some places a rich dark sandy mould, while 
in other places it is the sticky humus, enormously rich but 
difficult to work. 

The sands and silt from the Missouri river are different 
from those of the Mississippi, and these deposits are some- 
times seen in contrast in the bottom. 

The thickness of these alluvial deposits are not known, 
but a boring at the National stock yards in East St. Louis 
failed to reach the bottom of the deposits at the depth of one 
hundred feet. 

LOESS. 

The loess usually present a finely comminuted mass of 
siliciuos marly clay, and is easily recognized by its buff color 
and general appearance. Above Wood river and the city of 
Alton, it forms the earthy deposits which cap the blufls. 
Below AVood river the bluffs bordering the bottom are almost 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



55 



entirely of loess. It sometimes goes by the name of "Bluff 
clays," from the fact that it is only seen in the vicinity of 
rivers, and its presence is probably due to the silty clay 
deposits during the subsidence of the glacial epoch, when the 
great sluggish streams at the close of that era were confined 
to the valleys. This subsidence was doubtless of slow con- 
tinuance for the deposits in this county are in some places 
more than a hundred feet in thickness. The loess extend 
but a few miles from the river and the more tenacious clays 
of the drift take its place. 

The rich character of the farming lands about Edwards- 
ville, and all the high lands in the vicinity of the bluffs are 
due to the marly character of the loess which form the sub- 
soil. The recuperative power of such soils even when appar- 
ently exhausted is remarkable; a few crops of clover restores 
the weakened energies of these lands to their original vigor. 
The loess contain both land and fresh water shells and 
sometimes the remains of extinct animals, generally of the 
larger mammals. Near Alton, some years ago was found 
some remains of a mastodon ; we also have the tooth of an 
extinct bison, and an undescribed mammal from this region 
a few miles above Alton. 

DRIFT. 

The true drift clays which cover the rocks on the high 
lands are quite different from either of the divisions of the 
formation we have described. The drift clays were no 
doubt accumulated when the whole surface was under water, 
and the rocks being in places eroded into valleys which 
more subsequently filled with these drift clays. They are 
much deeper in some localities than others, although the sur- 
face level may be the same. There is usually at the base of 
this depo3it a blue plastic clay, with pebbles, and oftentimes 
are found in it sticks and even the bodies of trees, with 
pieces of coal and other accumulations; sometimes the blue 
clay is wanting, but above it is generally a reddish brown 
clay with boulders and fragments of rocks that do not belong 
even in the State. These foreign substances seem to have 
been brought here in icebergs, or floating masses of ice and 
earth, which melting, the hard material with the clay was 
deposited on the bottom. Often in digging wells these 
drifted materials are met with to the wonder of those not 
conversant with the manner of their disposition. Sometimes 
valuable minerals are found in small quantities, leading the 
unwary to suppose a mine is near. 

The thickness of the drift deposits in Madison is from 40 
to 80 feet. 

CARIJONIFEKOUS. 

The next system beneath the Quaternary in IMadison 
county is the carboniferous or coal measures. The coal 
veins that crop out in this county belong to what is known 
as the lower coal measurt-s. This county being on the edge 
or rim of the great coal basin, besides having its strata 
elevated and cast off by an upheaval of the rocks, has the 
outcropping edges of the coal formation, as seen here and 
there at various localities, weathered and broken, so pecu- 
liarly situated as to render it difficult to make a correct 
section. We know of no shaft or boring that has penetrated I 
the whole series of the carboniferous in the eastern side of 



the county where they probably all lie in place. A thin 
seam of coal at Highland probably represents No. 8 or 9 of 
the general section of the state. There are probably five dis- 
tinct coal seams worked in the county. Coal seam No. 1, 
which is worked about North Alton, seems to have local 
dimensions that have created some confusion in numbering 
the veins in this locality. 

The best seam of coal on the eastern side of the county, 
and known as the Bellville seam, we are inclined to believe, 
notwithstanding previous reports, to be No. 5, the main 
workable seam of the state. 

There probably has never been a correct section made of 
the coal seam in this county, 

Most of the coal mined in the county is of good quality. 
The coal taken from vein No. 1 at Buckin and vicinity we 
consider au excellent coal and of much superior quality to 
that taken from No. 5 at Virden, 111., and vicinity. 

Excepting a strip of land along the Mississippi river, 
above the city of Alton, nearly the whole county is under- 
laid with valuable beds of coal. There are in the county 
some 250,000 acres of good coal lands. Considering the 
easy access to this great store of wealth, and its accessibility 
to the leading railroads of the state and St. Louis as well as 
the Mississippi, Madison is most enviably situated in this 
respect. 

According to the report of the mine inspector of Madison 
county for the past year we learn that there are 27 mines in 
the county, all being worked by shafts ana affording em- 
ployment to 1000 men and boys. The yearly product is 
400,000 tons, and the capital invested 248,000 dollars. 

CHESTER LIME.STONE. 

Immediately underlying the coal in this county, in some 
localities, is the Chester limestone. The Chester group of 
the subcarboniferous is several hundred feet in thickness in 
Randolph county, but has thinned so rapidly towards the 
north as to be represented in Madison by only some twelve 
or fifteen feet in thickness. It is a coarse-grained sandstone 
of a brownish color and overlaid by a thin baud of lime- 
stone two to three feet in thickness. 

These beds form the upper layers of the bluffs above 
Alton and show themselves in detached fragments on the 
Pia.sa and other streams. 

The sandstone is often quite prolific of fossils, the most 
prominent and characteristic being retzia vera and athyrus 
ambigua. 

ST. LOUIS LIMESTONE. 

The most important rock in Madison county is the lime- 
stone, known as the St. Louis limestone, which forms a bluff 
something over one hundred feet in height, and extending 
from the city of Alton to the mouth of the Piasa creek. 

During the disposition of this group of rocks on the bot- 
tom of that ancient sea one is forcibly struck with the differ- 
ent conditions of the elements during this great subcarbon- 
iferous era, as the following section will show: 

Greenish shale .") fee t. 

Massive arenaceous limcstone.not regularly stratified 20 " 
Massive grey limestone 10 " 



56 



H] STORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Thin bedded grey limestone 15 feet. 

Irregularly bedded grey limestone with cherty 

nodules 20 " 

Brecciated and concretionary limestone 40 " 

Regular bedded gray limestone, partly magnesian... 50 " 
Brown earthy Maguesian limestone, turning to gray 

with hydraulic layers '. 40 " 

The upper beds thin out rapidly above Alton, and the 
â– whole group ascends to the top of the bluff' at the Piasa, 
giving place to the Keokuk group which come up from be- 
neath the Mississippi. 

At the base of the St. Louis limestone, on the Piasa creek, 
is a bed of anhydrous limestone, or hydraulic lime 8 or 10 
feet thick. 

It makes a valuable cement, and ought to be among the 
great resources and industries of the country. The rock is 
a bluish gray, earthy Magnesian limestone, sometimes a 
delicate dove color, quite soft and very easy to quarry. 

Hitherto the heat in the kilns required to reduce this rock 
to lime preparatory to grinding into the cement flour, has 
been made with wood. The nearness of the coal mines and 
the cheapness of this fuel might be brought into requisition 
in the manufacture of the cement. Situated as these cement 
deposits are, on the banks of the Mississippi and near the 
coal mines, ought to give them a commercial value. 

The upper members of the St. Louis limestone, so finely 
exposed at Alton, furnish some of the finest building 
materials in the state. There are layers in the quarries of 
Alton of hard, compact limestone that would make a build- 
ing as durable, and of richer, finer appearance than the 
Magnesian limestone of Jolietor Grafton. The pure color 
of this freestone is very pleasing to the eye and is retained 
without change for a great length of time. 

When monotonous brick walls and perishable frame 
buildings give way to solid structures of architectural 
beauty the materials in these great quarries of Alton will 
be in large demand. 

Besides being used as a building rock the St. Louis lime- 
stone is the main source of the supply of lime in the west. 
It makes a beautiful white lime, not more noted for its color 
than its strength. 

There is, probably, no place in the west where could be 
found the same facilities for the manufacture of superior 
lime as at Alton. There is an unlimited supply both of 
fuel and material for lime. 

The means of shipping both by rail and river are excel- 
lent. AH that is needed is enterprise and capital to make 
its manufacture at Alton a great industry. 

The fossils of the St. Louis limestone are quite numerous 
about Alton, and some of them are very finely preserved. 
There are several species of productus, the more common of 
which is the P. Punctatus, and one pretty species called 
P. Allonensis. Spysipers and Terebratulas are common. 
About the bluffs can be found fine specimens of that pecu- 
lar coral, like a mass of columns, and known as the Liihostro- 
t'ton Canaden.se and just above the beds of hydraulic lime- 
stone the pretty pentrineites are common, and in some of 



the lower layers of the group above the city of Alton, 
numerous fish teeth are found. About the little village of 
Clifton, near the mouth of the Piasa, fossils are numerous. 

KEOKUK LIMESTONE. 

The lowest rock exposed in this county belongs to the 
group known as the Keokuk limestone. It is represented in 
several localities on the Piasa creek by 20 to 40 feet of a 
shaly calcareous lira33torie of m ecimmic valu3.* 

There are but few counties in the state favored with the 
natural resources and elements of wealth and pro.sperity for 
its inhabitants enjoyed by Madison county. 

It possesses a soil of unsurpassed fertility, an excellent 
supply of timber, an inexhaustible supply of coal, building- 
stone, limestone for lime, cement and potters' clay, with a 
favorable position on the Mississippi; together with railroad 
facilities and other natural advantages seldom found. 

ARTESIAN WELLS. 

In the economic geology of Madison county, the subject of 
artesian wells may interest many. The conditions necessary 
for a successful artesian well are very simple. 

1st. There must be a stratum of porous rock or other sub- 
stance beneath the surface forming a conductor for water; 
this conductor being usually sand or sandstone. 

2d. The source of the supply of water must be higher, or 
as high as the surface of the proposed well. Very often it 
happens, however, that the force of pressure or the pres- 
ence of gas, forces the water in an artesian well above its 
source. 

The source of the supply may be, and often is, many miles 
distant. It is said that the source of the water flowing from 
the artesian wells in Chicago is in the outcropping sandstones 
on Fox River nearly a hundred miles distant. The source 
of the supply of water in the Belcher well in St. Louis is in 
the outcropping sandstones in Calhoun County, 111. 

Nearly all the artesian wells in this State, and in fact in 
this part of the Mississippi Valley, get their supply of water 
from soft heavy bedded sandstone, known to western geologists 
as the St. Peter's sandstone. 

Through the agency of some subterranean power, evidently 
of a volcanic nature, the St. Peter's sandstone, the lowest rock 
seen in Illinois, is upheaved and brought to the surface, 
forming a high bluff'on the bank of the Mississippi at "Cap 
au Oris," (Grey — sandstone headland) in Calhoun County, 
Ills., and nearly forty miles northwest of Alton. This sand- 
stone forms part of the bed of the Mississippi at this place. 
The headland or Ijluff", is something over a mile in extent 
along the river, and near 200 feet in height. Much of this 
rock is so friable as to be crushed between the fingers, and 
such pure silica as to be in demand in the manufacture of 
glass. 

'Cap au Gris' being the centre of the upheaval, except, on 
the southwest where the deposits seem not to have been 
thrown up, the rocks dip strongly in going from the axi.s. 
The upheaval of the St. Peter's of course brought up all the 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



57 



rocks lying above it, but this great elevation being afterward 
eroded away by the forces of the "glacial epoch," a general 
level was again attained leaving the outcropping edges of the 
Upper Silurian, Lower Silurian, Devonian, Subcarbonifer. 
ous, and coal measure rocks exposed in succession to the view 
of the observing traveller in any direction on the line of Cap 
au Grig. 

In all this western country there is not such another field 
for the study of geology. Every stream, or water course in 
Madison, Jersey and Calhoun counties reveal the edges of the 
rocky strata, each group of which can be recognized by its 
peculiar fossils; and each group of which can be measured, 
at least approximately, so that any competent geologist at 
any point within fifty, or even a hundred miles from Cap 
au Gris, can tell very nearly how far beneath the surface 
lies the St. Peter's sandstone, down through the heavy beds 
of which percolate a portion of the waters of the Mississippi. 

The following diagram will enable the reader more fully to 
comprehend the geology of this region. The diagram repre- 
sents a section of the rocks from Edwardsville on a straight 
line to Cap au Gris : 




The horizontal stratum on top of the section represents 
the drift-clays that overlie all the rocks except where washed 
away in the valleys formed by streams Below the drift 
which is 20 to 100 feet in thickness the rocks are represented 
showing their position and dip. No. 1, crops out at Cap au 
Gris, No. 10, at Edwardsville. We give iu the table below 
8 



Calciferoiis. 


200 feet thick 


Lower Silurian. 


200 " " 


Lower Silurian. 


150 " " 


Upper Sihirian. 


150 " " 


Devonian. 


50 " " 


Sub. Car. 


150 " " 


Sub. Car. 


200 'â–  " 


Sub. Car. 


150 " " 


Sub. Car. 


150 " " 


Car. 


150 " " 



the names of the groups of rocks, with their thickness as seen 
in the section. 



1. St. PetetV Sandstone, 

2. Trenton Lirae-stone, 

3. Cincinnati Shales, 

4. Niagara Limestone, 

5. Hamilton Limestone 

6. Kinderhook Limestone, 

7. Burlington Limestone, 

8. Keokuk Limestone, 

9. St. Louis Limestone 

10. Coal Measures 



The thickness here given is mostly taken from the exposed 
strata along the Missi.ssippi, some places being covered on 
the slopes by debris are supplied by better sections of the 
same horizon as shown in the creeks and smaller streams. The 
thickness, however, we believe to be given as the maximum. 

Seven or eight miles north of Cap au Gris, on the Missis- 
sippi side of Calhoun Co , is an arte.-ian well 200 feet deep, 
and from which a great volume of water has been flowing 
for over thirty years. This well is represented on the left of 
the diagram near Pittsburg, in Jersey county, or some 15 
miles east of Cap au Gris is another well, started in the 
Devonian, and which reached a great flow of water in the St. 
Peters, at the depth of 500 feet. This well was bored several 
years ago with the view of finding coal oil, and is 825 feet 
deep. It is a sulphur water, containing some minerals in solu. 
tion, not unpleasant to the taste, as may be evinced by the 
fact that a graduating class of 1.3 young ladies visiting the 
locality under our charge drank heartily from the water as it 
flowed over the tube. Without doubt it could be utilized for 
nearly all mechanical purposes. 

The waters of Perry Springs, in Pike county. 111., 
noted as a health resort, is somewhat similar, and is 
doubtless nothing more than a natural artesian well, in which 
the waters from the St. Peters escapes to the surface through 
some crevice. In our opinion many of the so called mineral 
springs have the same deep-seated source, and might be 
duplicated without number by simply going deep to the St. 
Peters sandstone with an artesian well and making an artifi- 
cial spring. 

An artesian well in Madison county is simply a matter of 
dollars and cents. The water bearing strata lies beneath 
with the great probability of its treasures being released only 
by the drill. 

At the right of the diagram is represented an artesian 
well from the coal measures at Edwardsville to the St. 
Peter's sandstone. 



58 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 




CAHOKIA OR " MONK'S MOUND," MADISON CO., ILL. 



CHAPTER V 



ANTIQUITIES. 




BY HON. WILLIAM McADAMS. 

I ADISON COUNTY is rich in antiquities. 

Its central geographical position, and 

its peculiar geological formation, in 

ancient times, as well as now, made it a 

great centre of natural resources, and 

the ancient population had their great 

central works in this locality. The 

greatest mounds in the United States 

are here and it is really the Egypt of 

America with its pyramids and tumuli looming up from the 

rich valley of the Mississippi in magnitude and grandeur 

rivaling in interest those of the Nile. 

Within the ten miles square of alluvial bottom in this 



county are more than one hundred mounds of considerable 
dimensions. The largest of these mounds are on the bank 
of the Cahokia creek five or six miles from East St. Louis. 
This group contains seventy-two mounds, the majority of 
which are situated on a square mile. The largest mound is 
in the centre of the group and is known as the Cahokia or 
Monk's Mound, deriving its latter name from the fact that 
in the early history of the county some of the order of La 
Trappe settled near and for a time occupied the mound. 
These monks lived in strict and silent seclusion, eat no meat 
and lived upon the most frugal and homely diet. Several 
of them soon succumbed to the malarial influences of the 
climate and the remainder of the colony departed for wheoce 
they came. 

In this connection we prefer the name of Cahokia mound 
since it perpetuates the name of a tribe of Indians met by 
La Salle in this vicinity and who gave their name to the 
creek. 

The form of the Cahokia mound is a parallelogram, witli 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



59 



straight sides, the longer of which are north and south. 
It is about one hundred feet in height. 

On the southern end, some 30 feet above the base is a 
terrace or apron, containing near two acres of ground. 

On the western side, and some thirty feet above the first 
terrace is a second one of somewhat less extent. 

The top of the mound is flat and divided into two parts, 
the northern end being some 4 or 5 feet higher than the 
southern portion. The summit contains about an acre and 
a half. 

Near the middle of the first terrace, at the base of the 
mound, is a projecting point, apparently the remains of a 
graded pathway to ascend from the plain to the terrace. 
The west side of the mound below the second terrace, is 
very irregular and forms projecting knobs, separated by 
deep ravines, probably the result of rainstorms, to the 
northwest corner of the base of the structure there feems 
to be a small mound attached, in exact imitation of the 
small mounds attached to the base of the pyramids of 
Egypt as well as those of Mexico. 

The remaining sides of the structure are quite straight 
and but little defaced by the hand of time. 

About the sides of the mound are still growing several 
forest trees, one of which is an elm several centuries old. 

As the size of the Cahokia mound has been given vari- 
ously we applied to Mr. B. J. Vancourt, a practical surveyor 
living in the vicinity, at O'Fallen, and whom we knew had 
made a regular survey of the mound. Mr. Vancourt sent 
us the following : 

" In my survey I did not follow the irregularities of the 
mound but made straight lines enclosing the base. The 
largest axis is from north to south and is 998 feet, the 
shortest from east to west is 721 feet. The height of the 
mound is 99 feet. The base of the structure covers 16 acres 
2 roods and 3 perches of ground." 

Our own survey made the base somewhat less than six- 
teen acres in extent, it being somewhat difficult to point out 
the precise line where the structure begins to rise from the 
plain. 

The base of the Cahokia pyramid covers more ground 
than any pyramid of Egypt and with the exception of 
Cholula, which is, however, simply a mass of ruins, the 
Cahokia is the largest in the world. 

The great pyramid of Egypt — Cheops, is 746 feet square. 
The temple of Mexico was 680 feet square. 

The summit and lower terrace of the Cahokia mound has 
been plowed a few times. Brackenridge who visited the 
mound in 1811, says that the monks used the lower terrace 
for a kitchen garden and also had the summit of the struc- 
ture sown in wheat. The great pyramid has not been 
materially changed, however, and doubtless presents the 
same outlines to-day as at the time of the discovery of this 
continent by Columbus. 

Since some doubts have been expressed as to the artificial 
origin of this structure we were much interested to ascer- 
ta u what could be learned in this respect by examination. 
On the top of the pyramid is the remains of a hou.se, said 
to have been commenced by the monks, but afterwards 



added to and finished as a comfortable residence for the 
family of a man named Hill, an enterprising settler who 
owned the mound and a large body of land adjoining. Be- 
neath this house is a deep unwalled cellar. A section down 
the side of the cellar to the depth of ten feet is very plainly 
revealed a deposit of various kinds of earth without strati- 
fication. The ])rincipal part of this deposit was the black 
humus or mould, so common in the bottom and forming the 
priucipal soil, very sticky when wet and breaking into cubi- 
cal blocks when dry. Here and there, as if thrown pro- 
miscuously among the black mould is a bunch of yellow 
clay, or sand, or marly loess, these bunches being about such 
size as a man could easily carry. 

Similar sections can be seen up the old road made by Hill 
to ascend to his residence. 

On the second terrace is a well (shown in the engraving) 
dug by Hill and supposed to be 80 or 90 feet deep, pene- 
trating the base of the mound. The water taken out while 
excavating for the well still lies near and would indicate 
that the deposits penetrated were similar to those seen in the 
cellar. Old settlers living near when the well was dug, say 
that at the depth of about sixty feet pieces of pottery and 
two sea shells were found. 

In an old publication entitled the " Far West" published 
in New York, by Harper & Bros., in 1838, the author after 
describing the great mound which he visited, also speaks of 
the well and says that while it was being dug, at the depth 
of sixty feet remains of corn and fragments of pottery were 
found. On drinking of the water he says it had a peculiar 
taste. He further mentions that it was but seldom used on 
account of the general belief among the inhabitants that 
the well was dug through an ancient cemetery beneath the 
mound. 

About midway, on the north side, or face of the pyramid, 
and elevated 25 or 30 teet above the base, in a small depres- 
sion, stands a pine tree, singularly enough, since this tree is 
not found in the forrests in this locality. There was a story 
rife among the early settlers that this tree stood at the mouth 
of an opening or gallery into the interior of the mounds. 
To ascertain the truth of this matter, Mr. Thomas Raraey, 
the present owner of the mound commenced a tunnel at this 
tree and excavated about ninety (90) feet towards the centre 
of the mound. When fifteen feet from the entrance to the 
tunnel a piece of lead ore was discovered but no other object 
of interest was found. The deposits penetrated by the tun- 
nel are very plainly shown to be the same as seen in the 
cellar mentioned above. 

Upon approaching the Cahokia temple, which stands on 
a level plain, two miles from the bluff and five miles from 
Mississippi river, one is astonished at its magnitude and the 
large force of men, time and labor required in its construc- 
tion ; but the astonishment of the beholder is increased when 
upon coming near, to find that the great mound is b it one 
of many structures, which, if not so large, are still of 
immense proportions. 

About the great mound and lying in apparent irregular 
form over the plain are some seventy others, some square, 
some conical, others oblong. Several of the group are ou 



GO 



HISTOFiY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



the opposite side of the Cahokia creek. The situation of 
the mounds are shown by the map and diagrams on another 
page. The nearest mound on both the east and west side 
of the greater structure, is square, with their sides and 
corners, like the greater pyramid, straight and well-defined. 
The square on the east side is about 15 feet in height with 
between one and two acres on the summit. The square on 
the west side is very much larger and something over 20 
feet in height. 

The largest square is southwest of the great mound, some 
300 paces distant and 30 feet in height. The summit of 
this square platform is so large that it contains a good sized 
farm house with all the outbuildings, barn-yards and gar- 
dens necessary to a well-regulated farm. 

One peculiarity of these square mounds, of which there 
are a number in the group, are that they are all attended by 
a small conical mound which is, in some instances, attached 
to one corner. This same peculiarity, as described by trav- 
elers, is observed in Egypt as well as Mexico, the pyramids 
being attended by a small mound attached generally to one 
corner. 

Some of the oval mounds are very large, being from ten 
to sixty feet in height. One large oval mound stands 
directly on the bank of the Cohokia, (See Map) and the 
side of the mound toward the creek is so washed away as 
to give an excellent opportunity to examine the material 
and manner of its construction. It is composed of black 
loam nothing different from the great pyramid. Many of 
the mounds, both conical and oval, have such declivity that 
one can with difficulty ascend the sides. 

There are many other mounds in the bottom not enume- 
rated in the Cahokia group. There is another very inter- 
esting group near Mitchell station, on the C. A. & St. L. 
R. R., between St. Louis & Alton. Several of this group 
present the same square flat forms, as described on the 
Cahokia. 

One of these platforms, measuring one hundred paces, or 
300 feet, on each of its four sides and 25 or 30 feet high has 
been largely excavated away to make room for railroad 
tracks. A portion of the earth near the centre still remains 
showing the bunches of earth thrown down promiscuously 
during the construction of the mound. 

During the excavation for the four R. R. tracks that go 
through this mound a great number of relics were found 
showing that these ancient temples were used for sepulchres 
as well as for other purposes. From this mound we have a con- 
sider able number of copper implements and ornaments, some 
of the latter are curiously made to represent the shell of a 
tortoite, even showing the sutures in the plates of the shell. 
Short, heavy spools of bone covered with copper so neatly 
done, that only from a broken one did we discover that the 
interior was bone. Copper awls and needles, some of the 
latter 18 inches in length. There were also flint implements 
and the teith of a bufl'alo, together with a quantity of both 
coarse and fine matting plaited together in a neat nianner. 

Who were the people who erected these great mouncls on 
the American Bottom ? If these works were erected by the 
ancestors of our present red Indians, then the Indians must 



have very greatly degenerated, for we are quite satisfied 
that the mound builder had a different government, a differ- 
ent religion, a different character, and most probably a 
different physiogaomy. Our knowledge of ladian character, 
formed largely by personal contact with them in the west, 
has led us to believe that our Indian, like the Arab of the 
desert is incapable of any great work requiring physical labor. 

Still it would seem as if the Indians had some connection 
with the ancient mound-builders. Possibly the Indians of 
the present are descended in some way from the mound- 
builders, because mound-building seems to have been com- 
mon to all savage people. 

Even if our Indians were known to have made mounds, 
which is highly probable, it would not prove they were 
descended from the people who built the great mounds on 
the Cahokia. 

Mounds are found everywhere ; Europe, Asia, and Africa 
present almost precisely such mounds as we have in Illinois. 
Jt is probable that our Indians have been known to make a 
few small mounds, at least we have such authority as Catlin 
on the Upper Mississippi, and Missouri, and the early ex- 
plorers among the southern Indians. But the custom, if 
ever common with them, soon became obsolete after the 
advent of white men. 

There are many small mounds on the bluffs and highlands 
of Madison and adjoining counties, some of which, judging 
from the preservation of the remains, are not very old. 

Traces of sepulchres are often found in the mounds and 
there is no doubt but that the later Indians used them as 
burial places. 

The blufl^s of Madison county are, in fact, an immense 
cemetery, and one can hardly dig on any prominence 
without encountering human bones. A majority of these 
places have no mound over them, but have been the common 
burial places of the tribes who from time to time, succes- 
sively inhabited the locality. 

Mounds were probably only erected over the remains of 
persons of note. Neither are all mounds burial places. 
In Madison county on the Piasa and other streams, are many 
mounds that seem to be the remains of dwelling places, of 
which the prominent material seems to have been clay, 
probably the roof as well as the sides. In these mounds 
only what seems to be the kitchen refuse is found. 

Other mounds, like some of those in the American Bottom 
were erected for religious purposes, public ceremonies and 
meetings. 

Some of these mnunds are doubtless very old, others 
are comparatively recent, while both have intrusive burials, 
and much error has been promulgated by casual examina- 
tion and hasty conclusion. A leading theorist on this 
subject in Illinois exhibits a well preserved brass button, 
with the well known letters U. S. upon it, said to have 
been found in a nionnd. And learned archajologists from 
the Smithsonian base their theories on some glass heads 
said to have been found in a mound in the west. 

In the vicinity of the Piasa creek, which empties into the 
Mississippi a few miles above Alton, a great variety of 
mounds can still be seen, some of earth covered with stone. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



61 



others of stone and earth together, while others are wholly 
of earth. 

On the face of the bluff in this vicinity can also be seen 
a number of figures of animals and other objects painted 
with a red pigment. These figures are supposed to have 
some hieroglyphic meaning. At Alton was another large 
figure representing a kind of dragon and known as the Piasa. 
This monster is represented as having wings and there is a 
legend said to have been held by the Indians of this vicinity 
that this flying dragon once actually existed, and was 
addicted to carrying off members of the tribe to his eyrie 
among the rocks and devouring the body at its leisure. 
Some celebrated chief dedicating iiiiu.sclf to the work finally 
killed the monster and the picture ^va^; p tinted on the rock 
in commemoration of the occasion. 

The legend was written by Mr. .John Russel, at one time 
a Baptist minister, and editor of a local paper called the 
" Backwoodsman." The story of the Piasa Bird, although 
largely imaginative, had an extensive circulation. 

The painting on the rock, was also described by Marquette, 
years ago, however ; the rocks forming the face of the bluff 
on which the object was portrayed were quarried ofl' for the 
purpose of making lime. 

Although the mounds of the American Bottom seem to 
belong to the same age as the great earthworks of Ohio, and 
were probably made by the same people, there are, however, 
no enclosures or embankments. The nearest enclosure by 
earthen walls that we have been able to discover is at the 
mouth of the Illinois river. There is herean earthen embank- 
ment, circular in form, and nearly a mile in extent. A gate- 
way protected by mounds opens on the high bank of a slough 
some distance from the Mississippi, but without a doubt its 
shore in ancient times. In the centre of the enclosure stands 
a flat circular mound ; it is hardly a work of defense ; for the 
bluff towers above it a short distance away, and within easy 
bowshot. 

After many days' exploration and study of the Cahokia 
mounds we are inclined to believe the evidence would tend 
to prove that this group of the greatest mounds in the Union, 
and possibly on the continent, had their origin for religious 
purposes, and this was the Mecca, or grand sacred shrine of 
the mound builder's empire. From the flat summit of the 
temple, one hundred feet above the plain were their adori- 
tories, probably two buildings like that of Mexico, glittering 
with barbaric splendor, and from whence couhl be seen from 
afar the smoke and flames of the eternal fire, their emblem 
of the sun. At the city of Mexico the Spaniards found the 
Aztecs holding their religious ceremonies on almost precisely 
such a structure, 120 feet in height, with five terraces. On 
the flat summit of this pyramidal structure, which, like 
Cahokia, was divided into two parts, were two adoritories 
or shrines, in one of which the sacred fire burned. This 
great Mexican temple mound was not more than half the 
size of the Cahokia temple, being only 300 feet square at the 
base. The square mounds about the base of Cahokia, some 
of which are larger than the base of the Mexican terajjle, 
were doubtless used for sacred purposes, and the adjoining 
mounds may have been the residences of the priests; just 



such mounds surrounded the Aztec temple "Surrounding 
the great Pyramid," says Clavigero, speaking of the Aztec 
or Mexican temple, were forty similar structures of smaller 
size, consecrated to separate divinities ; one was called the 
House of Mirrors, and was covered with brilliant materials, 
and was sacred to the god of light, the soul of the world, 
the spiritual sun ; another to the god of water ; another to 
the god of air ; and Gomera says, that because the winds go 
round the heavens they made this temple circular. 

Besides these were the dwellings of the priests amounting 
to 5000 according to Zarata, and of the attendants in the 
temples, and places for the iuftruction of the youth, and if 
some accounts are to be credited, places for the reception of 
strangers who came to visit the temple and see the glory of 
the Court of Montezuma. There were ponds and fountains, 
groves and gardens, in which flowers and sweet smelling 
herbs were cultivated for use in certain sacred rites, and for 
the decoration of the temple. 

There is a general concurrence in the accounts of the great 
temple of Mexico given by the early writers, among whom 
were Cortez, Bernal, Diaz, and others who witnessed what 
they described. These accounts give us, not only some idea 
of the predominance of religious superstitions in ]\Iexico, but 
also a good clue to the customs of our own mound builders, 
and the origin and uses of the great structures on the Caho- 
kia creek. 

While the Cahokia temple mound is much the same shape 
as the Mexican temple, it is twice as large, and the surround- 
ing temples and mounds much larger and greater in number, 
leading us to believe that on the banks of Cahokia was the 
largest congregation of religious structures, not only on this 
continent, but of the world. 

What a city ! What a population there must have been at 
that time on this alluvial plain. This view is al.so strongly 
evidenced by the fact that this rich plain, which is some 75 
miles long, and 5 to 10 miles wide, is a veritable cemetery of 
the past, and full of evidences of long human occupation. 
Relics of the stone age protraide from the bank of every creek 
and ravine. In the rich fields opposite St. Louis and for 
miles up the Cahokia creek, we have many times seen the 
market gardener literally plow throjgh human bones. The 
little labor with which enormous crops are grown here would 
excite the envy of the plodding planter on the banks of the 
Nile. 

Some eminently travelled writer, after admitting that 
Nature stands revealed on a grand scale in America, com- 
plains that this new world is wanting in antiquities so full of 
interest in the old world. This writer ought to come to Ca- 
hokia, and standing on our Cheops, look down on the monu- 
ments of pre-historic America. When he asked who built 
them, the echoes of his inquiring voice would go reverberat- 
ing among the temples below', but no answer would return. 

Of course many relics of the past are collected in the 
vicinity of these mounds, and from the mounds themselves. 
We have many thousand of these, of stone, copper, bone and 
shell, as well as various kinds of pottery. We are con- 
stantly surpriseci in looking over our collection to see the 
great similarity of our relics of the stone age, with those of 



62 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



other countries. " Evans' Stone Age of Great Britain" 

might represent ours fairly by a simple change of title and 
still be an incomparable work. 

There is hardly an antiquity in any country but what we 
have represented here, and the remarkable similarity of 
some of the more peculiar is very puzzling, especially since 
we have been in the habit of attributing this similarity of 
thought to the instinctive impulses of savage and barbarian 
untutored minds. We are so puzzled sometimes as to doubt 
our position. This is illustrated in the fact that after having 
taken from the mounds a number of large sea shells, found in 
such a position and under such circumstances as to leave no 
doubt as to their being held sacred by the moand builders^ 
and used in their religious ceremonies, to find that they were, 
in a great majority, the same reversed shell, with the mouth 
or opening on the left-hand side, and held as sacred by the 
Buddhists of India. We are told that the statues of Buddha 
are often seen, in which each toe of his foot is represented by 
a sinistral or reversed conch shell. From time immemorial 
these shells turning the wrong way have been reversed in 
Asia, and wherever the Buddhist religion is known, they have 
numbers of Pyrrula, Cassis, Conchs and other shells taken 
from the altars of the mounds, and exhibiting the same re- 
versed whorls. It is a strange fact that the great 
mouiids of Cahokia should, like those of Egypt and Mexico, 
stand straight with the main points of the compass. 

It is a singular fact thit the mound-builder should have 
the same religious ceremonies. At the foot of the Cahokia 
temple we were so fortunate as to discover a sort of tomb or 
burial place and in size less than two rods square, amid 
the crumbling dust of near a score of human skeletons, we 
found about a hundred vessels of pottery in an almost 
perfect condition. It is surprising to observe how these 
vases and long-necked water bottles resembled in appearance 
and shape the ancient vessels of the Nile, but what is more 
strange is that several of these vessels have painted on 
them in bright red pigment some of the same symbols as 
used by the sun-worshipers in Egypt and very similar to 
symbols on similar vessels taken by Schliemann from buried 
Mycente and Troy. (See illustrations). 

The limits of this paper permit us only to mention the 
very interesting fact that in connection with the mounds 
many symbols are found remarkably resembling those of 
the institution of Masonry. Squares, triangles, circles and 
circles touching parallel lines are not uncommon in the 
shape of the mounds and earthworks, plummets, crosses of 
various kinds, painted and carved on earthen vessels, and 
we have curious boat-shaped stone implements that we are 
inclined to believe were used as levels. A series of illustra- 
tions would be necessary to explain these to the public 
Some of the ceremonies of the mound builders also appear 
strongly similar to those used in Masonry. It may be that 
Masonry is descended from the original and primitive 
religion of mankind. From what centre the civilization of 
man came we know not. 

DESCRIPTION OP PLATE NO. 1. 

1. Long-necked water vessel, of which numerous ex- 
amples are found in the American Bottom. 



2. Earthen vessel representing the beaver. 

3. This vessel as well as the preceding ones are burned 
hard and painted red. All one-fourth original size. 

4. 5. Earthen dishes. These fine vessels are represented 
cne-eighth natural size. 

6. Sea shell, Busycon perversum, an uncut specimen 
one-fourth nat. size. 

7. 10. Fine water vessels representing the human form 
one- quarter natural size. 

8. Neat vessel with two human faces, one on the rim 
one-eighth natural size. 

9. Vessel representing bear one-quarter natural size. 

11. Recumbent human figure with the neck of the vessel 
arising from middle of body, one-fifth natural size. 12. Like 
No. 11, a unique water vessel, one-fifth natural size. 

13, 14, 15. Fine earthen vessels one-half natural size, on 
which are carefully painted certain figures that probably re- 
fer to their religion. Although we have found many painted 
vessels and somewhat similar figures in Mad son county, we 
have thought best to copy a few illustrations from the 
repors of the St. Louis Academy of Science. 

The originals of the figures from 11 to 15 inclusive, were 
found on the Missouri side of the Mississipi below St. Louis, 
and are now in the collections of the Academy of Major 
Hilder of St. Louis. The remainder of the objects figured 
on Plate 1 as wella^ Plate 2 are in my own collection, and 
were obtained from Madison county. 

DESCKIPTION OF PLATE NO. 2. 

1, 2, 3, 4. Finely made vessels of burned clay, probably 
representing ducks The illustrations explain themselves 
better than a description. 

5. Water vessels that with the preceding and near a 
hundred others were found in an ancient burial place at the 
foot of the great Cahokia mound. 

6. Copper from the mounds. The figure on the right is a 
opper axe, thj next a crescent head ornament, beneath 
which is a copper bracelet and ornamental tube. To the 
left of the copper crescent is a spear point, a plummet and 
a smaller axe, all of beaten native copper. 

7. On the left is a polished flint axe, a rare and beautiful 
implement, as also is the diorite axe on the right. They 
are perfectly smooth, the marks in chipping and manu- 
facture being ground away, then polished. This is not the 
common form of the stone weapon so commonly seen, but 
exactly represents the form of European ground flint-axes, 
and is rarely found in this country. Both of these are from 
mounds in Jersey county. We have two similar ones from 
Madison, but they are broken. 

8. Two skulls found with the pottery at the foot of the 
great Cahokia mound. The one on the right is a common 
form of the crania with the pottery. The one on the left 
is not uncommon and may be the result of artificial flatten- 
ing, although the appearance of the rounded frontal bone 
would indicate otherwise. They are both nearly entire. 

9. 10, 11, 12. Finely finished pipes of red catlinite and 
found in the mounds ; the bird pipe on the left is in the 
collection of Shurtlift" college, and was found on the Gill- 
bam farm below Wood river. No. 12 is remarkable as 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



63 



showing a sort of beard on the side of the face. It is of 
stone and found with the pottery. 

14, 15, 16. Stone images. Probably used in religious or 
other important cfrf monies. In each there are two funnel- 
shaped cavities in the back and posterior portions that have 
led some to believe they might have been used as pipes on 
great occasions. No. 16 is a splendid specimen of stone 
carving and was found in a small mound on the Piasa 
creek, near the north-line corner of Madison county. It 
stands about (8) eight inches high and is cut from a single 
block of hard, red catlinite, or Minnesota pipe stone. The 
original is now the property of Blackburn University. 

No. 14 is also of red catlinite, of fine workmanship, and 
exhibits a hideous human form with a fish protruding from 
the wide open mouth, with another fish held in the hands 
between the knees. We also took this from a small mound 
on the banks of the Mississippi, near the mouth of the 
Illinois. No. 16 is also of re 1 catlinite, and was found by 
some laborers making a new highway or public road, not 
far from the great Cahokia mound. It was broken into 
several pieces by the plow, and the head is wanting. We 
obtained the original from the Mis.souri Historical Society, 
and made the restoration as given in the cut The original 
was made from a single block of stone, very neatly carved 
and highly polished. 

The builders of the Cahokia mounds, from the relic- left 
behind, seem to have been of a peaceful character rather 
than warriors. Some of the finest implements of stone 
from this vicinity are implements of agriculture. Hoes 
not very unlike in shape to those of iron in present use, 
were made of flint, and with such skill as to be very 
serviceable tools. Spades and digging tools of flint also, 
and we have several fine iniplements that are worn in such 
manner and of such peculiar shape as to indicate that they 
were fastened to a stock and pulled through the soil after 
the manner of a plow. Soma of these implements of agri- 
culture, doubtless used in the cultivation of corn, are among 
the most valued of the relics of the stone age. 

We have no evidence that this people ha<l any knowledge 
of metals, except copper. They used botii iron and lead 
ores as a stone, and both these ores are frequently found in 
their mounds. The age corresponding to that of bronze in 
Europe was a copper age on the Mississippi. Our mound- 
builders knew nothing of tin. Copper ornaments were not 
uncommon (see illustrations) here and were made by beating 
out pieces of native copper, obtained apparently from the 
region of Lake Superior, where the mines were worked 
quite extensively. 

The domain of this people must have been of great extent 
else their commercial relations extended very widely, for 
we find side by side copper from Superior, plumbago and 
mica from the East, obsidian from Mexico or the west, and 
shells from the Atlantic coast. 

What became of the mound-builders is not known ; living 
as they did in communities about the alluvial lands of the 
rivers and streams, they were no doubt subject to epidemics 
and plagues, and thus were either destroyed or so weakened 



as to fall a prey to the nomadic tribes whom we now knovr 
as their successors. Even 

'' Lo! the poor savage whose uiitiilored mind." 
bears no record in history to tell whence he came. 

There is still another class of antiquities in Madison 
county, found in the caverns and cane shelters along the 
rocky blutfs above AltoQ 

The aborigines, such as we see in the red Indian, it is 
well known seldom used a cavern, or even entered one, 
having a superstitious fear of such places; still it is quite 
probable that they were sometimes driven by storms or other- 
wise to accept such shelters. Notwithstanding th&se facts 
in regard to the habits of the red men, the caves and cave 
shelters about the blufls show numerous evidences of occu- 
pation in times past Accumulations of ashes in these caves 
are not uncommon, showing that for long periods these 
places were inhabited by savage men, who lived on the flesh 
of animals, and also of the unsavory shell fish found along 
the shore of the Mississippi. Large accumulations of the 
shells of the Unio and other shell fish are found near these 
old caveru<ius abodes. 

Nor are the indications entirely wanting that they did 
not sometimes partake of human flesh and were cannibals. 
In several of the caves about the Piasa and iu the vicinity 
of the mouth of the Illinois river we have found among 
the debris of these cave dwellings human bones that had 
been broken lengthwi.se, appart-ntiy to extract the marrow. 
Farther up on the Illinois river, Judge Henderson and others 
have found similar evidence of apparent cannibalism. 

The implements left by these cave dwellers are very rude. 
We have some beads made of stalactite, as well as a few rude 
implements of the same material. As these cavernous re- 
treats have not been thoroughly explored, much interesting 
information may be derived from this source. 

To sum up the ethnology of Madison county it would seem 
that there are to be found many traces of men of whom we 
know but little, except that they were the merest savages, 
living almost like the wild beasts with whom they fiercely 
disputed for dominion 

Then comes a class of earthen mounds that seem very old, 
but which contain little or nothing to furnish data for 
history whatever. 

Then there suddenly seems to intrude a class of earthen 
mounds, some of which are of huge dimensions. These peo. 
pie seemed to have a systematic government and religion, and 
to have followed agricultural pursuits. They .seemed to have 
pas-sed the pale of savagery, and advanced to some of the 
higher planes of barbarism. They lived in great communi- 
ties generally occupying the low lands which they cultivated. 
The fact that these peo])le had so many customs, and singular 
ceremonies, almost exactly like the barbarous nations of the 
old world would indicate that there was a remote period 
of contact, and that the commencement of civilization may 
have had a common origin or started from a common centre. 

Si. Ion's story of Atlantis as told by Plato and learned by 
Solon of the Egyptian priests is the only theory, in our 
opinion, that explains the wonderful similarity of the cus- 
toms as exhibited all over the world. Solon's story was that 



any 



64 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



at one time a vast islaod, or rather a continent in extent, 
existed in what is now the ocean, and connected Europe, 
Asia, Africa and America. 

This great island was two thousand miles long and one 
thousand miles wide. It was densely populated, and the 
centre of all civilization, which spread from here through 
commercial relations. In one awful day this great Empire 
sank beneath the sea, and the surrounding continents kept 
not only a tradition of the great catastrophe as a flood, but 
retained many of the customs learned from them. 

Whether our great mound builders were a colony from 
Atlantis and founded an empire on the Mississippi, we are 
hardly prepared to prove. 

They disappeared, and the later Indians, a large portion 
of whom are romantic, succeeded them ; from where, how, 
when, are questions we cannot answer, but we are dilligently 
gathering together as story a leaf here and there, that are cast 
lip, like empty shells on the shores of time. 



CHAPTER Vr. 



FLORA. 



T is not the purpose of this chapter to give 
an elaborate or scientific treatise on the 
^V^l^j^^ illl' plants found in this county. The design 
V>£^--^' ill 's rather to give a catalogue of the var- 
~ ious plants indigenous to this region. The 

state of Illinois is divided east and west 
into three quite distinct botanical belts, 
viz.: The heavily-timbered regions of the 
south, whose flora is distinguished by its 
great variety and luxuriant growth, the 
central portion, embracing the great prai- 
ries of the state with their multifarious forms of vegetation, 
and the northern part which is divided between woodland 
and prairie. 

Madison county has most of the botanical characteristics 
common to the timbered and prairie regions of the state. 

The plants of a country are a sure index of the character 
of the soil, and for this reason the following list will be of 
special interest to the agriculturist. 

To add a detailed botanical description of each plant, or 
of all the species, genera, or even familes, represented here, 
would fill a large part of this volume, to the exclusion of 
other more appropriate matter. By way of preface, it may 
be stated that vegetation is a sure index of the character 
of the soil in which it is growing. No class of persons 
realizes this fact so fully as does the practical, observant 
farmer. If he wishes to buy uncultivated land, the kinds 
of trees, shrubs, or grass growing in the locality decide for 
him the approximate depth and fertility of the soil, and 
the consequent value of the land for agricultural purposes. 
According to its flora Illinois has been divided by botanists 
into three parts ; the heavily timbered regions of the south. 




whose dense vegetation is remarkable for its variety; the 
central portion, which, except in the vicinity of the water- 
courses, is mostly prairie, and noted for the great number 
and variety of its grasses, and other indigenous plants; and 
the northern section, which is about equally divided between 
woodland tnd prairie. This county lies within the great 
prairie belt, a region famous for the fertility and depth of 
its soil, and the luxuriance of its flora. Plants, like animals 
are greatly influenced in their growth and development by 
surrounding circumstances. As man and the domestic 
animals have driven many species of the native animals 
from this region, so numerous kinds of indigenous plants 
have disappeared before the onward march of civilization. 
Hence, we find to-day in the fields and meadows few of the 
grasses and other plants that flourished in their native 
beauty here fifty years ago. Thus, under the great laws of 
evolution and succession, all animated nature, from age to age, 
moves gradually, but grandly forward toward the eternal 
destiny which the Almighty, in the beginning, ordained for 
all His creatures. For this region the following is a 
complete 

LIST OF NATIVE WOODY PLAKTS. 



Acer Sarcharimim, Eock Sugar 
Maple. 

A. Nigrum, Black Maple. 

A. Dasycarpum, Soft Maple, Sil- 
ver Leaf Maple. 

A. Negumlo, Box Elder, Ash 
Leaf Maple. 

JSsculus Glabra, Stinking Buck- 
eye. 

A. Strrulata, Smooth Leaf Alder; 

Amelanchier Canadensis, True 
Service-Berry. 

Amorpha Frulicosa, False Indigo 
Shrub. 

A. Canescens, Lead Plant. 

AmpelopsisQuinquefolia.Virginia 
Creeper. 

Asiniina Trioba, Papaw. 

Betiila Nigra, River or Red Birch. 

Carpiuus Americana, Blue Beach. 
Hornbeam. 

Ceanothus Americanus, Red Root. 

C. Ovalis, Great Red Root. 

Cercis Canadensis, Judas Tree, 
Red Bud. 

Celastrus Scandens, Bitter Sweet 
Wax Work. 

Celtis Oceidentalis, Hackberry. 

Cephalanthus Oceidentalis, Button 
Bush. 

Prunus VirginLina, Choke Cherry. 

P. Serotina, Black Cherry, Cabi- 
net Cherry. 

Cornus Alternifolia, False Dog- 
wood. 

C. Sericea, Kinnikinic 

C. Circinata, Pigeon Berry. 

C. Stolonifera '* Red 

Osier. 

C. Paniculata " 

C. Sanguinea, " 



Corylus Americana, Hazelnut. 
I Crataegus Coccinea, Hawthorn. 

C. Tomentosa, " 

C. Crus-galli 

Carya Alba, Shagbark Hickory 

C. Sulcata, Thick Shellbark 
Hickory. 

C. Tomentosa, White Heart Hick- 
ory. 

C. Glabra, Pig-nut Hickory. 

Dirca Palustris, Lcatherwood. 

Euonymus Americanus, Straw- 
berry Tree. 

Fraxinus Americana, White Ash. 

F. Viridis, Green Ash. 

F. Sambucifolia, Black Ash. 

F. Quadrangulaia. Blue Ash. 

Gleditschia Triacanthos, Three- 
Thorned Acacia, Honey Locust. 

Gymnocladus Canadensis, Ken- 
tucky Coflee Tree. 

Hamamelis Virginica, Witch 
Hazel. 

JuglansCinerea, Butter Nut. 

J. Nigra, Walnut. 

Juniperus Virginiana, Red Cedar. 

Lonicera Grata, Woodbine. 

Menispermum Canadense, Moon- 
seed. 

MoruB Rubra, Red Mulberry. 

Ostrya Virginica, Hop Hornbeam, 
Iron- Wood. 

P. Angulata, CoKon Tree. 

Platanus Oceidentalis, Buttonwood 
Sycamore. 

Populus Tremuloides, Quaking 
Asp, Aspen. 

P. Monilifera, Necklace Poplar, 
Cottonwood. 

Prunus Americana, Wild Plum. 

Pyrus Coronariii, Crab Apple. 



EISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



05 



Quercus Macrocarpa, Burr Oak. iShepherdia Canadensis, Buffalo 

Q. Oblusiloba, Post Oak. ! Berry. 

Q. Alba, White Oak. Srailax Hispida, Greenbrier 

B. Prinus, Swamp Chestnut flak. Spir.-ea Opulifolia, Vinebark 

Q. Bicolor, Swamp White Oak. Spira?a. 

Q. Imbricaria, Laurel Leaf Oak. iSpira; Tomentosa, Hardback, Wil- 

Q. Nigra Black Jack Oak. low Spirse. 

Q. Tinctoria, Yellow Bark Oak, Stapliylea Trifolia, Rattle-box, 



W\>o(I- Bladder Xut. 
Symphoricarpus Vulgaris, Coral 
Berry. 

Trumpet- 



Quercitron Oak. 
Q. Coccinea, Scarlet Oak. 
Q. Rubra, Red Oak. 
Q. Palustris, Swamp Spanish Oak, Teconia Radicans 

Pin Oak. j Creeper. 

Rhus Glabra, Sumach. |Tilia Americana, Bass-wood. 

R. Toxicodendron, Climbing Poi-'Ulmus Pulva, Red Elm. 

son Ivy. U. Americana, White Elm. 

Ribes Cynosbati, Prickly Gosse. U. Racemasa, Cork Elm, Hickory 

berry. 1 Elm. 

R. Hirtellum Smooth Gooseberry. A'iburnum Prunifolium, Black 



R. Rotnndiluliuni, '' 

R. Lacusire, Swamp, '' 

R. Floridium, Black Current. 
Ro8 Lucida, Prairie Rose. 
R. Blanda, Wood Rose. 
Salix Tristis, Ro.se Willow. 
S. Humilis, Cone Willow. 



Haw, Arrow Wood. 
V. Lentago, Sheepberry. 
Vilis Aestivalis, Summer Grape. 
V. Cordifolio, Frost grape. 
Zanthoxylum Ameriranum, 

[Prickly Ash. 
Lenders Benzoin, Spice Bush. 



S Eriocephala, Silky-head Willow. KubusStrigosus, Red Raspberry, 
S Nigra, Black Willow. i " Occidentalsis, Black Rasp- 

S. Fragilis, Joint Willow, Brittlei berry. 

Willow. jRubus Vilosus, Blackberry. 

Sambiicus Canaden.sis, Elderberry.! Robenia Pseudocacia, Black Lo- 
S. Pubens, Red Fruit Elderberry. ] cust. 
Sas.safras Oflicinale, Sa.ssafras. 

Of the forest trees the most valuable deserve special men- 
tion. Rock Sugar Maple is excellent ; the Black Cherry 
is used by cabinet makers and is a wood of good color 
and grain. Vhe Shag-bark hickory is perliaps the 
most valuable of its kind. The White Oak is much used 
in making furniture and agricultural implements. The 
Blue Ash is capital for flooring. The Honey Locust is a 
very durable wood and shrinks less than any other in 
sea oning. The Walnut is nearly all gone. The Plane tree 
or Sycamore is used by cabinet makers. Of the Oak family 
the most valuable kinds are the Burr Oak, Panel Oak, and 
Pin Oak. 

GR.ASSES. 

In the following list of grasses, the common grain plants, 
not being indigenous to the county, are omitted. Some of 
the grasses given are not native, but are among those best 
adapted for animals. Hence we include them : 

Phleum Pratense, Timothy. Fe.«tuca Elation, Meadow Fe.scue. 

Agrostis Vulgaris, Red top. Bemus Secalinus, Common Cheat. 

Muhlenbergia Diffusa, Nimble Phragmites Communis, Common 

Will. i Reed. 

Calamagrostis Candensis, Blue-IArundiuaria Macrosperma, Large 

joim a native grass of the prairies, Cane. 

where it grew from ten to fifteen Lolium Perenne, Darnel Rye 

feet in height. Grass. 

Dactylis Glomerata, Orchard grass. Anthoxanthum Oderatum,^ Sweet- 
Poa Pratensis, Kentucky Blue- " scented- Vernal-grass. 

gra<a. Phalaris ,\rundinacea, Reed Ca- 

Poa Compressa, Wire Grass. nary Gra.s.s. 



P. Canariensis, Canary Grass. 
Panicum Sanguinale, CrabGras^. 
Panicum Glabrum, Smooth Paiii 

cum. 
Panicum Capillare, Witch Gntss. 



Panicum Crus-galli, 
grass. 



Barnvard 



Sectaria Glauca, Common Fo.xtail. 
S. Viridis, Bottle Grass. 
S. Italica. Italian Milet. 
.\ndropogon &;oparius, (?) Brown 
beard grass. 



FAUNA. 

The following chapter embraces all the animals witliin 
the memory of man that have had their habitation in this 
county. Prior to the advent of the white man, the princi- 
pal animals were the buffalo, bear, wolf wilil cat, deer, pan- 
ther, itc, which have mostly disappeared before the onward 
march of civilization. These various occupants of the wild 
prairies and forests afforded rare sport to the pioneer settlers 
of this region, and furnished an interesting subject of study 
to the student of aatural history. That all cla.sses of 
readers may find pleasure and profit iu the article, both the 
technical and common names of the animals enumerated are 
given. 

Without transcending the scope and purpose of the chap- 
ter by describing in detail the orders, families, &c , we ap- 
pend the followicg list : 

Of the ruminating animals that wereindigneous to this ter- 
ritory, we had the American Elk (Cervus Canadensis), and 
still have the deer of two kinds ; the more common well knowa 
American deer (Cervus Virginianus), and the white-tailed 
Deer (Cervus Leucurus). And at a period not very remote, the 
American Buffalo (Bos Araericnnus), must have found pas- 
tures on the alluvial prairies and rich bottom lands of this 
county. The head'*, horns and bones of the slain animals 
were still numerous in 1820. The Black Bear (Ursus 
Americauus) were quite numerous even in the memory of 
the older settlers. Bears have been seen in the county within 
the last fifty years. The Gray Wolf (Canis Occidentalia) 
and Prairie Wolf (Canis latrans) are not unfrequently found, 
is al.?o the Gray Fox (Vulpes Virginianus >, which still ex- 
ists by its superior cunning. The panthers(Felis concolor) 
was occasionally met in the earlier times: and still later and 
more omraon, the Wild Cat (Lynx rufus); the Mink (Pu- 
torius Vison) ; American Otter, (Lutra Canadensis) ; the 
Badger (Taxidea Americana) ; the Raccoon (Procyon Lo- 
tor). The coonskin among the early settlers was regarded 
as a legal tender. The Bear and Otter are now extinct in 
the county, and were valuable fur their furs. Many of the 
pleasures, dangers and excitements of the chase are only 
known and enjoyed by most of us of the present day through 
the talk and traditions of the past. The Buffalo and the 
Elk have passed the borders of the Mississippi to the west- 
ward, never more to return. 

To the weasel family (MuMeUdie) belong the well-known 
animals, minks, skunks, otters, common weasels, &c., most 
of which have long, slender bodies, five- toed feet, and glands 
which secrete a liquid of very disagreeable oder. Otters 



66 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



and minks are hunted for their furs, which are very valu- 
able. The former are ampliibious, and are at present rarely 
seen The costly fur called ermine is obtained from a weasel 
which inhabits the northern parts of Europe and Asia. 

Wea^els are brown in summer and white in winter, the 
tip of the tail being black. The color of minks is dark- 
brown, or black, throughout the year. The otter (Lnlra 
Canadensis), is black, and is noted for its size and strength. 
Its toes are webbed ; head large and flat ; ears short ; tail 
slighly flattened, and nails crooked. It is aquatic and sub- 
sists on fish. Minks and weasels prey on birds, poultry and 
small animals of various kinds. The skunk (Mephitis 
Americana) has a pointed nose, bushy tail, and is nocturnal. 
It feeds upon beetles and other small animals. It is also 
fond of eggs. It was very common a few years ago, but 
like most of the wild animals, is gradually disapptaring 
Of the opossum family {Diddphidiv), the only species 
here is the common opossum, {Didelphys Virginiana). Opos- 
sums are small animals, about twenty inches long to the tail, 
which is from twelve to fifteen inches in length, nearly bare, 
and prehensile. Its hair is whitish with dark-brown tips. 
When captured and wounded, it feigns itself dead. It is a 
marsupial, or pouched animal, and carries its young, which 
at birth,tweigh only a few grains, in a ventral pouch situated 
near its hind legs. On emerging from this pouch, which 
occurs four or five weeks from birth, the young twine their 
tails around that of their mother, and thus supported ride 
on her back. Tlie oposum lives on birds, eggs, insects and 
other small animals. This animal, like the raccoon, is found 
in all parts of the United States and throughout most of 
North America. 



EODENTIA, OR GNAWERS. 

The animals of this order are easily distinguished by 
their teeth. In the front part of each jaw, they have two 
chisel shaped incisors, between which and the molars is a 
considerable space, without teeth, these animals having no 
canines. The largest representatives of the rodents ever 
known in this country, the American beaver. Castor Cana- 
densis, is still met with in this county in the timbered nooks 
of Wood River. The rats and mice {Muridce) constitute 
the most numerous family of the rodents. They number, 
in all, about three hundred species in the world. 

Their appearance and habit are too well known to re- 
quire description here. The black rat {Mus raiius) was 
formerly very common, but of late years it has been almost 
extirpated by the brown or Norway rat [Mas decumanus) 
which is much larger and stronger. 

Of the mice we note, as found here, the common house- 
mouse {Mus ynvscidus), the field-mouse, the meadow-mouse, 
the jumping-mouse (Jaculus hudsoniiis, of the f&mily Jacu- 
Hdaw) which has a body about three inches long and a tail 
six inches — and the tree-mouse. The musk-rat ( Owlatra 
zibetkicus), allied to the beaver, has but one species. This 
animal is about the size of a cat, and has a strong, musky 
smell. It is amphibious, building itis mud houses in ponds 



and shallow lakes. It is a native of North America, and is 
still quite common. Its fur, like that of the beaver, is 
valuable. The fur of the latter is used for making the finest 
hats. 

The sqirrel family (SciuridaMs represented here by the 
red (fox) squirrel (Sciiirus hudsoni//s), the gray squirrel 
{Sciurus Carolinensis), the flying squirrel (Pteromijs volueella) 
the ground squirrel {Toinias striaatus), the gopher {Sperma- 
^/t»7((«), the prairie squirrel and the woodchuck or ground- 
hog {Arciomys monax) all of which are so common that 
they need not be described. 

Of the hare family (Leporidic) the common gray rabbit 
{Lepsus euniculus),\s the only representative now inhabiting 
this region. It is very prolific, and is destined to propagate 
its species long after some of the animals mentioned shall 
have become extinct 

Bats and moles — the former belonging to the order of 
animals (Chiroptera), the latter to the order {Insectivora) 
— are still very numerous. Both are carnivorous {insectiv- 
orous), and during hibernation are semi-torpid. 

REPTILIA OR REPTILE.S. 

Under this class we find represented here the order Testu- 
dinata, or turtles, and including such individuals as the box 
twTt\e {Cistudo virginea), snapping-turtle {Chehjara serpen- 
tina) wood tortoise {Gh/ptenys insculpta), and soft-shelled 
turtles including mud turtles. Of the order Lacertia (liz- 
ards,) the common striped lizard (Ameiva sexlineata) is the 
only representative we have found here. Under the order 
{Ophidia) or serpents, we note the common black snake 
(Bafcanion constrictor), water snake (Serpens aquaticus), rat- 
tlesnake (cr'dalus horridus\ moccasin( Toxicophis atrapiscus), 
copperhead {Trigonnncephdu^ coniortrix), garter-snake (Eu- 
ania sirtalis) house snake, joint snake, blue racer, and green 
snake. Of these the rattlesnake, copperhead, and moccasin 
are very poisonous, and therefore most to be dreaded. The 
blowing, or hissing adder, a venomous serpent, is rarely 
seen here. 

The class Batrachi'i, or frogs, has as representatives, the 
leopard frog (Rana halecin), bull frog (Bmui pipicns), wood 
frog, trf e rog ('' tree toad ") Bana Ay/al, marsh frog (Bana 
pa/iisfris), common toad (Bafo vulgaris,) tadpole, salamander 
{Amblystomapunctatun), triton, or water newt (Diemictylus 
viridescens, and mud puppy (Menobranchus lateralis). 

The class of Pi'^ces, or fishes, is represented in the streams 
of the county, by the white, the black and the striped bass, 
catfish, pike, sturgeon, (rare), gar, gogle-eyed perch, sunfish, 
chub, white perch ("croppie "?), white and black suckers, 
bufl^alo, and a few others of minor importance. 

CLASS OF AVES OR BIRDS. 

In the following list of birds indigneous to the county, 
the old system of groups, or orders, is used rather than the 
new classification of birds adopted provisionally by the 
Smithsonian Institute at Washington. The former, as it 
contains fewer and less difficult technical terms, will, it is 
believed, be more readily understood by the general reader. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



C7 



The chief characteristics of all the birds belonging to each 
order are given first, aa;l appeii led thereto are the names of 
such birds of the order as arc indigenous to this region. 

RAPTORES, OR BIRDS OF PREY. 

These are generally of large size and stout form ; bills 
hooked and very strong ; claws sharp and curved ; wings 
extensive and muscles powerful ; females larger than males ; 
live in pairs and choose their mates for life(?). Under this 
order and belonging to the hawk family {Falconidcv, are 
the sparrow-hawk {Tiniiuneulus alandarius) ; swallow-tailed 
hawk {Nauderiis farcatm) ; hen-harrier blackbird {Merulu 
mmicci), king bird, or bee martin (Tyraunus Caroliue7isi,s) 
Raven {Corvus corax), common crow {Curvus Americanus), 
Summer red bird {Pyrangra (estiva), scarlet tanager, Balti- 
more oriole (.Icterus Baltimore), pewee, or Phoebe bird, 
(Saijorius ficscus), kingfisher (Ceryle afci/o»), ruby throated 
humming-bird (Trochilits colabris), yellow-billed cuckoo 
{Cuciiliis eanorus), ruby-crowned kinglet, golden-crowned 
kinglet, whippoorvvill (Aiitrostomus vociferuii), grass sparrow, 
or black throated bunting, lark sparrow, or finch, snow bird 
(Jtinco hyemalii), chipping sparrow {Spizella socialk), night 
hawk i^Cliordeiles popelue). 

SCANSORES, OR CLIMBING BIRDS. 

Birds of this order have their toes in pairs, two in front 
and two behind. Under this order and indigenous to this 
county are the swift, or chimney-swallow ( OypMlus pelaKgiua), 
red-headed woodpecker {Melaiierpes eryfhrocephalus) , golden- 
winged woodpecker {Colaptes auratiis,) Carolina paroquet; 
( Conurus CaroUnensis), sap sucker (^Picus pubescciis); ( Cir- 
cus cyaiieus) ; goshawk {Falco palainb:trius) ; sharp- 
skinned hawk {Bateo horcalis) ; red-shouldered hawk, 
pigeon-hawk {Falco Columbarum); ring-tailed, or golden 
eagle {Aquila chryfctos). 

To the owl family (^Strigidw) belong the great horned owl 
{Bubo Virffinianiis); snowy owl (Sirix nisa); barred owl 
{Syrnium nebaloseum, or "hoot-owl"); American barn or 
screech-owl {Strix Jlamnue) ; spotted owl, marsh owl, Kenni- 
cott's (?) owl. 

Of the vulture family Vulturidoe, the only representative 
is the turkey-buzzard (^Cathartes aura). 

RASORES, OR SCRATCHING BIRDS. 

Birds of this order are characterized by their stout bodies, 
strong legs and feet, and their general adaptation to living 
on the ground. It includes the wild turkey (Melengris gallo- 
pavo,) prairie-hen {Tetrao cupido,) ruffled grouse, or "part- 
ridge " {Bonasa umbellas,) q\ia,i] {Orlyx Virginianus,) turtle- 
dove {Tartar aurilus,) wild or passenger pigeon {Ectopistes 
migratoria. 

GRALLATRES OR WADING BIRDS. 

These have long necks, long bills, very long and slender 
legs, and slender bodies. Their general form is well adapted 
to wading. This order includes the plover { Charadrias,) 
common snipe (Scolopax galliiiago,) American woodcock 
(Plillohelo minor,) Wilscm's snipe {GaUinago Wilsonii,) mud- 
hen (Fulicn Americnna,) Kill-dee (Aegialits voci/erus,) red- 
breasted-snipe ( Gambeita melanoleuea,) tell-tale snipe ( Gam- 
hetia flavipes,') water-rail {Rallus Aquaticus) sand hill crane 



(Griis Gniadentis,) blue crane (Grm Amerieamis,) yellow- 
legged and upland plover, white crane (Grus Albm,) and 
heron (Ardea ciiierea.) 

NATATORES, OR SW'IMMING BIRDS. 

These are broad and flat; feathers compact and well 
oiled; legs wide apart; femur short; and feet webbed. 
Under this order are found the common wild goose (.4n«YT 
Americanus,) summer or wood duck (Aix sponsa,) Canada 
goose {Bermicala Canadensis,) American Swan (Cygmis 
Americanus,) brand-goose, or (" brant " {Anser Bernicla,') 
butter ball (Bucephala albeola,) mallard {Anas bosehas,) 
blue-winged teal {Bosehas c'recca,) American widgeon {Ma- 
reca Americma,) red-head duck (Apthaya Americana,) 
canvass-back duck (?) {Aythaya vaWsnerio,) green-winged 
teal {Nettion Carolidensis,) pintail duck {Dajila acuta,) 
trumpeter swan {Cygnus buccinator.) 

INSESSORS OR PERCHING BIRDS. 

The i)erchers differ greatly among themselves ; all have 
three front toes and a single hind one ; feet well adapted to 
perching. To this order belong the majority of birds, of 
which we note, as belonging here, the wood thrush {Tardus 
mmtelinus,) mocking bird {Mimus polyglottus,) blue-bird 
{Sialis Wilsonii,) cat bird {Mimus CaroUnensis,') robin 
{Tardus migratoriiis,) brown thrush, or "thrasher" {Tur- 
dus rufus,) titmouse, or chickadee {Parus atricappillus,) 
brown creeper {Cei-thia familiaris,) nuthatch (<S'iMas Caro- 
Unensis,) winter wren {Troglodyte-i hyemalis,) cedar bird 
{Ampelis cedrorum,) rose-breasted grosbeak {Guiraea ludo- 
viciana,) chewink (Pipilo erythrophthalnus,) meadow-lark 
{Sturnella m^gaa,) blue jay {Cjinara, cristata,) wren, 
{Troglodytes domestica) warblers, barn swallow {Hirundo 
hordeorum) bank swallow {Cotxjle riparia,) l)lue martin 
Progiie pxirpurea, cardinal retl bird (Cardinalis Virgini- 
anus,) field sparrow {Spizella pmilla,) indigo l)ir(l {Cyanos- 
piza cyanea,) great northern shrike, or butcher bird {Col- 
lurio borcalis.) yellow, or thistle bird (Syloatica nstiva,) 
swamp, or red winged black bird {>Slurnns predatoriiis,) 
cow blackbird "cowbird." 



CHAPTER Vir. 




PIONEER SETTLEMENIS. 



HE first time that the eye of civilized 
man ever rested on the soil of the present 
county of Madison was in the year 1673, 
Marquette and Joliet, on their voyage 
of exploration, reached the waters of the 
Mississippi on the seventeenth of June, 
and a few days afterward their canoes 
were gliding past the shores of the disr 
trict of country embracing what is now 

Madison county. The sensations of these explorers are given 

by Marquette in this language : 

" As we coasted along rocks frightful for their height and 

length, we saw two monsters painted on one of the rocks, 

which startled us at first, and upon which the boldest In- 



GS 



HISTORY OF ^ADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



dian dare not gaze long. They are as large as a calf, with 
horus ou the head like a deer, a frightful look, red eyes, 
bearded like a tiger, the face somewhat like a man's, the 
body covered with scales, and the tail so long that it twice 
makes the turn of the body, passes over the head and down 
between the legs, ending at last in a fish's tail. Green, red, 
and a kind of black are the colors employed. On the whole 
these two monsters are so well painted that we could not 
believe any Indian to have been the designer, as good paint- 
ers in France would find it hard to do so well ; besides this 
they are painted so high upon the rock that it is hard to get 
conveniently near to paint them. As we were discour- 
sing of them, sailing gently down a beautiful still clear water, 
we heard the noise of a rapid, into which we were about to 
fall. I have seen nothing more frightful ; a mass of large 
trees, entire with branches, real floating islands, came rush- 
ing from the mouth of the river Pekitanoui (the Missouri,) 
so impetuously that we could not, without great danger, ex- 
pose ourselves to pass across. The agitation was so great 
that the water was all muddy, and could not get clear. " 

Such were the circumstances uoder which white men first 
saw this part of Illinois. The rocks, to which ^Marquette re- 
fers, were the precipitous blutfs which extend along the river 
northward from Alton. On the face of the bluff, just above 
the present city, were depicted the figure mentioned by Mar- 
quette, and with wiiich we connected the famous legend of 
the Piasa Bird.* These paintings must have been renewed 
by the Indians from time to time, for they seemed fresh on 
the settlement of the country in the present century. It is 
still within the memory of living men when every Indian, as 
he passed down the river in his canoe, discharged his arrow, 
or his rifle, at the representation of these monsters. 

The French, who made such early settlements in the more 
southern counties of Randolph, St. Clair,and IMonroe, do 
not seem to have secured any permanent hold within the 
limits of Madison county. West of the Mississippi they 
pushed north to St. Louis (1764), to St. Charles (1769), and 
to Portage des Sioux (1799), but on the eastern side of the 
river they founded no new villages, probably from the fact 
that by the treaty of Fountalnbleau, 1762, Illinois had pass- 
ed under English control. There is evidence that a French- 
man named Jean Baptiste Cardinal, had made a settlement, 
as early as the year 178"), at Piam, supposed to be the site of 
the present city of Alton. He there built a house and re- 
siiled with his family, but was taken prisoner by the Indians, 
when his family were obliged to flee for refuge to the village 
of Cahokia. Reynolds mentions that, in the year 1800, there 
were a few French families residing on Big (or Chouteau) 
island in the Mississippi, while the report of the commission- 
ers to examine the claims for land within the district of 
Ka-kaskia, shows that several early improvements had been 
made by the French in the southern and western part of the 
county, i Ou Chouteau island settlements were made by the 

â– f Tills lospiiil will be found in the subscciuent chapter on the History of 
the City of Alton. 

t Michael Jones and E. Backus, commissioners appointed by Con- 
gress, repurte I on the 31st of December, 1809, that twelve 
ilalms lor land, within the limits of the present county of Madison, 



French about 1750. An orchard was planted here, the trees 
of which had attained such size in 1820 that they must have 
been planted fifty, or sixty, years previous. In this orchard 
was a pear tree whose trunk in the year mentioned had 
grown to be a foot and a half in diameter. ' This orchard 
was planted by Chouteau from whom the island received the 
name by which it is now known. On both Chouteau and 
Cabaret islands some French residents of Cahokia raised 
large numbers of horses which they shipped in flat boats to 
New Orleans. The island was well adapted to this purpose, 
its exclusion from the main land preventing both the escape 
of the horses and their theft by the Indians. This orchard 
years ago succumbed to the floods of the Mississippi, as also 
did an old grave yard in which many of the early French 
residents were buried. 

should be confirmed on tlie ground of actual improvements having 
been made. These claims are as follows: 

"Claim 1805. Original claimant, Alexis Buyatte ; present claimant, 
Nicholas Jarrot, 400 acres. Affirmed to the legal representative of A. 
Buyatte. Situate on the river I' Abbe nine miles above Cahokia. '' 
The river 1' Abbe here referred to derived its name from the monas- 
tery, or r Abbe, on Monk's mound, which was once called " Abbe 
Hill", even by the American settlers, and is what is now known as 
Cahokia creek. The claim, however, is really i-ome distance from Caho- 
kia, on the bank of t he Mississippi in township three, range ten, near 
Kinder station, and opposite Cabaret i.4and. 

"Claim •520. Original claimant, James Biswell, present claimant 
heirs ol Biswell, 400 acres, on Buck run, a branch of the Kaskaskia 
river, affirmed to the legal representatives." This claim is in the 
southwest corner of township three, range seven, and extends 
into St. Clair county. 

" Claim 519. Original claimant, Alexander Denis; present claimant, 
William Bolin Whiteside; 400 acres, on Winn's run in the county of 
St. Clair (St. Clair and Randolph were then the only counties), begin- 
ning at a white walnut near Cummin's sugar camp. " This is in sec- 
tion twenty, township four, range eight, on the bluffs of the American 
Bottom, in what appears to have been considered at that time the most 
attractive part of the county, the ''Goshen" settlement. 

Claim 5G1. Original claimant, Clement Drury ; present claimant, 
heir.-i of Samuel Worley ; 400 acres. Below the Narrows, below Hull's 
Station, to be located adjoining the patented militia rights of Samuel 
Worley and James McXabb, these rights having been located in the 
improvement." This is mostly in section six, of township three, 
range nine, and included one of the earliest improvements in the 
county, upon which pear trees were planted in the year 1790, or soon 
thereafter, which were standing more than ihree-cjuarters of a century 
afterward. 

'' Claim 1841. Original claimant, Jacque Germain ; present claim- 
ant, Nicholas Jarrot; 400 acres, at 1' Abbe, thirteen miles above 
Cahokia. '' This is in section thirty-two of township three, range nine, 
on the borders of Horse Shoe lake, and not far distant from Venice. 

" Claim 133. Original claimant, Jean Baptiste Gonville, alias Rap- 
pel lay ; present claimant, Nicholas Jarrot; 400 acres. Affirmed to 
Jarrot, situated at Cantine, about ten miles above Cahokia. " This 
claim includes r Abbe itself or Monk's Mound, on which was the 
monastery of the Monks of LaTrappe, who resided here from ISlOto 
1813. It lies mostly in sections thirty-five and thirty-six of township 
three, range nine. 

"Claim 1883. Original claimant, Joseph Hanson; present claimant, 
Nicholas Jarrot, 400 acres, affirmed to Jarrot, situated on Mamis 
3Iensoui. " This lies mostly in section twenty-six, of township three, 
range nine, and on the borders of Horse Shoe lake, which, perhaps 
is identical with the Marais Mensoui. 

" Claim 637. Original claimant, James Kinkead; present claimant 



HISTOEY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



G9 



James Kinkead by George H. Dougherty, 400 acres. In the Missis- 
sippi bottom, four or five miles above the ferry opposite Si. Louis. " 
This lies in township three, range ten, in sections twenty-five and 
twenty six, about two miles above Venice. 

'' Claim 1855. Original claimant, Baptiste Lionais ; present claimant, 
Nichol.is Jarrot, 400 acres, affirmed." Situated opposite the mouth 
of the Missouri. The whole of this claim has been swept away by the 
waters of the river. It is in section thirty-two of township live, range 
nine. 

'Claim 902. Original claimant, Isaac Levy; present claimant, 
Isaac Darnielle, 400 acres. On the river 1' Abbe, above Cahokia, 
about twelve miles near where the French church stood." The most 
of this claim lies in St. Clair county, a part in sections thirty-four and 
thirty-live, of township three, range nine, close to Cantine village. 

'"Claim 1838. Original claimant, Michael Pichette; present claim- 
ant Nicholas Jarrot, 400 acres. At a place calletl 1' Abbe river, eight 
miles above Cahokia.'' The most of this claim lie? in section thirty- 
one, of township three, range nine. 

"Claim 1653. Original claimant, Isaac West ; present claimant, 
Isaac West 400 acres. By the testimony of George Atchi.son and 
David Waddle, that this land on which the actual improvement was 
made had been included in the survey of James Piggott ; and by 
Alexander Waddle and Amos Squire that this claim had been sur- 
veyed about the year 1802, in the place where the said West now 
lives, affirmed. " This tract is partly in section nineteen, of township 
three, range eight. 

The foregoing claims were awarded on account of actual improve- 
ments that had been made on the land included in the claim There 
were four species of land claims : > 

FiR-sT. Ancient grants, or allotments, derived from former govern- 
ments (French or British) or from tne Indians, under act of Congress 
of June twentieth, 1788. The commissioners were satisfied that no 
grants were authorized by the British government while in possession 
of the country. The French records had in great part been destroyed 
by the British officers, and the grants made by the French were 
proved lip by oral testimony. There were no grants of this class within 
the present territory of M.idison county. 

Second. Donations to heads of families. Under the law of the 
twentieth of June 1788, a donation of four hundred acres of land not 
given lo each of the families living at either of the villages of Kaskas- 
kia, Prarie de Kocher, Cahokia, Fort Chartres, or St. Phillips. Tbe 
commissioners construed this to provide for all those who had become 
heads of families from the peace of 1783 to the passage of the law in 
1788. Claim 527, originally claimed by James Biswell, and con- 
firmed to Ilia legal representatives ; 400 acres in township three, range 
seven. 

TiiiRTi. Improvement Eights. Under the law of the third of 
March, 1791, where lands had been actually improved and cultivated, 
under a supposed grant by any commandant or court, it was directed 
that the claim should be confirmed, note.tceeding four hundred acres 
to any one person. The twelve claims above described belonged to 
this class. The commissioners construed "actual improvement and 
cultivation" to mean, not a mere marking or deadening of trees, but 
the actual raising of a crop, or crops, such, in their opinion, being a 
neces.sary proof of an intention to make a permanent establishment. 

Fourth. Militia Eiglits. Under the act of March third, 1791, a 
grant of land, not exoeefling one hundred acres, was made to each 
person who had obtained no other donation of land from the United 
States, and who on the first day of .\Hgust, 1790, was enrolled in the 
militia, and had done militia duty 

Commissioners Michael Jones, John Caldwell and Thom:is Sloo, on 
the fonrth of January, 1813, reported five other claims in Madison 
county which they recommended for confirmation on the ground of 
actual improvements having been made : 

" Claim G02. Original claimant, Peter Casteline; confirmed by Gov. 
William 11. Harrison, to Peter Casteline; claimant before former 
board of commissioners, Peter CUsleliue, 250 acres. '' This lies muslly 



in section thirty-two of township three, range eight, on the bluflTs near 
Collinsville. 

"Claim 328. Original claimant, Isaac Enochs; confirmed by Gov. 
Harrison to Isaac Knochs, claimed before the former board of com- 
missioners by Jacob Whiteside, 250 acres. " This tract is in sections 
four and nine of township four, range nine. Nearly all washed away. 

" Claim 617. Original claimant, Abraham Rain ; confirmed by Gov. 
Harrison to the widow and heirs of Rain ; claimants before the former 
board of commissioners, Uel and Bolin Whiteside, 250 acres." This 
is in sections twenty and twenty-one of township four, range nine. On 
the surveys the name is spelled Kainer. 

''Claim 756. Original claimant, John Sullivan ; confirmed by Gov. 
Harrison to Larkin Rutherford ; claimed before the former board of 
commissioners by Larkiu Rutherford, 440 arpents. This is mostly in 
sections eight an<l nine, of township five, range nine. 

''Claim 544. Origin.il claimant, David Waddle; confirmed by Gov. 
Harri.son to David Waddle; claimed before the former boanl of com- 
missioners by David Waddle, 250 acres." This lies mostly in suc- 
tions thirty-one and thirty-two of township four, range nine. 

The commissioners on the 24th of February, 1810, discuss, "Claim 
2056. John Edgar claims four arpents in front by forty in depth, at 
Piasa, so called, in virtue of an improvement said to have beeti 
made by J. Baptiste Cardinal, and the claim appears to have been 
conveyed to John Edgar by deed, dated 17th September, 1795, wit- 
nessed by La Violette, and acknowledged before William Morrison, 
April 10th of the same year, five months before its e.xecution. This 
board is fully impressed with the belief that the name of this witness 
was written by John Edgar. It is further remarkable, that, although 
the said Cardinal affixes his mark to the deed, the claimant (Edgar) 
adduces, in proof of the fairness of this transaction, a letter from .said 
Cardinal, dated the 29th of July, of the same year, oft<;ring him this 
land, which is signed by himself in a very good hand. It is further 
apparent, from the most respectable testimony, that no improvement 
in early times w;is here made." 

In a subsequent report of the commissioners, on the 4th of January 
1813, the following appears in relation to this same claim : 

•'This claim derives its validity from a confirmation made by Gov. 
St. Clair lo the said John Edgar. It is proved that about thirty years 
ago, Jean Bte. Cardinal lived at Piasa, five or six. leagues above Ca- 
hokia; that he built a hou.se, and resided there with his family; that 
he was taken prisoner by the Indians, when his family were obliged 
to abandon there, and retired to the village of Cahokia ; that no culti- 
vation is recollected to have been observed. Should the foregoing 
claim be confirmed by Congress, the commissioners would recommend 
that the confirmation be to the said Cardinal, or his legal representa- 
tives, as the title papers of the said John Edgar appear not to be reg- 
ular." 

In the same report mention is made of claim 2079, confirmed by 
Gov. Harrison to John Edgar, by reason of an improvement said to 
have been made by Philip Gallaghen, for 400 acres. This claim was 
located in sections eight and seventeen of township four, range eight. 
The commissioners report that "The deponents state that they knew 
said Gallaghen, but know of no improvement made by him. '' 

The greater part of the claims confirmed in Madison county were 
militia rights, given to every militia man enrolled and doing duty, 
.\ugust 1st. 1790. The following are contained in the report of the 
commissioners, dated December 31st, 1809. 

Claim 1809. In township four, rjinge nine, a little above the old 
town of Madi.son, and now beneath the waters of the Missi.ssippi, 100 
acres. Original claimant Jean Brugier Affirmed to Nicholas Jarrot. 

Claim 1324. On the head waters of Judy's creek, mostly in sec- 
tions twenty-two and twenty-three, of township four, range eight 
about two miles south of Edwardsville, 100 acres. Original claimant, 
Matliew Rene Bouvet. Affirmeil to James Haggin. 

Claim 338. Four claims, afiirmed to Samuel Judy, were located 
together mostly in .sections thirty-two and thirty-three of township 
four, range eight. The original claimants were Louis Bibo, (Biboux 



HISTORY OF MADISOJ^ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



on the surveys), Louis LaRaiiime, Jacob Judy, and Francois Ritcliie, 
100 acres each, 400 in all. These claims were locatetl by Judy about 
the year 1800. On the farm whicli Judy improved an orchard was 
Fet out in the year 1802, or 1803, and a brick house, still standing, 
was built in the year 1808, the walls of which were cracked by the 
earthquake of lAW- 

Claim 60o. In section five, of township three, range eight, adjoin- 
ing claims of Samuel Judy. Original claimant, Louis Bison. Aflirm- 
ed to Ison Gillham, 100 acres. 

Claim 2G03. In .section seventeen of township five, range nine, 
covering in part claim 20oG, and including the site of the former town 
of Milton, on Wood river, embracing a mill, 100 acres. Original 
claimant, George Biggs. AtBrined to John Whiteside. 

Claim 98. In sections seven and eight of township four, range 
eiglit, on Cahokia creek near the mouth of Indian creek. In early 
days a mill site. Original claimant, Jean Beaulieu. Affirmed to 
Nicholas Jarrot, 100 acres. At the June terra of the Court of Com- 
mon Pleas in 1815. we find a verdict of inque.st of John Robinson and 
others to the efttct that a mill dam seven feet high could be built 
without damage to any person's land. 

Claim 1258. This location embraced the original claims of Fran- 
cois Campeau, Pierre Martain Jr, Jean Bapliste Rappalais, Jaeque 
Mulolt, Louis Harmond, Joseph Poirier, Dennis Levertue, Philip 
Le Boeuf, Joseph Lamarch, Constant Longtemps, each of 100 acres, 
and all confirmed to John Rice Jones, and was in sections one and 
twelve of township three, range ten, "in the Mi.'fsissippi bottom, 
between Grand Isle and Presqne Isle, opposite Isle of Cattarot, bound- 
ed by the Mississippi West." Presque Isle is probably the peninsula 
on which Venice was situated, and the Isle of Cattarot is probably 
intentled for Isle of Cabaret, Isle de Cabaret, or Tavern Island, is the 
. probable meaning. 

Claim 1258 (second). In sections four and five of township three 
range eight, and ''located in Goshen adjoining Samuel Judy and 
Lsham Gillham," 100 acres. Original claimant, Jean B. Girand 
alias Jean Pierre; claimed before the board of commis.sioners by John 
Rice Jones, and by him conveyed to Thomas Gillham. 

Claim 485. In section tliirty-si.K of township three, on the south 
line of the county, range ten, "on the bank of the Mississippi adjoin- 
ing Cahokia common." 100 acres claimed each by Pierre Clement 
and Antoine Labussiere, both affirmed to John Biggs. 

Claim 752. On Cantine creek, part in sections thirty-one and 
thirty-two, of township three, range eight, and remainder in St. Clair 
county ; Claim 753, and Claim 765, described in the same manntr; 
Original claimants respectively Francois Deneme, Francis Colline, 
and Thomas Callahan; each claim of 100 acres, and all confirmed to 
John Blum. 

Claim 754. Original claimant, J. B. Derousse St. Pierre. Affirm- 
ed to John Blum, 100 acres. Surveyed adjoining Lttienne Penso- 
neau, and probably in section thirty-five or thirty-six, of township 
three, range ten. 

Claim 1061. Original claimant, John Whiteside, and claim 1745, 
original claimant, Elisha Harrington, 100 acres each. The first con- 
firmed to John Whiteside and the second to Uel Whiteside, were 
surveyed on Cahokia Creek, in sections one and two, of township three 
range eight. 

Claim 115. Original claimant, Charles Hebert, alius Cadieu, 
affirmed to Nicholas Jarrot, "on the bank of the Mississippi, about 
two miles below the mouth of M.ad river," (Wood River) is in sec- 
lions eight and nine of township four, range nine. 

Claim 1851. Originally claimed by Baptiste Lecompte, and affirm- 
ed to Nicholas Jarrot, is in section seventeen of the same township 
near Madison Landing. Claim 1851, original claimant Barzle 
Lecompte, affirmed to Nicholas Jarrot, was surveyed in front of 1851, 
and included the .site of the old town of Madison. Claim 1880, >)ri- 
gioal claimant, Louis Menard, affirmed to Nicholas Jarrot, is in 
section eight of the same township. These claims have been swept 
away by the encroachments of the Mississippi. 



Claim 1719. Original claimant Louis LeBrun, jr. Affirmed to 
Thomas Kirkpatrick, 100 acres. In section twenty-three of town- 
ship four, range eight. 

Claim 331. Original claimant, Francois Louval. Affirmed to 
Henry Cook. Situated on the waters of Judy's creek, the survey in- 
cluding the militia claim of William Young Whiteside, on the cor- 
ners of sections four, five, eight and nine, of township three, range 
eight, near the claim of Samuel Judy in Goshen. 

Claim 484. Original claimant, John Lisle. Affirmed to John 
Biggs, 100 acres, " located, begiuning at a stake on the banks of the 
Mississippi." 

Claim 991. Original claimant, Pierre Lejoy. Affirmed to Thomas 
Kirkpatrick, 100 acres mostly is sections two and three of town- 
ship four, range eight, and including the north-western part of 
Edwardsville. The commissioners note this claim as being three 
miles east of the Mississippi. It is about eight. At the house of 
Thomas Kirkpatrick on this claim the county court of Madison county 
held its first session on the fifth of .-Vpril, 1813. 

Claim 599. Original claimant, Louis Rhelle. Affirmed to Benja- 
min Ca.ster line; and claim 600, original claimant, Levi Piggot, each 
of 100 acres, were located on Cantine Creek, near Colliusville, partly 
in section twenty-nine, of township three, range eight. 

Claim 113. Original claimant, Joseph St. Ives. Affirmed to 
Nichola-s Jarrot, in section seventeen of township four range nine 
near Madison, has been washed away by the Mississippi. 

Claim 330. Original claimant, William Young Whiteside. Affirm- 
ed to Henry Cook, 100 acres. Surveyed with claim of Francois 
Luval, 331, which see above. 

Claim 545. Original claimant, David Waddle. Affirmed to 
David Waddle, 100 acres, and claim >10, original claimant, Alexan- 
der Waddle, Affirmed to Alexander Waddle, 100 acres were survey- 
ed with other claims, and the improvement right of 250 acres of Daviil 
Waddle, and located mostly in sections thirty-one and thirty-two of 
township four, range nine. 

The commissioners on the fourth of January, 1S13, reported the 
following additional claims grounded on Militia service. 

Claim 548. Original claimant, Jean Baptiste Becket. Confirmed 
by Governor Harrison to Ettienne Pensoneau who was the claimant 
before the commissioners. In township three, range ten, covering 
part of the plat of the town of Venice. 

Cl.-iim 549, adjoining 548, 100 acres. Original claimant, Augusle 
Belconr. Confirmed by Governor Harrison to the same, and by him 
conveyed to Ettienne Pensoneau. 

Claim 103. In township three, range ten, 100 acres. Original 
claimant, Raphael Belanger. Confirmed by Governor Harrison to 
Nicholas Jarrot. 

Claim 1907. Original claimant, Charles Denean. Confirmed by 
Crovernor Harrison to Hannah Ilillman, 100 acres. 

Claim 104, 100 acres. Original claimant, Stephen Louis Lamall. 
Confirmed by Governor Harrison to Nicholas Jarrot. 

Claim 609, 100 acres. In sections thirty-three and thirty-fi>ur of 
township three, range eight, just south of Colliusville, and e.ictending 
into St. Clair county. Original claimant, ClLirlas Francois Lancier 
affirmed to the same by Governor Harrison, and by whom conveyed 
to Thomas H. Talbot. 

Claim 928. In sections sixteen, twenty, and twenty-one of town- 
ship four, range eight on the bluffs. Original claimant, James 
Whiteside, and confirmed to him by Governor Harrison. 

This comprises all the claims, located partly or entirely, within the 
present boundaries of Madison county. The list comprises sixly- 
nine claim.s, incluled in forty-ei.;ht several surveys. Forty-nine are 
for 100 acres; thirteen for 400 acres; three for 250 acres; one for 
160 arpents, and one for 440 arpents. Their location by townsliips is 
as follows : 

Township 3, Range 7. 2 Claims. 1 Surveys. 

3, " 8. 18 " 11 

4, " 8. 8 " 8 " 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



71 



'ownsliiji 3, 


Range 9. 


21 Claims. 


9 Surveys 


4, 


" 0. 


8 " 


8 " 


'' 5, 


9. 


3 " 


3 


tj. 


" 10. 


" 


8 



69 



48 



PIONEER AMERICAN SETTLEMENTS. 

The district of country comprising the present county of 
Madison was explored by the Rev. David Badgley, and 
some others, in the year 1709. The luxuriant growth of 
grass and vegetation, evidence of the great fertility of the 
soil, reminded the explorers of the richness of the country, 
the best of the land of Egypt, in which the children of Israel 
had possessions, " and grew and multiplied exceedingly," 
and they called it Goshen. David Badgley was a Baptist 
preacher who came to Illinois in 1796, and settled in St. 
Clair county, a few miles north of Belleville, where he died 
in 1824. He was never a resident of this county. The first 
American settler to push beyond the frontier, and plant 
himself within the limits of what is now ]Madison county, 
was Ephraim Conner. This was in the year 1800, he built 
his rude cabin in the northwest corner of the present Col- 
linsville township, but whether dissatisfied with his isolated 
position, or prompted by a roving spirit, peculiar to the early 
pioneers, he sought some now ' lodge in the vast wilder- 
ness." The next year, 1801, he disposed of his improvement 
to Samuel Judy, who became a permanent and valued citi- 
zen of the flourishing Goshen settlement, which the rapidly 
arriving immigrants in a few years brought into existence. 

The Judy family is conspicuous in the early settlement of 
Illinois. Jacob Judy, the father of Samuel Judy, was born 
in Switzerland, and came to America when six years old. He 
was married in Frederick county, Maryland, and at Pitts- 
burg, Pennsylvania, " worked for the public," as an early 
chronicler says, " at the gunsmith business, for many years, 
and received nothing for it." He .started for the frontier 
regions of the west in the year 1786, with his family, then 
consisting of three children, and descerded the Ohio river 
to Kentucky. On his way, at the mouth of the Scioto, he 
heard Indians on the bank making noises to decoy him to 
the land, but he kept straight on his way down the river. 
His daughter, Nancy, then a girl of eighteen, steered the 
boat while the others rowed, with all possible speed, past the 
dangerous locality. He remained two years in Kentucky, 
near Louisville, and then set out for Illinois, making a 
voyage down the Ohio in a flat boat. The hostile Indians 
obliged him to seek protection up Cash river, in the present 
county of Alexander, where he remained seven weeks, until 
a boat could come from Kaskaskia to his relief. He lived 
at Kaksaskia four years ; in 1792 he moved to the New 
Design settlement in the present county of Monroe ; and in 
1794 settled in Monroe county where he died in the year 
1807. The place where he lived was widely known as 
Judy's mill. Samuel Judy, his only son, the pioneer of the 
family in Madison county, was born on the nineteenth of 
August 1773. He married Margaret Whiteside, a sister of 
Gen. Samuel Whiteside. In the early Indian troubles in 
Monroe county, Judy, then a young man of only twenty, 



displayed great activity and bravery, afterwards in the cam- 
paigns against the Indians, during the war of 1812-14, he 
was actively employed in the service. In 1812 he was in 
command of a company of spies, in advance of the main 
army, which proceeded against the Indians at the head of 
Peoria lake, and the next year, 1813, was captain of a com- 
pany in the army of Gen. Howard. In the frontier skirmishes 
with the Indians, he was considered both active and efficient 
and prudent, and cautious. He was modest and unassum- 
ing in character, and would have preferred to serve as a pri- 
vate soldier in the ranks, had not his neighbors and friends 
insisted on his taking the responsible command to which 
they thought his experience and sterling qualtities of mind 
entitled him. He was elected a member from Madison 
county, in the fall of 1812, of the first legislature that on- 
vened at Kaskaskia after the formation of the territorial 
governmeat. Although he had little education, and hai 
learned, barely more than to read and write, and this with 
some difficulty, the clear, sound, and solid judgmsnt with 
which nature had endowed him, his great common sense, 
and his character for honesty and integrity, made him a valu- 
able member of this first legislative body of Illinois, in which 
his influence was scarcely surpassed by that of any other 
member. After the organization of Madison county he was 
one of the first county commissioners, and displayed great 
judgment, honesty, and economy, in managing the finances 
of the county. In his own private business affairs he c-xhibi- 
ed the same prudence and foresight. He acquired wealth, 
but without speculation or doubtful practice. He raised 
large numbers of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. On the 
establishment of the penitentiary at Alton, he was ap])ointed 
by Gov. John Reynolds, one of the board which had charge 
of the erection of the building and the placing of the peni- 
tentiary system in operation. Though not a member of any 
religious society, all the churches had the benefit of his good 
will and friendship, and he was moral and correct in 
his habits. In the excesses so common in his day — gaii- 
ing, drinking, and light and frivolous amusements — he never 
indulged. He died in the year 1838. 

The farm on which Judy settled was included in the mili- 
tia claim, number three hundred and thirty-eight, and on it 
he made early and substantial improvements. The first, or 
second year after his arrival he set out an orchard. In 1808 
he built a brick house, the walls of which were cracked by 
the earthquake of 1811, which is still standing in good 
condition. This was the first brick house erected within the 
limits of Madison county. Jacob Judy the oldest son of 
Samuel Judy, was register of the land office at Edwardsville 
from 1845 to 1849. Another son. Col. Thomas Judj', repre- 
sented Madison county in the State legislature in 1852 and 
'53, and has been one of the best known citizens of the 
county. 

The first settlement on the Six Mile prairie was made in 
the year 1801. A family named Wiggins 'settled here, and 
with them lived an unmarried man, Patrick Hanniberry. 

In the early history of Madison county the most numerous 
family were the Gillhams. Thomas Gillham, the first of 
the family to come to America, was a native of Ireland. 



72 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



He settled in Virginia about the year 1730, and afterward 
moved to South Corolina. He had eleven children, seven 
sons and four daughters : Ezekiel, Charles, Thomas, Wil- 
liam, James, John, Isaac, Nancy, Mary, Sally, and Susan- 
nah. The original stock was Irish Presbyterian, though the 
descendants are now mostly of the Methodist faith. 

The first of the family to behold the Illinois country was 
James Gillham, the fourth sou of Thomas Gillham. He 
came iu the summer of the year 1794 in search of his wife 
and cliildren, who were then held captive by the Indians. 
He had married Ann Barnett.in South Carolina, and at the 
close of the war of the Revolution moved to Kentucky* He 
conceived so favorable an opinion of Illinois that he made it 
his home in 1797, first settling in the American Bottim 
below St. Louis, and at the beginning of the present century 
moving to what is now Madi-son county. Congress, in 1815, 
gave to Mrs. Gillham one hundred and sixty acres of land 
at the head of Long Lake, iu township four, range nine, 
in testimony of the hardship and sufferings she endured dur- 
ing her captivity among the Indians. The children of 
James Gillham, were Samuel, Isaac, Jacob demons, James, 
Harvey, David M., Polly, Sally and Nancy. Samuel settled 
in section fifteen of township four, range nine ; and the 
other sons, Lsaac, Jacob demons, James, Harvey and Da- 
vid M., all made homes for themselves iu section four of the 

* One day in the montli of June, 1790, while Mr. GilUiara wag 
plowing corn on his farm in Kentucky, and his son Isaac, then a .small 
boy, was clearing away with a hoe the clods which the plow might 
throw on the young stalks, a party of Kickapoo Indians stole up to 
the house, and captnred Gillham's wife and his three other children, 
whose ages ranged from four to twelve years. The field in which Mr. 
Gillham w.is at work was at some distance from the house, and it was 
not for some time that he discovered the misfortune which had be- 
fallen his fimily. In the meantime the Indians hurried away with 
their prisoners. Mrs. Gillham w.as so alarmed at the sudden appear- 
ance of the savages that she lost lier senses, and the first that she could 
recollect afterward was the voice of her oldest son, S imuel, .saying, 
" Mother, we are all prisoners." The Indians ripped open the beds, 
turned out the feathers, and converted the ticks into sacks into which 
they placed clulhing and such other articles as they could carry on 
their backs. They then hurried off in the direction of the Kickapoo 
town, near the head waters of the Sangamon river in Illinois, 
Their course avoided the settlements, and their anxiety to escape pur- 
suit made them push forward without rest or food. The savages 
hurried them forward with fierce looks and threatening gestures. 
The children's feet became sore and bruised, and the mother tore her 
clothing to get rags in which to wrap them. The Indians had with them 
a small quantity of jerked veni.son which they gave the children, but 
neither they nor the mother, h.ad a particle of food, until one day after 
they had traveled some distance from the white settlements, the party 
made a halt, and two of their best hunters were dispatched to look for 
game. Towards night they returned with one poor raccoon. Mrs. 
Gillham, who was afraid that either the children would perish with 
hunger, or that the Indians would kill them to save them from star- 
vation, afterward said that the sight of this one poor coon gave her 
more satisfaction at that time than any amount of wealth could furnish. 
The coon was dressed by singing oft" the hair over a blazing fire, and 
after throwing away the contents of the intestines, in w.as chopped in 
pieces, and with head, bones, skin, and entrails, boiled in a kettle and 
made into a kind of soup. The Indians and their captives sat around 
the kettle, and with bone spoons and forked sticks, obtained a scanty 
relief from starvation. 

They approached the Ohio river with great camion, fearful tli.at 



same township and range. The descendants of the two 
youngest daughters now reside in the State of Mississippi. 

James Gillham wrote ti hi^ brothers in S )uth Carolina of 
the advantages of the Illinois country, and his brother, 
Thomas, left South Carolina in the fall of the year 1799, 
and reached the end of his journey on the closing day of the 
eighteenth century — thus ready to begin the new century 
in the new western world. Two other brothers, John and 
William, came to Illinois in the year 1802, both settling 
within the present boundaries of Madison county, and 
another brother, Isaac, followed a couple of years afterward. 

The oldest son of Thomas Gillham was Isham Gillham, 
sheriff of Madison county, from 1812 to 1818. He first 
settled on a farm adjoining that of Colonel Samuel Judy, 
and in the spring of 1817 moved to the bank of the Missis- 
sippi, nearly opposite the luouth of the Missouri. Another 
son, William, settled on a farm in the liidge prairie, five 
miles east of Edwardsville. One of the daughters, Violet, 
married Joshua Vaughn, and settled in the American Bot- 
tom ; and another. Patsy, became the wife of Peter Hub- 
bird, and moved to Bond county. 

William Gillham, on coming to Illinois settled in the Si.x; 
mile prairie, as early as 1820, or 1822 ; he moved to Jersey 
county. His sons were John D., William, and Ezekiel. 
William became a resident of Scott county, and the two 
others lived in Jersey county. One of the daughters, Agnes, 

they might be discovered by white people passing down the river. 
They camped through the day in a thick wood near the.site of the town of 
Hawesville, Kentucky, and made three rafLs of dry logs, I;is!ied togeth- 
er with thongs of red elm bark, and at night crossed the river in safe- 
ty. Once across the Ohio the Indians relaxed some of their cau- 
tion, marched slower, and secured abundant food. Keeping to the 
right of the white settlement at Vincennes, they crossed the Wabash 
below Terre Haute, and marching through the present counties of 
Clark, Coles and Micon in this State, finally reached tha Indian town 
on Salt Creek about twenty miles east of north from the present city 
of Springfield. 

Mr. Gillham on returning home from his work at noon found all 
about his house in confusion. Tlie feathers from the beds were 
scattered over the yard, and the mother and children were gone. It 
did not take a long time for a frontiersman to conjecture the fate of the 
family. It was plain that they had been taken prisoners by the In- 
dians, and Mr. Gillham and his friends lost no time iu starting in 
pursuit. Their trail, as they left the clearing, was discovered, and in 
one or two pl.aces the footprints of Mrs Gillham and the children 
were visible. But the trail was again lost, and all their ctlorts to re- 
cover it were ineflectual. Mr. Gillham was obliged to abandon the 
pursuit, but he still entertained hope of one day recovering his wife 
and children. He sold his improvements in Kentucky, and visited 
Vincennes and Ka,skaskia, with the hope of enlisting the aid of the 
French traders, who had person.al knowledge of all the Indian tribes 
in the Northwest. The commencement of hostilities between the 
whites and Indians made his efTorts almost hopeless. After five years 
of disappointment he learned from some of the French traders that 
his family were among the Kiekapoos, and with two Frenchmen as 
interpreters and guides he visited the Indian town on Salt Creek, and 
found his wife and children, alive and well. The rans im was p:ii<l 
through an Irish trader .at Cahokia, named .Vtchinson. The younger 
son, demons, could not speak a word of English, and it was some 
time before he could be persuaded to leave the Indian country. In 
bis visit to Illinois, Mr. Gillham had become favorably impressed 
with the advantages of the country, and in 1797, two years after the 
recovering of his family, he became a resident of this State. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



73 



married John G. Lofton, one of the early judges of the 
court of com men pleas of Madison county. Sally married 
a Mr. Waddle, and subsequently a Mr. Jarvis. Jane became 
the wife of William Davidson. Peggy became the wife of 
Benjamin Steadmau, and Polly of Frank Kirkpatrick. 

John Ciillham arrived in what is now Madison county on 
the tenth day of June, 1802, and first settled in section 
nineteen, township four, range eight, on the west bank of 
Crthokia creek, near the farms of Col Samuel Judy, and 
William Bolin Whiteside, and afterward removed to a farm 
in section one, township four, range nine, where he lived till 
his death in the year 1832 His oldest daughter, Jlargaret 
was married in South Carolina to Samuel Brown, who 
settled in section four, township four, range nine, and 
in 1830, moved to Scott county. Ann, his next daughter, 
was likewise married in South Carolina, to Isaiah Dunnagan, 
who made the first improvement in township five, range 
eight. James, the oldest son, married Polly Good, under 
the authority of the first marriage license issued in Madison 
county, and settled in section one, of township four, range 
nine. Ryderus C, another son, settled near his brother 
James. The other children were Thomas, Sarah, Charles, 
Elizabeth, Susannah, Polly, John and William. Sarah 
became the wife of Daniel Brown, and settled on the Caho- 
kia, in section eighteen, township four, range eight. Susan- 
nah married William Ramsey, and moved to Scott county. 
Polly married Thomas Cox, and settled in section thirty- 
six, township five, range nine. John settled where Wanda 
station now is. He was a pioneer Methodist preacher and 
died in 1835. William was born in Tenne see in 1802, on 
the journey from South Carolina to Illinois. His home was 
in section thirty six, of township five, range nine. He was 
also a Methodist minister, and died of the cholera in Alton 
in 1853. 

Isaac Gillham came to Illinois in 1804 or 1805, and settled 
in the American Bottom, in this county. His children were 
Thomas, John, James, William, Isaac, Polly, Margaret, 
Susannah, and Jane. Thomas settled within a short dis- 
tauce of the old Six mile prairie Methodist Church ; John 
settled on an adjoining farm ; James moved to Scott county ; 
William improved the farm on which Dr T. J. Irish now 
resides, in township three, range nine ; Isaac lived on a farm 
near his brother Thomas ; Margaret married John David- 
son, who lived on a farm adjoining the church proj)erty at 
Kinder ; Polly married Robert Whiteside, and removed from 
the county; Susannah became the wife of Hardy Willbanks, 
and emigrated to Texas; Jane, the youngest daughter, mar- 
ried Hiram Fish, and resided in township three, range nine. 

Ezekiel Gillham. the oldest son of the original Thomas 
Gillham, was married in Virginia, and moved to what is 
now Oglethorpe county, Georgia. One of his sons and two 
of his daughters. Charles, Mary and Margaret, came to Illi- 
nois in 1803. Charles Gillham stttled the Phillips farm, 
southeast of Edwardsville, and his daughter, Lucretia, he- 
came the wife of John T. Lusk. Mary married Thomas 
Good in Georgia. Good settled two miles and a half south 
of Edwardsville. His wife was a Methodist, and on his 
farm were held the early Methodi.st camp meetings. Mar- 
10 



garet had married in Georgia Bryant Mooney. Mooney 
settled about a mile east of Edwardsville, and gave his name 
to Mooney 's branches. 

Sally, one of the daughters of the original Thomas Gill- 
ham, married in South Carolina John Davidson, who was 
killed in one of the battles of the Revolutionary war. Two 
of her sons, Thomas G., and William Davidson, and one of 
her daughters, Sally, came to Illinois, and settled in Madi- 
son county early in the present century. 

Susannah, the youngest daughter of Thomas Gillham, 
married James Kirkpatrick in South Carolina. After an 
absence of months in the army during the war for Indepen- 
dence, he obtained permission to visit his family, which, on 
account of the strong Tory feeling in the neighborhood iu 
which he lived, he had to do by stealth. He had been home 
but a few minutes when as he was seated by his wife, sur- 
rounded by his children, he was shot through the window 
by a Tory and killed. The four olde.'?t sons of Mrs. Kirk- 
patrick James, Thomas, Franklin, and John came to Illinois, 
and figured prominently in the early settlement of Madison 
county. 

The Gi'lhams were strong supporters of morality and 
order, and among the best citizens of the county. Though 
born in a slave State, they recognized the corrupting in- 
fluence of slavery, and unalterably opposed its introduction 
into Illinois. The author of a history of the State, pub. 
lished in 1849, remarks that the convention party of 1824 
owed its defeat to the Gillham family and their kinsmen 
who, almost in a solid phalanx, cast five hundred votes 
against the proposition to make Illinois a slave State. 

The following facts in reference to the Gillham family, 
were written and furnished by Hon. Daniel B. Gillham: 

" Thomas Gillham, the ancestor of the family in America, 
many of whose descendants were identified with the early 
settlement of Illinois during the last year of the last, and 
first years of the present century, was a native of Ireland. 
He was married there and with his wife and child, Charles, 
emigrated to America about the year 1730, and settled first 
in Virginia. His first wife dying there, he again married, 
and removed to South Carolina and settled in what was 
then known as Pendleton county, since divided into the 
counties of Pickens and Henderson. 

His family consisted of eleven children, seven sons and 
four daughters, namely: Charles, Ezekiel, Thomas, William, 
James, John, Isaac, Nancy, Mary, Sally, and Susannah, 
and were Irish Presbyterians, though their descendants 
are now mostly j\Iethodists. 

He, his sons and sons-in-law all served in the war for Inde- 
penlence, during which two of his sons.ia-lavv lost their 
lives, namely, John David.«on and James Kirkpatrick. 

The first of the family that beheld the Illinois country 
was James, the fourth son of Thomas Gillham, in quest of 
his wife and children then held captive by the Indians in 
the summer of 1794 — a history of which is given above. 
When he recovered his family from the Indians he 
was so pleased with the prairies of Illinois and happy 
in the results of his long and dangerous search, that 
he wrote his relations of his grand discovery rcque;4tiiig 
them to come. Accordingly, Thomas the third, aTid Isaac 
the youngest of the sjns of Thomas Gillham the 1st, left 
South Carolina in the foil and arrived at their journey's end 
on the last day of the eighteenth and rested quietly ou 
Illinois soil on the first day of the niuetejath century. 



I] IS TORY GF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Thus they began the new century in the new world. James 
was here as before statt tl, and two others, John and William, 
arrived in 1802, both settling within the present boundaries 
of Madison county. 

Charles, the first son, and his two eldest sisters remained 
in the old south state. Ezekiel, the second son, raised a large 
family, lour of whom emigrated to Illinois, namely, Charles, 
Mary, Ruth and Margaret. 

Charles, son of Ezekiel, was the father of Mrs. Lucretia, 
wife of the late Hon. J. T. Lusk, and grandfather to Capt. 
G. C. Lusk and Mrs. Sarah Torrence, residing ia Edwards- 
ville, where they were born. Ezekiel was the grandfather 
of the late Thomas and Davidson Good. 

Themas Gillham, the oldest of the second family, married 
a Jliss McDaw and raised three sons, Lham, AVilliam and 
John T. ; and seven daughters, Jane, Margaret, Sally, 
Violet, Patsy and Agnes, several of whom either died young 
or never came to Illinois. 

Isham, the oldest son, m^rried Rulh Vaughn Their 
family were Jonah K., Shadrach B., John, James Johnson, 
and a daughter Julia, all born and raised in Madison county. 
Only one, J J., is now living. He now lives in Jersey 
county. Isham first settled on a farm adjoining that of the 
late Samuel Judy, and, in April 1817, removed to the bank 
of the Missi>sippi river, nearly opposite the mouth of the 
Missouri. He was Sherifl'of the county from 1812 to 1818. 

William, the second son of Thomas Gillham, Jr., married 
Mary Anderson and settled on a farm in Ri<lge prairie, 
five miles east of Edwardsville. Thtir children were Eva- 
line, Cvrus, Isham, Valugand, Orsman. I am not aware of 
any of this family residing in the county at present. Violet 
married Joshua Vaughn and settled on the American 
Bottom near the bluft'. Patsy married Peter Hubbard and 
moved to Bond county. Agnes lived to be old and died 
single. Of the remainder (jf the lamily I have no history. 

William, second son of Thomas Gillham, married Jane 
McDaw. Their sons were John D , William and Ezekiel. 
Their daughters were Agnes, Sally, Mary, Margaret and 
Jane. John D. has always lived in Jersey county ; his sons 
Marcus and Andrew still reside there I believe. William 
long since removed to Scott county. Ezekiel also lived in 
Jersey county, and is the grandfather of the Rev. John D. 
Gillham, now of Belleville. Agnes married John G. Lofton, 
and was the mother of the Rev. Thomas G. Lofton, the 
former owner of the great Orchard farm, four miles north 
of St. Louis on the Alton road. John G. Lofton was one 
of the first judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Madi- 
son county. Sally married a Mr. Waddle, raised four sons, 
named Alexander, Thomas, Andrew and William. 

After Mr. W^addle's death, she again married a Mr. 
Jarvis, and was the mother of John Wesley and Fletcher 
Jarvis, and a daughter Lucinda. Although twice married 
afterward she had no more family. She always resided in 
Madison county. 

Jane, the youngest daughter, married William Davidson, 
and was the mother of T. Sidney, now living near Venice, 
and Mr. Madison Davidson, who settled a farm near the 
prtsent residence of C. P. Smith in Fort Russell township, 
and died there in 1859 or '60. 

James Gillham, the third son of Thomas Gillham, Sr. and 
Miss Ann Barnett, a sister of Capt. Barnett of Revolu- 
tionary fame, was married in the state of South Carolina in 
1770, and at the close of the war for Independence removed 
to Kentucky. 

Their children were as follows, viz: Samuel, Isaac, Jacob 
demons, James Harvey, David, Polly, Sally and Nancy. 
As befjre stated, Mr. Gillham first saw Illinois while in 
search of his captive family, and was so pleased with it that 
he determined to make it his future home, and did so from 
the summerof 1797, and in 1800 he settled in the American 
Bottom below St. Louis. In the latter part of the same year 



he, with his family removed to a tract of 160 acres of land 
that the United States in consideration of her great trials 
had bertowed upon his noble wife, where they continued to 
reside to the time of their death. Of this iamily we have 
the following : Stimuel, the oldtst son, married Anna Patter- 
son and settled on the south half of section 15, township 
4, range 9, west. This family consisted of five sons, viz: 
John P., James H., Isham Barnett, Dr. Samuel J., late of 
Carlyle, now deceased, and Gershom M., now res-iding in 
Carlyle. Their daughters wtre Adelaide, Louisa, first wife 
of late Samuel P. Gillham, Ruhama, and Nancy, the latter 
now living in jMascoutah, St. Clair county. Jsaae, the 
second son, married Nelly Patterson and .settled on the south- 
east quarter of section 4 in township No. 4 north, range nine 
west. This family consisted of five daughters, Sally, who 
was the wife and widow of Charles Bram, and also the 
wife of J. Miller JIurphy. Eliza, who was the wife of 
Phillip Day, Arilda and Indiana, the first and second wives 
of Isaiah Dunnagan, Jr., Zurah, who married a Mr. Douglas, 
and Ellen, the fiist wife of Micajah C. Gillham, and J. 
Franklin, A\ho died at the ape of 18 years. The third son, 
J. demons, married first Priscilla Patterson and settled in 
the same section, township and range. 

Their children were John Patterson, now of Missouri, 
Harriet, now 5Irs. Rush, of this county, and Lucinda, first 
wife of the late James Sanders. His second wife was Miss 
Katy Harkleroad, sister of the late Isaac Harkleroad of this 
county. His children were J. Milton, Priscilla Gillham, 
now of Mississippi, and Maliuda, now the wife of James 
Coda of Madison. 

J. Harvey, the fourth son of Samuel Gillham, married 
Polly Whiteside, and settled in the same section with his 
brothers. Their children were William, Sally, Samuel and 
Ann. 

David M. married Polly Harkleroad, and settled also in 
the same section. They had two sons, Thomas and Mason. 
Polly, the oldest daughter of Samuel Gillham, married a Mr. 
Thomas, but raised no family. The others married and left 
the county, and are residents of the state of Mississippi. 

John Gillham, the fourth son of Thomas Gillham, Sr., 
emigrated from South Carolina to Illinois, arriving in 
Monroe county on the 10th day of June, 1802, and settled 
in Madison county in set lion 19, township 4 north, 
range 8 west, just west of the farm of Col. Samuel Judy 
and Bolin Whitfside on the west bank of Cahokia creek, 
where he lived a few years and then removed to the north- 
east quarter of section 1, same township and range, where 
Mr. Sinclair now resides, where he lived until his death in 
March 18.32. He was married in South Carolina to Misj 
Sirah Clark, by whom he had twelve children, six sons and 
six daughters. Their names were in this order, Margaret, 
Ann, Thomas, James, Ryderus Clark, Sarah, Charles, Eliza- 
beth, Susannah, Polly, John and W^illiam. jMargaret and 
Ann were married iu South Carolina, the former to Samuel 
Brown who settled on the northeast quarter of Section 4, town- 
ship 4 north, range 9 west, where Mrs. William Emert now 
resides; selling out in 1830 and removing to Scott county. 
The latter to Jsaiah Dunnagan, who made the first improve- 
ments in township 5, ra' ge 8, now Fort Russell, upon the 
southwest quarter of section 31, where the parsonage stands 
at Wanda station. Their children were Joshua, now of Col- 
orado, Thomas, Aimer, Joseph, Clark, Laiah and a daughter 
Louisa, the wife of Levi Stringer. Their desc* ndants are few 
and widely scattered, yet all married, settled, lived and died 
in Madison county, except Joshua, who alone is living. 
Thomas, the oldest sou of John Gillham, died single. James, 
the oldest sou, married Polly Good under authority of the 
first license of marriage issued iu the county, and settled on 
the southwest quarter of Section 1, township 4, range 9, now 
Chouteau. His family consis ed of four daughters; the 
oldest, Sally, became the Aife of Ryland Ballard, the second, 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



75 



Polly Ann, was the wife of a Jackson Davidson, and after- 
ward the wife of JefFv^rson Cox. The third, Nancy C. married 
Hugh Paul, and the fourth, Mirtha T., is the wife of Lemuel 
Siuthard and resides on the old homestead, the ouly one 
living. 

Ryderus C, bast knowi as "R;d," f)r short, was first 
married to Susannah B own an! .settler! one quarter of a 
mile south of his br.>ther Jaina, iu Sjctiou 12, township 4, 
range 9, where he resiiled to the day of his death. He was 
a juror iu the first murder ease tried in this county. Their 
children were Lydia, who married James GiUhara, Sa nuel 
P., Rev. John, a Metho list minister, uow of Eldorado, 
Salin countv, Micajah C, Hannah, the first wife of Charles 
Sebastian, Sarah, now of Jersey county, and Susannah B , 
who was the first wife of Samuel Teter and afterward the 
wife of George S. Rice. By his .second marriage to Mrs. 
Ruhama Stockton, nee Patterson, his children were Ann, the 
wife of Elias Judy, Jara^s, now of Alton, Gershora P., 
deceased, JIary E., second wife of Jonah Good, E. Ellen, 
the wife of John Willson of Marion county and Ryderus 
Clark, Jr., now residing on the old homestead. 

Charles, the third son of John GUlham, first married Misi 
C'elia Medford and raised two daughters, Sarah and Mary 
Ann, who married Joseph Tilton. Both died in early life. 
By his .second wife, Miss Mary Murphy, he had one daughter, 
Ann, uow the wife of David Klingle, Esq. Sally, the third 
daughter, married Daniel Brown, and settled on the banks 
of Cahokia creek in section 18, township 4, range 8. Their 
children were fohn, Charles, Samuel, I. Newton, D. Sanders, 
and James. I. N and James died young; a daughter, 
Susannah, married Jlr. McMurtra and resides in VanBuren, 
Arkansas. D. Sanders also lives there. 

Charles married Miss Elizabeth Murphy, who is yet 
living. John married Elizabeth Vaughn, and Samuel 
married Miss Sebastian, and went to California iu 1849. 
Elizabeth, fourth daughter of John Gillham, married Mica- 
jah Cox and early located in Scott couuty. Their numerous 
descendants still reside there. 

Susannah, fifth daughter, married William Ramsey and 
also located in Scott county, where they resided until 1840, 
when Mr. R. died. They had three children, .fohu, the 
oldest, Caroline, who became the wife of a Mr. Packwood, 
and Mary Anu, now the wife of Dr. Mahlon Turner, of 
Des Moines, Iowa. John was killed by accident on a steam- 
ship upon his return home from Cdlifornia, at the city of 
New Orleans, in 18.^0. 

The sixth daughter, Polly, married Thomas Cox and 
settled upon the southeast corner of section 36, township 5, 
range 9 uow Wood river. Their children were Jefferson, 
John H. and William, all born and raised in this county. 

John, fifth son of John Gillham, Sr., married Miss Phebe 
Dunnagan, and settled on the northeast quarter of section I, 
township 4, range 9, right where Wanda Station now stands. 
He was a pioneer Methodist preacher, and did what he 
could toward the advancement of the church, aided by a 
true Christian wife. They both died within a brief period 
in 1835, he at 37 she at 36 years of age, leaving five small 
children, who.se names were NarcLssa, who married Johnson 
Vaughn and mother of Mrs. M. H. Boals, of Alton. Mr. 
Vaughn dying she married George Q^iigley of Alton. 
Their children were Frank, John G. and Mac. 

D.iuiel B , the oldest son, married first Miss E. Lucretia 
Smith, who lived only six years, leaving a daughter, M. 
Eliza, wife of Warren Lowe, Esq., of Upper Alton. 

He again married Miss Virginia Harrison, by whom he 
has one son Willard T., and four daughters living, viz: 
Nannie Addean, Alice E , E Lillian and Virginia N. His 
second wife dyitig in 1872, in I87ii he was married to Ade- 
line Harrison, sister of the second wife, who has no children. 

Julia A .second daughter, married \\m Harrison of the 
firm of Harrison Brothers, merchant millers of Belleville. 



She lived but a short time afterward. H. Eliza, third 
daughter, married Shed B. Gillham, now of Upper Alton. 
Shortly after they were married they removed to West 
Point, Iowa, where she died about four mouths afterward. 
Both the latter were graduates of the Jacksonville Female 
College and neither left children. 

Jo.seph B , the .second son, emigrated to Calif )rnia in lS.o3. 
He there married a JIi.ss Adams aud died from a wound 
inflicted by a ma'i whom he had befriended across the plains 
by loaning him money, upon which to live, while serving 
upon him a writ as sherirt' of the county. He left two 
children. 

William, sixth son of John Gillham, Sr., was born in the 
state of Tennessee while his parents were en route to Illi- 
nois in 1H02. He married Polly MeKinuey, and settled on 
the southeast quarter of section 36, township 5 range 9, 
Wood River. Tliey raised but two children, — sotis — John 
M. formerly of the Western House, Broadway, St. Louis, 
now of Leadville, Colorado, and Wm. E. Emaring of the 
Brunswick House, St. Louis. He was also a M 'tlo list 
minister, and died of cholera in the city of Alton, in ls.53, 
beloved by all. His wife survived him, but has now passed 
awa)'. All of the above named desceudauts of John Gill- 
ham, Sr., have numerous descenda its now scattered over 
the wide domain of the United States, a complete history of 
which would make a large volume. 

Isaac, the fifth son of Thomas Gillham, was married in 
South Carolina to Miss Jane Kirkpatrick, emigrated to 
Illinois in 1804 or 5 and settled on the American Bottom in 
Madison county. Most of his children were born in the 
old South State. Their names were Thomas, John, James, 
William and Isaac, Polly, Margaret, Susannah and Jane. 
Thomas married Letitia Davidson and settled near the [)lank 
road from Edwardsville to St. Louis, about three and one- 
half miles northeast from the latter, and within a few 
hundred feet of the old Six-mile Methodist church. Their 
children were Newton, now of Oregon, Lewallen, deceased 
James G., of Des Moines, Iowa, Shadrach B., of Upper 
Alton, Minerva and Lucretia, the wives of Gabriel and 
James Marlow, both deceased, and Margaret wife of W. C. 
Linn, of California. John, second son of Isaac Gillham, Sr., 
married Elizabeth Gillham and settled on the farm just west 
of his brother Thomas. Their children were Jane, Madison, 
Julia and John. 

James, third son of Isaac Gillham, Sr., married Polly 
Lofton, and early in the century removed to Scott county. 
Their children were Leroy, Wesley, both deceased, Jud.;es 
Erastus, and William, now of Scott county, Margaret, widow 
of the late Dr. Kersey, of Winchester, and Jaue, wife of 
Je-se Newman, of Jacksonville. 

William, fourth son of Isaac, Sr., married Barbara Hea- 
ton and .settled the farm now owned and resided upon by 
Dr. T. J. Irish, in Nameoki township. Their children were 
J Addison and Louisa the wife of T. Sidney Davidson of 
this county. His first wife dying, he married Miss Marian 
Davidson. Their children were Thomas and Mary .Jane. 
Isaac, Jr., third son of Isaac, Sr., married Rebecca Hayden 
and settled on a farm just east of and near his brother 
Tiiomas. Their only child, James A., now of Brighton, 
with whom his mother still resides. 

Margaret, the first daughter of Isaac Gillham, Sr., married 
John Davidson and settled the farm adjoining the church 
property at Kiuder. Their only son, MiJton, was the father 
of John E. Davidson, of Golden, Col. Mrs. Maggie Mc- 
Carty, of Arizona and Mi.ss Mattie Davidson, of St. Louis. 
Mr. David.son dying, she bjc.imj the wife of Calvin Kinder, 
aud was probably as well known as any woman ever living 
iu the county. Polly married Robert Whiteside and left 
this county. Susaunah, third daughter of Isaac, Sr., mar- 
ried Hardy Willhanks and emigrated to Texas at an early 
day. Jaue, fourth daughter of Isaac Gillham, Sr., married 



76 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Hiram Fisli, who lived in the township of Nameoki. Their 
only child, Stiliuan Oscar, now resides in St. Louis. 

Sally, eldest daughter of Thomas Gillhani, Sr., married 
John Davidson in South Carolina. Their children were 
Samuel, Thomas, George, William, Susannah and Sally. 
Samuel and Susannah did not come to Illinois. Thomas G. 
married in South Carolina, and early came to Illinois with 
his brothers George and William and his sister Sally. His 
children by his first wife were Letitia, wife of Thomas Gill- 
ham, Jr., and mother of S. B. Gillham of Upper Alton, 
Ephraiiu William and Dovey, widow of Alexander Bell. 
She now resides at Exeter, Scott county. His first wife 
dying, he married Polly Stanford and settled just on top of 
the blutf where J. H. Kendall now resides. Their children 
were Beverly A., and Clayton T., vho long lived on the old 
homestead. Matilda, who was the first wife of Joshua 
Duunagan, married the second wife of William Gillham. 
Jane, the wife of Walker Delaplain, who settled, lived and 
died near Venice. Sinai, the wife of the late Sidney Smith 
and the mother of Mr. Shed. B. Gillham, Mrs. W. C. Had- 
ley, and William Smith, Esq., of CoUinsville ; Sopronia, 
the fii>t wife of George S. Rice; and Elvira, the wife of 
Abner Duunagan and mother of W. H. and Miss Mattie 
Dunnagan of this county. Thomas G. Davidson was one of 
the firi-t justices of Madison county. 

WilUiam, second son of John Davidson, married Hannah 
Bunkhead and early came to Illinois. Their children were 
Ishara, James, Andrew, I]lizabeth, who became the wife 
of Thomas G. Dunnagan, and S. Milicent, second wife of J. 
Clark Dunnagan, both yet residing on the old homestead in 
section 1 and '2, township 4, range 9. 

George, the third son of John Davidson, married Miss 
Jane Lusk. Susannah married a man by the name of 
Lusk. They did not come to Illinois. John Davidson, 
husband of Sally Gillham, as above, was killed iu battle in 
the Revolutionary War. 

Susannah, youngest daughter of Thomas Gillham, the 1st, 
married James Kirkpatiick in South Carolina. After 
having been away from his home, in the army of the revo- 
lution for months, he obtained permission to visit his family 
which, on account of Toryism, he had to do by stealth. He 
had been at home but a few minutes when, sitting upon his 
wife's knees, surrounded by his children, he was shot and 
killed by a Tory named Pruitt, who fired through a window. 
They had five children, viz: James, Thomas, Franklin, 
John and Polly. Mrs. Kirkpatrick again married a man 
by the name of Scott, and raised a sou Joseph. She, her 
daughter, and youngest son never came to Illinois. Her 
older sons, fouf in number, all came to Illinois at an early 
day, and figure prominently in the early settlement of Madi- 
son county. Their descendants are to be found in many 
portions of the state iu Bond, Adams, Morgan and other 
counties." 

Thus I have imperfectly sketched the history of the 
family to the second generation in Illinois only, which is all 
that space will admit which from the meagre and somewhat 
contradictory data at hand, must of necessity contain mis- 
takes or errors. Were it continued to the present day it 
would supply material for a large volume, and while this is 
in no sense a history of the family, it is as correct as I think 
it possible at this late day to make it, and it will enable the 
descendants of the diflerent branches of the family to take 
up the thread in each and carry it down." 



Among the accessions to the population of the southern 
part of the county, in the year 1802, were members of the 
White.ide family, who moved up from Monroe county. The 



Whitesides, in early times, were celebrated for their bravery 
and daring in the troubles between the white settlers and 
the Indians. They were of Irish descent. W'illiam White- 
side, the leader and pioneer of the family in Illinois, was 
a soldier in the Revolution, and took part in the battle of 
King's Mountain. From the frontiers of North Carolina 
he emigrated to Kentucky, and thence in the year 1793 he 
came to Illinois He settled iu the present county of Mon- 
roe, and built a fort on the road between Cahokia and Kas- 
kaskia, (about half way between the present towns of Co- 
lumbia and Waterloo), which became widely known as 
" Whiteside's Station." His brother, John Whiteside, who 
came to Illinois at the same time, had also been a Revolu- 
tionary soldier. Colonel William Whiteside was justice of 
the peace, and judge of the court of common pleas of j\[onroe 
county. In the war of 1812-14, he was active in organizing 
the militia. He died at the old station in 1815. 

The Whitesides had been neighbors of the Jud3's in 
Monroe county, and coming to the Goshen settlement they 
selected a location not far from Samuel Judy. The wife of 
the latter was a sister to Samuel Whiteside. Samuel and 
Joel Whiteside, .sons of John Whiteside, settled in the north- 
east part of the present CoUinsville township, and made the 
first improvements on the Ridge prairie. The other settlers, 
who preceded them, had all made their homes at the foot of 
the bluff, and in the American Bottom. Samuel Whiteside 
was a representative from Madison county in the first legis- 
lature which met after the admission of Illinois into the 
Union as a State. He commanded a company of rangers in 
the campaigns against the Indians during the war of 
1812-14. In the Black Hawk war he was commissioned by 
Governor Reynolds a brigadier-general. William B. White- 
side, who for many years filled the office of sheriff" of Madi- 
son county, was a sou of Col. William Whiteside ; he was 
born in North Carolina, and was a mere lad when he accom- 
panied his father to Illinois in 1793. He was raised on 
the frontier, without many opportunities for education, but 
" possessed a strong and sprightly intellect, and a benevo- 
lence rarely equalled." He was a captain of one of the com- 
panies of United States rangers, organized in 1813. John 
Reynolds, afterward governor of the state, and three of his 
brothers were members of this company, as also were a large 
number of the early residents of Madison county. On the 
twenty-fourth of July, 1802, two men, named Alexaniler 
Dennis, and John Van Meter, were murdered by the Indians 
in the Goshen settlement, southwest of Edwardsville, not far 
from where the Cahokia creek emerges from the bluff, at 
the place afterward known as Nix's ford. This murder was 
committed by a band of Pottawatamies, led by their chief, 
Turkey Foot, an evil-disposed and cruel savage. Turkey 
Foot and his band were returning from Cahokia to their 
town in the northern part of Illinois, and meeting Dennis 
and Van Meter killed them without provocation. The In- 
dians were probably intoxicated, as mostly happened when 
they visited Cahokia. This occurrence offered but slight 
impediment to the progress of the Goshen country. The In- 
dians were at that time in friendly relations with the whites, 
and this act was not looked upon as an evidence of organ- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



11 



ized warfare, but as a solitary incident of chance depreda- 
tion. Emigrants were rapidly coming to Illinois, and 
many, who, a few a years previous had located in the New 
Design settlement, and other parts of the present county 
of Monroe, were moving up to Goshen, attracted by the 
superior fertility of the soil, and the great beauty of the 
country. 

The droits and Seybold fiiniilies came in 1803. William 
Grotts and Robert Seybold had been soldiers in the Revolu- 
tionary war. Jasiper Seybold, father of Robert Seybold, 
was born on the Rhein in Germany, in the year 1718. He 
came to the United States in 1732, in a small ship that sailed 
from Amsterdam crowded with emigrants. A pestilence 
carried off many of the passengers on the voyage. Landing 
in the Chesapeake bay, the captain of the ship bound young 
Seybold to a planter for seven years to pay for bis passage. 
Becoming free he married Alcey Clendenuing, a Scotch girl, 
who had, in like manner, been bound to a tailor for her pas- 
sage money across the ocean. In 1740, they settled at the 
foot of the Blue ridge, now in Loudon county, A'irginia, and 
baked their first hoe- cake on a flat stone for want of other 
domestic conveniences. He had twelve sons, and two 
daughters. Robert Seybold was the youngest of these sons. 
Nine of them drew pensions for their services during the 
Revolutionary war. A member of the family was accus- 
tomed to say that he never knew one of them to be disloyal, 
to be convicted of a crime, or to get rich. 

In 1785, Robert Seybold came down the- Ohio river in a 
flat boat, and walked from Fort Massac across to Kaskaskia 
In 1787 he married Mrs. Jacob Gratz, whose husband a 
short time previous had been killed by the Indians at Pig- 
gott's fort. Her maiden name was Mary Bull, and she was 
born in Pennsylvania in 1775, and came to Monroe county, 
Illinois, in 1778. Samuel Seybold, a former old resident of 
Ridge prairie, was born at Piggott's fort in the year 1795. 
Robert Seybold was one of the pioneer settlers of the present 
Jarvis township, making an improvement in the prairie, at 
the head of Cantine creek, two miles and a half west of Troy 
in 1803. 

East of Seybold, in the immediate vicinity of the present 
town of Troy, settlements were also made in 1803, by the 
Greggs. In April of tliat year, Jacob Gregg settled a half 
mile south of Troy. The next year, 1804, he planted a pear 
tree, which bore large crops of fruit for more than half a 
century afterward. Philip, Titus, John, and Hermon Gregg, 
sons of Jacob, made settlements in the neighborhood. John 
Gregg on the prairie, not far from Robert Seybold. The 
Greggs were from Kentucky, slow and unprogressive, and" 
in after years grumbled at being taxed to support the free 
schools, and favored the introduction of slaverj'. 

On the banks of the Mississippi, opposite Cabaret or (Gab- 
beret) Island not far above Venice, Dr. George Cadwell was 
an early settler. He and John Mcssinger, who made many 
of the early surveys in this county, had married daughters of 
Matthew Lyon in Vermont, and the three, with their fiiniilies, 
emigrated to Kentucky, coming down the Ohio river in a 
flat boat, in the year 1799. They settled at Eddyville, 
Kentucky, and Lyon, an eccentric, but popular character. 



was elected a representative in Congress from Kentucky for 
several terms. He had previously served as a member of Con- 
gress from Vermont. Dr. Cadwell and Messinger came to Illi- 
nois in 1802. They lauded from their boat iu the American 
Bottom, not fiir from Fort Chartres, and remained in that 
vicinity for some time. Dr. Cadwell then made a perma- 
nent settlement, as stated above, on the Mississippi. He 
practiced the profession of medicine, and was chosen to 
several public oflices. He was justice of the peace. Judge 
of the county court, first in St. Clair county, and then in 
Madison, after its organization. He was the first member 
of the State Senate from Madison county after the organiza- 
tion of the State government and held that position from 
1818 to 1822. He was a man of unimpeachable, private 
life, a respectable physician and a useful citizen. He was 
afterward a member of the legislature from Greene county. 
He died at a good old age in Morgan county. George 
Richardson accompanied Dr. Cadwell, settled near him, and 
removed with him from this county to Morgan. 

John Mcssinger who came with Dr. Cadwell to Illinois, 
lived a short time within the present limits of Madison 
county, though he took up his permanent residence in St. 
Clair. He lived in Ridge prairie, between the present towns 
of Troy and Collinsville. He was born in West Stockbridge, 
Massachusetts, 1771, and in 1783 settled in Vermont. He 
was a member of the legislature of Indiana territory, before 
Illinois had a seperate territorial government. He assisted 
in forming the first constitution of the State, and was Speaker 
of the House of Representatives in the first General Assem- 
bly after the State government was formed. He died in St. 
Clair county in 1846. He had a great genius for mathema- 
tics, and was an excellent surveyor ; nearly one-third of the 
boundaries of the townships in this county were surveyed 
by him. 

In 1804, the settlements were extended farther north, and 
were strengthened by the arrival of many new families. 
A Frenchman from Cahokia, named Delorne, settled this 
year at the edge of the timber, east of Monk's Mound, near 
Cantine Creek. 

The settlement in the Six Mile prairie, from 1804 to 1806, 
received considerable accessions in the Waddle, Griffin, 
Squire, Cummings, Carpenter and Gillham families. 

Thomas Cummings was an energetic pioneer with a 
family of stalwart sons. In 1817 he moved to what is now 
Jersey county. Nathan Carpenter was a man of enterprise 
and energy, and at an early period had a horse-mill in opera- 
tion. Thomas Gillham, the oldest son of Isaac Gillham, 
was a justice (jf the peace, and subsequently a county com- 
missioner. Amos S((uire, who bad emigrated from Mary- 
land to Illinois in company with Shadrach Bond, and first 
settled at Kaskaskia, in 1808, made his home on the farm on 
which his son, Samuel Scjuire, still lives. He was the first 
justice of the peace in township three, range nine. He was 
first appointed to this position by Gov. Ninian Edwards, and 
filled it for twenty consecutive years. He was captain in 
the ranging service during the war of 1812-14. Among 
other early residents of this part of the county were Henry 
Hayes, John Clark, Henry Stallings, and John G. Lofton. 



78 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



The Arthur family carae to tliis part of the county in 1811. 
From 1804 to 1806 families by the name of Chilton, Bra- 
zell, Lorton, Moore, Downing, Lemen, Copelaud, Lacy, Van- 
hooser. Rattan, Hewitt, Hill, Stubblefield and Jones, attach- 
ed themselves to the eastern and northern parts of the Go- 
shen settlement. 

In 1S05, John T. Lusk, then a young man of twenty-one, 
cast his fortunes with the Goshen country. He was born on 
Broad river, in the Union district of South Carolina, in the 
year 1784. In 1798, his father, James Lusk, emigrated to 
Kentucky, and established a ferry on the Ohio, where is now 
the town of Golconda. This was widely known as Lusk's 
ferry, and John T. Lusk, as he was growing to be a young 
man, was engaged for some time in its operation. Soon 
after his arrival, Mr. Lusk pre-empted land two miles and a 
half southwest of Edwardsville, and in 1809 married Lucre- 
tia, daughter of Charles Gillham,who in the year 1803, had 
settled two miles south of Edwardsville. After living at 
this place some years, Charles Gillhamsold his improvements 
to John and Beniah Robinson and moved to Hurricane 
creek in Bond county. Directly after his marriage, John 
T. Lusk moved to a tract of land, afterwards included in 
the Fair Grounds, near Edwardsville, and lived in a tent 
till he constructed a double log cabin, which stood for many 
years, and in which was born Alfred Lusk, said to have 
been the first white child born in township four, range eight. 
John T. Lusk was a ranger in the Indian troubles of 1812- 
14, and a lieutenant in the Black Hawk war, and prominently 
connected with the interests of Edwardsville. 

Joseph Newman, a Pennsylvanian, came to the present 
Fort Russ 11 township in 1804, but the first substantial im- 
provement in this township was made by Major Isaac H. 
Fergurson in 1806. Major Fergurson was a Kentuckian. 
A year or two afterward he moved to what is now Morine 
township, and in the war of 1812-14 had command of Chil- 
ton's Fort. He moved to Texas in 1842, and died in Mexico 
during the war between that country and the United States. 
Martin Preuitt, in 1806, settled on the Sand Ridge 
prairie, about three miles east of Alton. He was born in 
North Carolina. In 1767, when fifteen, he went with his 
father to Kentucky, in company with Daniel Boone, and 
camped nine months on the Kentucky river, spending their 
time hunting, and then returned to North Carolina. He 
had three brothers, Abraham, William and Isaac. He was 
in the Revolutionary war, and at the battle of Kings Moun- 
tain. After the Revolution all the family removed to 
Virginia, and after being there several years, to Tennessee. 
Here Abraham and William Preuitt were killed by the 
Cherokee Indians, and in 1806 the family came to Illinois. 
Martin Preuitt did little else but hunt. He died without 
sickness or pain, in the year 1844, at the age of ninety-two. 
He had ten children ; the sons were named Isaac, Abraham, 
Jacob, William, Jones and Solomon. Solomon Preuitt, the 
youngest son, was born in 1790, and lived to be one of the 
oldest residents of Madison county. He was elected captain 
of a militia company in 1811, when twenty-one years of age. 
He was in the ranging service in 1813 and 1814. In 1818 
he moved to a place a mile and a half south of the present 



town of Bethalto. In 1831 he was in command of a com- 
pany which marched to Rock Island in the first campaign 
against Black Hawk. In 1832 he was elected captain of a 
company formed at Milton for service in the Black Hawk 
war, and at Beardstown, where the regiment was organized, 
was chosen lieutenant-colonel. After his return to Madison 
county he was elected major of the militia, and held that 
position for many years. When the Preuitt family came to 
Illinois in 1806, there was only one house in the forks of 
Wood river, in which a man named Benjamin Carter, a 
shoemaker, lived. This improvement was bought by George 
Moore, who built a log house. Solomon Munson was living 
on the Sand Ridge prairie, and towards Alton lived Mrs. 
Shields, whose son, James Shields, afterward settled on land 
now included in the city of Alton, and gave his name to 
Shields' branch. 

William Jones and John Finley arrived in 1806, and' 
settled on the sand ridge, east of Alton. They had come to 
Illinois a couple of years previous, and had stopped for a 
time in Pope county. William Jones was a Baptist preach- 
er. He was born in Washington county, Virginia, and em- 
igrated thence to Kentucky, and thence to Tennessee, where 
he experienced religion and became connected with the min- 
istry of the Baptist church. He was captain of a company 
of rangers during the war of 1812-14. He was a member 
of the legislature of Illinois, both while under the territorial 
government and after the admission of the state into the 
union. He died in 1844. 

In the spring of the year 1807 Robert Reynolds, the 
father of Gov. John Reynolds, purcha-sed a farm at the foot 
of the bluff, three or four miles, southwest of Edwardsville. 
Seven years before, the family had emigrated from Tennes- 
see and settled in Randolph county ; John Reynolds was then 
nineteen years of age. He says of this period of his life: I 
had with me my books and compass, and studied the math- 
ematics with care and attention at intervals, when I was not 
at work on the farm. I was called on to do jobs of survey- 
ing, which I performed tolerably well, as all parties conclu- 
ded. When my father arrived in Goshen, it was the most 
beautiful country that I ever saw. It had been settled only 
a few years, and the freshness and beauty of nature reigned 
over it to give it the sweetest charms. I have spent hours 
on the bluff, ranging my view up and down the American 
Bottom, as far as the eye could extend. The ledge of rocks 
at the present city of Alton, and the rocks near Cahokia, 
limited our view north and south, and all the intermediate 
country extended before us. The prairie and timber were 
distinctly marked, and the Mississippi seen in places. " 

This was Gov. Reynolds' home till he began the practice 
of law at Cahokia in 1814, though he was absent for some 
time attending school in Tennessee. He relates that he at- 
tended all the house raisings and other gatherings of the 
people. No horse-race, or Fourth of July frolic, escaped 
him. He speaks of being present at the camp-meeting, the 
first in Illinois, held on the premises of Mr. Good, three 
miles south of the present Edwardsville, in the spring of 
1807, and also of taking part in muster at Cahokia the 
same spring at which all the militia of St. Clair county (in 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



which the territory of the present Madison county was then 
included) gathered. Many women and children, as well as 
men, attended. In those days women often rode on horse- 
back many miles, carrying their children with them, to 
places of public resort. At this muster, a troop of cavalry 
was training, exchanging blank shots with the infantry, 
when a company of French, from Cahokia, either by mistake 
or otherwise, tired leaden shot into the cavalry company, 
wounding many of the men and horses. At that time a bad 
state of feeling existed between the French and Americans, 
and at the next training the regiment was divided, so that 
the two races mustered apart from each other. Reynolds 
also refers to a horse race.of which he was a witness, that took 
place on the Fourth of July, 1808, on the prairie in the 
American Bottom, a little northwest of the residence of 
Samuel Judy. 

Rattan's prairie was given its name from the circumstance 
that Thomas Rattan settled here in 1804. He came to Ill- 
inois from Ohio ; some time after the war of 1812-14 he re- 
moved to the present county of Greene. Toliver Wright, a 
Virginian by birth, settled near the mouth of Wood river in 
180C. He was a captain in the ranging service during the 
war of 1812-14, and while in command of a company of 
spies, on a march to Peoria, he was shot by an Indian. He 
was carried back to Wood River fort, and died in six weeks 
after receiving his wound. Abel Moore made his home in 
the Wood river settlement in 1808. He was born in North 
Carolina, thence removed to Kentucky, and from that state 
came to Illinois. He died in 1846 at the age of sixty-three. 
The death of his wife occurred one day previous. Two of 
his children were killed in the Wood river massacre. Three 
of the children are yet living, of whom two reside in this 
county, the wife of Madison Williams and Major Franklin 
Moore of Upper Alton. George and William Moore, brothers 
of Abel Moore, left Kentucky at the same time, 1808, but 
went to the Boone's Lick country in Missouri, from which, 
in 180J they came to Madison county. The Reagan family 
some of the members of which were the victims of Indian 
ferocity in the Wood river massacre, came to the Wood 
river settlement about the same time as the Moores. 
â–  George and Thomas Davidson, natives of South Carolina, 
settled in the southeastern part of township five, range nine, 
in 1806, George Davidson estal)li.shed a tannery as early 
as 1810. Thomas Davidson for many years was a Justice of 
the Peace. 

John Atkins came to Illinois in 1807 and settled near the 
Mississippi, four or five miles above the present town of 
Venice. He was born in Massachusetts, and had been a 
soldier in the war of the Revolution. Near the present 
Mitchell station Andrew Emert, a Pennsylvanian, settled 
in 1807. 

Thomas Kirkpatriek made the pioneer improvement on 
the site of Edwardsville, and in the same part of the county 
south and south-east of the present county seat. James Kirk- 
patriek, Frank Kirkpatriek, William Gillham, Charles 
Gillham, Thomas Good, George Barn.sback, George Kin- 
der, John Robinson, Frank Roach, James Holliday, Bryant 
Mooney, Josias Randle, Thomas Handle, Jesse Bell, Josias 



Wright, made early settlements. William Gillham was one 
of the early representatives of Madison county in the legis- 
lature. On the farm of Thomas Good, whose wife was an 
earnest Methodist, the early camp meetings were held. The 
Handle, Bell, and Wright families left Georgia together, in 
September, 1811, and i-eached Turkey Hill, in St. Clair 
county, on the seventeenth of October, and shortly afterward 
made their homes in Madison county. Josias Raudle became 
the first clerk of the circuit court. Josias Wright settled 
the Shaefl'er place, two miles and a half southwest of Edwards- 
ville ; George Barnsback was born at Osterode, Germany, in 
1781. In 1797 he came to America, landing at Philadelphia, 
but soon afterward going to Kentucky, where for some years 
he was overseer of a plantation. From Kentucky he trav- 
elled to Charleston, South Carolina, and there took passage 
for Germany, in a vessel which was shipwrecked in the Eng- 
lish Channel. He returned to Kentucky in 180.^, and in 1809 
came to what is now Madi.son county. He served two years 
in the ranging service, during the war of 1812-14. In 1824 
he went to Germany, and in 1825 came back to the United 
State-i. For six years he lived in St. Francois county, Mis- 
souri, and then came back to his old farm, six miles south- 
east of Edwardsville. He had ten children. Among his 
descendants are some of the leading citizens of the county. 
George Kinder was born in Pennsylvania. Soon after the 
Revolution the family moved to Kentucky, where his father, 
Jacob Kinder, was killed by the Indians. He moved from 
Kentucky to Illinois, and settled in what is now Madison 
county, in the fall of 1811. James Holliday came from 
Georgia. His sou, Robert Holliday, resided in this county 
many years, and then moved to Macoupin county, where 
he died. 

South-west of Edwardsville, at the foot of the bluff, Am- 
brose and David Nix were early settlers, and above them 
lived Jacob Varner. Abraham and Joel Varner were sons 
of the latter. Near the Nixs was Nix's ford, on the Caho- 
kia, a well-known place in the early history of the county, 

Joseph Bartlett, and families by the name of Lockhart 
and Taylor settled in township four, range seven, in 1809. 
Bartlett was a native of Virginia, born in 1772, and removed 
at an early period to the vicinity of Knoxville, Tennessee, 
and from there canje to Illinois in 1807 He first made his home 
in the Wood River settlement. During the war of 1812-14 
he built a block-house, which was standing in good condition 
as late as 1834. Mr. Bartlett was a man of much intel- 
ligence. He was the first treasurer of Madison county after 
its organization. His habits were domestic, and he seldom 
went from home. He died in December, 1863, and for f rty- 
four years previous to his death, had not visited the city of 
St. Louis, though less than twenty-five miles distant from his 
residence. At the time of his last tri]) there, in 1819, the 
horse-ferry had just been established acro.ss the Mississippi. 
So little curiosity did he manifest in the march of modern 
improvements, that he never went to see a steamboat, or 
railroad, nor did he ever visit a county fair, a camp-meeting, 
or any like public gathering. He spent much time with his 
books, and his mind was well-stored with information, espe- 
cially in regard to Politics. He was a Whig. He had a 



80 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



large and well-selected library, and was particularly well 
versed in the early history of Tennessee, in which state he 
lived before coming to Illinois. Besides acting as county 
treasurer he filled the office of justice of the peace, and other 
public positions. 

Paul Beck was one of the early residents of this part of 
the county, and about three miles east of Edwardsville was 
built Beck's block-house, one of the places of refuge during 
the Indian troubles of the war of 18r2-14. Jubilee Posey, 
a native of Georgia, came to Illinois in 1811, and settled in 
township four, range eight. He was in the ranging service ; 
some of his descendants reside in the southern part of the 
county. 

In the southeastern part of the county the first traca^ of 
settlement appear in 1809. Mrs. Howard, a widow with 
several grown sons and daughters, emigrated from Tennessee 
that year, and made her home on a beautiful ridge, covered 
Avith timber, on the edge of the Looking Glass prairie. The 
prairie, for a distance of many miles, was spread out before 
their view. Their location was about one mile northwest 
of the present town of Highland. The next year 1810, 
Abraham Huser, who had married one of the Howard 
daughters, began makiig an improvement nearly a mile 
farther north. At that time these settlements were in ad- 
vance of all others, in that part of the county. Ten miles 
to the south, a short distance north of the present town of 
Lebanon, a few white men had erected their cabins; like- 
wise to the east, on Shoal creek, some settlements had been 
made, and to the east were the improvements on Ridge Prai- 
rie, near the present towns of Troy and Edwardsville, but 
on the north not a single white man had erected hisjjioneer 
habitation. 

On the east side of Silver creek, between 1810 and 1812, 
settlements were made by John Lindley, Augustus Chilton, 
William Chilton, Cyrus Chilton, and families by the name 
of Harrison and Smeltzer, with the Howards and Husers. 
There were eleven families in all in this part of the county 
to seek the protection of Chilton's Fort during the troubles 
with the Indians in the war of 1812-14. 

MONKS OF LA TRAPPE. 

A different order of emigrants made their appearance in 
1807 in the Monks of La Trappe who made their home on 
Cabokia or Monk's Mound where they remained till 1816, 
when they returned to France. These Monks were a branch 
of the order of Cistercian Monks. They first came to the 
United States in 1804, and lived successively atConewango, 
Pennsylvania, in Kentucky, at Florissant, St. Louis county, 
Missouri, and then settled on the mound in the American 
Bottom which was a gift to them of Col. Nicholas Jarrot, of 
Cahokia. They were severe in their penances and discipline, 
and lived in perpetual silence. Gov. Reynolds states : " I 
saw many of the order, at their monastery in the American 
Bottom who refused to speak, but made signs, pointing to 
the place to obtain information. Many whom I saw, were 
stout, robust men, badly clothed, but fat and hearty." To 
them is attributed the discovery of coal in the neighboring 
blufls. 



THE SETTLEMENTS, DURING THE WAR OF 1812-14. 

In the year 1812, at the time of the commencement of the 
Indian hostilities, the settlements in the present Madison 
county were confined to the southern and western parts of 
the county. The centre of population was a short distance 
southwest of Edwardsville, north, along the Mississippi, the 
settlements were bounded by the site of the present city of 
Alton, which, in 1809, Reynolds says, Andy Dunnagan 
occupied, solitary and alone. A settlement of some consi- 
derable number of families had formed in the forks of Wood 
river ; east of Silver creek, in the southeast part of the 
county, not more than a dozen families had made pioneer 
locations. Ridge prairie and the American Bottom con- 
tained by far the largest number of inhabitants. 

INDIAN TROUBLES. 

With the exception of the murder of Dennis and Van 
Meter in 1802, the settlements were happily spared any 
Indian atrocities till the year 1811, when the hostile feelings 
of the Indians, which bad been growing stronger, year by 
year, as they witnessed the advance of the white settlements, 
culminated in the murder of a man named Price near Hun- 
ter's Spring in the lower part of the present city of Alton. 
Price and a companion were engaged in plowing on the 20th 
day of June in that year, when a party of Indians approach- 
ed them, as they stood at the spring, where a small cabin 
had been built. As the Indians came near, the white men 
asked them if they came in peace. One of the Indians, a 
man of great size and strength, laid down his gun, and ex- 
tended his hand to Price, who took it without suspecting 
treachery. Price was held fast by this one Indian, while 
the others immediately murdered him. During the struggle 
Price's companion mounted his horse and escaped, though 
in his flight he received a severe bullet wound in the thigh. 

This tragedy occasioned great apprehension, and from 
that time, till the declaration of peace at the close of the 
war of 1812-14 the settlers lived in constant alarm. Pre- 
parations for defence were immediately made. In July, 
1811, a company of mounted riflemen, or rangers, was 
organized. Block houses were built at difl^erent points. 
The news of the battle of Tippecanoe, fought in November 
of the same year, intensified the excitement, and gave the 
settlers to understand that their homes, at any moment, 
might be made the theatre of a cruel, and relentless^ savage 
warfare. 

A stockade fort was built in section one, of township four, 
range nine, and around this were gathered a number of 
families. Amongthem were John Gillhara and his five sons ; 
three brothers of the name of Brown, three of the Kirkpa- 
tricks, and families by the name of Dunnagan, Sanders, Fer- 
gurson, Dodd, Revis, Beeman, Winsor, Celver, Green, and 
Smith. Thomas Kirkpatrick's fort at Edwardsville shelter- 
ed the inhabitants who had settled in that vicinity, and 
Chilton's fort, east of Silver creek, about two miles west of 
the present town of St. Jacobs gave jirotection to the Howards, 
the Gigers, the Chiltons, and others who had settled in that 
part of the county. There were other block houses at vari- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



81 



ou? points, one on the southeast quarter of section eighteen, 
township five, range eight, known as Jones' block-house. 
James Kirkpatrick's fort was a couple of miles southwest of 
Edwardsville, and southeast was Frank Kirkpatrick's fort. 
Beck's block-house stood on section five of township four, 
range seven. Lofton's and Hayes' block-houses were in 
the American Bottom, in the present Naineoki township. 
The Wood river fort was in section ten, of township five, 
range nine, and there was another fort about one mile south 
of the old town of Milton. 

In IS 12, active preparations were made under Ninian 
Edwa-ds, the territorial Governor, for the protection of the 
frontier. Companies of mounted rangers' were organized 
who scoured the Indian country. Fort Russell was built at 
the commencement of the year, a couple of miles north 
of the present town of Edwardsville, and made the head- 
quarters of the Governor, and the base of his military opera- 
tions. Reynolds states that it was also, during the war, 
" the resort of the talent and fashion of the country. The 
Governor opened his court here, and presided with the 
character that genius and talent always bestow on the per- 
son possessing them. The cannon of Louis XIV, of France, 
were taken from old Fort Chartres, and with them and 
other military decorations, Fort Russell blazed out with 
considerable pioneer splendor." The fort received its name 
in honor of Col. William Russell, of Kentucky, who had 
command of the ten companies of rangers, organized by act 
of Congress, to defend the western frontier. Four of these 
companies were allotted to the defense of Illinois, and were 
commanded by William B. Whiteside, James B. Moore, 
Jacob Short and Samuel Whitiside. The Whitesides were 
citizens of this county. A small company of regulars, under 
command of Captain Ramsey, were stationed at Fort Rus- 
sell for a few months of the year 1812, the only regular 
troops at the fort during the war. 

Andrew Moore and family, moved fiom the Goshen set- 
tlement in 1810 to a place ten or fifteen miles southwest of 
the present town of Mt. Vernon, and in 1812, he and his 
son were killed by the Indians on the middle fork of the 
Big Muddy, where they had camped on their way home 
from Jordan's fort. 

AVOOD RIVER MASSACRE. 

The most startling and cruel atrocity ever committed by 
the Indians within the limits of Madison county was the 
Wood River massacre, on the tenth of July, 1814, by which 
seven persons, one woman and six children, lost their lives. 
This tragedy took place in the forks of Wood river, between 
two and three miles east of the present Upper Alton. The 
victims were the wife and two children of Reason Reagan, 
two children of Abel Moore, and two children of William 
Moore. 

At the beginning of the war of 1812-14, the citizens of 
the county, who lived at exposed locations on the frontier, 
sought refuge in _the forts and block-houses; but, as no 
Indians made their appearance and the Rangers were con- 
stantly on the alert, scouring the country to the north and 
east, the most began to feel su secure that in the summer of 
11 



1814 they returned to their farms and dwellings. There 
were .six, or eight families residing at that time in the forks 
of Wood river. The men were mostly absent from home in 
ranging service. At the residence of George Jloore on the 
east branch of Wood river, a block-house had been built to 
which the women and children could flee .should danger be 
apprehended. 

The massacre occurred on a Sabbath afternoon. Reagan 
had gone two, or three miles from home to attend church, 
leaving his wife and two children at the house of Abel 
Moore, which was about a mile distant from where he lived, 
and half-way between his house and the block-house. About 
four o'clock in the afternoon ^Irs. Reagan started back to 
her own dwelling, intending to return to Abel Moore's in a 
short time. She was accompanied by her own two children, 
and the four children of Abel and William Moore. A little 
afterward two men of the neighborhood pa.ssed along the 
road, in an opposite direction to that taken by Mrs. Reagan. 
One of them heard at a certain place, a low call, as of a boy, 
which he did not answer, and for a repetition of which 
he did not delay. 

When it began to grow dark uneasiness was felt at the ab- 
sence of the Moore children, and William Moore came to 
Abel Moore's, and not finding them there passed on toward 
Reagan's, while his wife started in a direct line, not follow- 
ing the road, for the same place. William Moore now came 
back with the startling information that some one had been 
killed by the Indians. He had discovered a human body 
lying on the ground which by reason of the darkness and his 
haste, he was unable to identify. 

The first thought was to find a refuge in the block-house ! 
Mr. Moore desired his brother's family to go by the road 
directly to the fort, while he would pa.=s by his own house 
and take his own family with him, but the night was dark, 
the road passed through a heavy forest, and the women and 
children chose to accompany William Moore though the dis- 
tance to the fort, by the road only one mile, was thereby 
nearly doubled. The feelings of the party, as they groped 
their way through the dark woods, may be more easily im- 
agined than described. Sorrow fur the supposed loss of rel- 
atives and children, was mingled with horror at the manner 
of their death, and fear for their own safety. Silently they 
passed on till they came to the dwelling of William Moore, 
when he exclaimed, as if relieved from .some dreadful appre- 
hension, " Thank God, Polly is not killed!" The horse 
which his wife had ridden was standing near the house. 

As they let down the bars and gained admission to the 
yard, his wife came running out, exclaiming, " They are 
killed by the Indians, I expect. " The whole party then 
departed hastily for the block-house, to which place, all the 
neighbors, to whom warning had been communicated by 
signals, gathered by daybreak. 

It has been mentioned that Mrs. William Moore, as well 
as her husband, had gone in search of the children. Passing 
by different routes, they did not meet on the way, nor at the 
place of the slaughter. Mrs. Moore who was on horseback, 
carefully noted, as she went, every discernible object till at 
length she saw a human figure, lying near a log. There was 



82 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



not sufficient light to tell the size, or sex, of the person, and 
she called over agaiu and again the name of one and another 
of her children, supposing it to be one of them asleep. At 
length she alighted, and examined the object more closely. 
Wh it must have been her sensations as she placed her hand 
upon the back of a naked corpse, and felt, on further exami- 
nation, the quivering flesh from which the scalp had recent- 
ly been torn ? In the gloom of the night she could indis- 
tinctly see the figure, of the little child of Mrs Reagan's sit- 
ting so near the body of its mother as to lean its head, first 
one side, then the other, on the insensible and mangled body, 
and as she leaned over the little one, it said— " The black 
man raised his axe and cutted them again." She saw no 
further, but thrilled with horror and alarm, hastily re- 
mounted her frightened horse, and quickly hurried home 
where she heated water, intending by that means, to defend 
herself from the savage foe. 

There was little rest that night at the fort. The women 
and children of the neighborhood, with the few men who 
were not absent with the Rangers, crowded together, not 
knowing but that at any minute the Indians might begin 
their attack. Seven were missing, and the bodies of these 
lay within a mile, or two, mangled and bleeding in the for- 
est. At three o'clock in the m )rniug a messenger was dis- 
patched with the tidings to Fort Russell. 

At dawn of day tlie scene of the tragedy was sought and 
the bodies gathered for burial. They were buried the same 
day, in three graves, carefully dug, with boards laid beneath, 
beside, and above the bodies. There were no men to make 
the coffins. 

"The Indians had built a large fire, and also blazed the 
way to make the whites think that there was a large pirty. 
The news soon spread, and it was not long before Gen. 
Whiteside, with nine others, gave pursuit. Among the 
number were James Preuitt, Abraham Preuitt, James Stock- 
den, Wm. Montgomery, Peter Wagoner and others, whose 
descendants now live in Moro and AVood River. The 
weather was extremely hot, and some of their horses gave 
out and fell beneath their riders. Gen. Whiteside gave out 
entirely. His orders was to keep up the pursuit. It was 
on the second day in the evening, that they came in .sight 
of the Indians, on the dividing ridge of the Sangamon river. 
There stood at that time a lone cotton-wood free on the 
ridge, and this several of the Indians had climbed to look 
back. They saw their pursuers, and from that tree they 
separat.d and went in ditterent directions, all making for the 
timber- When the whites c^me to the spot where the 
Indians had divided, they concluded to divide and pursue 
the Indians separately. James Preuitt and Abraham took 
the trail of one of the Indians. James Preuitt having the 
fastest and best horse, soon came within sight of his Indian. 
He rode up to within thirty yards of him and shot him in 
the thigh. The Indian fell, but managed to get to a tree 
top that was blown down. Abraham Preuitt soon came up, 
and they concluded to ride in on the Indian and fiui h him, 
which they did by Abraham shooting and killing him where 
he lay. In his shot-pouch was found the scalp of Mrs. 
Regan. The Indian raised his gun, but was too weak to fire. 



and had also lost his flint, or perhaps he might have killed 
one of the pursuers. The rifle is supposed to be in the hands 
of the Preuitt family yet. It was somewhere near where 
Virden now stands that the party came upon them. The 
Indians hid in the timber and in a drift in the creek. Night 
coming on is all that saved them. It was ascertained at the 
treaty afterwards at G.ileua that only Indians escaped, and 
that wa.s the chief The Indians bled themselves on account 
of the heat to prevent them from fainting. Solomon Preuitt, 
who was not in the pursuit, assisted in the burial of Mrs. 
Reagan and the children. He hauled them in a little one- 
hor.se sled to the old burial ground south of Bethalto, where 
a simple stone marks their last resting place. There is also 
buried in the same burying ground an Indian girl who was 
captured by Abraham Preuitt during one of the campaigns 
in the war of 1812. The Indians had been pursued into the 
Winnebago Swamps, and Abraham Preuitt hearing firing in 
a distant part of the swamp concluded to go and see what 
was the matter. On nearing the spot he found Davis Car- 
ter and one other firing at the little Indian child who was 
mired and could not get out. He called them cowards and 
ordered them to cease firing at a helpless child. Preuitt 
went into the swamp and rescued the child and brought it 
home with him. She lived to the age of fifteen, being about 
six years old at the time of capture. She was always of a 
wild nature." * 

CITIZENS OF THE C'OVNTY IN 1815. 

A " list of persons subject to road labor," preserved in 
the county records, gives, doubtless, the names of the great 
portion of the adult male resi.lents of the county at that 
time.f 

Oq the " public road leading from Edwardsville by 
Thomas Good's to Samuel Judy's." These lived south of 
Edwardsville in the present Edwardsville township: — 
William Sherone, John Robertson, sr., John Robertson, jr , 
James Robertson,! Andrew Black, Charles Gillham, Francis 
Kirkpatrick, William Gillham, Thomas Good, James Good, 
Ezekiel Good, William Tilford, Josias Randle, James Wat- 
son, Richard Wright, Joshua Dean, William Courtney (17). 

On the " public road, leading from the New Bridge on 
Cahokia creek near Edwardsville to where the said road 
crosses Indian creek." These lived north-west of Edwards- 
ville: — Thomas Kirkpatrick, John Kirkpatrick, John New- 
man, John Stout, Upton Smith, Richard Standford, Josiah 
Vaughan, William Mmtgomery, James Gillham, Andrew 
Dunagan, Ryderus Gillham, Ephraim Davidson, Joseph 
White, John Hewitt, John Springer, John Fullmore, Silas 
Beasley, Field Bradshaw, Jonas Brad haw, Obadiah Brad- 
shaw, William Lawle-s, Rowland Heritt, Michael Dodd. 

Ou the " public road leading from Edwardsville to Isom 
Gillham's bridge on Cahokia cretk," James Kirkpatrick 
overseer: — Benjamin Stedmans, Beniah Roberson,J John 
McKinney, Henry Bonner, John W. Wright, Jamfs 

®From an article famished by E. K. Preuitt. 

fThespi'lling is given as fovinrl in the record, much of it obviously 
incorrect. 

+ Properly spelled Poblnson. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



S3 



Wright, James Greenwood, Thomas Randle, Temple Nix, 
Thornton Scepler, Robert Giliaspy,* IsomGillhani, Micajah 
Cox, John Baruett, James Suggs, sr., Alexander V. Boiiuer, 
James Kirkpatrick, George Coventry, Joshua Delaplane, 
Samuel Delaplane, John Ddlaplane, sr., Bejamin Dela- 
plane, jr., William Ottvvell, William Lawless, Jesse Bell, 
George Davidson, Samuel Davidson (27). 

Oa the 'public road leading from Cahokia to the Indian 
Ford on C ihokia creek." These resided in the American 
Bottom in the southeastern part of the county: — Uel 
Whiteside, William B. Whiteside, James Reynolds, Robert 
Reynolds, jr, Thomas Reynolds, Joshua Vaughan, Elisha 
Alexander, Joseph Wallace, Henry Cook, Hiram Arthur, 
Cornelius Folly, Ambrose Nix, William Cox, John Craw- 
ford, Samuel Judy, Jacob Judy, Robert Folly, Thomas 
Smith, Francis Cohue, John Cook, Philip Hewson, Peter 
Hubbard, George Belsha, (23). 

Ou the public road beginning at David Moore's old place 
(on Cahokia and Indian Ford road) and ending at the 
bridge on Cantine creek : — David Lloyd, Thomas Moore, 
Michael Squire, William Winkfield, Gearge Sadler, John 
Sadler, Stephen Sadler, William Robb sr , Andrew Robb, 

William Robb, jr., Joseph Newman, Haley, John 

Waggoner. (13). 

On the public road from Isom Gillham's ferry on the 
Mississippi to Indian creek, where the public road crosses 
said creek leading to Edwardsville : — Isaac Gillham, Samuel 
Gillham, Harry Gillham, David Gillham, Jacob C. Gillham, 
Samuel Brown, Samuel Stockton, John Fiuley, John Powell, 
Joseph LeH()U3e, Gherson Patterson, Ethan Meacham, 
Willeritt Meacham, Bart Meacham, Joseph JleFaggin, 
William Ryon, Thomas Cox, Hezekiah Crozby, Joseph 
Meacham, Daniel Stockton, (20). 

What is known as the upper r.jad running from Edwards- 
ville to Alton was laid out in 1817. and the following are 
the names of persons then living within two miles of the 
road, who assisted in its opening. The names begin with 
those residing near Edwardsville, the eastern terminus: 
William Jones, John Newman, Zadoc Newman, Joseph 
Newman, David Robinson, John Green, William Robinson, 
Samuel Delaplane, Joshua Delaplane, John Delaplane, Sr., 
John Delaplane, jr., William Ottwell, Jesse Bill, George I 
Davidson, William Lawless, William Sharone, Thomas 

White, Henry Brown, Brown, Hunter, Hun- ! 

ter, Joseph Vaughan, John Hewitt, jr., Hiram Pruitt, Ben. 
Wood, Christopher Stont, John Stout, Christopher Stubbins, [ 
James Mc Peak, Upton Smith, John Drum, James McFad- 1 
den, William Ryon, John Vickory, Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Grimes, 
Mr. Whitlock, William Vaughan, Thomas Carlin, Mr. Coop- 
er, Mr. Scott, John Rose, Richard Rotan,t William Mont- 
gomery, William Cox, Isaac Cox, Charles Gillham, John 
Gillham, R. Gillham, James Gillham, Thomas Cox, James 
Tunnel, Silas Bobsell, Jacob Linder, Low Jackson, Field ' 
Bradshaw, Jonas jJradshaw, Obediah Bradshaw, Arman i 
Beeman, John Springer, Walter Sealy, Daniel Dunsmore, 
R. Langworth, Joel Meacham, Ethan Meacham, old Mr. J 
Hodge, David Hodge, old Mr. Morris, Job Day, Isham 

S'Gille.'ipie. fKattan. 



Shockley, James Swinerton, A. Patton, old Mr. Beeman, S. 
Beeman, John Finley, Hezekiah Crosby, Mr. Huff, Thonuis 
Johnson, ;Mr. Tongate, K. Carter, James Prewitt, A Prewitt, 
James Stogdon, John Danley, William Rowden, Pa'rick 
Mofall and Robert Sellers This road was viewed and lo- 
cated by Thomas G Davidson, John Wallace and Abraham 
Prickett. 

SUBSEQUENT SETTLEMENTS. 

After the war of 1812-14 was ended, the settlements in 
the ounty rapidly incraaseil. A treaty of peacs with the 
Indian tribes of the Northwest was concluded in October 
1815. Emigrants from older States, who had been deterred 
from coming to Illinois by reason of the Indian hostilities, 
now poured into the country, and soon took possession of the 
hitherto unsettled parts of the county. 

In the year 1813, Major Isaac H. Ferguson built the first 
house ever erected on the Marine prairie, but after building 
it, did not dare to live there for some time on account of the 
hostile Indians. ISIaj )r Ferguson is spoken of by an old 
resident as the noblest pioneer of Madison county, a man of 
fine native talent, and as brave as Julius Ciiisar. He fought 
the Indian race in Illinois, and ended his life fighting under 
Gen. Scott, as an oflicer in the United States army in Mexico. 

Permanent settlements in the Marine prairie were made 
in 1813 and 181-t by John Warwick, John Woods, George 
Newcome, Isaac Ferguson, Joseph Furguson, Absolom 
Ferguson, Aquilla D olahide, Abraham Howard and Joshua 
Dean. In 1815, the settlements were increased by the 
arrival of Chester Pain, Thomas Breeze, Richard Winsor, 
John Campbell and John Giger ; and in the following year 
came Henry Scott, John Lord, James Simmons, Henry Peck, 
Andrew Matthews, Sr., and Andrew Matthews, Jr , Lefl^brd, 
French, James French, and Abram Carlock. In lnl7, 
there were no new settlements, but in 1818 and succeeding 
years the arrivals were very numerous. 

A colony, among which were Rowland P. Allen, Elijah 
Ellison, and their families, arrived at Edwardsville in 
December, 1817, and in 1818, Allen and Ellison came 
to the ]\Iarine settlement. Among the arrivals in 1819 were 
Capt. George C. Allen, Capt. Curtis Blakeman, Capt. 
James Breath, Capt. De Selhorst, Capt. David Mead 
and their families. These men had seen years of service on 
the ocean, and had come to the West to engage in agricul- 
ture, and rear their families. They came from New Eng- 
land, New York and New Jersey. The circumstances of 
their settling here gave to the prairie, and the village when 
it was founded, the name of Marine. The Judd family also 
settled here in 1819, as did James Sacket, a native of Con- 
necticut. Capt. Curtis Blakeman was one of the leading 
men of this colony. He came with considerable wealth 
while the others from the east had been mostly driven to 
Illinois either by poverty, or a desire to retrieve a fortune 
lost by commercial reverses. He was a candidate for county 
commissioner in 1820 and was elected to represent the county 
in the legislature in 1822. For a number of years he filled 
the office of justice of the peace. His son, Curtis Blake- 
man, was a prominent citizen of the county, and was elected 
a representative in the legislature in 1842. The wife of 



81 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



John L. Ferguson was the daughter of Curtis Blakeman, Sr. 
Major Ferguson, and the older settlers, coming as they did, 
from the heavily timbered counties of Kentucky and Ten- 
nessee, all made clearings in the edges of the forest, and there 
bui't and lived. Rowland P. Allen was one of the first to 
build in the prairie, and was laughed at for his willingness to 
haul building material, fencing, and fire wood so far, a dis- 
tance of half a mile. But in a few years the older pioneers 
realized the advantages of a residence on the prairie, and 
began themselves to leave the gloom of the woods, and come 
out into the sunshine. 

Mrs. Elizabeth Randle with a family of nine children, 
seven sons and two daughters, the youngest of whom was 
Irwin B. Randle, now a resident of Edwardsville, removed 
from Stewart county, Tennessee, to this county in the fall of 
1814, and the next year settled a couple of miles southeast 
from Edwardsville. 

Among the early settlers in the neighborhood of Troy 
were William F. Purviauce, John Jarvis, and Robert Mc- 
Mahan. Purviance was born in North Carolina, came to 
Illinois in 1809. After coming to this county he lived in 
the neighborhood of Troy, till his death in 1820. He was 
the last surviving member of the first grand jury ever con- 
vened in Madison county. Robert McMahan was born in 
Virginia, and at an early day emigrated to Lexington, Ken- 
tucky. He came to Illinois, and settled in the New Design, 
in the present county of Monroe. His wife and four children 
'were killed by the Indians, and he and a daughter taken 
prisoner. He died near Troy in 1822. 

Note. — Several accounts liavs been published of the murder of the 
meraber-5 of McMahan's family and bis capture by tbe Indians, but 
ibe following, from tbe pen of George Churcbill, a neighbor of Mc- 
Mahan in Ridge Prarie, is the mo.st correct : 

"Tbe settlers being apprehensive of attacks from straggling parties 
of Indians, Mr McMahan, in 1794, resided in a house of Mr. James 
Lemjn, Sr., near tbe station in Mmroe county. In the simi vicin- 
ity resided Mr. Peter Casterline and Mr. Benjamin Ogle. But desir- 
ing to improve the land which he had selicted for bis farm, and 
hoping to escape an attack, or to repel it if made, he afterwards re- 
moved to his improvement in the prairie, about three miles from the 
station, and out of sight of any house. 

" He made preparations to defend himself and foraily against an at- 
tack. He bad a rifle, and only a week before the tragedy, he run 
two hundred rifle balls. He also bad a blunderbuss charged with six 
charges of powder and nine balls. " When you hear the report of any 
biundirbuss ! ' said he to his friends at the station, " you may be certain 
ibat I am attacked." The door of bis hou.se was so constructed that it 
might be strongly barred, and first holes were made in the walls 
through which be might shoot any who should attempt to asicend to 
ibe roof. On the fatal twenty si.xth of January, 1795, Mr. Mc- 
Mahan went out to hunt for his oxen, when he perceived that his 
horse, which was confined in a pen, appeared to be frightened. He 
cast bia eye over the prarie in every direction, but saw no enemy. " 

" A lone hickory tree, one hundred and fifty yards from his house, 
had been blown down tbe year before while in full leaf, thus affording 
a convenient hiding place for an attacking party : but unfortunately 
Mr. McMahan did not think of there being a deadly enemy ensconced 
within that convenient covert. ' 

" He entered bis house, but had not been there more than two or 
three minut&s, when four Indians, frightfully painted black and 
red, entered the bouse, two by two, saying ' Bon jour! Ion jour .' (good 
dav ! good dav) !' Thev stood motionless a few seconds, when one of 



them attempted to take down Mr. McMahan's rifle from tbe hook, 
and Mr. McMahan took down his bliniderbuss; but bis wife took hold 
of it, and begged her husband not to resist, as she hoped their lives 
might be spared, if they submitted peaceably, but otherwi.^e they 
would be killed. The Indians then seized tbe blunderbus-i and 
wrenchtd it from bis bands. Every one then made for the door. Mrs. 
McMahan run half way round the house, when she was shot in the left 
breast, and scalped. Mr. McMahan was then pulled back into the 
house, thrown on the floor, and his hands pinioned close behind him, 
with deer sinews. Sally McMahan, his eldest daughter, then less 
than nine years old, remained in tbe house and saw one of the In- 
dians knock her brother and two of her sisters in tbe head with 
tbe poll of his tomahawk. It was a light blow, only sufficient to 
stun them. This Indian was proceeding to open tbe cradle where lay 
a female infant, only one month old, when Sally ran out of the house, 
and once around it when she was also seized by him. ' 

" Tbe Indian who committed tbe murder was sujiposed to be of the 
Miami tribe. Tbe other three were Pu-taw-wabs as they call them- 
selves, or as they are commonly called by the whites, Poltowatomies. " 

" Three of the children were scalped. It was said that the infant 
was not scalped, but my informant stated that the Indians displayed 
five scalps when they camped at night, and they supposed they took 
two scalps from tbe head of one of tbe murdered children, and left the 
infant unscalped. It has also been stated that the infant was unhurt 
and died of starvation ; but my informant learned from a woman 
who was present at the burial, that there was a gash in its cheek. '' 

" Tbe Indians took from the bouse such articles as they wanted, packed 
a part of them upon Mr. McMahan, one of whose hinds was untied, 
so that he might carry his load: and with their captives, left in 
haste for their home in the northeast part of Illinois. Mr. McMahan 
meditated an escape, but did not make known his intention to his 
daughter. Tbe first night of the journey he saw no chance of escape, 
as tbe Indians had tied him very securely, and had taken away his 
sho.s and bat and part of his clothes. But during tbe second night, 
be quietly slipped oft" the cords from his limbs and body, and was 
about to rise when be perceived that one of the Indians wis awake. 
Waiting till the Indian was again asleep, he made his escape, after 
trying in vain to get possession of his shoes. In the dead of winter, 
without shoes, without food, and with scanty clothing, he left bis 
daughter with her captor.s, and endeavored to make his way to the 
New Design. He lay out one cold night, making his bed of leaves 
under a large fallen tree, which was held up frum tbe ground by its 
branches. He was partially frozen, but the next morning resumtd 
his journey. He now had the pleasure of meeting a friend in the 
person of Col. Samuel Judy, who gave him the necessary directions, 
which he pursued, and reached his home just after his wife and four 
children had been committed by their sympathizing neighbors, to one 
common grave. He prostrated himself upon the grave exclaiming, 
' They were lovely in their lives, and in their deaths they were not 
divided! 

Tbe massacre took placeon Monday, and the burial on tbe succeed- 
ing Friday. \ small dog belonging to Mr. McMahan daily visited 
the residence of Mr. James Lemen, sen., and endeavored, by whining 
to inform the people of what had happened to his master's families. 
But for several days they did not comprehend the dog's message. One 
authority says not until old Mr. Judy had discovered the dead bodies, 
and reported tbe fact at the station. " 

'Let ns now rv turn to the Indians and their remaining captive. 
They i)ur6ued their course, and reacbid tbe home of the Putawwabs 
southwest of Lake Michigan. Sally McMahan was here transferred 
to an Ottawa Indian, who had become a chief of the Putawwabs 
and whose wife was a sister of the three Putawwabs who had been 
concerned in the massacre. The name of this chief was Sukkonok, 
which being translated means Blackbird ; but among tbe whites he 
went by tbe name of Leturneau. Here the Indian women cultivated 
their gardens and " truck patches, " with a neatness worthy of com- 
mendation and imitation, not permitting a solitary weed to grow 
therein. " 



HISTORY OF MADISOX COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



85 



John Jarvis was a Virginian \<y birth. He came to 
Illinois at au early date, and from 1806 to 1813 lived at 
Turkey Hill, the first American settlement formed within 
the present county of St. Clair. He came to JIadison 
county in 1813, and there ended his life if usefulness. Many 
of his descendants still live in that part of the county. In 
the diary of Rowland P. Allen, occurs the following passage, 
written in 1817, on his journey to Illinois: "On Monday, 
December 22d, to our aslouishraent, drove seventeen and a 
half miles this day. Put up at night at Troy with a Mr. 
Jarvis, a very fine man, where we saw the first real marks of 
civilization sinre we left Shawneetown. Previous to retiring 
for the night, ^Ir Jarvis gathered his family and the stran- 
gers around the family altar, read a chapter from the Bible, 
sang a hymn, and offered up to Almighty God, a most 
feeling, excellent, and appropriate prayer." Jlr. Jarvis, in 
1816, built a band mill, which was a great convenience to 
thepefiple of that part of the county. His memory is per- 
pftuated in the name of Jarvis township. 

Jesse Renfro, who is still living in the vicinity of Troy, 
is one of the oldest residents of the southern part of the 
county He was born iu Kentucky in 1796, and his father 
James Renfro, removed with the family to Illinois in 1810. 
In the spring of 1811 his father settled in township three, 
range eight, and died iu 1814 while on a visit to Kentucky. 

"In 1795, General Antliony Wavne, sometimes called 'Mad An- 
thony,' obiaiucd a great victory over the Indians in Ohio. This was 
followed by the Treaty of Greeneville, by which the Indians engaged 
to bring into the white settlements all the captives in their ()o.sses.sion. 
In accordance with the stipulation, in April, 1790, Sukkonok look Sally 
McMahan down the Illinois and Mississippi, in a ciinoe, and landed 
at Cahokia, and delivered her to the white people. It being court 
time a great many people were present. Sukkonok ra.ide a speech to 
lliem in which he said that he had no hand in the massacre, had paid 
a considerable sum for the captive, and had brought her a great dis- 
tance into the white .settlements. He therefore appealed to the liber- 
ality and sense of justice of the white people to makt him just com- 
pensation. A subscription paptr w.as dta«n up, and circulated, and 
one hundred and sixty-four dollars subscribed, and that amount in 
goods was advanced to Sukkonok by Mr. Arundel, a merchant of Ca- 
hokia. 

'â–  â–  Bill, ' a .slave of Mr. Marney, of the .\uierican Bottom, was a few 
weeks after the massacre of Mr. McMalian's family carried away 
captive by two of the Indians engaged in that transaction together 
with two other Indians. Bill was never restored to his friends; but 
it was reported that he was poisoned by his mistress, to prevent his 
restoration according to the treaty of Greeneville. " 

''Kobert McMahan married a second wife, and raised a large 
family. He resided many years in Ridge prairie, southwest of Troy, 
and died in the year 1822, aged sixty-three years." 

" Sally McMahan was born March 9tli, 178-5; was married to Mr. 
David Gaskill, and raised a large family. She lived in Ridge prairie, 
during the greater portion of her life. Towards the close of her life 
fhe rimoved to the city of Alton, where she died on the 23d of Jan- 
uary, 1860, in the sixty-fourth year of her age. To her I am imlebted 
for such of the facts stated in this memoir as occurred in her pre.'^ence." 

â– ' In Gov. Reynolds' account of the above transaction it is stated 
that tuo daughters of Mr. McMahan were led away captive, and no 
mention is made of Mr. McMahau's preparations for defense. It is 
evident, however, that if he had seen the Indians before they entered 
liis house, he could have defended himself successfully until the re- 
port of his blunderbuss would have brought him assistance from the 
station. â– ' 



Jesse Renfro was married in 1817 and settled a short 
distance east of the present town of Troy where he has 
since lived. After a married life which extended over the 
unusually long period of si.xty-five years, his wife departed 
this life in the spring of 1882. 

William Hall became a resident of the ( re.sent Jarvis 
township in 181.5. James Watt, who came to Illinois from 
Green county, Kentucky, settled three miles south of Troy 
iu 1817. For nearly sixty years he was a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. He died iu December. 1861. 
George Churchill made his home on the Ridge prairie west 
of Troy, in 1817, and was one of the most meritorious aud 
deserving citizens the county ever had. He was born at 
Hubbardton, Rutland county, Vermont, in 1789. He 
learned the printing business iu Albany, Xew York, and 
afterward worked as a journeyman in Xew York city, and 
then came AVest by way of Pittsburg, Cincinnati, Louis- 
ville and .Shawneetown, from the last-named place proceeding 
on foot to Kaskaskia. A view of the Illinoi.'i prairies made 
him resolve to become a farmer, aud he entered laud in 
township three, range seven, on which he lived till he 
died. He was a close student, a writer of fine ability, and 
a man who paid great attention to exactness of detail and 
the collection of historical data. He had amassed a large 
quantity of valuable matter concerning the early history of 
the county and this part of the state, but his papers were 
unfortunately destroyed in the great fire at Chicago, to 
which place they had been sent after his death. His habits 
were somewhat eccentric, and he never married. He was 
several times chosen a member of the Legislature and ane 
of the warm oj)ponents of the movement for the introduction 
of slavery into the state in 1824. 

Joseph Eberman was one of the first settlers on the site of 
Troy, and the first Justice of the Peace in that part of the 
County. Calvin and Horatio JlcCray, natives of Connecti- 
cut, settled near Troy iu 1816 or 1817, and brought the 
first infusion of "yankee" blood to a settlement the pre- 
vious members of which had been almost entirely of south- 
ern origin. James and Harry Riggin came to this part of 
the country in 1818, and the next ytar James Riggin and 
David Hendershott laid off the town of Troy. John C. 
Riggin, a brother to James and Harry, followed in 1822. 
The Riggius were natives of Sevier county, Tennessee. 

Jacob Gonterman, who was born in Maryland iu 1764, 
aud from his native state removed to Shelby county, Ken- 
tucky, came to Illinois in 1816 and settled in township four, 
range eight. Soon after his arrival he dug a well on his 
farm, which faithfully served the people of that neighbor- 
hood for many years. James Pearce made au improvement 
in this part of the county in 1815. The Rev. Thomas Ray, 
a Baptist preacher, came in 1818, Alvis Hauskins in 1819, 
aud John M inter and Mathias Handlon at an early period. 
The Fruit family was one of the earliest to settle in this part 
of the county. 

Laban Smart, a North Caroliuian and a soldier in the 
Revolutionary war, emigrated from Chatham county. North 
Carolina, to Kentucky in 1806, and thence to Madison county, 
Illinois, iu 1816. He settled in township four, range eight. 



86 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



and Smart's prairie was named from the circumstance of 
the settlt'inent of the family in that part of the county. 
Henry B. Smart, his son, was sixteen years of age when his 
father came to this county, and for many years was a 
resident of Smart's prairie, where he died on the twenty- 
third of January of 1882. 

John Giger, a Pennsylvania German, became a citizen of 
township three, range six, in 1816, as also did Gilmore 
Anderson, William Faires, John Herrin, Nicholas Kyle 
and William Parkinson. Anderson came from Bourbon 
county, Kentucky. John Herrin gave his name to Herrin's 
grove. In 1817 there were two arrivals from Tennessee, 
Philip Searcy and Wesley Dugger. The latter built a 
horse-mill and kept a store. He had served under Gen. 
Jackson at the battle of New Orleans. Henry Burton 
Thorp, a native of Connecticut, came in 1819, and Washing- 
ton Parkinson in 1818. John Howard, one of the fixmily 
which made the pioneer settlement east of Silver creek, 
near the present town of Highland, was the first Justice of 
the Peace in township three, range six. He was a member 
of the first legislature after the organization of the state 
government. 

In 1813 Abner Kelly and Josiah, William, Andrew, and 
John W^allace made settlements under ihe blufl' in township 
three, range eight. The Wallace family finally moved to 
Missouri. As early as 1814 Michael Squire settled near 
Collinsville, and John Williamson came to the same part 
of the county in 1819. David Morgan, William Combs, 
Abraham Claypole, and several of the Muirheid family, 
made their hnnies in the present Collinsville township pre- 
vious to the year 1820. Stephen Johnson, who became a 
citizen of Collinsville in 1829, came to the county in 1818. 

William Montgomery came from Kentucky to St. Louis 
in 1809, and in 1814 made his home in Madison county. 
After living three years in Fort Russell township, he re- 
moved to Wood River township. Mrs. Anna Collet, with 
her three sons, John W., Robert, and Mark Collet, in 1817, 
came to Illinois from the city of Philadelphia, and settled at 
the old town of Milton, on Wood river. Thomas Lippincott, 
in 1818, became a citizen of Milton, where he opened a store 
and carried on the mercantile business in partnership with 
Rufus Easton, of St. Louis, the founder of the city of Alton. 
Mr. Lippincott was born at Salem, New Jersey, in 1791, and 
in 1817 started for the AVest, arriving in St. Louis in Feb- 
ruary, 1818. Milton proved an unhealthy place. About 
1821 Mr. Lippincott removed to Edwardsville, of which 
place he was a resident for some time. He died at Pana in 
1869. The town of Milton had been founded at an early 
date, perhaps about 1809. John Wallace and Walter Seely 
were largely interested in the place in 1818. At that date 
it contained three mills, two saw-mills, and a grist mill. 
Besides the store there was also a distillery and a tavern. 
Joel Bacon was proprietor of the tavern. Wallace, in an 
advertisement in the Edwardsville Spectator, de.scribes the 
steam distillery as "a valuable property, calculated to work 
twenty-five bushels a day." The dam thrown across Wood 
river to furnish power to the mills seems to have generated 
a miasma, which rendered the place undesirable for habita- 



tion. Sickness was prevalent, and the deaths many. The 
town declined, but its history should be perpetuated for the 
one reason, at least, that here was organized by Thomas 
Lippincott, in 1819, the first Sunday-school in Illinois. 

In the "Geographical Sketches of the Western Country," 
written by E. Dana, and published in 1819, appears the 
following reference to Milton and to the Six mile prairie : 

"Two miles from Alton, at the place called Wallace 
Mills, on Wood creek, which empties into the Mississippi, 
is the little town of Milton, on the route from Alton, by 
Edwardsville to Vincennes. This place contains about fifty 
houses. The creek here drives both a grist and saw mill, each 
of which does a large business. The soil extending from this 
town to St. Louis, twenty-four miles, is mostly excellent, 
being all bottom lands, except the Six mile prairie, which is 
one and a half miles wide, surrounded by trees of a hand- 
some growth. The greater part of the last described tract 
is cjvered with settlements made since the United States ac- 
quired a right to the soil. A peculiar disease among the 
cattle prevails here, which the people call milk-sick, that 
produces in beasts strange tremulous motions, and so strongly 
affects them as often to prove mortal. Nowhere, except at 
this place and about the mouth of the Missouri, has this dis- 
ease made its appearance. The milk of cows thus affected 
has proved injurious, and sometimes mortal to those who 
drink it." 

A colony, among which were Isaac Braden, Valentine 
Kinder, the Hawk, and other families, settled in township 
three, range nine, in 1817. They came from Pennsylvania, 
making the voyage down the Ohio, from Wheeling, Vir- 
ginia, to Shawnee! own bj' flat boat, and thence to St. Louis 
by keel boat. About 1815, John Anthony, of Pennsylvania 
Dutch descent, built the first house on the site of Venice, 
and entertained travellers in a single-room house built of 
cotton-wood logs. He also hired skiffs to persons wishing to 
cross the river — a fore-runner to the regular horse-ferry 
established between Venice and St. Louis in 1826. 

In township six, range nine (Fosterburg), the first settle- 
ments were made about 1816, by Joseph S. Reynolds and 
Orman Beemau, who resided there till 1822. Settlers by 
the name of Honeycutt and Dubbs gave their names to the 
streams known by that appellation. Mrs. McAfee and her 
family lived here for a few years subsequent to 1816, and 
then removed to Greene county. W^illiain R. Rhodes began 
making an improvement in 1818, which three years later 
he sold to Joshua Wood. Jacob Deck came in 1820, and 
became a permanent citizen. His brothers, John and Isaac 
Deck, settled in the same neighborhood. Green W^. Short, 
a Tennesseean, removed to this township in 1820, having 
previously lived two years in Wood river township. James 
Dooling, a native of Ireland, who came to the state in 1818, 
settled in this township in 1821, and Oliver Foster in 1825. 

Ger:rhom Flagg came to the county in the spring of 1818. 
He was born in Vermont in 1792. He served with the Ver- 
mont troops in the war of 1812-14. He started for the 
West in 1816, and spent the winter of 1816-17 in Ohio. The 
following summer he came down the Ohio, in a small flat- 
boat, to the mouth of the river, and thence journeyed by 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUXTY, IILIXOIS. 



87 



land to St. Louis. He there assisted in painting the first 
steamboat that ever reached St. Louis. In the spring of 
1818 he began making an improvement on section three, of 
township five, range eight, where he resided till his death. 
A number of letters written by him to relatives in Vermont 
are still preserved. In one he says, speaking of Illinois : "I 
will only say it is the handsomest and best country that I 
have ever seen. In places there is prairie as far as the eye 
can reach, covered with tall grass higher than a man's 
head" These letters show that he was a man of keen ob- 
servation and good ability. His son, Willard C. Flagg, born 
in 1829, became one of the most distinguished citizens of the 
county. 

Gaius Paddock settled near Mr. Flagg the same year. He 
was a native of Massachusetts, and was born in 1758. He 
entered the colonial army at the commencement of the Revo- 
tionary war, then seventeen years old, and served till its 
close. He wa-s in Washington's command at the time he 
made the crossing of the Delaware and captured the British 
force at Trenton. He removed from Vermont to Cincinnati 
in 1S15, to St. Charles, Missouri, in 1816, and the next year 
to St. Louis. He died in 1831. John Springer became a 
resident of this part of the county in 1814; he served in the 
war of 1812-14, and was a lieutenant in Captain Jones' 
company. He raised a large family of children, and was 
for years one of the prominent men of his section. The 
Springers have always been among the leading citizens of 
the county — further mention of them is made elsewhere iu 
this work. 

Another old and well known family, whose several mem- 
bers became prominent and distinguished citizens in the his- 
tory of this county, was that of David Gillespie, the father 
of Matthew and Joseph Gillespie. He was born, reared, and 
married in County M )naghan, Ireland, and emigrated to 
New York in 1807, where he resided until 1818, when with 
his family he removed to Madison county, Illinois. Here he 
lived until 1834, when he went to Wisconsin, and there died. 
The family were of Scotch origin, but settled in the North 
of Ireland in the year 1688. An uncle of David G llespie 
emigrated to America previous to the Revolutionary war, 
and settled in Virginia, from whom the persons of that name 
throughout the Southern States have descended. From 
tradition we learn that the Gillespies were a branch of the 
clan of the Campbells, and that their original habitation 
was in the Highlands of Scotland. David's family consisted 
of the parents and two children, Matthew and Joseph, who 
were born in New York city. He Wiis a man of good com- 
mon sense and honesty. He had no ambition but to make 
a living for himself and family, and transmit to his children 
a reputation for integrity. He disliked the dealings of the 
English Government with Ireland, and early in lil'e deter- 
mined to make America his home. His wife Sarah, the 
mother of Matthew and Joseph, was a woman of remarkable 
strength of character, and endeavored to inspire her sons 
with an ambition to rise in the world, and availed herself 
of every opportunity to procure books for iheni from which 
to obtain information. Schools in early days in Illinois were 
verv limited. She was a deadlv foe to the institution of 



slavery, and would not reside in a slave state. She was a 

thorough Whig in politics, and her two sons took their ideas 
from her in that regard. The two sous of David and Sarah 
Gillespie ever remained firm and true exponents of the prin- 
ciples of the Whig and Republican parties; patriotism and 
loyalty to the principles of liberty were the standard by 
which they measured their p.ilitical conduct. They assisted 
in the formation of the Republican party in Illinois — and 
the venerable Joseph Gillespie, who is still living, U one of 
the well known men of the state. Further mention is made 
of them elsewhere in the work. 

Daniel A. Lanterman, one of the early residents of Fort 
Russell township, was born in Pennsylvania, of Dutch ances- 
try, in the year 1786. His father moved with the family to 
Fayette county, Kentucky, iu 1788. Mr. Lanterman came 
from Kentucky to Illinois in 1818, and taught school two 
years near the Baptist church on section eighteen, of town- 
ship five, range eight. In 1821 he settled on the adjoining 
section, nineteen. At that time there lived in that neigh- 
borhood, John Springer, Ephraim Wood, Lowe Jackson, 
William .Montgomery, John Drum, Sjlomou Preuitt, and 
Jacob Liuder, whohad settled in that vicinity in 181-5 or 1816, 
and had removed to Greene county. Beside the Rev. Wil- 
liam Jones, another William Jones lived in section twenty- 
nine. William Green lived in the neighborhood, but in 
1821 went to Greene county. His place was purchased by 
a Kentuckian named Norman, who likewise stayed only a 
short time. AVilliam, James and Abraham Preuitt lived 
along the blufl' in that part of the county. 

When Mr. Lanterman came through Edwardsville on the 
nineteenth of December, 1818, there were two stores in the 
place Some of the party went to buy some whiskey, but 
could find no bottles. After he settled in township five, 
range eight, a great many used to go past his farm inquiring 
for Alton He asked a neighbor what kind of a place Alton 
was, and received the reply, " About fifteen sink holes to the 
acre." He was in Lower Alton in 1822, when there were no 
women residing in the place, and only three men. He u.sed 
to go to the old town of Milton to mill. There were two 
stores there at that time. In some seasons the place was 
very sickly. He went there once to buy some cotton yarn, 
and Thomas Lippincott, who lived on the east side of the 
bridge and had his store on the other side, told him he would 
not walk across the bridge for all there was in the store, so 
fearful was he of the pestilential air of the stream. The 
streets at that time were grown full of weeds. 

A few miles northeast of Edwardsville, in township five, 
range seven, a settlement was made in the winter of 1.S17- 
18, by Henry Keley, with whom came to the county, Robert 
and Anson Aldrich. The latter were born in Mendom, 
AVorcester county, Massachusetts, and in September, 1816, 
Robert, then being twenty-two years old, they set out on 
foot for Illinois, reports of the wonderful fertility of which 
country had reached them In the vicinity of Xenia, 
Ohio, they found some friends from M;issachusetts «ith 
whom they staved and worked till the fall of 1817. They 
then resumed their journey to Illinois, and at Cincinnati, 
fell in with Henry and George Keley, two brothers on their 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



way to Edwardsville. "With them Henry Keley had his 
family. The Keleys had what was called a family boat, 
and the Aldrichs decided to go with them on the voyage 
down the Ohio. Shawneetown was reached in October, and 
there the party decided to follow the river no farther, but to 
go overland. The Keleys had brought on the boat three 
horses and a wagon. The journey was made over bad roads. 
The men were often obliged to wade into the mud holes and 
lift the wagon, by sheer strength, out of the mire. The 
streams had no bridges, and the wagon box was used as a 
boat in which to ferry over the women, children and house- 
hold goods. At one stream, greatly swollen, they encamped 
on the bank four days, waiting for the waters to subside, and 
an opportunity to continue their journey. Finally the women 
children, and household goods, and running gear of the wa- 
gon were ferried over, while the horses swam. They ar- 
rived in Kaskaskia, November the first, 1817. After renting 
there a few days, Henry Keley and the two Aldrichs 
mounted horses, and came to Edwardsville, crossing the 
Mississippi on the route, and taking a look at the French 
village of St. Louis. A:, Edwardsville they found quarters 
at the public house, which John T. Lusk had just erected. 
Indeed, this new log hotel was not quite finished, some 
chinking and daubing remained to be done. The cracks 
between the logs were wide, a blustering storm arose during 
the night, and so furious was the blast that the bed clothing 
was swept from the would-be sleepers. After looking around 
for a day or two, INIr. Keley employed George Coventry, 
father of John W. Coventry, the present post-master at 
Edwardsville, to show him the country in the vicinity of the 
town, and especially to point out the sectional corners of the 
land surveys. Mr. Keley selected a location on section 
twenty-nine, of township five, range seven. The north line 
of this township was the limit of the government surveys 
that had been made up to that time. 

With the exception of a small improvement made in the 
year 1811, by a man named Ferguson, (who abandoned it 
at the commencement of the hostilities in the war of 1812-14) 
just below where the Alton and Greenville road crosses the 
Cahokia creek, the dwelling erected by Keley, into which he 
moved his family on the fourth of January, 1819, was the 
first ever built in Hamel township. At Lamb's Point in 
this township, Bennett Jones built a cabin in the early part 
of 1818, and a couple of miles farther west two men, by 
the name of Allen and Keltner, brothers-in law, made small 
improvements the same year, which, however, they left in a 
short time. Archibald Lamb settled in 1818 at Lamb's 
Point, and resided there for many years afterward. In the 
west part of the present Alhambra township, William Hox- 
sey made a settlement in 1S18. He was born in Rhode 
Island in 1766, emigrated to Greenbrier county, Virginia, 
where he married, then to Christian county, Kentucky, and 
from there came to Illinois in 1818. He died in 18.32. He 
was an enterprising farmer, and brought a considerable 
quantity of land under cultivation. Near Mr. Hossey, his 
brother in-law, James Gray, settled the same year, and after 
a residence of ten or twelve years in this county, moved to 
Montgomery county In the Silver creek timber, near the 



ford where the old trail leading from the Wood river settle- 
ment to Bond county crossed that stream, David Aikman 
built a cabin, but after living there a few years, sold his 
improvement and moved to other parts. In the southwest 
part of Hamel township, Thomas Barnett settled in 1818, and 
lived there till 18.52, when he died at the age of seventy- 
three. 

In tlie north part of township four, range five, Archibald 
Coulter, who came to Illinois from Kentucky, settled in 
1816. In this year also arrived James East, who built a 
cabin and planted two acres of corn in the edge of the 
prairie, with a spade. The next year he brought his wife 
from Kentucky. Samuel McAlilly, who was born of Scotch 
ancestry in South Carolina, removed from Tennessee in 1818, 
and a few years found a home for his family in a cabin 
which stood on ground now comprised in the Highland 
cemetery. Thomas Johnson, a Kentuckian, came in 1817 ; 
Benjamin May at an early date, and Benjamin Reiramer in 
1818. 

In Silver Creek bottom, in section nineteen, township 
f )ur, range five, west, there was a .salt lick which attracted 
deer and cattle at an early day, and here in 182-3, William 
Biggs, a Kentuckian, undertook to bore for salt. He struck 
solid rock at a.depth of thirty feet, and ontinued the shaft 
to a distance of four hundred and forty feet below the sur- 
face, when salt water began to flow. Into the shaft he set 
the trunk of a hollow sycamore tree, cemented to the rock. 
The experiment was expensive, and ended in failure. 

William Hinoh, a hardy pioneer from eastern Kentucky, 
was the first white settler within the boundaries of township 
five, range six. He arrived in November, 1817, and settled 
a short distance north and east of Silver Creek. During 
, the succeeding winter he lived in camp and the next spring 
put up a cabin. He died in 184-5. His widow still survives, 
and is now eighty-eight years of age. James Farris settled 
in the same vicinity in 1818, and the same year the Piper 
settlement was started in the southwest part of this town- 
ship, numbering among other settlers, John Piper, Richard 
Knight, Matthew Hall, and Jackson and Prior Scruggins. 

James Pearce, in 1818, removed from township four, 
range eight, where he had settled three years previous, built 
a cabin east of Silver Creek, and made the first settlement 
in what is now Leef township. Tais was at that time the 
frontier settlement in that part of the county, the prairie 
from his residence stretched away toward the north wild and 
uninhabited. 

Township six, ranges even (Oraph-Ghent) had for its first 
settler David Swett, who in the ftiU of 1820 built a cabin 
near the site of the Omph-Ghent church. He had come to 
Edwardsville in 1817. He moved into this cabin in the 
spring of 1821. He was the first Justice of the Peace in 
the township, and was also a member of the Board of 
County Commissioners. Charles Tindall settled in the 
township in 1825, and Ezekiel Davis in 1826. 

In township six, range six, (Olive) James Street was one 
of the early settlers, but in a short time moved away- 
Isham Vincent, a native of North Carolina, came to the 
county in 1817, and lived three years in the vicinity of Troy, 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



89 



then moved to the northern part of tlie county. He had a 
horsc-niill. His house was the early voting place of Silvir 
Creek precinct. He died in 1846. Abram Carlock settled 
in this part of the county in 1817, David Hendershott and 
Samuel Voyles in 1818, James Keown in 1819 and John 
Harrington in 1820. 

New Douglas township six, range five, had only one 
early pioneer, Daniel Funderburk, who was born in Houth 
Carolina, settled herein 1819 and died in 1838. 



EARLY MARRIAGES. 

The first marriage license found among 
the sixth issued, and reads as follows : 



the records was 



Illinois Territory, | 
Madison County. ) " 
The Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas nf Madison Countij, 

To all who shall see these present-i, grettlug. 

Know ye that license and permission is hereby given 
unto any Judge of the General Court of the Illinois Terri- 
tory, and any Judge of the Court of drnmon Pleas, Justice 
of the Peace, or Licensed Minister of any Religious Society 
in the County of Madison, to join together in matrimony, 
as man and wife, Daniel G. Moor, gentleman, and Miss 
Frankey Jarvis, both of this county, according to the usage, 
custom, and the laws of the territory, and for so doing this 
shall be their sufficient license or warrant. 

In testimony Avhereof, I, Josias Randle, Clerk of the 
Court, have hereunto set ray hand and (the county not yet 
having provided one) affixed my own private seal, at my 
office, this 21st day of June, in the year of our Lord, 1813, 
and of our Independence the Thirty-seventh. 

/S'^^^ Josias Randle, C. C. C. P. 

( SEAI. ) 

The following are the marriage licenses issued from June 
1814, to June 1819, No. 15 to No. 150. The names of the 
parties are spelled as they appear in the records : — 

1814— June 14. William Kelley to Rebecah McMahan. 

July 27. Samuel Statens to Elizabeth II. 

Sept. 5. Samuel Lockliart to Winney Walker. 

Sept. 22. Janles Kirkpatrick to Electa Meacliain. 

Oct. 13. Benjamin Steilman to Margaret Gillham. 

Oct. 13. Wyait StiiblefieW to Sarah Black. 

Dec 12. Bennet Nowland to Nancy Robeson. 

Dec. 27. George Moor to Peggy McFarlin. 
1815— Jan. 2. Jubilee Posey to Caty Smith. 

Jan. 24. W'illiam Wood to Polly Cox. 

Feb. 1. Jesse Bell to Su.-san Meacliam. 

Feb. 13. Phillip Teter to Rebeckah Robeson. 

March 17. William Johnson to Lydia Ilatton. 

May 20. Davis Carter to Caty Ragan. 

June 23. Orman Beernan to Talisha White. 

June 6. Abraham Prickett to Sally Kirkpatrick. 

July 31. James Heart to Fanny Puksley. 

Aug. 12. Daniel Lanison to Amans Greenwood. 

Nov. 22. Hiram Beok to Nancy Sams. 

Dec. 20. Waller McFarlin to .Sally lliitton. 
181G — Jan. John Drum to Gilley Wood. 

Feb. 20. Abraham Casteel to Polly Nowland. 

Feb. 12. Jonah Caton to Ara Clark. 
12 



Mar. 11 


April :!0. 


May 21. 


June 3. 


Aug. 5. 


Aug. 17. 


Aug. 24. 


Sept. 11. 


Sep. 2.5. 


Nov. 13. 


Nov. 13. 


Nov. 27. 


Dec. 13. 


Dec. 19. 


Dec. 23. 


1817— Jan. 3. 


Feb. 7. 


Feb. 15. 


Feb. 22. 


Mar. 1. 


Mar. 12. 


Mar. 13. 


Mar. 18. 


April 10. 


April 


April IG. 


May 2!. 


June 5. 


June 10. 


June 21. 


June 23. 


July 


July 15. 


July 22. 


July 23. 


Aug. 6. 


Aug. 9. 


Aug. 9. 


Aug. !). 


Aug. 14. 


Aug. l(i. 


Aug. 19. 


Sept. 1. 


Oct. 1. 


Nov. 4. 


Nov. 15. 


Dec. 10. 


Dec. 3. 


Dec. 11. 


Dec. 21. 


Dec. 23. 


Dec. 2G. 


1818— Jan. 2G. 


Feb. 11. 


Feb. 17. 


Feb. 17. 


Feb. 25. 


Feb. 27. 


Mar. 3. 


Mar. 5. 


]Mar. 9. 


Mar. 9. 


Mar. 20. 


Mar. 24. 



. Isarael Turner to Caty Stice. 
. S.iiuiiel ScybnU to Tamar Piokerin?. 
Samuel Jaraway to Jenney Whitehead. 
Samuel Thomas to Elizabeth Isey. 
Thomas Moore to Rebecca Holcomb. 
William .\tkins to Elizabeth Emert. 
James Tliomp.son to Permilia Sorrels. 
, .Joseph Borough to Sally Shepherd. 
Robert Reynolds to Sally Wliite.side. 
Walter J. Sealey to Vicy Meacham. 
David H. Kennedy to Mary Coots, 
.lephtha Lanipkin to .Jane Kirkpatrick. 
â– John Green to Nancy Means. 
Samuel Beeman to Polly Smelser. 
Samnel Davidson to Vitet Enloe. 
Moses .'Vrcher to Elizabeth Brazel. 
\Villiam Wya!t to Richel Kitchens. 
Alexander V. Bonner to Iluldali Foster. 
William Green to Polly Starkey. 
Rodolphus Langworthy to Lucy Meacliam. 
Jonas Bradsliaw to BiiLsey Suvyers. 
James Reynolds to Sally Black. 
Levi Scott to Edy Ennis. 
Wiley Green to Betsey Higgins. 
David Nix to Betsey Whiteside. 
James Hereford to Betsey Vincence. 
Jacob Dack lo Sally Bates. 
John Greenwood to Margaret Ivirkpatrick. 
Thomas Seoit to Susan Cooper. 
Hampton McKinny to Polly B. Clark. 
Job Day to Jane Shock ley. 
Samuel Ju<ly to Sally Reaves. 
Thomas Hamilton to Purifa Harris.* 
.Vbsalom Renshaw to jiilley Woodyard. 
John Bates to Nancy Crosby. 
William Going to Anna Whitehead. 
Edward Welsh to Rachel Kane, wi<low, 
Philip Henson to Elizabeth Greenwood. 
Edward Haley f to Elizabeth Bolt. 
D.iniel Dimmore to Turzy L. Meacliam. 
George Hewitt to Peggy Bishop. 
John Wyatt to Rebecca Wyatt. 
Jesse RenlVo lo Letty West. 
Hiram Huitt to Nancy Herriford. 
John Caramel to Levinia Parkinson. 
Joshua Delaplain to Hannah Davidson, wid 
Abraham Sippy to Sally Miller. 
Martin Jackson to Betsey McDaniel. 
.John C. Wood to Fanny Denson. 
Hiram Bobbins to Betsey Dean. 
Alexander Byrani to Polly Wood. 
Jehu L. Litton to I^ydia Morris. 
John McCollum to Sarah Whiteside. 
George Faris lo Nancy Piper. 
John Crawford to Cassey Holcomb. 
William Howard to Elizabeth Reeco. 
Robert McMahan, jr., to Nancy Conway. 
Lorenzo Edwards to Patsey New. 
.John Richardson to Orphy Thompson. 
James Thompson to Jean Munson. 
Henry Eniert to Rachel Rebold. 
Richard Kinghton to Jenney Smart. 
Isaac Casteel to Betsey Albard. 
James Gilliam to Lofton. 



* Purifa Kirkpatrick in Record of Certificates 
f William Ilailey in Record of Certificates. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



April 15. Thomas Fiirgufon to Betsey Medford. 
May 22. George Allen to Tolly Gibbs. 
June .3. David M. Gillhatn to Polly Ilarkleroad. 
.June 9. Kiclioliis Kiissell to Polly Canby. 
June 17, Jolm T. Lawyoik to Ann Tiulock. 
July Aqnilla Low to Polly Revis. 
July S. Temple Nix to Ilannali Taylor. 
July William Pxirton to Barbany Smart. 
July 18. Jacob Moore to Polly Burns, 
July 18. Jacob Waggoner to Nancy Moore. 
Aug. 5. Daniel Holcom to Vicy Tolly. 
Aug. 17. Elias Roberts to Elizabeth Allen. 
Aug. 21. Jobn Johnson to Nancy Dagger. 
Aug. 22. Moses Leeds to Mary Waddle. 
Sept. 19, Solomon Penny to Jincy Renshawr. 
Oct. 5. John Piper to Lucinda Beard. 
Oct. 10. Warner Yates to Frances Tindall. 
Oct. 20. Thomas Fenley to Charlotte Jackson, 
Oct. 29. Hiram Rountree to Nancy R. Wright. 
Nov. 17. Jobn Powell to Betsey Coop. 
Dec. 7. Thomas Hill to Peggy Moore. 
Dec. 16. William Archer to Betsey Holt. 
Dec, 18, Jobn White to Peggy Robinson. 
Dec. 21. John Carson to Margaret Parkerson. 

Dec. 24. Daniel Pettengill to Anna Biekmore. 
JX20.— Jan. 13. Isaac Renfro to Rachel Carson. 

Jan. 18. Elias McCance to Polly Whiteside. 

Jan. 19. James Whitlock to Rhody Green. 

Jan. 28. Daniel Harper to Peggy Standfield. 

Jan. 30. Owen Evens, to Mary Crispwell. 

Feb. 2 Nicholas Cheland to Margaret Degearly. 

Feb. lo. Andrew Armstrong to Mary Ann Roberls. 

Feb. 15. AVilliara Kirkpatrick to Lydia Bartlett. 

Feb. 22. Thomas McDow to Mary Lofton. 

Feb. 26. Adam â– Miller to Peggy Thomson. 

Mar. 6. Thomas Lofton to Betsey Hayton. 

Mar. 8. Mark Higgins to Rachel Brisco. 

Mar. S. James Dunn to Zilpba Thomas, 

Mar. 15. Joseph Howard to Jenney McAliley, 

Mar. 25. John Waddle to Caty Snyder. 

Mar. 26. Jobn Barnaby to Polly Johnson. 

Iklar. 26. Thomas Moore to Mary Parkerson. 

Apr. 3. Samuel Hamilton to Polly Eldrlge. â– - 

Apr. 19. James Nixon to Mary .\nn Rutherford. 

Apr. 21. Daniel White to Anne Brown. 

Apr. 28. Daniel Tolman to Mary Ann Hare. 

May 1. William Ennis to Sally Wiatt. 

May 3. John Cressup to Agnes Manning (on condition if no 

objection of parents.) 
May. 11. George Bridges to M.ary Lindly. 
June 3. Richard Brozale to Layodosea Enyart. 
June 7. Jobn Corraack to Fanny Randle, 

Below are the marriage certificates on record from Jan- 
uary, 1>!13, to May 1819. Much diversity appears between 
the list of licenses and certificates. Where the authority by 
which the parties were married was a license, " L " is affixed, 
and " Ad." where it was by advertisement. The latter was 
common in the earlier years. It is some source of satisfac- 
tion, even at this late day, to observe that John Cressup and 
Agnes Manning, to whom a license was given on the third 
of May, 1819, on condition that there should be no objections, 
on the part of the parents, were married the same day, as 
appears by the certificate : 

18J3.— Jan. 29. James McKinney to Nancy Lotkhart, 
by Rev. Josias Randle.L. 



Feb. 19. John Lawton toPatey Hill, by Rev. William Jones Ad. 
Mar. 9. William York to Betsey Kitchens, by Thomas Davidson, 

Esq. Ad. 
Mar. 25. William Ogle to Isabella Kyle, by Thomas Davidson, Esq. 

Ad. 
Apr. 8. Jobn Hapton to Harriet Stubblefield, by Rev. William 

Jones. Ad. 
Apr. 9. James Sullivan to Pliebe Hutton, by Rev. Josias Rami le, 

L. 
May 3. Joshua Renfro to Pher.iby Revis, by Rev. James Renfro. 

L. 
June 24. Daniel G. Moor to Frankey Jarvis, by Rev. Josias Randle. 

L. 
July 2. Thomas Wadkins to Polly Green, by Thomas Davidson, Ivq. 

Ad. 
Aug. 10. James Wright to Millitson Greenwood. 
Aug. 31. Samuel Huton to Peggy Wright, by Rev. Josias Randle. 

L. 
Nov. 25. William Furgurson to H.innah Green, by Thomas G. David, 

son, Esq. Ad. 
Nov. 19, George Wise to Elizabeth Jones, by Rev, Joseph Lemcn. L. 
Nov. Joseph Ferguson to Jane Gragg. L. 
Nov. 25, Daniel Johnson to Siis.mna Smelser, by Thomas Davidson, 

Esq. Ad. 
Dec. 23- John Giliham to Elizabeth Gillham, b/ J\idge John G. 

Lofton. Ad. 
1814.— Jan. 1. Thomas Green to Nelly Desha. L. 
Jan 4. Samuel G. Morse to Polly Kirkpatrick, by William Gillham, 

Esq. L. 
Jan. 5. Anthony Thomas to Cynthia Scott, by Judge John G. Lofton. 
Jan. 5. John Davidson to Margaret Gillham, by Judge John G. Lofton. 
Jan. 20. John Enox to Marjory Ferguson, by Thomas G, Davidson, 

Esq. Ad. 
Feb. 10. William Sharone to Keziab Robinson, by Judge John G, 

Lofton. L. 
Feb, 16. Hardy Willbanks to Susanna Gillham, by Judge .Tohn G. 

Lofton. Ad. 
Apr. 2. Mills Whitley to Elizabeth Littleby, by Rev. William Jones. 

Ad. 
Apr. 2. Thomas Finley to Mary Little, Rev. William Jones. Ad. 
May Timothy Lamber.son to Rebekah Furguson. L. 
May John Hawks to Jliss. McFarlin. L. 
June 14. William Kelley to-Rebekah McMahan. L. 
Dec. 13. Thomas Carlau to Rebeckah Hewitt, by Rev. William 

Jones. Ad. 
Dec. 13. William Montgomery to Sarah Rattan, by Rev William Jones. 
181.5. — Jan. 5. Jubilee Posey to Caty Smith, by Rev. Josias Randies, 

L, 
Feb. 2. Jesse Bell to Susan Meacliam, by Rev. Josias Randle. L. 
Feb. 2. William Wood to Polly Cox, by Rev. William Jones. L. 
Feb. 4. William Ferguson to Polly Poggett, by Thomas G. David- 
son, Esq. Ad. 
Feb. 14. Philip Peter to Rebeckah Robinson, by Rev. Charles R. 

Mathenay. L. 
Mar 18. William Rowdcn toLavi"ia Prewitt, by John Springer, Esq. 

Ad.' 
Oct. 17. Thoma-s Blakenship to Hannah Carter, by Rev William Jone.^, 

Ad. 
Nov, 5. John Jones to Mary Wright, by Rev. William Jones. Ad. 
Nov. 19. James Beeman to Litha Odle, by Rev. William Jones. Ad. 
Nov. 23 Hiram Beck to Nancy Sams, by Rev. William .Tones. L. 
Nov. 28. Martin Jones to Margaret Hutton, by Rev. William Jones. 

Ad. 
Djc 14. Thomas Green to Rody Hegans, by Rev. William Jones. Ad. 
Dec. 16. Solomon Revis to Polly Green, by John Springer, Esq. Ad, 
1816.— Jan. 21. Mathew Cowin to Betsey Hewitt, by Rev. WiHiam 

Jones. Ad. 
Feb. 5. Young Wood to Polly Ewin, by Rev. William Jones. Ad- 



HIS TO BY OF MADISON COUXTY, ILLINOIS. 



91 



Mar. 14. Israel Turner to Caty Stioe, by Rev. Rivers Cormack. L. 
Apr. 2. Samuel SeyboIU to Tamar Pickering, by Rev. Rivers Cor- 

inack. L. 
Apr. S. ICvans Smith to Hannah Tiirner, bv Rev. Rivers Cormack. 

L. 
June 4. Samuel Thomas to Elizabeth Islev, by Rtjv. William Jones. 

L. 
Aug. 5. Samuel Stockton to Lorahama Patterson. Ad. 
Dec. .Samuel Beaman to Polly Snielser. L. 

Dec. 13. Jeptha Lampkins to Jean Kirkpatrick, by Abraham Prit- 

chelt, Esq. L. 
Dec. 19. John Green to Nancy Means. L. 
1817. — Feb. 6. David Fuukner to Lydia Baeman, by Rev. William 

Jones. Ad. 
Feb. 11. William Atkins to Elizabeth Emert. L. 
Feb. 11. David Canady to Mary Cyles. L. 
Feb. 13. William Wyatt to Rachel Kitchens, l)y Rev. William 

Jones. L. 
Feb. IG. Alexander V. Bonner to Huldah Foster, by John T. Lusk, 

Esq. L. 
Feb. IS. James Hareford to Patience Jones, by Thomas G. Davidson, 

Esq. Ad. 
JIar. 2-5. Jonas Bradshaw to Betsey Sawyers, by John T. Lusk, E<q. 

L." 
Apr. 19. James Heryford to B.;tscy Vineence, by Rev. William 

Jonps. L. 
Apr. 22. Robert Reynolds to Sally Whiteside, by John McKinney, 

Esq. L. 
May 30. Jacob Deck to Sally Bates, by Rev. William Jones. L. 
May 31. Wiley Green to Betsey Higins, by Rev. William Jones. L. 
June 10. John Greenwood to Margaret Kirkpatrick, by Rev. R. Cor- 

mach. L. 
June 21. Thomas Scot to Susan Cooper, by John Springer, Esq. L. 
Aug. 13. Philip Henson to Elizabeth Greenwood, bv John T. Lusk, 

Esq, L. 
Aug. 14. John Bates to Xancy Crosby, by Rev. William Jones. L. . 
Aug. 28. Absalom Renshaw to Milly WooJyard, by Rev. Rivers 

Cormack. L. 
Sep. 8. William Ilaily to Elizabeth B ilt, by Rev. .Joseph Lemen. L. 
Nov. 10. Joshua Delaplain to nannih Davidson, widow, by Thomas, 

G. D.ivid.son, Esq. L. 
Dec. 27. John L. Sitton to Lydia M >rris, widow, by John T. Lusk, 

Esq. L. 
181S.— Jan. 15. JolmCammel to L;vina P.ickerson, by John Hone, 

Esq. L. 
Jan. 23. Alexander S. Biram to PuUy Wood, by Rev. William 

Jones. L. 
Mar. IS. Lorenzj Eiwards to P.it<ey Xew, by Riv. Wiiliam Jones 

L. 
Mar. 27. James Gillham to Sarah Lofton, by Thomas G. Davidson 

Esq. L. 
Apr. •->. Moses Fiuley to S.iUy Scott, by Rev. William Jones. Ad. 
Apr, 18. Thomas Ferguson to Betsey Meilford, bv Hail Mason, Esq 

L. 
May 28. George Allen to Polly Gibb.s, by Thomas G. D.ivid.son, Rsq. 

L. 
Mav 20 John Crawford to Gassy llolcoiiib, by John McKinney, E<q 

L. ' ' 

July 17. William Burton to Barbary Snart, by Hail M;ison, Esq. L. 
Aug. C. Daniel Holcomb to V. Tolly, by John McKinney, Esq. L. 
Aug. 22. Jacob Moore to Polly B.irns, l)y Rev. William Jone-s. L. 

Jacob Waggoner to Xancy Moor, by Rjv. William Jones. L. 
Temple Xix to Hannah Taylor, by Micajah Cox, E.sq. L. 
Aquilla Low to Polly Revis, Micajah Co.x, Esq. L. 
Sept. 21. Augustus Langworlhy to Adah Meacham, by R. Lang- 

worlliy, Esq. L. 
Get. 10. Moses Soeds to Mary Waddell, by Amos Squire, Esq. L. 



Oct. 


20. 


Oct. 


29. 


Dec. 


3. 


1819 


-J 


Jan. 


15. 


Jan. 


15. 


Jan. 


27. 


Jan. 


30. 


Jan. 


so- 


Feb. 


il. 


Feb. 


11. 


Mar. 


5. 


Mar. 


11. 


Mar. 


25. 


Apr. 


12. 


.\pr. 


15. 


Apr. 


15. 


Apr. 


30. 


May 


3. 



Thomas Feuley to Charlotte Jackson, by Hail Mason, Esq 

Hiram Roundtree to Xancy R. Wright, by Rev. Josias 

Randle. L. 
Martin Jackson to Betsey McDaniel, bv John T. Lusk, Esq. 

L. 
an. 4 John White to Peggv Robinson, bv Rev. G. P. Rice. 

L. 
Tliom.is llill to Peggy Moore, by Rev. William Jones. L. 
Shadrack Jackson to Prudance Finley, by Rev. William 

Jones. L. 
Elias McCance to Polly Whiteside, by Micajah Cox, Esq. L. 
James Whilloek to Rhoia Green, bv R;v. William Jone.5 

L. 
Daniel Harper to Peggy Stanafield, by Rev. R. Cormack. L. 
Owen Evans to Mary Cripwell, by Thom:»s G. Davidson, 

Esq. L. 
Xicholas Clieleano to Margaret Degearey, by Thomas G. 

Davidson, Esq. L. 
William Kirkpatrick to Lydia Bartlett, bv Hail Mason, Esq. 

L. 
Thomas G. Lofton to Betsey Heaton, by A. Squire, Esq. L. 
James Dunn to Zilpha Thomas, by Rev. William Jones. L. 
Thomas McDow to Mary Lofton, by Micajah Cox, Esq. L. 
Adam Miller to Peggy Thompson, by A. Scjuire, Esq. L. 
John Wadle, to Caty Snider, by A. Squire, Esq. L. 
Daniel Tolman to Mary Ann Hare, by Hail Mason, Esq. L. 
John Cre-ssup to Agnes Manning, bv Thornton Peoples, Esq. 

L. 



Cn.VRACTER OF THE EARLY .SETTLEIiS. 

In territorial days the inhabitants of the county, almost 
without exception, were of Southern origin. Strong sec- 
tional prejudices existed, especially toward the " Yaukee," 
which appellation was given to every man who hailed from 
the Northern section of the country east of the Allegheny 
mountains. Before the year 1817 the only representatives 
of the New England states, who had visited the county, 
were the ven<lors of wooden clocks and tin ware, and under 
these circumstances the pioneers could not, perhaps, well be 
blamed for their first impressions of the Yankee character. 
An early resident of this county states that there were three 
classes of society known in the territory of Illinois : First, 
the white man, born in a slave state, who arrogated to him- 
self the title of the real Westerner; second, the negro, 
generally a slave; and third, the Yankee, from over the 
Mountains. Traces of this prejudice could be discerned for 
many years, but among intelligent classes the emigrant from 
the East soon came to be appreciated at his real worth, and 
recognized as among the most valuable citizens of the 
county. Subsequent to 1817 the county received a large 
Eastern emigration, in which came indiviiluals whose merits 
raised them to positions of influence, and who contributed 
greatly to the prosperity of the county. Especially was 
this the case in the Marine settlement, at Edwardsville, and 
later at Alton, whose rapid growth and business prosperity 
were almost entirely due to Eastern men. 

The early settlers had great respect for the religious views 
of others. Although their opinions on theological subjects 
were very decided and very dissimilar, yet a quarrel on 
these matters was of rare occurrence. The Methodists and 
the Baptists were the leading deuoiuiuatii;n.<. The Jlethu- 



92 



HISTORY OF MADISOJ^ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



ilist camp meetings were uumerously attended, and proved 
influential means of increasing the membership of the 
churches. Although most of the people drank occasionally 
there were fewer drunkards than might have been expected. 
;^ The people of those days had a great reverence for law. 
The worst characters professed to be law-abiding citizens. 
No man claimed, that, if he did not like the law, he had the 
right to set it at defiance. It is claimed that the early 
jiioneers were more moral and free from crime than the 
people of a later day. Thefts were of rare occurrence, and 
forgery, perjury, and similar crimes were seldom perpetrated. 
But while the higher crimes were rarely committed the lesser 
violations of the law were not unfrcquent. Assault and 
battery was the most common breach of the statutes. 
There was much sensitiveness as to personal and moral stand- 
ing, and any one who considered his honor or respectability 
impugned would fight in a moment his assailant. On 
holidays and at elections and musters, boisterous and 
quarrelsome conduct, induced by the use of intoxicating 
liquors, was often witnessed. Fort Russell was a place of 
frequent rendezvous in early times, and riotous scenes often 
occurred there. It was stated by one of the earliest resi- 
dents of the county (Mr. S. P. Gillham) that for. some 
years after the firtt settlement of the county he seldom heard 
of any greater crime than getting drunk, or fighting. The 
first punishment of crime he recollected took place in 1819, 
when a negro was found guilty of stealing some coffee from 
a boat on the Jlississippi river, and whipped. When the 
population began to multiply and courts were established, 
men began to break the law, and were often punished by 
whipping at the post and confinement in the stocks. 

The Sabbath was often employed in hunting, fishing, 
getting up stock, hunting bee.-', shooting at marks, and horse 
and foot-racing. It was, however, a custom to cease from 
ordinary labor, except from necessity, on that day, and 
when a farmer cut his harvest on Sunday public opinion 
condemned it more severely than at present. There was no 
dancing and but little drinking on the Sabbath. In many 
localities there were no religious meetings. The aged people 
generally remained at home, and read the Bible and other 
books. 

All kinds of gaming were common. Card-playing was 
sustained by the best classes. At the sessions of the courts 
judge and lawyer would frequently spend the night together 
])laying with cards for money, though the statutes rigidly 
forbade such a practice. 

Horse-racing was one of the most popular amusements. 
The quarter races were the most common, and at these the 
most chicanery and juggling were practiced. Gov. John 
Reynolds speaks of having attended a horse-race, which drew 
crowds of people, on the 4th of July, 1807, in tlie American 
Bottom near the residence of Samuel Judy. The most 
celebrated and famous horse race in Illinois, in early times, 
was run in the upper end of the Horse-prairie, in Randolph 
county, in the spring of the year 1803. The two horses 
which ran the race were of the same size. The race was 
three miles and repeat, for a wager of five hundred dollars. 
The byebets and all must have amounted to a thousand 



dollars and more, in those days considered a very large sum. 
In 1806 Robert Pulliam, of Illinois, and a Mr. Musick, of 
Missouri, made a bet of two hundred dollars on a race be- 
tween two horses, of a quarter of a mile, to be run on the ice 
in the Mississippi river, a short distance above St. Louis. 
The race came ofiT, and was run without injury to either the 
horses or riders. Footracing, jumping, or wrestling were 
much practiced. Bets of some magnitude were made on 
foot-races as well as on horse-races. Gov. Reynolds, in his 
youth, was one of the best in a foot-race, and won many 
wagers in Randolph county, previous to the removal of the 
family to Madison. He ran his last race while absent 
from this county attending school in Tennessee. 

Shooting-matches occurred frequently. These were 
generally held on Saturdays, and, during the summer, as 
often as once a week. A beef was usually the prize. A 
keg of whisky was usually carried to these shooting- 
matches, on horseback, and sometimes a violin made its 
appearance, and the crowd -danced for hours. 

The early pioneers were exceedingly friendly and sociable. 
A n^-comer was given a hearty welcome. The houses 
were in general small and poor, but the hospitality of the 
occupants knew no bounds. A visitor at a house toward 
evening could scarcely get away so much was he importuned 
to stay over night, which, if he did, he was always treated 
to the best the house afi'orded, and never allowed to pay 
for his entertainment. Orchards and melon patches were 
looked on as common property, and the man who would 
charge for apples, or melons, would be denounced for his 
meanness the whole country over. No charge was ever 
made for assisting a neighbor at house - raisings, log- 
rollings, or harvesting. 

The women were brave and self-reliant, and it was no 
unusual thing for them to practice with the rifle. They 
were often left alone, and it was well that they should 
know the best means of defiance. One of the pioneers of 
the county (John L. Ferguson) was accustomed to say 
that his mother could shoot a deer, or an Indian, just as 
well as his father could, and thought no more of it. The 
widow Carlock, in the Marine settlement, was also one 
who had the reputation of being able to use her rifle, with 
equal skill to any man, in shooting game, or despatching 
an Indian, as the ease required. 

PIOXEER CUSTOM.S AND MODES OF LIFE. 

The early settler brought with him little besides his axo 
and rifle ; the first his weapon of offence against the forests 
that skirted the water courses, near which he made his 
home; the second, that of defence against the wily savage. 
His first labor was to fell trees and rear himself a house. 
This was an unpretentious cabin, rudely built of logs. It 
was usually from fourteen to sixteen feet square never more 
than twenty feet, and was frequently entirely built without 
glass, nails, hinges, or locks. 

First, large logs were laid in position as sills; on these 
were placed strong sleepers, and oa the sleeper.-i were laid 
the rough-hewed puncheons to serve as floors. The logs 
are then built up till the proper height for the eaves, 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



93 



tlien on the ends of the building were placed poles, longer 
than tne other end-logs, which projected some eighteen or 
more inches over the sides, and were called " butting-pole 
sleepers ;" on the projecting ends of these were placed the 
" butting-pole," â– fthich served to give the line to the first 
row of clap-boards. These were, as a matter of course, split, 
and as the gables of the cabin were built up, were so laid on 
as to lap a third of their leajth. They were often kept in 
place by the wei;:ht of a heavy pole, laid across the roof 
parallel to the ridge pole. The house was then chinked, 
and daubed with a coarse mortar. At one end of the house 
was built a huge fire-place, in which fire was kindled, both 
for cooking purposes and to furnis'i the needed warmth in 
winter. Stoves were rarely to be seen. The ceiling above 
was sometimes covered with the i)elts of the raccoon, opossum, 
and wolf, to add to the warmth of the dwelling. Sometimes 
the soft inner bark of the bass wood was used for the same 
purpose. The cabin was lighted by means of greased paper 
windo vs. Over an opening in one side of the building, 
madeby cuttingout a p)rtion of alog, sheetsof strong paper, 
well saturated with coon grease, or bear oil, were carefully 
tacked, and thus furnished the window with which the cabin 
was lighted. 

The furniture was in keeping with the building. The 
tables had four legs, and were rudelv made from puncheons. 
The seats were stools, having three or four legs. The bed- 
stead compared well with the rest, and was often so con- 
trived as to permit it to be drawn up and fastened to the wall 
during the day, thus affording more room to the family. 
The entire furniture was framed with no other toals than the 
ase and the auger. Each man was his own carpenter. 
Considerable ingenuity was sometimes displayed in the con- 
struction of the implements of agriculture and household 
furniture and utensils. Knives and forks the pioneers some- 
times had, and sometimes had not. The common table 
knife was the pack knife, or butcher knife. Horse collars 
were sometimes made of the plaited husk of the maize sewed 
together. They were easy on the neck of the horse, and if 
tug-traces were used, would last a long time. 

The common dress of the early pioneers was verj' similar. 
In winter, the covering of the feet were mostly moccasins 
made of deer skin and shoe-packs of tanned leather. In the 
summer, the greater portion of the young people, male and 
female, and many of the old, went bare-foot. The women 
wore moccasins and shoes made of deer-skin. The substan- 
tial and universal outside wear was the blue linsey hunting 
shirt. Many pioneers wore the white blanket coat (the 
French cnpot) in winter, and this was considered very fine 
attire. The vest wrs commonly made of striped linsey. The 
colors were made of alum, copperas, and madder, boiled 
with the bark of trees, in such manner and proportions as 
the old ladies prescribed. The shirts were generally home- 
made, of flax and cotton material. The trousers of the 
masses were generally linsey, sometimes a coarse blue cloth, 
and often buckskin. Home-made wool hats were worn, and 
sometimes caps made of fo.K, raccoon, and wild-cat skins. A 
fox skin cap, with the tail turned over the top, was thought 
a fine head-dress by the dashing young men. In warm 



weather hats were worn made at home of straw. Neat and 
fine linsey, manufactured at home, and colored and woven 
to suit the fancy, composed the outside garments of the 
females. It was not unusual for a young woman to appear 
dressed completely in the products of her own hands. A 
bonnet of calico, or some gayly-chccked goods, was worn on 
the head in the open air. Jewelry was unusual. A gold 
ring was an ornament not often seen. 

Factory made goods, from New England and Kentucky 
reached Illinois about the year 1818, and soon supplanted 
the products of the loom and spinning wheel. The style of 
dress began to change about 1820. The bluc-linsey hunting 
shirt, with red and white fringe, gave place to the cloth 
coat. Boots and shoes supplanted the deer-skin moccasin. 
At Edwardsville were seen gentlemen dressed in elegant 
broad-cloth. By the year 1830, a man dressed in the cos- 
tume of the territory, raccoon-skin cap, hunting-shirt, buck- 
.skin breeches and moccasins, with a belt around the waist, 
to which a knife and tomahawk were appended, was rarely 
to be seen. The female sex made still more rapid progress 
in adopting modern costumes. 

The men were not accustomed to work so hard and 
steadily as now, sufficient corn was raised for home con- 
sumption, also a little wheat, cotton, flax and tobacco, a 
patch of indigo and a bed of midder, with garden vege- 
tables for the family use, and the balance of the time wa.s 
spent in recreation, and in hunting deer, turkeys, and bees. 
The pioneers were capital hands for attending musters. 
Fourth of July celebrations, political speaking, the courts, 
horse races, and other like gatherings. On the other hand 
women in those days worked much more than at present. 
Beside the house work they had to do the cording, spinning, 
weaving, and the making of all the wearing apparel for 
the family. Each house was a manufacturing establish- 
ment, each woman a skillful operative. The women were 
overburdened with work so much that a traveller passing 
through the country remarked that it was "a heaven for 
men and horses, but a hell for women and oxen." The 
women, nevertheless, were cheerful and happy, and some- 
times, when hard pressed, called the male members of 
the family to their aid. Many a biy, under the instruc- 
tion of his mither or sister, learned to spin and weave, 
to sew and knit, and also to dye. 

The social and acc)ram)'iating disposition of the early 
settlers led them to do much work in concert, at public 
gatherings. When a man wanted a lot of nails mads he 
would S3t a d.vy aad notify the neighbors, who were sure 
to be on hand. The self-imposed task of each man was 
one hundred nails. There was always a race as to who 
should halloo, "Djue first!" S. P. Gillhara relates that 
he was in such a race once, and with his brother made 
the one hundred nails in a little over two hours, and got 
beat at that. At the approach of wheat harvest some 
leading man would send word for the neighbors to assend)le 
at the house of a certain neighbor on such a day to cut and 
shock his wheat. As soon as they had finished his harvest 
they would go to the next, and so on around according to 
the ripeness of the grain. The crops of the widows and sick 



9i 



HISTORY OF MADISOA" COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



persons were not neglected, but were attended to along with 
the rest, and if any partiality were shown it would be 
toward theiu. The yuung people frolicked and danced of 
evenings all tlirough harvest ; and it is little wonder that the 
few still living, whose memory reaches back to those golden 
days, think there is no eujoyiueut among young people now 
as there was then. The women were not a whit behind the 
men in their social gatherings. They often met to do quilt- 
ing and carding, and thought nothing of mounting their 
horses, taking their wheels in their laps, and riding five or 
six miles to attend a spinning bee. As with the men, there 
was always a race as to who should excel in carding, or 
spinning, and at quiltings, there were often two quilts, so 
that the gathering could divide into two parties, and have 
a race as to which quilt should be finished first. 

At these gatherings, as well as the house-raisings, at 
which the wholj neighborhood came together, whether 
invited or not, much sport and amusement were indulged 
in. Young men and b:)ys tried their strength and skill 
at jumping, wrestling, running foot-races, lifting, and other 
gymnastic exercises. Shooting at marks was practiced 
among those skilled in the use of the rifle. Among a 
grjup of older men would figure soms Kentuckian, relating 
his adventures on a flat-boat trip to New Orleans. A bottle 
of ^lonougahela whisky, generously passed around, was of 
much assistance in quickening the memories of the old 
l)ioneers, and thiir "har-brealth escapes," and thrilling 
adventures, were freely told. There was plenty to eat as 
well as to drink. The good woman of the house had busied 
herself for a day, or more, in preparation for the coming 
guests, and an abundance was provided for the healthy 
appetites which were then the rule.* After the day's work 
had been accomplished, out doors and in, by men and 
women, the floor was cleared and the merry dance began. 
Handsome, stalwart young men, whose manly forms were 
the result of out-door life, clad in fringed buck-skin breeches 
and gaudily colored hunting shirts, led forth to the dance 
bright-eyed, buxom damsels, dressed in neatly fitting 
linsey-woolsey garments, their cheeks glowing with health, 
and their eyes speak enjoyment and, perhaps, a tenderer 
amotion. 

But the greatest of all social gatherings was the wedding. 
Everybody in reach was invited. The guests of the bride 
assembled at her home, and of the groom at his. At an 
appointed hour the bride's party mounted their horses and 
started to meet the groom. In many neighborhoods a bottle 
of li(juor was prepared, sweetened and spiced to the taste, 
and the bottle decorated with many colored ribbons. When 
the two parties met a general halt was ordered, and prepara- 
tions made to run a race for the bottle. The groom's party 
ran for him, the bride's for her. The bottle was taken by 

« " The bread iisatl at these frolics was baked generally on Jonivj or 
Journey cake-boards, and is the best corn bread ever made. A board is 
made smooth, about two feet long, and eight inches wide ; the ends are 
generally rounded. The dough is spread out on this board and iilaced 
leaning before the fire. One side is baked, and then the dough is changed 
on the board, so tlie otiier side is presented, in its turn, to tlio fire. Tliis 
is Jonny-cake, and is good, if the pro])er materials are put in the dough, 
and it is properly baked." Reynolds' Pioneer History. 



the judge to the far end of the course, while the crowd 
remained at the starting point. When the race was over 
the winner returned, holding up the trophy and shaking it 
in triumph. After the wedding and the dinner was over, 
the groomsman gave a general invitation to all the guests of 
the bride to attend the young people home the next day, 
and to take dinner with them. Then the race of the day 
previous would be repeated, and in many social and con- 
vivial neighborhoods dancing would be indulged in for 
hours.* 

* The following description of a "Shucking" of the oUL'n time is 
taken from Iteynulds' Pioneer History of Illinois : 

"In pure pioneer times the crops of corn were never husked on 
the slalk, as is done at this day: but were hauled home in the husk 
and thrown in a heap, generally by the side of the crib, so that the 
ears, wlicn luisked, could be thrown direct into the crib. The whole 
neigliborliood, male and female, were invited to the shttclcin;, as it 
was called. The girls, and many of the married ladies, generally 
engaged in this amusing work. In the first place two leading expert 
buskers were chosen as captains, and the heap of corn divided as 
nearly equal as possible. Rails were laid across the pile so as to desig- 
nate the division ; and then each captain chose, alternately, his corp^ 
of buskers, male and female. The whole number of working hands 
present were selected, on one side or the other, and then each party 
commenced a contrsl to beat the other, which was in many cases truly 
exciting. One other rule was, tha* whenever a male husked a red ear 
of corn, he was entitled to a kiss from the girls. This frequently 
excited much fu.ss and scuffling, which was intended by both parties 
to end in a kiss. It was a universal practice that taiKa or Mononga- 
hela whisky was used at these husking frolics, which they drank out 
of a bottle, each one male and female, taking the bottle and drinking 
out of it, and then handing it to his next neighbor, without using any 
glass or cup whatever. This custom was common and not considered 
rude. Almost always these corn shucks ended in a dance. To pre- 
pare for this amusement fiddles and fiddlers were in great demand; 
and it often required much fast riding to obtain them. One violin 
and a per.''ormer were all that was contemplated at these innocent 
rural games. Towards dark, and the supper half over, then it was 
that a bustle and confusion commenced. The confusion of the tongues 
at Babel would have been ashamed at the corn-shuckings. The young 
ones hurrying off the table, and the old ones contending for time and 
order. It was the case in nine times out of ten, that but one dwell- 
ing-house was on the premises, and that used for eating as well as 
dancing. But when the fiddler commenced tuning his instrument 
the music always gained the victory for the young side. Then the 
dishes, victuals, tables and all, disappeared in a few minutes, and the 
room was cleared, the dogs drove out, and the floor swept ofi' ready 
for action. The floors of these houses were sometimes the natural 
earth, beat solid, sometimes the eartli, with puncheons in the middle 
over the potato-hole, and at times the whole floor was made of pun- 
cheons. The music at these country dances made the young folks 
almost frantic, and sometimes much excitement was dis]!layed to get 
on the floor first. Generally the tiddler on the.se occasions assumed 
an important bearing, and ordered, in true professional style, .so and 
so to be done; as that was the way in Xorth Carolina, where he wa.s 
raised. The decision, ended the contest for the floor. In those days 
they danced jigs and four-handed reels, as they were called. Some- 
times three-handed reels were also danced. In these dances there 
was no standing still; all were moving at a rapid pace from begin- 
ning to end. In the jigs tlie by-standers cut one another out, as it was 
called, so that this dance would last four hours. Sometimes the 
parties in a jig tried to tire one another down in the dance, and then 
it would also last a long time before one or the other gave up. The 
cotillion or stand-still diiuces were not then known. The bottle went 
round at these parlies as it did at the shuckings, and male anil female 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



95 



EARLY FINAKCIAL CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY — ARTICLES 
OF HOUSEHOLD USE. 

The early settlers had but little money, and but little was 
needed, only enough to pay a small tax, sometimes a doctor's 
bill, and lor blacksmith work. This was obtained from the 
sale of cattle and hogs. Store goods and groceries were 
generally paid for with butter, eggs, beeswax and peltries. 
The early pioneers lived on government laud, unbought, un- 
patenttd. The little silver coin that found its way into the 
community had to be cut in pieces to make it go as far as 
possible, and for convenience of change. After the bank of 
Edwardtville went into oiseration, in 1819, money became 
more plentil'ul for a while, but the bank soon went under, 
and times became worse. When the settling up of the 
country made it necissary to secure a title to the land, every 
fpare dollar went to the land office, and money became 
scarce on this account. There wa.s little demand for farm 
products. Little or no grain was sold out of the county. 
A few horses and cattle were shipped south or driven north, 
but not in sufficient numbers to put much money in circu- 
lation. Corn frequently sold as low a.s five cents a bushel, 
wheat at thirty, forty, and fifty cents, cows and calves at 
five dollars, beef and pork at a cent and a-half a pound, 
and other products of the farm proportionately low. Cattle 
and hogs were commonly taken to St. Louis. After 1825 
there began to be home buyers of pork and beef. A pack- 
ing house was e-tablished at the mouth of Wood river at 
an early day, by D E. Tiffiu, and afterward one at Edwards- 
ville by Robert Pogue. 

Produce was gotten to market in a wooden cart, drawn by 
a yoke of oxen. There were few bridges, but little work 
was done on the roads, and consequent!)^ heavy teams were 
>rcquired for light loads. Ox teams were the best and the 
most commonly used, though some preferred horses. The 
oxen could live on the grass and do good work. There were 
a few large four-horse wagons in which people had moved 
into the country. In later years a few of the well-to-do 
farmers got a Dearborn wagon, drawn by one horse. One 
of the old residents of the county states that it was not till 
1837 that he ever heard the name of a buggy, and it wag 
about the same date when two-horse wagons began to come 
into use. 

Salt was one of the dearest of the commodities which the 
pioneer settler absolutely needed. It was in early times ob- 
tained in St. Louis. At one time a man landed a boat and 
left a few barrels of salt for sale with Isaac Gillham on the 
Mississippi. This was sold among the farmers in the 
vicinity at nine dollars a barrel. As much as seven dollars 
was at times, i)aid for a half bushel. In 1818 salt sold at 

took a dram out of it as it p.ns.'sed around. No sitting was indulged 
in, and tlie folks eillicr stood or danced all night, as generally day- 
light ended the frolic. The dress of these liardy pioneers was gene- 
rally plain homespun. The hunting shirt was much worn at that 
time, which is a convenient working or dancing dress. Sometimes 
dressed deer-skin pantaloons were used on these occasions, and mocca- 
sins — rarely shoes — and at times bare feet were indulged in. In the 
morning all go home on horseback or on foot. No carriages, wagons, 
or other vehicles were used on these occasions, for the best of reasons, 
because they had none." 



Edwardsville for three dollars a bushel, and in 1821 at one 
dollar. Whisky was cheap, and frequently could be 
bought at twenty-five cents a gallon by the barrel. Several 
distilleries were erected at an early period, and some of the 
larger farmers hauled their corn to them, and had it manu- 
factured into whisky, the distiller taking half by way of 
toll. Coflfee and sugar were expensive, and considered 
luxuries not to be indulged in every day. Their use was 
reserved for old people and visitors. Wild honey was often 
used in place of sugar. Because of the scarcity of mills 
and the difficulty of travelling to them, hominy, green corn, 
beans and potatoes, often supplied the table to the exclusion 
of bread. 

Every farmer calculated as much on having his barrel of 
honey when winter came as on having a supply of corn or 
other provisions. Hence bee-hunting was common. 
Gershom Flagg writes back to Vermont in 1819 : "There 
are more honey bees in the territory, I suppose, than in any 
other place in the world. I have heard the hunters say 
that they have found eight, or ten, swarms in a day on the 
St. Gama (Sangamon) and Illinois rivers, where there are 
no settlements. Truly this must be the land of milk and 
honey." 

^ PKAIRIE FIRES. 

A settler on the prairie, in early days, was in constant 
dread, in the fall of the year, of prairie fires. A fire started 
in the high, dry grass would sweep over the prairie faster 
than a horse could run. Each settler usually burned off a 
strip of ground surrounding his farm, and thus prevented 
the flames from destroying his crop and buildings. The 
neighbors would frequently be engaged in fighting the fire 
till midnight in the eflbrt to save the property of some of 
their number from destruction. 

PIONEER SCHOOLS AND CIIUECIIE.S. 

The first camp meeting in Illinois was held near the 
residence of Thomas Good, about three miles south of tiie 
present town of Edwardsville, in the spring of 1807. This 
meeting was under the supervision of the Rev. William 
McKendree, then presiding elder of circuits covering Ohit^ 
Kentucky, Tennessee, and other western states, and who in 
1808 became the fourth bishop of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. Rev. Jesse Walker was an assistant preacher. 
Reynolds states that during this meeting many persons were 
curiously exercised by the "jerks," an involuntary exercise 
which made the victims sometimes dance and leap until 
they became entirely exhausted and fell helpless to the 
ground. Later in the season a camp-meeting was held at 
Shiloh, six miles north-east of Belleville. The old Bethel 
church in Madison county, and the Shiloh church iu St. 
Clair county were the two earliest Methodist churches in 
Illinois. 

Religious meetings had been held among the pioneers 
several years previous to 1807. As early as the fall of 1803 
Methodist ministers made their appearance. Regular re- 
ligious services were usually held about once in four weeks. 
Their two-days meetings and quarterly meetings were well 
attended. Of the resident Methodist preachers in the 



96 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



county, ill earl)' times, Josias Ratidle, for many years clerk 
of the court, wiis among the be.-^t known. 

A Baptist church was built on section 24, township 5, 
range 0, in the year 1809. The building was a small 
cabin constructed of logs. The Rev. William Jones was 
the first preacher who held services here. Rev. John M. 
Peck was one of the earliest Baptist preachers. The Rev. 
Thomas Ray preached frequently, as did the Rev. William 
Jones, both Baptists. Peter Cartwright was an early 
Methodist minister. He was called the " fighting 
preacher." It was not considered anything out of the way 
in those days for a preacher, when insulted, to protect his 
standing by force of arms. The Rev. Thomas Oglesby 
preached as early as 1804. The Rev. Benjamin Young was 
an early minister. Thomas Randle, Nathaniel Pinckard,' 
and Samuel Thompson and John Dew were early Methodist 
ministers. 

In the year 1812 a school was taught in the door yard .of 
the residence of Col. Samuel Judy by I^lisha Alexander. A 
school-house was then, in 1814, built at the foot of the bluff, 
half-way between where Col. Judy and William B. White- 
side lived, but more than half of the time it was not occupied. 
This was a cabin built of logs, and Mr. Thompson was the 
teacher who first held sway within its walls. This was while 
the war of 1812-14 was in progress. Many of the inhabi- 
tants in that part of the country were engaged in the 
ranging service, and the reports from the field so inspired 
the youth with martial feeling that one morning they 
barred the cabin door against the teacher. After brave, but 
ineffectual efforts to carry the position by storm, he wisely 
sounded a parley and received the surrender of the garrison 
on condition of treating the pupils. 

A .school was taught by Vaitch Clark, in the summer of 
1813, in a block house at ihe little fort which had been 
erected for protection against the Indians on section 1, of 
township 4, range 9. 

The first teacher in the Wood River settlement was Peter 
Fliun. The school-house in which he taught was on section 
4, township 5, range 9. In township 3, range 9, the first 
school was taught in 1812, by Joshua Atwater, who was 
succeeded by an Irishman named McLaughlin. 

The first school ever taught in the Marine jTairie was 
either in the summer, or winter, of 1814. It was taught in 
the smoke house of Isaac Ferguson. There were ten or 
twelve scholars, and Arthur Travis was the teacher. 

Hiram Rountree was an early leacher at Ebenezer, south- 
west of Edwardsville; ]Mr. Campbell at Salem, Joseph 
Berry on SugarCreek, and William Gilliland at the Cantine 
school and meeting house. 

One of the early schools in the Marine settlement was in 
a building made of logs consisting of two departments sepa- 
rated by a log partition. The first department was a stable, 
accommodating several horses ; the second, a crib, or gran- 
ary, utilized for scho'astic purposes. The only entrance to 
this room, was through the stable, and teacher and pupils, 
girls and boys, were compelled to climb six feet of log parti- 
tion. " The conductor of this school," writes one of the 
pupils of those days, '' was a little effete, old codger, the 



most ignorant and illiterate creature I ever knew as a 
teacher of the youthful mind. We were instructed to al wa3's 
call the letter ' Z,' ' Izzard,' and in spelling Aaron to say, 
"Big A, little A, r-o-n, Aaron," The next teaci.er who 
attempted to illuminate Marine was Mr. Giles Churchill, 
the most bashful and awkward of men. He had studied 
' English grammar in Webster's spelling book, and 'lowed 
he could teach it if anybody wanted to lava.' At that early 
day the march of civilization had already established a 
whisky distillery in the wood-t, not more than two miles 
from our noted scholastic institution, and our beloved peda- 
gogue would sometimes rest at this point, on his early 
literary peregrination to his morning duty, and imbibe too 
freely of corn-juice for the successful advancement of educa- 
tion, although iu one way or another, he did successfully 
' teach the young mind how to shoot.' A true politician, 
however, he even then stumbled along to his tasiis, his duties, 
and his school, with a pint-bottle well-filled with the spirit 
that ' steals away the brain,' to treat, fill and flatter the 
older boys, and thus win them to his praise." 

One of the early schools in the southern part of the coun- 
ty was taught in Chilton's foit by David Smeltzer. 

The Rev. William Jones was one of the earliest teachers 
in what is now Fort Russell township. A man named 
Wyatt taught in this part of the county in 1817, and in 1818 
Daniel A. Lanterraan had a school in which thirty-three 
children were in their primers at the commencement of the 
term. He was paid twelve dollars a year for each pupil. 
The books used were Webster's Spelling Book, the New 
England Primer and Pike's Arithmetic. To advance far 
enough in arithmetic to understand the rule of three, was 
considered having a good education. The scholars came 
from a distance of three miles. The school-house was built 
of logs, and was twenty by twenty-four feet in dimensions. 
On the side, half a log had been cut out for a window. 
Over the aparture greased paper was tacked, and a fence had 
been built on the outside to keep the cattle from destroying 
this substitute for glass by licking it with their tongues. 

In the neighborhood of the present Edwardsville there 
were no good schools till 1818. About that time Hiram 
Rountree taught twoyears at the old Ebenezer school-house 
and had a school of eighty pupils. 

The first school in the neighborhood of the present town 
of Troy was taught by Greenberry Randle in the year 1811. 
The curriculum of studies could not have been very extend- 
ed for the " master " stipulated that he should be called on 
to give no instruction in arithmetic farther than the " Dou- 
ble Rule of Three." 

EARLY MILLS. 

The want of convenient mills was one of the most serious 
disadvantages with which the pioneer settlers had to con- 
tend. Of the early contrivances for manufacturing meal 
the most rude and primitive was what was known as the 
" Armstrong mill," used in the fall of the year, and which 
could be made by any family. This consisted of a plate of 
tin, pierced with numerous hobs, so as to make one side 
very rough, bent in the shape of a half-circle, and nailed to 
a clap board about three feet long by six inches iu width. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



97 



By rubbiug an ear of corn, just out of the milk, on the rough 
tin, meal was made, thou^^h in a very shiw and hiborious 
manner. The person operating this mill, by the time he had 
ground, or grated, enough meal for the dinner of a dozen 
persons, would be apt to conclude that " arm-strong " was a 
very appropriate appellation. 

An improvement on this was the band mill. This was 
made of two mill-stones, one above the other. A hole was 
made in the upper stone in which was placed a staff of wood, 
which ran through a hole in a plank above. One or two 
persons took hold of this statt' and turned the upper stone 
with as much velocity as possible. There was no hopper, 
but through an eye in the upper stone the mill was fed with 
corn in small quantities. 

To make a mortar, wherein to beat corn into meal, the 
pioneers took a large, round log, three or four feet in length, 
and, by cutting or burning, made a cavitj^ in one end, capa- 
ble of holding, perhaps, a peck of corn. The log was then 
set perpendicularly io the ground, and the cavity filled 
with corn. A weight attached to the sweep was then used to 
crush the corn. The weight was forced down by the hands, 
and was raised again by the spring of the sweep-pole. 

In the baud-mill the horse-power consisted of a large, 
upright shaft, some ten or twelve feet in height, with eight 
or ten long arms, let into the main shaft and extending out 
from it fifteen feet. Auger holes were bored at the end of 
the arms, in tlie upper side, into which wooden pins were 
driven. This was called the big wheel, and was, as has been 
seen, about thirty feet in diameter. The raw-hide belt or 
tug, was made of skins of beef cattle, cut into strips three 
inches in width ; these were twisted into a round cord, or 
tug, long enough to encircle the circumference of the big 
â– wheel. There it was held in place by the wooden pins. 
From the big wheel the belt crossed and passed under a shed 
to run around a drum, or " trunnel head," to which was 
attached the grinding apparatus. The horses, or oxen, were 
attached to the arms by means of raw -hide tugs, and being 
driven around in a circle, the machinery was set in motion. 
To grind twelve bushels of corn in a band-mill was consi- 
dered a good day's work. Instead of using the band, power 
was sometimes communicated from one wheel to the other 
cogs. 

Several of these baud mills were erected in the Goshen 
settlement. Before their coming into use the pioneer settlers 
usually procured their supplies of meal at Cahokia. Wheat 
flour at that time was but little used. Previous to the year 
1807, several pioneer mills were built within the present 
limits of the county, one of which was a band mill, erected 
by the Preuitts, on the edge of the prairie, a few miles east 
of the present site of CoUinsville. On the Cautiuc creek, 
south of CoUinsville, a man named Talbot had, first, a horse 
mill, and afterward a water mill. Cornelius built a water 
mill on the same creek below. Elliott had a horse mill about 
three miles south of Edwardsville, and Nathan Carpenter 
one on the Six mile prairie. Adjoining the site of Edwards- 
ville, Thomas Kirkpatrick built a water mill on Cahokia 
creek. 

William Whiteside, of Whiteside station, in the present 
13 



county of Monroe, and his brother, John Whiteside, in the 
year 1806, purchased a land warrant of one hundred acres, 
and located it on Wood river, where that stream is crossed 
by the road leading from Edwardsville to Alton. They 
prepared, and hauled much timber with which to construct 
a mill, but for some reason never built it. 

After the population of the county became more numerous, 
several of the settlers, who had a mechanical turn of mind, 
were tempted to try their skill at building horse, or ox 
mills. There were many failures, and sometimes linancial 
ruin resulted. Especially was this the case with the atteni])ts 
to build and operate water mills. It was a saying of Isaac 
Prickett, one of the Edwardsville merchants, that however 
great a falling out he might have with au old settler, if he 
undertook to build a water mill, he always forgave him the 
grudge. At Edwardsville in the year 181^, Josias Kandle 
built a good cog-wheel horse mill. John Messinger was the 
machinist and mill-wright who did the work. In 1832 this 
mill was transformed into a steam mill, one of the first in 
Madison county. It burned down in 1834. Near the pre- 
sent site of Bethalto, there was a band-mill at an early day 
operated by Mr. Finley. George Moore had one on his 
])lace in section ten, of township five, range nine, the ma- 
chinery of which was brought from Kentucky. About a 
mile and a half west of Edwardsville was a mill owned by 
Joshua Delajilain, on land now owned by S. O. Bonner. 
Prior to the year 1817, a band-mill was erected on Gov. 
Coles' farm, three or four miles east of Edwardsville. It 
was run by George Coventry, and afterward by William L. 
j\Iay, who removed it to Edwardsville. Henry Keley, the 
pioneer settlf r of Hamel township, put up a band-mill on his 
farm about 1820. This mill had a good bolting cloth and 
chest. • It was in operation only a short time, and the enter- 
prise did not prove a financial success. George W. Farris 
had a band-mill, west of Silver creek, near the line between 
Hamel and Alhanibra townships. Robert Collet, one of the 
most ingenious, useful, and enterprising citizens on Rattan's 
prairie, built a good mill, two or three miles southeast of the 
present town of Bethalto, which was well patronized, and a 
great convenience to the inhabitants of that part of the 
county. It was destroyed by fire in 1842, or 1843. Robert 
McDow, a Kentuckian, who settled near the present Kinder 
station, had a horse-mill in operation at an early period. 

A water-mill was built on Cahokia creek at Edwardsville, 
by Jo-eph Newman, who sold it to Samuel Lockhart, and 
he to Paris Mason. The mill was in operation several years, 
and a great advantage to the people residing within several 
miles of Edwardsville, but so treacherous was Cahokia creek, 
and so difficult and expensive was the work of preserving 
the mill-dam on account of the frequent fl )ods which dcva.s- 
tated the bottom, that Mr. Mason finally concluded to aban- 
don the mill. Three or four miles southeast of Edwards- 
ville, a mill was built by Jacob Gonterman, and for some 
years did good service. George Barnsback built a good cog- 
wheel horse-mill, southeast of Edwardsville, and Calvin 
McCray put in operation a mill of the same description in 
the neighborhood of Troy. In the forks of Wood river, two 
or three miles east of Upper Alton, Abel Moore built a 



IIISTOBY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



good cog-wheel mill about 1823 or 1824. On Cahokia 
creek, three or four miles above Edwardsville, a water-mill 
was built by Robert Harrison, at which for many years 
large quantities of corn and wheat were ground, and a great 
deal of lumber sawed. Mr. Harrison was a public-spirited 
and enterpri.sing citizen, and afterward carried on the pot- 
tery business for many years at Upper Alton Both at 
Newman's and Randle's mill at Edwardsville, lumber was 
sawed at an early day. John Estabrook and Oliver Liver- 
more built a water-mill on Cahokia creek, in the northwest 
part of Hamel township about 1829, or 1830. A great 
amount of lumber was sawed here, and some meal and ilour 
manufactured. On Indian creek, in Fort Russell township, 
John Newman built a saw-mill at an early period, which he, 
and others after him, ran to a good purpose for many years. 
West of Edwardsville, ou Delaplaiu's branch, an early mill 
was built by George Coventry. 

William Rabb, who in 1812, purchased claim 16.53, on 
the Cahokia, about three miles northwest of Collinsville, in 
the spring of the next year, built a large four-story frame 
water-mill — an extensive concern for those da3'S. In 1820 
it passed into the possession of Joseph Hertzog, who added 
a distillery. Hertzog's mill was a well-known place to the 
early settlers of the county. 

ISoon after 1«40, there were several steam-flour and saw- 
mills in operation in the county. The first two of these 
were the Randle mill at Edwardsville, and the large steam 
flour-mill built by William Manning at Alton. The building 
of the Alton mill commenced in 1831, and was completed in 
18S3. Farmers sometimes came to the Alton mill from 
Sangamon county, a distance of eighty miles, and then 
would often have to wait several days to get their grist 
ground. The expense, however, was but little more to them 
than at home. Time, in those days, was not a matter of 
much consequence. Provisions and feed were either brought 
from home, or purchased on the way, and the covered wagon 
made a convenient place for lodging as they camped along 
the road at night. It was lawful to cut sufficient timber by 
the wayside for camp fires. 

AGRICULTURE. 

Heavier crops of corn were generally raised in pioneer 
times than now, but the crops of wheat were lighter. The 
superior crop of wheat at the present day is probably due 
to better culture and better varieties. The manner of seed- 
ing wheat was to scatter the seed broadcast in the standing 
corn, and plow it in with a one-horse plow. The wheat at 
harvest was reaped with a sickle. Solomon Preuitt once 
raised, from a small field, a crop of forty-two bushels of 
wheat to the acre, but the usual yield was from ten to fif- 
teen bushels. The fresh and fertile prairie lands yielded 
heavy crops of corn. Curtiss Blakeman of Marine, writes, 
under date of April the twentieth, 1820, to the secretary of 
the State Agricultural Society, that the previous year he 
gathered from nine acres, three-quarters and six rods of 
ground, sixteen hundred bushels of ears of corn of a very 
superior quality. One bushel and a half of ears (consisting 
of one hundred and thirty-four ears) just as they ran from 



the crib, on being shelled, made one bushel and four quarts 
of shelled corn. The seed of this corn was brought from 
Kentucky. He describes the corn as being white and hard, 
the grains a little indented and the cob very small in propor- 
tion to the size of the ear. The mode of culture was quite 
common, the corn being planted late in May, in hills about 
four feet apart, and ploughed three times. Somewhat less 
than ten acres of ground made thirteen hundred and fifty 
bushels of shelled corn, a yield of one hundred and thirty- 
five bushels to the acre. The field in which the corn was 
grown was newly-turned up prairie, and that year was culti- 
vated for the first time. 

There was considerable cotton raised in the county in 
early days, and its cultivation was kept up by some as late 
as the year 1835. Thomas Good built, and operated, a very 
good cotton gin, on his farm two miles south of Edwardsville. 
Oats were not much raised, and only small crops of either 
Irish, or sweet potatoes. Nearly every farmer had his patch 
of flax which was used for some articles of clothing because 
of its superior strength to cotton. At a later day castor 
beans were cultivated and readily sold at Edwardsville, 
where John Adams had an oil mill. The hay used was cut 
from the wild prairie. Melons, which were raised in large 
quantiies, were planted in corn fields by the public roads, 
and the travelling public were expected to help themselves. 
The house garden of early times, beside vegetables for table 
use, grew the medicines of the family — the senna plant for 
a cathartic, garlics for vermifuge, saffron for soothing syrup, 
wormwood and tansy for strengthening bitters, all the mints 
for sudorifics, and sweet basil and summer savory for 
essences and cooking. 

The methods of agriculture were slow and laborious. 
Harvesting wheat with a sickle was a severe labor. A good 
hand could reap half an acre a day. Grain was threshed 
with a flail, or tramped out on the ground with horses and 
oxen, and then cleaned by lettlug it fall through a breeze 
created by the motion of a sheet in the hands of two persons 
— a slow and hard process. The old Barshare plow, with a 
wooden mold-board, was the main implement used for cul- 
tivating the soil. This plow was very good for turning 
prairie sod, but was poorly adapted for plowing up and pul- 
verizing the ground. For cultivating corn the shovel plow 
was much used. 

In one respect the farmer of the olden time had a great 
advantage over the modern agriculturist. His crops were 
not injured by insects. There was no chinch bug, Hessian 
fly, nor weevil ; no vine bugs, lice, potato bugs, or bee moth 
to annoy the farmer, nor any insect to bore, or sting, his 
fruit. The prairie grass was set on fire each year, and all the 
country burned over, so that little hiding place was left for 
insect life, and the crops grew so rapidly on the new and 
fertile soil that, if any pests existed, to injure the crops, the 
damage they did was so small as not to be noticed. There 
was one exception in the tobacco plant which had to be 
watched closely to keep the worms from eating it up. Chinch 
bugs first made their appearance about 1847, and have since 
rapidly increased. Wheat, in early times, never winter- 
killed, though sometimes it was affected by the rust. The 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



99 



seasons then, are claimed to have been better than now, with 
not so much excessive drouth. 

In the summer of 1817 corn at Elwardsville sold at 
thirty-three and one-third cents a bushel, in the spring of 
1818 at fifty cents, and in the summer at seventy -five cents. 
Potatoes were from fifty cents to a dollar, oats fifty cents, 
and wheat one dollar. In 1819 wheat was one dollar, and 
corn, oats, sweet and Irish potatoes each fifty cents a bushel. 
In 1820 there was a cry of hard times. Money became very 
scarce, and the prices of agricultural products fell — wheat 
to fifty cents a bushel and corn to twenty-live cents. The 
price of land depreciated one-half within eighteen months. 
(Jews which in 1819 sold at twenty-five dollars, in 1820 
brought only fifteen, and the price of a yoke ofo.Ken fell 
from one hundred and twenty to eighty dollars. Matters 
grew worse in 1821. Corn sold at twelve and a half centr=, 
and wheat at fifty cents. Prices raised a little in 1824, 
but again dropped to a low standard in 1825. The 
latter year beef sold at one dollar and a half per cwt., cows 
at from five to seven dollars, oxen from twenty to forty 
dollars a yoke, and horses at from ten to eighty dollars. 
There were times in territorial days, when corn sold as low 
as six and a quarter cents a bushel, and wheat thirty cents. 

THE FIRST ORCHARDS. 

In the year 1802, or 1803, Samuel Judy planted an 
orchard of seedling apple trees on his farm in section 5, of 
township 3, range 8. This was the first orchard planted by 
an American settler, but long years previous fruit trees had 
been planted by the French residents on Big, or Chouteau, 
island. There were apple and pear trees on this island, 
which, from their appiarance in 1820, must have been 
planted fifty or sixtj; years before that date. Also on section 
9, of township 4, range 9, and on the Squire farm in section 
6, of township 3, range 9, there were pear trees which must 
have been planted previous to the settlement of the county 
by the Americans. There were several orchards planted at 
an early date in the neighborhood of Troy, one planted by 
Robert Seybold on section 12, of township 3, range S; one 
set out by Titus Gregg on the farm now owned by Ignatius 
Riggin, north of Troy ; and another on section 18, of town- 
ship 3, range 7, on the farm settled by Robert McMahan. 
There was another early orchard, which must have been 
planted soon after 1803, on claim six hundred and two, near 
Collinsville. This orchard was set out by Peter Casterline 
and was in bearing in 1814. Near Rabb's (afterward 
Hertzog's) mill an orchard was planted at an early date. 
Major Cook, on his farm at the foot of the bhifi", on the old 
Edwardsville and St. Louis road, planted an orchard of 
which the apple trees were of a large size in 1817. It is 
said of Major Cook that he sold his last cow to get the 
money with which to purchase apple grafts. 

There were few grafted trees before 1820. A specimen of 
the Lady apple was planted in 1819, on the farm afterward 
owned by Daniel A. Lanterman in township 5, range 8. 
Solomon Preuitt set out in 1820, forty trees, grown from the 
seed of a yellow apple brought up from the French .settle- 
ments. Six or eight of these trees produced very good fruit. 



In township 5, range 8, soon after 1820, orchards of im- 
proved varieties were planted by John Collet, Emanuel J. 
West, and Gershora Flagg. The two former procured their 
trees from the state of New York, and the latter from 
Greenville, Bond county. Gershom Flagg, in the si)ring of 
1822, planted three hundred seedlings, and in the fall of the 
same year about two hundred trees of Kirkbridffe White, 
Rambo, Pryor's R'3d, Penn.'ck, Pennsylvania Red Streak, 
Newtown Pippin, Rawle's Janet, Gilpin, and other varieties. 
The grafted trees proved equally hardy and long-lived with 
the seedlings. The first orchard in Hamel township was on 
the fiirm of Robert Aldrich. The grafts were procured in 
1819 from a nursery at Portage des Sioux in St. Charles 
county, Missouri. Henry Keley and Anson Aldrich went 
after them, wrapping deer skins around the middle of the 
jiackages, so that they could lay them bef jre them on their 
horses. Soon afterward Archibald Lamb and Thomas 
Barnett set out apple orchards in the same township. 
William Hoxsey set out an apple orchard as early as 1819 
or 1820, and Robert MeKee had a large orchard of choice 
apples on the Troy road, three miles south-east of Edwards- 
ville. The first nursery men in the country were John 
Collet and Masson. The latter was a Swiss, who came to 
this country with a countryman, Mr. Talon, on whose farm, 
in section 22, of township 5, range 8, he had his first 
nursery. He removed thence to Mr. Collet's farm, about 
the year 1825, and thence, about 1832, to a farm in section 
8, of the same township. George Barnsback also had an 
early nursery. 

BIRDS AND ANIMALS. 

Many of the animals and birds common in early days 
have disappeared. Grey wolves were plentiful in the first 
settlement of the country, and there were also black and 
prairie wolves. Wild cats were also numerous. The wolves 
were a great trouble to the farmers, for the reason that they 
killed many of the young pigs and sheep, and sometimes 
colts and calves. A panther was occasionally met with, and 
often attacked men and the larger animals. E^ra Gil man, 
in township six, range ten, killed a panther with a heavy 
stick as his only weapon. The panther had engaged in a 
fight with his dog, and Oilman seized a stake from a sled 
near by, and by repeated blows on the head succeeded in 
killing the ferocious animal. Samuel P. Gillham was 
accustomed to tell of a neighbor of his, who, when riding 
through the timber at night, was attacked by a panther 
which lit on the back of the man, and with its claws raked 
his body from the head downward, tearing his clothing in 
slits, and then ripped open the horse's rump. Both horse 
and rider were terribly frightened. The horse gave a terrific 
jump, and the panther slippad off. The horse then leaped 
a stake-and-rider fence, and reached home, how, the man 
never knew. AVhen he came to his senses the horse was 
galloping around the house. The man died in two days 
afterward from the effects of his fright. 

The horns of the wild elk could still be seen, showing that 
they had once inhabited this country. A badger was 
occasionally killed, but not after 1830. Buffalo horns were 
scattered over the prairie, for years after the first settlement. 



100 



II IS TO BY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Bears were not common. One was killeS in the county 
after 1830. The Lyux was sometimes seen. Deer, of course, 
were plentiful in early days. There were four varieties of 
squirrels, the fox, grey, flying and ground squirrels. 

The grey and bald eagle were common in pioneer 
times. Paroquets were once plenty. They used to stay in 
the timber along the creeks, and when they came out the 
settlers regarded their appearance as a sure harbinger of a 
storm. There were several varieties of the wood-pecker 
the red head, the yellow-hammer, and the sap sucker. Par- 
tridges were scarce. The southern mocking bird was seen 
in the country for a year or two, and then disappeared. 
The pheasant has come since the first settlement of the coun- 
try. There were several varieties of owls, among which 
were the screech owl, the large prairie owl, and the large 
horned owl. Water hens have come since the country was 
first settled. Wild ducks and geese were plentiful, and 
cranes, herons and swans were found about the lakes. 

PRAIRIE FLIES. 

The green-headed flies, which infested the prairies in the 
summer, were a great annoyance. From the middle of June 
to the first of September it was almost impossible to cross the 
prairies in the day time. Wherever a fly lighted upon a 
horse a drop of blood started. In a journey of twelve miles 
horses were frequently killed. Travellers were accustomed 
to lie by in the timber during the day, and to cross the 
prairies at night. 

INDIANS — TREATY AT EDWARDSVILLE. 

There were no Indians resident in the territory now com- 
prising Madison county within the time of its settlement by 
the whites. There was originally a Kickapoo town near 
the Salem camp ground. It was their second town in im- 
portance, the first being at Peoria. The hunting lodges 
stood there till 1820. In early days, however, the Indians 
frequently visited this part of Illinois, mostly with the 
object of having conferences with Gov. Ninian Edwards at 
Edwardsville. Large companies or bands of Indians, some- 
times to the number of one hundred and fifty canoes, each 
canoe containing three or four men, women, and children, not 
unfrequently passed down the Mississippi. The.se com- 
panies sometimes passed on to St. Louis to see William 
Clark, governor of the territory of Missouri, and sometimes 
stopped at Gillham's landing, on the Mississippi, just below 
the mouth of the Missouri, there left their canoes moored 
to the shore, and proceeded on foot to Edwardsville, to see 
Gov. Edwards who held councils and made treaties with 
them. One of the old residents of the county states that 
he had seen the men marching along the road to Edwards- 
ville in a single file, a mile in length. The squaws and 
papooses were generally left at the river to guard the canoes 
and baggage. These Indians were Sacs, Foxes, Pottawato- 
mies and Winnebagoes, who then inhabited the country on 
the upper Mississippi about the present towns of Rock 
Island, Davenport and Galena, the country on the Illinois 
river in the vicinity of Peoria, and other portions of north- 
ern Illinois. They were then perfectly friendly to the 



whites. The squaws usually wanted to barter strings of 
beads for green corn, and the braves showed a great fond- 
ness and anxiety for whisky. Often before their return 
homeward they would encamp for several days at a time 
near the Mississippi, and the men would hunt de3r and 
other wild game which, with boiled corn, would constitute 
their stock of provisions for the voyage up the river. 

Another pioneer settler of the county relates that among 
the Indians traveling and camping near Edwardsville, the 
young men were full of fun. He often saw them when the 
Cahokia was full of water, wallowing in the mud in the 
road, and then jumping into the creek. He had also seen 
them playing cards. 

On the sixth of August, 1819. at Edwardsville, a treaty 
was negotiated between Auguste Chouteau and Benjamin 
Stephenson, commissioners on the part of the United States, 
and the chiefs of the Kickapoo tribe of Indians, by which 
the KickapOos ceded all their land on the northwest side 
of the Wabash river, including their principal village and 
a tract of land covering the central part of the state of 
Illinois, estimated to contain upward of ten million of acres, 
bounded by a line commencing at the mouth of the Illinois 
River, ruiming ea«twardly to the line dividing the states of 
Illinois and Indiana, thence north to the Kankakee river, 
and thence down the Illinois river to the place of beginning. 
The United States agreed, in return, to pay the Kickapoos 
two thousand dollars in silver, annually, for fifteen succes- 
sive years, at their town on the waters of the Osage river, 
and to guarantee them peaceable possession of their country 
on the O.sage and to restrain all white persons from hunting 
or settling therein. The United States also promised to 
furnish two boats in which to transport the property of the 
Indians from some point on the Illinois river to their new 
place of residence, and to select some judicious citizen to 
accompany them in their journey through the white settle- 
ments. 

Proclamation was made of this treaty on the thirteenth 
of January, 1821. Indians still continued to vi-sit Edwards- 
ville till 1827 or 1828. Traces of their camps and the 
peculiar marks made in their stripping the bark from trees 
were visible ten years afterward. The Kickapoos at one 
time had a temporary encampment near the mouth of 
Indian creek and buried many of their dead there. About 
the year 1824 some Delaware Indians who came from Indi- 
ana, were accustomed to camp in the timber bordering the 
Cahokia. In a year or so they moved westward. After 
1835 a large body of Pottawatomies passed through the 
county on the way to their reservation. 

ITEMS CONCERNING SLAVERY. 

The ordinance of 1787 prohibited the introduction of 
slavery into the northwestern territory, of which Illinois was 
then a part. This ordinance was construed not to operate 
on the slaves already owned by the early French settlers. 
After the organization of the Indiana territory in whose 
government Illinois was included, laws were passed by the 
territorial legislature, permitting slaves to be introduced or 
indentured servants, and many thus came to the territory 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



101 



Under this arrangement the owner went with his slaves 
before the clerk of the court of common pleas, and there 
the negroes agreed to serve their master a certain number of 
years and then become free. This agreement was to be 
made within thirty days after the slaves entered the terri- 
tory, and if the slaves would not consent to the agreement 
they might be removed out of the territory within sixty 
days. 

The following is a copy of a bill of sale of one of these 
indentured servants from Etienue Pensoneau of St. Clair 
county to Samuel Gillham of this county, with subse(iuent 
conveyances. First appears the record certificate of inden- 
ture and then the conveyance from Pensoneau to Gillham : 

I, John Hay, Clerk of the County Court of St. Clair county, 
Illinois Territory, do hereby certify that Elienne Pensoneau and 
Frankey a negro woman, about the age of twenty-three, entered into 
an indenture an 1 agreement in the Clerk's office of tliesaid county of 
St. Clair, whereby tlie said Frankey agrees to serve the said Ktienne 
Pensoneau, the term of thirty years, and that the same was duly 
registered the !Hh of November, 1811. 

Given under my hand tiiis 12th of August, 1815. 

John Hay, C. C. C. St. C. 

Know all men by these presents that I, Etienne Pensoneau of the 
county of St. Clair, have this day a.ssigned and do hereby assign all 
my Kight, Title, and Interest in the within named Frankey to Samuel 
Gillham, and do moreover, warrant that the .said Frankey was a 
slave and my property before and at the time she indentured herself. 
In the above assignment made for and in consideration of the sum of 
five hundred dollars, currency of tlic United Slates, to me in hand 
paid by the said Samuel Gillham, and I do hereby assign overall my 
right and title to a child of .said Frankey, a girl of about one year 
old. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my baud and seal at 
Cahokia this 12th of August, 1815. 

Test. John Hay. 

Etnb Peksoseau. 
Recorded September 10, 1815. 

J0SIA.S Randall, 

C. C. C. M. C. 

" Know all men by these presents that I, Sauiiicl Gillham, for, and 
in consideration of the sum of ii-JOO to me in hand paid, I do by llie.*e 
presents sign over all my right, title, interest, and demand of, in and 
to the within bill of sale, and also before the signing of these presents 
deliver one negro woman named Frankey and one negro girl named 
Faney unto David Ni.x, for him, the said David, to hold according to 
law as given under my hand and seal this 8th d.ay of October, 181G. 

Test. Samuel Gillham (Seal). 

Uel Whiteside." 

Illinois Territory, Afadison County, this day personally came the 

above named .Samuel Gillham and acknowledged his signature to the 

above to be his voluntary act and deed, and for the purpose above 

stated as given under my hand and seal this 8th day of October, 181G. 

Uel WuiTESiDE, J. P., (Seal). 

The early newspapers contain interesting advertisements 
in reference to runaway negroes. The following is taken 
from the Louisiana Gazette, published at St. Louis: 

FORTY DOLLARS EEWARD. 

Ran away from the subscriber, on the 27th of May, a 
negro man named George, about 40 years old, .«ix feet, or 
upwards, high, coarse features, large btard and whiskers, 



speaks plain and with assurance, has a large vacancy be- 
tween his fore teeth, but not with the loss of a tooth, yellow 
comple.xion, sorrily clothed, having none but those on him, 
viz. : A big coat of jeans, dyed brown, the under part of the 
sleeves a drab color. The public are hereby cautioned 
against dealing, or harboring him at their peril. 

The above reward will be paid to any person who shall 
deliver the aforesaid negro to me, at Mr. John McDow's, six 
miles from St. Louis, near the Six Mile Prairie, Illinois 
Territory. 

JOIIX HuMl'JIltlES. 

June 25,1811. 

In 1819, in the same journal, appears an advertisement in 
which a reward of SlOO is ottered for a negro named Jim, 
who ran away from Chariton, Howard County, Mi souii 
Territory. He is described as being five feet, eight inches 
in height, well-featured, weighing one hundred and sixty- 
five pounds, and being "middling black." He took with 
him a dog and gun. A reward of 8100 will be paid, by 
Charles Simmons, to any person securing said negro in any 
jail, if taken without the territory of Missouri, and S35 if 
taken within said territory." 

In the Edwardsville tSpcctator, 1823, an advertisement 
offers for sale "An indentured negro man, twenty-three 
years of age with twenty-three years to serve, well-acquainted 
with farming, a pretty good rough shoemaker, has attended 
at a distillery, and possesses a good moral character." 

The Madison Association to oppose the introduction of 
slavery in Illinois was formed at Edwardsville on the 28lh of 
June, 1823. The officers were : Curtis Blakeman, president, 
William Otwell and Benjamin Spencer, vice presidents ; 
Thomas Lippincott, secretary, and David Prickett, record- 
ing secretary. An address was drafted by Thomas 
Lippincott. Among other members appear the names of 
George Churchill, Amos Squire, John C. Riggin, George 
Smith, Charles Gear, Benjamin Stedman, Jarrot Duggar, 
William P. McKee, John T. Lusk, John Barber, and 
Thomas S. Slocura. 

The following is an advertisement in the J-Alwardsville 
Sjyectator of the 27th of July, 1833 : 

sheriff's NOTICE. 
There wa.s committed to my care July 17, 18.33, Primes, a black 
man, a runaway servant, aged about thirty-five years, live feet, 
eight or ten inches high, stout made. He acknowledged himself to 
be the properly of a Mr. William Poke, of Hardeman County, 
Tennessee, near Bolivar. The attention of the owner is directed to 
this notix:e, and the law under which the prisoner was taken up, 
which makes it my duty to sell the prisoner in six weeks from this 
d,ite unless the right to the property is established according to law. 
Nathaniel Buchma-ster, 
Sheriff of Madison County. 

REMARKABLE SEASONS AND CHANGES OF WEATHER. 

In the winter of 1805 occurred what was known, for years 
afterward, as " the cold Friday." The weather suddenly 
became intensely cold, and caused the day to be long remem- 
bered by the early settlers. 

The summer of 1818 was unusually sickly near the banks 



102 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



of the Mississippi river. The Missouri river that year rose 
to an extraordiuary height. 

This summer was also remarkable for the frequent thun- 
der, which sometimes carae out of a clear sky. Many a day 
distant rumblings were heard, while not a cloud could be 
seen. 

In the spring of 1820, the rainfalls were extremely heavy. 
All low and wet places were covered with water. During 
the hot months, a sickly, disagreeable effluvia filled the at- 
mosphere, and in the following fall there was considerable 
sickness. INIauy of the wheat fields that year were affected 
with what was termed 'â–  sick-wheat." Persons who ate bread 
made from it became sick with nausea. If a piece of the 
bread were thrown to a dog, he might snatch it, but would 
immediately drop it. Neither cattle, or swine, would eat the 
grain, and some farmers burned their stacks into the fields, 
deeming the harvest utterly worthless. 

Great sickness prevailed in 1819, 1820, and 1821. The 
summer of 1820 was very hot; for weeks in succession the 
thermometer at St. Louis marking ninety six degrees in 
the shade. The fevers of that year were peculiarly malig- 
nant, rapid, and unmanageable. In the summer of 1821, 
the sickness was very general, but in a milder form. 

The winter of 1820-21 was very severe, with considerable 
snow. Two men were found dead on the prairie, chilled to 
death by the cold. The spring and summer of 1821 were 
very wet, and the crops were not up to their usual standard. 
A great deal of the wheat was not worth reaping. 

A violent storm in June, 1821, swept over a part of the 
country, destroying gardens, corn crops and killing chick- 
ens. The storm came from the northwest, and its track 
â– was three or four miles in width. The hail, which accom- 
panied it, ranged in size from a musket ball to a hen's egg, 
and broke all the windows on the side of the buildings from 
which the storm came, in Edwardsville. 

A heavy frost occurred on the twentieth of May, 1822. 
On the twenty-first of September of the next 3'ear, a severe 
frost cut all the green corn blades, but the subsequent 
weather was dry, so that the corn ripened well, and was 
good for the next year's planting. 

The year 1821 was very wet. Heavy rains fell frequently. 
Corn on flat lands was a total failure. This year the weavel 
destroyed the wheat after it was harvested. The next year, 
]82r), there was a remarkable growth of thistles on the 
branch bottoms. The winter of 1830-31 was known as the 
" winter of the deep snow." The snow was of a depth of 
from two and a half to three feet, on a level. It drifted 
much, and was very destructive to peach trees. The weather 
was intensely cold. Both in 1381 and 1832, the early frosts 
so injured the corn as to entirely destroy its germinating 
properties, and render it w'orthless for almost any purpose. 
All the seed corn, immediately after those years, had to be 
procured from the counties further south. Daring the sum- 
mer of 1831, there was frost every month except July. 

A peculiar change in the weather happened in the early 
part of 1836- Six inches of snow which had fallen on a 
Saturday, the weather growing warmer, by Monday morn- 
ing had melted into slush. It became suddenly cold, and 



in an hour the slush was frozen hard, and converted into one 
solid mass of ice. William Bevins had started to ride to a 
neighbor's when the change came, and finished his journey 
of two miles with great difficulty. On reaching his destina- 
tion, he found his horse's tail as big as a barrel, and his legs 
as thick as a man's body, from the accumulation of frozen 
slush. 

Some of the old settlers who survived till recent years, 
thought more rain fell in early days than was the case later. 
The creeks were seldom dry, and fish were usually plenty. 
There was also commonly a difficulty about planting crops 
on account of the long, wet spring. It is likely, however, 
that the difference results from the clearing away of the 
timber, which has tended to drain the laud quicker, so that 
with the usual rain-fall, fields can be worked earlier now iu 
the spring, than was possible forty or fifty years ago. It is 
said also that long drouths in the fall were not of so fre- 
quent occurrence, and that there were fewer frosts. 

From 1853 to 1861 peach trees blossomed as follows : 1853, 
April 12; 1854, April 9; 1855, April 19; 1856, April 27 ; 
1857, May 8; 1858, April 3; 1855, April 10; 1860, April 
7, and 1861, on the 15th of April. 

On the 5th of April, 1857, there was a heavy snow storm, 
and the next morning the thermometer was eighteen degrees 
above zero. 

EARTHQUAKE OF ISll. 

An earthquake occurred on the night of the sixteenth of 
November, 1811, and occasioned great excitement, and some 
dread among the people. The centre of violence was near 
New Madrid, Missouri, but the whole valley of the Missis- 
sippi seems to have been affected by the agitation. In the 
American Bottom, many chimneys were thrown down. The 
walls of the brick house of Samuel Judy were cracked. The 
shaking cau-ed the church bell in Cahokia to sound. Gov. 
Reynolds relates that his parents and the children were all 
sleeping in a log cabin, at the foot of the bluff, when the 
shock came. His father leaped from the bed, crying aloud, 
" The Indians are on the house. " The battle of Tippecanoe 
had recently been fought, and it was supposed the Indians 
would attack the settlements. " We laughed at the mistake 
of my father, " says Gov. Reynolds, " but soon found out it 
was worse than Indians. Not one in the family knew at 
that time it was an earthquake. The next morning another 
shock made us acquainted with it, so we decided it was an 
earthquake. The cattle came running home, bellowing 
with fear, and all animals were terribly alarmed on the oc- 
casion. Our house cracked and quivered so, we were fearful 
it would fall to the ground. It is said a shock of an earth- 
quake was felt in Kaskaskia in 1804, but I did not perceive 
it. The shocks continued for years in Illinois." The earth- 
quakes in the latter part of the year 1811, and the begin- 
ning of 1812, alarmed some people to the greatest possible 
extent, and very many persons, who had never thought be- 
fore of being religious, joined the church, and began to pray, 
thinking the end of all things was at hand. Some of these 
remained true to their newly-adopted principles, but many, 
after the danger seemed to be oyer, relaxed to their old 
worldliuess. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



lor 



Several other earthquakes have been observed, though 
none so violent as this. They seemed to occur every three 
or four years, aud invariably appeared to approach from the 
southwest. Joshua Dannagan stated that he witnessed one, 
about the year 1831), strike a forest. For a moment the 
leaves seemed to wilt as under a strong heat, but soon re- 
sumed their original appearance. The same authority is 
given for the statemant that thay nnst frequently came at 
night, and were always accompanied by a low moaning 
noise. 

XAVIG.\TIOX OF THE MlSSISSiirPI. 

The pioneer method of navigating the Mississippi was by 
keel-boats, flat boats, mackiuaw boats or batteaux, and 
Indian canoes. The keel boats were used for conveying 
merchandise up the rivers to the various trading points, and 
returned laden with peltries, honey, and beeswax. The 
mackiuaw boats were used from the mountains and up 
river ports, down ttream, but were never used against 
the current. Flat boats were used in floating the stock 
and produce of the farmers to the new Orleans market, 
and they, like the mackinaw boats, were sold or left when 
the cargo was disposed of. The business of running flat 
boats to New Orleans was dangerous and precarious. The 
distance was great and accidents and casualties numerous. 
Perhaps fully one-third of all the boats that started from 
Illinois on the trip were wrecked, or lost in some way, before 
reaching their destination. 

The expedition of Lewis and Clark to discover the sources 
of the Missouri river, which reached St. Louis in December, 

1803, passed the winter at the mouth of \yood river. The 
party consisted of nine young men, Kentuckiaus, fourteen 
volunteers from the United States army, two French water- 
men, an interpreter and hunter, and a black servant of Col. 
Clark's. lu addition a corporal aud six soldiers, and nine 
watermen were engaged to accompany the expedition as far 
as the Mandan nation, this side of which attacks were ex- 
pected from hostile Indians. The transports consisted of 
one keel boat, fifty-five feet long, carrying one large square 
sail and twenty-two oars, and two pirogues, one of six and 
the other of seven oars. The expedition left its encamp- 
ment at four o'clock in the afternoon of the 14th of May, 

1804, and began the ascent of the Missouri, the first night 
camping four miles above its mouth. 

The first steamboat which ascended the Mississippi, above 
the mouth of the Ohio, was the Gen. Pike, commanded by Cap- 
tain Jacob Reid, which lauded in St. Louis, at the foot of 
Market street, on the 2d of August, 1817. The next was 
the Constitution which arrived on the second of the following 
October. The first steamboat to enter the Missouri river 
was the Independence, which left St. Louis on the loth of 
May, 1819. In the spring of 1819 Col James Johnson, of 
Kentucky, with three steamboats, loaded with United States 
soldiers and army supplies, landed at the farm of Isom 
Gillham, just below the mouth of the Missouri river. He 
had a contract with the government to transport soldiers 
and supplies to St. Peters (now St. Paul) on the Mississippi 
and to Council Bluffs on the Missouri. He had little ditti- 
culty in goiug up the Jlissiosippi, but in his attempt to 



ascend the Missouri he found trouble. The river was low, 
no pilot was acquainted with the channel, and after three 
weeks of toil St. Charles, only twenty miles above the mouth, 
was the farthest point reached. The expedition was given 
up, and Col Johnson returned to Mr. Gillham's, where the 
steamboats lay in state, exciting the admiration of all 
visitors. People came from the surrounding country for 
many miles expressly to see these boats. Large warehouses 
were built on Mr. Gillham's farm, in which the provisions 
were stored, and here also were the soldiers quartered. 
After a time, a number of keel boats, of light draft, were 
purchased, and in these the provisions aud soldiers were 
carried to Council Bluffs. 

CHAPTER VIII. 




EvnoPE.iN nntiGR.vnoN. 

I HE Western States of the Union contain a 
large proportion of naturalized citizens 
and their descendants. The inexhaustible 
richness of the lands along the rivers of 
the West had been heralded in Eurojjc 
even before the beginning of the jiresent 
century. The first foreigners seeking a 
home on the banks of the Mississippi and 
ilissouri, were a number of French 
colonists arriving here within the first 
half of the 18th century, settling near the missionary 
depots at Kaskatkia and Cahokia. Among these first 
arrivals we find several Swi.ss and a few Germans from 
Alsace — Judy Dumoulin, Eugel, Schoenberger aud others. 
The Judys, nativ s of Switzerland, were among the firrt 
permanent settlers of this county, and their descendants are 
to this day well known citizens of the county. Traces of 
French efforts at colonization in this county are fouiul at 
the prtsent site of Alton where Jean Baptiste Cardinal had 
built a cabin probably as early as 1785 (Madison County 
Gazetteer.) A number of land claims were located along 
the INIississippi River from the mouth of Wood River down 
towards Venice, by French colonists, but very few of whom 
seem to have improved them. Nicholas Jarrot, a French- 
man of distinction, is found among the early settlers in 
Madison county ; his home, however, was never permanently 
located there. The records of the county of 1815 contain 
a list of names of men subject to road labor, and among 
them but very few foreign names are met. The few Euro- 
peans who had found their way to JIadison county before or 
during the first decade of its organization, made no effort 
to have colonies or settlements of their own, such as are 
found in St. Clair aud Randolph counties or elsewhere. 
The Judy family mentioned above, had become thoroughly 
Americanized before they settled in the county. Even the 
orthography of their family name — Tschudy — a name so well 
known in their native Switzerland, had been lost sight of and 



104 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



changed into "Judy" before the coiiiiuenceiupnt of this cen- 
tury. The name ajipeais in the records of St. Chiir county of 
1793. Jacob Judy and Samuel Judy presented or filed their 
claims for land grants, 200 acres each, one as an equal part 
of a Virginia Improvement Right and the other of a 
" Cahokia head" right on the 11th November, 1798. 
Among the enrolled militia of St- Clair county in actual ser- 
vice of the United States in 1783 and 1790, we find Samuel 
Judy and Jacob Judy, jr. They received each a land grant 
of 100 acres, a so-called militia right, which they afterwards 
located in sections 32 and 33, T. 4 — 8, Madison county, 
together with two other militia rights bought of Louis 
Bibaud and Barie La Flamme. In 1799, at an election held 
at Cahokia " to vote for a representative for to be sent to 
the General Assembly of the territory, Jacob and Samuel 
Judy voted for Shadrach Bond, who defeated his opponent, 
Isaac Darneille by a vote of 113 against 11. Voting was 
done viva voce, and the well-preserved tally sheet of said 
election is on file in the Clerk's office at Belleville. 

George Barnsback, another foreign-born pioneer of Madi- 
son county, is made the subject of the following sketch by 
Hon. Gustav Koerner, of Belleville, in his work "The 
German Element :" 

" One of the first German settlers in Madison county, if 
not the first, was George Berensbach— Barnsback. He was 
the son of a highly respected family at Osterrode, and had 
received a thorough education. An employee of a com- 
mercial house, he gave up his position without the consent 
of his parents and embarked for America in 1797. He 
landed in Philadelphia, a lad of sixteen years. He soon 
.strayed over to Kentucky and traditon has him serving a 
season as overseer of a plantation. We doubt it, because 
of his youth. After a stay of two years, he became home- 
sick and embarked for Hamburg and was shipwrecked at 
Dover, barely saving his life. His reception at home was 
most cordial, the fatted calf was slaughtered in honor of 
his return. However he had breathed the air of America, 
ana would not remain in Europe. In 1802 he returned to 
Kentucky, rented a plantation and erected a distillery. 
But Kentucky was too small for him. He brought his 
lamily to Illinois to what is now Madison county. Here 
he devoted himself to farming, and a number one farmer 
he was. In the war of 1812, he took service with other 
volunteers to protect the settlements against the Indians, 
the allies of the English, and remained in the field for fully 
two years. In 18-5 he went to Germany to collect an 
estate to which he had i'allen heir. Returning he resolved 
to go to Missouri, where he bought a large plantation in 
St. Fran(;ois county. The system of slavery disgusted him 
most thoroughly and in 1830 we find him back in Madison 
county. He was now nearly 50 years of age, and wanting 
rest, he devoted himself with zeal and success to agriculture, 
and left at the time of his death one of the best and most 
beautiful farms in the country. He was a tall man of 
powerful build with features betraying energy, and main- 
tained an imposing appearance to his end. Hj participated 
with interest in the management of puljlic affairs, without 
seeking personal gains, filled various offices, oftiu against 



his wish, and became also to his dislike, a member of the 
legislature in 1846. The salary which he drew for those 
services was bestowed to his county for the benefit of the 
poor. lie was very accurate and insisted that obligations 
to him were strictly fulfilled, but was just as conscientious 
in his dealings with others. It is said that he never charged 
more than one half of the legal rates of interest on moneys 
due him. This explains the fact that when he died May 
25, 1809, at the age of 87 years, he did not leave great 
wealth, but with it he left to his descendants the grand 
legacy of an incorruptible and excellent man. 

After his second trip to Europe, several of his kinsmen — 
nephews — accompanied or followed him. All settled in the 
vicinity of their uncle, and one of them, Julius L. Barnsback, 
had become a Justice of the Peace, and a man of much 
importance and influence in the county. He removed to 
Edwardsville, where he engaged in commercial business 
with marked success. Sickness however, befell him and 
took him from the large circle of an interesting family and 
numerous friends before he had reached a great age." 

George Barnsback was a member of the first Board of 
County Commissioners in 1819, together with Samuel Judy 
and William Jones. 

Julius L. Barnsback is frequently mentioned by Dr. H. 
C. Gerke, Joseph Suppiger and Solomon Koepfli in their 
publications — 1831 to 1833 as a friend and adviser. He 
kindly v olunteered to assist them in the selection of lands, 
and acted as interpreter whenever the " Book-English " of 
his new friends gave out. Barnsback seems to have enjoyed 
their surprise at unexpected sights, which of course w'ere of 
constant occurrence, for life in the cities of Europe, differ so 
materially from life in the forests on the frontier. Koepfli 
complains at times of the sarcastic yet humorous remarks of 
Barnsback, made in German, in the presence of Americans 
and in regard to their appearance or surroundings, for, says 
Koepfli, we had to burst out in laughter and then could not 
explain, at what we had to laugh. Barnsback, who had 
done the mischief, would sit there, without the sign of a 
smile on his lips, sober as a judge, chuckling inwardly over 
our discomfiture ; yet he was so universally kind and amiable 
that our anger was but momentary. George Barnsback's 
name is not mentioned by the authors named above. He had 
probably not yet returned from Missouri. Julius L. Barns- 
back was the first German ever naturalized in the courts of 
this county, years after he had officiated as justice of the peace. 
A few Canadians had been naturalized in 1816 and 1817, as 
stated in the chapter on Civil History, but their names 
have disappeared from the rolls of the residents of the county. 
The Barusbacks have long since become as thoroughly 
Americanized as their family name of Berensbach had been 
anglicized into Barnsback. Their descendants are numer- 
ous, and several of them have been called to prominent po- 
litical positions in the county. Speaking of politics, it should 
be stated, that the most numerous branch of the Barns- 
backs are identified at present with the Republican party and 
only a few are found in Democratic ranks, but all are held 
in high regard by all their fellow citizens. The Barnsbacks 
are North Germans, and the characteristic features of that 



SIS TOE Y OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



105 



race are fairly represented in the family, to wit : self-reliance, 
firmness of mind and sagacity in judgment. Another fea- 
ture of the North German is his immense will power, and 
incredible power of endurance. Besides it might be said, 
that the North Germans are rather reserved, or as they ex- 
press it buttoned up to their throats. The German from 
the South of Germany is decidedly more amiable, though 
inclined to over estimate his powers of intellect ; " he knows 
it all, " as the saying is '• He is sanguine to a fault, 
laughs at difficulties, which his brother German from 
the North contemplates with sagacity, meets with firm- 
ness, and overcomes with cer'ainty, in nine cases out of 
ten, just as often as his brother from the south gets floored. 
The South German carries his heart on his tongue, and 
the north German his tongue in his brain. Though parts 
of one and the same nation, they differ more widely from 
one another than from foreign nations. 

The Swiss have some of the characteristic features of 
the north as well as of the south German. His mountain 
home, surrounding him with many dangers, has made him 
cautious and vigilant besides. The Swiss are sometimes 
called the Yankees of Europe, because of their calculating 
shrewdness and active energy, as well as because of their 
familiarity, with self-government and popular sovereignty. 
The Swiss are largely represented in the foreign born pop- 
ulation of our county, and were the first European colonists 
coming in great numbers to this county. The first arrival 
took place in 1831. The Suppigers and Koepflis, together 
with others, who followed them, are closely identified with 
the township bearing the Latin name of Switzerland — 
HELVETIA — the subject of their settlement is treated and 
commented on in the township sketch. Joseph Suppiger, 
and Solomon Koepfli were the first from the settlement 
to apply for and obtain letters of naturalization. Jacob 
Eggeu, of Highland, speaks of this settlement in his town- 
ship sketch of 187t) as follows: Both families — Koepfli 
and Suppiger, came with the intention of making this a per- 
manent home. They found in James Reynolds, then justice 
of the peace in the district, an excellent and most dis- 
interested adviser. He had nothing in common with the 
indolent squntters and squirrel hunters, so frequently met with 
in 1830. True, he knew how to kill a deer as well as any 
one, but he was not a hunter only. He understood tanning 
and blacksmithing, could stock a plow or make a speech. 
Reynolds singled out Mr. Joseph Suppiger as the one best 
fitted to lead the colony, which was reinforced, during the 
spring fo 1833 by the arrival of Joseph Suppiger, and his 
brother Johann, together with their large families. 
Tscharner brothers and Jacob Weber of Glarus accompa- 
nied them. Joseph Suppiger, Sr., died within a few months 
of his arrival and was buried in Section 30 — T. 4—5; his 
was the first funeral in the colony. In the autumn of 1833 
a number of young men from the fatherland made their ap- ; 
pearance in the colony, among them Jacob Eggen, William 
Hagnaner and John R. Blattuer, all of whom arc still living 
in the midst of the colony. Blattner became famous for his 
many enterprises, commencing with working on a canal, then 
making shoes — his trade, then Niraroding, shooting deer, etc. 
li 



Next cultivating mulberry trees with a view of raising silk 
worms. The building erected for housing his silk worms, 
which — by the way — had hatched long before the necessary 
food was ready for their voracious maws, was converted into 
a tavern and became in time the most popular resort in 
Highland. The " Herre " (gentlemen of wealth and educa- 
tion, hal their casino at ths tavern) and here it was, where 
amateur tragedians performed the classic " William Tell," 
" Cabale and Liebe," etc., as related in the " Highlaml 
sketch. " Blattner was accumulating wealth and now en- 
gaged in manufacturing gunpowder. He was persuaded 
into the business by John L)ehrer, a practical powder- 
miller. Blattner made pjwder but once, but said he: It 
was the best powder ever made in Illinois, and the agricul- 
tural and mechanical association of Edwardsville awarded 
me a diploma, having a beautiful " ox " engraved upon it. 
Loehrer died and Blattner gave up the bu-iness. which had 
caused him the loss of fully SS.OOJ, the savings of many 
years of toil. 

The accounts published of the growing and prosperous 
settlement, — by interested parties, Mr. E.;gen continues 
were overdrawn, and this becoming known in Europe, proved 
injurious to the colony. No arrivals, with probably the ex- 
ception of the Statfelbach family, took place until 1840 — 
when some persons arrived, among whom the families 
Bardill, Marcut, Ruedi, Branger and Florin, fi)llowed in 
1841 by a number of families from Baden and Wirtember', 
among whom the Trautners, Hotz, Spengel, Bader, Bender, 
Z)pf, Hammer, Plocher and others. These immigrants, 
says Mr. Eggen, were an industrious and frugal people, who, 
with but few exceptions, knew how to adapt themselves to 
the trying circumstances then existing, and how to work 
their way out of want into plenty. The very fact of the ex- 
tremely low prices of provisions and stock worked in their 
favor to get started in opening farms. This settlement ex- 
tended through Townships 3 — 5, 4— ,5 and 3 — 6, and is the 
oldest and most important of the European settlements -n 
the county. The names of the colonists who settled in 3 — 
5 and 4 — 5 have been mentioned; in 3 — 6 we find Theodor 
Miller, now no more, who represented Madison county in 
the legislature of 1870 to 1872. Jacob Leder came in 
1837. Samuel Frey, Valentine Frey and Henry Frey 
arrived in 1840. They too are successful farmers ; in fact 
it is dificult to tell, who has not been a successful farmer 
among those, who arrived at an early day. Peter Frutiger, 
J. A. Kirri, Henry Ritterand Rudolf Baer arrived in 184-1. 
Henry Laengle, " mine host" of a splendid hotel afSt. 
Jacob, came to Madison county in 1846, settled first at 
Highland, then tried the state of Texas, returned to Madi- 
son county and located at St. Jacob. John Schmidt arrived 
in 1847, Jacob Willi in 1849. 

Another German colony, or at least the nucleus of one, 
may be observed in the Marine settlement as early as 1833. 
Hon. G. Koerner makes mention of Dr. Gerke, the founder 
of this colony as follows: "He was an unco;nmonly well- 
informed and liberal-minded philanthropist. He possessed, 
theoretically, at least, even a thorough knowledge of agri- 
culture. He became widely known by a work published by 



106 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



him in 1833. It (this work) treats of all phases of life in 
America, and was, in many respects, an instructive compila- 
tion of the contents of the best works, published on the sub- 
ject. He was the father of the talented printer, Philip 
Gerke of St. Louis, etc." Koernvr. The work of Dr. Gerke 
coutain.s a vast amount of original matter, and is by no 
means a mere compilation. The writer of this sketch d'les 
not hesitate to express his admiration of the author of the 
work. lu fact it is but just to say, that H. C. Gerke, LL D., 
was one of the most distinguished foreigners that ever made 
their home in this county. He was a North German, born 
at Hanover in 176-5. His first effort at Emigration was 
made in 1790. It failed on account of insufficiency of funds, 
• but the idea of making the United States his home was never 
given up. He made the institutions of the United States^ 
the social life, the pursuits of its people, the subject of the 
most searching studies, and was comparatively no stranger 
when he reached the shores of the United States in 1831. 
He spent the best part of two years in examining personally 
into American life, in the cities and on the frontier alike. 
His observations are laid down in a volume called by him : 
" Der Nordamerikanische Bathgeber." (N. A. Guide and 
Adviser). This work of Mr. Gerke is probably the best on 
the subject published prior to 1 840. Mr. Gerke was a close ob- 
server and accurate chronicler ; he saw everything, and made 
mention thereof at the proper place. He understood the 
laws of the land as thoroughly as any American jurisprudent^ 
and the system of government, from the local authorities of 
a village up to the federal affairs. He knew the magnitude 
of the American commerce, and how it was managed. He 
corresponded with the publishing houses of Boston, New 
York, Philadelphia and Baltimore ; he was posted to per- 
fection on the inland trade, means of transportation and 
costs. He came to Illinois late in 1831, and pronounces 
the state the best for agricultural purposes between the Mis- 
sissippi and the Atlantic Ocean. He takes notes of the price 
of land and the price of products, and accounts for their 
lowuess very properly. He even says that farm products 
would still be lower, for says he, all produce the same, and 
every youth, as soon as he is twenty one years old, sets up in 
farming. Thus constantly increasing productions, with- 
out improving the means of transportation to markets. Not 
satisfied with knowing the value of farm products, he goes 
into A. R. Skidmore's cabinet-maker shop at Edwardsville 
to ascertain the prices of all articles of furniture, and learns 
that a "good workman in this trade earns $1 00 a day and 
found," — while painters get but 65 cents. J. W. Chenoweth 
tells him, that he makes common chopping axes for S2 50, 
and broad axes for S5.00, ploughs 25 cents jier lb., shoes horses 
new for §1.50, resets old shoes for 50 cents, and irons 
wagons at 15 cents per pound. He pays his journeymen 
from $20.00 to $cO (.'0 per month, " finds " them, or allows 
them to work on shares in profits. J. C. Bruner, the hatter 
must tell him, that hats of first quality, all beaver, are worth 
$14.00, of second fiuality $10 00, of thjrd quality $8.00, of 
fourth quality .$6.50 and fifth quality $4. 50 ; and that his 
journeymen's wages for making the same ready for coloring 
are $2.00, $1.75, $1.50, $1.25, or $1.00 each, etc., etc. 



The doctor studied the difference in the productive power 
of bottom and prairie lands with great attention, for he had 
years ago, quit the law and directed his attention to agricul- 
ture with great success, for, says he, what I lost during the 
Napoleonic wars and other misfortunes, I have all recovered 
by agriculture, the noblest pursuit men can follow. (He 
was an honorary member of the State Agricultural bureau 
of Great Britain). Not being satisfied with his observations 
as to the component parts of the bottom and prairie lands, 
he took a sample of each to Europe, and had a most careful 
chemical analysis made there of them by Professor Dr G. 
Sehmeisser, Hamburg, in 1833. Before returning to Europe 
the Dr bought a large tract of land in the Marine settle- 
ment, where his son, William H. Gerke, remained. The 
contents of the work of Mr. Gerke are manifold and com- 
prehensive. He seemed to have seen everything ; he at- 
tended church in the stately cathedrals of New York and 
Baltimore, and Sunday-school in a log cabin in Madi.son 
county. He was not pleased with the subjects taught in the 
latter, and emphatically objects to the following questions 
asked there, to wit: "Who is the devil? What is the 
devil's character? W^hy was Jesus tempted by the devil ? 
Where did the devil take Jesus? What did the devil say to 
him ? And what did Jesus say to the devil ? The Dr. 
speaks very intelligently about all the diflTerent denomina- 
tions of Protestants in the United States; he had found time 
to study their history, organizations and dogmas. He turns 
his attention to the schools next, eulogizes the public school 
sy>tera of the eastern states and expresses a hope to see it 
introduced in Illinois. He has sat on the rough bench of 
the log-school-house of Illinois, has spent days in seminaries 
and colleges, and is conversant with the system and the 
workings of the national military school at West-Point, 
where he spent several days on his return to New York. He 
measures the distance between the tires of an American faim 
wagon in Illinois, finding it to be 60> inches exactly, and 
then goes east to inform himself on the tariflT; speaks of 
Henry Clay's new tariff bill as intelligently as a professional 
could, and denounces the sixteen amendments to the consti- 
tution proposed by the South Carolina nuUifiers. The doc- 
tor returns to Europe iu order to arrange his business there 
for a permanent settlement in America, whose land and peo- 
ple he has studied and learned to love. He published a 
beautiful poem about the land of his longings iu a Hamburg 
paper. He returned to M'adison county in 1834, and located 
in Heron's Grove, Looking Glass Prairie, where he died in 
1842. Gerke was 66 years of age, at the time of his first 
journey through the Uuited States, a man of uncommon 
vigor and great determination. His countrymen in Madison 
county have never had a better or more prominent represen- 
tative among them than the doctor was. 

Dr. A. F. Beck, a native of Canton Berne, in Switzerland, 
arrived in 1834 and located permanently in the Marine 
settlement, on what is now known as the Brockhaus farm, 
where he remained until death called him hence — in 1844. 
Two sons of the doctor — Alfred and Alexander — are citizens 
of Highland. A. Ruf and F. Starhli, also men of wealth, 
had come with Dr. Beck, but they were dissatisfied with 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



lOV 



the general aspects of matters in the settlement. The cora- 
nuiuieaiions which they had received at home, had led 
them to expect much more than reality grunted, hence they 
concluded to return to their native Switzerland. The 
Marine settlement received most valuable additions in the 
persons of the Waage, Schmidt, Voight families as early as 
1836 or 1837. E. L Yoight died in 1862, C. C Waage in 
1866. Andreas Schmidt, Erasmus Schmidt, Julius Voight, 
surviving sons of the families mentioned above, have been 
successful in their pursuits. Henry C. Heuer removed his 
family to the settlement about the year 1814. His surviv- 
ing son, Henry A. is held in high respect by all. Henry 
Leutwiler, George Accola, Henry Inibs (dead since 1864), 
August Iberg, Samuel Iberg and William Jlay arrived about 
the same time. Four or five years later we find John Eik- 
niann, Valentin Ottwein, Frederick Wenz and his brothers 
Jacob, and Louis, Philip and George Volk, Christian Schoeck 
and others. John Neudecker and H. H. Elbiing came a 
few years later. John Ntudecker has been a very successful 
business man. H. H. Elbring stands high in the estimation 
of all. A few miles north of Marine is another German set- 
tlement in what is called the Handsbarger neighborhood, 
the founders of which wereSylv. Utiger, Gustav. Kaufmann, 
Gottlieb Messcrli, the Daibers, Huerlanders and otLers. 
Utiger was a Swiss. Several sons survived him, the oldest 
of whom, R bert D. Utiger, represented his township for 
years in the board of supervisors. George Schmitt, from 
Alsace, France, came in 184.5, settled in Alhambra, where 
he died in 1873. John Wetzel, reared in the celebrated 
" Latin settlement in Shiloh Valley, St. Clair county, came 
into the above colony about the year 1849. 

The German settlement, south of the town of Troy, with 
its thrifty foreign born population, also belongs to the earlier 
period of the European settlements. Here are found John 
Liebler, a resident since 1840, John Widicus, Andrew 
Langenwalter, Andreas Fehmel, the Schmidts, Loyets, 
Schwarz, and others. Who does not remember the kind- 
hearted, benevolent old Mr. Bertram, who died but a few- 
years ago. Among the foreign born population of Troy, we 
mention Andrew Mills, Esq., a highly respected native of 
the Emerald Isle. Andrew Mills came to the county about 
the year 1841. His fellow-citizens have time and again 
honored him with official positions, in all of which Mr. 
Mills has proved himself worthy of the confidence of the peo- 
ple. And as justice of the peace, who could command jaeace as 
emphatically as the old Squire ? Frederick Gcrfen has lived 
in Troy since 1851 ; he is a skillful mechanic and successful 
dealer. Gustav Vetter, the proprietor of the Troy City 
Mills, came there about ^0 years ago. His sterling quali. 
ties as a citizen have repeatedly secured to him the highest 
political position in the village. Charles Schott, M. D., a 
learned and skillful physician, has made Troy his home since 
1870. 

Collinsville, city as well as township, has also a numerous 
population of foreign birth ; a few French, some Irish and 
Bohemians and many Germans. 

Among the earliest German farmers of the township we 
find William Peters, on section nine, who settled there in 



1838 ; Fred. Koehler located on section one, in 184:3 ; Gott- 
lieb Meyer, on twenty-second, in 1846. William Blume, H. 
Blume, Winter, the Wittes and others, laid the foundations 
of the prosperous Pleasant Ridge settlem.nit; J. and H. 
Wendler located on section thirty-five, in 1847, and another 
Wendler opened a blacksmith shop in Collinsville in the 
same year ; C. A. Ambrosius, Charles Kreider, Fisher 
Heinecke, came a few years later. C. W. Krome, for many 
years a justice of the peace, came to the county in 1850, 
from Louisville, Kentucky, where he had resided since his 
arrival from Germany. Hon. W. H. Krome, member of 
our State Senate from 1>*74 to 1878, is the only surviving 
son of the Squire. C H. Pabst, the merchant, is an old resi- 
dent of Collinsville, and so are J. C. Kalbfleisch and John 
Kuhlenbeck. H. H. Kuhleubeck, a brother of John, was 
clerk of the Madison county circuit court, from 1868 to 1872 ; 
he also hailed from Collinsville, and is now a resident of 
Colorado. The manufactories of Collinsville, flouring mills, 
distilleries, coal mines, zinc works, etc., etc., were to some 
extent started by naturalized citizens, among whom was Dr. 
Octavius Lumaghi, a distinguished Italian. Augustus 
Finke, for several years city attorney and justice of the 
peace, is of foreign birth. Captain A. Xeustadt, attorney- 
at-law, is an Austrian by birth. He is one of the most ac- 
tive men among the leaders of the Republican party. 

A large number of Bohemians have of late settled in this 
and adjacent townships, and Captain Neustadt, one of them, 
has kindly volunteered to give us the following sketch : 

THE liOHEJir.VSS 

numbering about five hundred in this county are true descen- 
dants of the ancient Czeks, aribustand industrious people, 
whose highest ambition is, to have and own their home and fire- 
side. Tired of military de-potism, and an overbearing and 
oppressive ari-tocracy, they converted their scanty means 
into money and emigrated to this country, where the insti- 
tutions and the laws do not smile on the rich and frown on 
the poor. They did not expect to find rivers of nectar, and 
the soil covered with manna, but a land where they may 
enjoy the fruits of their labor. They arrived and were not 
disappointed. They were naturalized and became citizens as 
soon as the laws of the state would permit them to do so, and 
when in the late war their dear adopted fatherland was in 
danger, 22 of their small number immediately took up arms 
in defense of the glorious stars and stripes. One became 
Captain and one 1st Lt. 

The majority of the Bohemians of Madi.son county consists 
of well to do farmers, the balance of tradesmen, mechanics 
and laborers. 

Martin Smola, Wenzl Smola, Paul Smola, ilathias 
Scheibal, Jos. Berka, Joseph Kalina, Joseph Czerny and 
Blazius Bulkacame to this county in 1851 ; in 1852 they were 
followed by Franc Kubat, Joseph Rossipal, Joseph Engel, 
John Drozda, Simon Marsthaiek, Mathias Schwetz, Joseph 
Sedlaozek, John Fperster, and Joseph Zahradnik; in 1853 
by Martin Kraus, Mathias Czerny, John Peshta, Albert 
Janeczek, John Primas, William Primas, Prokop Ilabada, 
Jakob Mottel, Mathias Kagek, John Krieger, Joseph Blaha, 



108 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



iuifl John BuUan ; in 1854 and 1855 A. Ntustadt, Wenzl 
Skala, Joseph Krakora, Joseph Dworak, John Duban, 
Wenzl Scheibal, John Stiparck, Wenzl Bandhauer, 
Mathias Wozteth, Mathias Kratz, Mathias Sashck, Franz 
Lishka, Peter Slodola, John Petrashck, John Topina, John 
Czihak, Franz Kessel, Albert Kneisel, Wenzl Tischler, 
Joseph Wacek and Mathias Zahruba. 

The center part of the county, the " Goshen " of Ame- 
rica, had attracted a number of foreigners, even during the 
pioneer period, as stated heretofore. The naturalization 
records of the county introduce John Murray, a former sub- 
ject of his majesty, the king of England, defender of the 
faith, etc, as the first European naturalized in Madison 
county. Mr. Murray, a Scotchman of education and wealth, 
made this part of Madison county his home in 1820. His atten- 
tion had been called to the resources of Illinois by Birbeck's 
publications. Mr. Murray, together with his family, jour- 
neyed from Virginia to Illinois during the fall of 1820, and 
arrived at Shawueetown, in " ague time." He left the town 
at once, " plodded his weary way to Goshen," and made his 
home near William Otwell's farm on the road leading 
from " Edwardsville to Isom Gillham's bridge on Cahokia 
Creek" — where he found his countrymen, George and 
Samuel Davidson. Mr. Murray brought some capital with 
him, and at the suggestion of IMr. Davidson invested a part 
of it in founding a hrewcry in 1821, on his farm. This in- 
stitution was operated for several years, but did not prove 
to be profitable, and was in consequence abandoned. Farm- 
ing was next resorted to. In 18-.^7 Mr. Murray resolved to 
revisit Europe, but was taken sick before he reached the sea. 
He died in New Orleans ; his family remained in Edwards- 
ville until 1834, when they removed to Upper Alton. Mrs. 
Murray is now in her eighty-third year, enjoying physical 
and mental health to a rare degree. She is the pride and 
joy of her only surviving son, C. A. Murray of Alton, who 
is carrying his threescore as lightly and elegantly as ever 
a mortal did before him. C. A. Murray was sherifl'of Madi- 
son county from 1852 to 1854. 

The family of Robert Gordon arrived from Ireland in 
April, 1822, and made Edwardsville their home. Joseph 
Gordon, a son of Robert, was ordaiued pastor in the Cum- 
berland Presbyterian Church in 1842, and entered with 
great zeal upon the functions of missionary in Southern 
Illinois. He removed to Vandalia in 1848. Rev. Gordon 
was a good and very energetic man. His labors in advo- 
cating temperance and abstinence have made him famous 
throughout Illinois. Over 7,000 people, signed the pledge 
at his solicitation. He was nicknamed " Irish Pony " during 
that period. He died but recently — June 10th, 1882 — at 
Vandalia. A sister of Rev. Gordon was married to Mat- 
thew Gillespie, late of Edwardsville. 

Samuel Burgess, Hugh Kerr, Robert Kelsey, Samuel 
Morrison, James Pullen, James Paterson, natives of Great 
Britain, came to the county about ten or twelve years later 
than the Gordon family. Martin Feehan, an Irishman 
preceded them ; William Gait, a Scotchman, arrived in 1845. 
David Morris, also a Scotchman, preceded him, having 
settled iu 1842, in township 5 — 7. 



F. T. Kraflfl came to the United States in 1833, and made 
the Shiloh settlement iu St. Clair county his home. From 
there he came to Edwardsville, and engaged in mercantile 
business with great apparent success. He also interested 
himself in the political questions of the day, and became a 
man of considerable influence. He was very popular with 
both native and foreigti-b irn citizens, and was elected sherifl' 
of Madison county iu 1850. He met with great reverses in 
the latter part of his life, and died, comparatively speaking, 
in poverty. 

F. A. Wolf also " graduated" in the Lateiner settlement 
at Shiloh, and to this day he assures us that the day.s, months 
and years, spent at the bachelor's roost on the Engelmann 
farm, formed the happiest period of his life. Latin farm- 
ing, however, was not exactly profitable, as F. A. Wolf soon 
observed, and so he engaged in distilling. He came to Ed- 
wardsville in the year 1840, engaging in farming and fruit- 
growing, and his vineyards were the most extensive and 
productive ones in the county. Three of his sons, F. W., 
A. P., and Otto, reside in our midst, and, are engaged in 
operating their extensive coal mines on the " rura paterna ;" 
a fourth one, Theodor, doctor philosophia;, an out and out 
" Lateiner," is professor of chemistry at the state unversity 
of Delaware. Many of our readers will also remember that 
valiant old Napoleonic warrior, Phil. Fix, as a member of 
the Wolf family. A number of immigrants from Alsace, 
France, among them the well known Gerber family, made 
Edwardsville iheir home at an early day. 

The Bickelhaupt family, and the Ritters came to Ed- 
wardsville from St. Clair county, where they had at first 
located. Henry Ritter was one of the most energetic men 
of his time in our midst. He was a public-spirited man. 
Ritter opened the first coal mine in the vicinity, and of 
course managed it so as to pay him well. An amusing in- 
cident of his mining period may be related here. His 
miners, knowing what price coal commanded in those days, 
went on a strike for higher wages. Ritter granted them im- 
mediately. Two hours later a second strike was announce*!, 
and a higher price ; this time, it is ."aid, eight cents per 
bushel was demanded and allowed. In the afternoon of 
the same day the miners made a third strike again, demand- 
ing ten or twelve cents per bushel. Mr. Ritter went to the 
shaft to deliver the following message : " The hoisting ap- 
paratus of these mines will be removed within fifteen min- 
utes; and all miners remaining in the pit longer than 
fifteen minutes, must provide their own means of getting 
up and out." This settled matters, and no further strikes 
occurred. Ritter was successful in all his pursuits; he was 
a most diligent business man, sober and sagacious. He died 
quite young, in 1870. 

Frederick Bohm has been residing in township four — 
eight, ever since 1839 ; his farm in section nine, is one of 
the best in the vicinity of Edwardsville. His neighbor 
Henry Brockmeier, is also an old settler. C. W. Fangen- 
roth, from Berlin, Prussia, came to Madison county in 1843. 
Fangenroth is an enthusiastic agriculturist, and one of the 
most zealous members of the farmers' club. His articles on 
scientific and practical farming are highly appreciated. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



109 



Hfiiry Engelhart, on the Springfield road, settled there in 
1841, and is now an honored patriarch among his neighbors. 
Squire D. C. Scheer came a year later. His possessions in 
section fourteen, township five — eight, represent a model 
farm. In the southern part of the township we find the ex- 
cellent farm of C. P. Smith, who arrived here in 1847, quite 
a youth. His father, a most prudent man and skillful 
Daechanic, had the satisfaction of seeing his only son becom- 
ing the architect of his own good fortune. C. P. Smith 
operated a saw-mill on his lands for years, and combinations 
and surrounding circumstances being very favorable, suc- 
ceeded in amassing a large fortune; he is probably the 
wealthiest German farmer in the county, owning several 
farms in the most desirable parts of the county. 

Conrad Leseman and Caspar Miller, both deceased, belong 
to the earliest settlers smong the Germans. J. G. Lautner 
arrived in 1839 ; he too is dead — in 1874. The Stullken 
brothers and J. B Kleine, sr., also belong to the earlier German 
immigration, and their most successful ones. Peter Schnei- 
der, Louis Hill, Frederick Weiss, and Louis Klingemanu, 
came somewhat later. Fred. Gaertner came to the United 
States in 1850. He became a resident of this county in 1858, 
is a successful merchant, and owns now a large and 
most desirable farm on the Spriugfield road. Gottlieb 
Stahlhut, Leonhard Eberhard and others belong to a later 
period. Henry Camman, John and Mathias Buchta, and 
Ernst Erbe, are the pioueer Germans in five — seven. 

The foreign-born population of the old " Goshen" district 
has never assumed the character of separate colonies, and 
the process of Americanizing has been more ra.\m\ there 
than elsewhere. Marriages between natives and foreigners 
have been of common occurrence ever^iuce the first arrivals 
of the latter. The Germans alone have maintained some 
of the characteristic features of their nationality to a greater 
extent. There is a large number of German churches and 
schools in the townships mentioned, arid it is owing to the 
zealous and untiring labors of the German clergymen and 
parochial teachers that the German language has been pre- 
served for almost two generations. Three or four efforts 
have been made to establish a German newspaper at Ed- 
â– wardsville, but all failed. There seems to be no field for 
such an undertaking in this land of Goshen. Some German 
societies, " Vereine," however, were organized at Edwards- 
ville ; the first or oldest of them, the " Turn Verein," has 
existed since 1858. The founders of this society were G. A. 
Wolf — brother of F. A., mentioned above, a most amiable 
and highly educated gentleman, who died in 1869. J. 
Hammel, now of Lebanon, C. W. Fangenroth, W. Thurnan, 
John Schlindwein, Ale.xander Kitter, Fritz Hansingcr, 
Emil Stoll, Alois Knaus, William Brackhaus, J. Brinkman, 
Jacob Bayer, Martin Ruprecht, George Hoehn, Bernhard 
Stier, Wm. Bender, Charles Weigel, G. Girnt, and John F- 
Wielandy ; the latter was subsequently Judge of the Probate 
Court of Coles County, Mo., and is now a member of the St. 
Louis bar. The present Mayor of the cily of Edwardsville, 
Alonzo Keller, is a native of Switzerland. His administra- 
tion since 1877, has been a great success ; the streets and 
sidewalks of the city have betn greatly and permanently 



improved, an efiicient fire-department maintained, and a 
funded debt of some thirty thousand dollars paid and dis- 
charged. 

Cotemporary with the Swiss colony of Highland, the 
nucleus of a German settlement was formed in township 
six — eight, near the present village of Prairie city, where F, 
Jleyer, a North German, entered a tract of land — 1831 — 
and subsequently opened a farm, which in time became the 
center of a prosperous settlement of Germans, many of whom 
now rank among the most successful farmers of the county. 
The Meyer farm is to this day owned by descendants of the 
family. The Germans are known to be less inclined than 
any other people to dispose of the homestead — the rvra 
paterna of Horace — and start out in search of another The 
following German families clustered around the Meyer set- 
tlement ; Adam Hoeh in 1842 ; Mr. Hoeh has befriended 
many new-comers, by disinterested advice, as well as ready 
and material help. H. Heyer arrived in 1843, Daniel 
Schmidt in 1847, Herman Wirsemann, Ludwig Pape, Carl 
Eugelke, Henry and Christian Knoche, Christian Kurthe, 
John Schoeneweiss, H. Thurmann, H. Dustmann, J. A. 
Scherf, Albert Kaiser, Fred. Dustmann, Henry Dorr, for 
years member of the board of supervisors of Madison county, 
Henry Rurnhold, Adam Mueller, Klein J. Schumacher, 
John Schaefer, the Helmkamp brothers and others fol- 
lowed in the course of a few years. Prairie City and 
vicinity is at this day an almost entirely German settlement, 
and can boast of one of the prettiest German church build- 
ings in the county. 

Besides this, or joining it, is found a prosperous settle- 
ment of East Frieslanders, started about the year 1846, by 
Hiam H. Kaiser, and E. C. Balster, Elke Eden, Martin 
Aljets and others. 

A very large foreign-born population is to be met in the 
western part of the county, principally at Alton. Some, we 
may say many Europeans have so closely identified them- 
selves with the growth and developement of this city from 
the very days of infancy, that personal mention is made of 
some of them in the historical sketch of Alton. Among the 
first foreign born citizens of Alton we find G. T Brown and 
Joseph Brown, Scotchmen, who were in Alton in 1836 ; the 
former rose from a printer's boy to the position of editor and 
proprietor of an influential newspaper, the Courier, was a 
lawyer of great merit and held for years a much coveted 
oflSce at Washington City. He was a man found worthy of 
the intimate friendship of the public men at the head of our 
national affairs and died loved and respected by a large 
circle of friends — 1881. His library contained the most 
valuable political works, and his collections of curiosities, 
many the presents of native and foreign explorers and tou- 
rists, are gems of treasure. Joseph Brown was mayor of 
Alton and subsequently of St. Louis. D. D. Ryrie, the 
banker, and J. A. Ryrie merchant, also Scotchmen, arrived in 
1837, about the same time when their countryman Andrew 
Mather came to Alton, followed by Johu and David Mellen 
about the year 1840. James Patrick James Mitchell and 
Peter Robertson are also Scotchmen. 

Charles Holdeu, Jr., the present postmaster of Alton, 



no 



BISTOEY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



is a initive of England, arriving with his father in Alton 
about the jcar 1841. Andrew JNIaley, an Irishman, came to 
Alton about the year 1845. He had been for years previ- 
ously, in the service of the United States, " wintering " sev- 
eral seasons in Florida. The comforts enjoyed there, while 
fighting the Seminole Indians, are by no means pleasant 
recollections. Mr. Slaley commenced his career in Alton 
as laborer. Diligence and economy, as practiced by him, 
secured him the friendship and assistance of influential men, 
and he is soon seen a successful contractor in the very town, 
where he had toiled as laborer. 

John E. Coppinger, from Galway, Ireland, arrived in 
1849. Mr. C. has occupied a prominent position in his 
chosen home for over a quarter century, and is now a mem- 
ber of the State-Board of Equalization of Illinois, f.r this, 
the 18th Congressional District. James Banuon arrived 
about the same time. He too has in a high measure, enjoyed 
the confidence of his fellow citizens, who time and again have 
elected him to responsible positions, which positions he filled 
to the satisfaction of the people and to the credit of himself. 
Thomas Biggins, a native of Mayo County, Ireland, has been 
an honored and influential citizen of Alton since 1849. R. 
C. Causley, deputy postmaster of Alton, arrived about the 
same time. Thomas Richardson, the blacksmith, arrived iu 
1848, and John Redmond has betu a resident of the county 
since 1838. 

The immigration of subsequent years brought large addi- 
tions to the pioneer ranks. The historical sketches of city 
and township make mention of them, as far as they have 
participated in public life and business pursuits. 

A few Pennsylvania Germans are found among the early 
settlers of Alton, as for instance a tavern keeper named 
Fleischmann. Jacob Schmeer was probably the first Ger- 
man to settle in Alton. He had a small baker shop which 
he sold to C'harKs Ubert in 1833. Ubert added a store to the 
bu.-iuess and was very successful. He died, quite young, iu 
1840. Von Stein, a tailor, Holl and Poetgen, masons, J. 
Herman, J. Landenbergerand C. Walter arrived with Ubert. 
C. Heitzig, A. Ulrich and J. Wiedfeld, Germans, were then 
living in Upper Alton, operating a pottery. Paul Walter, 
Til. Bauer and Johann Forster arrived in 1832, and the 
latter started a German boarding house soon after. Mathias 
Schaub, Martin Fischbach and several of those mentioned 
above went to farming on Coal Branch as early as 1833. 
Fred. Hoflmeister, who had operated the former bakery of 
Ubert and connected it with a confectioner shop, erected the 
first German Hotel, now known as the Empire House, and 
it was here, the few Germans of Alton Feb. 18, 1849, 
held an enthusiastic public meeting to express iheir sympa- 
thies with the revolutionists of Europe and to raise funds to 
aid the political refugees in their flight to the United States. 
J. W. Schweppe presided. Dr. Humbert made motions, after 
motions, and Hornau kept the records. Dr. F. Humbert's 
native city is Frankfort one of the four small republics of 
the confederacy of Germany until 18G6. The Dr. had em- 
igrated in 1833, at the time of the celehrated Frankfort 
"Attentate," an insurrection undertaken by intellectual 
youths against the existing order of things. The Dr. came 



to Upper Alton in 1S3G, was successful in his vocation and 
became an influential citizen. He identified himself most 
zealously with one of the political parties, was a prominent 
and leading man in their councils and is said to have secured 
the nomination of Robert Smith, the only Madison county 
man that ever represented this county in the House of Repre- 
sentatives in Washington City. The Dr. resides now at 
Alton Many incidents related here are taken from a cen- 
tennial speech delivered and afterwards published by him. 

J. W. Schvveppe, now one of the leading merchants and 
a respected citizen of Alton commenced his Alton career 
in a baker-shop erected by George Fuls in 1836. Later, in 
1841 when Fuls died, this shop was bought by F. W. Joes- 
ting and William Schweppe. 

Hornan, a pedagogue by education, kept a saloon. 

G. H. Weigler, also a pioneer among the Germans, came 
to Alton in 1838. His labors, hard and scarcely remunera- 
tive at first, his prudence and his energy have given him a 
most prominent position among the foreign population not 
alone of Alton, but in the county and state. He has been a 
member of the city council or city ofiices since 1854, occu- 
jiies now the chair of the financial and judiciary committees, 
and was justice of the peace time out of mind. He was a 
member of the House of Representatives of the 29th As- 
sembly of Illinois— 1874 to 1876. 

Hon. J. H. Yeager was born in Saxe-Weimar, in 1833, and 
came with his parents to St Louis iu 1834. He subsequently 
came to Madison county, studied law, graduated at Chicago, 
and commenced to practice at Alton in 1857. He was as 
member of the Legislature from 1866 to 1868, and of the 
senate from 1872 to 1874. In 1880 he was elected county 
Attorney of Madison county. Mr. Yeager is an excellent 
lawyer and an exemplary citizen. He has retained full 
knowledge of the German language, though he came to this 
country in the 1st year of his life, and is fully conversant 
with the classics of Germany. Rt. Rev. Bishop H. Damain 
Juncker, late Bishop of Alton, was horn at Finsingen, Lor- 
raine, France in 1810, came with his parents to Cincinnati 
in 1824, where he studied theology, was parish priest at 
Chillicothe, and Columbus, Ohio, and was made bishop of 
Alton in 1857. He died there October 2d, 1868. H. Brueg- 
geman, mayor of the city from 1879 to 1881, is a German 
by birth and a resident of Alton since 1856. John M. 
Tonsor has represented the township in the Board of Super- 
visors since adoption of township organization in 1876. 

V. Walter, Henry A. Summers, Louis Biekel, Henry 
Fisch, J. H. Koehne, Lorenz Fahrig, J. J. Kopp, Germans, 
and J. W. Brain, Jonathan Quarton, John Curdie, Britons, 
are members of the earlier immigration. 

The immigration from 1849 to 1864 brought thousands of 
people to the county, and Alton received a full share of it. 
The various nationalities are now represented iu all the va- 
rious vocations of life. Mechanics, farmers, laborers, con- 
tractors, city-township-and county-oflicials, merchants, arti- 
sans, attorneys, physicians, even " bloated bond-holders " 
and coupon clippers, of foreign birth, are successfully com- 
peting with their native born neighbors. 

The Germans of Alton found themselves numerous enough 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUXTY, ILLINOIS. 



Ill 



in 1851 to organize their social Yereine. The celebration of 
the 4th of July, 185], was the first public festival arranged 
by the Germans, who flocked to Alton in great numbers. 
The festival was held in a beautiful grove on the Coalbrauch 
road. Kev. De Therdiug and G. H. Weigler were the 
orators. Elble's clarinet and Lehman's fiddle furnished the 
music for young and old. A militia company of St- Louis 
participated in the frolic, and our Altonians immediately 
went to work to organize a military company, naming it : 
Alton Jaeger company, 106 men, rank and file. It was 
officered by G. H. Weigler, L. Haagen and B. Ruenzi. In 
1861 the company, commanded by Capt. John H Kuhn, en- 
tered into the federal service, as Company A— 9th III. Vol. 
The chapter on patriotism relates the brave deeds of the men 
and officers, and gives a list of the fearful losses the company 
suffered at Shiloh. Capt. Kuhn was promoted Major, and 
Emil Adams brought the surviving veterans home as their 
captain, at the end of the war. The " Turn-Verein, "organ- 
ized in 1853, erected a beautiful building in 1868, and 
purchased a library of over 1000 volumes to furnish the 
means of mental culture to all members and friends^ 
Another Vereiu — Mutual Aid Association, has been a bless- 
ing to its members ever since its organization in 1856. The 
founders of this society are G. H. Wtigler, F. Fels, Charles 
Seybold, P. Sdilauder, Julius AVilhelms and Oberbeck. The 
financial condition of the association is solid, and all claims 
have from the beginning been promptly paid. Erwin Lodge 
No. 315 F. & A. M., with G. H. Weigler, Leonard Stutz, B. 
Elble, Henry Basse and J. J. Koenig as charter members 
was opened 1859, w'orking in German. There are two Ger- 
man Odd-Fellow Lodges in Alton, to wit : Germania Lodge 
No. 299 and Pestalozzi Lodge No. 367, opened respectively 
in 1862 and 1867. A German Encampment, Concordia No. 
99, was founded in 1869. A " Maenner-Chor " (singing 
society) was organized in li'-67 and soon after consolidated 
with the old Turn-Verein. 

A "Reform-Verein" was organized by the Germans of 
Alton in 1873 for the purpose of confronting and defeating 
the threatening prohibitionists. 

The German Protestants of Alton organized in 1S49. The 
congregation erected a church edifice in 1851 and also built 
the first German school in Alton, corner Henry and 8th 
streets. The first German Catholic church was built in 1859. 
It was destroyed by the tornado of 1800, but immediately 
rebuilt, together with parsonage and school-house. 

The first attempt at publishing a German newspaper, the 
•' Vorwaerts " (Advance), was made in 1853, the second. Die 
Freie Presse (Free Press) in 1854, by Schneider and Can- 
isius, neither of which was a success. Reiss and Weigler 
commenced the publication of the "Beobachter" (Observer) 
in 1854, and continued it until 1865. The " Banner" has 
been published since 1866, (see article on press) 

In township 6-10 we find but few foreign born citizens of 
the earlier immigration. R.J. Ingham, who died in 1881, 
settled there in 1835, Henry Ebbler, in 1841, Louis Ma- 
sulli an Italian in 1845, and Julius F. Schneider in 1846. 

James McKenzie, an Irishman, came to Wood river in 
1847. Ebenezer Rodgers,an Englishman, arrived in 1834 and 



died there in 1854. William Badley, another Englishman, 
settled there in 1840 ; he died in l.Sfio. 

In township 6-9 we mention Christ. Froark, 1848, William 
Bierbaum, 1849, and J- D. Heisel, a foreign born citizen of 
distinction, at one time clerk of the circuit court of ^ladison 
county — 1872 to 1880-and at present one of the members 
of the bar of this county. 

In the American Bottom we find but few immigrants of a 
very early period, among them Caspar Varnhold, August 
Ruwisch, August Brandfs, Joseph Froehly, and R. J. Brown. ' 
Theod. Selb has represented his township in the board of 
supervi-sors for 5 terras in succession. 

From the naturalization of the records of the county, 1840 
to 1849, we take the fullowing names: F. A. Wolf, Val. 
Bickelhaupt, F. Pottgen, John Suppiger, Joseph ^liller, 
Louis Krutli, John Schlup, Jacob Eggen, William Hag- 
nauer, John Leder, Christian Walter, G. J. Staffelbach, 
Joseph Koepfli, Nic. Heintz, Martin Fischbach, Henry 
Bernius, Christ. Draper, Christian Branger, Matth. Schieffer- 
koetter, J. Leon Scherer, Anton Schmidt, Charles Pabst, C. 
A. Kluge, Christian Waage, G. M. Suppiger, Carl Mueller, 
David Suppiger, Carl Dandermann, Jacob Durer, Theodore 
Miller, F. H Kiceleman, Fred. Deterding, Conrad Leseman, 
William Stein, Bernhard Suppiger, Charles Kinnc, Lorenz 
Wickenhauser, Jacob Kircher, Henry Ludwig, M. Huegv, 
Xavier Suppiger, Anton lUichmann, Will Lange, G H. 
Weigler, Mathias Lconhardt, Ludwig Nagal, John Eschen- 
burg, Andrew Rienzi, J. E. Blattner, Joseph Buchman, 
Anton Ulrich, M. W. AVackerle, John Guggenbuehler, 
Louis Hess, John Iberg, Martin Schmidt, Charles Schoeck, 
Peter Grass, John Blattner, Sebastian Huedy, Nic Mueller, 
Jacob Krucker, Melchior Weber, Anton Fisher, Fred Weber, 
J. G. Spengel, Jacob Spiess, Bartholomew Ruenzi, John 
Weittfeld, Bernhard Koepfli, J. F. Lohmann, William 
Blumer, Henry Altag, D. Warenburg, .Tohn Leutwiler, 
John Marti, Andrew Guntley, Joseph Wildhaber, Joseph 
Leuienberger, F. R. Birtsch, John Dotterweich, J. F. 
Hoflnieister, J. H. Kinne, P. A. Schiedhering, Christian 
Kaufmann, Paul Ambuehl, Christian Brase, Henry 
Schmidt, German and German-speaking Swiss; T. C. 
Clifford, John Mulady, John Glass, Sam. McKitlrick, 
Thomas Carr, W. Booth, Hugh Black, John Hogan, 
Malichy Holland, James Shannon, John Jeffrey, Martin 
Holland, John Forster, Pat Dunn, George Thorp, Dr. John 
Lee, Hugh Rice, John Lock, W. Peel, Andrew Rosberry, 
John Rowe, James Heslap, Dav. McNeil, Pat Welch, 
Thomas Brown, Will Vail and Harrison Perrin, Great 
Britain and Ireland, J. George Kaindel, Austrian, Fred. L. 
Durance. Frenchman, and St. A. Wyszomirski, Prussian. 

Further naturalization of foreigners 1849 to 1864: — 
Henry Scheer, F. J. Springer. Nich. Bickelhaupt, Gregor 
Hirsch, Rudolf Bircher, Adolf David, George Ruegger, 
political refugee of Switzerland, subsequently sherifiT of 
the county, Oliarlej Stsiaer, J,)nis B.irdill, J. B. Kirri, 
John Schumacher, Jacob Iberg, Henry Kuhlmann, Christ. 
Wedman, Paul Walter, Fred Buehler, D. Weisemann, 
Ca.spar Britt, Peter Britt, John Reisser, Christian Hirni, 
shipwrecked and drowned on the coast of England in May, 



112 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



1876. Peter Frutiger, W. Gerkemeier, Michael Lambert, 
Stephen Marguth, Anton Cueler, Conrad Ort, Beatus 
Mueller, Wolfgang Lautner, Jacob Kolb, Leonard Flachen- 
ecker, Henry and John Epping, Henry AVestenhoff, F. W. 
Joesting, A. G. Schroeder, Henry Kramer, A. H. Bias, 
Conrad Hille, William Hoppe, H. C. Brasse, C Meyer, 
Louis Stock, Jacob Weber, Jerome Pl'aff, Jacob Simon, 
John Dauwalter, Landoliu Walter, H. J. Hendrich, Ernst 
Erbe, Anton Ulrich, Adam Nagel, John Sommerfield, 
Henry Brandes, Julius Voigt, John Hagemann, Peter Dorr, 
T. Bruckner, Henry Hermann, Christ. Bleisch, John Zobrist, 
xVdani Hoeh, J. A. Goot, John Senu, Henry Weitkamp, 
William Rinne, Oswald Rothe, J. G. Billner, J. A. 
Schreppel, Charles Strassen, M. Ambrosius, Fred Bonn, 
Joseph Gottlob, Dan Rouiger, Joseph Winter, John Heister, 
John Meier, Anton Weisseuriether, Sylvan Utiger, Philip 
Fischer, Christian Schneider, Andrew Bauer, Caspar Goet- 
ten, Edwin Weitmeier, Constant Rilliet, (Associate Justice 
of Madison county 1861 and 1862;. John Balsiger, Her- 
man Giesse, Arnold Rietman, Ferdinand Balsiger, Jacob 
Zobrist, Anton Gruenfelder, J V. Metzger, Henry Bender, 
Christian Wurrker, George Gertie, Stephen Knaus, Joseph 
ZiUman, Jacob Bauer, Fred Werker, Sol Bauer, William 
Maehler, Gabriel Ostrich, Daniel Wild and John Utiger, 
from Germany or Switzerland, W. Bendle, Rob. Hobson, 
Charles Eardly, Andrew Mills, David Summs, William 
Nixon, Thomas Locke, William Watts, Edw. Rutledge, 
Charles Morley, James Farrell, James Patrick, John John- 
ston, Thomas Riley, Pat Collins, John MuUern, ^Thomas, 
Magher, James Mahoney, Pat McErlean, Peter Dimond, 
Will Squire, Joseph Purcell, F. C. lieall, Pat Carroll, Jqhn 
Harman, John Browell, Rob. Mitchell, and Edw. Coppinger 
from Great Britain and Ireland. C L. Bernays, republic 
of France. 

This closes the list of pioneer immigrants from Europe. 
There were undoubtedly many more immigrants than are 
mentioned here. The Constitution of 1848 granted the 
riwht of suffrage to all bona fide residents of the state, 
â– whether naturalized or not, and as the right of voting was 
with many the only coveted boon of citizenship, they never 
applied for naturalization papers. 

We introduce a tabular statement of the number of 
foreign-born citizen naturalized since 1854. 





I'd 
II 


. 
£ i 


.9 

•5 


^ 




.a 
£ 

a 


o 
ma 




1S55 
186G 
1«57 
1.S58 
18.W 
]8iai* 
18U1 
1862 
18li3 
]8(!4» 
1805 


48 
110 
189 
200 
184 
196 
600 
14 
56 
02 
3.i3 
47 


i 

74 
.13 
22 

169 
i:i 
38 
37 

H6 
15 
11 
14 

109 
11 
9 


â–  â–  a" 


.... 1 4 


' ' 1 ' 

4 

1 


' ' l' 




\ 

7 
27 

3 
14 

22 


1 


6 
6 
4 
14 














8 
3 




2 












13 








2 




1 


6 
3 
21 
2 




11 
1 








1SI17 39 
1808* 2<7 
18K9 21 
187U 22 


1 














1 






....'.... 











>>§ 

la 
II 


"5 -a 


<: 


Italy. 

Fiance, 

Denmai-k. 


â– a 

c 

'U 






47 
144 
10 
26 
32 
96 
9 
10 
11 
95 
17 


7 
32 
2 
5 
3 
78 
1 
3 
2 
26 


1 
7 
1 
1 
3 
6 


1 








1872* 


1 


1 1 


1 
1 


1874 




1 












1 






1»77 
1878 


1 






.... 












3 
1 










1 


1 






1881 










Total since 
1854. 

Pioneer 
Immigrat'n 
1812 10 1854. 


2.983 
199 


971 
02 


137 

1 


3 


69 
2 


24 2 


G 




Grand total 


3.182 


1.033 


138 


3 


61 ' 24 2 



Or 4451 in the aggregate. 
♦Presidential years when votes were in demand. 

The survivors of these together with their descendants 
make up about one half of the population of the county. 

These people have contributed their full share to develop 
the county to what it now is; they have helped to build 
your churches and school-houses, to open and cultivate the 
countless farms of a county, peer to all sister counties ; they 
have entered into the bowels of the earth to hoist up the 
treasures of the mines, and they have built your railroads ; 
and not that alone. When the government called for men 
to carry the flag of the republic against foreign enemies or 
insurgents and revolutionists at home, the foreign-born 
citizens responded readily and patriotically to rival with the 
native born in defending the republic and maintaining its 
integrity. There was a time when the native American 
thought the sacred institutions of his land endangered by a 
too numerous revolutionary element, filled with Utopian 
ideas, wholly foreign to the sober and stalwart American. 
The wild and confused utterances and doctrines of the 
French socialists and revolutionists, as for instance : " Prop- 
erty is theft," and many others of similar bearing, were 
calculated to create alarm. This feeling, together with a 
degree of envy harbored by indolent people, made itself 
most plainly felt when the revolutionists of 1849 were being 
naturalized in 1854 and 1855. 

The hostility of the Know Nothing party against the for- 
eign element, which led to serious difficulties in various parts 
of the country, was scarcely felt in Madison county, and the 
triumphs of that party here were of short duration. 

The foreign born citizens have also shared to a most liberal 
extent, the honors of public life, bestowed upon them by the 
votes of their native neighbors and fellow citizens. Among 
the officers entrusted with the government of the county we 
find George Barnsback in 1819 as commissioner. Constant 
Rilliet,* in 1861-1862 as associate justice, Xavier Suter, his 

*Rilliet wa."* born in Geneva, January 28, 1820, son of Col.Killiet, 
who while serving under Napoleon I was decorated on the battle-field 
with the Cross of the Legion of Honor. Billiet was a man of splendid 
education, master of nearly all modern languages; emigrated in 1848 
and settled at Highland, where lie succeeded Adolph Olock, E-iq., ia 
the consulate of .Switzerland. The public schools of Highland are in- 
debted to Rilliet for his successful efforts in that direction. Rilliet 
died on the lOlh of October,' 1802. 



HISTORY OF 2[ADIS0N COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



113 



successor, was also a native of Switzerland, to which he 
returned in 1869, Anthony Suppiger of Saline township was 
associate justice from 1865 to 1869. Henry C. Gerke, a 
native born citizen of ISIadison county, but of German de- 
scent, was associate justice from 1869 to 1874. R. W. 
Crawford and John Bardill were members of the board of 
county commissioners in 1S74 and 1875. Fred T. Krafi'c, a 
German, was sheriff from 1850 to 1852 !Mr. Kratft belonged 
to the pioneer Germans of 1831. His first American home 
had been St. Clair county. He was a man of excellent 
qualities, popular, and loved by all who knew him. We 
have mentioned above the Barnsbacks as typical North 
Germans, and Krafft may be considered the typical South 
German. C. A. Murray, was sheriff from 1852 to 1854; 
George Reugger, a Swiss, from 1864 to 1866, and R. W. 
Crawford, an Irishman, from 1870 to 1872. Among the 
coroners we find P. F. Regan, an Irishman, from 1864 to 
1860, Jonathan Quarton, an Englishman 1868 to 1870 and 
W. H. Greipenberg, a German 1872 to 1874. Walton Rut- 
ledge, also of foreign descent has been county surveyor since 
1875. A. A. Suppiger, son of Anthony Suppiger the only 
survivor of the pioneers of the Swiss Colony at Helvetia, 
was superintendent of public schools from 1873 to 1877. 
B E. Hoffmann, was county clerk from 1869 to 1877. H. 
H. Kuhlenbeck, clerk of the circuit court from 186S to 1S72, 
J. D. Heisel from 1872 to 1880, when he was succeeded by 
William Daech, the present incumbent. Thomas Kennedy 
was treasurer from 1867 to 1875, and Adolph Ruegger since 
1877. 

In the legislative council of 1812 and 1814 we find 
Samuel Judy — Swiss extraction, representing Madison 
county; in the House of Representatives, 1832 to 1838. 
James Seniple a Scotchman, John Hogan from 1836 to 1838, 
John Bailhache 1842 to 1844, George Barnsback 1844 to 
1846, Wra. F. De Wolf from 1846 to 1848, J. H. Yager 
1866 to 1868, Theodor Miller 1870 to 1872. In the Senate 
J. H. Yager from 1872 to 1874 and W. H. Krome from 
1874 to 1878, in the House of Representatives. Henry 
Weinheimer 1872 to 1874, G. H. Wcigler lfs74 to 1876, and 
Jones Tontz from 1880 to 1882. 

John E. Coppinger, an Irishman, is at present a member 
of the State Board of Equalization. 

The number of foreign born local and municipal officers 
is legion. Madison county has of course seen many of her 
citizens, native as well as foreign born, called to hold federal 
offices. A foreigner— Mr. Cauisius of Alton was appointed 
by Lincoln to the consulate at Vienna, the gay capital on the 
beautiful blue Danube, where he remained until 1S65, when 
he was recalled. — Later, after a lapse of years, during which 
he officiated as penitentiary commissioner, his consular star 
rose again, though with splendor lessened. The former consul 
general of Austria had to content himself with the simple- 
consulate at Bristol, England. After a time he was trans- 
ferred from the banks of the famous Avon to those of the 
obscure Geeste, at Geestemuende. His stay there was but 
brief, for others, ready to accept consular positions, looked 
with longing eyes in the very direction of Geestemuende, on 
account of its proximity to Bremeu and the pleasures of the 
15 



Bremen Rrathskeller. The doctor hastened to Washington 
to save his official head, but came too late. Pres. Arthur, 
though Geesterauenda was disposed of, concluded to retain 
the services of Canisius, sent him as consul to our very an- 
tipodes, on the Islands of the South Sea. There he resides 
now at a village called Apia, the capital of the Samoa 
Islands. While a resident of the county, Canisius was con- 
nected with a German newspaper, ])uhlishcd in Alton. 

The process of americanizing the foreign element, slow at 
first, is now perceptibly advancing. The struggle to per- 
petuate foreign tongues has been brave and manly. Cler- 
gymen and teachers aided by journalists have made a noble 
and splendid fight to save and preserve the language spoken 
in the fatherland, and it is owing to their efforts and cease 
less laobrs, that the second and third generations have 
retained so much of the language of their ancestors. 



CHAPTER IX. 



CIVIL HISTORY. 



TERRITORIAL TI.MES, 1812 TO 1819. 
BY B. E. HOFFMANN. 




IHE organization of Madison county was 
by no means the work of its inhal)itants. 
The republic of the United States of 
America had not yet become a govern- 
ment of the people, by the people, and 
for the people, as Abraham, Lincoln 
happily called it in his famous speech, 
delivered on the battle field of Gettys- 
burg. In the days in which the history 
of Madison county began, it was thought 
safer to have the men in power think for the mas.ses than to 
have them act on their own thoughts. The republican form 
of government was still new and on trial. Illinois had on 
February 3d, 1809, by act of Congress become one of the 
territories of the United States. Ninian Edwards, at the 
time Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals of Kentucky, 
was ap|)ointed governor of the newly organized territory on 
the 24th day of April, 1809. The governor, and territorial 
judges constituted the legislative body, and on the Uith of 
Jun'3, 1809, re-enacted such of the laws of Indiana territory, 
with which the people, who fur nine years had formed a part 
thereof, were fatiiliar, and as were suitable and applicable 
to Illinois. ^lany of their laws were those, which, without 
even change of phr.iseology, had either been originally im- 
ported or enacted by the authorities of the old Northwestern 
Territory. Some of these laws will be specially mentioned 
hereafter. 

The population of the territory at the time of its organi- 
zation was estimated at 9,000. The frontiers had been 



114 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



steadily advanced by adventurous pioneers, who had esta- 
blished permanent settlements in the north in the •' Wood- 
river " regibu, as early as 1804. The settlements, however, 
were very sparse and feeble, and remained so until after the 
â– war of 1812, as immigration had been at a perfect stand 
still for a period of five years, to wit: from 1810 to 1815. 

Governor Edwards organized the counties of St. Clair 
and Randolph by his proclamation April 28th, 1809. A 
county of St. Clair had heretofore existed, as organized by 
proclamation of Arthur St. Clair, "governor or commander- 
in-chief of the territory of the United States, northwest 
of the river Ohio, on the 27th of April, 1790" Th'^ boun- 
daries of this St. Clair county were more modest than those 
of the new county of St. Clair, as they extended only to the 
confluence of Michilliakinack and Illiuoise rivers in the 
north, while the new county of St. Clair embraced all the 
territory north to the south boundary line of Canada. 

The third county of Illinois, in chronological order of 
organization was Madison, named so by Governor Edwards 
in honor of his friend, the President of the United States. 

As said above, the people living in the county had no 
Toice in organizing it, its political existence was called 
forth by 

A PROCLAMATION. 

" By virtue of the power vested in the governor of the 
Territory, I do hereby lay off a county or district, .to be 
called the county of Madison, to be included within the 
following bouuds, viz. : To begin on the Jlississippi, to run 
â– with the second township line above Cahokia East until it 
strikes the dividing line between the Illinois and the In- 
diana territories, thence with said dividing line to the line 
of Upper Canada, thence with said line to the Jlississippi, 
and thence down the Mississippi to the beginning. 

"I do appoint the house of Thomas Kirkpatrick to be the 
seat of Justice of said county." 

"Done at Kaskaskia, the 14th day of September, 1812, 
and of the Independence of the United States the thirty- 
seventh. jSTinian Edwards. 

[seal.] Nathaniel Pope, 

Secretary." 

Thus the county of Madison was ushered into existence. 
It extended from the Wabash river on the East to the Mis- 
sissippi on the West, from its present boundary in the South 
to the howling wilderne-s in the North. It would appear, 
however, that the governor was not accurately informed 
and advised as to the political geography of the land, for 
the actual northern boundary of Illinois never extended to 
Canada. The territory of Michigan, was organized in 1805, 
and it embraced also the present states of Wisconsin, Iowa, 
and Minnesota, thus cutting Illinois off from the southern 
boundary line of " Upper Canada." 

The first territorial legislature of Illinois, composed 
of five senators and seven members of the house was 
convened at Ka.skaskia on the 2.5th of November, 1812. 
An election had been held, in Madison county soon after its 
organization, fir the purpose of electing a senator and rep- 
resentative. All researches to find the original poll books 



of this election have been in vain. These books, together 
with countless othtr papers have been destroyed, or sold for 
waste paper!! It is therefore impossible to introduce here 
the names of the voters at this first election of the county, all 
the chronicler can do is to relate who were elected. Samuel 
Judy (see pioneers), had been elected senator, and William 
Jones represenative. The latter is also spoken of in the 
chapter on pioneers and early settlers. He held various 
county offices, as hereinafter mentioned. In later years 
Jones seems to have been an influential member of the 
third house. The writer was shown a letter written by 
Jones at Vandalia, December 2.3d, 182.3, directed to Doctor 
Erastus Brown, at Alton, and mailed at Eilwardsville 
on the 2.5th of December; the letter, still in existence and in 
possession of Mrs. Willard Flagg of Fort Russell, is worded 
as follows : 

"Dear Sir: — 

" A.s we had the fortune lo get a l,iw passed to build a peniten- 
tiary at or near Alton, I have thought it a.lvisable, if it should meet 
your approbation, for you lo draw up a petition, and get the people to 
sign it for a small county, beginning at the mouth of Wood river> 
thence up said river to Captain Little's, thence a northea.sterly course 
to the middle of the Prairie, between the timber of Wood river and 
Indian Creek, thence up .said Prairie to encompass! the timbtr of the 
East Fork of said Wood river, one mile or two North in the Prairie 
thence taking in all Wood river and the Piasa timber to some point 
on the Illinois or Mississippi river, as you and the peojde may think 
most advisable, not to encroach on Green county too far, lest their 
iiiembcrs here ^houl/ not approve of it. If you tliink proper please be in 
haste, likely the assembly will rise not far from the 20th of January. 
It is in the power of the legislature to pass a law lo that effect, al- 
though the re(juirememt'i of the lair should not be futjilled on that occasion, 

" With senlimtnts of respect, I rumain yours, etc. 

WlLI-I.VM JOXES." 

Mr. Jones was at that time not a member of the senate 
nor of the house, and as he started out with the personal 
pronoun of the first person in the pleural number, we, i.e., 
the outsiders, jobbers, etc., it may be safe to put him down 
as a member of the third house, the concluding sentence of 
this letter — although the requirements of the law should 
not be fulfilled on that occasion, is more forcible than 
moral. But to return to the subjtct matter. The legisla- 
ture of 1812 passed an act to fix the place of holding courts 
in the several counties dated December 25th, 1812, of which 
the parts relating to Madison county are as follows : 

" That the place of holdingcourts in Madison county shall 
be at the house of Thomas Kirkpatrick until the judge of 
the court of Common Pleas shall provide proper accommo- 
dations at the place to be fixed on by the commissioner.?. 

" To fix the permanent seat of justice of Madison county, 
Paul Beck, Dr. Cadwell, Alexander Waddle, George Moore, 
James Renfro, Johti Kirkpatrick, and Ephraim Wood, are 
appointed coramisiioners to meet on the first Monday in 
February, 1813, — they shall proceed to designate a conve- 
nient place for fixing a county seat for the erection or pro- 
curement of convenient buildings for the use of the county, 
taking into view the situation of the settlements, the geo- 
graphy of the country, the convenience of the people, and 
the eligibility of the place, which place so fixed on, the 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



115 



commissioners shall certify under their hands and seals to 
the nest court of Common Pleas, which said court shall 
cause an entry thereof to be made on their records, and 
it shall be the duty of the court of Common Pleas as 
early as practicable, after the place so designated shall 
be fixed upon to cause suitable buildings to be pro- 
vided thereat, and to cause a purchase of such a quan- 
tity of land to be made for the use of the county, and to 
erect a court-house and jail, and to make such other im- 
provements thereon as they may deem expedient from time 
to time. 

The commissioners named above must have failed to agree 
on a " permanent" seat of government, for they did not re- 
port to the Court of Common Pleas at their next meeting, as 
required by the act of the legislature. This first meeting 
was held at the house of Thonas Kirkpatrick on the oth of 
April, 1813. Later, January 14th, 1814 — the Court ordered 
the sherifif to notify the several commissioners appointed by 
Jaw to fix the place for the public buildings (court-house 
and jail), for Madison county to meet on the last Monday 
in January at Thomas Kirkpatriek's, to be qualified to enter 
on their duty as the law directs The records do not con- 
tain an account of further proceedings, but as the building 
of a jail was contracted for with William Ottwell, it is to be 
presumed that the troubles in reference to selecting a per- 
manent seat of government had been overcome. The site 
selected remained the "seat of government" for a period of 
over forty years, and has recently become the property of 
the Edwarilsville public school di-strict. Those forty years 
were by no means enjoyed in peace and quietude, for a fierce 
struggle to change the location took place among the citi- 
zens of Edwardsville in 1821, and was the cause of some of 
the best men, citizens of the town, leaving the same, never 
to return. The losses then and thus suffered, have been of 
dire consequence, and wounds iuilicted have left sores which 
are still perceptible. 

The United States Census of 1810 returned a total of 12, 
282 inhabitants in the state, of whom 163 were slaves, and 
613 colored people, free or apprenticed. Randol])h county 
counted 7,275 and St Clair county 5,007, Madison county, 
or more properly speaking, that part of St. Clair, 
which became MadLson county in 1812 may have contained 
probably one sixth of the population ; less than 3 000 in 
number. The chapter on pioneers contains a more detailed 
account, and points out the location of various settlements 
near the Mississippi, along Cahokia and its branches, on 
Wood river and its forks on lower Silver creek and 
also on Shoal creek. The pioneers, coming from woodland 
states, naturally squatted on lands well stocked with timber. 
The public lands of Illinois had not been surveyed at that 
early date and so they had not yet been brought into the 
market. A number of " claims, " embracing about 10,000 
acres of land, had been located in various parts of the county 
before the formation of the county. These" claims" were 
of four distinct species : 1st Those founded on ancient grants 
derived from the government of France. None of these 
were however confirmed in the limits of Madi=ou county. 
2d. Those founded on the grant of a donation of four hun- 



dred acres to each of those who were heads of families in the 
county at or before the treaty with England in 17S3 ; they 
were known in this county under the name of Cahokia head- 
rights. The archives of St Clair county contain a census of 
Cahokia and vicinity taken by order of Governor St. Clair, 
and verified before \Villiam St. (JIair, recorder, in 17S)0- 
This census taken to ascertain the number of families residing 
there in 1783 or prior, recites the names of ninety nine fam- 
ilies who were enticled to these head-rights. A few of these 
claims were located in this ounty, to wit: 400 acres in T. 
3. R. 10 opposite Cabaret Island, granted to Ale.xis Buyatte 
and affirmed to Nicholas Jarrot : 40() in Sec. 32, T. 3-9 
granted to Jacque Germain and aftirmed to Jarrot ; and 400 
acres in Section 35 and 30, T- 3-i)-Monk's Mound granted 
to Jean Baptiste Gonville and affirmed to Jarrot; 3d. Those 
founded and having actually improved and cultivated land 
in the country, — the so called Virginia improvement rights 
of 400 acres each: 400 acres of those are found in thi^ 
county to the heirs of Jame< Biswell in Township 3-7 extend- 
ing intoSt. Clair c )uiity ; 400 acres in section 20, T. 4-8, on 
the blutfs in the Goshen settlement, granted to Ah-xauder 
Dennis and affirmed to William B )lin Whiteside, (2d .sherill 
of the county ; ) 40 J acres to the heirs of Samuel Worley, sec. 
tion 6 in T. 3-9, one of the oldest improvements in the county ; 
400 acres to Nick Jarrot, assignee of Joseph Hanson, in See. 
26, T. 3-9 ; 400 acres George H. Dougherty, sections 25 and 
26 in T. 3-10 ; 400 acres to Nicholas Jarrot for Baptist 
Lionais, in Sec. 32 T. 5-9 ; this land has all bfcu washed 
away by the river ; 400 acres to Isaac Darneillc a.ssiguee of 
Isaac Levy, part only in this county — in Sections 34 and 35 
T. 3 9; 400 acres to Jarrot assignee of Michael Pichette, Sec. 
31 T. 3-9; and 400 acres to Isaac Wert, in Sec. 29 T. 3-8 ; 
this tract was surveyed in 1802; and 4th those having been 
enrolled on the 1st of August 17!'0 and done duty in the 
militia. Each enrolled militia man was entitled lo 100 
acres of land. There were many of these rights located 
in the county, although but few in the name of the original 
grantees, to wit : 100 acres to Jean Brugier — Nicholas 
Jarrot, located on the river, and now gone; 100 acres to 
James Haggin, assignee of M. Rene Bouvet in Sec. 22 and 
23-T. 4-8 ; 100 acres each to Louis Biboux, Jacob Judy, 
Louis Laflamme and Francis Ritchie, assigned to Samuel 
Judy in Sections 32 and 33 in 4-8, one of the oldest, pro- 
bably the oldest improvement in the county. Judy planted 
an orchard there in 1801 ; the 1st brick-house built in 
the county was erected there in 1808; it is still standing; 
100 acres to Isom Gillham, assignee of Louis Bison, in Sec. 
5 T. 3-8; 100 acres to John Whiteside, assignee of George 
Biggs, in Sec. 17, T. 5-9. This was the site of the town of 
Milton. 100 acres to Nick Jarrot, assignee of Jean Beau- 
lieu, Sec. 7 in 4-8 ; 100 acres to John Rice Jones, assignee of 
Francois Cam peau, 100 acres to Louis Ilarmond, 100 acres 
to Constant Longtemps. 100 acres to Dennis Levertue, 100 
acres to Philip Le Boeuf, 100 acres to Joseph Lcmarch, 100 
acres to Pierre ]Martin Jr., 100 acres to Jacque Mulot, 100 
acres to Joseph Poirier and 100 acres to Jean Baptiste Rap- 
palais. These 1000 acres were located in Sections 1 and 12 
of 3-10 embracing Chouteau and Cabaret Islands ; 100 acres 



1J6 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



to John Briggs, assignee of Pierre Clement, Sec. 36 in 3-10; 
400 acres to John Bloom, assignee of Frank Colline, Thos. 
Callahan, J. B. Derousse St. Pierre and Fr. Deneme in Sec- 
tions 31 and 32 T. 3-8. 200 acres toUel Whiteside assignee of 
Elisha Harrington and John Whiteside in Sections 1 and 2 
T. 3-8; 100 acres to Nicholas Jarrot, assignee of Charles 
Hebert, Section 8 and 9 in 4-9, now in the river ; 200 acre^ 
to Nicholas Jarrot, assignee of Baptiste Lecompt and Barzle 
Lecompt, in Section 17 T. 4-9 ; 100 acres to Thomas Kirk- 
patrick, assignee of Louis Le Brun Jr., Section 23 in 4-8 ; 
-00 acres to Henry Cook, asssignee of Francis Louval and 
AVilliam Young Whiteside, in Sections 4 and 5, 8 and 9 in 
T. 3-8; 100 acres to Thomas Kirkpatrick, assignee of Pierre 
Lejoy in Sections 2 and Bin 4-8 ; the north-western part of 
Edwardsville. The house of Thomas Kirkpatrick stood on 
this tract, and from here vrere the first official papers of the 
county sent forth, the Honorable Judges of the Court of 
Common Pleas of iladison county, John G Lofton and 
Jacob Whiteside held their first session in said house on the 
5th of April 1813. 200 acres to Benjamin Casterline, 
assignee of Levi Piggott and Louis Rhelle in Section 29, T. 
3-8 ; 100 acres to Nich. Jarrot, assignee of Joseph St. 
Ives, Section 17 in 4-9 (now in the river ), 100 acres to 
David Waddle and 100 acres to Alexander Waddle, Sec- 
tions 31 and 32 in 4-9. 

The reader will perceive that but a very few of these 
militia rights had remained in the possession of the original 
owners. These owners were principally Frenchmen, ever 
rtady to sell their militia or family rights, provided they 
could obtain " I'argent" for tlie same. 

The records of St. Clair county give an account of the 
earlier transactions of this kind. Joseph Chennie sold his 
militia right to Will. Arundel for ^17.00 on the 7th of Jan- 
uary, 1796, first sale on record-and obtained the best price ; 
Joseph La Plat and Augustus Clermont sold theirs, a few 
days later, the one for $15.50, the other for $12.00, which 
latter was the lowest price paid for a militia right. The so 
called head-rights of 400 acres, do not show so much 
uniformity in price. Joseph Lambert was the first to sell, 
his 400 acres to Philp Engel on the 5th of February 1793 
for §120. Tom. Brady, in 1794, sold his to William Arun_ 
del for 845, and William St. Clair bought the head rights oj 
Joseph Boisvenue and Mary Mooney, 800 acres for §40.00 

The entering of lands in Madison county commenced in 
1814, when the land had been surveyed up to the fifth township 
line. The south boundary line of the county, the township 
line between towns 2 and 3 were surveyed in 1S07 and 
and 1808, by John Messenger. He commenced his work in 
township 3 — 8. The tow-uship line between town 3 and 4 
and 4 and 5 were surveyed in 1808 by J. Milton Moore 
and Messsenger. The subdivision lines were run several 
years later in 1813 and 1814; the township boundary line 
between towns, 5 and 6 were surveyed about the same time 
and the subdivision lines of ihe four tiers of townships 
were completed in 1818. Besides the surveyors mentioned 
above the records give the names of T. W. Thurston, Enoch 
Moore, J. S. Conway, William Rector, Charles Powell, H. 
Morley, E. Barcroft, George Frazur, G. Marshall, Joseph 



Borough, Gilbert Marshall, Jacob Judy, D. A. Spaulding, 
Gershom Flagg and J. D. Bates, as surveyors, connected 
with the geographical subdivisions of the county. 

The French hunters and traders who were undoubtedly 
the first white people to come to these regions, did not 
remain — at any rate their number was very small at the 
time of the political organization of the county. A hardier 
and more energetic class of people, coming from the older 
states, principally Virginia and Kentucky, had found their 
way to the modern " Goshen" and concluded to remain and 
develop the wonderful resources of this beautiful land- 
Pennsylvania too had sent a number of her industrious and 
frugal sons, and even a few Europeans of pluck and talent 
had made Madison county their home, before it was known 
under that name. Among the early inhabitants were also 
a small number of French monks, Trappists who had come 
to the United States in 1803, under the leadership of Dom 
Augustin Lestrange. They first located in Pennsylvania 
removed to Kentucky in 1805, and to Missouri, at Floris- 
sant near St. Louis in 1808. In 1809 they settled on a 
huge mound now named after them, and universally known 
as Monk's Mound their residence. They abandoned the 
Mound in 1813 and removed to Nova Scotia. Another 
factor of the population, more permanent and prolific, was 
the negro, free, as indentured servant, or as slave. 

As seen above, the colored population of Illinois amounted 
to 781 individuals according to the census of 1810, and as 
the negro, or more properly the slavery (juestion became a 
prominent one during the infancy of the state, we therefore 
introduce the subject here. 

SLAVES AND INDENTURED BLACKS. 

A number of readers may wonder at this caption. Slavery 
in Illinois! Why, the very ordinance of Congress creating 
the Territory North West of the Ohio River decreed that 
neither slavery or involuntary servitude should exist in it. 
How then could that institution be established ? The fact is 
that the ordinance of July 13, 1787 found slavery in this 
and other parts of the vast territory, as will readily be seen 
from the following: 

The first slaves may have been brought to Illinois by 
Antoine Crozat and his followers about the year 1713 or 
1714. 

King Louis XIV of France had, on the 14th of Sep- 
tember 1712, exactly one hundred years prior to theorj^aniz- 
ation of Madison county, granted to said Crozat letters 
patent to the vast regions extending from Upper Canada 
to the Gulf of Mexico. Crozat arrived in 1713 and com- 
menced mining operations in the vain hope of finding 
precious metals. His followers were suffering with climatic 
diseases, and therefore a number of blacks were imported 
from the French West India Islands. Crozat's exploits, 
however, failed entirely and he returned to France in 1717, 
surrendering his grants to the crown. 

Frangois Renault, manager of the affairs of a company of 
adventurers, sent out by the " company of the Indies," to 
whom the royal domain, refused by Crozat, had been granted 
in 1719, brought five hundred negro slaves to Illinois, land- 



HIS TORY OF MA DISON CO UNT Y, ILLINOIS. 



117 



ing them a little above Kaskaskia in what is now Monroe 
county. The conditions of the grant were, that at least 6000 
whites and 3000 blacks should be brougiU to the territory 
within 25 years from the date of the grant. By the condi- 
tions of the peace of Paris, February 10, 17G3, the territory 
was ceded to England, and on taking possession of it in 
1764, General Gage, commander in chief of the English 
troops in America and governor, issued a proclamation in 
the name of the crown of England, December 30, 1764, in 
which all the rights and privileges heretofore enjoyed by the 
then inhabitants of the ceded territories were guaranteed to 
them. Sieur Stirling, captain of the Highland regiment 
brought this proclamation to Cahokia in person. During 
the revolutionary war, Virginia sent out an expedition uude 
Col. Clark to take possession of this territory with result 
as stated heretofore. Virginia in her turn readily guaran- 
teed to the inhabitants of the conquered territories all their 
prior rights and titles to property of every description. The 
territory remained a province of Virginia until March 1, 
1784, when it was ceded to the United States by a formal 
deed in which the rights and privileges of the inhabitant 
were of course again guaranteed. Hence it was afterwards 
strenuously contended that the ordinance of 1787, prohibit- 
ing slavery conflicted with the deed of cession and was there- 
fore of no binding effect, as the system had legitimately 
existed in the territory prior to 1787. 

It is not the province of the chronicler of a county sketch 
to follow this subject through its various stages at length. 
It took years of bit:er strife, causing even the shedding of 
blood, before the last vestiges of the institution of slavery 
had been wiped out in the state. Suffice it to saj', that the 
leader in the struggle, the man who conquered the hydra- 
headed monster in the state was an honored citizen of Madi- 
son county, Governor Edward Cole aided by Hooper Warren, 
editor of the Edwardsville Spectator, George Churchill, 
Captain Curtis Blakeman, members of the legislature ajd 
others from this county, as well as by the prominent anti- 
slavery men of the state. It should here be stated that Gov. 
Cole as well as many of the leading anti-slavery men were 
born and raised in slaveholding states and had owned slaves 
themselves. They had studied the pernicious consequences 
of the system, and therefore fought it, all honor to them .' 
The fruits of their labors ripened in 1861. What might 
have been the result of our civil war if Illinois, and j)erhap3 
Indiana, too, had been members of the Southern Con- 
ederacy ? 

The struggle to defy the stipulations of the famous ordi- 
nance of 1787 was scarcely perceptible before the beginning 
of this century. The feeble efforts made by several citizens 
of the territory to have Congress reconsider the anti-slavery 
proviso were ineffectual and even hurt and injured the very 
men who made them. The purchase of Louisiana in 1803 
added a vast empire of slavery territory to the United 
States, the present state of Missouri with it, and it was not 
until the few and scattering settlers of this territory saw 
well-equipped emigrants from the southern states pass 
through Illinois bound for Missouri, where slavery was not 
prohibited, that the actual agiiation for introducing or legal- 



izing it here, also, was inaugurated. It must have been 
provoking to see a desirable population turn iheir backs t) 
the beautiful lands on the east bank of the Mississippi and 
cross over to select inferior land for their settlement;. Hon. 
Jos. Gillespie tells an anecdode of a rawbonded Tennesseean 
passing with his family and property through Edwardsville 
on his way to Missouri. Being asked why he would not 
rather remain here than move further on, he opened his big 
mouth, saying: "Your sile is rich and fertile and the 
Country is fine, but God dern ye, a man is not allowed to 
own niggers here." But to return to the subject, it should 
be stated that the ordinance of 1787 was prospective only 
and did not affect the condition of the French slaves or 
their descendants. 

The legislature of Indiana passed various acts in Septem- 
ber 1807 (Illinois was at that time a part of Indiana) by 
which at least a temporary and modified form of slavery 
was effected. Negroes were brought into the state or terri- 
tory and there held as indentured servants. This act pro- 
vided that the owner of a person owing labor (slave) may 
bring such person into the territory and agree with him 
before the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the 
county upon a term of service after the expiration of which 
the slave should be free. The ignorance of the poor blacks 
was taken advantage of for most of them would just as 
readily bind themselves for ninety-nine as for ten or fifteen 
years. The reader will find a number of such contracts 
below. The Clerk of the Court, Josias Randle, made a 
sarcastic remark on the margin of the contract by which 
Jack Bonaparte sold himself to Joshua Vaughn for ninety 
years, to wit: "Jack Bonajxirte will be a free man on the 
15th of March, 1905." 

If an indentured slave refused to work the owner was 
allowed to take him to another state or territory, i. e., to 
sell him to some slave trader in the south. Slaves under 
the age of fifteen were held in servitude until the age of 
thirty-five or thirty-two according to sex. Owners had to 
give bond that slaves who would become " free " after their 
40th year of age, should never become a county charge. 
The children of these registered slaves remained in servi- 
tude until they were twenty-eight and thirty years old 
according to sex. 

The early records of the county give the following account 
of negroes held in bondage : 

SLAVES IN THE COUNTY. 

Sylvmin — Betsey Holts registered — Feb. 25, 1815, a negro girl, 
aged 10 years, named ".Sylvania" to serve 22 years— she wa.s to lie 
free on tlie 17ili of May,18.J7. 

Jacic Boimparte—selU himself to Joshua Vaughn on tlie lodi of 
March 181.5, for 90 years. 

Benjamin — 13 years — registered by Micajah Cox, Sept. IS, 1815 lo 
serve 22 years-aiid to be free January 1st 1837. 

Frankiiy, a negro woman, aged 23 years formerly owned by Etienne 
Pensoneau of St. L'lair, and by him " iiannfened " to Samuel (jillliam 
tj,.;ether wi;li her girl baby, 1 year eld for^oOO., U.S. currency to him 
in hand paid ; the deed is still in existence. 

Franic, negro boy aged 13, registered by John McKinney, Oct. 19 
IS1.5, and to serve 22 years -will be free in 1837. 



118 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Tamm — a negro woman, lately purchased by Will. B. Whiteside, is 
re"isteml for 20yeai-s service March 8, 1814, to be free in 1834. 

Ihnry. luulatio boy, aged 11 years, registered by John W. Johnson, 
Apiil 11. 181G, also by same. 

Mariah, a uinla'to woman, brought to this territory by the said 
Johnson to serve 17 years.— April 11 ISllS. 

Ayny. negro wench 22 years ; brought to the territory by James 
Keynolds, is registered for CO years — to be free in 1876. 

y,it a blaciciuan, 17 years old, brought in the territory by Michael 
Dodd aud by him registered to serve 35 years from May 31, lS16-to be 
free in 1851. 

Imac and Diek, negro boys aged 7 and G years ; registered by Lou 
Jackson June 3d, 1810. 

Tom, colored boy 11 years old, registered by Martiu Jones, Feb. 5, 

ISIG. 

Hannah, black woman, recmtly brought to territory by Hennj Hays 
and by liim registered for 21 years from June 12th 1816 until 1837. 

Amy, bhick woman, 21 years ohl, brought into the territory by \Vm. 
Savage, registered for 30 years service, from Jurte 10th 1816-will be 
free in 1846. 

Adam, black man, 21 years of age, registered by Kobert Pulliam- 
indentured for 36 years from June 21, 1816 -to be free in 18.52. 

Lucy, black woman, 28 years of age, aud 3 children, Frank 7 Reu- 
ben 6 and Silvy 2 years ; board to be paid-registered by Samuel Judy 
for 20 years from Oct U 1816to 183C. 

Marin, negro girl, 11 year.s old, registered by James Gingles. 

Robert, blackman, 24 years, sold himself to James Henry ford, for 50 
years from Dec. 30th 1816. 

Bill 11, Tomd, negro boys-regi.stered by same party same day. 

Epiiraim, aged 18, sold himself to Wlialey Moore for 21 years ; Jan- 
11, 1817. 

Hark, Winn, Bebb, Mnriah Caroline, Lou'sa, and Barkley, 7 negro 
children, registered by Benjamin Stephenson, lately from Kaudulph 
county. La., January 15, 1817. 

Mi'llcy, a black girl aged 18 years, registered by Josepli Carroll. 

iVed, a blackman, aged 21 years, bound himself to John Wilkins 
for 80 years from May 12, 1817 to 1S97. 

Mary, Chancy, and Lydia, 3 negro-childreu, registered by Jacob 
Lurton, May 12, 1817. 

Abhy. negro woman of 35 years, and Willis her boy of 17 years, 
bound tEemselves to said Jacob Lurton for 50 years from May 12, 

1817. 

Matilda, black woman, aged 20 years, bound herself to Thomas 
Hempstead for 70 years from June 7, 1817. 

Richard, a negro man, bound to George Moore until Oct. 1S18 ; was 
sold to George Richard for §100, June 23, 1817. Hence it would ap- 
pear that the services of an able bodied man in tliose days were worth 
about ?50 per year and clothes. 

Peler, aged 17, bound himself to William Scott for 99 years from 
Kov. 6, 1817. 

Temp, a negro girl of 17 years, bound herself to Will. Hoxsey for 
sixty years from Dec. 1, 1817. 

BiUey, black woman of 24 years, boimd Iierself to Mrs. Francig 
pulliam for 99 years from Dec. 8, 1817. 

Jennie, a negro woman of 45 years, bound Iierself to James Gray 
for tea years from Dec. 24, 1817. 

Fanncy, aged 22 years, bound her.self to said Gray who had brought 
her to this territory, for 50 years from Dec 24, 1817. 

Richard, aged 5, Kissey, aged 3, and Jesse aged 1 year were also reg- 
istered by tlie said Gray on said day. 

James Svriys, alias James Sinrjlclm, a black man, bound himself to 
Samuel Judy for 12 years from January 2o.d, 1818. 

MoUcy, a black woman aged 45, bound herself to Joel Starkey for 
40 years from January 2, 1818. 

Sarah, aged 19, bound herself to Jolin Wallace for 90 years from 
January 6, 1818. 

Charlotte, aged 23, brought to the territory by Ttcer Branstetter, 



bound herself to him as servant for 99 years from January 13, 
1818. 

Jarret, boy 15 years, bound himself to Joseph Conway for 30 years 
Feb. 18, 1818. 

The foregoing statement mentions the names of slaves and inden- 
tured servants, 47 in all, prior to the state organization. This list is 
followed by a 

REGISTER OF FREE PEOPLE OF COLOR, 
made in pursuance of an act to prevent the migration of negroes and 
mulattoes into the territory, and for other purposes. 

The county records contain the following memorandum in referenc^ 
to this matter to wit: 

Friday /September 15, 1815. The reason, why the following free 
people of color were not registered within the time limited by law, is 
that the knowledge of the said act did not come to our hands in time 
it not being published until a few weeks previous to the present dale. 
Certilied by me Jcsias Randle, C. 0. C. M. C. 

This day personally came James Saggs Singleton with Philtis his 

wife and four children, to wit: James, Isaac, John and -? to be 

entered on record a4 the law direot-s. 

James S. Singleton, 45 years old, black, 6 feet high manumitted by 
John Edgar of Kaskaskia. 

Pkillis Singleton. 55 years old, yellow, 5 feet high together with 
children above mentioned, agul lespeclively 20, 13, and 12 years, 
black and all manumitted by Ogle of St. Clair county. 

Charles Barton, 43 years old, yellow, manumitted by John Adair of 
Kentucky. 

Phebe Barton, his wife, raanuraitied by Ogle of St. Clair. 
Geo'-ge, William, Eliza aud Polly, their children, /rec born. 
Lonvisia Vanderburg, wife of S.imuel Vanderburg (nu further re- 
marks .) 

Sarah, formerly owned by John Dudley, then by John Smith, then 
by John Fulton and lastly by Robert Reynolds; was by him regis- 
tered as entitled to her freedom on the 1st of September 1825. 

Charity Ricliards (wife of George Richards) 18 years old, manu- 
mitted by Ogle of St. Clair 

Benjamin, David and Josc/iA—lier children, free born. 
Caty Smith, 21 years old, wife of Cupid Smith yellow, manumitted 
by John Kirkpatrick of Madison county. 
Biltey and Isaac, her children— free born. 

This concludes the list of free negroes then living in the 
county — twenty, all told. 

In order to point out the rigorous conditions of the inden- 
tures mentioned herein, the following proceedings in the 
Circuit Court of Madison county in May 1818 are here in- 
troduced. The cause is entitled, George, a black man, vs 
Robert Whitedde, his master, in May term 1818. The suit 
was brought to recover damages. 

I The case was tried before a jury on the 29th of May. 

{ The jurors were Owen Evans, Edmund Randle, Alexander 

' Byram, David M. Gillham, Joshua Dellap ain, Thomas G. 
Davidson, Chad Brown, Richard Browufield, Samuel Thurs- 
ton, Aaron Sutton, Henry Brown and William Scott. Their 

; verdict was for the defendant. 

On motion of the plaintitf by his attorney the following 

I bill of exceptions was filed : 

Be it remembered that on the trial of this cause the de- 

1 fendant offered the following deed as evidence in bar of the 
plaintiff"s action, to wit : Illinois Territory, Madison county, 
know all men by these presents that I Gdorge, a negro man 

I formerly the indentured servant of Uel Whiteside of said 

! county, for and in consideration that Robtrt Whiteside of 



HISTORY OF MAD ISO X COUXTY, ILLIXOIS. 



119 



said county at my special instance and request, first to hint- 
expressed, to purchase the right, title, interest and claim of 
said Uel Whiteside to my services for fifteen years yet to 
come and whereas said Robert has exhibited to me satisfac- 
tory testimony of his having purchased from said Uel 
Whiteside all his right and claim and pretentions to my ser- 
vices as his indented servant for fifteen years yet to come, 
and in consideration also of the following articles to be given 
and delivered to me by said Robert at the expiration of my 
term of service with him, to wit : one horse, one yoke of 
young steers and plow, one ax and one hoe. I do hereby 
bind and oblige myself to serve said Robert Whiteside for 
the terra of fifteen years from the date hereof, in the same 
manner as indented servants under the laws of this territory 
are bound to serve their masters, au 1, for every day I lose 
by voluntarily absenting myself from the service of the said 
Robert Whiteside, without his consent first had and obtained. 
I do promise to serve him at the conclusion of the af)resaid 
period of service two days ftr every one so lost, and should 
I at any time, before my time be completed with him, run 
away from his, said Robert Whiteside's service, then and in 
that case I do hereby authorize and empower him, to pursue 
me and if necessary, me force to brinj ms b'Mk to his service 
and if necessary, by force oblige me to execute all and 
every of his reasonable coaarainds, and the said R)bert 
is to find the said George meat, drink, lodging and clothing 
for said term of service, such as is suitable and customary for 
negroes to have. 

In testimony whereof we do hereunto set our hands and 
seals this r2th day of February 1815. 

George X ( ^^ J 

mark ^^^"^^ 

Test. Egbert Whiteside. 



W. B. Whiteside. 






The plaintiS" objected to the reading of said deed as evi- 
dence, which objection was over-ruled by the court, and the 
deed admitted to go in as evidence to the jury, to which 
opinion of the court the plaintiff excepts and prays this bill 
of exceptions may be signed, etc, which is done 
John Reynolds 



The irrepressible negro is now dismissed, to appear again 
in the celebrated suit of Madison county against her noblest 
citizen, -Edward Coles, the Governor of the state. 

FIR.ST efforts OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT. 

In territorial times the government of the counties was 
entrusted to courts of Common Pleas, who also transacted 
the probate business. The honorable members of those 
courts were called " Judges " from the day they appeared 
on the "Bench" for the first time, and during life. All 
officers held their positions by appointment, with the excep- 
tion of representatives and senators. Even justices of the 
peace were appointed by the governor, usually at the recom- 
mendation of the Judges of the court of Common Pleas. It 



was thought that the dignity so very desirable on the bench 
as well as in the '"Squire's" chair, might be lost by the 
vulgarity of elections. The tenure of oflice, as a rule with 
but few exceptions, lasted as long as life. Who, that has 
ever witnessed it, does not remember with certain pride 
and satisfaction the gray-headed " Squires " of former years, 
neatly attired in their homespun apparel, their cleanly 
shaved faecs, radiant with kindness and expresive of the 
dignity of their position ? 

The first meeting of the court of Common Pleas of Madi- 
son county was held on the 5th day of April, 1813, at the 
house of Thomas Kirkpatrick, where the Hon. John G. 
Lofton and Jacob Whiteside, judges, had met as directed 
by the governor's proclamation. Josias Randle was ap- 
pointed Clerk. 

The business transacted at this meeting may here be 
briefly related. Polly Snider, orphan daughter of Joseph 
Snider, deceased, chose Jesse Waddle* for her guardian. 

The court appointed Joseph Newman and John Kirkpat- 
rick road overseers. The only established public road at 
that early day seems to have been the one leading from 
Thomas Kirkpatrick's mill on Cahokia creek southwest, jiast 
Col. Judy's to Indian Ford, on said creek, thence to Caho- 
kia, the county seat of St. Clair, the mother county. The 
court also appointed overseers of the poor for the four town- 
ships into which the county appears to have been subdi- 
vided, called respectively Shoalcreek in the East, Goshen in 
the center, Woodriver in the Northwest, and Six Mile in the 
Southwest. 

Martin Wood, admistrator of the estate of Esther Ewing, 
deceased, filed an inventory and sale bill of said estate. 

This inventory was dated November 14th, 1812, is cor- 
rectly made out, and as it contains a pretty complete list of 
what constituted the personal property of an American pio 
neer family at the time when Napoleon Bonaparte crossed 
the Berezina, we introduce it here at length, also giving the 
values put upon those articles, goods and chattels by the 
appraisers, Isom Gillham, Henry Cook, (who spells his name 
Kook, thus indicating his Teutonic descent, and that, in 
fatherland, he was known as " Koch)," Thomas Kirkpat- 
rick, and Ejjhraim Woods. — We find there a bay mare and 
colt, worth S55 00; a sorrel mare and colt, $30 00; a cow 
and a yearling calf, .$12 OO ; a bed, bolster and pillow, $8.00 ; 
5 bed covers, $10.00; a flax hackle, $4.00; a set of spools, 
$1.50; a side saddle, $11.00; 2 pewter dishes, $6.00; a 
pewter basin and two plates, $2 00 ; a Dutch oven and 
hooks, $1.50; a sifter, 75 cents; a bell, 75 cents; a pot, . 
82.00; a pair of sUver Icnee buckles, $1.00; a pot trammel, 
S3.00 ; a pair of wool cards, $5 1)0 ; a fur hat, $5.00 ; a wool 
hat, $100 ; a churn, 25 cents; a hatchet, 50 cents; a pair 
of steelyards, $3 00 ; 2 blind bridles, $2 00 ; a bi-ck^t of iron 
tin, $1.00; a clevis, 75 cents ; 2 pair of chains and hamea, 
8450; an axe, $1.50; a set of plow irons, $3.00; a curb 

* The Waddle'a came to the territory with James Lemon as early as 
1786. The fir«t Americans arrived in 1780, led by JamcH Moore, — 
Shadrarh Bond, and Larken R'ltherford among ihem, Virginians 
and Marylanders. Thi.s tir.<t corps of pioneers was reinforced by 
Joseph Ogle and others, in 1785. 



120 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



bridle, 50 cents; two shovels, $1 00; 5 books, $3.25; wear- 
ing clothes, S8.00 ; a sickle, 50 cents ; 5 acres of corn stand- 
ing in the field, §30.00 ; a red cow and calf, §11,00 ; a black 
do. $11.00; a black steer, §8.00 ; a yearling steer, $4.00; 
another pot trammel, §2.50; a counterpane, $ I 00 ; 2 bed 
quilts, $8.00 ; a meal bag, 75 cents : a bay hor.se $45.00, and 
the "improvement," $80.00 — aggregating $421.50. The 
appraisers had overestimated the values, for all the property 
was sold at public auction for $338.62}. Thomas Gillham 
bought the silver knee-buckles for $1,00, and the fur hat for 
$4.50 ; Henry Cook paid $4.00 for the flax hackle ; Martin 
Wood, the administrator, bought the "improvement" for 
$27.75. All articles bought by him were sold below ap- 
praised values, and it may be presumed that he bought them 
for the family; there seem? to have been no bidding against 
him. A big wheel, not inventoried, was sold to Zidok New- 
man for $25.00, and " Davis Stocktain" bought a number 
of hogs, not inventoried, for 813.50. 

The estate of Prudence Carterland, mentioned at the same 
term, was of about the .same value as the one above, but, of 
course, no knee buckles had to be inventoried in this case. 

Thomas Kirkpatrick obtained license to keep a public 
house — a tavern — for or because he is a man of good 
character and will probably keep an orderly house. It is to 
be presumed that old Tom did really and actually keep an 
orderly house, for he had his license renewed from year to 
year, and never a complaint was made against him in court. 
Only once in the many years of his tavern life may Mr. 
Kirkpatrick have given offence. The records state the 
Judges met in December 1814, at Kirk's and immediately 
adjourned to the house of Samuel G. Morse. Sam also kept a 
tavern, it was newer than Kirk's and perhap.3 his grog a 
little stiffen Kirkpatrick was taxed $6 50 for his license, 
which amount he paid to Isom Gillham, the sheriff, as per 
Gillham's report of April 1814. This money was probably 
the first that graced the treasury of Madison county. 
The court which had granted him the license, next stipu- 
lated a schedule of prices for all commodities to be had at 
the tavern. A square meal should not cost more than a 
quarter of a dollar, for corn or oats he was allowed to 
charge one bit per gallon, and hay or fodder for the night 
was 12i cents, rum or wine 372 cents per half pint measure, 
gin 25 cts., and peach brandy or whiskey 121 cents per 
half-pint measure. 

The August terra 1813, was held at the tavern of Kirk- 
patrick, who, by this time, had become one of the Judges 
himself. John G. Lofton presided. 

Two new roads were laid out at this time, one leading from 
Thomas Kirkpatrick to the bridge on Long Lake. George 
Barnsback, William Ottwell and Micajah Cox had acted as 
viewers and reported in favor of opening this road. The 
other from said bridge southwest to near William Rad- 
cliff's on the Mississippi river, a few miles above the St. 
Louis ferry, Josiah Cummings, Alexander Waddle and 
John Clark viewers. 

The revenue law in force at the time provided, that for 
the purpose of raising a tax upon land, lands should be 
divided into three classes. The Mississippi and Ohio Bot- 



toms were to be considered first-rate, all other located land 
second rate, and all claims to land that had been confirmed 
by proper authority, tvere to be considered as third-rate, 
until they had been located. Persons owning such con- 
firmed claims, or third-rate lands, were held by law to list 
the quantities for taxation ; ,a fine of $5 00 was imposed for 
every 100 acres not so listed, one half of the fine went to 
the territory, the other half to the informer. The territo- 
rial tax levy on land was a fixed amount per 100 acres and 
according to rate of land, to wit : Mississippi, Ohio and 
Wabash bottoms $1.00 per 100 acres, all second rate lands 
75 cents per 100 acres and all unlocated and confirmed 
claims 37} per 100 acres (Laws of Illinois, December 1812.) 
• A law levying a license tax of $40.00 on every billiard 
table in the territory, payable to the territorial treasury was 
enacted December 24, 18] 4. Another act of the same date 
created the office of County Treasurer. Such Treasurers 
were ajipointed and commissioned by the Governor. It was 
their duty to receive and disburse all funds of the county 
and to account for them once a year to the Court of Common 
Pleas. These accounts had to be made up in the presence 
and under the direction and advice of the territorial attor- 
ney, who was paid a fee of $10 00 for every settlement thus 
superintended. The compensation of the Treasurer was a 
per centum of his receipts and disbursements, to wit : five 
per one hundred. The Treasurer was made ex officio 
assessor and his compensation fixed at $2 00 per day. 

George Cadwell was appointed Commissioner to list the 
property in the county for taxation for 1813 and it was 
ordered by the Court that the following species of property 
be subject to taxation at the following rates: Each able- 
bodied single man $1.00, each negro slave $1.00. (Subse- 
quently negroes were assessed as personal property and 
taxed accordingly ; as seen in subdivision of this chapter 
under the caption of "From 1818 to 1830," each horse, 
mule or ass 50 cts., each stud horse at a season's rate, (prac- 
tical and just,) Baker's ferry on the Mississippi $1.00, 
Samuel Gillham's ferry $1.00, W. B. Whiteside's ferry 
$1.00 and Walker's ferry $3.00. Houses, lands and water- 
mills were ordered to be appraised. The lists were made by 
Cadwell as ordered and the taxes so extended were collected ; 
they did not amount to much, to wit: $426.84, or about the 
1000th part of the tax levy of 1875. The lists were not 
preserved, having been utilized with other documents and 
files as waste paper and sold for old rags. It would indeed 
be of interest to learn now who was the Croesus in 1813, 
and how much it took to be considered as such. The num- 
ber of taxpayers must have been ver}' limited, there were 
then only 161 men subject to road labor living in the county, 
and it is not probable that the number of families exceeded 
the above number. In our days where the theories of Thos. 
R. Malthus and others have taught the timid to dread the 
dire consequences of over-population the average number of 
individuals to a family is considered to be about five, but in 
pioneer times it is safe to take six as the average. The 
names of those 161 road hands are introduced in the pioneer 
chapters, and are therefore here omitted. 

William Rabb — sometimes called Robb — made applica- 



HISTORY OF MADIS0]<1 COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



121 



tion to the court for permission to erect a mill-dam for 
a grist mill to be erected ou Cahokia creek iu section 20, 
town 3—8. 

The court appointed a jury composed of Samuel Judy, 
foreman, John Gillhara, Thomas Gillham, John Nix, 
Michael Squire, John Newman, William Grotts, William 
Wingfield, Peter Hubbart, John Barnetc, Henry Cook and 
Sylo Jeneson to view this mill-site and to report to the 
court at the December term 1813. This report is recorded 
worded as follows : 

The lands overflowed by the erection of such dam belong 
to the United States, and the damage will be very incon- 
siderable, in fact there will be no damage to the United 
States as the lands are already frequently overflowed and 
utterly untillable, no mansion house, curtilage, or garden 
will be overflowed by the erection of such dam, fish of 
passage will not be obstructed by it, said stream or creek is 
not navigable at present, and the health of the neighbors 
will not be annoyed by the stagnation of waters occasioned 
by the erection of said dam, as there are no settlers residing 
in the vicinity. 

The logic of the last sentence is very striking. As there 
were no settlers there, their health would certainly not be 
annoyed, while the frogs, lizards and turtles would rather 
enjoy the dam and greater spread of water. 

Durii'g the December terra 1813, there were three new 
roads laid out ; one leading from the Indian ford on Cahokia 
Creek to Savage's shoal on Wood River, was placed under 
the management of Josiah Vaughan, as overseer, the second 
led from Kirkpatrick's mill to George Moore's place on 
Indian creek, with Ephraim Wood as supervisor ; and the 
third under management of Henry Hays extended from the 
bridge on Long Lake, south through six mile prairie to the 
county line. 

The ferrj' rates heretofore established for the territory of 
the county by the Court of Common Pleas at Cahokia were 
now regulated by the Court of iladison county, who ordered 
that the following charges should be lawful : Loaded w^agon, 
§2.00; light wagon, 81.50; carts, SLOO; man and horse, 
75 cents; lone man, 25 cts., cattle per head, 12 J cts. ; sheep 
or hog, 6i cts. ; and merchandise 12^ cts. per 100 lbs. These 
ferry rates were frequently changed, and besides they were 
not uniform as to the various ferries in existence. 

William Ottweli was again appointed assessor of the 
county. 

Ajnil Term 1814 — Judge Lofton was absent, and the 
public business transacted by Kirkpatrick and Cadwell. 
Thomas G. Davidson, a Justice of the Peace, paid into the 
court three fines by him collected, to wit: from Robert 
PuUiam, assault and battery, 81.50, and 50 cents each from 
Thomas Watkius and John Conaway, for a similar offence.* 

* Pulliam kept a tipling lioase, and had been indicted by the fir.it 
grand jury of the connty for selling liquor without license. Michael 
Dodd, a constable, had informed and testified against Pulliam. A 
fight 80on followed, in which Dodd got worsted. Pulliam was fined 
§1 50 for this fight. Michael Dodd was quite a character in his day ; 
Rome of our older residents relate a number of anecdotes about him. 
He was a great admirer of the celebrated Creamer guus, made by a 
16 



The county was now a year and a half, and its govern, 
ment just one year old; and as our judges concluded to 
have an overhauling of the public cash-box, Josias Handle 
having officiated as clerk, and having procured many little 
articles for his office, presented a claim for 8115.534, 
and had it allowed. The sheriff came in with a claim of 
896 22J, which claim was also allowed, and taken as a 
voucher in his settlement. William Ottweli and John Kirk- 
patrick, who had served as judges of election in 18 i 2, re- 
ceived each 8li-00 for their services. William Rabb and 
Jacob Whiteside presented their claims as judges of the 
court of Common Pleas. How Mr. R;ibb came to bring in 
this claim is inexplicable, for the records do not contain his 
name as officiating as a judge. Mr. Ilibb was a justice of 
the peace, and represented the county in the second territo- 
rial Legislature — 1814 and 1815. Isoiu Gillham, sherift", 
now came into court and made a settlement of his labors as 
collector and acting treasurer of the county. From his 
report it appears that the total revenue of the county, iu its 
first year, amounted to $406. SIJ, to wit: 

Keceipts: 

From Thomas Kirkpatrick, tavern license § 6-50 

From Abraham Prickett, ftierchant license 15.00 

From Sam'l G. Mooss, ( probably Morse, ) merchant license 15.00 

From Squire Davidson, three tines 2 50 

From the Court, one fine, James Green 1 00 

From tax-levy of 1813 4-2().SiV 

Total ?4i;(5.Sl} 

Expenditures : 

To Tsom Gillham, ex-ofEcio service-s $75.00, attending 
election in 1.S12, $6.00, by one day's attending the let- 
ting of the jail .?2 00, by services in two criminal cases, 
U. S. of America, vs. Robert Pulliam .$12.10, by the 
price of tliree quarts of whiskey, in letting the jail, 
$;i.l2i, amounting in the aggregate to ... . $96.22} 

To Josias Handle, services as clerk and sundries . llo.53| 

To John G. Lofton, twenty-one days attending as 
judge of probate 42.00 

To George CadwU. six days' attendance as judge, 
$12.00, and listing property for taxation per 
1813, twenty days 32.00 

To Jacob Whiteside, five days, as Judge of Com- 
mon Pleas 10.00 

To William MM, four days' attendance as such 8.00 

.$303.76i- 

Surplus $163.08} 

Thus ended the first year with a snug little sum hoarded up for 
future use. 

The court next proceeded to select a grand jury to serve 
at the June term, 1814, of the Circuit Court. A former 
term of this court was held in February, 1813. The grand 
jury of that term had to be convened by order of the Judge 
(of the circuit court), as the court of Common Pleas had 

skillful mechanic, of Prairit^ Du Pont, St. Clair county. Wl.ile hi^ 
pious neighbors said : '' True as gospel," or a grim Indian-fijhter 
cried: '"Sure as de;ith," D )dd would qualify his a.ssertions by the 
words : " Sure as a Creamer lock and double tricker, by G. . . . ! " 



122 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



not yet been organized The records of the first three terms 
of the circuit court are not in existence, — and the meagi-e 
account given ia these pages of said three terms was gath- 
ered from a few papers which have remained on file. The 
names of the grand jurors having served at the first term — 
February 1813, have not been preserved. The second grand 
jury convened in the county was composed of the following 
"gentlemen freeholders," to wit.: William Rabb, foreman, 
John Clark, Benjamin Stedman, William C. Davidson, 
Samuel Judy (sometimes spelled Judah, neither of which is 
correct, as the family name largely aud favorably known in 
Switzerland, the native home of the colonel, is Tschudi), 
James Renfro, James Kirkpatrick, Francis Kirkpatrick, 
Josias Right, John Robinson, Martin Woods, William Pur- 
viance, Samuel Brown, Joseph White, Solomon Preuitt, 
Samuel G. Moore, John McKinney, Charles Gillham, James 
Wright, William Ottwell, Isaac Gillham, sr., John Kirkjsat- 
rick, and Robert McMahan. 

Avffust Term, 1814. John G. Lofton, Thomas Kirkpat- 
rick and George Cadwell, on the bench. Samuel Lee, aud 
Andrew St. John, were licensed to keep taverns, because 
they were men of good character, and will probably keep 
orderly houses, for which license they had to pay §5. 00, and 
$4.00 respectively. 

The Court House, with a view of its site, was mentioned at 
this term for the first time. T. G. Davidson was appointed 
supervisor of a new road, beginning at the northwest branch 
of Cahokia creek, opposite the Court House of Madison 
county, and ending at the bank of the Mississippi river, 
where Jacob Whiteside formerly lived. 

December Term, 1814. The court met at Kirkpatrick's, 
and immediately adjourned to Samuel G. Morse's; no 
reason given for this sudden aud abrupt change of base. — 
Charles R. Matheny, a young aspirant for the bar and 
forensic honors, received, by order of court, a certificate as 
to being a man of honesty, probity and good demeanor. 

Samuel G. Morse was granted license to keep a tavern, 
and paid an annual tax of $5.00. He too was considered to 
be a man of good character, and that he would probably 
keep an orderly house. Should it be possible that this 
license affiiir was the cause of the sudden adjournment from 
Kirk's to Morse's? The diligent caterers of our days would 
certainly have intimated to the " court that an excellent 
lunch " had been prepared for the occasion, and that besides 
mine host was celebrating his birth-day for the fourth time in 
1814. George Cadwell was also licensed to keep a tavern, 
at the same rate and on the same suppositions mentioned in 
the ISIorse case. 

William Ottwell heretofore employed to build a jail for 
the county reported, that his work was completed and ready 
to be turned over to the authorities. The judges walked 
over to view and inspect the edifice, whereupon it was 
received as built according to plans and specification. Ott- 
well received ^194.00 for the building. This jail was con- 
structed of logs, aud perhaps lined with plank, on the nar- 
row square in lower Edwardsville, and served as a common 
prison until 1822. 

The last will aud testament of Benjamin Young, late of 



Madison county, was produced in court at this terra, and it 
being the first document of the kind brought into court, its 
contents are here introduced at length : 

FIRST WILL OF RECORD. 

Li the name of God Amen. I, Benjamin Young, of 
Madison County, Illinois Territory, being weak in body 
considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, but being of 
sound and perfect mind and memory, blessed be Almighty 
God for the same, do make and publish this my last Will 
and Testament, in manner and form following, (that is to 
say). First: I give and bequeath unto four children, viz, 
Joseph Thomas, Loui-a, Delinda, and Ulisses Young, one 
certain section of land lying aud being in the Indiana Ter- 
ritory, Franklin county, on the waters of White Water, 
now in the hands of my uncle John Carson, living in the 
State of Ohio, who is my lawful attorney, to be equally 
divided between them. Secondly: I will that my black 
mare and my rifle gun be sold. Thirdly : I will that all 
my notes of hand, bonds or other obligations, now in the 
hands of John G Lofton and William Gillham, Esquires, 
be appropriated to the paymeut of my lawful debts. And 
lastly : as to all the Rest, Residue and Remainder of my 
personal estate, goods aud chattels, of what kind aud nature 
soever, I give and bequeath the same to my beloved wife, 
Sally Young, to be and remain at her own disposal forever. 
I also hereby constitute and appoint John G. Lofton and 
William Gillham, Esquires, above named, executors of my 
last will and testament. 

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand aud 
seal, the 20lh day of December, in the year of our Lord, 
Eighteen hundred and Thirteen. 

Bexjamix Young, [se.vl]. 

Signed, sealed and acknowledged in the presence of us, 

Josias Randle. 
Josias Wright. 
January 18th, 1815. 

Josias Randle, Recorder, C. M. 

N. B. A margin.il note sets forth, that this will was recorded in Book 
B, pages 19 and 20. 

At the county election held in August 1814, William 
Rabb had been chosen representative of the county, and he 
in company with Col. Samuel Judy, Senator, had been at- 
tending the first session of the second Legislature of Illinois 
at Kaskaskia from I^ovember 14 to December 24th, 1814. 
This Legislalure held a second session, from December 4th, 
1815. to January 11, 1816, when John G. Lofton also ap- 
peared as a representative of Madison county. 

This December terra of 1814 was the last term of the 
Court ofCoraraon Pleas. A territorial law of December 19, 
1814, had provided for the creation of a county court for 
each county, to consist of three judges, to be appointed aud 
commissioned by the Governor. These courts were to have, 
possess and exercise all the powers, privileges and jurisdic- 
tion and to perform the same duties, that the courts of 
Common Pleas of the respective counties might lawfully 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



123 



have performed except so far as relate? to the trial of causes 
civil and criminal, over which the county court shall have 
no jurisdiction for the trial thereof (In this clause may be 
found the best evidence of the political wisdom of our pio- 
neers, for in giving to the county courts purely administra- 
tive functions, they avoided all conflicts, sure to come 
wherever administrative and judiciary functions are to be 
performed by the same authorities or individuals.) The 
county courts held three sessions during the year, to wit : on 
the first Mondays in the months of March, June and Septem- 
ber. The compensation of the judges was moderate, to wit: 
82.00 for every day " they shall sit. " 

The first term of this new court of the county of Madison 
was held on the Cth day of ]SIarch 1815, when John G. Lof- 
ton, Thomas Kirkpatrick and George Cadwell exhiliited to 
one another their respective commissions duly signed by His 
Excellency, Governor Xinian Edwards, and authenticated 
and sealed by Nathaniel Pope, secretary. 

The court granted to Samuel Delaplain the privilege of 
erecting a mill-dam on Frank's branch of Cahokia creek 
in Goshen town.ship, and then had a settlement with Isom 
Gillham, the collector and acting treasurer of the county. 
Gillham reported to have collected S40.5. 50 of the tax levy 
of l'S14, merchant licenses of Abraham Prickett, James 
Stears and Kirkpatrick and Lusk S45 03, tavern licenses of 
Tom Kirkpatrick, Andrew St. John, Samuel Lee, S G. Morse, 
§19 00, fine of Bill Bridger for beating a woman 87.50, and 
tax on 65 writs-at 50 cts. each-S32.50, all amounting to 
S509 50. The sheriff took credit for delinquencies of 1813- 
S53.30, commissions of 7J per cent, on S289.31, land tax S28, 
01, for his attention at the autumn election in 1814,86.00, 
locks for the jail doors 8 >.00, compensation paid to the com- 
missioners appointed to locate the county seat, for their 
labors 814.00, fees paid to the judges of elections -18.00, for 
amount paid William Ottwell far building the jail 81^4.0), 
to ^latthew Duncan for printing 88.00, and compensation for 
official duties S'1.83i, amounting in the aggregate to $386. 
14 !'— leaving again a surplus of SI 2 x35}, which added to last 
year's surplus of 8163.081 increased the reserve funds of the 
county to $286.43;. 

There seems to have been a general settlement among or 
with the county officials, from which it appeared that the 
county was then owing 844 00 to Kirkpatrick, 640.41 1 to 
Josias Randle, 832.00 to John G. Lofton and S'J8 00 to 
George Cadwell, or 8154 41] in the aggregate. 

1815, June 5. Willliam Jones produced his commission 
as treasurer of the county, issued by the Governor under the 
act mentioned heretofore. 

The court gave John Newman permission to build a water 
grist-mill on Indian creek, the land on both sides of the 
creek being his property. George Davidson built also a grist- 
mill on section 5 T. 4-8 on similar conditions. Upton 
Smith obtained leave to build a water-mill on the northwest 
quarter of section 31 iu T. 5-8, also on Indian creek, and 
Nicholas Jarrot, the mill builder, par excellence in those 
daj-s, petitioned the court for permission to erect a mill-dam 
at Indian ford on Cahokia creek, where he intended to erect 
a large flouring mill. 



The September term of the c :)urt was short and the busi- 
ness transacted of no public interest. It should be stated 
however that the court changed head-quarters daring that 
term bv trausferring the county seat tj the tavern of John 
T. Lusk. 

The law creating the county court was amended by an act 
of the legislature, approved January 6th, 1816, by which the 
powers of the county courts were increased, giving them orig- 
inal jurisdiction of all demands for direct payment of money 
where the same shall be over twenty dollars and not exceed- 
ing one hundred dollars. These courts were to hold four 
terms each year, and the judges and clerks thereof were to 
be appointed by the Governor for the term of three years, < 
" during good behavior " 

The first judges of Madison county, appointed under this 
act, were George Cadwell, Samuel Judy and Thomas 
Kirkpatrick. Josias Randle was appointed clerk. 

These gentlemen met on the 5th of February, 1816 and 
opened court in due form. At this term the name of Ed- 
wardsville is mentioned for the first time, as Thomas Kirk- 
patrick was permitted to construct a dam at his mill site on 
Cahokia creek near Edwardscllle. 

1816, May 6. The building of the court-house is here 
mentioned iu connection with a statement of the county in- 
debtedness, from which it appears that Samuel G. Morse, 
the contractor, had then a claim against the county by reason 
of said contract amounting to 8262.50, that he previously 
had received 875 00 from the county, and 8100 00 donated 
by Thomas Kirkpatrick. The county debt is stated to have 
amounted to 8577. 04J. The tax levy of 1814 was similar 
to the one of the previous year, with the exception that the 
head tax of 81.00 on every able bodied sinriilo man had been 
omitted. The sheriff nevertheless collected said tax, and the 
board or court sanctioned his proceeding at this term. The 
tax levy of 1815 was as follows : Each servant or slave 
Sl.OO, each horse above 3 years old 50 cts., each stallion one 
season's rate, houses in towns, mills etc., 30 cents per 8 00, 
valuation, each single man $1.00, ferries 83.00 each. — 
August term 1816. 

George Smeltzer was licensed to keep a ferry — the 4th in 
the county — across the Mississippi north of the mouth of 
Piasa. Joseph St. John, Charles Slice and John Jones re- 
ceived each a bounty of 75 cents for killing wolves.* 

The personal estate of W. L. Smith, deceased, was found 
insufficient to pay the debts, to wit: 81,551-75, and it was 
therefore ordered, that a tract of land, containing 250 acres, 
situated in Randolph county should be sold ; Henry Hays, 
the administrator, then brought into court $1,260 bank 
notes belonging to the said estate, whereupon the court 
condemned them as counterfeit, and ordered them burned, 
which was done accordingly. 

* There were a large number of \volve.s killed in the said year. The 
wolf-.sia![) certilicate.s of 1816, have remained on file in the court- 
honse, and the writer gathered therefrom the names of the following 
Ximrod.s: \V. B. \Vhite.si<le heads the lii<t with 14 Bcalps; William 
Howard 9 ; Robert Tolly S ; William Ilinch, Isaac Ferguson, Andy 
Dimnegan.and Richard Brazle.each 6, .lacob Cmnmings, Joseph Diin- 
tan, William Camp and Alv. Fuller, each y ; Philip Ptnn, Ka- 



124 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



A vast amount of probate business was transacted during 
this term ; many administrators and guardians had lieen 
cited to appear. The proceedings had were accurate, and 
administrators and guardians were held to render strict ac- 
count. 

William Jonas, with the assistance and under the super- 
intendence of the prosecuting attorney, Wm. Mears, Esq. : 
proved his balance as county treasurer, to wit. : $5.37 V ; Joshua 
Armstrong was permitted to build a toll bridge across Silver 
creek on the road leading from the " settlement," to the 
United States Saliues, and to charge the following rates : 
Teams 25 cents, man and horse 12J cents, and men alone 6^ 
cents. 

1S16, November ith. A very cold day. The records 
state, — Judge Cadwell was absent, and Messrs. Kirkpatrick 
and Judy adjourned to the Clerk's office, the court house 
not being prepared for the court's sittings. The work of 
the court was confined to the probate business exclusively. 

1817, February V2th. William Jones, having been ap- 
pointed Judge, took the seat of Thomas Kirkpatrick, and in 
connection with George Cadwell and CjI. Judy, proceeded 
to business. 

Thomas Reynolds was granted permission to establish a 
ferry on his " Improvement," on the Illinois river, two miles 
above its confluence with the Mississippi. 

Uel Whiteside was licensed to locate a ferry a small dis- 
tance above Portage des Sioux, at Chiltron's improvement 

Samuel Gill ham, and Joseph Meacham were licensed to 
run a ferry across the Mississippi at the mouth of Little 
Piasa. This ferry was intended to divert the constantly 
increasing number of immigrants from Smeltzer's ferry, 
â– which was located some five or six miles further north. 

A new road was laid out in the interest of this ferry. It 
extended from Sealy's mill at Milton, on Wood river, to 
Gillham and Meacham's ferry, in the town of Altojj. This 
is the first time that the name of Alton is mentioned in the 
records of the county — 12di of February, 1817. 

In pursuance of an act of the last session of the legisla- 
ture, the court now proceeded to lay otf the county into 
townships, to wit. : Six Mile, Big Prairie, Wood river, 
Go'then, Silver Creek. The boundaries of these townships 
are mentioned on another page of this chapter. 

The court-house, built by Samuel G. Morse, was received 
by the court as being finished during this term, and the 
sherifi', acting as treasurer of the county, was ordered to pay 
the contractor the sum of $2(32.50, balance due him. It is 
ditticnlt to state the exact cost of this log-hall of justice. It 
seems, however, that the county paid $3,37.50, and that Hon. 
Thomas Kirkpatrick ha 1 also contributed $100.00 as a do- 
nation, making the total cost $437.50. This court-house was 



tli.in Daniels, Thomas Cumniings and Jamea Kathels, e.ach 4; Jesse 
Slurkey, Samuel Whiteside, and Isom Gillliam, each 3; Field 
Jarvis, Joseph Howard, Andrew Wallace, G. Patterson, and James 
S;eele, each 2; .Vbrahain Howard, John Johnston, .Vbraharn Cliar- 
loi-k, William Scott, John Tliomns. Dial O.ivia, .S.imiiel Davi<lson, 
Moses Archer, Joseph St. John, and Jacob C. Gillham, each 1,-121 
in all. 



a rough and uncouth building, and was kept in use but a 
few years. 

The first pauper mentioned as a county charge was one 
James Prichard, who had been taken in charge by George 
Richardson, on the 22d of December, 1815, and kept by 
him until the 22d of December, 1811). Mr. Richardson 
charged and received $40,00 for it from the county. 

1817, June 1 \tli. Joseph Conway a d Abraham Prickett 
were appointed to superintend the making of a Judge's 
Bench, and other benches necessary for the court-house of 
Madison county, to be furnished by A. O. Kelly, the cabi- 
net-maker These benches were completed during vacation, 
and Mr. Kelly received his pay, $58.50, on the 14th of Oc- 
tober, 1817. 

The circuit clerk was permitted to make a window in the 
court-house, at his own expense — if he thought proper. 

There were seven ferries lie 'used by the county, at rates 
varying from $2 00 to $12.00 per annum. Smeltzer paid 
$12.00, Dejailais, Cheek, ]Meachara, each 15.00; Isom Gill- 
ham $3.00 ; Uel Wniteside and Thomas Reynolds, each 
$2.00 per annum. 

The sheriff' reported to have collected the following 
amounts for the year 1816 : 

Taxes — as per assessments ^^007. 80 

Merchant licenses, fonr, each 81,5.00 60 00 

Tavern licenses, collected .... 20.00 

Total $087.80 

And produced the following vouchers : 

George Kicliardson, on act. of paupers .... $40 00 

S. G. Mor.^e, bil. co.u't-hou.^e contract 262..50 

County Judges' salaries 110.00 

Wolf scalps 14.50 

Constable fees 4.00 

Coroner fees 7.75 

Attending elections 12.00 

Delinquencies 47.00 

County orders paid 74.50 

Fire wood and house cleaning 2 25 

Per centum for collecting revenue ....••• 57.00 

Ex-ofiicio salary, seventeen months 70.00 

Total ?701.70 

Balance due tlie sherifT $13.70 

This account was e-Kamined, found correiU, and approved. 

George Coventry obtained a license to keep a tavern in 
Edwardsville, for which he paid $7 00, while Joshua At- 
water acquired the same privilege for $4.00. Samuel Jacka- 
way established a tavern at Reyuolds' ferry on the Illinois 
river, and p.dd $4.00 for his license. 

On application of James Mason to remove the jail of this 
county in the town of Edwardsville to that corner of the 
public square directly opposite, or back of the court-bouse, 
it is ordered that leave be given him to do so, provided it 
be done w^ithout expense to the county, and that the jail be 
left in as good repair as it now is. 

With the proceedings of this term ended the official duties 
of the so recently organized county courts. The legis- 
lators, ever anxious to make laws, and more so to repeal 



HISTORY OF 2rADIS0N COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



125 



them, had passed an act — January 12th, 1818 — by which 
the administration of county affairs was entrusted to the 
various justices of the peace, similar to our present system 
under township organization. The affairs of the several 
counties of Virginia had been well conducted in this 
manner. The last or third territorial legislature con- 
vened at Kaskaskia on the 1st of December, 1S17, and ad- 
journed on the 12th of January, 1818. Madison county 
was represented in the Senate, (Legislative Council), by 
Judge John G. Lofton ; it was impossible to ascertain who the 
representatives were, who at any rate, did not atlend the 
sessions. 

1818, January 12th. Justices in attendance : Thomas G. 
Davidson, Micajah Cox, Rodolphus Langworlhy, John 
Howard, Joseph Meacham, Amos .^Squire, John JIcKiiiney, 
Jesse Starkey, Jolin Springer, Joseph Eberman, Josliiia 
Armstrong, John Hone, Hail ]Mason, Abraham Prickett, 
and J. T. Lusk. The name of Big Prairie township is abol- 
ished, and " Greenfield " substituted —afterwards Alton. 
The wolf scalp bill of J817 was presented to the court, and 
it appeared that Slo7. /o had been paid for the killing of 
220 wolves, in or near the ''settlements." 

The court ordered that all the claims against the county 
should be presented at the April term of this court, and that 
no claim should be considered which had not been presented 
at said terra. Tlie court granted two more ferry licenses on 
the Illinois river, viz. : To Jabiz Ferries, on sections four- 
teen and twenty-three, town eleven, range two, west ; and to 
George Cadwell, at a place called Movare Terrie, (probably 
niauvais terres, band lands), on the Illinois river. Dr. 
Cadwell seems to have worked his way up north, — his 
name was found among the early settlers of De Witt county, 
where he had pitched his tent before the '' winter of the 
deep snow." 

1818, Aurjmt Bd. Hail Mason, J. T Lusk, and the Rev. 
Green P. Rice were appointed a committee to contract for 
the building of a well on the public square in Edwardaville, 
of the following dimensions: four ieet in diameter, to be 
walled as high as the water will rise, with stone, and the 
remainder with good brick. The well when walled to be 21 
feet in the clear, and also for the building of a substantial 
frame, and the procuring of windlass and rope. 

1818, December 9th. Last meeting of the justices' court. 
The well mentioned above was completed at a.\\ expense of 
$192.04. The sheriff made settlement of his tax collection ; 
they had amounted to $720 80, while the expenses reached 
the enormous amount of S95.>.92. The territory of Illinois 
had now ceased to be, and the justices' courts ended with it. 
Madison now a county of the State of Illinois, entered 
upon its mission with an empty treasury, and a debt of 
$255.92. 

THE CIRCUIT COURT IX TERRITORI.\I, TIMES. 

The records of this court are incomplete; the first volume, 
containing the minutes of its proceedings during the terms 
held in February and June, 1813 and 1814, is not to be 
found in the circuit clerk's office; in fact, it has been known 
for years that the book was missing. A meager account of 



the proceedings of the May and September terms, 1815, of 
this court was discovered by the writer in the first volume 
of the records of the coirt of coram )u pleas. 

From various files still in existence, it appears that the 
Hon. Jesse B. Thomas officiated as Judge during the period 
mentioned, and continued on the bench until March, 1818. 
Court was held at the house of Thomas Kirkpatrick. Ben- 
jamin Stedman was the foreman of the first grand jury of 
the count}', as appears on an indictment returned into court 
in February, 1813, and signed by said Stedman as foreman 
of the grand jury. The victim of this indictment is Robert 
Pulliam for beating and wounding Michael Dodd, a consta- 
ble. Another indictment against Pulliam for selling liquor 
in quantities less than one quart, to Michael Dodd and 
Bolin Green, preceded the one above. It was signed by 
Daniel GiUmore, prosecuting attorney. A third indictraent 
against PuUiara for keeping a disorderly house was prose- 
cuted by George David.son. In the first case, Pulliam was 
found not "gilly," as Thomas Gillhara, foreraan of the jury 
expresses it; in the second case, Pulliam plead guilty, and 
was fined, and in the third, the jury could not agree. 

The folloxving indictment is the oldest on file in the county. 
Illinoi.i Territory, Madison County, Court of Common 
Pleas, February/ term, 1813. The Grand Jurors of the U. S. 
impannelled and sworn to inquire for the body of the 
county of Madison aforesaid, on their oath. 

Present : 

That William Bridger of the county aforesaid, and town- 
ship of Goshen, husbandman, being a person of fierce, cruel, 
terrible and inhuman and unnatural disposition, and wick- 
edly having in his heart great rancor, malice and ill-will 
towards Elizabeth the wife of one Benjamin Carter, on the 
30th day of January, 18 1 3, in the county aforesaid, in and 
upon the aforesaid Elizabeth Carter, then and there unlaw- 
fully, wickedly and in a menacing manner did make an as- 
sault, with an intent to kill, and one gun loaded and charged 
with gun-powder and a leaden ball towards and against the 
said Elizabeth, then and there iu his wicked rage and in the 
fury of his mind, he the said William Bridger being then 
and there about the distance of eighty yards from the said 
Elizabeth, with the afpres-iid gun loaded with gun-powder 
and leaden ball, did unlawfully and with force and arms 
shoot said gun at said Elizabeth, with an intention ma- 
liously and unlawfully to kill and murder the said Eliza- 
beth, to the terrible and manifest danger of the life of said 
Elizabeth to the evil examjile of all others, in like cases of- 
fending, contrary to the forms of the statute in such cases 
made and provided, and against the peace and the dignity 
of the Uuited States. And the Jurors aforesaid, upon their 
oaths do further present that the said Wiliiara Britlger, 
afterwards, to wit. : on the same day, with force and arms, 
unlawfully an assault on and upon the said Elizabeth, then 
and there did make and her the said Elizabeth, did beat, 
wound and illy treat, so that her life was greatly despaired 
of and other wrongs then and there to the said E izabeth 
committed, contrary to the form of the statute iu such cases 



126 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



made and provided, and agaiust the peace and dignity of tlie 
United States. Will. 1\[e.\r><, 

Attorney General. 

Tlie defendant was tried before a jury wlio rendered the 
following verdict: 

We the jury find the defendant guilty of committing an 
assault on the within named Elizabeth. 

Thomas Stewart, 

Foreman of the Jury. 

1813, June term. Jesse J. Eenfro, foreman of the grand 
jury, who indicted Thomas Jacobs, yeomau, for perjury. 
The clerk's capias, issued and many times re-is=ued, was 
invariably returned with the endorsement: " Non est." 
Jacob had fled the modern " Goshen," never to return. 

1814, June term. The grand jurors summoned for this 
time are mentioned on a former page. William Rabb, Esq., 
the pioneer miller of Colliusville, was their foreman. Brid- 
ger was found guilty of assault, and fined accordingly. No 
records of proceedings in existence. 

1815, May term. William Mears, Attorney of the United 
States, and John G- Lofton, foreman of the grand jury. 

Daniel P. Cook was admitted to the bar. There were four 
cases of assault and battery on the docket, and one of va- 
grancy- against John Lane. 

Josias Randle was appointed clerk pro tempore. 

1815, September term. Henry Cook, foreman of the grand 
jury reported that there were no cases before the jury, where- 
upon the jury were discharged. Joseph Conway was ap- 
pointed clerk in place of Josias Randle. Edward Hemp- 
stead is named as attorney. 

1816, May term. Samuel Whiteside, foreman of the 
grand jury, who found two indictments against James 
Thompson for larceny. Thompson was tried before a jury 
in September nest, and acquitted. 

181G, September term. George Cidwell, foreman. The 
following foreigners were naturalized: Jo-^eph Touchette, a. 
native of Canada, and resident of Illinois since 1791, as tes- 
tified by Pierre Martin and Robert Whiteside. 

Andree St. Jean, a native of Canada, and a resident of this 
territory since 1798, as testified by William Chilton and 
Pierre Martin. 

Antoine Lapense, a native of Canada, then a resident of 
Peoria, Cahokia and Michillimackinac since 1794, a bona 
fide resident of the United States, witnesses: Pierre Martin 
and Joseph Touchette. 

Michel Lacroix, a friend, countryman and constant com- 
panion of Lapense, as testified by Joseph Touchette and 
Louis Lafiere. 

These applicants took the following oath : We swear that 
we have been living in the United States for at least five 
years, that it was bona fide our intention to become citizens 
of the United States, and to renounce forever all allegiance 
and fidelity to any foreign prince potentate, state sovereignty 
whatever, particularly George III. of Great Britain and 
Ireland, defender of the faith, king; we swear that we will 
support the constitution of the United States. All except 



Lacroi.x; sign by mark of hand. These former subjects of 
the " Defender of the Faith" had had a very indifferent 
education. 

There were two indicttnents found for larceny. Matthew 
Mears had stolen a blanket from Henry Taylor, of the value 
of 61.00. Matthew restored the blanket, and was sentenced 
to pay a fine of $2 00, and costs besides. Henry Taylor wa.s 
indicted for assault and battery. He whipped Matthew when 
he returned the blanket- James Kirkpatriek, supervisor, 
was indicted for "omission of duty," plead guilty, and paid 
a fine of §5 00. Joseph Conway was re-appointed clerk. 

1817, Jul term. John York Sawyer produced his license 
to practice law, signed by two of the U. S. Judges of the 
territory, and was thereupon admitted to practice as coun- 
sellor and attorney-at-law. Alexander Waddle was fore- 
man of the grand jury, who indicted Francis Grigmar for 
perjury: the case was nol. pros, during the same term. 
Benjamin Wood for vagrancy, Robert Reynolds for fight- 
ing, and Simon News Dile, Thomas Johnston, R. P. Day, 
and James Maxwell for riot ; this riot case was dropped the 
next day " for want of prosecution." 

1817, November term. Thomas Reynolds produced his 
license to practice law, and was admitted ; Theodore N. W. 
Narick was also admitted to the bar. The grand jury in- 
dicted Christopher Stout and six others for fighting. 

1818, March term. Hon. Daniel P. Cook presided at this 
term as Judge. Joseph Conway produced his commission 
as clerk, issued by the governor. The grand jury indicted 
W. L, May, and eight others, for fighting. 

1818, July term. Hon. John Warnock presided at this 
and the next term of the court. There were again nine 
cases of assault and battery, and two of larceny, viz.: John 
Warren and Hardy Warren, both cases were nol. pros. 
The sheriff reported that Jacob Hutson and John Hutson 
had broken jail. 

1818, November term. No business transacted at this 
terra ; the attorneys all being of the opinion that the court 
should not to proceed to business, and expressed a wish not 
to have the cases tried where they were concerned. All 
cases were therefore continued until the next term. 

The court records do not explain this strange and abrupt 
adjournment of the court ; it may be accounted for by the 
uncertainty of who was legally entitled to the judgeship. 
The first territorial legislature had assembled at Kaskaskia 
on the Sd of October, 1818, and on the 8th had elected 
Joseph Phillips Chief Justice, and John Reynolds, Thomas 
C. Browne and William P. Foster, associate justices, and 
Dan. p. Cook, Attorney General. The constitution of the 
state, under the stipulations of which these elections had 
taken place, had thus far not been ratified by the Congress 
of the United States, and when the attention of the said 
legislature was called to this circumstance, an immediate 
adjournment was suggested and agreed upon. The legisla- 
ture was to be convened again as soon as the state constitu- 
tion should be ratified by Congress. The November term, 
18l8, of the Madison county circuit court was to be held 
during this judicial interregnum. The Hon. John Warnock, 
the territorial judge, and the Hon. John Reynolds, associate 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



127 



justice as above, assigned to the Western Circuit, were both 
in attendance, but neither of them had a desire to officiate 
under existing circumstances, hence the adjournment. 

THE COUNTY AT TUE CLOSE OF 1818. 

To the reader who has followed us through the meagre 
records of the county from the time of its organization to 
the above date, a period of only five years, a brief resume 
of what had been accomplished in the short time of its 
political existence, will probably be of interest. The "squat- 
ters" of 1812 and 1813 had become owners of their home- 
steads since 1814, lands having been entered in eighteen 
different congressional townships. A great portion of the 
lands in the river townships was bought in 1814 and 
181.5: — 4G45 acres of the 7000 acres of township 3—10; 
940 of the 1350 acres of township 4—10, and 2;!06 of the 
4030 acres of township 5 — 10, were now in the hands of 
bona fide residents or " speculators." The latter class was 
not so numerous in the county as is generally supposed. 

The land entered by them aggregates about 25,000 acres, 
including the 8457 acres owned in six different townships by 
Nicholas Jarrott, who at the time was at least temporarily 
a resident of the county, building a water power mill on the 
Cahokia creek at Indian Ford near the Mound. Township 
4 — 8 contained then only 4500 acres of government land, as 
18,021 acres had been purchased by 49 indivi<luals ; the 
largest quantity owned by any one man was 1546 acres — 
the property of Nicholas Jarrott. Benjamin Stephenson 
contenting himself with 80 acres, the smallest tract- Glanc- 
ing over the list of names, we meet the familar ones of 
Barusback, Cook, Delaplain, Gillhara, Holliday, Judy, 
Kirkpatrick, Kinder, Lusk, Mason, JMcKee, Nix, Ottwell, 
Prickett, Randle, Robinson, Wiiiteside, and others. 

15,707 acres of the 22,500 of township 3 — 9 were owned 
by 45 individuals ; Nicholas Jarrott again in the lead with 
3817 acres, and George Hewitt bringing up the rear with a 
modest 80 acres. Here are to be met the names of Atkins, 
Baird, five Gillhams, Lofton, John G. — the judge had 441 
acres, the Reynolds, three VV'hitesides and Waddle. In 
township 5 — 9, 14,478 of its 21,030 acres had passed into 
the possession of 42 resident settlers. The names of Buck- 
master, Bartlett, Hewitt, Moore, Montgomery, Preuitt, 
. Vaughn, Whiteside, are still familiar to the citizens. 

Out of the 21,713 acres of township 3— 7, 11,325 had 
been entered by 48 individuals. Abraham Vanhooser, a 
Pennsylvania German, was the largest land-holder, owning 
at that time 1040 acres. There were nine settlers in the 
township who possessed less than 100 acres of land. Many 
familiar names are met here, to wit. : The Andersons, the 
Armstrongs, Bairds, Cook, Churchhill, Dugger, Gaskill, 
Hall, Jarvis (township is now named after him), Kingston, 
IMoore, Riggiu, Renfro, Seybold, Slice, Thompson, Wood, 
and others. 

Township 3 — 8 follows, 11,159 of its 22,452 acres were in 
possession of 45 actual settlers. The largest tract, a full 
section was owned by Robert Seybold, Micajah Cox, Colcan, 
heirs of P. Casterline, and Jlichael Healy had 80 acres 
each. The following names have still a familiar sound : 



Armstrong, Cook, Eaves, Gillham, (three of them), Gaskill, 
Hall, Lemen, Moffitt, Moore, Robinson, Reynolds, S(iuire, 
Teter, Vaughn, and Whiteside. 

10,325 acres of the 23,359 acres of Fort Russell, township 
5 — 8, were owned by 35 persons. William Jones, repeatedly 
mentioned in the chapteis on Pioneers and Civil Govern- 
ment — was in possession of the largest tract, viz. : 803 acres, 
Gov. Ninian Edwards being content with the smallest, au 
80 acre tract. AVe mention the names of Baird, Cos, Eiios, 
Hill, Ma.son, Newman, (three of them), Preuitt, Reavis, Star- 
key, Smith, Whiteside and Wood. 

. Town-hip 4—9 had 10,4G9 of its original 19,834- acres 
occupied by residents and speculators. Nicholas Jarrott 
owned 1135 acres. Here we find the names of Atkins, De- 
jailais the ferry-man, Emert, five Gillhams and others. 

In township 3 — 5, only 3000 acres had been entered by 
11 individuals, among whom the following familiar names 
are to be mentioned: Duncan, Good, Morgan and Ramsay. 

Township 4 — 5 had 3509 acres sold— in 13 tracts; we find 
here the Howards, Pearces, McAllily and Reynolds. Town- 
ship 5 — 5, 80 acre.s, owned by James Pearce. Township 
65, — no lands entered. 

Township 3 — 6. Here were 5246 acres entered by 25 in- 
dividuals, most of whom seem to have been actual settlers ; 
the greatest quantity of land owned by any one man at that 
time was a tract of 298 acres, the jjroperty of Washington 
Parkinson. Familiar names to be mentioned here are : 
Anderson, Cook, the Duggers, Giger, Howard, Parkinson, 
Thorp, and Uzzell. 

Township 4 — 6, (Marine). — 3053 acres entered by 10 in- 
dividuals. Captain Curtis Blakeman had bought 1120 
acres as early as 1816. Besides him, mention is to be made 
of Allen, Anderson, Beck, Ferguson, Giger, Ground and 
Kile. Township 5 — 6. 1305 acres entered by five per- 
sons; Hoxsey took 640, Farris and Aldrich . Township 
6 — 6. No lands sold. 

Township 4—7. 7619 acres in possession of 26 indivi- 
duals. John Rice Jones — the eminent lawyer of Illinois — 
owned 1280 acres there; Edward Coles, later governor of 
the State of Illinois, entered 148 acres in 1816 ; besides we 
meet the familiar names of Beck, Bartlett, Bell, Barusback, 
Borough, Clark, Fruitt, Gouternian, William Gillham, 
114 acres, McKee, Posey, and^Taylor. 

Township 5 — 7. 2046 acres — Robert Aldrich and Thomas 
Barnett, each 160 acres, seem to have been the only bona 
fide residents there at that time. 

Township 6 — 7. No lands "entered. In fact no lands 
situated north of township line No. 5 had been entered at 
that period, although a number of squatters liad made 
their homes there, as well as further north. 

We have confined ourselves in the foregoing to the terri- 
tory of the county in its present boundary lines. The pro- 
clamation of Governor Edwards creating the county, had 
made Canada the northern and the Indiana and Illinoia 
boundary line, the eastern limit of the county of Madison. 

The latter had meanwhile been reduced by the organiza- 
tion of Edwards county, November 28th, A. D. 1841, and of 
Bond county, January 4th, 1817, to pretty near what it 



128 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



is now, its western and southern lines were permanently 
established by the governor's proclamation, which, as pre- 
viously stated, had left the northern boundary vague and 
indefinite. 

The county was officered at this period, December, 1817, 
as follows : 

Hon. Jesse B. Thomas, Circuit Judge. 

William Mears, Prosecuting Attorney. 

Joseph Conway, Clerk of the Circuit Court. 

Isom Gillham, Sheriff, and, by appointment, Collector, 

Josias Randle, Recorder, and Clerk of County Court. 

"William Jones, Treasurer. 

Martin Jones, County Surveyor. 

John Robinson, Coroner. 

George Cadwell, 1 

Samuel Judy, 1 Judges of the County Court. 

William Jones, J 

The names of the acting justices of the peace are men- 
tioned in the foregoing. 

Political Townships. 

The Court of Common Pleas of St. Clair county had, 
prior to the year 1812, made the following subdivisions of 
this part of its vast territory, to wit : Shoal Creek township, 
a part of Bond county, since January, 1817, Six mile town- 
ship, Goshen and Wood river townships. 

The county court of JNIadison county re-organized the 
political sub-divi-ions of the county, then called townships, 
and later precincts. . We find at this period the following 
townships, some of which presented an area large enough 
for counties or even states. 

Six Mile — Began at the southwest corner of the county, 
on the Mississippi river ; thence east along the county line 
to Cahokia Creek, and up the same to the mouth of Long 
Like, up Long Lake to the road leading from Samuel Gill- 
hams to Dejailai's ferry, thence direct to the Mississippi 
river, including Big Island, thence south along the bank of 
the river, including all islands to the place of beginning. 

The name of " Si.x Mile " was preserved for sixty years, 
and was changed to " Venice" in 1872. 

Pig Prairie — Greenfield since 1818; — Began at Cahokia 
Creek, at the mouth of L jng Lake, thence up said creek to 
the bluffs, thence up the bluffs, so as to include all " living" 
under the bluff as high as to where Wood river cuts through 
the blufl', from there to Smeltzer's ferry on the Mississippi, 
thence South to Dejailai's ferry, thence down the Six Mile 
township line to the mouth of Long Lake. 

The name of Big Prairie has gone out of use entirely ; it 
â– was abolished in 1818. 

Wood river began at the mouth of Indian Creek, from 
there up Cahokia to the head of the same, thence to the 
Illinois river, including all the inhabitants between the forks 
of the Illinois and Mississippi river, theuce down the Mis- 
sissippi river to Smeltzer's ferry, thence with the township 
line through Big Prairie, to the mouth of Indian Creek. 

The ancient name of Wood river township was restored by 
township organization in 1876. 



Goshen began at Cahokia Creek, where it crosses the 
south County line, thence up said creek to where the range 
line between seven and eight strikes sal<l creek, thence 
south to where said range line strikes St. Clair county, 
thence to the beginning. 

This township had a triangular shape. The township 
line between townships three and two, forming a right angle 
by the intervention with range line between seven and 
eight — aud the meandering course of Cahokia, serving as 
the hypothenuse. 

The name of Goshen is still preserved, as one of the school 
district of this territory, is to this day called the '' Gosheu " 
district. 

Siloer Creek bsgan where the ranga line between seven 
and eight intersects the north boundary line of St. Clair 
county, thence due east to the Bond county line, thence 
north!!! (no limit), so as to include all inhabitants north 
of Goshen and Wood river township^. The name continued 
until a recent day. The town-ship of 1817 was by degrees 
greatly reduced in size. It lost much, but it retained its 
name for over half a century. Aud yet this name was after 
all a misnomer, for the creek, that gave it the name, was 
barren of silver. 

What is left of the proud Siver Creek township of yore, 
since 1876, is known by the name of " Olive." 

Many of the territorial laws* had bsan taken or copied 
from the codes of older States, and among others, a law in 
reference to providing for paupers. The county, however, 
had no resident paupers, yet overseers of the poor were ap- 
pointed, because the law directed that it should be done. 
The records show that Amos Squires and Philip Hawk were 
appointed overseers of the poor for Six Mile. Micajah Cox 
and John Barnelt for Goshen ; Jacob Linder and Young 
Wood, for Wood river ; Joseph White and Daniel Broiun, for 
Big Prairie ; and John Howard and William Shellon, for 
Silver Creek. 

This system was kept up for half a century; the writer 
of these sketches remembers well to have received and 
filed, while occupying a position in the court-house, a num- 
ber of official semi-annual reports of those overseers of the 

*0n December 30th, 181.5, a wolf scalp law was enacleil. One of 
the stipulations of this law made it necessary for applicants for [ire- 
miums to solemnly swear, that they had never willingly spared the 
life of a " bitch wolf," with a design to increase the breed. Wonder, 
if any sliarpers from down " East " liad practised this little scheme 
before t 

On December 12th, ISlfi, a law was passed to prevent attorneys 
from Indiana from practising in the courts of Illinois, and any viola, 
tion of this law was to cost the ofi'ender a fine of $200 00. Friendship 
between American neighbors!!! — It is said, that once npon a lime, 
some villagers in Baden had run a mad dog to cover, and had sncc>ss- 
fiiUy " bagged" him. Instead of killing the dog, tliey in(iuired at 
headquarters, whether the rabid animal, which was known to have 
come over the "state line " from Wirtemberg, should be killed or 
carried back to, and turned loose in Wirtemberg. The answer was : 
Eeturn him to his home state ! Love between German neighbors ! ! ! — 
The latter is an anecdote invented to illustrate the want of unity 
among the inhabitants of tlie various states in Germany, aud the 
former is a stubborn fact, recorded in thj statutes of Illinois. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



129 



poor. Oae of these gentlemen, represent'mg old Silver 
Creek, had his reports stereotyped, for they invariably con- 
tained the following : " The undersigned begs leave to report 
to the Hon. County Court of IMadison county, that there are 
no paupers in his territory." Signed James Olive- And yet 
the pauper expenses of Madison couity reached the enor- 
mous amount of over forty thousand dollars in the year 
ending August 31st, 1873 ! Silver Creek, however, reported, 
"No paupers here." There was something in that silvery 
name after all. 

Roads. — At the time of the organization of the county, we 
find only one public road in the county. Its northeastern 
terminus seems to have been Thomas Kirkpatrick's mill on 
Cahokia Creek — (EJwardsville), and passing southwest via 
Samuel Judy's place and Indian Ford on Cahokia creek, it 
connected the old French settlement of Cahokia with the 
later American settlements in Madison county. 

In 1817, the county had quite a. number of road districts. 
The first one to be mentioned was a circle, a mile in diame- 
ter, around the court-house, under the management of John 
T. Lusk. 

2d. Road from Edwardsville to Long Lake, crossing Caho- 
kia creek at I. Gillham's bridge-site — John Barnett, super- 
visor. 

â– 3d From Edwardsville to Judy's creek, past Bethel 
meeting house — James Reynolds, supervisor. 

4th. From Edwardsville, past Zadok Newman's to Indian 
creek, — Zadok Newman, supervisor. 

5th. From Wallace and Sealy's mill, on Wood river to 
Gillhara and Meachani's Ferry — at Alton, with Ethan 
Meacham as supervi-sor. 

6th. From Cheek's Ferry — above the mouth of Wood river 
to the crossing of the main road from Edwardsville to 
George Smeltzer's Ferry, below Alton — Thomas Carland 
supervisor. 

7th. From county line up the INIissis^-ippi to Dejailais' 
Ferry — Beujamiu Merrett, supervisor. 

8lh. From county line to Long Lake — John Clark, super- 
visor. 

9th. From Indian Ford on Cahokia Creek down the 
bluff to the house of Frank Collins, and past it west to 
county line, the St. Louis road^ — Henry Cook and Frank 
Collins, supervisors. 

10th. From Indian Creek via Moore's bridge, across 
Wood river to Smeltzer's Ferrj', with Solomon Preuitt and 
I'eter Waggoner as supervisors. 

11th. From bridge across Cahokia near Edwardsville via. 
bridge on Indian Creek to Isom Gillham's Ferry — with 
James Gillham and Thomas Co.x; as supervisors. 

12th. A new road, from Edwardsville to Wallace and 
Sealey's mill on Wood river, to be opened at once in three 
sections, with Joseph Robertson as supervisor for the eastern, 
T. G. Davidson for the middle, and John Wallace for the 
western division. 

Bridges- — The records of those days mention four bridges, 

to wit : Moore's a bridge across Wood river — we could not 

ascertain if it was a toll-bridge, across Indian Creek on 

the road from Edwardsville to the northwest of the 

17 



county, bridge across Cahokia near the court-house, bridge 
across Long Lake, west of the present railroad stations, and 
a toll-bridge across Silver Creek, on the road to the U. S. 
salines in the southern part of the State. 

Gillham's toll-bridge across Cahokia Creek, on the road 
from Edwardsville to Long Lake, erected in 1813 and 
1814 — had been washed away, and John Barnett, supervisor 
of road No. 2, was ordered to construct a new bridge at the 
same place. The order was, however, rescinded. 

Public buildings. — The sessions of the various courts had 
been held at the various taverns of Edwardsville for five 
years; and it was not until autumn 1817, that the first 
Court-house, a log cabin erected by Samuel G. Morse, at an 
expense of §437.50, could be occupied. 

The Jail, built by William Ottwell, had been completed 
as early as December 6th, 1814, and was in 1817 moved on 
the court-house square at the suggestion and exj^cnse of 
James Mason, a public-spirited man, to be metioned here- 
after. 

Towns. — Edwardsville, the county seat, was then the 
leading town ; it had probably some fifty dwelling houses ; 
the United States Laud-office was there ; also a Bank, 
Public house, etc. 

Alton, now the principal commercial city of the count}', 
had been located in 1816 and was, properly speaking, not a 
town in 1817. It developed rapidly, however, and had as 
many as a hundred residences in 1819. 

Upjier Alton, laid out in 1817, by Jo.seph Meacham, a 
Vermonter. 

Milton, now no more, was quite a town in 1817. There 
may have been 25 or 30 fiim lies residing there at the time. 
It lay a few miles below Alton, on Wood river. Wallace 
and Sealy's saw and grist mills were doing considerable 
business at that period. 

Ferries. — The authorities of the county had granted 
licenses to seven ferries, as follows : 

1st. George Smeltzer, north of Alton ; this ferry had 
prev,iously been run by a Mr Langford, at or near the 
mouth of Wood river, whence Smeltzer moved it up several 
miles beyond Alton. This ferry had, in 1817, what wascon- 
sidcred the best site; it paid an annual license of §12.00. 

2d. Samuel Gillham and Joseph Meacham, at the mouth 
of Little Piasa, Alton. This ferry was started by Col. R. 
Easton, the founder of Alton, in opposition to Smeltzer's 
ferry above, without success, — which may be seen from the 
fact, that the county taxed this concern at the rate of .S2 00 
per annum. 

3d. Charles l)i>jailais, a Frenchman. His ferry was lo- 
cated on the southwest corner of section 17, in townships 
4 — 9, at the head of Chouteau Island, making trips to this 
island, as well as to the west bank of the IMississippi. The 
ferry was subsequently owned by Samuel Gillham. 

4th. Jeptha Cheek, above the mouth of Wood river. 

5th. Isom Gillham. 

6th. Uel Whiteside, "a little above Portage des Sioux ;"' 
this ferry paid an annual license of 82 00. 

7th. Thomas Reynolds, across the Illinois river, about 
two miles above its confluence with the Mississippi. 



1.30 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



The records mention, besides the above, two more ferries 
in connection with the location of public roads, to wit: John 
Walker's ferry, then owned by Tlionias Carlin,* afterwards 
governor of the State, and Hill's ferry. 

Mills. — Thomas Kirkpatrick, on Cahokia, near Edwards- 
ville, stood there in 1812, had water power in 1817. 

William Rabb, August, 1813 — section 20th, townships 
3 — 8, on what is now called school-branch of Cahokia. 

Samuel Delaplain, March, 1815, transformed his mill into 
a water mill, located on Frank's branch of Cahokia, Goshen 
township. 

John Newman, August, 1815, on Indian Creek. 

Upton Smith, August, 1815, — 'Nov. 4, section 31, 5 — 8, 
on Indian Creek. 

Wallace and Sealy, on Wood river, at Milton, largest mills 
in the county, making two saws and a grist-mill. 

Nicholas Jarrott, 1817 — on Cahokia, near Indian Ford. 
Jarrott was the mill builder of his times, although he invaria- 
bly lost money in this busines3. The Cahokia mills were 
the last he built, and it is said were the cause of his death ; 
as by incessant exposures during their erection, he had con- 
tracted a malarial disease that ended his life and incessant 
labors. 

Merchants Ucemed in 1817 : Abraham Prickett, Col. Ste- 
phens, Clayton Tiffin, (son-in-law of Nicholas Jarrott), and 
AVilliam L. May. 

Taverns in 1817. 



John T. Lusk, 1 

George Coventry, I 

Joshua Atwater, [ 

Clayton Tiffin, J 

John Atkin, "\ 

William Morris, [• 
James F. Swinertown, J 



Edwardsville. 



At or near Alton. 



Charles Dejailais, at his ferry lauding near the head of 
Chouteau Island. 

John Waggoner, on the Wood river, near Moore's bridge. 

John Herring, on Silver Creek, in the eastern part of the 
county. 

Samuel Jacquevay, at Reynolds' ferry, on the Illinois 
river. The reveuwe derived from the licenses of those eleven 
taverns amounted in 1817, to $47.00. 

The pojyidation of 1818 was made up principally by 
American settlers from the Southern States, a few New 
Yorkers, some New Englanders, and quite a number of 
Pennsylvania Germans and Irish American.s. The Canadian 
French had never been as important a factor of the popula- 
tion of this county, as of St. Clair. The few, who had ven- 
tured up the Cahokia, or on the islands in the Mississippi, 
thus separating themselves from their villages below, had 
almost disappeared in 1818 ; the records do not mention 
above ten French names at that time. 

* Carlin was at that time so little known, that his narafi is scarcely 
ever spelled alike twice in succession, lo wit : Carlan, CorUinil, C'or- 
lin, Carland, etc., etc. 



A few naturalized citizens, — six in number — are also to 
be mentioned. 

Blacks were quite numerous, principally slaves and in- 
dentured servants, and a few registered as free persons of 
color. 

It is safe to estimate the population of 1818 not to have 
exceeded 4,000 ; this estimate is made on the following 
basis : 

The records of the year 1818 enumerate 484 laborers for 
road purposes. 

The number of votes polled at the first state election in 
1818, July 6th, 7th and 8th, was 517 ; and at a very exciting 
sheriff election — W. B. Whiteside, Isom Gillham. and Jo- 
seph Borough, candidates, on the 17th, 18th and 19th Sept. 
1818, only 536. 

The number of bona fide resident free-holders in 1817, 
was 354; allowing the number of squatters to have been 
about two-thirds as great, we have in the county not more 
than 600 families. 

Besides — there were eleven licensed taverns in the county, 
and statistics prove that taverns increased with the popu- 
lation at the rate of about 275 per tavern. 

Dana in his "'Geographical Sketch" of 1818 allots 5,456 
to the county, and the State census of 1820 counts 
8,549. 

The United States Census of that year, however, states 
the number of inhabitants of Madison county to have been 
13,550. This report was made by Thomas Reynolds, but is 
most assuredly incorrect. 

The morals of the pioneer period are creditable. True, 
there were a large number of indictments found for assault 
and battery, but then, combativeness was the characteristic 
feature of the day. The number of crimes against property 
was also small — five in six years and only one of those five 
proved. The perjury case mentioned must have been with- 
out foundation. Families seem to have lived in peace; 
there is not one case of divorce on record. 

The Dead. — Befi)re closing this sketch, it is proper to give 
the names of those pioneers of the county who had closed 
their earthly career, who had finished their lalxirs, and were 
now at rest. 

1812. — William Bradshaw, Prudence Casterland, Esther 
Ewing, John Smith. 

1813. — John Bradshaw, Fleming Cox, Isaiah Dunnegan, 
Benjamin Delaplain, Clement Gillham, Samuel Huttoii, 
Obediah Hooper, James Raine, Benjamin Sample, Tol. 
Wright. 

1814. — Simeon Brundridge, Elsworth Baynes, Anthony 
Cox, Henry Cox, William Grotts, Harman Halcomb, Wil- 
liam Preuitt, Reason Reagan, John Snider, J. B. Thompson. 
1815. — Jeac Baptist Amelin, Jude Converse, George 
Gillworth, Daniel Gilmore, Thomas Hudgell, William 
O'Neal, James Renfro, W. L. Smith, Benjamin Young. 

1816. — William C. Davidson, Stephenson Fowler, Thomas 
Green, Philip Gregg, Royal Green, Thomas Hood, William 
Hewitt, James Holladay, James Lard, Abraham Miller, 
Wm. McLaughlin, John McFadgen, George Wise, George 
Moore, who had been reported dead in 1816, and whose 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, IL 1 1 NO IS. 



131 



estate had been put under administration, reappeared in 
the county in 1817, to take charge of his estate. 

1817. — Thomas Cox, John Cardinal, Augustin Chilton, 
James Giiigles, Elisha Havens jr , David Kennedy, Samuel 
Mears, Henry McGuire, John Nixion, Uriah Shaw, William 
Smith, William Thompson, William West, Alexander 
Waddle. 

Civil History, 1819 to 1849 — The constitutional conven- 
tion of the new State completed its labors on the 26ih of 
August, 1818. The convention had assembled at Kas- 
kaskia in July — the exact day of the mouth could not 
be ascertained at the present State capital. This conven- 
tion consisted of thirty-three delegates, presided over by 
Judge Jesse B Thomas, a resident of St. Clair. Madison 
county was represented in the convention by Benjamiu 
Stephenson, Joseph Borough, and Abraham Prickett. Bond 
county was represented by two well known former citizens 
of Edwardsville, Thomas Kirkpatrick and S. G. ISIorse. 
The constitution was adopted by the convention without 
being submitted to a vote of the people, and approved by 
the Congress of the United States, December 3d, 1818. 

The first General Assembly of the State held two sessions 
at Kaskaskia; the first from October .5th to October 1.3th, 

1818, and the second from January 4th to March 31st, 

1819. George Cadwell represented the county in the Senate, 
and John Howard, Abraham Prickett, and Samuel White- 
side in the House of llepresentatives. 

The legislature placed the county government into the 
hands of three commissioners, to be elected annually. 

The commissioners of Madison county entered upon their 
duties on the 7th day of June, 1819. During the interreg- 
num from December 9th, 1818, to this date, the routine 
business of the county had been attended to by the clerk, 
•who now, June 7th, 1819, made the following entry upon 
the records, viz : 

" Be it remembered, That in pursuance of an act of the 
people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General 
Assembly, entitled an act establishing the Courts of County 
Commissioners. It appearing from certificates from the 
judges of election of Madison county that William Jones, 
Samuel Judy and George Barnsback were duly elected as 
commissioners for the said county of Madison, Whereupon 
the said William Jones, Samuel Judy, and George Barns- 
back took their seats, and thereupon a court was held by 
county commissioners for Madison couuty on the 7th day of 
June, 1819. 

First Board of County Commmioaers, — 1819 to 1820. — 
William Jones, Samuel Judy and George Barnsback. 

Joseph Gomvay was appointed clerk, and Georye Belsha, 
treasurer. 

The C!ourt established a new "township" under the name 
of the " Bounty township," to include all the lands in the 
forks of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. This "town- 
ship" of 1819 has in less than fifty years been divided 
into thirty-four splendid counties, averaging seventeen con- 
gressional townships each. John Shaw, Lev Roberts, and 
David Duttou were appointed judges of election of the new 
township. 



Another township, " Sangamo," was laid off to include 
all the settlements not heretofore included, and ail the set- 
tlements on the Sangamon and its waters. Elijah Slater, 
Daniel Parkinson and William Danuer were ap[)ointed 
judges of election of this new township. 

The county authorities laid out and opened a road from 
Edwardsville to Clear Lake on the Sangamon, a distance of 
seventy miles, as early as 1820, surveyed by Jacob Judy, 
who caused mile posts to be erected along the entire length 
of said road, which is known to our readers as the " Sjjriug- 
field" road. 

"This day, July 14th," canic into Court Hail Mason, 
Esquire, aud paid to the clerk five dollars, which he received 
for profane swearing, aud breaches of the Sabbath." Won- 
der how much was paid for a good round oath in those days 
of our fathers! 

The proper explanation, however is, that Hail Mason, 
having made use of the powers granted by the law to him 
as a justice of the peace, had not (uly fined some follows 
for profanity aud similar oflences, but had also collected the 
fines thus imposed. 

The Board of Commissioners next made an Appointment 
of Trustees for the school-lands, to wit : 

T. 3, R. 5, Jonathan L. Harris, William Ramsay and 
James Good. T. 4. R. 5, John F. McCullom, Robert Coul- 
ter, and Thomas Johnson. T. 3 R. 6, Rob. G. Anderson, 
John Howard and William Parkiuson. T. 4, R. 6, Row- 
land P. Allen, John Scott, and Isaac Ferguson. T. 5, R. 6, 
James Gray, .James Farris, and William Hoxsey T. 3, R. 7, 
Joshua Armstrong, Joseph Eberman, and David Samples. 
T. 4, R 7, Joseph Bartlett, Joseph Borough aud Jacob 
Gonterman. T. 5, R. 7. Thomas Baruett, Henry Kelley, 
and Abraham Hayter. T. 3, R. 8, ]Micajah Cox, Benjamin 
Eaves and Augustus Collins T. 4, R. 8, William Gillham, 
John Barber, and William Oltwell. T. 5, R. 8, John 
Springer, Ephraim Woods and William Montgomery. T. 3, 
R. 9, Amos Squire, Isaac Gillham and John Singleton. 
T. 4, R. 9. Isom Gillham, Samuel Gillham, and Samuel 
Browu. T. 5, R. 9, John Wallace, William Ogle, and 
Abraham Preuitt. 

An election had also been ordered to choose the regimen- 
tal officers for the second battalion of the Seventh regiment 
of Illinois militia. The vote was taken at eleven regularly 
established polls, and there were the following votes cast : — 
At Edwardsville 100, at Silver Creek 38, at Goshen 39, at 
Alton 116, at Augusta (a town in embryo in 3 — 6), 64, at 
poll No. 6, (Joe Duncans', east of the present town of High- 
land) 37. at Six Mile 67, at poll No. 8, (now Troy) 19, at 
Piasa 48, at Wood river 81, and at Sangamon 29, amounting 
in the aggregtte to 638 militiamen. The candidates for 
the position of Colonel were Joseph Borough, the favorite 
of Edwardsville, Goshen Silver Creek, and Troy, who re- 
ceived 230 votes; Isaac Gillham, the Alton champion, who 
received 1.59 votes; aud Washington Parkinson, the choice 
of Wood river, Augusta, and poll No. 6. who received 249 
votes, and was electe<l. Hezekiah L. Harris, Rob. St. Clair, 
William Montgomery, Abraham Howard, Harry Riggin 
and David Hendershott were candidates for ]Major ; two to 



132 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



be elected. Harris and St. Clair were the successful candi- 
dates, receiving 258 and 347 votes respectively. Mont- 
gomery very strong in Wood river, and Piasa township, 
came near being elected. Howard Riggin and Hendershott 
had no " show.' 

Having thus chronicled who were to be the leaders in 
war, we will now introduce the names of those honorable 
preservers of the peace, known as " Squires," appointed under 
the new order of things, to wit: 

Joshua Armstrong, John Clark, William Ramsay, Tho- 
mas Lippincott, William Ottwell, Robert Brazle, Thomas G. 
Davidson, Joseph Eberman, John Allen, Benjamin Spencer, 
Thornton Peoples, John Laird, Jesse Starkey, John Barber, 
Amos Squire, Micajah Cox, Hail Mason, (was notary pub- 
lic also), Daniel Parkinson, Adley Harris, AVillian E. Row- 
den, Levi Roberts, Robert G. Anderson, John G. Sawyer, 
Joel Meacham, Reuben Hopkins, Henry Kelly, Edward 
Bishop, Isaac E. Robinson, Nathaniel Pinckard, Zachariah, 
Peters, and James W. Whitney. 

The September and December Terms of the board were of 
no special interest. The board ordered that proper seals 
should be procured for the circuit court and county commis- 
sioners' court. The narrow public square was made more 
so by the erection of a stray^ pen, fifty by seventy feet, sur- 
rounded by a sis foot fence, constructed of posts and rails. 

A. Baily built this fence, and received §20.00 for it. James 
Mason was appointed keeper of the pen. 

William Holland, the lock-smith, made an extra strong 
lock for the jail door, and received §7.00 in compensation 
thereof 

The principal work done during these terms was probate 
business. 

The assessment of 1819 was made by George Belsha, 
treasurer, and the revenue §1,5-12.92, was collected by AV. 

B. Whiteside, the successor of Isom Gillham in the sheriff's 
office. The appropriations made for the year amounted to 
§2,168.29, of which §625.37 remained unpaid. The popu- 
lation of the county was constantly increasing, and three 
new ferries were established on Illinois river in 1819. The 
following estates had been put under administration by the 
clerk during the vacation, viz : George Coventry, Sally 
Coventry, adm'x ; Thomas Costican, Nancy his widow, 
adm'x ; and Pierre Tiller, as administrator ; Samuel Stock- 
ton, Hannah Stockton, adm'x ; Matthew Dixon, Mary 
Dixon, adm'x; Noah Hall, Esther Hall, adm'x; Joseph 
Mason, John Clark, adm'r ; Michael Deeds, Abel Moore, 
adm'r ; Reuben Stubbens, James Smith, adm'r ; Joseph 
King, Walker Daniels, adm'r ; James Peasley, Phil. Calen, 
adm'r; William Leonard, Polly Leonard, adm'x; Elisha 
Dodge, Augustus Langworthy, adm'r ; Abraham Stovecall, 
Elizabeth Stovecall, adm'x ; and Robert Archibald, Robert 
Watts, adm'r. 

The township of San gam o was subdivided as follows: 
All the country north of the Sangamon to be called Sangamo 
iowniihlp, with Matthew Eats, Stephen England, and Joshua 
Dean, judges of election. 

All the country south of the North fork of Sangamon 
river, embracing the waters of said river and west, so as to 



include the inhabitants on Sugar Creek, to be called Fork 
Prairie, with William Dreunon, \Vi!liain Roberts, and 
Daniel Lisle, as judges of election ; and lastly, all the coun- 
try west of Fork Prairie, and south of the Sangamon river 
embracing the waters of said river to be called, Springfield, 
with Jacob Ellis, John Clary, sr., and John Campbell as 
judges of election. 

The public buildings of the county were wholly unfit for 
the purposes intended. The necessity of providing for better 
and somewhat decent accommodations had become well un- 
derstood, but the pitiful condition of the county treasury, the 
scarcity of money, and the absolute " poverty " of the owners 
of lordly farms and plantations, rendered the authorities 
helpless. Realizing the condition of affairs. Col. Ben Ste- 
phenson, Judge T. W. Smith, acting for themselves, governor 
Ninian Edwards and others, had offered a most magnificent 
donation to the county authorities, conditioned only, that 
the public buildings should be erected in the southeastern 
part of Edwardsville. This proposition had been made ver- 
bally early in the spring of 1S20, and in writing, on the 5th 
of June, 1820. 

The proposed location of the public buildings created a 
storm of indignation in Lower Edwardsville, (the old town) 
and a most vehement opposition so intimidated the commis- 
sioners that they deferred their action in the premises. The 
golden opportunity was lost. The Edwardsville Spectator 
of June 13th, 1820, published the following open letter in 
reference to the matter. It throws much light on the sub- 
ject, and is here given at length : 

To the County Commiigioners of Madison County: 

Gentlemen : — As a citizen, of the county interested in its 
prosperity and growth, and alive, in common with every 
other inhabitant, to any occurrence which may be turned to 
its advantage, I shall presume to address you. I have no 
disposition to inquire into all the acts of your administration, 
yet there is one which imperiously demands your attention, 
and in relation to that, I shall speak in the language of can- 
dor and sincerity. The fact is admitted that the county is 
not only now unable to erect its public buildings, but that it 
will probably continue in that situation for many years to 
come : indeed its poverty is too glaring to be denied ; and 
although the taxes collected for the last year exceed §3,000, 
yet this sum has long tince been exhausted, and the couuty 
is now in debt several hundreds of dollars. This situation 
of things has constantly been urged as a reason against com- 
mencing any improvements in relation to the public build- 
ings; and that it would be oppressive and unjust to resort 
to a tax on the people, to raise a revenue for such objects, 
and particularly so at the present period. 

I am disposed to admit the truth of your position, and 
the justness of the inferences to be drawn from it; but it 
would to my mind be a paradox, that you should wish to 
avoid, or delay, the acceptance of a proposition to erect the 
public buildings without expense to the county, and to re- 
ceive therewith a large and valuable donation of land, for 
the benefit of its inhabitants. That such a proposition has 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



133 



been made, the records of your court fully testify, backed 
by the offer of ample security to carry it into effect. Lat me 
ask you, if in that proposition there was any thing illegal, 
or whether or not you have not expressed your united 
opinion in favor of the liberality of the offer. Upon what 
consideration, for what reason, or under what influence, 
have you been induced to hesitate and postpone a decision ? 
Have you not a desire to remove the burden of taxes, 
already like an incubus, oppressing and bearing down the 
people? and is it by refusing or delaying to accept such 
offers that you demonstrate to them the siucerity of your 
profession? Ask your own hearts whether you do not be- 
lieve, that nine-tenths of the county would hail their accept- 
ance with pleasure and gratitude ? Do you not believe 
that the general prosperity of the county would be promoted 
by it ? that the seeds of division, by a gratuitous erection 
of the public huildiugs would be torn up by the roots, and 
the petty factions which hope to distract and divide the 
county be prostrate in the dust? What individual in the 
.county would not be benefited by it ? Would he not be 
relieved from au enormous tax ? Would not au additional 
fund, from which a large and growing revenue could be 
created, have been secured to the cjunty, and which, if 
judiciously managed, would at a future day be of incalcula- 
ble importance ? 

How then can you answer to the p3ople ? How answer 
to your own consciences for delaying to carry into effoot a 
measure so important in its consequences, and so beneficial 
to the people at large ? I ask you whether the general interest 
of the county and of its inhabitants, is not the guide for your 
conduct on such an occasion? and whether, if it is evident, 
that the general weal is to be promoted by the acceptance of 
such propositions, you can in justice to them, and a consci- 
entious discharge of your duty, justify yourselves in delay- 
ing to accept them? I am unwilling, from the general good 
sense and impartiality with which you have discharged the 
functions of your office, to believe that any undue influence 
has been exercised over you, to control your decision, by 
the expression of extrajudicial opinions, by a gentleman 
high in official dignity : but it is possible that his opinions may 
be entitled to too great weight, when his legal acquirements 
and education are considered, and no doubt the citizens of 
the county will feel under great obligations to him, when 
they may possibly know, through the medium of their 
pock-eU, that they are indebted in some measure to him, for 
the desirable privilege of paying for the erection of public 
buildings, which otherwise may have cost him nothing : and 
it is to be hoped, that his opinions in his own county and on 
the subject of a national road, may have eqwil weight. The 
people, however, are alive to the question of the erection of 
the public buildings, and deeply interested in the acceptance 
of the donation, and it remains to be seen whether their 
opinions are to have their just weight and influence. You 
have long enjoyed their confidence and respect, and I am 
bold to hazard a conjecture that you already regret your in- 
decision. Believe me, gentlemen, it is one of the worst traits 
in the human character. Imbecility U despised, when even 
erroneous decisions may from their promjttness be re»peded. 



You have still the means within your reach of justifying the 
characters you have heretofore sustained as men of judg- 
ment and decision. Let me then entreat you to reflect and 
act from the dictates of your own opinions, unbiassed by 
the threats and Jesuitical opinions of others. It is due to 
yourselves, it is due to the people. You cannot injustice to 
them and their rights, shrink from the discharge of your 
official duties. The future opinions of mankind will be 
formed of you from your present acts. You who so often 
met the dangers which were incident to the early settle- 
ment of this country, are not to be terrified by the threats 
of a few individuals, from the conscientious discharge of 
your duty ; nor do I believe that you are iudifft-rent to the 
good opinion of those who were your companions in arms in 
those trying times. If the reasons here urged, however 
sincere and just they may be, shall not have that weight 
which they certainly deserve, a resort is left by the consti- 
tution and laws in an appeal to the people, who, by their 
suffrage may elect such as will be willing to respect and en- 
force their rights and interests. 

A CITIZEN OF UIDGE PR.VIRIE. 

The writer of these lines may not have been a citizen of 
Ridge Prairie, but his words are sterling ones, and well worthy 
of presentation. He had probably read the entries made in 
the county commissioners' court, under date of June 6th, 
and June 8th, 1820, given below, and was now indignant 
at and angry with the commissioners for their timidity and 
indecision. Had he known how bittely and unreasonably 
the opposition had hammered upon those officers, his lan- 
guage would have been less cutting and severe. The Upper 
Edwardsville of those days contained but a few houses, but 
some of its inhabitants were rather exclusive, if not aristo- 
cratic, heace the bitter hatred against " Buncomb," the nick- 
name of Upper Edwardsville. 

The court could not ignore the proposition of Col. Ste- 
phenson and others, and so made mention of it, and another 
one to be introduced hereafter iu the following : 

"June 6th, 1820. — The court having received proposals 
by way of a donation to the county of Madison, for the i)ur- 
pose of erecting public buildings, they still hold themselves 
in readiness to receive any proposals that may be made 
until Thursday next (June 8th), at which time they will 
take the same under advisement. 

"June 8(/(, 1820. — The court, having received several 
propositions by way of donations to erect public buildmgs 
for Madison county, took the same under consideration, 
and not being fully advised thereof ordered that the pro- 
position be filed, until the next court, to which the matter 
is continued. On motion, leave is given Benjamin Stephen- 
son and T. W. Smith to withdraw their proposition, and 
leave is also given to Abraham Prickett to withdraw his. 

From the contents of the above it would appear that 
Col. Stephenson and T. W. Smith thought that their liberal 
and all-embracing offer of a donation was treated with con- 
tempt by being mentioned in ihe same breath with that un- 
dated and undefined donation off.red by York Sawyer, 
Esquire Prickett and others. The records do not state if 



134 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



they made use of the leave granted to withdraw their propo- 
sitiou- 

The contents of it were made known to the people of the 
country through the press — l\m Spectator of June 20th, 1820, 
brought the following : 

In compliance with a request of several respectable citi- 
zens of tliii county we have procured for publication, copies 
of the following papers: 

s 

" Edwardsville, 5th of June, 1820. 
"Gentlemen, — Herewith are submitted propositions 
for the ert ction and completion of a Court-house and Gaol 
for the county of Madison, as a donation including fifty lots 
in the town of Edwardsville. We beg leave to refer you to 
the propositions themselve-i for the terms and the spirit in 
which tbey were made, with this addition that any security 
which may be required for their fulfilment will be cheer- 
fully given ; and the hope that the liberality of the offer 
and the high advantage resulting to the county from its 
acceptance, will operate as a sufficient inducement ou your 
minds to adopt them. Ben.t. STEniENSON, 

T. W. Smith. 

For themselves, Ninian Edwards and the other proprietors." 
" To Hon. Samuel Judy, George Barnsback and William 
Jonts, commifsiouers of the county of Madison 

Impressed with the importance and necesi-ity of the 
speedy erection of the public buildings for the county of 
Maiiison, the undersigned ofier to the county commissioners 
in consideration of locating such buildings on lands belong- 
ing to them, and forming part of the town of Edwardsville, 
to cause such buildings to be erected without delay, at their 
own expense, and to make a donation thereof to the county ; 
and to give in addition thereto, fifty lots in the said town, 
â– ftith a complete title in fee, with warranty, and for the use 
of the county, to be disposed of for the benefit of the same. 

They propose that the buildings shall be at least • feet 

in front and rear, and in depth feet, two stories high, 

with sufficient rooms for the holding of the circuit and 
county commissioners' courts, as also convenient offices 
for the clerks and the sheriffs of the county; all of whose 
offices, it is respectfully suggested, should be contiguous to 
each other at the seat of justice, and to which it is pre- 
sumed those officers will cheerfully assent. The buildings 

to be of brick. The jail to be feet square, the walls 

feet in thickness; windows well secured with iron bars, 

and to be finished within months. In making the offer 

herein suggested, the undersigned are led naturally to an- 
swer a question which might be asked: they have no wish 
to conceal the motives which actuate them. They conceive 
it not only perfectly honorable but laudable, and that al- 
though it is one which may possibly enhance the value of 
their property at some distant period ; yet that the inhabi- 
tants of the county are more immediately interested in its 
acceptance, than are those who are certain to be directly 
benefited thereby. The convenience of the inhabitants 
will be greatly promoted in the early establishment of the 
public buildings. The present state of them is such that 



they unite not only expense with much inconvenience, but 
that they badly answer the purpose for which they were 
designed ; and the Gaol, in particular, as has been evinced 
by the repeated evidences of the fact, is wholly insecure and 
worse than useless, for the safe keeping of prisoners. The 
office for the clerks of the courts, is also an expense of con- 
siderable magnitude, which would cease in case of the ac- 
ceptance of the proposals here offered ; and it is believed 
that it will be admitted on all hands, that the present state 
of the county, its growth and general prosperity requires 
that the erection of the public buildings shouhl be no longer 
delayed ; but an obstacle, considered insurmountable, has 
continued to interpose to prevent it, viz: — the great tax^ 
which it would require to be imposed on the citizens of the 
county, and at a time when, least of all others, they would 
be enabled to bear it; one, which, under the pressure of the 
times would be oppressive, and meet with great opposition; 
and indeed it is impossible to say at what future day they 
would be willing to contribute a sum of six or eight thou- 
sand dollars for such purposes, as it is apprehended an 
amount, not short of that, would be required. If then, these 
difficulties do exist, and which it is believed will not be 
denied, can the commissioners consistently with their duty, 
and the disposition they undoubtedly entertain for their fel- 
low-citizens, to relieve them from burthens, when they have 
the legal means, hesitate to accede to an offer which not 
omly establishes their public bui dings upon a large and 
liberal scale, but has the additional advantage of throwing 
into the county treasury the means of reaping a revenue of 
large amount from the sales of the lots offered, thereby re- 
lieving the people at the same time from the payment of a 
large sum of money? The situation, which is on a square 
of 440 feet, is eligble for the courthouse, and cannot be 
equalled by any that can be offered, and a suffiaeut quanti- 
ty of ground for the gaol will be given ou which it may be 
erected. 

The undersigned are persuaded that the great mass of the 
county are decidedly in favor of the proposition, and would 
consider its acceptance as the harbinger of peace, with refer- 
ence to a division of the county, which has been so much 
agitated by designing men from motives peculiar to them- 
selves, and as terminating a dispute so well calculated in its 
tendency to disturb and divide those whose interests and 
feelings imperiously require should be united. Under this 
view of the subject, those propositions are submitted, sub- 
ject to such modifiations as may be required to complete the 
general objects set forth. 

Edwardsville, June 5th, 1S20. 

Benjamin Stephenson and T. W. Smith for themselves, 
Ninian Edwards and the other proprietors. 

" The size of the buildings is left blank in order that the 
commissioners may insert such a size as they shall deem 
necessary." 

Benj. STErnENSON & T. W. Smith. 

The other proposition to make a donation seems to have 
been drawn up in great haste; it is even without a date and 
could certainly never have been enforced by law. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



135 



It is worded as follows : 

We the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Edwards- 
ville, hereby engage to furnish the amount of cash or other 
articles which may be necsssary iu building a court-house 
on the public square in the town of Edwardsville for the 
county of Madison which we hereby engage to build and 
make a donation of to the county of Madison aforesaid ; 
hereby engaging to pay and furnish the amount of cash or 
other articles by us severally subscribed. 

Joshua Atwatev, one half of any number of bricks not 
exceeding 70,000. 

Walter J Scaly, the other half of the bricks. 

Nathaniel Back master, by Abraliam Prickett, agrees to do 
the mason work of building the above house. 

Abraham Prickett agrees to pay three hundred dollars in 
cash. 

John T. Lusk makes a donation of three hundred dollars. 

D. Tolman, one hundred dollars in carpenter work. 

James Wright will furnish one hundred dollars in cash. 

Mijron Patterson will give one hundred dollars in carpen- 
ter work. 

John. York Saivyer, one hundred dollars. 

John C Bruner & Co., one hundred dollars. 

P. & Y. Page, three hundred dollars. 

James Cox, one hundred dollars. 

John Reynolds, thirty dollars. 

Philip Pemberton, fifty dollars in carpenter work. 

Ihomas B. Stevens, twenty-five dollars. 

Alsworth Baker, twenty -five dollars. 

James Mason, one hundred dollars in lumber at the 
mill. 

Paris Masan, one hundred dollars in lumber at the spot. 

Wm. P. MeKee, twenty dollars in cash. 

John Taylor, ten dollars. 

Hail Mason, fifty dollars in 10 M. shingles. 

Isaac Prickett, one huudred dollars in goods. 

Jeptha ZoHi/i/?i, twenty-five dollars in hauling. 

The amounts above subscribed may have represented a 
value of perhaps $2500, and certainly no more. 

It remains inexplicable why men like Col. Judy, Barns- 
back & Jones could not come to a decision so as to choose 
between the two propositions of donation. Mr. Jones was 
not friendly to Edwardsville, which circumstance may ac- 
count for his action ; but it is barely probable that Judy and 
Barnsback could have been intimidated and prevented from 
taking action. At any rate, however, the matter was de- 
ferred, until after the election, and the reader will then 
learn how the matter was disposd of. 

We return to the further proceedings of the court. 

Plasa township was organized as such on the 7th of June, 
1820. It began at the northwest corner of Wood river town- 
ship, thence due west to the Missi.>;sipj)i, thence up said river 
to the mouth of Illinois river until it strikes the mouth of the 
Macoupin, theic:3 up the Macoupin to range No. 8, thence to 
the northeast corner of Wood river township. Joseph 
White, John G. Lofton and Josiah Cummins were appointed 
judges of election. 

Apple creek township organized on the same day ; began 



at the mouth of the Macoupin, thence up Illinois river to 
the sectional line between towns twelve and thirteen, thence 
east to range line 8, thence along said Hue to Macoupin, 
thence down with it to the place of beginning. Thomas 
Carlin, Thomas Rattan and David Barrow were appointed 
judges of election. 

With this order ended the labors of this — the first board 
of county commissioners. The coming election absorbed all 
thoughts. The press devoted all available space to political 
effusions and harangues, of which a few are here introduced 
to illustrate the spirit of those times. 

GEORGE CHUl'vCn ill's ADDRESS. 

To the Electors of the County of Madison. 

Fellow-citizens : At the solicitation of many respectable 
citizens I have become a candidate for your suffrages at the 
approaching ekction, as one of the representatives of this 
county for the General Assembly of this state. Iu making 
this annunciation, respect for the public opinion and a jusj 
sense of propriety require from me a frank avowal of my 
political principles and a candid delineation of the course 
which I intend to pursue, if honored with a majority of your 
votes. 

A republican by birth, by p-inciple and by practice, I 
have never adopted the opinion that, in order to constitute 
a freeman he should have liberty to rob his fellow-man of 
his freedom. Considering slavery as derogatory to our na- 
tional character, — as inconsistent with the political princi- 
ples which we all profess to believe, — as a curse not only to 
the slave, but the slaveholder also, and so highly dangerous 
to the public tranquillity, I have deemed it my duty, when- 
ever occasion has required, to exert my best abilities in 
opposition to the progress and extension of a system of 
injustice so degrading to the character of our country and 
portending the most baleful consequences. 

The most difficult task to be performed by the next legis- 
lature is the correction of the errors of their predecessors. 
These are so numerous that only a small proportion of them 
can be glanced at in the limits of an address. The tax law I 
consider exceedingly unjust and o]i])ressive in its operation, 
as it lays as high a tax on the poor man's uncultivated land, 
for which only one instalment has been pa d, as upon the 
rich man's improved farm, for which the payment has been 
completed. The repugnance of this law to the constitution 
and the compact between the United States and this state is 
too palpable to require elucidation. 

The injustice of the road law is perhaps still more glaring. 
That a mechanic or laboror who possesses no interest in 
the soil, should be required to pay a road tax of five 
dollars per auinim, while the wealthy owner of extensive 
domains is exempted, on account of being fifty years of age, 
from paying any road tax whatever, is, in my opinion, equally 
contrary to the constitution, to justice and to sound policy. 
The power of impressment given to the supervisors of high- 
ways, though perhaps never carried into execution, ought 
not to be suffered to disgrace the statute book. Sheriffs are 
not by our present laws allowed a compensation for the 



136 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



herculean task of collecting the taxes. This and many other 
circumstances of a similar nature call loudly for reform. 
Another question is likely to be agitated, of great local im- 
portance, and wliieh in its consequences will greatly affect 
the interests of the state. As my sentiments on this subject 
differ from many of those for whom I have the highest 
respect, I deem it necessary to make them known, together 
with the reasons on which they are founded. 

It will be recollected that at the last session of the General 
Assembly, a petition was presented for the erection of a 
narrow strip of land from the western edge of the county 
into a separate county, with the view of locating a county seat 
at some of the towns on the Mississippi, and of thus accelera- 
ting the growth of such town, with the further view of remov- 
ing the seat of justice from Edwardsville, and of locating it 
at some town now laid off, or hereafter to be laid off, in the 
eastern part of the county. As it is expected that an at- 
tempt will be made at the next session to efiect the same 
objects, I deem it proper to state that I am decidedly opposed 
to the contemplated division of the county, and to any altera- 
tion of its eastern, southern or western boundaries. The 
county of Madison, extending to the northern limits of the 
state, there can be no objection to the erection of new coun- 
ties in the northern part of the county, whenever the in- 
creasing population in that quarter shall render it necessary, 
leaving this county in a convenient form and with a re- 
spectable portion of territory. 

I am opposed to the contemplated division because I con- 
ceive that the removal of the seat of justice from the place 
where it has been located by law would be a violation of the 
public faith. The owners of property in Edwardsville have 
purchased it at high prices, in the full reliance that the 
county seat was permanently to remain at that town. To 
remove it would destroy the confidence of the people in the 
good faith of the government, and would furnish a pre- 
cedent productive of the most alarming consequences. Once 
admit that a county may be divided, or a county seat re- 
moved, — not for the greater accommodation of the public, 
but merely to promote the growth of particular towns,— 
and you give the signal for townmakers and speculators 
to involve the state in disorder and confusion, to promote 
their own aggrandizement. As self interest is the ruling 
principle of mankind, each one who might think that his 
own interest would be promoted by the measure, would 
insist upon having a county seat located upon his own 
land. 

The towns which might be converted into county seats 
â– would receive no solid advantage from that measure. Very 
few will purchase property or make improvements in such 
towns, when they are conscious that the county seat will be 
removed whenever an adverse faction may obtain the ascen- 
dancy. Let the proposed measure be adopted, and the legis- 
lature will have no time to devote to the enactment of 
wholesome laws for the benefit of the great mass of their 
constituents, but will find continual employment in carving 
out new counties for the accommodation of petty villages, 
and in adjusting the claims and settling the disputes of 
•warring speculators. The election of candidates for repre- 



sentative officers will be made to depend not upon their 
ability and integrity, but upon their places of residence and 
their predilections for, or autipathies against, particular 
towns and villages. Ignorance and imbecility will become 
the sole passports to the legislative hall ; for men com- 
posed of higher qualifications will disdain to become the 
catspaws of avaricious speculators. In this manner the 
people will become divided into petty factions, the most bitter 
animosities will be engendered, and the general harmony of 
the state will be destroyed. This is not chimerical. Who that 
reflects on the nature of that spirit of speculation which has 
unfortunately taken such deep root among u^, is not con- 
strained to acknowledge that all these consequences and many 
others slill more to be dreaded, will inevitably follow the es- 
tablishment of the principle against which I contend? Simi- 
lar questions are this year in many other counties of this 
state, and similar means are resorted to for the promotion 
of the same grand object of all speculators, namely, self- 
aggrandizement. Does it not, therefore, behoove the inde- 
pendent farmers and mechanics, the efficient population of 
the state, to place their sovereign veto upon all attempts to 
promote the interests of the/ei« at the expense of the vvnuj, 
and to build up private fortunes upon the ruins of the public 
tranquillity and the general welfare? 

Unjust as the proposed division would be to the owners of 
property at the present county seat, it is not less inexpe- 
dient as it regards this county, and, I may add, as it regards 
the inhabitants even of that part which is proposed to be 
erected into a new county. A reference to the map is suffi- 
cient to show that many of the citizens of the proposed new 
county reside nearer to the town of Edwardsville than to 
either of the places in contemplation as the seat of justice 
of the new county. This inconvenience would soon be 
greatly increased, as the rapid growth of the settlements 
north of the contemplated county seat would, in a short 
time, require its removal further north — thus leaving the 
inhabitants of the south part of the proposed new county at 
a great distance from the seat of justice, although the same 
inhabitants reside but a small distance from the present 
county seat. The inconvenient shape of the proposed county 
(being in some places less than five miles wide), is another 
insuperable objection to the division. And however numer- 
ous may be the advocates for the division, while each expects 
to have a county seat located at his own village, in his 
own neighborhood, or on his own farm, yet, as it is impossi- 
ble that they should all be gratified in this expectation, so 
it is obvious that a majority of thosi who now advocate 
would ultimately deprecate a division, were it to take place. 
The proposed division would also operate disadvantageously 
for the settlements in the northern part of the county, as it 
would have an obvious tendency to retard erection into dis- 
tinct counties. 

These considerations appear to my mind to be entitled to 
sufficient weight to induce all real friends to the welfare and 
prosperity of the state to unite in opposition to a measure, 
which, however pure the motives, and however plausible the 
arguments of its supporters, cannot fail to produce the 
most pernicious effects. And I cannot but hope that the 



HIS TOUT OF 2fA BISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



f37 



patriotism and good sense of many who are now found in 
the ranks of the friends of division, will i .duce them, after 
a calm deliberation upon its tendency, to spurn the idea of 
seeking the promotion of any imaginary interests of their 
own at the expense of the general welfare. 

My sentiments on this subject are uot dictated by self-in- 
terest. Having no property which can be particularly 
aifected by the division, my opposition to it is the result of a 
firm conviction that such a measure would be a flagrant 
violation of the public faith, which every citizen is interested 
in preserving inviolate ; that it would be productive of great 
inconveniences, and would materially increase the public 
burdens of this county ; and that it would constitute a pre- 
cedent highly dangerous to the future harmony, pr.)spcrity, 
and improvement of the state. 

I have thus, fellow-citizens, endeavored to give you my 
ideas on the most prominent subjects likely to come before 
the next General Assembly. Other questions will necessarily 
claim their attention ; with respect to which I must content 
myself with promising the unwearied exertion of my best 
abilities in promoting the general prosperity. A cultivator 
of the Soil, engaged in no schemes of speculation, and de- 
pending for a livelihoood on ray own industry, I have no 
interests to promote and no wishes to gratify but such as are 
equally the interests and the wishes of the great body of my 
fellow-citizens- To be honored with their confidence would 
be the source of my greatest gratification, and to deserve it 
is the object of my highest ambition. 



George Chukchill. 



Madison County, May 3, 1820. 



The election was to be held on the first Monday of August 
of said year. The address of Mr. Churchill was followed 
by the appeals of others, who, however, had less to say. 
They all declared themselves to be opposed to a division of 
the county by any line running north and south. 

Isom Gillham followed Churchill's example, and came 
out in brief address published in the Speddor ou the 1.3th of 
June. He says : '• From the view I have always taken of 
legislation, it is uot like that of horse-swapping, where men 
generally are trying to get the advantage of one another." 
Mr. Gillham came out with his addess, in reply to a commu- 
nication of a " voter," to tell him, that people had no right 
of instructing the candidate before election, etc " And, as 
to the cutting and carving of the state, or even this county, 
into small counties, it is a jiriuciple that I am very much 
opposed to." 

Daniel Parkin.son's address, published at the same time, is 
given verbatim et literatim, and, as his grammar and king's 
English are not very perfect, it is to be presumed that H. 
Warren, of the Spectator, did not favor Mr. Parkinson's elec- 
tion. 

William Ottwell announced himself a candidate on the 
24th of July. In his address he denied the accusation that 
Mr. Churchill and himself had "put their heads together" to 
defeat Captain Nathaniel Buckmaster. 

Joseph Borough, the next candidate, was very brief in his 
18 



remarks: "Fellow-citizens, you know who and what I am," 
is about all that was said. 

Nathaniel Buckmaster's pronunciameuto is an ably writ- 
ten piece, confining itself to the question of dividing the 
county, to which the captain is opposed. 

John F. McCuUom came out in a few words, to defend 
himself against some accusations that had been circulated in 
the " Sangamo " country. 

Some of the candidates for the office of county com- 
missioners followed the example of the assembly-men by 
publishing cards and lengthy addresses in the Spectator. 
They were : William L. May, Hail Mason, Curtis Blakeman, 
and Micajah Cox. The hitter's address may find room here : 

" Fellow-citizens: I now come before you as a candidate for 
your suffrages at the ensuing election, for county com- 
missioner, and as the people must undoubtedly be tired of 
election harangues, I shall trouble them but little. There 
is one question which appears to excite the public mind, viz: 
the erection of public buildings by donation instead of tax- 
ation. I am decidedly in favor of any lawful measure that 
can be adopted for the erection of the public buildings for 
the county of Madison, without taxing the people, and in 
favor of any advantageous donation for the u.se of the 
county, that will screen the people from a heavy tax. It is 
well known that the time of service, power and duties of the 
county commissioners are to be regulated and defined by 
law, and let them be who they may, they should always act 
with caution. And I can venture to say, that those who 
honor me with their votes, believing that they are voting for 
one that is not easily biased from his known duty when 
engaged in public business, will not be deceived. 

Micajah Cox." 

" P. S. — If elected, and it shall be considered lawful, I shall 
be decidedly in fiivor of having the public buildings in the 
southeast part of Ed wardsville, as the site is the most eligible 
and healthy, and equall}' convenient." 

The other candidates, of course, pronounced themselves also 
in favor of the "donation " plan, without committing them- 
selves to the location of the buildings. 

It should here be stated, that none of the gentlemen that 
came out with public addresses were elected. The success- 
ful candidates were: Amos Squire, James Tunnell and 
Abraham Prickett. At the election 1186 votes had been 
cast, to wit.: At Goshen (Edwardsville included), 231 ; 
Ridge Prairie, 242 ; Six Mile Prairie, 81 ; Greenfield (Alton 
included), 115; Wood river, 8G ; Piasa, 65; Bounty Lands, 
15; Apple creek, 76; Sangamo, 42; Fork Prairie, 89; 
Springfield, 50 ; Silver creek, 94. 

The successful candidates for the general assembly were : 
William Ottwell, Nathaniel Buckmaster and Joseph 
Borough, who received 532, 518 and 633 votes respectively, 
Churchill had 449; D. Parkinson, 32i) ; J. F. McCollum, 
312 ; William Jones, 203 ; Isom Gillham, 189 ; P. Peters. 
124, and Benjamin Steadman, 106 votes. 

The vote polled for Churchill is, perhaps, the most inter- 
esting. He made the race principally as an outspoken anti- 
slavery man, which was fully understood by the voters. 



]3§ 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



He had a majority vote at the following precincts ; 


Goshen, 123 votes out of 231- 


—majority 8 


Six Mile, 45 •' 


" 81 


9 


Sangamo, 21 " 


" 42 


u 2 


Springfield, 40 " 


" 50 


30 


He was left in luinority at : 






Kidge Prairie, 


112 out of 


242-18 


Greenfield (Alton), 


16 


115—83 


Wood river, 


28 


86—30 


Piasa, 


17 " 


65-31 


Bounty Land, 


7 " 


1.^- 1 


Apple Creek 


5 '' 


76—66 ; 


Fork Prairie, 


9 


89—71 


Silver Creek, 


15 " 


94-63 

363 49 
49 



Minority of 314 votes. 
SECOND BOARD, 1820-1821. 

Amos Squire, James Tunnel and Abraham Prickett. 

This board decided in their March term to contract for 
the building of a jail. The proposition of Col. Stephenson 
and others, to erect the county buildings at their own expense> 
had been ignored as heretofore stated, and in consequece a 
violent agitation arose in opposition to the proposed con- 
tracts. Meetings were held in all parts of the country, and 
petitions poured in from every side, praying the court not to 
create a county debt at so unpropitious a time, when the 
scarcity of current money had brought about an almost un- 
bearable condition of affairs. The proceedings and resolu- 
tions of one of these assemblies is here introduced at length : 

COUNTY CONCERNS. 

At a meeting of the citizens of Eidge Prairie township, at 
Troy, on the 4th inst. convened for the purpose of taking 
into consideration the late order of the county commissioners, 
for the erection of a new jail^Gen. Samuel Whiteside being 
appointed chairman, and James Eiggin, secretary, the fol- 
lowing resolutions were unanimously adopted: 

Rcmlved, That it is the opinion of this meeting that it is 
inexpedient to build a new jail at this time in the county, at 
public expense, and that a few repairs on the old jail will 
answer every public object 

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this meeting that the 
pressure of the times and the scarcity of money is such, that 
it is the duty of the county commissioners to reduce, instead 
of increasing, the taxes on the people at this time, and that 
it would now be extremely oppressive, and highh' unjust, to 
attempt the erection of any public building, which must of 
necessity be paid for by levying enormous taxes on the 
people, who at no time, have been so entirely incapable of 
procuring money wherewith to pay it. 

Resolved, That any public officers who will at a time like 
the present, go on to impose additional taxes on the people 
for the erection of the proposed unnecessary building, both 
for the size, and the manner of structure, as appears from 
the plan exhibited by them, and against the known wishes of 
the people, ought deservedly to forfeit their confidence. 

Resolved, That it be recommended to the farmers in the 



several townships in the county, to assemble without delay, 
and enter into resolutions to be presented to the com- 
missioners, couched in firm and respectful terms against the 
erection of any new jail or public building at this time at 
public cost, or the imposition of any additional tax, pledging 
themselves to oppose such measures by every proper and 
necessary effort — and that they appoint delegates from their 
several townships to meet on the 4th Monday of July, at the 
court-house in Edwardsville, to present such resolutions and 
remonstrances. 

Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed 
by the chairman and secretary, and published in the Edwards- 
ville Spectator. 

Samuel Whiteside, Chairman. 

James Riggin, Secretary. 

The friends of the county cimmissioaers now came to the 
rescue, and called mettings for the purpose of endorsing the 
steps taken. We introduce here the following ; 

At a respectable meeting of the farmers of the Marine 
Settlement, in Madison county, held at R. P. Allen's. July 
16, 1821, Ciptain George C. Allen being called to the chair 
and John Anderson being elected secretary, the following 
resolutions were adopted : 

1st. Resolved, That it is the opinion of the meeting that 
a public jail is absolutely necessary for the insuring of the 
people of this county from the depredations of assassins and 
midnight robbers. 

2d. Resolved, That it is the law of the land, as it is the 
duty of the county commissioners forthwith, to cause to be 
erected a good and substantial jail for the use of the county. 

3d. Resolved, That in order to secure our persons and 
property from abuse, pillage and robberies we will cheerfully 
contribute our proportion of taxes to defray the expenses 
which may be incurred in building a jail for the county. 

4th. Resolved, That we approve the proceedings of the 
county commissioners in their late special sessions in ordering 
a jail to be erected at the county seat, and that they shall 
have our warmest support in the execution of so laudable an 
undertaking. 

George C. Allen, President. 

John Anderson, Secretary. 

The commissioners were determined to carry out their 
order. Bids for contracts were invited at once. The jail 
was to be built in the town of Edwardsville, on the north- 
west corner of the public square in said town, in the rear of 
the old court house, to be constructed of brick and timber, 
30x24 feet, and two stories high, one cell to be com- 
pleted by the first Monday in December, 1821, and the 
balance by the first JNIonday in March, 1882. §-500 in state 
paper were promised to be paid as soon as the work is com- 
pleted and the balance the county will be good for ! 

The proposition found an answer in the following bids: 
Jeptha Lamkin, .S5,U00 ; John Blandford, 3.500; Myron 
Patterson, 3,500 ; Walter J. Seely, 2,800 ; Benjamin Stephen, 
son, 2,000; T. W. Smith, 1,500 ; Hooper Warren, 1,200 
W. H. Hopkins, 550 ; Ninian Edwards, 100. 

The last bid was worded as follows : 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



139 



Gentlemen, If you are determined to persevere in build- 
ing the jail which you have caused to be advertised to be let 
to the lowed bidder, I will contract witli you to have it 
erected at the place and within the time and according to the 
plan advertised for the sura of one hundred dollars, giving 
you such a bond as by your order is required, according to 
its true literal import. 

July 23, 1821, Ninian Euwards. 

To A. Prickett, A. Squire and James Tunnell, 

Commimoners of Madison county, HI. 

The Senator and future governor of Illinois must have 
felt chagrined to have his bid rejected ; the phraseology of 
the bid — the true literal import — may have had something to 
do with the refusal. Others, however, did not fare better, 
as the contract was let to Walter J. Seely for S2,800. He, 
too, had occasion to learn the meaning of the phrase : " The 
county ivill be good for the balance ; ' for it should here be 
stated that the county revenue of 1821, all told, amounted 
to $1,646.28, and in 1822 to 82,130.22. Seely's experience 
is most graphically illustrated in the following letter : 

Edwardsville, March 4th, 1822. 
To the Commissioners' Court of Madison county : — 

I beg leave to lay before you a detail of ray present dis- 
tressing and unhappy situation. I need not tell you when I 
bound myself in a contract and security to the court to 
build a public jail of certain size, to be done in a given time, 
also at the same time you bound and pledged yourselves to 
pay me five hundred dollars in state paper so soon as one 
cell was finished fit for use. On the good faith and on the 
virtue of this contract with the court I have persevered and 
made use of every means to perform on my part. I have made 
use of all the money I had appropriated for paying my smal' 
debts, believing in good faith that you would pay me accor- 
ding to contract, which would enable me to pay mine also ; 
but alas ! I am here, sick and confined, not able to attend to 
my business, but harrassed every day by my creditors, some 
pleading needs and necessity, some threatening vengeance, 
two executions in the hands of the constable for $80.00 or 
upwards, such which must be paid or my property will be 
sold by the officer. Not only this, but I have to furnish 
materials and finish the jail. The glass, spikes, iron and 
planks to complete the jail, costing at least §100.00 in St. 
Louis, cannot be had without cash in hand. Now I have 
only to solicit and pray the court to take into consideration 
my before mentioned necessity, and to deal by me, as the 
court may think proper in the discharge of the duties of your 
office in which you act. In sentiments of respect I am your 
humble servant, etc., Walter J. Seely. 

The court ordered this letter to he filed, and on those files 
it remained until brought to light sixty years later, April. 
1882. 

The public square on which the first county buildings 
had been erected was now, August 31st, 1821, deeded to the 
county by T. Kirkpatrick and James Mason. Mason's 
deed, dated July 25th, 1821, conveys for the consideration 



of one cent, to the commissioners and their successors in 
office, the lot on which the jail and court-house stand, being 
one hundred and forty-six feet square and containing one- 
half acre, bounded on the southwest by Main street, and 
southeast by Cross street No. 4, being the lot selected by the 
commissioners appointed to locate the seat of justice for 
Madison county, by the legislature of the territory of Illi- 
nois, at their session in the winter of 1813-'14, in trust for 
the use of the county on which to build, erect and continue 
a court-house, jail and other public buildings for the use 
of the county, and for no other purpose whatever. 

On the same day, August loth, 1821, the court accepted 
the proposal of John York Sawyer and others for building 
a brick court-house on the public square in the town of 
Edwardsville as by " writing on file." (This proposal has 
been given at length heretofore). John T. Lusk and others 
gave bond for building said court-house, and " the court, 
for themselves and successors, agreed to acjept of the 
said court-house when completed according to contract this 
day entered into." It took many years before this court- 
house was com[)leted , as will appear hereafter. 

The returns of the election of August, 1821, gave Emanuel 
J. West the seat of James Tunnell. 

A tax receipt of 1820, probably the oldest document of 
this kind now in existence in the county, may find room 
here. It was handed to the writer by D. W. Collett, Esq., 
of Upper Alton. 

Mrs. Ann Collett for taxes, Dr. for year 1820. 
Town lot in Milton, valued at $1000 ] 
Town lot in Milton, " " 200 i 



200 ! 



I County. 



Tax -510.20 



Town lot in Milton. " " 
Oneindenturedblackmanand 

two indentured mulatto girls 1400 | 
Two horses, " 140 j 

State tax on 

North half, section 5, north half of section 4, northeast 
quarter and southwest quarter of section 8, northwest quar- 
ter of section 17, the northeast quarter of section 20 the 
east half of the southwest ipiarter of section 5, and the east 
half of the northwest quarter of section 8, all in the town- 
ship, 5 north, range S west, of which 480 acres are of 1st, 
400 of second and 640 of od quality land ; tax $22.00. 

Madison county, November 8, 1820. 

Received of Ann Collett thirty-seven dollars and â– " in 
full for state and county taxes for the present year 1820, as 
above stated. William B. Whiteside, 

Sheriff of Madison Count)-. 

The county tax was levied on town lots and personal pro- 
perty only, and the rate for the year 1820 was 50 cents on 
every 100 dollars' valuation, and there was also a poll ta.x; 
of 50 cents on every unmarried man in the family, which 
will account for the odd 50 cents in the tax of $15.20. The 
tax on land was very light, $22.00 on 1520 acres in Fort 
Russell township. The lauds described in the foregoing re- 
ceipt are now owned by Hugh Burns, Samuel Forman, E. 
C Smith, J. M. Aljets, Edwin Kennedy, Daniel Schmidt, 



140 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



W. C. Flagg, heirs, H. G. Helnikamp, John Helmkamp, 
Nimrod Stillwell, Robert Kelsey, Thomas Joues, E. C Bal- 
ster, J. F. Herreu aud J. & W. Bitts. They are assessed at 
39,73(1 dollars, about §26.00 per acre, aud are worth at 
least 880,000. The taxes on said land in 1881 amounted to 
8743.64. 

THIRD BOARD, 1821-1822. 

Amos Squire, Abraham Prickett and Emanuel; J. West. 
The labors of this board were confined to narrow limits. 
The letter of Seely explains in what condition the county 
was financially. He had received a county order instead of 
the solemnly promised 8500 in state paper 1822, June 3d. 
The court found the jail built by W. J. Seely to be strong 
and substantial, completed according to contrdct. It was 
received for the use of the county, and the clerk was ordered 
to notify the circuit court of same. The balance due Seely ; 
the county was to be good for it ; was paid to him in county 
orders of 85.00, 810.00, $15.00 and 825.00 each, aggrega- 
ting 82,300. • i 

The sheriff, ^^ . B. "Whiteside, made his return as collector 
by paying the full amount of revenue in redeemed county ! 
orders into court. George Belsha, the county treasurer, re- 
jiorted that the fines and licenses paid to him during the 
year amounted to 8203. .50. He had also listed the personal 
property for the new tax levy aud received 861.80. He had 
money enough in the treasury to pay himself, and 826 00 
more." The county paid B. Stephenson 8120.00rent for the 
lower part of his brick house, in which the clerk's office of 
the circuit aud commissioners' court was located during the 
year. 

The election of August, 1822, put in new members, to 
wit: John Barber, Benjamin Spencer, and Hail Mason. 
Nathaniel Buckmaster was elected sheriff; Isaac Prickett, 
coroner; Theopilus W. Smith, state senator; Curtis Blake- 
man, George Churchill and Emanuel J. West members of 
tlie House of Representatives. Edward Coles, a most dis- 
tinguished citizen of the county, was elected governor of the 
state of Illinois at this election. 

Samuel D. Lockwood, another prominent citizen of Madi- 
son county, Attorney-General since February 1821, was 
appointed Secretary of State on the 18th of December 1822. 
The county had been represented in Congress during terri- 
torial times by the following delegates : Shadrach Boud, of 
St Clair county until 1814 ; from then to 1816, by Col Benja- 
min Stephenson, who, on being appointed receiver of public 
moneys, resigned April 29, 1816, and made Edwardsville 
his residence. Stephenson was succeeded by Nathaniel Pope. 
Daniel P. Cook, then a resident of Randolph county, was 
the first representative to Congress from Illinois. He was 
elected in 1818, re-elected in 1820 aud was in 1822 re- 
elected a second time. 

FOURTH BOARD, 1822-23. 

John Barber, Benjamin Spencer, Hail Mason. 

The county has meanwhile been reduced to almost its 
present limits ; the township so recently organized, had rap- 
idly increased in population and had been organized into 



counties— Green, Pike, Sangamon and Montgomery among 
them The territory of the remaining county was subdivided 
into six political townships, which retained the familiar 
names of Silver Creek, Ridge Prairie, Goshen, Wood river, 
Greenfield and Six Mile. Alton, situated iu Greenfield 
township, had become quite an inportaut commercial, point, 
so that the board saw fit to appoint Benjamin Stedman, H. 
H. Gear and Abraham Prickett inspectors for the part of 
Alton, for the inspection of beef, pork, hemp, flour, tobacco 
and all other articles of export necessary to be inspected. 
Charles W. Hunter, then one of the leading and enterpris- 
ing citizens of Alton, had called the attention of the court 
to this matter in a letter of March 3d, 1823, in which he 
asked the court to appoint Samuel Slater inspector of beef 
and pork, Abraham Prickett of tobacco, Isaac Woodburn 
of lumber and staves, Benjamin Stedman of flour and H. 
H. Gear of hemp. 

The county had heavy pauper expenses to meet during the 
year, amongst which a claim of Clayton TifBn for 8202.05 
for taking care of and treating a wounded man named 
"Wells, and finally burying him. The charges were high — 
coffin and burying alone 810.00— however the court allowed 
the claim in full. 

1823, March term, George Belsha, the treasurer, reported 
the revenue of the year 1822 to have amounted to 82247.12}, 
of which 2,017.121- was raised by taxes. Belsha resigned 
his office the same day, whereupon John T. Lusk is appoint- 
ed treasurer. The election of August,1823, called Thomas 
Lippincott in the place of Mr. Spencer. 

FIFTH BOARD, 1823-24 

Hail Mason, John Barber and Thomas Lippincott. 

At the December meeting the Board received the follow- 
ing communication in the shape of a letter. It gave the 
impetus to a lawsuit, bitter and of long duration, against 
Edward Coles, then governor of the state, a man of national 
reputation, known and honored by the best of the land. 
The letter, written by W. L. May, then a merchant of Ed- 
wardsville, is flowing over with eulogies on law, etc., but 
mean and sinister motives have assuredly dictated it. The 
letter follows : 

Edwardsville, Sept. 17th, 1823. 

To Hail Mason, John Barber and Benjamin Spencer 
commissioners for the county of Madison. 

Gentleman : By an act of the 30th of March, 1819, of 
the legislature of the state it is declared that every person 
who shall bring into this state, any negro or mulatto, who 
shall be a slave and held to .service at the time ; aud who shall 
emancipate with such negro or mulatto, shall give a bond, to 
the county where such slave is emancipated, iu the penalty 
of one thousand dollars, conditioned that such person so 
emancipated shall not become a charge to any county in the 
state ; and every person neglecting or refusing to give such 
bond shall forfeit and pay the sum of $200.00 for every 
negro or mulatto so emancipated, to be recovered in any 
action of debt, to be sued for in tlie name of the county 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



141 



commissioners of the county where the same shall happen to 
the use of the county. 

As you gentlemen are charged with the interests and 
rights of the county and are bound by the duties of your 
office to protect it from even the possibility of expenses re- 
sulting from negroes so emancipated, becoming chargeable 
to the county, I feel persuaded that you will promptly ap- 
ply the neceisary remedy to prevent an occurence of the 
kind. It will doubtless be within your recollection, that a 
number of negroes and mulattoes were some considerable 
time since emancipated in this county by Edward Coles, 
Esq. The records kept by the clerk of your court will fur- 
nish you with the authentic evidence that no bond has ever 
been given, although more than two years have elapsed 
since their emancipation. The penalty declared by the act 
has been Incurred and is now justly due to the county; no 
excuse can be given for the violation of a positive statute, 
and as the penalty has already clearly enured to the coun- 
ty, I call on you as a citizen of the county interested in its 
rights and prosperity to take judicial cognizance of thii in- 
fraction of the law, and to take immediate steps for the 
prosecution of the offender. You are, I conceive, bound to 
institute a prosecution without delay and have a right to 
call on the Attorney-General who resides in the district to 
pursue the necessary measures. 

I am, gentlemen, your humble servant, 
William. L. May. 

W . L. !May removed from the county not many years 
after this epistolary effusion. He was a man of talent and a 
successful politician. He represented the Third Congres- 
sional (Springfield) District of Illinois in the Twenty-third, 
Twenty-fourth, and Twenty-fifth Congress— 1833 to 1839. 

The suit was commenced March, 1824. The reader will 
find the subject treated at length on a subsequent page. 

Silver creek township was divided from east to west, 
March Term, 1824, and the southern part named Union- 
ville. ilr. Lusk, the treasurer, reported to have received 
during the year $1957.54 in lax money, and §485 25 from 
all other sources. All this money had been by him dis- 
bursed, and the county was then owing the treasurer $13.61. 

SIXTH BOARD — 1824 TO 1825. 
In August, 1824, Hail Mason, John Howard, and Benja- 
min Stedman were elected county commissioners ; Nathaniel 
Buckmaster, sheriff; Joshua Delaplain, coroner ; Joseph 
Conway, state senator, vice T. W. Smith, who had resigned ; 
Curtis Blakeman and George Churchill, re-elected members 
of the General Assembly, together with William Ottwell as 
third member, in the place of Emanuel J. West. The agi- 
tation on the slavery question had grown into serious dimen- 
sions during the preceding session of the state legislature, 
and E. J. West, of Madison county, had become one of the 
leaders of the pro-slavery faction, whose object now was to 
call a state convention with a view of making Illinois a 
slave state. After a most outrageous proceeding in the 
house of representatives, which is a matter of state history, 
the pro-slavery men succeeded in passing a resolution, au- 



thorizing the people of the state to vote on the proposition to 
call a convention to amend the constitution at a general 
election to be held on the first ^londay of Augu-t, 1824. 

Governor Reynolds, himself a pro-slavery man at the 
time, speaks of tiie action of the liouse in procuring a ma- 
jority for the resolution, in "My Own Times," thusly : 
"This proceeding in the General Assembly looked revolu- 
tionary, and was condemned by all honest and reflecting 
men. This outrage was a death blow to the convention." 

The auti-slavery or anti-convention of the assembly, led 
by Governor Coles, now published an address to the people 
of Illinois, to unmask the purposes of the conspirators to 
make a slave constitution. The address, undoubtedly 
penned by the governor, was an impassioned, masterly ap- 
peal to the people to rise up in their might and save the 
state from the greatest shame and disaster that could ever 
be visited upon any people. Speaking of slavery, it says : 
" What a strange spectacle would be presented to' the civil- 
ized world, to see the people of Illinois, yet innocent of this 
great national sin, and in the full enjoyment of all the 
blessings of free government, sitting down in solemn conven- 
tion to deliberate and determine whether they should intro- 
duce among them a portion of their fellow-beings to be cut 
off from those blessings, to be loaded with the chains of 
bondage, and rendered unable to leave any other legacy to 
their posterity than the inheritance of their own servitude ! 
The wise and the good of all nations would blush at our 
political depravity. Our professions of republicanism and 
equal freedom would incur the derision of despots and the 
scorn and reproach of tyrants. We should write the epi- 
taph of free government upon its tombstone." The closing 
words of this address contain the following eloquent appeal : 
" In the name of unborn millions, who will rise up after us, 
and call us blessed or accursed, according to our deeds — in 
the name of the injured sons of Africa, whose claims to be 
equal with their fellow-men will plead their own cause 
against their usurpers before the tribunal of eternal justice, 
we conjure you. fellow-citizens, to ponder upon these things." 
— E. B. Wuthb ami's Sketch of Edward Coles, 

This appeal was signed by fifteen members of the senate 
and the house, Blakeman and Churchill, of Madison, among 
them. T. W. Smith, the senator of that county ; and Ema- 
nuel J. West, the third representative, were convention and 
pro slavery men. George Cadwell, formerly of Madison, 
and frequently mentioned in our historical sketch, signed the 
appeal as senator of Pike and Greene counties, " daughters " 
of Madison. 

George Churchill, who had been most prominent during 
said session in the struggle against slavei-y, was, together 
with his friend, Risdon Moore of St. Clair, burned in effigy 
in his own (Madison) county, because of his labors. Never- 
theless, the majority of the people of ^Madison county saw fit 
to re-elect him in 1824. 

The pro-slavery men were not slow in coming before the 
people with a public address, drawn up by a committee com- 
posed of the most talented men of the state, — T. W. Smith 
and Emanuel J. West of Madison among them. " The con- 
test raged in fury throughout the state. The pro-slavery 



142 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



men had defiantly thrown down the gauntlet, and the anti- 
slavery men took it up with equal defiance. The conflict 
was long and bitter and no quarter was given on either side. 
There were not only the strong men of both parties, orators, 
judges, lawyers, but the rank and file of the people entered 
into the struggle with a violence, a zeal, and a determination 
alike without limit, and without example in the state 
There was a perfect avalanche of personaliiies, threats, and 
denunciations, and Governor Ford well says, that, had not 
the people made allowance for all the exaggerations and 
falsehoods, the reputations of all men would have been over- 
whelmed and consumed. Newspapers, handbills aud pamph- 
li^ts were scattered broadcast. These missive weapons of a 
fiery contest were scattered everywhere, and everywhere 
they scorched as they flew. Almost every slump in every 
county had its bellowing, indignant orator on one side or the 
other, and the whole people, for the space of months, did 
scarcely anything but read uewspapers, hindbills and 
pamphlets, quarrel, wrangle and argue with each other, 
whenever they met together to hear the violent harangues 
of their orators." — Ford's History. 

There were two weekly newspapers published in Madison 
county at that time : the Eepublican, a pro-slavery orgm under 
the direction of Theo. W. Smith, Erainuel J. West and Judge 
McRiibsrts (subsequently U S. senator); and the Spec- 
tator, a decidedly anti-convention organ, managed by Hooper 
Warren. " The c jntroversy between the two papers in 
Edwardsville, representing convention and anti-convention, 
was waged with great violence. State Senator Theophilus 
W. Smith, afterwards Judge of the Supreme Court, editor 
of the Repvhlican, undertook to cowhide Hooper Warren, of 
the Spectator. Failing in his purpose, he drew a dirk on 
him ; Warren then pulled out his pistol, when the combat- 
ants were separated, aud nobody hart." — Washburne on 
Gov. Coles. 

The convention, or, more properly, pro-slavery scheme, 
was defeated at the polls on the first Monday of August, 
1824:, by a vote of 4950 in favor of, and of 6822 against it, 
Madison county polled 914 votes, 351 for, and 563 against, 
convention. 

Among the papers of Samuel McKitrick, then a citizen of 
Madison county, now dead, was found the following ticket of 
that memorable election : 

people's ballot. 

For new constitution. 

Fur article prohibiting banks. 

For excluding negroes and mulattoes. 

No right of suffrage or office to negroes or mulattoes. 

For laws excluding negroes and mulattoes from coming 
into and voting in this state. 

For congressional apportionment. 

The reader will perceive how artfully the people's ballot 
â– was prepared. There was scarcely a dozen men in the 
county who would not have voted for the 2d, 3 I, 4th, 5ih 
aud Gth clauses, hence it was thought the first clause would 
be voted for also, as it was allied to good or at least popular 
measures. The political sense of the voters of 18-4 how- 



ever, was peer to the artful designs of intriguers who were 
ignoniiniously defeated. This ticket was given into the 
custody of the Historical Society of Chicago by Hon. Joseph 
Gillespie of Edwardsville, and is kept there as a memento. 

The legislature elected in August 1824, strange as it may 
appear, was not anti slavery, for instead of electing Gov. 
Edward Coles senator of the U. S., as was generally ex- 
pected, they chose a strong and violent proslavery man, 
Elias Kent Kane of Kaskaskia to succeed John McClean. 

The reader will excuse the digression in which the writer 
has indulged. The all absorbing question of the day had seized 
upon all people and officers, to such a degree that the public 
business was neglected. The records of the county commis- 
sioner' s court of 1 824, do not even state if taxes had been 
collected during the year. From a private memorandum 
made by the treasurer of the county and placed into the 
hands of the clerk in 1845 (twenty-one years later) it ap- 
pears however that the total revenue collected in the years 
1821 and 1S25 amounted to $4,511.61, and that the county 
authorities had signed warrants amounting in the aggregate 
to SS,031.SJ: in the same period of time. 

The building of the donation court-house progressed but 
slowly. The court kept urging the committee to finish the 
work, or had their clerk to .stir them up. We give here a 
specimen of Hail Mason's laconic letters : 

Messrs John T. Lusk, Joshua Atwater and Paris Mason, 
Court-house Commissioners, 

Gentlemen, you are requested to meet the commissioners 
court now in session, on the 26th instant aud inform them 
what progress you are making (if any) in the discharge of 
your duties. I am respectfully yours etc.. 

Hail Mason, Clerk. 

The commissioners had repeatedly prayed the court to 
grant them further time, to get that " donation house com- 
pleted. Finally however, the court released them altogether. 
The records of March 10, 1825, contain the following entry: 
Court will give up to J. T. Lusk, Paris Mason and Joshua 
Atwater their bond if they donate to the county the new 
brick court-house situated on the public square as far as it is 
finished, and level off the surface of the earth for a dirt 
floor all over except a space of 12 feet wide across the N- 
W. end of the lower story, which shall be floored for the 
judge's bench, and transfer to the county all material intended 
for the courthouse and all the unpaid subscriptions, this to be 
done so that the circuit court may convene there on Monday 
nest. 

The court-house was taken formal possession of on the 
25th of June, 1835. In speaking of this building, the 
Madison county Gazetteer has the following : Nor could the 
brick court house and jail built a few years afterward (i. e. 
after the building of the primitive log cabin c. h.) be called 
a great improvement. When the eccentric Lorenzo Dow 
came to Edwardsville to preach some years afterward and 
was shown the court-house as the place of meeting, he re- 
fused to preach in it, saying " it was only fit for a hog pen." 
It had not yet a floor except a very narrow staging for the 
Court and Bar. There were no stairs to reach the upper 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



143 



floor, and it was painful to see old men serving as jurors 
climb up a steep and fragile ladder. 

The first public school district of the county was organ- 
ized by this board in June, 1825. It was named the " Alton 
district," commencing on the Mississippi at the mouth of 
Wood river, thence up that river to where the section line 
between 18 and 19, Town 5, Range 9, intersects it, thence east 
on said section line, to the line between sections IG and 17, 
thence north, on said line to the north boundary of said 
township 5-9, thence west to the river, and south to the place 
of beginning. 

The school districts Edwardsville, Silver Creek, Wood 
river, Ebenezer in 4-8 and East Fork in 4-5 were organized 
soon after. 

J. T. Lusk was appointed assessor and also commissioner 
of census. Neither assessment nor census rep rts have been, 
preserved. 

Prices of road labor were as follows : Each 4 horse wagon, 
50 cent*, each pair of horses, 50 cents ; each yoke of oxen, 
50 cents; each cart, 25 cents; each plow, ISl and each hand 
with tool, 50 cents per day. The county was subdivided 
into the following road districts, placed under the manage- 
ment of the following supervisors: 

Six Mile, with Joseph Squire; Edwardsville, with Nathan 
Scarritt ; Long Lake, with John Waddle ; Hoxey, with E. 
Hoxey ; Coles, with Robert Aldrick ; Indian Creek, with 
John Estabrook ; Piasa, with Isaac Scarriit ; Wood river, 
with Sam. W. Rhodes ; Alton, with Ephraini Marsh ; Sugar 
Creek, with Benaiah Gullick ; Silver Creek, with William 
Paikiuson ; Troy, with Josiah Caswell ; Saline, with James 
Pearce ; Ridge Prairie, with Joseph Bartlett ; Unionville, 
â– with Ezra Post and Marine with Matthew C. Garey as 
supervisor. 

SEVENTH DISTRICT 1825-26. 

John Howard, Benjamin Stedman and Daniel A. Lanter- 
man (new members). 

Joseph Conway resigned his office as clerk of the county 
commissioners, court on the 10th of December, 1S25, where- 
upon the court appointed Hail Mason in his place. 

1826, April 29. The court ordered, that Hail Mason and 
Emanuel J. West be appointed commissioners to sell the old 
courF-house for cash to the highest bidder, also to let out to 
the lowest bidder the building of a flight of stairs on the 
new court-house and finishing two rooms for clerk's offices, 
and to report. 

This report has been preserved, in words as follows ; 

To the Hon. : County Commissioners of Madison county 
now in session : 

The undersigned appointed by the Hon. county commis- 
sioners at their special term in April, 1826, to contract for 
the finishing of two rooms in the second story of the court- 
house and for erecting a flight of stairs in said court-house 
and to sell to the highest bidder for cash the old log court- 
house, report : 

That in conformity with the authority vested in them 
by the court, they proceeded according to previous public 
notice to sell and did sell the old court house to Isaac 



Prickett for 155 dollars cash, which was paid, and that they 
contracted with Samuel Thurston for finishing the rooms 
and make the flight of stairs aforesaid, except plastering 
for the following sums, $60.00 to be paid in cash when the 
work is finished according to contract, that is on the 1st 
day of August, 1826, and S60.00 in an order on the county 
treasury, or its equivalent in state paper ;* of the above 
sums the undersigned will be able to pay the first amount 
in ca.sh, (i. e. state paper) out of the funds in auditor war- 
rants in the hands of Hail Mason and the proceeds of the 
old court-house in like manner deposited. 

The undersigned have it not in their power at present to 
say, if any or what balance will remain in their hands after 
furnishing the materials for the improvements, to make 
which they were appointed by your honors. 

June Term 1826. Hail Mason, Emanuel J. West, Agents, 

Thurston was paid $60.00 in county paper of SI. 00 each, 
by order of court during the term. 

The following were the successful candidates at the 
August election, 1826. 

Joseph Conway, reelected state senator ; George 
Churchill, reelected representative ; David Prickett, elected 
representative; William Montgomery, Emanuel J. Leigh, 
Samuel Seybold, county commissioners ; Nathaniel Buck- 
master, sheriff; Jacob C. Bruner, coroner; Hon. Ninian 
Edwards was elected governor of the state at the same 
election ; Joseph Duncan was elected in the same year iu 
place of D. P. Cook, member of congress. 

EIGHTH BOARD 1826-27. 

William Montgomery, Samuel Seybold and Emanuel J. 
Leigh. 

This administration ordered the following: 

SUBDIVISION OF COUNTY INTO ELECTION DISTRICTS. 

In pursuance of "An act to provide for the election of 
justices of the peace and constables, approved December .']0, 
1826, requiring the county commissioners of each county in 
this state, at their June term, to divide their respective 
counties into a convenient number of districts, not less than 
two or more than eight, distinctly defining the boundaries of 
each district, giving to each a name to appoint a place there- 
in for holding elections hereinafter mentioned, and to cause, 
the same to be rendered of record in their respective courts. 
It is therefore ordered that the county of Madison be laid off 
into seven districts in the following manner, to wit: 

Edwardsville district bounded as follows: Commencing at 
Cox's old bridge on Cahokia creek and running eastward so 
as to include Samuel Judy, thence northeast to the line be- 
tween towns three and four, thence east to the line between 
ranges seven and eight, thence northerly so as to include 

* The depreciations 01 county orders, ''state paper,' liad brought 
about a most deplorable state of afiUirs. State paper was then worlh 
30 cents per i^l.OO, and county orderii G63 cents in state paper or 20 
cents in specie. State paper was " legal tender," the collector had to 
take it in payment for taxes, and, in that year, was instructed to receive 
county orders in lieu of state jiaper at 33,^ cents off. T.ie revenue of 
1826, .?4,74.5.29, had a specie valuaiion of §l,423.5S. 



144 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Joseph Hartlett's and Clark's old place, thence to Silver 
Creek, thence up the west fork of said creek to the county 
line, thence west along said line to Cahokia creek, thence 
down said creek to John Newman, thence west so as to in- 
clude said Newman, thence southwest so as to include the 
widow Davidson, thence to the beginning. Tiie election to be 
holden at the court house in jthe town of Edwardsville, on 
the first Monday in August next, and Edmund Fruit, Isaac 
Prickett, and Joshua Atwater are hereby appointed judges 
of the same. 

Six Milf, District bounded as follows : Bsginning at Charles 
Dejailais on the bank of the Mississippi running south with 
the county line to the south line of the county, thence east 
with said line to Cahokia creek, thence up said creek to 
Cox's bridge, thence west to the beginning. The election is to 
be held at the dwelling-house of Barbara Laughlin. Thomas 
Giilham, James Brier, and Henry Hayes are hereby ap- 
pointed judges of election to be held on the Grst Monday of 
August next. 

Indian Creek District bounded as follows: Beginning at 
Cox's bridge on Cahokia creek, thence along said creek so as 
not to include George Harlan, thence northeast to the widow 
Davidson, but not to include the widow, thence east to 
John Newman on Cahokia, thence up said creek to the 
county line, thence along said line opposite the east fork of 
Wood river, thence down said river so as not to include 
Little and Tichnells, and down the same to PuUiam's old 
ford, and thence to the beginning. The election to beholden 
at William Montgomerys. William Ogle, John Collet and 
Oliver Livermore were appointed judges of the same. 

Silver Creek District bounded as follows: Beginningat the 
county line, where the line dividing sections 27 and 28 in- 
tersect it, in town three north and runniug north six miles, 
thence to the upper bridge on the west fork of Silver creek 
80 as to include Caleb Gouterman, thence up said creek to 
the count}' line, thence east along said line three miles, thence 
southwardly to the south line of the county in the middle of 
Looking Glass prairie so as not to include Abraham and 
Joseph Howard, and to include John Herron, thence west to 
the beginning. The election is to be holden at the meeting 
house in the Marine settlement on the first Jlonday in 
August next, with William Parkinson, Isaac I ergusou and 
Jonah Caswell as judges. 

Sugar Creek District bounded as follows : Commencing at 
the southeast corner of the county and running west along 
said county line to the middle of Looking Glass prairie, 
thence north so as to include Abraham and Joseph Howard, 
thence north to the county line, thence east to the northeast 
corner of said county, thence south to the beginning. The elec- 
tion is to be held at the dwelling-house of Joseph Duncan, 
with Joseph Duncan, James K. Good and Joseph Howard as 
judges. 

Collinsville i)i'.s^cic< bounded as follows: Beginningat 
Cox's old bridge on the Cahokia creek, thence east along the 
south side of Samuel Judy's farm to the bluff, thence north- 
east to the township line between three and four north, 
thence along said line to the range Hue between range seven 



and eight, thence northeast so as to include Samuel ]McKitt- 
ricks to the section line running through the center of range 
seven, thence south along said line to the county Hne, thence 
west along said county line to Cahokia creek, thence up said 
creek to the beginning. The election is to be held at Collins- 
ville with Dempsey Guthrie, John Hall and Elihu Mather 
as judges. 

Greenfield District houniei SIS follows: Commencing at 
Cox's bridge, thence west to Dejailais ferry, thence up the 
river to the county line, thence east with said line to the 
east fork of Wood river, thence down said river to where 
it passes through the blufi" so as to include Tiohnell and 
Little to the place of beginning. The election is to be held 
at Alton, with William More, Oliver Foster, and David 
Smith as judges of the same. 

Cahokia District, to be bounded as follows : Commencing 
at the southwest corner of section 36, town six north, range 
eight west, thence north 24 miles, thence east 20 miles, 
thence south 24 miles on the line of Montgomery county, 
thence west to the place of beginning. The elections are to 
be held at the dwelling house of Stephen Wilcox, Sr., with 
Ephraim Beet, David Swett, Telemachus Camp, as judges. 
This was the largest precinct of the county at that period of 
time, containing 480 square miles. 

The sheriff as collector of revenue was instructed to re- 
ceive county orders in payment of taxes atadiscount of 33:V. 
It is truly painful to observe that the county authorities had 
thus to dishonor the county's paper. The county debt at 
that particular time was less than $5000, as will appear 
hereafter, and by jaroper management matters could certainly 
have been arrainged in a more satisfactory manner. 

The law of 1826 above mentioned gave the people the long 
desired privilege to elect their justices of peace and constables, 
a boon that had been withheld for nearly a decade. The 
following justices of the peace were elected on the first Mon- 
day of August, 1827, to wit: Joseph Duncan, Moses Seeds, 
Thomas Giilham, (the one that had bought the silver knee- 
buckles at a public sale mentioned on a previous page) Jar- 
rot Dugger, James Pearce, Roger Snell, Emanuel J. West, 
Samuel Seybold, Julius L Barnsback, Ephraim Mar h, 
Daniel Meeker, Samuel W. Rhodes, Jesse Starkey, Wil- 
liam Ogle, Isham A'incent, Justus D. Selhorst and John 
Claypole. 

The following are constables elected at the same time to 
wit: William Cummings, Nicholas Kile, Peter Branstetter, 
Daniel Funderburk, John C. Dugger, Josiah Seybold, 
Josiah Little, William Newman, Samuel H. Denton, Jesse 
Huffaker and Amos H. Squire. Joseph Bartlett was ap- 
pointed treasurer and assessor, succeeding J. T. Lusk, re- 
signed. 

The records under date of December 1827, contain a 
lengthy financial statement of the county, which is here in- 
troduced. It refers to a statement published in December, 
1S25, stating that there had then been a balance against the 
county (floating debt) of §3,783 62, whereas the records of 
that terra state that their debt had amounted to §4,937.311. 
This diflereuce is not explained. 



HISTORY OF MAD ISO y COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



145 



STATEMEST. 

The expenditures of the coiiuty during the two years end- 
ing December, 1827, were as follows, on account of: 

Road!!. ^ 548.22 

Elections cS4.0() 

Compensation of county commissioners 2G8.66 

Boarding prisoners 22 00 

Compensation of county clerks 100.10 

Selecting school lands IS.66 

Support of paupers 836.22 

Stationery 66.25 

Office rent 90.33 

SheriS's attendance of court 329.8I 

Jail repairs 31.25 

Courthouse repairs 251.29 

Fees in criminal cases 46452 

Compensation of assessor 166.49 

E.t-officio salary of clerks 203.86 

Salaries of constables 107.33 

Attorney's fee County vs. Ed. Coles 2o0.00 

$3645.05 
Floating debt, December, 1875 3,783.«2 

§7,428.67 
The receipts had been : 

Taxes for 1826 $2,086.94 

Licenses and fines, 1826 113.64 

County tax 1S27 1.532.16 

Licenses and fines, 1827 151.00 

$4,745.29 
Present floating debt ?2,683.38 

NIXTH BOARD, 1827-1830. 

E. J. Ivcigh, George Smith and David Swett. The court- 
house troubles, like the ghost in Hamlet, would not down. 
This board was beset from all sides to have this incubus 
finished, and in February, 1828, the court contracted with 
Daniel Wise to complete the donation Court House at the 
expense of 8565.00. A few months liter Daniel Wise wrote 
and subscribed the following document : 

" It is hereby understood and agreed that I will deliver up 
and have the contract canceled, which I have lately entered 
into with the county commissioners of Madison County re- i 
specting the court-house, and deliver up all the materials ' 
which I received from the county, provided the court which 
is to be called by judge Lee (means Leigh) on Monday nest, 
shall consent to receive the same. 

Edwardsville, Aug. 5, 1828. Daniel Wise." i 

The commissioners conducted the affairs of the county in ! 
a strictly economical style, the total expenditures of the 
year 1828 did not exceed the sum of S 1200, while the income 
collected and in process of collection amounted to over 
$3000.00. 

The election of 1828 was a very quite one. George i 
Churchill was again elected to the legislature in company ' 
with old brother Williams Jones, who had again come down 
from the shelf, where he had been resting for years. The 
19 ' 



revenue of 1829 was S2792.84, and it cost the county S209 06 
to collect it. The court fixed the rates for ferries and 
taverns, making no changes except a slight advance in the 
price to be charged for whiskej' or brandy. A new ferry 
had been established in 1828, and Matthew Kerr located it 
at the present site of the town of Venice ; his annual license 
wa.? fixed at $20 00. 

The board employed Cyrus Ei wards and David Prickett 
tobringsuit against Joseph Bartlett, ex-treasurer, superseded 
March 30, 1830, by the appointment of Isaac Cox. In June 
following, Joseph Bartlett brought suit against the county, 
but found it unprofitable to prosecute. The county subse- 
quently obtained judgment against Bartlett, who took an 
appeal to the Supreme Court. Decree of court below was 
affirmed, and Bartlett paid $797.90 to David Swett, agent 
of the county, in March, 1834, in liquidation of the suit. 
Bartlett's securities, Matthias Handlon and Julius L. Barn- 
back had previously served a notice on the court, asking to 
be relieved as no immediate steps were taken to obtain 
judgment. 

The term of this board ended in August, 1830, when 
Thomas Gillham, Robert Aldrich and David Swett were 
elected. Joseph Conway was reelected state senator, and 
George Churchill representative. Madison and part of 
Macoupin formed a representative district, entitled to two 
members of the house. The second member elected was 
John B. E. Canal, whose residence is not mentioned in the 
records. Nathaniel Buckmaster was again, the sixth time 
in succession,elected sheriff, and James G. McGriffii coroner. 

TENTH BOARD. 1830-1833. 

Thomas Gillham, Robert Aldrich and David Swett 
The board at its October special term requested Jud^e T. 
W. Smith to invite Hon. S. D Lickwood to attend the next 
term of the Madison county circuit court, and to preside 
during the trial of the case against Joseph Bartlett. 

At the December term William Meads, an old revolu- 
tionary soldier, appeared before the court, in order to secure 
for himself the pension to which he was entitled under vari- 
ous acts of congress. There were quite a numbsr of the 
heroes of 1776 living in the county, as related in another 
chapter. The application of Meads has been preserved. It 
runs thus : 

St.\te of Illinois, \ 
Madison County, j 

On the 6th of December, 183), personally appeared in 
open court, being a court of record for the said county of 
Madison, William Meads, resident in said county, aged 
ninety one years, who being first duly sworn according to 
law, doth on his oath make the following declaration in 
order to obtain the provisions made by the act of congress 
of the 18th of March, 1818, and the 1st of May, 1820, that 
the said William Meads enlisted for the term of three years 
in the year 1775, as well as he recollected, in the state of 
New Jersey, in the company commanded by Captain Dicker- 
son, in the lineof the state of New Jersey, in the regiment com- 
manded by Colonel Dayton ; that he continued to serve in the 



146 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



same corps until he was discharged in the state of New Jersey ; 
that he enlisted again in the same regiment and company in 
the year 1778 ; that his name is not on any state roll except in 
the state aforesaid. And the following are the reasons for not 
making earlier application for a pension. He says that he has 
made application, but was told ihat he had been returned as 
a deserter on these grounds : that he had been taken prisoner 
during the battle on Long Island ; that he had deserted from 
the British prison-ship at Charleston, South Carolina, and 
joined General Green at High Hills, not being able to get 
to his own regiment; and while with General Green was at 
the battle of the Eutaw Springs, and was wounded ; that he 
was left with the wounded at Santee under the care of Gen- 
eral Sumpter, (?) and was unable to travel to join his regi- 
ment at the time it was discharged ; and that these facts 
have never been laid before the government, and that he 
has no other evidence now of his said services in his 
possession or power than his own oath. And in pursuance 
of the act of 1st of May, I do most solemnly swear that I 
was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th of 
October, 1818, and that I have not since that time by gift, 
sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part 
thereof with intent thereby to diminish it so as to bring 
myself within the provisions of an act to provide for certain 
persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United 
States in the Revolutionary war, passed on the ISth day of 
March, 1»18, and that I have not, nor has any person for 
me, any property or securities, contracts or debts due to 
me, nor have I any income other than what is contained in 
the schedule hereunto annexed and by me subscribed. My 
occupation is that of a farmer ; my ability to pursue it is 
very limited; none of my children are living with me, so 
that I am dependent on other persons for a support. 

Schedule. — I have nothing but the clothes that I wear, at 
the value of seven or eight dollars or thereabouts. 

This application was a failure ; Mr. Meads' name does 
not appear on the pension rolls. 

The preceding board had, as stated before, been very 
rigid in cases of economy. The pauper accounts in 1830 
were less than §170.00; the elective cost, only $66.20; 
roads and bridges about as much, so that on the 9lh of 
December all the outstanding county orders had been re- 
deemed, and yet a balance of §746.15 remained in the trea- 
sury. Measures were now, April, 1831, taken to finish the 
" donation " at public expense. Charles Sloper contracted 
to furnish material and fini.sh the following work by the 1st of 
October, 1831, to wit: a desk for the judge, with the front 
neatly paneled, with a shelf and cornice, and two doors, four 
jury boxes, five seats for lawyers and suitors, balustrading 
to enclose the bar and jury boxes; in the upper story to 
put up a standing partition, base and surbase, two paneled 
doors; to finish laying the floor, suitable for two jury rooms ; 
to make and hang six pairs of " Venetian" window-blinds, 
etc., all the work to be done in a good substantial manner, 
and of first-class material, for all which the county promises 
to pay said Sloper the sum of/o«c hundred and fifty dollars 
in specie. 

The plastering of the court-house was contracted for in 



September, with George G. Nevitt, at twenty-eight cents per 
square yard, to be measured according to the customary 
rules among plasterers. Mr. Nevitt was paid 8182 511 for 
his work. The donation courthouse was now completed — 
ten years after its corner-stone was laid. Ex-governor Ninian 
Edwards, who had once made the most liberal offer in re- 
ference to the county buildings, was now a resident of Alton. 
In September, 1831, he received and paid $12.00 for a li- 
cense to. retail merchandise at Lower Alton. 

Hail Mason resigned the ofiice of county clerk on the 8th 
of September, 1831, when J. T. Lusk was appointed his 
successor. David Prickett, who had been appointed com- 
missioner of school lands, declined to serve, and J. T. Lusk 
was appointed to this place also. The court was ordered to 
loan school funds in sums of one hundred dollars or less, at 
twenty-five per cent., and larger amounts at twenty per 
cent, annual interest. Money must still have been very 
scarce, and people who had to pay such outrageous charges 
for their loans could scarcely be expected to prosper. The finan- 
cial report of 1831 does not mention the balance of $746. 15 
reported to have been in the treasury in December, 1830> 
and it may be presumed that the amount was converted into 
specie to pay off Sloper's claim of $450. The expenditures 
of the county are again on the increase, and exceed the in- 
come, leaving on said 1st of December the county in debt 
to the amount of forty-four cents. 

Francis Roach, an old soldier of the war of independence, 
appeared before the court to have his pension secured for 
him. He said he was born in Fairfax C. H., Virginia, 
1739 ; enlisted in Joseph Session's Co., Col. Richard Cas- 
well's regiment of the North Carolina line for three months, 
in 1779 ; again, in 1780, with Captain Dougherty on the 
frontier, for one year; then went with his captain in the 
service under Gen. Rogers Clark, in 1782 ; and served again 
for seven weeks with his old captain, under Gen. Benjamin 
Logan, against the Indians in 1786 ; was then (1832) ninety- 
three years of age; had lived from 1787 to 1806 in the 
counties of Mercer, Lincoln, Washington, and Livingston, 
Kentucky; and in 1806 came to Madison county, then 
a part of St. Clair county, Illinois. Rev. John Barber and 
George Kinder gave testimony in reference to the claim of 
Roach and his character. The old gentleman lived long 
enough to see his application granted, and to enjoy the pay 
as member of this American Legion of Honor. The amount 
drawn, viz: $74.01, shows that he survived three years ex- 
actly, as his annual allowance was only $24.67. 

This legion had 22 members in this county, and the annual 
pension paid to them amounted to $1,397.71. These annual 
pensions ranged from $20.00 paid to Laban Smart, and $97.- 
50, paid to Joseph McAdanis. 

In August, 1834, Cyrus Edwards and James Semple were 
elected members of the legislature, and N. Buckmaster was 
reelected sheriff. 

The expenditures of the county during the year amounted 
to $1887. 09i, of which $741. a3.} went towards supporting 
paupers. 

In March, 1833, the court contracted with George Nevitt 
for the building of the clerk's office on the public square, 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILIINIOS. 



147 



the building to be fifty feet long and twenty feet wide, of 
brick, one story of ten feet, f.iundation to be of stone, eighteen 
inches below the surface aud twelve above; outside walls to 
be fourteen inches ; eight windows of twenty-four lights, l'2x 
12 each; two outside doors, sill of outside doors and win- 
dows to be of stone ; to be done by November 1st, 1833, for 
$')00. And with Charles Sloper to do the carjionter and 
glazier work, and furnish materials, for $337.00. These 
buildings are still in existence, serving now as school-rooms 
for the children of the numerous negro population of the 
district. 

During the official term of this court, a number of peti. 
tions, praying for suppression of grog shops in the towns of 
the county, were laid before the members. One of these 
petitions, signed by a large number of Altonians, gave a 
most graphic description of the condition of afifairs in Alton, 
saying : " Your petitioners have of late been led to reflect 
much upon the nature and effects of ardent spirits, as eshib- 
iied in the character and condition of those who are habitu- 
ally addicted to their use, — the result of which is a settled 
conviction in their minds, that they are not only totally use- 
less as a means of supporting thcys-tem, or giving lasting en- 
ergy to any foculties of themind, — but decidedly injurious to 
both ; and that they have for years, in common witl) many 
of their fellow citizens, deplored the wide-spreading desola- 
tion of intemperance, without the power of interposing any 
effectual barrier to stay its progress ; and that too often have 
they been compelled to witness the alienation of affection, — 
the subversion of principle, and the brutal ferocity of the 
senseless inebriate in his descent from respectability or com- 
parative affluence, down the precipice of intemperance, to 
the abodes of wretchedness and want ; and that they have 
frequently witnessed the contaminating influence that is 
â– wielded by the congregating of these loathsome objects in a 
mixed population, when method and fixed principles have 
not by their perfect establishment become the law of indivi- 
dual or corporate action; and they have often leflected upon 
the happy consequences that would result from a total sup- 
])ression of this degrading vice in their village; and believing 
as they do, that the principal cause of the evil is to be traced 
to thenumerous dram shops that disgrace our towns through- 
out the land ; and that no step that can be taken will be as 
likely to bring about a permanent change in the habits of a 
community in this respect as to remove the cause of the evil ; 
they are constrained, from a sense of duty they owe to them- 
selves and to the rising generation, to ask of your honors 
that the assistance which your official station commands may 
be directed to aid them in suppressing the degrading vice, 
and that you will refuse to grant any licenses to sell ardent 
spirits in the town of Alton the present year It is not, 
however, designed to prevent the licensing of respectable 
houses for the entertainment of travelers now at Alton, or 
that may become really necessary for the accommodation 
of travelers, but only those which, under the bonds of inn- 
keepers, serve not to accommodate the weary traveler, but 
to afford facilities for drunkenness. 

In making this request, your petitioners are not conscious 
of being influenced by any other motives than those which 



spring from a desire to benefit their fellow-beings. They do 
believe that patriotism and benevolence are the moving 
principles that have induced them to lay before you this 
petition. In proof of this, they appeal to its nature and 
spirit. What is it that they ask ? It is that the floodgates 
of dissipation may be closed — that the highway to destruc- 
tion may be blocked up — that the avenues of vice may be 
stopped — that the seeds of disease and death be blasted — 
that the foundations of pollution and wickedness may be 
cleansed — that the causes of contention and strife may be 
removed — that the drafts on reason and common sense may 
be protected — that the sorrows of the widow's heart may be 
soothed— that the wife's distracting anxiety may be allevi- 
ated — that the nakedness of the children may be covered — 
that peace may take the place of tumult — order of confusion 
— virue of vice. These are the things that they ask ; and 
they appeal to your honors as men possessing a perfect 
knowledge of the existence and cause of these evils, whether 
their request is not a reasonable one — if it is, ought it not to 
be granted? Is there one weighty reason why it should not 
be? Your petitioners are fully of the opinion that there is 
not. They do not believe that the trifling sum that annually 
accrues to the count)' treasury from the avails of licenses to 
sell spirits ought to have any influence in deciding, even 
upon the expediency of granting this petition, when all ex- 
perience testifies, that a license to retail spirits is nothing 
less than a license to fit men for acts of desperation and vio- 
lence; they cannot perceive any consistency in those meas- 
ures which, in the first place, impose a severe penalty on 
the transgressors of the law, and then, for a few shillings, 
authorize the existence of a grogshop, whose sole business it 
is to dethrone reason and to drive the unhappy victims to 
trample under foot all law. If the object of granting licenses 
is confined to the raising of revenue, your petitioners are 
decidedly of the opinion that it is the worst po.ssible scheme 
for accomplishing this object that could have been devised. 
They do not believe that the county could ever be made rich 
by such means ; but, on the contrary, they do believe that 
it is the surest and quickest way of bringing upon us poverty 
with all its evils. They believe that the tendency of grog- 
shops is to produce pauperism, and that ten times the 
amount received from licenses in the county would not de- 
fray the expenses of the paupers that may be manufactured 
in one year by a single grog shop. Your petitioners think 
that it would not be difficult for them to prove, that where- 
ever these nurseries of vice exist, they do operate as a bur- 
densome and oppressive tax upon the community, and that 
this tax is very unequally borne. That, in consequence of 
crimes committed against the laws of the state, which have 
their origin in scenes of dissipation, they are called upon as 
peace officers, or good citizens, to attend long, tedious trials 
before a court, and freciuently without compensation for 
time lost or money expended. 

These are not imaginary grievances but real, your peti- 
tioners have felt them and will continue to as long as whis- 
key can be had at every corner of their streets, at all hours 
of the day and night by any one who can command a six- 
pence, be he drunk or be he sober. But setting aside the 



148 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



consideration of profit or loss there is one view of the subject 
to which more particularly they wish to draw your atten- 
tion, and that is, the pernicious influence that is exerted by 
a grog shop jwpulation to break down and destroy the prin- 
ciples of morality and religion in their immediate neighbor- 
hood. Whoever saw a man fresh from his cups with a heart 
glowing with love to God and good will to man ? Whoever 
heard of the accomplishment or happy progress of any 
scheme for bettering the condition of the world, either by 
penetrating the darkness of pagan superstition opening to 
the mind the beauties of the gospel or instructing the rising 
generation in those principles that are best adapted to their 
circumstances as moral and accountable beings, that had its 
origin in a community of tipplers? But on the contrary 
who has not witnessed the contemptuoj-is sneer, the fiend-like 
rage of the grog shop haunter, when subjects of this char- 
acter are introduced in his presence. Intemperance is a 
vice that seldom, if ever, goes single handed ; it is invaria- 
bly attended by a host of others. In such a community the 
children are daily witnessing the grossest and most wicked 
violations of those precepts, that they have been taught as 
coming from the Creator, and designed for their good, the 
tendency of which is to familiarize their minds with sin and 
thus early learn to tread its thorny paths. That the exis- 
tence of dram-shops in a community, but more especially in 
one made up of laboring men, does operate to counteract 
the exertions of benevolent enterprise is a truth not to be 
denied ; that they are not unfrequently the scenes of discord 
and contention, and that where they are the most numerous 
these scenes are of most frequent occurrence, are truths ac- 
knowledged by all. Why then suffer them to exist ? Why 
not banish them at once and rid us of an evil that is so de- 
structive to all that is desirable. Your petitioners feel that 
now is the time for action, and that much is depending on 
the result of this effort in relation to the character their 
village is to sustain. They feel the importance of laying the 
foxnidations of their villar/e on temperance principles from the 
consideration that it is much easier to prevent evils than to 
remove them, when once incorporated into the habits of so- 
ciety. They therefore pray your Honors that this their 
petition be granted. 

Signed by Ephraim Marsh, William Miller, C. W. Hunter, 
Solomon E. Moore, D. A. Spaulding, Samuel Wade, Samuel 
p. Stratton, R. G. Euox, John W. Slaten, Henry Boothby, 
John Haine, Henry Evans, Joel Finch, Samuel Abiz, John 
Buchanan, Mark Pearson, Josiah Rees, Alexander G. Mel- 
rose, W. T. Meacham, Winthrop L. Gilman, John Lee, 
Nathan Barrett, Curtis Nobbs, John Walker, H. Davis, L. 
J. Clawson, William Harrison, Samuel Delaplain, Simon 
Peters, Enoch iLang, W. _G. Pinckard, George W^. Fuller, 
John Manning, Thomas Lippincott, Benjamin T. Lang, 
Stephen Griggs, "W. Manning Jr., Alviu Bailey, Samuel 
Bush, J. C. Hayes, Henry Watts, William Hayden, E. 
Hayden, W. A. Robertsjn, G. N. Morgan, H. S Summers 
E. P. Long, John Camp and Hail Mason. Andrew Miller 
had also signed this petition, but his name is blotted out- 
Andrew INIiller was elected sherifl' of Madison county after- 
wards. 



The court ordered the above petition to be placed on file, 
where it remained for fifty years. The penmanship of the 
petition is splendid, and seems to have been the work of 
either D. A. Spaulding, Mark Pearson or Hail Mason. The 
Altonians were undoubtedly displeased with the disposal 
made of their eloquent petition of February 23, 1832, and 
now on the 7th of May, 1832 they reported to the county 
authorities that they had incorporated their town. This 
document was made a matter of record ; it says : 

Lower Alton, May 7th, 1832. 

At a meeting of the citizens of Alton held this day at the 
Union Hotel for the purpose of taking the sense of the in- 
habitants in relation to incorporating the town, Stephen 
Griggs was chosen president of the meeting and W. S. 
Gilman appointed clerk. 

The officers were duly sworn, and having ascertained that 
the town contained over one hundred and fifty inhabitants, 
and that ten days previous public notice of this meeting had 
been given according to law, they received the following 
votes : 

In favor of incorporating the town : John Lee, William 
Miller, Ephraim Marsh, S. E. Moore, Z- Low, Charles W. 
Hunter, M. C. Garey, Stephen Griggs, S. T. Kendall, Wm. 
Manning, jr., Samuel Airs, John Quigley, W. S. Emerson, 
Samuel Wade, W. S. Gilman. 

No votes were given in the negative. 



Stephex Griggs, President. 



W. S. Oilman, Clerk. 



The names of Alton and Upper Alton were officially re- 
cognized soon after, as the old precinct of Greenfield was 
subdivided into two election districts, March 1833, to be 
called Alton and Upper Alton. The " poll " for the former 
was located at the house of Andrew Miller. 

The election of 1834 gave to Cyrus Edwards a seat in the 
state senate, in place of Joseph Conway, and sent Nathaniel 
Buckmaster and Jesse B. Thomas, jr., to the house of rep- 
resentatives. Thomas G. Lofton was chosen sheriff, and 
James Wilson coroner. Madison county had since 1^533 
formed a part of the first congressional district, and was rep- 
resented by Charles Slade of Clinton county. 

ELEVENTH BOARD 1834-1836. 

David Swett, Robert Aldrick and John Newman. 

A special election was held in October 1834 to elect a 
member of congress in place of Charles Slade, who on his 
way home from Washington had fallen a victim to cholera, 
then raging through the United States. Governor Reynolds 
was elected to fill this vacancy, and reelected at the con- 
gressional election in November following, for a full term 
in the 24th congress, 1835 to 1837. 

Nathaniel Buckmaster, who had been sheriff since 1822, 
made final settlement at the June term and was allowed 
$44.5.50 " back " pay in full of his fees for serving notices 
to road supervisors, grand and petit jurors and judges of 
election during those 12 years — Jurors received a compen- 



HIS TO BY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



149 



sation of 50 cents each day by order of court— August 
special term 1835. 

The couuty revenue of the year 1835, was 84,262.86 and 
the expenditures amounted to 84 079.40, of which 81,163, 
60 had been paid towards supporting paupers. The balance 
reported in treasury in 1834 is not mentioned. 

Isaac Co.x was appointed commissiouer of census in 1835. 
The returns have not been preserved. 

James Wilson, coroner, was appointed sheriff' in place of 
T. G. Lofton, resigned June 10, 1836. Ordered by the 
court that the county be kid off into ten electioa precincts, 
to be called Edwardsville, Collinsville, Marine, Sugar Creek, 
Silver Creek, Cahokia Creek, Monticello, Alton, Upper 
Alton and Six Mile. 

The first stone bridge built in the county, across Shield's 
branch, was contracted for, Alton to pay 81000, and the 
county 8500.— 1836. July 23. Joseph Conway, former 
clerk of this court, presented a claim of $489.67i " back" 
pay, but was refused and told that he had received 830.00 
per annum ex-ofBcio salary, and that the county was not re- 
sponsible for work he had done for |)rivate individuals. 

August 1836. Elected John Hagau, James Temple and 
Robert Smith members of the house of representatives, 
Nathaniel Buckmaster sheriff, and Robert Aldrick, Abel 
Moore and S. W. Robbins, county commissioners. 

TWELFTH BOARD-1836-1838. 

Robert Aldrick, Abel Moore and S. W. Robbins. The 
court appointed William Ogle treasurer March term, 1837, 
in place of Isaac Cox, resigned. 

The era of bridge building was inaugurated by this 
board, who at said term, ordered a substantial bridge to be 
erected across Wood river at Milton. This bridge was built 
by Samuel Grub, and completed in December 1837 at an 
expense of 85,125.00. It should be born in mind that the 
total revenue of 1837 amounted to but 65579.47. 

The clerk was ordered to pay into the treasury all amounts 
received by this court and its predecessors. From this order 
it would appear, that balances due by outgoing treasurers 
had been paid into court instead of to the incoming treas- 
urers. The amount paid over in consequence of the above 
order was stated to have been 81,205.25. 

The tavern rates were raised during this administration 
to twice the amount previously fixed ; a meal cost now fifty 
cents, and half a pint of whiskey, twenty-five cents. 

The various county offices, heretofore filled by appoint- 
ment, were made elective by acts of the 10th General Assem- 
bly— 1830 to 1838. 

William T. Brown was elected county clerk, William 
Ogle trea.«urer, John T Lusk school commis.sioner, and 
Benaiah Robinson surveyor, — at the August elections, 1837. 

A financial transaction of some magnitude, considering 
the resources of the county, took place during this adminis- 
tration. The State legislature had, by law, located the 
State penitentiary at Alton, in accordance with an act passed 
some ten years previously, by which Shadrach Bond, W. P. 
McKee and Gershom Jayue had been appointed commis- 



sioners to select a suitable place on the Mississippi river at 
or near Alton, for a site. The county seems either to have 
promised a bonus of 85,000 as a subvention, or to have 
pledged the faith and credit of the county for the payment 
of that amount by others. Among the files of the ounty, 
the writer found two drafts, one for 83,000, dated iMay 26, 
1837, and the other for 82,000, dated August—, 1837. The 
phraseology of these drafts is peculiar, as will be seen from 
the following: 

Dollars, 3,000. Altox, May 20, 1837. 

Five days after demand, pay to the order of George Smith, 
Samuel C. Price and J, R. Wood, inspectors of the peniten- 
tiary, three thousand dollars, with ten per cent, interest per 
annum from the date hereof until paid — payable at the 
Branch of the State Bank of Illinois at Alton, and a notice 
in writing left by the holders hereof with the teller of said 
bank shall be deemed sufficient notice and demand of pay- 
ment, — being on account of Madison county bond. 



To Messrs. J. M. Krum, C. ) 
W. Hunter, A. Cawles, Rob- 
ert Smith, John Hogan & Co., 

Aldrich & , Clawson - 

& Cook, N. Buckmaster, J. A. i 
Townsend, J. C. Bruner, Cook | 
and Fifield S. Griggs. J 



Abel IMoore, | 
l. w. robbi.ss, 1 



Two 

county 
cornmi-s- 
siouers. 



The draft was accepted by those parties, and so endorsed in 
writing across the face of said draft. 

A marginal remark contains the following, written in red 
ink : " Demanded payment at Alton Branch, Bank of Ill- 
inois, November 21st, 1838; payment refused by a clerk." 

The draft was formally protested on the 29th of Novem- 
ber, 1838, before John H. Sparr, notary public, at the re- 
que.st of the Branch of State Bank of Illinois at Alton, and 
holder of the original acceptance, who exhibited said bill or 
acceptance at the counter of the Alton Branch of State 
Bank of Illinois and demanded payment thereof, whereui.to 
the answer was made through a clerk of said Branch Bank 
that said acceptance could not be paid, as funds for that pur- 
pose had not been furnished. 

The protest papers contain on the reverse side the follow- 
ing words written in lead pencil: "Ask Sparr if at any time 
since demand, funds have been provided for the payment of 
said draft — Ask if demand was made, also by whom " — and : 
Jones — 

" Upon the ground that it is novel instrument and no 
action can be sustained upon it." 

Action or no action, the county, nevertheless, paid the full 
amount, interest included, by issuing county orders, amount- 
ingin the aggregate to 85,666.67, at the September term, 1839-,. 
payable to the inspectors of the penitentiary, and bearing 
ten per cent, annual interest from date of issue until paid. 
These orders were paid during E. >I. West's term of office 
as treasurer of the county, and it appears that the fixst pay- 
ment, to wit: 8100 00, was made on the 12th of September,. 
1839, and the last, being the thirtieth, $525.00, on. thfi lOtln 



1.30 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



of June, 1841. These thirty payraeuts aggregate 86,50484. 
The funds in discharging this debt were raised by a spe- 
cial tax. 

But, to return to our subject matter: in June, 1838, the 
old precinct name of " Cahokia," liiie the beautiful designa- 
tion of " Gosheu " heretofore, was now blotted out, Swett's 
Prairie having been substituted for it. Sugar Creek was 
changed into Highland, and a new precinct, "Madison," 
organized north of Six-mile. 

The result of the August election of 1838 was as fallows : 
George Churchill, State Senator ; William Ottvrell, George 
Smith and Robert Smith, members of the House; John 
Adams, Sheriff; Henry P. Rundall, Coroner, and Hiram 
Arthur, Edmund Fruit and Thomas J. Waddle, County 
Commissioners. 

THIRTEENTH BOARD, 1838-39. 

The tenure of office of County Commissioners was changed 
by act of the Tenth General Assembly. The Commiseion- 
ers elected in August 1838 were to hold their terms for one, 
two and three years severally, as determined by lot. Hiram 
Arthur through the three years, Edmund Fruit the two 
years, and Thomas Waddle the one year's term. 

Ex-Sheriff Buckmaster was represented to the court to be 
in default with the County revenue to the amount of 
S2598.75. An investigation was held before the court, who 
thereupon entered judgment against Buckmaster for $751.29 
due and S 168.78 penalty. 

A new town named Fitz James is mentioned in connection 
with a grocery license granted to one Alexander Shaffer. 
Fitz James is the present Grant Fork in Saline township. 
Highland is mentioned also for the first time as a town in 
T. 3-5, and John Zimmermann and Moritz Huegy were 
licensed to keep taverns, because, the court says, they are 
respectable men, and will probably keep orderly houses 
The court divided the county into nine assessors' districts^ 
with Thomas Gillham, Ebenezer Huntington, Daniel A. 
Lanterman, Erastus Wheeler, Joseph Bartlett, Kobert 
Aldrich, Abel Olive, J. L. Ferguson and James Reynolds, 
as Assessors. Fragments of their returns, made in June, 
l.'*39, are still in existence, but the writer found it impossible 
to compile any interesting or reliable information from 
them. The County paid §181. 00 for the work, of which 
Huntington drew $48.00, the largest amount paid, while 
Robert Aldrich contented himself with $8 00. 

Lands were no longer classed as of first, second and third 
quality, but assessed according to actual value. The 
revenue of the year was collected by John C Dugger, ap. 
pointed by the court, as the law required. Dugger reported to 
have collected in taxes $4135.71 ; in merchants' licenses, 
$175.75 ; in tavern licenses, $31200 ; fines, 41.00, and in jury 
and docket fees, $118.00— total $4781.86. The County ex- 
penditures were — County officials, $1214.40 ; roads and 
bridges, $1464.25; paupers, $982.04; courts, jurors and 
stationery, 539.50 ; jail, court-house and prisoners, $319.62; 
.sundries, $2.00, and to Joseph Conway, ex-clerk, $406.63. 
Wr. Conway had taken an appeal on his case, and received 
now his •' back" pay, although the court had previously 



paid him $3). 01 per annum for his official work. E Ivvards- 
ville was made a road district, because the town trustees had 
resigned in body and given up the corporate powers and 
privileges of the old town, and Isaac Prickett was put in 
charge of affairs as " supervisor." 

The election of 1839 returned the following County 
officers, to wit : — David Smith, Commis.sioner ; W. T- 
Brown. County plerk ;'T?^dward M. West, Treasurer; J. T. 
Lusk, Recorder >Benaiah Robinson, Surveyor, and Matthew 
Gillespie, Probate Judge — Recorders, Surveyors and Pro- 
bate Judge.shad until then been appointed, not elected. 

The names of the justices of the peace, whose offices were 
made elective in 1827, elected at the various periods of time, 
will be found alphabetically arranged at the close of this 
chapter to the period from 1819 to 1849. 

FOURTEENTH BOARD, 1839-40. 

Hiram Arthur, Edmund Fruit, and David Smith, Com- 
missioners. 

William Ogle, who had been Treasurer of the County 
since March, 1837, came forward at the first term of this 
court, September, 1839. Mr. Ogle was the first Treasurer 
of Madison County, who kept a treasurer's account book. 
The book is- still in existence, and is labeled, ''County 
Treasurer's Record, Vol. 1." 

The first entry is made on the fly leaf, to wit : 

1837. â– ) 
April 5. j 

To amount received of T. G. Lofton on acct. of estrays, 

paid in County orders, $71,564. 

(The above orders were marked paid through mistake, 
and the County is still bound for them to the Treasurer.) 

These lines are in the well-known handwriting of William 
Tyler Brown, who also wrote out the following official report 
for Mr. Ogle : 

SEPTEMBER TEEM, A. D., 1839. 

The undersigned makes a final report of his actings as 
Treasurer of Madison County, showing the whole amount 
of moneys paid into the Treasury, as also the total amount 
paid out. 

The whole amount paid into the Treasury from different 
sources from the 31st of March, 1837, to this date is 

$11,984.94 

The total amount paid out 
during same period of time is $11,621.59 

Commissions 2 per cent, on $11,723.79 234.46 11,856.05 

Leaving a balance due to the County of $128.89 

which is herewith paid into court, and on which a commis- 
sion is charged. 

All of which appears from my books and papers this day 
delivered over to my successors. Wm. Ogle, 

Treasurer. 

This report is introduced here, because it is the oldest 
found on file, and because it is also, in all probability, the 
first one filed, as no Treasurer's account books had been 
kept previously. Another reason for introducing it was its 



HISTORY OF MADISON CO UN I Y, ILLINOIS. 



151 



laconic style and want of detail. It reminds the writer of 
an amusing incident in the life of the famous rider — Gen- 
eral Bltiecher, the deadliest enemy of Napuleon. Bluecher, 
a splendid and dashing trooper, was a wretched scholar. 
His king had sent hira once as military governor to Ham- 
burg. At the end of the year the general reported to the 
Home Government: 'â–  I have received so and so many dol- 
lars in public funds, and have paid out so and so many dol- 
lars on public accounts, leaving a balance of so and so many 
cents." The treasury people in Berlin refused to accept 
this report and returned it for itemizing, demanding vouch- 
ers besides. Bluecher copied his first report without chang- 
ing a letter. It came back, of course, and this time with a 
reprimand. The old warrior grew furious, and when the 
report went to Berlin a third time, it contained the follow- 
ing marginal remark : " I have stated facts as they are ; 
whoever says that they are not correct is a scoundrel, and 
my name is Bluecher." This ended the controversy. 

Wdliam Ogle's report would not have passed muster at 
Berlin, but then we are not living in old fossiled monarchies, 
ours is a grand Republic. 

The County finances commenced to attract the attention 
of men in various parts of the country. Representative 
George Smith, of Upper Alton, called by letter of Sept. 3, 

1839, the attention of the County Court to the 21st section 
of the revenue law, which section provided that the collec- 
tor should pay in the Treasury monthly all ta.xes collected 
by him. The Treasurer's account book of 1839 and subse- 
quent years up to 1849, prove that the Board acted upon 
Mr. Smitii's suggestion. 

In January, 1840, the citizens of Alton refused to pay 
the County Tax, claiming ihat their city charter exempted 
them from paying this tax. The court submitted the matter 
to His Honor Judge Breese, who sustained the Alton claim. 

John C. Dagger was reappointed collector in March, 

1840. The assessors of the county report the total value of 
all taxable pr.)perty in the county to have been 33,284,.549, 
and the collector reported that he had failed to make collec- 
tions on $43.5,940 worth of land, and $.53,810 worth of per- 
.=onal property, and that $44,5,664 worth of city property 
was exempt from paying a county t;ix. The county levied 
a tax of twenty-five cents on all property outside of Alton, 
and a special tax of fifteen cents on all property in the 
county. This special tax was intended for raising funds 
with which to pay the penitentiary orders. 

In August, 1840, the following ofiicers were elected : 
Ephraim Harnsberger, county commissioner ; Andrew Mil- 
ler, sheriff; Joseph Gillespie, Cyrus Edwards, and James 
Reynolds, members of the house of rej)resentatives, and II 
C. Caswell, coroner. The a.s.«essor's districts of the previous 
year were abolished, and Orren Meeker was appointed 
county assessor for the next year — 1841. 

The collector's returns for the year 18-10, are ver}' ac- 
curately made out, and from them we were enabled to make 
the following correct extracts : 

The real estate outside of Alton was valued at 8', 299,979, 
and the personal property owned in the county, outside of 
Alton, was assessed at $56o,4S7 — total property subject to 



county tax, $1,86-5,466. The real estate of Alton was 
valued at $621,010, and the personal property at $1.5.5,724, 
or $777,334 in the aggregate, value of all taxable property 
in the county in 1840, $2,(542,880. Mr. Duggcr further re- 
ported that he failed to collect eight per cent, of the taxes 
outside of Alton, and seventeen per cent of the taxes in 
the city limits. 1840 was a United States census year. The 
population reported in 1830-viz., 6,221, had more than 
doubled, and Madison ranked now in point of population aa 
the fourth of the eighty-seven organized counties of Illinois. 

Morgan county led with a population of 19,1.54 ; Sanga- 
mon followed, with 14,716; Adams third, with 14,401, and 
then Madi-son, with 14,433. Cook county, with Chicago in 
embryo, had then scarcely 10,000 inhabitants. 

The live stock of Madison county consisted in 7,036 
horses, 22,139 neat cattle, 12,608 sheep, and 54,752 hogs. 
The poultry belonging to tlie 3,000 families residing in the 
county was valued at $18,667. The farm products of the 
preceding year were reported as follows: 165,520 bushels 
of wheat, valued at 62:1 cents per bushel=$103,450 ; 44.080 
bushels of barley, rye, and buckwheat, valued at 20 cents per 
bushel,=$22,920; 209,800 bushels of oats, valued at $41,960; 
1,304,335 bushels of corn, valued at 20 cents per bushel, 
=$260,850; 25,190 pounds of w-ool, valued at 45 cents per 
pound=$n,335 ; 654 pounds of beeswax at 25 cents per 
pound=$161.00; 121,305 bushels of potatoes at 25 cents per 
bushel =$30,325,00; 6,542 tons of hay, at $8.00 per ton, 
=$52,330 ; 25 tons of flax or hemp, at SlOO per ton =$2,500 ; 
11,280 pounds of tobacco, at 6 cents per pound=$670 00 ; 
35,810 cords of wood, sold at $2 00 per cord=$71,620. 
Value of butter sold, $38,177; value of fruits grown in 
orchards, $40,775 ; value of domestic goods, $33,460; value 
of garden and nursery products, $50,520. 

The value of farming products, including live-stock, sold 
in 1839, amounted to $2,309,151.80, or nearly 100 per cap- 
ita. In this Madi.son led all other counties ; Morgan county 
followed with $1,552, 310.20, Sangamon with 1,519,948.90, 
St. Clair with $1,340,130.40; Gallatin with 1.216,329.74; 
Fulton with $l,lf8,677..50 ; Adams with $1,073,629.00, and 
Vermillion with $1,062,000.26. The total value of all farm 
products sold in the state during said year was $40,. 
738,085.70, over one-fourth of which amount was made up 
by the above eight counties. 

The average value of livestock was — horses and mules 
$45.00, cattle $15 00, sheep $2.00, swine $3.00. 

The census reports 71 stores in the county with $464,575 
invested — $6500 per store. 986 wagons and carriages had 
been manufactured during the year in the county, and their 
average value seems to have been about $32.00. The 
flour turned out by the mills was valued at $406,350. 296 
dwelling-houses had been built during the year at an ex- 
pense of $287 975. There were two tanneries in the 
county that turned out 1650 sides of leather, harnesses and 
saddles made in the county in 1839 were valued at $23,- 
275 ; 3 distilleries turned 28.300 gallons of whiskey ; the 
products of lime kilns and brick yards were estimated to 
have been worth $17,200, and sundries, skins, etc., 
had brought $44 332. 



15: 



HISTORY OF 21 AD I SON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



All the wine made in the state, to wit : 471 gallons, was j 
niauufaetureil in ^ladison county. The census does not state in 
what part of the county vines were grown, nor what the 
stuff was worth per gallon. The writer has however, every 
reason to believe, that the quality was even inferior to 
the quantity. 

Butchering and packing was carried on to a considera- : 
ble extent, in the entire state, to wit : Of the money used 
in that business §741.725 — §421.1)75 was invested in Alton 
alone, where over 5333 bjjves a:id nearly 53.033 hogs 
had been slaughtered during the preceding year. 

FIFTEENTH BO.VRD — 1840-1841 

Hiram Arthur, David Smith, and Ephraim Harnsberger 
commissioners. 

Very little public business was transacted by this board ; 
the 51 road-districts of the county were reviewed, named 
according to the fancy of the court, but there is ijoth'ng 
remarkable about those names. The friends of Old Hick- 
ory bad one district named " Hermitage " with J. G. 
Smith as supervisor and Benaiab Gullick presided over 
" Egypt. " 

The " Madison county ferry company " represented by 
William Gillham, applied for and oljtained license to estab- 
lish a ferry at Venice and to north St- Louis. This com- 
pany has grown into a powerful and wealthy corporation. 

Another corporation, the Alton and Mt. Carmel railroad 
company commenced operations, but failed to come up to 
the great and wild expectations of the people. The 
schemes of internal improvements at the expenses of the 
state, resulted disastrously. Some 1300 miles of railroads 
were to be built throughout the state, besides other im- 
provements, canals, &c-, and the carnival lasted as long as 
the state could borrow money. The state debt thus cre- 
ated amounted to about fifteen million of dollars. Instead 
of developing the grand resources of the state, as asserted 
on all the high- ways and by-ways, in all cities, towns and 
villages, a new financial misery was brought about by the 
planless and senseless measures of — let us say — enthusiasts 
The people of Madison county sufiered with the population 
of other counties, but they had no reason to complain, in 
as much as her leading men were as much carried away 
as others. It is not the province of the chronicler of a 
county sketch to branch off on this subject, and he returns 
to the county afl^airs. 

SIXTEENTH BOARD. 1841-1S42. 

David Smith, Ephraim Harnsbegcr and Samuel Squire, 
commissioners. This board introduced a financial scheme of 
doubtful propriety by ordering the issuing of county orders, 
â– which were to be used as money by various supervisors of 
roads in payment of improvements to be made. County 
orders siiould only be used in payment of commodities fur- 
nished to the county or of labor performed for the county, 
and upon vouchers properly and legally audited and al- 
lowed. The system introduced by the above board created a 
county debt, which it took years to cancel, as will be shown 



hereafter. It was, as the " enthusiasts on greenbacks" of 
abater day called it, " fiat money, "and looked i^o harmless 
and innocent in the beginning, but, as the appetite grew — 
and appetite will grow while good things appear before the 
eater — greater amounts had to be issued, until finally the 
orders lost their charm, and the purchasing power of this 
fiat dollar was reduced to but a fraction of the genuine 
dollar. The fractional dollars had to be paid by the tax- 
payers of the county in full and genuine dollars. 

John C Dagger was succeeded in the office of county 
collector by John Cooper, appointed in 1842, and Isaac Cox 
took Orren Meeker's place as county assessor in the same 
year. The Madison county Ferry Company was relicensed 
in 1842, and its tax was raised from 810 to $50 per annum, 
from which fact the reader may judge with what success the 
enterprise was crowned. 

The election of August, 1842, returned George Smith to 
the state senate, together with James A James, selected by 
the voters of Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties. 
Robert Aldrich, John Bailhache and Curtis Blakeman be- 
came members of the house of representatives, Andrew 
Miller, sheriff (was re-elected), H S. Surumers was made 
coroner, and James Webb took the place of David Smith 
in the board of county commissioners. 

SEVENTEENTH BOAED. 1812-43. 

Ephraim Harnsberger, Samuel Squire and James Webb, 
commissioners. This board organized a new precinct to be 
called " Looking-Glass," now St. Jacob, with the poll at 
W. H. Uzzel's, and with John Lindley, Stephen Hart and 
J. G. Anderson as the first judges of election. 

August, 184:5, election of county officers: James G. 
Anderson, csunty commissioner; George W. Prickett, pro- 
bate judge; AV. T. Brown, county clerk; H. K. Eaton, 
county collector ; Daniel A. Lanterman, school commissioner, 
J. T. Lusk, county recorder ; E. M. West, county treasurer. 

EIGHTEENTH BOARD. 1843-44. 

Samuel Squire, James Webb and J. G. Anderson, county 
commissioners. The county orders, the "fiat money" of 
1841, had by this time depreciated, and orders were freely 
offered at from 25 to 35 per cent, discount, and the court, 
not being advised as to the amount of such orders afloat, 
ordered to fund them in amounts of §100, or its multiple, to 
bear 12 per cent, annual interest and to be paid after three 
years. Yes, "after!" The last of these orders was pre- 
sented twenty-eight years later, in 1871, and the holder, the 
late H. K. Eaton, of this county, consented to take a 10 per 
cent, interest bearing bond in lieu of his 12 per cent, paper. 
The bond issued to Mr. Eaton, was, with others converted 
into G per cent, interest bonds iu 1877, and forms to this 
day a part of the indebtedness of Madison county. " Fiat" 
money is truly a grand institution. The 8100 of fiat money, 
which in 1843, had paid for about -870 worth of labor, has 
cost the county the following amounts in interest: 12 per 
cent, from 1848 to 1871, $336; 10 per cent from 1871 to 
1877, 860, and per cent, from 1877 to 1882, 830, aggre- 
gating §424 in interest, $100 to be paid yet, swelling the 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



lo3 



original $100, which was in fact worth only $70, to $524. 
The process of" funding " commenced on the 14th of March, 
1843, and continued to June, 1855, during which time 626,- 
900 of fiat money were converted into interest bearing bonds 
to be redeemed in specie. This was the result of the short, 
quiet, harmless, innocent order made September Gth,1841 — 
Ordered that S300 in county orders, of §5 each, payable to 

bearer, be issued and placed in the hands of and , 

supervisors, to be used as money in payment for making a 
road through Wet prairie. The spirit of internal improve- 
ments had seized upon the people of the county to such a 
degree, that the court was beset from the first to the last day 
of its term with petitions to lay out new roads, etc., etc. 
The county surveyor, old Benaiah Robinson, grew weary of 
the work, the more so, as he had formed an idea, that many 
of those petitions were only presented to have certain men 
draw pay as viewers. He drew up the following amusing 
document, found among the vouchers of 1842, to wit : 

"A little parley with the Cour^.— Should the court think it 
most prudent to put a stop to the road petitions and their 
consequent views, reports, etc , let the following method be 
adopted, which will insure success with less censure than 
any other, as the law appears in part to favor the plan : 
Let it be once determined that 75 cents a day in county 
orders, is all that will be given to chainmen and other 
necessarj' bauds, out of which they must pay their own fare ; 
and that the viewers shall have but $1.00 per day, whether 
they chain or not, out of which they must pay their way, 
or that the surveyor shall pay the whole bill of fare, where- 
ever he may have to direct the hands for lodging or victual- 
ing. Either of these rules, it is believed, will greatly retard 
or put a stop to the present process of road manufacturing. 
And it will cause less complaint against the court than any 
other method that can be put in practice. 

Unfavorable reports will not reach the case, new petitions 
will spring up like the fabled Hydra, changing, perhajw a 
little, routes formerly acted on, or new viewers will be asked 
for, whose opinions are known in advance, for the petitioners 
claim as great a share of wisdom as generally falls to the 
lot of viewers, and frequently they have the audacity to 
believe that they know as well where a good wagon road 
could be made as your humble surve3'or." 

The valuation of taxable prDperty in the county was 
stated to be S2, 364,197, exclusive of Alton; a tax of 30 
cents per 100 should have brought $7,092.60, but delin- 
quencies now amounted to over twelve per cent, and the net 
tax was only $5,939.36. 

The necessity of securing an asylum for the helpless pau- 
pers in the county, had becon^e apparent, and Judge G. \V. 
Prickett, volunteered to negotiate for James Ruggles' house 
as a temporary abode for the unfortunates. The house was 
to be furnished and put in readiness during January, 1844, 
and James Ruggles was appointed superintendent with a 
yearly salary of $250.00. 

Admittance of a free negro. — Patsey, alias Martha Tyler, 

a woman of color, formerly the slave of Samuel Miller of the 

Parish of Tensas, Louisana, planter, and by him manumitted, 

brought evidence of her freedom, had those papers recorded 

20 



and gave bond as the law required, whereupon she was per- 
miitcd to reside in Madison county. 

1844 — AUGUST election: 
George Barnsback, George Churchill and N. D. Strong, 
members of the house of representatives ; Andrew Miller, 
sheriff and ex-officio collector of revenue, and Samuel 
Squire couuty commissioner, (his 2d term). 

XINETEEXTH BOARD 1844-45. 

James Webb, J. G. Anderson and Samuel Squire, county 
commi.ssioners. 

This court became the recipient of a handsome donation 
made by Hon. George Barnsback, member of the house of 
representatives, accompanied by the following letter : 

" Herewith I present you with the sum of one hundred 
and fifty dollars in auditor's warrants which I wish you to 
appropriate towards the relief of the poor of your county, 
in such a manner as you may deem the most proper. 
Your most obedient servant, 

George Bar>sback," 

Edwardsville, March 4, 1845. 

The court acknowledged the receipt by the following : 

1845, ]\Iarch Term — Ordered that the thanks of the court 
be tendered to the Hon. George Barnsback, representative 
from this county in the legislature of Illinois for his muni- 
ficent donation of $150.00 in auditor's warrants to the 
county of Madison, to be applied to the relief of the poor 
of said county, and that funds be appropriated as directed 
by the donor, in his communication to this court, upon the 
subject, which is ordered to be filed and preserved among 
the records of the county. 

'^ E. M. West, having been appointed school commissioner 
in place of Daniel A. Lanterman, resigned, surrendered his 
ofiice as treasurer, to the board, whereupon Matthew Gillespie 
was appointed treasurer, March, 1845. 

The county revenue for 1844, amounted to $6,583.93, and 
the expenditures to $7,627.'J8. 

Irwin B. Randle was elected county commissioner in place 
of James Webb, whose term had expired. 

TWENTIETH BOARD 1845-40. 

J. G. Anderson, Samuel Squire and I. B. Randle, com- 
missioners. 

December term, 1845. — The court appointed two of its 
members, J. G. Anderson and Samuel Squire and the sur- 
veyor B. Robinson a committee to adopt a plan of building 
a tew jail and to contract for the same. The support of 
the paupers in the poor house cost the county $800 in 1845, 
and complaint was made, that the pauper expenditures 
throughout the county were still very considerable. In 
1846 the order in reference to contracting for a new jail is 
rescinded and another substituted to devise apian for en- 
larging the old jail. This plan is abandoned again, and in 
May, 1840, the coimty agents above mentioned contracted 
with Samuel Smith and Thomas McNeil for the building of 
a new jail. This indecision of the court was brought about 



ir)4 



niSTOEY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



by the usual clamor against public expenditures. The con- | 
tract called for a brick building, thirty-eight by twenty- 
eight feet, outside measure, with stone foundation four feet 
below and one foot above the surface, and to be four feet 
thick. The walls of the first story to be double, thirteen 
inches thick, and one foot apart, in which space are to be 
inserted perpendicularly timbers twelve inches s(iuare and 
of the length of the story. The rest of the contract is in 
keeping with the introdudory lines, and it would appear im- 
possible for inmates of one of the cells to break through. 
The contract price was $2,900, to be paid in county orders. 
The contractors gave bond, with E M. West, H. K. Eaton, 
J. T. Lusk, Matthew Gillespie and W. T. Brown sureties 
for faithful performance of work as called for in contract. 
The building is this day standing on the old court-house 
grounds and serves as a city prison building. 

1846, AUGUST ELECTION. 

Joseph Gillespie, State Senator ; Curtis Blakeman, W. F. 
DeWolf and "William Martin, representatives, Andrew 
Miller, sheriff; T. Weed, coroner ; W. B. Reynolds, county 
commissioner, and H. K. Eaton, probate judge in place of 
Hon. G. W. Prickett, who had gone to fight the battlts of 
the United States on the fields of Mexico. 

TWEXTY-FIRST BOARD — 1846-1847. 

Samuel Squire, I. B. Randle and W. B. Reynolds, coun- 
ty commissioners. The building of the new jail was now 
in progress. W. T. Brown, H.K. Eaton and John H. Weir, 
who had been appointed a committee to superintend the 
building of said jail, reported January 8, 1847, as follows : 

" That uuc'er the discretion allowed them they have made 
several alterations and changes from the original plan upon 
which said jail was to have been constructed. These changes 
were made by the committee after consultation among them- 
selves, and are such as were deemed to be expedient and 
proper, and such as are believed to be an improvement upon 
the original plan for the construction of the jail ; all changes 
that had been made are without any additional charge to 
the county on the original contract except as to two items, 
one substituting a stone wall instead of a brick wall in the 
foundation which has already been examined into and acted 
upon by the court, and the other in causing the jail to be 
built eighteen inches higher than the contract required; this 
change was made necessary on account of particularly sized 
windows being required for the upper story, which could not 
be placed therein without leaving the same too near the 
floor or too near the eaves. For this additional work on the 
j)art of the contractors no price was agreed upon with the 
contractors, but the same was made with the express under- 
standing, that the contractors should receive a reasonable 
price therefore, to be agreed upon between the contractors 
and this court. Most of the changes have been in the 
opinion of the committee, favorable to the contractors, still 
tiiey were made with the understanding that the contractors 
were to have the same pay as though the jail had been built 
according to the original contract and plan. The committee 
have not thought proper to name in this report all and every 



change that has been made for the reason that it would ex- 
tend the report to a very great length, and would not ex- 
plain to the court so satisfactorily the changes as a personal 
inspection of the building by the court, and a comparison 
thereof with the original plan now in the hands of the clerk. 
The committee further report that the work required by 
said contract of Messrs. Smith and McNeil has been com- 
pleted by them according to the original plan and the changes 
that have been made, with this exception, that the floors of 
the cells and of the lower hall have not yet been laid, but 
the plank is now in the jail for the purpose, and it is supposed 
by the committee that the sum of fifteen dollars would be 
amply suflScient to have the same laid, when the plank be- 
comes seasoned, for which purpose the laying thereof has 
been postponed. Should the court receive the job at the 
present term or before the floors are laid, the committee 
would suggest the propriety of taking the obligation of the 
contractors to have it properly laid when it shall be deemed 
that the plank is snfliciently seasoned. 

The committee farther report, that they caused the con- 
tractors to put iron grates in the transom windows over the 
two doors below, and for which they will be entitled to a 
reasonable and fair extra price as these grates were omitted 
to be put in the original contracts. The jail was soon after 
'' received " and the contractors were paid an extra compen- 
sation of S440.00." 

The friends of temperance at Upper Alton, prevailed on 
the court to make the following order : All applicants for 
license to sell ardent spirits must first produce a petition 
signed by a majority of the rendenia of the respective 
justice's district, where such a grocery is to be opened. This 
order was soon after so modified that in case a majority of 
the voters of any justice's district should file a remonstrance 
against granting licenses, then no such license should be 
granted. 

The members of the court were leaning a little towards 
the keepers of dram shops and tipplers by putting all the 
labor of getting the signatures of the people on the other 
side. The citizens of Upper Alton, 220 in number, however, 
filed their solemn protest against granting liquor license in 
their town. 

Election of 1847, John A. Prickett, recorder; Henry 
K. Eaton, probate judge ; E. M. West, school commissioner; 
Matthew Gillespie, treasurer and assessor, and James G. 
Anderson, county commissioner. 

The state convention called by act of lej^islature for the 
purpo e of framing a new constitution, convened at Spring- 
field, June 7, 1847; Madison county was represented by 
''E. M. West, Cyrus Edwards, Benaiah Robinson and George 
T. Brown. 

The labors of the delegates were completed by the 
81st of August, 1847, and the proposed constitution was ra- 
tified, by the people at the special election of March 6, 1 848. 
Section 40 of article III of said constitution divided the 
state into 25 senatorial, and 54 representative districts. 
Madison and Clinton counties formed the Gth senatorial ; 
and Madison alone the 20th representative district, which 
district was entitled to two representatives. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



155 



TWENTY-SECOND BOARD 1847-48. 

I. B. Randle, W. B. Reynolds and J. G. Anderson, 
county commissioners. J. G. Anderson died soon after his 
election ; he had attended but one term of the court.* At the 
October Special term of the board, the following entry was 
made on the county records : 

" Whereas J. G. Anderson, Esq., one of the members of 
this court has since the last adjournment thereof (Sept. 11, 
1847) departed this life. Therefore iu token of respect and 
regard for our deceased colleague and associate. Resolved, 
that while we bow with humble submissicm to the will of 
Heaven in the removal of our colleague from our midst; we 
deeply regret his untimely end ; that iu the death of James 
G. Anderson the county of Madison has lost an able, im- 
partial and enegetic officer, and the community a valuable 
and worthy citizen ; that we deeply sympathize with the 
family and friends of the deceased in their bereavement ; that 
the clerk of this court forward to the family of the deceased 
a copy of these resolutions and also cause them to be pub- 
lished iu the newspapers of the county." 

The first official report in reference to the working of the 
poor-house was made in March, 1847, as follows : 

"By request of the Hon. County Commissioners, I hereby 
submit the following statistics of the Madison county poor- 
house, in Edwardsville, from each establishment, January 
1, 1844, to the present time, a period of 3 years and 2 
mouths. There have been admitted into said house, and re- 
ceived medical treatment, since its establishment, 23 of in- 
termittent and 17 of bilious fever, 15 of chills and fever, 13 
of primary or secondary syphilis, 8 of pneumonia, 6 of conges- 
tive fever, 6 of typhus fever, 4 of fever sores, 4 of diarrha>a 
(the Dr. wrote diarea\ 4 of dropsy, 4 of paralysis, 4 of rheu- 
matism, 3 of neuralgia, 3 of dyspepsia, 3 of scrofula, 2 of con- 
vulsions, 2 of ophthalmia, 2 of hypochondria, 1 of nasal hem- 
orrhage, 1 of powder burn and 1 of cancer of the stomach ; 
in all 12C. Of these, 83 were males and 43 females, 72 were 
Americans,! 19 GermEm, 14Irish, 12 English, 4 Norwegians^ 
3 Africans, 1 Swiss and 1 Italian. 15 were under ten years 
of age, 24 between the ages of ten and twenty year.s, 26 over 
twenty and under thirty, 19 over thirty and under forty, .25 
over forty and under fifty, 12 over fifty and under sixty, and 
5 over sixty years of age. Of the above, 15 have died ; 2 of 
pneumonia, 2 of congestive fever, 2 of dropsy, 2 of diarrhrea^ 
2 of intermittent fever, 1 of syphilis, 1 of scrofula, 1 of 
cancer of the stomach, 1 of convulsion and 1 of paralysis. 
104 have been discharged and 7 are at present under medi- 
cal treatment in the house. Most of those who died were 
received into the house in the last stage of their disease, 

* James Squire wis elected to fill the vacancy caused by the death 
of J. G. Anderson, November, 1847. 

t In 1844 and lS4.i, in consequence of the inundation of the Ameri- 
can bottom, several families were compelled to re.sort to the poor house, 
which very much increased the American paupers. Since January ] , 
1846, there have been received into the poor house 22 foreigners and 
17 American.s, which is about the usual average. J. il. w. 



some living only one or two days after their arrival, and 
little or no medical relief could be given them. 

During the last year— March, 1846 to March, 1847 — 
forty-three different persons have found refuge in the poor 
house, some for a longer and some a shorter period, staying 
in all 249o days. The year average is therefore about 7. 
As far as I can ascertain, at least one-half of the whole num- 
ber received into the poor house have been brought to 
th ir dependence directly or indirectly by intoxicating 
drinks. 

There have been some complaints' in reference to the diet 
in the poor house, and here I deem it due to the superinten- 
dent to say that I have found it very difficult to restrain 
patients in a convalescent state from over eating, and thereby 
causing relapses. Many are not satisfied if they are not per- 
mitted to indulge freely in any article of food they desire. 
A bill of diet was made out two years ago, under the direc- 
tion of the county commissioners and since sanctioned by 
the new commissioneri and to which the superintendent has 
strictly adhered, unless restricted by myself to patients un- 
der medical treatment, and as individuals are not permitted 
to remain at the house after they have recovered their health, 
there is, of course, but a short time that any one can be in- 
dulged in the free use of food with impuuitv, and I am con- 
fident this is the whole ground of complaint, and this too, 
for the ' best good ' of the inmates. 

John H. Weir, A<jenl P. H." 
Edmarclsville, March 1, 1847. 

The old election precinct, known as Indian Creek pre- 
cinct, had its name changed to Rattan's Prairie, with the 
poll at the " Bethel " school-house, and a new precinct had 
been organized from parts of Silver creek, under the name 
of White Rock, June, 1847. The county was, March, 1848, 
divided into fifty-niue road districts, officered as follows : 



E. C. Hall. 
C. P. V. Ransom, 
B. W. Finch, 
W. Chambers, 
Richard Young, 
Ab. Preuitt, 
E. M. Doyle, 
Lancaster Weeks, 
James Best, 
Samuel 11. Voiles, 
P. S. Greening, 
W. Thompson, 
Cliris. Harvard, 
John Kelt, 
Edm. Butler, 
Calv. Hodgman, 
J. H. Smith, 
Thomas Elliott, 
J. H. Apple, 
Green Walker, 
J. P. Delaplain, 
John Moore, 
W. E. Newman, 
Conrad Leseman, 
Henry Morrison, 



George Smith, 
S. B. Gillham, 
Isaac Smith, 
W. T. Brown, 
Godfrey Akerman, 
Schuyler Carlton, 
J. A. J. Hunter, 
J. S. Cottrell, 
Joseph Cooper, Jr., 
Solomon KotTer, 
John Sommerfield, 
W. Barnsback, 
George Hedges, 
Henry Peters, 
Charles Howard, 
J. A. Giltham, 
AV. Peters, 
J. A. Cook, 
J. B. Swain, 
John A. Keown, 
Ebenezer Traver, 
Th. B. Savage, 
Feli.-ic Deith, 
J. W. Hasler, 
Milton Hall, 



155 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Prestor Stephenson, 
J. T. Thurston, 
Thomas Jones, 
Th. C. Dunnigan, 



Timothy Sabin, 
S M. Smith, 
Isaac Tecback, 
Elisha Keelh, 



P. S. Calvin. 

' During the same term the commissioners bought forty 
acres of land, near Edwardsville, from Cassius Heskett, for 
$350, intended for a poor-farm. The county levy for 1848 
was forty cents per one hundred dollars of appraised values. 
The treasurer's account book of 1848 does not mention any 
revenue from taxation, while the records of the court state 
that the collector had paid county orders amounting to 
$3,900.54 into court- The financial affairs of the county 
were so much entangled that it was absolutely impossible 
for the writer to have elucidated a correct statement 

The process of "funding" county orders payable to 
bearer — tiat money of Madison county — was going on, and 
thousands of dollars' worth of these orders were converted 
into twelve per cent, interest-bearing obligations. 

The first election since the adoption of the constitution of 
the county gave to the county the following officers : 

Hon. Joseph Gillespie, Senator of State. 

Edward Keating and Curtis Blakeman, Mevihers of the 
House of Representatives. 

Andrew Miller, Sheriff. 

AVilliam Gill, Coroner. 

William Tyler Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court. (The 
first clerk who held this office by election ; all predeceissors 
were to be appointed by the presiding judges of the court). 

I. B. Handle, County Commissioner. 

TWENTY-THIRD (lASt) BOARD, 1848-9. 

"W. B. Reynold, Samuel Squire and I. B. Randle. 

The labors of the board are now drawing to a close. The 
constitution of 1849 had abolished the board and substi- 
tuted a county court, to be composed of a county judge, 
entrusted with the probate business of the county, and to- 
gether with two associate justices, to conduct the county 
government. These officers were elected for terras of four 
years each. The county affairs were conducted by those 
county courts from December 1, 1849, to March 1, 1874. 

Matthew Gillespie, for years treasurer and assessor of the 
county, resigned these offices on the 7th of April, 1849. 
His resignation is worded so pleasantly that it deserves a 
place in these pages : 

" Gentlemen : I herewith resign the office of treasurer of 
Madison county, state of Illinois, and permit me, gentlemen 
to say, that I wish that peace and prosperity may attend the 
members of the court individually and collectively. 

" I remain. Gentlemen, your obedient servant, 

" M. Gillespie. 

" Edwardsville, III., April 7, 1849." 

The court accepted this resignation, and appointed E. S. 
Brown, treasurer for the balance of Mr. Gillespie's term. 

The county contained now (1849) sixteen election pre- 
cincts, to wit: Edwardsville, Alton, Upper Alton, Monti- 



cello, Madison, Six Mill, Collin.sviIle, Troy, Looking Glass, 
Highland, Saline, jMarine, Silver Creek, Omph Ghent, Bethel, 
(formerly Indian creek and Rattan) and White Rock. 

The revenue of 1848, collected in 1849, was not paid into 
the treasury; the sheriff converted all funds collected into 
county orders, which he paid into court direct. The taxes 
actually collected seem to have amounted to §7,728.38, and 
the treasurer reports to have received in fines and licenses 
$578.00. making a total of $8,306.38. The city of Alton 
contributed also $671-52, her share in the expenses of the 
county on account of elections and courts. The general 
impression, that Alton was exempt from helping to support 
the county government is not based on fact- Alton, it is 
true, paid no direct county tax, but the county board and 
the city council agreed annually on the proportional share 
of the expense to be borne and to be paid by Alton. The 
treasurer's accounts of the county bear witness that the 
sums of money so contributed by the city of Alton from 
1849 to 1859, amounted in the aggregate to $9,236.59. 

The county which, at the time of the adoption of the state 
organization in 1818, had a pojsulation of less than five thou- 
sand, had now at the adoption of the new constitution, a popu- 
lation of nearly twenty thousand inhabitants. The public 
expenses had increased with the population, or had perhaps 
exceeded it. The financial chaos in 1848 and 1849 had 
induced the county clerk to venture on an exploration trip 
through the books, papers and records from 1819 to 1849. 
The debt of the county was very burdensome, and people 
had become restive under the load. The clerk's (W. T. 
Brown's) work remained a fragment, and as such, the writer 
discovered it. The sheet of paper on which the following 
figures were written was not intended for an official com- 
munication, for it is neither dated, addressed nor signed. It 
merely states the amounts received and expended, without 
reference to sources, etc. We give an accurate copy, without 
additions, changes or corrections : 



I? 625-37 
640 77 
2009.53 
5074.35 
1 105-44 



1,100.24 

25.46 

1,002..57 

2.401.56 

1.44 

5S8-51 

30.05 

4G0-35 

183.46 

3ol.37 
1,131.92 

233.07 
844.80 
340.16 



Year. 


Heceipts. 


PaH ovt. 


1819 . . 


. $1,542 92 . . 


. ?2,108 29 . 


1820 . . 


. 1,763.55 . . 


. 2,404.32 . 


1821 . . 


. 1,646.28 . . 


. 3, 655. 81 . 


1822 . . 


. 2,130-22 . . 


. 1,455.87 . 


1823 . . 


. 2,369.36. . 


. 1,263 92. 


1824 \ 
1825 ; • 


. 4,511.61 . . 


. 8,031.84. 


1826 . . 


. 4,745.29. 


. 3,645.05 . 


1827 . . 


. 1,160.35 . . 


. 1,134.95 . 


1828 . . 


. 2.141.79 . . 


. 1,139.22. 


1829 . . 


. 2,924.61 . . 


. 523.05 . 


1830 . . 


. 2,488.16 . 


. 2,489-60. 


1831 . . 


. 2,475.60. . 


. 1,887.09 . 


1832 . . 


. 2,643-06. . 


. 2,013.01 . 


18331 
1834 / • 


. 3,207.21 . 


. 2,740.86 . 


1835 . . 


. 4,262.86 . . 


. 4,079-40 . 


1836 . . 


. 5,242.74 . . 


. 4,886.37 . 


1837 . . 


. 5,-579.47. 


. 4,447.55 . 


1838 . . 


. 4,781.86 . 


. 5,015.-53 . 


1839 . . 


. 5,811.14 . . 


. 6,65-5.94 . 


1840 . . 


. 5,269.41. 


. 5,609-60 . 


1841 . . 


. 6,377.78 . . 


. 5,767.61 . 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



157 



]842 
1843 
1844 
1845 
184G 



6,370.00 . 
6,033.87 . 
6,.5S3.93 . 
8,021.13 . 

S,(;8-2.20 . 



Paid nut. 

. 5,918.37 . 
. 8,189.72; 
. 7,627.68 . 
. 6,270.04 . 
11,212.01 . 



451.63 . 



1,751.09 . 



Buf^nirr ngninsi 
treatui y. 

. 2,155.85 
. 1,043.75 

. 2.530.41 



Tlie figures for 1S47 and 1848 liave been erased, and the 
â– work then seems to have been abandoned. The additions 
would show a total income for those twenty-eight years of 
8108,767.43, wliile the expenditures had amounted to 
$110,839 30, thus leaving a debt of only 62,071.88. The 
debt of the county was much greater, at any rate not less 
than §12,000. The figures above do not contain the amount 
of county orders issued and made payable to bearer, and 
hence the error. The thought that the " fiat " county order, 
which served as currency, was au expenditure, and ought to 
have been added to column of " paid out," never occurred 
to Brown, for how could money be a debt ? 

THE COURTS FROM 1819 TO 1849. 

The first constitution of Illinois made it the duty of the 
legislature, in the first place, to elect officers of the Su- 
preme Court, who from that time until 1824, had to attend 
the courts of the judicial circuits. The first Judges chosen 
were Joseph Phillips, Chief Justice ; Thomas C. Browne, 
William P. Foster, and John Reynolds, Associates. Their 
election took place at Kaskaskia, on the 8th of October, 
1818 — some two months before the Congress of the United 
States had passed on the constitutioti, under the stipulations 
of which that election had taken place. 

The first business of the circuit court of Madison county, 
since the organization of the state government, was trans- 
acted in the 

MAY TERM, 1819. 

Hon. John Reynolds, on the Bench, Daniel P. Cook, 
Attorney General, Joseph Conway, Clerk, and W. B. 
AVhiteside, Sheriff. 

The first grand jury convened in the county since the 
organization of the state, was composed of: John McKinney, 
foreman; Abraham Hyter, William ]\Ioutgomery, Matthias 
Handly, John Fiuley, Jacob Gonterman, Thomas Rattan, 
John Barber, Robert A. Clair, William Ogle, William Pur- 
viance, Joseph Eberman, Ephraim Wood, Joseph Barlett 
Abraham Preuitt, Joshua Armstrong, Joseph Borough, and 
Samuel Gilliiam. 

Joseph Conway had been appointed clerk by Judge Rey- 
nolds, on the 13th of April previously. 

The grand jury indicted a number of men for riot and 
assault and battery ; among the latter Hail Mason. Paris 
Mason, supervisor, was indicted for failing to work the 
road in his district. One Peter Yokum was indicted for 
larceny ; Jean Baptist Coran, a Canadian, was naturalized — 
having been living in Illinois since 1794. 

OCTOBER TERM, 1819. 

Chief Justice, Joseph Phillips, on the Bench. David 
Blackwell officiated as prosecuting attorney iu the absence 
of the attorney general. Rowland P. Allen presided iu the 



grand jury room. George Sanders having been declared a 
lunatic " by the jury," his wife Hannah was appointed con- 
servator ; the personal property of Sanders was appraised at 
82,37600. Twelve indictments for assault and battery, and 
three for being a nuisance. Joshua Atwater was fined 
$100,00. La Fayette Collins was admitted to the bar. 

FEBRUARY SPECIAL TERM, 1820. 

Presided over by John Reynolds, was called on account 
of a number of robberies having recently been committed. 
Hail Mason was foreman of the grand jury ; George Let- 
singer was indicted for larceny, having stolen from one 
Ashly a linen shirt, valued at $3.00, a pair of woolen pants, 
worth $5.00, and a book, viz., the 2d volume of the history 
of England, by J. Bigland, valued at S5,00. All these ar- 
ticles, with the exception of the pantaloons, had been restored 
to Ashly. T. W. Smith defended Letsinger. His case was 
tried before a grand juiy composed of John Newman, Mar- 
tin L. Lindsley, D.ivid Roach, Daniel Waggoner, Drury 
Rowland, Francis Colean, Angila Loe, Thomas Smith, 
Solomon Watts, William Jones, Samuel Seybold and Enoch 
Jones, and found guilty. The Court rendered its '' opinion " 
in the following language : 

" It is the opinion of the Court, that the said George Let- 
singer receive thirty-one lashes on his bare back, well laid 
on. on Monday next, at 11 o'clock. It is therefore ordered 
by the Court that the sheriflT of Madison county cause the 
same to be executed on the public square, in the town of 
Edwardsville, on Jlonday next, at 11 o'clock." 

Willian J. Crane and Henry Gears were tried at the same 
term of court for larceny. They had stolen from Philip and 
Elward C. Clark SSOO in United States notes, an alarm 
watch, worth S70, a " capped " watch worth $30, a common 
watch worth $28, another watch valued at $2.5, nine brass- 
pocket compasses, worth $18, 8 do. valued at $12, and 10 mag- 
nets, worth $7.50, 10 magnifying glasses, worth $5. The 
watches and the money had been restored to the owners. The 
defendants were found guilty, and the "opinion" of the 
court was as above, thirty-one lashes, each, on the bare 
back, and well laid on. 

MAY TERM, 1820. 

Joseph Phillips, Chief Justice, presiding. Grand jury 
returned 39 cases of assault and battery. The usual fine in 
such cases was $3 00 — in exceptional cases $25, $50, and 
even $100, had to be paid. Ralph Day, who plead guilty 
to the charge of assault and battery, was let down very 
easy — his fine was only 6} cents. A case of fornication 
presented at this term— the first one in the county, was im- 
mediately »io^ 7jros. There were two cases of selling liquor 
without license. — R. G. Anderson was tried and acquitted, 
and Xatlian Daniel, the other offender, noL pros. William 
Bidger had whipped Henry Hay, John Wilson and John 
Switzer — his fine was heavy, $105.00. George Letsiuger, 
the pantaloon thief of February term, was indicted this time 
for whipping John Shane; fined $5.00, and given tea days 
time to pay fine and cost, and if not paid within that time, 
the sheriff was ordered to sell him, or hire him to the service 
of any person who would pay fine and costs ; the term of 



158 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



servitude was not to exceed four months. George went to 
jail, of course, and as he coulJ not, and would not pay the 
fine, the sheriff executed the order of court. He advertised 
and offered George for sale, but failed to sell for want of 
bidders, as stated iu his return. The expenses of the pro- 
ceeding — $5 07, were paid by the county in 1821; — the 
voucher is still in existence. Field Bradshaw was another 
fighter; John T. Lusk held an inquest over his body on the 
loth day of February, 1821, without stating ho v Field 
came to his death. This inquest cost the couuty $13 50. 

Among the thirty-nine fighters mentioned above we find the 
Hon. Theophilus W. Smith, and also David Gillespie, the father 
of Hon. Joseph Gillespie. The latter had his case tried before 
a jury comprised of Thomas Gillham — the man that sported a 
fur hat worth $5.00 and a pair of silver kneebuckles — Jacob 
Gouterman, Thomas Reynolds, William Moore, George 
Kinder, Andrew Turner. HezekialiL. Harris, Jesse Waddle, 
Joseph B. Tays, Henry Hays, Thomas Cox and John Da- 
vidson, who found him guilty, and fined him $5.00. Theo- 
philus threw himself upon the mercy of the court and got off" 
with a nominal fine of 12i cents. Judge Reynolds presided 
at the next term — October, lb20 when the first divorce case, 
Polly Bowles vs Matthew Bowles, was tried by the following 
jury; Matthias Handly, Isaac Furguson, John Harris, 
Henry Blanfbrd, John Giger, Ira Bacon, George Barnsback, 
Abraham Howard, Samuel Delaplain, Alexander Cawley, 
James Cray and John Wallace. 

It was proved that Matthew had a wife living in Kentucky 
when he married Polly. Divorce was granted and Matthew 
ordered to give up to Polly all property obtained through 
her ; — no fine or other punishment inflicted. 

Judge Reynolds presided also at the April and September 
terms 1821 and 1822. There is nothing of interest to be re- 
lated, except that W. L. May was indicted for burglary and 
Jeptha Lampkins for kidnapping, and that James Foley, 
who had stolen a shovel from Augustus Anson, and Benja- 
man Roe, who bad stolen $15.00 state paper worth $6.90 iu 
specie, from James Love were publicly whipped by Nathan- 
iel Buckmaster, sheriflT, and successor of W. B Whiteside. 
Each received 15 lashes on bare back, and well laid on. 

Iu March 1833, Hon. Thomas C. Reynolds, chief justice 
since August 31st, 1822, presided. One Jacob Stump was 
convicted of larceny and sentenced to 25 lashes, and Charles, 
a negro, also larceny, to 35 lashes. His case was re-con- 
sidered on, the court saying : The court not having been ful- 
ly advised of the statute authorizing punishment in 
such cases, do re-consider the sentence passed ou said defend- 
ant, whereupon it is considered and ordered by the court that 
the sheriff defer executing the said sentence until one o'clock 
p. M. on Monday next, and that the said defendant be 
whipped /ci»<</ lashes instead of thirty-five. — Barbarous ! 

The September term 1 823 — presided over by Judge John 
Reynolds, with Thomas Lippincott as foreman of the grand- 
jury brought several cases of interest, amongst which that of 
William Parkinson, indicted for forgery, created quite a sen- 
sation. Even Twiss was indicted for perjury and Jeptha 
Lamkins for kidnapping. A number of men were indicted 
for vagrftncy, several for nuisance and 21 for fighting. Sep- 



tember term 1823 was of no, interest. It was soon after suc- 
ceeded by a special term, held in January, 1824, to try the 
first murder case in the county. The particulars of this case 
were as follows : 

TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF ELIPHALET GREEN. 

First case of infliction of capital punishment in the county. 

A murder, committed on Christmas Eve 1823, had been 
the cause of great excitement. Eliphalet Green, a laborer 
at Abel Moore's distillery on Wood river, had a quarrel 
with one William Wright, also in the employment of Abel 
JVIoore. Duriug this quarrel, which ended in a fist fight. 
Green was badly beaten. Half-witted, as he was represented 
to have been, he became furiously enraged, got his gun and 
deliberately shot Wright down, as he was retreating to the 
house. Green, who had at first ran away into the forests, came 
to the office of Squire Ogle and gave himself up. The squire 
heard his story, and after examining some witnesses com- 
mitted Green to jail. This paper and several others refer- 
ring to the matter have been preserved, and their contents are 
here introduced. 



}, 



State op Illinois 
Madison county 

The peoi^le of the state of Illinois to any lawful officer, 
greeting : 

Whereas, Eliphalet Green, distiller of Madison county, 
having come forward before me on the night of the 2-l:th of 
December, and delivered up his body as a prisoner of state 
and acknowledged himself to have shot with a rifle at the 
body of one William Wright of the county and state afore- 
said on the 24th inst., about 4 o'clock in the afternoon at the 
premises of Abel Moore, of the county and state aforesaid, 
and proof being made that the said AV right is now dead in 
consequence of said wound, you are hereby commanded to 
take into your custody the body of the said Eliphalet Green 
and him safely convey to the jail of the county, the keeper 
whereof is hereby required to receive and safely keep the 
body of said Green until such time as he shall be discharged 
agreeable to law, fail not as the law directs in such cases. 
Given from under my hand this 25th day of December, 1823. 

William Ogle, Justice Peace. 

This commitment is briefly endorsed: " Executed," N. 
Buckmaster sheriff!', no date. On the 28th of December Buck- 
master addressed the following letter to Hon. John Reynolds, 
judge, then residing at Clear Lake. 

Sheriff's Office, Edwardsville, Feb. 28, 1823. 

Judge Reynolds : Dear Sir, Painful as it is to me it be- 
comes my duty to inform you that there was committed to 
the common pri.son of this couuty ou the 25th of December 
a man by the name of Eliphalet Green charged of having 
committed a murder on the body of one William Wright. I 
take this opportunity of making the facts known to you and 
should you think proper to order a special court, give timely 
notice and I will govern myself accordingly. 

Yours respectfully, . 

N. Buckmaster, Sheriff. ^ 



HISTOEY 01' MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



]o9 



N. B. : It will be for your consideration whether a speedy 
trial will be to the interest of the country or not. 

A special term of the court was ordered to be held on the 
13th day of January, 182-i, when the following freeholders 
of i\Iadi:>on county were duly iuipanneled as grand jurors, to 
wit: Emanuel J. West, foreman, Lyman Gillet Ephraira 
Wood, Matthew B. Torrence, William Hinch, John Gonter- 
niau, Julius Barusback, John Good, Caleb Gonterman,Gay 
Paddock, Jacob Judy, John T. Lusk, Low Jackson, James 
Watts, Oliver Balster, James Tunnel, Erastus Brown and 
John C. Barnett. 

The grand jury heard the testimony of William (^gle, 
James Dabs, Susannah Bradley, Amos Bradley, Fully Jirad- 
ley, George Debaum, Abel Moore and wife, and returned the 
following bill oi indictment on the same day, to wit: 

State of Illinois, Madison county. At a special term of 
the circuit court begun and held for the county of Madison 
aforesaid, in the Court House in the town of Edwardsville 
in said county, on the 13th day of January, 1824, in the 
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty- 
four. The Grand jurors of the people of the state of Illinois, 
residents and good and lawful men of the county of Madison 
aforesaid, impauneled, sworn and charged to inquire for 
the body of the county of Madison aforesaid in the name 
and by the authority of the people of the state of Illinois, 
upon their oath present that one Eliphalet Green, late of 
said county of Madison, yeoman, not having the fear of 
God before his eyes, but being moved and seduced by the 
instigation of the Devil, on the twenty-fourth day of December, 
in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and 
twenty-three, in the county of Madison aforesaid, with force 
and arms felonously, wilfully and of his malice afore- 
thought did niake an assault upon the body of one William 
Wright, in the peace of God then and there being, and the 
said Eliphalet Green, a certain gun of the value of twenty 
dollars, then and there charged with gunpowder and one 
leaden bullet, which gun so loaded and charged a^ aforesaid 
he the said Eliphalet Green in both his hands then and there 
had and held to, against and njwn the said William Wright, 
then and there, felonously, wilfully and of his malice afore- 
thought did shoot and discharge and the said Eliphalet 
Green with the leaden bullet aforesaid, out of the gun afore- 
said, then and there by force of the gunpowder shot, dis 
charged and sent forth as aforesaid, the aforesaid William 
Wright in and upon the right side of him the said William 
Wright, near the right pap of the right side of him the said 
William Wright, then and there with the leaden bullet 
aforesaid out of the gun aforesaid, by the said Eliphalet 
Green so as aforoi-aid shot, discharged and sent forth, felon- 
ously, wilfully and of his malice aforethought, did strike, 
penetrate and wound, giving to the said William Wright, 
\\\i\\ the leaden bullet afortsaid so as aforcaid shot, dis- 
charged, and sent forth out of the gun aforesaid b)' the said 
Eliphalet Green in and upon the right side of him the said 
William Wright near the right pip of him the said William 
Wright one mortal wound, of the depth of four inches and 
of the breadth of two inches, of which said mortal wound 
the said William Wright then and there instantly died, and 



so the jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid do say, that 
thesaid Eliphalet Green felonously, wilfully and of his mal- 
ice aforethought, him the said William Wright, then and 
there in manner and form aforesaid did kill and murder, to 
the great displeaiwe of Almiijlitj God, to the evil example of 
all others in like cases ofiending, contrary to the form of the 
statute in such cases made and provided, and against the 
peace and dignity of the same people of the state of Illinois. 

James Turner, Attorney. 

The trial ended on the 14th day of February, 1S24, and 
resulted in the following verdict: We the jury hud the 
prisoner guilty of murder. 

James Mason, Foreman. 

This verdict is written in lead pencil on the indictment 
and has no date. 

The following is the sentence pronounced by the court. 
It is copied from a paper on lile in the handwriting of Judge 
Reynolds : 

Wednesday, January 15, 1824. 

The court met according to adjournment, present : John 
Reynolds, judge. 

The Peoples ^ plaintiff. 

vs. y Indictment for murder. 

Eliphalet Green, j defendant. 

The said dcfendaut, Eliphalet Green, who stands con- 
victed of murder, was led again to the bar in cus- 
tody of the sheriff, and it being demanded of him if 
any thing for himself he had or knew to say why the court 
here to judgment and execution against him and upon the 
premises should not proceed, he said he had nothing but 
what he had before said. Therefore it is considered by the 
court that he be hanged by the neck until he be dead, dead, 
dead ! and that the sheriff of J\Ij,disou county to cause ex- 
teution of this judgment to be done and performed on him, 
the said Eliphalet Green, on Thursday, the 12th February, 
1824, between the hours of ten o'clock in the morning and 
three in the evening at some " convenient " place near the 
town of Eiwardsville, and it is furthered ordered that 
the said defendant pay the cost of this prosecution. 

The manuscript of J udge Reynolds shows plainly the agita- 
tion of his mind in passing sentence, it contains many cor- 
rections and changes of words, at a " convenient " place near 
the town of Edwardsville are interlined and undoubtedly 
written at a later day or hour, the ink used being of a dif- 
ferent hue. 

The agitation of the judge was observed by bystanders and 
may, together with the " convenient place '' and may have 
been he cause of the following version of the afliiir, as re- 
peated by J. T. Hair, in iladison county Gazetteer, Alton 
1866. 

It is stated that the judge in jaassing sentence of death 
upon the pri.soner made use of language something like the 
following : Well j\Ir. Grccu the jury in their verdict found 



160 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



you to be guilty of murder, and the law says you are to be 
bangtd. Now I want you and your friends down on Wood 
river to understand that it is not f, that condemns you, but 
the jury and the law. Now I wish to allow you all the time 
you want to prepare, so the court wants to knowu at what 
time you would prefer to be hanged, etc The story is continu- 
ed exteisively. Green replied that any time would suit him. 
Then the Judge wants to know if four weeks from this day 
is on a Sunday and the like. Next follows a colloquy between 
Judge Reynolds and the attorney general about the pro- 
priety of endeavoring to impress upon the conscience of the 
culprit a sense of his guilt and to lead his thoughts to a seri- 
ous preparation for death, to which suggestions the judge is 
said to have replied as follows : Oh, it is no use Mr. Turner, 
Mr. Green understands the whole matter as well as if I had 
talked to him for a week. He knows he is to be hanged 
this day four weeks. You understand it in that way, Mr. 
Green, don't you? " 

The death warrant of Eliphalet Green was issued on the 
11th of February, 1824, signed and sealed by Joseph Con- 
â– way, clerk of the circuit court of Madison county. 

On the reverse side of this warrant we found the follow- 
ing brief endorsement : 

"Executed on the 12th of February, 1824, at half past 
two of the clock, a. m. 

N. BucKMASTER, Sheriff. 

The "convenient" place selected by the sheriff was in the 
creek bottom, near the bridge, on the Springfield road. 
Spectators had come from a distance, and it is related that 
a number of Indians had assembled to see how civilized 
people killed their fellow men. Greeu died like a man, 
sincerely repenting his wicked deeds. The opinion of the 
public was divided in reference to his crime and its penalty. 
Some of ihe leading men had their sympithies aroused for 
the poor fellow. He was buried near the place of execu- 
tion. It is stated that Paris INIasou guarded the grave 
against body snatchers, and caused the corpse to be taken 
up and re-interred iu his (Mason's) own graveyard. 

The sheriff, about as much agitated at the execution as 
the judge had been at passing sentence of death, certified 
as seen above, that he had hung Green at two o'clock in the 
morning. 

The story would not be complete if left without the bill 
of costs. The writer found it among the vouchers of the 
year 1824. It reads as follows : 

Itladison County, to X. Buckmaster, Sheriff. 
1824, March Term. 
Ca.sli to Watts for making gallows antl coffin for E. Green, . ?2.5 .50 

Paid cash to Wliite for a hook to hang hhn on 2 00 

Cash to Pari.'! ilason for a rope, 1 60 

Cash for a small rope at Pogue's, 50 

Cash for digging grave and filling it, to Jarrot and Koberts, . 3 50 

Ca.sli for shroud and cap 4 18 

Cash paid to Jarrot fur driving wagon with coffin to place of 

execution, 50 

Cash to Meeker fo'r nails to make the gallows, 1 40 

All specie, ?30 1'8] 



Illinois State paper now being worth 30 cts. per dollar, this amount 
of §39.08:;, in specie, is equal to §130.30 in State paper. 

K. B., Sheriff. 

1824, March Term. Hon. John Reynolds on the Bench. 
Augustus Laugworthy, foreman of the grand jury. 

The case of William Parkinson, indicted for forgery, was 
found guilty of the intent to defraud John Herrin to the 
amount of §80.00. Parkinson took an appeal to the su- 
preme court and gave bail in the sum of $6,000.00, with 
Washington Parkinson and William Lee as sureties. Wil- 
liam Parkinson, who had brought a damage suit against 
Herrin for assault and battery, obtained a judgment for 
$93.00 against Herrin. 

The celebrated suit of Madison county versus Edward 
Coles was commenced at this term of court. This suit had 
its origin in personal hatred and malice. We have shown 
on a preceding page, that W. L. May had by a well writ- 
ten representation of facts in the case, succeede 1 in making 
the county commissioners believe it to be their duty to prose- 
cute Governor Coles for manumitting his slaves, ten in num- 
ber. Gov. Coles spoke of this suit in a private letter to 
Robert Vaux, PhiLdelphia, in January 1824, in the follow- 
ing manner : " For having been instrumental in eflTecdng 
the defeat of the pro-slavery convention plans, and also for 
having acted up to my principles iu restoring liberty to 
certain slaves given to me by my father, it would seem I 
am never to be forgiven, but to be subject to an unrelenting 
and cruel persecution, which aims to destroy not only my 
political influence, but my personal character and property. 
After having resorted to various means to injure my standing 
with the people an eflbrt is now made to cripple my pecuniary 
resources and thus to disable me from promoting the cause 
of freedom and of punishing me for what I have done in 
this way. A suit has recently been instituted against me to 
recover the penal sum of §200, for each negro emancipated 
and brought by me to this state. This suit has been brought 
under a law passed about the 1st of April, 1819, which pro- 
hibited any person from bringing into this state any negro 
for the purpose of emancipation, unless he would give bond 
under a penalty of §1,000, that the negro should not become 
a county charge, and that if the emancipator neglected to 
give this bond he should forfeit the sum of $200, for each 
negro emancipated. My negroes emigrated to and settled 
in this state about one month after the passage of this act, 
but more than five months before it was printed or promul- 
gated. To the peculiar hardship of my case, from the im- 
possibility of knowing of the existence of the law, until 
after I had violated its provisions and incurred its penalty, 
is to be added the fact of my not being content with freeing 
the negroes in Virginia, and thus relinquishing more than 
one-third of the property given me by my father, but from 
a desire to promote their interest, removed them to this 
state at an expense of between five and six hundred dollars, 
and then gave them as a remuneration for their past services 
and a stimulus to future exertion, one hundred and sixty 
acres of land to each one who hud passed the age of 24. 
They all behaved uniformly well, and are honest, industrious 
and prosperous. And what is truly farcical in this suit is. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



IGl 



that it has been instituted at the instance of a worthless fel- 
low,* the tool of a faction, who is destitute of property f and 
paj's no tax, and of course has no direct interest whether 
the negroes become a count}' charge or not. Never having 
been sued before I feel the more mortified at being perse- 
cuted for violating the laws of a state over which the people 
have called me to preside." 

Another passage in this letter is so beautifully character- 
istic of this noble and generous citizen of Madison county, 
that the writer of this sketch feels it his duty to copy it 
also : " Having had the good fortune, through everj- period 
of my life, to live in great harmony with my fellow-men, 
the enmity and persecution I have lately had to encounter 
have created a new state of feeling and cause me to look into 
my own conduct to see vvhether it has been correct. In this 
view I have been gratified to find that I have not given just 
cause of offense to any one ; but I have been grieved to per- 
ceive with what virulence I have been pelted, when the only 
complaint against me is, that I am a friend to the equal 
rights of man and am considered a barrier to my opponents 
acquiring the power of oppressing their fellow-men. Under 
this view of my situation, I am gratified that Providence 
lias placed me in the vau of this great contest, and I am 
truly thankful that my system is so organized as to leave no 
room for doubt, fear or hesitation. My opinions have long 
since been naturally formed, and my cours^e deliberately 
taken, and is not now to be changed by destraction, prose- 
cutions or threats of •convention or death.' " 

They were sterling words. Honor to the man who uttered 
them. No wonder that the greatest American of the age, 
Thomas Jefferson, had honored Edward Coles with his 
friendship, love and confidence, and that James Madison 
entrusted a highly responsible ini.ssion to St. Petersburg to 
him. 

But to return to the suit : The case came up for trial 
during this (March 1824) term of court, but went over to 
the September term. At this term John Reynolds pre- 
sided again. The plea of the Statute of Limitations and 
several special pleas put in by defendant to the declaration 
of the plaintiff had been demurred to and the demurrer had 
been sustained by court. The defendant now pleaded idl 
debit (he does not owe anything). Issue was joined and 
the case submitted to the jury, Oliver Foster, Daniel Brown, 
William B. Penny, William Head, Daniel Wise, Thomas 
Bates, Philip Penn, Alfred Allen, Julius L. Barnsback, 
John Howard, Curtis Blakeman and Paris Mason, who re- 
turned a verdict against defendant for two thou.saud dollars. 
From a bill of exceptions taken during the trial and spread 
upon the records of the court, it appears that the defen- 
dant offered to give in evidence and jirove to the jury 
that three of the negroes mentioned in the declaration of 

* This fellow ''was W. L. May, subsequently member of Congress 
for the Springtield District." 

t May was one of the early merchants in Eilwardsvilk', but had 
probably become poor. A. W. L. May was indictetl for burglary in 
Edwardsville, September term, 1823. It is impossible to a.scertain if 
this May and ihe one who cause! this suit to be instituted are identi- 
cal. 

•li 



the plaintiff had departed this life before the commencement 
of the suit, but the court would not permit the testimony to 
be given, thus practically deciding that it was necessary to 
give a bond to hold the county harmless from the support of 
'â–  dead negroes." The defendant then offered to prove by, 
Joseph Conway, the clerk of the County Commissioners 
Court, that the defendant had never been notified or re- 
quired to give bond, but the court would not permit such 
evidence to be given. The defendant farther offered to prove 
by Daniel T. Cook, the attorney uuder whose advice he 
acted, the conversation he had with him before the date of 
certificate of manumission, and that Cook advised him to 
give such certificates in order to protect the negroes ; and 
also to prove by said Cook all the circumstances and con- 
versation between said witness and defendant, all of which 
evidence was rejected, the record to state that the plaintiff 
gave in evidence the following certificate: 

" Whereas, my father, the late John Coles, of Albemarle, 
in the state of Virginia, did in his last will and testament 
give and bequeath to me certain negro slaves, among others 
Kobert Crawford and his sister Polly Crawford, the said 
Robert being a mulatto man, aboyt5feet seven inches high, 
and now about twenty-seven years of age ; and the said Pol- 
ly being a mulatto woman about five feet one inch high, and 
now about sixteen or seventeen years of age. And whereas, 
I do not believe that man can have a right of property in 
his fellow-man, but on the contrary, that all mankind are 
endowed by nature with equal rights, I do, therefore, by 
these presents, restore to the said Robert and his sister Pol- 
ly, that inalienable liberty of which they have been de- 
prived ; and I do hereby renounce for myself and my heirs 
forever, all claim of every description whatever to them and 
their services, and I do hereby emancipate and make free 
the said Robert Crawford and his sister Polly Crawford. In 
testimony whereof, the said Coles set his hand and seal, ou 
the 10th day of July, 1819." 

The motion for a new trial, which had been made in the 
case at the September term, 1824, was not decided at that 
term, and the case went over to the March term, 1825. At 
this terraofthecourt Judge Samuel McRoberts presided, who 
overruled the motion for a new trial at once. Between Sep- 
tember 1824 and March 1825, the legislature passed an act 
releasing all penalties incurred under the act of 1819 (in- 
cluding those sued for) upon which Coles was prosecuted. 
The law required a condition jirecedentto the release of the 
penalties, the execution of a bond that the negroes should 
not become a charge upon any county in the state, and that 
all the costs of the suit and damages incurred should be 
paid. To enable the defendant to take advantage of this 
act at the June term, it was moved at the same time to set 
aside the verdict and judgment to enable him to plead puii- 
ne darrein continuance. McRoberts proved equal to 
this last phase of the case ; he overruled the motion for a 
new trial and rejected the plea, holding that the legislature 
could not make a law to bar the recovery of the penalty in 
this case. The judge, however, was not able to prevent the 
defendant from taking an appeal to the Supreme Court of 
the state. This appeal was taken at the June term of the 



162 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



court at Vandalia, 1826. The Judgment of the Circuit 
Court was reversed \ik1 the cause remanded with instruc- 
tions to receive the defendant's plea. The case was argued 
before the Supreme Court by Henry Starr for Coles aud 
Turner and Keynolds for the county of Madison. 

The case was finally disposed of in July term 1?27, as 
will be seen from the following extract of the records : 

The county commissioners of Madison county vs. Edward 
Coles. On motion it is ordered that the judgement of the 
Supreme Court rendered in this cause be spread on the re- 
cord of this court, which is in the following words, to wit : 
" At this day came again the parties aforesaid by their at- 
torneys aforesaid, and the court having diligently examined 
and inspected as well the records and proceedings aforesaid 
as the judgement given upon the same and being now suffi- 
ciently advised of and concerning the premises. For that 
it appears to the court, that in the records and proceedings 
aforesaid and also in the rendition of the judgement afore- 
said, there is manifest error. It is considered by the court 
that for that error and others in the records aud proceed- 
ings aforesaid, that the judgement aforesaid be reversed, an- 
nulled and entirely for nothing esteemed, and that the 
aforesaid plaintift' be restored to all things which he may 
have lost by reason of the judgement aforesaid. It is 
further considered that the proceeding be remanded with 
directions to the Circuit Court to receive the defendant's 
plea upon his paying costs, etc. 

September term 1824. This term was held immediately 
after the most exciting election on the convention question, 
and the reader need not be surprised that 42 cases of assault 
and battery were put on the docket. There were 3 cases 
of kidnapping disposed of by heavy fines, to wit : S600 
and various and diverse " lashes well laid on, " ordered and 
decreed. 

March term 1825 — Samuel McRoberts, judge, Emanuel 
J. West, clerk by appointment of the judge, who was not 
at all friendly disfiosed to Joseph Conway, former clerk — 
now superseded. 

Palemou H. Winchester, a prominent member of the bar, 
•was indicted at this term for murder, the second case of 
that crime in Madison county. Winchester had slain a 
certain Daniel D. Smith for pasquilling Mrs. Col. S :e- 
phenson, mother-in-law of Winchester. Smith was the 
great caricaturist, the Nast or Kepler, of the times, and his 
cartoons, pen or pencil sketches only had quite a renown. 
In this case his caricature had become a pasquil, by insin- 
uating criminal intimacy between the virtuous and excel- 
lent lady mentioned above and Governor Edwards. The 
case was tried at a subsequent term. The pro.secution was 
conducted by Benjamin Mills and Alfred Cowles, the 
defense by Henry Starr of Edwardsville and the famous 
Felix Grundy of Nashville, Tennessee, formerlj' chief justice 
of Kentucky, and later, 1829, senator of the United States. 

Winchester was acquitted amidst the rejoicing of his fel- 
low citizens, men and women alike. 

Mrs. Stephenson must have been an exemplary lady, for 
it is not often that a son-in-law will take up the cudgel in 
defense of a mother-in-law, or even risk his life to avenge 



her, as Winchester did. All honor to Winchester. AVin- 
chester subsequently removed to Carlinville, Macoupin 
county, where he became the first attorney. 

William Cornelius was indicted and tried for horse steal- 
ing, the first case on record — March terra 182.5, and was — 
acquitted, nevertheless he received his 20 lashes well laid on 
for some other and minor offense. 

An uninteresting divorce case — Barbara Burton vs. Wm. 
Burton — on account of desertion was tried before Judge 
McRoberts in August 1825, at which term the judge is ac- 
cused of having persuaded the grand jury to indict Gov. 
Edward Coles for "libel." The hatred of McRoberts 
against Coles was so intense that his acts became very in- 
discreet. Washburne, in his sketch of Governor Coles, 
makes the following comments in reference to this libel 
matter : " In a temperate article in a newspaper he 
(Coles) made a legitimate criticism on some of the outrageous 
and indefensible rulings of Judge ISIcRoberts in the case of 
Midisou county against him for freeing his slaves without 
giving bonds. Eagerly seizing hold of this publication, 
the judge had the gross indelicacy to go before the grand 
jury of his own court, and by virtue of his official influence 
and position, he procured an indictment for libel against 
Governor Coles. As that was not enough, he commenced a 
civil suit against the governor, laying his damages at five 
thousand dollars. This action of McR. was as malicious 
as Has the suit of Madison county, as the sequel proved. 
A nolle prosequi, was entered in the case of indictment, and 
the civil suit was never brought to trial. The following 
letter of the governor to A. Cowles, the circuit attorney, 
shows that he never consented to the dismissal of the in- 
dictment, and that he was detei mined to probe the judge's 
conduct to the bottom. It is to be regretted that the 
answer of the circuit attorney is not to be found. 

Edwardsville, August ItJ, 1826. 

Dear Sir : Believing that I should have been able to 
prove that I had not libt lied Judge McRoberts. and explain 
how the grand jury had been induced to present me for so 
doing, it was with great regret that I heard you had thought 
proper to dismiss the prosecution. Fearing that some ma- 
licious per.son may misrepresent this transaction at some 
future day, when those who now understand it may have 
forgotten many of the details in relation to it, or perhaps 
be dead, or have removed from the country, I have deter- 
mined to ask the favor of you to give me a written answer 
to the following questions : 

Did you summon or request Judge JIcRoberts to appear 
before the Grand Jury which presented me for libeling him ? 

Did not Judge McRoberts request to see the indictment 
before it was delivered to the Grand Jury, and did he not 
examine and alter it, and if .so, what were the alterations 
made by him? 

Why was not Judge McRoberts returned as a witness on 
the back of the indictment ? 

etc., etc. E. Coles. 

A special grand jury of sixteen menbers, Thomas Lippin- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



1G3 



cott, foreman, indicted at the same term one James Clark 
for attempted rape. He was tried, found guilty, and 
sentenced to stand in the pillory f )r two hours. His fine. 
$300, was reduced, on petition of various citizens, to SIO. 

The succeeding term, March and August, 1826, offer no 
items of interest. The February term, IS'27, adjourned, be- 
cause the county authorities had neglected to select juries 
for that term. A special term was held May, 1827, to try 
" Titus," a man of color, for larceny, P. H. Winchester 
prosecuting and Thomas Ford defending him. "Titus" 
received sirty lashes well laid on, in the .settlement of liis 
larceny case. July term, 1827, was presided over by T. 
AV. Smith; Teleraachus Camp, a member of the grand jury, 
was discharged at the n quest of the grand jury from serving 
as a grand juror during the present term. 

George Harlan, Philip Aldrich and Zadock Newman 
report the jail to be in good order, and suggest the necessity 
of sweeping the rooms of the jail occasionally ! Nothing 
of interest in subsequent terra, in 1827 and 1828. 

June term, 1829. The case of the county vs. Nathaniel 
Buckmaster, sheriff", for 81928.17} arrearages, was tried 
before Judge S. D. Lockwood, and decided against the 
county. 

October term. David Dunlap indicted for murder ; papers 
lost, and case stricken from docket, October, 18-32. The 
grand jury reported the jail "insufficient" for the safe-keep- 
ing of prisoners, the door of one cell being " destitute " of a 
Jock, and a large hole having been cut through the door of 
the other cell, through which prisoners had escaped ; the 
security of the jail was "jeopardized" by the insecurity of 
the prison. — George Churchill, foreman grand jury. David 
Thorp, shame on him, was indicted, June term, 18.30, for 
Sabbath-breaking I ! June term, 1831, George Kelley was 
appointed clerk. It was afterwards made one of the charges 
against Hon. T. W. Smith, thejudge who appointed him, at 
the judges impeachment trial, January, 1833, that Kelley 
was hired by hiui to do the official work for $25, and that 
the actual earnings of the office went into the judge's 
pockets. At any rate, Kelley was superseded in 1831, 
October term, by the appointment of Jesse B. Thomas, Jr. 

The records of the court, June term, 1831, contain the 
following entry: "In consequence of the invasion of our 
northern frontier by the Indians, it is considered by the 
court that the juries be discharged from serving this court, 
many having volunteered in the service of their country. 
Two hundred volunteers have gone, and the sheriff" reports 
that a draft of two hundred more was to be expected soon. 
The court was adjourned." 

The October term, 1832, was adjourned at the request of 
the bar, after hearing the statement of governor and ex- 
governor and several other men of distinction about 
malignant cholera in St. Louis and St. Clair county, ap- 
proaching towards the " village." Nothing of interest until 
May term, 1834, when Daniel Piper was tried and convicted 
of petty larceny, and sentenced to fifteen lashes, the last I 
instance of corporal punishment of the kind in ^ladison | 
county. A strange coincident would have it, that this same 
Piper, was at the same term, sentenced to a three years' 



service in the penitentiary at Alton, as the first convict from 
this count)', thus " blending," as it were, the age of pillory 
and lash with that of modern modes of punishment. 

William E. Starr was appointed clerk of the circuit court 
April, 183 5. November special term, 1834, was the last 
term over which Judge T. W. Smith presided, having been 
succeeded by Hon. Sidney Breese. 

By act of legislature, January 7, 1835, all laws re(iuiring 
the justices of the supreme court to hold the circuit courts 
were repealed, and it was provided that there should be 
elected by the General A.ssembly, five judges in addition to 
the one then authorized by law, who should preside in the 
several circuit courts then or thereafter required to be held 
in the several counties of the state. The first term un<ler 
this new arrangement was held in March, 1835 ; Hon. 
Thomas Ford presided in place of Hon. Sidney Breese, as 
agreed between themselves ; Jesse B. Thomas, Jr. attended 
as attorney general, W. E. Starr as clerk, and Tlioinas G 
Lofton as sheriffs L. S. Wells was foreman of the grand 
jury. No cases of interest tried. From August term, 1835, 
Hon. Sidney Breese presided at the various terms of the 
court for years, at one of which, April special, 183C, sheriff" 
T. G. Lofton was tried on an indictment for palpable 
omissions of duty, found guilty and sentenced to pay a 
fine of $10. Lofton was terribly indignant at this verdict 
and sentence, and resigned his office at once. The balance 
of the term was filled by James Wilson, coroner, and under 
the law successor to the office of sheriff in certain con- 
tingencies. 

John T. Clark, indicted for murder, name of victim un- 
known to writer, found guilty of manslaughter and sent to 
the penitentiary for three years. James F. Djvier went 
there for two and-a-half years on being convicted of forgery. 

George W. Olney officiated as prosecuting attorney in 
1838, in place of his father, Attoruev General G. W. 
Olny.* 

* It might he stated here that he wa.s the last resident of M.idison 
county who hold a state office. He resigned in 1839, and since then no 
Madisonian ha,« graced an office at the State Capitol. Madison counly 
gave, in the persons of Edward Coles and Niniau Edwards, in 1822 and 
1826 two governors ; in .Samuel D. Lockwood in 1822, a secretary of 
state, in him previously (1S21): in James Semple, 1833; Jesse U. 
Thomas, jr., 1835 ; and G. W. Olney ( 1835), attorneys-general. Three 
of the twenty-one distinguished United Stales senators from Illinois, to 
wit : Xinian Edwards, Jesse B. Thomas and James Semple, hail from 
Madison county. Robert Smith of Alton represented the congres.sional 
district, of which Madison forms a part, from 1843 to 1849, and from 
1S57 to 18-59- An amusing incident, characteristic of the parties con- 
cerned, occurred lo Smith at Highland during his last campaign. He 
had put up there at the well and favorably known Highland House, 
owned by Jacob Weber, Esq-, an unHinching democrat and glowing ad- 
mirer of S. A. Do»igla,s. Weber had learned that Smith wa.s making 
the campaign tiiis lime as a republican, and received him rather indif- 
ferently. Smith, who could or would not understand why, kept talk- 
ing to Weber about his (Smith's) many friends in Highland, and how 
he would like to have (hem all there at Mr. Weber's to h>ave a social 
chat, and perhaps a social gla.s3 with him ; bnt had no time to remain, 
etc., etc. He wound up by leaving a larger amount of money on the 
counter than his legitimate bill amounted to. Weber pushed the sur- 
plus back, .saying: "This is a heap" too much. Smith insisted that 
Weber should keep the money and make it a treat to those friends tluit 



1G4 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



1839. August Term. Judge Breese appointed W. Tyler 
Brown clerk of the circuit court ; John Adams was sheriff, 
elected iu 1838. Adams died before the expiratiou of his 
term. 

^ Solomon Keopfli, of Highland ; Dr. Fred. Humbert, of 
Alton ; Anthony Teipel and Dennis Lane were naturalized. 

James W. Smith, a counterfeiter, was sentenced to four 
years hard labor in the penitentiary ; William Bell, three 
years; Jeremiah Doyle, one and a half years; Joseph Vanie, 
one year ; Reuben Shuster, five years"; and Julius Scott, two 
years, all on charges of larceny. 

In 1840, "Winfield Shoutts and C. R. Walter were sen- 
tenced to two years and one year respectively for similar 
crimes. 

A larger number (nine) went to the penitentiary in 1841. 
Wilkinson Edwards, for administering poison, five years ; 
George Small, five years ; John Morgan, four years ; Henry 
Theile and John Adams, each three years ; Nathaniel How- 
ard, Hiram Sweezy, and Martin Benson, each one year — all 
thieves ; and James C. McManneman, a burglar, also, one 
year. 

In 1842, William Hopewell Henry Knight and James 
Greely, each twelve years, for robbery ; John MuKiustry, 
three years ; and James Keagor, two years and four months 
for larceny. 

1843. May Term. Hon. James Semple on the bench. 

The following prisoners were sentenced to the penitentiary : 
For burglary — Theodore Brown, ten years; John Wilkinson, 
two and a half years; and Tyrell Hall, one year. For lar- 
ceny: George Jones and William Price, each five years. 

In October, 1843, and May and October, 1844, court was 
held by Hon. James Shields, who sent W. J. Russell, Lewis 
Williams, and Benjamin Caldwell each one year to peniten- 
tiary for larceny. 

1845. May and October Terms. Hon. Gustavus Koerner^ 
of Belleville, on the bench ; with W. H. Bissell as prosecut- 
ing (then called circuit) attorney. Andrew Miller, sheriff. 
W. J Anderson and W. W. Pulliam were â– sentenced to pen- 
itentiary, each two years, for passing counterfeit paper 
money ; and William Williams eight years fer larceny. 

1846. May Term. Hon. D. Caton on the bench, as agreed 
between him and Hon. G. Koeruer. John Cain and Edward 
Hanley were each sentenced to five years penitentiary ; and 
J. A. White one year, on charges of larceny. 

1846. October Term. Hon. Gustavus Koerner presiding. 
James Harris was convicted of larceny, and sentenced to two 
years ; Israel Mayfield, manslaughter, eight years. 

The grand jury, presided over by Hiram Arthur, Esq., 
presented an indictment for murder against Wilson Penny, 
Robert Bailey, William Bailey, Jeremiah Claypole, Jack- 
son Pelham, Jacob Lewis, Martin T. Kurtz, Josiah Pres- 
wood, William Matthews, Stephen Gaskill, John Gaskill, 
John Cormack, Daniel Robinson, John Teter, Luke Towns- 
end, George Morfit, Daniel Berkey, Samuel Seybold, Zacha- 
riah Chance, Abner Clark, Charles Sjjangler, James Clark, 

Smith had wanted to see, but who had failed to come. "Ah," said 
Wt'her, '• tliatis too much 'anyhow,' forvoii have not friends enough in 
Ilighhuid to drink it up in a year." 



William Norris, Milton Blackburn, James White, Duanc 
Nichols, Andrew Simpson, Green Simpson, James Moore, 
Matthew Nichols, Samuel Teter, Francis M. McMahan, 
Samuel Hall, Guy Morrison, and W. T. Edgar. 

The files of criminal papers having been destroyed, as 
heretofore mentioned, the indictment itself cannot be repro- 
duced. The circumstances of the case are known to many of 
the older residents of the county, and may be briefly stated. 
A certain man named Duncan had made his house iu T. 3, 
8, near the blufts a rendezvous for people of lax morals, much 
to the annoyance and chagrin of the respectable people of 
the vicinity. It is said that Bob O'Blennis of St. Louis, 
together with other characters of his ilk, gamblers and worse 
than gamblers used to celebrate their orgies there in common 
with women of the town. In order to rid the county of this 
nuisance, a number of the best citizens concluded to buy 
Duncan's farm with a view oi making him leave. An obliga- 
tionbinding on the subscribers, was drawn up in writing and 
communicated to Duncan, who was to have his property paid 
for, with the understanding, however, that he had to vacate 
the place and the vicinity at a stated day. Duncan refused 
the offer, and it is said had his place well supplied with arms 
and ammunition, and made preparation to have it thor- 
oughly "garrisoned" on ^'moving" day. In order to avoid 
violence, the citizens on the other hand, sent a delegation to 
Duncan Fort on a prior day. The number of this delega- 
tion increased on the way to Duncan's by volunteers, falling 
in line along the road. Duncan was not found at home; he 
had gone fishing in company with one of his lady associates. 
The party found them near the lake, in the bottom, and sur- 
rounded them. During the parley the woman mentioned, 
drew a revolver and discharged it, however, without injuring 
any one. The fire was returned and Duncan was killed. 
It was never ascertained by whom. The case remained on 
the docket for several years. Many of the parties indicted 
were nol. pros, and remaining defendants applied for 
and obtained a change of venue to St. Clair county. They 
were ably defended by Hons. Lyman Trumbull and Joseph 
Gillespie, and finally acquited. 

The Mexican war had by this time absorbed all public 
interest, and there were no cases of any consequence tried 
for a year. 

There were, of course courts held, and grand juries called 
to see that the laws -of the land were respected, and not 
being able to capture larger game, thegrand juries contented 
themselves with indicting people for selling liquor without 
license and for similar offenses. 

In order to show that the memory of the patriots, who had 
taken the field against the foreign enemy was cherished at 
home we introduce here the proceedings of the circuit court 
of Madison county, had on August 16, 1838, at length. 
They are taken from the records verbatim ei literatim. 

Madison County Circuit Court — August Term, 1S47, Hon. Gustavus 
Koerner presiding. August 16. 

At this day the attorneys of the court, by E. Keating, Esq., pre- 
sented and read to the court the proceedings of ameeting of the mem- 
ber of the bar of this court held to take proper'notice of the death of 
Franklin Miles and Lauristou Kobbins, late attorneys and councillors 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



165 



of this court, anil tlie court having been very feelingly and appropri- 
ately addressed upon the occasion by Messrs. Keating, Gillespie and 
Bissell, and joining in the sentiments expressed in the said proceed- 
ings, that the same be spread at length upon the recoril in words as 
follows : 

'•Whereas the bar of the Madison County Circuit Court have re- 
ceived the painful information that two of their professional brethren 
have died while in the performance of the high and noble duty of 
volunteer citizen soldiers, the one. Captain Franklin Miles, of the 
Fifth Kjgiment of Illinois volunteer*, who w.is stricken down by 
disease on the 21th day of July, 1S47, upon his march with his com- 
pany to Santa Fe ; the other, Lieutenant L. Kobbins, of the Second 
Kegiment of Illinois volunteers, who was slain while among the ad- 
vance of his company, on the 23d day of February, 1847, upon the 
ever memorable field of Buena Vista, and feeling that a proper trib- 
ute of respect is due by the bar of Madison County to the memory of 
those who have been ornamen's to our profession, and who, in all 
their relations in life, have discharged their duties with promptness, 
Scrupulous fidelity and signal ability. 

Therefore Resolved, Tivdl \n t\vd death of onr departed brethren, the 
profession of which they were members have lost those who in life 
well and truly aided to sustain its character and reputation, and in 
the circumstances attending their death, have merited for it a new 
source of honor and pride. As citizens we respected them, as friend 
we loved them, as members of our profession we were proud of them, 
and in their death we will ever cherish their memories. 

That the duty in the |)erformance of which our brothers died, is so 
truly noble and worthy of the American citizens, that while we ex- 
press our grief for riieir death, we cannot avoid giving utterance to 
our feelings in knowing that the character of our profession has been 
thus worthily sustained. 

That we deeply sympiilhize with the bereaved friends and families 
of the departed, and truly tender them our condolence on account of 
their great and irreparable loss. 

That we will wear the usual badge of mourning tliirty days in 
honor of their memory. 

That we respectfully a.sk leave of the Honorable the Circuit Court 
of MadLson County, to have this testimonial ofourregard foi our de- 
ceased friends and brothers spread upon the records of said court. 

That a copy of the proceedings of this meeting be transmitted to 
the familitsof the deceased by the chairman 

(• That we respectfully reque.st of the Honorable Judge of the Madi- 
eon Circuit Court, as a further token of respect for our departed 
friends and brothers, that we adjourn said court until to morrow 
morning. And in further token of respect and regard for the deceased— 

Ordered, that the court be adjourned until 9 o'clock to-morrow 
morning." 

Hon. G. Koerner presided at the Circuit Court iu March 
and August, 1848. 

D. L. Heath was sent to penitentiary for larceny — one 
year. 

Guy Morrison, Charles Spangler, Luke Towusend, W. H. 
Edgar, Daniel Berkey, J P. Moore and John Ga.skill, in- 
dicted for murder (Duncan case) were nol. pros. 

Tlie August term, 1848, was the last term of the period of 
the sixty years embraced in this sketch. 

Subsequent proceedings will be treated on pages following 
these. 

It was stated above that the offices of Justices of the 
Peac2 were made elective in the year 1827. 

A list of these officers, alphabetically arranged, will also 
be of interest to the citizens of the County ; it is here intro- 
duced : 



JUSTICES OF THE PEACE— MADISON COUNTY — 1827, tO 1849. 

Atwater, Thomas, 1834. . . . Official term. 1 years. 

*Arthur Hiram, 1835 to 1839. . . 1843 to 1848. 9 yeais. 

Allen, Row!. P., 1842 to 1843 1 year- 

*Alwood, Moses, 1847 1 year. 

*Adam3, W. R., 1847 1 year. 

Barnsback, J. L., 1827 to 1843 Ki years. 

*Bartlett, Joseph, 1835 to 1848 13 years. 

Bailey, S. G., 1837 to 1839 2 years. 

Botkin, Alexander, 1838 to 1841, resigned 3 years. 

Blakeman, Curtis, 1839 to 1842, do. do 8 years. 

Burk, Thomas B , 1843 to 1847 4 years. 

^iBrown, G. T, 1843 to 1847 4 years. 

Claypool, John, 1827 to 182S, resigned 1 year. 

Cox, Isaac, 1820 to 1835 6 years. 

Caswell, Josiah, 1831 to 1835 4 years. 

Chilton, Thomas, 1831 to 1833 2 years. 

Clement, Samuel C, 1836, resigned 

Crownover, Garrett, 1843 to 1847 4 years. 

Charter, John, 1844, died 1845 1 year. 

*Charlton, Charles, since 1847 1 year. 

*Cook, Charles, since 1847 1 year. 

*Carr, G. W., since 1847 . 1 year. 

*Cain, W. M., since 1847 1 year. 

*Duncan, Joseph, since 1827 21 years. 

Dugger, Jarrot, 1827 to 1831 4year8. 

Dugger, John C, 1831 to 1839 8 year. 

*Dugger, Wesley, since 1847 1 year. 

*Dorsey N. M , since 1847 1 year. 

Elliot, Thomas, 1838 to 1839 1 year. 

Eaton, H. K., 1839 to 1843, and from 184G to '47 5 years. 

*Edwards, John, since 1843 5 years. 

Flagg, Gersham, 1831 to 183"> 4 years. 

*Ferguson, John L., since 1843 5 years. 

Gillham, Thomas, from 1827 to 1835 8 years. 

Greathouse, John, 1831 to 1834, movtd away 3 years. 

Graham, George, 1831 to 1835 4 years. 

Garrett, Robert, 1837 to 1839 2 years. 

Gillespie, Joseph, 1837 to 1839 2 years. 

Gillespie, Matthew, 1839 to 1843 4 years. 

*Gilliland, Alexander, since 1847 1 year. 

Hudson, Jonathan, 1832 to 1830, resigned 4 years. 

Harnsberger, Ephraim, 1835 to 1841, when he resigned, was 

re-elected in 1843 to 1847 10 years. 

Hundley, J. B., 1843 to 1847 4 years. 

Ives, John, 1839 to 1843 4 years. 

Johnson, Stephen, 183.5, resigned 183G 1 year. 

Job, Mosis, 1840 to 1843 3 years. 

Kell, William, 1831 to 1839 8 years. 

Kimball, George, 1838 to 1839 1 year. 

Kill, Jacob, from 1839 to 1843, and 1846, to '47 5 years. 

*Look, Horace, 1828 to 1835, and since 1840 14 years. 

Marsh, Ephraim, 1827 to 1831 4 years. 

Meeker, Daniel, 1827 to 1831 4 years. 

Miller, William, 1831 to 1832 1 year. 

Martin, William, 1835 to 1837, resigned 2 years. 

Mason, Hail, 1835 to 1839 4 years- 
Matthews, Abraham, 1843 to 1847 4 years. 

*Maxey, J. A., since 1843 5 years. 

*Meeker, O., since 1847 1 year. 

*Moine(?) Jacob, since 1847 1 year. 

Ogle, William, 1827 to 1831 4 years. 

Owen, J. P., 1839 to 1843 4 years. 

Olive, Abel, 1835 to 1843 and 1815 to '47 10 years. 

Pearce, James, 1827 to 1831 4 years. 

Prickelt, David, 1829 to 1835 6 yeans. 

Pcarcy, Henry, 1831, moved away 



166 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



I'inckard, "W. G., from 1837 to 1848 -lOyears. 

*Pearce, William, since 1847 1 ycai\ 

Renfio, Jesse, 1828 to 1831 . . . 3 years. 

Khodes, Samuel W.. 1827 to 1831 4 years. 

Kandle, Barton, 1828, resigned 1830 2 years. 

Reynolds, James, from 1833 to 1839, and from 1844 to '47 . .8 years. 

*Roseberry, Robert, since 183") 13 years. 

Randle, Jolin H., 1836 to 1843 7 years. 

Robbin.s, S. W. 1838 to 1839 2 years. 

*Randle, I. B., since 1850 8 years. 

Renfro, Sibis, 1843 to 1847 4 years. 

Reynolds, Renben, 1846 to 1847 1 year. 

ISnell, Roger, 1827 to 1831 •••.... 4 years. 

Suds, Moses, do. do 4 years. 

Seybold, Samuel, 1827 to 1843 16 years. 

Starkey, Jesse. 1827 to 1829, resigned 2 years. 

Selhorst, Ju.«tus D., 1827 to 1828, resigned 1 year. 

Starr, W. E., 1831 to 183-5, and 1839 to '43 8 years. 

Smith, George, 1831 to 1843 12 years. 

Scott, Cyrus, 183.5 to 1839 4 years. 

*Spau!(ling, Harry, since 1835 13 years 

*S'q'iire, Samuel, 1835 to 1847, resigned in 1848 12 years. 

Swett, David, 1835, died in office â–  

Smaal, Aaron, 1836 to 1841 5 years. 

Skillman, Charles, 1839 to 1843 4 years. 

*Smith, W. II, ' ] 1 year. 

«Scott, II. F., I 1 year, 

*Sawyer, S. T., ] 1 year. 

*Skinner, William, j. singe 1S47 . . . .' 1 year. 

*Stuith, Samuel, I 1 year. 

*Showalter, J G., I 1 year. 

*Suppiger Joseph, J 1 year. 

Tayloi-, John R., 183.5, moved away 1836 1 year. 

*Turner, Timothy, since 1S43 5 year.^. 

Vincent, Isham, 1827, resigned in 1828, was 

re-elected in 1831 to 1835 5 years. 

West, Emanuel, J, 1827, to 1829, resigned 2 years. 

"Wilco-x, Stephen, Jr., 1829, resigned in 1830 1 year- 
Wright, James, 1830 to 1831 1 year. 

AVheeler, Erastus, 1835 to 1846, resigned 

to fight the Mexicans 11 years. 

AVaddle, Thomas, 1835 to 1839 4 years. 

Wood, Cornelius, 1841 to 1843 2 years. 

Winship, Franklin, 1843 to 1847 4 years. 

Walker, Benjamin, 1843 to 1847 4 years. 

Webb, James, 1843 to 1847 4 years. 

â– "Warner, D. H., since 1846 1 year. 

Young, John C, 1839 to 1847 8 years. 

Names marked by asterisks (*) are the namts of Justices in office 
in 1848, and whose terms will expire in 1851. 

PKOBATE COUET. 

The probate business of the county was during the first de 
cade transacted by the same authorities, to whom the govern- 
ment of the county affairs was entrusted. An act of the 
legislature, February 10th, 1821, created a probate court 
for each county of the state. The judges of these courts were 
chosen or appointed by the legislature of the state. The 
time had not arrived, when the masses were thought com- 
petent to elect their judicial officers. It was feared that the 
dignity of the judiciary might be lost in the vulgar prac- 
tices of elections. . 

Jacob W. AValker was the first probate judge of Madison 
county, and held his first term at the house of James Mason, 
in the town of E Iwardsvillc, on the 7th of May, 1821. 



Judge Walker was his own clerk, and his records are models 
of accuracy and comprehensiveness. He resigned his oflSce 
in March, 1822, being succeeded by Judge John York. 
Sawyer, who held his first term on the 13th day of April, 
1822, and his last on the 25th of November, 1824. He was 
succeeded, January 26th, 1825, by Hon. Abraham Prickett, 
who resigned in April, 1827, succeeded by William Gillham. 
Judge Gillham officiated from July 1827, to February 9th, 
18Jy. Hon. David Prickett succeeded him, aud presided 
over the court until September 21st, 1835. His successor, 
Hon. John M. Krum, of Alton, held the position not quite 
four months. Hon. Joseph Gillespie was probate judge from 
January 4th, 1836, to August 31st, 1839. During his term, 
on the 25th of February, 1837, the office of probate judge 
was made elective by act of legislature, the tenure of office 
being four years. Hon. Matthew Gillespie, a brother of the 
former, was elected in August, 1839, and qualified on the 
31st day of that month. He in turn was succeeded in Au- 
gust, 1843, by Hon. G. W. Prickett, a son of Hon. Abraham 
Prickett, frequently mentioned in this and other chapters. 
George W. Prickett resigned his office on the 2 1st of July, 
1846, to take charge of a company of volunteers, ready to 
take the field in the war against the sister republic, Mf'xico. 
Hon. Henry K. Eaton succeeded Mr. Prickett, and con- 
tinued in office until 1857. There were 1455 estates put 
under administration during this period; 1819 to 1849; 10 
in 1819; 15 in 18^9; 40 in 1839, and 109 in 1849. The 
mortality in 1849 was uncommonly severe on account of the 
prevalence of the cholera in various parts of the county. 

RETROSPECT. 

During the period, 1819 to 1849, the county had been 
reduced in area to its present size, about 760 square miles. 
The population of the county, in its present limits, may have 
been 4,000 in 1820; it iva.i 6,-221 in 1830, 14,433 in 184U, 
and 20,441 at the close of the period. All the public land, 
with the exception of a few straggling forty acre tracts that 
had been overlooked, had become the property of indi- 
viduals, and been converted into thousands of productive 
farms. New towns and villages had sprung up on paper, 
and also in reality, while others mentioned in the preceding 
pages had ceased to be. Milton, for instance, a thriving 
and prosperous village, with mills, distilleries, shops, st'ires 
and manufactories, had gone out of existence, and its lots, 
valued at from three hundred to eight hundred dollars each 
in 1820, are not mentioned as lots any longer in the tax- 
books of the county. The paper town, Madison (laid out by 
Allen in the Marine settlement), Augusta, (Parkinson's 
town in section 3, range 6), Fitz-James, in section 4, range 
5, or section 5, range 5, Mount Auburn, Chippewa, Gibral- 
tar, at or near the mouth of Wood river, had come and 
gone. 

Other towns laid out during the period of the sjieculation 
in town property have remained, as for instance, Collins, 
ville. Highland Marine, Venice, Monticello and Troy. Troy, 
Alton, Venice and Edwardsville were prominent enough in 
1832 to be mentioned by European tourists in prominent and 
standard works. We read, for instance, in Heinrich Christian 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



1G7 



Gerke's " Observations made in North America," the follow- 
ing: * 

Collinsville is also meiitioneil by this author. " It con- 
sists," said he, 'of a uiill, a Methodist church, the dwelling- 
house of Mr. Collins, a brother in-law of my son, and the 
farm house of Major Post, who has a most amiable family, 
and keeps tavern." 

The work of H. C Gerke, from which these notes are taken, 
contains innumerable items of interest, and the reader will 
find many more interesting quotations from it in the chapter 
on European Immigration. 

* I iipent a most pleasant winter (1831-82) in E lward<ville. The 
town has but one street, and impaved at that! It is .situated on a 
ridge alongside the Caholiia river, has a castor oil mill, a wool- 
carding machine, a llonring and saw-mill, on theCahokia; four At- 
tornies' ofliccs, — James Semple, Thomas, Prickett and Greathonse; 
one physician, — Dr. Edwards, brother of my friend, Ninian Edward.s, 
formerly governor of the state: a po.st-office, Prickett, postmaster; 
a real esiate broker's office, — Lusk, father and son ; a newspaper 
office, — Judge Sawyer, proprietor and editor; a United States land 
office; five stores of some rnagaitude and importance, and one tavern, 
with the sign, " Washington. During the winter of my stay we had 
si.x balls and two soirees, one at Judge Smith's and the other at Mrs. 
Prickett'.s, and every .Saturday a meeting of the literary and debating 
society. On tlie 22d of February the militia was out on parade, and 
inspected by the honorable and dignified Reynolds, governor of the 
ftate, who remained four days occupying ray room at the tavern. 
Thus I got acquainted with the American city or town life. I spent 
two months on ray son'.s farm in Marine settlement, making frequent 
visits among the neighbors, and thus posted mv.self also with rural 
life in this grand republic of .\merica. I have closely observed 
everything I have h;id occasion to see; I have studied the labors of 
the American mechanic and agriculturalist as diligently as po.ssible, 
and was favorably impressed with everything I saw. The most 
striking feature of this people in Illinois is their hospitality and their 
uniform kindness to one another, and to strangers and foreigners. I 
shall always remember with gratitude how I was treated by those 
people. lUinoistown (he calls) the worst thing contained in the state, 
and mentions it only because the .St. Louis ferries make their land- 
ing there. Alton (he says) is situated on the Mississippi river, some 
twelve miles north of Edwardsville. The town is growing wonderfully. 
During my stay (one year) it increased its number of dwelling-houses 
from five to fifty. Its future growth may be materially influenced by 
the location of the national road, the terminus of which is to be either 
Alton or St. Louis. Alton is situated on lirae-rock formation, sloping 
west towards the river. The town site belongs to Mayor Hunter and 
Mr. Russell, who at first gave lots away for forty or fifty dollars, but 
now they get two hundred dollars or more for e:ich lot. Most of the town 
is still a dense forest ; but if the national road is located to Alton, it will 
greatly enhance the values and open a fine field for speculation. The 
farms of Mayor Hunter, William Lowe, Widow Morri.s, William 
Montgomery and others, are for sale, and will soon become high- 
priced. Mr. Rus.=ell has lately bought some ci^hly quarter sectivns 
of woodland, near Alton, and these lands are also in the market. 
On the blufT, near Alton, at an elevation of two hundred feet above 
the river, stands the state penitentiary, and fron) this place one can 
s?e the Mississioi, the Mi.s.souri, and also the region of the mouth of 
the Illinois river. On the side of this blufi; painted on the rock, are 
found two figures, representing the Good and the Bad Alanitou, si.xty 
feet above the surface of the water. One seems to represent the body 
of a large goo>e, head turned b.ackward.s, and arranging feathers with 
beak, the other ha.s four dragon heads. Indians make their appear- 
ance here quite frequently, and in large numbers, to worship. It is 
remarkable that the red c"lor of the Manitou never fades. 



The towns, described by Garke as he found them in 1831, 
were then the only towns in the county existing in reality, 
and they have remained the leading towns of the county to 
this day. At the close of the period 1840, tlie towns had of 
course grown and developed in keeping with the general 
progress. During this period — 1818 to 1840 — th3 county 
was represented in the state senate by George Cadwell, 1818 
to 1822,Theophilus W. S Smith, 1822 to 1826, Jo.seph Con- 
way, 1826 to 18;i4,Cyrt's Edwards 18,S4 to 1838,* George 
Churchill 1838 to 1842, George Smith 1842 to 1846,t 
and Joseph Gillespie from 184G to 1850. In the house of 
representatives we find John Howard, Abraham Prickett 
and Samuel Whiteside from 1818 to 1820 ; Joseph Borough, 
Nathaniel Buckmaster, William Ottwell, 1820 to 1822. 
Curtis Blakeman, George Churchill and E J. West, 1822 
to 1824; Curtis Blakeman, George Ciiurchill and William 
Ottwell 1824 to 1826. George Church ill and David Prickett 
1826 to 1828 ; George Chtirchill and William Jones 1828 to 
1830 ; John B. E. Canal and George Churchill 1830 to 
18)2 ; (part of Macoupin and Madison counties forming then 
one representative district) Cyrus Edwards and James Sem- 
ple 1832 to 1834 ;*'\Nathaniel Buckmaster, James Semple 
and Jesse B. Thomas Jr. 1834 to 1836. John Hogan, James 
Scrapie and Robert Smith 1836 to 1838; Williatn Ottwell, 
George Smith and Robert Smith 1838 to 1840; Cyrus Ed- 
wards, Joseph Gillespie and James Reynolds 1840 to 1842. 
Robert Aldrich, John Bailhacheand Curtis Blakeman 1842 
to 1844 ; George Barnsback, George Churchill and N. D. 
Strong 1844 to 1846; Curtis Blakeman, W. A. De Wolf and 
William Martin 1846 to 1848. Names of Senators and 
Representatives after the adoption of the constitution of 1848 
will appear hereafter. 

Madison county was represented in the constitutional con- 
ventions of 1818 by Benjamin Stephenson, Joseph Borough 
and Abraham Prickett, and in that of 1847, by Cyrus Ed- 
wards, E. M. West, Benaiah Robinson and George T. Brown. 

1849 TO 1882. 
The year 1849 found the county subdivided into sixteen 
precincts to wit : Highland, W. W. Ramsey, Joseph Suppi- 
ger and Oliver Hoy t, judges of elections; Saline, John 
Giger, J. W. Coventry and Christian Waage ; Looking 
Glass, Wesley Dugger, Joseph Miller and John Lindley ; 
Murine, W. W. McLain, Lewis L. Judd and R. P. Allen ; 
Silver Creek, Lewis Ricks, J. R. Prickett and Abel Olive ; 
Troy, George Churchill, Jesse Reufro and Jubilee Posey; 
Omph Ghent, Samuel L. Miller, Samuel Sanner and Moses 
Barber; White Rock Henry H. Snell, Archibald Lamb and 
Ale.xander Fleck ; CoUinsville, Horace Look, J. J. -Fisher 
and George MofBt ; Edwardsville, Samuel Smith, G. N. 
Kerr and Joshua Dunnagan ; Bethel, Isaac Cox, Joel U. 
Sturkey and PZdward J. Dorsey ; Upper Alton, Isaac War- 

* Madison, St. Clair and Monroe counties were entitled under the ap- 
portionment of 1,S36 to an additional senator. John D. Whiteside 
was elected in August 1.836, but resigned March 5, 1837, when James 
B. Moore was elected to fill vacancy to 1S3.8. 

t. lames .\. Tames, of Monroe was the a<ldilional sen.ator for Madi- 
son, St. Clair and Monroe counties 1842 to 1846. 



1G8 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



nock, John A. Maxey and George Smith ; Six Mile, Hiram 
Sippy, Hiram Arthur and J. W. Delaplain ; Maduon, P. S. 
Day, J- R- Gillham and Jesse Rhodes; Alto7i, William 
Hayden, John Chaney and ^lark Dixon; 3fonticello, 
Timothy Turner, Aaron P. Mason and Jusiah Randle. 

The county was dfficered as follows : Henry K. Eaton, 
county judge, wilh I. B. Randle and Samuel Squire associ- 
ates. Under the state constitution of 1848, the couutyjudge 
was ex-officio probate judge, and he, with the associates were 
entrusted with the civil government of the county. 

John A. Prickett, was county clerk ; Andrew Miller, 
sheriH"; William Gill, coroner^ E. S. Brown, treasurer; E. 
/ M. West, school commissioner j'^Benaiah Robinson, surveyor; 
and W. Brown, clerk of the circuit court and recorder. Hon. 
W. H. Underwood, of St. Clair, was judge of the second 
judicial circuit of which Madison formed a part. 

GOVERNMENT OF THE COUNTY — FIRST COUNTY COURT 1849 

TO 1853. 

Henry K. Eaton, judge, I. B. Randle and Samuel Squire 
associates. 

One of the first measures of this court was to bring order 
into the financial chaos, mentioned on a former page in this 
chapter. The judge caused the following order to be enter- 
ed, to wit: The subject of borrowing money or levying a 
special tax in view of the depressed state of the county 
finances, and the depreciated value of the county orders, 
having been frequently submitted to the consideration of the 
court by many of the tax paying citizens of the county, and 
the court being desirous to pursue such a course in the 
premises as a wise and prudent policy would dictate, have 
this day appointed Fred. T. KraSV, Esq., an agent to make 
inquiry and obtain information on the following points, to 
wit : From whom money can be borrowed, the amount from 
each individual, at what rate of interest from each, for what 
length of time the loan from each can be had, and to make 
his report at the March term, 1850. The report, if ever 
made, was not recorded and cannot be found among the files. 
It is to be presumed that Mr. KraflT; reported verbably that 
no money could be had except at ruinous rates of interest, for 
the court raised the tax rate to 75 cents on the assessed value. 
The appointment of a fiscal agent was of very questionable 
propriety at any rate, for it created a new office, for which 
no provision had been made by the fundamental law. The 
officers authorized by law should attend to the public affliirs 
and if the controlling officers attend strictly and diligently 
to their duties, confusion and financial misery need not be 
feared. The sj'stera of " financial agents " of the county has 
been the cause of great losses to the county. As long as the 
" fiscal agent " was an outsider, no harm came from the 
system, but in later years it became the practice that the 
controlling officer — the county judge — made himself the 
fiscal agent, to borrow money for county purposes and dis- 
burse it together with the revenue raised by taxation. The 
system, with some interruptions, existed for 24 years. 

The court, in 1849, aided the construction of a plank-road 
from Edwardsville to Venice by granting to the plank-road 
company the right of way, 22 feet ofi" of the right hand 



side of the county road, free from charge and al>o the use 
of the embankment across Wet Prairie, and of the county 
bridges, on the condition that the company keep the bridges 
across Cahokia and Long Lake in repair. In case that new 
bridges became necessary, the company were to pay each 
one half of the costs. 

At the March term, 1850, large claims for taking care of 
paupers were presented, and Judge Eaton caused the fol- 
lowing to be spread on the record : The court do conclude 
and adjudge that these claims cannot be allowed, for the 
reason, that the county finances are not in condition to war- 
rant it, that the allowance of them and many others of the 
kind, which have been presented to the court, would open 
the door for such a flood of claims for pauper services, 
as if paid would nearly, if not entirely, exhaust the 
whole revenue of the county. The court have furnished a 
Poor House for such paupers with a view of lessening the 
county expenses for taking care of them, and if persons 
will make heavy bills on account of paupers apart from the 
Poor House, they must do it at their own risk. 

The Collinsville Plankroad company obtained the same 
privileges granted to the Edwardsville company. 

1850 JUNE TEEM. 

W. W. Jones, who had contracted with the county for 
keeping the Poor House, was released and a new contract 
entered into with Robert Stewart, who was to have $624 per 
annum, for keeping, feeding, clothing and nursing the in- 
mates, i)rovided their average number was not more than 
six. For every additional one, Stewart was to be paid $2 00 
per week. 

1850-JULY TERM-DEATH OF E. S. BROWN. 

At a special term of the county court of Madison county, 
held on the 18th of July, 1850, the following preamble and 
resolutions were adopted : 

" Where.\s since the last adjournment of this court, it has 
pleased the all wise and merciful Creator of the universe to re- 
move from our midst our esteemed associate, Edward S. Brown, 
late treasurer and assessor of Madison county ; and Whereas 
we are desirous of rendering a tribute of respect to the 
memory of our deceased friend who has endeared himself to 
us by his many virtues and manly deportment, therefore be 
it 

Ee-iolved, That while we humbly submit to the decrees of 
God, we deeply deplore the untimely death of our friend and 
fellow citizpn Edward S. Brown ; that in his death the 
county of Madison has lost an able, impartial and faithful 
officer, and the community a valuable and worthy citizen ; 
That we deeply sympathize with the bereaved family and 
friends of the deceased in their sad affliction ; and That the 
clerk of this court present to the family of the deceased a 
copy of these resolutions and also cause the same to be pub- 
lished in all the public newspapers of the county. 

The grand jury of the county memorialized the court on 
the subject of dramshop licenses in the fall of 1850 as fol- 
lows; That they (the grand jury) find a number of those 
who become inmates of the jail and the poor house addicted 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



1G9 



to the use of ardeut spirits, and in consequence become 
charges to the county, they believe the granting of license 
to keep groceries at the usual low rates is the cause of much 
intemperance and crime, and recommend to the court that 
hereafter no grocery licenses be granted for less than §100, 
believing that if the rates shall be materially raised, there 
will be fewer groceries and less intemperance, poverty and 
crime in our county. The court acted promptly on this sug- 
gestion by raising the license to SI 00. 

The autumn election of 1850 resulted in the election of 
Andrew Miller and N. G. Edwards, as members of the House 
of Representatives, Fred. T. Krafft, Sheriff, William Gill. 
Coroner, and Thomas W. Yates, Treasurer, in place ofE. S. 
Brown, deceased. 

At the close of the yesrr the court caused the clerk to pre- 
pare a statement of the outstanding county orders, from 
which statement it appears that this floating debt amounted 
to about $35,078.17 ; "about" because a large number of 
county orders, supposed by W. T. Brown, former clerk, to 
have amounted to S1700, were paid and destroyed in 1843 
without being canceled on the books. Mr. Prickett had re- 
ported $30,778.17 as unpaid, and then the court deducted the 
above amount of §1700, leaving an apparent debt of S35.- 
078-17. 

The county revenue of 1850 was $17,550.44, and the ex- 
penditures — Roads and bridges. §6.987.79; Courts and offi- 
cers 84..599.71 ; Paupens, 82.797 15; Jail, 8439.11 ; Election, 
$12740. Interest, 81868.86, amounting to 816820 02; leav- 
ing a surplus of $730.42. The court had trouble with the 
deputy assessors on account of their " unheard of" charges, 
and ordered that hereafter their officers should i)resent 
itemized accounts, duly authenticated and certified by the 
county assessor. The clerk was instructed to make settle- i 
inents and report what he had done Mr. Prickett reporied in 
March 1851 that he had paid 87.38.00 for the assessment of 
1850, which report was sanctioned by the court. 

A ludicrous error occurred about the Alton assessment. 
Lewis Kellenberger, appointed deputy county assessor for 
Alton, was at the same time the assessor of the city, and had, 
as such to make two assessments, one for city, and the other 
for state purposes. As city assessor he found the Alton 
taxable property to be worth $1,082,549, while as deputy 
county assessor he found the same property to be worth only 
$771.5.56, a diflerence of 8310.993. He, however, made by 
mistake, return of the city assessment to the clerk, who pro- 
ceeded to extend state taxes on city valuations, and in this 
manner the state tax of Alton was about 30 per. ct. higher 
than Kellenberger had intended it to be. Doctors are said | 
to dislike taking their own medicine, but, nevertheless, it 1 
may sometimes be well to do so. 

The first report of the county school commission was filed 
in the court on the 5th of March, 1851, from which it 
appeared that there were then 65 school-houses in the county, 
that 2753 children had attended the schools during the year, 
that the township school funds amounted to §4000, — and 
that there were four school-libraries in existence, at Alton, 
Upper Alton, Edwardsville and Colliusville. The tax levy 
for the year was again 75 cts. per $100, of Which 4-15 was 



appropriated towards reducing the county debt. The as- 
sessed value, Alton property excluded, amounted to 82 784.- 
775. A subsequent report of the county debts shows an 
actual reiluction of $5,765 02. The measures of economy of 
this court were in many cases too rigorous and at times un- 
just. As an instance it may be related that the treasurer 
of the county in 1851 was allowed a compensation of $10.00 
only, because the collector had made his returns to the 
county court direct, instead of through the t rea.su rer, who 
ought to have known that the law gave him 1 per. cent, 
both on receipts and disbursements. Mr. Yates should have 
received 8356.40 instead of $10. A grand jury report in 
reference to the poor house was submitted to the court, in 
which the examining committee recommended to the court, 
that more attention be bestowed upon this institution (poor- 
house) by their honorable bodj' (meaning the court) by vis- 
iting frequently the institution and seeing that the persons 
employed perform their duties and secure a little more com- 
fort to the unfortunates confined there. 

The county bought 100 acres of land in section 4, town- 
ship four, range eight, of B. J. Head, two miles west of the 
court-house, intending it for a poor-farm, and ordered the 
forty acres heretofore bought for that purpose to be sold at 
public sale ; Mr. KraflPt became the owner of that tract and 
paid for it in jNIarch, 1853. The poor house expen.'ies, with 
an average number of thirteen inmates, amounted to 82 074, 
or about $160 per capita. This is a great deal of money, 
much greater than it should have been, and it is not to be 
wondered at that the county authorities contemplated a 
change in the system. Many claims presented to the court 
for allowances, bear evidence of the court's displeasure; we 
will here introduce a few marginal remarks in the unmis- 
takable handwriting of Judge Eaton. A county printing 
office had presented a bill of $50 for two plain record books- 
The following sentence is endorsed on this bill : " The court 
allows this claim, although it looks upon it as an extortion.' 
A store account of $41.25 is endorsed by Eaton as follows; 
"$41.25 allowed, but members of the court do complain of 
the excessive amounts for medicines, an unheard of charge 
until last year, also of whisky for the poor house at 82 per 
gallon ! of brooms, what can the county want with a dozen 
of brooms at one time ? Some of the articles of stationery 
for the court-house, such as blotting-paper at 40 cents a 
quire, and so many quires (10) at once, etc." 

At the June term, 1852 Joseph Suppiger, F. Ryhiner, 
Garritt Crownover, Christian Kuhnen and W. Fisher, all 
citizens of Highland, presented the following memorial to 
the court : 

'' The untler.'iigned, a committee .ippointed at a meeting of the citi- 
zens of Highland, held on the 11th of June, for the purpose of making 
fiome regulations for the purpose of nursing and attending the sick and 
burying the dead, in case our place should again be visited, as in 
1849, by cholera, respectfully urge the Hon. County Court to appoint 
an overseer of the poor for (he Highland district. Some symptoms of 
this dreadful scourge have made their appearance amongst us, and 
can.sed us to hold the meeting mentioned above. Generally, in the 
spring, and until the latter part of July, the greatest number of immi- 
grants arrive ; and those coming in June and July are more apt to 
carry the seed of sickness in their system. The influx of immigration 



170 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



cannot be stopped ; there are no laws proliibiting strangers to settle 
among us, nor Jo we wish for any siicli laws ; but, of course, we have 
to take the bad consequences together with the good, and a wise com- 
munity ought to prepare in time to avoid the worst, and to alleviate 
the sufferings of our fellow beings. It is not only these new comers, 
but very often poor, single individuals, who have been living for some ! 
time among ns, that are taken suddenly, and, having no relatives or 
friends to lake proper care of tiiem, are sent adrift, and for want of 
care sufiTer often dreadfully, even beyond description, and if they have 
the good luck to die, there is nobody to have them deceatly buried. 
In such emergencies it is absolutely necessary to have an overseer of 
the poor ready to attend to the business. There were cases here where 
fuch duties were denied for some lime. And it is another important 
requirement, besides the appointment of such over.«eer, that such over- 
seer be not restricted in the manner in which the order of the County 
Court of the 27th of December, 1850, did restrict all former overseers. 
There is no possibility in most of the cases to make timely application, 
and if it should be in time, and the paiients could be brought to the 
poor liouse, we presume that llie citizens of Edwardsville would object 
to such importations, and more so for dead bodies than only sick per- 
sons. Whenever it comes to such a pass, even the most benevolent 
families will refuse to receive the victims into their houses. And if 
there is no overseer of the poor to act in such cases, whose duty is it to 
act? Several applications have been made these last three or four 
weeks to the former overseer, who does not consider himself empower- 
ed to give any orders, and made only arrangements with the provisi , 
that the agent, hereafter to be appointed by your honors, would ratify 
the measures taken. It is impossible to apply to the County Court in 
such emergencies, — the distance forbids any such attempts and princi- 
pally in cases of death, where putrefaction sets in quicker than in all 
other di.«eases. The committee would respectfully recommend Doctor 
Theophilus Bruckner, as a fit and proper subject for such an over- 
seer, he being a young physician, and able to make the necessary 
discrimination ; and, as neither sickness nor death waits for conveni- 
ence, and as there is at no other .season of the year the same necessity 
as at present, they would urge to the Hon. Court the absolute needful- 
ness of immediate action, and to send out the appointment of such an 
overseer, — and, further, to make such orders and not restrictions as 
would directly annul all the benefits intended by the framers of the 
.statute of our state. All of which is respectfully submitted to your 
Hon. body." 

The court appointed Dr. Bruckner at once, as Joseph Sup. 
piger had peremptorily refused to act The fears of the 
citizens of Highland were too well founded. The plague 
made its appearance, and a dreadful mortality ensued. 

The county revenue of 1851 was larger than ever before, 
amounting to $23,342.93, and quite an amount was appro- 
priated in the support of the dying and friendless immi- 
grants at Highland. 

The tax levies were not lowered in subsequent years ; 
tliey amounted to §27,506.57 in 1852, and to §27,114 53 in 
1853. 

T. W. Yates was re-elected treasurer in 1851, and J. R. 
Woods succeeded Mr. West as school commissioner. 

In 1852, Joseph Gillespie was re-elected to the state senate, 
S. A. Buckmaster and Thomas J udy became members of the 
lower house, C A. Murray sheriff, and S- W. Eobbins coro- 
ner. Hon. W. H. Bissell, of St. Clair, was re-elected repre- 
sentative of the first congressional district of Illinois. 

SECOND COUNTY COUET 1853-1857. 

Henry K. Eaton, county judge, and D. D. Collins and 
Joseph Chapman, associate justices. John A. Prickett wad 



re-elected county clerk, J. W. Terry was elected school 
commissioner, T. W. Yates treasurer and W. E. Wheeler 
county surveyor, with Joseph Burnap as surveyor of the 
western district of the county. 

The building of the present courthouse was the principal 
public work done during this administration. The people 
of the county were greai ly agitated about it, a large number 
making strenuous efforts in opposition. The question of 
dividing the county was again mooted, and this very agita- 
tion nerved the court in its proceeding to build, in order to 
put a quietus on the opposing element. Petitions pro and 
con. poured in from every part of the county, and we shall 
here introduce two samples, to wit : " The petition of the 
voters of Madison county respectfully sheweth : That they 
regard with feelings of lively emotion, all measures which 
have for their object the advancement of the welfare of the 
community of which they form a part ; while, on the other 
hand they deprecate, as injurious, all schemes that tend, by 
undue agitation, to di.<turb public tranquillity, or on slight 
pretences, to destroy the order of long established institutions. 
Of this latter character they deem all attempts to dismember 
the old and respectable county of Madison. They have 
learned with regret, that it is in the contemplation of some, 
to divide and form a new county by cutting off a large por- 
tion of Madison. They believe that such a measure would 
be injurious to all concerned; it would destroy the political 
importance of both the counties, while, as a matter of ex- 
penditure, it would increase the cost to the whole people. 
Two sets of buildings would have to be erected in the first 
instance, and in all future time there would be rendered 
necessary an increased taxation for county purposes. 

" With a view to quiet this matter and secure the solid 
advantages of certainty and repose to every part of our 
county, they deem it politic and proper to erect, on a scale 
commensurate with the wants of the people, the convenient 
administration of justice, the safety of the public records, 
and the growth of a free and prosperous people, suitable 
public buildings at the present county seat. As yet, the 
people of this county have expended little or nothing for 
public buildings, the court-house now in use having been 
erected at the expense of the citizens of Edwardsville. These 
buildings are unsafe, inconvenient, uncomfortable and un- 
worthv of the county ; and in our opinion, the period has 
arrived when they should be replaced with others of a more 
permanent, convenient and substantial character. 

'The undersigned, therefore, pray the Honorable County 
Court to take such measures, as in its wisdom shall seem 
best, to cause the erection of suitable public buildings, on a 
scale calculated to serve the present and future wants of the 
people of this county." And now — audiatur et allera pars. 

We, the undersigned tax-payers of Madison county, 
respectfully remonstrate against the recent order of the 
county court in relation to building a new court-house. 
Believing, as we do, that the building cannot be prosecuted 
as contemplated by the court without creating a large interest 
bearing debt, which will have to be met by an increased 
rate of taxation, and believing this to be bad policy at any 
time, and more especially in the present condition of the 










COURT HOUSE. 

PUBUC BU/LDINGS, MADtsoN county, edwardsville, ill. 



HISTORY OF 21 A D ISO N CO UN IT, ILL I XO IS. 



171 



money matters of the county ; we, therefore, respectfully 
request your Hon. Body to suspend the execution of the 
orders referred to for the present season, etc., etc 

This petition was presented by J. T. Debam, who added 
the following postscript : There have 32 tax-payers signed 
this remonstrance. Every man that saw it, signed it, and 
if any person could have had time to have gone around and 
presented it, every man that has to pay taxes would opi)Ose 
the building of a new court-house. In Montieello precinct, 
I have no fears of vouching for Josiah Raudle, etc , etc., 
mentioning every man in the towuship! 

The court itself was not unanimous, as will be seen by the 
solemn protest of the member from the western part of the 
county, the Hon. Joseph Chapman, in words as follows: 

Madison county court, March term 18.55; whereas, con- 
trary to the wishes of a large majority of the people of this 
county, as the undersigned believes, the majority of this 
court at this term has passed an order to build a court- 
house in the town of EJwardsville, and whereas, there is no 
recourse left to ihe undersigned but to protest against the 
said order, therefore the undersigned asts that his protest 
may be placed upon the record of this court. 

• JcsEPH Chapm.vn. 

The order against which Mr. Chapman protested was 
very brief: That the court appoint Joseph Gillespie, 
Michael G. Dale, Wm. T. Brown, Fred. T. KrafTc and Jno. 
A. Prickitt a committee to decide upon the best plan of a 
court-house suitable for the county, and that a new court- 
house be built. 

It is said that it took a great deal of argument and reasoning 
to get the Hon. D. D. Collins to vote " aye. " In fact, the 
members of the court were subjected to very bitter and ven- 
omous censure. The plans for the court-house were made 
by Charles H. Pond, who also became the contractor. The 
price agreed upon was §34,846.00, which amount was paid 
in 10 per. cent, interest bearing county bonds, the greater 
part of which was a portion of the interest bearing county 
debt, refunded in 1877. 

The court-house was completed in September 18.57, and 
was placed in charge of the sheriff" with instructions to have 
the different rooms locked and to keep intruders out. Polit- 
ical conventions, agricultural and mechanical societies had 
standing permission to hold their meetings in the court 
room, others had to get special permission from the county 
court. 

A new precinct, Alhambra, was established ]\Iarch 18-5.5, 
with poll at the house of W. J. Lowrey, and the precinct 
of Bethel, formerly Rattan's prairie, received the name 
Bethalto. 

The poor farm bought in 1852, was sold to J. R. Mel- 
drum and others in 1855. Whenever a county undertakes 
to raise corn or potatoes, it is sure to pay too much for the 
whistle, as the immortal Benjamin Franklin would say. 
During this term a substantial bridge across Cahokia creek 
on the Springfield road near Edwardsville was built under 
contract \\ith the county by D. P. Wentworth for $3,150. 
00. The county revenue during these four years amounted 



to $27,183 52; in 1854, $30,779.98, in 1855, $29 598.46, in 
1856, 830,092.40. One of the collectors during that 
period failed to settle his accounts in full. George 
Churchill and John Edwards made good the deficiency 
which amounted to $2,2.50 37. The last payment was made 
April 16, 1859, and the whole debt, including interest and 
damages, amounted to -52,583.91. 

The fiscal statements made during those four years have 
not been preserved. The writer happened to find a state- 
ment of 1858, published in a Highland newspaper. The 
county debt was stated to have been as follows : 

12 per cent, intere.st bearing county orders $2.401100 

8 per cent, interest bearing county orders 5,800.00 

6 per cent, interest bearing county orders 1,200.00 

10 per cent. int. bearing court-house bond.-; 32 846.3;') 

Floating debt-county orders 7,893.00 

Total §.50,139.3.") 

Election returns of 1S54 : 

G. T. Allen and Henry S. Baker, members of the legis- 
lature, John R. Swain, sherifl and W. G. Pinckard coroner. 

Of 1855. O. C. Drake, school commissioner and B. D. 
Berry, treasurer. Of 1856. Joseph Gillespie, senator, 
Lewis Ricks and Aaron P. Mason, representatives, Z. B. 
Job, sheriff, W. G. Pinckard coroner and T. O. Springer 
clerk of the circuit court. Of 1857. John Weaver school 
commissioner, B D. Berry treasurer, M. G Dale county 
judge, E. M. Morgan and George Stocker associates and 
John A. Prickett, county clerk. 

TUIED COUNTY COURT, 1857 TO 1861. 

M. G. Dale, Judge, E. M. Morgan and George R. .Stocker 
associate justices. 

The affairs of the county were conduc'ed with great pru- 
dence and rigid ceremony. The tax rates were not increas- 
ed although there was an additional expenditure of over 
S'5,000 interest on court-house bonds. The court succeeded 
not alone to meet all current expenses of the county but 
even to materially reduce the interest bearing debt. The 
revenue of 18.58 was $32,623,37, of 1859 833,477.37, of 
1860 $32,954.67, and of 1861 .§31,376. 12. Taxes were paid 
promptly and tax dodging was not allowed to cripple the 
administration. 

The taxable property of the county in 1858 was assessed 
at $8,712,283, of which §2,182,208 worth of property 
within the corporate limits of Alton was exetnpt from pav- 
ing a direct county tax. Alton took charge of the jiaupers 
in its corporation, and paid its proportional share of the 
other county expenses out of the city treasury, as agreed 
upon by the county court and city council. The total tax 
for the state, county and school purposes amounted in 1858 
to $90,995,67. In 1859 these valuations amounted to $8,- 
823,797, including railroad valuations, mentioned above for 
the first time, to wit : $272,137; lands were asses.sed at $3,- 
998,085; city and village proi^orty, $2,128,809; and per- 
sonal property, $2.433,766 ; the total taxes amounted to $94,- 
152,72. 



172 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



In 1860 valuation had increased to S8,932,153 and the 
taxes to $94,952 71. In 1861 the assessor returned but S8,- 
390,411 of taxable property ; the property in Alton, assess- 
ed at 82311,217 in 1859, decreased in 1861 to $1,794,036, a 
depreciation of 24 per cent. The taxes levied amounted to 
$91,270.14. ( 

Results of election in 1858 : Sarauel A. Buck master ;>5 
State Senator ; Z. B. Job and Joseph H. Sloss, members of 
the House; W. T Brown, sheriff; and James Hand, coroner. 
Philip B. Fouke, of St. Clair, was elected representative of 
the 8th congressional district, and re-elected in 1860. 

A vote on the introduction of township organization, J 
ordered in consequence of the petition of V. P. Eichmond, ! 
resulted adversely to township organization. 

1859: B. D. Berry assessor and treasurer; 1860: Cyrus 
Edwards and Garrett Crownover, members of the House of 

Representatives ; Julius A. Barnsback, sheriff; Allen, 

coroner; and T. O. Springer, clerk of the Circuit court. 
1861 : M. G. Dale, re-elected county Judge ; Constantine Ril- 
lietand W. B. Hundley, associate justices; Joseph Chap- 
man, county clerk; Nelson D. Sweeny, surveyor; W. P. 
Eaton, school commissioner ; B. D. Berry, treasurer ; Solo- 
mon Koepfli and Samuel A. Buckmaster, delegates to the 
constitutional convention. 

J FOURTH COUNTY COURT, 1861 TO 1865. 

M. G. Dale, county judge; Constantine Rilliet and W. 
B. Hundley, associate justices. Mr. Rilliet died in 1862, 
and was succeeded by Xavier Sutter. He was held in high 
esteem, and his sudden death was deplored by all who 
knew him. He was a foreign born citizen of distinction. 
Mention is made of him in the chapter on European immi- 
gration. The records of the county, December term 1862, 
containing the following resolutions, spread upon the record 
of the county court by its order. 

" Whereas, It has pleased the Allwise Ruler of the Uni- 
verse to remove from our midst, since the last meeting of 
the court, our associate justice, Constantine Relliet, 

Besolved, By the members of the court, that we have re- 
ceived with deep regret the intelligence of his death ; That 
we bear our heartfelt testimony to the strict integrity, 
gentlemanly demeanor and devotion to duty which marked 
his character ; That we tender to his family and friends 
the sincere tribute of our sympathy." 

The civil war was now raging throughout the United 
States. Young men and men of families rushed to the field 
in defense of the integrity of the Union, and it became the 
duty of the court, to see that the families of our patriotic 
men were properly provided for. Money had to be raised 
at once, as the slow process of tax-collecting could not meet 
the emergency. The court called on E. M. West, G W. 
Phillips, Joseph Gillespie and John Suppiger as members 
of a committee to aid in providing funds and distributing 
the same judiciously and economically. Large and larger 
amounts were needed as time went on, bounties bad to be 
paid in order to fill the ranks thinned out by death on the 
field of battle, or in the dreaded hospital. Every order 
of the court to borrow money was immediatly succeeded 



by another order to levy a special tax in discharge of 
temporary debts .'lo created. While many other counties 
throughout this and other states loaded themselves down 
with permanent war debts, under which some are groaning 
to this day, Madison county had raised by taxation funds, 
amply sufficient to pay off every dollar of its war debt, 
even before the war had ended ! It was a difficult task, but 
prudent government and ready tax paying accomplished it. 
The war taxes collected in Madison county amounted to 
$108,292.-59. Hon. E. M. West managed the financial part 
of this work. The moneys were disbursed in support of 
families of volunteers, in payment of bounties, interest on 
moneys borrowed and other expenses. 

Turning to the regular county expenses during the second 
term of Judge Dale's administration we find them to have 
been fully met leaving even a surplus, with revenues as fol- 
lows : 1862, $32,981.18; 1863, $33,409.05; 1864, $35,. 
098.22 ; and in 1865, $37,397 80. It should be borne in 
mind that the current money of the land had been greatly 
depreciated, the greenback dollar of 1863, 1834 and 1865 
being at times scarcely worth 50 cents in coin. The credit 
of the county was good and the 8 per cent, county war loan 
mentioned above was readily taken at par. 

The debt of the county was reduced to $3.5,066.50 in bonds 
and $10,421.71 in unpaid county orders, as per statement 
of June, 1864, the balance of revenue of 1863 then in 
process of collection was stated to have amounted to $25,- 
871.43, amply sufficient to redeem the floating debt above 
mentioned. 

Officers elected in 1862 : W. H. Underwood, Senator of 
the 5th district— Madison and St. Clair, Samuel A. Buck- / 
master and William Watkins, representatives of the 16th 
district (Madison and Bond), W. E. Wheeler, sheriff, and 
St. W. Gaskill, coroner. William R. Morrison, of Monroe 
county, was elected member of Congress for the 12th con- 
gressional district of Illinois. 

In 1863 : K. G H. Knowles, surveyor, with D. A. Spauld- 
ing — who had been county surveyor in 1823 - as surveyor 
for the western district, and James B. McMichael, assessor 
and treasurer. 

In 1864 : Julius A. Barnsback and Hiram Dresser, repre- 
sentatives ; George Ruegger, sheriff; Wm. T. Brown, clerk 
circuit court, and P. G. Regan, coroner; Jehu Baker, of St. 
Clair, was elected member of Congress and re-elected in 
1866. 
! In 1865: Thomas R.Wilson, surveyor; W. P. Eaton, 
school-commissioner,* and James B. McMichael, treasurer. 

I FIFTH COUNTY COURT, 1865 TO 18G9. 

David Gillespie, ceunty judge, Edmond D. Keirsey and 
1 Anthony Suppiger, associates; C. W. Dimmock, clerk. 
1 The times succeeding the war have always been considered 
I very prosperous, the land was flooded with currency and 
j all expenditures, public and private, increased perceptibly. 

] * Mr. Eaton resigned in 1S67, and was succeeded by \V. J. Rose- 
berry. Ro.seberry died during his term, and Joseph W. Van Cleve 
was appointed to fill the vacancy. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



173 



The tax levies of Madison county were as f)llows: in 1866, 
«39,693.1»G; in 1867. $73,599 96; in 1868, $72,709 35, and 
in 1869,881,841,32. 

These amounts did not suffice to meet the current ex- 
penses of the county. Temporary loans made at various 
times to save the county from losses apprehended by a de- 
preciation of county orders, became a permanent debt. At 
the end of this administration, December 6, 1869, the in- 
terest-bearing debt of the county was as follows : 
Old interest bearing co. orders of 1843. ... $ 915 ."lO 

Court-house bonds, 1856, balance 26,.346 35 

Bounty bonds of 1865, balance 4,O0U 00 

*Promissory notes for temporary loans made to meet cur- 
rent expenses of the county 22,604 59 

*David Gillespie at various times pledged his personal 
credit to keep county orders at par, wliich they had never 
been before and maintained them at par during his ad- 
ministration. When settling hi.s fiscal agency in 1870, 
the county was found indebted to David Gillespie to the 
amount of over ^3,000 for moneys advanced by him. 
Upper Alton, Roelv Road purchase. . . . . § 4,-500 00 
Jail bonds issued 33,000 00 

?91,366 44 
From which deduct jail bonds turned over to the succeed- 
ing administration, leaving the bonded debt. . . 591,366 44 
Less . . . 33,000 00 

Leaving absolute indebtedness v'.58,366 44 

The county had been at very great expense in building 
bridges and raadj. A new jail had to bs erected. The order 
in reference to the building of this jail is as follows : It is 
ordered by the county court that a new jail be erected at a 
cost not to exceed the sum of §30,000 on such lot of ground 
as may be determined by the agent appointed for that pur- 
pose, due regard being had to the best interest of the county. 
And it is further ordered by the court that David Gillespie, 
county judge, be and he is hereby appointed agent for the 
county to make contract for the purchase of ground to be 
selected by him for the location of said jail, and also to con- 
tract for plans, specifications and the building of said jail, 
and to have a general superintendence in the construction of 
the same, and have power and authority to mike all contracts 
in the building thereof Thesaid agent to determine theloca- 
tion of said jail and also the place and specification for the 
building and to make all necessary deeds to the county for the 
ground purchased and to make all necessary contracts and 
arrangements for raising the necessary funds under an act of 
the legislature ofthe state of Illinois, approved February 'l-d, 
1867, authorizing the county court of JIadison county to 
issue $50,000 bonds for the erection of a jail for said county. 
During the preceding administration it had become neces- 
sary to erect proper buildings for the increasing number of 
helpless paupers. An order of court had, however, provi- 
ded for the necessar}' funds for tiiis purpose, which were 
to be obtained from the sale of swamp lands belonging to 
Madison county. A few words in reference to these lands 
\\\\\ here be in proper place. 

County Swamp Lands. — Under acts of Congress, ap- 
proved September 28, 1850, and June 22, 1852, Madison 



county had come in possession of 1480 acres of swamp and 
overflowed lands, situated in townships 3-9 and 4-9. M. G. 
Dale had been appointed agent to sell these lands. From 
his reports and the county treasurer's statements it appears 
that 840 acres of this land were sold in 1865 and that the 
county received a net income of $3498.30 from said i-ale. 
$2,040 of this money had been expended in the erection of 
the county poor house. The balance on hand December 5, 
to wit, $1458.30, were ordered by the county judge to be ap- 
plied in the erection of an addition to the county-poor- 
house. The balance of the swamp lands, to wit, 640 acres 
were sold by order of the court in 1873. The amount rea- 
lized was $1920, vo that the whole amount received by the 
county for the lauds in question aggregates $5,418.30. It 
was thought at the time of this last sale that the county had 
a claim against the federal government for a larger quantity 
of land, and the authorities of the county entered into a 
contract with James A. Dickenson and others to prosecute 
the claims of the county. This contract, made and signed 
December 11th, 1873, was subsequently declared null and 
void by the board of county commissioners, and no steps 
were taken to investigate the merits of the claim. 

Elections in 1866. — A. W. Metcalf, state senator; John 
H. Yager and J. F. Alexander, house of representatives; 
Joseph G. Robinson, sheriff; and W. B. Wright, coroner. 
Jehu Baker, of St. Clair, was chosen representative to Con- 
gress from this district ; F. E. Schell, of St. Clair, member 
state board of equalization. In 1867 Nelson D. Sweeny 
and T. W. Long, surveyors; W. J. Roseberry, superinten- 
dent of schools ; and Thomas H. Kennedy, assessor and 
treasurer. 1868 : Willard C. Flagg, state senator, and 
Daniel Kerr and Samuel H. Challis, members of the house! 
L. W. Moore, sheriff; Jonathan Quarton, coroner; H. H. 
Kuhlenbeck, clerk of the circuit court, and C. W. Dim- 
mock, Jr., county clerk to fill vacancy; Irwin B. Randle, 
member state board of equalization ; and J. B. Hay of Belle- 
ville, member of Congress. 1869 : Win. T. Brown, coun- 
ty jud^'e ; George R. Stocker and Henry C. Gerke, associ- 
ates; B. E. Hoffman, county clerk; John Weaver, school 
superintendent, and Thomas H. Kennedy, treasurer. 

SIXTH COUNTY COURT, 1869 TO 1874. 

Win. T. Brown, judge; George R. Stocker and Henry C. 
Gerke, a.ssociate justices. 

This adrainistrati)n has frequently been critized for its 
measures of introducing a system of e.vpensive internal iiu. 
provements. The flush times induced the people at first not 
only to look upon lavish expenditures with indifference, but 
even to urge the court to make greater and more expensive 
improvements. Petitions, signed by the heaviest tax payers 
poured in, asking for the building of bridges, the purclia.sing 
of plank roads, the making of rock roads, etc, etc. Incor- 
porated towns solicited and obtained aid in constructing ex- 
pensive roads, planked and rocked, leading to and through 
their incorporated limits. When told by the authorities 
that there were no funds for such appropriations the ans«er 
was almost invariably: "Let future generations help to 
pay " — a cry so often h»ard when an incredibly huge na- 



174 



HISTORY OF MADISOJ^ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



tional debt was created in an incredibly brief space of time 
— there is a plenty of money to be had, go and " borrow! " 
The very first act of the court was to make a temporary 
loan. 

The expenditures of the first year exceeded the revenue 
nearly S60,000, although the tax levy of the year 1870, to 
wit : $86,034.50, Wii over §4,000 higher than ever before. 
The people in the southeast part of the county, the frugal 
and vigilant natives of the Swiss Republic showed signs of 
uneasiness at this state of afl!liirs as early as December, 1870. 
They remonstrated in a respectful but decided manner 
against the system of creating a large and permanent debt. 
The signers of the remonstrance were invited to attend court^ 
and have an explanation. Louis Vnllirt, John Balsiger 
and C. P. Chipron were the only ones to answer this invita- 
tion, which had more the appearance of a summons. The re" 
cords of March 14th, 1871, contain the following entry: 
" Whereas, a remonstrance has been presented against the 
action of the county court, and said parties having been 
duly notified, that the same will be heard this day : L. Vul- 
lirt, John Balsiger and C. P. Chipron, three of the parties 
appeared in court, and said remonstrance was duly and fully 
considered, and the court having shown that there were no 
good reasons for complaint really existing, as said parties in 
person and by letter admitted, the said remonstrance is 
laid on the table indefinitely." 

Petitions, numerously signed, praying for a vote on the 
adoption of township organization, were presented from year 
to year, but the measure was in each case defeated by large 
majorities, showing that the court enjoyed the confidence of 
the people, and that its actions were endorsed. Good roads 
and safe and substantial bridges were highly appreciated, 
and the more so, as there was no increase in the tax rate. 
The values of lands and other property were constantly in- 
creasing, and the higher prices obtained for all agricultural 
productions, led many tax payers to forget that those many 
so-called temporary loans would mature andhave to be met. 

Speaking of the constant enhancement of values, it is 
proper to state that the taxable property of the county was 
assessed in 1873, as $24,981,571, nearly three times as 
much as in 186.3— to wit: $^,390,41 1.00. 

The lands of the county were assessed at $13,052,816; 
the town and city property at |5,11 2,954 ; personal property 
at §3,407,383; and railroad property at 83,408,418. The 
taxes were as follows: State, $89,9.33.65; county, $137,398. 
G3 ; city and town, $77,373.42 ; district school tax, $94,948. 
90; road tax, $24 981.57, or §424,636.17 in the aggregate. 
This was an enormous tax for a population of scarcely 45, 
000 inhabitants ; $9.00 per capita ! 

Lavish as were the expenditures in reference to the im- 
provements, they might still be considered moderate in com- 
parison with the extravagant pauper expenses, which in 
1873, reached the enormous amount of $42,000 ! 

The oft repeated orders in reference to borrowing certain 
limited amounts of money, were now followed by a more 
dangerous and wholly arbitrary one of December 14, 1872: 

" Ordered by the county court, that upon any person pre- 
senting to W. T. Brown, county judge, who is appointed 



agent of the county in the premises, orders of Madison coun- 
ty, to the amount of five hundred dollars or upwards, the 
said county judge, as agent of the county, is authorized to 
issue to the holder of orders, county bonds in lieu thereof, 
with teii per cent, interest per annum, payable semiannually, 
and said bonds to run for such period of time not to exceed 
ten years, as may be deemed advisable by said agent." 

This was a dangerous order. It opened the flood gates 
to financial ruin ; there was no limit any longer ; millions of 
dollars might have been borrowed under it. And yet, this 
'' order" was not original with the court. Turning back a 
few pages in this chapter, to 1843 and 1844, the reader will 
find a funding order, in substance and bearing the same as 
the one above. Judge Brown had been county clerk during 
that period, and some of these funded orders or bonds of 
1843, made out by him when clerk, were presented for pay- 
ment and paid during his administration as judge. 

The tax levies during this period were as follows: in 
1870, *86,034.50; in 1871, $10.5,0.57.00; in 1872, $130, 
287.35 ; and in 1873, 162,380.20. The taxes were not as 
closely collected as in former years. Some taxpayers fell 
behind, and these delinquencies, amounting to only 
$2,302 32, in 1869, reached their height in 1876, when they 
amounted to $161,104.26; $54 691.75 of which, were due to 
Madison county, as part of the county levies of prior years. 
In speaking of the county debt and " bewailing" its magni- 
tude, this item of delinquent taxes has never been mentioned. 

The current expenditures of the county, together with 
accrued interest of county debt amounted in these four 
years to $776,447.58. The gross receipts from tax levies, 
grocery licenses, sale of .swamp-lands and all other sources 
amounted to $462,734.51 and $il4.23l.l07 were raised by 
loans. The interest bearing debt of Madison county, was 
now — 1874 $485,460.17 to wit: 

Old coiirthouse bonds ?26.000 

Jail bonds $50,000 

Bonds issued in payment of prior debts, and temporary 

loans made during this term ?314.934.28 

Notes and interest bearing county orders 21.401.44 

S412.33.3.72 
From whicli are to be deducted interest bearing assets . 6.87.J..55 

§40o.4Gal7 

It should here be stated that a large number of county 
orders and unadjusted claims amounting in the aggregate 
to nearly ."jO 000 formed a heavy floating debt — March 1, 
1874. The tax levy for the current year, to wit: $148 280- 
98 was then in process of collection, and as not a dollar of 
it had been expended or paid into the treasury at that date, 
the above mentioned floating debt of $50,003 is not, nor 
ought it to be made part of the exhibit of the county in- 
debtedn ss, and further it should be stated here, that, on a 
later day, the administrators of the estate of Wm. T. Brown 
deceased, paid $19. 975.83 of the assets of his estate into the 
county treasury in payments of a judgment of nearly $49.- 
000 obtained by the county against the late W. T. Brown. 
This amount was afterwards applied towards paying otf a 
part of the county debt. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



The death of Judge Brown was one of the saddest events 
in the county history. In making himself the financial 
agent of the county, and, in a measure the superintendent of 
public improvements also, he added so many labors to his 
official duties as county Judge, that he broke down under 
the load. The very fact, that his financial agency was out 
of place and had forced him into a false position, weighed 
heavy on his mind, clouding an intellect as bright and bril- 
liant as but few mortal are blessed with. Whoever has 
seen our lamented judge in the last days of his life, tottering 
under that load of fearful responsibility will ever remember 
with grief and sorrow that picture of hopelessness and de- 
spair. All know how he put an end to his troubles and 
sorrows. Judge J. G. Irwin, his successor in office, caused 
the following entry to be made in the records of the probate 
court of April 1874. As a token of respect to the memory to 
AViiliara Taylor Brown, late judge of this court who departed 
this life on the 2.1. of Jlarch 1874, his successor in office has 
caused to be spread upon the pages of ihU record, the follow- 
ing brief outline of the career of the deceased as a public 
man. 

" He was born April 26, 1817. The whole period of his 
manhood save an interim of seven years was spent in tiie 
public service of the people of Madison county, from 1837 
to iSoC he held the office of clerk of the circuit court, and 
during the first ten years of that period als'i discharged the 
duties of clerk of the county court. In 1858 he was elected 
sheriff and filled this office for one term of two years. In 
1864 he was again elected clerk of the circuit court in which 
position he served until autumn 1868. In November 1869 
he was elected Judge of this court, and continued to serve 
the people in that capacity until his death, having been re- 
elected in November 1873 for a second terra." 

These facts are the best testimonials of the esteem in which 
the deceased was held as a public officer. 

His has been a career of honor and success unparalleled 
in the lives of the public men of this county. Although 
possessed of many public and private virtues, the chief orna- 
ment of his character was his generosity and charity. He 
was incapable of saying " No " in the presence of want and 
misery and his charity regarded neither creed, race, nor col- 
or. If the earnest and sincere prayers of the poor of this 
earth may smooth the pathway of the traveler on his jour- 
ney from this world to the bourne from whence no traveler 
returns, let us trust and believe that his has been a happy 
exit. 

The authorities of the county being of the opinion that 
the large amounts of monej' borrowed by the late Judge 
Brown, had not all been satisfactorily accounted for, made 
a proposition to the administrators of his estate to effect a 
speedy and amicable settlement. They appointed a com- 
mittee of investigation, composed of the Hon. A. W. Met- 
calf, and Jlessrs. Cyrus Leverett and Otto Brodtbeck, to act 
\\ith the administrators in examining persons and papers 
with a view of settling the atiliirs without going to court. 
The administrators declined to enter into the proposed ar- 
rangement, preferring to have the claim of the county, if 
one really existed, adjusted before the probate court. The 



county employed Hon. A. W. Metcalf, as attorney, while 
Messrs. Krome and Hadley appeared for the estate. The 
trial ended in a judgment against the estate, as mentioned 
above. 

Election— 1869 to 1873. At a special election heM for 
the purpose of electing two delegates to the constitutional 
convention — 16th representative district — Madison and 
Bond counties; C. F. Springer, of Edwardsville, a republican, 
and H. W. Billings, of Alton, a democrat, were chosen. 

1870. — House of representatives : D B. Gil'ham, A. F- 
Rogers and Theodore Miller. Sheriff, R. W. Crawf ird, 
and coroner, T. J. Irish. 1871.— Treasurer, T. H. Ken- 
nedy; surveyor, N. D. Sweeny. 1872.— State senate, J. H. 
Yager ; house : Henry Weinheimer, B. R. Hite and Thomas 
T. Ramey ; sheriff", J. T. Cooper; clerk of the circuit court, 
John D. Heisel ; county attorney, E. B. Glass, and coroner, 
W. H. Greipenberg. 1873. — AV. T. Brown, county judge ; 
B. E. Ilofl^man, county clerk ; T. H. Kennedy, treasurer; 
A. A. Suppiger, school superintendent; N. D. Sweeny, 
surveyor : W. E. AVheeler, W. W. Jarvis and T. W. Kin- 
der were elected county commissioners. 

The former system of county government, the so-called 
county court, was abolished by the new constitution, sub- 
stituting a formerly tried system of county commissioners, 
with a three years' tenure of office for members elected after 
the year' 1873. Those elected in 1873 had to draw lots fir 
respective terms of one, two and three years. Owing to an 
imperfection in the law, introducing the system, the com- 
missioners ciuld not take charge of public affairs until 
January 24th, 1874. 

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, JANUARY 24, 1874 TO 
APRIL, 1876. 

First Year. — W. E. Wheeler, chairman ; W. W. Jarvis 
and T. W. Kinder, members. This board took charge of 
the county affairs under very unfavorable circumstances. 
The finances of the county were in confusion, and a large 
interest bearing debt made the semi-annual payment of 
interest a heav}' burden. Besides, there were county orders 
and unadjusted claims amounting to nearly fifty thousand 
dollars to be met, with not a dollar of available funds in the 
treasury. The tax books for the year were in the hands of 
the collector, but no effort at collection had been made. 
The law provided for the c llection of the revenue in the 
first quarter of the year, but usage had made the third 
quarter of the year the tax gathering quarter for Madison 
county. The great commercial crisis of 1873 began to be 
severely felt in the west about this time, and at last, the 
railroad companies combined to have the tax collectors en- 
joined from collecting all taxes levied on railroad proj)erty. 
The prospect was gloomy, but the members of the board 
proved equal to the task allotted to them. Firmly resolved, 
not to allow the public debt to be increased another dollar; 
the board set to work to ascertain in the first place, what 
the net revenue for the year would amount to. All san- 
guine views were banished and stern reality bravely met. 
It was resolved that the expenditures of the county should 
be kept within the revenues derived from taxation, and this 



176 



HISTORY OF HAD IS 01^ COUNTY, II LINO IS. 



resolution was rigidly adhered to. A number of county 
bonds were maturing during the year, and of course, they 
could not be paid out of a crippled revenue. The board, 
however, succeeded in protecting the credit of the county by 
finding purchasers of the bonds, and at lower rates of 
iinterest at that. 

The heavy and unheard-of pauper expenses were reduced 
to a minimum, despite bitter words and rude threats. 

The new order of things did by no means please all, and, 
in some instances, it became necessary that the firmness of 
mind was aided by strength of muscle and pluck. 

The current expenses of the county, exclusive of interest, 
during the year, amounted to §89,088.45. The interest piid 
during the year amounted to $30,1)2.5.04. 

The second county board, with T. W. Kinder as chairman, 
and R. W. Crawford as new member, conducted the affairs 
pretty much on the same plan and with similar success. 

The current expenses of the county during the year 1875 
amounted to §90,987.62. The tax levy of the year was 
$115,531.85. The voters of the county adopted township 
organization at the November election, 1875. 

John Bardill, who had been elected member of the board 
as successor to W. W. .Tarvis, served from December 1, 
1875, to April, 1876, when the county commissioners board 
was superseded by the board of supervisors. 

The districting of the county under the new order of 
things, was an easy task, — the congressional townships in all 
but one instance, forming non-political corporations named 
as follows : 

Town 3 Range -5 Helvetia. Town ." Range 8 Colhnsrille. 

" 4 " .S Edwarc-lsville. 

" .5 " 8 Fort Russell. 

" 6 " 8 Moro. 

" 3 '' 9 Nameoki. 

" 4 " 9 1 

« 4 '1 in ■ tJiioiiteaii. 

'' 6 " 9 Wood river. 

'' C " 9 Fo.^terburg. 

" 3 " 10 V'enice. 

" 5 " 10 .\lton. 

'' G " 10 Godfrey. 

The first board was composed of John A. Prlckett, of Ed- 
wardsville, chairman, 1876 and 1877: H. M. Thorp, Hel- 
vetia ; Jones Tontz, Saline ; Daniel Ruedy, Leef; Andrew 
Jackson, New Douglas; F. S. Pike, St. Jacobs; J. L. Fer- 
guson, Marine; R. D. Utiger, Alhambra; James Olive, 
Olive — chairman in 1879; Ignatius Riggin, Jarvis ; J. B. 
McKee, Fin Oak ; W. A. Mize, Hamel ; James Kell, 
Oraph Ghent ; B. R Hite, Collinsville (chairman 1880-82) ; 
J. B. Gibson, Fort Russell ; E. K Preuitt, Moro ; Philip 
Bradon, Nameoki (T. J. Irish, of Nameoki, was chairman in 
1878); Amos Atkins, Chouteau ; S. B. Gillham, Wood river 
(chairman in 1'81); Edmund Dooling, Fosterburg ; R.J. 
Brown, Venice ; Henry C Sweetzer, Ed. Woodman, J. M. 
Tonsor, and C. A. Herb, Alton ; and John ]M. Pearson, of 
Godfrey. 

This board found the financial affairs of the county in a 
lietter shape than the first board of county commissioners 
had found them in 1874. Other diflicuUie.«, however, had 
meanwhile arisen between the county commissioners and the 



4 " 


5 Saline. 


h " 


5 Leef. 


() " 


.5 New Douglas 


3 " 


6 St. Jacobs. 


4 " 


6 Marine. 


5 " 


C Alliambra. 


() " 


ti Olive. 


3 " 


7 .Tarvis. 


4 " 


7 Pin Oak. 


r> " 


7 Hamel. 


6 " 


7 Omph Ghent. 



collector, whose office had been declared " vacant " by a 
majority of the commissioners. This order had no other 
effect but to delay the collection of the much needed revenue, 
thus compelling the new board of supervisors to begin its 
official life with another " whereas," and an order to borrow 
$19,000 to meet the payment of interest of the county debt 
due June 10, 1876. 

Before the expiration of the first year the board ordered to 
have a vote taken on the question : " Shall the present 
interest bearing debt be refunded, and will the people con- 
sent to the issuing of $400,000 of 6 per cent, interest 
bearing bonds to replace existing 10 per cent, and 8 per 
cent, bonds ?" The legality of the bonds issued by former 
authorities, was questionable and as the new or prosiiective 
bonds would be legalized beyond per adventure by an affir- 
mative vote of the people, it was hoped that the county debt 
could be refunded at a much lower rate. The voters of 
Madison county bore witness by a decided majority, that 
they looked upon the county debt, as just and again endors- 
ed by an affirmative vote, to approve the measures taken by 
their representatives in office. The board immediately re- 
solved to have the financial transactions of the county 
authorities from December 6, 1869 to April 24, 1876 over- 
hauled, and a committee of five members, to wit: John B- 
Gibson, chairman, B. R. Hite H. M. Thorp, S. B. Gillham 
and J. A. Prickett appointed, to investigate the matter. 
This committee called Hon. A. W. Metcalf and Hon. J. 
G. Irwiu to their assistance and after a laborous and search- 
ing investigation, lasting many days an! weeks reported in 
substance, that all outstanding bonds of the county were 
issued for a valuable consideration. That all moneys raided 
by taxation, by loans and from other sources during that 
period of time amounted to $1,18=!,512.12, and that the dis- 
bursements, properly authenticated, together with the 
amounts of judgments recovered against the financial agent 
and the county treasurer amounted to $1,188,512 14 or two 
cents more than the receipts. — ■ 

This report was published in phamphlet form and freely 
distributed over the county, as well as spread on the county 
records at length; — hence it is deemed superfluous to re- 
peat said report in full. 

The interest bearing debt of the county, subject to be 
called in and converted into 6 per cent, bonds, amounted, 
according to the report of the clerk, June 5, 1877 to $392,- 
500. 

The condition of the treasury was such, that the board 
felt justified in ordering the payment of §7,500 in money, 
leaving $385,000 to be refunded. This then was the debt 
of the county in 1877. The reduction $20,000 of interest 
bearing bonds, and $50,000 unpaid claims and county 
orders, $70,000 in the aggregate, had been efiected without 
resorting to special tax levies. The amount of money re- 
ceived from the estate of William T. Brown, to wit: 
$19,975.83 and §22,743.79, back taxes collected under the 
new system, making a snug total of $41,719.62, have mate- 
rially aided in the reduction, but the prudent economy ot 
the board should be credited with the balance of said re- 
duction. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



177 



The county debt at present, June 1, 1882, amounts to 
8316,000, witii balance of 846,589.28 cash in the treasury. 
The present financial system of the county was inaugurated 
by the fir.-t board of County Commissioners, and it is but just 
to state that the presiding ofBcer of the board, with whom 
the plan of reform had matured before entering upon the 
duties of his oflSce, was ably and earnestly supported by his 
colleagues. 

The succeeding boards have strictly adhered to the plan 
which, after all, maybe couched in the brief expression , 
" Live within your income." The tax levies since adoption 
of township organization have been S15o,628.27 in 1«76; 
8137,058.88 in 1877; 8151,714.90 in 1878; 8151,654.58 in 
1879 ; 8137,902.95 in 1880, and 8122,300.33 in 1881. 

The current expenses of the county, including disburse- 
ments made by township officers on account of roads, 
bridges, assessments and elections, and exclusive of interests 
paid or bonds redeemed, appear to have been as follows : 

1876 ?90,60".08 

1877 91,194.75 

1878 106,769.20 

1879 96,911.28 

1880 87,098.15 

The disbursements made by the county direct in 1880 
were as follows : 



Court of assessment and tax books 

Panpers \ ^""^^ ^"'"^ 96,f>oOM 



82.609.86 



} 

I Sll 



supported elsewhere 8,221 2.5 $lo, 

Courts and jurors 6, 

Elections 1 

Jail and dieting prisoners 2, 

Stationery 2 

Court-house 2 

Inquests 

Roads 

Inspection of mines 

Salaries of county officers ' 

Sundry expenditures 



Yag;pr, and coroner, C. S. Yourie A constitutional amend- 
ment adopted in 1880, changed the tenure of office of sheriff 
and treasurer, and also the years of holding elections for 
other county officers, hence no election took place in 1881, 
the judge, clerk and treasurer holding over one year, and 
the superintendent being reappointed by the board of super- 
visors. 

ADDENDA. 

The census of 1880 fixes the population of the county at 
50,141 ; and the agricultural statistics made by the town- 
ship assessors for the same year give us the following reports. 

The figures are, as a matter of course, not absolutely cor- 
rect, but may safely be taken as a criterion of the rich agri- 
cultural resources of the county. According to reports we 
find : 



8;5,-',0O 

130 7.50 

14,1 -50 

6,.580 

112 

40 

1,160 

14 .500 

3,150 

3,.'530 

2,900 

1 410 




Total 143 272.23 

The interest matured and paid during the yearamounted to §23,615.00. 

Elections 1S74, State senator, W. H. Krome ; House of 
Representatives, F. S. Pike, G. H. Weigler and George A. 
Smith; Sherifl", J. T. Cooper, and coroner J. A. Miller, 
1875. Hugh E. Bayle trea.surer and AValton Rutledge sur- 
veyor. 1876. House of Representatives, Samuel A. Buck-''''^ 
master, F. M. Pearce and John S. Dewey ; sheritf, James 
T. Cooper ; clerk of the circuit court, John D. Heisel ; 
states attorney, C L Cook, and coroner C S. Yourie. 1877 
^M. G. Dale, county judge, H. E. Bayle county clerk, Adolph 
Ruegger, treasurer, B. F. Sippy, school superintendent and 
W. Rutledge, surveyor. 1878. State senator, A. J. Parkin- 
son; House of Representatives, W. R. Prickett, J. M. 
Pearson, and John S. Dewey ; sheriff, James T. Cooper and 
coroner, C. S. Yourie. 1879. A. Ruegger, treasurer. 1880. 
House of Representatives, Henry (). Billings, John M. 
Pearson and Jones Tontz ; sheriff, J. T. Fahnestock ; clerk 
of the circuit court, William Daech ; states attorney, J. H. 
23 



acres of corn, producing 2,752,100 bushels. 

" " wheat, " 3,374,300 bushels. 

" " oats, " 261,000 busliels. 

" " apple orchard, producing 190,250 bushels of apples. 

" " peach " producing 1,480 *' of peaches. 

" " pear " producing 38 " of pears. 

" " vineyard producing 146,000 gallons of wine. 

'' " timothy meadow producing 15,350 tons of hay. 

" " clover " '' 2.7-50 tons of hay. 

" '' prairie " " 4,300 tons of hiiy. 

" " Hungarian and millet producing 2,580 tons of hay. 

" '' rye produciag 19,600 bushels. 

" •' buckwheat producing 180 bushels. 

" '' Irish potatoes producing 490.000 bushels. 

'' " Sweet potatoes " 7,200 bushels. 

" " broom corn producing 580,000 pounds. 

" " sorgho producing 20,000 gallons of syrup. 

'' '' turnip producing $5,000. 

" '' fruits and berries producing ? 1 5,000. 

" " other crops. 

'' " pasture. 

" '' wood land. 

" " uncultivated land. 



One hundred sheep killed by dogs, valued at 8450.00, 
111 pounds of wool shorn, 2,400 sheep sold, weighing 
264,000 pounds, 6,750 cows kept, 20-',500 pounds of butter 
sold, 31,70) pounds of cheese, and 5,200 gallons of cream, 
637,000 gallon of milk sold, 750 colts foaled, 300 horses died, 
1,6 lO fat cattle weighing 1,763,000 pounds sold, 21,05;) fat 
hogs, weighing 4,210,000, sold, 1,300 hogs died of cholera, 
131,400 pounds in weight; 3,920,000 pounds of grapes 
produced. 

Statistics in reference to births and deaths in the county 
are omitted, because the reports are incomplete, and statis- 
tics based on such reports would, of course, be wholly worth- 
less. The county records show that 13,040 marriages were 
solemnized in the county since 1812. 

. The county of Madison was represented in the state 
senate after the adoption of Jie constitution of 1846, under the 
name of 6th senatorial district by Joseph Gillespie from 1848 
to 1858. Under the apportionment of 1854 Madison, Bond 
and Montgomery counties formed the 21st senatorial district, 
and were represented by Samuel A. Buckma.ster fro.J 1858 
to 1862. The apportionment of 1861 formed the 6th sena- 
torial district out of Madison and St. Clair counties. This 



178 



BIS TOBY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Sth district was represented by W. H. Underwood of St. 
Clair from 1862 to 1864, by A. W. Metcalf of Madison, 
from 1864 to 1868, by Willard C. Flagg of Madison, from 
1868 to 1872, and W. H. Underwood. Since 1872 Madison 
county has formed the 41st senatorial district, and was 
represented by Senators John H. Yager 1872 to 1874, W. 
H. Krome 1874 to 1878, and by A. J. Parkinson from 1878 
to 1882. 

The county being designated the 20th representative 
district, from 1848 to 1854, was represented by Edward 
Keating and Curtis Blakeman, 1850, by Andrew Miller and 
N. G Edwards; the latter resigned during his term, Samuel 
A. Buckniaster fil'ing vacancy 1850 to 1852; by Samuel A. 
Bui^kniaster and Thomas Judy 1852 to 1854; and £s the 
14th representative district 1851 to 1862 by G.T.Allen 
and Henry T. Baker 1854 to 1856; Lewis Ricks and Aaron 
P.Mason 1856 to 1^58; Z B. Job and Joseph H. Sloss 
from 1858 to 1860; and Cyrus Edwards and Garrett Crown- 
over 1860 to 1862. In 1862 Madison and Bond counties 
formed the 16th lepresentative district, and were represeiited 
in the 23d General Assembly by Samuel A. I'luckmaster 
and N. Watkins from 1862 to 1864; Buckmaster was 
elected speaker of the House of Representatives and 
became famous for his energetic administration. The 
civil war was raging and passions ran high. On one 
occasion Buckmaster cried out: "I'll have order in this 
hou.'^e, even if I should use a shot gun for a gavel ! " The very 
man, who caused Buckmaster to burst out in this exclamation 
of wrath, was Speaker of the house at a later period, and was 
then very much in need ot a Gatlin gun or " Mitrailleuse" to 
preserve order against the very element, which he represented 
in 1862. By Julius A. Barnsback and Ilirani Dresser from 
1864 to 1866; by John H. Yager and Jediah F. Alexander 
from 1866 to 1868, and by Daniel Kerr and Samuel H. 
Challis from 1868 to 1870. From 1870 to 1872 Madison 
county formed the 26th representative district with Daniel 
B. Gillhara, A. F. Rodgers and Theodore Miller as members, 
and since 1872 the county has formed the 41st district, and 
was represented by Henry Weinheimer, B. R. Hite, and T. 
T. Ramey from 1872 to 1874 ; by Franklin S. Pike, George 
H "Weigler and George A. Smith, from 1874 to 1876; by 
Samuel A. Buckmaster, F. M. Pearce and J. S. Dewey 
from 1876 to 1878 ; by W. R. Prickett, J. M. Pearson and 
J. S. Dewey from 1878 to 1880; and by H. O. Billings, 
Jones Tontz and J. M. Pearson from 1880 to 1882. 

In the constitutional convention of 1862 the county was 
represented by Samuel A. Buckmaster and Solomon Koepfli. 
The constitution proposed by this convention was rejected 
by the people at an election held June 17, 1862. The 
county was represented in the convention of 1870 by Charles 
F. Springer and Henry W. Billings. 

I. B. Randle represented the county in the state board of 
equalization from 1868 to 1872; George Hunter of 
Macoupin, from 1872 to 1876; Frederick Sunckel of St. 
Clair, from 1876 to 1880, and John E. Coppinger of Alton, 
since 1880. 

Among the state officers during this period, 1849 to 1882, 
there is not one Madison county name to to be found. 



The county was represented as part of the Ist congres- 
sional district of Illinois from 1849 to 1855; by Hon. W. H. 
Bissell of St. Clair, as part of the 8th district by Lyman 
Trumbull, and after his election to the U. S. Senate, by J. 
L. D Morrison of Belleville from 1855 to 1857; by Hon. 
Robert Smith of Alton, from 1857 to 1859; by P. B. 
Fouke of Belleville, from 1859 to 1863; as part of the 12th 
district by W. R. Morrison of Monroe, from 1863 to 1865; 
by Jehu Baker of St. Clair, from 1865 to 1869 ; by J. B. Hay 
of Belleville, from 1869 to 1873, and as part ol the 17th 
congressional district by W. R. Morrison of Monroe, since 
1873. 

â– The state legislature of 1882, rearranged the congression- 
al districts of the state, and Madison county together with 
the counties of St Clair, Bond, Washington and Monroe 
forms now the 18th congressional district of the state of 
Illinois. 

The Presidential Electors, chosen for the congressional 
district of which Madison county formed a part, were the 
following: Michael Jones, 1820; A. P. Field, 1824; John 
Taylor, 1828; Abner Black, 183- ; (Daniel Stookey seems 
to have cast the vote for Mr. Black) John Pearson, 1840 ; 
Willis Allen, 1844; William Martin, 1848; John A. Mc- 
Clernand, 1852; W. A. J. Sparks, 1856; Thomas G. Allen, 
1860; H. S. Baker, 1864; Charles F. Springer, 1868; John 
I. Rinaker, 1872 ; Cyrus Happy, 1876 ; and W. T. Mortou, 
1880. 

CIRCUIT COURT NOTES, 1 849 TO 1855. 

Hon. W. H. Underwood, presiding — At this term 52 in- 
dictments for larceny were returned into court, resulting in 
22 convictions, aggregating 77 years, 4 months penitentiary, 
2 for arson, 1 conviction, John Sullivan, 2 years ; 3 fur 
forgery, no conviction ; 1 for bigamy, not convicted ; 2 for 
pasing counterfeit money, both James Ryan and Henry 
Hughes, convicted and sent to penitentiary 1 and 5 years 
respectively ; 1 for libel, no conviction ; 3 for murder, John 
Schnagler, convicted of manslaughter and sentenced for two 
years ; 5 for manslaughter, 1 conviction, pardoned by Gov- 
ernor ; and 1 for rape, not tried. 

1855 TO 1857. 

Hon. Sidney Breese, presiding, W. H.Snyder, prosecuting 
attorney. — Hon. S Breese presided over three terms, during 
which 32 cases of larceny, 3 of passing counterfeit money, 
6 of illegal voting, 3 of murder and 1 of swindling were 
placed on the criminal docket. 11 persons were tried and 
found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to the state 
penitentiary for 24 years and 4 months in the aggregate. 
William Mitehen, indicted for murder, was convicted of 
manslaughter and sent to the penitentiary for one year. 

1857 to 1861. Hon. W. H. Snyder on the bench. P. B. 
Fouke, Spencer M. Case, A. W. Me calf and J. B. Hay, 
State attorneys. 

The number of criminal cases placed on the docket dur- 
ing the eight terms presided over by Hon. W. H. Snyder 
was enormouly great. There were 77 cases of larceny, 5 of 
manslaughter, 1 of arson, 1 of rape and 11 of murder. â–  6 
persons were convicted of larceny, and their penalty fixed at 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



179 



90 years and 6 months penal servitude in the aggregate. A 
rapist was sent up for five years: Johann Ludwig Friister, 
Fred. Welner were sentenced three and five years respec- 
tively, for manslaughter ; E. Aldred, indicted for murder, ob- 
tained a change of venue to Bond county ; and Peter Han- 
son was found guilty of arson and sent up for seven years. 

The trial of George Gibson, Edward Barber and Joseph 
Watson, for the murder of one Barth a peddler and resi- 
dent of the county, created the most intense excitement 
throughout the county. These men were indicted on the IGth 
of May, 1857, by the following grand jurors, to wit: Fred. 
T Kraf}"(, foreman, James L. McLanahan, James Whiteside, 
Aaron Rule, Jacob Leder, William McCain, John J. Par- 
ker, James Kell, Josiah K. Gillhani, Benjamin L. Dorsey, 
L. S. Wells, Lancaster R. Weeks, John Mason, Collier 
Brown, John Cox, George Moifitt, G. W. Layman and 
Jacob B. Cox. 

The trial commenced on the 21st of May, 1857. The 
parties were defended by S. T. Sawyer, F. S. Rutherford and 
John Trible, before the following jury : J. H. Williams, 
S. W. Tindall, George Hedges, William Sandbach, George 
G. Wilson, Jacob Preiiitt, Abram Preuitt, Benjamin Heus- 
tis, Ignatius Sweeriugen, I. B. Randle, William Keirsey and 
Francis Agnew, who found the defendant.s guilty of murder. 
One of the murderers, a mere youth, had his death sentence 
commuted by executive clemency, into penitentiary for life, 
and was pardoned out during the civil war. He enlisted in 
the service of the U. S. and served faithfully to the end of 
the war. It is said that he now resides in St. Louis, and is 
engaged in business there. The two others endtd their lives 
on the gallows, which had been erected on the grounds of the 
county poor farm, south of Edwardsville. 

The indignation of the people in the eastern part of the 
county, where the murder was committed and where the poor 
victim was at home, was very great, and at times it was 
feared that the murderers would be mobbed. In fact, an 
organized body, composed of five hundred men, headed by 
Savage and Smiley — a strange combination of names — all 
mounted, appeared in the streets of Edwardsville a few days 
after the murderers had been jailed, with the avowed pur- 
pose of taking the prisoners from jail and hanging them at 
the very place where Barth had been so foully murdered. 

Z. B. Job, then sherifi' of the county, aided by all the 
prominent men of Edwardsville, succeeded in quieting the 
mob The late John S. Wheeler, as plucky as strong, and 
Z B. Job, tore the leaders from their horses and secured 
their persons. Speeches were made by Hon. Joseph Gilles- 
))ie, the late F. T. KrafJl and the late Solomon Koepfli, of 
Highland, to quiet the infuriated masses. The latter, having 
learned what was contemplated, hastened to Edwardsville 
to give the alarm. The authorities of the county sent to 
Alton, requiring the two Alton Guards to come to Edwards- 
ville at once. This summons was promptly obeyed, and 
while they remained in charge of the prison for about 10 
days, the citizens of Edwardsville organized a military com- 
pany, officered by J. H. Sloss, captain, and J. G. Robinson, 
lieutenant. This company acted as guard and police on the 
day of the execution. The town was thronged with thous- 



ands of people from all parts of the county, who had como 
to attend the " hanging." 

The sheriff, one of the most kind-hearted men of the day, 
performed the dreadful duty of an execution with firmness, 
but when he struck and cut the rope which held the plat- 
form in position, he sank to the ground from sheer emotion. 

1861 TO 1873. 

Hon Joseph Gillespie on the bench, J. B. Hay, Joseph 
D. Manners, R. A. Halbert and E. Breese Glass prosecu- 
ting attorneys. This period excelled all previous and 
all subsequent terms in the number of murder cases, 
some of which may be traced to the violent passions pre- 
valent during the civil war, while a majority of them 
were the out-cropping of depravity. There were twenty- 
four murder cases and eight of manslaughter placed 
on the criminal docket of the circuit court; other crime.", 
principally against property, were also very numerous. 
Seventy five persons were sent to the penitentiary for larce- 
ny, burglary, and robbery, their penal servitude aggregating 
-ol years; two dealers in counterfeit money received four 
years each, one rapist ten years, one forger one year and one 
arson one year. Murder and manslaughter cases resulting 
in convictions. William Rounds, sentenced for life, October 
term, 1863. Albert Rose, convicted of manslaughter, sen- 
tenced for fifteen years. Rose had killed one Samuel Legett, 
November 28, 1864. George Harrison, manslaughter, six 
years Harrison had killed John Newton in a fight by 
stabbing him with a knife, Dtc. 2, 1866. Ht nry Margraf, 
murderer, life sentence. The murder committed by Margraf 
was one of the most atrocious crimes on record in the coun- 
ty. He lived as a farm hand with Christian Wrisse, enjoy- 
ing the confidence of his employer to such a degree that he, 
in cases of absence of the family, was left in full control of 
the house and every thing in it. Once again left there, with 
no one except little Henry, a son of Mr. Wrisse, he robbed 
the house, choked the poor child to death in a horrible man- 
ner, secreted the body of his victim on the premises by 
covering it up with two bags of wheat, and fled. The ter- 
rible crime was soon discovered and Margraf arrested. He 
was put ujjon his trial in May, 1S69, and taking advantage 
of a statutory proviso — that the death penalty could not be 
V. sited on a murderer upon a plea of guilty — plead guilty. 
His Honor, in sentencing him for life, expressed his regrets, 
that he could not have sent the monster to the gallows, 
which he had deserved so much. Margraf is still in the 
penitentiary, but very recently had the audacity to ask 
residents of the county to sign a petition for his pardon. 
AVilliam Bell, accused of the murder of Hermann Wendell 
by shooting, Nov. 1, 1X68, was at the May term, 1869 
indicted for murder by the following grand jury. 

H. K. Eaton foreman, Leander McLean, Hilley T. King, 
Malachi A. Kline, Lewis Ricks, Anthony Beck, C. P. 
Richmond, David Rinderer, Xavier Suter, Frank J. Haag, 
Joseph G. Robinson, Alonzo Foster, Jacob W. Terrv, .lohn 
Suppiger, Edward Ellifl!', Charles Edwards, John H. Kuhlen- 
bcck, Samuel Cough, William Bond, Wesley Reaves and 
George L. Whaling. 



180 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



He was tried at the October term 1S69 — before the fol- 
lowing jury , 

William Jagemau, William McNeilly, Thomas Hogg, A. 
Cowan, Jr., T. M. Tartt, Sidney Robinson, Samuel McKin- 
ny, James N. Sandbach, J. W. Scarborough, O. D. Oberlin. 
Jacob Deck and William E. Lehr, who gave the following 
verdict: " We the jury find the defendant guilty and re- 
commend the death penalty" — Oetober 19, 1869. Bell 
was sentenced on the following day and executed on the r2lh 
of November A. P. 1869 at the old jail iu Edwardsviile 

George Matthews, indicted for murder at the October 
term 1871, plead guilty of manslaughter and was sentenced 
to one year penitentiary. 

George Gropp was indicted at the same term, and tried in 
October 1872. He was found guilty of manslaughter, and 
sent to penitentiary for a term of six years. Gropp, who 
was keeping saloon, " had shot and killed a guest," jNIichael 
Loughliu, iu 1869. Executive clemency shortened his term 
of penal servitude. 

William Hiigedick, indicted for an assault with intent to 
kill, was sentenced to 14 years penitentiary. He had clubbed 
his wife, and thinking her to be dead, threw her helpless 
body under the hoofs of his mules, so as to escape suspicion. 
AVhile iu jail awaiting trial, Hiigedick seemed as unconcern- 
ed as though he had not done any wrong. His ideas ou the 
question of woman's rights smacked of barbarian ages. 

The assassination of President A. Lincoln — April 14, 
1865 — caused the grand jury of Madison county to pass 
the following resolution which was spread on the records of 
the circuit court of the county, to wit : 

MADISON COUNTY, CIRCUIT COURT, MAY TERM 1 865. 

The grand jury came into open court by Edward M. West, 
their foreman, and presented to the couit risoluticns on the 
death of Abraham Lincoln, late jiresident of the United 
States, as follows, to wit : 

Whereas we have heard by official announcement of the 
Secretary of War, that Abraham Lincoln, pre.-ident of the 
United States, was assassinated in Washington City ou the 
14th day of April last, therefore : 

Resolved, by grand jury of Madison county, Illinois, at the 
^lay term of the circuit court of said county — that we .deeply 
deplore the sad event which has has taken from our country 
iu the prime of life and in the midst of his usefulness Abra- 
ham Lincoln, president of the United States of America. 

Resolved, that we cannot express with words our utter ab- 
horrence of the dark and diabolical deed which has deprived 
the nation of its chief, and our detestation of the fiendith 
perpetrators of the crime. 

Resolved, that while we bow to the mysterious providence 
of heaven in this national affliction, we feel an increased 
determination to aid in preserving the union of states and 
upholding the constitution and flag of our country. 

Passed unanimously May 4, 1865 : E. M. West, foreman, 
Wm. Krome, John Baird, Richard Mawdsley, Jacob 
Mumme, Charles Schoeck, William Jlize, Richard Benbow, 
William Eaves, Madison Williams, D.iniel S. Sanders, AVm. 



Frazier, W. J. Ro.seberry. Joshua Woods, Thomas Woods, 
0. H. P. R. Spring and Conrad Leseman. 

1873 TO 1879. 

Hon. W. H. Snyder, Judge ; E. B. Glass and Cyrus L. 
Cook, state attorneys. 

The transactions of this court are of recent dates, and may 
be briefly stated as follows : There were fourteen murder 
cases placed on the criminal docket — James Egan was con- 
victed of manslaughter, sentenced to one year ; George 
Bark, on plea of guilty of murder, sentenced for life; Geo. 
and Lawrence Peipert, indicted for murder obtained a 
change of venue to St. Clair county ; Walter Pierce, under 
similar indictment, obtained change of venue to Bond coun- 
ty, where he was sentenced to penitentiary for life ; Baptist 
Masa, indicted for fratricide, was tried and found insane. 
William White was sentenced to a 14-3'ears' term, October, 
1879. Besides these there were seventy-eight persons tried 
and convicted of various felonies. These penalties aggre- 
gated 183 years in penitentiary. The severest sentence fell 
upon William Hasemann for incest, who received twenty 
years and one Charles Meyers, a burglar, who was sen- 
tenced for 14 years. 

An act of the legislature in 1877 divided the state into 13 
judicial circuits with three judges for each district. Madison 
county forms a part of the 3d district. The judges elected 
in June, 1879, are Hon. W. H. Snyder, of Belleville : Hon. 
Amos Watts, of Nashville; and Hon. G. W. Wall, of Du 
Quoin. 

Hon. J. H. Yager, of Alton, is at present county attorney, 
having succeeded C. L. Cook in 1880. The proceeduigs 
of the court, during 1879, 80 and 'Si are of too late a date 
to be mentioned in these pages. 

PROBATE COURT, 1819 TO 1882. 

The court was presided over by the late Hon. H. K. Eaton 
from 1849 to 1857 ; by Hon. M. G. Dale, 1851 to 1865 ; by 
the l^ite Hon. David Gillespie, from 1865 to 1869; by the 
late Hon. W. T. Brown, from 1869 to 1874. Browu died 
March 2d, 1874, in the first quarter of his second term. He 
was succeeded by Hon. J. G. Irwin, April 1874. Judge Ir- 
win's seat was successfully contested by Hon. M. G. Dale, wl.o 
filled the rest of the oflicial term to which Brown had been 
elected. Hon. M. G- Dale was re-elected in 1877 and is still 
presiding The number of estates administered on since 1812 
IS 4086. Assuming that one out of eyery 7 persons deceased 
was the head of the family, leaving an estate, we arrive aj 
the conclusion that about 30,000 weary heads have been 
laid to rest in this county since 1812. 

CONCLUSION. 

The civil history of Madison county commences with the 
year 1812, and iucludes, therefore, the events of but 70 
years. We have endeavored to give a succinct and accu- 
rate account of these events as they occurred from 
the day when John G. Loftou, Jacob Whiteside and Thomas 
Kirkpatrick, ihe pioneer county oflicers, assembled in the 
log cabin of Kirkpatrick's to "hold court" until to day 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



181 



when in 1882 men elected the representatives of 23 town- 
ships, each of them representing many times the wealth and 
population of the whole county in 1812, assembled in the 
stately court-house, to continue the work, bi^gun by the ven- 
erable men mentioned above. Madison county has pros- 
pered from the day the first white men built their huts in 
what they so aptly called " Goshen. " Fifty millions of dol- 
lars would not suffice to purchase the property owned to- 
day by the 50,000 inhabitants of the county. Seventy years 
is but a brief period in the life of nations, and yet how lim- 
ited is the number of those who have seen the county in its 
infancy, and have watched its wonderful progress. 

An Indian trail, here and there, in 1800, an only road 
from Ed wards ville to Cahokia in 1812, were the means by 
which the scattered settlements were kept in communication 
with one another. How great was tiie joy of the.se people, 
when some ten years later the fir.-<t stage coach carae thun- 
dering through the county. The days of the stage have 
passed by, and the cherry sounds of the driver's bugle are 
almost forgotten. 

The county is dotted with prosperous and growing cities 
and towns. Stately school-houses are found everywhere 
throughout the countj', and numerous church spires, point- 
ing upwards, seem to indicate that the thoughts of this peo- 
ple are not entirely bent on things that perish. 

Railroads traverse the county in various directions, and 
telegraphs connect almost every town of the county with 
the remotest places on earth. Such is Madison county now. 
Specu'ations as to how it will be found 70 or 100 years 
hence, are idle. There is a limit to all things The build- 
ers of the tower at Babel learned this by their own sad 
experience, and the Titans, though powerful enough to pile 
mountains on mountains, could never reach the sacred heights 
of Olympus. 

CHAPTER X. 



THE BEXCir AND BAR. 



V l^/^^r^^ ^ HROUGH the rapid growth and immense 
^^P*3><ril f . .1 ; development of the state in population 
business and wealth, numerous changes 
have been rendered necessary in its ju- 
dicial system, an outline of which is 
given below. By the constitution of 
1818 the judicial power of the state of 
Illinois was vested in one supreme court 
and such inferior courts as the General 
Assembly should from time to time establi.-h. The supreme 
court consisted of a chief justice and three associate justices, 
and was vested with appellate jurisdiction only, except in 
cases relating to the revenue, cases of mandamus, and such 
casej of impeachment as might be required to be tried before 
it. The justices of the supreme couit and the judges of the 




inferior courts were chosen by joint ballot of the General 
Assembly, and were to hold their offices until the end of the 
session of the General Assembly of 1824 ; and were required 
to hold such circuit courts in the several counties, and exer- 
cise such jurisdiction as the General Assembly should b}' 
law prescribe. 

The state was divided into four judicial circuits, within 
which the chief justice and the associate justices of the 
supreme court performed circuit duties till 1824. On the 
28th of December, 1824, an act was passed requiring the 
appointment by the General Assembly of five circuit judges, 
to continue in office during good behavior, and dividing the 
state into five judicial circuits. The performance of circuit 
duties was now wholly assigned to the circuit judges. On 
the 12th of January, 1827, the act of 18.i4 was repealed, 
and the s'ate was again divided into four judicial circuits, 
in which the chief justices were again required to per- 
form circuit duties. By act of January 8, 1879, a fifth 
judicial circuit, north of the Illinois river, was created, and 
a circuit judge was elected by the General Assembly to 
preside in that circuit, the justices of the supreme court 
performing the judicial duties of the other four circuits. By 
act of January 7, 1835, a sixth judicial circuit was created 
five additional circuit judges were elected, and the justices 
of the supreme court were again relieved from judicial 
duties in the circuit courts. In 18'}7 a seventh circuit was 
created, and an additional judge elected, and in 1839 the 
eighth and ninth circuits were formed and provided with 
judges. In 1841, by act of the 10th of February, the ac- 
establishing the circuit courts was repealed, and the General 
Assembly elected five additional justices of the supreme 
court, who with the chief justice and the three associates just 
tices then in office, were to constitute the supreme court- 
By the same act the justices of the supreme court were to 
perform circuit duty in the nine circuits into which the 
state was at that time divided. A re^organization of the 
judiciary took place in 1848. Up to that time the circuit 
courts had only a legislative existence. But by the consti- 
tution of 1848 the judicial system was to consist of one 
supreme court, circuit courts, county courts, and justices of 
the p"ace, and such courts of uniform organization and 
jurisdiction of civil and criminal cases in the cities of the 
state as the General Assembly should establish. The su- 
preme court consisted of three judges, one of whom was 
elected for the term of nine years by the people, in each of 
three grand divisions into which the state was divided by 
the new constitution for that purpose. Appeals and writs 
of error could be taken from the circuit court of any county 
to the supreme court held in the diusion including such 
county, or by consent of parties, to the supreme court in the 
next adjoining division. The state was divded into nine 
judicial circuits, but the General Assemblj' increased their 
number from time to time until there were thirty circuits 
created under the constitution. 

One circuit judge was elected by the people in each cir- 
cuit for the term of six years and until his successor should 
be elected and qualifed. The first election for justices of 
the supreme court and judges of the circuit courts was held 



182 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



on the fir^t Monday in September, 1848, and afterwards on 
the first Mondaj' in June, 1855, and every six years there- ! 
after for county jud^^es. All vacancies in the supreme court j 
or the circuit courts were to be filled by election by the 
people, unle.<s the unexpired term did not exceed one | 
year, when it might be filled by executive appointment. Two \ 
or more terms of the circuit court were to be held annually ! 
in each county, and that court had jurisdiction of all cases 
in law and equity, and of appeals from all inferior courts. 

The constitution of 1870 vested the judicial power in 
one supreme court, circuit courts, justices of the peace, 
police magistrates and such courts as may be created by law 
in and for cities and incorporated towns. The supreme court 
consists of seven judges, and has both appellate and orignal 
jurisdiction. One of the number is chief justice, and the 
concurrence of four judges is neces.=ary to a decision. There 
are three grand division for holding supreme court. 

One judge is elected from each of the seven districts into 
which the state is divided for that purpose. The election 
occurs on the fir^t Monday in June, and the term of office 
is nine years. The supreme court in each grand diviiou has 
a reporter and oue clerk, whose terms of office are each six 
years ; the former being appointed by the court the latter 
elected by the people of his division. 

The legi.-ilature, in 1877, in accordance vith the constitu- 
tion of 1870, cr. ated four appellate courts, with appellate 
jurisdiction only, and provided districts of follows : First, 
Cook county ; second, all the northern grand division ex- 
cept Cook county ; ihird, the central grand division ; fourth 
the southern grand division. Three circuit judges a'C as- 
signed to each appellate court by the judges of the supreme 
court for a term of three years. The concurrence of two 
judges is necessary to a decision, and certain cases may be 
apptaled to the supreme court. 

The cnnstitutioi s of 1870 provides that circuit courts shall 
have original jurisdiction of all cases in law and equity, and 
such appellate jurisdiction as may be provided by law. The 
judges are elected by districts for tix years. 

In 1873 the legislature divided the state into twenty-six 
judicial circuits and in 1877 the general assembly divided 
it into thirteen districts, with three circuit judges for each 
district. The circuit judges not assigned to the appellate 
courts perform circuit duty in the districts for which they 
were respectively elected. Cook county is a unit in the ju- 
diciary system of the state ; it forms a judicial circuit, and 
the supreme court holds one or more sessions therein annu- 
ally. The circuit court of that county consists of five 
judges, who hold office for five years. Their number may 
be increased by adding one for every five thousand inhabit- 
ants over the above a population of four hundred thousand. 
The superior court of Cook county may also be increased in 
number in the same manner until the court shall be com- 
composed of nine judges. 

Ic accordance with that provisions of the constitution, 
four additional judges were elecled at the November elec- 
tion in 1880. The above is an outline of the judiciary 
system of the state. As it is intended for the general reader 
and not to furnish professional information, all details 



must be sought in the statutes and in the decisions of the 
courts. 

THE BENCH. 

From 1813 to 1818, the territory of Illinois was divided 
into three Judicial districts, as set forth in the following act â– " 
" Be it known that under an act of Congress, entitled an 
act regulating and defining the duties of the Uuited States 
Judges for the territory of Illinoss, it is alloted to Jesse B. 
Thomas to preside in the first circuit; to William Spriggs 
to preside in the second ; and to Thomas Fowles to pre- 
side in the third circuit. " 

Under this regulations, Jesse B. Thomas presided over 
the circuit court of Madison county, between the dates 
already mentioned. He was appointed territorial Judge in 
1809, and on the admission of Illinois as a state in 1818, he 
was elected to the United States Senate, and in 1823 was his 
own successor, serving in that capacity till 1829. In his 
senatorial career he gained considerable notoriety from hav- 
ing originally suggested the line of thirty-six degrees and 
thirty minutes as the basis of what is known as the Missouri 
Compromise. He strongly advocated the recogition of 
slavery in our state constitution, but, in this, his eflbrts 
were thwarted by the spirit of freedom that prevailed in our 
first constitutional convention. Daring part of his official 
life, he was a resident of Edwardsville. About the year 
1829, he removed to Ohio, where, in 1850, he died. 

In 1818, in March term, Daniel P. Cook held court in 
Edwardsville, He was a native of Kentucky, and on the 
removal of the capital of Illinois from Kaska^kia to Van- 
dalia, commenced the practice of law in Edwardsville. He 
was sub.=equently elected to Congress, and made Chairman 
of the Committee of Ways and Means, in which position he 
gained great notriety. At the bar, on the hustings, and in 
the hall of Congress, he was a most accomplished orator- 
He was also a very amiable and popular man. In the pre- 
sidential election of 1824, the popular vote of Illinois was 
in favor of Adams ; but two of the three electors were for 
Jackson, and the third for Adams. When the election went 
to the House of Representatives, Mr. Cook boldly, but ho" 
nestly cast the vote of Illinois for Adams. This act defeated 
his re-election to Congress, and he soon afterwards died at 
his old home in Kentucky. He was pre-eminently a self- 
made man, brilliant lawyer, and eminent jurist. 

The July term of the JNIadison circuit court in 1818, was 
held by Judge John Warnock, who was succeeded in the 
fall term of the same year, by John Reynolds one of the 
Supreme Judges of Illinois. Judge Reynolds was of 
Irish extraction. He was born in Pennsylvania February 
2()th 1788, and, at an early age, removed with his parents 
to Tennessee, where he received his primary education. In 
18U0 he came to Illnois, and settled at Kaskaskia. He 
subsequently took a two years' course in Latin and the 
sciences, and in 1810 commenced the study of law in the 
office of John McCampbell, Kuoxville, Tennessee. In 1812 
he was examined at Kaskaskia before Judge Thomas and 
Sprigg, U. S. territory Justices, and admitted to practice. 
He received the appointment of Judge Advocate from 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



183 



Governor Edwards, and in 1S14 opened a law office at Ca- 
hukia in St. Clair county. O.i the admission of the state in 
1818, he was elected one of the associate Justices of the 
Supreme Court of Illinois by the general assembly, ^Vhich 
then held its session at Kaskaskia. In 1830, he was made 
Governor of Illinois, and in 1834 was elected to Congress. 
He was seven years in Congress, and in 1846 was elected 
to the general assembly of Illinois, becoming speaker of the 
House. He wa.s always a staunch adherent of the principles 
of the democratic party, and during the late civil war mani- 
fested a deep sympathy with the South. He was a plain, 
blunt man, without any of the social refinements character- 
istic of the more modern bench. He died at Belleville 
in 186.5. 

Samuel McRobert.? was born April 12th, 1793, in what 
is now Monroe county, Illiaois. He received an English 
education only, from a private tutor. . At the age of twent)' 
he was appointed circuit clerk of Monroe county. Two 
years later he entered, the law department of Transylvania 
University, at Laxingtou, Kentucky, and graduated after 
three full courses of lectures. In 1824, he was at the age of 
twenty-five, elected by the legislature in the second circuit, 
one of the five circuit judges of the state. On the 12th of 
January, 1827, the act providing for the appointment of 
circuit judges was repealed, and the office of circuit judge 
then ceased to exist. On all political questions, he was, 
while on the bench, strongly partisan. In defiance of a 
release by the Legislature, he assessed a fine against Gov- 
Coles for settling his emancipated slaves in Madison county 
without giving a bond that they should not become a public 
charge. In 1828, he was elected state senator; in 1830, 
was appointed United States District Attorney for the state; 
in 1832, receiver of public moneys at the Danville land 
office ; in 1839, receiver of the General Land Office at 
Washington. He was elected L^nited States Senator, Decem- 
ber 16th, 1840. On his route home from Washington, he 
died at Cincinnati, March 22d, 1843. 

Judge McRoberts was succeeded in this circuit by Theo- 
PHILUS W. Smith, who was Supreme judge of Illinois, from 
1825 to 1842. He was a native of New York, and was regard- 
ed as one of the most talented of the Supreme judges of his 
time. Many of his decisions are found in Scammon's Supreme 
Court Reports, and they compare favorably with the opinions 
of any of the judges. He was the presiding judge of this 
circuit from 1827 to 183-5. At the request of Judge Smith, 
Judge Samuel D. Lockwood presided at the June terms 
of 1829 and 1831. He was born in New York, and came 
to Illinois in 1818. In 1821 he was elected attorney-general 
of the state. He was successively secretary of state, receiver 
at the land office in Edwardsville, and was elected Supreme 
judge in 182.i, and retained his office till 1848. He died at 
his home in Batavia, Illinois, in 1874. 

Judge Tho.mas Ford presided in the Madison circuit 
court at the March term, 184r). He was a native of Penn- 
sylvania. In 1829, Gov. Reynolds appi)i;ited him prosecu- 
ting attorney. In lh31, he was re appointed. Afterwards 
he was four times elected judge by the L"gia]alure; twice 
circuit judge; judge of Chicago, and associate judge of the 



Supreme Court. He was subsequently elected Governor, 
and died at Peoria, in 18-50. 

In 1835 Sidney Breese was appointed Circuit Judge of 
this circuit. This eminent Judge and statesman was born 
in Oneida Co., N. Y., July 15, 1800. At the early age of 
fourteen he entered Hamilton College. In 1816 he waa 
tran^ferred to Union College where, in 1818, he graduated, 
third in a class of 64. He soon removed to Illinois, and en. 
tered the law office of his old friend and school-fellow, Elias 
Kent Kane. In 1820, he was admitted to the bar, and 
commenced his professional career at Brownsville, 
Illinois, where he was so unsuccessful in conducting 
a ciise before a jury that he determined to abandon the prac- 
tice of law forever. He returned to his profession, however, 
and in 1822, was appointed attorney of the second circuit, 
which position be filled fir five years with honor. In 1831, 
he compiled Breese's Report of the Supreme Court deci- 
sions, the first law book in the state. In the Black Hawk 
war he served as LieutCol., in 1835, was elected judge of 
the second circuit and in 18 Jl was chosen one of the su- 
preme judges of the state. The next year he was elected to 
the U. S Senate. At the expiration of his term, he was 
elected to the Legislature, and was made Speaker of the 
House. In 1S57, he was again elected circuit judge, and 
two years later was again elected circuit judge, and two 
years later was again called to the Supreme bench, in which 
position having been chief justice two terms, he remained 
till his death, which took place on the 28th of June, 1878, at 
his home in Carlyle, Illinois. In 1843, Judge Jame.s Sem- 
PLE, who was then one of the judges of the Supreme Court, 
held the May term of the Madisun Circuit Court. He had 
previously been Brigade General in the Black Hawk war, 
two termsspeaker of the house, minister to " Bogota," and cir- 
cuit judge. Soon afterwards he was appointed U. S. Sena- 
tor. He died at his residence near Elsah, 111., in 1866. 

James Shiklds, whose remarkable career has been the 
subject of wide comment, was born in Ireland, and was 
elected one of the Supreme Judges of Illinois in 1843. From 
October of that year until May 1845, he held the circuit in 
Madison county. He was U S. Senator from Illinois, Min- 
nesota and Missouri On June 1st, 1879, he died at Ot- 
tumwa, Iowa. 

GusTAVus KoERNER is a native of Germany where be 
commenced the practice of law, and in 1833 emigrated to the 
United States. He was admitted to the bar of Illinois in 
1835. In 1845 he was elected judge of the Supreme Court. 
He retained his position till 1849, during which time he per- 
formed the duties of circuit judge in the Madison county 
circuit court. In 18.52 he was elected Lieut-Gov. Duiing 
the Rebellion he served on the staffs of Gens. Fremont and 
Hal leek. He has been honored with other high positions, 
and is still living in a serene and honored old age at Belle- 
ville, Illinois. 

By agreement with Judge Koerner, Judge John Caton 
presided in the Madison circuit court at the May term, 1846. 
Judge Caton came from New York to Chicago, when the 
latter was but a village in a swamp, and commenced the 
practice of law there under the most adverse circumstances. 



184 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



In 1842, when only thirty years of age, he was appointed by 
Gov. Carlin, jiulge of the supreme court. He was repeatedly 
elected to the same position until 1864, when he resigned his 
seat upon the bench, having served nearly twenty-two years in 
that capacity. He has bv successful business ventures be- 
come very wealthy He has al.-o traveled over a large part 
of Eurojie, and now in vigorous old age, enjoys the reward 
of his labors. The circuit court of the circuit comprising 
Madison county, was held six years and a half from 1848 to 
1855, by Judge Wm. H. Uxderw'ood, who was a native of 
New York. In 1840 he removed to Belleville. He was 
elected and re-elected State's attorney, member of the legis- 
lature, and in 1848 circuit judge; he was afterwards for two 
terms a member of the State Senate, and was a delegate to 
the constitutional convention of 1870. He is also author of 
the highly valuable work, "Underwood's Construed and 
Annotated Statutes of Illinois." 

In 1857, after Joseph Breese had ceased to perfirra the 
duties of circuit judge, the Hon. Wm. H. Snyder, of Belle- 
ville, 111., was elected circuit judge of the twenty-fourth cir- 
cuit, serving till June, 1861. In 1870 he was elected dele- 
gate to the Constitutional convention of Illinois. He had 
previouslj' been for two terms a member of the Legislature. 
In 1873, he was again elected circuit court judge, and still 
holds that position. 

The Hon. Joseph Gillespie was born in the city of 
Kew York, and at the age often years removed to Ed wards- 
ville. He was admitted to the bar in 1837. In 1836 he 
was elected probate judge, and in 1840, was a member of the 
lower House of the Legislature, and subsequently was a nitm- 
ber of the State Senate for a period of eight years. In 1861 
he was elected circuit judge of the twenty-fourth judical dis- 
trict, comprising the counties of Bond, St. Clair and Madison. 
He served on this circuit for twelve years. He is still re- 
siding in Edwardsville, crowned with the honorable and af- 
fectionate regards of all that know him. 

On the 16th of June, 1879, Geo. W. Wall, of Du Quoin, 
was elected one of the judges of the third judicial circuit, 
embracing Ma'lisou Co. Joseph Wall is a native of Chillic )- 
the, Ohio. He graduated from Michigan University in 1858, 
and was admitted to practice in Illinois in 1859. He was 
for many years attorney for the Illinois Central R. R. ; was 
a delegate to the Constitutional convention of 1862. In 
ltt64 he was elected State's Attorney for the third judicial dis 
trict, in 1868 he was a delegate to the Democratic National 
Convention and also the Constitutional Convention of 1870, 
and in 1872 was a Democratic candidate for Congress. He 
is an able and impartial judge. 

Judge Amos Watts was born in St. Clair county, in 
1825. His early education was obtained under a private 
tutor, who gave him instruction in the evening after the day's 
work on the farm had been done. This was all the educa- 
tion he ever received with the aid of a teacher. In 1847, he 
was elected county clerk of Washington county, and was 
twice re-elected. In 1854, he was admitted to the bar. He 
was elected State's attorney in 1857, and in 1860 was re- 
elected. From 1866 to 1573 he was an assiduous student of 
the law. lu 1873 he was elected judge of the United States 



circuit, and has shown himself a learned and accomplished 
jurist. 

the bak. 

Non-resident Lawyers. 

Madison county has always had so many resident attor- 
neys that those from other counties have never had very 
extensive practice in her courts. However, by a thorough 
examination of the court records and considerable question- 
ing of old residents, the names of quite a number who oc- 
casionally practiced at the bar of this county have been 
obtained. Several of those menti )ned below are known to 
have been resideuts of other counties; the others were 
either non-residents or were simply admitted to practice 
here. 

Among the former, were William Mear?, a native of 
Ireland, who appeared as an attornej' at the Madison county 
courts at an early day. He came from Pennsylvania to 
Cahokia, and was the third lawyer at that place, John Rice 
Jones, being the first, in 1790 ; and Isaac Darnielle, the 
second, in 179 1. In 1814, Gov. Edwards appointed 
Mears attorney-general of Illinois Territory. He had 
some knowledge of law, and made a fair living at his prac- 
tice. He died in 1826, at Belleville, whither he had gone 
on the removal of the county seat of St. Clair county from 
Cahokia to that place. 

Alexander P. Field, a nephew of Nathaniel Pope, 
lived at Vandalia, but practiced in the court-j of this county 
at an early day. He was a Kentuckian by birth, and was 
originally a Jackson Democrat, but became a Whig. He 
was a man of strong feeling, and was very ultra in the 
avowal of his political sentiments; was an able politician 
and a good stump speaker, but owing to his being on the 
Weak side c luld not attain the distinction to which his 
merits entitled him. During the ten years he resided at St. 
Louis, whither he had gone on leaving Vandalia, he became 
eminent as a criminal lawyer. Just before the opening of 
the Rebellion, he removed to New Orleans, and lived there 
for a number of years, although during the war he was 
often in danger of losing his life on account of his being an 
outspoken Union man. He held the office of Attorney- 
general for the State of Loui=iana, and claimed to have been 
elected to Congress from the New Orleans district, but, on 
account of some irregularities in election matters, was not 
allowed to take his seat. 

William H. Eissell was born in 1811 at New York, and 
there, after acquiring a good common education, studied 
medicine. After removing to Monroe county. 111., he prac- 
ticed a few years ; but having no liking for the irofession he 
had chosen, he abandoned it for the law, for which he had a 
great fancy. In a very short time he was admitted to the 
bar, and was soon thereafter appointed prosecuting attorney. 
As a prosecutor he was so successful that it soon came to be 
considered a hopeless task to defend where he was the oppos- 
ing counsel. He served in the Mexican war, as a colonel, 
and evinced a very high order of military talent. After the 
war, he served two terms in Congress; and, in 1856, mas 
elected Governor of Illinois on the Republican ticket. He 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



180 



died March 18, 1860, ten months before his term of ofBce 
expired. The following sketch is given in the language of 
Judge Joseph Gillespie, to whom we are indebted for much 
of the early history of t he bar : 

"Benjamin Mills was a son of an eminent Presbyterian 
divine iu Massachusetts, but was not very godly himself 
He was gifted with a wonderfully retentive memory and 
had a happy faculty of extricating himself from difficulties 
and embarrassing positions whatever their nature might be. 
When a boy, he was required to copy all his father's sermons, 
and they were stamped upon his memory. When quite a 
young man Ben, with a young companion by the name of 
Wa'te, a famous singer, started west. They ran out of money 
in the neighborhood of Richmond, Va. ; and, in order to raise 
the amount necessary to carry them on their journey, Ben gave 
out that they were missionaries going to Illinois. Ben was 
requested to preach in Richmond. He, with great unction, 
delivered one of his father's best sermons, which accompa- 
nied by Waite's singisg, took Richmond by storm. Their 
exchequer was soon replenished, and Ben and Waite went 
on their way rejoicing. Ben settled in Greenville, Bond 
county, established a law office there, and was elected justice 
of the peace. At that time the law of Illinois authorized a 
J. P. to impose a fine of one dollar upon any one guilty of 
using profane language in his presence, but the fine might 
be remitted on the production of evidence of deep contrition 
on the part of the offender. Ben and one Squire Enlow 
were discoursing one day, and Ben indulged in some pro- 
fanity. After a few minutes' absence, Ben rejoined Enlow, 
when the latter said: 'â– S(juire, you know it is my duty to 
impose a fine upon you for swearing." Ben said : "Brother 
Enlow, I'm a little ahead of you. I've been to ni_v office 
and entered a fine against myself, and am now considering 
the propriety of remitting it." 

Mr. Mills was one of the most witty and brilliant orators 
ever known iu this part of the state. -He made a famous 
speech at Vandalia against Theophilus W. Smith, during 
the impeachment trial of that gentleman ; and with the at- 
torney-general, Alfred Cowles, prosecuted P. H. Winchester 
for the killing of Daniel D. Smith, — Felix Grundy, the 
eminent criminal lawyer of Tennessee, being attorney for the 
defense. 

Mr. Mills moved to Galena and was nominated for Con. 
gress on the whig ticket for the northern district of Illinois, 
but was defeated at the election by Wra. L. May. 

John S. Greatiiouse was one of the lawyers who, in 
past years, came from Carlinville to attend cases in the 
Madison county courts He was a forcible speaker and a 
good lawyer. While in this state he had an extensive prac- 
tice, and his services were always in good demand. In 1843 
he removed to Kentucky, where he resided until the time of 
his death in 1860. 

GusTAVU.s KoERXER, of Belleville, ex-lieutenant-gover- 
nor, has at times been engaged as counsel at the Madison 
county bar, and is a lawyer of considerable ability. A great 
deal of his time has been spent in public offices, but when 
not so engaged he has given his attention to his profession. 

Sketches of the lives of James Semple, Samuel D. Lock- 
24 



wood, and Samuel McRoberts, will be found in the article 
on The Bench. 

The names of the following persons are found on the re- 
cords of the courts of this county, but they never figured 
conspicuously in law circles, and we have been unable to 
obtain data of their live? with the exception of the year in 
which the names were recorded : John Cook and Edward 
Hen)pstead (1816); Thomas Reynolds (1817); La Fayette 
Collins, Robert Farris (1819); Nicolas Hin.«on (1820); 
Alfred W. Calvary, David Blackwcll (1822) ; Duff Green 
(1825); Gustavus Bird, Joshua T. Bradley (1S28) ; Wm. 
Wiochell (1829) ; Theodore N. W. Narcik (time unknown) ; 
Aaron Woodman (1833) ; L. M. Olden and John 'Si. Stiin- 
tou (time unknown) 

FORMER RESIDENT LAWYEliS. 

NiNiAN Edwards was born in Montgomery Co., Jlaryland, 
in 177.5. His parents being wealthy, he was enabled to get pri- 
vate instructions, and up to the time of his entering ci)llege, 
was the pupil of Rev. Mr. Hunt. When only nineteen 
years old, he left college without completing his course and 
went to Kentucky. He was a young man of firm mind, 
great energy, and rare intellectual gifts, and fast rose to 
prominent public positions, becoming at a very early age 
Attorney-General of Kentucky. At thcage of twenty-eightt 
he was appointed Chief Justice of the High Court of Appeal. 
He held that office till Cnief Justice B lyle of Kentucky 
was appointed first Governor of Illinois Territory, in 1809. 
Mr. Edwards preferred to be Governor of Illinois ; Mr. 
Boyle, to be Chief Justice of Kentucky. All j)arties being 
pleased with the exchange of appointments, President Madi- 
son sent Edwards out as the first Governor of Illinois Terri- 
tory. He held this office till 1818, when he was elected to 
the U. S. Senate. At the end of his term as Senator, he was 
re-elected. In 1812, Gov. Edwards established, by procla- 
mation, the counties of Madison, Pope, Johnson and Galla- 
tin. Edwards county and Edwardsville were named in his 
honor. 

While serving as U. S. Senator, he was appointed 
Minister to Mexico, by President Monroe. In 1826, he was 
elected Governor of Illinois, and, after serving his terra of 
office, remained at Belleville till his death, July 20, 1833. 

James W. Whitney, familiarly known as " Lord Coke," 
came from Providence, R. I.,iu 1811, and settled at Upper 
Alton. He practiced law in Madison county till about 1830, 
vh u he removed to Quincy, Illinois. He died some ten 
years ago at an advanced age, in Pike county, Illinois. He 
was a man of remarkable memory, a law library in himself, 
hence his title of " Lord Coke." He always wore a cue. 
During the sessions of the Legislature he was always chosen 
Speaker of the " Legislative Lobby," the " Third House," 
which was an assembly of citizens and legislator for the dis- 
cussion of public questions. Whitney lacked application, 
so that notwithstanding his admitted ability, he never 
attained a leading position in his profession. 

Henry Starr came from the east and settled at Edwards- 
ville about 1818. He remained here till 1827 or 1828, 



186 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



â– when he removed to Cincinnati, Ohio. He was a profound 
]aw)'er, and rose to distinction in his profession. 

In 1820, Chester Ashley opened a law office in Ed- 
â– wardsville. He was a man of stylish dress, and, in this re- 
spect, he was distinguished as theouly man in these parts that 
wore knee breeches and white top boots. He was a brilliant 
man and a profound lawyer. In later years he moved to 
Arkansas, from which state he was elected to the U- S. 
Senate. 

Jesse B. TnonrAs settled at Edwardsville about the year 
1840, and remained here in the practice of law some six or 
eight years. He then moved to Springfield, and thence to 
Chicago. Mr. Thomas was a man of fine personal appear- i 
ance and commanding presence, and his legal attainments 
â– were of the highest order. 

For a short time Gov. TnoiiAS Fokd was a member of | 
the Madison bar. This was about the year 1830. While I 
here he married a Miss Hambaugh. He was a very able I 
man and a good lawyer. 

Geo. T. M. Davis removed from the state of New York 
to Illinois in 1832. He was a good lawyer, and for several i 
years had an extensive practice. He remained in Alton till 
1846, when he became private secretary to Gen. Shields, on 
whose staff he continued throughout the Mexican war. Soon 
after the close of the war he became associate editor of the 
Louisville Journal, then edited by the celebrated George D. 
Prentice. Davis was a man of versatile talents and a very 
fluent writer. From Louisville he went to the city of New 
York and became interested in the Goodyear Rubber Com- 
pany. He still lives in that city, and has accumulated a 
magnificent fortune. He has three grandchildren now re- 
siding at Alton. 

About the year 1832, William Martin came from 
Utica, New York, and made his home in Alton. He studied 
law with George T. M. Davis, and commenced practice in 
Alton in 1833. He was a man of great professional industry, 
and was an able lawyer. He continued to practice here till 
his death, which occurred in March, 18-55. He was for 
several years judge of the municipal court of Alton. 

In 1834, John M. Krum removed from New York to Il- 
linois, and, on his arrival at Alton, formed a partnership 
with Geo. T. M. Davis for the practice of law. He was a 
well-read and skillful lawyer. During his residence in Alton 
he dissolved partnership with Davis, and was for some time 
a partner of Alfred Cowles. He was the first mayor of Al- 
ton. In 1834 he removed to St. Louis. After his removal 
to St. Louis he was elected circuit judge, and afterwards 
became mayor of that city. He is still a resident of St. 
Louis. 

Henry F. Sedgwick came from Albany, New York, to 
Alton, about 1834. After practicing here for a short time, 
he returned to New York. 

J. Russell Bullock was born in Rhode Island, and re- 
moved to Alton about 1835. He was an excellent lawyer. 
He practiced in Alton till 1840, when he returned to Rhode 
Island and became a judge of the supreme court. While in 
Alton he was partner of Edward Keating. Judge Bulkck 
is still living in Rhode Island. 



Edward Keating removed from Maine to Alton, 111., in 
183.5. He was a brilliant lawyer, and was for some time a 
partner of J. Russell Bullock. Subsequently, he entered 
into partnership with the distinguished lawyer, U. F. Linder. 
For a considerable period, he was financial agent for the 
Chicago and Alton R. R. Go's. During a business visit to 
New York, and while his family was residing in Alton, he 
died, March 10, 1857. Mr. Keating was a man of fine 
social qualities. 

Samuel G. Bailey-, a native of New Hampshire, came 
to Alton, from Pennsylvania, in 1836. He was a fair 
lawyer and practiced in Alton until his death, which took 
place about 1846. But little is now known of an attorney 
by the name of Wm. L. Sloss who came to Upper Alton in 
1836. He died in St. Louis. 

Wm.FD Wolf was born in Bristol, R. I., April 21, 
1811. He completed a course of study in Brown Univer- 
sity, Providence, R. I., received the degree of Master 
of Arts from that institution in 1831, and four years later 
had conferred on him the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He 
studied law with Hon. Theron Metcalf of Massachusetts, 
and afterwards with Hon. Thomas Burgess of Providence, 
and was admitted to the Rhode Island bar in 1834. He 
practiced law in partnership with Mr. Burgess till the fall 
of 1836 when he removed to Illinois and located at Alton. 
Af er practicing at Alton eleven years he was elected (in 
1847) to the Legislature as a member of the House. Soon 
after his first term as Representative, he moved to Chicago, 
where he now resides. He has served the city of his resi- 
dence as City Treasurer and Justice of the Peace, and now, - 
at the age of seventy-one, has retired from active business. 
John W. Chickring, formerly a resident attorney of 
Alton, came to that place in 1835 from the East. In 1843 
he removed to Chicago, where he still resides. 

Alex.\nder M. Jenkins was born in one of the South- 
ern States, Kentucky most probably, but removed to Illinois 
and settled in Jackson county, where he married a Miss 
Brush, an Eastern lady. Jenkins was by trade a carpenter, 
but turning his attention somewhat to politics he was elected 
Lieutenant Governor of this State in 1834, which office he 
filled very creditably, and was afterwards appointed in 1836 
to the office of Receiver of Public Moneys at Edwardsville, 
Illinois, which office he retained until 1838. During his 
residence here he studied law, and when he left returned to 
the Southern part of the State and became an excellent 
lawyer and was soon elevated to the bench, which place he 
filled very acceptably for many years. Gov. Jenkins was a 
remarkable man. He attained a respectable position in 
the legal profession solely by dint of his assiduity backed 
up by a large stock of natural ability and good tommon- 
sense. He had no extraneous aid whatever in climbing the 
hill of fame. His dependence was solely upon himself 
His reputation was that of an honest lawyer and judge. 

Henry W. Billings came from the East at a compara- 
tively early day and settled at Cairo, 111., where he remained 
a few years and then removed to Monroe Co , 111. About 
1845 he established himself in the practice of law at Alton 



HISTOBY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



187 



and continued to practice there till bis death in 1872. He 
was a member of the constitutional convention of 1870 from 
the 16th district, composed of Madison and Bond counties. 
He was a very able and excellent speaker, and was 
greatly above the average aad was able to compete on 
equal terms, with the most eminent of his profession in 
the state. He conducted his cases in the circuit court with 
great adroitness, and was not often excelled in the prepara- 
tion and nianagenieut of business in the higher courts. He 
was in partnership while in Alton with Lewis B. Parsons, 
now of Clay county Illinois, and the firm was considered one 
of great strength and reliability. Billings was a man of 
remarkably engaging manners and splendid presence, and 
was exceedingly popular with both bar and people. 

David Jewett Baker was born atEast Haddam, Conn , 
September 7th, 1792. He was the oldest son of Bayze and 
Johanna Baker. His maternal grandfather was Captain 
Miner, who commanded a vessel in the Revolutionary War ; 
and his paternal grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier 
who died in New York City while a British captain. His 
father removed to West Bloomfield, X. Y., in 1800, and set- 
tled on a farm. David had no taste for farm work, and 
eirly determined to go to coljege. He prepared himself, and 
entered the Sophomore class of Hamilton College, from which 
Institution he graduated in 1816. He decided upon the law 
as his profession, and for several years devoted bis entire 
time and attention to fitting himself for the work —After 
being admitted to the Bar he removed to Illinois, the journey 
being made down the Ohio river in a flat-boat as far as 
Shawneetown, thence on horseback, to Kaskaskia, then the 
capital and largest town in the State. He entered upon the 
practice of his profession, but did not use it as a stepping- 
stone to political preferment. He was made Judge of the 
probate court of Randolph county, and held the office for 
several years. In 1829 he was appointed United States 
Senator from Illinois by Governor Edwards. While in 
Congress he successfully carried through the measure for dis- 
posing of public lands in tracts of forty acres, making a 
great change in the old laws of the disposition of lands, and 
one that greatly benefited settlers. In 1833 he was ap- 
pointed United States Attorney for Illinois by president 
Jackson, and was re-appointed in 1837 by president Van Bu- 
ren. In 18-18 he ran for Judg; of the Suprema court of 
Illinois, but was defeated by Judge Lyman Trumbull. Judge 
Bdker was one of the earliest and leading Republicans in 
the state. He was with Owen Lovejoy and others in 
1854 when the party was organized. He was a bitter and 
unrelenting advocate of the prohibition of slavery. When 
it was attempted to introduce the iniquitous traffic in this 
state he turned his whole power against it. For his bold 
utterances he was attacked in the streets of Kaskaskia by 
Gov. Reynolds of Missouri. The marks of the bludgeon 
used by Gov. Reynolds on Judge Baker's head were carried 
by him to his dying day. As a lawyer he was distinguished 
and eminent, and a majority of the important cases in the 
Supreme court reports up tothetimeof his retirement from the 
profession will be found to be connected with his name. In 
1841 on account of the wonderful overflow of the Mississippi 



River, he removed to Alton, where he continued the practice 
of his profession until the year 1854 when he retired from 
its active duties and devoted the remainder of his daj's in 
beautifying and ornamenting his home in Middletowu. 
Judge Baker was married twice. His first wife was Miss 
Sara!) Tenney Fairchild, of Geneva, N. Y. She died May 
4th, 1859. He was united to his second wife, Miss Elizabeth 
Swanwick, of Chester, Ills. 

Judge Baker died at Alton, on the 6th of August, 1869, at 
the age of 77 years. At the January term of 1870 of the 
Supreme court, resolutions were placed upon the record of 
the court commemorative of Judge Baker. Chief Justite 
Breese, who had known Judge Baker from boyhood, in 
closing his remarks upon the resolutions said : " In a few 
words he was a ripe scholar, a genial gentleman, a faithful 
friend, a true patriot and a Christian, and well worthy of 
the honors this day done to his memory." 

Daniel Kerr was in former years a practicing attorney 
of Edwardsville. He is of Scotch descent, and possesses the 
industry and thrift that are characteristic of the Scotch 
people. He married a daughter of John Estabrook, an 
old and wealthy citizen of Madison county, and, some years 
ago, removed to western Iowa. Mr. Kerr is a well read 
lawyer, of good promise ; is attentive to his busine.^s and 
faithful to his clients. JoHX Fitch, who lived at Edwards- 
ville a number of years ago, wasa lawyer, but never figured 
extensively in the courts. He was engaged as editor of a 
spirited newspaper about the beginning of the rebellion • 
entered the military service of the United States ; wrote 
and published some very interesting reminiscences of the 
war; and, since peace was declared, has resided at Chicago. 
Lyman Trumbull, a former lawyer of Madison county, 
was originally from Connecticut. From his native state, he 
moved to Georgia, and thence to Illinois, locating at Belle- 
ville, where he practiced about ten years. He resided next 
at Alton, aud while there, was appointed Secretary of State 
by Gov. Carliu. In 1848, he was appointed one of the 
Justices of the Supreme Court of Illinois, and held that 
position for a long term of years, and in lSo8 was elected 
to Congress, but before taking his seat in the House was 
chosen United States Senator. He is a very able and suc- 
cessful lawyer ; exceedingly diligent and ambitious to win 
his cases; thoroughly versed in orgauic and statute law ; 
aud when on the bench, was one of the most acute and dis- 
crimiuating judges. 

Lewis B. Parsons is a member of the celebrated Par- 
sons family of Massachusetts. He emigrated somewhere 
about 1835 or '36, and settled in Alton, and soon became a 
member of the firm of Billings & Parsons. He had the 
reputation of being a very sound and industrious lawyer. 
His forte, however, consisted in his remarkable business ca- 
pacities. At the breaking out of the war of the rebellion 
he was selected for commissary of subsistence of the west, 
and he discharged its multifarious and complicated duties 
with transcendent ability, and gained a world-wide reputa- 
tion. Since the close of the war he engaged extensively in 
farming in Clay county, Illinois, where we believe he now 
resides. Parsons when at the bar was always confided in, 



li 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



as an enterprising attentive, successful, and honorable 
member of the profession. 

John York Baavyer, came here from Vermont and set- 
tled in E iwardsville as early as 1817, and commenced prac- j 
ticing law. He was very soon however, placed upon the 
circuit bench, which he occupied when he died. He mar- 
ried a Miss Ground of this county, who survived him, but by 
whom he never had any children. But little was known 
of him as a lawyer, though he was reputed to be a good judge. 

John G. Cameron, was born in New York and removed 
to Edwardsville, where he opened a law office or rather 
occupied the office of James Semple. He was soon placed 
in the office of receiver of the land office, which he 
filled from 1845 till 184', when he removed to the southern 
portion of Illinois, where he practiced his profession for some 
years, and then removed to and settled in St. Louis, Mo. 
He was the brother-in-law of Alexander M Jenkin«, who 
held the office of register of the land office in Edwardsville 
for many years, and who removed or rather returned to 
southern Illinois and read law, and was elected to a judge- 
ship, which position he occupied we believe until his death. 
Cameron's practice was but slight here, owing to his soon 
engaging in political life, but he was considered by those 
who knew him intimately, to be a well-read lawyer. He 
died in St. Louis not many years since. 

William A. J. Sparks, now member of Congress from the 
Carlyle district, was formerly a resident of Edwardsville. 
He is an ludiauian by birth, and removed with his parents 
to Illinois in 1836. In early life, being dependent upon 
his own exertions, he labored on a farm, and at intervals 
attended the country schools. He afterwards taught school, 
^nd in 1820 graduated at McKendree College. Studied 
law with Judge Breese, and in 1851, was admitted to the 
bar, began practice at Carlyle, and in 1853 was appointed 
by President Pierce, United States land receiver for the 
Edwardsville, (111.) land office, and held the office until 1856. 
He has represented his district several times in Congress. 
Mr. Sparks is a ready speaker, fine debater and very popu- 
lar in his congressional district. 

Joseph H. Sloss, practiced for a time in partnership 
with Col. Rutherford. He was an easy, graceful speaker, 
and good lawyer. Mr. S. is a native of Florence, Alabama, 
where he received a good education. He left here about 
1861, and went south, subsequently was elected to Congress 
from Alabama, and is now one of the prominent and well 
known men of that state, is a Republican and at present U- 
S. Marshall for the northern district of Alabama ; now a res- 
ident of Huntsville. 

David Prickett, was the son of Elisha Prickett, and 
brother of Absalom, Isaac, Jacob, John, George and Elisha 
Prickett, former residents and prominent citizens of Madi- 
son county. Ills. David studied law at an early day, and 
practiced in conjunction with Thomas Atwater with very 
good success. Atwater, however, soon removed to the 
northern part of the state, and David Prickett became judge 
of probate of this county, which office he filled until his re- 
moval to Springfield, where he married a Miss Lamb, a 
connection of the family of Thomas Mather, President of 



the State Bank of Illinois. Prickett we believe withdrew 
from the profession, when he took up his residence in Spring- 
field. The firm of Prickett and Atwater was regarded as a 
reliable one. Prickett died in Springfield, leaving a widow 
and several children. 

Alfred Cowles, a native of Connecticut, on coming to 
Illinois settled first at Belleville, and removed thence, in 
1839, to Alton. While serving as Attorney-general he and 
Benjamin Mills prosecuted P. H. Winchester for the kill- 
ing of Daniel D. Smith, a citizen of Pike county. 111. In 
this celebrated case, which was tried at Edwardsville about 
1824, Henry Starr, of Edwardsville, and that eminent crim- 
inal lawyer, Felix Grundy, of Tennessee, were attorneys 
for the defense. The trial, which was a battle of legal 
giants, resulted in the acquittal of Winchester. Mr. Cowles 
spent the last years of his life in Oregon. He was a man 
of acknowUdged legal ability, and was considered a very 
safe and reliable lawyer. 

Francis B. Murdock was an attorney of Madison county 
for several years preceding 1841, at which time he removed 
to St. Louis. He afterward went to California, and there 
died. He was engaged in general practice and was called a 
good lawyer. 

Horatio Bigelow came to jSIadison county in 1837, and 
began the practice of law. He was appointed assignee in 
bankruptcy for Madison county, when the county was 
laboring under financial embarrassment in the 40's. Mr. 
Bigelow removed to Boston some years ago, and still resides 
there. 

David H. Brigham, formerly a resident of Alton, had a 
legal education and was admitted to the bar, but never 
devoted much time to practice. He engaged in speculations, 
and after living here a few years went to Iowa in 1850. 

Usher F. Linder lived in this county some three or 
four years; came about 1837. He was a very brilliant 
lawyer, and had a good practice. On leaving this county 
he went to Chicago, where he died a few years ago. 

Palemon H. Winchester settled in Illiueis about 1819 

or 1820, and was united in marriage to a daughter of Col. 

Benjamin Stephenson, of Edwardsville. He practiced law 

here until his trial for the killing of Daniel D. Smith, in 

1824, for which he was tried in this county and acquitted. 

He was a native of Tennessee, and was def nded by the 

^ celebrated Felix Grundy of that state. He lived here a 

! few years after bis trial and then removed to Macoupin 

! county, in this state. 

From 1«35 to 1840, there lived at Edwardsville a young 
attorney, named Junius Hall. He was an accomplished 
lawyer and had a fine practice for those times, but became 
discouraged, as it seemed to him that the West was making 
very slow progress, and returned to Boston, whence he had 
come only a few years before. He was a partner of Newton 
D. Strong, a native of Connecticut, who removed to Easton, 
Pennsylvania, where he studied law with his brother^ 
' William Strong, late Justice of the Supreme Court of the 
United States. He came to Edwardsville about 1835, and 
while here he married a daughter of Hon. Cyrus Edwards. 
After his marriage he returned to Easton, and there engaged 



HISTORY OF MA DISO N CO UNT Y, IL L I NO IS. 



189 



in the practice of his profession. Shortly after the death of 
his wife at Eiiston, he again came west and located at St. 
Louis, where he died Mr. Strong was a man of marked 
ability, a finished scholar, and as a lawyer had few equals. 
He ouce represented Madison county in the Illinois Legisla- 
ture ; his style of addressing the court was purely Websteriau 
— never using a word too many nor a word too few. 

Franklin Niles, who was a young lawyer from Easton, 
Penna., came to Edwardsville about 1840 and opened an 
office with Judge Joseph Gillespie. He left his practice to 
engage in the Mexican war under Col. Doniphan, who after- 
wards became a general, but died at the commencement of \ 
the march at 110 mile creek. He was an excellent lawyer, 
and was remarkable for the facility with which he could pre- 
pare his papers and for the accuracy of his pleadings. Had 
Mr. Niles lived he would have become, in all probability, an 
eminent lawyer. 

Wm. S. Lincoln, a son of Gov. Levi Lincoln, of ilassa- 
chusetts, lived in Alton from about 183-5 to 1840. He had 
a fair share of the law practice in this county in those times, 
and had he remained would, perhaps, have become one of 
the leading lawyers of this section, but becoming discouraged 
by the hard times that set in here about 1840 he returned to 
his native state. His brother, John W. Lincoln, was a law- 
yer here about the same time, but never practiced much- 

Nelson G. Edwards came with his father, Hon. Cyrus 
Edwards, to Illinois when a mere child. Having completed 
his literary education at Shurtlett' College, Upper Alton, 111., 
he began the study of law under the supervision of his 
father. He was admitted to the bar when quite young, and 
formed a jjartnershij) with Levi Davis of Alton. He was a 
lawyer of good promise, and would no doubt have at'ained 
considerable prominence in his profession and in political 
life as well, had he not died a few years after his admission 
to practice. He was a man of rare gifts, and was exceed- 
ingly popular and engaging in his manners ; was zealous and 
indefatigable, and had the entire confidence of the public 
for integrity and ability- Perhaps no other young man in 
this country made a more favorable and lasting impression 
upon acquaintances and friends than did Nelson G. Ed- 
wards. 

Alexander AY. Jones, an eccentric man, but well edu- 
cated and a good lawyer, located in Jladi.son county in 183G. 
He was appointed register of the land office at Edwards- 
ville about 1841 or 1842 by President Tyler, and died at 
that place some years afterward. 

Lauresten Kobbins, who resided at Alton from 1830 to 
1846, prei)ared himself for practice under the direction of 
Hon. Seth. T. Sawyer of Alton ; as also did Foster Fletcher, 
who came to the county in 1842 and remained here till 184.5, 
â– when he removed to Carrollton, 111 Neither of these gen- 
tlemen practiced very extensively, and both went into the 
Mexican war and were killed at the battle of Buena 
Y ista. 

James W. Davis, was a young man who was admitted to 
practice just before the beginniii:^ of the rebellion. He en- 
listed in the Union army, served out his term (jf enlistment. 



and returned to Alton, but soon went west and settled in 
the vicinity of O.naha, where he has since lived 

Joseph Conway was one of the early settlers of Illinois. 
He came from Kentucky to this state as early as 1812, per- 
haps earlier. AVhen Illinois became a state he was appoint- 
ed clerk of the circuit court for the county, and held that 
position till 1825. In 1828 he was elected to the state sen- 
ate from Madison county. At the close of his service as 
state senator, or shortly thereafter, he removed to Rock 
Island, 111., and while residing there, fell from the upper 
to the lower deck of a steamboat, thereby sustaining 
injuries from which he died. 

John Tbibble came to Alton in 1852, opened a law office, 
and was engaged in the duties of his profession till the be- 
ginning of the late war, when he entered the Union army. 
AVhile serving his country, he was so badly wounded that 
he was sent home to Alton, where he died of his injuries. 

Friend S. Rutherford was a resident lawyer of Ed- 
wardsville, and afterwards of Alton, from 1856 till the 
opening of hostilities between the north and the south, when 
he enlisted and became colonel of an Illinois regiment. He 
served throughout the war as a soldier, and at its close 
came back to this county, where he died a few years later. 

George T. Brown, of Alton, who died some years ago ,w as 
an attorney, but he did not give his attention so much to 
law as to jjolitics, in which he played an important part in 
Madison and the adjoining counties. 

B. F. Lucas, who came from Pennsylvania, opened an 
office at Edwardsville in 1876, and after remaining about a 
year, removed to Missouri. 

Charles Newman, a native of Madison county, graduated 
from St. Louis Law School iu 1874, was admitted to the bar 
in Illinois; and after practicing a year, closed his office and 
engaged in farming. 

Charles F. Springer, a cousin of Wm. M. Springer, 
M. C. from Springfield district, was born in Sullivan county, 
Indiana, Aug. 10, 1834, and emigrated to Illinois iu 1848. 
He graduated with honor at Asbury University, Greencas. 
tie, Ind., in 1858, and soon after completing his collegiate 
course began his legal education in the office of Judges David 
and Joseph Gillespie at Edwardsville. Upon his admission 
to the bar in 1859, he became the par'ner of Judge David 
Gillespie, and the remaining years of his life, with the ex- 
ception of iutervals during which he was called to public 
duties, were devoted to his profession. He was a man of 
splendid presence and pleasing address, and at once con. 
vincel those with whom he came in contact, of his sterling 
integrity. He was a profound thinker, a good lawyer, a 
shrewd politician, and was eminently gifted as a speaker. 
He was one of the prominent members of the Constitutional 
Convention of 1870. His death, which occurred November 
15, 1370, filled with deep sorrow the hearts of his numerous 
friends and admirers. 

Frank W. Burnett, a former resident attorney of Ed- 
wardsville, was born in Michigan in 1849. His literary 
education was acquired in the public schools of his native 
state and in Germany. He received his legal education at 
the University of ]\Iichigan, from which institution he gra- 



190 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, IL 1 1 NO IS. 



duated in 1873. In the same year he was examined and 
licensed to practice in Illinoi;^, and soon after was admitted 
to partnersliip with ]\[e.ssrs. Dale and Burnett of Edwards- 
â– ville. Judge Dale withdrew from the firm in 1876, on ac- 
count of his election to the office of county judge, leaving 
George B. and Frank W. Burnett to continue the business. 
In 1S77 the brothers dissolved partnership, each establishing 
a law office for himself. After practicing alone for some 
mouths, Frank W. became a law partner of B. R. Bur- 
roughs. He was associated with Mr. Burroughs till 1881, 
when he removed to Springfield, Ills. He still remains at 
that place in the practice of his profession. 

Judge David Gillespie was born in Edwardsville, Sep- 
tember oO, 1828. In the absence of public schools at that 
early day, he received a rudimentary education in the pri- 
vate schools of his native town, and afterwards continued his 
studies for a time at Shurtleft' College. While yet a lad, he 
entered the office of his uncle, Joseph Gillespie, and applied 
himself diligently to the study of law. He afterwards at- 
tended a course of law lectures at Cincinnati, Ohio, and on 
attaining his majority in 1849 was examined and admitted 
to practice in Illinois. He immediately became the law 
partner of his uncle Joseph, the style of the firm being J. & 
D. Gillespie. This partnership continued till 1861, when 
Joseph Gillespie was elected circuit judge, and David be- 
came the law partner of Charles F Springer, with whom he 
was associated till the death of the latter in 1870. He prac- 
ticed by himself from 1870 to 1872, when he took Cyrus 
Happy into partnership with him. Mr. Happy was his 
partner till 1879, after which time and till his death, Aug. 
1, 1881, he had an office by himself. The subject of this 
sketch was one of the noted lawyers of Illinois, aud was 
well worthy of the high reputation which he bore among the 
legal fraternity. 

His eminent success as a lawyer was due chiefly to his 
wonderful powers of mental abstraction. While engaged 
in the consideration of questions, he seemed oblivious to 
everything else. He was a man of logical miud and of re- 
markably retentive memory. His devotion to the cause of 
his clients, of whom he always had a great number, was 
constant aud untiring. He was a most conscientious attor- 
ney, never advising to bring suit unless fully satisfied of the 
justness of his cause. He was a large-hearted, generous 
m in, bestowing benefactions upon the needy and the frieiid- 
less wherever he met them. His great professional ability 
was always at the command of the poor as well as of the 
rich ; and fees were of minor consideration to him in defend- 
ing the right or exposing the wrong. His wonderful power 
over a jury consisted, not in the ordinary method of appeal- 
ing to their sympathies, but in presenting the facts of his 
case with such sincerity aud clearness as to produce convic- 
tion in the minds of all intelligent hearers. In his conduct 
of cases he made no attempt at oratorical display, but every 
sentence he spoke raiig with true eloquence. 

He was naturally averse to political life, and scorned the 
many petty schemes and intrigues by which men often 
rise to official position. Consequently he held no political 
office except that of county judge of Madisoa county, for 



one term. Prior to his election, Madison county orders had 
always been at a discount, and consequently the medium of 
unjust speculation, greatly to the detriment of the county's 
credit ; but during his term of office he borrowed money on 
his own account, paid off the county orders, and brought 
theraJo par, where they have since remained, thereby saving 
large amounts of money to the county. Judge Gillespie 
was a man of the finest morals ; was very plain, aud some- 
what careless in dress. He was exceedingly fond of his 
family. He was very fixed in his likes aud dislikes, but was 
never disposed to antagonize anybody. Like Fabricius of 
old, he could not more easily be turned from honesty than 
the sun from its course. He was everybody's friend, but to 
the poor and unfortunate his sympathy and services were 
especially extended. His death, in the prime of his noble 
manhood, has left in the community a void that can not 
soon be filled. 

PRESENT MEMBERS OF THE BAR. 

Seth T. Sawyer is the oldest practicing lawyer in 
Madison county, aud is one of the oldest active members of 
the profession in the State of Illinois. He was born on the 
19th of August, 1806, at Reading, Windsor Co., Vt. His 
early education was obtained first in the common schools of 
his native state and in Chester Academy of Windsor county. 
In 1830, he commenced reading law in the office of Nathan 
Sawyer at Medina, Orleans Co., N. Y., and continued there 
till October 9, 1831, when he removed to Illinois, reaching 
Alton, October 29. He at once resumed the study of law in 
the office of Hon. James Semple, who was then practicing at 
Edwardsville. He r^-mained in Judge Semple's office till 
the spring of 1*^32, when he was admitted to the bar and 
became a partner of his preceptor. He thus practiced till 
183(5, when the partnership dissolved aud he removed to 
Alton, where he has, since that time, had an office. He has 
been a notary public for twenty years. In 1836, he was 
appointed State printer, vice his brother, .lohn Sawyer, 
deceased. Since 1855, he has been U. S. Commissioner. 
Although engaged iu a general practice he has been best 
known as a real estate lawyer. He has also had an extensive 
practice in the federal courts. His practice in this state has 
been mainly in the first, second aud third judicial circuits. 
Mr. Sawyer, notwithstanding his advanced years, still con- 
ducts cases in the courts with much of tje vigor and energy 
of his younger days. 

Among the ranks of the present veterans and dis- 
tinguished lawyers of Illinois, no one, perhaps, is better 
known or more illustrious thau Judge Joseph Gillespie of 
pAlwardsville. This eminent jurist was born in New York 
in the year 1809, and as there were few schools at that 
day, he received his early education under the direction of 
his mother, who was a woman of superior intellectual 
ability. In 1819 he came with his parents to Illinois, aud 
settled on a farm iu Madison county About the year ls30 
he became acquainted with the Hon Cyrus Edwards, then a 
distinguished retired lawyer of this county, who saw iu 
young Gillespie indications of true mental worth, and invited 
him to become his student of law. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



191 



After two years of diligent application to his legal 
studies in the office of his gfcercus patron, Mr. Gillespie 
attended a course of lectures on law at the Transylvania 
University, of Kentucky. In 1837 he was examined and 
admitted to the bar, and during the same year opened a law 
office in Edwardsville, where he has since continued in 
active practice. In 1840 he was elected to the lower House 
of the State Legislature, and there made the acquaintance 
of Mr. Lincoln, w'hich afterwanis ripened into a life-long, 
intimate friendship. In 1847, Mr. Gillespie was elected to 
the State Senate, and was one of the leaders of that body 
during the next eight years. In 1861 he was honored with 
the election to the circuit bench of this district, and filled 
with distinction that position till 1873. Asa citizen, lawyer, 
legislator, or jurist. Judge Joseph Gillespie stands in the 
ranks of the distinguished men of our great commonwealth, 
and is one of the few survivers of those noble sons of 
Illinois who for the last half century, both in field and 
forum, have won their way to fame and distinction. 

Henuy S. Baker, son of Judge David J. Baker, 
was born at Kaskaskia 111., November 10, 1824. He re- 
ceived his preparatory education at Shurtleff College, 
Upper Alton, HI., and in 1843 went to Brown Univer- 
sity, at Providence, R I. He graduated at Brown in 
1847, and studied law with his father at Alton, during 
the next two years, at the end of which time he was 
admitted to practice. He was in partnership with his 
father for some time, but when the latter retired from 
active practice he formed a copartnership with Wm. B. 
Gilbert, his nephew, who is now a prominent attorney at 
Cairo, III. This firm lasted until 183o, when Mr. Gilbert 
left Alton. In the same year he was elected judge of the 
city court of Alton. He held this office until 1881, a period 
of sixteen years, although he was a Republican and the city 
strontrly Djmocratic. In March, 188 1, he was defeated for 
the office by Judge A. H. Gambrill, a Democrat. He then 
formed a partnership with John J. Brenholt, of Alton, and 
the firm at once took a leading place among those of the 
Madison county bar, and is still in successful continuance. 
Judge Baker has had little to do with politics, although a 
popular man and a pleasing public speaker; yet he has 
from time to lime been honored by his party by being chosen 
member of State and National Republican conventions ; 
notably the Republican convention held at Bloomington in 
1856; the Republican State convention, of 1876, of which 
he was president, and in the same year, the Republican Na- 
tional Convention, at Ciuciun Iti. 

Another able and prominent member of the Madison 
county bar, and one long identified with the profession, is 
the Hon. A. W. Metcalf, of Edwardsville. 

Mr. ]\retcalf was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, August 
6th, 1828, and received his literary education at Madison 
College in his native county, from which institution, having 
completed the classical course, he graduated in 1846. He 
afterward studied law three years in the office of Evans 
and Scott at Cambridge, Ohio, and in 1850, having passed 
the required examination, was admitted to the bar of his 
native state. In January, 1851, he went to Appleton, Wis- 



consin, where, in company with George H. Myers, he 
opened an office and commenced the practice of his profes- 
sion. 

Having remained there a year, he in 1852 went to St. 
Louis and came thence to Edwardsville, whence, after stop- 
ping a few months, he went to Alton to transact the legal 
business of George T Brown and to perform the duties of 
reporter for the Alton Courier. 

In January, 1853, he returned to Elwardsville, opened a 
law office, and has here, ever since, continued in active prac- 
tice. In 18.59 he was appointed state's attorney by Gov. 
William H. Bissell, and served one year in that capacity. 
In 1864, he was elected to the state senate from the district 
composed of Madison and St. Clair counties, and took a 
leading part in the deliberations of that body till the expi- 
ration of his term in 1868. In 1872, he was a delegate to 
the national Republican convention which met at Philadel- 
phia, and which nominated Gen. Grant for re-election to the 
Pre.-<i(lency. In 1876 he was a lay delegate from the south- 
ern Illinois conference to the national iSIethodist conference, 
which held its session that year at Baltimore, Md. He was 
also a delegate to the national Republican convention which 
met at Chicago in 1880 and which nominated Gen. Garfield. 

During the last twenty years he has been a tru.-^tee of 
McKendree College, and in that capacity has done much to 
advance the interests of that institution. 

Mr. Metcalf has always taken a deep and active interest 
in the Sunday-school cause, attending most of the State 
Sunday-chool conventions and otherwise contributing to the 
advancemeat of that work throughout the state. He was 
for one j'ear the law partner of Judge John G. Irwin 
and had for several years a branch office at Greenville, III. 
J. F. Alexander being in charge of the office at that place. 
In 1874 Mr. Metcalf formed a partnership with William 
P. Bradshaw, which firm, under the style of Metcalf and 
Bradshaw, still continues, and is one of the leading law 
firms in this part of the state. 

JuDUE Alexander H. Gambrill was born in the city 
of Annapolis, Md. His paternal ancestors were among the 
earliest settlers of Maryland ; those on his mother's side 
settled in Virginia at an early day and were prominent citi- 
zens of that state. He was educated at St. John's College 
in his native city, and graduated from that institution hav- 
ing c impleted the full classical course of study. He then 
studied law with Hon. Alexander Randall of Annapolis, 
Md. ; was admitted to the bar of that State in 1850; 
and practiced law till October, 1855, when he removed to 
Alton, 111., where he immediately opened a law office by him- 
self. He has never been in partnership with any one. In 
1857 he was elected city attorney of Alton, and was after- 
ward re-elected to the same position for several consecutive 
terms. At that time the office of city counsellor had not 
been established, and he therefore performed the duties jjer- 
taining to both offices during his successive terms of office 
as city attorney. For several years prior to 1881, he was 
Master in Chancery of the city court of Alton, and in dis- 
charging the duties of that office, so fully demonstrated his 
fitness for the position of Judge of that court that he was 



102 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



elected to that office in 1881. His administration has been I 
marked by ability and integrity. 

Hon. John H. Yager was born in Germany, Oct. 12, 1833. j 
He attended school in various places when a boy, but finish- j 
ed his littrary education in the St. Louis high school. He 
read law with Hon. A. W. Metcalf ; and, subsequently, 
with T. L. Dickey of Chicago, now one of the Justices of the 
Supreme Court of Illinois. AVhile in the office of the latter, 
he was admitted to the bar, in April, 1857 ; and in June of 
the same year, he removed to Alton, 111., where he has since 
remained in the practice of law. 

He has held several important oflSces since locating in 
this county ; among them the following : elected Enrolling 
and Engrossing Clerk of Illinois House of Representatives 
in 1861 ; appointed Surveyor of Customs for Port of Alton 
by President Lincoln, in 1861; elected member of the 
House of Representatives, in 18G6; in April 1871, appoint- 
ed Collector of Internal Revenue for the 12th District of 
111., by President Grant; in November 1872 elected State 
Senator from the 41st District of Illinois ; and in 1880 elect- 
ed State's Attorney for Madison Co., 111., the duties of which 
office he still very ably performs. He is a sound lawyer and 
a useful man. 

Ikwix B. Randle was born in Stewart county, Tennes- 
see, March 24th, 1811, and came with his parents in 1815 
to Illinois, and settled near Edwardsville. His early educa- 
tion was acquired in the public schools of Madison county, 
Illinois, and a High School in Christian county, Kentucky. 
In 1834 he removed to Upper Alton, and in 1839 com- 
menced the study of law. In 1859 he was examined, and 
admitted to the bar of Illinois. Immediately aft r obtain- 
ing license to practice, he opened a law office in Upper Al- 
ton, and was there engaged in legal business till 1870, when 
he removed to Edwardsville, where he has since been en- 
gaged in the work of his profession. From 1845 to 1853, Mr. 
Randle was a member of the county court of Madison 
county. On October 24ih, 1881, Mr. Randle and wife cele- 
brated their golden wedding, and on this occasion the other 
members of the Madison county bar showed in what high 
regard they held him and his estimable lady, by presenting 
to them a cushion covered with white satin, upon which 
were placed twenty-eight gold dollars, so arranged as to 
form the number 50. The tweutv-eight gold dollars, repre- 
sent twenty-eight members of the present Madison county 
bar. This was an honor and an occasion long to be remem- 
bered by Mr. Randle, his family, and their posterity. 

George B. Burnett, one of the prominent lawyers of 
the Madison county bar, was born in Ontario county. New 
York He pursued his legal studies under the supervision 
of his father, Benjamin F. Burnett, and was admitted to 
the bar in 1860. From 1860 to 1862, he practiced law at 
Aledo, Mercer county, Illinois. In 1862 he came to Ed- 
wardsville, and began the practice of law, by himself, and' 
thus continued till 1866, at which time he formed a part- 
nership with Judge Dale, which lasted till 1876, his brother, 
Frank W. Burnett being admitted to the partnership in 
1873. In 1876, Judge Dale was elected county Judge, and 
withdrew from the firm. The brothers, Baructt, continued 



their partnership about a year, and then dissolved, each 
establishing a practice for himself. Quite early in life i\Ir. 
Geo. B. Burnett gained considerable distinction as a criminal 
lawyer He has been for twelve years past the attorney for 
the St. Louis Branch of the Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific 
Railroad. He is a fine lawyer, and excels as an advocate. 
Judge M. G. Dale is a native of the city of Lancaster, 
Pennsylvania, and received his early educdtion in the 
schools of his native city. In 1832 he entered Pennsylvania 
college at Gettysburg,^ and graduated in full course in 1835. 
He had the honor of being salutaturian of his class, and 
delivered his graduating oration in Latin. His legal educa- 
tion began in the office of Judge Champney, at Lancaster, 
and in 1837 he was admitted to the bar. On coming to 
Illinois in 1838, he settled at Greenville, Bond county, and 
opened a law office. From 18S9 to 1853 he served as pro- 
bate judge and county judge of that county, and washy 
President Pierce appointed register of the land office at 
Edwardsville, to which place he removed. On the removal 
of the land office from Edwardsville, he was elected county 
judge of iladison county, in which capacity he served eight 
years. At the close of his term as judge he resumed the 
practice of law, and continued it till seven years ago, when 
he was again elected county judge of Madison county, which 
office he still holds. Judge Dale is a very affable and cour. 
teous gentleman, and an excellent county judge, as is shown 
by his successive elections to that office. 

Hon. Levi Davis, Sk , of Alton, Illinois, is a native of 
Maryland, having been born in that state in May. 1808. Ou 
coming to Illinois he located at Vaudalia. In 1835 he be- 
came Auditor of State, and removed to Springfield, where 
he remained till 1846, when he came to Alton, where he has 
since been engaged in general practice. He ii considered 
one of our best lawyers, one to whom some of the best 
lawyers of the. country have said they could entrust their 
cases with a feeling of security, a feeling that whoever 
might be the opposing counsel, he would have hard work to 
gain the case against Mr. Davis, if the latter had justice on 
his side. Davis is pre-eminently trustworthy on account of 
his accuracy and extent of legal knowledge, but also by reason 
of his integrity. He has been conspicuous during his life as 
a peace-maker ; his advice to his clients was invariably to 
keep out of the law, or if in, to compromise their cases, if 
they could do so consistently with their h>nor. Davis and 
Nelson G. Edwards, formed at one time one of the most 
successful and popular law firms in the county of Madison. 
He is now living in the enjoyment of a character of which 
any ipan may be proud. 

Charles P. Wise, one of the leading lawyers of this 
county, is a native of ifaryland, and was born at Emmet^- 
burg, in that state, in 1839. His education was acquired 
principally at the University of St. Louis, Missouri, where 
he pursued the classical course till some time during his 
junior year, when he left college to prepare for entering the 
legal profession. He first read law in the office of Levi 
Davis, Sr. at Alton, during the years 1 858-59 ; his legal studies 
were further prosecuted at the Albany Law School, from 
which institution he received his degree of LL B. in 1861. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



19.'; 



In the same year he was licensed to practice law in the 
State of New York, also at the bar of Illinois, and in the 
latter part of the year opened a law office in Alton, where 
he was soon in successful practice. In 18C8 he formed a 
partnership with Judge Henry W.Billings; this partnership 
was dissolved in 1871, and Mr. AA'^ise continued practice by 
himself from this time till 1880, when he and Levi Davis, 
Jr., formed a partnership which still exists. He is engaged 
in a practice which embraces all branches of the bar. 

He was for two years city attorney and for the same 
length of time city councilor for the city of Alton. In 

1878 he was admitted to practice in the Supreme court of 
the United States. He is also one of the attorneys for the 
Chicago and Alton Railroad Company, has a large and 
lucrative practice, and ranks high as a councillor and 
practicing attorney. 

G. M. Cole is a native of Ashtabula county, Ohio ; born 
in 1834. His early school years were spent in Kingsvillc 
Academy, in his own native county. About the year 1854, 
he came west, and during the ne.Kt fifteen years was employed 
as principal of various graded scliools of Illinois, being a 
part of the time principal of the Edwardsville schools. In 
18()3, under the instruction of George B. Burnett, he began 
to prepare himself for the practice of law ; was examined in 
1864, and admitted to the bar. During the next two years 
he was a partner of George B. Burnett, his preceptor, since 
which time he has practiced law by himself From 1873 to 

1879 was Master in Chancery of Madison county. 

Judge John G. Irwin was born in Edwardsville, Illinois, 
January 2lst, 1842, and passed his boyhood days in the 
public school of his native town. At the age of twenty- 
three commenced reading law in the office of Judge David 
Gillespie, at Edwardsville. In December, 1866, he was 
examined, and in January following, received license to 
practice law. Shortly after his admission, he formed a 
partnership with Hon. A. W. Metcalf, which continued 
about a year, when he formed a partnership with W. H. 
Krome, which continued till April, 1874, at which time he 
was elected county judge, to succeed the late Judge William 
T. Brown, at a special election held in April, 1874; was de. 
clared elected by one majority by the board of canvassers. M. 
G. Dale, one of his competitors, contested his election, upon 
trial HI the circuit court ; the cojitest was decided in his favor, 
but upon appeal to the supreme court the judgment of 
the circuit court was reversed, and Judge Dale declared to 
have been elected. The only questions involved in the case 
â– were irregularities, which were the result of mistakes of the 
judges of election, due to a lack of familiarity with the 
election law which had been changed shortly before the 
election. The most important case decided by Judge Irwin 
was that of Madison county vs. the estate of the late Judge 
AVilliam T. Brown, and as some difference of opinion was 
expressed in regard to the matter, we append a brief synopsis 
of the theory of the decision.* 

♦ Tliere was no dispute a.s to the funds he received a.s financial 

agent of the county. The law cast upon his administration the burden 

of accounting for the funds so received, and the judgment rendered 

represents the difTerence between the whole amount he received and 

25 



Judge Irwin served the county as judge two years, and at 
the expiration of that time formed a law partnership with 
Edward C Springer. Jlessrs. Irwin & Springer are engaged 
in a prosperous general practice of their profession, and 
the firm is one of the most prompt and reliable in the 
county. Judge Irwin is justly regarded as a man of pro- 
found cast of mind, and a deeply read lawyer. He carefully 
investigates and analyzes every subject or case presented for 
his consideration, and exhibits his side with remarkable 
clearness and force. His forte is in his masterly presentation 
to the court of the legal propositions in his ca.se. In addition, 
he is known to be actuated by the highest sentiments of 
honor. 

Levi Davis, Jr., is a native of Illinois, and was born at 
Springfield, Xov. 2, 1842. He received a thorough com- 
mon school education in the public school of Alton and 
afterward pursued a course of collegiate study at the Uni- 
versity of St. Louis, Mo. Being thus prepared for profes- 
sional study he began to read law in the office of his father 
at Alton, in 1865, and after studying there one year entered 
the Albany Law School at Albany, N. Y. Soon after his 
graduation from that institution in 18IJ7. he was admitted 
to the bar of Illinois and opened an office with his father 
at Alton. He remained associated with the latter till 
1871, when he joined the ranks of the profession in St. 
Louis, where he practiced till 1879, at which time he re- 
turned to Alton and formed a law partnership with Charles 
P. Wise, with whom he is still connected under the firm 
name of Wise & Davis. He has twice been city attorney of 
Alton ; is a man of ability, and is in every sense a sound and 
successful lawyer. 

Captain Anton Neu.stadt, one of the enterprising 
foreign-born citizens of this county, received his literary 
education at the University of Prague, subsequently emi- 
grated to America, and settled in Madison county, Illinois. 
He studied law under the direction of Gillespie & Springer, 
and was admitted to the bar in August, 1867. He began 
the practice of law in Collinsville, where he has since con- 
tinued to reside, and has been successfully engaged in the 
practice of his profession. 



the aggregate amount of credits proved. The proceedings were 
pending about eighteen months, and every opportunity was given to 
the administrators, as respects time and otherwise, to make as full 
and complete a defense as it was possible to make, and neither they, 
nor their counsel were in any degree negligent in the performance of 
their duties; they had access to all public records and were aided by 
the county clerk. They also had the private books and memoranda 
of the deceased, and preserved as vouchers a great many papers per- 
taining to public affairs, and obtained credit for them ; among these 
were $84,850.67 cancelled coupons paid by the deceased and preserved 
by him as vouchers. In these reports counsel for the estate had 
advantages which counsel for the county did not possess. A written 
opinion was rendered and placed on file, and from an inspection of this 
document it will be found that the estate got the benefit of all the doubts, 
besides the estate liad the right of appeal and trial dc nova, aud 
although an appeal was taken, the only question raised on the trial of 
the appeal was as to the correctness of the ruling of the probate court 
in the classification of the claim. The circuit court affirmed the 
decision of the probate court in this respect. 



194 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Cyrus L. Ccok was born and rfared in Madison county, j 
Illinois. He entered Shurtlefl' College, at Upper Alton, in i, 
1856, and graduated from that institution in 1862, in full [ 
classical course. His legal education was acquired by taking | 
private lessous and attending law lectures in the University i 
of Michigan. About the year 1867 he was admitted to the 
bar of Illinois, and established himself in the practice of 
law at Edwardsville, where he has since continued in active 
practice. During the late war he was a member of the 
One Hundred and Thirty-third Illinois Infantry. In 1876, 
he was elected Slates' Attorney of Madison county, and filled 
the office with emiuent ability till the election of his succes- 
sor in ISSO. His opinions on legal points are sound, and 
evince a thorough knowledge of law. He is a most genial 
gentleman, an eloquent advocate, and a lawyer of the finest 
scholarly attainments. 

Cyrds W. Leverett was born at Upper Alton, Illinois^ 
in 1841. His literary education was received at ShurtlefT 
College. He pursued his legal studies in the ofiice of Levi 
Davis, Sr., of Alton, and in the law department of the Uni- 
versity of Michigan. Since his admission to the bar, about 
1867, he has been engaged in an extensive practice at his 
native place. 

Henry O. Billings has been for several years in the 
practice of law at Alton. He was elected in 1880 a member 
of the Illinois legislature, as the democratic candidate of 
Madison county. 

Hon. William H. Krome, was born in July, 1842, at 
Louisville, Kentucky. In 1848 he left that city with his 
parents and came to St. Louis. Two years later his parents 
removed to Madison county, 111., and settled on a farm nine 
miles south of Edwardsville. Mr Krome received a com- 
mon school education in the public schools of this county, 
and in the fall of 1858 entered McKendree College for the 
purpose of better preparing himself for the battle of life. 
He took a classical course and graduated in June, 1863. 
In 1865, he commenced the study of law in the office of 
Judge Dale of Edwardsville, and remained a student in 
that office till the fall of 1866, when he entered the law de- 
partment of the Michigan University, Ann Aibor, Mich., 
from which he graduated in 1868. He had been examined 
with reference to bis legal quaifications in June, 1867, and 
had been admitted to practice in Illinois but did not open 
an office till April, 1868, when he and John G. Irwin of 
Edwardsville formed a partnership the firm name being 
Iiwiu and Krume. This firm continued till 1874, 
when Mr. Krome entered into a partnership with W. F. L. 
Hadley ; the firm Krome and Hadley still continues. Mr. 
Krome was a member of the State Senate from 1874 to 1878, 
and served as mayor of the city of Edwardsville from 1873 
to 1875. He is an able lawyer, a good pleader and a sue. 
cessful advocate. 

John J. Brenholt, is a native of Missouri, born in the city 
of St. Louis, in 1843. He acquired a thorough scholastic edu- 
cation at Illinois College, Jacksonville, 111., graduating in 
1856, and then entered the Albany Law School at Albany, N. 
Y., from which institution he received his diploma in 1867. In 



the same year he was admitted to the bar in New York, and 
in the following year was examined and received his license to 
practice in Hlinois. In 1873 he began the practice of law 
in Chicago, where he remained two years ; he then removed 
to Alton, opened an office and at once engaged in the gener- 
al practice of his profession. From April 1879 till April 
1881 he was corporation counsellor for the city of Alton. 
In the latter year he formed a partnership with Judge H. 
S. Baker, with whom he is now associated in general prac- 
tice under the firm name of Baker and Breuholt. In 1878 
Mr. Brenholt was appointed by Gov. Cullora a member of 
his staff with the rank of Colonel, and still holds that posi- 
tion. He is a clear-headed, active, painstaking lawyer. 

Alexander W. Hope, was born at Alton, 111., July 10, 
1848. He spent bis youth in gaining a thorough education 
and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1868, 
having taken the full classical course of that institu- 
tion. After completing his collegiate course he attended 
the law department of his Ahna Mater, and at the end of 
two years received the degree of LL. B. He was imme- 
diately admitted to the bar of Illinois and opened an ofiice 
in Alton, where he has since remained. He was for three 
terms city attorney of Alton, and has been elected mayor 
twice. Mr. Hope has been engaged in many important 
cases, and is regarded as a very promising member of the 
profession. 

Robinson S. Sawyer, was born in Alton, III., in 1845. 
After acquiring a preliminary education in the public schools 
of his native city, he attended Shurtleff College one year. 
In the fall of 1867 he began the study of law in the office 
of his father, Seth T. Sawyer, and read till 1870, when 
having successfully passed examination he received license 
to practice. In January, 1871, he entered into partnership 
with his father for the general practice of law, the firm name 
being S. T. and R. S. Sawyer. 

E. Breese Glass, Master in Chancery for Madison 
county, is a native of St. Clair county, 111. Having com- 
pleted the studies pursued in the public schools of his native 
county, he entered Shurtleff College at Upper Alton in 1864 
and took a four years' Latin course. After leaving college 
he studied law one year at Leavenworth, Kansas, and soon 
afterward entered the law office of Levi Davis, Sr., (Upper 
Alton, 111. ) with whom he studied till he was admitted to the 
bar in 1870. Mr. Glass first opened a law office in Upper 
Alton, but upon being elected States Attorney in 1872 re- 
moved his office to Edwardsville where he has since remained 
in the practice of his profession. He was appointed Master 
in Chancery in 1879, and still holds that office by re-appoint- 
ment. 

William H. Jones was born in St. Louis, in 1849. When 
twelve years old, he graduated from the academic depart- 
ment of the Washington University, St. Louis, jNIo., and 
shortly afterward attended Columbia College, New York. 
In 1868, under the direction of Judge David Gillespie of 
Edwardsville, he commenced reading law and after a thorough 
course of study was examined and admitted to the bar in 
1871. Mr. Jones is attorney for the Toledo, Cincinnati and St. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



19.5 



Louis R. R, Company, and has had a good general practice 
of law at Edwardsville since 1 878. 

W. F. L. Hadlev was born in Madison county, Illinois, 
June lo, 1847. Mr. Hadley attended the district schools of 
his native county until the fall of 1863, when he entered 
McKendree College at Lebanon. He graduated from that 
institution in 1867, in the scientific coarse, including Latin. 
In 1870, he entered the law department of Michigan Uni- 
versity, at Ann Arbor ; graduated in the spring of 1871, and 
in the following fall opened a law office in Edwardsville. 
He practiced by himself till May 1S74, when he formed a 
partnership with Hon. Wm. H. Krome. He is a successful 
lawyer, and rauks among the leading attorneys at the Madi- 
son county bar. 

Thomas J. Richard.«ox received his early education in 
the common schools of Clinton county. 111., and also attend- 
ed Shurtlefl" College two years. He read law privately, and 
subsequently took a law course in the University at Louis- 
ville, Ky. After his admission to the bar of Illinois in 1870 
he began practice at Carlyle, Clinton county, and was Mas- 
ter in Chancery for that county from 1871 to October 1874, 
at which time he resigned and removed to St. Louis to prac- 
tice law. In August, 1878, he returned to Illinois and loca- 
ted at Highland, where he has since been engaged in a 
general practice. Mr. Richardson is an industrious, careful 
lawyer, and a man of good abilities. 

Edward Phillips, a native of Madison county, received 
his education in the public schools of Edwardsville and at 
Shurtleff College, Upper Alton, Having decided to adopt 
the legal profession as his life work, he entered the law office 
of Hon A. W. Metcalf of Edwardsville in 1869, and after 
studying a year was admitted to practice. Since his 
admission to the bar he has continued in the practice of law 
with the exception of five years, during which time he was 
engaged in the lumber business. 

Jons D. Heisel a native of Germany, came to America 
at the age of twenty-one, and settled in Burlington county. 
New Jersey, in 1!^5.3; after living there five years he came 
west, and in 1870 began the study of law in the office of I. 
B. Randle of Edwardsville. In 1»71 he was licensed to 
practice law in the courts of Illinois, and immediately formed 
a partnership with his former preceptor, I. B. Randle. 
This partnership lasted till 1872, when Mr. Heisel was elect- 
ed Circuit Clerk of JIadison county, and served two terms. 
In 1880, he resumed the practice of his profession. 

Cyrus Happy was born near Du Quoin, 111. In 1864 
when only nineteen years old he enlisted in the 18th Illinois 
Infantry and served his country as a soldier till he was mus- 
tered out at the close of the war. He entered McKendree 
College in the fall of 1860, and inJJune 1869 graduated from 
that institution, having taken the scientific course, including 
Latin. He commenced the study of law in September 1869 
in the office of Gillespie & Springer, and continued a stu- 
dent in the office till 1871, when he was admitted to the bar. 
Soon after his admission he entered into partnership with 
Judge David Gillespie, one of the law firm with whom he 
had studied. This partnership lasted till 1S79, when he 



opened a law office by himself. In 1881, he and Mr. C. N. 
Travous formed a partnership, which still continues. 

Mr. Happy is a man of acknowledged ability, a good 
lawyer and an able speaker. 

Wm. p. Bradshaw is a native of Illinois, his father 
having emigrated to this State in 1812. He attended the 
public schools of his native county (Wayne), and finished 
his literary education at McKendree College, Lebanon, 111., 
graduating from that institution in 1869. While on his 
father's farm prior to his entering college, he devoted his 
evenings to the study of law, afterward continued his legal 
studies under Prof H. H. Horner, of McKendree College, 
and in 1869 entered, as a student, the law office of Dale & 
Burnett, at Edwardsville, where he remained two years. 
In 1871, admitted to the bar, he immediately opened an 
office in Edwardsville and practiced by himself till 1874, 
when he became the partner of Hon. A. W. Metcalf, the 
style of the firm being Metcalf & Bradshaw, which still 
continues. Mr. Bradshaw was an active and influential 
member of the State Republican Central Committee. He 
is engaged in a general practice, but especially excels as a 
jury lawyer, in which capacity he has few equals of his age 
in this part of the State. 

Clay H. Lynch received a common school education in 
the district schools of his native county (Madison), and at 
the age of twenty-one commenced the study of law in the 
office of Hon. David Gillespie. Having read law two years 
in 1870 he entered the law department of the University of 
Michigan, from which institution he graduated in 1871. 
Soon after finishing his course he opened a law office and 
practiced two years, at the end of which time he quit law 
and engaged in the grain trade. In January, 1881, he 
resumed his legal practice, and now bids fair to make a 
successful attorney. 

John W. Coppinger was born at Alton in 18.52. He 
received his elementary education in the cathedral schools of 
his native city. From 1864 to 1866 he was a student in St. 
Mary's College, at Perry ville. Mo. He then attended the 
University of Notre Dame, at Notre Dame, Ind., from 
which he graduated in the scientific course. From 1870 to 
1872 he read law in the office of John H. Yager at Alton, 
and during a portion of the time attended the St. Louis 
Law School. In 1872, he was admitted to the bar, and com- 
menced the practice of law. 

Henry' S. Pettingill, now engaged in the practice at 
Edwardsville, was born in Madison county, 111., April 25th, 
1850. When fifteen years of age, he entered Shurtlefl' College, 
at Upper Alton, 111., to take a four years' scientific course. 
During his senior year he left college and entered the law 
office of Dale & Burnett, at Edwardsville, and there applied 
himself to his studies till 1869, when he entered the law de- 
partment of the University of Michigan. After his gradua- 
tion in law, in 1873, he opened an office in Peoria, but 
after remaining there only a few months he went west, and 
traveled through the western states and territories till 1877, 
at which time he returned and opened a law office in Carroll- 
ton, Illinois. In 1878 Mr. Pettingill removed his office to 



196 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



Edwardsville, where he has since been successfully engaged 
in the practice. 

Thomas Fawcett, of Venice, is a native of Ireland, and 
received his literary education at the Polytechnic Institute, 
Brooklyn, N. Y. He studied law with the celebrated 
James T. Brady, of New York City, and L. H. Hite, of 
East St. Louis. In 1874 he was admitted to practice at 
Terre Haute, Ind., and in 1876, became a member of the 
Madison county bar. He prefers the practice of criminal 
law. 

John F. McGinnis was born in Ireland, September 15th, 
1849. When he was two years old, his father emigrated 
to America, and settled at Alton, Illinois. He was sent to 
the cathedral schools of Alton, till he was prepared to 
begin the study of law, when he entered the office of N. A. 
Mortell, Esq., St. Louis. In 1874 he was admitted to prac- 
tice in the courts of both Missouri and Illinois, and, at once 
opened an office in Alton, where he has since continued in 
the practice of his profession, being a part of the time city 
attorney, 

James E. Dunnegan was born in 1853, at Alton, 111. 
His early education was acquired in the cathedral schools of 
that city. At a comparatively early age he began to read 
law in the office of John Orr Lee in St. Louis, and after ac- 
compliirhing a full course of study, was admitted to the bar 
in St. Louis, in 1873. After remaining there two years he 
removed to Alton, and opened an office. He has since that 
time been engaged in a successful general practice of his 
profession. He is at present city attorney of Alton, and 
bids fair to gain an enviable reputation among his brethren 
of the bar. 

Edward C.Sprixger, who was born in Edwardsville, 111., 
May 7, 1854, received his early education in the public 
schools of that city. On arriving at manhood, he decided 
to make the practice of law his life work, and entered the 
office of Messrs. Irwin & Krome in 1874. During 1875 
Mr. Springer passed one term in the Ann Arbor law school, 
Ann Arbor, Michigan, and in 1876 was admitted to the bar 
on passing examination before the supreme court at Mt. 
Vernon, Illinois. Mr. S. commenced practice in June, 
1876, and immediately formed a partnership with Judge 
Irwin, of Edwardsville. He is still a member of the firm 
known as Irwin & Springer ; is engaged in a general prac- 
tice, and has a good prospect for a rich reward for labors in 
his chosen profession. 

Benj. R. Burroughs, a native of Charles county, Mary- 
land, received private instruction till 1864, when he was 
sent to Charlotte Hall college, St. Mary's county, Maryland, 
which institution he attended three years, and graduated in 
the Latin and scientific course. From 1873 to 1875 he pur- 
sued the study of law in the office of Krorae & Hadley, at 
Edwardsville, and in the fall of 1875 entered the .senior 
class of the Union college of law at Chicago. In June, 
1876, he received the degree of LL. B. from that institu- 
tion, and immediately opened a law office at Edwardsville, 
where he continued to practice alone till 1878, when he 
entered into a law partnership with Frank W. Burnett. The 
firm of Burroughs and Burnett continued in business 



till 1881, at which time Mr. Burnett removed to Springfield, 
Illinois. Mr. Burroughs has since practiced alone. He is 
considered a good lawyer. 

Thomas E. Fruit was born in Madison county, Illinois. 
He received his early education in the district schools of 
this county, and in 1872 entered Lincoln University at Lin- 
coln, Illinois, taking a Latin and scientific course, gra- 
duating in June, 1877. The same year he entered the law 
office of Messrs. Irwin & Springer, Edwardsville, andwas 
examined in February, 1880. Having passed the examina- 
tion required, he was admitted to the bar in June, 1880. 
Immediately after his admission Mr. F. opened a law office 
in Edwardsville, Illinois, with Hon. David Gillespie (not in 
partnership), and continued with him till the death of the 
latter, August, 1881, since which time he has been in prac- 
tice by himself In April, 1881, he was elected city attor- 
ney, and still holds that office. Mr. Fruit is engaged in a 
general practice of law, and his prospects for an extended 
practice are good. 

Herman Bitter received his education in the University 
at St. Louis ; read law with Gillespie and Happy, and at- 
tended the law department of the University of Michigan. 
After completing his law course at Ann Arbor, in 1878, he 
was admitted to the bar in Illinois, and has since been en- 
gaged in practice at Edwardsville. 

George F. McNulta was born in Alton, 111., in 1859. 
He attended the schools of Alton till he was fourteen years 
old, when he was sent to Notre Dame University at Notre 
Dame, Indiana, where he took the scientific course of study. 
From 1876 to 1879 he read law in the office of Charles V. 
Wise, and then attended the St Louis Law School, graduat- 
ing in 1880. In the same year he was admitted to the bar 
of Missouri and also that of Illinois. He immediately 
opened a law office in Alton. 

C. N. Tr.wous, a young lawyer of Edwardsville, until 
nineteen years old lived on a farm near Shiloh, St. Clair 
county, 111 , and there received his preliminary education. 
During the four years preceding his study of law he taught 
school in Madison county. In June, 1879, he entered the 
law office of Gillespie and Happy, at Edwardsville, and de- 
voted the next two years to the preparation necessary for 
his admission to practice. He was examined before the Su- 
preme court at Mt. Vernon, in February, 1881, and ad- 
mitted to the bar. Since June, 1881, Mr. Travous has been 
associated with Mr. Cyrus Happy in the practice of law at 
Edwardsville. 

John Berry was born in Huntingdon county, Penna., in 
1853. He studied law in the office of Hon. Wm. S. Skeech 
of Baltimore, Md., four years, and in 1877 was admitted to 
the bar of that state. In 1878 he was liceused to practice in 
Pennsylvania. He afterwards opened an office in Baltimore 
county, Md., and remained there till 1881 when he came to 
Collinsville 111., where he has since been engaged in a gen- 
eral practice. 

The liiit of prosecuting attorneys of this county with the 
dates of their respective terms of office, will be found in the 
chapter on Civil History. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



197 



CHAPTER XI. 



TEE PRESS. 



Edward-iv'Ue Spectator, The Star of (he Wed, Illuwis lie- 
publican, Illinois Corrector, The Crinis, Illinois Advocate, 
Western I'lovghhoy, Alton Spectator, Alton Telegraph, Tn- 
Weekly Telegraph, Daily Telegraph, Alton Telegraph and 
Democratic Review, Alton Telegraph and Madison County liec- 
ord, Alton American , Alton Observer, The Illinois Temperance 
Herald, Alton Commercial Gazette, The Altonian, Western 
Pioneer and Baptist Standard Bearer, Voice oj Illinois, The 
Sucker, The Western Weekly Mirror, Sovereign People, The Star 
of Bethlehem and Candid Examiner, The Proti'stant Monitor, 
Alton Mirror, The Presbytery Reporter, The Madison Record, 
The Alton Courier, The Alton National Democrat, Madison 
County Enquirer, The Weekly Madison Press, Mwlison County 
Advertiser, Madison, County Ontrier, The Sucker Life Boat, 
The Vowarls, Illinois Beobachter, Freie Presse, Missouri Cum- 
berland Preebylerian, Ladies' Pearl, The Good Templar, The 
Alton Banner, Western Cumberland Presbyterian, Cumber- 
land Presbyterian, Our Faith, Erzaehler, Highland Bote, 
Madison County Bote, The Intelligencer The Uninn, High- 
land Union, Edwardsville Rfpubliean, The Coliinsidlle Ar- 
gus, Liberal Democrat, Our Times Edwardsville Times, The 
Temperance Banner, Alton Democrat, Daily Democrat, The 
Troy Weekly BulUtin, The Morning NeW't, The Christian 
NeWi, Qui Vive, College Review, ColUnsville Weekly Herald, 
Madison County Sentinel, The Little Eyicopalian, Banner of 
the Cross, Madison County Anzeiger, Edwardsville Demo- 
crat, The Highland Herald, The Collinsville Star. 



,AN finds his greatest good and highest 
happiness in associations with his fellow- 
men. His constitution demands com- 
panionship, and history teaches that in 
fi^0'^:-rp"^j^^\A all ages and in all parts of the earth, 
^ >; '" ;, > f men have grouped themselves into fami- 
^ -..'-â–  ' . i lies, clans and nations. Protection has 
not been the sole object of these com- 
pacts and has not often been their chief 
incentive, for society is not man's crea- 
tion but his divinely instituted state. The reasons for its 
existence antedate Adam's birth, and are manifested in those 
primitive instincts which guard and potentially guide in the 
formation of human character. 

The power to think is the grandest of God's creations, and 
the ability to communicate thought is scarcely less noble. 
These capabilities are distinctively human attributes, and in 
exercising them the race has attained its present degree of 
civilization. Society presupposes two parties, one to influence 
and one to be influenced. The thinking portion of a com- 
munity is its motive power, and when thoughtful leaders can 
readily impart a proper understanding of their deductions 
they secure unanimity of purpose and harmony of action 




from their followers. Indeed, he only is worthy of leader- 
ship who can communicate to others the good that is in him- 
self and who is constantly accumulating a supply of that 
which is good to communicate. 

There must be a medium between him who directs and 
those who are guided ; a communicator, or, transmitter. 
Language is the transmitter of thought. Early in his exist- 
ence man learned to associate sounds and ideas, to group 
sounds expressive of ideas, to make the former symbols of 
the latter. Another progressive step was taken when aibi- 
trary sounds became conventionally the exponents of ideas, 
and words became their signs. These are the footprints of the 
child'smastery of speech, and vestiges of the method by which 
humanity came into possession of a vocal language. 

Primeval man could not send the products of his reflective 
faculties beyond the limit of his voice, which was his chief 
instrument of language. "Necessity is the mother of inven- 
tion," and the demand for a medium which would carry 
thought farther than mere vocal utterance and retain it 
longer, led to the use of visible representation of ideas. 
Undoubtedly these at first were ideographic, that is pictorial 
and .symbolic. Gradually the pictures and symbols were 
abridged both in delineation and numbers, as a matter of 
convenience, and these abbreviated forms became conven- 
tional signs of spoken language. Thus originated phonetic 
writing, that in which the elementary sounds of language 
are represented by distinct and distinguishable characters 
called letters These letters arranged in their customary 
order constituted the alphabet. 

The Egyptians ascribe the introduction of writing toThoth, 
their god of intelligence ; the Greeks assigned the honor to 
Cadmus, the mythical founder of Boostian Thebes, and the 
Scandinavians claim the discovery as belonging to their god, 
Odin. While its authorship is thus traditional and fabulous, 
no one doubts that the art was carried from Egypt to 
Phoenicia and thence to Greece and other states. The 
Egyptians could never entirely disassociate the idea and its 
symbol, but the Phoenicians, rejecting the ideograms, retained 
the symbols and modified them so as to represent elementary 
sounds, and devised the first alphabet, which was centuries in 
advance of hieroglyphics, and when fairly comprehended 
furnished a facile instrument of communication. 

Men naturally desire the preservation of their best 
thoughts, and instinctively seek those instruments which are 
available and in themselves pleasing. Thus only can the 
rise of sculpture, painting and literature be accounted for, 
and a nation which does not possess these arts is essentially 
barren of culture. The innovation of letters facilitated 
authorship by removing much of the toilsome and time-con- 
suming labor of literary composition. The introduction of 
the alphabet, called for a reading public, and the combination 
rendered erudition popular and potential. From this point 
literary progress was comparatively rapid ; books multiplied 
somewhat speedily, and the knowledge of the few leavened 
the intelligence of the ma.sses. There were book stores in 
Athens, at least, as early as the Peloponnesian w.ir, J31-464 
B. c; and ruling prices were reasonable since bookmaking 
was largely the product of slave labor. There were famous 



198 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



libraries in ancient as in modern times Pisistratus, the 
Athenian tyrant, 560 B. c, is credited with having collected 
a vast library which he generously opened to the public, 
and the famous Alexandrian library, instituted by Ptolemy 
Soter, is a matter of hitory. Towards the end of the Roman 
republic, books cost little if any more than at present, and 
libraries of from 30,000 to 60,000 volumes were not uncom- 
mon. Civilization kept pace with literature. The Greeks 
learned never to do anything too much, and in language, 
art and eloquence, they have never been excelled. A 
Roman citizen was better than a barbarian king, because 
such citizenship was a pledge of the resources of the empire 
in defense of Rjman liberty, a pointed illustration of the 
highest function of any governmental policy. 

The onward march of human progress was rudely checked 
when hordes of northern and Asiatic barbarians invaded 
Rome's dominions, sacked her capitals, destroyed her collec- 
tions of literary and artistic culture, despised her refinement 
in manners and living as types of effeminacy, and ruth- 
lessly demolished the landmarks of the race's growth. 
Europe but slowly recovered from these devastations. For 
cenluries she loitered on the borders of barbarism, and so 
debased was her condition that men speak of the Dark Ages 
as the saddest in history. It was during this period that 
Roger Bacon wrote " Slowly has any portion of the philoso. 
phy of Aristotle come into use among the Latins. His 
natural philosophy and his metaphj'sics were translated in 
my time and interdicted at Paris up to the year 1237, 
because of their assertion of the eternity of the world and 
of time. Without mathematical instruments no science 
can be ma.stered, and these instruments are not to be found 
among the Latins, and could not be made for two or three 
hundred pounds. Thescientifio works of AristotleofAvicenna 
of Seneca, Cicero and other ancients cannot be had without 
great cost ; their principal works have not been translated 
into Latin, and copies of others cannot be found in ordinary 
libraries or elsewhere. I could never find the works of Seneca, 
though I made diligent search for them twenty years and 
more." 

This was the seed time of modern civilization. A pious 
zeal for rescuing the Holy Sepulchre from the infidel Turks 
led to the Crusades, which although they failed to effect 
that for which they were planned, planted, the humanizing 
germs of commercial intercourse, constitutional liberty, and 
spiritual growth. The development and expansion of these 
germs helped to clear the murky intellectual atmosphere of 
its almost universal cloud of ignorance, and men began to 
step into the light of reason, justice and charity. Then 
were seen the streakiugs of the morning light of modern 
history, and the dawn followed when the skilled copyist of 
abbey and niona-tery gave way to the printer and his art. 
The invention of printing is encircled with uncertainty. A 
pretty Dutch tradition tells us that Laureutius Coster, a 
worthy Hollander of Haarlem, in idle amusement carved 
some letters on a piece of bark or wood, and admiring his 
handiwork wrapped it in a piece of paper and laid it aside 
while he slept. On awakening he found that rain had 
moistened the paper and that the letters he had cut on the 



wood had been impressed upon the paper. This happy ac- 
cident suggested a principle and its practical application, 
and ere long Coster invented a process for taking impres- 
sions from blocks, upon each of which the contents of a page 
were engraved. The story asserts that at Coster's death his 
apprentice, Johann Gutenberg, stole a part of the office, 
transported it to Mentz, and there commenced business after 
securing the friendship and partnership of Johann Faust, 
a wealthy goldsmith. German authorities deny the truth 
of this tradition, and claim that Gutenberg was the real 
inventor. They assert that he had an ofBce in Strausburg as 
early as 1436, and movable types n it later than 1438. 

The introduction of a beneficieut reform is slow and dis- 
couraging; it has to overcome lack of facilities, bigotry and 
prejudice. Printing, or to be more exact, typography, de- 
manded another art, that of paper making. It is true that 
paper was known and manufactured in Europe two hundred 
years or rao-e before typography was invented, but the 
quantity was insufficient for the printer's demands, and the 
quality was ill adapted to his art. Parchment and vellum 
were commonly used by copyists, but have never been popu- 
lar with printers, since they wear types rapidly, and stub- 
bornly resist ink. In addition to these drawbacks it is to be 
remembered that these materials were very expensive and 
their sources limited. We are told that the first printed 
Bible required the skins of more that three hundred sheep 
The church was the patron of literature, and was most 
powerful in moulding public opinion. A no inconsiderable 
source of revenue was book-making, the work of training 
copyists and illuminators who, in the main, were monks. 
These monks did not of course surrender their pleasant and 
lucrative employment unwillingly, and uncomplainingly, and 
did not hesitate to prejudice the masses agains the innova- 
tion of printing. But the most serious impediment was the 
lack of an intelligent and reading public. Many kings 
even could not read, and not a few bishops and archbishops 
could not sign their own promulgations. Indeed, the scri- 
vener's art was in such ill repute that the crusaders exposed 
to public ridicule the peas and ink-itands they found in Con- 
stantinople, when that city fell into their hands, as the igno- 
ble arras of contemptible students. 

Slowly the new art male its way ; educators enlisted its 
cooperation ; authors sought its aid in the presentation and 
disseminationof their best thoughts; gradually men appre- 
ciated its merits and usefulness. Through these instrumen- 
talities intelligence spread ; the man of book learning, 
from being an object of contempt became an object of 
emulation; men became readers as well as doers ; theacquisi- 
sition of knowledge was considered fashionable, and grew into 
a necessity. Thus did the press act upon the people, but 
the reaction was a? great ; the thirst for knowledge was only 
intensified by acquaintance with the products of the world's 
master minds, and as men saw that the lessons of the past 
might be used in the management of the present, they 
rightly concluded that the knowledge of the living would 
be as beneficial as the formal and abstruse theories of the 
departed. Thus current literature followed classical, and 
whetted the mental appetite for knowing events as soou as 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



199 



possible after their occurrence. To meet this demand is the 
special province of journalism, whii-h differs essentiall)' from 
that of literature ; it is less exacting as to dignity of state- 
ment and polish of expres.-ion ; is freer in the selection of 
topics, and more colloquial in their treatment ; aims to be a 
reflex of man's daily life, as literature seeks to present him 
at his best. The press was abreast of these social changes. 
From beinga mere manufiietory of books, the printing office 
became a receptacle of fresh information, a resort for the 
witty and the learned, a medium between the wise and igno- 
rant. Its influence grew as its circle widened, and when the 
people were ready for weekly and daily publications, they 
were forthcoming in ' obedience to the law of supply and 
demand. 

The newspaper is the organ of journalism ; its authentic 
history dates from the days of Republican Rome. The first 
of which we have an account was the Acta Diurna, a manu- 
script record of the proceedings in the Roman senate. It is 
frequently mentioned by contemporary authors, and seems 
to have had subscribers in distant cities. Cicero speaks of it 
as furnishing city news and gossip. Alexander Andrews, in 
his "History of British Journalism," thus tersely describes 
the origin and growth of newspapers in England : " First 
we have the written news letter, furnished to the wealthy 
aristocracy ; then, as the craving for information spread, the 
ballad of news, sung or recited ; then the news pamphlet, 
more prosaically arranged ; then the periodical sheet of 
news, and la,stly the newspaper." 

The first well authenticated and regularly issued English 
newspaper was entitled. The Wceldij Ktws, from Italy, Ger- 
many, etc., 1622, and Nathaniel Butler is regarded as the 
father of newspaper enterprises. Parliamentary reports were 
first published in 1641, and the first advertisement was in- 
serted in a newspaper about 1648. For a long time the 
government exercised a strict and persecuting censorship, 
over the press, which was not remitted till the accession of 
William and Mary. France had newspapers as early as 
1605, and Italy as early as 1570. There is in the British 
Museum a copy of a printed Italian newspaper bearing the 
above date. Germany had irregular news publications in 
1594, and a regular weekly newspaper was established in 
1615. Peter the Great helped to establish the first Russian 
journal in 1703, and for centuries China has had a court 
newspaper called by Europeans the Ptkin Gazette. 

In our country the first newspaper was issued at Boston 
September 25th, 1690. Only one copy is known to exist, as 
the paper was immediately suppressed. That copy bears 
the title, "Public occurrences both Foreign and Domestic," 
gives the names of Richard Pierce as printer and Benjamin 
Harris as publisher, and is now preserved in the State paper 
office in London. The Boston News Letter, published by 
John Campbell, appeared fourteen 3'ears later, April 24th, 
1704, and was regularly issued till 1776. It is commonly 
but erroneously considered the first American newspaper, and ' 
was at first a half sheet, eight by twelve inches, with two 
columns to the page. The News Letter was followed by the 
Boston Gazette, December 21st, 1719. In 1721 James j 
Franklin issued the first number of the New England Cou- ! 



rant, which soon engaged in a heated controversy with Rev. 
Increase Mather and others on the subject of inoculation. 
So hearty was its criticism of public men and measures that 
the following year the Massachusetts legislature forbade 
James Franklin any longer to issue the C'ourant or to pub- 
lish any pamphlet or paper of like nature without its being 
first supervised by the secretary of the province. The name 
of James Franklin was taken from the paper and that of 
Benjamin Franklin, his brother and apprentice, then six- 
teen years of age, put in its place. The oldest living news- 
paper in the United States is said to be the New Hampahlre 
Gazette, first published in 1756, and since issued without in- 
termission or any radical change of name. The Pennsylva- 
nia Packet or the General Advertiser (Philadelphia), now 
North Americin, 1784, was the first daily paper, and the next 
year was followed by the New York Daily Advertiser. In 
1776 thirty-seven papers were iniblishedin the colonies; in 
1810 the number had increased to 359, of which twenty-seven 
were dailies; in 1840, the number was 1631 ; 1850,2526; 
1861', 4501 ; 1870, 5871 ; and from the most recent reliable 
authorities the number at present is 6232. 

The newspaper history of Illinois is as interesting and 
checkered as that of the race or nation. The first paper is- 
sued in the State was the Illinois Herald, established by 
]\Iathew Duncan, at Kaskaskia, the then, territorial capital, 
at or about, according to Reynolds' History, 1809. In this 
Reynolds is mistaken. The Herald was the first paper es- 
tablished in Illinois. Mathew Duncan was the editor and 
publisher. The first issue was made September 7th, 1814. 
Inform it was a three column folio, wide columns. It retained 
that form until in the latter part of 1816, it was enlarged to 
a four column paper. Messrs. Robert Blackwell and Daniel 
P. Cook purchased the paper and office in the latter part of 
1816. Two years later Mr. Elijah C. Berry bought an in- 
terest and the name was changed to Illinois Intellir/encer. 
The office was moved to Vandalia in 1820 in consequence 
of that place becoming the State capital. 

The second paper in the State was The Enxigrant, which 
was published at Shawueetown by Henry Eddy and Single- 
ton H. Kininiel, who issued its first number in the fall of 
1818. Mr. KimmeFs successor was Judge James Hall, who 
was a Philadelphian by birth, had served in the war of 
1812, and had recently settled at Shawueetown. He was a 
lawyer by profession, but spent much time in literary work, 
and ultimately obtained more than local fame as an author. 
Among his writings are Legends of the West, Border 
Tales, Life of General William Henry Harrison, History 
of the Indian Tribes, (in the preparation of this work he 
was associated with Thomas L. McKenny. This history 
was republished in London), The Wilderness and The War 
Path, etc. Judge Hall was a contributor to the North 
American lieview, The Philadelphia Port Folio, The Knicker- 
bocker, was the founder and editor of the Illinois Magazine, 
which was published ut Vandalia for some years and after- 
wards moved to Cincinnati, where its name was change, to 
TheWe4ern Monthly Magazine. When we add to this long 
list of labors, the editorial duties connected with several 
newspapers — The Illinois Gazette, The Illinois Intelligencer, 



200 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



etc., it will be readily admitted that few men have done so 
much for Western civilization" and the intellectual improve- 
ment of the country' at large. — Allihone. 

Judge Hall held the office of prosecuting attorney, circuit 
judge and State treasurer. He died at Cincinnati, 1868, hav- 
ing removed thither in 1833. In the memorable convention 
of 1824 the Emigrant was a powerful opponent to the intro- 
duction of slavery ; and its editors, particularly Mr. Eddy, 
struck not a few herculean blows against the pro slavery 
champions and sentiments of that campaign. 

The journalistic hi.story of Madison county begins with 
the establishment of the third newspaper in the State. 

For facts and dates relating to it and the early press we 
desii-e especially to acknowledge our indebtedness to Hon. 
Joseph Gillespie, of Edwardsville, Illinois. He has fur- 
nished us much information drawn from his inexhaustible 
storehouse of knowledge of the early history of the state- 
He was for many years a prominent actor and central figure 
in the political history of the state. A lawyer by profes- 
sion with a large and extensive practice, a judge upon the 
bench and a prominent member of the Legislative bodies of 
the state, together with domestic cares and provisions for a 
competency in the future has made his life an unusually 
busy one but withal, he has found time to store his mind 
with much valuable information embracing a wide range of 
subjects and including a knowledge of art, science and 
literature. Although ripe in years his vigorous memory 
retains all the freshness and retentiveness of youth, and with 
a singular fidelity to fiicts it leaps back and spans the half 
century gone by, and calls up incidents the narration of which 
in muiute detail and embellishment seems to bear the im- 
press of but yesterday. He has indeed come down to us 
from a former generation bringing with him the history and 
incidents of the past. 

We also desire to extend our thanks to the members of the 
press of Madison county for favors shown, and information 
given, and esj)ecially to Mr. W. T. Norton of Alton, publish- 
er and editor of the Telegraph, who kindly placed files of 
that paper at our disposal from which we gleaned much 
valuable information concerning the press of forty years ago. 
We also desire to return thanks to Rev. Washington Leveritt, 
Librarian of Shurtlcff College, Upper Alton, and totheofficers 
of the Illinois State Historical Society for files of old papers 
published in Edwardsville sixty years ago, by the aid of 
which we were enabled to obtain correct dates. We have also 
taken the liberty of quoting from Hon. E. B. Washburne's 
" Sketch of Edward Coles," " Tanner's Life of Lovejoy," and 
using information (where absolutely correct) obtained from 
Madison County Gazetteer, published some fiftten years 
ago. From these and other sources we have been enabled to 
trace the history of the press from its first establishment in 
Madison county in 1819, to the present time ; and present 
it in a manner which we hope, will be acceptable to our 
readers. Prior to the establishing of a newspaper in the 
county, the people of this section of the country were 
dependent upon the Missouri Gazette, published in St. 
Louis, for the news from the outside world. Occasionally a 
stray copj' of Illinois Emigrant, pnhViahei.] at Shawneetown, 



or the Illinois Herald, Mathew Duncan's paper, printed at 
Kaskaskia, found their way here. The third newspaper 
published in the state was founded by Hooper Warren at 
Edwardsville. It was the first paper printed in the county. 
It was called the 

EDWARDSVILLE SPECTATOR. 

The first issue was made May 23d, 1819, less than one 
year after the State was admitted to the Union. In form 
it was a five column folio neatly printed and ably edited. 
Few, if any newspapers were ever established in the west, 
that at once took a more prominent position, or, in so short 
a time, commanded and wielded a greater influence t^ian the 
Spectator. It was in its day, the most potential newspaper 
west of the Allegheny mountains. 

In looking through volumes one, two, three and four, we 
judge that the paper was a success, financially, provided it3 
patrons paid up promptly. About one-half of the paper 
was taken up with home and foreign advertisements. Some 
of the local "Ads." are unique, and at the present day 
would appear quite odd. For example : A druggist in 
Edwardsville advertises a large stock of " Elegant Medi- 
cines," and calls particular attention to his " Castor Oil 
which is a real pleasure to take." 

The Spectator made its appearance before the days of rail- 
roads and telegraph, consequently news from Washington or 
even from the seat of the State government was from ten 
days to three or four weeks in reaching Edwardsville, but 
it was news nevertheless. In the meantime the columns of 
the paper were much occupied by essays on every conceiva- 
ble subject in which, generally, no one had any interest ex- 
cept the writer. This was especially the case in '• off" years 
when there was no political excitement or elections. In 
times of great political excitement, or in presidential cam- 
paigns, the editorials were exceedingly lengthy and of a pon- 
derous character, though usually possessing literary merit. 
As news became the dominant idea of the newspapers the 
heavy leaders were dropped, and paragraphing became popu- 
lar. Mr. Warren, Editor and founder of the Spectator, was a 
practical printer. He worked at the "case" in the office of 
the Missouri Gazette, and while there set up and published, 
under an assumed name, a series of articles upon public and 
political questiocs aftecting the weal of the State which 
attracted the notice of the leading statesmen of Missouri, 
and called forth replies from Thomas H. Benton and others 
of equal reputation and ability. All with singular una- 
nimity agreed in attributing the authorship to men iu high 
position in the State. The articles in question were evi- 
dences of the writer's profound knowledge of the. subjects 
discussed and were written in that bold vigorous style that 
carried weight and conviction to the reader. 

When Mr. Warren established his printing office in 
Edwardsville he was fortunate in securing the services of 
George Churchill, who was a practical printer and a writer 
of well-known ability, and who subsequently became one of 
the prominent men of the State. These gentlemen edited 
and " set-up " the pa^jcr the first year. The Missouri Com- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



201 



promise was then the great absorbing and leading political 
question, and in its discussion they dealt heavy blows against 
the institution of slavery and its acquisition of new territory. 
After the first year, and when the Sjiedator was firmly 
established, Mr. Warren conducted the paper alone or 
at least assumed its entire management and cditoria' 
control. 

As before stated, he was a bold, able and aggres-ive writer. 
His editorials were never written upon paper, but standing at 
the ''case "he would compose and at the same time put 
them in type. In the Convention times of l'<24 he took a 
bold and nianlj' stand and did much to defeat the schemes 
of the slavery party who sought to make Illinois a Slave 
State. In 182o he sold the Spectator to Thomas Lippin- 
cott and Jeremiah Abbott, the former editor and the latter 
printer. Before dismissing the Spedifor under Mr. Warreu's 
management, it is proper to speak of the many able con- 
tributors to its columns. In order to better understand the 
position of the paper at that time it is necessary to state that 
the leading question which then agitated the public mind of 
the State was whether a convention should be called the 
object of which was to change the constitution so as to admit 
and legalize slavery. Upon this question the people were 
divided. The leaders of the dominant party in the State 
â– with few exceptions, were in favor of the Convention, and 
many able and plausible reasons were put forth by them in 
justification of their position and in proof of its great 
advantage and benefit to the commonwealth. " A great 
cause beget-! great leaders." Opposed to the Convention were 
those who said, God helping them, the State of Illinois 
should never be ptdhited and cursed by that monster .«in and 
crowning evil of the century, slavery. Of these was Edward 
Coles, then Governor of the State and the recognized leader 
of the Auti Convention party, whose facile and powerful 
pen wrote column after column, denouncing the schemes of 
the leaders of the pro-slavery party, and urging the voters of 
the State to stand firm against the encroachments of the 
slave power. He contributed many articles io\.\\Q Spectator, 
and had much to do in sustaining the high character of that 
journal. He was the heart and brains of the Anti-Conven- 
tion party, and entered into the contest with a determination 
to succeed. He organized the forces of freedom throughout 
the State, traveling from one distant point to another, mak- 
ing speeches, writing for the newspapers and urging the 
friends of the cause to come out and by their ballot forever 
settle the question of the admission of slavery into the free 
State of Illinois. He was a thorough and intense hater of 
the system of slavery. He lived long enough to see it go 
down amidst the thunders of war, though drenched and 
baptized in the blood of pure patriotism. He was by nature 
a chivalric, high-toned gentleman, and a pute practical 
philanthropist who desired and labored for the amelioration 
of his species. He is dead. To day among the present 
inhabitants of Illlinois, little is known of him ; but for h's 
great service to the State he deserves to live in the grateful 
memories of her people, an^ his noble acts and deeds should 
be written with a pen of steel upon columns of brass that 
they might be as enduring as truth and justice, the grand 
26 



characteristics tha"; d >raiDated and controlled every action of 
the 1 fe of Governor Coles.* 

JMorris Birkbi-ck wai another contributor to the Specta- 
tor during the "Convention times." "He was an 
Englishman by birth, and received a thorough cla.«sical 
education, after which he devoted himself to the study of 
agriculture, and soon enjoyed a wide c^-lebrity as being one 
of the best practical as well as theoretical farmers in Eng- 
land. He came to America in 1817 and S' ttled in Illinois. 
He was an intense hater of the system of slavery as it 
existed in the United States, and when the election was 
called to decide the question of calling a convention to 
change the constitution he continued busily cniplr)ycd writing 
p:imphlets, communications, letters, etc., in opposition to it. 
He contributed a series of letters to the Spectator over the 
nom, de plume of " Jonathan Freeman." which were widely 
copied and extensively read. They were written in a plain 
and pleasing style, full of facts and embellished by homely 
but apt illustrations. It is conceded that jMr. Birkbeik 
contributed more and did more valuable .service through the 
ai<l of his pen to defeat the Convcniion party than any 
other man in Illinois. His services were such as to entitle 
him to the lasting gratitude of the people of Illinois." 

Among other able contributors to the Spectator were 
George Churchill, Judge Samuel D. Lockwood, Daniel 
Blackwell, Jonathan H. Pugh, Daniel P. Cook, Thomas 
Lippincott, Henry Eddy, Thomas Mather, George Forquer 
and others. Quite an array of able men, and all were 
writers of acknowledged ability. It must be reniembere<l 
that the struggle continued through a period of eighteen 
months, from the pass-age of the Bdl and the election, which 
was set for August 5th, 1824. In'o the canvass was injected 
a bitterness and malignity which the a-ita ion of the slavery 
question only could produce. It must not be forgotten that on 
the side of the convention, these writers met no mere pig- 
mies, but men wi rthy of their intellectual steel. There were 
indeed giants in those days. The pajjcrs in Illinois advoca- 
ting the side of the convention were the JiepiibUcan Advocate 
at Kaska-skia, edited and managed by Elias Kent Kane, 
afterward United States Senator, and the Illinois Republican 
(of which we shall speak hereafter) at Edwardsville. The 
real editors and managers and contributors to these pap rs 
were the leading and prominent men of the state, among 
whom were ex-Gov. Bond, and six gentlemen who after- 
ward became United States Senators, viz , Je.sse B. Thomas, 
John McLean, Elias Kent Kane, John 31 Robinson, Samuel 
McRoberts and Richard M. Young. The other principal 
writers and contributors were Chief Justice Phillips of the 
Supreme Court, William Kinney and Zadoc Casey subse- 
quently Lieut. Governors of the state. Gen. Hargrave, 
Emanuel J West, John Reynolds, afterwr.rd known as the 
"Ranger Governor" of Illinois, and Alexander P. Field. 

These gentlemen endeavored to make their side of the ques- 
tion presentable to the people, an<l perhaps no other men in 
the nation could have argued a bad cause more cogently or 
eloquently than they, but despite their labors and vast 

' Washburn's sketch of Geo. Coles. 



202 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



amount of ability brought to their aid, the earnestness, su- 
perior tactics and above all the justness of their cause, en- 
abled the Anti-Convention parly to win. The newspapers 
of that day were in a great measure mediums througli, and 
by which the people were reached, and had probably more 
influence in shaping and crystaliziug popular opinion than 
ever before or since. When the contest was over and the 
result determined, then indeed, was seen the power of the 
press. We very much doubt if any newsjiaper published 
since in' the west had such an array of talent and able 
contributors to its columns as the Spectator of sixty 
years ago. 

The history of the Spectator would be incomplete without 
a short sketch of Messrs. Warren and Churchill, its editors, 
and the pioneer printers of the west. Hooper Warren was 
a native of New Hampshire, born in 1790, and while yet 
in his infancy the farailj- removed to Vermont. AVhile still 
a youth he was apprenticed to the printing trade in the of- 
fice of the Rutland Herald, Vermont. In 1814 he removed 
to Delaware, and three years later to Kentucky, where he 
worked in a printing ofBce with Amos Kendall who, subse- 
quently, became Postmaster-General. In 1818 he came to 
St. Louis and worked at the case. In March, 1819, he came 
to Edwardsville, Madison county. 111., and in May follow- 
ing founded the Edtvardsville Spectator, and coniinued its 
editor and publisher forsi-^c years. In his salutatory to the 
public he avowed his anti-slavery principles, and ever after 
remained true to them, and advocated them with all the zeal 
and energy of which he was capable ; and that, too, through 
one of the most exciting and fiercest palitical contests ever 
known in the state or country. His bold and able champ- 
ioning of the cause of the anti-convention party a'.id his 
strictures upon the acts of the leaders of the opposition 
called down upon him the wrath of the opposition, and 
particularly that of Senator Theophilus W. Smith, who un- 
dertook to publicly cowhide him. Failing in his purpose 
he drew a dirk, but Mr. Warren drew his pistol, which 
proved a most excellent and effective peace restorer. After 
he sold his paper Mr. Warren went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and 
there edited the Xattohal Crisis. One year later he returned 
to Edwardsville when from some cause unknown to the writer 
the oflBce of the Spectator fell back into his possession. He 
removed the type and material to Springfield, Illinois, and 
there published for two years the Somgamo Spectator. In 
1829 he removed to Galena, when in company with two 
other gentlemen he established the Galena Advertiser and 
JJltper Mississippi Herald. In 1S31 he removed to Henne- 
pin, where for five years he filled the offices of clerk of the 
circuit court and county commissioners' court and justice of 
the peace. In 1836 he went to Chicago and published the 
Commercial Advertiser. In 1850 he published the Bureau 
Advocate sXVnnccioQ. One year later he returned to Chi- 
cago, and in connection with Z. Eastman, for three years, 
published the Free West and Western Citizen, after which 
he retired to his farm in Henry county. He died August 
22d, 1834. Such is a brief sketch of one of the pio- 
neer publishers of Illinois. He was eminently a man of 
work as well as thought. He rarely took time to write, but 



standing at the case he composed and set up the thoughts as 
they came crowding from the brain. He was the most taci- 
turn of men, and in that particular was truly remarkable — 
rarely speaking — and then in monosyllables and never using 
a superfluous word. He was a quiet, calm, good listener to 
any proposition or question propounded or addressed to him, 
and gave his assent or dissent in the fewest words possible. 
In politics he was libf ral, yet, when after mature delibera- 
tion he formed his opinions, he was inflexible and immova- 
ble. He was the advocate, and in warm sympathy with the 
rights of the mass, and a staunch friend of the natural and 
God-given rights of all men, and all races, and hence was 
the bitter and unrelenting foe of human slavery. 

George Churchill, the co-worker and partner of Hooper 
Warren in the publication of the Spectator, when first estab- 
lished, was born at Hubbardtown, Rutland county, Vermont, 
October 11th, 1789. He received a good education in his 
youth. As he grew to manhood he imbibed a taste for liter- 
ary work, which induced him to learn the-printer's trade. 
In February, 1806, he entered the office of the Albany Sen- 
tinel as an apprentice, served his time, after which he 
worked as a "jour" printer until he had accumulated suffi- 
cient funds to purchase a half interest in a small printing 
office. Business being dull, he sold at a loss, went to New 
York, and worked at the case for five months, then came 
west. On his way he spent some time in Philadelphia, 
Pittsburg and Louisville. In the latter city, he worked in 
the Courier office, then owned by Nicholas Clarke. He 
afterwards worked in the office of the Correspondent, owned 
by Col. Elijah C. Berry, subsequently a well-known citizen 
of Illinois, and auditor of public accounts of the state. In 
June, 1817, he came to St. Louis, and while there made fre- 
quent trips across the river to Illinois. Seeing the rich and 
fertile soil of the state, he determined to abandon the prin- 
ter's trade and engage in agricultural pursuits; and, with 
this idea in view, he selected the northwest quarter of section 
eight, in township three, range west, and entered it, and there 
made himself a home and resided until his death, which 
latter event took place in the summer of 1872. In order to 
fence and improve his farm, he found it necessary to work at 
his trade, in order to earn the money to make the necessary 
improvements. In the spring of 1819 he worked in the 
office of the Missouri Gazette in St. Louis, then conducted 
by Joseph Charless. At that time arose the famous " Mis- 
souri Question" in Congress. The citizens of the territory 
petitioned Congress for an " Enabling Act," by which the 
people could elect delegates to meet in convention and form 
a constitution f)r a state government, with a view of admis- 
sion into the Union. The act passed the House of Kepre- 
seutatives, with the proviso, that the " Introduction of sla- 
very, or involuntary slavery, be prohibited," etc. When it 
reached the Senate, that body struck out the proviso, and 
the House refused to concur ; therefore, the bill failed to 
pass that session. The action of the anti-slavery men in 
Congress created the most intense excitement in the territory, 
and more particularly in St. Louis. Every man who could 
wield a pen rushed into print. The columns of the papers, 
especially the Gazette, were crowded with denunciations of 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



203 



the proposed curtailment of wlmt was deemed tlieir vested 
rights, — aud Iciigtliy and ponderous arguments were made, 
designed to prove the uncjnstitutionality of the proposed 
restriction. Believing that something could be said in favor 
of the bill as amended by the House, Mr. Churchill wrote 
an article, the authorship of which was kept secret, and it 
was published. Its appearance had much the same effect 
upon the excited multitude as a red flag would have upon 
an enraged bull. The mob howled, and denunciations were 
poured thick and fast upon the head of the 'Farmer of 
St Charles County," the nonidc jjlione under which Churchill 
wrote. The authorship of the inflammable articles was de- 
manded, and their publication ordered to cease. But Jlr. 
Cbarless was a lover of fair pla}' and free discussion, and he 
would neither divulge the authorship nor stop their publica- 
tion. 

After Mr. Warren started the Spectator in Edwards- 
ville, Mr. Churchill acceded to the former's request, and 
came here and assisted him in getting a start. He was con- 
vinced that Mr. Warren was unalterably opposed to slavery, 
and therefore they could work iu liarmony. He remained 
â– with him one year, then returned to his farm. In 1822 
Mr. Churchill was elected to represent Madison county iu 
the General As.sembly. In the succeeding session of that 
body it was sought, as stated before, to call a convention to 
amend the constitution so as to admit slavery. It was in 
that struggle that the great abilities of Mr. Churchill shone 
out. His pen, during the entire controver.<y, was busily em- 
ployed in writing caustic articles that burned through the 
cuticle of ignorance and sophistry, and left in their stead 
the healthy cicatrice of reason and common-sense. In 1824 
he was reelected as an anti-convention caLdidate, and con- 
tinued to be elected for several succeeding terms. In 1838 
he was elected a member of the State Senate from Madison 
county, and iu 1844 again elected to the legislature. 

He was, to quote from one who knew him well, "a thorough- 
paced abolitionist all his life, firm and unyielding in his con- 
victions of what he knew to be right. In the matter of politi- 
cal knowledge he was a walking encyclopfdia of information, 
aud it was as dangerous to attack him on any question of 
political knowledge as it was John (^uincy Adams. He was 
always ready, and could at a moment's notice draw upon 
his vast storehouse of information, and woe be to the man 
who presumed upon his ignorance of any fact or point in the 
political history of this or any other country. His thorough 
knowledge of the point in question, or its history, would 
confound his antagonist, while his dry logic and plain mattcr- 
of-tact statements would leave him without any foundation 
to stand upon. He was accounted the best working man in 
the legislative body. He toiled like a dray-horse, but never 
made a speech exceeding five minutes in length ; but in that 
time, however, he said all that ought to be said upon the 
question." 

Thomas Lippincott, the purchaser of the Spectator, con- 
tinued the publication of the j)aper until 1827, when he 
entered the Presbyterian ministry, and became a shining 
light in that Christian denomination. He was a native of 
Salem, Xew Jersey, aud was born February G, 1791. His 



parents were Quakeis; while he was quite young, the 
family became very much scattered. In 1S02 he went 
to Philadel|)hia aud resided with his maternal uncle, 
and soon after became a merchant's clerk. In 1813 he 
volunteered fir the defence of the city, when threat- 
ened by the Briti h forces. He married Patty Swift, in 
1816, and in 1817 came west. In 18-0 he became a resi- 
dent of Edwardsville, and here made his home until 1832. 
Iu 1822 he was elected secretary of the state senate. On 
the 8th of October, 1828, he was licensed to preach the 
gospel by the Presbytery of Missouri, and spent the re- 
mainder of his life in that sacred calling. He is better 
known in the pioneer Ecclesiastical History of the county 
than in its journalism. But yet in the Convention times 
he did good aud noble work for the cause of freedom, through 
the medium of his fertile pen. j\lr. Lippincott was a man 
of pleading deportment, friendly, intelligent but of a serious, 
meditative mien. He was a good author, an honest public 
officer, an upright citizen and a devout aud pious minister. 
The whole aim of his life was to aid aud make permanent 
that which was good aud true. 

THE ST.\E OF THE WEST 

Was the second candidate for journalistic favors in Madison 
county, and the fourth paper published in the state. In Au- 
gust, 1822, Mr. Miller and son natives of Pennsylvania, came 
west, seeking a location to establish a printing office. They 
brought a press and type with them. They stopped in Ed- 
wardsville, and here were induced by promises of support aud 
patronage, to remain and commence the publication of a 
newspaper. Their arrival was opportune, as an organ of the 
Convention party was wanted and needed to counteract the 
force of the Spectator. Arrangements were made with some 
of the leading citizens to furnish the necessary capital with 
which to purchase paper, ink and other incidental expenses 
contingent upon the starting of a newspaper. Among those 
whs sup])lied the necessary cash were Hon. Theophilus W. 
Smith, Emanuel J. West and others. The interest of the 
contributors was represented by Mr. Stine. The firm was 
Miller & Stine, and under their management the first issue 
was made, the date of which was September 14, 1822. They 
conducted the paper for six months, when it passed into the 
possession of Thomas J. McGuire & Co. They changed the 
name to the 

ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN, 

The first issue of which was made April 12, 1823. The 
mission of the liepublican was to advocate the cause of the 
convention party, and it was their recognized organ. The 
company was correctly supposed to be composed of the follow- 
ing named gentleman, ami leaders of the pro slavery party : 
Hon. Theophil us W. Smith, the senator from Madison county ; 
Emanuel J. V>^est, member from Madison in the Legislature, 
and William Kinney, senator from St. Clair. Senator Smith 
was the reputed editor and furnished the leading editorials. 
He had prior to his coming west considerable journalistic 
experience in New York, and from that fact it was suppposed 
possessed the necessary qualifications to cope with his 



204 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



formidable rival and opponent, Hooper Warreu, and his 
corps of able contributors to the Spectator. But the sequel 
proved, however luueh ability he possessed, bis cause was not 
just, and I'reeddni, right and justice prevailed. Mr. Smith 
was a smooth, jjlausibie writer. His articles read well, but 
there was a vein of sophistry running through them that was 
apparent to the honest seeker after the truth. It can be said 
of him that they possessed literary merit. Had he chosen 
to take the other side of the question, and his action been 
dictated by honesty, he would have been a foimidable oppon- 
ent to meet in a pen controversy. He afterwards, as is well 
known to all students of Illinois history, occupied positions of 
high trust, representing the county in the State Senate, and 
was also one of the justices of the s-uprtme court of the state. 

The publicatiou of the RepaUkan was continued until 
July 28, 1824. a few days before the election which by a 
large majority decided that freedom was the normal condition 
of the state of Illinois, and must forever remain free and 
uncontaminated by the influence of slavery within her 
borders. The mission of the paper was ended and its sus- 
pension was sudden, and it was never afterwards revived. 

In 1823, Mr. Robert K. Fleming, one of the vetn-an 
printers of Illinois and among the first newspaper publishers 
in the state, established the R^'pubUean Advocate at Kas- 
kaskia. It was the mouth piece and exponent of the 
principles "f the convention party in that section of the 
state, and during the contest was edited by Elias Kent Kane. 
After the election and defeat of the party it ceased publica- 
tion. The press and type were removed to Vandalia, and 
there the publication was revived. In the summer of 1827, 
Mr. Fleming removed the press and fi-vtures to Edwardsville 
and on the 14th of October, 1827, issued the first number 
of the 

ILLINOIS CORRECTOR. 

It was in form a four C'>lumn quarto, Democratic in 
politics, and warmly supported General Jack.son for the 
presidency. It was published every Monday morning. 
Price per annum S2.50. It was an exceedingly neat publi- 
cation, and its form was entirely new. All other papers 
published in the west at that time were folios. The Corrector 
was not a success financially, but it lingered along until 
November 20ih, 1828, when it suspended. Mr. Fleming 
moved the material back to Kaskaskia, and there published 
the Recorder, until the spring of 18o3, then removed to 
Belleville, in St. Clair county, where he continued iu the 
printing business until his death. 

THE CRISIS, 

Was the fourth paper established in Madison county. Its 
founder was Samuel S. Brooks. The date of the first num- 
ber was April 14, 1830. It was a four column paper, pub- 
lished every Saturday, in Edwardsville. Thirty-four num- 
bers were published, when its named was changed to ihe 

ILLINOIS ADVOCATE. 

Eighteen numbers of the paper were published, by Mr. 
Brooks, when the office passed into the hands of Judge John 
York Sawyer. The latter gentleman had established the 



WESTERN PLOUGgBOV, 

in Edwardsville, November 1, 1830, and continued the pub- 
lication one year, when he came into possession of the Advo- 
cate, and the two papers were consolidated under the name 
of the Illinois Advocate. 

Soon after the consolidation, Mr. J Angevine secured a 
half interest in the paper. Four months later he sold out 
to William Peach, but he, too, soon retired, and Judge Saw- 
yer was left iu undisputed possession of the journal. la 
1832 Mr. Sawyer was elected state printer, and he removed 
all of the material to Vandalia, then the seat of the state 
government. The Advocate was not a success ; its columns 
were little sought after by advertisers, consequently it had 
more space for essays and miscellaneous matter, and per 
consequence enjoyed some reputation on account of its good 
selections and literary merit. 

In 1832, Alton began to loom up as a city of con- 
siderable commercial importance, and some few of her san- 
guine citizens had great hopes of her out-rivaling her sister 
city— St. Louis. Alton was then the chief commercial and 
mercantile emporium of Illinois. Her citizens became im- 
bued with a desire to excel. Enterprise waved her magic 
wand over the city, and at once she spread out and extended 
her lines of commerce, and placed ne* territory under her 
commercial dominion. A newspaper was needed to speak 
for her flattering promises of future greatness. To supply 
this want, O. M. Adams and Edward Breath, two enterjjris- 
ing young men of Alton, started a newspaper at Upper 
Alton, called the 

ALTON SPECTATOR. 

The first number made its appearance January 21st, 1832. 
The firm of Adams & Breath was dissolved April 20th, 
of the same year. On the 20th of October, 1832, the office 
of the Spectator was removed from Upper Alton to Alton 
City. ISIr. Breath continued the publication until Septem- 
ber 20th, 1834, when he sold the prtss and material to J. 
T. Hudson, who conliiiued Editor and publisher until June 
24th, 1836, when W. A. Beatty became Editor and pub- 
lish^-, and held control until November 25th of the same 
year, after which D. Ward published eight numbers. On 
the Iflth of February, 18'17, the office passed into the hands 
of William Hessin, who on the 17ih of October of the same 
year sold a half interest to Seth T. Sawyer. The latter 
continued with the paper but a short time. Mr. Hessin re- 
mained sole proprietor until December, 1838, when he 
sold the Spectator office to J. Clark Virgin, and soon after 
its publication was suspended. 

Mr. Brraih, the pioneer printer and publisher of Alton, 
soon after his retir. ment from the Spectator, went to Oroo- 
miah, Persia, where a mission had been established by Dr. 
Grant, and there printed a paper, and engaged in mission- 
ary work, and remained there until his death iu 1864. 

The Spectator was originally a five column folio; subse- 
quently was enlarged to a seven column, same form. From 
an old copy we gather much of its history and that of Alton. 
Its columns were well tilled with home advertisements, from 
which we judge that in its first years it was a paying invest- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



205 



meiit. Its edilorial culuiuus were taken up with diseu.-;- 
sious of the banking system of the eouutry, which tlieu 
seemed to be the leading question. In politics it advocated 
the principles of the Whig party. At its mast-head it 
floated the names of James W. Stephenson lor Governor, 
John S. Hacker for Lieut. Governor, John M. Krum for 
Seuator for Madiiou county, and Robert Smith for the 
Legislature. Before the suspension of tiie Spcciuior a rival 
had sprung uj), which provtd to be the tifst permanent 
newspaper esiablifhcd in Alton, and which is still iu exis- 
tence. We relcr to the 

ALTON TELEGRAPir. 

It was for a time the contemporary of the Spectator, and 
then its successor. It was fouiidid by Kichard M. Tread- 
way and Lawsou A. Parks. The first issue was made Jan. 
loth, 1836. From the start, it gave a warm and cordial 
support to the whig party. A few months after the paper 
was established Samuel G. Bailey, E,-q., was admitted to the 
firm, which was then known as Trcadway, Parks & Bailey. 
In the winter of 1836, the great question arose in Congress 
as to the " Right of Petition," which had fur its able cham- 
pion John Quincy Adams, who, singlehauded, defended the 
right of freemen to petition the executive or legislative bo- 
dies iu behalf of any measure or in redress of their griev- 
ances. 

The Telegraph was the only western journal that,'stood by 
Mr. Adams and supported him in that measure. The cir 
culation of the paper increased rapidly, and its subscription 
listi embraced residents as far south as Cairo, and as far 
north iis the village of Chicago. On the 8th of January, 
1837, Mr. Tread way died. The paper was continued by the 
remaining partners for a short time; then Mr Parks pur- 
chased Mr. Bailey's interest. In May, 1837, he sold a half 
interest to John Bailhache. The latter took charge of the 
editorial department, and soon after became .sole owner of the 
Telegraph. He remained editor until April 3d, 1841, when 
from reasons of ill health, he resigned, and his place was 
taken by George T. M. Davies, a writer of unusual brilliancy. 
He had charge of the editorial columns for several years 
and was a contributor for many years afterward. His letters 
from ''the seat of war' in Mexico, in lS47-'8, publijhtd in 
the Telegraph, were widely copied. In May, 1838, he sold 
a half interest to S. R. Dolbie, who was a practical printer. 
On the 4th of April, 1840, William A. Btatty purchased an 
interest in the Telegraph. He took charge of the mechanical 
department. He died October 8th, 1840. The firm of Bail- 
hache & Dolbee continued without change until January Isf, 
1850, a period of twelve years ; then Dolbee was succeeded 
by William H. Bailhache, a son of the editor. The firm 
name then became John Bailhache and Sou. In 1852, Mr. 
E. L Baker became associated with the pape r, and soon 
after purchased an interest in it The firm name was then 
changed to John Bailhache and Co. Prior to that time, 
however, the 

TRIWKEKLY TELEGItAPII 

was i.ssued. In 1852, with the date of Mr. Baker coming 
into the firm, was coninicuced the 



DAILY TELEcnAni. 

On the 10th of July, 1854, Mr. Parks, one of the original 
pr.'prietors of the Telegraph, purchased Mr. Bailhache"s in- 
terest, and from that date until May loth, 18.15, the business 
was conducted under the firm name of E. L. Baker and Co. 

In 1854, the agitation produced by the passage of tb© 
Kansas-Nebraska bill and the repeal of the Missouri Com- 
promise had a startling efiect upon the people and political 
parties of the country. The agitation continued until it 
overthrew and broke up the Whig organization, and that 
party, with its splendid records of the past, was entirely dis- 
membered, and sank to rise no more. The Telegraph then, 
as from the date of its first issue, was a strong advocate of 
the emancipation theories of the time, as advocated by 
Henry Clay, who was its beau ideal of practical and lofty 
statesmanship. It took firm ground against the repeal of the 
Missouri Compromise and the opening up of new territory 
for the acquisition of the slave jjower. Upon that subject it 
was the most outspoken, bold and aggressive journal in the 
west. The Courier, of which we shall speak hereafter, the 
democratic j)aper, took the same position as the Telegraph, 
and o|)po3ed the introduction of slavery into the territories, 
as did many other able newspapers of that party in the 
north. The discussion upon the Kansas Nebraska bill took 
a wide range and was productive of much bitterness, and 
became so absorbing as to totally destroy one party and 
rend the other in twain. The final result was the reorgani- 
zation of parties into two great bodies — the one in favor and 
the other opposed to the further introduction and spread 
of slavery. 

The two papers. Telegraph and Courier, that started and ad- 
vocated widely different political principles were thus by 
the whirligig of politics brought to occupy the same political 
bed, and in the fight for free soil stood shoulder to shoulder. 
There was not room for two newspapers on the same side. 
Under the circumstances overtures were made with a view 
of consolidating them, and after some negotiation the pro- 
prietors of the Telegraph sold their subscription lists to the 
publishers of the Courier. Mr. Bailhache and Mr. Parks 
continued to carry on the job printing business until the 
death of the former, which took place in the fall of 1857. 
As Mr. Bailhache was one of the pioneer printers of Madison 
county, and was also an able journalist, and the first to 
establish the press permanently iu Alton, we append a brief 
biography of him. 

John Bailhache was born in St. Ouen in the Isle of 
Jersey iu the British Channel, May 8, 1787. He was the 
son of John and Mary ( De La Perrille) Bailhache. In his 
youth he possessed remarkable aptitude for learning. Being 
delicate in health his friends piedicted for him a premature 
death. The French was hi? mother tongue. He studied 
English and made proficiency in Latin and Greek. He 
served an apprenticeship of five years at the printing busi- 
ness. At the r< quest of Rev. Peter Sarchet, who had chiL 
dren in this country, he accompanied him to the United 
States in 1810, and settled in Cambridge, Ohio. He became 
a half owner of the Fredoiiian, a paper published at Chilli, 
cothe, Ohio, and a few months later became sole proprietor. 



206 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Ill August 1815 lie purchased the Sciota Gazette and united 
it with the Fredonian, wiiich then bore the name of the 
Sciota Gazette &yi<\. Fredonian Ckroniele. A few years later 
he sold the jiapers, and was elected State Printer. He 
moved to Columbus, and soon after became the proprietor of 
the State Journal. He continued his connection with the 
journalism of Ohio for twenty years, and in that time tooii 
an active part in the politics of the state. In 1836 at the 
solicitation of friends he came to St. Louis. Failing to se- 
cure an interest in the Missouri Republican, he came to 
Alton and purchased a half interest in the Telegraph, and 
took charge of its management May 1st, 1837, and continued 
with the paper under the various changes stated above. Hi^ 
editorial life reached over a period of forty-two years. The 
great a-ini of his journalistic life was to contribute to the 
elevation of the tone and character of the Western press, 
by advocating and upholding whatever was innocent and 
pure, and discountenancing all vice and immorality in what- 
ever guise it might appear. The peculiar views of all were 
treated with fairness and courtesy. As a writsr of poliiical 
editorials he was far above the average journalist of his day. 
He was well educated, a ripe scholar of fine literary attain- 
ments, and a student all his life. His mind was well stored 
with useful information mainly obtained from books ; there- 
fore in the actual and business afiliirs of life he was not as 
practical as others, nor did he succeed as well as some 
who had less literary and intellectual capital. He was a 
man who had many warm personal friends who were 
attached to him as by " hooks of steel. " He held various 
offices of honor and trust, in both this state and Ohio. In 
1841 he represented Madison county in the State legislature. 
His death, which was the result of an accident, occurred 
September 2d, 1857. He was a devout believer in the prin- 
ciples of Christianity, and was reared in the faith of the 
Protestant Episcopal church, in which belief he lived and 
died. 

After the death of Mr. Bailhache, Mr. Richard Ennis 
formed a partnership with Mr. L. A. Parks in the job- 
printing business. Mr. Ennis soon retirel, and his place 
was taken by J. T. Beem. The firm of Parks & Beem 
continued until the spring of 1861, when the Courier 
ceased publication. Then L. A. Parks, J. T. Beem and 
Samuel V. C'rossman associated themselves together, and 
revived the publication of the Telegraph. The firm con- 
tinued until Mr. Beem volunteered and entered the service. 
Parks & Grossman continued to publish the Telegraph until 
186-1, when Grossman retired^ and Thomas S. Pinckard 
became his successor. The latter withdrew from the firm, 
February 1st, 1866. Mr. Parks remained editor and sole 
proprietor until August 10th of the same year, when Charles 
Holden purchased an interest in the paper, and the firm of 
L. A. Parks & Co. was formed, and continued unchanged 
until August, 1867, at which time W. T. Norton secured a 
third interest, the firm name remaining and continuing the 
same until the death of Mr. Parks, which event occurred 
April 1st, 1875. Then Messrs Holden and Norton purchased 
Parks' interest, and continued the publication of the paper 
until May 1st, 1880, when Holden retired, and Mr. Norton 



became sole owner, and has continued to the present time. 
The paper was started under the name of the Telegraph. 
On the 17th of April, 1841, its" name was changed to the 
Alton Telegraph and Democratic Review. In the year 1853 
the words "Democratic Review" were dropped, and 
" Madison County Review" substituted. It was then pub- 
lished as the Alton Telegraph and Madison County Record, 
which name it retained until its suspension, or until the 
time when the subscription lists were sold to George T. 
Brown of the Courier. 

Mr. Lawson A. Parks, one-of the original founders of the 
Telegraph, was born and raised in Mecklenburg county. 
North Carolina, April 15th, 1813; in 1833 he came to St. 
Louis, and worked in the offi33 of the Missouri Republican- 
On the 8th of January, 1836, he came to Alton, and there 
in connection with R'chard M. Treadway, founded the 
Telegraph. He was a practical printer, and at the time of 
his death was perhaps the oldest printer and publisher in 
Illinois. In his youth he had but little opportunities for 
receiving an education, but by long continuance at the 
case, and in the newspaper business, he gained a thorough 
knowledge of the practical questions of the day. He was a 
strong, bold, rather than an ornate writer. His editorials 
read well, and never left the reader in doubt as to his posi- 
tion upon any question. He was eminently a self-made 
man, possessed of a strong, vigorous mind. He formed his 
own opinions, uninfluenced by others. Although reared in 
a slave state, and under slavery influence, he early imbibed 
a hatred against the system, and as soon as practicable came 
north to the free state of Illinois, where he could speak and 
write unmolested and unrestrained, of that foul blot and 
enormous sin of the nineteenth century. 

Mr. Norton, the present editor and proprietor of the 
Telegraph, is a native of Alton, and a son of Rev. A. T. 
Norton, a Presbyterian minister, and for many years the 
editor of the Fresbijlerian Reporter. He graduated from 
Shuitleft' College in 1866, and soon after obtained an inter- 
est in the Telegraph, and adopted journalism as a profession. 
The Telegraph, under Mr. Norton's administration, sus- 
tains the high character given by his predecessors. He is 
a smooth, fluent and pleasant writer, and a gentleman whose 
acquaintance it is a real pleasure to make. 

The office is fitted up in a superior manner. The presses 
are run by a Bachus water motor of three horse power. 
The motor is simple in construction. It contains within 
the iron case a wheel provided with buckets It is con- 
nected with the sheet mains by a supply pipe ; the di- 
ameter of the nozzle entering the motor is not larger than 
a lead pencil, but the expansion of the water is so great 
tliat after it enters the motor, a four inch waste pipe is re- 
quired. The stream from a supply pipe striking the buckets, 
causes the wheel to revolve rapidly, furnishing the necessary 
power to run all the presses. It has great advantages over 
steam power in cheapness, durability and cleanliness. 

TUE ALTOX AMERICAN, 

Wa? the nara3 of afivecolumn paper established in Allon 
November 8th, 1833. Its founder, J. S. Buchanan, was a 



HISTORY OF MAD IS 01^ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



207 



â– writer of some merit- It was devoted to the agricultural, 
mechanical ami mercantile interests of L^jwer Alton and 
Ticiuity. It had a brief existence. The paper was a 
monthly publication printed at Alton by Jlessrs. Braley & 
Parks, and edited by Kev. T. Lippincott. It was a religious 
but not denominational newspaper. 

THE ALTON OBSERVER, 

Ha3 a tragic history, which can best be told in a sketch of 
Elijah Parrish Lovejoy, its editor and proprietor. For the 
facts herein contained we are indebted, and quote largely 
from "Tanner's Life of Lovejoy." Wr. Tanner was an old 
resident of Alton, and was one of the fciV so-called abolition- 
ists of the time who stood manfully by Mr. Lovejoy in his 
efforts to establish a free press and free speech on the free 
soil of Illinois. 

Mr. E. P. Loveji\y was born in Albion, Maine, Xovember 
8, 1802, and was thirty-five years old lacking a day wheo 
he was foully murdered. He was the son of Rev. Daniel C. 
Lovejoy, a Congregational minister. Soon after his gradua- 
tion from Watertown College, he drifted to St- Louis, where 
he first became a schoi 1 teacher, and subsequently editor of 
the Si. Loitii Times, a Whig paper. lu 1832, the whole 
current of his life was changed by a sudden conversion to 
the Christian faith. His fervency and zeal in the cause of 
liis Redeemer demanded that he should put aside other du- 
ties and prepare himself to preach the gospel. With that 
idea strongly dominating all others he entered Princeton 
Theological Seminary, pursued his studies diligently and un- 
ceasingly, and was licensed to preach in 1833. It was known 
that he was a ready and apt writer, and he was put iu edito- 
rial charge of the St. Louk Obxerv er, which was then the 
organ of the Presbyterians iu Missouri and Illinois. He 
had no sooner taken control than he made the paper 
the vehicle for the conveyance of his opinions regarding the 
institution of slavery, which then existed in all the Southern 
states. He was from the start its bitter and unrelenting foe, 
and dealt it powerful blows. The right to discuss this 
question in all its bearings was dcniel him. So bitter and 
extreme had his invectives become, that the original proprie- 
tors of the Observer thought it best to muzzle him, so to 
speak; but their counsels were divided, and they gave him 
a half-hearted consent to continue. With the issue of June 
21st, 1836, was announced the intention of Mr. Lovejoy to 
remove the press and material of the office to Alton, Illinois. 
A few days afterwards it was boxed, but befuie it could leave 
much of it was destroyed and thrown into the river. What 
was left of the press was shipped to Alton, and unfortunate- 
ly unloaded on the wharf before daylight on Sunday morn- 
ing, where it lay all day for the inspection of the crowd of 
idlers and evil disposed persons, and before the next morn- 
ing it was destroyed and cast into the river. Nothing daunted 
Lovejoy procured a new press which arris'cd September 8, 
1836, and a few days later the first number of the Alton 
Observer was issued. Its publication cintinued regularly 
until Augu.st 17th, 1837, when it again became the subject 
of mob violence. During the summer of the latter year the 
country was excited to fcvtr luat by the discussions upon 



slavery. The Observer, owing to its decided stand upon 
that subject had risen in power, and had more than doubled 
its circulation. He published June 29th, 1837, the "call" 
for signatures to petitions for the abolition of slavery in the 
District of Columbia. It provoked great opposition, which 
was measurab'y increased the following week, when he pulv 
lished his reasons for forming without delay an " Illinois 
State Anti-Slavery S)ciety. " The editorial was evidently 
written on the 4th of July, the natal day of our inde- 
pendence. We quote from the article, " This day (the 4th), 
reproaches our sloth and inactivity. It is the day of our 
iu lependenee. Even as we write crowds are hurrying past 
our window in eager anticipation, to the appointed bower, 
to listen to the declaration that ' all men are born free and 
equal ; ' to hear the orators denounce in manly iudignati )n 
the attempt of England to lay the yoke up >n the shoul- 
ders of our fathers whteh neither they nor their children 
ciuld bear. Alas, what bitter mockery is this? We a.ssem- 
ble to thank God for our own freedom, and to eat and drink 
with joy and gladness of heart while our feet are up )n the 
necks of nearly three million of our fellow-men. Not all our 
shouts of self-congratulation can drown their groars — even 
that very flag of freedom that waves over our heads is 
formed from materials cultivated bv slaves on a soil moist- 
ened with their blood, drawn from them by the whip of a 
republican taskmaster." 

Two days after the appearance of the paper containing 
the above editorial anonymous handbills were posted about 
the cit)' calling upon those who disapproved the course of 
the Observer ''to meet at the Public market July 11, 1837." 
At the meeting resolutions were drawn up and passed de- 
nouncing the paper. A committee was appointed, whose 
duty it was to get into shape the " sense of the meeting," 
and convey it in some tangible shape to Mr. Lovejoy. It 
was done, and it called forth from the editor his celebrated 
editorial entitled " What are the doctrines of the Anti- 
Slavery Men ?" The action of the market-house meeting 
led naturally to a mob, which first attempted to a.ssault Love- 
joy, then on the same night, August 21st, 1837, broke into 
the office of the Observer and destroyed the press and type. 
The friends of Lovejoy and free speech at once held a meet- 
ing and decided that the paper should be re-establifhed. 
Money was obtained with which to purchase another press. 
The order was made and filled, and the new press and mate- 
rial arrived at Alton, September 21st, 1837. It was the 
third press for the Observer office. Mr. Lovejoy was absent 
upon its arrival. His friends placed it for safe keeping in 
a warehouse, and a constable was posted at the door to 
guard it until a certain hour iu the night, after which it was 
supposed it would not be molested. After the official re- 
tired twelve men broke down the door, entered the building, 
rolled the press out to the river bank, broke it up and cast 
it into the river. A new press was immediately ordered, 
and a public meeting of the citizens of Alton called, at 
which the right of a free press and free speech were insisted 
upon. Resolutions were offered, demanding that protection 
be afforded Mr. Lovejoy and his property, " on the ground 
of principle golely and altogether disconnected from appro- 



208 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



bation of his sentiments." The adoption of tliese resolu- 
tions were opposed by the pro-shivery men in the meeting- 
A committee was appointed to draft resolutions embodying 
the sense of the meeting. They asked until the next day to 
make their report. W- S. Oilman, a friend of Lovejoy, 
offered certain resolutions declaring in substance " the right 
of every citizen to speak, write, or print his opinions on 
any subject, being responsible for the abuse of that right to 
the law administered through and by its regular tribunals." 1 
It was lost. The next day the committee reported the fol- 
lowing set of resolutions." (1.) That it was expedient to i 
abstain from a discussion of principles in themselves deemed 
right and of the highest importance. (2) That the estab- 
lishment of a properly conducted religious paper would be 
desirable and approved by the people of Alton. (3.) That 
without desiring to restrain the liberty of the press in gen- 
eral, it was indispensable that Mr. Lovejoy should not be ! 
allowed to conduct a paper, and that he ought to retire 
from the charge of the Alton Observer." Mr. Oilman, one 
of the committee, protested against the passage of the in- 
famous resolutions as reported, but he was alone. We can- 
not forbear to give a few extracts from the speech of Love- 
joy who was present at the meeting. He replied : " Mr. 
Chairman, I have not desired any compromise. I have 
asked for nothing but to be protected in my rights as a citi- 
zen, rights which Ood has given me, and which are guaran- 
teed to me by the constitution. Havel, sir, been guilty of 
any infraction of the laws? Whose good name have I in- 
jured? When and where have I published anything injuri- 
ous to the reputation of Alton ? What, sir, has been my 
offense? Put your finger upon it, define it, and I stand 
ready to answer it. If I have committed any crime you 
can easily punish me for it. You have public sentiment in 
your favor * * * * I plant myself down on my un- 
questionable rights, and the question to be decided is, 
whether I shall be protected in the exercise and enjoyment 
of those rights. That is ihe question, sir. Whether ray 
property shall be protected, whether I shall be suffered to 
go home to my family at night without being assailed and 
threatened with tar and feathers and assassination ; whether 
my afflicted wife, whose life has been in jeopardy from con- 
stant alarm and excitement, shall, night after night, be 
driven from a sick bed to the garret to save her life from the 
brickbats and violence of the mobs. That, sir, is the ques- 
tion." Here he was overcome by the memory of his be- 
loved wife's afflictions, and he broke down and sobbed. 
In conclusion he siid, "I cannot leave here and go else- 
where. I have no more claim upon the protection of any 
other community than I have upon this, and I have con- 
cluded, after consultation with my friends and earnestly 
seeking counsel of Ood, to remain at Alton and here to in- 
sist on protection in the exercite of my rights. If the 
civil authorities refuse to protect me I must look to Ood, 
and if I die I have determined to make my grave in Al- 
ton." While speaking, an eye-witness says, " his manner 
was calm and serious, though firm and decidtd" 

The fourth press for the Observer office was shipped from 
Cinciunat', and received at Alton on the night of the 6th of 



November, 1837, by the friends of Mr. Lovejoy. It was 
stored away in the warehouse of one of the largest and 
most respectable firms in Alton. Some sixty well-armed 
mm were prepared to receive and guard it. The night 
passed, and the next day, and there was no appearance of a 
mob. As the night of the 7th approached, the friends and 
defenders of the press gathered in the warehouse, but about 
nine o'clock, there being no appearance or evidence of a mob, 
members of the company began to disperse to their homes, 
some fe* of the number, at the suggestion of Mr. Oilman, 
remaining with him through the night. One hour later, some 
signs of disturbance were noticed, and it was evident that 
the mob was gathering by preconcerted signal. The leaders 
of the mob approached the building and informed the guard 
that, unless the press was g ven up, the building would be 
burnt over their heads. The request was refused. The mob 
then attempted to force an entrance to the building, when 
the besieged were ordered to fire, which they did, and killed 
one of the attacking party. Attempts were ihen made to 
fire the building, and in order to prevent this a sortie was 
made by three of the inside guard, at whose head was E. P. 
Lovejoy ; as they emerged from the building into the bright 
moonlight they were fired upon by a portion of the mob, 
stationed near the building, and hid from sight by a pile of 
boards. Five balls entered the body of Lovejoy, and the 
other two men were seriously wounded. Lovejoy ran back 
up the stairs and into the counting room, where he fell into 
the arms of friends; he was laid upon the floor, and a few 
moments afterwards expired. Thus ftll the first martyr in 
the defense of the cause of the freedom of a race, free 
speech, and a free press, foully murdered by a mob, whose 
hate and malignity was aroused and put in motion by the 
leaders and men of the pro-slavery party. " His virtues will 
plead like angels, trumpet-tongued against the deep damna- 
tion of his taking off, and pity, like a new-born babe strid- 
ing the blast, or heaven's cherubims, horsed upon the sight- 
less couriers of the air, shall blow the horrid deed in every 
eye, that tears shall drown the wind." 

The press was surrounded, taken, and broken up, and it, 
too, cast into the Mi'ssi.-sippi river. Mr. Lovejoy possessed 
dauntless courage and heroic will, and no amount of abuse 
or threats could drive him from what he conceived to be 
plain duty. " With him principle was everything, life nothing 
when thrown into the scale with duty." He wielded a 
powerful pen, and there was an earnestness about his writing 
that carried conviction with it. He was not only at times 
forcible, elegant, smooth and cogent, but also a fine descrip- 
tive writer, as the following extract from a letter dated 
Alton, February 9th, 1S37, and published in the Christian 
Mirror, will show : " If the wisdom of the schools can not 
teach you the true character of slavery, come with me and 
let us interrogate yonder illiterate, untaught slave ; he is just 
returning, faint and weary, from the toils of the day ; he is 
an aged man, and has had fur many years a practical 
acquaintance with slavery ; let us hear his reply to the ques. 
tion. What is slavery ? It is to have my back subjected 
to the cowhide or the cartwhip at the will or caprice of my 
master or any of his family. Every child has a right to 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



209 



kick, or curse or cuff the old man. It is to toil all day 
beneath an almost vertical sun, with the bitter certainty 
always before me, that not one cent of what I earn is, or 
can be my own. ' It is to depart from my hut in the morn- 
ing with the sickening fear that before my return at night it 
â– will be visited by the slave-dris-ing fiend. It is to return at 
night and find my worst fears realized, my first-born son> 
denied even the poor privilege of bidding his father fare- 
well, is on his way, a chained, manacled victim, to a distant 
market, there to be disposed of in shambles, where human 
flesh is bought and sold. It is to enter into my cabin and see 
my wife or daughter struggling in the lustful embraces of my 
master or some of his white friends, without daring to at- 
tempt their rescue, for should I open my lips to remonstrate, 
a hundred lashes would be the consequence ; and should I 
raise my hand to smite the brutal wretch, nothing but death 
could atone for the sacrilege. But above all to be a slave, 
is to be denied the privilege of reading the gospel, to have 
no control over my own children and consequently to be de- 
prived of the power and means of educating them in the 
principles of morality and religion. In one word, to be de- 
graded from man to a brute, to become, instead of a free 
moral agent, a thing, a piece of property and to be used as 
such, to be deprived of all personal and all civil rights, to 
be shut out from all enjoyment in this world and all hope 
in the next.' " 

The Observer was afterward printed in Cincinnati, by 
Elisha W. Chester and sent to Alton for distribution. Rev- 
T. B. Hurlburt acted as agent, and attended to furnishing 
some local news. That arrangement was continued for a 
few years and then abandoned. 



THE ILLIKOIS TLMTEEAKCE DEEALD, 

Was a monthly publication, the first number of which was 
issued June 1st, 1836, at Alton. A. \V. Corey was the 
editor, assisted by Timothy Turner, a noted temperance 
worker and orator. It was a four column folio, published 
under the auspices of the Executive Committee of the 
Illinois Temperance Society. It reached a circulation of 
from six to eight thousand copies. It was discontinued in 
the latter part of 1842. 

THE ALTON COMMERCIAL GAZETTE, 

Founded by Samuel S. Brooks and John H. Pettit, March 
12tii, 1830. It was an ably conducted journal, Democratic 
in politics. It suspended publication in March 1840, but 
was revived in May of the same year, and did good service 
in the presidential campaign, at the close of which it again 
suspended. 

THE ALTONIAX, 

No. 1, of Vol. 1, made its appearance April 6, 1838. L. A. 
Parks and Edmund Breath were the editors and publishers. 
It was a four (wide) column folio. Whig in politics, and 
supported Henry Clay for the presidency. In the third 
number the editors say, " We feel highly flattered at the 
reception our paper meets with, but the mere approval of 
27 



those who agree with us in sentiment will not support us. 
We desire more substantial proofs of their good will for we 
cannot, like the chameleon ' feed on air. ' Our paper at pre- 
sent contains more reading matter than any other paper in 
I the state, and the cost of publication is consequently consid- 
) erable. As yet we have not received a sufficient number of 
subscribers to cover expenses, and have determined to sus- 
pend operations until we secure six hundred. We shall 
issue an extra whenever we have matter sufficiently impor- 
tant to communicate." The above tells but the story of its 
rise and fall. 

WESTERN PIONEER AND BAPTIST STANDARD BEARER. 

The Pioneer was established at Rock Spring, St. Clair 
county, Illinois, in January 1829. It was the organ, and was 
published under the auspices of the Rock Spring seminary, 
a Baptist school founded by John M. Peck. In 1836 the 
press was removed to Alton, and the first number of the 
Western Pioneer and Baptist Standard Bearer issued Sept. 
14, 1536. It was edited by Rev. John M. Peck, E. Rogers 
and Rev. Washington Leverett. With the commencement 
of the 2d volume the words " Baptist Standard Bearer" 
were dropped, and it was then known as the Western Pio- 
neer. It was the organ of the Baptist church throughout 
the west, and was the pioneer religious paper west of Ohio. 
That it was ably conducted, it is sufficient to know that 
John M. Peck was its controlling genius and supporter. He 
was a strong, vigorous writer, and eminently qualified to 
establish the first religious journal in Illinois. 

VOICE OP ILLINOIS 

Was a campaign paper, published by the Whig Executive 
Committee for Jladison county. It was a four column 
folio. The first number was issued jNIay 19th, 1838. It 
supported Cyrus Edwards for Governor, AVilliam H. David- 
son for Lieut. Governor, and George Churchill for senator. 
It suspended at the close of the campaign. 

THE SUCKER, 

was established in Alton, January 5, 1840. It was publish- 
ed by Messrs. Parks & Beatty and edited by "Ourselves," 
who were understood to be William S. and John Lincoln, 
sons of Levi Lincoln, Governor of JMassachusetts and Junius 
Hall. On the 2 1st JIarch of the same year it was merged 
with the Telegraph. It was a Whig paper, and supported 
Harrison for the presidency. The following is the valedic- 
tory of the editors. 

"The Sucker, from a temporary wandering in this mun- 
dane sphere is about to become immortal. The nature of our 
engagements is such that we cannot without serious loss to 
ourselves and a neglect for higher duties, superintend 
the publication of a weekly paper. There are a thousand 
little troublesome details connected with the issue of a news- 
paper of which the world has no knowledge, and of vvhich 
naturally enough in the commencement of our enterprise, 
we made no account. Wisdom however is better than riches, 
and we cannot say, therefore, but that we have received a 
consideration for our money. We have several items of ex- 



210 



HISTORY Of" MADISOJ^ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



perience laid up in our memories which we have acquired in 
a similar manner, and which we consider among the best 
capital \vc have. 

THE WESTERN WEEKLY MIRROR 

was established at Edwardsville by James Ruggles iu May, 
1838. He was editor and proprietor. The Mirror was de- 
voted to the introduction and propagation of a universal 
language by which the whole human family could hold con- 
verse with one another and be understood. It was a 
•worthy mission, but the feeble effort of its progenitor fell still- 
born. It continued until the spring of 1840, when its 
name was changed to the 

SOVEREIGN PEOPLE. 

It continued until the summer of 1841, when it suspended. 

THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM AND THE CANDID EXAMINER. 

A semi-religious paper printed at Alton and edited by A. 
Doubleday. In the prospectus the editor says : " Its mission 
was to reveal to the world much light and hold in one hand 
the key to unlock the mazy labyrinth of iniquity and 
pour celestial oil and light on the eye-ball of reason, 
that it may dispel the gloomy mist of superstition by hold- 
ing out the ' Olive Branch ' of amity, and saying, " Let us 
reason together while now and then we will throw a smooth 
stone at the forehead of error so as to enlighten mankind." 

The contract undertaken by the editor was entirely too 
large for him. He had but one opportunity of " pouring 
oil and light on the eye-ball of reason," and the "smooth 
stones " gave out after the issue of the first number. 

THE PROTESTANT MONITOR 

was established in Alton in March 1848. Mr. John M. 
McPike was one of the publishers. It was devoted to Chris- 
tianity, free discussion, literature, agriculture, general 
intelligence, the glory of God and the rights of man. On 
the 23d of June, 18 48 the name was changed to the 

ALTON MONITOR, 

with its religious mantle exchanged for that of Democracy, 
and the names of Lewis Cass and William O. Butler nailed 
to the mast-head as its candidates for the Presidency and 
Vice Presidency. Mr. McPike withdrew from the paper. It 
was continued as a campaign paper a few weeks later, how- 
ever. The names Cass and Butler were taken down and Mar- 
tin Van Buren's substituted. It was then under the editorial 
control of John W. Buffum. It suspended at the close of 
the campaign. 

THE PRESBYTERY REPORTER 

was a religious magazine the first number of which appear- 
ed May 1st, 1845. The first year only two numbers were 
issued. From May 1847 to May 1850 it was published 
quarterly, sixteen pages. From May 1850 to May 1854 it 
was published bi-monthly. The subscription list was then 



transferred to the Evangelist, printed at Chicago. In May 
1855 the publication of the Reporter was resumed at Alton, 
and continued monthly, as the organ of the Presbyteries of 
the Illinois and Peoria synods. Rev A. S. Norton is the 
editor. 

THE MADISON RECORD. 

The first issue of the above named paper was made at 
Edwardsville, February 14th, 1850. Messrs. Dallam & 
Ruggles were the editors and publishers. In November of 
the same year, Dallam retired, and his place was taken by 
Lemuel E. Smith. Ou the 19th of December the firm un- 
derwent another change. Ruggles retired and David Gillespie, 
Esq. became a partner with Smith, and editor of the paper. 

Mr. Robert H. Ruggles, one of the founders of the paper, 
afterward went to Henry, in Marshall county, Illinois, and 
there founded the Courier. The Record, under the manage- 
ment of Messrs. White & Gillespie, continued until the 
spring of 1851, when the latter withdrew, and soon after the 
paper suspended. 

THE ALTON COURIER, 

In its day, was the most influential newspaper in Southern 
Illinois. It was established in Alton, and made its first issue 
June 4th, 1852. It was founded by Geo. T. Brown, a promi- 
nent member of the Madison county bar and an enterprising 
and wealthy citizen of Alton. Associated with him were 
John Fitch, who, prior to his removal to Alton, had been 
editor of the CarroUton Banner, and James Gamble. The 
Courier was issued as a daily, tri-weekly and weekly paper- 
It was an eight column folio. Politically it was Democratic^ 
and was designed and regarded as the exponent of the prin- 
ciples of that political organization. It was founded upon a 
very liberal scale, and from its very first issue, assumed a 
commanding position among the newspapers of the State. 
At the close of the first volume, Mr. Gamble retired. Mr. 
Fitch continued with the paper until 1854, when he dis- 
solved his connection with the Courier and soon after became 
editor of the Nationrd Democrat. At the time the Courier 
was established, the Telegraph was the only paper published 
in Alton. It was then the organ of the Whig party in 
Southern Illinois, as it had been previously the leading paper 
in the state. The leaders of the Democratic party had long 
felt the need of an organ, and to meet that want, the Courier 
was established. It continued to do valiant service for the 
party until 1854, when the agitation of the Kansas-Ne- 
braska troubles commenced. The Courier took a decided 
stand in favor of Free-soil, which then meant no farther ex- 
tension of slavery. The re%rajo A -advocated the same 
measures, and thus, though starting widely different, they, by 
the operation of politics, were advocating and aiming at the 
same object. In the campaign of 1856, the Courier advo- 
cated the claims of John C. Fremont for the presidency. 

As before stated, both the Courier and {telegraph were 
Free-soil papers, and under the circumstances, it was deemed 
advisable to have but one. In short, there was not room in 
Alton for two papers occupying the same ground and advo- 
cating the same measures. After some preliminary sparring. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



211 



negotiations were opened between the two papers which re- 
sulted in Mr. Brown purchasing the subscription lists of the 
Telegraph and transferring them to the Courier. The former 
paper then ceased publication, but the material in the office 
remained intact. It was then used as a job office until 18G1, 
when the Telegraph was revived. Mr. Brown continued 
editor and sole proprietor of the Courier until January 1st, 
1860, when he transferred it to B. J. F. Hanna and S. V. 
Grossman. 

Of Jlr. Brown it may be said that he was the ablest news- 
paper man in the history of the journalism of Madison 
county. He was not only a talented writer but was a su- 
perior manager, and had he chosen to give all his time and 
attention to the business, would have achieved fame and 
reputation as a journalist. Contemporaries and present jour- 
nalists of the county, accord to him the first place among the 
newspaper managers, editorial and political writers of the 
county. He was a warm-hearted, generous gentleman, and 
had a host of admirers and friends. He was subsequently 
appointed sergeant at arms of the United States senate, a 
position he held for a number of years, and died in Washing, 
ton in 186-. The following we quote from the Gazetteer of 
Madison county: "From its ver}^ beginning, the Courier 
occupied a prominent position in the front rank of journal- 
ism, and soon came to be regarded as the leading paper in 
Southern Illinois. Politically, it was alwa)^s a success. 
Financially, it was ultimately a failure, though for some 
years it was a prosperous and money-making enterprise. The 
causes which involved and finally led to its suspension, are 
well known to those conversant with the history of Alton 
from the years I806 to 1866. The Courier always pro- 
fessed to be Democratic in princi|)le and spirit, even after it 
had ceased to be the organ of the Democratic party. In 
1854 it supported the Anti-Nebraska ticket; in 1856 it ad- 
vocated the election of Gen. Fremont to the presidency, and 
ever afterward was a firm, consistent and uncompromising 
Republican journal. 

A history of the Courier would be incomplete without 
some mention of the building from which it was issued 
'during the latter years of its existence. In 1856 Mr. Brown, 
finding the premises then occupied by him much too small 
for his growing business, erected at a very large expense, a 
magnificent four story building, with a basement, for his 
use. This he fitted up in the most perfect and thorough 
manner, making it in all respects a 77io(/£'/ printing establish- 
ment, — the finest in the state, and almost without a rival in 
the West. The Republican office, in St. Louis, was the only 
one that could compare with it, and even that was inferior 
in many particulars. This building was subsequently occu- 
pied by the Alton Telegraph, which was revived upon the 
suspension of the Courier, a.\\i\ still stands, an ornament to 
the citj'j and a monument to the enterprise aud public spirit 
of its builder, George T. Brown. The firm of Hanna & Cross- 
man continued the publication of the Courier until May, 
1860, when they a.ssociated with them Btnijamin Teasdale 
and B. F. Webster. The firm name was then changed to 
Hanna, Grossman & Co. They conducted the paper through 
the campaign of 1860. In December of the same year Mr. 



Webster severed his connection with the Courier, and it was 
continued by the remaining members of the firm until Jan- 
uary 20, 1861, when its publication was suspended, and it 
sank to rise no more. 

THE ALTON NATIONAL DEMOCRAT 

was established in 1854. The causes that led to its estab- 
lishment were briefly the agitation of the " Nebraska Bill," 
which was made the test of party fealty, and the desire of 
the friends of the bill to have an organ that would quote 
them correctly and defend the measures of the dominant 
wing of the Democratic party. The Courier had failed to 
stand the test, and gave unmistakable evidences of going 
over to the enemy. The Democrat was started by George JI. 
Thomson, Esq., as publisher and proprietor, and John Fitch, 
lately of the Courier, as editor. At first it was a five-column 
folio, but its support was hearty and generous, and it soon 
grew to a double medium, and commenced a daily edition 
Mr. Thompson, after a few months, retired from the pro- 
prietorship, aud the paper fell into the hands of its editor, 
Mr. Fitch. Under his management new presses and steam- 
power were purchased, and the Democrat soon became one of 
the notable institutions of the city. 

John Fitch associated with him T. S. Fitch, his brother, 
and together they edited and managed the paper until 
March, 1859, when the latter withdrew from the firm, and 
the publication was continued by John Fitch. He erected a 
new building to accommodate the growing business, and into 
it removed the presses, type and material, and precisely one 
week from that time, June 6, 1860, the building, ])resses, 
type, steam-fixtures and all, were totally demolished and 
swept away by a tornado. That catastrophe so disheartened 
Mr. Fitch that he announced his intention to abandon the 
printing business. There was a lapse in the publication of 
seven weeks, then Robert P. Tansey purchased a new outfit 
of presses and types, and resumed the publication. A few 
mouths later the concern pa.«s?d into the hands of William 
T. Brock, and from him to W. T. Dowdall (at present editor 
and proprietor of the National Democrat, Peoria, Illinois). 
During the latter's administration Thomas Dimmock, now on 
the editorial staff' of the M'uasouri Rcpuhlican, was the editor. 
Mr. Dowdall sold out the Democrat to John C. Dobelbower 
of Jerseyville, Illinois. The latter took possession Decem- 
ber 1, 1864. Mr. Dimmock coiuinued editor of the paper 
after the change of proprietors. On the 8th and 9tli of 
February, 1866, the presses, type and fixtures of the office 
were destroyed by fire. With commendable energy and 
enterprise the publication of the Democrat was resumed by 
its owner on the 17th of March following. It was enlarged, 
and many improvements were made. Its publication con- 
tinued until 186ct, when it was removed to Lafayette, 
Indiana. 

In 185'3 was commenced the 

MADISON COUNTY EN'CJUIREK. 

The date of the first issue was at Edwardsville, March 26, 
1853. Theodore Terry was the editor. He was not a very 
able writer ; his habits were none of the best, aud he lost 



212 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



caste among the good people of Edwardsville and vicinity. 
His paper suspended iu 185G, and from its ruius sprang 

THE WEEKLY MADISON PRESS, 

â– which was started by Theodore Terry and James R. Brown, 
at Edwardsville, August 17, 1858, and was Democratic in 
politics. The partnership of Terry & Brown continued until 
December 15, 1858, when it was dissolved. Brown retiring, 
and Terry continued the Press. 

THE MADISON COUNTY ADVERTISER, 

whose founder was James R. Brown, made its first issue 
June 26, 1856. Mr. Brown issued four numbers, when the 
office passed into the possession of O. C. Dake, Esq. Subse- 
quently Joseph L. Krafft assumed control, and from him it was 
transferred to William G. Pinchard, Jr. In 1860 the latter 
sold it to Col. Frank Springer, and he in turn transferred it 
to Thompson & Dunnegan. They published the Advertiser 
for eight months, then Thompson got entire control of the 
office, and he continued the publication until the latter 
part of the summer of 1865, when it passed into the posses- 
sion of Messrs. Whitman & Crabb. They changed the 
name from the Press to the 

MADISON COUNTY COURIER, 

The first number of which was issued at Edwardsville, 
October 12th, 1865. Crabb soon retired from the partner- 
ship, and Whitman continued the publication until October 
5th, 1869, when he sold the material to S. Y. Crossman, 
editor and proprietor of the RepuhUcan. All of the above 
papers were the continuations of the Madison Advertiser, and 
â– were Whig and Eepublican in politics. 

THE SUCKER LIFE BOAT 

Was the name of a small comic paper published in Alton, 
the first number of which was issued in January, 1855. 
John T. Beem, Martin Brooks and Willbur T. Ware were 
the editors and publishers. It suspended in July of the 
same year. 

THE VOR'ft'ARTS, 

The first German newspaper printed in Madison county, was 
established in Alton, in 1852, by P. Stibolt and V. Walter. 
It was in form a five column folio, well printed and ably 
edited. It was Democratic in politics, and supported the 
measures advocated by the then rising statesman, Stephen 
A Douglas. In 1854 the firm was dissolved, and Mr. Stibolt 
removed the press and material to Galena, Ills. Subse. 
qently he removed to Peoria, Illinois, and was there one of 
the editors of the Deutsche Zeitung. 

THE ILLINOIS BEOBACHTER, 

Was the name of a German weekly newspaper started in 
Alton in June, 1856, by John Eeis. It was the exponent 
of the principles and German organ of the Douglas wing of 
the Democratic party. Its founder continued its publica- 
tion until March, 1863, when he died. V. Walter then 



became the editor and proprietor. He carried the paper 
over to the Republicans, defending Lincoln's administra- 
tion, and giving a hearty support to the war measures for 
the suppre.ssion of the rebellion. In the presidential cam- 
pain of 1864, it gave Lincoln a warm and cordial support. 
It had much to do at that time in educating and sustaining 
the union sentiment among the German portion of the com- 
munity. In October, 1864, Mr. Walter sold the paper to 
G. H. Weigler, who continued the Beobachter until Febru- 
ary Sth, 1S66, when the office, with its contents, was totally 
destroyed by fire. 

In the summer of 1858, Dr. Canesius and Christian 
Schneider established in Alton a German weekly paper, 
which bore the name of the 

FREIE PRESSE. 

With the" second issue the paper was transferred to 
i Schneider, who continued the publication for one year, when 
it was discontinued. 

THE MISSOURI CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN 

Was removed from St. Louis, to Alton, in March, 1855, and 
there published until the following June. The subscription 
lists were then sold and transferred to the Watchman and 
Evangelist at Louisville, Kentucky. It was edited by 
Dr. J. B. Logan, a distinguished minister of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church. The paper was originally 
started in April, 1852, at Lexington, Miasouri, where it was 
published for one year. In April, 1853, it was removed to 
St. Louis, and on the 15th of March, 1855, removed to Alton. 

THE ladies' pearl 

Was a monthly publication, issued at Alton, and published 
in the intere.st and under the auspices of the Cumberland 
Presbyterian Church. Dr. J. B. Logan and Rev. W. W. 
Brown were the Editors. It was started iu the summer of 
1857, and continued until the breaking out of the war in 
1861, when it suspended. 

THE GOOD TEMPLAR 

Was established in Alton in 1865, and continued for three 
years. It was edited by B. H. Mills. It had been formerly 
published in St. Louis. Mr. Mills was an able writer, and 
was the author of a work on Temperance. 

THE ALTON BANNER 

Is the name of a German newspaper started in Alton in 
May, 1866. It was established by the Pfieflier Bros. In 
October of the same year, John Mold, a practical printer, 
purchased the paper, and continued the publication until 
October 1st, 1868. Then the leaders of the Republican 
party in Alton bought the Banner, and put Mr. V. Walter 
in charge of it as editor. He continued one year, when it 
was sold to Messrs. Meyer & Voss. In 1870, Meyer pur- 
chased Voss' interest, and continued the publication until 
January 6th, 1877, when he sold the Banner to R. Boelitz. 
The latter continued editor and proprietor until July 1st, 



HISTORY OF MAD ISO I^ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



213 



1881, then sold to Messrs. Zechiueister & Henzel, and they 
continued to April 26th, 1S82, when Messrs. Kleinwot 
& Henzel became the editors and publishers. The Banner 
is independent in politics. Mr. Zechmeister is editor. He 
was formerly connected with the St. Charles Democrat, Mo. 
The Banner has a good circulation, and is the most inde- 
pendent German newspaper published in the county. 

WESTERN COMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN, 

No. 1, of Vol. 1, was issued June, 1862, at Alton. It was 
intended to supply a demand occasioned by the sale and re- 
moval of the St. Louis Observer to the east, leaving all the 
northwest part of the church without an organ to properly 
represent them. It was devoted to religion, morality, church 
information, and religious news generally. It was founded 
and edited by Eev. J. B. Logan. In 1866, he sold the sub- 
scription lists to T. H. Perrin, but remained editor of the 
paper until 18G8, at which time Rev. J. R. Brown, D. D., 
bought a half interest in the paper. Dr. Logan then pur- 
chased the subscription lists of the Cumberland Presbyterian, 
and united with Dr. Brown. The word " Western " was 
dropped, and the uuitcd paper called 

THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN. 

The publication was continued until October, 1874, when 
the paper was sold and removed to Nashville, Tennessee. 

OUR FAITH. 

A religious paper bearing the above title was started in 
Alton in September, 1875. T. H. Perrin and Dr. J. B. 
Logan were the proprietors. It was published monthly, and 
was designed as the mouthpiece of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church. It was continued one year and seven months, 
when it was sold to the St. Louis Observer Co., of which 
paper Messrs. Perrin & Smith are the proprietors, and Rev. 
Benton Farr, D. D., editor, and Rev. W. C Logan assistant 
editor. As will be seen by the foregoing. Dr. J. B. Logan 
had an extensive connection with the religious journals of 
Madison county. He was a native of Huntsville, Alabama, 
and was born Dec. 18th, 1820. He was regularly ordained, 
and entered the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
Church while yet a young man. He came to the southwest 
part of Missouri on missionary service, and soon after set- 
tled in Lexington, and from there went to St. Louis, and 
then to Alton, where he organized the Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church, and was its pastor for nineteen years. Dur- 
ing that period he was president of the Board of Missions, 
and was moderator of the General Assembly, which is the 
highest office in the Cumberland Presbyterian organization. 
He removed from Alton to Taylorville, Illinois, and there 
died September 14lh, 1878. Dr. Logan was a voluminous 
and extensive writer. Besides the great amount of writing 
he did for religious journals, he was the author of a number 
of published works, which had for their object the enlighten- 
ment of the masses upon the principles and tenets of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Notably among his 
works are : " Alice McDonald," " Carrie Holmes," " Tract 
on Happiness," and others. Dr. Logan did not possess a col- 



legiate education, but he was a great student and read ex- 
tensively. He was blessed with a naturally strong and 
vigorous mind and an exceedingly retentive memory. As a 
writer as well as a speaker, he was plain though forcible. 
Productions of his pen read well. There is no attempt at 
profuse elaboration, but the point aimed at is plainly dis- 
cernible. That and their literary merit, make them very 
readable books. 

The degree of D. D. was conferred on him by the Lincoln 
University at Lincoln, Illinois. 

The first newspaper established in the village of High- 
land was the 

ERZAEHLER. 

It was founded and the first copy" printed March 26th, 
1859. The editors and proprietors were Rudolph Stadtmann 
and John Harlen. It was printed in the German language. 
It was in form a five column folio. On the 7th of May of 
the same year its name was changed to the 

HIGHLAND BOTE. 

On the 25th of June following, the office and fixtures 
passed into the possession of Messrs. Volege and Weis, who 
continued the publication until April 1863, when Tim- 
othy Gruaz became editor and proprietor. The latter gen- 
tleman at once refurnished the office, putting in new type, 
presses, etc, and when completed it was well equiped in all 
its appointments. He also gave the Bote a reputation as an 
outspoken, fearless Democratic newspaper. Believing that 
the principles as presented and advocated by that political 
organization, if adopted would redound to the advantage of 
the whole country, he did not hesitate to avow and proclaim 
them, notwithstanding they met with fierce opposition from a 
large number of people. During jMr. Gruaz' proprietorship 
of the Bote it was the organ of the National Rifle Club, and 
Sharp Shooters' Society. He continued the publication of 
the Bote until June, 1868, when he sold out to Messrs. 
B. E. Hoffman and Maurice Huggy, who continued as a 
firm in the publication until November, 1869, when Hoff"- 
man purchased Huggy's interest, and moved the press and 
material to Edwardsville. At the latter place the name of 
the paper was changed to the 

MADISON COUNTY BOTE. 

Mr. Hoffman edited and published the paper until 1870, 
then sold it to E. G. Wolf and Frank Haag. They contin- 
ued until 1873 when they failed, and the publication was 
suspended. The presses and material reverted to Mr. 
Hoffman in consequence of default of payment on the part 
of Messrs. Wolf and Haag, and he sold it to Capt. Anthony 
Neusteadt of Collinsville in this county. In our judgment, 
had Mr. Hoffman chosen to contiuue in journalism he would 
have achieved success and journalistic fame, but from his 
version and statement of his experience, it was a succession 
of mishaps, perplexities and financial loss, and in addition 
he has no kind of doubt but that it was a source of great an- 
noyance to the public. We at the present writing, have not 
ascertained the opinion of the latter. 



214 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



THE INTELLIGENCER 

was f juiuled by James R. Brown, at Edwanlsville, October 
24tli, 1802. It started as a Democratic paper and has so re- 
mained, notwithstanding the vicissitudes through which 
papers of that political complexion have passed. Mr. Brown 
conducted the Intelligencer until his death, which event oc- 
curred April 30, 1882. He was a native of England. He 
came to America while yet a youth, settled in Edwardsville 
in 1853, and herelearned the printer's trade. He was quick, 
active and industrious, and soon became an adept in artistic 
printing. As a manager of a newspaper he was considera- 
bly above the average. He made his paper the organ and 
spokesman for his party under his own dictation. He was a 
man of positive views, and exceedingly strong will power that 
would brook no control, and which could not be dominated 
by others. His positive views and their too free expression 
led him into difficulties sometimes, but all admitted his hon- 
esty while deploring his want of tact. Articles from his 
pen were short, on the paragraphic style, and partook some- 
what of the nature of the writer. They were spicy, pun- 
gent, vigorous, sarcastic and not always well-timed. 

THE UNION 

Is the name of a German newspaper published at Highland 
in Madison county. It was established and the first number 
issued October 2-lth, 1863. Its founders and originators 
were some of the leading representative men of Highland 
and vicinity, who were in favor of a vigorous prosecution of 
the war then in progress. They desired to have a journal 
in their midst that would uphold the Union cause and cul- 
tivate Union sentiment among the citizens of Highland. 
They subscribed liberally. A company was formed, the 
presses and material purchased and the Union started. 
Charles Seybt was chosen editor, and continued in charge 
until January 28th, 1865, when he was succeeded by Dr. G. 
Eutz. When the paper was started it was a five column 
folio. With number eight, of volume one, it was enlarged 
to a seven column, same form but in volume second, it was 
reduced to six columns, and with number one of volume 
four it was enlarged to a seven column folio. 

On the 28th of December, 18G6, Dr. Rutz and John S. 
Hoerner purchased the office and material of the stock com- 
pany. On the22d of October, 1868, the name of the paper 
was changed to the Hiyhland Union, which name it still re- 
tains. On the same date it was enlarged to an eight column 
folio. 

The firm of Eutz & Hoerner continued the publication 
of the Union until March 18th, 1874, when Mr. Hoerner 
purchased his partner's share in the paper, and from that 
time to the present has continued sole proprietor and editor. 
On the 20th of April, 1877, the form of the paper was en- 
larged to a seven column quarto. 

The Union from its first issue has been Republican in 
politics. It took high ground in time of the war, and ably 
advocated the war measures of that time. In later years it 
has become more liberal — that is to say it might now be 



classed with the liberal Rejiublican newspapers of the 
day. 

In 1875 Mr. Hoerner purchased and placed in the office 
a Fairhaven power press. In 1879 he erected a large two- 
story brick building expressly to accommodate the printing 
business, and fitted it up with steam power, new presses; 
type, etc., and it is now, in all its appointments and conveni- 
ences for business, second to no other office in the county. 

Mr. Hoerner is a practical printer, and has served twenty- 
five years at the case and in the sanctum. He learned the 
trade in the printing offices of Edwardsville, and afterward 
worked in the offices of the St. Louis papers. In 18G6 he 
removed to Highland and became half owner in the Union, 
and subsequently sole proprietor, as above stated. 

THE EDWARDSVILLE REPUBLICAN 

Was established, by S. V. Grossman a practical printer. 
He was an Englishman by birth, and came to America, 
and learned the trade in Cincinnati. In 1854 he came 
to Alton, and there was connected with the publication of 
different papers. He was the foreman and superintendent 
of the mechanical department of the Courier office for a 
number of years. He came to Edwardsville in 1869, 
and brought with him a job office. With that material he 
commenced the publication of the Bepublicun. 

The first issue was made July 1st, 1869. About the 1st of 
October of the same year, he purchased the material of the 
Courier, a paper published iu Edwardsville which had sus- 
pended. He continued editor and proprietor until his death, 
which occurred in June, 1875. The publication of the paper 
was continued by the " S. V. Grossman Printing Company," 
afterwards E. B. Grossman, then O. S. Reed & Co. The 
latter firm continued until July 1st, 1879, when T. M. and 
W. R. Grossman formed a partnership under the firm name 
of Grossman Brothers, which still continues. The Bepuh- 
lican in form is an eight column folio. Politically, it has 
from its first issue been straight Republican. The office is 
well supplied with power and job presses, and fully equipped 
with the modern improvements of a country newspaper office. 
The Grossman Brothers are practical printers. The paper, 
under their control and management, has become one of the 
influential organs of the Republican party in this congress- 
ional district. 

While the Bepuhlican was run under the management of 
Robert B, Grossman, a daily paper was issued. It was kept 
up for a few weeks, then discontinued from lack of patronage. 

THE COLLINSVILLE ARGUS 

Was established in Gollinsville, August 12, 1871. The 
Union Publishing Company were the proprietors, and A. W. 
Angier editor. At the end of the first volume, Angier was 
succeeded by L. D. Caulk as editor. The paper was then 
owned by the Gollinsville Publishing Company, an organiza- 
tion of the leading business men of the village. Caulk was 
succeeded by Anton Neustadt, who became both editor and 
proprietor, having purchased the stock of the company. He 
held control until August, 1878, when Connolly & John- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



215 



son became proprietors of the Argus- Connolly retired from 
the partnership in January, 1879, and A. W. Johnson con- 
tinued the paper until August of the same year, when its 
publication was suspended. The press and type were sold 
and shipped to Staunton in Macoupin county. The Argm 
was a seven column folio. After Mr. Angier retired from 
the editorship of tiie Argus, it became Republican in tone 
and so continued until 1878, when until its suspension, it 
was run as an Independent paper. After the Argus pa.ssed 
from the control of A. W. Augier, he commenced the pub- 
lication of a paper in Collinsville called the 

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT. 

The first number was issued October 10th, 1872. It was 
an eight column paper, Democratic in politics. The presses 
and type of the office were removed to Edwardsville in 
1878, and on the 2d of October of that year, was started 

OUR TIMES, 

A. W. & J. S. Angier, editors and publishers. It was con- 
tinued until the latter part of March, 1881, when it was 
sold to Messrs. Price & Simcox. On the 28th of May 1, 1881 , 
the name of the paper was changed to the 

EDWARDSVILLE TIMES. 

Price withdrew from the firm June 18, 1881, and Mr. John 
L. Simcox continued the publication until July 16, when he 
took in as a partner, E. W. Anderson. The latter retired 
October 8, 1881. Mr. Simcox remained sole proprietor 
until December 1st, 1881, then sold a half interest to Joseph 
S. Umberger. The latter firm still continued until May 27, 
1882, when A. L. Brown purchased the paper and changed 
the name to the Edwardsville Democrat, and changed the 
form from a seven column folio to a six column quarto with 
the sheets cut and pasted. He has refitted the office with 
new type and presses and now has a neat printing office 
He is a young man of ability and seems to be imbued with 
energy and a desire to excel, and we have no doubt but that 
in time the Democrat will become one of the able journals 
of this section of the country. 

THE TEMrERASCE BANXER 

Was issued in Alton. The first number was printed in 
August 1873. It continued until 1875, then suspended. R. 
L. Smiley was editor. It was published by Eugene Smith. 
Its name indicated its mission. 

In January, 1875, J. N. Shoemaker issued the first 
Dumber of the 

ALTON DEMOCRAT, 

The leading organ of the Democratic party in southern 
Illinois, was founded by James N. Shoemaker and Hugh E. 
Bayle in Alton in January, 1875. It was then issued 
â– weekly. During the first year, E. J. Bronson was con- 
nected with its publication. Ou the 17th of June, 1876, the 
daily edition was commenced, which has continued to the 
present. In September of the same year the paper passed 
into the hands of Messrs. Perrin, Smith &. Co. The "Co." 



was then D. C Fitz [Morris, who was the editor, a position 
he still retains. Perrin, Smith cO Co. continued until March 
1st, 1878, when Fitz Morris withdrew from the firm, but as 
stated above, has continued editor of the Democrat. The 
daily is a seven column folio and the weekly a six column 
quarto. 

The Democrat, under the vigorous management of Messrs. 
Perrin & Smith and its able editor, has grown to be one of 
the most potential political organs in southern Illinois. 
Both Messrs. Perrin and Smith are practical printers. The 
former is a native of Alton, and learned the trade in the 
old Courier office. The latter served an apprenticeship in 
the office of the Telegraph. Both bring to the trade a 
practical knowledge of the business. The office in all its 
appointments is the best equipped for doing all kinds of 
business in the county, and is unexcelled in the southern 
part of the state. 

THE TROY W'EEKLY BULLE TIN, 

The first newspaper issued in the enterprising village 
of Troy in Madison county, was a paper bearing the above 
title. James N. Jarvis was its founder, editor and proprietor. 
The first number was issued February 22d, 1873. Mr. 
Jarvis continued the publication of the Bulletin until April 
15th, 1881, when he sold it to George Armstrong and Joseph 
S. Umberger. They published it until July 1st, 1881, then 
sold it to Henry B. Morris, its present editor and publisher. 
The Bulletin is a six column folio, independent iu politics. 
It is neatly printed, and enjoys a healthy circulation. 

THE MORNING NEWS 

Was started in Alton, June 18th, 1876. It was edited by 
James J. Mcfneniey and Eugene J. Bronson. It was a 
daily, independent in politics. It suspended about the let 
of September. 

THE CHRLSTIAN NEWS 

Was a monthly publication issued at Alton and published 
in the interest of the Congregationalist Church. E. A. 
Smith was the publisher. The first issue was made in 1875. 
At the end of one year it was sold to the " Advance Com- 
pany," Chicago. It was edited by Rev. Robert West of 
Alton, now of Boston, Mass. 

QUI VIVE, 

A college paper edited by the students of ShurtleS" College, 
at Upper Alton. No. 1 of Vol. 1 was issued January 8, 1868. 

THE COLLEGE REVIEW, 

Another paper issued by the students of the above named 
college, made its debut iu September 1879. Frank J. 
Merchant and John L. Pearson were the editors. 

COLLINSVILLE WEEKLY HERALD 

No. 1, of Vol. 1, was issued September 10th, 1879, James 
N. Peers, editor and publisher. It was then a five column 
folio, afterward enlarged to a six, then a seven, and then 



216 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



changed to a five column quarto, cut and pasted. The 
Herald is independent in politics. Mr. Peers is a practical 
printer, and an adept in the mechanism of printing. The 
office is fitted up with a Campbell paper and job press, lun 
by a Baxter steam engine, small press for job work, mitre 
and curving machine, and a complete stereotyping appa- 
ratus. In short the Herald has the neatest and most com- 
plete outfit of any small printing office within our 
knowledge. Mr. Peers furnishes stereotype plates of ready 
printed matter for a number of papers in Illinois. The 
Weekly Courier was a six column folio campaign paper, pub- 
lished in Collinsville by J. N. Peers, and edited by William 
A. Garasche. It supported Hancock for the presidency. 
It suspended a week before the election. 

MADISON COUNTY SENTINEL 

Was established in Alton by J. J. Mclnerney, October 15, 
1879. The Sentinel is now in its third volume. It is de- 
voted to the general interests of Madison county, and Alton 
in particular. It is an eight column folio, independent in 
politics, and is fast growing in popular favor. 

THE LITTLE EPISCOPALIAN 

Was a monthly journal edited and published by Dr. A. M. 
Powell at Collinsville. The first number was printed in 
March 1880. On the first of October its name was changed 
to the 

BANNER OF THE CROSS. 

Its publication continued until December 1881. 

THE MADISON COUNTY ANZEIGER 

Was the name of a German paper printed at Edwardsville. 
The first issue was made May 7, 1875. The pub- 
lishers were C. Lohmann & Son, C. Lohmann editor. The 
Anzeiger was at first Independent in politics, but in the poli- 
tical campaign of 1876 it supported Hayes and Wheeler, 
and from that time on until it discontinued it was a Repub- 
lican paper. H. C. Lohmann retired from the Anzeiger 
May 9, 1878. It was continued by Mr. Lohmann, senior, for 
a short time after and then suspended. 

THE EDWARDSVILLE DEMOKRAT 

Was the name of another German jwper, which was first 
issued iu March, 1880, by Gustavus Hohwendler, publisher. 
Hon. B. E. Hoffman was employed as editor. After four 
months' trial Mr. Schwendler was convinced that a German 
newspaper in Edwardsville would not pay, and the i)ubli- 
cation ceased. It was Democratic in tone. 

THE HIGHLAND HERALD 

Was established in Highland, Madison county, April 13, 1881. 



The business men of Highland wanted an English paper 
published in their midst, and for that purpose subscribed 
liberally to its establishment and support. They selected 
William H. Foy as editor and publisher. He contiimed to 
publish the Herald for its citizen owners until June 20 of 
the same year. Then he was succeeded by Louis E. Kinne 
and George Roth, who took charge for the stockholders. 
T. S. Richardson was selected as editor. That arrangement 
continued until August 24th following, when they retired 
and J. A. Krepps and Charles Boeschenstein purchased the 
paper of the stockholders. On the 8th of September, 1881, 
Mr. Boeschenstein became sole proprietor and editor. In 
form the Herald is a six column quarto. It is independent 
in politics, and devoted to the interests of Highland and 
vicinity. The office is fitted up with a new Fairhaven 
power press and a fine supply of type of tlie latest styles 
and finish. It is a growing paper, and bids fair to be of 
great value to the good people of Highland. 

THE COLLINSVILLE STAR 

Is the latest aspirant for journalistic fame in Madison coun- 
ty. The first number wa.s issued January 7th, 1882. Hugh 
A. Wetniore is its founder, editor and proprietor. He is 
not unknown to fame in the journalistic world. He was for 
a number of years connected with the newspapers of St. 
Louis, and by them was employed as a special reporter in 
different parts of the country. In that somewhat difficult 
capacity he sustained the reputation of an active, truthful 
and able correspondent- He therefore brings to the business 
experience and a knowledge of at least one branch of the 
business. The mission of the Star at present is to get a 
covered dirt road or " shed road " from Collinsville to St. 
Louis. For his laudable efforts in that direction we hope 
posterity may " rise up and call him blessed." The Star 
is a three column, four page paper, independent in politics. 
The history of the press of Madison county has been brief- 
ly traced. There have been a few failures, but upon the 
whole it has been fairly representative of the business growth 
of the county. Few industries can show a better record, or 
number more patient, earnest and enthusiastic workers. The 
influence and character of the press has grown with the ma- 
terial wealth and intellectual growth of those they have 
represented. The number of newspaper enterprises organ- 
ized and now in existence in the county and the character of 
their support, speaks well for the liberality of her citizens, 
and unmistakably shows the power of printer's ink and edi- 
tor's pen. To the press, perhaps more than to any other in- 
dustry, belongs the credit of building up and giving Madison 
county her enviable standing among her sister counties in 
the great State of Illinois. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



217 



CHAPTER XII. 



PA TRIOTISM. 




to incorporate iu her civil government taneously word came of hostile demon- 
i the best idea of all ages and people, strations along the Wabash Murders 
Her growth has been marvelous, and the were committed ; treaties were set at 
spirit of patriotism has been commeu- nought ; the storm of war wa,s brewing, 
surate therewith. To-day the proudest In the month of April, 1812, Gomo, an 
exclamation of our countrymen is, " We Indian chief, heading a deputation made 
commencement ^^^ Americans ! " Wars may and have upof representatives from various tribes, 
of American liberty tj^rgatuned ; red battle may stamp her met Governor Edwards, at Cahokia, to 
presaged the dawn 
of a brighter period 
in the world's his- 
tory. The spirit 
of freedom which 



HE 



and, which gave us a lofty rank amid 
the empires of the world, still animates 
the b;)som of their descendants. Liber- 
ty was the ringing watchword of those 



fiery feet, but this nation emerges from negotiate a treaty. The governor ad- 
the crucible, rejuvenated, bound by dressed them in a forcible speech. He 
stronger ties, and clothed in mightier told them he understood the hostility of 
power. In order to present the patriot- ; the Indians ; laid the blame at the foun- 
ism of Madison county, it will be ne- tain head — with the traders at British 
prompted our ances- gggj^ry to give brief sketches of the war outposts ; warned then against their 
tors to throw off the ^fi^io, Black-Hawk, and Mexican wars councils ; claimed that Americans only 
yoke of oppression, ^^^ the late Rebellion, in each of which j desired peace; told them plainly that 
many of her citizens participated. | the only basis for a treaty would be the 

., j delivery of murderers within their ranks 

! (some present had participated in the 
This was a struggle between the | Chicago massacre) for punishment- 
who tirst anchored their boats on a rock United States and Great Britain, grow- j The Indians in turn professed sorrow 
bound coast. Liberty of thought and j^g out of the insolent and i e>eated for wrongs done; declared their iiiabil- 
speech caused thous2.nds to forsake the overtacts of the latter government in ity to deliver up the murderers; laid 
homes tbey loved so well in the mother harassing the commerce of the United the blame upon one of the tribes (the 
country. The sons of " merry " England, States by the impressment of seamen Winnebagoes) and promised good be- 
fair France, rugged Scotland, distressed from American vessels. The non-inter- havior. Despite their earnest prjtesta- 
Ireland and Germany, the" faderland," course law expired in 1810, when the tions, and expressed desire f)r peace, the 
left their homes for untried ones iu this government of the United States made Indians continued their depredations, 
new Republic. It was an experiment, a proposal to both France and England ^ The rangers, for that was the name by 
The results have far outstripped what that if either nation would repeal its which the patriots were known, gathered 
the most fertile imagination could orders prohibiting trade by neutral ves- their families into block houses for pro- 
have entertained. The new world was , gels, the states would revive the non- teclion, whilst they attempted to raise a 
waked from its savage lethargy ; forests intercourse law against the other nation, little corn for their subsistence with 
have been prostrated and given way to France accepted the proposition, and their guns hanging at their sides whilst 
thrift and civilization ; towns and cities President Madison proclaimed free com- plowing, ready to protect themselves 
have sprung into existence like the flow- merce with France, but that trade with again.«t attack. Forts or block-houses 
ers of the topics ; and the sweeping fires, Great Britain be prohibited. This was were erected in various parts of the 
of the prairies are scarcely ranre rapid taken as a challenge by the English frontier, several being situated in Madi- 
than the increase of our wealth and government to place itself in an attitude son county. Fort Russel, a few miles 
population. The powers of the Old of hostality. The feeling engendered north of Edwardsville, was the head- 
World have' ceased to look upon us as a , soon brought on the war. As iu the quarters of Governor Edwards for mili- 
sudden flame that would soon be extin- war with the colonies, the British gov- , tary stores and munitions of war. Spies 
gnished, and now recognize our Republic ernmeut soou made allies of the Indians, ' were instructed to pass daily between 
as one of the first powers on either con- and thus the settlers of the frontier were ' these forts, so as to keep up a constant 
tinent. When the originators of our called upon to protect their homes and i line of communication throughout their 
Republic proclaimed "That all men are families from the merciless savages, and length. 

created equal ; that they are endowed several regiments of Rangers were soon Captains William Jones, Samuel 
by their Creator with certain inaliena- organized and ready for service against I Whiteside, and Samuel Judy, from 
ble rights; that among these are life, this cruel and formidable foe. | Madison, commanded companies in this 

liberty and the pursuit of happiness," As early as 1809, Nicholas Jarrot, of; border warfare. The following is a ros- 
an oppressed world applauded. When Cahokia, a French patriot, wedded to the ter of the members of their companies 
it was proclaimed that a government was American cause, made oath that the Brit- from this county : 
to be founded on such principles, mil- ish agents and traders at Prairie du Chien 
lions were ready to become sovereigns were instigating the Indians to deeds of 
and foresake Kingdoms and empires for violence ; furnishing them with arms 
the enjoyment of these inalienable rights, and ammunition, and otherwise prepar 

Thus was brought before the attention of ing them for warfare along the borders Ciqdnin. 

the civilized world, a nation that essayed of Western civilization. Almost simul- 1 Samuel Wliiieside. 



Goshen, Aug. 1st, 1812. 
An enlistment of volunteers in Captain 
Samuel Whiteside's Company for 3 months. 



218 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



First Lieutenant. 
Titas Gregg. 

Second Lieutenant. 
John Swaggart. 

Ensign 
Hei.r,' Tavlor. 



Privates. 



Bairn, Elswortli. 
Biirronglis, Jcseph. 
Bridges, Allen. 
Briisco, John. 
Biirges.*, William. 
Doiris, Samuel. 
Knochs, John. 
Ferguson, Joseph. 
Gregg, John. 
Gregg, Azer. 
(iregg, Harmon. 
Howlin, James. 
Howard, William. 
Howard, Joseph. 
Hoo.ser, Absalom. 
Howard, Absalom. 
Howard, John. 
Hewitt, Roland. 



Lacy, John. 
J>ee, Samuel. 
Marney, James. 
McFadden, James. 
Paine, John. 
Price, Daniel. 
Poner, David. 
Pnrsley, William. 
Pursley, Daniel. 
Koach, Matthew. 
Semiile, David. 
Smeltzer, Jacob. 
Simp.son, William. 
Semple, Benjamin. 
Shelton, William. 
Thompson. James. 
Warren, Harden. 
Wilson, James. 



Green, Henry, Jr. 
Green, Henry, Sr. 
Green John. 
Henson, Benjamin. 
Henson, John. 
Hill, John. 
Hopton, .John. 
Howard Wm (Spy.' 
Higgins, John. 
Hill James. 
Hill, Burrell. 



Tayer, Bartter. 
Tetrith, Jacob. 
Tetrich, Charles. 
Tetrich, Abrain. (Spy) 
Tetrich, Peter- 
Whitley, Mills. 
W'liitley John. 
Whitley. Randolph. 
Whitley, Klisha. 
White,'Robert. 
W'hite, David. 



Muster Roll of Captain Samuel Judy's 

Company of Mounted Spies, called into 

service by and under the command of „fM„j:, ' 1 

. -' ot Madison county 

his Excellency, JNinian Edwards, Oct. ' 



notice, but there remains no doubt but 
the company will be compleat before 
this reaches you — there are 70 on the 
list now. The above officers were elect- 
ed by a unanimous vote. 

Very respectfully yours, 

Thos. Kirkpatrick I Judges of 
G. Cadw'ell J the Election. 



Invalid pensioners among the pioneers 



18th, 1812, to Nov 12th, 1812. 

Captains. 



â– Waggoner, John. 
A Muster Roll of a Company of 
Volunteer Infantry commanded by Cap- 
tain William Jones, ordered into service 
by his Excellency, Ninian Edwards, 
Governor of the Illinois territory. 

Chaplain. 
William Jones. 



John Springer. 



Thomas Finlev. 



Lieutenant. 



Ensign- 



First Sergeant. 
Edward Reavi.s. 

Second Sergeant. 
John Whitley. 

Third Sergeant. 
David White, (Spy.) 

Fourth Sergeant, 
Robert Brazle. 

Corporals. 
Solomon Preuitt. Matthew Means. 

Jacob Gregg. David Smeltzer. 

Privates, 
Anderson, James, Sr. Holt, John. 
Anderson, James, Jr. Howard, Abrm. (Spy.) 
Brazle, William. Hutlon, George, Sr. 

Brazle, Richard. Hutton, George, Jr. 

Bateman, Abraham. Jones, Martin. 
Brazle, Valentine,(Spy) Jones, John. 
Bateman, William. Lindly, Joseph. 



Samuel Judy. 



Adams, Calvin. 
Adjoins, John. 
Cox, Thomas. 
Clark, Edward 
Cook. Henry. 
Cosey, Pierre. 
Frazier, Robert. 
Gillham, Isom. 
Going, William. 
Gillham, Samuel. 
Griflin, William. 



Privates. 



Larmar, Patrick. 
Lusk, JohnT. 
Moore, George. 
Newman, Joseph. 
Nix, Ambrose. 
Right. Tolever. 
Radcliff, William. 
Reynolds, John. 
Smith, Thomas. 
Stockden, Davis. 
Waddle, Alexander. 



Several other companies were formed f^j, 
at vaiious times, between 1812, and 



Asa Brooks, private, New York volunteers, 
pensioned July 27, 1819, pension com- 
i menced Nov. 10th, 1814. 
William Preuitt, U. S. range, pensioned July 
I 1, 1816. pension dated Nov. 2, 1814. 

William Richards, private 3d U. S. rifles, pen 
sioned January 2, 1818, pension dated 
April 24, ISlo. 

Soldies of the revolutionary army, 
in later years residents of Madison 
county : 

Elihu Mather, Sergeant in Connecticut Conti- 
nentals, pensioned Julv 23, 1821, died 
September, 1831. 

Brown, Daniel, private and sergeant Virginia 
Continentnls. 



Conway, Jesse, private, Virginia Continentals 
Deck, Michael, private Virginia Continentals. 



Co.x, Ephraim 
Chilton, Matthew. 
ChilioB, Joshua. 
Chilton, Jau)e.s, Sr. 
Chillou, William. 
Chilton, James, Jr. 
Dollarhide, Aquilla, 
Finley, Howard. 
Finlev, Moses. 
Finley, John. 
Finley, Jame.s. 
Ferguson. Isaac. 
Giger, John. 
Green, John. 



Lindly, John 
Lockhart, Byrd, (Spy.) 
Lockharr, William. 
Lindly, Simon, Sr. 
Lindley, Simon, Jr. 
Lindly, Samuel. 
Lockhart, Andrew. 
Preuitt, Field.s. 
Roberts, Wm. (Spy.) 
Roberts. Andrew. 
Stnhblefield, Wm.(Spv) 
Stubbledeld, Easly. 
Smeltzer, Hermon. 
Tayer, George, (Spy.) 



1814, but on account of the destruction ^T:|)|'=""' ^°''°' •"■i^^'^' S- C- Continentals. 

... „ , , Gillham, Isaac, private, S. C. Continentals, 

or mislaying of the records, we are un- Harrison, A. A., private, Penna. Continentals, 
able to furnish only the above rosters of p'^"' Vâ„¢' ^"Y- and serg.,S. C. Continentals.' 

^, , ,. ,. , . Long, John, private, N. C. Continentals, 

the soldiers of this war. McAdams, Joseph, private, N. C. Continentals. 

The following is a true copy, verbatim McAdams. Wm., private, N. C Continentals. ' 

f i; J- * .1, r^ e .1. . . Preuitt, Martin, private, Virginia Continentals. 

et hteratim to the Governor of the state Robinson, John, private, N. C. Continentals, 
in 1814, by Thomas Kirkpatrick : : Revis, Henry, private, N. C. Continentals. 

■cj„ 1-11 c< .1 1 o(xi_ -I01* i Roach, Francis private, N. C. Continentals 

Edwardsville, September 24th, 1814. E„„di;, Richard! priv, Virginia Continentals. 

Sir: — This day there was an election Reavis, Harris, private, N. C. Militia. 

held at this nlacp for a Cnntain „,,h I^a"d'e. Ishiim, private, N. C. Continentals, 
neia at inis ptace tor a t..aptain, ana j^.^^^t^ l^^i^^^^ private, N. C. Continentals. 

first and second Lieutenants by the vol- Thoinhill, Henry ,'priv. Virginia Continentals, 
uuteers that have late been raised in ' ^'^''' Naibaniel, priv. Virginia Coijtentials. ' 

Bridges, Georga, private, N. C. Mihtia. 
Conseqence of your request to Isam 

Gillham and J. G. Lofton Esq.. the com- ; We give below a clipping from one of 
pany detained the Election until about, the county papers published in 1872: 
the 4 of the o'clock in the afternoon in ' "In 1872 the following named resi- 
hopes. We would have been Joined by dents of this county were soldiers of the 
Mr. Stout and a Party from that neigh- war of 1812, and were in receipt of 
borhood, on being disappointed. We pensions; Samuel Seybold, Jesse Ren- 
proceeded to Elect John G. Lofton, i fro, "William Shaw and Jubilee Posey of 
Cajit., Thomas Kirkpatrick 1st Lieuten- 1 Troy ; Andrew Keown, Alhambra ; 
ant, and Samuel G. Morse 2d Lieutenant, Solomon Preuitt, of Fort Russell ; John 
and intend when orders are received to i Anderson of Collinsville; Abraham 
Elect the balance of the officers so as to ' Howard and Philip Gatch of Highland ; 
di-pose of the officers in Each Settle- Archibald Lamb of Lamb's Point, and 
ment which may Join. We assure your ; Aaron Rule and Thomas Sutton of St- 
Excellency that the old men have volun- Jacobs. Mrs. Mary Barnsback, widow 
teered with a spirit that reflects an honor i of Geoi-ge Barnsback, and Mrs. Cynthia 
on the old veterans of '76. Thenoticeol Keown, widow of James Keown, were 
the Election was so short in this Settle- also in receipt of pensions as widows of 
ment that the people had not general soldiers of that war." 



HISTORY OF .MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



219 



JHE BLACK HAWK WAR IN 1831-32. 

In relating some of the incidents of 
the Black Hawk War, and before enter- 
ing into details of the causes and results 
of it, we gi%'e our readers a brief sketch 
of the celebrated warrior, who figured 
so conspicuously in those sanguinary 
campaigns. Macuta Mahictah, is the 
Indian name of Black Hawk. He was 
born in the Sauk village, near the mouth 
of Rock river, Illinois, in 1767, and was 
an Indian of more than ordinary sagacity 
and stability of character. He possess- 
ed no hereditary rank, but in early 
youth distinguished himself as a brave, 
which gave him the confidence of his 
tribe. In the many bloody conflicts of 
his subsequent life with the Cherokees 
and Osages, he never lost a battle. In 
comparison, however, he could hardly 
be classed with the great Indian charac- 
ters, such as Philip, Pontiac, Logan, Te- 
cumseh and such illustrious characters. 
By the portraits of him, now extant, the 
reader of human character will readily 
observe in his large, high forehead and 
the lines worn by care in his face, mas- 
sive jaws and compressed lips, a char- 
acter indicative of more than ordinary 
ability. His ambition was to distinguish 
himself as a great warrior; yet he was 
merciful to the aged, the women and 
children. The only road to disinction 
for an Indian, is to become great in bis 
feats of war. So soon as he kills an 
enemy, he may paint a bloody hand upon 
his blanket, which entitles him to a seat 
in the councils. 

In 1810, and 1811, Black Hawk and 
comrades were "nursing their wrath to 
keep it warm " against the whites. A 
party of Sacs, by invitation went to see 
the prophet at Tippecanoe. They re- 
turned more angry than ever against the 
Americans. A party of Winnebagoes 
had massacred some whites, which ex- 
cited for murder the Sac band headed 
Black Hawk. A part of his band and 
some Wiunabagoes attacked Fort Mad 
ison in 1811, but were repulsed. Black 
Hawk headed the Sacs in this attack. | 

In 1812, emissaries from the British 
arrived at Rock Island with goods, and 
succeeded in securing Black Hawk with 
500 warriors to go with Col. Dixon to 
Canada. When they reached Green 
Bay, there were a.sserabled bauds of the 
Ottawas, Pottawatomies, Winnebagoes I 



and Kickapoos, under the command of 
Col. Dixon. Black Hawk and band 
participated in the battles of River 
Raisin, the Lower Sandusky and other 
places ; but getting dissatisfied with the 
hard fighting and small amount of spoils, 
he and twenty comrades left for the Sauk 
Village at Rock Island, where he re 
maiiied for many years at peace, with 
the exception of a small battle on the 
Quiver River, a settlement in Missouri, 
within the present limits of St. Charles 
county, where one white man and an In- 
dian were killed. 

The principal cause of the Indian 
troubles in 1831-32, better known as the 
Black Hawk war, was the determination 
of Black Hawk and his band to remain 
in their ancient village, located on Rock 
river, not far from its junction with the 
Mississippi. The government, having 
sometime previously by various treaties 
purchased the village and the whole coun- 
try from the Sac and Fox tribe of Indians, 
had some of these lands surveyed, and 
in 1828, a portion of the land in and 
around the ancient village was sold ; 
the collision between the two races pro- 
duced the first disturbance between the 
Indians and the Government. Seeing 
that war was inevitable, the governor of 
Illinois made a call on the militia of 
the State for 700 men on the 26th of 
May, 1831, and appointed Beardstown, 
on the Illinois river, as the place of ren- 
dezvous. The call was responded to with 
that promptness characteristic of the 
early pioneers of the state. Their habits 
were such that all were familiar with 
the use of the rifle. After traveling 
eight days, the mounted militia reached 
a point a few miles below the Sac village 
on the Mississippi, where they joined the 
United States forces under Gen. Gaines, 
and enc:tmped in the evening. The 
next morning the forces marched to an 
Indian town prepared to give the enemy 
battle; but in the night the Indians had 
escaped and crossed the Mississippi. This 
ended Black Hawk's bravado and his 
determination to die in his ancient vil- 
lage. The number of warriors under 
bis command was estimated at from 
four tu six hundred men. Black Hawk 
and his band landed on the west side of 
the Mississippi, a few miles below Rock 
Island, and there encamped. General 
Gaines sent a peremptory order to him 



and his warriors that if he and his men did 

not come to Rock Island and make a 
treaty of peace, lie would march his troops 
and give him battle at once. * * * 
In a few days Black Hawk and the 
chiefs, and head men to the number of 
twenty-eight, appeared in Fort Arm- 
strong, and on the 30th of June, 1831, in 
full council with Gen. Gaines and Gov. 
Reynolds, signed a treaty of peace." 

THE BLACK HAWK WAR IN 1832. 

During the winter of '31 and '32, 
rumors were rife that Black Hawk and 
his band were dissatisfied, restless, and 
preparing for further demonstrations of 
war. A chief of the Winnebagoes, who 
then had a village on Rock river, some 
thirty miles above its confluence with 
the Mississippi, joined Black Hawk, 
who was located on the west bank of 
the father of rivers. The chief had 
great influence with Black Hawk and 
his band. He made them believe that 
all the tribes on Rock river would join 
them, and that together they could bid 
defiance to the whites. By this unwise 
council. Black Hawk resolved to re-cross 
the river, which he did in the winter of 
1S32. That move proved to be their 
destruction. Through his influence and 
zeal Black Hawk encouraged many of the 
Sacs and Foxes to join him at the head 
of his determined warriors. He first 
assembled them at Fort Madison, on the 
Mississippi; subsequently, marched them 
up the river to the Yellow Banks, where 
he pitched his tent April 6th, 1832. 
This armed array of savages soon 
alarmed the settlers, and a general 
panic spread through the whole fron- 
tier, from the Mississippi to Lake 
Michigan. Many settlers in terror 
abandoned their homes and farms, and 
the governor decided, on the 16th of 
April, to call out a large number of 
volunteers to operate in conjunction 
with Gen. Atkinson, who was then in 
command of the regular forces at Rock 
Island. The governor ordered the 
troops to rendezvous at Beardstown on 
the 22d of April. The following is a 
copy of an address by Gov. Reynolds 
to the people of the state, during the 
crisis then pending: 
" To the 3Iititia of the northwestern section of the 

state. 
'' Fellow-Citizexs: 

'' Your country re<niires your services. The 



220 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Indians liave asBumed a hostile attitude, and 
have invaded the state in violationof the treaty 
of last Slimmer. The British band of Sacs and 
other liostile Indians, headed by Black-Hawk, 
are in possession of the Rock river country, to 
the great terror of the frontier inhabitants. I 
consider the settlers on the frontier to be in 
imminent danger. I am in possession of the 
above information from gentlemen of respecta- 
ble standing, and also from General Atkinson, 
whose tliaracter stands high with all classes. 
In po.ssession of the above facts, 1 have hesi- 
tated not as to the course I should pursue. 
Ko citizen ought to remain inactive when his 
country is invaded, and the helpless part of the 
community are in danger. I have called out a 
large detachment of militia to rendezvous at 
Beardstown on the 22d. Provisions for the 
men and food for the horses will be furnished 
in abundance. I hope my countrymen will 
realize my expectations, and offer their ser- 
vices, as heretofore, with promptitude and 
cheerfulness in defence of their countrymen. 
John Reynolds." 

To the stirring appeal of the gover- 
nor, the patriotic citizens of the state 
and Madison county nobly responded in 
both campaigns of '31-'o2. Many of the 
best and most prominent men of the 
county enlisted to protect the frontier 
and preserve the honor of the state, and 
did signal service iu the memorable 
events of the Black Hawk war. 

The force marched to the mouth of 
Rock river, where General Atkinson re- 
ceived the volunteers into the United 
States service and assumed command. 
Black Hawk and his warriors were still 
up on the Rock river. 

The army under Atkinson commenced 
its march up the river on the 9th of May. 
Gov. Reynolds, the gallant "Old Ran- 
ger," remained with the army, and the 
President recognized him as a major- 
general, and he was paid accordingly. 
His presence in the army did much to- 
ward harmonizing and conciliating those 
jealousies which generally exist between 
volunteers and regular troops. Major 
John A. Wakefield and Colonel Ewing 
acted as spies for a time iu the campaign 
of '32, to discover the location of the 
enemy, if possible, A Mr. Kinney acted 
as guide for them ; he understood the 
Sac dialect. On the 14th of May, 1832, 
Major Stillman's command had a sort of 
running battle with the Indians at or 
near what is now known as Stillman's 
run, a small, sluggish stream. In the 
engagement eleven white men and eight 
Indians were killed. Black Hawk and 
â–  â–  ' I 



warriors fought with the spirit born of 
desperation. Black Hawk says in his 
book that he tried at Stillman's run to 
call back his warriors, as he thought the 
whites were making a sham retreat in 
order to draw him into an ambuscade of 
the whole army under Gen. Whiteside. 
The hasty retreat and rout of Stillman 
and his army was, in a measure, demor- 
alizing to the entire forces. Undoubt- 
edly, the cause of the defeat was a lack 
of discipline. When Governor Reynolds 
learned of the disasterof Major Stillman, 
he at once ordered out two thousand 
additional volunteers. With that promp- 
titude characteristic of the old " War 
Governor," he wrote out by candle-light 
on the evening of Stillman's defeat, the 
order for additional troops, and by day- 
light despatched John Ewing, Robert 
Blaekwell, and John A. Wakefield to 
distribute the order to the various coun- 
ties. The volunteers again promptly 
responded. 

On the 10th of July the army dis- 
banded for want of provisions. General 
Scott arrived soon afterward with a large 
force at the post of Chicago, to effect if 
possible a treaty with the Indians. 
Small detachments of Black Hawk's 
warriors would persistently hang on the 
outskirts of the main body of the army, 
thieve and plunder, and pounce upon 
and kill the lonely sentinel or straggling 
soldier. On the 15th of July the soldiers 
were reviewed, and those incapatle of 
duty were discharged and returned home. 
Poquette, a half-breed, and a Winnebago 
chief, the " White Pawnee," were select- 
ed for guides to the camp of Black Hawk 
and band. Several battles and skir- 
mishes occurred with the enemy, the 
principal of which was on the banks of 
the Mississippi, where the warriors fought 
with great desperation. Over one hun- 
dred and fifty were killed in the engage- 
ment, and large numbers drowned in 
attempting to swim the river. After the 
battle the volunteers were marched to 
Dixon, where they were discharged. 

Immediately after their discharge, 
hostilities on the part of the Indians 
were reopened, and Governor Reynolds 
called for twenty days' volunteers from 
among the discharged men, for the pro- 
tection of the frontier settlements. Many 
promptly responded, and a regiment was 
organized, with Jacob Fry as colonel ; 



James D. Henry, lieutenant-colonel ; 
and John Thomas as major. A part of 
the company of Captain A. W. Snyder 
made a temporarj' stand at Kellogg's 
Grove, a small tract of timber in La- 
salle county, seventeen miles northeast 
of Ottawa. Near the grove several sol- 
diers were killed. The facts, briefly 
stated, were : Captain Snyder and com- 
pany — in all twenty-five men — watched 
the movements of the Indians, and came 
upon them when within two or three 
miles of the grove, concealed iu a ravine. 
The company rushed on them with cau- 
tion from tree to tree. A soldier, seeing 
one of the Indians exposed, prepared to 
shoot him, but was too late. The Indian 
shot first, and the soldier was mortally 
wounded. Vengeance was swift, and the 
Indians, five in number, bit the dust A 
litter was made, whereon to carry the 
wounded men. Soon they complained 
of thirst. Drs. Roman, Jarrot and Cor- 
nelius, with a couple of soldiers, started 
down a ravine, in search of water. On 
their way they were fired upon by am- 
bushed Indians, and the two soldiers 
were killed. The Indians were so close, 
that the faces of the slain were powder- 
burned. That the three doctors escaj^ed 
was really miraculous. Before prepara- 
tions could be made for wreaking ven- 
geance upon the Indians, they had fled, 
and on the 19th of June, 1832, the 
twenty days' men were discharged. This 
ended the cam^iaign and the Black- 
Hawk war. 

At the battle of the Bad Axe, Black- 
Hawk and some of his warriors escaped 
the Americans, and went up the Wis- 
consin river, but subsequently surren- 
dered himself. Fort Armstrong, on 
Rock Island, was the place appointed 
where a treaty would be made with the 
Indians, but before it was eflected that 
dreadful scourge, the cholera of '32, 
visited not only the regular army, de- 
pleting its ranks far more rapidly than 
the balls of the Indians had done, but 
it also sought out its many victims in 
the dusky bauds of the Black-Hawk 
tribe. 

On the 15th September, 1832, a treaty 
was made with the Winnebago Indians. 
They sold out all their lands in Illinois 
and all south of the Wisconsin river and 
west of Green bay, and the government 
gave them a large district of country 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



221 



west of the Mississippi, and ten thousand 
dollars a year for seven years, besides 
providing free schools for their children 
for twenty years, oxen, agricultural 
implements, etc., etc. 

September 21st, 1832, a treaty was 
made with all the Sac and Fox tribes, 
on which ihey ceded to the United 
States the tract of country, on which a 
few years afterward the state of Iowa 
was formed. In con-sideration of the 
above cession of lands, the government 
gave them an annuity of twenty thousand 
dollars for thirty years, forty kegs of 
tobacco and forty barrels of salt, more 
gunsmiths, blacksmith shop, etc., etc., 
six thousand bushels of corn for imme- 
diate support, mostly intended for the 
Black Hawk band. 

The treaties above mentioned termi- 
nated favorably, and the security re- 
sulting therefrom gave a new and rapid 
impetus to the development of the state, 
and now enterprising towns and villages, 
and beautiful farms, adorn the rich and 
alluvial prairies that before were only 
desecrated by the wild bands who in- 
habited them. Agricultural pursuits, 
commerce and manufactures, churches 
and schools, are lending their influence 
to advance an intelligent and prosperous 
people. 

Below we append a roster of the sol- 
diers of ihe Black Hawk war who enlis- 
ted from Madison county. 

Muster Roll of Captain Julius L. 
Barnsback'scompany of Mounted Volun- 
teers of the First Regiment of the 
Brigade, under the command of Gen. 
Whiteside. This company was orga- 
nized at Edwardffville. It was mustered 
out of the service at the mouth of Fox 
river, Illinois, May 28th, 1832. Dis- 
tance 284 miles from the jilace of en- 
listment. 

Cajjtain. 
Julius L. Barnsback. 

First Licu/cnaiif. 
Kylarnl Ballard. 

Second Lieutenant. 
Jesse Bartlett. 

First Sergeant. 
Jacob J. Kinder. 

Scrijeants. 
Mathias Hanlan. Stephen Gaskill. 

Henry Armstrong. 

Corporals. 
Robert Murphy. Isham M. Gillham. 

John E. Sharp. Isaac McLane. 



Pr 
Armstrong, William. 
Armstrong, David. 
Barllftt, Martin S. 
Bartlett, Nicholas. 
Bowles, Stephen. 
Burge, William. 
Barnsback, George. 
Bowles, Austin. 
Colyer, Charles. 
Cox, John B. 
Dove, John. 
Day, Faunlleroy. 
Ford, Aaron. 
Flinn, Joseph. 
Guthrie, Henry. 
Gillham, John F. 
Hart, Henry. 
Hart, John. 

W^eeks, 



ivates. 

Hamilton, William. 

Hood, Aaron. 

Johnson, Charles. 

Johns, James. 

Knight, James. 

Kell, William. 

Merrv, David W. 

Motley, Obcdiah C. 

Norman, James. 

Page, Kobert. 

Ralph, William. 

Scanland, Lewis W. 

Sample, James. 

Smith, Levi. 

Smith, E. C, 

Van Hoozer, John. 

Wall, John A. 

Wall, David. 
, Robert W. 



Muster Roll of Captain Josiah Little's 

company of the First Regiment, com- ! 

manded by Col. John Thomas of the 

Brigade of Mounted Volunteers of the * 

..... I 

Illinois Militia, and commanded by 

Brigadier General Samuel Whiteside, i 
Was mustered out of the United States 
service at the mouth of Fox river, Illi- 
nois, May 27th, 1832. The distance 
from place of enrollment, Madison 
county, 111., 284 miles. 

Ca2)taiii. 

Solomon Preuitt, elected April 19lh, 1832, 

elected Lieut. Col. April 2Stli, 1S32. 

First Lieuteiwut. 
.losiah Little, elected Captain April 28th, 1832. 

Second Lieutenant. 
Jacob Swaggart, on furlough. 
First Sergeant. 
William Arundell, elected Second Lieutenant 
April 28th, 1832. 

Second Sergeant. 
Joseph Squire, elected 1st Serg't Apr. 28, 1832. 

Sergeants. 
James R Wood. James Sanders. 

Corjwrals. 
Thoma-s A kins. John Lawrence. 

John E. Haukins. Isaiah Dunnagan. 



Jones, Martin. Walker, Philip V. 

Job. Samuel. Wood, Jesse. 

Kirigan, Edward. Waddle, James. 

Whiteside, Thomas. 

Muster Roll of Capt. Erastus Wheel- 
er's Company of the Brigade, Mountain 
Volunteers, commanded by Gen. Samuel 
Whiteside. This enlistment was made 
for sixty days' service, and was muster- 
ed out at the mouth of Fox River, Illi- 
nois, the 28th of May, 1832, being 295 
miles from the place of enrollment. 

Captain. 
Erastus Wheeler. 

First Lieutenant. 
' John T. Lusk. 

; Second Lieutenant. 

! Richard Kandle- 



First Sergeant. 
William Tindall. 

Sergeants. 
William Torrence. William G. Martin. 
John Montgomery, 

Corporals. 

Henry H. West, 
Benj. Stephenson. 

Privates. 

Montgomery, William, 
Owens, John, 
Otwell, Ceylon Y., 
Prickett, John, 



Josia.s T. Randle, 
Milton Gingles, 



P-iva 



Barnctt, Benj. F. 

Bridges, Madison. 

Basy, Newton. 

Beck, Sanford. 

Barr, Zachariah. 

Chapman, Enoch. 

('ochran, William C. 

Chapman. Joseph. 

Davis, William. 

Dunnagan, .loliu M. 

Dickson, Thomas. 

Edward-', Cyrus. 

Evans, William. 

Fiene, James. 

(Jillham, Josiah R. 

Gillham, Marcus. 
j Harris, Meeds A. 

Humes, Willis. 
I Hodges, James II. 
I Harkleroad, John. 
j Job, Levi. 
' Jones, Cieorge. 



Keykendall. William. 
Lee, Vinsant. 
Linton, James. 
More, Abel. 
Preuitt, Solomon. 
Palmer, Sarril. 
Robberts, .\bsilora. 
Robberls, Elijah. 
Rose, Francis. 
Robberts, William, Jr. 
Rogers, Jonath.in. 
Rice, Elias. 
Sanders, William. 
Stout, Christopher. 
Solomon, John. 
Scarritt, James. 
Surls, William. 
Starkcy, Russel. 
Sowell. Lewis C. 
Scanland, Stephen. 
Sowell, William. 
Smith, Elias. 



Adams, O. M., 
Beers, Henry, 
Carey, Thomas, 
Cochran, Hugh E., 
Cleveland, Lorin, 
Carson, John, 
Dugger, Alfred, 
Gillespie, Joseph, 
Gracey, James T., 
Herrington, Charks, 
Holman, Nath., 
Hamilton, Samuel, 
Howard, Abraham, 
Journey, Ninian E.. 
Lusk, Marquis, 
McCullock, Samuel, 
McElroy, J:tmes, 
McMahan, Kjbert, 



Pearce. RoKert P., 
Powell, Arkansas, 
Randle, Peter W., 
Robinson, Allen, 
Shields, G. R., 
Shields, Ale.\andcr, 
Slice, Charles, 
Steele, Jesse, 
Starr, William E., 
Vanhooser, Valentine, 
Vovles, Ahel, 
Walker, John L., 
Yates, Elijah. 



Muster Roll of Captain Aaron Arm- 
strong's Company of Mounted Volun- 
teers, commanded by Maj. Nathaniel 
Buckmaster, commanding a Battalion 
and stationed for the protection of the 
frontier between Ottawa and Chicago, 
at Fort Walker, Illinois, 290 miles from 
Edwardsville, Madison county, iu which 
county the company was recruited. It 
was first commanded by Capt. N. Buck- 
master, of Alton, until the 20th of June, 
1832, when he was promoted, and Lieut. 
Aaron Armstrong took command of the 
company, and received the commission 
of Captain. It was mustered out of 
service July 20th, 1832. 

JI/(i/or. 
Nathaniel Buckmaster. 



Aaron Armstrong. 



Capta 



222 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



First lAeulenant. The following incident is furnished by 

Jacob Swaggard. Promoted to this position Judge Joseph Gillespie, a member of 

I Ciipt. Erastus Wheeler's company of 



June20tli, 1832 



Secoyid Lieutenant. 
"William Timlall. Promoted to this position 
June20tli, 1832. 

First Sergeant. 
Samuel P. GiUham. 



John P. Dyo, 
Henry Beer, 



Martin Bridges, 
Calvin Kinder, 



Sergeants. 

Nicholas Felker. 

Corporals. 

William McAnlnch, 
George Milton. 



Privales. 
Adams, Washington F.,Johnson, Charles, 

William, Kennedy, Georgi F 



mounted volunteers, and afterward pro- 
moted battalion paymaster : 

" The first call for troops for the Black 
Hawk war iu 1832 were disbanded at 
Ottawa, and volunteers were called 
to remain and guard the frontier until 
the arrival of the second call. A com- j 
pany was made up of these volunteers 
from Madison and St. Clair. They, to- 
gether with some regular officers (Maj. j 
Riley was one) started to cross the coun- 
ty to Galena. We camped one night at I 
Kellogg's grove, somewhere between 
Rock river and Galena. We occupied 
a large barn. The night was very dark, 
and one of our sentinels was shot at and 
a horse stolen. In the morning a party 
started to try to overtake the Indians. 
They were making west, apparently for 
the Mississippi river. We followed 
their trail for fifteen or twenty miles, 
when they discovered us coming down a 
long ridge. We did not see them un- 
til we were on the ground where they 
had stopped, and from which they 
A tribute here is due to Gen. James j first sighted us. They wheeled around 
D. Henry, who was once a citizen of, and took nearly the back track. This 
Edwardsville, and afterward moved to ; movement balked us a considerable 
Springfield. Among those who dis- 1 time. We thought the Indians would 
tinguished themselves in this war, none | naturally keep on in the direction of 
were more efficient as an officer than he. : the river to which they had been tend- 
It was hi.s f)reiight and determination I ing. After upwards of half an hour 
that enabled the armv to overtake the we again struck the trail, making back. 
Indians at Fort Winnebago. He was ! In a couple of hours we discovered four 
the chief officer in command at the \ Indians, more than a mile ahead of us, 
battle of the Wisconsin, which followed ' going up a long ridge. We had a very 
the first real victory of the campaign, j deep stream with steep banks to cross 
and the battle of the Bad axe, which ' before reaching them, and were delayed 
practically closed it. An ardent ad- a considerable time in getting our horses 
mirer of the General says : '' He was i across. We however followed as rapid- 
exceedingly modest and retiring till his ly as our horses would carry us. We 
passions were fully aroused, and then hg finally overtook them, they ensconcing 
showed an intensitj' of feeling and iron | themselves in a dry branch which had 
will, which was irresistible so far as he been washed quite deep in wet weather. 



Armstron 
Avers, David, 
Atkins, Eber, 
Brewer, Rice, 
Bensell, Charles E., 
Donev, Robert, 
Day, "Philips., 
Fruit, Franklin, 
Goodwin, Abner, 
Gillham, John F., 
Gillham, Isom M., 
Gillham, William, 
Hank, Daniel, 
Hart, Henry, 
Hart, Pleasant, 
Howard, Abram, 
Johns, James, 
Jackson, Lon, 



McKarland, William, 
JIurphy, Robert, 
Mahunin, John, 
Piper, William, 
Rice, George, 
Smith, .Vsa G., 
Sampson, Peter, 
.Svvaggart, Samuel, 
Shirtlofft, John, 
Thompson, AVilliam, 
Taylor, Elijah, 
Vincent, John, 
Waddle, George, 
Whittington, .James, 
AVashburn. .John A., 
Wethers, Enoch B., 
Wright, David. 



had power to act. The fear of nothing 
but his Maker ever entered his breast, 
and he knew and cared as little for 
danger and death as a marble statue. 
At the close of the war he was the most 
popular man in Illinois, and had he lived 
he could have been elected to any office 
in the gift of the people." He died at 
New Orleans on the 4th of March, 183-1, 



We surrounded and killed them, but iu 
doing so fatally shot and killed a 
mait from St. Clair county, named Mec- 
kerason. The Indians tried to surrender, 
but we, as some of us supposed, very un- 
mercifully refused to accept their ofler. If 
we had done so Meckemson's life would 
have been saved. It excited the sur- 
prise of some of the men that the In- 



whither he had gone for the benefit of | dians should have taken the back track 
his health. after they found that they were about to 



be overtaken ; and the sequel will show 
that they were making for a large party 
of their people, of whose vicinity we 
were ignorant where we killed the Indi- 
ans and we were within about three miles 
from our encampment at the grove, 
where a large part of our force w.is left 
in the morning. We made a stretcher on 
which to carry the wounded man, and 
men were detailed to carry him. These 
men would give up their horses and 
guns to their comrades until relieved. 
The men were scattered along without 
any regard to order ; some were a quar- 
ter of a mile ahead of those who were 
carrying the wounded man, some having 
two guns and two horses, some going to 
get their horses and guns after being 
relieved. While things were in this con- 
dition Meckemson begged for water and 
two squads were sent, one to each side 
of the ridge, to find something to quench 
the thirst of the dying man. The squad 
that went down on the west side went 
into an ambuscade and were fired upon, 
and one man. Dr. Jarrot, was wounded. 
The men instantly retreated to where 
Meckemson lay, the Indians following 
with a yell, and cut off his head with a 
tomahawk. In the scattered and con- 
fused condition of the men they were 
unable to protect the wounded man ; all 
that could be done was to fall back to a 
cluster of men, who were further ahead 
when Meckemson asked for water and 
to be laid down, which was perhaps a 
quarter of a mile. There a rally was 
made and some persons sent to the grove 
for reinforcements, and a rambling fire 
took place between us and the Indians 
without any damage to either side. 
Neither side advanced to meet the other, 
and soon the redskins disappeared, and 
we, for fear of another ambuscade, 
declined to follow. We then leisurely 
took up our line of march for our en- 
campment and soon met Major Riley 
with reinforcements, but, as it was get- 
ting dark, we all wended our way back. 
Next morning we visited the scene of 
the ambuscade and found that there had 
been Indians enough there to whip us 
out of our boots, but they evidently ex- 
pected that we would follow them into 
the thicket where they would have had 
us at their mercy. My connection with 
I the service ended soon after this, as we 
! were disbanded and returned home." 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 2'23 

BLACK HAWK WAR. toward the Fort with 2,300 men, and on I Oregon, south of the usually travelled 
Two or three other companies were | the 8th of May, met the enemy under course. While in California, in 1846, 
organized hesides those above given but i the command of Gen. Arista, at Palo he heard that the Mexican commander 
on account of the records at Springfield 1 Alto. The Mexicans, with a force of in this territory was raising a force to 
being imperfect we are unable to give ' 6,000 men were signally defeated and expel the American settlers from that 
their rosters ; all have been gleaned forced to fall back to Resaca de la , province, and about the same time re- 
that are accessible. Those who volun- , Palma. They were followed by Gen. i ceived instructions from AVashington to 
teered in 1831, were substantially the i Taylor's forces, and the following day protect the interest of the States in Cali- 
same persons whose names appear in the j the armies again met, when the Araeri- fornia. The American settlers came to 
rosters of 1832. Capt. Erastus Wheeler | cans were victorious, losing only about the rescue, and after several conflicts 
commanded a company in 1831, and the I 100 men, while the Mexicans sustained the Mexicans were routed and corn- 
names of those who do not appear in his i a loss of ten times that number. pelled to abandon the territory. At the 
company of 1832, from Madison county 1 The news of the capture of Thorn- advice of Fremont the settlers declared 
are I. B. Randle, Howard Clark, and , ton's party created great excitement in , their independence of Mexico, July 5th, 
Elijah Taylor. In the latter year Capt. the United States, and on the 11th of 1846. 

David Smith, from Alton, also com- : May, Congress declared war against Soon after the war had actually begun, 
manded a company. Charles Sebastian, Mexico. Volunteers were called for, the authorities at Washington concluded 
of Edwardsville, belonged to his com- and the ranks were speedily filled, to send an army to take the Capital of 
pany- i Three campaigns were planned by the Mexico. General Scott was placed in 
WAR WITH MEXICO. | United States for the invasion ofMexico. command, and early in 1847, his forces 
This conflict was caused by a q^uestion One under Gen. Taylor to operate on landed atVera Cruz, and were subsequent- 
arising between the United States and i the line of the Rio Grande from ISIata- ly joined by the main body of Taylor's 
Mexico, relating to the territorial boun- ; moras. Gen Kearney was to invade the army. This was one of the Mexican 
daries between the two Republics. The Spanish possessions of California and strong holds. The city was at once be- 
United States' Congress, in the early -^'^w Mexico. Gen Wool to enter the sieged, and after a furious bombardment 
part of 184.5, passed a bill for the an- northern states of Mexico, and conquer the castle and city surrendered. The 
nexation of Texas, then an independent , " Cliihuahua." array then began to march to the city of 
Republic. July 4, 1845, Texas ap- I" September of 1846, Gen. Taylor, Mexico, from which time forth, the his- 
proved the bill, and thus became a part i ^^^'h 6 000 troops moved against Mon- tory of the American army was a series 
of the Union. But Mexico continued terey. After a four days' resistance the of successes to the United States troops. 

city was surrendered to the Ameri- At Cerro Gordo the Mexicans were 

cans. The most wonderful feat of the routed ; Puebla was taken without a 

tween those two governments, relative to "hole war, was the battle in the narrow struggle ; Contreras, Churubusco, Molino 

the western boundary of Texas ; Mexico mountain pass of Buena Vista, Feb. 23, del Rey and the castle of Chapultepec, 

claiming that the pretended Republic of 1847. It was here that Gen. Taylor's all had to give way before the valorous 

Texas had never extended farther west l'''le army of less than 5,000 men, met American army. The Mexicans were 

than the Nueces river. The latter hav- ^^^^ enemy under the command of Gen. completely whipped and routed, and on 

ing become a part of the United States, Santa Anna, with a force of 20,000 the 14th of September, 1847, General 

it devolved upon the government to sus- Mexicans. The Americans were vie- Scott, with his forces, entered the Capital 

tain its rights. Accordingly in the sum- , torious, and by this victory secured the of the Mexicans. This practically 

mer of 1845, General Taylor was order- 1 frontier of the Rio Grande to the United ended the conflict, and was formerly 

ed into the disputed territory, and States, and left them free to direct their closed by the treaty of Guadaloupe 

formed a Camp at Corpus Christi. Early whole force against Vera Cruz. Hidalgo, February 2d, 1848. This 

iu 1840, he raovetl his troops to the Rio ; Gfen. Kearney with his troops march- ' treaty ceded to the United States all the 

Grande, opposite "Matamoras," and con- i ^'i overland one thousand miles, from territory now comprised in New Mexico, 

structed a fort. In April, Capt. Thorn- ; pl^ce of rendezvous — Leavenworth, Utah and California. In return Mexico 

ton was detailed to reconnoitre up the Kansas — to Santa Fe, New Mexico, and received a compen.sation of 83,500,000, 

river with a party of dragoons, where subsequently started for the California indemnification of private indebtedness, 

they fell into a Mexican ambuscade, and settlements, but on the way learned that and §15,000,000 to the government of 

were compelled to surrender, lo.singsix- California was already in the possession Mexico. 

teen men. This was the first collision, of Fremont ; he, therefore, sent back Illinois furnished six retriments in 

and the signal for the clash of arms, most of his forces to Santa Ft^, and pro- this war, as follows: First ren-iment, 

The Mexicans, emboldened by this ceeded with a hundred mounted men to commanded by Col. John J. Hardin ; 

trivial success, soon afterward made an San Diego, Cal. The circumstance Second regiment, commanded by Col. 

attack upon Fort Brown, the main por- "uder which California had been con- Wm. H. Bissell ; Third regiment, cora- 

tion of Gen. Taylor's troop then being quored was quite romantic. Capt. John manded by Col. Ferris Foreman ; Fourth 

absent from the garrison. Learning of C. Fremont had been sent by the go- regiment, commanded by Edward D. 

the attack, Gen. Taylor hastened back vernment to establish a new route to Baker; Fifth regiment, commanded by 



to claim Texas as a part of her territory ; 
besides, there had existed a dispute be- 



224 



SIS TO BY OF MADISON- COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Col. James Collins ; Sixth regiment, 
commanded by Col. Edward W. B. 
Newby. The Second and Sixth regi- 
ments were organized at Alton, Madison 
County. The following is a brief sy- 
nopsis of the movements of the Second 
regiment under the command of Col. 
Bis.'sell. It moved from Alton soon after 
organization, June, 1846, to New Or- 
leans, and went into camp on the same 
ground that the battle was fought under 
the command of Gen. Jackson, in the 
war of 1812. Not being acclimated, and 
the season very hot, many were obliged 
to go into the hospital. After recruiting, 
crossed the Gulf to Galveston, where it 
joined other regiments under the com- 
mand of Gen. John E. Wool. Took the 
boat down the Matagorda Bay, and went 
into Camp Irvin, near Port Levaca, 
Texas. Afterward marched to Victo- 
ria, on the Gjadaloupe river. This short ' 
march was an eventful one from the 
fact that several of the men had con- 
tracted the measles, and the country 
they were passing through was low and 
marshy, and they were obliged, a part of 
the time, to wade in the water middle 
deep, which was anything but conducive 
to the health of the afflicted. Some of 
the soldiers became delirious, and would 
straggle away from the regiment, seek- 
ing a dry place to lie down, and suffer 
unattended by their comrades. The 
well ones were kept busy in gathering 
tliem up and conveying them to the 
wagons. On the second day they reached 
Victoria, where they rested for a few 
davs, and then moved to Sau Antonia, 
Texas. Went into camp for several 
weeks. Moved to Presidio on the Rio 
Grande, and from thence to Monclova, 
and through the territory of Coahuila. 
Went into winter quarters at Parras. 
While here, the news came that Santa 
Anna was approaching with an army of 
22,000 Mexicans, when orders were 
given to meet him. A forced march 
was made of four days towards Saltillo 
from Parras, making one hundred and 
thirty miles within the time. The main 
body of the army — Gen. Taylor then 
commanding — stopped in the pass of 
Buena Vista, and prepared to give bat- 
tle to Santa Anna's formidable forces- 
A detachment was sent back to a point 
where some stores had been left on the 
march, and on their way met the ad- 



vance guard of Santa Anna's army. [ 
The American detachment (of whom 
Lieut. John A. Prickett was a member), 
drove them back to the very line 
of the Mexican army. This was the 
first knowledge of Santa Anna's ap- 
proach. As may be inferred, the de- 
tachment hastened back to the main 
army and reported. Santa Anna soon 
afterward hove in sight, and here was 
fought the terrific battle of Buena 
Vista, which is familiar io every reader 
of history. Several of the Second regi- 
ment were killed and wounded ; among 
those from Madison county, who were 
killed, were Lieut. R. Ferguson, Aaron 
Field, John Goble, and Patrick Cruise. 
Wounded, Lieut. John A. Prickett, 
John Buckmaster, and William Fisher. 
Lieutenant Prickett was so seriously 
wounded that he was obliged to leave 
the service. After the battle the regi- 
ment moved to Saltillo, where it re- 
mained until ordered home.* Appen- 
ded is the roster of the men from Madi- 
son county, as transcribed and corrected, 
from the archives of the war depart- 
ment at Washington. 

Muster Roll Company E. 

Second Regiment Illinois Foot Volun- 
teers, Mexican War. Organized at 
Alton, Madison County, Illinois, in the 
month of May, 1846. Mustered into 
the service of the United States at 
Alton, Illinois, on the 16th day of June, 
1846, to serve a term of twelve months 
unless sooner discharged. Mustered out 
of service at Alton, Illinois, on the 18th 
day of June, 1847. 

Captain. 
Peter Lotz. 

First Lieutenant. 
John .\. Prickett, absent at M. O. of Eeg't on 
furlough in the U. S. on account of wounds 
received in battle Feb. 23d, (Buena Vista,) 
1847. 

Second Lieutenant. 
Aston Maderia. 
I Third Lieutenant. 

William Kellev, Pro. from Serg't., killed in 
I battle at Buena Vista, Feb. 23, 1847. . 

First Sergeant. 
John Catron, disch. by reason of re-enlistment. 
John Roberts. 

Sergeant. 
John S. Selden. 

* For much of the information pertaining to 
I the Second re.E;iment we are indebted to John 
A. Prickett, William E. Whee'er, Thomas- 
Lewis, and others. 



Corporals. 
Joseph Quigley. Hardy R. Carroll. 

Isaac E. Hardy. 

Privates. 

Botkins, John B., King, Josephus. 

Burns, Myron M. Keller, John P. 

Carpenter, David M. Kennedy, William. 

Cruise. Patrick, killed at Buena Vista. 

Clark, Samuel. Lovelace, Perry. 

Clark, Thom,xs. Lewis, James. 

Davidson, John. McGovern, James. 

Dwver, John. Marsh, Caleb N. 

Duncan, John R. Maxwell, W. R. 

Drury, Edward A. O'Conner, James. 

Dought, Isaac H. Prickett, Thomas J. 

Elweli, Joseph S. Quick, John. 

Field, Aaron, killed at Biieaa Vista. 

Falkner, James. Ryder, John B. 

Falkner, William. Roberts, George. 

Garrison, John. Rilay, Michael. 

Rodgers, Andrew F., afterward Col. of 80th 
Illinois Infantry, late war. 

Gable, John, killed' at Buena Vista. 

Hicknev, James. Sprague, William. 

Hill, Epliraim P. Stewart, Charles. 

Hoffma^ter, Christ'r. Stanley, John R. 

Hutchison, Pierson. Twaddle, William A. 

Hill, George M. Wright, .'ames H. 

Hatch, Edwin. Wiswell, Benjamin F. 

Hunter, Charles. Wagner, Rufus M. 

Jenkins, Ezekiel. Warraick, Frederick. 

Joioe, William B. West, Hor.ace B. 

Wright, William R., Capt. Co. B. SOth Illi- 
nois Infantrv, late war. 

Waldren, Elias." 

Discliarged. 

Sergmnts.' 
Robert McFarland, by reason of re-enli.^tment. 

Privates. 
Brample, Thomas, by reason of re-enlistment. 
Brinker, Clark, by reason of re-enlistment. 
Griffin, JohuW., by reason of re-enlistment. 
Nettlelon, James, by reason of re-enlistraent. 



Sergeant. 
A. Van Dugen, died at Camp Irwin, Texas, as 
First Sergeant. 

Privates. 
Field, Edwin, died at Saltillo, March 12, 1847, 

of wounds. 
Fisher, William, died at Saltillo, March 5th, 

1847, of wounds. 
Graves, Janson, died in the campaign. 
Robinson, John, died at Saltillo, March 1st, 

1847, of wounds. 
Ryan, Jas. murder'd near Saltillo, Mar. 26, '47 

Master Roll, Company D, 

Second Regiment Illinois Foot Volun- 
teers, Mexican War. Organized at 
Edwardsville, Madison County, Illinois, 
in the month of May, 1846. Mustered 
into the service of the United States at 
Alton, Illinois, on the 16th day of June, 
1846, to serve a term of twelve months 
unless sooner discharged. Mustered out 
of service at Alton, Illinois, on the llth 
day of June, 1847. 

Captain. 
Erastus Wheeler. 

First Lieutenant. 
George W. Prickett. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Second Lieuknants. 
Joel Foster. William B. Reynolds. 

First Sergeant. 
George T. Cochran. 

Sergeants. 
Charles W. AVard. William Peel. 
William E. Wheeler. 

Corporals. 
Constantine Smith. William CaWert. 
Elisha Axley. James A. Henderson. 

Musician. 
Joseph Shoemaker. 

Privates. 
Aker, Stephen. Lancaster, James.' 

Bell, Wiley H. Loutner, Wolf. 

JJirnrighter, Conrad. Murphy, -'olin D. 
Blake, Chas. W. Murphy, IJonhani. 

Bartel.«, Engelhart. Malry, Richard G. 
BiggerstaH", John W. Mings, Uriah. 
Brown, John. Mnir, Jeflerson. 

Burks. Richard. M;issey, Richard. 

Campbell, Dennis. McCoy, James S. 
Creed, Colby. Parker, Wilson. 

Douglass, .VIexander. Pierce, Mortimer R. 
Davis, Emels C. Paynter, Robert. 

Duff, Hiram D., detailed to artillery and 

wounded at Bueua Vista. 
Devine, Charles. Preg, .\ndrew. 

Davis, Joseph. Paine, Mo.ses R. 

Emmer.^on, James H. Robinson, Jesse G. 
Fulfcr, James. R imsey, William F. 

Goodwin, Richard. Ramsey, Gardner., 
Glaser, Ludwick. Robin.son, James. 

Gayler, Joseph E. Swain, Andrew, Jr. 
Savage, Richard, died with lock] iw at Buena 

Vista. Sanders, Marion. 

Gregory, Lisle. Sachse, l..ewis. 

Goodwin, John. Sobbie, Charles. 

Guinther, George. Scpiire, James. 
Short, Rim;on, died at .San Antonio. 
Hays, Andrew. Taylor, James H. 

Hare. Jeptha. Ta'rkinton, Thomas J. 

Hoop, Philip. Thomas, Leaniler. 

Jackman, .Vsborne C. Updyke, Ilolcnmbe. 
Jackson, Andrew. Van Shatter, Elworth. 

Keppy, Christopher. Warren, Hardy. 
L'lwis, Thomas. Wingleman, Edward. 

Discharged. 

Van Cam.p, .\aron, discharged on Sergt's cer- 
tificate of disability, March 24, 1847. 

R )ster Field and Staff, Second Regi- 
ment, Illinois Volunteers, war with 
Mexico, 1846 to 1847. 

First LieiUenant and Adjutant. 
Augustus G. Whiteside. 

Quartermaster Sergeant. 
John Buckmasler, wounded Feb. 23il, 1847, 
battle of Buena Vista. 
First Lieutenant and Acting A. Q M. 
George W. Prickett. 

Mn-s»er Roll Coinpnuy I. 

Captain John H. Adaois (late Niles) 
Company iu the First Regiment of Ill- 
Foot Volunteers, commanded by Colonel 
Edward W. B. Newby, called into the 
service of the United States by the 
President, under the Act of Congress 
approved May 13, 1846, at Alton, Illi- 
nois, (the place of general rendezvous) 
29 



on the 2d day of June, 1847, to serve 
for the term of, during the war with 
Jlexieo, from the date of enrollment, 
unless sooner discharged. The Company 
was organized by Captain Franklin 
Niles, at Edwardsville, county of Mad- 
ison, in the month of May, 1847, and 
marched thence to Alton, 111., where it 
arrived the second day of June, a dis- 
tance of fifteen miles. Discharged from 
the United States service the 17th day 
of October, 1848. 

Captains. 

Franklin Niles. Died at 110 Mile Creek, near 
Fort Leavenworth, June 24, 1847. 

.John H. Adams was 1st Lieut, from enroll- 
ment until July 28, '47. Acting A. Q. M. 
in the regiment from July 4 to 28. 

First Lieutenant. j 

Aaron D. Treadway. Pro. from 2d Lieut., 
July 28, '47. 

Second Lieutenants. 
Thomas McDowell, Jacob Brott. [ 

First Sergeant. 
.Alexander Craig. 

Sergeants. 
William H. Sloan. Appointed from Private, 

May 1. 184S. 
SylveUer W. Bell. M. O., Oct. 17, 1848. 
Daniel W. Henderson, " " 

Corporals. 
William Harrison, M. O. " 

Lemuel Southard, " " 

.John Mize, " '' 

David R. Sparks, Capt. Co., "L'' 3d Cav.alry, 
late war. 

Drummer. 
James Connor. 

Privates, 
.\rnold, Lsrov, Herrin, Ilenrv, 

Caulk, .Toshuli C, Jett, BenJ. F.", 

Caldwell. William C, Johnson, .Samuel, 
Cowell, Benj. F., Keho, Joseph, 

Carter, Daniel, Laport, Alowso, 

Delany, John, Lamoin, Elea.ser, 

Dougherty, John, Lewis, Richard C, 

Davis, .\lfred M., Lawrence, .Tames, 

Davis, John, Little, William A., 

Dixon, Ambrose, Little. Edward, 

Dush, Geo. S., Loveless, .Tolin, 

Eldridge, John, Marlow, .\braham, 

Evens,"WiHiam B., Merry. William H., 
Eleverthv, Walter, PoolHughy, 
Fletcher,' Paulcs E., Potter, Sherron, 
Foster, George J., Robbins, Oliver, 

(Jaskill, John Q. A., Sweet, Veleg, 
Hoilgens, Henry, Smith, James H., 

Heriington, Harrison, Seybold, James, 
Hodgman, Amo.s, (Lieut, in 10th Kansas, late 

war,) M. O. Oct. 17, 1848. 
Humphries, Charles, .Scroggins, William, 
Hartman, Louis, Scott, Joseph, 

Ha.xwell,Ludrick, Sweeny, Nelson D., 
Hnndertmark, Henry, Turner, James W., 
Herrin, Gordon, Walden, Frederick, 

Hocking, Ashberry, Walker, Newton .J., 
Herrin, .John, Washburn, Elijah, 

Hamly, Jacob, Walker, Andrew, 

Hocking, Giles W., Wheeler, William E. 

Died. 
Blevins, Elihu, died at Savannah, N. At., Nov. 
6, 1S47. 

I 



Cook, John, died at Santa Fe, N. M., Nov. 27, 

1847. 
Cave, John, died at Santa Fe, N. M., Jan. 19, 

1848. 
Cowell, Thomas D., died at San Antonio, N. 

M., Dee. l.'>, 1847. 
Enstein, Balsom, died at Santa Fe, Oct. 26, '47. 
Evens, Ellis, died at Alton, III., June 19, '48. 
Fetteriing, Casper, died at .\lbuqucrque, N. M., 

Nov. C, 1847. 
Grant, Daniel, died at Secora, N. M., Jan. 6, 

1818. 
Jewett, John, died on march to Santa Fe, Sept. 

17, 1847. 
McBrown, died at Santa Fe, N. M., Dec. 12, 

1847. 
Miller, James C, died at Santa Fe, N. M., Feb. 

12, 1848. 
Ossol, John, died at Santa Fe, N. M., Mar. 3, 

1848. 
Purviance, Samnel, died near Secora, N. M., 

Dec. 11, 1847. 
Scroggins, Jackson, died at Santa Fe, N. M. 
Venson, .James, died at Santa Fe, N. M., Sept. 

24, 1847. 

Discharged. 
Brown, .James, disch. at Albuquenpie, N. M.. 

April 12, 1848. 
Cox, Peter IL, disch. at Las Vegas, N. M., 

June 10, 1848. 
Grant, Dreury M., disch. at Santa Fe, Aug. 15, 

1848. Term expired. 
Henderson, Benj. J., disch. at Santa Fe, Oct. 

12, 1847. 
Knight, William, disch. at Ft. Leavenworth, 

July 12, 1817. 
Leger, Gabriel, disch. at Santa Fe, Aug. 15, 

1848. Term expired. 
Miller, Jorden, disch. at Las Vegas, N. M., 

Aug. 19, 1848. Term expired. 
Pinckhard, .\m03 G., disch. at Santa Fe, N. M., 

Oct. 12, 1847. 
Perren, .John, disch. at Santa Fe, N. M., Aug. 

15, 1848 Terra expired. 
White, .James \., drummed out of the service 

at Sinta Fe, Feb. 12, 1847, by order of 

Col. Newby. 
Weeks, Robert," disch. at Las Vegas, N. M-, 

June 10, '48. disability. 
Weathers, Enoch B., disch. at Ft. Leaven- 
worth. July 29, 1847. 
Deserted. 
Bankson, Stephen, deserted at Ft. Leaven- 
worth, July 5, 1847. 
Gibson, Aaron B., deserted at Ft. Leavenworth, 

July 5, 1847. 
McCov, Thomas, deserted at Alton, 111., June 

3; 1847. 
Stewart. Riley, deserted at Ft. Leavenworth, 

July 5, 1847. 
Thornborough, William, deserted at Ft. Lea- 
venworth, July 0, 1847. 

Li the Regular Army — War with Mexico. 
Frederick Kohler, Capt. Geo. C. Lusk and 

James S. Starr, and Smith, of this 

county, had enlisted for six months' ser- 
vice, and joined the St. Lonis Legion 
prior to any call for troops in Illinois. 

THE WAR OF TUE REI5ELLIOX. 

Our nation has passed through four 
great wars, viz. : the Revolutionary war, 
waged in behalf of national indepen- 
dence ; the war of 1812, in defence of 
the rights of American commerce ; the 
Mexican war, caused by the annexation 
of Texas ; and lastly, the war of the Re- 
bellion, whose rise, progress and results 



226 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



are well known to every American citi- 
zen. To enter upon a discussion of the 
causes which plunged the country into 
the last of these great struggles, — the 
fiercest and bloodiest civil conflict known 
in ancient or modern times, — would en- : 
tirely transcend the aim of this chapter. 
It is sufficient to say that when the toc- 
sin of war rang through the land, the 
sons of Madison county crowded forward 
to offer their swords to the national gov- 
ernment. There is no page of her history 
so brilliant as that which is glorified by 
the record of her deeds. The lawyer 
left his office, the artisan his shop, the 
physician his practice, the minister his 
sacred desk, the farmer the plow, and 
marched away 'neath flaunting banners 
and stirring martial music, in defense 
of the grand principle of nationality. 
Many of them greatly distinguished 
themselves in battle, and many lie 
taking their last sleep in a southern 
clime. 

The total number of men furnished 
by Madison county during the war was 
four thousand two hundred and twenty- 
one, being the eighth county in the state 
in point of numbers. To the sketch of 
each regiment here given is appended a^ 
complete a roster of the members re- 
cruited in the county as it is possible to 
make from the data i)reserved. Taking 
the regiments in numerical order, the 
record begins with the 

Seveuth Infant r>-. (Tliirc Ycors' Serilce.) 

The Seventh Infantry, Illinois Volun- 
teers, is claimed to be the first regiment 
organized in the state of Illinois, under 
the first call of the President for three 
monthe' troops. The Eighth Illinois 
claims the same honor. The Seventh 
•was mustered into the United States 
service at Camp Yates, Illinois, April 
25th, 1861, by Capt. John Pope, U. S. 
A. ; was sent to Alton, St. Louis, Cairo 
and Mound City ; was re-organized and 
mustered in for three years, July 25th. 
It did duty in Missouri and went into 
quarters at Fort Holt, Ky. Subse- 
quently companies A and B were consoli- 
dated. This regiment won considerable 
distinction during its term of service. It 
did valiant service at Fort Donelson, 
Shiloh, Alatoona Pass, and numerous 
minor engagements. They performed 
noble service under Sherman, and were 



in the battles around Atlanta, and with 
him on his memorable march to the 
sea. A complete history of this his- 
torical regiment, " The battles, sieges 
and fortunes it has passed," has been 
written by D. Leib Ambrose, and pub- 
lished at Springfield, Illinois. At Louis- 
ville, Kentucky, on the 9th of July, 
J 865, it was mustered out, and arrived 
at Camp Butler, Illinois, July 12, 1865, 
for final payment and discharge. ! 

As will be seen from the following 
roster, Madison county had the honor of 
being represented in companies F and I 
in this regiment. ! 

[Roster. 

Adjutants- 
John S. Kobinson, killed in action Oct. 5, '64. 

Muster Roll, Compauy F. 

Prirates. 
Farr, John disch'd April 18, 1S62. 
Farr, Newman vet. luust'd out July 9, 'G5. 
Hanson, Hans trans, lo V. R. C. May 1, '64. 
Jackson, John 
Mathil, James vet. 
Midgley, David disch'd July 29, "64. 

Bccruits. 
Duell, James died at Nashville, Tenn. Aug. 28, 

1864. 
Hale, John nnist'd out July 9, 1805. 
Hale, Philip killed at Alatoona Pass, Ga., 

Oct. .5, 1864. 
Hederick, Conrad must'd out July 9, '65. 
Hanover, John J., must'd out July 9, '65. 
Kelly, James wounded at Alatoona, Ga., Oct. 

5, '65 ; absent at gen. hosp. Springfield III. 
Parker, George must'd out July 9, '65. 

Veteran. 
Dell, John must'd out July 9. '65. 

Cluster Roll, Company I. 

Bceniils. 
Johnson. John vet. wounded at Shiloh April 

6, '62; must'd out July 9, 186.3. 
McNeil, David 

Phelps. Henry must'd out July 9, '65. 
Spain, Patrick vet. must'd out July 9, '65. 
Sikes, Benjamin I. must'd out July 9, '65. 

Eighth Infantry— Three Years Serriee. 

This regiment was organized on the 
2oth of April, 1861,for the three months' 
service, Col. Oglesby commanding. 
During its three months' service, it was 
stationed at Cairo, Illinois, and at the 
expiration of the term mustered out. On 
July 25th, 1861, the regiment was re- 
organized for three years' service. In 
October following the regiment was 
ordered to Bird's Point, Missouri. On 
February 2d, 1862, embarked for Ten- 
nessee River and took part in the battles 
of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson ; 
also took part in the siege of Corinth. 
On the 12th of May, 1863, at the battle 
of Raymond, this regiment did distin- 



guished service. On the 14th of May, 
took part in the capture of Jackson, 
and on the sixteenth, the hard-fought 
battle of Champion Hill. May 22, was 
foremost in the assault on Fort Hill. The 
Eighth formed a part of the command 
of Gen. Sherman in the Meridian cam- 
paign, and sustained its part of skir- 
mishing and fatigue. The regiment re- 
enlisted under general order No. 191, 

1863, and was veteranized March 24th, 

1864, when it was sent to Camp Butler 
for veteran furlough ; returning it was 
consolidated June 21, 1864. The eighth 
was constantly on the move, either en- 
gaged in general battles or skirmishing. 
The regiment participated in the cam- 
paign against Mobile and Fort Blakely, 
and at the investment of Fort Blakely 
did gallant service. During its term of 
service this command was in Missouri, 
Arkansas, Mississij)pi, Louisiana, Ten- 
nessee, Kentucky, Alabama and Texas, 
and was mustered out May 4th, 1866, at 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana ; ordered to 
Springfield for final payment and dis- 
charge, where it arrived May 13, 1866. 

Muster Roll, Company B. 
Transferred from Eleventh Infantry. 

Reck, Matthew sub. must'd out Oct. 25, '65. 

Muster Roll, Company C* 
Transferred from EleTeuth Infantry Co. JS., 
Miller, Peter 

Muster Roll, Company H. 

Mcci-uils. 

Hendrickson, Jacob T., must'd out Feb. 22, '66. 

Ninth Infantry— (Three Years Seniee.) 

Within a week from the issuing of 
President Lincoln's proclamation, in 
April, 1861, calling for 75,000 volun- 
teers, to serve three months, to maintain 
and enforce the national authority, St. 
Clair county sent six full companies, 
Madi.son county three, and Montgomery 
county one company to Springfield, Illi- 
nois. April 25th, 1861, these companies 
were mustered into the service of the 
United States, for three months, and 
numbered the Ninth Regiment Illinois 
Infantry Volunteei-s. This regiment, by 
re-organization and re-enlistment, re- 
mained in the service until the surrender 
of all the Confederate armies. It par- 
ticipated in some of the most memorable 
and sanguinary battles of the war. It 
led in advance of Sherman's march to 
the sea, and thence north to the Confe- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



227 



derate surrender iu North Carolina ; 
and it took part, in all, in one hundred 
and ten engagements. 

As originally organized, at Spring- 
field, it contained a great part of the 
best youths of Madison and St. Clair 
counties. About one-half of the regi- 
ment was German-Americans, and the 
others native Americans, with a sprink- 
ling of other nationalities. 

Immediately after the completion of 
the organization the regiment was 
ordered to Cairo, Illinois, to forestall 
the threatened occupation of the place 
by Confederate forces, and remained 
there until the end of the first term of 
its enlistment. It took part in no events 
of importance during this period. Saving 
occasional scouts into Missouri, nothing 
occurred to break the monotony of camp 
life. No uniforms were issued during 
this term, and the full dress of the ofii- 
cers and men consisted of such costumes 
as their fancy suggested, or the patriot- 
ism of their home authorities had sup- 
plied. The time was principally spent 
in drilling and fitting the men for active 
service. The three months' term of ser- 
vice expired July 25th, 1861, and the 
regiment was mustered out on that day 
at Cairo. At this time an attack on 
Cairo was daily expected, and as no 
troops could be spared elsewhere to take 
the place of those discharged, an ap- 
peal was made to the men mustered out 
to remain and reorganize for three years' 
service. This was accordingly done ; 
while a part returned home, the greater 
number immediately re-enlisted. It was 
mustered into the United States service 
for three years, by Capt. Pitcher, U. S. 
A., July 26th, 1861. 

A uniform was now for the first time 
furnished. As the regulation blue could 
not be obtained, a gray suit was supplied 
by the state, and worn until after the 
battle of Fort Donelsou, when it was 
discarded on account of its similarity to 
the Confederate uniform. During the 
three mouths' service, Gen. Prentiss had 
been in command, at Cairo, but soon 
after the re-organization General Grant 
appeared on the scene. 

Sept. 5th, 1861, the regiment was 
ordered to Paducah, where it remained, 
and with several brigades under com- 
mand of Gen. C. F. Smith, held the po- 
sition until the opening of the camjiaign 



in February, 1862. Here the time of the 
regiment was spent iu hard drilling and 
rcconnoitering the surrounding country, 
which was infested with hostile bands 
of Confederates. Companies B, H, and 
I, of the 9th, each filled up by volun- 
teers to one hundred men, under com- 
mand of Maj. J. J. Phillijjs, embarked 
by steamer up the Cumberland, and 
marched to Saratoga, Ky., where at sun- 
rise they surprised and attacked a force 
of 200 rebel cavalry, killing and wound- 
ing a number of the enemy, and cap- 
tured their camp, horses, a lot of arms, 
and about twenty prisoners. The loss 
of the 9th was light; Captain Kueflfner, 
of company B, slightly, and corporal 
Gribling, of same company, and private 
Gatewood, of company K, severely 
wounded. This was the first fight in 
which any part of the regiment had been 
engaged. 

In the mean time Col. Payne had 
been appointed Brig. General ; Lieut. 
Colonel Mersy, Colonel ; Major Phillips, 
Lieut. Colonel, and Capt Kuhn, Major. 
February -Ith, 1862, the 9th was ordered 
up the Tennessee river to Fort Henry ; 
on the following day, landed five miles 
below the fort, and on the 6th marched i 
up on the opposite side of the river, and i 
participated in the combined operations 
of the fleet and the army, which resulted 
in the capture of Fort Henry. Febru- 
ry 12th, crossed the Tennessee and joined ' 
the army in the march against Fort 
Donelson. Colonel McArthur's brigade, 
to which the 9th regiment belonged, 
formed a part of General C. F. Smith's 
Division. Was detached to the support 
of the First Division, commanded by | 
Brigadier General McCleruand and was 
engaged iu the right of our army dur- 
ing Saturday, February 15th, where the 
most severe fighting took place. This 
regiment had eight companies engaged in 
this action, numbering about six hun- 
dred men ; company " H " being absent 
on provost duty, and company " A" de- 
tached to support a battery on another 
part of the field. After the uncondi- 
tional surrender of the fort, which Gene- 
ral Grant had demanded, the 9th, to- 
gether with the Second Iowa regiment, 
was awarded the honor of first entering 
the Confederate stronghold. There is 
no mention in any official report of the 
part Col. McArthur's Brigade took in 



this action, though it did the fiercest 
fighting on the field. 

The regiment lost in this engagement, 
38 men killed on the field, and 179 
wounded. A number of those wounded 
subsequently died. The following is a 
list of the killed and wounded: 

Officers. 
Woundetl, Captains Joseph G. Robinson of 
Co. " I," and Riidolpliiis Beckier of Co. ''D," 
First Lieutenants iluniilton Lieber of Co 
"B," William Britt of Co. "F," and John S 
Tutton of Co. "G." Total 5. 

Enlisted Men. 

Company "B," killed; corporals Frank Zu- 
genbnehler an<l John Dettwciler. Privates 
killed : Martin Benkert, Jacob Eierkuss, Heu- 
rv Gonnrrmann, Henry Herwig, Christian 
Koch, .Albert Neumann and Michael Zech. 
Wounded : sergeants Louis Grieser and John 
Schmidt, corporal Joiin Sch.iab, privates 
.\dolph Aide, Peter Bauer, John Berger, 
Joseph Cropp, Charles Daehnert, Albert Con- 
ner, Michael Fath, .foseph Gantner, Paul Geist, 
.Julius Hofiiuan, .John Krieger, Charles Lobe, 
Frederick Menne, Louis Messerschmidt, Her- 
man Moser, Joseph Oberfell, Simon Pohn, 
William Schlolt, Henry Schneider, .\nton 
.Schwarzkopf, Frederick Sensel, Henry Weber, 
Daniel Werner, Christian Wickermann. Total, 
killed, 9; wounded, 2S. 

Company " C," killed : privates Lorenz 
Bffirsig and Heinrich Hillmann. Wounde<l : 
corporal ("liarlea King, privates Henry Arndt, 
George Fichter, John Gganss, Christopher 
Klein, William Miller, John pietz, Adam 
Resch, John Riedel, Adam Summons, Henry 
Schmidt, William V.agt, Peter Weis. Total, 
killed, 2; wounded, 13. 

Company " D." Nineteen enlisted men in 
this company were wounded ; but a list of the 
same cannot be obtained. 

Company "E," killed: privates Cassius C. 
Atchison and J.araes Dyer. Wounded : cor- 
porals .John A. Gilmore and Frank M- Tillot- 
.«on, privates John Bealty, John A. J. Br.igg, 
Russell W. Cool, David M. Durham, William 
Evans, Michael Farley, John Fletcher, Dennis 
C. Frotliingbam, James B. Gilmore, George 
M. Gilmore, fSimon Hager, Joseph B. Jones, 
William P, Kelley, John Kimberlin, F. M. 
Moore, Francis J. Murphv, George Snvder, 
John Tell, William G. Triplett. Total, killed, 
2; wounded, 21. 

Company " F," killed : privates David N. 
Ashton and Constant C Rowland. Wounded : 
sergeants Thomas C. Kidd and Andrew J. 
Webster, corporal Andrew J. White, privates 
Harlow Bossett, George W- Campbell, Elna- 
than Cory, John W. Dye, William M. Ellis, 
Joseph L. Garnett, James Getty, James Hickes, 
Nathan Lynch, George McLaish, John Rank, 
Eli T. Singleton, Richard T. Scott, Thomas L. 
Wallace, Frank X. Wagner. This is not a 
complete li.st, the re<-ords of the company hav- 
ing been destroyed. Total, killed, 2 ; womided, 

Comp.iny "G," killed: privates Benjamin 
.Ja((jb, Emsley Walker, James Willielni. 
Wounded : privates Columbus C. .Vkin, N. (i. 
Brown, James M. Brown, John Collier, James 
Curelon, William B. Dubois, William R. 
Gore, James M. ILampton, William .!• Hag- 
ler, James E. M.ison, Thomas J. Pleasant, 
John A. Slotlan, Joseph 11. Wattev, Jacob 
Wilhelm, John J. White. Total, killed, 3 ; 
wounded, 1.5. 

Company "H." Absent at Paducah as 
provost guard. 



228 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



I," killed : privales James M. the remainder of the regiment reformed mann and Ferdinand Wisshack. Total killed 
,T<ilin8on, Angiistiis Khige, (ioorgeW. Kinder, I _ _,_, t_^^ e :., <;.„i „:*: 7 ; wounded, 33. 



Company 

ohnson, Augustus lUuge,yeorgevv.K.nuer,, distance from its first position 

Charles Loniever, Dennis Lane, Alonzo l^iv- i *^ ' 



Cduipauy ''C." Killed: sergeant Charles 

ingston, Hugh McMalian, John K. McKinnev, I The fragment of the Ninth held several Halile, corporal George M. Lutlier, privates 
Charles McDermolt, George W.Moore, Joseph , r.n«itimi« dnrintr the battle and William Klingenberg, John L-.mprecht. Geo. 
P. Stevenson, David Williams. Wounded : O^her positions during the battle, ana Lehr, Michael Lehr, Frederick Lippert, Henry 
sergeants George Woodbury and William ! everywhere fought fiercely and gallant- Richter, Christian Schenck, William Storcli, 
W°Jarvis, corporals Kobert' R. 8wain, John I |^ ;V'^!'*',' Wichard. Wounded: sergeant John 

G. Irwin, Ferdinand A. Cornmann, privates 
â– \Villiain IJaird, John Baird, Daniel G. Brey- 
foglc, James G. Ballard, Zachariah Burgess, 
Aaron C. Bardon, Josephus Crews, George AV. 
Clark, Charles E. Dayton, Emanual Davis, 
John Elliott, Henry Fitzsimmons, Theodore 
Fisher, Heaston Fuller, John Graham, James 
Hanratty, Wni. S. Helms, David Johnson, 
David Kyle, George Lent, George Lawson, 
Samuel Morehead, James Mitchel, Charles S. 
Patton Samuel Head, John R. Vanhooser, 
William T. Wilson. Total, killed, 12; wound- 
ed, 24. 

Company "K." killed: corporal Walter 
Walsh, privates Reuben M. Anderson, An- 
drew J. Burton, Charles Casebeer, John Emery, 
Joshua Hazlewood, David Newcomb; James 
Patterson. Wounded : sergeants Andrew J. 
Snider and John Barber, corporals Charles N. 
Brown, George Lincoln, Samuel W. Sloan, 
privates James Broadie, Joseph N. Condon, 
Simon P, Casey, WHliaiu Daily, Frank F. 
Goggles, John Bibson, Albert \V. Kimball, 
Aaron Sipe, .John Malloy, Alfred Mitchell, 
John Seevers, William Thompson and Ham- 
ilton C. Ulen. Total : killed, S ; wounded, 18. 



February 22d, the Ninth, with a part j S^^.^^":^'^ 



y* M. vSalzmann, corporals Henry Kissel, Frede- 

The severity of the struggle may be rick Staab, privates Adelbert Arramus, Anton 

better understood when we state that Becker Ileury Behm Andrew Bence, Philip 

Erbe, Charles tnedench, William Gaebe, 
out of 26 officers and 520 enlisted men Jacob Haberkom, John A. Helfrich, Frank 

who went into battle, 20 officers and «!":■'";''• J^™"^, ?'-^'"P'"', Christian Keith, 

. . I Christian Macdel, iM-ank Moser, Andrew ^ad- 

324 men, besides 11 men missing, were j^r, Jacob Randell, Anton Suebert, Charles 

either killed or wounded. The proud , S^l'^k, Frederick Scheve, Henry Schemph, 

IIP I, J I Peter Schneider, ><icholas bchouller, John 

regiment which two months belore, had i gpohnle. Total, killed, 11 : wounded. 2(). 

marched out of Padueah a thousand Company " D." Killed: corporals Henry 

,, ^ . : Gois.sel, Christian Ralin, Adam Reilz, privates 

men strong, could not now muster one j.^^^^^ pg^.,.,,^ (_.^„^^j Goes.el. Adam Loebig, 

hundred men for parade. The follow- , Philip Sauer, Jacob Ritss, Albert Schellen- 

,. . <. •. 1 -ii J 1 A^j berg, Frederick Schuize, William Vogelpohl, 

lUgisa list of Its killed and wounded Henry Voss. Wounded: John Baehr, Her^ 

in this battle, which is now generally i mann Bange, Isodore Baquet, Joseiih Beck, 

called the Battle of Shiloh : ! : William Beaverson, Joseph Eisen- 

vcm^v. .. ^ hauer, Anton Gartboetlner, Iredenck Haver- 

^_ mann, Conrad Heidinann, Charles Huber, 

'Jn"^'"'^- \ W^illiam Sieser, Charles Miller, Geo. 

Killed: Lieutenant Frederick E. Vogeler of I Metzker. Charles Mo* ninger, Charles Roth, 

Co. " B.' Wounded : colonel Augustus Mer Rod'y, Oswald Stocker, Bernhard Vo- 

sey, lieut. colonel Jesse J. Phillips, adjutant gei_ Henrv' Zweibarth. Total, killed, 12; 
Henrv H. Klock, assistant surgeon Emil Gue- bounded, 18. 

lick captains Em il Adam of Company ''A.,'- j g^^ .eg." Killed: sergeant Silas 

William C. Ivueflnerof Company B, Ru- j^^^^^.J^ p^!;^,^,^^ j^,,^ ^„^^^_ j^^^^ (, ^^^^^ 

nv 1), Ale.xamier j,,^,^^^ ^j Moore, James McKenzie, William 




thence back to Padueah, preparatory to 
starting on the expedition determined 
upon against Corinth, in Mississippi. 
Went by steamer, disembarking at Pitts- 
burg Landing, thirty miles from Corinth, 
on the 18th ult , and went into camp on 
the west side of the river near the land- 
lleinforcements continued to ar- 



ing. 

rive until the army commanded by Gen 

Grant was about 40,000 strong, 



Company " C,' 
Scheel of Company 



Edward Krebs and Fred E .^^^.^^^^ James M. Blake, Malhew Brnmhv, 
\\ . VVimiora I Qgjj^gg H. Camiibell. Charles Drydm. Michael 



' D, ' George 




wounded, 19. 



Neal Vtslal. Total, killed, 6; wounded, 22. 

EnVsicd Men. \ Company "F. "Killed : sergeant Andrew J. 

Company "A." Killed: sergeant Peter Webster, corporal Frank Patlihart, Joshua G. 

Schoppert, corporal Joseph Brown, privates Teeart, privates John E. Charlick, Thomas 

George Andrae, Henry Gleuk, Ambrose Lau- Cox, Toliver Foster, Joel Fo.»ter, Charles Hill, 

ber and William Hermann. Wounded : ser- Jacob Kooniz, George McLeish, Duncan Mc- 

geant Andrew Bastian, corporals Anton Hund, Culloch, John G. Snoufi'er. Wounded: ser- 

About I Anton Schwertner, and Henry Burmeister; ' geants Joseph C.Gates, Rudolph AV. Ileim- 



day-break, Sunday morning, April 6th, P"v«tes Frederick Bremenkamp, Theodore berger, corporal Andrew J White, privates 
J ' ^ J D' I ' Backly, Michael Erann, Henry Brenner, John M:ircus Barnes, Harlow Bassett, John Clieno- 

1862, the enemy who had encamped j gauer, Jacob DuttenhoeflTer, Erasnms Friis. with, John^H. Collins, Jjimes Duncan, 
within 
evening 



£run-shot range of our line the i Nicho'"'' Frank, Anton Gaulocher, Ferdinand Michael X.Fisher, James Getty, Andrew 

*' ., 1 Haas, William Hall, Michael Hartwcck, Hen- Gmeliu, Henry Gmelin, James M. Hickman, 

T before attacked our camp with | ^^ J.anke, Fredtrick Koch, James Loehr, Jame.s Hobbs, John A. Lauchly, William T- 

sreat fury So extended was the ground j Charles Miller, Henry Mueller, August Meyer, Miller, Joseph L.Miller, John McCarler, R. 

^ . , ' , ^\ L ^\ â–  i Jacob Nicholas. Christian Rose, Charles Rib- J. Simpkins, James Rodgers, John Stoulfouth, 

occupied by the enemy, that the intor- ' ^^^ George Schaefer, Adam Schalter, Andreas John M. Ticknor, Napoleon B. Winters, Geo. 

mation of the battle, which for several : Schuckmann, Benedict Straubinger, William ; W. Warren- Total, killed, 12 ; wounded, 24. 
, ,11 ■ Tj 1 1 ,i„ Slahl, Nicholas Yonberg, Jacob Weiirle, Mar- i Compami " G.'' Killed: privaies, Alpheus 

hours had been raging, did not reach tHeijj^^y^j^^^^j Q^^j.gg ^yi^^p^ Total killed, Bascom, William H. Bascom. David Jones, 

regiment until eight o'clock. The bri- i 6 ; wounded, 34. j Thomas J. 01ney,Jamfs Walker. Wounded: 

J „ „ ^-. .„,^*ur fX,.r>norl „.ifloi. /.fvm Company "B." Killed: sergeants Albert sergeants, William Hampton, Nimrod G. 

gadewas promptly formed under com- ! H^i^X, John Schmidt, pri^"ales Edward Perriue, John B. Russell, corporal Edward B. 

mand of Gen. McArthur, and hurried Deltmar, Conrad Maul, John Mesh, Frank Rhodes, private Lewis R. A pplegate, William 

to the front. It advanced to the ex- ^'^^l'^*"'^'-. "enry Weber. Wounded : sergeant Addison, John W. Brown, William LBro^^ 

. John Hallmann, corporals Lorenz Acker- Nathaniel G. Brown, Henry Brown, \\ illiam 

treme left of our line, and the regiment mann, Paul Martin, August Wurmb, privates R. Bradley, Allen Edwards, Simon P. Hart- 

took position along the meauderings of Jo-^eph Ammannn, Mathias Arnold, Jacob sell Robert Mar.shall John McCord Charles 

' ^ . J Bauer, Morand Baumann, George Betz, Ctus- A\ . Miller, Daniel Rvan, Bennett Sirottler, 

a small ravine, where it was exposed to lay Blank, Joseph Cropp, Albert Conner, Thomas Strottler, John J. Siripling, Ana.si- 

a terrible fire by an enemy greatly su- ' Frederick Entz, Arnold Gerig, Charles Grin, raander B. Tulton, John J. Tippy, Louis Wise, 

, J • 1, ■• Conrad Hellmuih, Gerhard Jansen, Valentin Jr., John J. White. Warren S. White. Total, 

perior in numbers, and in a short ume k^j^i, August Leopold, Louis Linne, Ignaz killed, 5: wouuded, 25. 



nearly two-thirds of the Ninth were Menne, Sebastian Pfister, John Rafi'el, Peter Company " H." Ki.lled: sergeant Fram 

, 1-1 1 -11 1 ; Reppel, George Salz. Henry Schmidt, Jacob D. Hubbel, privates William R. Haller, Dan 

gtrewn on the ground, either kiiied or g^,'^;^ pi^jU^ g^^j^^ jj^,.^,^^,,, g^g„,„i^.,„ j^. c. White, Thomas Wright, Wounded: s, 

wounded. Retreating from this position, cob Sulzcr, Daniel Werner, Christoph Wicker- geant Daniel Pentzer, Jacob Miller, corporals 



rancis 
iel 
ser- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



229 



Alonzo F. MrEwen, Nicholas Keller, James 
W. Osborn. Paul Roberts, privates John G. 
Arney, William Baldermann, Dennis Bahon, 
Charles Brienbier.WilliamS Checny, William 
A. Cottingham, James A. Clotfelier, Daniel J. 
Carriker.'lra G. Dart, John Droosch. (ieorge 
H. Drv, Thomas Frv, Knismus Ciaw, William 
H. llsiey, William Keep, John 15. Livingood, 
John F. Moore, Patrick Moynahan, Lafayette 
Mason, James S. JlcGuUion, Edward Nail, 
Sidney B. Philips, George Ralph, John Salz- 
mann, Francis M. Stiekel, Almond D. Sim- 
mons, Jo-cph E. Taulbee, Moses H. Turner, 
Patrick Whalen. Total killed, 4 ; wounded, 3o. 
Company '•/."' Killed: privates Nathan 
Abbott, John Bass, Edward R. Keegan, John 
N. Lawrence, Frederick Swarlz. Wounded : , 
sergeant William W. Jarvis, corporal George 
AV Slice, privates John Baird, Norman Barber, 
Isaiah Berrlv, George W. Clark, Thomas C. 
(Tillham. William Helms, Thom:is Haiiskins, 
John Jaka. Sidney B. Jarvis Charles C. Lewis, 
Albert Mills, George McKinley, Charles A. 
Redman, John Wilson, Henry W'ormyer. 
Total killed, 5; wounded, 17. 

Compnnij " A'." Killed : privates William 
Foster, James L. Kriddler, George Sloan, 
Thomas Walton. Wounded: corporal John 
Richmond, privates George W. Burton, Sr., 
George W. Burton, Jr., John Burke, Charles 
W. Bowles, Henderson Cogdell, J"hn L. Creed. 
John Clifi'ord, William A. Carding, Francis 
Flaglcs, John Horn, Thomas J. Hagler, Zero 
Jlay, Samuel L. Miller, Robert E. Ramsey, 
Jonathan Stone, Sanuiel W. Sloan, Charles L. 
Tomlinson. Total, killed, 4; wounded, 18. 



General C. F. Smith, the old division 
commander, an excellent officer of the 
regular army, of advanced years, had 
been taken sick before the battle and 
died. General W. H. Wallace had 
succeeded him and was mortally wound- 
ed ; and he was succeeded by General T. 
A. Daviess. The command of the bri- 
gade passed from General McArthur, 
who had been wounded, to General 
Richard J. Oglesby. Soon after the 
battle General Halleck appeared to 
take command of the army in person, 
superseding General Grant. Corinth 
still remained the objective point of the 
campaign, and heavy reinforcements 
having arrived, with the beginning of 
May the long delayed movement against 
that place commenced. The advance, 
or siege of Corinth as it is generally 
termed, was marked by no events of 
great interest- 

During the summer of 1862, the 
Ninth remained in camp near Corinth, 
and at Kienzi. In September the Ninth 
was re-called from Rienzi to Corinth, to 
support the garrison, and arrived there 
October 2d, and rejoining its old brigade 
under Gen. Oglesby, marched out on the 
morning of October 3d, with its division, 
under command of Gen. Daviess to meet 
the advance of the enemy at the old 
rebel intrenchments about two and one- 



half miles N. W. of the city. In the 
first charge Captain Britt, of Co. " F " 
was killed, and Captains E. iNI. and G. 
G. Lowe, and Lieutenant Hughes and 
Ulen, and over fifty men were captured 
The regiment was engaged during the 
whole of the fighting, sustaining a loss 
of 19 men killed and 82 wounded. We 
give the names of those killed and 
wounded in this, the battle of Corinth : 

Officers killed : Captain William Britt of 
Company " F." Wounded : Major John II. 
Knhn, Adjutant Ilcnrv H. Klock. Captains 
William (;. Kueliiier i)f C. " B," and Jos. G. 
Robinson of Co. " I." Lieutenants Gscar BoU- 
mann and Charles Scheve of Co. " C," George 
W. Williford of Co. 'â–  F," Isaac Clements of Co. 
"G." Cvrus H. Gilmore and Alfred Cowgill 
'; of Co. "H." Total killed, 1 ; wounded, 10. 
Company "A." Killed : private Charles Gil- 
rich. Wounded : Wm. Fortkamp. Total 
killed, 1; wounded, 1. 

Company "B." Killed: Privates, Joseph 
Cropp, Jacob Snlzer. Wounded: Sergeants 
John Eichenberger, August Wurmb. Corporal 
Louis Fisher. Privaies, Paul Geist, Edward 
Hofliuan, George Jenne, Nicholas Meyer, 
Joseph Noltner, George Salz. Daniel Werner. 
Anion Winstroth. Total killed, 2; W(mnded, U. j 
Company "C" Killed : Privates, John 
Tungeman, Frederick Hugenbnrg. Woimded : 
Henry Behm. Jacob Herpin. Christian Jacob, 
Christian Maedel, John Miller, Peter Schnei- 
der, John Pietz. Total killed, 2: wounded, 7. ! 
Company " />." Killed : Ojrporal Louis 
Trutlman. Privates, Jacob Berthold, Henry | 
Borcherding, John Smith, Christian Teuting. 
Total killed, -5. A number wire wounded, 
but their names cannot be obtained. 

Company ''E." Wounded: Corpora! Francis 
J. Murphy. Privales. John Beatty, William 
P. Kelley! .John Liil. Jame-s Malone, William 
F. Prinilev. Jack L. Stevens, Neal Vestal, 
James F. Williams. Total wounded, 9. 

Company "F" Killed: John O. Foushee, 
Frederick Wiggand. Wounded ; Sergeant 
William C. Ilawlev, Corporal James Fiske, 
Private William Miller. Total killed, 2: 
wounded, 3. 

Company " G." Killed ; Alfred Bartley, 
John .McCord. Wounded : Henry Brown, 
Nathaniel G. Brown, William J. Ileglar, Rob- 
ert Marshall, James A. Paregion. Total killed, 
2 ; wounded, 5 

Cowpami -11." Killed : Samuel Girsinger, 
.John 15 Livingood, Sebastian Swandemann. 
Wounded : James Brady, William S. Boone, 
Dennis Bahon, Charles Brienbier, O. AV. Bout- 
well, William A. Cotlingham, Robert Finley, 
Israel Haller, Venice C. Haller, Charles H. 
Newcomb, George W. Quails, William Beck- 
hart, Francis M. Stickcl, Ambrose J Shellon, 
Joseph VV. Warren. Total killed, 3 ; wound- 
ed, 15. 

Compnmi "I." Wounded : Corporal Thomas 
Pete. Privates, William Baird, John Jaka, 
James Lang, Joseph E. Stringer-. Total 
wounded, 5. 

Company ''K." Killed: Private .lames Uleii. 
Wounded : Corporal George Meyers. Pri- 
vates, John Burke, Charles \V. J5owles, Joseph 
N. Condon, Levi (jihbs, Peter Hall. Henry 
Stenger, Samuel C. Ulen, Frank M. Winstead. 
Total killed, 1 : wounded, 9. 



thereafter employed as Mounted Infantry 
and daring the remainder of the war, it 
was nearly always in the saddle, .scouting, 
skirmishing, recounoitering, and raiding, 
almost invariably successful, scarcely 
ever meeting with a check, and becom- 
ing well known and a favorite through- 
out the army of the Tennessee. We can- 
not give a detailed account of all the 
movements of the regiment, but have 
mentioned the leading battles in which 
it participated, and below we append a 
list of the 110 engagements: 



The regiment remained near Corinth, I 
till the spring of 18G3. In March of | 
that year it was mounted on mules, and 



The following is a list of battles and skir- 
mishes in which the Ninth Illinois Infantry 
were engaged during the Rebellion : 

1 Saratoga, Ky., October 26, '61. 

2 Fort Henry, Tenn., Feb. 15, '62. 

3 Fort Donefson, Tenn., Feb. 15, 62. 

4 Pittsburgh Lai>ding, Tenn., April 6, and 
7, '62. 

5 Siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29 to May 
29, '62. 

6 Battle of Corinth, Miss., Oct. 3 and 4, '62. 

7 Cherokee, Ala., April 17, '63. 

8 Lundv's Lane, Ala., April 17, '63. 

9 Town" Creek, Ala., April 1 8, '63. 

10 BuzKird Roost, Ala., April 19, '63. 

11 Goodlow's, Ala., April 21, '63. 
I 12 Cherokee, Ala.. April 22, '63. 

13 Tupelo, Miss., May 4, '63. 

I 14 Florence, Ala., May 28, '63. 

15 Hamburg, Tenn., May 30, '63. 

16 Mud Creek, Miss., June 20, '63. 

17 Jackson, Tenn., July 13, '63. 

18 Grenada, Miss., Aug. 17, '63. 

19 Henderson Station, Oct. 2, '63. 

20 Salem, Miss., Oct. 8, '63. 

21 Wyatt's, Mibs., Oct. 11, '63. 

22 Byhalia. Miss., Oct. 12, '63. 
2^5 Rocky Run, Ala., Nov. -5, '63. 

24 Athens, Ala., Nov. 13, '63. 

25 Decatur Junction, Ala., Nov. 14, '63. 
2-i Mooresyille, Ala., Nov. 15, '63. 

27 Brown's Ferry, Ala., Nov. 18. '63. 

28 Limesloue Creek, Ala., Nov. 24, '63. 

29 L;imb's Ferry, Ala., Nov. 27, 'H3. 

30 Ruckeisville, Ala., Nov. 28, '63. 

31 Shoal Creek, Ala., Dec. 8, '63. 

32 Florence, Ala., Dec. 9, '63. 

33 Lawrencebnrg, Tenn., Dec. 28, '6,3. 

34 Cvprcss Creek, Tenn., Dec. 29, '63. 

35 A'lhens, Ala., Jan. 26, '64. 

36 Brown's Ferry, Ala., Jan. 26, '64. 

37 Florence, Ala., Jan. 28, '64. 

38 Pi ides Ferry, Ala., Jan. 28, '64. 

39 Florence, .Via, Jan. 29. '64. 

40 Bainbridge, Ala., Jan. 30, '64. 

41 Lucas Ferry, Ala., March 8, 64. 

42 Courthind, Ala., March 9, 64. 

43 Nancy's Creek, Ala.. March 10, '64. 

44 Jloullon, Ala., March 22, '64. 

45 Somerville, Ala., March 26, '64. 

46 Flint River. Ala., March 28, '64. 

47 Moulton, -Via., March 29, '64. 

48 Flint River, Ala., April 3, '64. 

49 Courtland Road, Ala., April 9, '64. 
.50 Siege of Decatur, Ala., April 15, '64. 
ol Flint River, Ala., April 18, '64. 

52 Bear Creek, Ala., April 21, '64. 

53 Snake Creek Gap, Ga., May 9, '64. 

54 Resaca, Ga., :M:iy 12, '64. 

55 Roam Cross Roads, Ga , May 14, 64. 
.56 Uslenoola Kivtr, Ga., May 19, '64. 

57 Dallas, Ga., May 28, '64. 

58 Kene.saw Mountain, (Ja., June 30, '64. 
69 Nickajack, Ga , July 4, '64. 



230 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



89 
90 
91 
92 
93 
94 
95 
96 
97 
98 
99 
100 
101 
102 
103 
104 
105 
106 
107 
108 
109 
110 



Chaltahooche River, Ga., July 14, '64. 

Pumpkin Vine Creek, Ga., July 17, '64. 

Decatur, Ga., July 19, 'G4. 

Decatur, Ga., July 22, '64. 

Utoy Creek, Ga., July 27, '64. 

Owl Rock, Ga., .Vugust 2, '64. 

Sand town, Ga., August h, '64. 

Near East Point, Ga., August 18, '64. 

Near Atlanta, Ga , ,\ugust 22, '64. 

Lovejoy Station, Ga., Sept. 2, '64. 

Jonesboro, Ga., Sept. 3, '64. 

Van Wert, Ga., Sept. 27, '64. 

Cave Springs, Ga., Oct. 13, '64. 

Coosaville, Ga., Oct. 17, '64. 

Coosa River, Ga., Oct. 23, '64. 

Cassville, Ga , Nov. 4, '64. 

Near Rough and Ready, Ga. Nov. 15, '64. 

Social Circle, Ga., Nov. 17, '64. 

Buckhead Station, Ga., Nov. 19, '64. 

Park's Mills, Ga., Nov. 20, '64. 

Eatonton, Ga., Nov. 20, '64. 

Near Milledgeville, Ga., Nov. 23, '64. 

Buffalo Swamp, Ga., Nov. 2.5, '64. 

Near Sandersville, Ga., Nov. 25, '64. 

Sandersville, Ga., Nov. 26, '64. 

Near Louisville, Ga , Nov'. 28, '64. 

Fort Harrison, Ga., Dec. 7, '64. 

Monteith, Ga., D»c. 8, '64. 

Near Savanali, Ga., Dec. 9, '64. 

No. 3 Station, G. R. R., Ga., Dec. 21, '64. 

Combahee River, S. C, Jan. 19, '65. 

Turner's Creek, S. C. Jan. 31, '65. 

Whippy Swamp, S. C, Feb. 1, '65. 

River Bridge, S. C, Feb. 2, '65. 

Little Salkehatchie, S. C, Feb. 6, '65. 

South Edi.sto, S. C, Feb. 8, '6.5. 

North Edisto, S. C, Feb. 10, '65. 

Cannon's Bridge, S. C, Feb. 11, '65. 

Congaree R. R. Bridge, S. C, Feb. 14, '65. 

Saluda Factorv, S. C, Feb. 16, '65. 

Broad River, S. C, Feb. 16, '65. 

New Cheraw, S. C, Feb. 2S, '65. 

Society Hill, S. C, March 2, '65. 

Florence, S. C, March 4, '65. 

Near Darlington, S. C, March 4, '65. 

Floral College, S. C, March 8, '66. 

Fayetteville, N. C, March 10, '65. 

Near Fayetteville, N. C, March 13, '65. 

Black River, N. C, March 1-5, '65. 

Near Benlonville, N. C, March 21, '65. 

Near Neuse River, N. C, April 10, '65. 



The regiment was mustered out July 
9th, 1865, at Louisville, Ky. , and ar- 
rived at Camp Butler, July 12, 1865, for 
final payment and discharge. 

Major Thomas J. Newsham deserves 
special mention for the efficient services 
rendered. From the confidence reposed 
in him by his superior officers he was at 
times detailed to perform the duties 
from the office of major to that of major 
general. A synopsis of his military 'his- 
tory, as shown by the files of the War 
Department at Washington, will abun- 
dantly speak for itself. He went in as 1st 
Lieutenant, Co. I, 9th 111 Inft. Vols, 
(three months' service) April 25th, 
1861; promoted to adjutant May 25th, 
1861; mustered out July 24th, 1861. 
Re-enlisted July 26th, 1861, as 1st Lieu- 
tenant and Adjutant, (three months' 
service). Promoted Captain A. A. 
General Vols. Oct. 3d, 1801. Major of 



117th 111. Vols. Sept. 19th, 1862. Re- 
signed April 13th, 1864. Was Assistant 
Adjutant General on General C. F. 
Smith's staff; commanded a detach- 
ment at Fort Pickering; Assistant Adju- 
tant General Inspector at Columbus; 
general picket officer of 5th division, 
16th Army Corps, and also commander 
of provisional encampment at Fort 
Pickering, Tennessee. In all these Gen. 
W. T. Sherman, over his own signature 
says, that major Newsham was held in 
high esteem. 

Captain Joseph G. Robinson, raised 
company I and was elected its cap- 
tain and served in the war in that posi- 
tion. He was severely wounded at Fort 
Doiielson, Shiloh and Corinth, disabling 
him for active service. Was transferred 
from his regiment to the Fourth Veteran 
Reserves, receiving a commission from 
President Lincoln as captain, and was 
assigned to company G, and statio ned 
at Rock Island, where he acted as pro- 
vost marshal of prisoners. He was a 
brave and efficient officer. 

Samuel T. Hughes enlisted as private 
in the three months' service, and in the 
three years' service was made 1st Lieuten- 
ant. On the reorganization of the regi- 
ment he was elected Lieutenant Colonel. 
He was an excellent officer, and followed 
the regiment through the whole' .service. 
He died a few years ago from the effect 
of wounds received in the war. 

Major John H. Kuhn went out as 
Captain of company K, from Alton, 
in the three months' service, and upon 
enlistment in the three years' service was 
promoted to major of the regiment, and 
served until his time expired, when he 
returned home and assisted in recruiting 
the 144th Infantry regiment, and was 
promoted Colonel. 

Captain Eniil Adam went from Alton 
as Lieutenant in the three months service. 
Upon the advance 'of John H. Kuhn, 
he was promoted to captain of company 
A, in the three years' service. At the 
close of the war Adam was promoted 
and remained in the service of the regu- 
lar army. AVilliam G. Pinckard was 
Regimental Quarmaster in the three 
months' .service, and was promoted to A. 
Q. M., which position he held until he 
was killed, Feb. 14, 1864. 

Dr. Emil Guelich joined the service 
as an enlisted man for three mouths, and 



again for three years, and was promoted 
assistant surgeon on July, 1801. In 
April, 1 862, he was jjromotcd surgeon, 
in which position he served during the 
remainder of the war, and was greatly 
appreciated by the regiment. 

William H. Purviance, a brave and 
gallant Lieutenant, was severely wounded 
at Shiloh, and disabled for service, and 
was honorably discharged, Aug. 16, 
1862. George Woodbury joined as an 
enlisted man, and was promoted 2d 
Lieutenant Co. I, in three years' ser- 
vice, and on reorganization was promo- 
ted captain Co. B, and was killed March 
15, 1865. 

Below is a roster of the officers and 
men who served in the regiment. Only 
those whowent from Madison county 
are shown in this list. 

Roster, ^TUree Montlis' Ser^-ice. Muster 
Roll, Coiuiinuy G. 

Captnlll. 
Benjamin W. Tucker, must'd out July 25, '61. 

First Lieutenant. 
Gary H. H. Davis, must'd out July 25, 1861. 

Second Lieutenant., 
Jared P. Ash, mustered out July 25, 1S61. 

First Sergeant. 
1 Samuel B. Bruce, mnst'd out July 25, 1861. 

Sergeants. 
Absalom T. Ash, must'd out July 25,1861. 
William G. Gallion, must'd out July 25, '61. 
William L. Ash, must'd out July 26, 1861. 

Cor2Mrals. 
Samuel Boyd, must'd out July 25, 1861. 
Levi Davis. Jr., mustered out Jul}' 25. 1861. 
Benjamin K. Dorwart, must'd out July 25, '61. 
Edward A. Tucker, must'd out July 25, '61. 

Musicians. 
Peter S. Wolford, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Eugene Lavenue, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Privates. 
Barber, John, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Barnhart. Richard, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Bailey, George, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 
Bankeman, Frederick, must'd out July 25, '61. 
Bassett, Harlon, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Burmeistpr, Henry, must'd out July 2-5, '61. 
Barnett, Thomas, nmstered out July 25, '61. 
Barnett, William L., musi'd out July 25, '61. 
Bolts, Nathaniel L., must'd out July 26, '61. 
Baker, Simeon S , mustered out July 25, '61. 
Burns, Archibald, mustered out .July 2.5, '61. 
Collin-!, John II., mustered out July 2.5, '61. 
Cheni.weth, John B., must'd out Julv 25, '61. 
Cull, William H., mustered out July 25, '61. 
Campbell, Ale.xander, must'd out July 25, '61. 
Christie, William P., must'd out July 2-5, '61. 
Caldwell, William, mu.si'd out Jjily 25, '61. 
Cronk, Gilbert, mu.st'd out July 25, '61. 
Carter, William H , must'd out July 25, '61. 
Draper, Frederick R., must'd out July 25, '61. 
Dimond, Charles W-, must'd out July 2-5, '61. 
Driscoll, Thomas, mustered out .July 25, '61. 
Davis, Frank, mustered out July 25, 1S61. 
Dugan, John, mustered out .July 2.1, 1861. 
Dennis, Allen, mustered out July 25, 1861. 
Davis, Benjamin, mustered out July 25, '61. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



231 



Fletcher, Newton, mustered out July 25, '61. 1 
Force, William S., must'd out July 25, '61. 
Garrett, William, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Hodge, Alexander, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 
Hughes, Peter, must'd out .July 25, 18G1. 1 

Hughes, John P., mustered out July 25, '61. 
Hawkins, Royal W., must'd out July 2-5, '61. 
Huffman, Washington, must'd out July 25, '61. 
Hover, John, disch. for disability, M,\v 15, '61. 
Hays, George M., mustered out July 25, '61. | 
Hartwicb, James M., mnst'd out July 25, '61. i 
Harney, David M., must'd out July 25, '01. j 
Johnson. George E., must'd out July 2-5, '61. 
Kulmas, Benetlict, must'd out July 25, '61. 
Kendall, Jesse K., mu.st'd out July 2-5, 1861. 
King, Charles, must'd out July 25, 1861. I 

Medley, John, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Murphy, .lo.seph, mustered out July 2-5, '61. 
Motley, Thomas, mustered out July 2.5, 1861. 
Mills, John W., mustered out July 25, 1861. 
Moses, Hugh, not sworn in. 
McDonald, William J., must'd out July 2.5, '61. 
McNiel, David, mustered out July 25, 1861. 
McCormick, Duncan, not sworn in. 
Pulliam, James, mustered out July 25, 1861. 
Pembrook, Wesley, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Pembrook, Wm. K., must'd out July 2-5, '61. 
Kibelin, John, mustered out July 25, 1861. 
Rees, Henry, mustered out July 25, 1861. 
Rundell, Samuel P., must'd out July 25, '61. 
Sweeney, Thomas, must'd out July 25, 1861. 
Sniiih. Henry C, mustered out July 25, 1861. 
Scofield, Richard, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Schwectner Anton, must'd out July 2.5, 1861. 
Scott, Jacob J., mustered out July 2-5, 1861. 
Spain, Patrick, mustered out .July 25, 1S61. 
Teer, Joshua, mustered out July 25, 1861- 
Thompson, John, mustered out July 2.>, '61. 
Wood.-*, Thomas L., musl'd out July 2.5, 1861. 
AVebb, John, must'd out July 2.5, 1861. 
AVheelock, John, nuistered out July 2.5, '61. 
Wright John, not sworn in. 

Muster Roll, Coiupauy I. 

Oiptmn. 
Joseph (5. Robinson, re-entered three years 
service. 

First Lieutenant. 
Thomas J. Jfewsham, reentered three years 
service. 

Second Lietilennnl. 
Gotthold Girnt, re-entered three years' service, 
10th Illinois Infantry. 

First Sergennt. 
Edward L. Friday, must'd out July 25, '61. 

\Sergeants. 
James D. Cobine, mustered out July 2.5, 'Gl. 
John P. Lusk, mustered out July 25. 1861. 
George Lingenfelter, nmst'd out July 24, '61. 

Corporals. 
John H. Gonterman, must'd out July 25, '61. 
Gustavus O. Austin, must'd out .Jidy 2-5, '61. 
Harmon W. Cassady, must'd out July 25, '61. 

Mtmcians. 
James W. Boyd, mustered out July 2.5, 1861 . 
George W. Putnam, must'd out July 25, '61. 

Prifalc.% 
Allison,"Wm., mustered out July 2-5, '61. 
Altman, Wm., mustered out July 2.5, '61. 
Asbton, David N., mustered out July 25, '61. 
Barnsback, Henry C, must'd out July 25, '61. 
Bishop, Pelor, mustered out .July 25, '61. 
Bailhache, Morgan H., must'd out .July 2.5, '61 
Brendlc, Simeon, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Bauer, Frank, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 
Berleman, Herman, must d out .July 2-5, '61. 
Calvin, James B , mustered out July 2.5, '61. 
Charlick, .John, must'd out July 2.5, '61. 
Comman, Ferdinand A., mus. out July 25, '61, 
re-enlisted three vears. 



Crosby, James W., mustered out July 25, '61, 
re enlisted three years. 

Calvin, Robert W., must'd out July 25, '61. 

Dinsmore, Wm. L., nmst'd out July 2-5, '61. 

Davis, George, must'd out July 2-5, 'til. 

Dettmer, Henry, mustered out July 2-5, '61. i 

Deikman, Ernst A., must'd out July 25, '61. j 

East, Thomas W., nuistered out July 25, '61. 

Feisler, Henry, mustered out July 25, '61. ' 

Foreman, Wm. A., mustered out July 2.5, '61. : 

Gates, Joseph C, niUi^tered out July 2-5, '61. 

Green, Jeremiah V., must'd out July 25, '61. i 

Gillespie, Joseph J., must'd out July 25, 1861, 
re-enlisted three years. 

Hanser, Adolphus H., must'd out July 25, '61. 

Hohson, John, mnst'd out July 2,5, '61. 

Hook, Bernard, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Hamel, Frederick W., must'd out July 25, '61. 

Haddly, John W., must'd out July 25, '61. 

Hauter, SamueJ^ mustered out July 2.5, '61. 

Hauskins, James R., must'd out July 2-5, '61. 

Jarvis, Wm. W., must'd out July 2-5, '61, re- 
enlisted three years. 

Ivelly, Michael, must'd out July 25, '61. 

Kluge, Augustus, mustered out July 2-5, 1861, 
re-enlisted three years. 

Krebs, John V., must'd out July 25, '61. 

Kaufman, John, mustered out July 2-5, '61. 

Linderman, Abraham, must'd out July 25, '61. 

Lott, Loui.s. mustered out July 25, '61. 

Lemka, Louis, mustered out .July 2.5, '61. 

Lauehly, John H , must'd out July 25, '61. 

Lening, Frederick W-, musl'd out juiy 25, '61. 

Lewis, Francis M., must d out July 2-5, '61. 

Likart, John (j., must'd out .Julv 25. '61. 

McCalley, Eli A., nmst'd out July 2.5, '61. 

Mcr)onald, William A., mus. out July 25, '61. 

Moore, George, mustered out July 25, 1861, 
re-enlisted. 

Miller, Henry, must'd out July 2-5, '61. 
I Padon, William, mustered out July 25, 1861, 
re-enlisted. 

Phildins, Adolph, must'd out July 25, '61. 

Roherkaste, Ernst G., mu.»t d out .Juh' 2.5, '61. 

Reid, Christian, must'd out July 2.5, '61. 

Runge, Theodore, uuist'd out .July 2.5, '61. 

.Stinclicomb, Noah W., mus out July 2-5, '61. 

Scheer, Joseph, must'd out .July 25, '61. 

.Smith, Samuel F., mus-t'd out July 25, '61. 

Schuckmau, .\ndrew, must'd out July 2.5, '61. 

Sharp, .Abraham, musl'd out July 2-5, '61. 

Sauer, Henry, must'd out .July 2.5, '61. 

Thompson, William, must'd out July 2.5, '61. 

' Tucker, Amos, mu.st d out July 2-5, '61. 

Wilson. Tyler, must'd out .July 2-5, '61. 

West, John A., must'd out July 25, '61. 

Woodberry, George, mustered out July 25, 

I 1861, re-enlisted. 

I 9Iiister Roll, rotnpany K. 

[ Captain. 

.John H. Kuhn, mustered out July 2.5, 1861, 
re-entered service. 

First Lieutenant. 
Shutterer, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 
I Second Lieutenant. 

Emil .\dam, mustered out July 25, '61, re-en- 
tered service. 

Firft Sergeant. 
Fritz Iloeirert, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Sergeants. 
George Mohr, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Jacob E|)penberger, must'd out July 2-5, '61. 
Sebastian Handt, must'd out July 2-5, '61. 
Joseph Diete.schy, mustered out July 2-5, '61. 
William Schell, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 
Frederick Oberbeck, nmst'd out jidy 2.5, '61. 
Ernst J. Weihrich, mu.st'd out July 25, '61. 

Musicians. 
Henry Hill, mustered out .July 2-5, '61. 
John Linsig, mustered out July 25, '61. 



Privates. 
Bremenkamp, Fred., must'd out July 25, '61. 
Buly, Peter, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Brenner, Henry , mustered out .July 25, '61. 
Betz, Charles, mustered out J;:ly 25, '61. 
Bauer, John, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Bachman, Charles, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 
Braun, Joseph, mustered out July 25,' '61. 
Barnes, Heinrich, mustered out .July 25, '61. 
Bunse, William, mustered out .July 25, '61. 
Berner, Louis, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Castens, John, mustered out .luly 25, '61. 
Davis, .John, mustered out .July 2-i, '61. 
Dick, Abraham, mustered out July 25. '61. 
Faulhaber, Adam, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Faulstiek, Henry, mustered out .July 25, '61. 
Gottlob, Theodore, mustered out July 2-5, '61. 
i Guelich, Emil, mustered out |July 25, '61 ; re- 
entered service Pro. Surgeon. 
Geschky, Baldwin, mustered out July 2-5, '61. 
Goldbart, John, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 
Gudermann, Frank, mustered out July 25, '61. 
Gubrich, Charles, mustered out July 2-5, '61. 
1 Hartman, John, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Hutler, Carl, mustered out July 2-5, '61. 

Haster, Bernhard, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Horn, Heinrich, mustered out July 2-5, '61. 
I Harris, Charles, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 

Hitz, I-iudolph, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 
j Joestmg, Henry, nuistered out July 25, '61. 
I .Joerger, Albert, niu.stered out July 2.5, '01. 
] .Jiisti. Andreas, mu.-;tered out .July 2.5, '61. 

Jahncke, Heinrich, mustered out .July 25, '61. 
' Korn, Gustave, mustered out July 25, '61 ; re- 
j entered service Pro. Q. M. 

Linsig, Gottlieb, mustered out .July 25, '61. 
. Lebherz, Theodore, mustered out .July 2.5, '61. 
^ Morgenstern, Wilhelni, mus. out July 25, '61. 

Mueller, Charles, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 

Meller, John, mustered out July 2.'), '61. 

Nistler, Robert, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 

Ott, Andre.T-s, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 

Redell, George, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Ruhland, George, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 

Radt, Friederich, mustered out .July 25, '61. 

Rose, Christian, mustered out July 2.5, '(51. 

Schild, August, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Schrub, Paul, mustered out July 2-5, '61. 

Seibert, John, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Selfried, Alexander, nuistered out.July 2.5, '61. 

Salsmann, John, mustered out .July 25, '61. 

Schneeberg. Adolph, must'd out July 2-5, '61. 

Schopped, Peter, mustered out July 25, '61. 
' Spies, Meinard, mustered out July 2-5, '61. 
I Schneider, Martin, mustered out .July 25, '61. 

Schaffer, George, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Stoer, Adam, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 

Sosal, August, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Schoppel, John, mustered out July 2.5, 'Gl. 

Unze, Ferdinand, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 

Vener, Henry, mustered out July 2.5, '(31. 

Wendle, Jacob, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Wuchier, .I(jbn, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Weishaar, George, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Weis, Martin, mustered out .July 25, '61. 
j Young, John, mustered out July 2.5, '61. 

Zeigler, Martin, mustered out July 25, '61. 

Kosttr— Tlire«-|Years' Senlce. 
I Staff. 

j Major. 

John IL Kuhn, term ex. Aug. 20, 1864. 

I AJjutanU. 

Thomas J. Newsham, pro. to General Paine' s 
I stafl". 

Henry H. Klock, terra ex. .lug. 20, 1864. 

Quartermasters. 
Wm. G. Pinckard, pro. to capt. andass't (jrmr., 

killed in Va., Feb. 14, 1864. 
Gustav. Korn, died Miiy 6, 1863. 

Surgeon. 
Emil Guelich, term ex. Aug. 20, 1864. 



232 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Itou-Comiutssloiied Staff. 

Commissary-Sergeant. 
Ebeii. 11. Burgess, must'd out Aug. 20, 1S64. 

Mnstrr Run, Company A. 

Oti>tum. 
Emil. Adam, term ex. Aug. 20, 1804. 

First Lieiilenant. 
Ernest J. Weyrick, resigned Dec. 24, 18G1. '< 

Second Lieutenant. 
Theodore Gotlob, terra ex. Aug. 20, 1SG4. 

SerycaiU. 
Frederick Oberbick, must'd out Aug. 20 '64. 

Corporals. 
Anton Hund, must, out Aug. 20, '64, as serg't. 
John Goldbart, M. O. Aug. 20, '64, as sergt. 
Peter Shoppat, killed at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. 
Adara Stachr, died March 26, 1862. 
Henry Vettar. 

Anton Schwertner, mus. out Aug. 20, 1864, as 

sergeant. I 

Joseph Baun, killed, Shiloh, April 6, 1862. ! 

JliLsician. 
Henry Hill, must'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 

Privates. 
Bauer, Henry, mu.st'd out Aug. 20, 1SG4. 
Bremenkamp, Fred. 
Burmeister. Henry. 

Brenner, Henry, vet., M. 0. July 9, 1865. 
Berger, John, must'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Bunze, "tt'm., pris. war, M. O. April 22, 1865. 
Bauer. John. 

Dammeier, Christian, must'd out Aug. 20, '64. 
Erank, Nicholas. 
Fisher, Andreas. 

Gilrieh, Clis., killed, Sliiloh, April 6, 1862. 
Haber, .Jacob, must'd out Aug. 20, 1S64. 
Hall, William. 

Hertweek, Michl, tr. to Y. R. C, Mar. 29, '64. 
Harlcr. Bernhard, must'd out Aug. 20, 1804. 
Horn, Henry, must'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Janke, Henry, must'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Koch, Fried., vet., must d out July 9, 1865. 
Korlkamp, William. 
Linsig, Gottlieb, died Nov. 5, '62, at St. Louis, 

Mo. 
Luehr, James H. 

Miller, Chas , discharged Oct. '62, wounds. 
Mangels, Peter, must'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Miller, Henry, vet., M. O. July 8, '05, as sergt. 
Ott, Andreas; M. O.Aug. 20, 1804. 
Schoppet, John, M. O. Aug. 20, 1864. 
Schafer, George, M. O, Aug. 20, 1804. 
Schuh, Paul, M. O. Aug. 20, 1864. 
Schartr, Ephraim, disch'd Julv 21, '62, dis'ty. 
Schmid, Christian, tr. Jan. 14, '64 by G. O. 21, 

A. G. O. 
Wehril, Jacob, M. O. Aug. 20, 1864. 
"Wei-s, Martin, M. O. Aug. 20, 1864. 
AVeller, George, M. O. Aug. 20, 1864. 

Hccruits. 

Brakebush, Henry, tr. to Co. D, as consolid'd, 

must'd out July !', '65. 
Bullion, John, tran. to Co. D, as consolidated, 

must'd out July !•, '05. 
He.'s, John, tr. to (,'o. D, as conso'd, mastered 

out July 9, 1865. 
Jargener, August, tr. to Co. D, as cons., must'd 

out July 9, 1805. 
Meyer, .Jacob, died Aug. 29, '02, at Corinth. 
Quast, John M. 
Kose, Christian, vet., must'd out July 9, 1865, 

as sergeant. 
Sosal, August, mustered out Aug. 20, '64. 
Tboma, Stephen, must'd out Aug. 20, '64. 
Weber, Benedict, must'd out July 9, '65. 



ItCiuter Roll, Company B. 

Privates. 
Gantner. Jo.seph. 
Schab, John, must'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 

Eecrtiit. 
Hofmeister, John Peter, musl. out Aug. 20, '64. 

Jlluster Roll Company C. 

Sergeant. 
John M. Sallzman, tr. to Co. H, June 11, '62, 
vet. prb chief bugler of 9ih, as consolid'd, 
mustered out July 9, '05. 

Recruit. 
Mewhouse, Aug., tr. to Co. F, as consol'ted, 
mustered out July 9, 'o5. 

Muster Roll, Company D. 

Privates. 
Schulze, Frederick, killed Shiloh, April 6, '62. 
Schulze, Henry, tr. 'o Co. F, as con., pris. war, 
mustered out April 14, 1805. 

Muster R»11, Company F. 

Privates. 
Ashton, David X., killed at Fort Donelson, 

Feb. 15, 1862. 
Barnett, Thos., mustered out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Bassett, Harlow. 

Collins, John, mustered out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Charlick, Jolm, killed Shiloh, April 6, '62. 
Chenoworlh, John B., died June 5, '62, w'ds. 
Ellison, Thomas. 
Hadlev, Ja.s N. W., pro. 1st Lieut. 1st Tenn. 

Art,, .lug. 13, 1803. 
Hughe.s, James, died Jan. 13, 1863. 
Lynch, Nathan, mustered out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Lauchlv, Jolm H., pro. 2d Lieut. Ala. C. T., 

Feb. 11, 1864. 
Miller, John W., mustered out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Teear, Josh. G., killed Shiloh, April 6, '62. 

Muster Roll, Company I. 

Captains. 
Jos G. Robinson, tr. to V. R. C, Nov. 16, '63. 
Sam'l T. Hughes, pro. Lt. Col. as consol., M.O. 
July 9, 1865. 

First Lieutenants. 
Wm. H. Purviance, hon'ably disch'd Aug. 16, 

1802. on acc't wounds received. 
Wm. Padon, pio. Major, as ccnsol , mustered 

out July 9, 1865. 

Seeond Lieutenants. 
George Woodberry, pro. Capt. Co. B, as cons., 

killed March 11, 1865. 
James W. Crosby, M. O. as 1st sergeant, Co. B, 

cons'd, July 9, 1865. 

Sergeants. 
William AV. Jarvis, M. O. Aug, 20, 1864. 
Wm. H. Dunnegan, M. O. Aug. 20, 1864. 

Coi'porals. 

George Stice tr. to Co. B as consol'dt pris. war 
m. o. Feb. 2, 186,5, as corpoial. 

Manroc A. Comman. 

Robt. R. Swain, tr. to Co. B. as con.sol'dt ; m. o. 
Dec. IS, 1864. 

John G. Irwin, must'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 

Thomas Pete, mu.st'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 

Alfred T. Stanton, must'd out Aag. 20, 1864. 

Ferdinand A. Conmian, killed at Moulton, 
March 21, 1804. 

James B. Thomas, must'd out Aug. 20, 1804. 

Privates. 
Baird, John 

Baird, William, must'd out Aug. 20, 1804. 
Breyfogle, Daniel G., must'd out Aug. 20, '64. 
Barbel, Norman C, disch'd on act. of wounds. 
Ballard, James G., disch'd on act. of wounds. 



Bass, John killed at Shiloh, April 6, 1862. 
Bebrndt, Charles F., must'd out Aug. 20, '64. 
Burgbe.s, Zachariah died April 3, '63; won'ds. 
Borden, Aaron C, must'd out .\ug. 20, '04. 
Boes, Anthonv killed in an affray July 4, '04. 
Cowell, Charles, must'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Crews, Jo.sephus 

Collins, JamesG., disch'd'April4, '62; disiibly, 
Clark, George W., must'd out Aug. 20, 1804. 
Cuppinall, George W, pris. war ; must'd out 

Sept. 3, 1864. 
D.ividsion, Samuel E., must'd out Aug. 20, '64. 
Dayton, Chas. E., disch'd Aug. 10, '62 wounds. 
Dunnagan, Joshua S., died Oct. 20, 1861. 
Elliott, John, tr. to Co. B as consolidated ; 

mu.st'd out Sept. 11, 1864. 
Fuller, Heaston disch'd July 16, 1861 ; won'ds. 
Graham, John died 

Gillham, Thos. C, must'd out Aug. 20, 1804. 
Gillespie, Joseph J., disch'd June 4, 1802 ; 

disability. 
Hawley, John died March 1802. 
Hays, Oliver, vet., deserted July 11, 1864. 
Hammock, Andrew J., disch'd Oct. 8, 1862 ; 

disability. 
Hanratty, James disch'd .July 29, '62 ; won'ds. 
Helms, William S., di.sch'd on act. wounds. 
Harker, Hiram must'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Holcomb, Mahlon D., m. o. Sept. 11, 1864. 
Hauskius, 'J'homas L. 
Irwin, Samuel mustered out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Jaka, John must'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Jarvis, Sidney B., must'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Johnson, James N., killed at Ft. Donelson, 

February 15, 1862. 
Johnson, David must'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Kluge. .August killed, Ft. Donelson, Feb. 15, 

1862. 
Kegon, Edward' died April 15, '62; wounds. 
Kyle, David must'd out Aug. 20, 1864. 
Kindler, George W., killed at Ft. Donelson 

Feb. 15, 1862. 
Lohmver, Charles killed at Ft. Donelson, Feb. 

lo, 1862. 
Lent, George disch'd Oct. 15, '62; wounds. 
Lawson, George disch'd on account of wounds. 
''. Lang, James pris. war, must'd out Feb.ll, '65. 
Lane, Dennis killed at Ft. Donelson, Feb. 15, 

'02. 
Lewis, .James must'd out .4ug. 20, 1804. 
Lewis, Charles C, m. o. Aug. 20, 1804. 
Lawrence, John N. 
Livingston, Alonzo, killed at Ft. Donelson, 

Feb. 1.5, '02. 
Mills, Albert G , died April 27, '62 ; wounds. 
McKinley, George S. died Aug. 18, '62. 
MoMahan, Hugh killed at Ft. Donelson, Feb. 

15, '02. 
McKinnev John K., killed at Ft. Donelson, 

Feb. "1,5, 1862. 
Morthead, Samuel disch'd Oct. 14, '61 ; won'ds. 
McDtrmiit, Charles killed at Ft. Donelson, 

Feb. 15, '02. 
Mitchell James 

Moore, George W. died Feb. 15. '02; wounds. 
Parker, Wm., must'd out Aug. 20, '64. 
Prentice, John E., disch'd Nov. 4,|62 ; disab'ty. 
Ration, Charles, missing in action at Mud 

Creek, Miss., June 20, '03. 
Pearl, Lawford disch'd Jan. I,'e2; disability 
Reid, Nicholas 

Readman, Charles must'd out Aug. 20, '64. 
Reid, Charles Samuel m. o. Sept. 17, '64. 
Riggin, William H., must'd out Sept. 17, '64. 
Robertson, Thomas R., died Oct. 20, '61. 
Swartz, Fred, killed at Shiloh April 6, '62. 
Sander.s, Henry must'd out Aug. 20, '04. 
Stei)henson. Joseph P., killed at Ft. Donelson 

Feb. 15, '62. 
Stallnian, Frederick, must'd out Aug. 20, 04. 
Stringer, Joseph E. 
Smith, Jacob, died Nov. 7, '01. 
Turner, .James D.. must'd out 20, '04. 
Vanhooser, John R., must'd out Aug. 20, '04. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



233 



â– \Vebster, Olander T., diel Dsc. 15. 1861. I 

AVilson, Wiu. T., di-icliM Aug. 21, '62 ; wo'Hs. 
Williams David, killed at Ft. DoneUon Ftb. 

15, W>-1. 
Willis, George — deserted. 
WUscn, Jolin. killeJ at Fort Donelson 
Wormever, Henry, inust'd out Aug. 20, '64. 

EccniiU. 

Bohannon, James M., tr. to Co. B, as consol'dt 

must'd out July 9, '65. 
Corman, Horatio, disch'd, as serg't May 28, 

â– 65. I 

Cox, William T., must'd out July 9, 1865. i 
Fowler, .James, mus'd out July 9, 1865. 
Johnson. Sidney L. 
Padon, James, mis-sing in action at Alliens, 

Ala., January 26, 1864. j 

Padon, Ju''son, died Jan, 24, 1864. 
Seybold, Samuel, disch'd as serg't May 2S, '65. 
Zanders', Fred W., disch'd as serg't May 28, '65. 

^riiitli Infantry iRrorgnulzed,!— Muster Roll, 
Company B. 

Secruits subsequent io reorganization. 

Barnett, Jesse, must, out July 9, '65. 
Brodv, Peter, miisl'd out July 9, '65. 
Cussv, Roger W., must'd out .July 9, 1865. 
Douohoe. William T., niusl'd out July 9, '65. 
Henrv, August, must'd out July 9, 1865. 
Holmes, James, abstnt.sick at ui. o. of reg't. 
Morgine, Martin, must'd out July 9, '65. 
Morris, John, mu.-t'd out July 9, 1865. 
Olderson, William, must'd out July 9, 1865. 
Kigsin, Jackson, must'd out July 9, 1865. 
Tompkins, Richard must'd out July 9, 1865. 
Vingard. Philip J, must'd out July 9, 1865. 
Voliringer, George, must'd out July 9, 1805. 
Whitney, Chas. B., must'd out July 9, 1865. 

Unassigncd liceruilg. 

Harrison, David, disch'd July 1, 1864. 
Kyan, Daniel. 

Tentll Infantry,— Tliree j-cars' service. 

'Was organized and mustered into the 
United States service at Cairo, Illinois, 
Apiil 2rth, 1861, by Capt. Pope. "Was 
composed of seven companies of infant- 
ry and three of artillerj'. This organ- 
ization was for three months' service, 
but at the expiration of the time of en- 
listment, the regiment re-enlisted, and 
was again mustered into the service for 
three years, at Cairo, July 29th, 1861. 
At this time the companies of artillery, 
were transferred to the First and Second 
artillery regiments, and the Tenth was 
made complete with infantry. Compa- 
nies D and K, which aided in filling up 
this vacancy, were mainly recruited from 
Madison county. It remained at Cairo 
and Bird's Point during the winter, and 
in January, 1862, took part in the 
movement made by Gen. Grant to the 
rear of Columbus. Scattered Jeff. Thomp- 
son's guerrillas, aided by the Seventh Ca- 
valry, March 1st, at Skyestown,Mo.,ta- 
kingseveral prisoners and twoguns. Dur- 
ing the month joined Gen. Pope's army at 
30 



New Madrid. Advanced on New Madrid 

on the night of the 12th inst., driving in 
the enemy's pickets, at right shouldershift 
arms, without returning a shot ; threw up 
breast-works before morning, plantiug 
four guns, under fire from Forts Thomp- 
son and Pillow, and five gun-boats. 
Loss one captain and two privates kill- 
ed. Crossed the river below New Mad- 
rid on the night of April 7th, and inter- 
cepted the retreating forces from Island 
No. 10, compelling the surrender of 
Gen. Mackall, atTiptonville, with 2,500 
men, besides securing a large amount of 
artillery and small arms. This grand 
movement resulted in the capture of 
6,000 prisoners. 

At Fort Pillow April loth, returned, 
and landed at Hamburg on the 24th ; 
took part in all the contests of Gen. 
Pope's army in moving on Corinth ; 
under fire at Corinth, May 3d and Sth ; 
was in the advance in all the movements 
which resulted in the capture of Corinth. 
During the months of June and July 
the regiment lay at Big Spring. Ar- 
rived at Nashville 12th of September, 
where it remained during the blockade. 
Ass'gned to the Army of the Cumber- 
land and remained in Nashville until 
July, 1863, and was then placed in 
Smith's Brigade, Morgan's Division, 
Granger's Reserve Corps. Reached Se- 
quatchie "Valley, Oct. 1st, and with the 
assistance of McCook's Cavalry Divi- 
sion, drove Wheeler's Cavalry from the 
valley. Nov. 24th, crossed the Tenn- 1 
essee river on pontoons, supporting Gen. 
Sherman's attack on the left of Mission 
Ridge. On the 26th, captured 20 of 
the rear guard of Hardee's retreating 
column at Chickamauga Station ; fol- 
lowed the retreating army as far as 
Ringgold; thence moved to near Knox- 
ville, and subsequently to Columbus on 
the Hiawa.ssie river. Removed to Chat- 
tanooga, and went into winter quarters 
in the rear of Rossville, Georgia. 

January 1st, 1864, the regiment re-en- 
listed as veterans. 394 men started for 
home the 11th of January, 1864. It re- 
turned to the field again, February fol- 
lowing, commanded by Col. John Till- 
son. April 1st left Rossville, Georgia, 
and on the 3d met the enemy at King- 
ston, where General Phillip Sheridan 
was wounded. From this time forth it 
was under constant fire in the Atlanta 



campaign. Its next engagement was at 
Jonesboro, Georgia, in September, 1864, 
where it did good service. 

From January 9th to 13th, 1865^ 
the regiment lay at Beaufort, South 
Carolina, when it moved with Mower's 
First Division to Pocotaligo, on the 
Charleston and Savannah railroad. 
On the 20th and 26th attempted to 
cross the Salkahatchie river, but failed 
on account of high-water, and was 
obliged to remain until the 30th, whea 
it moved up on the right bank of the 
river, and effected a crossing at River's 
Bridge on the 3d of February, with a 
loss of forty men. The Third Brigade, 
to which this regiment was attached, was 
in the advance and lost about 125 men. 
The crossing was difficult, and obsti- 
nately contested ; the swamp a mile 
wide, and with many streams to cross ; 
the water ice-cold, and from one to five 
feet deep ; and here the troops floun- 
dered from seven in the morning until 
dark. General Howard, who was pre- 
sent, pronounced it " the best thing of 
the war." On the 9th of February 
crossed South Edisto, at Bickner's 
bridge, throwing over a pontoon in the 
face of the enemy ; wading, after dark, 
over one-third of a mile through the 
" lake," took possession of the enemy in 
the flank, drove them from their en- 
trenchments, and captured several pris- 
oners and one caisson. Passed with the 
army to Columbia, Winnsboro and Che- 
raw, skirmishing, and destroying rail- 
road, thence to Fayetteville on the 11th 
of March. Here the regiment was de- 
tached to lay a pontoon over Cape Fear 
river, which was effected ; made a forced 
night's march, and took part in the battle 
at Bentonville on the 20th and 21st. 
This was its last battle, the regiment 
sustaining a loss of sixty men. The 
enemy evacuated during the night. The 
next day the Tenth moved to Golds- 
boro, thence to Raleigh. After Johnson's 
surrender moved to Richmond, and sub- 
sequently to Washington, where it par- 
ticipated in the Grand Review. On the 
4th of June proceeded to Louisville, Ky. 
Mustered out of the service July 4th, 
1865, and received final discharge and 
pay at Chicago July 11th, 1865. 

Roster. 

Adjutant. 
James^W- Allen, mus. out July 4, 1865. , 



234 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Nou-commlssloued Staff. 

Hospital Steward. 
John Hobson, disch, Oct. 25, 1864; wounds. 

Principal Musicians. 
"William H. Catts, must'd out July 4, 1S65. 
James M. Boyd, must'd out July 4, 1865. 

Muster Roll Company D. 

Capta ins. 
Samuel T. Mason, term expired Sept. 23, 1864. 
Archibald Burns, mus. out July 4, 1865, 

First Lieutenants. 
Henry M. Scarritt, resigned Dec. 11, 1863. 
Peter Huglies, mus. out July 4, 1865. 

Second Lieutenants. 
â– William Gallion, dismissed June 18, 1863. 
"VVilliam F. Howard, mus. out June 4, 1865. 

Sergeants. 
Robert W. Calvin, vet., mus. out July 4, 1865. 
"Wm. M. Smith, disch. Nov. 4, 1862; dis'blly. 

Corporal. 
Sanmcl E. Smith, vet., must'd out July 4, 186-5, 
as sergeant. 

Privates. 
Ash, Wm. X., vet., mus. out July 15, 1S65. 
Bachelor, Wm., vet., must't out July 15, 1865. 
Bottoms, Archibald G., vet., mus. out July 

15, 1865. 
Brown, Andrew F., died Nov. 25, 1861. 
Beck, John, vet., mus. out July 4, 1865. 
Baldwin, Rolin E., vet., tr. to Yet. Engineer 
Eegt. Armvof the Cumbld, July 16, 1864. 
Bassnett, Robert, disch. Dec. 4, 1862, to enlist 

in 4th U. S. Cavalry. 
Bonnell, William A., vet., sick at Washington 

since June 1, 1865. 
Belcher, Joseph H., vet., mus. out July 4, 1865. 
Bivens. Henry, vet., killed at Bentonville, N. 

C, March 21, 1865. 
Birmingham, Edward, vet., mus. out July 4, 

1865. 
Brown, Frank, disch. Sept. 20, 1862 : disabl'ty. 
Clifford, David A. J., died Dec. 25, 1861. 
Clark, Wm. M., disch. Dec. 22, 1862 ; disb'lty. 
Croockeston, Joseph, vet. sergt , mus. out Sept. 

30, 1864. 
Cousley, Wm. P., vet., mus. out July 4, 1865, 

as l.«t sergeant. 
Clough, Henry, vet., mus out July 4, 1865, as 

corporal. 
Dickerson, Ralph, disch. Mar. 9, '65 ; disbl'ty 
Dugan, John, mus. out Augu.st 14, 1S64. 
Huglie.^, William, died November 26, 1861. 1 
Hughes, George, disch. Mar. 9, 1862; disblty. j 
Il'-finer, John H., vet., mus. out July 4, 1865. | 
Hall, Charles, disch. Feb. 6, 1862; disability, i 
Kear, Archibald N., mus. out August 14, 1864. | 
Lampher, George, vet., absent without leave I 
July 1, 1864. 1 

Lent, Philip S., vet., killed at River Brides, 

S. C, Feb. 3, 1865. 
McNeal, Thomas. 
McClain, John. 
McLaughlin, Mark, vet., mus. out July 4, 1865. 

a.s corporiil. 
Meyers, John C, vet., died May 15, 1864. 
Moore, Cornelius, died March 18, 1862. 
Patterson, John, accidentally killed, July 25, 

1862. 
Peters, John, vet., mus. out July 4, 1865 
Richards, Charles, vet., killed at Kenesaw 

Mountain, June 27, 1864. 
Reed, Sylve,ster A., disch. Feb. 21, '62 ; disb'lty. 
Squire, Wm. F., vet., mus. out July 4, 1865. 
Smith, John G., mustered out Oct. 23, 1863 ; 

disb'lty. 
Smith, William, vet., mus. out July 4, 1865. 
Smith, John, vet., must'd out July 4, 1865. 



Sawyer, Geo. N., vet., mus. out July 4, 1865, 
as corporal. . ,c,r.n 

Stoddard, Alexander, mus. out July 4, ISbO, 
as sergeant. 

Stafford, Wilborn, vet., mus. out^ July 4, 186. 

St. Andrus, ''â–  ' 

Thumi 



Sergtant. 
Gustavus O. Austin, disch'd July 14, 1862, 
disabled. 

Corporals. 



I disabilitv. 

! Benjamin F. Kimball, vet., killed Aug. 10, 
near Atlanta, Ga. 



Tucker, 

Thompson, John, mus. out Aug. 14, 1864._ 
AVallace, John, vet., mus. out July 4, I860. 
Walts, Rodger, vet., mus. out July 4, 1865. 
Warren, Nicholas, vet,, wounded and sent to 

hospital May 28, 1864. Anderson, Oliver, vet., must'd out July 4, 1865. 

Watson, John, vet., mus. out July 4, 1865, as j^rnold, William, vet. must'd out July 4, 1865. 



Privates. 



corporal 

Pecruits. 
Allen, Joseph, died, March 21, 1865; wounds 
Burns, McClennan, mus. out July 4, 1865. 
Boyd, Franklin, mus. out July 4, 1865. _ 
Blessinger, Louis, must, out July 4, 1865._ 
Calvy, Dennis, vet., mus. out July 4, 1865. 
Clark, William M., mus. out July 4, 1865. 



Burroughs, Thomas, must'd out Aug. 31, 1864 
Bizer, Jacob, must'd out Julv 4, 1865, as sergt. 
i Brown, James B., died Oct. 31, 1862, Nash- 
' ville, Tenn. 

j Baker, John, must'd out Aug. 31, 1864. 
Campbell, Asbury, died May 10, 1862, w'nds. 
Cassadav, Wm. A., must'd out ,\ug. 31, 1864. 
Craig, Benj. F., vet. must'd out July 4, 1865. 
Clark, William -M., mus. out juiy 1, louu. pj^^ Alvin, disch'd Feb. 18, 1862. 

Ellis, Joseph, disch. April- 24, 1865 ; disb'lty. 1 Eubanks, John, vet., must'd out July 4, 1865. 
English, Solomon, killed at Atlanta, Ga., Aug. pahnestock, George, vet., must'd out July 4, 

12, 1864. 1865, as sergeant. 

Free, Isaac, mus. out July 4, 1865. | Green. Austin O., must'd out Aug. 31, 1864. 

Griffin, James, vet., mus.'out July 4, 1865. \ n^^s. Henrv, vet., must'd out July 4, 1865. 
j Hoxev, Garrett, wounded; sent to hospital ] Jordan, Michael, vet., must'd out July 4, 1865. 

March 21, 1865. _ ' Jones, Edward, must'd out Aug. 31, 1864. 

1 Hughes, Thomas, mus. out July 4, 1865. Klone, George, must'd out Aug. 31, 1864. 

I Hyndman, William, mus. out July 4,1865. j ^elly, Michael, vet., must'd out July 4, 1865. 
Jenkins, David, mus. out July 4, ls65. ; Kerr", George. 

Jarman, William, mus. out July 4, 1865. _ Lewis, Wm. H., vet., must'd out July 4, I860. 
Long, George F., wounded; sent to hospital jj„genfelder, George, vet., must'd out Aug. '64. 
I March 21, 1865. Mizger, Anton, must'd out Aug. 31, 1864. 

Morgan, Michael, mus. out July 4, 1865. McLane, Francis, disch'd Mar. 18, 1863. 

j McEnallv, John, mus. out May 30, 1865. Mekles, John, disch'd Jan. 30, 1863, disabl'ty. 

Motley, David, mus. out July 4, 1865. _ Murphy, Brooker C, disch'd June 18, 1862. 
McPherson, Thomas, mus. out July 4, 1865 . - ... ^ .. . ..-_o, ioci 



Motlev, Joseph, mus. out May 27, 1865 
Owens, Wm., must'd out Sept. 15, 1865. 
Peacock, Francis, must'd out May 30, 1865. 
Polk, James K., must'd out May 30, 1865. 
Prather, Wm., must'd out July 4, 1865. 
Peterson, Michael, must'd out July 4, 1865. 
Pierce, George H., died June 10, 1864. 
Eutlege, William. 
Stillwell, James P., disch'd Dec. 4, '62, to enlist 

in Fourth U. S. Cavalry. 
Solomon, Robert, must'd out June 22, 1865. 
Solomon, Thomas, must'd out July 4, 1864. 
Smellv, Jacob, must'd out July 4, 1865. 
Scott, Jacob F.. must'd out July 4, 1865. _ 
Stafford, John H., must'd out July 4, 1865. 
Tucker, George W., died Sept. 13, 1864. 
White, Frank. 

Watts, William, must'd out May 30, 1865. 
â–  Willson, William, must'd out July 4, 1865. 

1 Muster Roll, Company I. 

I Second Lieutenant. 

! William P. Couslev, M. O. (as sergeant Co 

] D.) July 4, 1865, 

[ Muster Roll, Company K. 

I Captain 

George C. Lusk, must'd out Oct. 24, 1864. 



Murphy^ Wm. P., must'd out Aug 31, 1864. 
Ma-son," Frank, vet., must'd out, July 4, 1865. 
Mulligan, Michael, vet., must'd out July 4, '65. 
Norton, Michael, vet., must'd out July 4, '62. 
Opdyke, John W., vet., must'd out July 4, '64, 

as sergeant. 
Rizer, Martin, vet. must'd out July 4, 1865. 
Slice, Wm , died Jan. 1, 1862.- 
Scully, Thomas, vet., must'd out July 4, I860. 
Spence, Jame.s, vet., M. O. .\ug. 31, 1864. 
Sublett, Sam'l P., vet., M. O. J'ly 4, IS60, as 

corporal. 
Smith, Sam'l F., vet., M. O. J'ly 4, lfe6o, as 

first sergeant. 
: Tackett, Chas., M. O. Sept. 10, 1864. 

Tadlock, Wm. J., vet., M. O. J'ly 4, I860. 

Thompson, Wm. M., disch'd Mar. 18, 1863. 

Whitbread, Wm., disch'd Feb. 18, 1862. 

Walker, Arsenith F., M. O. Aug. 31, 1864. 

Walker, John E., M. O. Aug. 31, 1864. 

Welker, John, Vet., M. O. J'ly 4, I860. 

Weeks Franklin, vet , disch'd June 16, I860. 

Wilson, George T., M. O. J'ly 4. 1865. 

Younghaus, Henry, disch'd Mar. 18, 1863, 
disability. 

Pccruits. 

Anderson, Noah, M O. J'ly 4, 1865. 
Bartlett, Geo. W., M. O. Oct. 3, 1864. 
Brown, Cornelius, vet., M. O. June 23, 1865. 
Bikill, George, vet., J'ly 4, 1865. 



George C. Lusk, must'd out Uct. 'Zi, ISO*. : Bikill, George, vet., Jiy 1, 1000. 

Thomas H. Kennedy, must'd out July 4, 1865. Burnius, Frederick G., sent to hospital Feb. 3, 

First Lieutenants. , g^j^j^'j^^hn m., M. O. J'ly 4, 1865. 

Gotthold Girnt, resigned July 3, 1862. Buckley, Thomas M., disch'd at Quincy, HI., 

James Rogers, must'd out Dec 24, 1864. disability. 

John T. Fahnestock, must'd out July 4, 1865 Cassadav, Harmon W., vet., must'd out July 
Second Lieutenant. 4. '65 a.s sergeant. , , , ,(.g 

, , „ . , ... J / 1 t Crowder, Joshua L., must'd out July 4, 00. 

Edward L. Friday dismissed (sentence of ^^^°^^ 'j^j^^^ ^^„J,^i <,„j j„iy 4, 1S6.5. 

court martial) June 28 1862. Donaldson, Thos. M., must'd out July 4, I860, 

William Wilson, must d out July 4, I860. ^ ^^ corporal. 

First Sergeant. ' Dnffev, Nicholas disch. MaylO, "65, disability. 

James M. Brown, died Feb. 23, at Bird's Eaton, Wm. »•. must'd out Oct _3 1864 
Point Mo. Evans, Geoi^e L., must a out July â– *, xaoo. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



235 



Friday, William, vet., miist'd out July 4, '65. 
Fruit, Wra., must'd out July 4, 1S65. 
Ferguson, Vincent, must'd out July 4, '65. 
Gibbons, John. 

Gillmore, Wm. A., must'd out July 4, '65. 
Glasser, Marx, must'd out July 4, 'Go. 
Romberg, Fredk. W., tr. to 60th 111., mus'd out 

July 31, 1865. 
Jones, Chas., tr. to 1st Neb. regt. 
Lambkins, James M., absent since Feb. 23, 

1865, supposed to have been captured. 
Luttrell, Jas. M., tr. to V. R. C 
Mackett, James M., in lio.spital at Nashville, 

Tenn. 
Morton, Thos. J., must'd out July 4, '65. 
McDonough, John E., sent to Dry Tortugas, 

G. C. M., Dec. 17, 1864. 
Naughton, Wm., must'd out July 4, '65. 
Neville, Roger, must'd out July 4, '65. 
Patterson, Andw. C, must'd out July 4, '65. 
Roth, Joseph, must'd out July 4, 'Go. 
Smith, Daniel W-, must'd out July 4, 1865; 

wounded. 
Schwarz, Edw. must'd out July 4, '65. 
Schultz, Henry, must'd out July 4, '65. 
Schullz, Ernst H., must'd out July 4, G-o. 
Sanders, Joseph W. W., must'd out Mav 15, 

1865, 
Sanders, Benj. A., died Dec. 21, 1864. 
Watters, Joel, vet., M. O July 4, '65, as corp. 
Wilson, Geo. T., vet., must'd out July 4, '65. 
Wilson, J;ls., tr. to 1st Nebraska regt. 
Weeks, Philetus, must'd out July 4, '65. 
Wells, Thos. M. must'd out July 4, '65. i 

Weaver, Wm., died Ap. 10, '65, at Goldsboro, ' 

N. C. ; 

AVilliams, John, vet., M. O. July 4, '65. 

Uiiassiyned Recruits. 
Ainsworth, Goolsbury. 
Blakely, Joseph. 
Greenwood, Peter S. 

EHeveuUn Infantry — TUree Tears' Service. 

This regiment was first called into 
service under proclamation of the Presi- 
dent, April 16, 1861, and mustered into 
service April 30, 1861. It performed 
garrison duty mainly, until June 30th, 
when it was mustered out, but re-enlisted 
for three years. 

RoMter. 

Second Assistant Surgeon. 
George H. Dewey resigned April 1, 1864. 
Master Roll Conipany'C. 

Privates. 

Stocker, Thos., tr. to Co. E, 8th 111., never re- 
purled to Co. ; supposed must'd out. 

Vernor, Thomas J., M. O. Jan. 30, 18G5, tr. to 
Co. E, 8th Ills. 

Walsh, Patrick. 

Fourteenth Infantry— Tliree Years' Servlee. 

This regiment was first called into the 
state service for thirty days under the 
" Ten Regiment Bill." It rendezvoused 
at Jacksonville, Illinois, and was mus- 
tered into the United States service, 
May "iath, 1861, for three years' service, 
by Capt. Pitcher, U. S. A. Its history 
is a memorable one, having passed 
through some of the bloodiest battles of 
the late war. Among the more promi- 



nent of which were Shiloh, Corinth, 
siege of Vicksburg, and with Sherman 
in his grand march to the sea. On the 
2d of May, 1864, it was consolidated 
with the Fifteenth Illinois Volunteers. 
This regiment as consolidated was 
known as the Veteran Battalion of the 
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Illinois Infan- 
try. It was mustered out of service at 
Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, September 
16, 1865. The aggregate number of 
men who have belonged tj this organi- 
zation was 1.080, and the aggregate mus- 
tered out at Fort Leavenworth was 480. 
During its four years and four months 
service, the regiment marched 4,490 
miles, traveled by rail 2,330 miles, and 
by river 4,490 miles making an aggre- 
gate of 11,670 miles. 

Roster — Muster Roll Company F. 

Privates. 
Bridges, Geo. W., died March 15, 1862. ; 

Noland, William, a recruit. j 

Muster ^Roll Company] ^G. ] 

Privates. 
Buehrer, John, died Oct. 24, 1862.] 
Huetter, George. | 

Haske, Ernst. 

Ilofraever, .\dani, discharged Feb. 7, 1862, 
disability. 

Muster _Roll Company II. 

Pr ivate. 
Clarke, Charles W. W. 

Reorganized. 

Surgeon. 
Henry W. Boyd, must'd out Sept. 16, 1SG5. 

Mnster Roll Company A. ' 

: Private. 

Riley, Hugh, recruit ; never reported to com- 
pany. 

Muster Roll Company D. 

Privates. 
Johnson, Benjamin F., mu.st'd out Sep. 16, '65. 
Menne, John F., mustered out .Sept. 16, 1865. 
Zeadon, George, absent. 

Muster Roll Company E, ^ 

Private. 
Dawson, Samuel E., must'd out Sept. 16, 'Go. 

UnasRgned Becruits. 
Brown, Benjamin F., must'd out June 3, '65. 
Dillon, John. 
Finnegan, Michael. 
Fox, John. 
Medder, Richard D. 
Ray, Charles. 

Scantlin, Daniel. -^ 

Thornton, George F. 
Witson, John. 

Fifteenth Infantry.— Three Years' Service. 
Mnster Roll Company F. 

Pceruits. 
Barry, John D.,disch. June 11, 'C3; disability. 



Marsh, Ephraim. 

Nasb, Richard, tr. to Vt. Batt. M. O. August 
3, 1864. 

Eighteenth Infantry. --Three Years' Service. 

Unassignrd Recruits. 
Hughes, James, died at Little Rock, Sep. 2, '64. 
Plunket, .Tohn. 
Williams, Thom.i8. 

Eighteenth Infantry. — Reorganized.— Three 

Years' Service. 

Muster Roll, Company F. 

Corporal. 
William Kaumell, must'd out Dec. 16, 1865, 
as sergeant. 

Privates. 
Bender, William, mustered out Dec. 16, '65. 
Hacker, George, died at Memphis Apr. 10, '65. 
Immer, .John, died at Little Rock, May 10, '65. 
Laage, Frederick, mustered out Dec. 16, '62. 
Mitchell, Robert, mustered out Dee. 16, '65. 
Mummie, Jacob, mustered out May 11, '65. 
Mover, Philip, mustered out Dec. 16, '65. 
Modge, Henry, mustered out Dec 16, '65. 
Xewbery, Albin, mustered out Dec. 16, '65. 
Wilimer, Frederick, mustered out Nov. 22, '65. 
Witmau, Henry, mustered out Dec. 16, '65. 

Twentieth Infantry — Thee Years' Service, 

This regiment was composed of com- 
panies from various counties, and was 
organized at Joliet, Illinois May 14th, 
1861, and mustered into the service by 
T. G. Pitcher, June 13th, 1861. Six 
companies in the regiment were partially 
supplied by recruits from this county. 
It moved from Joliet, June 18th, by 
order of Governor Yates, and proceeded 
to Alton, Illinois. It was first joined to 
the Missouri department, and formed 
part of the 1st Brigade under General 
Grant. During the campaign it partici- 
pated in the battle of Fredericktown, 
Mo. ; assisted in the capture of Fort 
Donelson ; passed through the siege of 
Vicksburg ; was at Shiloh ; Britton's 
Lane; Magnolia; Champion Hill, and 
Black river ; was at Brush Jlountaiu, at 
Kenesaw, and marched to the sea with 
Sherman. Was mustered out July 16, 
1865, at Louisville, Ky. 

Roster— Muster Roll, Company .\. 

Private. 
Kenestrick, Jacob, disch. June 13, '64. 

Tiew Company A. 

Privates. 
Dogal, Joseph 
Johnson, Robert 
O'Bryan, Daniel 
Reynolds, James, mustered out. 
Steward, George H. 
Williams, John 

Mnster Roll, Company B. 

Recruits. 
Carlton, Wm. II., died at Dover, Tenn., Feb. 

16, 1862. 



236 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



Carlton, Andrew .T., killed at Alton, Illinois, 

August 27, 1SG3. 
Smith, John, vet. M. O. July IG, '05, as corp'l. 

Muster Roll, Company C. 

Velcran. 
Hamill, Owen, mustered out July 16, 1SG4. 

Recrmt. 
Dolan, Michael, killed at Raymond, Miss., May 
12, 18G2. 

Mlislrr Roll, Compauy D. 

rrivnle. 
Lentz, Frederick, died Feb. IG, 'G2 ; wounds. 

Mecmifs. 
Loomis, Frank, discli. May 9, '62 ; wounds. 
McFadden, Joseph, disch. May 9, '1)2 ; wounds. 

muster Roll, Company E. 

Drafted aud Subitlitule Recruits. 
Dorman, Henry, mustered out June 5, '65. 
Eeidker, Guslavus, raust'd out June 5, '65. 
Eampf?; Samuel died at Newbern, March 16, 

1865 ; wounds. 
Weiss, Peter, mustered out June 5, 1865. 

Cluster Roll Company F. 

Recruit. 
Wrede, Henry, deserted Feb. 22, 1802. 
Drafted and Substitute Recruits. 
Miller, Peter, mustered out June 5, 1865. 
Weakman, Henry, mustered out June 5, '65. 

^ Muster Roll, Company K. 

Recruits- 
Broad, John, disch. Nov. 27, '61 ; disability. 
Hopgood, Tliomas. 

TfVenty-Second Infantry— Three Years' Ser- 
vice. 

This retriment was organized at Belle- 



there the balance of the year. It en- i eleven days and nights under fire at 
gaged in the battle of Stone River, Dec. : New Hope church), until the morning 
31»t, 1862, and January 1st and 2d, of the 10th of June, when all but the re- 
1863, where it lost 199 out of 342 in cruits and veterans were ordered to 
action. Lieut. Col. Swanswick was Springfield, Illinois, for muster out. 
wounded and taken prisoner, and con- They were mustered out July 7th, 1 864. 
fined at Atlanta and Richmond (Libby), The veterans and recruits, whose term of 
until May, 1863. ; service had not expired, were consolida- 

The regiment was in camp at Mur- ted with the Forty-second Regiment llli- 
freesboro, and difierent points around nois Infantry Valunteers. 
that place, foraging and skirmishing As will be seen from the following 
through the winter and spring. Early | roster, Madison county furnished men in 
iu June, marched southward, with the | seven companies, company B being large- 
army of the Cumberland. Participated i ly represented. 
in the battle of Chickamauga, Sept. 19th j Roster. 

and 20th, on the right of the army under ; Lieuteuant Colonel. 

Gen. Sheridan, and lost 135 ofiicers and : Harrison E. Hart, died at Alton, 111., July 25, 
men, out of an aggregate of less than 



Adjutant. 
Robert H. Cleff, resigned Dec. 31, 1803. 



300. This was a severe engagement, in 
proof of which, the regiment lost 96 men 
in less than ten minutes, in action on the 
first day. Among others the brave Maj. 
Johnson was very severely wounded, 
and Capt. French mortally. It remain- 
ed in and around Chattanooga, suffering 
in common with the rest ^of the army 
from exposure and want of provisions, 
being frequently on less than half rations 
and almost destitute of clothing, tents, j Captains. 

etc, until November 26th, when with John Seaton, resigned June 13, '62. 
the remainder of Gen. Sheridan's divi- : James N. Morgan, term expired July 7, '04 



Nou- Com missioned Staff. 

Commissary Sergeant. 
Charles W. H. Bruden, disch. Jan 12, 1862 ; 
disability. 

Principal Musician. 
Eugene Laverueux, reduced and assigned to 
Co. B., tr. to Co. R. 42, Ills ; deserted Sept. 
15, 1865. 

Muster Roll, Company B. 



Fird Lieutenant. 
Frank H. Allen, resigned (as 2d Lieut.) June 
28, 1862. 

Second Lieutenant. 
Robert McKenzie, term e.xpired July 7, '64. 
Sergeants. 



sion it was engaged in storming Mission 

Ridge, losing again between 30 and 40, 
ville, May 11th, 1861, and mustered into ; out of a mere skeleton to which they had 
the service at Caseyville, Illnois, by \ been previously reduced. The few re- 
Capt. T. G. Pitcher, U. S. A., June 25, ! maining men fit for duty, marched about 

1861. Moved to Bird's Point, Mo., the j the last of the month to the relief of i Alfred c. Piitman, dis"ch. Mar. 6, '62 ; disabfy 
11th inst. November 7th, seven com- Knoxville. The greater part of the i Thomas C. Young, mustered out July 7, 1864, 
panics participated iu the battle of Bel- severe winter of 1863-4, was passed in ' "* ^"'"^ * 
mont — three being left to guard tran- the mountains of East Tennessee, 
sports. In this engagement 144 were I In the month of January, 18G4, 
killed, wounded and missing. Under j marched to Danbridge in pursuit of 



CorjJorals. 
Henry D. Rosseter, pro. 1st serg't., disch. Mar. 

26, '63 ; wounds. 
George H. Love, mustered out April 27, '6o ; 

pris. war. 



Gen. Grant, Jan. 14, 1862, reconnoiter- , Gen. Longstreet's army, retreating at \ Benj. B. Gould, M. O. July 7, '64; as .serg't. 

ed through Missouri, April 8, 1802, | night over terrible roads to Strawberry ! Akxander^P^Wilson^^ 

moved under Gen. Paine, to Tipton ville: Plains. Thence marched through Knox- ' " ' ,, . . ' 

to intercept the retreating enemy from ' ville to Loudon, Tenn., wliere they built ,^(.]ji|jg,_ Lavenne, M. O, July 7, '04, as Pvt. 

Island No. 10. On this expedition they I log huts and remained some weeks, and | ' Privates. 

captured 4,000 prisoners, two Generals, I here, March 6th, 1864, they received the j y-^^^^^ j,„fj,j, p _ ^jg (opnter 4th U. S. Caval'y. 

and a large quantity of stores, ammuui- ! first full rations since leaving Bridge- 1 Aspel' William, ma^^tered out July 7, '64. 

I . o M • 1 rr\ ' 1 Batterton Paul 1- died Sept. 30, 01 ; wounds, 

tion, arms, guns, etc. May 3d, 5th, and | port, being lull six months. Ihe regi- : g^^^^^^ j^^i^^^^ ^^^^^ ^^^j p^^^ j5_ .gg . prjs. „ar. 

9th, 1862, skirmished before Farming- J ment marched from here to Cleveland, i Butler, William A., died at St. Louis, Oct. 13, 
ton, and engaged in the battle at that ! Tenn., where it remained until the scanty g^^j^l«64^.^^^^^_ ^^^^^^,j 
place. Was at the siege of Corinth, aud : remnant joined the grand army of Gen. Brennan, James, killed at Chickamauga, Ga., 
pursued the enemy two weeks, in June. ; Sherman, on the Atlanta campaign, j ^^^^SepL^^l^V^^^^ 




ville, arriving Sept. 11th, and remained j with the exception of Rocky face, (was [ Dibble, Jabez, mustered out July 7 



E IS TORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



237 



Dobson, Stephen, Pro. Capt. in 7th U. S. Col. 

Artillery. 
Dwire, William. 
Fitzgeralil, Kobt., Corp'l, absent, sick at M.O.' 

of regiment. 
Field, George F. H., mustered out July 7 '04, 

a.s Wagoner. 
Fitzgerald, rrederick, killed at Farmington, 

Miss., May 9, 18(1.3. 
Frazier, Robert, mustered out .luly 7, '64. 
Groves, Thomas B., died at Bird's Point, Mar. 

14, 18G1. 
Henne.ssey, Patrick, died Jan. 3, '63 ; wounds, 

Stone River. 
Hutten, Edward F., tr. to V. R. C. Sept. 26,'63. 
Hasler, James, diseli. April 20, '63; wounds. 
Hornburger, Jacob F. 
Johnson, William C. 

Johnson, Ivlward F., disch. Feb. 20, '02 ; dis'y. 
Jefierty, Geo., dis. to enter 4th L'. S. Cavalry. 
Kent, Janie.s, killed at Belmont, Mo., Nov. 7, 

1861. 
Kennedy, John P., absent, sick at M. O. of 

regiment. 
Longton, Olek, mustered out Julv 7, '64 
Lincoln, Thos. J., tr. to V.R.C-Sept. 19, '63. 
Lowe, William A., tr. to 26th HI., Nov. 1, '62; 

M. O. July IS, '64. 
Lepper, Jonathan S., muat'd out July 7, '64. j 
Leak, John A. 
Lynch, Miehad, died at Mound City, Illinois, 

Ootober 13, '61. 
Main, Charles H., M. O. .Jan. -5, '6-5 ; pris. war. 
Meadley, James H. 

Maguire, Maurice, mustered out July 7, '64. 
Morran, .James, mustered out .lulv 7, '64. 
Miller, Win. B., tr. to V. B.C. Aiig..5, 1863. 
Obrine, John, absent, sick at M. O. of reg't. 
Otto, John F., mustered out Julv 7. 1864. 
Olden, KUis F., disch. June 16, 1863. 
Pete.ss, Andrew, killed at Belmont, Mo., Nov. 

7, 1864. 
Pedrick, Fllis, dis. Feb. 19, '62 ; disability. i 
Perrin, .1. Harrison, mustered out July 7, '64. ! 
Parr, SVm., killed himself accidentally Aug. 

27, 1862. 
Strasson, Martin D , tr. to V. R. C. Oct. 20, '63. 
Smiley, Samuel E , M. O. Sept. 10, '64. 
Sackelt, I'liilander, killed at Chickamauga, 

Sept. 19, '63. 
Smith, George B., dis. Feb. 20. '62; disability. 
Smith, Wm., disch. June 13, '63 ; dis ibility. 
Tomlinson, Charles H., M. O. July 7, '64. 
Teason, Henry. 

VanBuren. Wm. H, mustered out .July 7, '64. 
Wilson. Elijah B., dishonorably discharged. 
Wendal, Wm. H., nuistered out July 7, '64. 
AVilliams, William W. 
Young, John W., mustered out July 7, '64. 

Itecruiti. 
Caldwell, Archibald, left in service, time not 

out. 
Dougherty, William, mustered out .July 7, '64. 
Herrin, Junior. 

Jinks, Charle.s, mustered out July 7, '64. 
Jones, John VV., M. O July 7, '64, as serg't. 
Jones, Sanuiel E., mustered out July 7, '64. 
Ochiltree, James H., nuisi'd out Julv 7, '64. 
Robb, Louis, tr. from 27lh 111., died Jan. 20, 

'i33 ; wounds. 
Ru3.sell, Nicholas, tr. to Co. B. 42d 111., died 

December 24, '6.5. 
Wilson, George. 
Yates, George, tr. to 12th 111. Infantry. 

muster Roll Company C. 

Musician. 
Hindell, Edward, tr. to Regimental Band, M. 
O. July 28, 1862. 

Muster Roll Company D. 

Private. 
McCollum, Nelson, must'd out July 7, 1804. 



Sloster Roll Company K. 

Privates. 
Hampton, James W. N., died at Bird's Point, 

Mo., Sept. 19, 1861. 
Votah, Joseph, killed at Belmont, Mo., Nov. 

7, 1S61. 



. 42d 111. M. O. 



Veterans. 
Clark, Henrv A., tr. to Co. 

Julv is; 186-5. 
Shearer,' Frank J., tr. to Co. E. 42d 111. M. O 

Dec. 16, 1804. 

Recruiti. 



Brennin 

June 3, 180o 



disability. 



Louisville, Kentucky. The following 
day moved to Colesburg, and guarded 
the railroad until November oUth, when 
it was assigned to the Eighth Brigade, 
Col. Turchiu commanding. Moved to 
Elizabethtown, December olh, and re- 
mained till the 22d, when it marclied to 
Bacon's creek, where it remained until 
February lOlh, 1862. With the Eighth 
Brigade in advance, the division marched 
n, John B.. died at Loudon, Tenn., April February lOlh, 1 862, to Bowling Green, 
r, Samuel, tr. to Co. E. 42d 111. dis. arriving on the 14th inst., and remained 
until the 24th, when it moved to Nash- 
ville. On March 18th, marched to 
Murfreesboro', where it remained until 
April 5th, when the division marched 
via. Shelbyville and Fayetteville to 
Huntsville. April 11th, moved to 
Decatur, from which the euemy fled, 
leaving in their hands C R. and G. E. 
small arms and ammunition. From here 
the regiment moved to Tuscumbia. 
Crossed the Tennessee April 22, and 
repulsed a charge of the enemy's cavalry, 
losing a few prisoners, and returning to 
Huntsville tiie 30th ult. Marched to 
Athens, May 1st ; to Fayetteville, the 
26th; crossed the Cumberland to a place 
opposite Chattanooga, June 1st; to 



Muster Roll, Company G. 

Recruits. 
Carvel, Albert, mustered out July 7, 1864. 
Ellis, Wm., disch. Dec. 14, '63, wounds. 
Flaherty, James S. 

Gillmore, William, mustered out July 7, '64. 
Lamb, William, mustered out July 7, '65. 

Muster Roll Company I. . 

Recruit. 
Ryan, .James. 

Muster Roll Company K.] 

J^tVs( Lieutenant. 
Anthony Young, term expired .July 7, 1804. 

Cnrportd. 
Patrick McAvoy, M. O. July 7, '64, .as private; 
woimded. 

Privates. 
Dehu, Andrew, mustered out July 



Hammer, Andrew, must'd out July 7, 1864, as j Tennessee and Bellefonte, June 

teamster. i r ' > 

McAvoy, Barney, mustered out .July 



rth, and the 11th ult., returned to 



10, 1803. 

Unassigned Recruits. 
Bonser, William H. 
Mason, George S. 
Tlionips(m, George. 
Wilkins, Henry J. 

Tiventy-fourtU Infantry.— Tl 

Service. 



Salsbv, Nicholas, killed at Stone River, Dec. Stephenson ; from thence to Jasper, Ten- 
„ . ne.=see. At Kankin s J* erry, companies 

Dennison, Henry, pri:liner of war since .Sept. F, G and C, had an engagement in which 
â– " Captain Kovats and Lieutenant Ger- 

hart and one private were wounded, and 

three were missing. The regiment next 
I marched to the mouth of Battle creek, 

and remained until July 11th ; then to 
cars' Tullahoma, where it guarded railroad 

stations on the Nashville and Chatta- 
This was known as the "Hecker nooga railroad, until September 7th, 
Regiment," and was organized at Chi- when with Gen. Buell's aruiy it went in 
cago and mustered into service July 8th, pursuit of the enemy, arriving at Louis- 
1861, by Captain T. G. Pitcher, ft was ; ville, September 26tb, 1862. October 
soon afterward ordered to Alton, Illinois, f'th, it paiticipated in the battle of Chap- 
and subsequently to St. Charles, Mo.; lin Hills, near Perryville, losing twenty- 
thence to Me.xico, Mis.50uri. July 28th, five killed, seventy -seven wounded, eight 
it left Mexico, and moved via St. Louis, prisoners and two missing. After this 
to Ironton, Missouri, where it encamped battle it marclied to Mitchelville, Ky., 
until September 3d. It moved success- on the line of the L. and N. railroad 
ively on the 4th to Jackson ; oth, to [ where it was stationed the remainder of 
Fort Holt; loth, by rail to Cincinnati, the year. 

with orders to report at Wasliington. The regiment was mustered out Au- 
Arrestcd by the accident that befell the gust 6th, 1864. The veterans and re- 
Nineteenth Illinois Volunteers, the regi- emits were consolidated into one com- 
ment remained at Camp Dennison, Ohio, pany known as company A. This com- 
until September 29th, when it moved to pany was mustered out July 31st, 1865, 



238 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



at Louisville, Kentucky, and arrived at 
Camp Butler August 1st, 1865, for final 
payment and discharge. 

Rosteiv-Ma»ter Roll C onipony A. 

Privates. 
Goiinwalcl, Matliias, deserted Sept. 1, 1861. 
Graff, Ileinrich, di.^ch'd Apr. 6, '62; disab'ty. 
Hitter, Philip, miist'd out Aug. 6, 1864. 
Huttle, Heury, captured, Chickamauga, Sept. 

20, IStiS. 
Jaegcl, Bartliol, must'd out Aug. 6, 1864. 
Louis, or Laux, Charles, must'd out Aug. 6, 

1864, as corporal. 
Martin, Ludwig, died at Louisville, Ky., Dec. 

17, 1861. 
Muller, Ca.spar, disch'd Dec. 29, 1862 ; disab'ty. 
Ott, John, died at Bacon Creek Ky., Feb. 2, '02. 
Kapp, Frederick, deserted Jan. 1863. 
â– \Vinter, Ferdinand, must'd out Aug- 6, '64. 

Recruits. 
Kittel, John, disch'd Jan. 4, 1863 ;' disability. 
Wehrly, Andreas, died at St. Louis Oct. 5, '62. 

SInster Roll, rompamy C. 

Prieaie. 
Pfeifer, Henry, must'd out Aug. 6, '61; as 
sergeant. 

Muster RoU, Company E. 

Privates- 
Bauer, or Bower, F. M. O. May 30, '65, as pris. 

war. 
Biiblinger, Jo.seph, disch'd, July 3, 1862; 
Diltv, Simeon, must'd out Aug. 6, '64. 
CJruiun. Christian, must'd out Aug. 6, '64. 
Knoe, John, must'd out .'Vug. 6. '64. 
Kuhnert, Frank, di.sch'd Dec. 31, '62 ; won'ds. 
Kniger, Anton, vet., M.O.July 31, '65, as 

sergeant. 

Recruits. 

Buergle, George, must'd out Aug. 6, 1864. 
Fral/.er, Jacob^ must'd out Aug. 6, 1864. 
Fuss, John, must'd out Aug. 6, 1864. 
Harvelka, .\nton, must d out Aug. 6, 1864. j 
Klein, Carl, vet., must'd out July 31, '65, as 
sergeant. 

Master Roll, Compauy P. 

Recruits. 
Klingsohr, Theodore, must'd out Aug. 6, '64. 
Klingsohr, Julius, disch'd Jan. 6, '63; disab'ty. 
Schaefer, Henry, must'd out Aug. 6, 1864. 
Schoeber, John, died at Chattanooga Sept. 26, 
1863 ; wounds. 

muster Roll, Company G. 

Recruit. 
Frost, Charles, tr. to headquarters, 14 A. C. 
for iissignment. 

Muster Roll, Company I. 

Private.^. 
Bucksenstcin, John, disch'd Oct. 3, 1862 ; 

disability. 
Isenthal, Franz, deserted Feb. 1862. 
Kift, or Kist, Anthony, disch'd Aug. 21, 1862 ; 

disability. 
Koenig, Frederick A., deserted Oct. 8, 1862. 

Recruits. 

Dean, James, absent, sick at M. O. of reg't. 
Dietze, Henry, tr. to V. R. C. Mar. 15, 1864. 
AVeise, Adam, nmst'd out Aug. 6, 1864. 

Muster Roll, Company K. 

Private. 
Dahlmer, Charle.«, disch'd Feb. 8, '62 ; disab'ty. 



T«'enty-slitll Infantry.— three years' ser- 
vice. 

Tliis regiment was mustered into the 
United States' service at Camp Butler, 
111., Aug. 31st, 1861, and was ordered 
to Quincy, Illinois, for the protection of 
that place. Afterwards did guard duty 
on the Hannibal and St. Joseph R. R- 
Early iu 1862, it was ordered South, 
and was assigned to Maj. Gen. Pope's 
corps. AVas engaged in action at New 
Madrid ; took part in the siege of Cor- 
inth ; did good service at Farmington, 
losing five killed and thirty wounded. 
May 28th, 1862, was engaged near 
Corinth, sufiering a loss of four killed 
and twenty-five wounded. Its subse- 
quent career of hard fought battles, and 
arduous duty iu long marches, would 
fill a volume. 

January, 1st, 1864, there were but 
515 men present for duty, 463 of whom 
reeulisted as veterans. Started home on 
veteran furlough. Jan. 15th ; at the ex- 
piration of which time returned to the field 
with ranks well filled with recruits. 
Did further excellent service, and was 
mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 
20th, 1863. 

Adjutants. 

Samuel X. Buckmaster, jr., resigned April 15, 

1862. 
Edward A. Tucker, disch'd Jan. 24, 1864. 

Z'nassigned Recruit. 

Rinaker, John 



reuth Infantry. 

service. 



- Tliree years' 



Was organized August 10th, 1861, at 
Camp Butler, with but seven companies. 
It was first ordered to Jacksonville as a 
part of Brig. Gen. John A. McCler- 
nand's Brigade. .On September lit, 1861, 
was ordered to Cairo, where it was 
joined by three remaining companies 
November 7th, 1861, it bore a promi- 
nent part in the battle of Belmont, Geu. 
McClernand commanding, and its loss 
was severe. On the evacuation of Co- 
lumbus, Ky., the regiment was sent to 
that point. 

March 14th, 1862, in company with 
the Forty-second Illinois, Eighteenth 
Wisconsin and parts of the Second Illi- 
nois Light Artillery and Second Illinois 
Cavalry, it formed the " Mississippi 
Flotilla," and started down the river 
and remained duriug the siege of Island 
No. 10. The first regiment landing was 
the gallant Twenty-seventh.' After cross- 



ing the river, moved to Fort Pillow, but 
was recalled, and ordered to Pittsburg 
Landing. May 9th, 1862, was engaged 
in the battle of Farmington and siege of 
Corinth. Was engaged in pursuit of 
the enemy to Booneville, and afterwards 
returned to Corinth where it remained 
for some time. 

"^ In July 1862, ordered to luka, and 
afterwards distributed along the line of 
the Memphis and Charleston railroad, 
where it remained until the first of Sep- 
tember. It was soon afterward placed 
under the command of Maj. Gen. Palm- 
er, when it crossed the Tennessee river, 
at Decatur, Alabama, and made a rapid 
march for Nashville, arriving 12th of 
September, where it remained for a time 
cut oiT from Northern communication. 
Was engaged in the battle of Stone 
River, where it particularly distinguish- 
ed itself Moved with the army against 
Shelbyville and Tullahoma ; thence to 
Bridgeport, Alabama. Moved toward 
Rome, Georgia, and returned in time to 
take an active part in the battle of 
Chickamauga. Was engaged in the 
storming of Mission Ridge, where it did 
good service. From here it made a 
forced march to the relief of Knoxville, 
but the enemy had been repulsed ere its 
arrival. January 25th, 1864, returned 
to Loudon, Tenn., where it remained 
until the 18th of April. Was afterward 
ordered to Cleaveland, Tenn., and from 
thence moved with the Army of the 
Cumberland to the Atlanta campaign. 
May 9th, engaged at Rocky Face Ridge ; 
at Resaca, May 14 ; near Calhoun, May 
16; Adairsville, May 17; from May 
26 to June 4, near Dallas ; Pine Top 
Mountain, June 10 to 14 ; battle of 
Mud Creek, June 18 ; in assault on 
Keuesaw Mountain ; skirmished in vi- 
cinity of Chattahoochee river ; July 20, 
was in battle of Peach Tree Creek, and 
in the skirmishes around Atlanta. 
August 25th, 1864, the regiment was 
relieved from duty at the front, and 
ordered to Springfield, Illinois, to be 
mustered out. Portions of companies 
D, F, and H, enlisted from Madison 
county. The following is a summary of 
the casualties duriug the three years' 
campaign .• Killed, or died of wounds, 
102 ; died of disease, 80 ; wounded, 328 ; 
discharged and resigned, 209 ; trans- 
ferred, 39. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



239 



Roster.— Mn»ter Roll CoiHimiiy D. 

Captain. 

William M. Hart, resigned Nov. 28, 1S61. 

First Lieutenant 

Robert B. Murpliy, in engineer corps, Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn. 

^ Privates. 
Blunt, Benjamin F. 



Baker, David, disoli'd Feb. 19, '62; disabilitv. ' Eutlierford, James, 

Bovd, GeorKC W., died at Cairo, Oct. 8, 1801. ' Sliives, Style, killed at Peach Tree Creek 

Caiame, William L, M. O. Sept. 20, 1804, as ' " "' "â–  



Nou-coiMiulssloued Staff. 

Quartermaster Sergeant, 
William H. Wendall. 

[Master Roll, Compauy A. 

Heeruits. 
Hartley, James, k'ld at Spanish Ft. Mar. 29 '65- 
McFarland, Je.sse, nuist'd out Nov. 6, 1865. 

Muster Roll, Company C. 

Drafted and Sub-recruits. 
Julv 20 1804 Lloyd, Edwin, drafted, disch'd Aug. 4, 1865. 

Shives, William, vet., tr. to Co. G, 9, 111. as Tiller, Thomas, drafted, disch'd Aug. 4, 1865. 



Ellis, Franklin, wounded, M. O. Sept. 20, '64. 
Ernest, Henry W. I). M. O. Sept. 20, 1864. 
EnK-ry, JohnC, vet., died July 15, '04,won'd3. 
Gent. George, was pris., M. O. July 13, 1865. 
Goodall, Edward, ni. o. Sept. 20, 1864. 
Hewitt, .\ndrew, died at Murfreesboro' Tenn., 

March 19, 1804. 
Petts, John, died at Cairo, Jan. 18, 1862. 
I Eobb, Lewi.s, tr. to 22, 111., Nov. 1, 1862. 
Robinson, James G. M. disch'd Feb. 20, 18,62 
i disabilitv. 



and Kenesaw Mt., m. o. Sept. 20, 1864. 



corporal 
Coleman, Nathaniel P., died at Cairo, Oct. 20, 

1801. 
Duross, Charles, disch'd Jlay 23, 1802. 
Felix, Peter, tr. to V. R . C, Aug. 25, 1863. 
Filac, or Flarv, Michael, 
Grant, DrurvM., M. O. Sept. 20, 1804. 
Huffman, Peter, M. O. Sept. 20, 1804. 

Kemp, James, disch'd Jan. 30, '62 ; disability. Young, Robert 
Kirsch, George, vet., tr. to 9th 111., as consol'dt j 

M. O. July 13, 1865. | Muster Roll, Company H. 

Lamb, Francis F., killed at Farmington, Miss. [ ^ 

May 9, 1802. ! licernd. 

Pogge, Nathan F., sergeant, died March 28, j^ggj} Sylvester \.., must'd out July 21, 1865. 

1863 ; wounds. 
Profl'et.JohnE., disch'd, July 12, '62; disab'ty. Twenty-eiahtu Infantry (consolidated), army life. Participated ill the grand 

Page, James W., M. O. Sept. 20, 1864. i Three Years' Serviee. .-' . ,. ,, .^, , Q(,r 

Role, William, kcct. killed, Sweet Water, Feb. ' , . , ^ • . ''^'''^'^ ^^ Washington, May 24, 1865, 

20, 1864. -The twenty-eighth regiment was or- ^^^ camped near the city the same day ; 

Sullivan, John, drowned at Nashville, Aug. 31, ganized at Camp Butler, III. in the j^fj ^jjg y^j^ „f j^,ng f^^ Louisville, Ky., 
Stokes, Edward, disch'd March 13, '63; disab'y. I latter part of the summer of 1861. ^,-^ Parkersburg, Virginia, and was 
Tramel, Deyirs A., M. O. Sept. 20, 1864. According to an order of the war de- mustered out of the service at Louis- 

Wentworth, Charles, m. o. Sept. :0. 1804. i p^^^^^^^^ ,^^^^g ^p^il 2d, 1863, it was ^iHe, July 17, 186.5 ; arrived at Camp 
'"'"'*â–  consolidated into a battalion of four gutler Illinois, July 20, and received 

Cox, WiHiam, disch'd Feb. 19, 1862; d.sab'ty. . .^^p^^igs-A, B, C, and D. During its g^^i p^y^gnt and d'ischarge, the 27th 



c* r"'w''.V*^-^^'I"'/ f'r'^'^P q Til a,' Drafted ami Sub-recruits. 

Stratton, William, vet,, tr. to Co. G, 9, 111., as i , , â– ' ,j ^ . ,j ,o^- 

consol'dt, M. O. Julv 9, 18(i4. Bradley, George L., must d out Aug. 14, ISbo. 

Sha, John, die<l at luka'Mi.ss., Aug. 0, 1862. | 

Terry, Bruce, M. O. Sept. 20, 1804. ] Thirtieth Infantry.— Three years' Ser»-lce. 

Waters, Alphear, wounded, at Mission Ridge ^^^^ ^^^.^^.^^^^ ^^^^.^^^^^ ^^^^ organized 

at Camp Butler, Illinois, August 28, 
1861. Its experience was varied, hav- 
ing passed through many hard-fought 
battles, and endured the fatigues of long 
marches, and privations peculiar to 



Fisher, Edward D., disch'd. Nov. 28, 1862, to 

enlist in 4ih cavalry, U. S. . v. I career in the service, it experienced 

Kid, Thomas, M O Sept. 20 1864 ; hardships, and suffered severe 

Louck, George, tr. to Co. G, 9th 111. Infantry, ' '"" j t < 

as consolidated. i lo.sses, as the following summary will 

McMiisters, Frank M., disch'd. Dec. 28, 1863. \ -. ._Number enlisted, and recruits, 
McGlaughlin, William, killed at Kenesaw Mt. •' 



of July, 1865. 



Roster. 

Drafted and Sub-Becruits. 
Knowitz, Chas., must'd out June 4, 1865. 
-. ,.,.,,: T, .-J X c . on >ci I ^, „ , Reynard, John, must'd out June 4, 1865. 

Sowell, W illiam R., must d out Sept. 20, 64. transferred, etc., 1061. The final mus- wAgenbracht, Valentine, M. O. June 4, 1865. 
Verbel, William, discharged. . „ , . , , . 

tering out of the regiment occured in 

March, 1866. 



June 27, 1804. 



1720 ; killed, wounded, discharged. 



Muster Roll, Company F. 

First Lieutenant. 



Orson, Hewitt, 

Alfred H. Lowe, term expired Sept. 20, 1864. 

Corporals. 



Roll, Conipony G. 

Privates. 



William H. Babcock, discharged Feb. 10, '62; ^""j\^i^^,7' '''""^'"''^ '° ^''° ®'""''^' "^"'^ 
disability. ' . ^ â– â–  _- __ __ 

Lee Burnett, wounded, M. O. Sept. 25, 1864, as 
1st sergeant, 



3Iusicians. 



Twenty-ninth Infantry. 
Service. 



-Tliree Years' 



Muster Roll, Company B. 

Drafted and Sub-Becruits. 

Benar, Gottleib, mus 'd out June 4, 1805. 
Gulhrie, Louis, must'd out .Tune 4, 1865. 
Schultz, John, must'd out June 4, 1865. 
Schultz, Wm., absent, sick at must, out of reg't. 



Muster Roll, Company C. 

Drafted and Stib-Beernits. 
Frutte, Chas., must'd out June 4, 1864. 



Gottleib, Joseph, mustered out Mar. 12, 1866. 
Johnson, John, died Jefferson Barracks, Aug, 

6, 1863. 
Page, Jeraison, must'd out Mar. 14, 1866. 
Louson. L. Lane disch'd. Nov. 30, '01 ; dis. \ 
Fletcher, AVagner, wounded, M. O. Sept. 20, 
1864. 

Privates. 
Arnold, Henry T., il. O. Sept. 20, 1804, as 
corporal. 

Barr',';Z\l., disch'd. April 20, 1862 ; T. G. Pitcher, U. S. A., at Camp But 

disability. 1 ler, Illinois, August 19, 1861. Saw ac 

Barden, Cl.as B dis. Mar. 1, '62 ; disability. . j ^ j,^^.^^ ^^^^ j„ jg^^. \ Avery, John G. AV., must'd out June 4, 1865. 

Bennett, David, trans, to V . R. C. ( tivc .-i . i- j , Baird, Edward, must'd out June 4, I860. 

Cook, Leonard N., wounded at Rocky Face ary, 1864, the regiment re-enli.*ted, and Uo^man, James A. must'd out June 4, 1845. 

Ridge an.l Stone River, M. 0_ Sep 20 '64. mustered as veterans, and July 19, ! Roach, James M., must'd out June 4, 1805. 

Christy, (Jeo. \V., disch'd Jan. 21, '64; di.sab'tv. ' â– ' . 

Carter", Wm. II., tr. to 4, U. S. Cav. Dec. 3, '62. received veteran furlougli from bpriiig- duster Ron, comqany ii. 

Belong, John, vet., tr. to Co. G, 9th III., as g |j j|j j^ioyed from Springfield for ' ^ , , , „ , d 

consol'dt, M. O. July 9, 1S65. , neiu xii. xxy « I Drafted and Sub-Becruits. 

Diamond, Charles W., tr. to 4, U. S. Cav., ' the south, August 22, 18(>4 ; did go«d j^„^„„_ ^y^ .^.j out July 17, 1805. 

Dec. 3, 1,802. _...„. service, and was mustered out JSovember j^ckel, Frederick, must'd out July 17, 1865. 



Reinhart, Frederick, must'd out June 4, '65. 
Reichart, Godfrey, nui.st'd out June 19, 1865. 
Roezech, Gottleib, must'd out June 4, 1865. 
The Twenty-ninth was mustered into Winfree, Robt., disch'd Nov. 13, '62, disability 
the United States service by Captain i 

Master Roll Company F. 

Drafted and Sub-Becruits, 



Dailey, Patrick, m. o. Sept. 20, 1804, 

EUi8,'Thomas, tr. to 4th U. S.Cav., Dec. 3, '62. 6, l»bO. 



Keim, Daniel, must'd out June 4, 1865. 



240 



EISTOEY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Tl»lrt)r-Pir8t Ilrfantry— Thi'ee Yearg'J 

Service. 

This regiment was organized at Cairo, 
Illinois, on the eighth of September, 
1861, by Colonel John A. Logan, and 
mustered into the United States' service 
by Captain T. G. Pitcher, U. S. A. It 
saw good service, having been in thirty- 
one battles, skirmishes, etc. At the 
time of its discharge, July 19, 1865, it 
numbered 25 officers, and 677 enlisted 
men. When organized numbered 11-30, 
and received, in all, 700 recruits. Killed 
in action, died of wounds, of disease, 
and discharged, 1128. 

Surgeons. 
Gustav Sulifras, must'd out July 19, 1865. 

First- Assistant Surgeon. 
David M. Dunn, must'd out (as liospital stew- 
ard) June 1, 1865, term expired. 

Master Roll Company D. 

Drafted and Sub-Recruits. 

Scudder, Edward, sub. must'd out May 31, '65. 

Muster Roll Company G. 

Drafted and Sub-Hecruits. [ 

Lickens, Samuel, drafted, never reported to 
company. 

Muster Roll, rompnnj- H. 

Drafted and Sidj Becruits. l 

Allen, Zacliariah, died Jan. 7, 1865. 
Myers, Theodore, reported died Jan 10, 1865. 

Tlllrty-Sccoud lurantry — Col. John I.ogan 
CommaiHlliig.— Tliree Years' Service. 

Madison county was represented in 
six companies of this regiment, as fol- 
lows : Companies A, D, E, F, G, and K. 
Company F, was made up almost en- 
tirely from Madison, as will be seen from 
the roster appended. 

This regiment was organized by Col. 
Logan, and mustered into service De- 
cember 31st, 1861. 

It bore a distinguished and honorable 
part in the battle of Shiloh, losing forty 
killed and two hundred wounded. Was 
engaged in the advance on Corinth. On 
the 5th of October, 1862, fought in the 
battle of ^letamora. The regiment did 
good service here, seven killed and five 
wounded. On the 8th of November in 
a forced march southward from La- 
grange surprised and captured over one 
hundred rebel cavalry at Lamar, and 
routed the enemy. After many hard 
inarches, part of the time being on short 
rations, in March, 1863, they moved to 
Memphis and remained until May 11th, 
Avhen they moved to Young's Point ; on 



the 15th joined the division ten miles defense. Col. Logan was absent during 
below Vicksburg- Thence to Grand these two campaigns on court-martial 
Gulf, where they were detained a few duty at Louisville, Ky., and Capt. Rider, 
days as garrison. June 12th the post was afterward J.iieut. Col., commanded the 
abandoned, and the regiments joined the regiment. Took part in the grand re- 
division on the lines around Vicksburg ; view at Washington, May, 21th, 1865. 
engaged in the siege until June 27th, Thence to Parkersburg, Va. ; thence to 
when Col. Logan, with his regiment, the Louvi-sville ; thence moved westward. 
One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio, and via. St. Louis and Fort Leavenworth to 
one section of artillery, was ordered to Fort Kearney, Nebraska, arriving Aug. 
command the post at Warrenton, which 13th. Returned to Fort Leavenworth, 
was the extreme left of the line. Re- Sept. 2d. 

joined brigade on July 4th, and on the | Sept. 16th mustered out there, and 
5th marched with Sherman's army i ordered to Camp Butler, 111., for final 
toward Jackson, a very trying march, payment and discharge. It traveled 
After hard service and skirmishing, and while in the United States service 11,- 
the capture of a battery of nine pieces 000 miles, and its record makes glorious 
of artillery, it on January 3d, 1S64, a page of the history of the State, 
moved to Vicksburg, where it was mus- 1 Roster, 

tered as a veteran organization. Re- Major. 

ceived furlough, and on the 28th reas- Smith Townsand, mustered out Sept. 16, '82. 
sembled at Camp Butler, 111., and moved ^ Nou-commissioued staff. 

to Bird's Point, Mo. June 12th, 1864, Principal Musician. 

siege of Kenesaw Mountain commenced ; Francis M. Johnson, mus. out Feb. 13, '63. 

the Seventeenth Corps occupied the Muster rou, company a. 

left of the line and the Thirty-Second j Drafted and Sub Becruits. 

Regiment occupied the exposed posi- Harlman, Frederick, mustered out June 3, '65. 
;tion on the advance. July 2d, was Plinsston, Charles, mustered out June 3 '65. 
i • , ^ 1-" u Smith, August, mustered out July 11, 'DO. 

1 transferred to right of line, on the s,ernba, Frederick, mustered out June 3, '65. 
Uth and 5th, and on the 5th when i Watt, James, mustered out June 3. '65 

„ , ' . . . , 1 .1 Weslev, Frank, absent sick at M. O. of Keg t. 

the Fourth division aSSaultea the, â–  ^^^^^er Roll, company d. 

enemy's works the Thirty-second was 
the first to plant its colors on the works. 
July 18th the regiment was transferred 



Private, 

Kuggles, James W, disch. Sep. 6, '61 ; term ex. 

Muster Roll, Company E. 

to the first brigade, and Col. Logan ' Veteran. 

took command of the brigade. While , 'Williams, Edward L., mus. out June 17, '65. 

guarding supplies at Marietta, a party \ Muster Roll, company F. 

of fifty men under Lieut. Campbell, while • Captains. 

foraging, after a spirited re.-istance were ; George AV. Jenks, resigned Sept. 28, '62. 

captured, only nine escaping. On the ' Joseph H. Weeks, mustered out Sept. 16, '65. ; 

3d the enemy attacked the line near | First Lieutenants. 

Kenesaw Mountain, and killed and cap- David Glenn, resigned Sept, 21, '64. 

, . , m • t „ Jolm Keck, mustered out Sept. 16, '6-->. 

tured twelve men. The regiment re- "" > 

mained near Marietta until the " March : Second Lieutenants. 

to the Sea " began, when, on Nov. 13th, ; J^jj^ ^--^^^t:^^'^ «^"''''- 

it moved from that place, and from At- ' 

lanta November 15th, 1864. In the 

sieM of Savannah four men were wound- 



ed. It suffered greatly from lackof food. 
Remained at camp' in Savannah, Ga , 
until December 5th, 1865, when it 
embarked at Thunderbolt for Beaufort. 



First Sergeant. 
'William A. Hildebrand, mustered out Dec. 31, 
'64; term expired. 

Sergeants. 
Martin Holin, vet., mustered out Sept. 16, '6-5. 
John Beamer, mus, out Dec. 31, 64; term ex. 

Corporah. 
Lewis ninton. 



On February 3d the division waded the Andrew J. Johnson, mustered out Dec. 31, '64; 

Salkahatchie river, two miles wide and }^""^^: , .„ , . ci -i i a,,,;! r. w 

„ ' - . , Daniel Skellv, killed at Shiloh, April 6, bi. 

from two to five feet deep in water | Ri^.d^rd Hand, discharged August — , '82. 

ice cold, and after a half hour's skirmish- George Cooper, mus. out Dec 31,'64 ; term ex. 

. , , 11 J .u GreenB.White, vet, died Natchez, Jan. 14, 64. 

ing on the opposite b^uk, compelled the charles S. Christy, vet., mus. out Sep. 16, '65. 

enemy to evacuate their strong line of Joseph Hicks, discharged Aug., 1862. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



241 



Musician. 

William Tabor, died at Memphis, Mav 2Ij, '65. 

) Wagoner. 

Theodore Scovel, mus out Dec. 31, '64 ; terni ex 

Privates. 

AUgood, John W., vet., mus. out Sep. 16, '65. 

Barllev, John, vet. 

Briinton, .\lexander, killed at Shiloh Apr. 6,"62. 

Britten, Isaiah. 

Benson, George E., vet., mus. out Sept. 16, '6-5. 

Brauner, Robert D.. tr. to V. R. C. Sep. Ld, '63. 

Bankson, Jamep, died March 2, '62. 

Bratcher, William, vet. 

Burn.^, Michael, vet., mustered Sept. 16, '6.5. 

Burns, Patrick, disch. Oct. 7, '62; disability. 

Bascoin, Naaman, d scharged June 27, '62. 

Bryant, John, discharged May 11, '64. 

Christy, John 

Casey, William, mus. out Dec. 31,'64; term ex. 

Choate, Edward, vet-, mus. out Sept. 16, '6.5. 

Cboate, Richard, vet., disc. July 6, '6-5; disb'y. 

Dingle, Samuel, vet., died May 13, 'fi.). 

Dunn, Deacon, died at home June 20, '62. 

Dunn, George, died at Warrenlown, Misr--., July 

3, 18G3. 

Graves, .lames, died July 26, '62. 

Granstafl", Michael, discharged Aug. 27, '62. 

Grubough, John, vet. 

Grubough, Michael, died at home Feb. 2, '62. 

Hensley, William, discharged Jan. 2, '62. 

Hughes, Patrick, vet., mus. out Sept. 16, '65. 

Howell, Franklin, vet. 

Hall. Edward. 

Harrison, Benjamin, died at Pittsburgh Land- 
ing, .April 2, '62. 

Ingram, Pliny. 

John.siH), Reuben, vet., mus. out Sept. 16 '65. 

John, Patten, killed at Shiloh, Apr. 6, '62. 

Jones, Samuel T., tr. to V. R. C. Sept. 15, '63. 

Ketchum, David. 

Ketchum, Daniel, discharged Nov. 8, '62. 

Lee, Abner. 

Lelchlin, Jacob, vet., disc. Jul. 11, '65; disab'y. 

Little, Samuel H., mustered out Dec. 31, 1864 ; 
term ex. 

Malkin, William, killed at Shiloh Apr. 6, '62. 

Moore, Lewis, died Oct. 7, '02. 

Moore, James S. 

Mc.A.tee, James, vet., mus. out Sept. 16, '65. 

McCann, Andrew B., died July 21, '62. 

McAlpin. John. 

Mullen, William H., vet., mus. out Sep. 16,'65. 

McClughen, James, died at Camp Butler, Feb. 
21, 1862. 

McDonald, James. 

Mahony, Martin, vet., died at St. Louis, April 

4, 1865. 

Morrison, Benjamin, vet., mus. out Sep. 16, '65. 
Miller, James, vet., mus. out Sept. 16, '65. 
Ogle, William, vet., mus. out Sept. 16, '65. 
Owens, William A., vet., mus. out June 22,'65. 
Putero, Henry, vet., mus. out. Nov. 27, '66. 
Patterson, Van Buren, vet., discharged July 3, 

1865; disability. 
Patterson, James, died at Corinth, May 10, '62. 
Ransdal, Richard, died at home April 25, '62. 
Robinson, George. 
Strong, Legrand. 
Sanks, .Joshua, 

Short, Jonathan, discharged .July 19, '62. 
Scoval, James F., mustered out Dec. 31, '64. 
Teeters, Eleazer, discharged Oct. 4, '62. 
White, Franklin, mus. out nec.31,'64; terra ex. 
Wilson, McClain, disc. S«p. 17, '67 ; disability. 
Wilson, Ashley J., died April 2li, '62. 
Wilson, James, vet., mustered out Sept. 16, '65. 
Welch, William, mus. out Dec. 31, '64; term ex. 

Rccruils. 

Adams, John C, killed at Bentonville, N. C, 
Mar. 21, 186.5. 
31 



Baker, Charles, absent wounded at mus. out of 
Regiment. j 

Baker, Isaac 

Book, Fred. W. 

Carter, George W., discharged Nov. 2, '65. 

Fodderl, Charles. 

Jones, John C, disc. Mar. 15, '64 ; disability. 

Jones, William K., vet., died at Savauuah, Ga. 
Dec. 16, 1864. ; 

Malone, .John. 

Nichols, James V., mustered out July 6, '65. 

JH lister Foil, loinpauy Ci. 

Drafted and Sub Recruits, 

Kellv, George W., mustered out June 3, '65. 
Kinder, mustered out June 22. '65. 
Matthews, Harris S., June 3, '65. 
Milam, Jarot C, mustered out .June. 
McCaw, Jo-seph, mustered out June. 
Tinsel, John A., mustered out June. 

Muster Boll, Tompaiiy H, 

3Iusiciaii. 
Silas J. Garrett. 

Miister Roll, Company K. 

Dm/led and Sub Rr<T<d(s. 
Brown, Berry, mustered out June 3, 1865. 

Unn,<'signed Recruit. 
Henderson, Frederick W., discharged. 

Tliirty-thlrd Infantry.— Three Years' 
Service. 

The Thirty-third was organized at 
Camp Butler, Illinois, in September, 
1S61, with Col. Charles E. Hovey com- 
mauding, and soon afterward became a 
part of the army operating in Missouri 
and Arkansas In 1 863 became a part 
of Gen. Davidson's corps, and subse- 
quently participated in the battles of 
Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black 
River Bridge, and the sieges of Vicks- 
burg and Jackson. On the Ist of Janu- 
ary, 186-t, the regiment re-enlisted as 
veterans, and March 14 reached Bloom- 
ington, Illinois, and received veteran \ 
furlough. April 18th, 1864, the regi- 
ment was re-organized at Camp Butler, 
and proceeded to New Orleans. It again 
did good service, and was mustered out 
at Vicksburg November 24, 1865. 

Muster Roll Company C. 

Rccruils. 
Dougherty, Patk. W., tr. from 124th 111, M. O. 

Nov.'24, '65. 
Hays, Plinv, tr. from 124th Ills., mustered out 

Nov. 24, '65. 
Riley, Harvey C , tr. from 124th III, mu.st' out 

Nov. 24, '65. 

Mnstcr Roll Company E. 

Recruits. 
Crook, William, tr. from 117th Ill.,must'd out 

Nov. 24, '65. 
Day, Benjamin, tr. from 117th 111., must'd out 
! Nov. 24, '65. 

Gillham, Saml. C, miist'd out Nov. 24, '6-1. 
Murphv, Henry C, tr. from 117tb III, M. O. 
Nov. 24. '65. 



Ross, Geo. W.. tr. from 117th III, must'il out 
Nov. 24, '65. 

Muster Roll Company P. 

Veteran. 
Andrews, Wm. L., must'd out July 18, '65. 

Muster Roll Company *i. 

Recruit 
Wood, Edwin, tr. from 117th Ills., must'd out 
Nov. 24, '65. 

Muster Roll Company H. 

Reej-uit-t. 
Hants, Geo. B., tr. from 122J Ills, inf., M. O. 

Nov. 24, 65. 
Nelson, Benj. F., tr. from 122d Ills, inf , M. O. 

Nov. 24, '65. 
Nelson, William, tr. from 122d 111. inf., absent 

since Nov. "0, '65. 

Thlrty-Pourtll Infantry— TUree Years' Ser- 
vice. 
Muster Roll Company B. 

Drafted and Sub Recruit. 
Miller, Amos, M. O. July 12, 1805. 

Muster Ro 1 Company P. 

Drafted and Sub-Recruit. 
Norris, Thomas, never reported. 

Unass'fjncd Drafted' and Sub-Recruit. 
Connelly, Michael, sub. 



Thlrty-Slitli Infantry— Tliree Ye 



Sei 



Muster Roll Company D. 

Musicians. 
Henry T. Kellom, vet., absent sick at M. O. of 

reg't. 
Pyle, William T., killed at Chaplin 'uills, Ky. 
Oct. 8, 1802. 

Unassigned Recruits. 
Small, Alfred. 
Small, Albert. 

Forty-third Infantry.— TUree Years' 
Service. 

Of this regiment, there were a few 
members of companies B, G, H, I, and 
K, from Madison county. The Forty- 
third was organized at Camp Butler, 
Chicago, in the month of September, 

1861, by Col. Julius Raith. On the 8th 
of October it was ordered to Benton 
Barracks, St. Louis, when in January, 

1862, it was joined with the Twenty- 
fifth Indiana, and formed a brigade 
under Gen. Strong. Here companies I 
and K joined the regiment. February 
6th it moved to the South, and took an 
active part in the battle of Shiloh, where 
it suffered heavily, losing, in killed and 
wounded, 200 men, several of whom were 
oflBcers. Afterwards participated in the 
siege of Vicksburg, and in June of the 
same year it became a part of the Army 
of the Tennessee. Throughout its ca- 
reer it did good service, being always 
actively engaged. According to an 



242 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



order of the War Department, the regi- 
ment was consolidated with another 
regiment, Jauuarj' 17th, 1865. From 
this time forward the command, until, 
its discharge, w-as engaged in skirmish- 
ing and doing garrison duty. At Little 
Rock it was mustered out of service 
November 30th, 1865, and arrived at 
Camp Butler, Illinois, December 14th 
following. 

Roster— Cluster Roll Company B. 

Privates. 
IJreger, Tlios, vet., tr. to Co. A , as cons., M. O 

Nov. 20, 186'). 
Link, .John, disch'd Sept. 30, '62, wounds. 
Schmidt, Adam, M. O. Sept. 26, '64. 

]>Iaster Roll Company G, 

Drafted and Sub. Recruits. 
Kohl, Jos., tr. to Co D, as consol., M O. July 

7, 1865, as corp'l. 
Kirscli, Adam, tr. to Co. D, as consol., M. O. 

July 7, 1865. 

Muster Roll Company H. 

Sergeant. 
Martin Schneider, killed, Sliiloh, April 6, '62- 

Private. 
Tanner, John, killed, Shiloh, Ap. 6, 1862. 

DraJ'ttd and Siib. Recniit. 
Israel, Michael, tr. to Co. E, as consol., M. O. 
July 7, 1865. 

Master Roll Company I. 

Privates. 
Andres, Franz, disch'd Nov. 9, 1862. 
Becker, Adam, M. O. Dec. 31, 1864. 
Hundsdorfer, Jos., died at Little JRock, Dec'r 

25, 1864. 
Ladner, Andrew. 

Bykher, Chas., M. O. Dec. 31, 1864. 
Stett, John, missing in action at Shiloh, April 

6, 1862. 
WoU, Henry, M. O. Dec. 31, 1864. 
WoU, Lawrenz, M. O. Dec. 31, 1864. 
Weber, Fredolin, M. O. Dec. 31, 1864. 
Weitgenaunt, Chas., disch'd Oct. 26, 1862. 
Zimraerscheid, Christian, killed, Shiloh, April 

6, 1862. 

Drafted and Sub. Recruit. 
McLain, John S., tr. to Co. F, as consol., M. O. 

July 7, 1865. 

Muster Roll Company K. 

Private. 
Weittner, Bernhardt, di.^ch'd Feb. 3, 1863. 

Drafted and Sub. Recruits. 
Christ, John, tr. to Co. G, as consol'ted, M. O. 

July 7, 1865. 
Probst, Charles tr. to Co. D, as consol., M. O. 
July 7, 186.5. 

Forty-Tlilrd ^consolidated) Infantry— One 

Year Organization. 

Muster Roll Company K. 

Privates. 
Fluge, Frederick R., M. O. Nov. 30, 1865. 
Galligan, John F., M. O. Nov. 30, 1865. 

Porty-Elgbtli Infantry— Tllree Years' Ser- 
vice. 
Muster Roll Company I. 

Sergeant. 
Pleasant, Crisp. 



Forty-nlntH Infantry. — Tliree Years' 
-SeiTlce. 



Capt. John A. Logan, of Richview, 
Washington county, and engaged in the 
The Forty-ninth was organized at battle of Tripoli July 14th and 15th, 
Camp Butler, Illinois, by Col. Wm. R. i 1864. After the expiration of the vete- 
Morrison, December 31st, 1861, and on ran furlough, rendezvoused at Centralia, 
the 3 J of February following was Illinois, and proceeded via Cairo and 
ordered to Cairo, Illinois. Was assign- Memphis to Holly Springs and rejoined 
ed to the Third Brigade, McClernand's , the command. Participated in the Ox- 
Division, at Fort Henry, the 8th ult , ford expedition and returned to Mem- 
and on the 11th inst. moved to Fort | phis August 30. Arrived at Jefferson 
Donelson. Engaged the enemy on the ; Barracks, Missouri, September 30, moved 
loth, losing 14 killed and 37 wounded ; thence to Franklin and drove theentmy 
Col. Morrison was among the wounded, from the place, was with the army in 
Remaining at Donelson until March 4th, pursuit of Gen. Price through Missouri, 
it moved to Metal Landing, and two and returned to St. Louis November 
days later embarked for Pittsburg Land- 18th, 1864. From there it moved to 
ing, Tennessee. Disembarked at Savan- , Nashville, Tennessee, and took part in 
nah, and on the 2lst completed the that battle December 15th. On the 
march. Participated in the battle of 24th, was ordered to Paducah, Ken- 
Shiloh, April 6th and 7th, losing 17 tucky, to muster out non-veterans, and 
killed and 99 wounded. Was in the thereafter the regiment did garrison 
siege of Corinth, and June 4th, moved : duty. Was mustered out September 
to Bethel, where it was assigned to ' 9th, 1865, and arrived at Camp Butler, 
Brig.-G''n. John A. Logan's First Divi- 1 Illinois, September 15th, 186-5, for final 
sion, Major-Gen. A. McClernaud com- 1 payment and discharge. As will be 
manding. j seen from the following roster, company 

Moved from Bethel, Tennessee, by j G was largely represented by men from 
rail, March 10th, 1863, to Germantown, ' Madison county. 
and on the 12th to White Station, and ' „ . 

Roster. 

was assigned to the Fourth Brigade.; Quartermaster. 

Joined Gen. F. Steele's expedition to ; james ^y. Davis, promoted captain and A. C. 

Little Rock, Arkansas, at Helena, :, S., March, 1863, by the president. 

August 21st, and on the 28th was as- Non-commissioned Staff. 

signed to Col Triie's Brigade, and Sep- Quartermaster Sergeant. 

tember 2d joined the main army at Caleb Sappington, must'd out Jan. 9, 1865. 

Brownsville, Arkansas. November 10th, 

assisted in the capture of Little Rock. 

Ou the 15th, moved by rail via Duvall's , ^^^^^ christian, di"sch'. Dec. 6, 1864 

Bluff to Memphis, arriving November 



Muster Roll Company C. 

I! ecru it. 



21st, 1863. January 15th, 1864, three- 
fourths of the regiment re-enlisted, and 
was mustered as veteran volunteers and 



Muster Roll Company £. 

Privates. 
Burk, Patrick, tr. to Mulligan's Brigade Jan. 
24, 1862. 



assigned to the Third Brigade, Col. S. j Cavenaugh, James, tr. to Mulligan's Brigade 
H. Wolf, Third Division, Brig.-Gen. I fjj^]pj^"-jyji^haeir 

A. J. Smith, of the Sixteenth Army ; Kelly, Robert, vet., must'd out Sept. 9, 1865. 
r-i r\ ^t o-r..i- â–  i 1 J i. : Moran, John, vet., must'd out Sept. 9, 1865. 

Corps. On the 27th inst., marched to | McLean, John, vet., must'd out Sept. 9, 1865. 
Vicksburg, Mississippi, and was with , Patterson, William S., must'd out Jan. 9, '65. 
Maj.-Gen. Sherman in the Meridian cam- ; Recruits. 

paign, returning to Vicksburg March [ Lyles, AYilliam, killed at Fort Donelson, Feb. 
3d. Was assigned to the Red River \ pe^brook, William K., vet. 
expedition, and on March 14th partici- 
pated in the capture of Fort De Russey, 
Louisiana ; April 9th, engaged in the 
battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, and 
returned to Memphis June 10th, 1861. 

On the 24th inst , ordered to Illinois for i Captains 

veteran furlough. The detachment of j j^^^;^ ^y jyioQ^e, term expired Jan. 9, 18 
non- veterans remained, commanded by i Cyrus E. Daniels, must'd out Sept. 9, 186 



Muster Roll Company F. 

IVivatcs. 
Hawkins, James, died at Paducah, Kv. 
4, 1862. 

Master Roll Company G. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



243 



First Lieutenant. 
William W. Bliss, must'd out Jan. 10, 1865. 

Second Lieutenant. 
â– William M. Whaling, must'd out Mar. 14, '64. 

Corporah. 
John Ilullis, vet, must'd out Sept. 9, lS6o, as 

sergeant. 
John Morgan, vet., must'd out Sept. 9, 18G.5. 

Privatea. 
Assman, William, vet., must'd out Sept. 9, '65. 
Bergs, Peter, vet., luust'd out Sept. 9, 1S65. 
Bartlett, David, disch. March 19, ISlio. 
Burns, Patrick, must'd out Jan. 9, 1863. 
Caswell, John D., must'd out Jan. 9, 1S63. 
Ciry, William M. 

Champine, Francis, vet., must'd out Sep. 9 '65. 
Caldwell, L. P., must'd out Dee. 28, 1864. 
Durkes, Valentine. 
Emmereon, Isaac M., vet., must'd out Sept. 

9, 186.1 
Elliott, J. K., disch'd Feb. 1, 1863. 
Folev, Patrick, must'd out Jan. 9, 1865. 
Finnv, John A., vet., must'd out Sept. 9, 1865, 

as corporal. 
Holdenbcri;, Peter, tr. to V. R. C , S^pt. 22, '63. 
Inman, RiiYus, tr. to V. R. C, July 3, 18iJ3. 
McLoughlin, Edward, died at Little Rock, 

Sept. 11, 1863. 
McCarty, C -melius, mjsl'd out Jan. 9, 186-5, 

a,s sergeant. 
Melvin, Edmund, vet., must'd out Sept. 9, '6-5, 

as corporal. 
McCullum, M., vet., must'd out Sept. 9, lS6o. 
Riedmun, David. 

Sliorader, Peter, vet., must'd out Sept. 9, 65. 
Stacy. Simeon, disch'd Oct. 22, 1862 

W'ilson, John, vet , must'd out Sept. 29, 1865. 
Waters, James, awaiting trial. 

Wilson, William H., vet., mu.st'd out Sept. 9, 
1865; wounded. 

Mecruits. 

Bliss, William H., mu.st'd out Sept. 9, 186-5. 

Daniels. John X., must'd out Sept. 9, 1865, as 
corporal. 

Duncan, Jo.«eph. 

l':ikins, John M., died at home Nov. 20. 1864. 

Elkins, James M., must'd out Sept. 9,1865. 

Epping, John, must'd out Sept. 9, 1865. 

McKinney. Samuel, must'd out Sept. 9, 1865. 

M.:Cann, Thomas. 

Smith, John H., musfd out Sept. 9, 186-5. 

Thompson, James P., must'd out Sept. 9, 65. 

Vinson. Joseph B., must'd out Sept. 9, 186-). 

Whitbread, William, must'd out Sept. 9, 186-5. 

Wainwright, George, must'd out Sept. 9, 1865. 

Flftletli Infantrj-.— iTliree Year* Sen-tee.) 
Muster Roll Company II. 

Hecruils. 
McKenzie, James, must'd out May 30, 186.5. 
Sliepard, William, must'd out July 13, 1865. 
Fifty-*!-'* Infantry. (.TTiree Years Service.) 

First Assistant Surgeon. 
Francis W. Lytle, pro. surgeon, 36th R?gt., 
resigned April 29, 1865. 

Ultuter Roll Company 1. 

Prirate- 

Thener, Frederick E., must'd out Sept. 25. '65. 

SInater Roll Company K. 

Private. 

Holbert, .Vbram V., disch'd Feb. 28, 1865 ; 

term e.xpired. 
Flfty-thlnl Infantry— Three Years' Service- 
Muster Roll, Company W. 
Drajted and Sub Becruit. 
Labey, Thoma.=, sub , m. o. July 22, 1865. 



Flfty-fonrtU Infantry— Three Years' Service 
—Muster Roll Company D. 

Recruits. 
Martin, John, m. o. Oct. 15, 186-5. 

Flfly-eigUtU (^Consolidated) Infantry- Tliree 
Years' Service. 

Was recruited as Camp Douglas, 
Chicago, on the 11th of February, 18G2, 
and left the camp for the south on the 
following day. It saw hard service, and 
was must* red out at Montgomery, Ala., 
the 1st of April, 1866. 

Mnster Roll Company F. 

Second lAeulenant. 
William Cooper, m. o. as sergt. Mar. 2, 1836. 

Corporals. 
Jo.seph Lamm, m. o. Feb. 26, 1866. 
Jacob Shad. 



Wagoiier. 
William H. Wisenhut, m. o. Feb. 26, 1866. 

Privates. 
Aldrup, Ilonrv, died at Cairo, April 26, 1866. 
Burke, Geo. W., m. o. May 29, 1865. 
George, Eilward. 

Griliin, Alexander, m. o. Feb. 23, 1866. 
Wallace, Henry, absent at m. o. of regt. 



Flfty-nlntli Infantry. Three Y'ears' Service. 

Four companies, C, D, E and F, were 
represented in the Fifty-ninth from 
Madison county— company D being 
nearly full. 

This regiment of Illinois men was first 
accredited to Missouri, Illinois' quoto 
being full, and was known as the Ninth 
Missouri Infantry. Did good service in 
that state. February 12th, 186'2, the 
name was changed to the Fifty-ninth 
Illinois Infantry. Was in the battle of 
Pea Ridge, where it fought gallantly all 
day. After marching and skirmishing, 
arrived at West Plains on the "iSih of 
April. Captain Ellett, three lieutenants 
and fifty men were ordered to report 
for duty to Col. Charles Ellett's ram 
fleet. After service in Mississippi, 
Tennessee and Missouri, under Gen- 
.Jeff. C. Davis, and later. Gen. Robert B. 
Mitchell, on September 3d, left Mur- 
freesboro, and be^an the westward march 
with Buell, arriving at Louisville, Sep- 
tember '26th. On October 1st, moved in 
pursuit of Bragg. October 7th, engaged 
the enemy at Chaplin Hills. On the 
8lh, lost heavily, lo-sing 113 killed and 
wounded out of 361 going into action. 
On the 10th,- pursued the enemy, and 
on the 14th, had a severe skiuuish at 
Lancai-ter. Was in the Stone river 
campaign with the Army of the Cum- 
berland, and in the Tullahoma cam- 



paign during the siege of Chattanooga; 
ttas constantly under fire of the enemy's 
batteries. November 23d, 1863, started 
on Lookout Mountain campaign. The 
Third brigade, of which the Forty-ninth 
was a part, was led in the assault on the 
Mission Ridge by this regiment. Jan- 
uary 12th, 18G4, was mustered out as a 
veteran organization. On Jlay 3d, the 
Atlanta campaign began. On the 7th, 
supported the attack upon Tunnel Hill. 
Ou the 8th, be^an the attack on Rocky 
Face Ridge, being constantly engaged 
until the loth. Was in action at Resaca, 
Adairsville, at Kingston, D.iUas, Ack- 
worth. Pine Top, Kenesaw, Mountain, 
Smyrna, Camp meeting grounds. From 
July 12th until August 25th, it was 
under fire night and day before Atlanta. 
Fought at Lovejoy Station. After 
skirmishing and doing arduous service, 
on December 1st reached Nashville. 
December loth, occurred the battle of 
Nashville. The Fifty-ninth was in the 
first line of the assaulting column, and 
planted the first colors on the captured 
works. The loss was terrible, one third 
being killed or wounded. This was the 
last battle of note in which the regiment 
was engaged. After being on duty in 
various parts of the South until Decem- 
ber 8th, 1865, at New Braunfels, Texas, 
it was mustered out, and ordered to 
Springfield, Illinois, for final payment 
and discharge. Of its brilliant record 
each member of the Fifty-ninth, from 
the colonel commanding to the humblest 
private, is justly proui. All honor to 
the Fifty-ninth ! 



Rojter— Muster RoU Company C. 

Veterans. 
.\sendorf, Henry. 

Cheelev, John, m. o. Dec 8, 1865. 
Dorsey, Wm. M., m. o. Dec. 8. 18(35. 

Master Roll Company D. 

Captain. 
William P. Renfro, resigue.l Sept. 3, 1862. 
Orlando W. Frazier, resigned Feb. 2-5, 1865. 
Emanuel Mennet, m. o. Dec. 8, 1865. 

First Lieutenant. 
Warren D. Crandall, pro. to ram fleet. 
Chesley A. Mossman, m. o. Dec. 8, 1865. 

Second Lieutenant. 
John P. Anderson, term ex. Jan. 31, 1865. 
Benjamin F. Steven.s, m. o. Dec. 8, 1865. 

First Sergeant. 
William F. Howard, disch. Jan. 1863; disb. 

Sergeants. 
Jacob Hatham, killed at Stone river, Dec. 31, 
1862. 



244 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



Franklin Parker, tr. to Miss, ram fleet Feb. 11, I 
1803. \ 

Corporals. 

â– \Villiaiii Pickering, disch. Apr. 12, '62; dis'y. 

Joliu W. Matlock, m. o. Aug. 18, 1804 as pri- 
vate. 

.Jolin Mc.\r(lle, vet., in. o. Dec. 8, 18G5assergt. I 

George Waters. 

Phineas C. Eaton, vet., m. o. Dec. 8, lS6o as 1st 
sergeant. 

Simon Mor.se, tr. to V. R. C, Feb. 10, 1864. 

James H. Evans. 

Wagoner. 
StradlioflT, John C, vet., m. o. Dec. 8, 1805. 

Privates. 
Arterberry, James, m. o. Sept. 14, '04 as corp'l. 
Arterberrv, Tliomas, m. o. Sept. 14, 1864. 
Abbott, Thomas, killed at Perry ville, Ky., Oct. 

8, 1802. 
Prewer, Geo. A. 

Bradley, James, tr. to V. R. C. Sept. 30, 1863. 
Po.t, William P., wounded severely at Pea 

Ridge ; discharged. 
Bateman, Jnscpb, m. o. Sept. 17, 1804. 
Ciandall, Eugene, killed at Pea Ridge, Ark., 

Mar. 7, 18i>2. 
Cox, Amer, died at St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 1, '61. 
('hasp, Charles G., killed at Kenesaw Mt., June 

27, 1864. 

Daniel, John J., disch. Dec. 10, 1862; disab'y. 
Deadle, Henry, disch. April 2, 1863. 
Ectine, Fritz., vet., m. o. Dee. 8, 1865. 
Francis, William, disch. Dec. 20, 1861 ; disab'y. 
Touch, Ljcurgus, m. o. Sept. 17, 1864. 
Henderson, Chas. B., vet., m. o. Dec. 8, 1865. 
Hartman, Philip, ni. o. Sept. 17, 1864. 
Hinch, W. C, tr. to V. R. C. Feb. 16, 1863. 
Kelly, Johnsnn, died Mar 28, 1862; wounds. 
Lealy, Dennis, drowned at Hamburg, Tenn., 

May 22, 1862. 
Mossoman, Cliisley, pro. corp'l, serg't and 1st 

lieutenant. 
Miller, Charles J., m. o. Sept. 17, 1864. 
Palmer, Isaac W., killed at Pea Ridge, Ark., 

Mar. 7, 1862. 
Potter, Richard, m. o. Sept. 17, '64. 
Pinchard, Joseph A., m. o. Sept. 17, '65. 
Ritlman. John, disch. Apr. 2, '63 ; dis. 
Rule, Joseph, m. o. Sept. 17, '64. 
Rule. John H., died at Syracuse ; m. o. Jan. 

28, 1862. 

Rule, Moses E., disch. Apr. 12, '62 ; dis. 
Spohn, Henry, killed at Pea Ridge, Ark., Mar. 

7, '62. 
Spohn, Peter, vet., m. o. Dec, 8, '65 as corp'l. 
Sutton, Stephen, tr. to Miss, ram fleet Feb. 11, 

1863. 
Simp.son, Francis, discharged Oct. 18, 1861 ; 

disability. 
Searcy, Edward C, vet., m. o. Dec. 8, 18(i5 as 

corporal. 
Searcy, Thomas, discharged Feb. 17, 1863; 

wounds. 
Shield, Andrew J., vet., tr. toV. R. C. .\ug. 1, 

18t3. 
Shemerstedt, Charles, m. o. Sept. 17, '64. 
Tobin, Charles, m. o. Sept. 17. '64. 
Thomas, Charles, disch. Jan. 15, '63; dis. 
WatLs, Andrew J., killed at Stone river, Dec. 

31, '62. 
Williams, Woodnut, di.sch. Apr. 2, 186- ; dis. 
Walter, Jo.seph, m. o. Sept. 17, '64. 
Zimmerle, Alfred. 

RecruHs. 
Allen, David, tr. to V. R. C Aug. 1, '&%. 
Burns, Thomas W., disch. Oct. 9, 63; dig. 
Brywn. Wm. D., m. o. Dec. 8, '65. 
Been, Peter J., m. o. Dec. 8, '65. 
Brown, Charles N., vet., m. o Dec. 8, '65. 
Beard, Samuel W., killed at Kenesaw Mt., 

June 18, '64. 



Clark, George N., m. o. Dec. 8, '65. 

Clark, Walter H., m. o. Dec. 8, '65. 

Carllou, Silniyler, ir. to V. R. C. Aug. 1, '63. 

Daniel, .lolin J., m. o. Dec. 8, '65. 

Elliott, .James, m. o. Dec. 8, '65. 

Early, John M.. m. o. Dec. 8. '65. 

Hedrick, Jesse, di.sch. Sept. 19, '63; dis. 

Hasting.s, Wm. J., m. o. Dec. 8, '65; wounded. 

Husong, Wm. .V., vet. 

Kill, Johnsen M., died at Jefferson City, Mo., 

Oct. 1, '61. 
Lohberg, Henry, disch. July 17, '62; dis. 
Marr, Peler, m. o. Dec. 8, '65. 
Murray, John, disch. Apr. 28, '63 ; dis. 
Oliver," Thomas J., tr. to Miss, ram lleet Feb. 

11, '03. 
Roberts, John B., vet. 
Ranch, Joseph, died at Sugar Creek, Ark., 

Feb. 19, '62. 
Rude, Moses E., m. o. Dec. .a. '65. 
Roeggi-r, Fredk., m. o. July 29, '65 and Sept. 

30, '65. 
Sackett, Andrew, m. o. Sept. 11, '64 as corpl. 
Simpson, Francis M., died at Louisville, Ky., 

Sept. 7, '65. 
Williams, James H., m. o. Dec. 11, '64 ascorp. 
Warmbrodt, Jacob, m. o. Dec. 8, '65 as musi'n. 
Weber, Frank W., vet., m. o. Dec. 8, '65. 
Young, William A., m. o. Dec. 8, '65. 
Young, Benjamin F., disch. June 22, '65; dis. 
Young, Edward ]•., m. o. July 12, '65. 

Blnstrr Koll Company E. 

Recruils. 
Hefs, Jacob, m. o. Dec. 8, '65. 

Bluster Foil Company I. 

Corporal. 
Frederick Molsta, killed at Champlain Hills, 
Ky., Oct. 8, '62. 

Musician. 
Henry P. Nervions, m. o. Sept. 17, '64. 

Wagoner. 
John Wortman, m. o. Sept. 17, '64. 

Privates. 
Hampe, Henry F., disch. June 8, '63 as sergt.; 

disability. 
Nervions, Henry, m. o. Sept. 17, '64. 

Recruits. 
Delaney, John, tr. to Miss, marine brig. Feb. 

11," '65. 
Hener, John B., killed atChamplaiuHills, Ky., 

Oct. 8, '62. 
Ingham, Chas. C. 
Jones, Kichard. 

Moflev, Albert, died at St. Louis, Jan. 12, '62. 
Paul, "or Powell, Wm. H., m. o. Sept. 17, '64. 

Unassigned Recruits. 

Brandes, .John. 
Minnahan, Daniel. 

Slxty-llrst Infiintry Three Years' Service.— 
Ainster Roll Company C, 

Recruits. 
Jenkins, Peter, m. o. Sept. 8, '65. 
Kuykendall, Simon, m. o. Sept. 8, '65. 
Kuykendall, Rodolph, m. o. Sept. 8, '05. 
Kuykendall, Lafayette, m. o. Sept. 8, '65. 

Muster Boll Company D. 

Privates. 
Hughes, Solomon, died at Savannah, Tenn. 
Reddish, William M., m.o. Feb. 7, '65 as sergt. 

Reernit. 
King, Geo. W., m. o. Sept. 8, '65. 



Muster Roll Company K. 

Recruitsf. 
Stout, Robt. C, m. o. Sept. 8, '65 as corp'l. 

Sixty-second Infantry.— Tliree Years' Ser- 
vice.— Muster Roll Company B. 

Priva'e.'!. 
Martin, John W., absent sick .it m. o. of regt. 
Gasteiiecker, Wm., m. o. Mar. (i, 'liij as corji'l. 

Recruil. 
West, Elijah, m. o. Feb. 18, 'liii; as corp'l. 

Slity-fonrthlnfantry— Tliree Years" ServUe. 

First Ansiftnnt Surgeon. 
Otto E. Rotsch, m. o. July 11, '65. 

Muster Roll Company E. 

Corporal. 
William Paul, vet. 

Muster Roll Compaiky O. 

Privates. 
Dolon, Patrick, died at Joliet, 111., Aug. 21, "64. 
Small, Cushman, died at Mound City, Sept. 29, 
1864. 

Unassigned Recruil. 
Clifford, Henry. 

Sixty-sixth Infantry.— Three years' service. 

Was first organized at Benton Bar- 
racks, Missouri, in September, 1861, by- 
John W. Birge, and was known as 
" Birge's Sharp Shooters." Subsequently 
it was mustered as the Fourteenth Mis- 
souri Infantry Volunteers, and left for 
the field Dec 12th. 1861. In Novem- 
ber, 1862, the regiment -was transferred 
to the state of Illinois, and numbered 
Sixty sixth ; companies E, F, G and H, 
being represented by men from Madison 
county. During the year of 186.'^, it 
was engaged in frequent skirmishes with 
the enemy at Tuscumbia river, capturing 
10 officers and 150 men, the loss of the 
regiment being three officers and 15 men 
taken prisoners. Ordered to Burusville, 
Miss., November 2d, I860: marched to 
Eastport on the Tennessee, the 3d inst ; 
crossed the river on the 5th, and moved 
toward Pulaski, Tenn., on the 6th, ar- 
riving the 12th. Remained here until 
January 1864. Three fourths of the 
men having re-enlisted, moved onward 
toward Illinois for veteran furlough. 
Furloughed from Chicago, Jan. 25th, 
and on the 1st of March reassembled 
at Joliet, and again moved for the field. 
Mustered out at Louisville, Ky., July 
7th, 1865, and arrived at Camp Butler, 
111., July 9th, 1865, for final payment 
and discharge. 

Roster. 

Surgeon. 
Joseph Pogue, mustered out July 7, 18G5. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



245 



Muster Roll Company B. 

First LieuUminls. 
Frank M. Bingham, of Blouiiiington, miis out. 

]Uii8ter Roll C'oiiiiiaiiy K. 

Primtes. 
Sems, Isaac, tr. to Co. B. M. O. Seiit. 22, 'fi4. 
Snyder, John, tr. to Co. B. M. O. Se|il. 22, 't)4. 
Wallace, Thomas, vet., must'd out July 7, 'iio 

Musfcr Roll Coiiipauy F. 

First Licalenant. 
Cyrus A. Lfmon, dismissed JCov. 26, 18G2. 

Muster Roll Company O. 

Secniile. 
Clark, Isaac AV., must'd out July 7, 1865. 
Cramp, Henry C, died at Rome, Ga., July 10, 

1864. 
Drurv. Franklin B. died at Pia.sa, III., Dec. 31, 

i864. 
Mofire, David, nuLstered out July 7, 1865. 
Wilson, Robert L., mustered out July 7, '65. 

Muster Roll Company H. 

Brrruits. 
Manning, Thomas B., must'd out July 7, '65, 

as corporal. 
Morton, William, vet. recruit, died June 14, 

'64, in hands of the enemy at Atlanta, Ga. 

Slxty-Elgbth Infantry.— Three Months' Ser- 

vlee. 

Mnster Roll Company A. 

Murehead, James A. 

Mnster Boll Company F. 

Private. 
Burnett, Eugene, mustered out Sept. 24, '62. 

Stity-Nlntli Infantry Three Mouths' Ser- 
vice. 
Muster Roll Company I. 

S< r(irant. 
Silas E. Libhy, mu.-tered out Sept. 27, 1862. 

Privafes. 
Olson, Nelson, mustered out Sept. 27, 1862. 
Shoop, J. H., mustered out Sept. 27, 1862. 
Smith, George F., mustered out Sept. 27, '62. 

Seventy-Tlilrd Infantry.— Three Years' Ser. 

Muster Roll Company H. 

Oiptaiii. 
Jo-seph L. Morg.m, mustered out June 12, '6'). 

Eightieth Infantry.— Three years' ser^-ice. 

Was organized in August, 1862, at 
Centralia, Illinois, by Col. T. G. Allen, 
and mustered into the United States 
service on the 25th of the same month, 
for three years. Ordered to Louisville, 
Ky., September 4th following, and be- 
came apart of the Thirty third Brigade 
under Gen. Terrell. Assigned to the 
Tenth Division, Gen. Jackson command- 
ing, and in Gen. McCook's corps. On 
the 1st of October, under Gen. Buell. 
marched in pursuit of Bragg. First 
engaged the enemy in the battle of Perry 
ville, October 8ih, losing 14 killed, and 
58 wounded, including Lieut. Von Kem- 



rael killed. Lieut. Andrews mortally 
wounded, and Lieut. Col. liodgers, and 
Lieut. Pace severely wounded. Gens. 
Terrell and Jackson were also killed. 
December ^Gth started in pursuit of the 
enemy under John Morgan. Jan. 2d, 
1863, discontinued the pursuit. On the 
10th of the same month was assigned to 
the Fourteenth Army C>rps, Gen J. J. 
Reynolds' Division. 

March 20th the Brigade of 1500 men, 
and two pieces of artillery, while on a 
scout, were attacked by John Morgan 
and 5000 of the enemy ; but they were 
repulsed, with heavy loss. About the 
middle of April the regiment was 
mounted, and soon after, while scouting, 
met and repulsed the enemy at Dug's 
Gap, and Sand Mountain, at the latter 
place capturing a battery of two guns ; 
loss, 2 killed, and 16 wounded. At 
Blunt's farm. May 2d, again defeated 
the enemy, and May 3d was surrendered 
to a vastly superior force under Gen. 
Forrest, who, contrary to stipulation, 
stole its blankets, watches and money. 
The regiment was taken to Rome, and 
paroled and sent to Atlanta. From the 
latter place the officers were sent to 
Libby Prison. The enlisted men were 
forwarded to Richmond, arriving May 
13th, thence to City Point, and Annap- 
oli.", and on the 19th moved to Camp 
Chase, Ohio ; June 23d, was declared 
exchanged, and moved to St. Louis. Ou 
the 29th started for Nashville, Ten- 
nessee, Lieut. J. A. Miller in command 
of the regiuunt. 

Sept. Sth, moved to Stevenson, Ala- 
bam^i, Capt. Cunningham in command. 
On the 23d reported to Gen. Howard, 
commanding Elevtnth Army Corps. 
Was assigned to Third Brigade, com- 
manded by Col. Hecker, (the same was 
apart of the Third Division, under Gen. 
Schurz). l»lov. 24 and 25, did good ser- 
vice in the battle of Mission Ridge. May 
3d, 1864, commenced the Atlanta cam- 
paign, and formed a part of the grand 
army under Sherman. Participated in 
the battles of Dalton, Resaca, Adairsvillo, 
Cassville, Dallas, Pine IMountain , Kene- 
saw Mountain, Marietta, Peach Tree 
Creek, Franklin, Atlanta, Jonesboro and 
! Lovejoy Station. During the campaign 
1 the regiment captured 150 prisoners, and 
lost 25 killed, 60 wounded. Marched 
' October 3d in pursuit of Hood, and 



December 15 and 16 took part in the 
battle of Nashville; this was the last 
engagement of any consequence in which 
the regiment participated. The Eight- 
ieth traveled over 6,000 miles, and en- 
gaged the enemy in over twenty battles. 
On the 10th of June, 1865 was mustered 
out of service, and proceeded to Cam p 
Butler, 111., for final pay and discharge. 

Roster. 

Oilond. 
Andrew F. Rodgers, honorably disch. (as Lt. 
Col.) Nov. 25, lSt!4. 

3Iajor. 
Henry Zeis, hon. discb. (as Capt.) May 1.5, '65. 

Adjutant. 
James B. Newman, must'd out June 19, '65. 

First Assistant Surgeon. 
Ebenezer Rodgers, resigned Feb. 23, 1863. 

Non-Commtssloued StalT. 

Principal Musieian. 
John S. Culp, mustered out June, 10, 1865. 

Muster Roll Company B. 

Captains. 
George W. Carr, resigned June 27, 1863. 
John H. Smiths, mustered out as First Lieut. 

June 10, 1865. 
William R. Wright, must'd out June 10, '65. 

Second Lieutenants. 
Henry C. Smith, resigned Jan. 22, 1863. 
Stephen A. Albro, must'd out July 20, 1865. 
Conrad II. Flick, M. O. as serg't. June 10, '65. 

Sergeants. 
William Campbell, disch. Sept. 10, '63; disat'y. 
John I). Heisi'l, reduced at his own request, tr. 
to V. R. C March 23, 1864. 

Corporals. 

William H. Clavton, serg't., died May 5, '65. 

John W. Waldron, tr. to V. R. C. Oct. 1 863. 

Jacob Yant, Serg't., died at Nitshville, Tenn., 
July 3, 1864; wounds. 

William W. Edwards, reduced at his own re- 
quest, mustered out July 10, 1865. 

James P. Blankenship, dLscli. Dec. 29, 1865; 
disability. 

William D. Wilson, tr. to Miss. Marine Brig. 
Sept. 15, 1863. 

Hiram Anthis, tr. to V. R. C. Dec. 5, 1864. 

Privafes. 
Barnes, Ilenrv W., tr. to V.R.C. Mar. 23, '64. 
Burts. Rupel T. 

Beely, George, must'd out June, '65; as cnrp'l. 
Besscr, Charles R., mustered out June, 1865. 
Bright Hinson mustered out June, 1865. 
Brownlee, John B. W-, m. o. June, 'tVi: wounds. 
Chandler, Henry D., died Apr. 20, 1863. 
Clifl'ord, Andrew (i., nuistered out June 10, 

1865, as 1st sergtant. 
Cummings, Alfred, died at Marietta, Ga., July, 

1864 ; wounds, 
t^rawford, George M.. must'd out May 16, '65. 
Carter, Winfield, dis<-h. Aug. 21, 1863. 
Dorsey, Nimroil, m. o. June 10, '6.5, as serg't. 
Deck, Jacob S.. m. o. June 10, '65, as corp'l. 
Deck, James If., m. o. June 10, 1865. 
Dailey, John T. _ 

Diamond, Wni. M. O. .June, 10, '65; wounded. 
Kdwards, Hardin, disch. June 30, 1863. 
Mnley, Simpson, diicli. Nov. 22, 1863. 



246 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Frost, Nelson, P., ni. o. June 10, '65, as corp'l. | 
Foster, Francis M., corporal, (lied at Viuing 

Station, Ga., Aug. 10, 18()4 ; wounds. 
Foster, William, mustered out June 10, 1865. 
Fenstermann, John, musl'd out June 10, '65. 
Gabrile, Cliarle.*, musl'd out June 10, 1805. 
Grimm, \Vm., mustered out June 10, 1865. | 
Huibcrl, Amos, discli. May 30, '63 ; wounded. 
Holland, John M., mnsttred out June 10, '65. 
Huntington, Henrv E., M. O. June 10, 1S65. 
Harris, Gliatles, tr.' to V. K. C. Sept. 8, 1864. 
Hunt, David B., disch. Aug. 21, lst53. 
Havs, Matthew, tr. to V. R. C. Sept. 8, 1863. 
Hebner, Philip, tr. to. V. K. C. Sept. 8, 1863. 
Howe, Philip A., tr. to V. K. C. Dec. 8, 1863. 
Jone.s, William M., disch. July 5. '65 ; w'ds. 
Kamper, John H., mustered out July 10, '66. 
Little, Henrv B., mustered out July 10, 1865. 
McDowell, William N., dis. Aug. 21, 1883. 
Moore, Samuel A., mustered out July 10, '65. 
McClain, Michael, died June 3, '66 , wounds. 
Mcintosh, Francis, ir. to. V'. K. C. Dec. 3, '63. 
Marshall. Moses B., died Nov. 23, 1862. 
Miller, Henrv, mustered out June 10, 1865. 
Kichols, Wm!, M. O. June 10, '65, as teamster. 
Patrick, David, M. O. June 10, '65, as corp'l. 
Roach. David G., died Nov. 8, 1862. 
Ricemann, Frederick, M. O. June 10, 1865. 
Rees, David, disch. Jan. 10, 1863. 
RoUotJ", John mustered out June 10, 1865. 
Stahl, Daniel L , M. O. June 10, '65, as serg't ; 

wounded. 
Shafer, Wm. H., tr. to V. R. C. Sept. 8, 1863. 
Snedeker, Theodore, died at Bridgeport, Ala., 

April 9, 1864. 
Shafer, George D., mustered out June 10, '05. 
Sees, Henry C, disch. March 20, '64; wounds. 
S acy, Joseph, mustered out June 10, 1865 



Slnster Boll Company D. 

Musician. 
Thomas N. Harris mustered out June 10, 
Mu8ter Roll Company E. 

Private. 



'65. 



Lyons, Luther, disch. Oct. 25, '62. 

McShane, Barnev, died in rebel prison, March 

31), 1863. 
McOauley, Charles W., trans, to V. R. C. Sept. 

2, 1863. 
McCauley, John, M. O. June 10, '65. 



Eyre Sylvester, mustered out June 10, 1865, , McUauley, William, detached at muster out of 



regt. 



Oselaud, Thomas, mustered out June 10, '65, 



as corporal. 

Muster Roll Company KL, 1 pris war. 

fu„,„:„, 1 Owens, Elijah, tr. to V. R. C. Mar. 25, '64. 

i^aptaim. O.seland, Moroni, disch. Oct. 24, '62. 
Alexander Hodge, houorably discharged. May q^^^^^^ y^y. â– \v., tr. to V. R. C. .Mar. 25, '64. 

1^. 1865. ! Oliver, J;is. H., M. O. June 10, '65. 

John A. Miller, mus. out as com. capt., June p^^^i^^ Paschall, musl'd out June 10, 1865, as 



10, 186 

First Lieutenant. 
Edmund D. Klersey, resigned May 12, 1865 
Elias Preuitt, mus. out June 10, 1865. 

Second Lieutenant. 
William Webster, mus. out June 10, 1865. 

First Sen/cant. 
Wm 

disability 

Sergeants. 
James Hays, mustered out June 10, 1865, as 

private. 
John F. Thompson, discharged Feb. 13, 1865, 
private. 

Corporals. 
James Ran.sdall, disch'd Mar. 7, 1863. 
John W. Dorsey, disch'd April 10, 1863. 
Lewis, Ralph, mustered out June 10, 1865, as 

sergeant. 
Nelson Starkey, killed at Dallas, Ga., May 
28, 1864. 

Musician. 



sergeant. 
Randall, Elias, died at Louisville, Ky., Oct. 

8, 1862. 
Robson, Andrew E., detaclied at must out of 

reg't. 
Ralph, William. 
Stringer, William. 
Starke, Christian, disch. Feb. 13, '63. 

J. Robinson, discharged March 8, 1803, Sw«'^'-J- Wm., M. O. June 10 '65 

° Spaulding, John, M. O. June 10, 'bo. 

Thompson, Moses, absent, sick at m. o. of regt. 

Usher, Wm., must, out June 10, '65 

Wenck. Engelhard, corpl., tr. to "V. R. C, May 

2, 1864. 
Wood, Calvin, corp'l, died, Greenville, Tenn., 

April 17, 186.5. 
Wood. Solomon F., serg't, wounded June 10, 

'04, tr. to V. R. C. Oct. 20, '64. 
Wood, James H., killed at Dallas, Ga., June 

2, 1864. 
Young, Alfred, mus. out June 10, '65, .as Corp., 

wounded. 
Ziska, Frank, M. O. June 10, '65. 

Eecruils. 



Stahl, John H., M. O. June 10, '65, as serg't. 

Stafford, Edwin, M. O. June 10, '6.5, as corp'l. 1 Wm. H. Wright, mus. out June 10, '65. 
ShertV, Abraham, mustered out June 10, 186.5. I r> • i 

Sherfv, Isaac, M.O. June 10, '65; wounded. J:'nvates. 

Thorp Edwin C, M. O. June 10, '65, as corpl. Bigler, John, mu.'teied out June 10, bo. 
Underwood' Lemuel, dls. Dec. 29, 1862. I Breedlove, Bales H., tr. to 38th 111. inf., M. 0. 

Windsor, Charles, disch. Oct. 1, 1863. I Mar. 20. 1866. 

Windsor. Henry, mustered out June 10, 1865. , Buell. John, disch d Oct. 24, 1862. 
Wisler, Charles" disch. Oct. 1, 1863. | Bivens, Charles N., trans, to V. R. C, April 1, 

WilliamsThomas J., M. O June 10, 1863. i 1864. ^ . .,, „ 

Wittle, Win., trans, to V. R. C. Feb. 1, 1865. j Bogess. Thomas H., died at Louisville, Ky., 
Weaver. Edward, mustered out June 10, 186.5. Oct. 23, 1862. n,,- 

Yonng, Francis M.^ M.O. June 10. '65, corp'l. Carter, Talbud P., mustered out June 10, ho, p r.,,,,.. Tliinoi^ fientember 1862 

Younce, James, P., tr. to Miss. Marine Brig., ! as sergeant. ; Oamp Hinler, illinoi* toepteruDer, 130., 

Sept 16, 1863 1 Clark, Matthew bt. C. G., tr. to 3Sth 111., M. O. jjy Q^l. Frederic Hecker, and was mus- 

Yager, Cyrus W.,mus.ered out June 10, '65. ^^^^^^-J'^^O, _186^. ^.^^^ ^^ ^^^^.^^^^ ^^ I ^^^^^j .^ ^^^^^^^ .33^ jgg^ p^^p^^^^^l 

n,, „,., I Nov. 13, 1862. at Wasliington City, November 3d, at 

licCrUil. I r^ , ,, ^ .i:.„u,j c...* 1 'A I «.«..«^o*1 I " "^ _ _ . _ , 

and 



Cronan, Denni.«, tr. to 38lli Ills., M. O. March 

11, 1860. 
McCaulev, Geo., tr. to V. R. C, Sept. 2, '63, M. 

O. Aug. 11, '6.5. 
Miller, Mark P., absent, wounded, at m. o. of 

regiment. 

EJglity-second Infantry. -Three years' ser- 
vice. 

The EiKhtv-.secoad was organized at 



Ingram, .Tolin. 



Dorsey,Albert.disch'dSept. 1, '64 wounded, j j^ . ^ November 9, 

Dillon, Ell, on furlough at m. o. of reg t.. ^iiiUo>-"" lici^nio, ^ , 

Dillon, Newton, corporal, died at Nashville, was assigned to Siegel's Division, A 



Muster Roll Company C. 

Scrijeant. 
Robert Kaiser, disch. Feb. 23, '63; disability 

Corporals. 
Heinrieh Oppermann, red. tr. to V. 

Jan. 10, 1865. 
George Flach. 

Private*. 
Braimsfield, Mathiis, must'd out June 10, '65. fiance, Roswell B., transfd to V. R. C, May 
Bruncke, Friederii-h, m.isl'd out June 10, '65. 1, 1864. 

Ei^permann, Adam, M. O. June ]0,'65, corp'l. Howard, Peter, mus. out June 10, 65. 
Heine. Wm ilisch. Oct. 2-5, '65 : disabilitv. Hadar, Joseph, died at Murfreesboro, Tenn , 
Hansen, H.nrv disch. Dee. 23 63; disability. Mar. 20, 1863. 

Holtz Henrv, discharged for disability. House, Chas., disch. Jan. 2. 1863. 

Holt/.' Louis, died at Richmond, Va., Mar. Hill, Wm., mustered out June 10, '6.3, as corp. 



Tenn., Dec. 17, '64, wounds. 
Dillon, Jasper, must, out June 10, '65. 
Deck, John W., M. O. June 10, '65. 
Dillon. Levi, tr. to 3Sth 111. inf , M. O. March 

20, 1866. 
Deroupe, Hypoliie, mus. out June 10, '65. 
C Doyle, Bryan. 

Ferguson. Andw., muster»^d out .June 10, 1865. 
Humphries, Thos., died at Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 

5, 1864. 



10, 1864, while prisoner of war. 
Meyer, George, died at Murfreesboro, Tenn., 

Feb. 8, 1803. 
Schmidt. Nicola.s, m. o. June 10, "65 ; as corp'l. 
W.ilter. .\nton, mustered out June 10, 1865. 
'VVei^s, Cliristoph., must, out June 10. 1865 
Weber, Frederich, discharged June 30, 1863, 

disability. 



wounded. 



assignea to »iegei s i^ivision, xi-rmy 
of the Potomac, Gen. Burnside com- 
manding. Marched to Fairfax Court 
House, November 19th ; to Stafford 
Court House, December 11th ; and was 
attached to First Brigade. Col. Schim- 
melfennig ; Third Division, Gen. 
Schurz; Eleventh Array Corps, Gen. 
Stahl. The regiment participated in 
Gen. Burnside's second movement 
against Fredericksburg, January 20th ; 
1863. January 2.5th, Gen. Burnside 
was relieved by Gen. Hooker, and the 



Jack.^on. Jas. M., corp'l, tr. to V. R. C, May ! Eighty-second moved to Stafford Court- 

, f^?*^^- ^ V . T 1 -fl, .,- IT. House, February 6th. April 1st, Gen. 
Lovd. Clement C. disch Jan 4, '64, disability. : , , , ..\, r-, .1 

Linder, Wm. H., tr. to V. R. C, Sep. 1 '63. j Howard took command or the Eleventh 
Linder, Riehd., tr. to V. R C, Apr. 10, '64. (jorpg . crossed the Rappahannock and 
Lawrence, Henry, mustered out June 10, 63, ' ,• • ^ 1 ■ 41 1 t,i„ 

as corporal. â–  Rapidan, and participated lu the battle 



EISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



247 



of Chancellorsville, May 2d, 1863, los- ' 
ing one hundred and fifty-five killed, 
wounded and missing. 

June 12th ; moved from camp on the 
campaign which ended in the battle of 
Gettysburg, July 1st, 2d, and 3d, 1863. 
The regiment was in the hottest part of 
this battle, and fought vigorously, sus- 
taining a loss of one hundred and twelve 
killed, wounded and missing. Followed 
the enemy back to Virginia, and after a 
nearly uninterupted march of two 
mouths, encamped at Walnut Branch 
Church, near Catlett's Station, August 
19th, 1863. Gen. Tyndaie took com- 
mand of the Brigade, July 13th ; Sep- 
tember 25th, 1863, marched to Manassas 
Junction, and thence by rail for the De- 
partment of the Cumberland, arriving 
at Bridgeport, Alabama, October 1st, 
1863. Col. Hecker, at this time, com- 
manded the Brigade. The regiment 
was transferred, October I9th, to the 
Third Brigade, and Col. Hecker assigned 
to command of Brigade. Moved to 
Eussel's Gap, October 19th ; and occu- 
pied and defended it during the fight, 
in which Gen. Hooker obtained posses- 
sion of a line of hills near Lookout 
Mountain, October 2Sth, 1863. Mustered 
out June 9th, 186.5, at Washington, D. I 
C, and arrived at Chicago, June 16th, 
1865, where it received final payment 
and discharge. 

Roster. 
Mnstrr RoU, Company F. 

Privates 
Pope, .lohn, tr. to 2d Minn. Vols., May 29, '63. 
Kedman, Frank, luiist'd out .June 9. 1865. 
Utz, Frederick, died Mar. 29, '63, wounds. 
Weniinp, Bernhardt, tr. to V. R. C., Jan. 17, 
1804. 

liecTiiit. 
Anerswald, Alfred G., tr. to 14 A. C. 

Muster Roll Company G. 

First Lieutenant. 
Joseph Gottlob, promoted to Capt. Co. I. 

Sergeant. 
Frederick W. Radt, disch. Aug. 14, 1803, as 
private, wounded. 

Privale.f. 
Gottleib, Wm. must'd out June 9, '65 as corp'l. 
Lehue, George, died at Stafford C. H. Va., 

Mar. 16, 1863. 
Pabi, .Joseph, killed at Dallas, Ga., May 2-5, 

1804. 

Master Roll Company H. 

Captain. 
Emil Frev, promoted maj , must'd out as 
corp'l, June 9, 1865. 

First Lieutenant. 
Johann Sporre, cashiered May 25, 1863. 



Corporah. 
Franz Tsherner, must'd out June 9, 1865. 
Theodore Chatodey, died in Andersonville 

prison, Sept. 18, 1864. 
AVendslin Trapj), must'd out. 

Wagoner. 
Jacob Limon, disch'd Feb. 12, 1863, disability. 

Privatei. 
Barker, Jacob, disch'd Sept. 30, 1864, disabl'ty. 
Erisman, Sanuiel, must'd out from V. R. C, 

June "JO, I860. 
Grabert, Joseph, died at Whiteside, Tenn., 

Feb. 1, 1.'S'j4. 
Geisbuchler, Johann, disch'd Feb. 7, 1864, 

disobiliiy. 
Hochuli, J.iccb, disch'd Apr. 5, '63, disbl'ty. 
Holzgang, Joseph, must'd out June 9, 186.5, 

wounded. 
Hildebrand, Edward, died Nashville, Tenn., 

June 11, 1864. I 

Hilderbramlt, Johann, must'd out June 9, 1865, | 

as sergeant. 
Koch, (lustav David, must'd out .June 9, 1865. 
Kurt, Johann Ultich, absent at M. O. of reg't. 
Kisstlins, Johann, di.^ich'd Sept. 4, '63, disbl'ty. 
Krim, Johann, tr. to \'. R. C. [ 

Muller, Heinrich, disch'd for dis-abl'ty. 
Ofl'enheim, Michael, must'd out June 9, 1865. 
Pfeiffer, Franz, must'd out June 2H, 1865. [ 

Seyfried, Robert, died, at Camp Butler, 111. | 

Oct. 24, 1862. I 

Schneider, Carl, disch'd Jan. 5, 1864. | 

Vogele, Wenillin, musi'd out June 9. '65. 
Witlmar, Johann, disch'd .Vpr. 26, '63, disbl'ty. 
W'ei.-'Sfnberger, Ludwig, musi'd out June 9, '65. 
Wildhaber, Wilhelm, mu.st'd out June 9, lSt)5. 
Willischack, Ernst, absent, wounded at M. O. 
AViklhaber, Justus, killed at Chancellorsville, 
Va., May 2, 1863. 1 

Zeigler, Carl, nuist'd out June 9, 1865. | 

Zimmerle, Jacob, must'd out June 9, '65. 

Master Roll Company K. 

Privates. 
Bertel, Xavier, died at Camp Schurtz, Va., 

Mav 1, '()3. 
Giintlier, Xavier, disch'd Aug. 12, '64, disbl'ty. 
Muller, Richard, absent, sick at M. O. of reg't. 
Stooker, M.athias, tr. to V. R. C, Get. 20, '63. 
Weber, Theodore, tr. to Co. IE, Nov. 1, '62, 

must'd out June 9, '6.5, as corp'l. 

Ninety-First Infantry.— Tliree Years' 

Service. 

Master Roll Company .\. 

Pecruits. 
Bannon, Michael, tr. to Co. F., 28 Ills., M. O. 

Feb. S, '66. 
.Masters, Barton AV., tr. to Co. A.. 28 Ills., M. 

O. Mar. 15, '66. 

Master Roll Company K. 

Musician. 
Milton B. Palmer, died at Brazos Santiago, 
Texas, July 30, '64. 



Ninety Seventh Infantry. — Tliree Tears' 
Service 

This regiment was organized at Camp 
Butler, Illinois, by Colonel Friend S. 
Rutherford in September, 1862, and mus- 
tered into the United States service the 
16th of the same month. October 3d 
it moved to Cincinnati, and on the 17th 
inst. marched to Nicholasville, and re- 
mained until the 10th of November, 
when it was assigned to the Division of 



Brigadier General A. J. Smith, and 
thence it moved to Louisville, Ky., ar- 
riving the loth. Embarked for Mem- 
phis, Tenn., on the 17th and went into 
camp the 26th following. It was here 
assigned to the Second Brigade under 
Col. W. J. Landrum of the Ninth Divis- 
ion, Brigadier General A. J. Smith 
commanding, and was a part of the 
Thirteenth Army Corps commanded by 
Major General John A. ^IcClernard. 
Dtcember 20th, it left Memphis and 
landed near Walnut Hill, on the Yazoo 
river, and occupied the extreme right 
during the operation at Vickirburg. 
When the attack was abandoned on the 
first of January, 1863, moved to Arkan- 
sas Post, and participated in the battle 
at that place on the 11th following. On 
the 15th, it moved down the river to 
Young's Point. "Went to Millikiu's 
Bend on the 6th of JIarch. Marched 
to Grand Gulf April 15th, and May 
1st, was engaged with the enemy at Port 
Gibson, and the 16th at Champion Hills. 
May 19th, arrived in the rear of Vicks- 
burg and participated in the siege until 
its capitulation, July 4th, 1863. 
I The regiment afterwards took part in 
' General Sherman's expedition to Jack- 
son, and returned to Yicksburg, where 
it remained until the 25th of August, at 
which date it embarked for New Orleans, 
with Brigadier General M. K. Lawler 
commanding the Fourth Divis-ion, and 
went into camp at Carrollton on the 
27th. It was mustered out of service 
July 29th, 1865, at Galveston, Texas,and 
arrived at Camp Butler, 111., August 
13th, 1865, where it received final pay- 
ment and discharge. 

Roster. 

\ Colonel. 

\ Friend S. Rutherford, hon. disch. June 16, '64. 

] Quartermaster. 

George C. Cockerel, mustered out Jul. 29, '65. 

Surgeon. 
Charles Davis, mustered out July 29, '65. 

Assistant Surgeon. 
Constantine M. Smith, resigned March 16, '63. 

Non-Commlssloned Staff. 

Q. M. Sergean/s. 
William W. McKee, reduced to ranks Co. \., 

Fet>. 4, '63; died Feb. 2-5, '63. 
R. .K. Hoagland, mustered out July 29, '65. 

Hospital Steward. 
James Rowe, mustered out July 29, '65. 



248 



EISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Principal Musician. 

Max JoaKliimi, red. to ranks Co. I., Jan. 1,'63. 

Jackson D. VVooeirow, reduced to t'o. D., Sept. 

24, '61; Fifer mus. out July 29, '65. 

niuater Roll, Caiupau)' A. 

Musician. 

Perry Stevens, disch. June 5, '65 ; disability. 

Hecruits. 

McGraw, James, transferred to 37th Illinois; 

deserted Feb. 28, 66. 
Murphy, John, disch. June 2, '65; disability. 

Miifiter Roll, Compauy B. 

Recruits. 

Arnold, Stephen D., transferred to 37th Ill- 
inois ; mustered out 15, '66. 

Town.send, Eli, transferred to 37th Illinois ; 
mustered out 15, '66. 

Muster Roll, Company C. 

Recruits. 



Daniel D. While, disch. Mar. 26, '63; disabl'y. 
Samuel Mathews, died Jan. 18, '63 ; wounds. 
James Norman. 
William Bar, mus. out Jul. 29, '65, as private. 

Privates. 
Al.^op, William B., discli. Sep. 6, '82 ; disblty. 
Armstrong. George, disch. Feb. — , '63 ; di.sb'y. 
Bishop, William, vet. dis., mus. out Jul. 29, '65. 
Boreman, Howland, died at New Orleans Dec. 

5, 1863. 
Bowen, Henrv, mus. out Julv 29, '65. 
Brown, Edward, disch. Feb. — , '63 ; disability. 
Bryant, Henry, transferred to Uo. C. 
Davis, Fred, mus. out Jul. 29, '6o, as Sergeant. 
Dalbee, John P. 
Elkins, Joel S., trans, to 37th 111. Inf. ; died at 

Columbus, Tex., Oct. 17, '65. 
Foreman, Samuel, mus. out July 29, '65. 
(4reenway, John B. 
Hanson, George, mus. out July 29, '6.5. 
Hinman, Arnold, disch. Feb. 2-1, '63; disabil'y. 
Jones, William, trans, to Co. C. 
McCorkle, Thomas C, dis. Feb. JO, '63 ; disb'y. 
McNulty, Patrick. 
Mason, Edward B-, trans, to Co. H. 



Groves, John H., trau.s. to 37th Illinois; dis- O.sborn, Xewton S trans, to Co I. 

' . _ '-_.,- ' L>..r1.In.>lr 0..m 1.^ I rt-ttla rtll f .lull 



Paddock, Orville j., mus. out July 29, '6-5, as 

Corporal. 
Phinnev, Henry R , disch. for disability. 
Riggs, Daniel t., mus. out July 29, 65". 
Sinclair, Maihias 

Stamps, Henry, mus out July 29, '65. 
Stanton, David, Ckirporal, killed at Blakelv, 

Ala, April 9, '65. 
Stillwell, John, mus. out Jul. 29, '6-5, as musi- 

Gustave D. Beadle, mus. out July 29, '65, as , stricklTnd, Samuel D., disch. Jan. 6, '63 
Private. ' 

Scrgexinls. 

David Radley, mus. out July 29, '6.5, as Priv't. 
James Bromley, private, reduced at his own 
request ; detached at muster out of reg't. 



charged Jan. 27, '66 ; disability. 

Martin, Joseph, trans, to 37th Illinois; mus- 
tered out Miy 15, '66. 

Keeve-s, James R., tran.s. to 37th Illinois; mus- 
tered out May 15, '66. 

Muster Roll, Company D. 

First Sergeant. 



Williamson, William 

Mecruiis. 



Coiyorals. 



Anderson, John, trans, to 37th III. Infantry ; 

mustered out May 1.5, 1866. 
Brennan, John, tr. to 37lh 111. Inft., must'd out 

Mav 15, 1866. 



Kichard ^lore, private, died at Nicholasville, Bragg.nan Her>ry, tr to 37th 111. Inft., must'd 
IT- v,„ iJ '(59 I 0"' ^^"^' 1°! 1866. 

^•■' ^"^- ^•*> "^- - - j Bernard, Devine, tr. to 37th III. Inft., must'd 

; out May 15, 1866. 

: Callahan Jolin, tr. to 37th 111. Inft., must'd out 



Gilford b. Cornell, mus. out Jul. 29, '65, as pvt. 
Montgomery M. Seybert, mus. out J uly 29, '65, 



as private. 

Musician. 

G. W. D. Polk, accidentally killed Nov. 1, '63. 
Privates. 

Fairbanks, James M., mus. out .July 29, "65. 
Hodden, Wm. H, disch. Dec. 22, '62; disbilt'y. 
Muckler, Henry, discharged for disability. 
Polk, James K., mus. out July 29, '65. 
Rowe, John W., mus. out July 29, '65. 
Stillwagen, George, mus. out July 29, '65. 
AVilson, John W., trans to 37th III. Infantry ; 
dishonorably disch. Feb 21, '66. 

Muster Roll, Company G, 

Captains. 

John Trible, died Jan. 26, '63. 

James W. Davis, resigned July 26, '''3. 

Frederick F. Lewis, mus. out July 29, '65. 

First Lieutenant. 
Levi Davis, Jr., mus. out July 29, '65. 
Second Lieutenants. 

William P. Hazard, discharged. 
Curios Colby, absent sick at mus. out of reg't. 
Sergeants. 

John T. Beem mus. out (as private) July 29- 
'65, at his own request, for promotion. 



May 15, 1866 
Carcofi; John, tr. to 37th III. Inft., deserted 

Feb. 18, 1866. 
Carter, Thomas M., tr. to 37th 111. Inft. must'd 

out May 15, 1806. 
Carter, William T., tr. to 37th 111. Inft., must'd 

out Mav 15, 1866. 
Clark, John G., tr. to 37th III. Inft., deserted 

March 14, 1866. 
Clark, Jo.seph F., tr. to 37th 111. Inft., must'd 

out May 1.5, 1866. 
Coons, F. A. M., tr. to 37th III. Inft., must'd out 

May 15, 1866 
Depuy, Frank, must'd out July 29 186-5. 
Dolan, Bernard.disch'd Jan. 6, 1865; disb'lty. 
Davis, Jo.seph, ir. to 37th 111. Inft., must'd out 

May 15, 1866. 
Dovle "f homas W.. tr. to 37th 111. Inft., must'd 

â–  out Mmv 15, 1866. 
Doyle, Henrv, tr. to 37th 111. Inft,, must'd out 

May 15," 1866. 
Duggan, John, tr. to 37th 111. Inft., must'd out 

May 15, 1866. 
Diggins, David, tr. to 37th 111. Infty., must'd 

out May 15, 1866. 
Enslow, Geo. W., tr., to 37th 111. Infl., must'd 

out May 15, 1866. 
Flinn, Patrick, tr. to 37th III. Inft., must'd out 

Mav 1.5, 1866. 
Ford, William W., tr. to 37th 111. Inftv., must'd 

out May 15, 1866. 



Samuel K. McGregory, disch. May 1, '64, fori Framer, Jeremiah, tr. to 37th III. Infty., must'd 
promotion in Cal. Art. out May 15, 1866. 



Funk, Peter S., tr. to 37th III. Inft., must'd out 

May 1.5, 1866. 
Goodwin, Nelson, died Mar. 29, 1865; wounds. 
Hall, Charles W., tr. to 37th. 111. Inft., disch'd 

March 24, 1866. 
Harris, Lewis T., tr. to 87th 111. Infty., must'd 

out May 1-5, 1866. 
Heath, Jeremiah, tr. to 37th 111. Inft., must'd 

out May 15, 1866. 
Halev, Jarae-", tr. to 37th 111. Inft., must'd out 

May 15, 1866. 
Johnson, Edward, sent to Tortugas for two 

years by G. C. M. 
Johnson. Charles, must'd out May 22, 186.5. 
Kemp, Jamis W., tr. to 37th 111. Inft., must'd 

out May 15, 1866. 
Lee, James M., tr. to 37th HI. Inftv., deserted 

Feh. 18, 1866. 
Maguire, James, tr. to 37th 111. Inft., deserted 

Feb. 28, 1866. 
Munson, John, disch'd May, 1864. 
Murphv, John, tr. to 37ih III. Inft. , must'd out 

May 1.5, 1866. 
Morrison, Edward, sent to Dry Tortugas for 

accepting bribes from rebel prisoners. 
Racine, Lewis, tr. to 37th 111. Infty., must'd 

out May 15, 1866. 
Ramsey, Samuel, tr. to 37th III. Inft., must'd 

out May l-'i, 1866. 
Richmonil, Wiliam, tr. to 37th III. Inft., must'd 

out May 15, 1866. as corporal. 
Robidon, John, tr. to 37th III. Inft., must'd out 

May loth, 1866. 
Williams, Joseph, tr. to 37th HI. Inft., must'd 

out May 15, 186.5, as corporal. 
Wilson William, tr. to 37th III. Inft., must'd 

out May 15, 1866. 
Wigand, William, disch'd Jan. 31, 1863 to en- 
list in Miss. Marine Brigade. 

Muster Rail Company H. 

Privates. 

Corbet, John, accidentally killed Nov. 1, '63. 
Sharkey, Michael, must'd out July 29, 1865. 
Sovern, Duncan L. 

Recruits. 
Evering, John L., tr. to 37 III. Inft., m. o. 

May 15, 1866. 
Faly, Patrick, tr. to 37 111 Inft., m. o. May 

15, 1866. 
Handv, James, tr. to 37 111. Ini't., m. o. May 

15, 1866. 
Kramer, Henry, tr. to 37 111. Inft., m. o. May 

1.5, 1866. 
Linderman, Frederick, m. o. July 17, 1865. 
Rudolph, Jacob, tr. to 37 III. Inft., m. o. 

May, 15, 1866. 
Smith, George A. 
Waggner, Isidor, tr. to 37 111. Inft , m. o. 

May 15. 1866. 
Waggner, Damion, tr. to 37 111. Inft., m. o. 

May, 15, 1866. 

Muster Roll Compauy I. 

Captains. 

William .\chenl.ich, resigned M:irch 9, 1864. 
Samuel R. Howard, hon. disch. May 15, 1365. 

Second Lieutenant. 
Ilermap Kayser, ra. o. a.s serg't., July 29, '65. 

First Sergeant. 
Philip Mook. 

Sergeants. 
Daniel Merrill. 
Charles Goulding. 
Aquila Reeves. 

Corporal. 
James Peterson, reduced, died May 12, 1863. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



249 



John Burns, mustcrwl out July 2", 1865. 
Nelson 1*. Lawson, di.s. Dec. 9, '02; disability. 

Privales. 
Astle, William, mustered out July 29, 1865. 
Astle, George, mu.steredout July 2U, 1S65. 
Becker, Jciliii. 

liarnelt, John, dis. Feb. 1803; aLsability. 
Cure, H. F., di.scli Oct. 3, 18(;3: disability. 
Cloud, William, mustered out July 29, 1865. 
Cloud, John, mustered out July 29, 1865. 
Carter, TJiomas. 

Cliallxcorab, Henry, raust'd out July 29, 18G5. 
Fratier, William, killed at Vicksburg, May 

19, lS6:i. 

Frazier, .Jaiues, mustered out July 29, 1865. 

Ferguson, James, wounded in railroad acci- 
dent, Nov. 1, IS(>3; discliarfjed. 

Oreeling, .Jacob, mustered out July 29, 1865. 

(ilenn, Franklin S., must'U out July 2i), 1865. 

Ilofiinann, Charles. 

Ilir.-ley, Frederick. 

Harper, Hirarn, tr. to 37th 111. Inf't., deserted 
Jan. 1, 1866. 

Howard Samuel L., ab.sent, wounded at m. o 
o( regiment. 

Howard, J. B. S., dis. Mar. 12, '63 ; disability 

Henrisiin, John. 

Joachimi, Ma.t, musteretl out June 17, 186-5. 

Kerchenberger, Clauss, m. o. July 29, 1865. 

Lawson, Jacob, mustered out July 29, 1865. 

Linsig, George, mu-^ereil out July 29, 1865. 

Lane, Richard, died at I'aris, Kv., Nov. 1,'G2. 

Mendoza, Cidos, mustered out May 22, 1865. 

Melton, Kudolpli. 1st sergeant. 

Platz, August, tr. to V. K. C. March 15, 1861 

Parks, John, mustered nut July 29, 1S65. 

Selzler, August, mustered out July 29, 1865. 

RccrvLiis. 
AVcihaupt, J., mustered out July 29, 1805. 
Johnson, James, tr. to 37 111. Inf't., dis. April 

20, 1866. 

UnnMtgned Eecruils. 
Cornwell, Tliomas J. 
Cifford, John. 

Cornell. C. C. died April 8, 1804. 
Hassan. Robert J. 
Jones, G. J. 
Ryan, James, 
Schafer, Albert. 

AiiiK'ty-EightJi Iiifhiitrj- — Tlir«-«- Yoars'Ser- 

Muster Roll Company K. 

Unifsiyned li'cruhs. 
Cox, Nicholis. 
Ridgdy, William E. 

One Iliuidrrdlli Iliftilitry.— iTlirt* Years' 

Service.) 

The One Hundredth regiment was 
organized at Camp Irwin, Joliet, 111., 
ia August, 1862, by Col. Frederick A. 
Bartle.<on, and mustered into service 
August 30th. September 2d, the regi- 
ment moved via. Springfield, Ilinois, to 
Louisville, Ky. It was transferred into 
several divisions during its service, made 
several marches and skirmishes, took 
little active duty on the field. It 
was mustered out June 12, 18G5, at 
Nashville, Tennessee, and received final 
payment and discharge June 15, 1865. 
32 



We find a few men in companies B and 
E from jNIiidison county, whose names 
are given below. 

Muster Roll Company B. 

Corpural. 
William Wilco.v. 

P,ic:xt:s. 

Comstock, Elihii I!., tr. to V. R. C. Nov. 1, '03. 
Uallinger, Iguatz, tr. to V. R. C Aug. 1, '63. 
Devlin, Jolin, discli. Feb. 3, '03 ; dis. 
Dunlap, John, m.o. June 12, '65. 
King, Martin B., died of wounds received in 

battle of Franklin, Tenn., Dec. 12, '64. 
King, .Vndrew .1,, in. o. .June 12, '65 iissergt. 
Morrison, Lorenzo; m.o. June 1'2, '05. 
Palmer, Frederick, m. o. .June 12, '04 as .sergt, 
Schall, John, disch. Feb. 24, '03; dis. 

Muster Roll Company K. 

Corpi)raL 

Horace Web.ster, died at Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 
20, '63. 

Piw ites. 

Leisure, .John, disch. Apr. 14, '63. 

Leonard, Alvin, died at Silver Springs, Tenn., 

Nov. 17, '02. 
Paul, Oliver, m. o. June 12, '62 as sergt. 

Recruit. 

Leasure, Cliesner, died at Nasliville, Tenn., 
Dec. 23, '62. 

One IlltUflred and Pifteenlll Infantry — 
Tllree Years' Service. 

AJjuAaid. 

John II. Woods, resigned April 10, '63. 

I Muster Roll Company F. 

Privates. 
I Huffman, .Jacob, drowned Sept 24, '63. 
King, .Jamc.s T., m. o. May 22, '65. 

One Moudred and SeveuteentH Tuiautry. 
(Three Years' Service.) 

The One Hundred and Seventeenth 
Regiment Illinois Volunteers was orga- 
nized at Camp Butler, Illinois, in Sep- 
tember, 1S62, by CjI. Risdon M. Moore, 
and was mustered into the United States' 
service, September 19th, by Captain 
Washington. Companies D, F and G 
were recruited wholly from Madison 
county, and a few from company C were 
represented. It left Camp Butler No 
vember 11th, and arrived at Memphis, 
Tennessee, on the 17th, where it re- 
mained on duty until July 5th, 1863, 
and was sent to reinforce Helena, Ark., 
and returned December 25ch ; pursued 
Forest in Western Tennessee, losing 
three meu killed in a skirmish at La 
Fayette. 

With the Third Brigade, Third Divi- 
sion, Sixth Army Corps, it moved Decem- 
ber 2l)th, 1863, to Vicksburg; was en- 
gaged in the Meridian campaign ; en- 



gaged in a skirmish February 5th, 1864, 
lo.sing two killed and five tvounded. 
March 4th returned to Vicksburg. and 
on the 10th, etnbarked for the Red river 
expedition. March I4th, 1864, assisted 
iti the capture of Fort De Russy ; April 
9ch, engaged in the battle of Pleasant 
Hill, and on the 11th, moved to Grand 
Ecore. On the 14th, was sent to relief 
of gunboats and transports at Campta, 
La., and engaged at Cloutierville aiid 
Cane river, at Bayou Rapids May 2d ; 
at Gov. Moore's platitation and Bayou 
Rapids May 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 
Uih. Continued return march to the 
Mississippi river on the 14th.skirm'.-shing 
daily. Was at the battle of Yellow 
Bayou, May 18th, and reached the 
Mississippi on the 20th, and Vicksburg 
on the 27th. Participated in driving 
Marmaduke from Chicot Lake and 
Columbia, Arkansas, and arrived at 
Memphis Juije 10th, 1864. 
- June 14th 1><64, marched to relief of 
Sturges, and on the 23il, be;ian the 
Tupelo campaign. On July 14th, was 
engaged at Tupelo, and at Old Town 
creek on the 15th. Commenced the 
Oxford campaign August 5th, and on 
the 18th and 19th, was engaged at 
Hurricane, returning to Memphis on 
the 30th. From Memphis the regiment 
went to Jefferson barracks, St. Louis, 
arriving September 19ih. was engaged 
October 1st, at Franklin ; moved via. 
Jeti^erson City, Sedalia, Lexington, In- 
dependence and Harrisonville, when it 
returned to St. Louis, November 19th. 

Moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and 
took position in the works December 1st, 
1804; participated in the battle of Nash- 
ville, December 5th and 6th, and pur- 
sued Hood, reaching Clifton, January 4, 
1865 ; went by boat from East Fort to 
New Orleans, arriving January 7th ; 
embarked at Chalmette, March 7th, 
for Dauphine Island ; thence to Fish 
river with the Sixteenth Corps, Major- 
General A. J. Smith commanding. 
Engaged at Spanish Fort from March 
27th to April 2d, and at Blakely until 
the !Hh, taking part in his capture. 
April 13th, marched to Montgomery, 
and thence to Camp Butler, III., where 
the regiment was mustered out, August 
5th, 1865, by Captain James Hall, U. 
S. A. 

The regiment in its three years' ser- 



230 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



vice, was engaged in six battles and 
thirty-three skirmishes, marched 2,307 
miles, traveled by water 6,191, and by , 
rail 778 miles. 

Roster. | 

j\Iajor9. I 

Tliom.Ts J. Ifewsham, resigned Apn 13, '64. | 
William P. Olden, m, o. Aug, 5, '65. j 

Chaplain. 1 

Jolin D. Gillham, resigned May 16, '64. 
Muster Roll Company C. 
Privates. 
Carter, John H., disch. Nov. 26, '64 ; dig. 
Honpilev, James K., M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
Hendrickson, I'eter B., M. O. Aug. o, 1S66. 
Khoda, James F., M. O. Aug. 5, 1S65. 
K..th, John F. ^ ^^^. 

Savage, Daniel B., M, O Aug. 5, 1865ascorp. 
Wliiimore, Hiram, M. O. Aug. 6. 1S65. 
Muster Roll Company D. 
Captains. 
Abraham B, Keagle, M, O., as 1st lieut., Aug. 
5, 1866. 

First I/ciitcnant. 
Benjamin F. Olden, M. O., as 2d lieut., Aug. 5, 
1865. 

Second Lieutenant. 
Sidney Z. Robinson, M. O., as 1st sergt., Aug 
5", 1865. 

Sergeants, 
Thomas R. Wilson, M. O. .\ug. 5. 1865. 
Alson F. Weaver, M. O. Aug.. 5, 1865, _ | 
Charlts P. Stephenson, M. O. Aug, 6. I860. 
Charles E. Newman, M. O. May 31, 1866. 

Corporals. | 

William A. Wyatt, sergt., died July 14, 1S65. ] 
Leroy P. Phillips. M. O. June 21, 1865 as pn. [ 
Gi orge Davis, M. O. Aug, 5, 1865 as private. I 
William A, Davis, M. O. Aug 5, 1S65 as prJ. 
William A, Smith, M, O. Aug. 6, 1865 as pn. 
Joseph Sheckler, M. O. Aug. 5. 1865. 
William McPherson, disoli. Mar. 19, '63; dis. 
Jacob Eldgely, private, died Mar. 28, 1864. 

Musicians. 
Charles S. Clark, M. O. Aug. 5, 1S65. 
William H. Wagoner, died June 28, 1865. 

Wagoner. 
Benjamin McNeil, M, O. Aug 5, 1865. 

Privates. 
Applebv, John B., M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
Axley, Isaac, M. O. Aug. 5, 186.5. 
Bartlett, Wm., died Oct, 17, 1863. 
Bowen, John. 

Bowles, James, M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
tasey, James, M. O. Aug, 5, 1S65. 
Calvin John, M. O, Aug. 5, 1865. 
Davis, Isaac, M. O. Aug, 6, 1865 as sergt. 
Duncan, William, M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
Duttey, James, M. O. Aug. 5, 1865, 
Fallon, John, M. O. Aug, 5, 1865. 
Fi^gv, Frederick. 
Filler, Louis, M. O. Aug. 5, 1865, 
Foreman, Alfred, M. 0. Aug, 5, 1865. 
Fiuit, Ilenrv C, M, O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
Fieldworlh, Frederick, M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
(irant, Samuel L., M. O. Aug 5, 1865. 
Hauskins, Jame,=, ab-cnt, sick at M. O. of regt. 
Hall, Warfield S., disch. Deo 2, 186.'i ; disab'y, 
Jesw'aller, Henrv, M. O, Aug. 6, 1865. 
Kase, Eherliard, M. O, Aug. 5, 186.5. 
Kimball, James, M. (). Aug. 5, 1865. 
Klinip, (jerm. M. O, Aug. 5, 1865. 
LowiU, Stephen, Corporal. 
Lamb, James P., M- O- Aug 5, 1865. 



Lamb, John E , M, O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
McNeil, Marshall, M. O, Aug, 5, 1865. 
Mclherson, John, died Feb. 8, 1863. 
McPlierson, George, <lied Jan, 4, lii63, 
McLaughey, Maihias, M. O. Aug. 5, 1865 as 

corporal. 
Mason, I'atrick, 

Millrr, Frederick, :M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
Meir, J.bn H., M. O. Aug. 5, 1865 as corp 1. , 
Movers, William, M. O, Aug, 6, 1865. 
i Mever, Dietiicli, M. () Aug. 5, 1865. j 

I Miicbell, Alonzo, M. O Aug. &, 186.3. 
Murphy, Wilson, M. O. Aug. 6,_1865. 
I Orme, Thomas, die<l Jan, 9, 1863. 
i Olnev, (;eorge W , disch. Sept. 18, 1863. 
Pecti.f Richard, disch. Aug. 2-5, ls63 ; disab'y. ] 
j Peterson, George W., M. O. Aug. 5, 1865 as | 
corp'l. 
Page, Robert, M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
Rvan, John, M. O. Aug. b, 1865,as corpT. 
K'ilev William, discli. Mav 3, 1863; disab y. 
1 Rock«cll, Joseph, disch. Feb. 4, 1863; dis'y. 
jRoilnvell, William, M, 0. Aug. 5, i860. 
I Stall Hiram E., M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
i Siillwell, Willis, M, O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
\ Sharp, Sanuul, M. O. Aug. 5, i860. 
1 Schulz, Charles, M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
' Sandbach, John G,,M. O. July 17, 1865. 
Smiih, David D., died Dec. lH, 1862. 
1 Svddell, Hmrv, M, O. Aug. 5, 186-5. 
Smith, Henrv, M. O. Aug. 3, I860. 
Speckman, Gotleib, M. 0» Aug. 5, 1865. 
Smith, Francis P., M. O, Aug. 5, 1865. 
Smi^h, David S,, M. O. Aug. 5, I860. 
Smith, Martin, M. O. Aug. 5, 1866. 
Savage, John L., tr. to 33d Ills, infantry. 
VogUr, Alfred, died Jan. 4, 1864. 
Vieler, Guirge W., M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
Wa.sman. William, M. O. Aug, 6, 1865 as cor 

poral, 
Wilson, Houstan, M- O. Aug. 5 I860. 
Yostmeir, Charles, M. O, Aug. 5, I8O0. 



Recrvils. 
Kell, William F,, M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
Murphy, Ira C. 

Muster Roll Company F. 

Captains. 
Jacob J. Kinder, resigned July 11. 1864. 
Charles W. Blake, M, O. Aug. 5, 1865. 

First Lieutenant. 
Charles C. Tread way, M. 0. Aug. 5, 1865. 

Second Lieutenants. 
Gershora P. Gillham, resigned Jan. 24, 1863. 
David Bartlett, M. 0., a.s sergt,, Aug. 5, I860. 

Serc/eants. 

Abraham Lindernian, M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
James P. Fahnes-tock, M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
William Lamborn, M. O. July 1, 1866. 

Corporals. 
Joshua A. Springer, disch. Mar. 18. 1863; dis. 
George W. Spurr, M. O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
William L Brown, M. O. May 18, 1865. 
Adolphiis P. Wolf, M, O, Aug. 2, 1865. 
George W. Mver.s, M, O. as private, 
.loseph H. Wicklille, tiisch, Sept. 24, 1863. 
Theodore S\dell, disch. June 14, 1863 ; dis. 
Joseph H. Purviauce, died at Memphis July 

8, 1863. 

Musicians. 
Beniamin H Richards, dis. Jan. 20, '63; dis. 
Otto E. Wolf, M. O. Aug. 5, 1866. 

Wagoner. 
John F. Edwards, absent, sick, at muster out 

of regt, 

Privitc!. 
Avard, Henry 11., must'd out Aug. 6, 1865, as 

corporal. 



Anderson, Jas. M., M. O. Aug. 5, '6o. 
Anderson, John J,, M. O, Aug. 5, '6o. 
Anischler, John, M. O. Aug. 5. '6.5. 
Ballard, Washington C, died at Memiihi!", 

July 5, '63. 
Bak'er, Samuel, disch. Jan. 28, '63, dieability. 
Baird, John L, M, O. Aug. 5, '66. 
Baite.-, Wm. G„ M. O. Aug, 5, '6o. 
Bair.l, »atm.el, di.sch'd July 28, '63, disability. 
Barll.lt, Wm.K. disch. Sep 24, '63, disability, 
i Buitker, Louis, M O, Aug, 5, '65. 
BainI, Wm. H , M. O. Aug. 6, '65, as cojpl. 
Bartlett, Kobt. N., M. O. Aug. 5, 66. 
Brewerlnn, Sidney S, disch. May 31, 6o. 
Briscoe, Jas. B., M. O. Aug. 6, '6o. 
I Cox, Chas. W., M. O. Aug. 5, '65. 
1 Cameron, Alfred, M. O. Aug. o, '6o. 
Cole, Newton M,, died at New Orleans, March 
I 6, 1865. 
Cole, Allen, disch. Jan. 28, '63, disability. 
1 Casey, John. M. O. Aug. 5, '65. 
1 Clark, Wm. P., M. O. Aug. 5, '65. 
i DaviilBon, Wm. M., M. O. Aug. 5, '6.o. 
i Donaphon, He/.ekiah, died at Moscow, Tenn., 

Dec 27, '63, wounds. 
'. Eickholi; 1-rcd k, M, O. Aug. 5, '65. 
' Eraser, John, drowned in Miss, river, June 

I Farmer, Lemuel J., discharg. April 27, 1865, 
* disabilitv. n io/>- 

iGeeis, Jacob M., mustered out Aug. 5, Ibfw, 
I as corporal. r icr-- 

Gillham, John A., mustered out Aug. &, 18tJ0, 
1 as sergeant. 

Geers, vamuel P., M. 0, Aug. 5, 6o. 
I Geers Wm. S , M. O. Aug 5, 65. 
1 Gatis,' George W. C , disch'd March 18, 1863, 
' disability. ^ ,„ ,,.. 

Goodvkoonti, Noival AV., disch. June 10, 6o, 

1st sergeant ; disability. 
Goodvkoontz, John F., M. O. Aug, -5, '6o, 
Hiiglies. AVm. A,. M O. Aug. o, 6o. 
Head, Wm. H., M. O. Aug. 5, '6o. 
Heail Wm W., M. O. Aug. 5, '66, as corp I. 
llo<lgers, John S., disch. Dec. 20, 62, disab'y 
Hettich, John, M, O. Aug, 5, '6.5. 
lleddes, Joseph, died at Memphis, March 11, 

1863, ^ ,^. 

Horsiman, Deitrich, M. O. Aug. 5, 6o. 
Kevser, Ambrose, M.O. Aug. 5, '65. 
j Ke'rsev, Harrison C, M. O, Aug. 5, '65. 
Lav, William L., disch. June 11, '03. 
Look, O. C, trans, to Co. 1, M. O. Aug. 5, 6o, 

as corporal, 
McKitrick, Ers., M. O, Aug. 5, 65. 
Mun,.ion, Peter, M.O. Aug. 6, '66. 
Miller, John, M. O, Aug, 5, '6o. ^ ^ ^^ 
Marshall, John W,, transf. to V, R. C, May 

1, 1804. ^. , , 

Nix, Wm., disch. Feb. 1, '63 ; disab y. 
O'Brien, John. 

Oivvell, Emerv H.. M. O. Aug. o, 6). 
Pline, Leonard, disch. Feb. 17, 65; disab y. 
Purviance, Wm. II, , M. O, Aug. .5, 6o. 
Handle, Marion, M. O. Aug. 5, 6o. 
Richards, William, disch. Jan. 27, 63 ; di.sa- 

bility- 
Ritcher, Aug., M. O. Aug. 5, 6o, as corpl. 
Seidlick, Jos.,M.O. Aug. 5, 'tio. 
Stuart, Charles J, corpl, died near Jackson, 

MifS,, Feb. 5,04; wounds. 
Stolnaker, Wm. L., M. O. Aug. 5, '65. 
Schidmever, Henrv, M. O Aug.o, 6o. 
Smilh, Pliny, disch. Dec. 20, '6o; disab y. 
Stout, Charles. 

Siuilh, John M., M. O. Aug. o, '65. 
Tartt, Thos, M., M. O. Aug. 5, '66. 
Tompkins, John T. 
Watson, Sam'l, M. O. Aug. 6, 6o. 
Willoughl.y, John H. B., M. O. Aug. 5. 6) 
Wright, James R., disch'd March 20, 1863; 

disability. 
Yokiim, James A. J , died at Camp Butler, 

Oct. 3, '62. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



251 



Recruits. 

Ballard, Wm, T.. tr. to 33.1 Ills. 

Davis, John H , tr. to 33.1 Ills. j 

Uav, Benjamin K.. Ir. to 33d Ills, 

Davidsun, James J., died at Memphis, June 

•10, 1S64. 
Gillham, Saai'l. J., tr. to 33 1 Ills. 
Murphv, Henrv C, tr. to 3^1 Ills. 
Pickett, Thomas J., M. O. Aug. 5, '65. 
Phillips, Jamts K , M. U. Aug. 5, Go. 
Ross, tjeorge \V., iniusr.l lo 33d Ills. 
Smith, James L., trausf d to 33d Ills. 

Aluster Roll Company G. 

Captains. 
Curtis Blakeman, resigned Jan. 23. 03. 
An.lrew J. Gregg, r. signed June 23, '04. 
Liavid T. Todd, iM. O. Aug. 5, 'G5. 

First Lieatenanl. 

Cuiiel Kerr, M. O. Aug. -5, 'G5. 

Second Lieutenants. 

James G. F.lliff, resigned Jan. 23. 'G3. 
Josephus Porter, .M. O. (as serg'i) Aug. 5, 'Go. 

Sergeditts. 
William T. Blakeraju, di^ch'd March 2, '63 ; 

disability. 
Oliver Hockett, discli. Jan. 17, "G4, as private ; 

disaliility. 
Alexander Keown, M. O. Aug.-i, 'Go. 

Corporulx. 

Jarvin J. We^t. disch. March 14, 'G3,dis'y. 
Jonathan F. Murray, M. O. Aug. o, 18G5, as 

private. 
James C. Brockles, M. O Aug. .5, 186-3, as 

sergeant. 
Ri.diard S.iunders, m o. Aug. 5, '65. as ser; 
Wm. Emiirev, ni. o. Aug. 5. l.SGo, as serg't. 
James P. Frazier, dis. Jan. 8, '63; disabilit 



Columhus C Buckley, private, tr. to V. E. 

Jan. 2, 1865. 
John D. Himburg, disch. Nov. 19, '64, ser. 

disubility. 

Musician. 
Thomas Van Hooser, mustered out Aug. 5, '63 



James F. Hockett. 



Waffoner. 



Gillott, Uenrj K., mustered ont Aug. 5. 1865. 
Glover, Kobe'it F., mustered out Aug. 5. 1S65. 
Hayes. Andrew J., died at Memphi.s, Aug. 29, 

18G3. 
Hart, Alonzo, M. O. Aug. 5, '63, as corporal. 
Howey, Henry, died at Jeflerson Barracks, 

Sept. y. '64. 
Hedrick, Charles W. mustered out Aug. o, 63. 
Hu-^song, Andrew B., musi'd out Aug. 5, '65. 
Intermaiz, Samuel, mnsi'd out Aug. 5, 18G.5. 
Kile, George, died at Memphis, Feb. 17, 1S63. 
Lank. August, M. O. May 31, 186-5. 
Motiitt, Isaac, M O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
Matthews, William. 

Matthews, Alfred, mustered out Aug. 5. '65 
Matthews, James A., disch. Ajiril 24,1863; 

disability. 
Mav, Charle.s S., M. O Aug. 5, 1865. 
McClanahau, James, M. O. Aug. 5, lS6o. 
Oburn, Samuel, died at Mendan, Miss., July 

8, 1865. 

Prickett, Isaac, mustered out Aug. 5, 1865. _ , 
Pridmore, Thomas, must'd out Aug. 5, 1865. i 
Rittraan, Henry, mustered out Aug. 5, 1865. 
Reeves, Wilev G., died at Memphis, May 29, 

1863. ' i 

Roseberry, James, mustered out Aug. 5, I860, 

as corporal. 
Schoti'ier, Victor, must'd out June 5, 1865. 
Sclimid, Peter, dis. .Mar. 14, '63 ; .lisabiKty. 
Shadric, William, M. I>. Aug. 5, IS60. 
Schramm, Augustus, M (). Aug. 5, 1865. 
Slve, George, died Ai.ril 30, 18G1. 
Schafiir. Washington, died at Memphis, June 

9. 1863. ,. , .,. 
Tetrick, Charles, disch. Apr. 1, '63 ; disability. 
Taylor, Kichard, M. O. Aug. 5. '65, a.s corp'l. 
Thorp, Hale M.. M. U. Aug. 5, '65, as (-orp'l. 

i Tliorpe, Benard, mustered out Aug. 5, 1865. 
Van Hooser, Henry, died at Memphis, May 15, 

1SG3. 
Van Hooser, Wm., nnistered out .Aug. 5. I860. 
West, Joseph P., disch. April 24. '64 ; disab'ty. 
Williamson Charles C, M O. Aug. 5, 1865. 
Watt, Eli, died Jan. 8, 1S65 
Wood. Francis E.. dis. Jan. 15, '63 ; disab'ty. 
Wilder. Henry, died Jan. 15, 1865 ; wounds. 
Wood, Joel , ,, 

Wright, James R., dis. Mar. 20, '63; disab ly. 

Ee'yi-uits. 
Morler. John G., mustered out Aug. 5, 1S65. 
West, James, mustered out Aug. 5, 1865. 
Woo.l, E.lwin. tr. to 33 111. Inf., must'd out 
Nov. 21, I860. 



Whiteside, Samuel P., dis. May 12, '65 ; wds. 
Zeigler, George N., mustered out Aug. 5, '65. 

Unassigned TJfc.-uite. 
Hay.s. William P, died at Camp Bull- r, Ills., 

â–  Mav 1, 1SG4. 
Ledaker, James A., subtr. to4.')th III. Inlantry. 
Williams, William C. 

Roster, One Huntlreil and Twenty second 

Infanti-)-— (Tliree Years' Service.) 

Muster Roll, Comimny D. 

r,ivnt'S. 
Brown, Charles, must'd out July 15, 1865. 
Howell, Williams., must'il out June 7, 1865. 
Hauls, George P., miistd out N'.iv. 24, 1865, 
Nelson, William, absent since Nov. 9, 1865. 
Nelson, Benj. F., must'd out 24, 1865. 



Privates. 
Ainsworth, Edgar F.. mus. out Aug. 12, 186-5. 
Armstrong, Thoma.s J., m. o. Aug. 12. 1865. 
Aldrich, Kildrey P., mus;eied out Aug. 12, 

1865, as corporal. 
Aldrich, Homer L., died at Memphis, Feb. 27, 

1863. 
Brvant, John F. 
Brandenburger, Mathias, drowned Aug. 14, 

1864. 
Brown, William II., mu^stered out Aug. 5, '65. 
Brown. Simon, mu-.t»red out Aug. 5. ISGo. 
Beggs. Thomas, mu-t'il out Aug. 0, 1865^ 
Barnes. John, mustered out June 5, 1865. 
Calvin, Jame-. H., mnsiercd (mt Aug. 5, 1865. 
Criner, Michael, mustered out Aug. 5, 186-5. 
Chanee, Jonathan, nmsl'd out Aug. 5, 1865. 
Catobin.s, William. 
Dawson, Thomas \V., must'd out Aug. 5,1865, 

as corporal. 
Dee. Hiram, dis. Jan. 15, 1863 : disability. 
Diefenbangh, Adam, iinm'd out -Aug 5. 1865. 
Embrev. John, niu-tered out Aug. 5, 1865. 
Ellift". William W.. mustered om Aug. 5, '6-5. 
Fitzpatrick, John F . iniisieretl out .Aug 5. '65. 
Fuller, William K., M O. Aug. 5,^6.5. a-^^sergt. 
Francis, Joseph, must'd out -Aug. o, 1865. 
Griiver, Samuel, musi'il out Aug 5. 1865 
Gruver, Richard, mu=i'd out Aug. 5, 1865. 



Slnster Roll, Company H. 

Private. 
Eaton, Willi.^ra P., M. O. Aug. 5. '65, as sergt. 

Muster Roll Company I. 

Privates. 
McGuire, Samuel G.. must'd out Aug. 5 '65. 
Phillips, James R., tr. to F., M. O. Aug. '6.5. 
Pomeroy, George S., tr. to D., M. O. Aug. o,'6o. 

Master RoU Company K. 

First Lieutenant. 
James D. Cobine, must'd out Aug. 5, 1S65. 

Musicia7i. 
Thomas Greer, mustered out Aug. 6, 1865. 

Privates- 
Greer, Oswell V., dis. Dec 23, '63 ; disability. 
Hiv E<lwar.l M.. <iied at home. May S, '63. 
Hay! Andrew J. W., died at Jett'erson Barracks 

â–  Nov. 6. 1S64. 
Rule, .-Vlfnd. mustered out Aug. 5, 1SG5. 
Stephens, Malcolm C, dis Feb. 11. •6.5;_disbV. 
Spencer, George W., musi'd out Aug. 5, 1865 
Wallace. Francis A., died at Memphis, Feb. 
20, 1863. 



Roster, One Hundred and Twenty-fourtU 
Infanlry - Tliiee Vears' Service. 

Muster Roll Company C. 

Second Lieutenant- 
John L. Richards, must'd out Aug. 15, 1865. 

Privates. 
Ilavs, H. H., must'd out July 13, '65; w'nded. 
Levtreit, AV. W., disch'd June 15, 1865, for 

promotion in U. S. C. T. 
Mills, Cliarles K, disch'd in 1863, for promo- 
tion as hospital steward U. S. A. 
Recruits. 
Dougherty. Patrick W., tr. to 33d 111. 
Hays, Pliny C, tr. to 33.1 IT. 
'. Riley, Henry C, tr. to 33d HI. 

Roster, One Hundred and Twenty-slxtll In- 
fantry.— Iliree Years' Service.) 
Master Roll Company C. 

Private. 
B irt, Hiit^hinson, di-.cli's S;pt- 15, 1S64. 

Unas.<igned Recruit. 
Gilpin, William W. 

Roster, One Hundred and Thirtieth Infan- 
try (Three Years' Service.) 

Master Roll Company A, 

Recruits. 
Everett, H. H., tr. to 77th III., Co. C ; re-trans- 

f d to 130th as revived, m. o. Aug. 14, 65. 
Folks, Matthias, tr. to 77th III., Co. C ; re-trst'd 

lo 130th a.sTevived, m. o. .Vug. 13, 1865. 
Tracv, J. T., tr. to77th III. Co. C; re-trM'd to 

i30th as revived ; musi'd out Aug. 14, 65. 

Muster Roll Company E. 

Recruits. 
Carrin, John B., tr. to Co. G, 77th 111. Inft., 

must'd out May 15, 1865. 
Dnjardin, Noah, tr.to Co. G 77th III., re-trsf d 

to 130thasrevived, mus'tout Aug. 15, 60. 



Muster Roll Company F. 

First Lieutenant. 
Charles Ives, died June 14, 1863. 
Unassigned Recruits. 
Martin, Polander J., substitute. 
Rosier, Lewis, substitute. 

Roster, One Hundred and Thirty-third In- 
fantry.— One Hundred Days' Service.) 

This regiment was organized at Camp 
Butler May 31, 18G4, by Col. Thaddeus 
Phillips, and was mustered in for one 



252 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



hundred days; moved to Rock Island' 
BiiiTacks, Illinois, June 3d, and was 
U!^>-igni>(l to duty, guarding prisoners of 
war. While in service the regiment 
performed its duty faithfully and effi- 
ciently. Madison county furnished coiu- 
jiany D entire, and a part of company 
H, as will be seen by the following 
roster : 

Roster. 

IJtidenant Colonel. 
John E. Moure, mustered out Sept. 2-1, 1864. 

Chaplain. 

"William R. .Vdains, iiuisl'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 

?ion-Coinniissioued Staff. 

Principal Muxician. 

Tlioma.s R. JoneR, musi'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 

master Roll, Company D. 

Captain. 

John Carstens, nnistered out Sept. 24, 1864. 

Secuinl Lieutennni. 
John Packer, mustered out Se| t. 24, 1864. 

Firal Sergeant. 
Walton Riitledge, luust'd out Sept. 24, 1S64. 

Seryeanis. 
Albert Chamberlain, niusf d out Sept. 24, 1864. 
ILirk McLauclilin, must'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 

Corporal!!. 
.James Miller, mustered out Sept. 24, 18G4. 
Charles Ilayden, mu-tered ocil Sept. 24, 1864. 
(reorfje Barkley, mustered om Sept. 'J I. isiij. 
Callaway C. Nasii, nuisi'd out S, |,t. â– _'!, -ISCA. 
Cvriis L. Cook, mustered out Sept. .1 1^114. 
Benjamin .\llen, mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
James M. Stifler, mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 

Privates^ 
ArrastronfT, John, mn-tered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Armstrong. Harry, nuisi'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Beall, Edward, inustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Beach, Henry H., mustd out Sept 24, 1S64. 
Cowen. Juhn'R., musfd out Sept. 24. 1864. 
Clarkson. John J., musi'd out Sept 24. 1S64. 
Clement, Lucian E., musi'd out Sept 24, 1864. 
dayman, Wm. H., must'd out Sept. 21, 1864. 
Campbell, John', mustered out Sept. 24. 1864. 
Cain, James, mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Crawson, Charles, must'd out Sept. 24. 1864. 
Crtiig, Robert, mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Cressey. Frank B., nuist'il out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Cressey, Eilward K , must'd out Sept 24, '64. 
Curdie Robert, mustered out Sept. 24, 18<i4. 
Diinnellv, James, musi'd out Sept. 24. 1864. 
Dow, John, mustered out Sept. 24. 1864. 
I'"erguson, George R-, must'd out Sept. 24, '64. 
Fields, Chauncey H., must'd out Sept 24. '64. 
Fitzgibbons, James, mu^t'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Gaskill, Sidney, mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Gibhs, Charles, mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Gibbs, George, mustered oiU Sept. 24, 1804. 
Hall. John, uuislered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Hastings, Chailes H., musi'd out Sept. 24. '64. 
Huglies, James, mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Jack, James, mustered out .Sept. 24, 1864. 
Junnette, Joseph F., mu.si'd out Sept. 24, '64. 
Kinnan, John S., must'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Kendall Lulher ()., must'd out .S,pi. 24, 1864. 
Leverett, Cyrus VV., nuist'd out Sept. 24, 1864 
Lowe. George T., ilied at Rock Island Barracks, 

Aug. 4, 18(i4, of accidental wounds. 
Iililler, George \V., must'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Morgan, Barney, nuist'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 
McReynolds, Sanuiel N , mus. out Sep 24. '64. 
Mitchell, John, mustircd out Sept. 24, 1864. 



Malloy, David, mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Norton, Wilbur T., must'd out Sept. 24 1864. 
Neil, John, nuistered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Neil, William, musi'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 



Patterson, William, must'd out Se[>t. "24, 1864. ,„„,,*(,„• ^orvioo 
Read, Daniel D., mustered out Sept. '24, 1864. 1 "»»"»'" "Crvite, 



trip continued about six weeks, when 
they returned to Camp Fry, and were 
dismissed, making in all about five 



; Se| 
Uigby, Nicholas L., must'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Robertson, Thomas, must'd out Sept. 24, 18t>4. 
Stocker, Charles F , musi'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Smith, James, mustered out Sept. 24. 1864. 
Soule, Charles F., must'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 



In this regiment Madison county was 
represented by one whole company (K), 
which was raised by Julius A. Barns- 
back, of Troy, who was elected Cajitain 
loan, Moses B., mustered o'Jt Sept. 24, 1864. i ^ , , â–  \ ^ u i i i 

- - Sept. 24 1864. 01 the company, which olDce ne nelu 



during its term of service. 



Slitter, Moses B., mustered out 

Smith, George A., must'd out Sept 24, 1864, 

Stoner, -Vndrew J., must'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 

Senior, John, mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 

Senior, Henry G., must'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 

Solomon, John, mus.ered out Sept. 24, 1864. 

Sianton, Samuel, mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 

Stobbs, Matthew, mustered out Sept. '24, ls64 

Tail, Boberi, mustered out Sept. 24 lS(i4 

Travis, James, mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 

Tindale, Andrew J., musi'd out Sept. 24, 1864 

Wehsier, Silas S muslered out Sept 24 1864. i ^ j j, g [nger 

Williams, Daniel D., mu.st'd out Sept. 24, 64 ^ * 

Winning, James D., must'd out Sept 24, '64. 

Wihltrman, James H., nuis. out Sept. 24. '64 

Weir, Edward H., must'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 



lOO 



One Hiuulred and F*ortletlL Infantry 
Days* Service. 

Bluster Roll, Company K, 

Captain.. 

Julius A. Barnsback must'd out Oct. 29, '64. 

Firgl Lieutcmmi. 



Mnster Roll Company G, 

Priratts. 
Clawson, Lewis J., must'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 
(jriftilh, James M., must'd out Sept 24, 1864. 
Maddo.t, Wilson, mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Rird,.\rchibald, muslered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Rush, Patrick H., must'd out Sept. 25, 1864, 

Bluster Roll Company H. 

Privates. 
Jones, Edward J , mustered out Sept. 24. 1864. 



First Sergeant. 
William Donaho, must'd out Oct. 29, 1864. 

Sergeants. 

George H. Knowles, musi'd out Oct. 29, 1S64. 
Joseph A. Dunnagan, mustd out Oct 29. '64. 
Fred. G. Turner, mustered out Oct. 29, '64. 
Kilburn M. Snodgrass, must d out Oci. 29, '64. 

Corpnralg. 
Charles E. Tindall, must'd out Oct 29, 1864. 
William T. Donaho, mustered oiu Oct. 29, '(i4. 
Julius A. Barnsback, Jr., mus. out(tel.29, 64. 
Thomas Wilkins, mustered out Oct. 29, '64. 
Samuel B. Wonderly, mustd out Oct. 29, '64. 
John C. Davis, mustered out Oct. 29, '64. 



Malcom, Samuel H, must'd out Sept? 24, '64; Jf P'' ^I'. Siewart, mustd out Oct. 29, 1864. 

Mullin, John, mustered out Sept. 24, lSt;4. â– â– " 

Parks, William S., mu.st'd out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Robinson, David, mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 
Wendt, John F., mustered out Sept. 24, 1864. 



100 Days' Service, 
in-commlssioned Staff. 



Charles Kimbtrlin, musi'd out Oct. 29, '64 

Musician. 
Edward Phillip?, mustered out Oct. 29, 64. 
Wagoner. 

One HuntU-etl and Tlilrty-Plftli Infantry. Thomas Langdon, mustered out Oct. 1864. 

Privates. 
Alderson, William, mustered out Oct. '64. 
Principal Mimcian. Barnes, Stephen G., mustered out Oct. '64. 

n • AT T 1 .J . Tv-„ lo 10C1 Berrv, Alpheiis P., mustered out Oct '64. 

Francis M. Johnson, must d out Nov. 12, 1864. J; -'f?, !,. „ ' . , ./>. loci 

Bonn. Philip C, mustered out Oct. 1864. 

One Hundred and FortletU Infantry.- Bridges, Adolphus J., muslered out Oct '64. 

100 tlays Service. Brown, Alexander, mustered out Oct. 1864. 

Brewer, Thomas, died al Memphis. Sep. 16,'64. 

This regiment was organized at Lamp Cobb, Lviuan, mastered out Oct. 29, 1864. 

Butler, June 18th, 1846, and on the i Deck, John W., mustered out Oct. 29, 1864. 

, „ , ., n r~, ■ , Deck, Asbury M., muslered out Oct. 29, 1804. 

same day left by rail for Cairo, thence Drake, Abel'P., mu.stered out Oct. 29, 1864. 

by boat to Memphis. From Memphis Duesenbury, Lafayette, must'd out Oct. 29, '64. 

, , , ,,T 1^ . ,. ^ n Ensminger, John, mustered out Oct. 29, 1864. 

It marched to \> olf river, a distance of E-sterline. Wallace, mu.steicd out Oct..-29, 1864. 

thirty miles east, and the regiment was Essex, Elijah J., mustered out Oct. 29, 1864. 

n J ■ » ]■ • • 11 1 i. j-»' Essex, Truman B.. mustered out Oct. 29, 1864. 

formed into divi-ions, and placed at dif- j,,^^^,; j^^^^,,, m.,' mustered out Oct. 29, 1864. 

ferent points along the line of the rail- Flood, Charles H , mustered out Oct. 29, 1864. 

road, between here and Holly Springs. F'arner, Josephus, .nt.stered out Oct. 29, LSW. 

' J 1 o !• lagg, James E., muslered out Oct. 29,1804. 

It remained here about three months, Gerdee, Gerd, mustered out Oct. 29, 1864. 

guarding the railroad, after which it Gray, Thoma.s J., mustered out Oct 29 1864 

=â–  '' , ,. , GiUeit, .â– \lberl P., must. red out Oct 29, 1864. 

moved to Memphis, and did guard duty (iUnn, John M., mustered out Oct. 29, 1864. 

until ordered to Camp Fry, Chicago, for <'»■'■"«, George, mustered out Oct. 29, 1864. 

,. , 1 ,^ 1 (iillespie, Jo.seph J., mustered out Oct. 29. 64. 

muster out, which occurred October {lasting, William G., mustd out Oct. 29, '64. 

29th, 1864. After having given up Hami.ton, Thomas, must'd out Oct. 29, '64. 

, . , 1- -^ J 1 1 1- Hawlev, Francis L., musi'd out Oct. 29. '64. 

their arms, they were solicited by Adju- h„„,_ p^,,,;^, g^ „,^^^,J „„( q^j. .;9_ 1^64. 

tant General Fuller, to reorganize and Jones, Doctor S. 

, , 1 nr- • ■ -^ f Lane, Martin, V. B., must'd out Oct. 29, 1864. 

march thr.iugh Missouri, in pursuit of u-.vis, John S., must'd out Oct. 29, 1864. 

General Price, which they diJ. This Laturme, Joseph M., must'd out Oct. 29, '64. - 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



253 



McMahan, Martin L., must'd out Oct. 29, '64. 
Maj-on, John W., must'd out Oct, 29, 1SG4. 
McLanahiin, George C, must'd out Oct. 29, '64. 
Kelson, William S.. must'd oiil Oct 29, '64 
Putnam, William H.,nnist'd out Oct. 29. 64. 
Pulnam, George W., musi'd out Oct. 29, '64. 
Bosipal, Joseph, mnst'd out Oct. 29, '64. 
Reeve.«, Ltaion I)., must <i out Oct. 29, 1864. 
Roach, David, must'd out Oct. 29, 1S64. 
Shornick, Samuel, must'd out Oct. 29. 1864. 
Watt, Harvey T., mustered out Oct. 29, '64. 
"Waggoner, George, mustered out Oct. 29, '64. 
Welch. Johnson S., mustered out Oct. 29, '64. 
Younghans, Henrv, mustered out Oct. 29, '64. 
Zanders, Edward, mustered out Oct. 29, 'G4. 

One Hundred and Forty-Second Infiintry. 
KIO Days' ServUe. 

Muster Roll, Company II. 

PrivaUf. 
Ayers, Samuel, mustered out Oct. 26. 1864. 
Gere, Ira ti., musiered out Oct. 26, 1861. 

One Hundred and Forty-Third Infantry. — 
100 Days' Service. 

This rpi^inient was organized by Col. 
Dudley C. Smith, at Mattoon, Illinois, 
and mustered in June 11th, 1864. Mov- 
ed to IMemphis, Tenn., June IGth, and 
on the 19th was assigned to the Fourth 
Brigade, Col. Butterick conimr.ndiiig ; 
and on the 12th of July following, as- 
gigned to Col. John Wood's Brigade. 
Ordered on the 27th to report to Briga- 
dier General Buford, commanding the 
district of East Arkansas. Was as- 
signed to garrison duty at Helena, Ar- 
kansas, where it remained until Sept. ' 
10th, when moved northward, ])roceed- 
ing to Mattoon, Illinois, and was mus- 
tered out Sept. 36, 1864. 

Muster Roll Company K. 

Private. 
Jacobs, Henry, mustered out Sept. 26, IS64. 

Muster Roll Company F. 

Second Lieiilendtil. 
Thomas Brown, innstercd out Sept. 26, 1864. 

S,T;;m„t. 
Newton Fletclier. mustered out Sej't. 26, 1864. 

Corporals. 
â– yVilliflm P. Wallis, iiiu.>lered out Sep. 26, 64. 
Casper Yakel. 

Musi inn. 
James Gullavain, mustered out Oct. 6, 1864. 

Prirales. 
Barrett, Fleming, nni-tered nut Sept. 26, '64. 
Bradford, Wtn. B., musiered out Sept. 26, '64. 
Chambers, Frank, njusiered out Scpl. 26, '64, 
I)icker,-on, All'nd. mustered out Sept. 26, '64. 
Gurtland, Cha«. E., mustereil out Sept, 26, '64. 
(jvillo, Ludger, musiered out Sept. 26, '64. 
Guyott, Philo, mustered out Sept. 26, '64. 
Gould, HelloK O., mustered out Sept. 26, '64. 
Herrington, Thomas, mu.s. out Sept. 26, '64. 
Mathias, Israel, musiered out Sept. 26, '64. 
Morgan, Christopher R., M. O. Oct. 24, '64. 
Pedrick, Ellis, mustered out Sept. 26, 1864. 
Phipps, John II., died at Memphis, Aug. 4, '64. 



Pembroke, .\lton, must'd out Sept. 26, 1864. 
Pepper, George I)., mustered out Sept. 26, '64. 
Smith, Joseph A., musiered out Sept. 26, '64. 
Vauniard, Henry, mustered out Sept. 26, '64. 
Watson, David mustered out Sept. 26, '64. 
Young, Tliomas, mustered out Sept. 26, '64. 

Muster Roll Company K. 

Citplain. 
Absalom T. Ash, mustered out Sept. 26, '64. 

Second Lieutenant. 
David B. Wells, mustered out Sept. 26, '64. 

Priiateg. 
Brooks, John, musiered out Nov. 29, '64. 
Chandler, Marlin B., must, out Nov. 29, '64. 
Foster, Decatur, must d out Nov. 29, '64. 
Friend, William D., absent, sick at muster out 

of regiment. 
Gill, William W., must'd out Sept. 26, '(54. 
Gill, Charles H., mustered out Sept. 26. '64. 
Golliuer. Charles, inus'd out Sept. 26, '64. 
Hinds, James U., must'd out Sept. 26, '64. 
Hull, Theodore, mu.-td out Sept. 26, '64. 
Hopple, William A , must'd out Sept. 26, '64 
Hovt, .Albert H., died at Helena, Arkansas, 

" Aug. SO, 1S64. 
Hunt, Samuel, unisi'd out Sept. 26, '64. 
Iloffer, Jiicob, musi'd out St-pt. 26, '64. 
Knesal, Louis, inu»t'd out Sept. 26, '64. 
Kippers, Fied., <lied at Cairo, 111, June 2.5,'64. 
I-ehr. William E.. must'd out Nov. 29, '64. 
Miller, Wilson, must'd out Nov. 26. '64. 
Nichols, Jacob, musi'd out Sept. 26, '64. 
Owen, Edward M., musi'd out Sept. 2(>, "64. 
Robinson. Joseph W., must'tl out Sept. 26, '64. 
Staggs, William, must'd out Sept 26, '64. 
Stobbs, William, died at Helena, Ark., Awg. 

15. 1864. 
Schlosser, Henry, must'd out Sept. 26, '64. 
Treble, Hiram, musi'd out Sept. 26, '64. 

One Hundred and Forty — Fourth Infantry. 
One Year Service. 

, Colonel. 
.John II. Kuhn, must'd out July 14, '6-3. 

Lieiitcnani Colonel. 
James N. Morgan, nuist'd out July 14, '65. 

Major. 
Emil Adam, mustered out July 14,1865. 

Quartrrmaster. 
Lee D. Covell, must'd out July 14, 1865. 
i Surgeon. 

Theodore J. Elulhart, mnst'd out July 14, '65. 

Chaplain. 
Irwin B. Randall, must'd out July 14, 1865. 

Tkon-CommlBsloned Statf. 

Quarterma.iter Seri/eant. 
Henry C. Lowe, must'd out July 14, 1865. 

Commissary Sergeant. 
William Campbell, must'd out July 14, 1865. 

Hogpital Steward. 
Seneca B. Congdon, musi'd out July 14, 1865. 
j Principal Mnsicianis. 

Charles P. Siocker, mustered out .July 14, '65 
Joseph S. Elwell, musiered out July 14, '65. 

I Muster Roll Company A. 

] Cap'ain. 

' George W. Carr, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
First Lieutenant. 
William .\. Lowe. 



jpiv8( Sergeant. 
James M. Finley, mustered out July 14, 1865. 

Sergeants. 
David A. Brunton, mustered out .July 14, '64. 
Richard Barry, must'd out July 14. '64. 
Charles T. Clayton, musi'd out July 14, '65. 
Otis Shipard, must'd out July 14, 1865. 
James E. Waggoner, disch. Feb. 2, 1865. 

Corporals. 

Levi B. Gleason, disch. June 11, 186.5. 
George Johnson, mu»l'd out July 14, 1865. 
Samuel S- Lowe, must'd out .Tuly 14, 1865. 
Michael Page, must'd out July 14, 1865. 
Robert P. Stanley, musi'd outJuly 14, 1865. 
Harmon G. Tully, must'd out July 14, 1865. 

Priraled. 

.\rnold, Andrew J., musi'd out July 14, 1865. 
Ballard, Ralph, must'd imt July 14, 186-5. 
Breath, John E., musi'd out July 14, 1865. 
Barber, Harrv, must'd out July 14, 1865. 
Brown William H. 

Bunlen, Charles B., musi'd out .Inly 14, '65. 
Baldwin. Samuel C , nuistd out July 14, '65. 
Benbow, Wiu. M., nnist (1 out July 14, '6-i. 
Cooper, Charles H., nuKst'd out July 14, '6.5. 
Campitt, Jame.s, disch. Jan. 28, 1864. 
Carney, Thomas A., nuis. out July 14, '65. 
l>i( kens, Shedraek, must'd out July 14, '65. 
Digman, William J. nuist'd out Julv 1 1, '65 
De Fry, Daniel T., must'd out Julv 14, '65. 
Donavau, Alexander, M. O.July 14, 1865. 
Friend, Christo|)her, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Friend, George W., mus. out July 14, 1865. 
Fergu.son, George, musi'd out May 25, 1865. 
Ferguson, William D., mu.sl'd out July 14, '65. 
Frank. John. 

Greenawalt, James R , died at Alton, 111., Jan 
IS, 1865. 

Haw.xhust, James W , M. O. July 14, 186.5. 
Hurlbut, John, disch. Jan. 29, l(-'65. 
John.son, Allen H, died at Upper Alton, 111., 

Nov. 1, 1864. 
.lohn.son, Henry, mustered out Jnlv 14, 1865. 

Kcn<lall. Thomas S. S., disc. Jan. 29, '1865. 

Kendall, Thomas C, discharged Feb. 3, 1865. 

Lake, John, musiered out July 14, 1865. 

Lamothe, George A , mus. out July 14, 1865. 

Lowell, James, in conKnement S.ate Prison, 
Mo., mustered out Sept. 6, 1866, to date, 
1 July 14, 1865. 
j Lingerfelter, Valentine D.,mu,s. out July I4,'66. 

Mortley, Robert B., discharged Dec. 6, 1864. 

Morgan, George F., must'd out July 14, 1865. 

Moore, Finley B., must'd out July i4, 1S64. 

Me.sscnger, David F., discharged Jan. 29, 1865. 

Moore, Milton, died at Alton, 111., Dec. 18, '64. 

Martin, George, trans, to Co. B., M. O., July 
14, ]8d5. 

Neal, John W., mustered out July 14, 1865. 

Perkins, William W.. mus. out July 14. 1865. 

Perkins, John S., must'd out July 14, 1865. 
\ J'crkins, James W., must'd out .July 14, 1865. 
j Real, Lewis A., mu.slered out July 14, 1S65. 

Reeder, George IL, must'd out Jiilv 14, 1865. 

Reeder, Alfred W., died at Alton.'llls., Jan. 
30, 1865. 

Stacey, Peler, discliarged Jan. 29, .805. 

Swift, Edwin E., musiered out July 14, 1865. 

>Sieel. William M , must'd out July 14. l.>565. 

Stewart, Eben L. C., musi'd out July 14, 18C5. 
] Smith, Charles H., niust'il out July" 14, 1865. 

Staggs, Alexander, musi'd out July 14, 1865. 

Sanner, David G , must'd out July 14, 1865 

Thompson, James L.. mus. out July 14, 1865. 

Will, John, musiered out July 14, 186.5. 

Willimson, William, mus. out July 14, 1865. 

West, Josei h P., muste'-ed out Jnlv 14, 1865. 

Wischi, \Villiain C, must'd oui Ju'ly 14. 1865. 

Waggoner, Wisley F., mustered out July 14, 
1865; as Corporal. 

Yarbongh, Edward, must'd out .July 14, 1864. 



254 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Recruits. 
Atkina, John, tnnstertd out July 14, ISGo. 
Copley. George W., iiiiis. out July 14. l.sG-5. 
Ellis, Orville, iiuisterwl out July 14, 18Go. 
Heilz, John, mustered out July 14, 1SG5. 
Heiiz, Frederick D., niust'd out July 14, 1865. 
Moore, Silas, mustered out July 14, 18G5. 
Morgan, Henry C, niust'd out July 14, LS65. 
Morgan, Christopher K., mus. out July 14, '05. 

Muster RoU Company B. 

Captains. 
Charles J. Murpliy, resigned Dec. 20, 1S64. 
P. Joseph Milling, must'd out July 14, 18G5. 

First Lieutenant. 
Walter H. Coggeshall, hon. disc. July 14, 1865. 

Second Lieutenant. 
Charles H. Tomlinson, mus. out July 14, 1865. 

Sergeants. 
John N. Caldwell, mu.st'd out July 14, 1865. 
Jame.s W. Hobson, must d out July 14, 1865. 

Corporals. 
Thomas L. Clianiberlain, mus. out .July 14, '65. 
Harmon Dixon, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
David Jones, mustered out July 14, 1S65. 
George .\. Hickcock, mus. out July 14, 1S65. 
Gecrge H. Hollowell, mus. out July 14, 1865, 

Privates. 
Bales, Amos A., died at Alton, Apr. 30, 1865. 
Corcoran. Barney, niust'd out May 18, 1865. 
Claffy, Francis, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Djian, Nicholas, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Dunn, Dennis, mustered out July i4, 1865. 
Donalioe, Michael, mus. out July 14, 1865. 
Farrall, James, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Gibson, George, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Ganghian. Patrick, must'd out Julv 14, 186-5. 
Higgins, Tully, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Heunessy, Thomas, must'd out July 14, 1865. 
Johnson, John, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
King, John H., mustered out .July 14, 1865. 
King, John F., mustered out July 14, 1865. 
King, William, dlsch. Jan. 29, 1865; disab"ty. 
Kite, Daniel, disch. Feb. 12, 1865; disability. 
Kiserfiink, Lewis, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Laire, Henry, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Lyons, Dennis, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Mathews, Alexander J., nins. out July 14. "65. 
Manchester, James E., died at Alton, 111., Jan. 

8, 1865. 
Manchester, James, must'd out July 14. 1865. 
Murphy, John, mustered out July 14, 1865, 
McCarty, John, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Minard, Louis, diseh Feb. 3, 1865; disability. 
Eowden, John "W., died at Alton, 111., July 6 

1865. 
Reigart, Christian B., mus. out July 14, 1865. 
Smith, William, mustered out July 14, I860. 
Sanderson, John P., niust'd out July 14, 1865. 
Turner, Ezekiel. 

Turney, Palrick, must'd out July 14, 1865. 
Welch, William, niusl'd out July 14, 1865. 
Wheeler, William R., mus. out .July 14, 1865. 
Williams, Janies L., mus out July 14, 1865. 
Wren, William, mustered out July 14, 1865. 

liecrnits. 
Carroll, Auguster, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Gorman, Daniel, mu-^. out July 14,'65; asCor'l. 
Hall'ord, James, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Martin, George, mustered <mt July 14, 1865. 
Oiis, Franklin, tr. toCo. K., M.O.' July 14, '65. 
Thompson, George, must'd out July 14, 1865. 
Wentworth, William, inns, out Julv 14, 181)5. 
Wissor, William Z., must'd out July 14, 1865. 

Muster Roll Coiiipaujr C. 

Captain. 
Augustus DeLange, must'd out July 14, 1865. 



First Lieutenant. 
Charles Eobideau, mustered out July 14, 1865, 

Second Lieutenant. 
John Barnard, mustered out July 14, 1865. 

First Serr/cant. 
James Patterson, mustered out July 14, 18G5. 

Sergeants. 
Kobert W. Cowen, must'd out July 14, 186-5. 
John W. Mitchell, must'd out July 14. 1865. 
Henry Simms, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Oliver P. West, mustered out Jiily 14, 1865. 

Corporals. 

Thomas Belas, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Wm. Craig, mustered out July 14, 180-5. 
John H. Hall, mu.stered out July 14, 1865. 
Thomas Southworth, must'd out July 14, 1865. 
David Showalter, mustered out July 14 1865. 
Clem Turner, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Philip Wells, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Sylvester Southworth, mus. out July 14, 1865 

Privates. 

Adam.=, John M.,dis. Feb. 6, 1865; disability. 

.\shter, David M., mustered out Feb. 10, 1860. 

Barnes, Thomas. 

Bryant, Jacob, died at Aune Arundel, Md., 
March 21, 1865. 

Butler, Aaron G-. mustered out July 14 186-5. 

Bryant, John, mustered out July 14, 1865 

Carrol, Harrison, mustered out July 14, 186-5. 

Cabrilliac, Abe H., must'd out July 14. 1805. 

Coals, Joseph, mustered out July 14, 1865. 

Clark, Jerry, mustered out May 25, 1865. 

Clark, James H., died at Alton, 111., Jan 25. '65. 

Complon, Jacob, mustered out July 14, 1865. 

Collins, Win. D., mustered out July 14, 1865. 

Coleman, Jos. S.. must'd out July 14, 1865. 

Davis, William J., must'd out July 14, 186-5. 

Davis, James E., mustered out July 14, 1865. 

Davis, Joseph, mustered out July 14, 1865. 

De Moss, Charles, mu-t'd out May 2-5, 1865. 

Edwards, Alvin, mustered out July 14, 1865. 

English, Nathaniel, disc. Jan. 11, '65; disab'ty. 

Ernest, Amos, disch. Feb. 24, 1865; disability. 

Evans, W. T. 

Ernest, George, died at Alton, 111., Mar. 16, '6-5. 

Fetter, George W., must'd out July 14, 1865. 

Fike, Benjamin F., must'd out July 14, 1865. 

Fancher, Lafayette, must'd out July 14, 1865. 

Gear, Ean.som, mustered out July 14, 1865. 

Goode, Presion. mustered out Julv 14, 1865. 

Holmes, William H., mus. out Jiily 14, 1865. 

Haven, Lawrence, mu-t'd out July 14. 1865 

Hitt, Thomas C, mustered out July 14, 1865. 

Henry, Patrick F., luusl'd out May 2-5, 1865. 

Hele, Leopold, mustered out July 14, 1865. 

Hitt, Eobert F., mustered out Jiily 14, 1865. 

Halteman, Charles, must'd ou July 14, 1865. 

Johnson, Edward B., inus. out July 14, 186-5. 

Jackson, James Andrew, died at Alton, HI., 
December 19, 1804. 

Kennedy, Eobert W., mus. out July 14, 1865. 

Loar, Frederick A., must'd out July 14, 1865. 

Lewis, Ira E., mustered out May 25, 1865. 

Linville, George W.;; 

Morse, Alva F., mustered out May 25, 1865 

McCarter, William, niust'd out July 14, 1805. 

Marlin, William H., niust'd out July 14, 1865, 

Monroe, Wellin.gton, must'd out July 14, 1865, 

Maxwell, Allred, mustered out July 14, 1865. 

Mason, Marion, mustered out June 16, 1865. 
â–  Nolan, Calvin, M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 

Neilson, Murrey, M. O. Julv 14. 1865. 

O'Conner, D.iniel, M. O. Jiiiv U, 180-5. 

Parker, Newton, M- (). Julv" 14. 186.5. 

Pile, Charles, M. U. July 14, 1865. 
I Perrv, James A. 
i Eile.v, John. 

Seberl, Antciine, M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 

Stark, Alfred. M. O. July 14. 1865. 

Schweitzer, Frank, M. O. July 14, 1865. 



Stark, Abraham R., M. O. May 18, 1865. 

Sleimberg, Frederick W., M, O. Julv 14, I860. 

Slark, Daniel K,, .M. (). Julv 14, 1865. 

Stark, James II., M O. Julv 14, 1865. 

Smith, John M., M. G- July 14. 1865. 

Siiioot, Henry A., M. O. July 14, 1865. 

Tomlinson, VVilliam, M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 

Taylor, Theodore, M. O. July 14, 1865, 

Thomp.son, David, M. O. July 14, 1865. 

Tteson, Peter, M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 

Travis, Matthew, M. O. July 14, 1865. 

Tomlin.son, James, M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 

Ulman, Edward, M. O. July 14, 186-5. 

Winlrev, Eobert W. 

Whitron, William H. 

Recru its, 

Bell, John, M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 

Baker, George W., M."0. July 14, 1865. 

Byers,George W., M. O- May 25, 1865. 

DVaper, Henry E., M. O. Mav 25, 1865. 

Hyle, John. M. O. Julv 14. 186-5. 

Hall, Theodore, M. 0."july 14, 186-5. 

Lewis, Absalom, M. O. July 14, 1865. 

Lear, James, M. Q, May 2-5, 1865. 

Mason, Isaac. 

McDonald Barnard, M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 

Pembroke, Weslev, M. O. Jnly'l4, 1865. 
j Phelan, Martin, M. O. Julv 14, 1805. 

Eees, Jamts E-, M. O. June 14, 1865. 
i Sowalter, William B., M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 

Smith, Jo.seph F., M. O. Julv 14," 1805. 
' Welch. Patrick, M. O. Julv'l4, 186-5. 

Walker, Wm. D. L,, died at Alton, III., Apr. 
3, 1865. 

Youngblood, Jacob, M. O. July 14, 1865. 

Muster Roll, Conipauy D. 

Captain. 
Albert Ritter, M. O. July 14, 1865. 

First Lieutenant. 
Conrad Keck, dishonorably dismi.-ised June 3, 

1865- 
Sidney A. Newcomb, M. O. July 14, 1865. 

Second Lieutenant. 
Edward F. John.son, M. O. July 14, 1865. 

First Sergeant. 
Napoleon B. Clark, M. O. July 14, 1865. 

Sergeants. 
Augustus Lee, M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 
Leander M. Stillwell. M-'o. Julv 14, 1865. 
George P. Yokum, M. O. July 14, 1865. 

Corporals. 

Andrew Boynd, or Boqua, M. O. Julv 14, '65. 
Samuel Harris, M. G. July 14, lsO.5.' 
Miurice Mann, M O. Julv 14, 1805. 
Edward H. Sawyer, M. O.'july 14, 1865. 
Aiuasa Aniliis, died at Alion, 111.. Feb. 11, '65. 
Jacob Tiemmel, M, O. July 14, 1865. 
Emanuel Steriiz, M. O. July 14, 1865. 

Musician. 
Rufus L. Johnson, M. Q. July 14, 1865. 

Privates. 
Anthis, Sidney B., M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Briggs, Maithew, disch. Feb. 4, 1865 : disab'y. 
Bierljaum, Rudolph, disch. Feb. 4, 1865 ; dis. 
Bates, Henry, disch. Feb. 13, 1865; disab'y. 
Burwell, Ma"tthew, M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 
Boyd, John J., M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 
Bennett. Benjamin M., U. O. Julv 14, 186-5. 
Black, 'VVilliam, M. O. July 14, 180-5. 
Charle.s, Wm. H., mustered out July 14, 186-5. 
Cecil, Adon, mustered out July 14, 1805, 
Colonius Charle.s, mustered out July 14, 1865. 
Casey, Patrick, mustered out July 14,1805. 
Calame, Oscar E., mustered out Jul, 14, 1865. 
Graham, John, mustered out July 14, 1&65. 
Gould, Festus E., died at Piiisa, 'ill., Feb. 12, 
1S65. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



255 



Gale. George, M. O. July 14, 18G5. 
Hiiliiert, Silas, M. O. July 14, 18()."). 
H..lcoiiib, .)ose()li. M. (). .Tnlv 14, 1S65. 
Howard, Allien, M. (). Jnlv 14, 1SU5. 
Hensluiw, Williani. M. O. .Iiilv 14, 1865. [ 

Ibbtken, Louis M.O. July l-i. 186.5. _ ' 

Johnson, William, discluirgcd Feb. 4, 1865; 

disabililv. 
Jolin.-on, Richard, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Joiin-oD, Win. II., M. U. July 14 18Ho. | 

Julling, IJfnry, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Johiisun, Warren, M. 0. July 14, 1865 
Koch, William E., M. O. July 14, 1865. ' 

Lorch, Jacob, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Levi, William H.. .\I. O. July 14, 1865. 
Lambert, Henry T., M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Leach, Abrara," or Alex. H., M. O. July 14, 

1865. 
Lohr, Isaiah, M. O. July 14, 18fi4. 
Marke, Peter, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Miles. Washington, died at .\lton, HI., Jan. 19, 

1865. 
McCorier, William W., M. O July 14. 1865. 
McGuire, Bernard, M. (). July 14. 1865. 
Mann, Maurice, M. O. July 14, '0.5. 
Newcomb, Sidney A., M. O. July 14, 1S65 as 

corporal. 
Penning;, Evert, M. O. Julv 14, '65. 
Kied, O.stMr v., M. O. July 14, '65. 
Kansom. John P., M. (). July 14, '65. 
Bunzi, Henry, M. O. July 14, '65. 
Storey, George W., M. O. July 14, '65. 
Squire, James, M. O. July 14, 65. 
Smith, Wm., M. (), Julv'U. '65. 
Sanks, V/arnn, di.-,ch. Jan. 3, '65 ; disab'y. 
Tarbell, Frank S. 
Thorp. Samuel, died at Alton, III., May 12, 

1865. 
Weerts, Weert, M. O. Julv 14, '65. 
Walker, Henry C, M. O. July 14, '65. 
Wright, Louis D, M. (). July 14. '65. 
Went, Albert, M. O. July 14, 'Ho. 
Yarauni, Samuel, M. O. July 14, '65. 

Remits. 
Broivn, Ilcnrv, M. O. .July 14, '05. 
Havne.s, Lewis. ,M. <). Julv 14, 05. 
Oplyke, Wm. L , M. C>. Julv 14, '65. 
Kich, Francis, M. O. July 14, '65. 

DIngter Koll Conipanjr E, 

Caplain. 
John Ray, M, O. July 14, '65. 

Sergeant. 
Philip Lang, M. O. July 14, '65. 

Corporals. 
George RLihr. M. O- Jiilv 14, '05. 
Henry Dewerff, M. O. July 14, '65. 

Privates. 
A=pennorf, Henry. 

Blanchard, Clarence V., M. O. July 14, '65. 
Bozel, William M., M. O. .July 14 '65, 
Brown, William, M. O. July 14, '65. 
Becker, John, M O. July 14, '65. 
Browning, San:crd, M. O. July 14, '65. 
Babel, Joseph, M. O. July 14, '65. 
Cobeland, David E., died at Bethalto, 111., Jan. 

15, '65. 
Dick, Jacob, M. O. July 14, '65. 
Eberle, John, mustered oui July 14, '65. 
Farners. Charles H., mustered out July 14, '05. 
Fahrig, Jacob mustered out July 14, '65 
Frank, Nicholas, mustered oui July 14, 't'o. 
HoH'man, Stephen, muslered out Julv 14, '05. 
Hall, John, mustered out Julv 14, '65- 
Ht-ison, John, mnsiereil out July 14. 'Co. 
Huslord, William, tr. to Co. G ; mustered out 

July 14. '05. 
Kaiser, Thole B , mustered out July 14, '65. 
Kaiser. Harbert B., mustered out .Julv 14, '65. 
Koch, John, mustered out July 14, '65. 



Mathins, Julius, tr. to Co. G ; disch. Feb. 13, 

'65; disability. 
Munson, William. 
Mahoney, William. 
Michnewelsch, .\lbert, mustered out .July 14, 

1865. 
Nauman, Bernard, mustered out July 14, '65. 
PoUanl. Charles A., mustered out July 14, 

1865. _ 1 

Proctor, Benjamin, mustered out July 14, '05. ; 
Rhodraeyer, John R , mu-^tered out July 14, '65. 
Bidder, Henry, mustered out July 14, '05. 
Reese, or Dericse, Jellsche, mustered out July 

14, '65. 
Re.nl, Lewis, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Roesler, Ferdinand, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Sherfield, Isaac, mustered out July 1-), '6.5. 
Stearic, Charles, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Schmidt, Charles, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Thomas, Chalks, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Tarnow, Henry, mustered out .July 14, '05. 
Vogel, Peter, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Vohle, William, died at St. Louis, Mar. 24, 

1865. 
Waterman, Ernst, musl'd out July 14, '65 as 

musician. 
Willhening, Henry, must'd out July 14, '65. 

liecrui's- 
Bicklev, Charles, tr. to Co. G ; mustered out 

July 14, '65. 
Curtis, George, musl'd out July 14, '65. 
Cox, Wesluy S., must'd out July 14, '65. 
Fellhaur, John, musl'd out July 11, '65. 
Gramlich, Joseph, musi'il out July 14, '65. 
Hurlman, John J., must'd out June 23, '05. 
Hick, Michael, tr. to Co. D; must'd out July 

14, '65. 
Hahn, Edward, musician. 
Krebs, Cuur.id. 

Lacherayer, Reinhardt, musl'd out July 14, '65. 
Moser, John J., must'd out July 14, '65. 
Moser. Casper, mus'.'d oui July 14, '65. 
Meyer, Nicholas, mu-i'd out July 64, '65. 
Rugger, Samuel, must'd out July 04, '65. 
Stutter, David, musi'd out July 64, '65. 
Tscharner, Frederick, rau^t d out July 14,'65. 

Muster Roll, Companj- F. 

Caplnin. 
Robert G. Smith. M. O. July 14, 1805. 
1 First Lieutenant. 

, Charles H. Thomas, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Corporals. 
Charles B. Howard, M. O. July 14. 1865. 
Thomas L. Radclifi; M. O. Jnlv 14, '65. 
John O Prentice, M. O. July 14, 65. 

3Iu.'ician. 
Gustave Ortmann, M. O. July 14, 1865. 

Privates. 
j Atkins, John, tr. to Comp'v A, mustered out 
; Jnlv 14, 1865. 
Brunton, David .\., tr. to Co. A, mustered out 

July 14, 180.5. 
Guldap, John, M. O.July 14, 186.5. 
Hillers, Julius, nius. out July 14, 1865. 
Junett, Oliver, mus. out Julv 14. 180.5. 
Rogg, Diedrick, mus. out July 14, 1865. 
Sherwood, Eastman B., n>iis. out July 14, '65. 
Warnridg. Henrv, mus. out Julv 14, '65. 
I Wadluw, Elijah F., mus. out July 14, '65. 
Becrults. 

Carn. Patritk. mus out July 14, lS6o. 
Williamson, I'errv, mus. out July 14, '65. 
â–  
Miuter Roll, Company G. 

r Captains. 

Orliindo W. Frazier, res'd Feb. 20, 1865. 
James T. Cooper, mus out July 14, '65. 



First Lieutenant. 

.John W, Swift, pro. Capt. loOlh 111. inf. 
D.ivid Kerley, mus. out July 14, 1865. 

, First Sergeant, 

James P. Frazier, mus. out July 14, 1865. 

Sergeant. 

Simon Hiley, mus. out July 14, 1865. 

Corporals. 

George A. Ferguson, M. O. Julv 14, '65. 
Jacob Howry, M. O. July 14, 65. 
Franklin Stockton, M. O. July 14, '65. 
Thomas Baxter, M. O. July 14, '65. 

Privates. 

Andrews, John, absent, never must'd in. 
Ballaril, James, mu.st'd out Jiiiy 14, '65. 
Brain Richard, dishonorably disch'd Sept. 4, 

186.5. 
Chandler, William, must'd out July 14, '65. 
Dickenson. Ralph A, disch'd I'eby 4, 1865, 

disability. 
Diller, Henry, must'd out July 14, 1865. 
Eaton, Henry, must d out July 14, '65. 
Flippe. George, must'd out .July 14, '65. 
Frederick;*, Ridiard, musl'd out July 14, '6.5. 
Gilvery, or McGilvery, W. died at Alton, HI., 

Dec. 30, 1864. 
Gusewell, Frcil'k, must'd out Jnly 14, 1865. 
Harrison, Thos., must'd out July 14, 1866. 
Heriin, John, must'd out July 14, 186-5. 
Johnson, Joshua J., must'd out July 14, 1865. 
Keys, Francis, mu.st'd out J'ly 14, i8()5. 
Lofton, George W., must'd out J'ly 14, 1865. 
Legate, Wm. F., musl'd out, July 14, 1805. 
Myers, Sam'l J., must'd out July 14, 1805. 
McLarn, or McCairn, H. W., died at Alton, 

HI., April 20, '65. 
Meier, Frank, must'd out July 14, 1865. 
O'dell, Philip, must'd out July 14, 'lio. 
Ralekin, Martin, died at Allon^ III., Feb. 3, '65. 
Rule, Henry, mustered out July 14, 1805. 
Shuster, Otto, niusteied out July 14, 1805. 
SchalliT, William A., died at Edwardsville, 

III., Jan. 1.5, 180.5. 
Severns, Highland, M. O. J'lv 14, 1865. 
Webb, William, M. O. J'lv 14, 1865. 
AVeidner, Bernhardt, M. O". J'ly 14, 1865. 

Eecruits. 

Andrew, .John, died at Alton, 111., June 11, 

1805, corporal. 
Brickley, Charles. 

Breath, James, disch'd Mar. 1, '05; disability. 
Hosford, William, M. O. J'ly 14, 1865. 
Mathias, Julius, disch. Feb. 13, '65, disability. 
Reader, Frank, M. O., J'ly 14, 1805. 
Younghaus, Henry, M. O. J'ly 14, 1865. 

Muster Roll, Compauy H. 

[Corporal. 
Tanner, William A., must'd out July 14, '05. 

Privates. 
Ackerman, Casper, must'd out July 14, 1S65. 
Angel. J. Bird, discharged, disability. 
Bulkier, John, mnst'<l out July 14. 1S6.5. 
Crane, Asahel, must'd out July 14. 1865, 
(iier, Martin, mustered oiil Julv 14, '05. 
Hayler, Oswald, M. O. July 14,' 1865. 
LeonanI, Jidin. must'd out July 14 '65. 
McFeer, Andrew, must'd out July 14, '6.5. 
Midgelv, David, musl'd out July'l4, '65. 
Matlock, Williani IL, M. O. Jiily 14, '65. 
Wade, Christopher C, musl'd out July 4, '6-5. 

j Peeruils. 

Morris, John T., must'd out July 14, '65. 
Tishius, Henry, mustered out July 14, '65. 



256 



HISTOEY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Muster Roll) i*oinp«n3r I* 

First Lieutenant. 
Walton, Eutledge, mustered out July 14, '65. 

First Sergtant. 
John Clarkseiie, mustered out July H, '65. 

Sergeants. 
William H. dayman, mu.st'd out July 14, '65. 
Benjamin .Mien, mnsl'd out July 14, '65. 
liulus C. Barnett. M. O. Julv 14, 18(i5. 
Frank W. Lamb, M. O. July 14, ISGo. 

Chrporal 
Charles H. Bartlett,, nuist'd out July 14, '65. 

Privates. 
Allen, James, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Baur, Florence, M. C. Julv 14, 18H5. 
Clark, Manoah, M. O. July 14, 180-5. 
Donivan, Patrick, M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 
Gray, Rilev F., M. O. July 14, 186.5. 
Gaskill,Sidnev, M. O. July 14, 186-5. 
Huggins, Wm'. R., M, O. julv 14, 1865. 
Harville, Louis, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Ilch, David, M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 
Junett, Joseph J., M. O Julv 14, 1865. 
Luther, George, M (>. Julv 14, 1865, 
Morgan, Birnev, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Nash, Henrv, M.O Julv 14, 1865. 
Bees, Edwaril, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Reidv, Daniel S., M. O., July 14, 1865. 
Smith, John, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Smiih, Theopolis, M. (). July 14, 1865. 
St.tpleton, Elisha, M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 
Senior, H. G., i\I. O. Julv 14, 186-5. 
Senior, John, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Smith, James, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Tomlinson, Samuel, M. 6. July 14. 1865. 
Wendt, John F., M. O Julv 14, 1865. 
Waggener, Wm. W., M.O. July 14, 1865. 
Young, Robert S., M. O. July 14, 1865. 

.Recruits. 
Collson, Moses, M. O. Julv 14, 1805. 
Calher, James G., M O. July 14, 1865. 
Fiizgil.bons, James, M. O. July 14, 186-5. 
Jacobs, Jo.sepl., M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Killinger, Christopher, M. O. Julv 14, 1805. 
Travis, James, M. O. July 14, 1865. 

Muster Roll, Company K. 

Captain. 

Anthony Neu.stadt, mustered out July 14, '65. 

Sergeants. 

Lonis Holly, mustered out July 14, 186-5. 
Jame.1 A. Rullierford, M. O. July 14, 1865. 

Corporals. 

Thomas M. Campbell, M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Frank M. Brown, M. O. July 14, 1805. 
Henry Kingsbury, died at CoUinsville, Ills , 

. Jan. 9, 1865. 
Henry Weremeyer, must'd out July 14, 1805. 

Privates. 
Apfell, AVm., M. O. July 14, 1865. 
Bell, James. 

Bohr, Hart, M. O. Julv 14, 1865. 
Birge, Nathaniel, M. 6. July 14, 1865. 
Boh, Arasmus, M. O, July 14, 1865. 
Collins, William, must'd out July 14, '65. 
Carlton, Schuyler, must d out July 14, '65. 
Clark, William, must'd out July 14, '65. 
Compton, Fraiee W., died at Alton, 111. Jan. 

9, 1865. 
Cameron. Charles, 

Dill, Michael, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Delaney, William, muslereil out July 14, '65. 
Eckhorn, Eged, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Fletcher, Charley E., must'd out July 14, '65. 
Greenawalt, Richard, must'd out July 14, '65. 
Gesaelle, Arnold. 



Hines, Geo. W., died in St. Louis, Mo., March 

8, 1865. 
Harrington, Thomas, must'd out July 14, '65. 
Hartman, Merman, must't out July 14, '65, 
Haley William, died at St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 10, 

18G5. 
Heepke, Henry, mustered out .July 14, '65. 
Houseman, Adolph, mu.st'd out July 14, '65. 
Houseman, Louis, naist'd out July 14, '65. 
Houseman. Rudolph, must'd out July 14, '65. 
Hoffman, Charles E., must'd out July 14, '65. 
Harnett, William, mustered out July 14, '05. 
Jone.s, David \V., mustered out July 14, '65. 
Knight, Noah, died at Alton, III., June 2, 65. 
Lampert, John R., mustered out July 14, '65. 
Morrison, Henry, mustertd out July 14, '65. 
McNeal, David, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Muth, Philip, disch. Jan. 28, '65; disability. 
Mason, Nelson, transferred to Co. F. 
Montgomery. John, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Pedrick, Ellis, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Shauer, Fred, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Schmidt, John, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Shaunts, Perry, drowned June 11, '65. 
Smith, John, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Squires, Joseph, discharged Feb. 26, '65. 
Sands, Alexander, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Schoppet, .John, mustered out .July 14, '65 
Shortridge, Mill'ord M., must'd out July 14, '05. 
Stoner, Andrew J., must'd out July 14, '65. 
Springer, Enuinuel, must'd out July 14. '65. 
Sullivan, Daniil. 

Taylor, George W., transferred to Co. F. 
Taylor, Aaron M., mustered out July 14, '65. 
Viilemore, Joseph A., niustd out July 14, '65. 
Warner, Philip, mustered out July 14, '65. 
Weathers, Ad<lison F., must'd out July 14, '65. 
Wallace, George W., must'd out July 14, '65. 
Wattermann, Henry J., transferred to Co. F. ; 

mustered out July 14, 05. 
Wood, John P., mustered out .July 14, '6-5. 
While, Alphonzo.died at Alton, lib, Dec '8, '04. 
Williaruson, John, mustered out July 14, '65, 

as Corporal. 

One Hundred and Forty-Plflli Infantry. 
100 Days' Service. 

Muster Roll, Company F. 

Pi imte. 
Chapman, George P., must'd out Sept. 23, '64- 

One Hundred and Forty-nlntU Infantry. 
One year's Service, 

Muster Roll, Company A. 

Private. 
Snyder, John, mustered out Jan. 27, 1866. 

Muster Roll, Company H. 

Private. 
Womack, "William 

Muster Roll, Company 1. 

Private. 
Fellhauer, John. Mustered out Jan. 27, l.'-'66. 

Mnster Roll, Company I, 

Privates. 

Boliger, Samuel, mustered out Jan. 27, '66. 
Baer, Erwin. musiered out Jan. 27, '66. 
Blattner, Daniel, mus. out. Jan. 27, '66, as s'gt. 
Gleyre, Ferdinand ni. o. Jan. 27, '66, as corp I. 
Gleyre, Ileniy, mus. out .Jan. 27, '66, as corp'l. 
Hofl'nuin, Anton, mustered out Jan. 26, '66. 
Haegler, Herman, musiered out Jan. 27, '06. 
Kinney, John, mustered out Jan. 27, '66. 
Kaufman, Jacob, mustered out Jan. 27, '66. 
Lang, John, mus. out Jan, 27, '66, as corporal. 
Lang, Arnold, mus. out Jan. 27, '66, a.s corporal. 



Mispley, John, mustered out Jan. 27, '06. 
Martin, James, mustered out Jan. 27. '66. 
Penning, Henry, mustered out Jan. 27, 06. 
Roth, George, m, o. Jan. 27, '66, tis corporal. 
Reidlinger. Henry, mustered out Jan. 27, '66. 
Sigrist, Richard, nuislered out Jan. 27, '(16. 
Schepperly, Benedict, mu>t'd out Jan. 27, '66. 
Snilberger, Christian, must'd out Jan. 27, '66. 
Schild, Charles, mustered out Jan. 27, '00. 
Ulric, Charles, mustered out Jan- 27, '06. 
Waters, David. 

Wander, .Anastas, mustered out .Jan. 27. '66. 
Wiltherber, Emil, musteie<l out Jan. 27, '66. 

One Huudi-ed and FIflietll Infantry Three 



This regiment was organized at Camp 
Butler, February 14th, aud mustered 
into service for one year on the same 
day, and left for the front Feb. 18th, 

1865. On the 27th of the same month, 
it arrived at Bridgeport, Alabama, 
where it garrisoned Forts Nos. three 
and four and the block house on the 
Nashville aud Chattanooga Railroad, 
I'roni Bridgeport to Chattanooga. De- 
parted from Bridgeport, March 24th, 
arriving at Cleveland, Teiin., March 2.5, 
thence to Dalton May 3(1, where the 
left wing of the regiraeut marched to 
Spring Place, Georgia and garrisoned 
that town until July 1st, the light wing 
remaining on duty at Dalton. July 
7th, left Dalton for Atlanta, Ga,, 
where it arrived the following dtiy. It 
subsequently made several marches, and 
did guard duty until the expiration of 
their terra of service, January 16ih, 

1866, when it was mustered out. George 
W. Keener, was the tirst Colonel of the 
regiment, but resigned July 20th, 18b5, 
aud Lieut. Col. Charles F. Springer, of 
Edwardsville, 111 , took command. Col. 
Springer first enlisted in the service as 
First Lieutenant company K, of the 
One Hundred and Fortieth Infantry 
Regiment, and served five months, alter 
which he enlisted in the 150th Regi- 
ment as Captain On the 24th of Feb- 
ruary, he was commissioned as lieuten- 
ant-colonel, and was promoted and com- 
missioned as colonel the following De- 
cember. After the close of the war he 
practised law in partnership with Hon. 
David Gillespie, in Edwardsville. He 
held several honorable positions in the 
couuty and state. His death occurred 
Nov. 15, 1870, at the age of 86 years. 

Roster. 

Colonel. 

CharIe^ F. Springer, must'd out as Lieut. 
Col , Jan. 16, 1866. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



257 



Major. i 

William R. Prickett, musl'd out Jan. IG, 'fifi. 

Second Assistant Surgeon . 
Charles H. Spilman, riuist'd out as hospital 
steward, Jan. 10, 1800. 

Nou-Cominlsslo»ecl StaflT. 

Principal Mu-s-ician. 
Benjamin D. Berrv, tr. to Co. H , Mav 4, "63; 

M. O. Jan. 10, 1865. 
Joseph D. Clark, mu.st'd out Jan. 16, 186G. 
Francis S. Ilawlev, tr. to Co. G. as private, 

Aug. 14 ; M. 6. Jan. 10, 1800. 

Bluster Roll, Compauj- G. 

Captain. 
John W. Swift, must'd out Jan. 10, 'OG. 

First Lieutenants. 
Harlow Bas«ett. resigned June 21, 1865. 
John N. Prickett, m::st'd out Jan. 16, '66. 

Second Lieutenant. 
William M. Smith, resigned June 20, '65. 

Ser,j.a»t. I 

Daniel A. Lynch, must'd out May 23, 'l>5, as 
private. 

Corporals. 
John S. Fitchenal, must'd out Jan. 10, 1860, 

as sergeant. 
William A. Lewis, dis. Oct. 8, '65, as private. 
William N. McDowell miis. out Jan. 10, '65. 
AbestShnlts, must'd out Jan. 16, '65. 
John L. Pryor, musl'd out Jan. 16, '65. 

Privates- i 

Alsop, Wiliiam, must'd out Jan. 16, '06. 
Bahr, Montro.'-e, died at Atlanta, Ga., Nov. 2", 

1865. 
Black, Isaac, musl'd out Jan. 16, "65. 
Bentley, John L., must'd out Jan. 16, '(!(>. 
Burns, Paul, in penitentiary for two years, at 

Milledgeville, Ga.. sentence G. C. M. 
Bewley, Axra B., must'd out Jan. 16, 'GO. 
Crura, John, must'd out Jan. 10, '60. 
DriscoU, Timothy, must'd out Jan. 16, '06. ] 
Eichalman, Frank, mus. out Jan. 16, 'GO. 
Eller, William, nuist'd out Jan. 16, '65. 
Flagg, James E., musl'd out Jan. 10, 'GO. [ 

Gaskill, Joshua O., must'd out Jan. 16, 60. 
Griffith, .Tames M., musl'd out .Jan 10, '06. 
Hawley, Francis S., nnist'd out .Ian. 10, OG. 
Hunt, Samuel, musl'd out .Ian. 16, '66. 
Hamilton, Byron, must'd out Jan. 16, Gfi. 
Howarth, Jolin H., must'd out Jan. 1(>, '06. 
Henager, James W., died at Bridgeport, Ala., 

March 27, 1865. 
Huffer, Jacob, must'd out Jan. 10. '66. 
Irwin, John, musl'd out Jan. 10. '66. 
Jackson, Charles, must'd out Sept. 15, '05 as 

sergeant. 
Jackson, Thomas K., raus. out .Ian. IG, '66. 
Kinkaid, William S., must'd out Jan. 16. '66. 
Mcintosh, George \V., M. O. Jan 10, '06. 
Miller, Wilson, musl'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Mattox, John N., mu^t'd out Jan. 16, '06. 
Matlox, Elwin, must'd out Jan. 10, '66. 
Maddox, Wilson, must'd out Jan. 16, '06. 
Mooney, Benjamin F., M. O. Jan. 10, 66. 
Maddox, Asa, absent, sick at M. O. of reg't. 
Mire, Godfried, must'd out Sept. 25, 'Go. 
Pinney, Lucius M., absent, sick at M. O. of 

regiment. 
Rash, Patrick, must'd out .June 22, '65. 
Rossen, William F., must'd out Jan. 16, '66, 

as corporal. 
Spitce, Lewis, must'd out .Jan. 16, 66. 
Smith, Josepli A., must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Smith, .lobn J., musl'd out Jan. 10, '66. 
Scott, John. 

Sanders, Edward, must'd out Jan. 16. '66. 
Tick, Henrv, musl'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
33' 



Treado, .lohn, must'd out ,Ian. 10, '60. 
Tnnget, Henry, must d out Jan. 10, '^00. 
Tunget, lobn, must'd out Jan. 16, '06. 
Watson, Warren, must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Walker, J;imes, musl'd out Jan. 16, '60. 
Willia-i.s, Frank M., mu>t'd out Jan. 10, 'GO. 
Wolf, John M., must'd out Jan. 10, '00. 

DIu8t«r Roll, Company H. 

Captains. 
H. D. Wilson, resigned Aug. 19, 1805. 
Charles H. West, musl'd out Jan. 10, '06. 

First Lieutenant. 
Joseph E. Springer, must'd out Jan. 16, 'OG. 

Second Lieutenant. 
John Gadiicy, nnist'd out Jan. IG, 'GO. 

First Sergeant. 
Stith O. Bonner, must'd out .Ian. 16, 'GC>. 

Sergeants. 
Geo. W. Clark, musl'd out Jan. 16, 'GG, as pvt. 
Edward Ilauskins. must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Frank A. Knowlton, must'd out Jan. 16, 'Oti. 
Joseph Schaer, m\is 'd out Jan. 10, GO. 

Corporals 
Robert Friday, on furlough at M. O. of reg't. 
John Lewis, inust'd out Jan. 16, '66, as pvt. 
John p. Bonn, must'd out Jan. 16, '06, as pvt. 
Slaton D. Rieves, must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
John H. Brown. M. O. Jan. 10, 'OG, as pvt. 
William H. McXeeley, M. O. Jan. 16, '06. 
Jo.seph Berger, ab.seut on furlough since Dec. 
10, ISlio. 

Musician. 
Benjamin D. Berry, must, out Jan. IG, 'GG. 

W'agouer. 
Thomas . I. Lewie, musl'd out Jan. 10, 'GO, as 
private. 

Privates. 
Axley, .Tames M., mustered out Jan. 16, '66. 
Agios, John, mustered out Jan. 16, '66. 
Abbott, John K., must'd out Jan. 10, '66. 
Albricht. Henry, mustered out Jan. 16, '60. 
Brown, William, Sr., must'd out Sept. 19, '05. 
Baker, Chris. F., must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Bartleti, Henry S., musl'd out Jan. 10, '66. 
Bartlett, George, must'd out Jan. 16, '06. 
Brown, William, Jr., dropped as a deserter. 
Burk, James, nmst'd out Jan. 16. '06. 
Blank, Henry, must'd out Jan. 10, 'OG. 
Brand, Thomas H., must'd out .Jan. 10, '06. 
Charlton, William, died at Springfield, Ills., 

Feb. 2.5, 1805. 
ChTusev, James, nnist'd out Jan. 10, '66. 
Clnrk, Jusi:di, musl'd <nit Jan. 10, '06. 
Chiton, William, must'd out Jan. 10, 'GG. 
Defreese, Samuel, mustered out Jan. 16, '6G. 
Detterweigh, John, M. O. .Tan. 16. '60. 
1 Dalch, Francis, M. O. Jan. 16, '66, as corp'l. 
Davis, James A., mustered out Jan. 16, '66. 
Eberle, Joseph, mustered out Jan. 16, '66, as 

corporal . 
Epping, Benjamin, mustered out .Ian. IG, '06. 
Esterline, Wallis L., nuistered out Jan. 16, '66. 
Foley, Patrick, ab.seut, sick at M. O. of reg't. 
Farling, Michael, nuist'd imt Jan. 16, '60. 
Geers, O.scar N,, mustered out Jan. !•>, '60. 
Gillig, or Gilling, Valentine, M. O. Jan. 16,'G5. 
Garnett. George S., mustered out .Ian. 16, '06. 
Hahn, Andrew, mustered out Jan. 10, '66. 
Ilerryman, Joseph, M O. Jan. 10, '06, as rorp. 
Hall, Anderson, mustered out Jan. IG, '66. 
Hee-ner, Philip, mustered out Jan. 10, '66. 
Irwin, Joseph F., mustered out Jan. 16, '06. 
Jounfhous, John, mustered out .Ian 16, '66. 
Johnkoff, Schortech, M. O. Jan. 16, '60. 
Koller. Christopher, mustered out .Ian 10, 'GG 
Killike, Fritz, mustered out .Ian. 10, '06. 
Ivaalz, .\ugust, mu.stered out .Ian. 10, '60. 



Krehs, Henry, must'd out Jan. 16, 'GO. 
Lawrence, Nimrod, musl'd out Jan. 10, 'GO. 
Lambein, Ernst, must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Languish, Henrv. must'd out Jan. 10, '60. 
Loll, Louis, mus-t'd out Jan. IG, '06. 
Lawrence. -Martin, must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Lynch. Clay II., must'd out .Jan. 10, '66. 
Lining, John, mu.sl'<l out Jan. 16, '00. 
Martin, John, nuist'd out Jan. 10, '00. 
Mortz, Joseph, must'd out Jan. 10, '00. 
Moortield, Charles H., M. O. Jan. 10, '(ifl. 
McLendlham, James R., M. O. Jan. 10, '66. 
Mann, Joseph, mu.st'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Morefield, Samuel, musl'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Miurisey. David, must'd out .Jan. 10, '06. 
McLaughlin, James, mu.st'd out Jan. 10, '66. 
Jlooretield, Louis S., must'd out Jan. 16, '06. 
Phingster, Gottleib, must d out Jan. 10, '66. 
Prickett, James N., must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Peter.-on, Christ. E., must'd out Jan. 16, '6t). 
Peterson, James A., must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Redmon, David, musl'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Rump, Stephen, musl'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Richard.s, William, musl'd out Jan 10, 'GO. 
Skaggs, Richard, absent on furlough since Dec. 

15, 180,5. 
Siimmerland, Melchoir, M. O. Sept. 21, '65. 
Scott, James, musl'd out Oct. 30, '65. 
Stinciicoml), Noah, must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Sundey, John, musl'd out Jan. 16, 'GO. 
Scheck, Ludwig, must'd out Jan. 10, '66. 
Schone, Harmin, must'd out Jan. 10, '66. 
Simpson, Albert, must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Story, John, absent, sick at M. O. of reg't. 
Toomy, David, must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Tanner, James M., musl'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Woodward, Wiliiam, must'd out Jan. 10, '66. 
Wallace, Samuel, absent, sick at M. O. of regt. 
Whithoit, Napoleon S., died at Nashville, 

Tenn., June 10, '65. 
Wallace, Jerome, must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Wallace, Michael, must'd out Jan. 16, '66. 
Zopick, John, mus 'd out Jan. 10, '60. 
Zeigler, Christopher, musl'd out Jan. 16, 'GG. 

Pecruit. 

Down, Philip, musl'd out Jan. 16, '60. 
One Hniidrid and Flfty-socond Infantry— 
One Vear Servlee. 

The 1.52(1 Regiment volunteers was 
organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, by- 
Col. F. D. Stephenson, and was mustered 
in February 18th, 1865, for one year. 
February 20th, moved to Nasiiville, 
reporting to llaj. Gen. Millroy, Feb- 
ruary '28th, 1865. It veas mustered out 
of service September 11th, 1865. 

master Roll Company B. 

ISergeant. 
Geo. W. Lee, nuist'd out Sept. 11, 1865. 

Privates. 
Allen, William, musi'd out May 19, 1865. 
Crain. Andrew J., must'd out S.'pl. 11, 1865. 
Hoogland, Joseph, musd out Sept. II, 1865. 
Jackson, James, died at Tullahoma, Tenn., 

June 21, 1805. 
Johnson. Jacob C. 

Kelling, Charles, must'd out Sept. 11, 1865. 
Mearns, Robert, absent sick at muster out of 

re;'t. 
Moorehouse, James, must'd out Sept. 11, 1865. 
McKinley, Daniel, musl'd out Sept. 11, 65. ^ 
McKinloV, Robert H., must' out Sept. 11, '65. 
Slutitcr Roll Company E. 
Corporals. 
Jiihn F. Winger, must'd out. Sept. II, 1865. 
Chiis ( '. Dannar, on furlough at m. o. of reg't. 



258 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Nobles, Abraham, ninst'il out June 3, 1865. 
Paul, Jisse. naist'd out Jul; 27, ISCo. 
Paul, Wm. E., luusi'il out Sept. 1 1, 18t)5. 
Stark, David II., luust'd out July 27, 1865. 

Miuiti-r Roll Company B. 

Corponda. 

Joliii F. Winger, mus'd out, Sept. 11, 1865. 
Cliarks C. Dannar, on furlough at inu.stcr out 
of regiment. 

PHtates. 

Graham, Eobert H., iniist'd out Sept. 11, '65. 
Slohinkan, Andrew, niust'd out Sept. 11, '65. 
Ee^-nolds, William, mustd out Sept. 11, 1865, 

as musician. 
Wieck, John, must'd out Sept. 11, 1855. 

One Hundred and Fifiy-fonrth Infantry. — 
One year's Service. 

This regiment was organized under 
the call of December 19th, 1864, at 
Camp Butler February, 21st, 1865, for 
one year's service. February 24th, it 
left by rail for Louisville, Ky., and ar- 
rived at Nashville, Tennessee, February 
27th, and March 2d, arrived at Mur- 
freesboro. Here the regiment suifered 
very much from exposure to continued 
cold rains, and sickness prevailed to a 
great extent, and many of the men died 
from severe exposure. Remained at 
Murfreesboro, May 14th, drilling and 
doing guard and picket duty, â– which was 
its chief mission during the remainder 
of the terra. AVas mustered out Sep- 
tember 18th, 1865, and September 29th, 
1865, was paid off and discharged 

Roster, One Hundred and Fifty-fonrtU In* 
^fautry — One Year's Service, 

Chaplain. 
John E. Moore, must d out Sept. 18, 1865. 

Sloster Roll Company C. 

Musicians. 

Henry Myers, must'd out Sept. 18, 1865, as 
corporal. 

William L. Reed, private, died at Murfrees- 
boro', Tenn., April 14, 1865. 

Wagoner. 
Jason Lucus, on furlough at m. o. of reg't. 

Privates. 
Dooley, Joseph, must'd out Aug. 21, 1865. 
Kru>:er, Frederick, nuisl'd out Julv 22, 18P5. 
Marshiin, William, must'd out May 23, 1865. 
Pcriy, Ebenezer, must'd out 8ept. 11, 1865. 
Tonkinson, David T., must'd out Sept 11, '65, 
as sergeant. 

Muster Roll Company F. 

Private. 
Maples, James S., must'd out Sept. 11, 1865, 
as sergeaut. 

Muster Roll Company G. 

Privates. 
Bernlmrdt, Ernst S, must'd out Sept. 18, '65. 
Dodgson, Joseph W-, must'd out Sent. 1865. 
Pratt, Moses, must'd out Sept. 18, 1865. 
Reed, Joseph O., must'd out Sept. 18, 1865. 



Muster Roll Company K. 

Privates. 
Hamilton, Win., must'd out July 6, 1SC5. 
Lee, John, nuisi'd out Sept. 18, 1805. 
Tilman, Christian. 

Roster, One Hundred and Fifty-fiflll In- 
fantry .—One Year's Service. 
Muster Roll i ompauy A. 

Privates. 
Hundorfer, Anton, m\isi'd out Sept. 4, 1865. 
Rohrer, Rochus, must'd out Sept. 4, 18G5. 

Muster Roll Company I. 

Captain. 
David Glenn, must'd out Sept. 4, 1865. 

Wagoner. 
Decob Donovan. 

Privates. 
Ashlock, John N., niust'd out Dec. 30, 1805. 
Fletcher, Newton, must' out Sept. 30, 1865. 
Green, Warien, niust'd out Sept. 30, 1805. 
Lurman, Hazel, must'd out Sept. 30, 1865. 
Patitrson, Samuel T., must'd out Sept. 30, '65 
Williams, Samuel, must'd out Sept. 30, 1865. 

Muster Roll Company K. 

Private. 
Regon, Daniel, must'd out Sept. 4, 1865. 

Roster, First Cavalry Regiment.— TUree 

Years' Service. 

Muster Roll Company I. 

Captain. 
Orlando Burrell, must'd out July 14, 1862. 

First- Lieutenant. 
Leonard S. Ross, must'd out July 14, 1862. 

Second Lieutenant. 
Frank Lindsey, must'd out July 14, 1862. 
First Sergeant. 

William H. Johnson, must'd out July 5, 1862, 
as private. 

Quartermaster Sergeant. 
Edwin B. Emerson, must'd out July 5, 1862, 
as private. 

Sergeants. 

James N. Jordan, must'd out July 5, 1862, as 

corporal. 
Vincent Anderson, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Samuel Thompson, must'd out July 5. 1802. 
Burton F. Graham, must'd out July 5, 1862. 

Corporals. 

Conrad Miller, must'd out July 5, 162, as pri- 
vate. 

Samuel J. Fo.ster, mu.'t'd out July 5, 1805, as 
sergeant. 

Wm. S. Newman, must'd out July 5, 1862, as 
private. 

John Graham, must'd out July 5, 1862. 

John W. Howell, must'd out July 5, 1862. 

Frank Milchum, must'd out July 5, 1862. 

William H. Hatcher, niust'd out July 5, 1862. 

James T. Vaught, must'd out July 5," 1862. 

Musicians. 
Wm. W. Quinn, tr. to 48th 111. Inft., must'd 

out Aug. 15, 1865. 
William R. Cochran. 

Farrier. 
Asa Burrell, must'd out July 5, 1802. 

Privates. 
Austin, Hugh, must'd out July, 1862. 



Bunkley, Morris L. 

Blackman, Henry, must'd out July 5, 1S62. 

Co/.art, David, must'd out July 5, 1805, as 

teamster. 
Craw, .lohn IL, must'd out July 5, 1802, as 

sergeant. 
Clark, Leonard, must'd out July 5, 1802. 
Cherry. George, must'd out July 5, 1802. 
Cotton, Wm. A., nirs.'d out July 5, lbO'2. 
Craig, Geo. A., musi'd out July 5, 1862 
Duckworth, Andersen C, must'd out July 5, '62. 
Evans, Thomas, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Emerson, Clarence A., must'd out July 5, '62. 
Fisher, Wm. E., must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Felty, Albert L., must'd out July 2, 1S62. 
Gorbii, Joseph, must'd out July 5, 1862, as 

farri?r. 
Hart, Enos, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Hargraves, Samuel, mu.«l'd out Julv 5, 1862. 
Hill, Benj. C, must'd out July 5, ]'S62. 
Jilcs, Frank, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Jiles, John, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Jamerson, Wm. C, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Jamerson, Robert M., must'd out July 5, '62. 
Kriis, John, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Kaufman, Philip, musi'd out July 5, 1862. 
Little, John M., must'd out July 5, 1802. 
Metcalf, Lee, niust'd out July 5, 1862, as first 

sergeant. 
Mayors, or Majors, William, discharged. 
Pomeroy, Robert, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Pnckard, John, musi'd out July 5, 1862. 
Putnam, Malison, musi'd out July 5, 1862. 
Quails, James M., niust'd out July 5. 1862. 
Sharer, .Joseph, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Soiithwick, John W., must'd out July 5, '62. 
Suuthwick, James P., must'd out July 5, 1862, 

as saddler. 
Smith, Wm. J., must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Storm, Nicholas L., must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Slinger, Oliver P., must'd out July'5, 1862. 
Swanwick, William, must'd out July 5, 1862, 

detached. 
Taliett, Calvin, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Woods, Winfield S., must'd out July 5, 1862, 

as bugler. 
Wilson, Je.-ise B., tr. to 6th 111. Cav. 
Wilson, John T., ditd. 
Young, Heury. must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Zimmerman, Henry, must'd out July 5, '62. 

Pecruiis. 

Anderson, John S., niust'd out July 5, 1862. 
Austin, William, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Burrell, Sidney, musi'd out July 5, 1862. 
Barton, Willis^ must'd out July'5, 1802. 
Buck, Marmaduke, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Brocket!, James R., niust'd out July 5, 1862. 
Cochran, John S., must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Clark, John B., must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Cult, Thornton, niust'd out July 5, 1862. 
Duckworth, Benj. R., must'd out July 5. '62. 
Douns, Jonathan, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Devlin, William, must'd out July 5,1862. 
Dorbin, Jonathan, died. 
Emerson, Wm. H., must'd out July 5, 1802. 
Goudy, Geo. G., musi'd out July 5, 1862. 
Graham, Ross, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Hosick, William, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Hardin, Witliara, must'd out July 5, 162. 
Hargiaves, Jefl'eison, must'd out July 5, 1862. 

detached. 
Jolly, John M., must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Lane, Richard, must'd out July, 5, 1862. 
Lamp, Asa, must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Loomis, Edwin R., must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Mi.xon, William A., must'd out July 5, 1865, as 

corporal. 
Movely, Robert H., must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Metcal'f, Daniel P., must'd out July" 5, 1862. 
.Newman, Thomas S., must'd out July 5, 1862. 
Pechard. Isaac, dead. 

Quartz, Andrew P., must'd out .July 5, 1862. 
Ross, John .J., musi'd out .luly 5, 1865. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



259 



Tuthill, Luke S., musl'd out July 5, 1805. 
Trapp, John., miisi'il out July 5, ISH-i. 
T:ite, Geo. H., niusi'd out July 5, ISlJo. 
Willi-!, Jiimes IS., must'd out July 5, 1835. 
Woods. Jo!in, musi'dout July 5, 18(35. 
Willis, Rjbart C, disclmrged'. 



Second Cavnlrj- Regiment —TUree jrears' 
service. 

This regiment was raised from variou.s 
parts of the state and was mustered 
into the United States' service at Camp 
Butler, Aug. 12th, 1861, Col. Silas 
Noble commanding. As only company 
D of this regiment figures prominently 
in soldiers from Madison county, we 
shall confine tiiis brief history to the 
movements of this company. 

It was raised at Upper Alton by Capt. 
Franklin B. Jloore (afterwards promo- 
ted to Maj ) as an independent Cavalry 
company, and was named the " JIadison 
County Rangers." Its organization 
dates from the memorable national holi- 
day, July 4th, 1861. The first of 
August following the company was or- 
dered to Camp Butler where it was 
mustered into the United States' service 
as company D of the 2d regiment of the 
Illinois cavalry. In November the reg- 
iment was stationed at Cairo, Illinois, 
and company D was detailed by the 
officer commanding to report at Cape 
Girardeau, Mo. to look after guerrilla 
bands under Jeff. Thompson. It was 
here that they first saw service. They I 
â– were almost continually in the saddle 
scouting after the guerrillas, having hot 
skirmishes, and succeeded in taking: 
several of them prisoners- From this j 
time forth the history of the company ' 
was a .series of continued scouting and 
fighting until the expiration of the time 
of its enlistment. It had no particular 
abiding place, but operated from the 
northern borders of the Confederacy to 
the Gulf It stood pre-eminently first in 
its services for the Union cause, and in 
justice ."^houkl have appeared on the regi- 
mental roll as company A. None in the 
service experienced greater hardships, 
or made a better record than company 
D- Indeed, the county may be proud 
of the valorous deeds of the " Madison 
County Rangers," as the following 
record will demonstrate. This company 
alone, took over 1,200 prisoners, killed 
more than 100 of the enemy, and cap- 
tured about 1,000 mules and horses, be- 
sides taking an immense quantity of 



stores and munitions of war. They once 
swam New River, twice swam the Hat- 
chie, and once the Obin river, and had 
several experiences of equal peril in 
crossing other swollen streams. For the 
whole period of its service, the company 
furnished its own horses and equipments. 
The term of enlistment expired in July 
1864, when it was re-organized and con- 
tinued in active service until the close 
of the war. It was mustered out the 
22d of November, 1865. Captain Moore 
was promoted to the office of Major. 
May 3d, 1864. He now resides at 
Upper Alton, and takes pleasure in 
talking over the scenes of camp life. 

Major. 

Franklin B. Moore, mustered out Nov. 22, '05, 
(as consolidated.) 

JVou-CommUsioned Staff. 

Saddler Sergeant. 
Steward Smith, died April 10, 18G2. 
Muster Roll Compamy C. 
Recruils. 

Conley, Janirs, tr. to Co. B. (as consolidated} 

miisiered out Nov. 22, 1805. 
Lony, Denni;-!, tr. to Co. B. (-as consolidated) 

mustered out Nov. 22, 1805. 
Thompson, G. A., tr. toCo. B. (as consolidated) 

mastered out Nov. 22, 1865. 
Thompson, John E. 

Muster Roll Conipauy D. 

Fiisl Lieutenant. 
George Lebold, term expired Aug. 12, 1864. 

Second Lieutenants. 

Thomas Brown, resigned Oct. 1, 18G2. 
William Manger, terra e.Kpired. 

Q. M. Sergeant. 

Jacob Van Dyke Cregar, died at New Madrid, 

mustered out Oct. 25, 1862. 
James Dunlap. 

Sergeants. 

John T. Beard, discli. Aug. 11, '64; terra ex. 
Jonathan Akers, disch. Mar. 26, '02 ; disabil'y. 

Corporals. 

William P. Boqua, vel., must'd out June 24. 

186-5, as Q. M. Sergeant. 
Henry Platl, disch. Aug. 11, 1864, as Private; 

term expired. 
John II. Lowe, mustered out; term expired. 
James P. Griffith, trans, to Gunboat Lexington, 

Dec. 10, 1861. 
William D. Lawrence, disch. Aug. 11, 1804, 

as private ; term expired. 
Andrew J. Dale, must'd out Feb. 13, 1805, to 

date Dec. 29, 1844 ; was mis-iing in action 

Feb. 23, 1804. 
Andrew Steele, vet., trans, to Co. C. (a.s con- 
solidated I ; mu.s. out Nov. 22, '6-5, as Cip'l. 
William R. Drig>;s, died at Sikeston ; must'd 

out April 4, 18(')2. 

liugkrs. 

.Idhn Rhodemvor, disch. .\ug. II, '64; term ex. 
William H. Stoekel, disch. Oct. 2, 1801. 



Fan-ier. 

.James Fortiner, vet,, tran^ to Co. C. (as con- 

solidaled), must'd out Nov. 22, 1805. 

Blaclcsmith. 

Nicholas Oast, disch. Aug. 11, '64 ; term ex. 

Saddler. 

Stewart Smith, died .it Carbondale, 111., March 
10, 1862. 

Wagoner. 

Augustus L. Grimsley, vet, mustered out June 
24, 180-5, as Sergeant. 

Privates. 

Alward, William A., vet., trans, to Co. C. (as 
consolidated), must'd out Nov. 22, '05, aa 
Corporal. 

Black, Chas., disch. Aug. 11, '05 ; term ex. 

Beere, Charles P., vet., trans, to Co. C. (as con- 
solidated), Serg't trans, to Co. F. ; must'd 
out Nov. 22, 1805, Co. Com. Serg't. 

Bovd, William, disch. Aug. 11"61, term ex. 

Bcnbow, Thomas J., died Oct. 0, '63, Union 
City, Tenn. 

Brennan, Michael, discli. Aug, II, '04; I'm ex. 

Bennick, George , vet.. Bugler, tran^^. to Co. C. 
(as consolidated), must'd out Nov. 22. '65. 

Baker, Richard P., disch. Aug. 11, '64; t ni ex. 

Cashill, John K., disch. Aug. 11, '04, as Cor- 
poral ; term expired. 

Carlelon,Thoni-js J., vet., trans, to Co. C, mus- 
tered out Nov. 22, 1865. 

Corgan, James M., de.-^erted July 28, 1802. 

Conimill, Christian, killed at Cold Water, Mi.ss. 

Dolbow, George W., vet., trans, to Co. C. (as 
consolidated), must'd out Nov. 22. 

Diller, Franklin X.,di'ich. Aug. 11, '04; t'm ex. 

Dale, Jud.son, disch.. Mar. 20, '02 ; disability. 

Dolehouse, George, disch. Aug. 11, '04 ; t'm ex. 

Donovan, John, vet., Corp'l, deserted May 10, 
1864. 

Deadman, Adolph or Wm., disch. Aug. 1 1, '64, 
as Corporal ; term expired. 

Flannigan. Barney, vel., trans, to Co. C, (as 
consolidated) must'd out Sept. 4, 1865. 

Fag:in, Antonio, disch'd Aug. 11, '64 ; t'm ex. 

Griffith, Jolin B-, trans, to Gunboat Lexington 
Dec. 10, 1861 ; sentence G. C. M. 

Galhofer, Franklin J., disch. Aug. 11, '01; 
term expired. 

Glass, John, disch. Aug. 11, '04; term ex. 

Goodhall, Harvey L., mu.st'd out Aug. '64, as 
Serg't; term expired. 

Hughes, William E., vet., tr. to Co. C, (as con- 
solidated) must, out Nov. 22, 1805. 

Hulbere, Francis, disch. Aug. 11, '64; t'm ex. 

Hosp,Chailes, discli. Mnrcli 1.3, '64; blindness. 

Humraert. Frer'. A., disch. .-Vug. 11, '04; t'm ex. 

Jordan, Albert, killed at Cold Water, Mi.ss. 

Kurtz, Daniel M-, disch. .-Vug. 11, '64; I'm ex. 

Kellen, Clement.*, disch. Aug. 11, 64; term ex. 

Lane, Arthur LeGrand, vet., trans, to Co. E., 
Aug, 1, '04; disch. Nov. 24, '64, kenlence 
G. C. M. 

Larkin, Francis, vet., disch. .Tune 2, '05; ds'by. 

Lowe, George M., vet., trans, to Co. C. (as con- 
solidated), must'd out Nov. 22, '05, asS'gt. 

Lindzey, James D., honr'bly disch. Jan. 10,'03. 

McDavit, William, disch. Aug.ll,'e4 ; I'mex. 

McCauley, Eli A., vet. trans to Co. C. (as con- 
solidated), must'd out Nov. 22, '05. 

McKenzie, .James, vet., trans to Co. C. (as con- 
solidated), must'd out Nov. 22, '6-5. 

McICoen, FrancLs, disch. Aug. 11, '64, as Sad- 
dler; term expired. 

Merritt, D.iniel K., disch. Oct. 25, 1862. 

McCunlv, Alonzo, killed June 19, 1863, at 
Cold Water, Mi-s. 

Millard, Thomas W, disch. Aug. 11, 1864; 
term exiiired. 

Nott.Charles W-, disch. Aug. 11, '04 ; t'm ex. 



260 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Noels, Wm., discli. April 10, 1S65; disability. 

Parsley, Joseph, died at Fort Pillow, Dec. 23, 
lS6'i. 

Keal, Lewis, disch. Aug. 8, 1862; disaWlity. 

Kyan, Jolin, vet., Serg't, tr. (o Co. C. (as con- 
solidated 1, iniist'd out Nov. 22, 186.5. 

Stiles, John, discli. for disability, Jan. 16, '63. 

Smith, James, disch. Aug. 11, '64 ; term ex. 

Signoir, Eli. 

Shay, Dennis, vet., trans, to Co. C. (as consoli- 
dated), must'd out Nov. 22, 1865. 

Swatswelter, Abner, disch. Aug. 11, '64, as 
Corporal; term expired. 

Smith, Harman, vet., tr. to Co. C. fas consoli- 
dated), must'd out Nov. 22, 1865. 

Stanley, Albert Edward, vet., tr. to Co. C. (as 
consolidated), must'd out Nov. 22, 1865, 
as Corporal 

Shaw, William Francis, disch. Aug. 11, '64; 
term expired. 

Scully, William, disch., Aug. 11, 1864, as Ser- 
geant: term expired. 

Tungate, Henry, disch. Feb. 14, 1862 ; disab'y. 

Thompson, John, died at Memphis, March 18, 
1864. 

Vanmeeter, Ncalon, raus. out; term expired. 

Wood, Charles Young, vet., tr. to Co. C. (as 
consolidated), must'd out Nov. 22, 1865. 

Walsh, Patrick, discharged May 5, 1863. 

Walsh, Thomas, disch. Aug. 11,"'64 : terra ex. 

Weber, Peter, died at Cairo, 111, Mar. 9, '62. 

Hecruits. 

AUred, Thomas T., dishonorably discharged 
Aug. 20, 1861. 

Zapfel, Augusiine, served his time of 3 years. 

Blankenship, James P., trans, to Co. C. (as con- 
solidated), must'd out Aug. 26, ISb."!. 

Gray, Tliomas S., trans, to Co. C. ( as consoli- 
dated), must'd out Nov. 22, 1865. 

Hopkins, Charles 

Johnson, William F., trans, to Co. C. (as con- 
solidated), must'd out Nov. 22, 1865, as 
Q. M. Serg't. 

Lewis, James, trans, to Co. C. (as consolidated), 
must'd out Nov. 22, 1865. 

Ehodemeyer, Adam, trans, to Co. C. (as con- 
soli<lated), must'd out Nov. 22, 1865. 

Slinger, O. P., died at Baton Bouge, Aug. 25, 
1864. 

Wayland, A. G., trans, to Co. C. (as consoli- 
dated), must'd out Nov. 22, 1865. 

Warner, Leopold B., trans, to Co. C (as consoli- 
dated), must'd out Nov. 22, 1865. 

Bluster Roll, Company C 

Privates. 

Dugger, George W., vet,, trans, to Co C. (as 
consolidated), must'd out Nov. 22, 1865. 

Recruits. 
Kerr, William A , disch. Sept. 3, '64 ; term ex. 
Lane, Anhur L., disch. Nov. 27, '64 ; ^G. C. M.) 

Tllree years' Service.— Third Cavalry Regi- 
ment. 

The Third Regiment of Cavalry was 
organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, by 
Col. Eugene A. Carrof the regular ar- 
my in August, 1861. Several men in 
the various companies, as will be seen 
below, went from Madison county. On 
the 25ih of 8eptember, 1861, the regi- 
ment moved to St. Louis, and on the first 
of October proceeded up the Missouri 
river to Jefferson city, and thence march- 



ed to Warsaw, arriving October 11th. 
On 23d marched toward Springfield, 
Mo., in Col. Carr's brigade, Gen. Ash- 
both's division. On the 2d of Novem- 
ber following, Gen. Hunter took com- 
mand of the army. November 13th the 
first and second battalions moved with 
the array on Rolla, Mo. The third bat- 
tallion, Maj. Ruggles commanding, was 
the last to leave Springfield. Reached 
Rolla November 19. Here the regiment 
remained until December 2l:)th, when it 
moved in the advance of Gen. Curtis' 
army for the southwest. On tlie 13th 
of February, 1862, near Springfield, 
the third cavalry fought the first en- 
gagement, and won the first victory of 
Gen. Curtis' campaign. On the 14th 
of February, 1862, it occupied Spring- 
field, Mo. On the 16th came up with 
Gen. Price's army, and took some pris- 
oners. On the 18th at Sugar Creek 
Ark., the third battalion participated in 
a cavalry charge, routing the enemy. 
It had various skirmishes and short 
marches during the summer and fall in 
Arkansas, and west of the Mississippi 
river, when on the 23d of December, 
1862, it reported to Gen. Steele at the 
mouth of the Yazoo river, formed part 
of the force, and did good .service in the 
disastrous attack on Vicksburg under 
Gen. Sherman. In the spring of 1863, 
Col. McCrillis, with a battalion, moved 
to Memphis, and soon after, as a part of 
the thirteenth corps, this battalion took 
part in the battle of Post Gibson, Cham- 
pion Hill, Black River Bridge, and the 
siege of Vicksburg. August 16th re- 
ported to Gen. Banks, and bore a part 
in the western Louisiana campaign, and 
at Vermilionville, Opelousas, and Car 
rion Crow Bayou. August 21st a part 
of the third regiment participated in the 
repulse of Gen. Forrest, in his attack on 
Memphis. On August 24th, 1864, the 
non-veterans having been mustered out, 
the veterans were consolidated into a 
battalion of six companies. The bat- 
talion took part in the battles with Gen. 
Hood's array in December, 1864, and 
operated below and around Nashville. 
Embarked for St. Louis in May, 186.5; 
thence to St Paul, Minnesota, reporting 
to Gen. Curtis. On July 4th, started on 
an Indian expedition over the plains of 
Minnesota and Dakota; north to the 
British line; south and west to Devil's 



Lake and Fort Barlhold, and returned 
to Fort Snelliug October 1st, arriving at 
Springfield, Illinois, October 13th, 1865, 
and was mustered out of service. 

Roster, — Master Roll, Company A, 

Recruit. 
Stewart, Samuel B. W., trans, to N. C. S. 

Mnster Roll, Company B. 

Recruit. 
Smith, Lewis R., trans, to Co. F. as consoli- 
dated, mustered out Oct. 10, 1865. 

Muster Roll, Company D. 

Private. 
Pierron, Augustus, disc. Sept. 11, '62; disab'ty. 

Recruit. 
Seibert, Henry, trans, to Co. E. as consolidated 
Corporal, died at Gravelly Springs, Ala., 
Feb. 6, 1865. 

Mnster Roll, Company F. 

Private. 
Beal, Charles. 

Muster Roll, Company L. 

First Sergeant. 
William Snell, mustered out Sept. 5, '65. 

Priiiates. 
Cobb, Lyman, discharged for disability. 
Ricks, Joseph, absent, wounded at muster out 

of Regiment. 
Robinson, Alexander S., vet., trans, to Co. A. 
ascontolidated, mus.out.June5, '65; as cor. 
West, Charles H., mustered out Sept. 5, 1864. 

Recruits. 

Bullock, John H., trans, to Co. A. as consoli- 
dated, mustered out June 9, 1865. 

Bullock, Amos trans, to Co. A. as consolidated, 
killed at Nashville, Tenn., Dec. 1.5, 1864. 

Cooksey, James M., Pro. Sergeant Major. 

McMullen, George, trans, to Co. A as con- 
solidated, mustered out Oct. 10, 1865. 

Wlialen, Henry, trans, to Co. A. as consolidated, 
mustered out Oct. 10, 1865. 

Consolidated. 
Muster Roll, Company A. 

Recruit. 

Robertson, Daniel, M. O. June 5, '65; was pris. 

Muster Roll, Company B. 

Rfcruits. 
Alfred, p>in. 
Baxter, Byron. 

Carr, Baloes L, mustered out Oct. ]0, 186.5. 
CuUen, Peter, mustered out Oct. 10, 1865. 
Dawson, Michael. 
O'Neil, John, mustered out Oct. 10, 1865. 

Muster Roll, Company £j. 

Recruits. 
Armstrong, Samuel J., mus. cut June 5, 1865. 
Mills, Ezekiel, mnstered out June 5, 1865. 
Robertson, Chas. W., under arrest at muster 
out of Regiment. 

Muster Roll, Company G. 

Pnrrier. 
Thomas B. Russell, must'd out Oct. 10, 1865. 

Privates. 
Darring, or Darling, Fred. 
Jenkius, William, mustered out Oct. 10, 1865. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



261 



Muster Roll, Compaujr H. 

Priiafes. 
Donihue, Patrick, mustered out Oct. 10, 1865. 
Hdgg, Thomas, mualered out Oct. 10, 1865. 
Hathaway, Simeon, must'd out Oct. 10, 1865. 
Jones. James. 
Eyan, Timoihy, mustered out Oct. 10, 1S'>5. 

Mustrr Roll, Coinpauy I. 

I'limlts- 
Coffman, Joseph, mustered out Oct. 10, 1865. 
Johnson, Joseph. 
McNeill, disch. June 1, '6.5, asSerg't, disab'ty. 

Sloster Roll Company K. 

Primle. 
Quinn, James, muslcred out Oct. 10, 1865. 



Uuasslsnecl Recruits. 



Gracy, George B. 
Morrisey, Edmund. 
Young, James. 

Foortb Cousolirtntecl Cavalry Regiment.— 

Tliree Years' Serviee. 

Muster Roll, Company B. 

Jiccruit. 

Frederick, Antony, trans, to Co. I, 12th 111. 

Cavalry, mustered out July 8. 1865. 

Muster Roll, Company C 

llixruit . 
Merrill, Frank F., tr. to Co. K., 12th III. Cav'ly. 

Finii Cavalry Keslment.— TUree Years' 
Seiviee. 

Muster Roll, Company E. 

Pr.vale. 
Blaketon, Benjamin. 

Sixth Cavalry Regiment.— Tlirce Years' 
Srrvlee. 

Muster Roll, Company li. 

liccruits. 
Karnes, Harvey C, must'd out Nov. 5, 1865. 
Kktlton, John S., mustered out Nov. 5, 1865. ' 

Seventh Cavalry Regiment.— Tllree Years' 
Service. 

Muster Roll, Company Ij. 

RtcruiU. 
Ghtss, James S. 
Leddy, William, mustered out Nov. 4, 1865. 

Muster Roll, Company M. 

Rccruils. 
Bender, August, mustered out Nov. 4, 1865. 
Handler, Charles, must'd out Nov. 4, 1865. 
Haack, Christian, mustered out Nov. 4, 1865. 
btauh, George, nuistered out Nov. 4, 1865. 

Vnasslgueil Recmit. 

Boyd, John J. 

Tenth Cavalry Regiment.— Three years' 
Service. 

This regiment was organized at Camp 
Butler, Illinois, 2.5th of Nov. 1861. 
James A. Barrett was its first Colonel, 
who resigned May 15, 186i, and was 
succeeded by Colonel Dudley Wicker- 
sham, of Springfield, Illinois. On the 



20th of Dec, 18G1, it moved to Quincy, 
Illinois, and from thence to Jefferson 
Barracks, Mo., on the 13th of March, 
1802. It operated in southwest Mis- 
souri, till 13th Nov., when it formed a| 
part of the Army of the Frontier, and 
was in line of duty from Springfield, 
Mo., to Cane Hill, Arkansas. It par- 
ticipated in the battle of Prairie Grove, ! 
Ark., Dec. 7th, 1862. Was at Jackson- 
port, Ark., July 4, 1862 ; Helena, July 
I 12th, and Aug. 7 moved to Old Town, 
, Landing. Oct. 6, 1862, returned to He- 
leua, and Nov. 16th marched with the 
expedition to the mouth of White river ; 
and on the 27th of Nov. to Oakland, 
j Miss. Had a skirmish with the enemy | 
I and returned to Helena, Dec 7th, 1862. 
I The original service term of the Tenth 
I and Fifteenth Regiments Illinois Caval 
j ry Volunteers having expired, an order 
j of consolidation was issued January 26, 
1865, for the re-enlisted men and re- 
' cruits of the same, to be formed into 
welve corapan ies and reorganized as the 
Tenth Regiment, Illinois Cavalry. 
j The regiment was mustered out of ser- 
vice, Nov. 22d, 1865, at San Antonia, 
I Texas, and ordered to Springfield, 111., 
for final payment and discharge. The 
following soldiers in it are from Madison 
county in different companies : 

'^Roster.— Non-commissioned Staff. 

Chief Bugler. 
j Henry Lansing. 



Sergiant. 
Samuel Byrd, pronioteil. 

Corporals. 
Samuel Wickofi'. 

Horace Rnndell, vet., tr. to Co. E., reorganized, 
absent on cimfineraent for desertion at M. 
O. of regiment. 

Binilcr.: 

Joseph L. Elwell, tr. to regimental band, disc. 

Dec. 30, 1864, as Saddler .Sergeant. 

Priv:itcs. 
Bostvvick, John H., disch. Dec. 1. '63. 
Gillespie, John K., disc y 14, '62. 

Gannon, John. 
1 Hays, George W. 
Jones, Lair D., vet., must'd out Nov. 22, '65. 
Langston, James, vet., absent, sick at rausler 

out of regiment. 
Myers, Edward, dislionora'y dis. April 15, '62. 
Rogers, Josiah, must d out Dec. 30, '64. 
Riindele, Horace M., vet. 
Shive, Martin, must'd out Dec. 30, '64. 
Seebaker, Anion, died at Mar»htield, Mo., 

iSept. 11, 1862. 
Whitaker, George, deserted May 6, 1862. 

Recruits. 
Brown, John P., tr. to Co. E. as reorganized, 
I M. O. Nov. 22, '65. . 

Casselman, Daniel, tr. to Co. E. as reorganized, 
; M. O, Nov. 22, '06. 

Greenwood, Peter S., tr. to Co E. as reorga- 
nized, M. O. Nov. 22, '65, as Bugler. 
Morrison John, tr. to Co. E. as reorganized, 

M.O. Nov, 22. '6-5. 
McGraw, Thomas, died at Little Rock, Ark., 

Mav 20, '65. 
Wade, 'Thomas, tr. to Co. E as reorganized. 

Master Roll, Company F. 

G.plnin.. 
Isaac H. Ferguson, resigned June 23, '65. 
William A. Chapin, Pro. Major, Tenth Cav- 
alry, as reorganized ; resig'd Apr. 21, '65. 

First Lieutenant. 
Felix Droll, lion, disch. Dec 20, '64. 



Muster Roll, Company A. 

Rccruitf. 
Brown, John W., tr. to Co. A. (as reorganized,) 

deserted July S, '65. 
Crummer, John,'lr. to Co. A. (as reorganized) 

M. O. June 13, '65. 

Muster Roll, < ompany B. 

Vdcran. 
Bate-s, DeWitt, disch. Aug. 19, 1864. 

Mnster Roll, Company C. 

Recruit. 
Caswell, Harvey W„ Ir. to Co. A., as reorga- 
nized, died at Mound City, 111., May 3, 
1866. 

Muster Roll, Company E. 
Cnptain. 
Henry Reily. 

First Lieutenants. 
Columbus Cross, resigned .\pril 4, 1862. 
William H. East, resigned July 7, 1862. 

Second Lieutenant. 
John Mabee. 

Q M. Sergeant. 
Charles R. Williams. 



Second Lieutenant. 
William Scliwerdtfeger, hon. dis. Dec 20, '64. 

Q. M. Serrjeanl. 
William Jageman, M. O. Dec. 30, '64, .is pvt. 

Sr.rgeants. 
Theadore Holtkemper, vet., Co. F. as reorga- 
nized, disch. July .5, '65 ; disability. 
Frederick Parker, must' (J out Dec. 30, '64. 
Casper Britt, vet., pro. 1st scrg't., then Lieut. 
Co. F. 'Tenth, as reorganized, must'd out 
Nov. 22, '65. 
George Fry, must'd out Dec. 30, 1864. 

Corporals. 

August Mumme, M. O. Dec. 30, '64 ; as pvt. 

William Peastack, vet., m. o. Oct. 9, 1865, as 
sergeant. 

Oliver Reed, mnst'd out Dec. 30, '64. 

John Pulliam,m. o. Dec. 30, '6.5, a.s private. 

George Brewer, vet., tr. to Co. F. as reorga- 
nized, M. O. Nov. 22, '65. 

Mathias Poschen, died at Camp Butler, Ills., 
Dec. 31, '61. . , 

John Bender, vet., tr. to Co. F., .is reorganized, 
M. O. Nov. 22, 65, as sergeant. 

Wilfred Calvert. 

Buglers. 

Henry Lansing, Pro. Chief Bugler- 
William Ziircuhlen, dis. June 10, ' 62; disaby. 
BlacJcsniith. 

Drew Walker, M. O. Dec. 30, '6.5, as private. 



262 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Saddler. 
Benjamin F. Elliott, musl'd out Dec. 30, '64. 

Wagoner. 
Washington Miller, tr. to V. B. C. Aug. 1", '63. 



Alexander, John, must'd out Dec. 30, '6-1. 
Bjlton, Willi.ini, died at Camp Butler, Ills., 

Dec. 26. '61. 
Bowlanger, John, veteran. 
Busch, Julius, mus'd out Dec. 30, '64. 
Brooks, George, disch. June 10, '62; disab ty. 
Carlton, Benjamin F. 
Dill, .John, mu.st'd out Jan. 5, '6-5. 
Dividson. Daniel, .Us. Oct. 10, '62 ; disab'ty. 
Freece, Henrv, dis. Oct. 10, '62; disability. _ 
Federer, Ch.irles, vet., mus. out Nov. 22, '6q. 
(iiger, John S., died at Mound City, 111., May 

30, 186-3. 
Gericke, Henrv, must'd out Dec. 30, '64, 
Guntdl, B irtholomaus, vet., dis. May 13, '63 ; 

disability. 
Hofeditz, Lewis, Vft., absent, sick at muster 

out of regiment. 
Hover, Charles, disch. June 10, '62. 
Hoitenriet, Philip, vet., absent, sick at M. O. 

of regiment. 
Henmann, Frederick, tr. to V. R. C Sep. 1, 63. 
Heiz, Hfnrv, must'd out Dec 30, '64. 
Iletiger, John, vet., must'd out Nov. 22, '6-5. 
Jagemann, Edward, pro. Serg't., then 21 LieiU. 
Jageraann. Frank, vet., mus. out Nov. 22, '6-5, 

as sergeant. 1 

Keck. Muhias, died at Camp Butler, Ills., 

Dec. 27, '61. 
Ketchum. Levi, must'd out Dec. 30, 64. 
Keller. John, uuisi'd out Dec. 30, '64. 
Koeliker, Beatus musi'd out Dec 30. '64. 
â– Miller, August, must'd out Dec 30, '64. 
Mever. John, died at Brownsville, Arkansas, 

September 6, '63- 
l^tever, William, must'd out Dec. 30, '64. 
Mover Herman, vet., tr. to Co. F. as reorga- 

' nizeil, M. O. Nov. 22, '65. 
Miller Jonathan, died at Camp Butler, J.in. 

14. 1862. . , 

More, John, vet., tr. to Co. F. as reorganized. 
Newberrv, Henry, musl'd out Dec. 30, '64. 
O'Neil, Thomas, vet., tr. to Co. F. as reorga- 
nized, must'd out Nov. 22, '65. 
Piasiark, Lewis, vet., tr. to Co. F. as reorga- 
nized, musl'd out Nov. 22, 'So. 
Pfister, Casper, vet., tr. to Co. F. as reorganized, 

must'd out Nov. 22, '0-5. 
Ree.), William, vet., tr. to Co. F. as reorga- 
nized, must'd out Nov. 22, '05, as serg't. 
Rast, John, disc. Dec. 23, '62; disability. 
Kiltman, Joseph, musl'd out Dec. 30, '64. 
Randle, William, dis. Oct. 10, '62 ; disability. 
Schneider, William, musl'd out Dec. 30, '64. 
Schwab. Martin, dis. .\ug. 22, '62 ; disability. 
.Schneidler. A.nton, musl'd out Dec. 30, 64. 
Simersou. James, died at Little Rock, Ark., 

Sept. 20. '63. 
Steg. Frederick, must'd out Dec. 30, 64. 
Schlegel, Oswaldt, musl'd out Dec. 30, '64, as 

blacksmith. 
Schreiber, John, vet., tr. to Co. F. as reorga- 
nized, dis. Mav 13, '65 ; disahilitv. 
Wriston, Joseph, vet, tr. to Co. F. as reorga- 
nized, musl'd out Nov. 22, '65, as serg't. 
Webrle, Xavier, vet., tr. to Co. F. as reorga- 
nized, M. O. Nov. 22, '65, as Quartermas- 
ter Sergeant. 
Wriston Alfred, dis. Apr. U. '63 ; disability. 
Weiss, Frederick, died in action at Searcy, 

Ark.. July 14, '61. 
Wentz. Louis," vet, died in action at Searcy, 
Ark., M. O. Nov. 22, '65. 

Recruits. 
Berwald, Fredeii:-k, tr. to Co. F. as reorga- 
nized, M. O. June 13, '6-5. 



Bladt, Lewis, vet., tr. to Co. F. as reorganized, 

M. O. June 13, '05, as Bugler. 
Cooper, Silas G., tr. to Co. F. as reorganized, 

M. O. Nov. 22, '65. 

Cillis, William, tr. to Co. F, as reorganized, 

M. O. Dec. 9, '65. [ 

Doerr, George, died at Brownsville, Ark., Nov. 

2. 1864. . , 

Dirrer, Bernard, tr. to Co. F. as reorganized. 

Pro. Serg't Major, M. O. Nov. 22, '65. 
Davidson, Daniel, tr. to Co. F. as reorganized, 

M. O. Nov. 22, 65. 
E'ans, James H. . , ,, 

Elliott, Henrv C', tr. to Co. F. as organized, M - 
O. Nov 22, '65. . I 

Friedger, JohnC, tr. to Co. F. as organized. 

M. O. Mav 22, 1S65. 
Kircher, Frederick, tr. to Co. F. as organized, 

M. O. Mav 22, '65. 
Kes.^el, William, tr. to Co. F. as organized. , 
Kilpatrick, Joseph, tr. to Co. F.as organized. ] 
Lebman, Martin, died at Brownsville, Ark., 

Nov. 2, '64. . 

Lutziver, Joseph, tr. to Co. F. as reorganized. ] 
Redman, Adam, tr. to Co. F. as reorganized. 
Stevens, Abial, Serg't., disch. to date March 
25, '63, to accept promotion in 14tU Ar- 
kansas Infantry. 
Schwager Henry, tr. to Co. F, as re-organized, 

ni. o. Nov. 22, '05. 
Scheyer, Michl., tr. to Co. F, as re-org'd, m. o. 

Nov. 22, '65. 
Schneider, Conrad, tr. to Co. F, as re-organized, 

m. o. Nov. 22, '65. 
Steineger, Jacob, tr. to Co. F, as re-organized, 

m. o. Nov. 22, '65. 
Spie.ss, Meinreth, tr. to Co. F, as reorganized, 

m. o. Nov. 22, '65. 
Stokes, Edward, tr. to_ Co. F, as re-orgauized, 

m. o. Nov. 22, '65. 
Schewler, Joseph, tr. to Co. F, as re-organizcd, 

m. 0. Nov. 22, '65. 
Taylor, Jackson, tr. to Co. F, as re-organized, 

ra. o. Nov. 22, '65, as saddler. 
Wellick, Mich'l, tr. to Co. F, as reorganized, 

deserted June 30, '65. 
Wilson, Wm. E„ tr. to Co. F, as re-organized, 

m. 0. Nov 22, '65. 
Zimmerman, Henry, tr. to Co. F, as re-org zed, 
m. o. Nov. 22, '05. 



Muster Roll, Company H. 

Rctrmt. 
Claffv, Keeran, tr. to 5th Ills. Cav., m. o. Oct. 
27, 1865- 

UiMsngned BecruiU. 
Boyle, Charles. 
Chatam, Jasper. 
Voorhees, David J. 
Williams, James B. 



Master Roll Company Ij. 

Recruit- 
Lenlz, Geo,, tr to Co. D, re-organized, des'ted 
Aug. 5, '65. 

Muster Roll Company M. 

Recruits. 

McFarland, Martin, transf d to Co. C, as re- 

organized. 

Palmer, William P., transfd to Co. C, as re- 
organized. 

Unassigned Recruits. 
Anderson, John. 
Boyd, Lafayette. 
Campbell, Thomas. 
Eauk, John. 

Harrington. John M., tr. to Co. F, as re-organ- 
ized, ni. 0. Nov, 22, '65. 
Hauskins. Thos. E., tr. to Co. F. as re-organ d 
1 m. o. Nov. 22, '65, as corporal. 

John.son, William. 

1 Lvnch, Nathan, tr. to Co. F, reorganized, m 
â–  o. Nov. 22, '65. 
O'MaMey, Edward. 
Stout, James E. 
EleventU Cn^TJry Regiment.-Tliree years' 

Muster Roll, Company D. 

Recruit. 
Blackwater, Benjamin, tr. to 5lh Ills. Cavalry. 



TweXftli Cavalry Regiment.— Three Tears' 

Service. 

Muster Roll Company B. 

Privates. 

Fellhauer, Frederick. 
Miller, John, died Nov. 25, '64. 
Stockor, John, vet., tr. to Co. B, consol'd, m. o. 
May 29, '65. 

Muster Roll Company D. 

Privates. 

Rollins, David, tr. to V. R. C. 

Roberts, John. 

Shaw, Lvman A., died at Petersburg, \ a., 

j July' 4, 1803, of wounds. 

j Muster Roll Company P. 

' Private. 

Gray, Rob't, pro. coin's serg't, prom. capt. Co. 
'H, as consol'd, m. o. May 29, '05. 

TUirteentll Cavalry Regiment (consolld'ed). 

TUree Years' Service. 

Non-commlssloned Staff. 

Hospital Steward. 
John W.Gass, tr. to regular army, July 5, '65. 

Muster Roll Company P. 

Recruit. 
Hobert, Henry C, m. o. Aug 31, '65, as sergt. 

Pourteenfli Cavalry Reglment-TUree 

Years' Service. 

Muster Roll Company A. 

Recruit. 

Bro\Yn, John, M. O. July 31, '65. 

. Unassigned Recruits 

Clark, John. 

SUleentli Cavalry Regiment-Three Tears' 
Service. 



Muster Roll Company E. 

Corporal. 

William Morganstein. 

Privates. 

Bilong, .John. . 

Mizer. Chas. J., died at Richmond, Va., Mar. 

10,'64. whilepris'r ofwar. 
Mever, .\dolph, tr. to 117th Inf., deserted Sep. 

' 7. 1803. 
Miiller, John. „- ,^- j- ii,„ 

Miinsck, Mivthias, disch. June 2<,'6o, disab ty. 

Phtster, Christian. 

Muster Roll Company P. 

Saddler. 
D. Hobecke, or Habbegger, M. O. June 13, '65- 

Privates- 
Tschonnen, Louis. 

Weigand, Jos., died at Cumb land Gap.Tenn., 
Dec. 15, 1863. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



263 



TM-rnt)-iilntl» Colored Infantry.— iTlire* 
Years' service. 

Mnster Roll C'oiupaiiy A. 

Needliam, James H., M. O. Nov. 6, "65. 

Recruits. 
Killion, rienry, M. O. Nov. 6, '05. 
Lewis, L'lias. \V., absent, sick at M. O. of regt. 
Keed, John. 

Muster Roll Coiikpauy B. 

Um-mU. 
Franklin, Samuel, M. O. Sept. 30, '6.5 ; ter.ex 

Master Roll Company C. 

Priiale. 
Hallidav, Thomas. 

Rerruit. 
Kowaik, Henry, M. O. June 14, 'Go. 

Muster Roll Company D, 

P,-irati:s. 
Hunter, Edward, died at Kent Court House, 

Va., June 14, 04. 
Manuel. David J., absent, sick at M. O. of reg. 
Moore, Henry, died at Petersburg, Va., Apr. 21, 
1SG5. 

^ Muster Roll Company E. 
Firft Scryennt. 
John F. Ferryman, M. O. Nov. 6, '65. 

SergeanU. 
Willey, Sexton, M. O. Nov. 6, 'G5. 
Joseph C. .Vrbuckle, tr. to Co. I, as 1st sergt. ; 

M. O. Nov. G, '05. 
John \\ â–  Kiden, tr. to Co. C, as Ist sergt. ; M. 
O. Nov. 6, 'O.J. 

Corporah. 
Juliu-! White, killed at Petersburg, Va., July 

30, '64. 
Isaiah Browner, died at Ft. Monroe, Va., Julv 

9, '05. 
Solomon W. AVhite, 'M. O. Nov. G, '65 as sergt. 
Conrad J. Arbuckle, M. O. June 12, 'Go. 
Albert Samuel, absent, sick at M. O. of rept. 
Hiram D. Bout, killed at Petersburg, Va., July 

30, '04. 
Henry Douglas, M. O. Nov. 6, '05 ; as sergt. 
Edward Howard, disch. Nov. 14, '(J4; disab'y. 

Musicians. 
Charles Hunter, M. O. Nov. G, '65. 
Kobert Walker, killed at Petersburg, Va., Julv 

30, 'G4. 

Wayomr. 

Thomas Scott, private, killed at Petersburg, Va. 

July 30, '64. 

PrivaUs. 
Arbuckle, William, M. (). Nov. 0, 'G5. 
Adams, Tliomas, M. O. Nov. 6, '65. 
Arbuckle, Robert S., M. O. Nov. 6, '65 as corp. 
Arbuckle, Joseph, M. O. Nov. 6, '65. 
Ale.xander, Moses, M. O. Nov. 0, '65. 
Brown, John J., killed at Petersburg, Va , July 

30, '04. 
Broadwater, Thomas, M. 0. Nov. 6, '65. 
Batty, Jackson, M. O. Nov. 6, '65. 
Berr'v, John, died at Alexandria, Va,, Dec' 12, 

1864. 
Brook, Andrew, absent, sick at M. O. of regt. 
Browner, Henry, died at City Point, Va., Aug. 

1.5, '64. 
Coward. David, if. O. Nov. 6.'65. 
Chalnian. Lewis, M. O. Nov. 6, '05. 
Cunningham, Henry, M. O. Nov. 0, '05 ; abs't. 
Delany, Janus B., disch. Oct. 14, '04 ; disaby. 
Dougherty, Shadrack, M. O Nov 6, '65. 
Ferguson, Henry, absent, sick at M. O. of regt 



Grayson, Robert W., 51. O. Nov. 6, '65. 

Hvton, ilcnry, killed at Petersburg, Va., July 
30, '04. 

Ilammons, Samuel, killed at Petcr.>burg, Va., 
July 30, '04. 

Ilcndersion, William, M. O. Nov. 6, 65. 

Howard, .Alexander, disch. March 3, '05 ; dis. 

lliilibard, William, M. O. Nov. b, '(J5. 

Johnson, William, M. O. Nov. 6, '05. 

.lames, John, M. (). Nov. 6, '65. 

Jackson, Jolin, M. O. Nov. 6, 65. 

Jackson, John, must'd out Nov 6. 1865. 

Joy, Charlfs, must'd out Nov. 6, 1865. 

Johnson, Sidnev, pro. Q. M. sergt., mu.st'd out 
Nov. 6, 1865. 

Kane, Willis, must'd out June 12, 1B65. 

Martin, Lewis, absent, sick at m. o. of regt. 
j ilorgan, Gardner, must'd out Nov. 6, 1865, as 

corjioral. 
I Martin, David, must'd out Nov. 6, 1865. 
' Mariin, Geo., disch. Oct. 19, '65; disb'lty. 

Miner, Gardner, died at Fortress Monroe, Va., 
I May 4, 1865. 

Owens, Elijah, must'd out Nov. 6, '65. 

Perkins, George, killed at Petersburg, Va., 
July 30, 1864. 

Phillip, James, died at Alexandria, Va., May 

24, 1804. 
I Parker, Cvrus J., killed at Petersburg, Va., 
] Julv 30, 1864. 

Price, William, disch. Oct. IG, '04 ; disability. 

Robinson, Prim, must'd out Nov. 6, '65. 

Robinson, Joseph, killed near Petersburg, Va., 
April 2, lS6.i. 

Sexton, Leander, mu.sl'J out Nov. 6, 1865. 
i Sexton, Willis, must'd out Nov. 6, 1865, as 
I corporal. 

' Singleton, George, must'd out Nov. 6, 1865, as 
corporal. 

Smith, Richard, disch. June 10, '65. | 

Talon, Irwin, must'd out Nov. 0, '65. 
j Titsworlh, .\ndrew, must'd out Nov. 0, '65. 
] Throgmorton, Thornton, must'd out Novem- 
! her 0, 1865. 

Tyler, John W., m. o. Nov. 6, 1865. 

Tiivlor, Mav, must'd out Nov. 6, '65. 

Webb, William I)., mustered out Nov. 6, 1865. 

Williams, John M., must'd out Nov. 6, 1865. 

Wilson, Reuben, died Aug't 3d, 1804, wounds. 
I W'ilson, Josejdi, absent, sick, at muster out of 
regiment. 

Recruit. 

Snivelly, Henry C, must'd out Nov. G, 1865, as 
corporal. 

I Muster Roll Company P. 

Rccni its. 

Baxter, Samuel, must'd out Nov. 6, 1865. 
Kirby, William, muu'd out Nov. 6, 1865. 
Mitchell William, must'd out May 14, 1865. 

Unassigned Recruits. 

DeMorse, Jourdan. 
Gray Samuel. 
Payton, Oliver. 

United Slates Colored Recruits. 
President, Cyrus, attached to 13lh U. S. Col'd 

Art. 
Robertson, Silas, attached to 13th U. S. Col'd 

An. 
Smith, Henry, attached to 13th U. S. Colored 

Art. 
Thomas, Philip, attached to 13lh U. S. Col'd 

Art. 

Roster, .\lton Battalion One Hundred 

Hays' Serriee, 
Captain JoUu Curtis' Company. 

Privates. 
Moore, Samuel B., must'd out Oct. 7, 1864. 
Sloeher, Joseph, mu.sl'd out Oct. 7, 1864. 



Captain Simon S. Stookey's Ccnipany. 

Ench, John, must'd out Oct. 7, 1804. 
Lanigan, John, must'd out Oct. 7, 1864. 
Oramore, Peter, must'd out Oct. 7, 1864. 

Roster, Springfield Artillery TUree Years' 

Service. 

Priiatcs. 
Gutzweller, Joseph, must'd out June 30, 1865. 
Tuselier, John, must'd out June 30, 1865. 



Surgeon. 
Hezekiah Williams, resigned Feb. 13, 1863. 

Muster Roll Battery .\. 

liCcruits. 
Davis, Benj.. must d out July 27, 1865. 
Misenhammer, Philip, must'd out July 27, 'Go. 
McNully, Michael, must'd out July 27, '05. 
Mattock, John W., must'd out July 27, '05. 
O'Neal, Jamis, must'd out July 27, 1865. 

Muster Roll Battery C. 

Privates. 
Caldwell, William C, disch'd Dec. 19, 1861; 

disability. 
Harrison, John, must'd out Oct. 22, 1864. 
lma.son, Thomas, vel., mu.sl'd out 1865. 
Schotield, Richard, discharged lor promotion 

in Col'd Artillery. 

Muster Roll Battery E. 

Privates. 
Walker, Frederick, disch'd Aug. 30, 1801. 
Stabanan, Michael, must'd out July 29, 1865. 

Unassigned Recruits. 
Bremer, Henry, 
Werder, Casper. 



Lee, Samuel N., lOtli Kansas. 
McCord, E. Kimball, 10th Minnesota. 

Cavalry, 

Tremain, John, 1st Missouri Cavalry. 

First .\riiiy Corps. 
Assigned to Co. A -id Reg't U. S. Vet. Vols. 

Buehler, Frederick, must'd out Feb. 8, 1806. 
Baunian, Ubriel, must'd out Feb. 8, 1866. 
Fry, John, must'd out Feb. 9, 1860, as corp'l. 
Gtssler, Frederick, must'd out Feb. S, 1866. 
Janett, Peter, uiu.st'd out Feb. 9, 1806. 
Kleimer, Samuel, musi'd out Feb. 8. 1800. 
Mossman, August, musi'd out Feb. 10, 1866, as 

corporal. 
Wagner, Henry, must'd out Feb. 8, 1866. 

Assigned to Company F »d U. S. Vet. Vols. 

Barber, Alexander, must'd out Feb. 14, 1860. 
Knlisted Men of Contpauy 5. 

Casey, John. 

Dorsey, Michael, 

Murray, Jeremiah, di.schrged May 7, 1806, as 

corporal. 
Webber, Conrad, must'd out Feb. 22, 1806, Co. 

G 4th U. S. Vet. Vols. 

Kullsted Man of Company 6. 

Donnelly, Patrick. 

Knllsted Men of Company S. 

Woods, Chanes J., must'd out March 27, '66 
as corporal. 



264 



HISTOBY OF MADISOI^ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Stacy, Frank, raust'd out March 27, 1866. | 

Kempt, Andrew, assigned to Co. E, must'd out 

March 29, 18G0. 
r.utler, Patrick, assigned to Co. E, must'd out 

IMarcIi 29, 18GG. 
L'eimer, Peter, inust'il out Marcli 27, 1863. 
Kealy, James, must'd out Marcli 27, 1866. 

Kullstrd Men Company 9, assignrit to <'o. D 
U. S. Vet. Vols. 

Fleming, William. 

Able, Casper, must'd out April 3, 1SC6. 
Ilinsgrem, Michael, must'd out April 3, 1866. 

EiUUted Men Company 11, assigned to Co. 
H U. S. Vet. Vos. 

Schnni.an, Andrew, must'd out April 3, 1866. 
Zeigler, Michael. 

Henry, Anton, must'd out April 13, 1866. 
Johnson, James F., must'd out April l.S, '66. 
Logan, Joseph F., musi'd out April 13, 1860. 

Enlisted Man Company 13. 

Carpenter, .Tames M. 

Fifteentli Missouri Infantry.— Three Years' 
Service. 

The following is a list of the soldiers 
from Madison county, who served in 
Missouri regiment during the late re- 
bellion. As per the roster furnished us 
by the Adjutant General pi Missouri. } 

Second Regiment Missouri Infantry. — Three 

Years' Service. 

Muster Boll Company F. 

Frimlcs. 
Bardelmire, William. 
Bloamker, William, died in Andersonville 

prison. 
Fieldraeier, Ernst, killed at Perrvville, Ky., 

Oct. 8, 1862. 
Schmidt, Ernst, died at Nashville, Tenn. 
Schomberg, Ernst. 

Muster Ont.RoII Company B. 

Casimer Muri, 1st Lieut., taken prisoner at 

Chickamauga, Sept. 20, '63, parole Dec. 

9, 1864. 
Fred Blume, 1st Serg't., M. O. Dec. 25, 1865 ; 

wounded Jan. 1, '63, Sept. 20, 'i;3. 
Adolph Fess, serg't., M. O. Dec. 25, 1865; 

wounded June 18, '64, at Kenesaw Mt. 
Maurice Mascoot, serg't., M. O. Dec. 2-5, '65. 
John Kuhrt, serg't., M. C. Dec. 25, '65 ; wnd. 
John Iloft'man, corp'l., M. O. Dec. 25, '65. 
Bader, Joseph, private, M. O. Dec. 25, 1865; 

taken prisoner at battle Franklin, Tenn., 

Nov. 30, '64. 
Baurmann, Philipp, private. 
Lenherr, Edward, priviite, M. O. Dec. 25, '65. 
Noll, Jacob, private, wounded at Atlanta, Ga. 
Spohr, Christian, M. O. Dec. 2-5, '65. 
Tischhauser, John, private, M. O. Dec. 2.5, '65. 
Wernli, Jacob, private, M. O. Dec. 2.5, '65. 
Winegar, Charles, private, taken prisoner at 

battle, Franklin, Tenn., Nov. 30, '64. 
Henry Nelson, 1st Lieut., pro. Capt. Co. K. 

J.an. 15, 1862. 
Frank Unger, 1st Lieut., pro. Capt. Co. A. July 

22, 1862. 
Fridolin Rummel, 1st Lieut., resig'd ; wound- 
ed at Chickamauga, Sept. 20, '63. 
Herman L. Vaubel, serg't., pro. 1st Lieut. Co. 

A. June 6, '6.5. 



John Beely, serg't., diseh. June 20, '65. 
Peter Beely, serg't, disch. Sept. 22, '64; wnd. 
Charles Willielm, serg't., disch. June 10, '65. 
Nicolas, Kessler, pvt., killed at battle. Peach 

Tree Creek, (ia., July 20, '64. 
Amraon, Charles, private, dis. Sept. 22, '64. 
Bernhard, John, private, disch. Feb. '25, '63. 
Bncher, .Sebastian, private, dis. April 3. '62. 
Fleuhler, Michael, private, dis. June 16, '65. 
Fuerst, Gabriel, private, disch. Sept. 22, '64. 
Kellerhals, Oswald, pvt., disch. June 10, '65. 
Keil, Conrad, private, disch. Nov. 10, '6-5. 
Lorenz, Wm., private, disch. Jan. 11, '65. 
Loyd, Joseph, private, disch. Sept. 3, '61. 
Lulim, John, private, disch. Dee. 8, '01. 
Mergenthaler, Antone, pvt., dis. Aug. 7, '02. 
Miissiman, August, private, dis. Sept. 22, '64. 
Newman, William, pvt., disch. .Sept. 22, '64. 
Ruiz, Abraham, private, disch. Sept. 22, '64. 
Siegrist, Emil, private, disch. Sept. 22, '64. 
Voigt, Henry, private, disch. Sept. 22, '64. 
Webber, Dominic, private, disch. Sept. '2'2, 04. 
Wolff, Louis, private, disch. Sept. 22, '04. 
Droesch, Joseph, private, tr. to V. K. C. ; wnd. 
Linherr, John, pvt., tr. to V. R. C; wounded. 
J<ipp, Fred, pvt., tr. to Reg't Staff'; wounded. 

Muster Roll Company I. 

Captain. 
Edward Richter, mustered out 1 864. 

Second Lieutenant. 
John V. Krebs, killed at Murfreesboro, Tenn. 



Sergeants. 

Joseph Schaer, mustered out 1864. 

Victor Senn, wounded at Murfreesboro, Tenn., 

discharged March, 1803. 
Ernst Diekman, mustered out 1864. 
Christian Reed, mustered out 1864. 

Corporak. 

Ernst Eohcrkasta, mustered out 1864. 

Simon Brendle, discharged. 

Anton Peter, wounded at Perry ville, Ky.,Oct. 

8, 1862; discharged. 
Julius Reed, mustered out 1864. 
Herman Berlemann, mustered out 1864. 
Henry Meves, mustered out 1864. 
Frederick Lenning, mustered out 1864. 

Musician. 
Peter Smith, mustered out 1804. 

Wagoner. 
â– Vin Nolde, mustered out 1864. 

Privates. 

Burlemann, Ernst. 

Bishopp, Peter, captured at Atlanta, died in 

Andersonville prison. 
Burkhorst, Conr.ad, mustered out 18G4. 
Bruus, Casper, mustered out 1864. 
Berganiann, Henry, mustered out 1804. 
Blum, Xavier. 

Boening, Henry, died Nov. 1801. 
Detmer. Henry killed at Murfreesboro. 
Dietemann, Seraphine, was prisoner, M. O. 
Deterweich, John, mustered out 1864. 
Dormilz, Fred, mustered out 1864. 
Hook, Bernhard, killed. 
Henckel, Charles. 
Hartwicic, Charles. 

Hartung, Louis, wounded, mustered out 1864. 
Horry, Jacob, discharged, wounded. 
Tntch, John. 

Kissling, Frederick, mustered out. 
Kremer, Ern.sl. died in .Jeff'erson City, Mo., '61. 
Kuhn, .'Vugust. 



Kloeppner, Henry. 

Ledebuir, Kasper, 

Langbeir, Ernst. 

Miller, Daniel. 

Miller, John. 

Runge, Louis. 

Sieburger, Fred. 

Schneider, Henry. 

Siedler, Alois. 

Siefried, Anthony, wounded at .\tlanta, Ga. 

Schmidt. Gottleib. 

iSii-pt, John. 

Willie, William. 

Wassmann, August. 

First Missouri Cavalry Regiment.— Three 
years' Service. 

Organized at Jefferson Barrack, Mo.; 
naustered into the service of the United 
States oa the .30th day of August, 1861. 
Ordered to Jefferson City and from 
thence to Tipton, Warsaw, Springfield, 
and Rolla, Mo. Returned to Springfield 
skirmishing with the enemy. Moved to 
Sugar Creek, Mo., engaged the enemy 
February 17, 1862, with a lo s of two 
enlisted men of company " M, " Wolf 
and Prince. Camped at Sugar Creek, 
scouting and doing escort duty for sup- 
ply trains until the Battle of Pea Ridge 
in which eight Companies of this Regi- 
ment were engaged. The Regiment 
then moved to Batesville, Jacksonport 
and Helena. Was then ordered to 
Memphis, engaged the enemy at Cold 
Water June 20, 1863, returned to Mem- 
phis, and was ordered to St. Louis, arriv- 
ing July 3d. On the '23d, July, received 
orders to move to Cape Girardeau, Mo.,\ia 
Illinois, from which piiintthey advanced 
j to Pocahontas, on the Black river, cap- 
turing the noted Confederate General 
Jefl'. Thompson ; returned to Camp at 
Cape Girardeau received orders to move 
to New Madrid, Mo., there receiving 
final discharge, August, 1864. We ap- 
pend a roster of the soldiers from Aladi- 
son county, Illinois who enlisted in said 
Regiment. 

Roster— Muster Roll Company M. 

Caplniu. 
â– Valentine Preuitt, pro. capt., Aug. 27, '62. 

First Lieutenant. 

William B. Dorsey, M. 0.«Nov. 23, 1864, was 
acting A. Q. M. 

First Sergeant. 

Francis C. Dorsey, disch'ged by special order, 
March 5, '63. 

Sergeants. 

.James H. Willard. 

William P. Prince, killed at Sugar creek, Feb. 
17. 1,S62 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



265 



I-iom P. Preiiitt, pro. Ist serg't, July 15, '62. 
Pelcr Reiile. 
Richard B. Dorsey. 

Corporals. 

O-scar ti. Preuitt, pro. sergt. .July 15, '62. 
William P. Y iger, pro. serg't, July 15, '62. 
Jo-epii Graff. 

Williuiii A. McDonald, pro. aergt., Nov. 1, '62. 
Thomi-', Rilph, vet., pro. 2i lieut., April 1, 

1,S62. 
Paul Kingston. 

Austin Yager, pro. serg't, Jan. 1, I8f)4. 
Joseph II. Porter, discharge 1 July 2 1, '62. 

Wagoner. 
AVilliam G. Triglen. 

Farrier. 
Joseph Redman. 

lllachsmilh. 

John R. Norris died in service. 

Privates. 
Belleville, Charles, discharged Sep. 5, '64. 



Bise, William H. 

Baley, Ja.«., died in hosp'l at Memphis, Tenn., 

Mav 4, 63. 
Bowmaii, Henrv, discharged Aug. 26, 62. 
Barkley, Michael, wounded at Cold Water 

June 20. '63. 
Boyle, Austin, discharged. 
Chaffer, (ieorge, mus. out ill 1864. 
Carroll, Michael, mus. out in 1864. 
I),vycr, Thomas, mus. out in 1864. 
Dillon, .lohn, mus. out. in 1864. 
Franklin, David, mus. out in 1864. _ 
Fanuan, Edward, mustered out in 1864. 
Friars, Fred., mustered out in 1864. 
Grant, John, mus. out in 1864. 
Gilson, Lawrence, killed in service. 
Givin, James H., mus. out in Aug. '64. 
Harris, Henrv M., mus. out in Aug. '64. 
Hickley, John, mustered out Aug. 64. 
Hand, James, nuis. out Aug. '64. 
Johnson, Hermon, mus. out Au^. '64. 
Jackson, Solomon, mus. out Aug. '64. 
Jackson. James, discharged. 
Jones, .\ustin, veteraned. 
Karnev, John. 

Kiser,'Henry, re-enliated a.s veteran. 
Leem'an, Samuel P., must'd out in 1864. 
Little, William, wounded two or three times. 



Lilly, Frank, m. o. in 1864. 
Lynch, Kdward, lu. o. in '64. 
Lewi.s, Kdward, ra. o. in '64. 
Mayherry, James E., veteraned. 
Maher, Daniel. 

JIcDonald, James, discharged. 
Monks, John. 
Mullen, Daniel. 

Maxwell, Mauira, m.o. in 1861. 
McConuell, .lohn, m.o. in 1864. 
Malouey, .John, m. o. in 1864. 
O'Conner, Martin, m. o. in 1864. 
Ptiffer, Jacob, m. o. Aug. 1864. 
Rose, John C, veteraned. 
Kustamier, .fohn, veteraned. 
Strickland, John, m. o. in 1864. 
Stone, William, died at Memphis, smallpox, 
Swain, William, veter.med. 
Scott, John. 

Suttcm, George, ra. o. in 1864. 
Smith, .\dam, killed. 
Wolf, Adam, killed at Cold Water. 
WanI, CliH;)rd. 
Welsh, Martin. 

Wellher, Nicholas, veteraned. 
Willhite, .Joel. 
j Yonger, John, disch'd. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE COMMON SCHOOLS. 




I HE Pilgrim Fathers sought the bleak New 
Eugland shores, leaving suuuy Eng- 
land behind them, in the interests of 
civil and religious liberty. lu their 
rude cabins, cheered by brightly burning 
fagots, they taught their children to read 
and write whilst they instilled into their 
minds a love of liberty. It early occur- 
red to these patriots that education was the bulwark of re- 
publican institutions, that if they would perpetuate self- 
government they must educate. Here the free school found 
birth. Advantages sufficient to learn to read, to write, to 
reckon were deemed a debt due every child born withiu the 
boundaries of the State, in order that such child when it 
should become a sovereign should be able to become familiar 
with the laws before which it stood responsible. These prin- 
ciples were slowly formulated in laws. Advocates of educa- 
tion took yet broader grounds and passing by local State 
boundaries looked forward to a universal national recogni- 
tion of education as a debt, hence it was that champion. Dr. 
Manasseh Cutler of Massachusetts, went to New York to 
attend the convention of 1787 in the interest of educational 
measures, and secured the passage of Article 2, of the com- 
pact of 1787, which gave throughout the north-western ter- 
ritory, one thirty-sixth of all public lands for school pur- 
poses, and in addition one township of thirty-six .sections in 
each Territory or State formed out of the northwest for 
Seminary, also of Article 3, which reads: "A provision 
prohibiting the adoption of any constitution or the enact- 
ment of any law that should nullify pre-existing contracts. 
34 



Be it forever remembered that this compact declared that 
Religion, Jlorality and Knowledge being necessary to good 
gove'rument and the happiness of mankind, schools and the 
means of education shall always be encouraged." 

Dr. Cutler planted himself firmly on this platform, and 
yielded not until success crowned hisefforts. EveryStatecut 
out of the great northwest territory now enjoys the benefits 
of his far-sighted policy. Public schools nurtured by pub- 
lic funds, the outgrowth of the wise provisions embodied in 
Dr. Cutler's resolutions gladden millions of youth, and their 
blessings are yet in their infancy. Here was the germ of 
the whole free school system as developed throughout the 
West. Dr. Cutler was reared in Massachusetts ; had enjoyed 
the benefits of that free school system inaugurated in Boston 
in 1635, when the general court authorized au appropriation 
of four hundred pouuds, for tlie e.stablishment of a " schoole 
or college." In 1642 the first educational ordinance of the 
colony was adopted. By it the selectmen of every town 
were enjoined to have a " vigilant eye over their brethren 
and neighbors to see, first, that none of them shall sufier so 
much barbarism in any of their families, as not to endeavor 
to teach, by themselves or others, their children and appren- 
tices so much learning as may enable them to perfectly read 
the English tongue, and knowledge of the capital laws, upon 
twenty shillings therein." The school law of ]\Ias.sachusetts 
adopted 1647 has furni.shed the foundation for all subse- 
quent legislation in the interests of education. 

In 1818 when Illinois was admitted as a State she was in 
the incipient enjoyment of Rev. Dr. Cutler's foresight, as 
set forth in the act of admission, which contained the follow- 
ing stipulations imposed by Congress: 

" Whereas the Congress of the United States, in an act 
! entitled ' An act to enab'e the people of the Illinois terri- 
' tory to form a constitution and State government, and for 
1 the admission of such state in the union on equal footing 
i with the original states, passed the 13th of April, 1818' 
have offered to this convention, for the free acceptance or 



266 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



rejection, the following propositions, which if accepted by 
the convention, are to be obligatory upon the United States, 
viz: 1. The section numbered sixteen in every township, 
and when such section has been sold, or otherwise disposed 
of, other land equivalent thereto, and as contiguous, as may 
be, shall be granted to the State for the use of the inhabi- 
tants of such township for the use of schools. 2. That all 
salt springs within such State shall be granted to the said 
State for the use of said State, and the same to be used under 
such terms and conditions and regulations as the legislature 
of said State shall direct : Provided, the legislature shall 
never sell nor lease the same for a longer period than ten 
years at any one time. 3. That five per cent, of the net 
proceeds of the lauds lying within such State, and which 
shall be sold by Congress from and after the first day of 
January, 1819, after deducting all expenses incident to the 
same, shall be reserved for the purposes following, viz. : Two- 
fifths to be disbursed under the direction of congress, in 
making roads leading to the State ; the residue to be appro- 
priated by the legislature of the State for the encouragement 
of karning, of which one-sixth part shall be exclusively be- 
stowed on a college or university. 4. That thirty-six sec- 
tions, or one entire township, which will be designated by 
the president of the United States, together with the one 
heretofore reserved for that purpose, shall be reserved for 
the use of a seminary, and vested in the legislature of the 
said State, to be appropriated solely to the use of such sem- 
inary by the said legislature." 

From the above, it will be seen with what care and jeal- 
ousy the general government guarded the school-interests of 
the new-formed states. These grants and conditions were 
accepted by the convention which assembled at Kaskaskia 
in July 1818, for the purpose of framing a constitution for 
the new state. Hon. Shadrach Bond, a man of marked 
ability, was elected first governor of Illinois. In his inau- 
gural address to the general asembly, he called their special 
attention to the educational interests of the state in the fol- 
lowing forcible language : " The subject of education, the 
means for which have been so amply provided by the gen- 
eral government, cannot fail to engross your serious atten- 
tion. It would be well to provide for the appointment or 
election of trustees in each township sufficiently populated, 
and empower them to lease, for a limited period, the section 
of land reserved and granted for the use of schools within 
the same, requiring them to appropriate the rents arising 
therefrom to such use and in the manner to be prescribed 
by law. The townships of land which have been granted to 
the state for the use of a seminary of learning, cannot, it is 
believed, be so disposed of at present as to authorize the 
passage of a law to commence the undertaking ; but at least 
a part of them may be leased, and the rents arising there- 
from may be laid up or vested in some productive fund as a 
secure deposit to be hereafter appropriated to the subject to 
which the grants were made ; such a course will render those 
lands productive, and when the period shall arrive at which 
it may be advisable to sell them, they will be extensively 
improved and of great value. These donations, together with 
the three per cent, upon the net proceeds arising from the 



sale of the public lands within the state, which have been ap- 
picpriated Icr similar jurpoKS, with prcpcr auangcmfnts, 
will create a ftr.d stfiicicntly large to educate the children 
of the state to the remotest period of time. It is our imper- 
ious duty, for the faithful performance of which we are 
answerable to God and our county, to watch over this inter- 
esting subject. No employment can be more engaging than 
that of husbanding those resources which will spread 
through all classesof our fellow-citizens the means of wisdom 
and of knowledge, which in the freedom of our institutions 
will make the child of the poorest parent a useful member 
of society and an ornament to his country." 

The first general assembly was too much engrossed with 
other matters of state to give this portion of the Governor's 
message the attention it deserved ; but at its second session, 
it took cognizance of the recommendations contained in his 
first message, and a bill was passed by both houses, and ap- 
proved by the Governor, March 2d, 1819. It provided for 
the appointment by the county commissioners in each and 
every county, of three trustees in each township, who were 
within six months after appointment authorized to employ 
a surveyor, who should lay out section sixteen in each town- 
ship into lots, not containing less than forty, nor more than 
one hundred and sixty acres, and to lease the same for a term 
of ten years, for the purpose of creating a revenue for school, 
purposes. As this law was general in its tenor, it was suffi- 
cient to protect and throw around these school-lands a 
proper safeguard, and had the recommendations of the Go- 
vernor and the provisions of the law been adhered to until 
the lands became valuable, the public fund in nearly every 
township in the state would be to-day sufficient to maintain 
our public schools without special taxation. Unwise counsel 
prevailed somewhere, and the most of this munificent gift of 
the general government has been largely sacrificed. 

From 1819 to 1825 but few changes were made in the 
school-law. Although the changes were few and unimport- 
ant, there was a decided, growing sentiment favorable to the 
free-school system; and in 1825 the general assembly passed 
an act providing for the establishment and maintenance of 
public schools. In the preamble to this act, the following 
patriotic sentiment was expressed. To enjoy our rights and 
liberties we must understand them ; their security and pro- 
tection ought to be the first object to free people ; and it is 
a well-established fact that no nation has ever continued long 
in the enjoyment of civil and political freedom which was 
not both virtuous and enlightened ; and believing the ad- 
vancement of literature always has been, and 'ever will be, 
the means of developing more fully the rights of man, that 
the mind of every citizen in a republic is the common pro- 
perty of society, and constitutes the basis of its strength and 
happiness. It is therfore considered the peculiar duty of a 
free government like ours to encourage and extend the im- 
provement and cultivation of the intellectual energies of the 
whole. 

This act is unquestionably the foundation-stone of the 
present free-school system in the State of Illinois. The act 
was mandatory, as will be seen from the language of the 
statute in the following passage: "There shall be established 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



267 



a common school or schools in each of the counties of this 
state, which shall be open to every class of white citizens 
between the ages of five and twenty-one years." It also 
provided for the election in each district of the following 
officers : Three trastees, one treasurer, one clerk, one asses- 
sor and one collector. The trustees were empowered to per- 
form many of the functions now performed by the county 
S'jpsrintendents, such as examining of teachers, visiting 
schools, reporting to the county commissioners, etc. Some 
of the provisions of the law of 182j were repealed by the 
act of 1827, creating a general law of the state relating to 
the common sehools; but no material changes were made 
until 1841, when the legislature made a complete revision 
of the school law, approved February 26th, 1841. 

Among the changes of this act are the following pro- 
visions : Each township could have as many schools as the 
inhabitants of such town desired; the people of every or- 
ganized district were required to meet and elect from their 
number three trustees, and to agree upon their plan and 
manner of conducting the school- Thsse trustees or direc- 
tors were vested with power to execute the plan adopted, 
and were required to visit and superintend the schools. This 
law was the first that required schedules to be kept by the 
teachers, and returned to the township treasurers. It also 
required a teacher to pass an examiuation for a certificate to 
teach. The board of trustees was required to perform this 
duty, or appoint a board of examiners for the purpose. The 
law did not mention the branches to be taught nor did it 
spscify the branches in which the teacher should be ex- 
amined, but required that the certificate, when issued, should 
enumerate the branches in which he was qualified to teach. 
In 1845 another revision of the school law was made, and 
many new and important features were incorporated in it. 
The secretary of state was by virtue of his office created 
state superintendent of schools. Among his various duties 
the statute provided that he should counsel with experienced 
teachers, relating to the latest and most approved methods 
of conducting the common-schools ; he was required to ad- 
vise the school commissioner* as to the best manner of 
managing the schools ; of constructing school-houses, and 
procuring competent teachers ; to recommend the best text- 
books, charts, maps, etc., and to bring about a uniformity of 
the same. Under this law, whose duties were those of sec- 
retary of state, the first state superintendent wiis tlie Hon. 
Thompson Campbell, who made a very efficient and useful 
officer. Many of the suggestions given by him in his report 
to the governor could be used with profit to our school 
system of to-day. 

The duties of the secretary of state confined him almost 
entirely to his office, hence pstitions were circulated in be- 
half of the establishment of a separate office, that of State 
Superintendent of schools. In 1854 the efibrts of these 
friends of education were crowned with success. It was 
provided by act of the legislature that the governor appoint 
such official to serve until the election in 1855, with a 
salary of 81500 per annum. 

Hon. Niniau Edwards was appointed the first State 
Superintendent under this law, and the first to have the 



honor of friming a bill for tha unification of the school 
system of the State. 

Educators were not yet satisfied. The entire free school 
system of the State, with its myriad ramifications, its vast 
accumulations of funds and property, had no other guardian 
than a State Legislature. Its entire control and manage- 
ment were subject to the whims and caprices of the General 
Assembly. It was the creature of statute law. It had no 
recognition in the Constitution of the State. One fell swoop 
of legislative power and the schools were dissolved. Such 
catastrophe might never overtake them, still the impdirmeut 
of the system was not only possible, but at times seriously 
threatened. Other states had swept from their statute 
books every provision for such schools, even after a trial. 
It was hazardous to leave their management to the chance 
current of public opinion, hence all true friends of the cause 
rejoiced when the strong arms of the Constitution were 
thrown about this corner-stone of our liberties in 1870. 
The Constitution adopted in convention May 1.3th, 1870, and 
ratified by the people July 2d, 1870, to go into effect August 
Sth, 1870, recognizes a thorough and efficient system of free 
schools in the fundamental laws of the State. By this act 
Illinois took her place in the first rank of American Com- 
monwealths and forever wrested from chameleonic public 
opinion the destiny of her schools. 

The permanent school fund of the State comprises: Ist, 
the school fund proper, being three per cent, upon the net 
proceeds of the sales of the public lands in the State, one- 
sixth part excepted ; 2il, the college fund, consisting of the 
above one-sixth part ; .3d, the surplus revenue derived from 
the distribution in 1830 of the surplus revenue of the 
United States ; 4th, the summary fund, derived from sales 
of lands granted to the State by the general government; 
Sth, county funds created by the legislature in 1835; 6th, 
township funds arising from the sale of public land granted 
by Congress for common-school purposes. 

EARLY SCHOOLS OF THE COUNTY. 

Not les< rapid than the development of the country's re- 
sources has been the growth of her schools. The first taught 
in Madison county were " kept " (a word once popular and 
eminently appropriate) in deserted log cabins, or pole houses 




OLD LOG SCHOOL HOUSE. 



erected for the purpose. A description of one would serve 
quite well for all. An old citizen of the American Bottom 



268 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



relates the following: "A number of the old settlers met 
together and set to work with hearty good will to erect a 
school-house. They cut down and trimmed a number of 
trees that would average six inches in diameter. Of these 
they made a pen about 12x16 feet in size. Having built it 
eight feet high they covered it with rough clap boards which 
they weighted down with heavier timber, next a door was 
cut through on one side and the " temple of learning" was 
ready for summer occupancy. To this chinkless, floorless, 
chimneyless structure flocked such children as could be 
spared from farm labor for two miles around The same build- 
ing was chinked, daubed, floored, with rough hewed timbers, 
provided with a stick chimney, a board extending the entire 
length of the cabin, attached to the wall to serve the pur- 
pose of a writing desk, and an aristocratic window of greased 
paper in readiness for winter scholars. The old puncheon 




PUNCHEON BENCH. 

bench was used for seating pupils. This bench made 
by splitting logs and putting in wooden legs as sup- 
ports was generally too high to enable the smaller urchins 
to rest their feet upon the floor. So there they were 
compelled to sit six or eight hours a day, legs dangling in 
air and woe betide him whose weariness caused restlessness 
With his birchen rod's keen'tingle the master awakened him 
to a realization of his whereabouts. In those days ' lickin 
and larnin' were veritable Siamese twins in the cause of 
education, and no teacher was considered capable who did 
not make a vigorous use of the rod. 

As a general thing teachers of an early day, although 
severe io discipline, literal interpreters of Solomon's saw, 
" Spare the rod and spoil the child," were faithful in the dis- 
charge of duty, teaching to the extent of their ability. But 
few of them were well qualified to teach beyond the rudi- 
ments of an education, yet possessed of good common sense 
they accomplished much good. They attempted to teach 
but little and taught that little well. Teaching was con- 
fined to the three " R's," readin, 'ritin and 'rithraetic. In 
heveral of the earlier schools spelling occupied five-eighths 
of the day whilst reciting the multiplication table or reading 
occupied the remainder of the time. A knowledge of figures 
wan considered the »me qua non in a boy's education, whilst 
girls were thought to need little book preparation for 
life's work. When spelling bees, with their social and intel- 
lectual pleasures excited whole communities, it was found 
that girls usually more than held their own, indeed almost 
every district had within its boundaries a girl or young wo 
man who could spell the whole school down — the master in- 
cluded. Barring out the master— Christmas treats, ducking, 
etc., held their sway in those days. Mention of the fact 
doubtless causes swift memory in old age to recall such ex- 
periences in every neighborhood. 



Whenever it happened as it often did, that a teacher [of 
fine attainments, was found at work in one of the rude cab- 
ins, his reputation drew to him an attendance from near and 
far of eager, earnest youth who made the best of their op- 
portunities. The place of profit and tru.st filled by many 
such, with general acceptance show how well they improved 
their chances. 

In early times the individual plan of recitation was in 
vogue. The master went around from one to auother help- 
ing thrm " do their sums " and pronouncing hard words in 
the spelling lesson, which confronted him at every turn he 
made. Simultaneously he would be making or mending 
pens, for which they used goose quills. A copy was to be 
set here, and a disturbance to be settled there, requiring the 
birchen rod or ferule, sometimes a pinching of the ear,— or a 
well aimed " thud " with the second finger. For all this ser- 
vice the teacher was poorly paid. In some instances he was 
expected to board around, — a week at the home of each pupil. 
A little later on an improvement was made in the plan of 
recitation. Classes were organized and members were re- 
quired to stand erect in rows " toeing the mark " during reci- 
tation which was usually preceded by "making of manners" 
— i. e. bowing to the teacher. Not unfrequently were these 
classes, thus arranged,' expected to spell a column of words 
aloud and altogether, not exactly in concert but at one's 
own will. A traveller approaching the school-house 
hearing the din of voices — ranging all along the gamut iu 
pitch, and from the pijHng of childhood to the voice of a 
stentorin force— would know that the spelling class was en- 
gaged in study. The abecedarian was still alone. He tim- 
idly approached the master, stood beside him, and in regular 
order the letters of the alphabet were pointed out and named 
to him, he repeating after, mechanically, the monotonous a. b. 
c J. From just such schools came some of our most practi- 
cal and thoughtful men. Men too who attained distinction 
in fighting life's battles. But now the log school-house is a 
thing of the past, roads and ferules are no longer thought 
indispens-able in teaching, nor is physical power a necessary 
requisite in the teacher. The state has provided a better 
class of accommodations, and prepared the way for teachers 
to better fit themselves for their work ; and we are now reap- 
ing the benefits of wiser legislation and broader and more 
comprehensive views of education. 

The first school of which we have any account within the 
limits of the county was that at Casterline's School House in 
what is now Collinsville township, in 1804 or 5, by James 
Bradsbury. The pioneer teacher remained a year, and pu- 
pils flocked to him from a considerable distance in all direc- 
tions. About the same time some benevolent old ladies 
weni from house to house among the French settlers on 
Can tine, or Quentine as sometimes spelled, imparting instruc- 
tion to the children, whilst the monks of La Trappe looked 
after that of the elders. A happy exhibition of the true 
missionary educational spirit but hardly to be classed among 
pioneer schools. In 1809 a school was taught about two 
and a half miles south of Edwardsville, and continued at 
intervals for some years afterward, during which time it 
was frequently dispersed by rumors of Indian inroads. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



269 



Alton. — The city of Alton is justly proud of her public 
schools. In 1837 the charter adopted by the city provided 
for the establishment and maiuteuauce of Free Schools. 
The first action of the city council under the provisions of ' 
this charter wiis taken in 1842, when Messrs. William ^[ar- 
tin, Dr. B. F. Edwards and B. B. Barker were appointed a : 
board of directors. Schools were opened, but funds were 
not forthcoming, and teachers were not paid in full. On i 
the 3d of July, lf^43, the City Council, on motion of Dr. B. i 
K. Hart approj)riated one hundred dollars for the purchase, < 
of block 19 in Pope and other additions. The entire block | 
was considered worth S200, but Judge Pope deeded it to the ! 
city for school purposes at half price. At the same meeting 
a committee of four, Messrs. B. B. Barker, F. G. Starr, Dr. 
B. K. Hart and M. G. Atwood, were appointed to consider 
the expediency of building a school-house for the township, 
including the city. Nothing seems to have been accomplish- 
ed towards so laudable an enterprise, and in fact, little was 
done worthy of mention iu the way of schools until February 
18th, 1845, when a committee of three, Messrs. Atwood 
Hayden and Scarritt, was appointed to receive contracts for 
building a house for school purposes. March 18th, the con- 
tract was let, JNIessrs. Lowe and Parks offering to build it for 
the sum of8.5S0.70, and Messrs. Marsh, Levis and Woodbridge 
were designated to superintend its construction. Rev. L. S. 
Williams was employed as teacher in the building com- 
mencing his labors July '21st, 1845. He continued in the 
position until September 1847, when W. F. Gurnsey super- 
seded him. This school-house was long afterwards numbered 
as schoo'-house No. 2, and was iu 186(j taken down when the 
High School Building was erected on its site- In 1851 
school-house No. 3 was erected at a cost of $1,983.20, and 
in February 1S52, school was opened with W. F. Gurnsey 
as teacher, whilst James Newman took his place in charge 
of No. 2. From this time the success of public schools was 
an assured fact, and their real growth began. Public sym- 
pathy was enlisted iu their behalf. The third school- 
house. No. 1, was erected during the year 1853 at a cost of 
§4,396.84, and iu the fall school under charge of George 
Crego was opened. School No. 4, was built in 1856 at a 
cost of $2,300. In September same year school was com- 
menced by Miss Reed, who was succeeded by Miss Lucy A. 
Foote. School No 5, was built same year at a cost of S2,300. 
Mrs. A. E. Newman, first teacher. A high school was 
opened in the basement of the Unitarian Church, February 
22d, 1858, by James Newman as principal and Miss M. E. 
Richmond, assistant. 

During the same year the colored school was instituted, 
with John Robinson sis teacher. In 1>~>59, it was thought 
best to place the school interests of the city in the care of an 
organization whose sole object should be to foster and pre- 
serve them; hence a Board of Education, composed of nine 
members, was created by ordinance of the city council, 
passed August 15lh, 1859. On the 19th of the same month 
the board had its first meeting, and chose William Hayden 
as president and George Skellenberger as superintendent of 
schools and secretary. Under the auspices of the board 
commendable progress has been made. No. 2 was found 



inadequate, and in 1866, the new No. 2 was erected at a 
cost of $35,000. Messrs. Armstrong & Pfeiffenberger, archi- 
tects. There are now within the city limits five school 
buildings. The schools were attended during 1881-82, by 
3119 pupils, and engaged the services of twenty-four 
teachers. 

Prior to the organization of any concerted action in behalf 
of the schools, many efforts were put forth in behalf of the 
education of the youth of Alton. In November, 1831, a 
"Preparatory School," as it was termed, was opened by ilr. 
H. Davis, in a room over the store of S. E. Moore & Co., on 
Second street, between Market and Alby streets. In January, 
1832, it took to itself the name" Alton Seminary," and in 
January, 1833, was removed to new and more commodious 
quarters on Second near Alton street. Mr. Davis, the 
pioueer teacher, died in 1834. 

The second effort was that of Abel R. Cobbin, who kept 
a school in a log building that stood on the junction of 
Second and Third streets, below Henry. About the same 
time, J- M. Krum, (later Judge Krum, of St. Louis), opened 
a school in Lyceum Hall at the corner of Second and Alby 
streets. He was succeeded by Mr. Bosworth. A school was 
taugh by Mr. Hollister, iu the Methodist church, on Third 
street between Alby and Court square, in 1836. D. V. 
AVainright taught corner of Market and Second, in ISB''. 
Mrs. Mary D. Bruner taught same year in the building on 
the site now occupied by Dr. Haskell's office. In 1837, 
Miss Sophia Loomis, afterward the wife of Cyrus Edwards, 
taught in a frame building northwest corner of Grove and 
Common streets, in Edwards' addition. Other teachers thus 
engaged in private undertakings prior to opening of free 
schools, were a Mr. Warner, Miss Relief V. Everett, Miss 
Carolina Loomis and Mr. D. A. Richardson, a Yankee from 
Maine. In 1842, Mr. Haylay taught in the northern part 
of the city. Mr. Britton, an Episcopal clergyman, taught 
a school of a dozen scholars, in 1844, advertising superior 
advantages, for which a charge of ten dollars per quarter 
per pupil was made. In June, 1846, Mr. Utien Smith 
began a school in the basement of the Episcopal church, 
corner of Third and Market streets, which he continued 
until May, 1855, a period of nine years. Mr. Smith was 
possessed of the elements of success as a teacher. His ex- 
perience iu the profession ex.tended over a period of thirty- 
seven and a half years. 

Edwardsville. — The pioneer school of this township has 
already been mentioned as having been maintained in a 
cabin about two and a half miles south of Edwardsville, in 
the year 1809. No record of its teachers is obtainable. The 
first name receiving recognition as that of a teaidier is 
Joshua Atwater, a native of Massachusetts, who first came 
to St. Clair county in 1801; thence to Madison county. He 
commenced teaching as early as 1807. In this calling he 
was successful, and many old men gratefully remember his 
efforts iu imparting to them instruction. 

In this township there are now three brick and four frame 
school-houses. Employment is given to seventeen teachers, 
nine of whom are engaged in the Union school in the city 
of Edwardsville. This school has a library of eight hundred 



270 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



volumes and apparatus valued at near three hundred dollars. 
Under the efficient managemeut of Prof. I. H. Brown the 
schools are making fine progress. 

Collimvllle. — It was iu this township the first school of 
the county was taught, already briefly referred to. James 
Bradsbury was the teacher. He was represented by pioneers 
to have been an able and earnest instructor ; not a scholar, 
but faithful in teaching what he knew. He carried several 
pupils through the intricacies of the old " rule of three," by 
the aid of which almost all arithmetical sums were solved. 
In the year 1814, a school-house was built in this town- 
ship between Judy's and Whiteside's. It stood idle more 
than half the time. Two years prior to this, in 1812, a 
school was taught by Elisha Alexander, in Mr. Judy's door- 
yard ; a Mr. Thompson had first taught in the cabin that 
was put to such use. Whilst school was in session here, the 
British war was going on. The martial spirit ran high. 
Accounts of sharp struggles — doubtless exaggerated — 
reached the ears of youth attending this school. They put 
their crude ideas into vogue by barricading their teacher. 
Alexander saw the odds were against him, andcompromiied 
by treating to cider and apples. He was succeeded by 
Mr. Yancey, and after him, in 1816, came Mr. Enlow, 
and next in order was the school of Beniah Robinson. 
From these humble beginnings, the cause of education 
has flourished in Colliusville and township, until now, under 
the supervision of Prof H. H. Keebler, a gentleman who 
ranks high among the educators of this county, their schools 
are among the best in the county. 

The city of Colliusville boasts an elegant building, eligibly 
situated, in which a Union school is maintained, employing 
nine teachers. In this township there are four brick, and 
three frame school-houses Employment is given to fifteen 
teachers. Great interest is taken iu the cause of education. 
Jarvis. — The first school taught in this township was that of 
Jesse Renfro, in 1824, in the " Old Gilead Church." Mr. 
Renfro's labors as a ttacher were very acceptable to the 
pioneers. He was engaged in the work several years. 
During the last year of his teaching, he had forty pupils un- 
der instruction for six mouths, and for his services and the 
books which he had contracted to provide, he received one 
hundred dollars, or a little over sixteen dollars per month 
The books furnished were the old U. S. speller. Pike's arith- 
metic, and the testament- There are in the township six 
school districts. Employment is given to nine teachers 
four of whom are engaged in the graded schools in the vil- 
lage of Troy. Of the school-houses, two are brick and four 
are frame structures. 

St. Jacobs. — The first settlers of what is now St. Jacob's 
township took special care in educating their children. 
Whilst gathered together within the walls of an old fort, in 
1812 and 13, for safety against incursions of Indians, they 
maintained a school, taught by David Smeltzer. As soon 
as pea ;e had settled over the country, their earliest thoughts 
were for their children s welfare, and in 1817. they erected 
a cabin, between the residences of Parkinson and Anderson, 
for school perposes. Upon its abandonment, a new house of 
hewed logs was put up on the present site of Augusta Church. 



A school-house was built near the Uzzle Spring in 1828, and 
school was first taught here by Alexander Trusedale. In 
the same neighborhood a school was taught, prior to this, by 
Mr. Edmonds, in an abandoned cabin that stood near Dug- 
ger's ox-mill. John Kile was among the pioneer teachers of 
the township. There are now six schools, employing ten 
teachers, three of whom are now in the graded school in the 
village of St. Jacob's, now under the superintendence of 
J. W. Wells, a thorough teacher. Of the school-houses, 
three are brick and three frame. 

Marine. — The first school taught in what is now Marine 
township was that of Arthur Travis in an out building be- 
longing to Major Ferguson in the year 1814., 

In 1819 a young man from New Haven, Countcticut, 
opened a school in an empty cabin that stood between Capt. 
Blakeman's and R. P. Allen's. In 1821 a substantial Union 
Church house was erected which was likewise used for school 
purposes. It is believed to have been at the time the best 
building devoted to educational uses in the county, as it was 
a frame building, with clapboard siding, supplied with 
split shingle roof, and glass windows. Six school-houses, 
three of them brick structures, have been erected for the 
accommodation of the children of this township. Employ- 
ment is given to ten teachers, four of whom are engaged in 
the schools in the village of Marine. Under the manage- 
ment of Prof. W. E. Lehr these schools have taken high 
rank, being held second to none in the county. 

Nameokl. — Thij township, and Venice, 3 — 10, are so inti- 
mately associated in pioneer affairs as to be properly treated 
together. In fact old Six Mile, as the original precinct was 
styled included both. As early as 1805 a school was taught 
here near the present Six Mile house by Edward Humphrey, 
and a few years after a house was built by the neighbors 
entirely of poles, about two miles north, in which school 
was taught by Joshua Atwater and subsequently by JNIc- 
Laughlin, an Irishman whose chief merit as a schoolmaster 
lay iu his strength. A pupil relates of him that he carried 
his bottle regularly to school with him, always went armed 
with a well seasoned "shillelah" and never failed to repre- 
mand any short-cummiugs iu pupils. He taught during the 
war of 1812, and more than one father had a "settlement" 
to make with him on return from the field of battle because 
of injuries inflicted on their sons. 

Five teachers are engaged here and five houses— all frame 
buildings accommodate the schools of the township. In 3- 
10 are two brick and two frame school-houses. Five teach- 
ers are given emplojment. 

Hdvetin. — This township was originally settled by Ameri- 
cans; subse(]uently Swiss and German people came to 
America to enjoy her free institutions, they were not slow to 
avail themselves of the advantages extended through free 
schools. Even the naming of the streets of their beautiful 
city. Highland, indicates their love of the cause — preserving 
as one of them does the name of one of the fathers of free 
education, Pcstalozzi, and as others do of leaders in the 
same cause of our own country. Among the earliest 
schools taught in this township was one by George Ramsay, 
in 1824 ; he was eucceeded by James A. Ramsay in 1828 ; 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



271 



and John Shinn taught here in 1830; in 1825 or '26 James 
A. Ramsay, and others caused a house to be erected, which 
was used for Church and scliool purposes, it stood near 
Craig's improvement and was constructed of hewn logs. In 
the township are seven school-houses, six being of brick and 
one a frame. Employment is given to thirteen teachers, six 
of whom are engaged in the Union Graded Schools of 
Highland. In addition to the public schools, private ones 
maintaining three instructors are well supported. 

HameL — The first school-house was built on the land of 
Bobert Aldrich, and near his residence in 1825. It was a 
flimsy, temporary structure of poles, without floor, door or 
window. It was used but a short time. So few scholars 
lived in the neighborhood that a school worthy the name 
could not at that early day be maintained. Joseph Thompson 
and a Mr. Carver, each taught a term here, whereupon it 
was abandoned about the same time a good log school-house 
was built at Lamb's Point. It was better than the average 
school-houses of the day in that it was supplied with a stone 
chimney. 

At present four school-houses, three frame and one brick, 
meet the demands for school, and employment is given to a 
like number of teachers. 

Pine Oai-.— Soon after the first settlement of Pine Oak 
township, citizens were blessed with the labors of Joshua 
Atwateras a teacher. Actuated by the true missionary spirit 
he wentfrom one community to another, stirring up the people 
to the importance of education, and laboring constantly in 
the capacity of a teacher. Near the residence of Jubilee 
Posey, in a rudely constructed cabin, briefly occupied as 
the home of a pioneer, he opened a school in 1809. 

Another pioneer teacher who labored here was Thomas S. 
Waddle, who taught also in a deserted cabin on section 35, on 
a farm belonging to James Keown. 

There are five school-houses in this township, all frame 
buildings. Employment is given six teachers. 

Alhambra. — William Davenport had the honor of having 
taught the first school within the present limits of Alhambra 
township. He took posession of an empty cabin, in the 
Hoxey neighborhood. He taught but a short time. In 
183'2 a house was erected for school purposes, on section 19, 
and George Denney was the first to occupy it as a teacher. 
A man named Nichols taught simultaneously with the above 
in a private house. At present, there are eight school- 
houses here, all frame. Tec teachers are given employment. 

Saline. — As early as 1825, the Cumberland Presbyterians 
improved a campground on section 31, and on this ground 
in a cabin belonging to Captain Abraham Howard, was 
taught the first school by John Barber, Jr. He continued 
iu the work for several terms, finding great favor with pio- 
neers. There are now two frame and two brick school-houses 
in this township. A like number of teachers are employed. 

Leef — .Six school-houses, five frame and one brick, accom- 
modate the scholars of this township. Six teachers are 
given employment. There were no very early schools here. 
Such as were, however, will be mentioned in township history. 
The school district with building situated iu the village of 
Saline, belongs to both Leef and Saline townships. It is a 



graded school with two departments, and has for the last 
three years been under the charge of Prof. James Lane, a 
thoroughly practical and efficient teacher ; he has brought 
the school up to a high standard, making it compare well 
with those of other towns in the county. 

Xeiv Douglas. — The first settler in this township was 
Daniel Funderburk, who was a teacher. As soon as the 
neighborhood justified theeftort by having accessions to their 
numbers, he opened a school at his home place iu a house 
built for the purpose on section 6. This was in 1823. There 
are now five frame buildings devoted to school purposes. 
Employment is given to seven teachers, three of whom are 
engaged in the graded schools in the village of New Douglas. 
This school, for several years under the charge of Mr. Ken- 
nedy, compares fiivorably with any in the county. 

Wood River. — To this township is accredited the honor of 
maintaining the first Sunday-school in the State of Illinois. 
Inasmuch as elementary instruction, such as the letters ot 
the Alphabet, reading and spelling were taught, as well as 
Bible History, it may well be recognized as the beginning 
of the educational work, of which in its full fruition this 
section is so justly proud. This school was taught in 1819, 
by the wife of Rev. Thomas Lippincott, at the time a mer- 
chant in the town of Milton. The following year a similar 
effort was engaged in by Enoch Long -and Henry Snow in 
Upper Alton. The earlier efforts engaged in here are inti- 
mately connected with the progress and growth of Shurtlefl 
College ; hence are given elsewhere in this work. In the 
township are two brick and five frame buildings, occupied 
by public schools. The services of ten teachers are required, 
four of whom are engaged in graded schools. 

Olive. — Henry H. Havron was the first teacher. Taught 
in the year 1833. Four frame buildings accommodate the 
school of this township. Employment is given to five 
teachers. 

Fort Russell. — First settled by a stirring, enterprising 
people ; they were not slow to avail themselves of the ser- 
vices of a teacher. The old block-house on section 18 was 
soon after its abandonment as a fort, used as a school-house, 
with Rev. William Jones, a Baptist minister, as a teacher. 
On the same section, the first regular school-house was sub- 
sequently built. Four frame buildings, all good and sub- 
stantial structures, accommodate the schools of this township. 
Employment is given to a like number of teachers. 

Educatioanl Aids. — Institutes have always, since their 
inception, been regarded as aids to educational work. In 
pursuance of a public call of teachers, school officers and 
friends of education in Madison county, a meeting was held 
I in the MethodLst church, Edwardsville, on Saturday, Janu- 
; ary 16th, 1858, for the purpo.se of^ organizing a Teachers' 
i Association or Institute. Of this association, William Hay- 
den, of Alton, was chosen President; Henry Wing, of Col- 
i linsville, and E. M. West, of Edwardsville, Vice Presidents ; 
W. J. Ela, of Edwardsville, Recording Secretary ; James 
Newman, of Alton, Corresponding Secretary ; M. G. Dale, 
of Edwardsville, Treasurer. An Executive Committee, con- 
sisting of M. G. Atwood, Alton, H. K. Eaton, and Joseph 
H. Sloss, Edwardsville, were given charge of the programme 



272 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



of exercises. In April, 1858, the first Institute was held. 
In 1875, Institutes failing longer to hold the attention of 
Teachers, and proving too inadequate to meet the demands 
of the profession, were exchanged for Normals, as .they are 
denominated, being simply Institutes for several weeks' 
duration. The first was held under the direction of A. A. 
Suppiger, with F. E. Cook, of St. Louis, as Instructor in 
Collinsville. The second was held in the same place, in 
1876, under direction of B. F. Sippy, County Superinten- 
dent, with H. H. Keebler, of Collinsville, and W. E. Lehr, 
of Marine, as Instructors. The third was held in 1877, in 
Edvvardsville, same supervision, with J. S. Stevenson, of St. 
L)uis, and W. E. Lshr, a? Instructor. The fourth, same 
place and same management throughout. 

The Normal has met the demand made by live teachers, 
and supplied their longing for instruction in their work. 

As indicative of the progress of education we present Statement of 
the di.stribution of the State Funds for the years 18-50, 1860, 1870 and 
1880. These certainly make a very favorable showing. 

STATEMENT FOR THE YEARS 1850 AND 1860. 

Township. Census, 1850. Amount. Census, 1860. Amount. 

3—5 57. ... ?! 71 00 ... . 1,015 . ... $ 684 50. 

4—5 378 ... . 46 97 ... . 517 .. . 529 l9. 

5 — 5 not organ'zd .... 135 . . . 235 8Q. 

6—5 90 .... 10 26 .... 180. . . 240 01. 

3—6 430 .... 53 57 .... 617 .. . 482 75. 

4-6 377 .... 46 97 ... . 801 .. . 572 42. 

5—6 187 .... 23 30 . . . 441 . . . 387 91. 

6—6 207 ... . 25 79 ... . 346 .. . 325 37. 

3—7 570 ... . 71 02 ... . 776 .. . 5.54 72. 

4—7 260 .... 32 39 ... . 351 .. . 343 13. 

5—7 164 ... . 20 45 ... . 469 .. . 360 30. 

0-7 -52 .... 31 43 ... . 360 .. . 343 00. 

3—8 580 ... . 72 26 ... . 1,065 ... 706 11. 

4—8 472 ... . 59 81 ... . 1,150 ... 749 62. 

5—8 321 ... . 40 00 ... . 529 .. . 442 32. 

6—8 320 ... . 39 87 ... . 608 .. . 461 33. 

3—9 320 ... . 36 87 ... . 359 .. . 346 29. 

4—9 200 ... . 24 92 ... . 260 .. . 2S0 05. 

5—9 985 .... 122 73 ... . 1.158 . . . 742 12. 

6—9 344 .... 43 31 .... 723 .. . 516 65. 

3—10 215 .... 26 78 .... 320 .. . 206 6-5. 

4—10 42 ... . 5 35 ... . 40 . . . 30 31. 

5-10 1,626 .... 202 59 ... . 3,260 . . . 1,607 30. 

6—10 515 .... 65 16 ... . 848 .. . 581 GL 



STATEMENT FOR THE YEARS 1870 AND 1880. 



Township. 
3-5 . . 
4-5. . 
5—5 . . 
6—5 . . 
3-6. . 
4-6 . . 
5—6 . . 
6—6 . . , 
3-7 . . 
4—7 . . 
5—7 . . 
6-7 . . 
3-8- • 
4-8 . . 
5—8. . 
6-8. . 



Cemus, 1S70. 

. . 1,303 . . , 

. . . 438 . . 

. . 329 . . 

. . 433 . . 

. . 724 . . 

. . 977 . . 

. . 634 . . 

. . 538 . . 

. . 913 . . 

. . 512 . . 

. . 558 . . 

. . 488 . . 

. . 1,-577 . . 

. . 1,841 . . 

. . 732 . . 

. . 669 . . 



Amount. 
$ 877 60 . 
443 60 . 
348 63 . 



Ccmits. 18S0. 
. .1,647 . . . 
. . 857 . . . 
. . 571 . . . 



348 45 . . . . 494 

586 75 . . . . 890 . 

709 50 . . . . 889 . 

536.75 .... 627 . 

468 25 . . . . 464 . 



671 00 . 

476 05 . 

509 05 . 

4.57 50 . 
1,008 50 . 
1,140 13 . 

597 30 . 

538 22 . 



. 977 . 
. 587 . 
. 591 . 
. 663 
.2,2.30 . 
.2,002 
. 609 . 
. 662 , 



Ajnounl, 
?1,155 80. 

601 40. 

400 70. 

347 40. 

624 55. 

623 85. 

440 00. 

325 60, 

685 65. 

411 95. 

414 75. 

465 30. 
1,564 09. 
1,404 9-5. 

425 95. 

464 60 



Township. 

3—9 . . 

4—9. . 

5—9 . . 

6-9. . 

3—10 . . 

4—10 . . 



Census, 1870. 

. . 634 . . 

. . 597 . . 

. . 414. . 

. 1,033 . . 

. . 388 . . 

. . 86 . . 



Amount. 


Census, 1880. 


Amount. 


535 10 . 


... 582 . . 


408 45. 


493 05 . 


... 410 . . 


287 75. 


388 85 . 


... 718 . . 


503 90. 


715 47 . 


... 913 . . 


640 70. 


252 63 . 


. . . 545 . . 


383 45. 


52 23 . 


... 99 . . 


69 50. 


263 44 . 


... 4.57 . . 


320 70. 


823 15 . 


... 797 . . 


559 30. 


2,221 43 . 


. . .4,782 . . 


3,355 80. 


406 41 . 


. . . 713. . 


500 35. 



5—10 487 . 

6—10 1,245 . 

Alien 3,006 . 

Upper Alton . . 763 . 

In the county there are in all one hundred and thirty-six 
school-houses. Ninety-two frame and forty-four brick struc- 
tures. Employment is given to two hundred and ten 
teachers. From Superintendent Sippy's report the following 
items are gleaned. During the year ending June .30, 1881, 
there were 292 applicants for teachers' certificates, examined. 
Of these 134 were males and 158 female. Ten first grade 
certificates were issued to male teachers, and four to female. 
Seventy second grade to male, and sixty-six to female. 
Male applicants rejected 42, female 71. During the year 
twenty-seven certificates were renewed. 

Under the efficient management of B. F. Sippy, the 
schools of Madison county have proven more flourishing 
than ever before in her history. Examinations have been 
rigid — the standard of requirements necessary to secure cer- 
tificates being constantly advanced. 

SHURTLEFF COLLEGE.* 

Shurtleff Colleoe had its origin in a " Theological 
and High School " known as Rock Spring Seminary, estab- 
lished in 1827, under the labors of Rev. John M. Peck, D. 
D., and through the help of contributions received from a 
few friends in New York and New England. In The Bap- 
tist Memorial for 1842, Vol. 1, page 205, Dr. Peek says: 
" In 1827 the Rock Spring Theological High School was 
opened. Rock Spring is a country situation, IS miles East 
of St. Louis, and on the great stage road to Vincenues and 
Louisville. The Seminary commenced with :i5 students of 
both sexes, which number was increased in a few weeks to 
100. At that period no school fur boarders, under Protes- 
tant direction, existed in Illinois or Missouri. In 1831 the 
school closed with the view of its removal to Upper Alton, 
as the commencement of a College. The Institution opened 
again in 1832, under the name of Alton Seminary. 

In pursuance of the plan of removal there was an early 
tranfer of the movable property of Rock Spring Seminary 
to Alton Seminary, consisting, as we are told, of "some S.300 
or S400 worth of property, " embracing, among other things, 
the library of the Rock Spring Seminary, most of which is 
still in the possession of the College. One teacher also, 
John Russell, LL. D , who was Principal at Rock Spring 
after the first year, followed the school to its new location, 
and was appointed to the position of Principal also in Alton 
Seminary, during a temporary absence in the interests of the 
school, of Rev. Hubbel Loomis, Principal defacto. 

The new organization rendered necessary by this change 

*From data furnished by A. A. Kendricli, D.D- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



2T3 



of location was effected at Upper Alton, June 4th, 1832, 
under the name of "The Board of Trustees of Alton 
Seminary. " Its object was declared to be " to take into 
consideration the establishment of a Seminary as the foun- 
dation of a College." The school was put in operation, 
and Rev. Hubbel Loomis was elected Principal, to whose 
wise plans and efBcient labors, is, undoubtedly, to be attri- 
buted much of what ShurtlefT College has since become. 

In March, 1833, the State Legislature granted a charter 
incorporating the seven gentlemen who were named as " The 
Trustees of Alton College of Illinois. " To prevent any 
complication of 'Church and State ' — it is supposed — and 
to exclude all sectarian ascendency, this charter provided 
that no " particular religious faith should be required of 
those who become Trustees of the Institution." Nor could 
any " Professor of Theology ever be employed as a teacher 
at said College, nor any Theological Department be con- 
nected therewith or in any manner attached thereto," with- 
out rendering the act granting the charter " null and forever 
void." The charter was not accepted. Nor were efforts to 
forward the object of the Association thereby retarded. In 
January, 1835, measures were adopted to raise $25,000 for 
" the immediate wants as well as the permanency and pros- 
perity of the Alton Seminary," viz : $10,000 for buildings ; 
§7,500 a fund for salaries of professors ; and 87,500 a fund to 
aid beneficiary theological students. The self-constituted 
Trustees proceeded to lay off streets, town lots and a college 
campus, and appointed and commissioned itinerant agents 
to solicit funds and enlist the co-operation of friends of ad- 
vanced education in several of the Eastern, Middle and 
Western States. 

In February, 1835, a new charter was granted, in its gen- 
eral features sufficiently liberal, but retaining the offensive 
proviso with reference to a Theological Department. How- 
â– ever, this charter was accepted. Without dissolving their 
mutual covenant the seven subscribers to the original com- 
pact, with other elected members, became a distinct Board 
of " Trustees of Alton College of Illinois." The Association 
now conditionally surrendered to the new corporation its 
entire property — " reserving fifty acres of the land for the 
education of the ministry of the gospel, and also such dona- 
tions as may have been made for <his special object." In 
accepting the property surrendered, the College Board 
placed on their records a resolution, " That it is understood 
in good faith that the principles of the original compact of 
the said gentlemen herewith recorded, be preserved by this 
incorporation inviolate ; so far as said compact is compatible 
with the charter of this incorporation." The feature of the 
compact thus specially guarded was, " That it is and shall 
ever continue to be a prominent object to aid in the educa- 
tion of young men of genuine piety designed for the Gospel 
mini.-try in this section of the Valley of the Mississippi." 

The original Association now assumed for its name, " The 
Trustees of Alton Theological Seminary." The two Boards, 
thus composed mostly of identical members, co-operated 
harmoniously in advancing their cherished enterprise. 
The Trustees of the Seminary appointed their Professor of 
Theology, and the Trustees of the College appointed their 



Professors, and their teachers of the Preparatory Depart- 
ment, and students in both Institutions pursued their pre- 
paratory studies in the same classes and boarded together 
at the common refectory. 

In January, 1836, the charter of the College was amended 
by changing the name of the Board to ''The Trustees of 
Shurtleff College of Alton, Illinois." This change was in 
consideration of the — then«— very liberal donation of $10,000 
to the endowment of the College, by Benjamin Shurtleff, 
M. D., of Boston, Mass. 

In February, 1841, the offensive provisos of the college 
charter were repealed by the Legislature, and the Trustees 
were authorized to organize " additional departments for the 
study of any or all of the liberal professions." Soon after 
this a schedule was made of all the property[belouging to the 
Seminary and held by its Board in trust for Theological 
purposes, and in the following July, its Trustees, at their 
annual meeting, closed the records of its history as follows : 

" Whereas, by an amendment of the charter of Shurtleff 
College granting the right, the Board of Trustees of that 
Institution has established a Theological Department which 
supersedes the necessity of a separate organization. 

" Therefore resolved unanimouslij, that all the property of 
this Institution herewith be transferred to the Theological 
Department of Shurtleff College. 

" Resolved — That this Board be dissolved, and all its books 
and papers be transferred to the Trustees of Shurtleff College 
for its Theological Department.'' 

From the foregoing it appears that Theological instruction 
has been a prominent idea in the plans of its friends from 
the very inception of the Institution. The original school 
at Rock Spring was called a Theological School. In conse- 
quence of the proviso originally belonging to the charter of 
the College, first granted in 1833, preventing the existence 
of a Theological Department, a separate Association was 
formed, known as " The Trustees of Alton Theological Sem- 
inary." Under the auspices of this body. Rev. Lewis Colby 
was elected Principal of the Theological Seminary, and 
served acceptably in this capacity during the years 1835-6 
and 1836-7. When the College charter was amended by 
striking out the offensive proviso alluded to above, a Theo- 
logical Department was at once established, in which Alton 
Seminary was merged. Special arrangements were made for 
carrying on Theological instruction, which has been main- 
tained, although with varying success, until the present time. 

Under its present organization the Theological Depart- 
ment is accomplishing efficient work and is in the enjoyment 
of brighter prospects than for many years previous. Its 
funds are sufficiently ample for present purposes, and it is 
not anticipated that any emergencies will arise which will 
justify its suspension. In fact, as this sketch well demon- 
strates, there are insuperable obstacles, both legal and moral, 
to the abandonment of the sacred trust which the Fathers 
have imposed upon us. On the the contrary, it is hoped and 
expected that the future will see not only permanency, but 
growth and advancement in this special Department. 

From 1836 to 1841 the average number of students in at- 
tendance was eighty-eight, and of instructors four. During 



274 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



this period Rev. Prof. Washington Leverett, LL. D., being 
the senior officer, acted as President of the College. In 1840 
Rev. Adiel Sherwood, D. D., was elected to the Presidency, 
which position he filled until 1846. During his Presidency 
Professors Zenas B. Newman, Washington Leverett and 
Warren Leverett, were associated with him in instruction. 
During the years 1847—1849 Dr. Washington Leverett was 
again acting President of the College, and Warren Leverett, 
Erastus Adkins, Justus Bulkley and William Cunningham 
were instructors. In 1850 Rev. N. N. Wood, D. D., ac- 
cepted the Presidency, which he held for five years. Rev. 
S. Y. McMasters, LL. D., succeeded him in 1855, as Presi- 
dent pro tempore, and the next year Rev. Daniel Read, LL. 
D., became President and served 14 years. After an inter- 
val of nearly three years, during which the duties pertaining 
to the Presidency were performed by Professors Bulkley and 
Fairman, Rev. A. A. Kendrick, D. D., present incumbent, 
entered upon his duties. 

It is a fact worthy of mention that the instruction furnished 
by the institution has been of a high order from the very 
outset. Indeed, so wisely was the curriculum of studies pro- 
jected, that no radical changes in the various courses pur- 
sued, have been called for to meet the demands which modern 
views upon education have made. The Institution has been 
brought up to its present position by building carefully upon 
the foundations originally laid, increased facilities of instruc- 
tion having been acquired, and better work having been 
done, but with little modification of the ideas upon which 
the College was at first projected. The advanced course of 
study insisted upon as a prerequisite to a degree goes far to 
account for the comparatively limited number of graduates, 
particularly when the general and public opinion of the 
West during this period, concerning liberal education, is 
taken into account. The good which this College has ac- 
complished, through the educational facilities which it has 
furnished, must therefore be sought for in great measure out- 
side of its list of graduates in the training, more or less com- 
plete, which over Three Thousand Five Hundred young men 
and not a few young women, have received within its walls. 
The average number of students in attendance during the 
last twenty years has been about one hundred and twenty, 
of whom nearly one-fourth have been ministerial students. 
Just how many, in all, have entered the ministry, we cannot 
tell, but the number is known to be several hundred. 

During the late war between the States, a very large 
number of students enlisted in the service of the country— 
at least 140 of previous students and those connected with 
the College at the time, were in this service, in the year 
1864, so that the school was, for a little while, virtually sus- 
pended. Several of these students rose to great distinction 
as soldiers, becoming Majors, Colonels, Brigadier Generals, 
and two rising to the rank of Major General. 

But the students of this College have distinguished them- 
selves and honored their Alma Mater, not only by patriotism 
and bravery, but as jurists, and statemen, teachers and 
editors, as well as by ranking among the first of the Chris- 
tian ministers of the land. Two, who were formerly students 
in this college, are now representing a singk city in our 



National Congress, and still more honorable than thi?, is the 
fact that four of the graduates of Shutleff College are now 
missionaries of the Cross among the heathen in foreign 
lands. 

As the school has maintained its original idea, by estab- 
lishing and sustaining a Theological Department, so it has 
again opened its doors to pupils of both sexes, in harmony 
with the more advanced ideas of the present age. Ladies 
have been graduated, during the last few years, from the full 
classical course of this College, by the side of young men, 
and won first honors in competition with them. 

Notwithstanding this Institution had its beginning when 
the country was yet in its infancy — only a few years after 
Illinois became a state, and while most of the people of the 
West were yet poor, and the Baptist denomination especial- 
ly, on which the College was mainly dependent, was feeble — 
still, it has grown, if not with equal rapidity, nevertheless, 
somewhat in proportion with the gowth of the country and 
of the denomination, and to-day has a valuable property, 
consisting of its buildings and grounds, worth at least S50,- 
000 ; trust funds and invested endowments of several chairs, 
over $75,000, which last are all free from liabilities and in- 
cumbrances ; and then additional outside properties and 
claims for at least $40,000 more, making a total of at least 
$165,000, besides Libraries, Apparatus and Furniture, in 
present possession of the College. And, still, valuable as its 
accumulations for the past half century have been, they are 
far from sufficient for the proper support of the Institution. 
The year 1876, the Centennial of the Nation was an im- 
portant one in the history of this College. As the result of 
the inadequate endowments, and in spite of all possible 
economy in administration, on the part of a faithful Board of 
Trustees, the year came in with a large debt standing against 
the College, and very small and insufficient provisions for its 
payment. It was therefore determined to undertake the 
work of raising $100,000, with which to pay the debts of 
the College and increase its endowments. Rev. G J. John- 
son, D. D., well known for his great ability in the work of 
gathering benevolent funds, was seemed as Financial Agenf. 
The College having been established in 1827, as Rock Spring 
Seminary, reached in the year following the National Cen- 
tennial the fiftieth year of its existence, and the work of Dr. 
Johnson, begun in 1876, was continued. Thanks to his un- 
tiring zeal and entire devotion to his work, the movement 
to increase the funds of the College was successful. At the 
date of this writing the College debts have been fully pro- 
vided for and the institution is in a more flourishing condi- 
tion than ever before in its history. 

Since the movement above described the College has re. 
ceived additional funds, among which may be named the sum 
of $10,000 secured through the exertions of President Kend- 
rick, as a fund for the erection of a New College building. This 
edifice is now in process of erection, and will add greatly to 
the facilities of the College. 

This Institution has been greatly blessed during the entire 
period of its existence with warm friends and ardent patrons. 
Of those now living it may not be becoming to speak, but 
the names of the dead, many of whom were honored citizens 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



275 



of Mi(ii.-on County, deserve a record in this history. Elijah 
Gove Esq., of Quincy, Illinois, deserves especial mention in 
this connection. In the year 1854 he became prominent in 
the affairs of the College, ministering to its financial needs 
with a munificent hand. Until his death, in 1874, he con- 
tinued his support to the College, and the least estimate 
placed upon the aggregate of his many and unostentatious 
gifts is $50,000. 

H. N. Kendall, Esq., of Upper Alton, is another name 
that should be forever hallowed in connection with Shurtleff 
College. He was the cherished confidant and eo worker of 
Mr. Gove in planning and giving for this Institution. 

Dr. Ebenezer Marsh, of Alton, was a teacher in Rock 
Spring Seminary, in 18:i9, and upon the removal of the In- 
stitution to Upper Alton took an active interest in it, and in 
1852 became Trustee and served twenty-five years, till his 
death in 1877. 

Hon. Cyrus Edwards, of Upper Alton, was one of the 
seven original members of the new Board of Trustees, orga- 
nized at Upper Alton upon the removal of the Institution 
from Rock Spring in 18.32. Ilermon C. Cole, of Upper 
Alton, at a later day became an active patron of the College. 

D. D. Ryrie, Esq., of Alton, was a devoted friend to the 
College to the day of his death. His wise liberality and 
prudent forecast were invaluable to the College in many 
emergencies. This list might be greatly extended, but 
enough has been said to sliow that good and true men have 
wrought faithfully in connection with this College for the 
cause of Chri tian education. 

The men who have spent years in Madison County, as 
educators of youth in the Faculty of this Institution 
deserve honorable mention in this historical sketch. They 
have impressed themselves upon hun<lrfds who are now the 
substantial citizens of tliis county, or dwellers in the regions 
beyond. Many, as they read the names of Huhbel Loomis, 
Warren Leverett, Washington Levcrett, Adiel Sherwood, 
Daniel Read, Justus Buikley, O. L Castle and Charles 
Fairman, will recall the honored instructors, at whose feet 
they have sat and learned practical wisdom and acquired 
in'ellectual strength. 

This Institution has ever been known for the thoroughness 
of its instruction and its careful attention to the mental and 
moral culture of its students. As at present constituted 
there are three distinct schools or departments, viz. : The 
Preparatory School, The College, and The Theological 
School. The number of graduates in the College and the 
Theological School duricg the last ten yeai-s is nearly equal 
to the whole number graduated in the previous forty-five 
years, showing a marked advance in the grade of scholar- 
ship in the Institution, as well as a corresponding advance 
in the demands for a Collegiate education in the West. 
From present indications it is safe to assume that jVIadison 
County is destined to have within its borders one of the 
most anl important flourishing in.- titutions of learning in the 
whole country. 

MONTICELLO LADIES' SEMIN.\RY. 
BY MISS H. N. IIASK ELL. 

This institution (projected and founded by Benjamin 



Godfrey,) was opened for the reception of students on the 
11th of April, 1838. It is situated at Godfrey, Madison 
County, 111., on the route of the Chicago &â–  Alton Railroad, 
twenty-five miles from St. Louis, Mo., and four from Alton. 
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy touching Brighton, Indiana- 
polis and St. Louis touching Alton, brings the Seminary into 
railroad communication with all parts of the country. The 
site was selected with regard to health and freedom from 
the bustle and terai)tations common to large towns. 

The Seminary building is of stone, 110 feet by 44 feet, 
and five stories high, including the basement. The base- 
ment is divided into Recitation Rooms and a Dining Room. 
The second story is divided into a Library, Recitation and 
Family Rooms. The next two stories, together, contain 
forty rooms, each designed to accommodate two young 
ladies. The fourth story is divided into Music and Painting 
Rooms. The south wing is 45 feet by 70 feet, contains two 
large halls and twenty-two rooms for the accommodation of 
students; the rooms and halls are lighted with gas and 
warmed with Marriott's hot water apparatus. There is also 
a Cottage situated near the Seminary building and within 
the Campus, designated as a b larding house for mothers 
who wish to be with their daughters, and also for the accom- 
modation of guests visiting the students. 

The Seminary Campus consists of about thirty acres. 
This affords room for garden, orchard, grove, play grounds, 
a spacious lawn in front, tastefully laid out in walks, and 
ornamented with flowers, shrubbery and arbors. 

Since the opening of the Institution, all its income has 
been used to perfect its arrangements for educational advan- 
tage and domestic comfort. It is confidently believed that 
no seminary can be found in the West where every depart- 
ment is better suited to the wants of its students. Its pat- 
ronage proves the wisJom of tha Trustees in psrfecting the 
arrangements. 

Board of Instruction. — Miss Harriet K. Haskell, Princi- 
pal ; Miss Emily G. Alden, Mental and Moral Philosophy, 
English Literature and Composition ; Miss Julia C. Kellogg, 
Physiology, Natural History and Botany; .Miss Evelyn L, 
Barbour, Natural Science and Higher Mathematics ; Miss 
Alice Harlow, Latin abd Greek; Mi-s Ella F. Siioclin^ 
Preparatory Department ; M'lle Rosine Stehle, M'lle H. 
Chevalley, French and German; Miss Julia Newton, Oil 
Painting, Water Colors and Drawing ; Miss Alma L. Frost, 
Elocution. 

Department of Music. — -Miss Emma Louise Fowler, Vocal • 
Mis? Katherine Armstrong, Piano ; Miss Augusta Dickson, 
Piano and Organ ; Miss Emma J. Williams, Piano; Mrs. 
H. B. Pendleton, Matron. 

Board of Trustees. — Rev. Truman M. Post, D. D., Presi- 
dent, St. Louis, Mo. ; Rev. A T. Norton, D. D., Secretary 
and Treasurer, Alton, 111. ; Rev. George N. Boardman, D. 
D., Chicago, 111.; Dr. John B. Johnson, St. Louis, Mo.; 
Harriet N. Haskell (Ex-officio), Godfrey, 111 

Prudential Committee. — Rev. A. T. Norton, D. D., Har- 
riet N Haskell, J. R. Isett ; Edward P. Wade, Auditor, 
Alton, 111. 



27G 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 




WYMAN INSTITUTE. 



BY PROF. L. M. CASTLE. 



This institution is the practical embodiment of the mature 
ideas of one of the most prominent educators of the west, 
Eiiward Wyman, LL. D., from whom it takes its name. Dr. 
Wyman, the founder and present Principal, is a man of 
wide reputation as an instructor and disciplinarian, having 
b^en engaged in the profession of teaching for upwards of 
fifty years. He is a natural born teacher and his long 
career as an instructor has been extended over a field re- 
markable for the breadth as well as variety of its experi- 
ence. Dr. Wyman was born, raised and educated in the 
State of Massachusetts, and early brought the culture there 
obtained westward to be utilized as one of the elements of a 
success scarcely paralleled in his profession. During his 
life in the west he has been connected with various educa- 
tional enterprises, the most important of which was probably 
the well known St. Louis Unlversitij, of which he had charge 
for more than six years; and which under his management 
attained a wide reputation both for its remarkable size and 
the uniqueness of its discipline Coming under his manage- 
ment at a stage of its existence bordering on dissolution, the 
University was infused with new life, which in the short 
space of six years raised its membership from forty to up- 
wards of 600, and invested it with a completeness of 
organization and discipline to be appn ciated only by being 
seen. Among his former pupils Dr. Wyman numbers mauy 



of the most prominent and successful business and profis- 
sional men of the west, who unite in paying unqualified 
tribute to the soundness and thorough practicability of his 
educational methods. Compelled by ill health induced by 
overwork and the superabundance of energy exercised in 
the management of this undertaking temporarily to abandon 
his profession for a more (active) employment, he never 
wavered in his interest in the cause of education, but even 
in the turmoil of an active business life went on maturing 
plans for a .school which should comply as nearly as possible 
with his ideas of a — model school, to the direction of which 
he might bring not only an unabated zeal in the cause, but 
also the ripe experience of his maturer years. The state of 
his health having materially improved. Dr. Wyman felt 
himself justified in selecting for his school a proper location- 
After extensive search Upper Alton was selected as the 
most suitable site, and in the judgment of many competent 
authorities is considered, on account of its convenient ap- 
proach as well as its peculiar moral and educational ad- 
vantages, inferior to no other location for such a school. 
The grounds selected at present comprise 40 acres of what 
was formerly known as " Rural Park," a tract noticeable at 
once for its natunl beauty of landscape, and fur the excel- 
lent taste with which that beauty has been utilized to the 
best attainment of those purposes toward which it is now 
directed. The present buildings consist of a spacious main 
edifice used for the purposes of dormitory, school-room, 
diuing-room, and all points appertaining to the Home Depart- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



277 



ment, all well arranged and finished in tasteful and elegant i 
style, with a splendid new gymnasium and various other 
buildings, each arranged and adapted for its special purpose. 
New buildings are being added as the needs of the school or 
the ideas of its owner demand. The object of the school is 
to be a perfect home-school for boj's. It aims to furnish at 
the same time all the advantages of an orderly and pleasant 
home and a thoroughly regulated school. The pupils are 
under constant but pleasant supervision. 

To the usual school curriculum it adds special features in 
the way of gymnastics, (military drill) and horsemanship 
In its government it seeks both to be firm and to develop 
that which is most manly in the conduct of the pupil. It is 
managed on a Christian unsectarian basis, and endeavors to 
advance its students as uniformly as possible in culture of 
the body, mind, manners and morals. The i umber of its 
members is necessarily limited to fifty, one of the primary 
ideas of the establishment being to have it select and not 
crowded to the disadvantage and discomfi)rt of the pupil. 
Boys are received from the ages of 10 to 20, and are fitted 
either for a business career or for any of our colleges. 

The Institute, having completed its third year, can no 
longer be considered a mere experiment, but an established 
fact. From the day of its first opening it has steadily and 
rapidly increased in membership, many most desirable ap- 
plications for entrance having been necessarily refused. Its 
location, its management, the completeness of its arrange- 
ments, and the substantial results attained in its various 
departments, have received universal encomiums from those 
who have had opportunity of observing the same. 

Such an institution as the above, aside from meeting a 
want long felt among the people, cannot fail to be an orna- 
ment to the community in which it is found. It is highly 
deserving of the patronage of those who rind in it the grati- 
fication of a special want, and of the moral support of all 
who are interested in the proper training of youth. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 



THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 

BY HON. EDWARD M. WEST. 




' MONO the subjects which form the history of 
Madison county, none are more interesting 
than the religious element, which constitutes 
a real and important part of the history of 
every people and country, and particularly 
this of ours, which, as Mr. Webster said, 
"was formed in justice and religion." 

As a part of the hi.story of Illinois from 

its firft settlement, and for six years before 

the organization of Madison county, affecting materially the 

prosperity and promoting the good order of society, the 



Methodist Episcopal Church deserves recognition and hon- 
orable mention. For years before Illinois was a state, 
Methodist preachers were here, preaching in the settle- 
ments, forming societies, building churches, sustaining the 
government, defending the frontier" and actively engaged in 
giving tone and character to society, and promoting the cause 
of religion. Nearly all these pioneers are now gone. Their 
work was well done ; their names and memories are now 
almost unknown to those of the present age, and need to be 
rescued from the oblivion fast gathering around them. 

Unlike most of the states, Illinois commenced settlements 
on her western frontier, where the first societies were formed, 
and the first churches built. 

The first preacher in Madison county, and indeed, in 
Illinois, was Joseph Lilliard. He had been a circuit 
preacher in Kentucky in 1790. Came to Illinois territory 
in 1793 and preached in what few settlements there were, 
and organized several societies. He had no organized cir- 
cuit, but formed a society in Jvew Design, Monroe county, 
and appointed Joseph Ogle class leader. Ogle had come 
to Illinois territory in 1785, was an excellent man, but very 
difiident in assuming leadership in the church. In 17ii6 
Hosea Rigg came to Illinois, and settled in St. Clair county, 
at Turkey Hill. He was a local preacher, but had preach- 
ing app()iutments in Monroe, St. Clair and Madison counties. 
A good, true man of courage and zeal. The writer of these 
notices lived near father Rigg from 1818 to 1830, and knew 
him very well. He was a poor man in this world's goods, 
but rich in faith and good works. In 1803 he left his blind 
wife and family, and went to Mount Gerizim, Kentucky, 
where the Methodist conference was sitting, represented to 
the Bishop the wants and opportunities of the new territory, 
had Benjamin Young appointed missionary to Illinois, and 
piloted him to his new field of labor. 

Benjamin Young was the first circuit preacher in JIadison 
county. His circuit embraced all Illinois, but was mainly 
confined to what is now Madison, St. Clair, Monroe and Ran- 
dolph counties. He formed societies in Madison county. 
One at the house of John Nix, under the blufl\ where his 
son, David Nix, afterward resided. Father Nix was leader 
of the class, the first formed in the county. I have not been 
able to obtain all the names of the members : John Nix and 
wife, Josiah Cumings and wife and Anna Gillham were five 
of the eight members forming the class. He had several 
preaching places in the county, but circulated principally 
amongtt the Gillham families, and the same year was 
married to Miss Sallie Gillham. In a letter dated " Ran- 
dolph county, June 1, 1804," Mr. Young wrote : "lam, 
and have been sickly since I have been here, but am now on 
the mend. I met with great difficulty in coming to this 
country. I lost my horse in the wilderness, fifty miles from 
any settlement, and had to walk in, and then hire a horse 
to hunt mine. The Kickapoo Indians had stolen him. "When 
I got to Kaskaskia they made me pay two dollars for a 
room to preach in, and twenty shillings for two days' board. 
I ran out of money and had to sell my book. As for the 
state of reliirion, it is bad. I have formed a circuit, and 
have organized five societies and fifty members." At that 



278 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



time it was against the rules of the church for any member- 
to contract marriage with one who was not a church member. 
Miss Gillham, when married to Mr. Young, was not a mem- 
ber of the church, and the rules required that Young be 
placed as a member on probation. Tiiis offended Young, 
and he would not consent to the change, but tendered his 
resignation, and was dechired expelled. This arbitrary rule 
has long since been abrogated. Before his death Mr. Young 
rejoined the church, and died in its fold. He was a brother 
of the celebrated Jacob Young, of Ohio. The next year, 
1804-5, Joseph Oglesby was appointed to Illinois, and 
preached in Madison county in 1801 ami 1805. 

Rev. Mr. Oglesby had visited Illinois as early as 1802. 
He was a large man, six feet tall, finely formed, an excellent 
horseman, had a good voice, self-reliant, an able preacher, 
and had all the requisites of a pioneer missionary. I knew 
hira quite well. He had studied medicine, and was esteemed 
a good physician. In traveling the circuit, he carried some 
medicines in his saddle-bags with his library. Illinois was 
undraiued and uncultivated, and was very sickly, and the 
preacher was everywhere welcomed, and ministered to the 
diseases of the body as wf 11 as ihe soul. 

In 1797, two brothers, David and Anthony Badgley, came 
out from Kentucky, and traveled over this country, and so 
pleased were they with the country southeast of where after- 
wards Enwardsville was laid off, that they called it "the 
land of Goshen," by which it became extensively known. 
Here a settlement was made by the Whitesides, Judys, 
Nixs and Goods, and was made a preaching place by 
Oghsby. 

Here, on the land occupied by Thomas Good, two-and-a- 
half miles .south of Edwardsville, in 1805, was built the first 
Methodist church in Illinois territory, called Bethel, attested 
by persons cognizant of the time of its erection. It was 
built of unhewed logs, clap board roof, puncheon floor, and 
rudely constructed windows. There was a society formed 
here. Also a society was formed at Robert McMahan's, on 
the west side of Ridge prairie, and at Robinson's school- 
house, in the southeast part of the county, and at William 
Gillham's, in Six Mile prairie. The Bethel society was the 
largest religious society in the county, and embraced some 
(if the most prominent citizens. Once when Mr. Oglesby 
had an appointment to preach, there was a large congrega- 
tion present. There seemed to be no one to raise the tunes. 
The preacher not'ced Capt. John T. Lusk, of Edwardsville, 
in the audience, and invited him to come forward and con- 
duct the singing. Capt. Lusk, though not a member of the 
church, was a good singer, and went forward towards the 
speaker's chair, — for there was neither pulpit or table. The 
house was crowded, and it was difBcult for the Captain to 
make his way, which somewhat confused him, and when 
reaching the speaker, he was fo embarrassed that he could 
not read the lines of the hymn. The preacher noticed the 
embarrassment, read over the hymn a second time, when the 
Captain, recovering himself, raised the tune and conducted 
the singing service quite to the satisfaction of all present. 
Before leaving the history of Doctor Oglesby, I may men- 
tion another circumstance: 



In the spring of 1841, Vice-President Tyler, then Presi- 
dent, in special message recommended memorial services to 
be held in all the churches, commemorative of the life and 
death of President \Vm. H. Harrison. A large audience 
had assembled at the Methodist church in Edwardsville, but 
there was no preacher. A Mr. Samuel R. Allard, then teach- 
ing school in Edwardsville, was a licentiate missionary of 
the Baptist church, and the only one present with a license 
to preach. H. K. Eaton, Matthew Gillespie, Samuel Gill- 
ham and Mr. Allard were standing near the church door, 
discussing the embarrassment of the occasion. Allard was 
rubbing his hair nervously, and quite excited at the pros- 
pect of having to conduct the services. I saw a large, min- 
isterial looking man ride up and hitch his horse near the 
church, and recognized Dr. Oglesby, and said to Mr. Gilles- 
pie, " There is a man who can do the preaching for you." 
Mr. Gillespie, on baing introduced, explained the situation 
to him and invited him to preach. His answer was : " Well 
brethren, I reckon I might try ; come in and we will see 
about it." Dr. Oglesby had known General Harrison years 
before quite well, had been with him and esteemed him very 
highly, and had voted for him for President ; and, on that 
occasion, did full honor to the memory and character of the 
distinguished dead, much to the pleasure of the audience. 

October 2, 1805, the Western Conference met in Scott 
county, Kentucky. There were 120 members in Illinois dis- 
trict. The conference then embraced : Tennessee, Ken- 
tucky, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. Charles R. Matheny, a 
young man who had joined the conference that year, was 
sent to Illinois. Although young, he was well suited to the 
work he had undertaken. A Western man in feeling and 
habits, of popular manners, he was quite at home amongst 
the early settlers. He had studied law as well as theology, 
and was a man of fine mind and fair preaching talent. His 
kindly mind and sympathetic disposition made him quite 
a favorite in the societies in Madison county. He married 
Jemima Ogle, of St. Clair county, and located thereafter one 
year. I knew him very well, and esteemed him highly. He, 
at a very early time, settled in Springfield, and was appoint- 
ed clerk of the circuit court, and also of the county court, 
which last office he held until the time of his death in 1840. 
1806-7- This year a notable character appeared in Illi- 
nois, as the Methodist preacher, Jesse Walker. He was a 
native of Kentucky. 1 knew him and have heard him 
preach. It was he who preached the first Methodist sermon 
in St Louis, formed the first society, and built the first 
church there. He was not what is called a fine preacher, 
but was earnest, practical and very orthodox. He had sev- 
eral preaching places in Madison county, and the result of 
his first year's labor on the circuit was an addition of 215 
members. Six years after this he took charge of all the 
Methodist interests in Illinois and Missouri. He would fre- 
quently travel thirty miles a 4ay, preach twice, and then 
ride ten or twenty miles to get home ; where he cultivated a 
small farm in St. Clair county, to raise something for his 
family to live on, not receiving as much as one hundred 
dollars for his year's labors. 

This year, 180G, there was a log church built at Shiloh, 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



279 



St. Clair county. I knew the old church very well, and 
have been at it often. Three other churches have since been 
built at the same place; the last, a handsome brick building, 
35 by 57 feet, with basement story, costing SG,700, and was 
dedicated in 1875 by Bishop Bowman. 

In 1807, there was a camp-meetiug held at the Bethel 
church by Elder William McKendree, (afterwards Bishop) 
and Jesse Walker, a.ssisted by several local preachers, Ilosea 
Eigg, John Kirkpatrick and others. As far as I can ascer- 
tain, it was the first camp-meetiug held in the county. The 
results of the meeting were very gratifying, and many per- 
sons made a profession of religion and joined the church. 

Mr. Walker deserves honorable mention as a pioneer 
preacher in Illinois and Mi-ssouri — long a missionary 
among the Indians, possessing in an eminent degree the 
characteristics of a successful missionary. His name was 
cherished by all who knew him, of whom it could be said by 
the Master, " I know thy works and thy labor and thy pa- 
tience ; and that thou hast borne, and hast patience, and for 
my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted." 

1807-8. John Clingan was appointed to Illinois, by a 
long established rule of the Methodist church her annual 
Conference supplying all the Methodist societies with a 
preacher. So that from 1803 to the present, these societies 
have never been without a preacher. Originally the 
preachers were one year on a circuit ; now the preacher may 
remain three years in a charge, and an elder four years on 
the same district. At the close of the year Rev. Mr. Clin- 
gan returned to Kentucky, and the next year 1808-9, Jesse 
Walker was the preacher in Illinois Circuit. It was a year 
of hardship and labor, but was readily undertaken by Walk- 
er, who visited all the settlements, preaching almost every 
day and forming societies wherever practicable. His work 
showed an increase of fifty-five members of the church. 

If it should be considered that fifty-five members added 
to the church in a year was a small return, we must know 
that there were very few people in Illinois at that time, few 
and sparse settlements, and the people very frontier in habit 
and character. Now when churches are good, ministers 
educated, and many more religious privileges, fifty-five 
additional members is a rare year's report for ministers to 
make. 

1809-10. Western Conference met at Cincinnati, Ohio, 
September 30, 1809. At this Conference Charles Holliday 
and Samuel H. Thompson joined the Conference, and 
became afterwards conspicuous in the history of the church 
in Illinois and Missouri. Abraham Amos was appointed to 
Illinois, and immediately came to Madison county, and form- 
ed a Society at Salem, at the house of Isaiah Dunnagan- 
There were seventeen members, viz : Isaiah Dunnagan, Ann 
Dunnagan, James Gillham, Polly Gillham, R. C. Gillham, 
Susanna Gillham, George Davidson, Jane Davidson, Polly 
Davidson, George Sanders, Hi.nnah Sanders, John Kirk, 
patrick, Sally Kirkjjatrick, Thomas Kirkpatrick, Polly 
Kirkpatrick, Anna Dodd, Sally Salms. Isaiah Dunnagan 
was appointed class leader. Preaching was at the house of 
Isaiah Dunnagan until 1814 ; from 181-1 to 1818 at the house 
of Ja naes Gillham, then at the house of John Gillham, Sen » 



to 18'26 and the next two years at the house of John Gill- 
ham, Jr., where Mr. E. Fahnestock, now resides. In 1828 
under the auspices of Rev John Hogan this society built a 
frame church in the extreme southeast corner of township 
5, range 9, very near the residence of Isaiah Dunnagan. 
Here the society continued until 1854, when a larger church 
was erected, where the society still meet. 

In September 1838 a beautiful camp ground was laid, 
and very substantial camp buildinjis put up. Yearly camp 
meetings were held here until 1861, when the war excitement 
came on and the j'early meetings were discontinued. From 
the organization of the society there have been regular reli- 
gious services, and a class of members with a leader, and 
many local preachers have had stated services there. It 
has always been an important point in Methodist church 
history in Madison. 

Many of the desendants of these early church members 
still remain in that neighborhood, and are highly respected- 
The society here received additional strength in 1810, when 
John Springer settled in the neighborhood. Air. Springer 
was one of the most devoted Christian men I ever knew, 
earnest, constant, punctual in all his religious duties. He 
had the confidence and esteem of all who knew him, and 
no society ever had a more valuable member. Two of his 
sons became ministers and all his children honored members 
of the church, among whom Hon. T. O. Springer, Levi 
Springer and Mrs. R. C. Gillham all live in this county. 
Mr Springer was the leader of the class from 1815 to 1849, 
the time of his death. The members of this society well 
known to the citizens of this county, were always esteemed 
as a part of our best citizens, and the religious influence of 
the society was very valuable. Their last minister was Rev. 
Henry Delicate, deceased March 12, 1882. Five hundred 
persons have joined the church at this place since its organi- 
zation and there are at present about 100 members. 

1810-11. The conference met this year at New Chapel, 
Shelby county, Kentucky, November 1, 1810. Daniel Fra- 
ley joined the conference and was sent to Illinois. There 
were twenty-six new preachers this year added to the Con- 
ference. Illinois was settling very fast, and amongst others 
who came to Madison county was William Ottwell, Rev- 
Josias Randle, Jesse Bell, Henry Bonner, Josias Wright, 
B. Maxey, Benjamin Delaplaiu and others who settled 
near Edwardsville. They and their friends were members 
of the ]\Iethodist church, and Randle, Maxey and Delaplain 
was preachers, also Thomas and Parham Randle. J. Randle 
had been a distinguished preacher in Georgia and South 
Carolina since 1802. He was probably the first local preach- 
er who had regular appointments in this county. 

Mr. Randle, as I remember him was a large, fine-looking 
man, an excellent preacher, and preached every Sabbath. 
In 1812 he was appointed Recorder for Madison county, 
which embraced all of Illinois north of St. Clair county, 
which office he held until his death which occurred in 1824. 
The office at that time was the most lucrative in the State. 
It had been offered to John Hay of St. Clair,^the grand- 
father of Hon. John B. Hay, now Postmaster in Belle- 
ville, but Hay preferred to remain in St. Clair county, 



280 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



and was appointed Recorder and Clerk of the Court of that 
county. Rev. Mr. Randle had four sons, Richard, Barton, 
Peter and Josias. Josias died in Mississippi, in 1832. Barton 
and Richard became efficient and able preachers. Barton 
joined the conference in 1830, and continued a preacher in 
that conference until his death in 1882. Richard is still liv- 
ing, having been a preacher since 1828, and is now in his 
84th year, honored and beloved by all who know him. Peter 
Randle became a physician of distinction, was for some 
years President of a Medical College in San Francisco, Cal, 
and now holds an important federal office in that city. The 
only daughter, Mrs. Martha P. Ripley, is now residing in 
Staunton, Macoupin county, and is known as a very active 
worker in the " Women's Christian Temperance Union." 

Goshen settlement became noted this year for its in- 
crease in Methodist families, and uniting in church mem- 
bership with the Society at Bethel, made quite a large 
church membership at that place. Parham and Thomas 
Randle became circuit preachers, lived to old age, and 
dying, left a reputation for excellent citizens and acceptable 
and useful ministers. 

William Ottwell came to Madison county in 1811. He 
was born in Maryland, 1779, but disliking slavery came to 
the territory of Illinois that he might raise his children in a 
State where slavery did not exist. 

He was in the ranging service during the Indiana hostili- 
ties under Capt. Jas. B. Moore, of Monroe county. He was a 
good citizen and a true patriot. He filled many responsible 
stations in society and was three times elected to represent 
Madison county in the State Legislature. He was very 
earnest and gifted in exhortation and prayer and instructive 
as a class leader A man of positive character and strength 
of mind, his influence for good was seen and felt. He died 
in Madison county, his home, September 4, 1844. 

1811-12.— Conference was held at Cincinnati, Oct. 1,1811. 
The minutes show an increase of seventy members in Illi- 
nois circuit. Jesse Walker and George A. Colbert were the 
preachers. There being two preachers enabled the societies 
to have circuit preaching every two weeks, and the year 
showed a gain of 134 members. There was an increase ot 
membership in all the societies in Madison county, and more 
preaching places were established, and the Methodist church 
became the most prominent church in the county. The 
Indians were troublesome this year to the northern settlers, 
and many of our citizens became volunteer defenders of the 
settlements and were called rangers. A name very honor, 
able in Illinois, and which elected John Reynolds Governor 
of the State and member of Congress. He was called the 
"old ranger." In 1811 occurred the great earthquakes in 
western Illinois and Missouri; the earth at intervals would 
shake violently with a dull roaring sound, and continued to 
do so at intervals until late in the spring of 1812. The 
people became greatly alarmed, and very many joined the 
church. Many curious instances of alarm were witnessed. 
Most of those who had joined the church from feelings of 
alarm, forgot their vows and professions when the danger 
was over. In 1811-12, Jesse Walker and George A. 
Colbert were sent to Illinois. 1812-13, James Dixon was 



the preacher. 1813-14, Ive Walker, a young man of Irish 
parentage, was the circuit preacher. He was an excellent 
preacher and a very zealous man. 1814-15, James Now- 
land was the circuit preacher. Iknew Rev. Mr. Nowland. He 
was a good substantial preacher. Not a man of much pathos, 
rather slow in speech, methodical in style. He settled first 
in St. Clair and afterward in Monroe county, where some of 
his descendants now reside. There had been regular services 
in all the societies, but no very material increase of mem- 
bership for the past four years. 

In 1815-16, John Scrips and William Jones were the 
circuit preachers, filling the appointments semi-monthly. 
Scrips was from Indiana, had joined the conference this year 
and was sent to Illinois. He was an excellent preacher, and 
became noted in his profession as a minister. There was an 
increase of church membership of over fifty this year. The 
following is taken from the St. Louis Christian Advocate : — 
"The General Conference in 1816 recognizing the increased 
interest of the church in the West, divided Tennessee con- 
ferencejand formed Missouri conference, embracing Indiana, 
Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas. Missouri conference met 
at Shiloh, St. Clair county, September 23, 1816. Ten 
preachers constituted the conference, eight of whom were 
present. Bishop McKendree presided, Jesse Walker, Samuel 
H. Thompson and Thomas Bright were the Presiding Elders. 
There were 2192 members, of which 66 were colored. Four 
new preachers were received on trial, of whom Alexan- 
der McAllister was one, and became one of the ablest 
preachers and profound reasoners in Illinois or Missouri. 

The conference records show the following as the financial 
report for the year : 

Received as quarterage §645 75 

Received from Book Concern 200 00 

Received from Chartered Fund 130 00 

Donation by Bishop McKendree 100 00 

Donation by Bishop Asbury 7 75 

Donation by Ohio Conference 66 00 

Total ?1.1« 60 

Which when divided amongst all the preachers gave to 
each of the married preachers $88.75, and to the single 
preachers $44. 37 J." This was the first conference held in 
Illinois. The second was held at Bethel church, 2i miles 
south of Edwardsville, in Madison county, October 6, 1817. 
Bishop Roberts presided and John Scrip was Secretary. 
Samuel H. Thompson served as a member on every com- 
mittee. There were fourteen preachers in attendance. Dur- 
ing the session of the conference the weather became incle- 
ment and the meeting-house having been hastily built twelve 
years before, was now out of repair and uncomfortable. 
Father Josias Wright who lived near the church invited the 
Conference to adjourn to his house, which they did, and on 
Sabbath the entire conference of preachers sat down to dinner 
at his table. Now Illinois has five Methodist Conferences, 
besides those of Indiana, Missouri and Arkansas. How 
large would be the table that would seat all the ministers 
now ? Father Wright gave them a cordial welcome, and 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



281 



girded himself and served them ; siuce that time, they have 
all sat down at the Master's table who himself has 
served them. 

This year the preachers went to their appointed places 
with great courage. The name of rfainuel H. Thompson 
became a household word in all Methodist families. He 
was a burning and shining light wherever he went. I have 
never known a minister, whose loving spirit, kind manner 
and aflectionate nature made him a more welcome guest or 
beloved pastor. At the time he entered the traveling 
ministry at Cincinnati, 10th Sept. 1809, he was esteemed as 
a young man of fine promise. Of fine person and pleasant 
address, he added extraordinary zeal. His whole soul was 
engaged iu the work of the Master. His labors kuew 
neither relaxation nor rest, traveling through storms, heat 
and cold. He went deep and far in the sea of religious ex- 
perience and from its golden treasures brought forth the 
truth that found its way to the judgment, and the heart of the 
hearer. From 1809 to 1834 he was a great Field Marshal of 
the Methodist Church. He lived most of that time iu Illinois, 
and was known to,and loved by eveiy Methcdibt ian.ily in 
Madison county. A Christian, and a Christian minister, a 
messenger of peace and good will, a lover of order, and ad- 
mirable administrator of discij)line in its mildest forms, every 
charge flourished to which he was appointed. He possessed 
great faith, zeal and love ; was happy himself, and made 
others so. 

In 18-^4 Gen. Jackson, President, appointed him Register 
of the Land Office at Edwardsville. He asked of the 
Department at Washington the privilege of still continuing 
his ministerial relations in the Conference, which was granted, 
and continued to fill regular churches until his health failed. 
He died in Edwardsville, 1811, where a tombstone erected 
by his brethren in this county marks his last resting place. 

This year there was a church built one-half mile south- 
west of Edwardsville, called Ebeuezer, and part of the 
members of the Bethel Society, including .Jame-s Randle and 
family, Jesse Bell and family Thomas Randle and family, 
Henry Bonner and family, William Ottwell and family, 
Parham Randle and family, with others whose names 1 
have been unable to obtain, formed a society at Ebenezer. 

This year there was a large increase in church member- 
ship Illinois district increased l,.jOO, Missouri district 400. 
Nearly 2,000 members had been added to the church this 
year. Elder Thompson called it a grand jubilee. We might 
here ask the question why are not our preachers as success- 
ful now in gathering in members as then ? It can not be 
because they were more able preachers or better paid than 
now ; for this year the married preachers received $83.60, 
the single men $41.80. There are several causes which 
might be mentioned. Now, the aim and labor of life is to 
accumulate property, to get rich, and for this the hands and 
hearts of the people are more earnestly engaged than then. 
Now, there is much greater extravagance than then, which 
is unfavorable to religion. A large influx of foreign popula- 
in the West has been unfavorable to religion, producing dis. 
tion regard of the sanctity of the Sabbath. The demoralizing 
infiueuce of party politics and party strife. The influence of 
36 



infiilelity, which seem? incraanng. And then, not the least 
of the causes may be found in the constantly increasing de- 
mands made upon the members of the church for money 
with which to carry on the enlarged plans of the church iu 
her benevolences, and the maintenance of her ministers* 
which is not uufrequently felt to be burdensome, 

It may be thought by the reader that this last assigned cause 
has neither merit nor truth in it, but from a close observation 
as steward in the church for forty years I am .satisfied it is cor- 
rect, and so believing, it would not be right nor honest if I 
did not say so. Formerly a minister would supply from fi ve- 
to fifteen or more societies, all of whom would contribute some 
thing to his support. Now almost every society desires the 
services of a minister and, as is often the case, where there 
are not many members they feel it rather a costly luxury. 
In 1S44 as steward of Edwardsville circuit I was required to 
make and furnish the stewards of the several societies their 
proportion of amounts to be raised for the preacher's salary 
and parsonage rent. The demand against the circuit was as 
follows : 

83 members $77 65 



Eiiwardsville, 


83 


Liberty, 


22 


Salem, 


102 


ISTir's, 


50 


Mrs. Gillham, 


6 


Ebenezer, 


9 


Six Mile, 


59 


Venice. 


8 


Coliinsville, 


82 


Mt. Zion, 


60 


Troy, 


34 


Gilead, 


81 


Eidge Pr.airie, 


30 



Totala 



658. 



. 22.30 

. 95,00 

. 4650 

. 5.55 

. 8.30 

. .5490 

- 7.45 

. 76.00 

. 55-80 

. 31.65 

. 75,35 

. 27.90 

§685.35 



Salary of Rev. Win. Willson with family J384.00 

" " " Saml. Smith (single man) 100.00 

Elder Bobbins 48.33 

House rent for preacher 48.00 

$580.33 
This was less than one dollar per member. Now the 

societies pay $7.37 per member for preacher's salary and 

incidental church expenses and church benevolences. 

The following table shows the meraberihip in the church 

for 1881 as taken from the conference minutes for that year 

and the church expenses for the same year. 





No. Mem- 
bers. 


Preachers 

and Elders 

Salary. 

J1070 00 
766 00 
743 00 
990 00 
6(56 50 
575 00 
508 00 
182 00 
548 50 


Current 
Expenses. 


Benevo- 
lences. 


Alton, Station 221 

Upper -Vllon, Station . . . 136 

Wanda, Circuit 145 

Edwardsville, Station . . | 75 
Miles Circuit. ..... 147 

Coliinsville. Station i 126 

Highland, Circuit 102 

Troy, Station 106 

New Douglas, Station... . 107 


$641 00 
132 00 
215 00 
300 00 
203 00 
211 00 
50 00 
75 00 
112 75 


? 95 00 

35 10 

122 00 

71 00 

143 25 

â–  27 00 

21 00 

46 00 

45 00 


1,165 


6,049 00 


1,939 75 


605 35 



Making an average yearly contribution of $7.37 for each 
member. 



282 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



A large part of the membership in all the churches is 
composed of the young, and those who are unable to pay 
anything, and of the remainder, a majority are able to pay 
very little ; the burden rests on a few in every charge who 
feel it very sensibly ; since they are in no way exempted from 
the taxes or contributions which other citizens pay. It will 
be seen that the salaries of the preachers are too small to 
make the ministry an object in a pecuniary point of view, 
for any man of education and talent necessary for success as 
a minister in the present advanced state of society, and we 
must give them the credit of being actuated by motives of 
a higher character. 

I do not say, nor do I believe, that members of the church 
pay more to sustain religious institutions than they should, 
but the change in that particular is so great that a large 
portion of them feel so, and the frequent expression of this 
feeling aflects others, and lessens their own interest in the 
church. I see no remedy for this state of thing but in a 
better understanding of the subject, which will require time 
and teaching. 

1817. This year the original town of Upper Alton was 
laid off, and under the ministrations of Rev. Samuel H. 
Thompson, a class of six persons was formed. Ebenezer 
and Mary Hodges, Jonathan and Delilah Brown, Oliver 
Brown and John Seely, were the members. The iirst 
preaching place was at the house of Mr. Hodges, which was 
a log cabin, and when the Baptist church was built in 1836. 
Mr. Thompson was the pastor. The society was small for 
some years ; but was the nucleus of what afterward became 
a large society. A large number of influential and promineiit 
citizens have had membership in this church. William G. 
Pinkard, Dr. Thomas Stanton, H. P. Eundle, Troy Moore, 
I. B. Randle, Lewis J. Clauson, Isaac Waruock, John Hc- 
gan, John Cooper, Robert and James Harrison, H. H. 
Summers, and many others. 

A church was built in 1835, and is now occupied by S. B. 
Congdon as a residence. In 1849 a new brick church was 
erected under the active efforts of Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Clau- 
son and others. There have been forty-seven pastors ap- 
pointed to this charge. The present pastor. Rev. L. C. 
English, reports the society in a flourishing condition. There 
are 136 members. The regular services of the church are 
interesting and well attended. 

The third session of the Missouri Conference was held at 
Mt .Zion meeting-house, in Murphey's settlement, Sept. 10, 
1818. Jesse Hale was presiding elder, and Samuel H. 
Thompson and Thomas Helms were on Illinois circuit ; and 
Jacob Whiteside an assistant preacher. David Sharp was 
appointed to Silver Creek circuit. He was an excellent 
preacher, and became quite prominent and influential in the 
church. Some years after, he married Miss Anna Moore, 
daughter of Judge Risdon Moore, of St. Clair county. It 
was a sickly year. The preacher labored earnestly and 
faithfully, and reported an increase of seven hundred mem- 
bers in the Conference. 

This was the first year I saw Mr. Thompson. I was a 
very small boy, but his fine appearance and dignified man- 
ner impressed me favorably, and this impression con- 



tinued. No camp meeting in this county was complete 
or successful unless he was present. This year there wt re 
no trials nor appeals, and the Conference was harmonious. 
But what was rather extraordinary was the appointment of 
a committee which made a long and exhaustive report on 
the Arian, Socinian and Pelagian doctrines. Of course, 
these heresies were severely handled, although not one per- 
son in fifty knew or cared anything about them. 

In those early times it was not an uncommon thing for the 
young preacher, when he found himself confused in his sub- 
ject, to vigorously attack " the five points of Calvinism," set 
the brush on fire, and ride out by the light the fire created. 
The next Conference was held at Cape Girardeau, Mo., 
Sept. 10th, 1819. Bishop George presided. He had com- 
menced preaching in 1790 There were at that time 227 
Methodist preachers in the United States, 45,949 white and 
11,682 colored members. He visited Turkey Hill settle- 
ment, in St. Clair county, where I heard him* preach. He 
also spent a week in Edwardsville, the guest of Rev. Jonas 
Randle, and preached at Ebenezer meeting-house. He 
was a most devout and holy man, of a most tender and 
loving heart. He rarely preached without shedding tears 
and deeply affecting his audience. His pure and loving 
spirit drew every ono with whom he had intercourse towards 
him. 

The Minutes of this Conference show that for the twenty- 
nine traveling preachers $1410 93 was all the stewards 
could report for them. The people were poor. There was 
very little money in the country. It was difficult to get 
money enough to buy salt and pay taxes. All the farmers 
were trying to save money enough to enter the lauds on 
which they were living from the General Government. 
The strictest economy was practiced, and nearly all necessa- 
ries for family use were raised and manufactured at home. 
The people were, however, religious and happy. Regular 
services were held in all the societies, and several new preach- 
ing places established in this county. Alexander McAllister 
was on this circuit. 

The next year the Conference was held in S*. Clair coun- 
ty, at Shiloh Camp Ground, Sept. 13, 1820. Four years 
before, the conference was held at this place with ten preach- 
ers and two thousand members. — now thirty preachers and 
eight thousand members. Alexander McAllister, a very 
talented preacher, was appointed on the circuit. 

These pioneer men had proved themselves equal to the 
nece-'sities of the times. The Methodist Church had become 
the leading denomination in the county and state. I remem- 
ber the time and circumstances of this meeting quite well, 
although a small boy at the time. My father had a tent, or 
rather a house, on the ground ; it was built of logs, covered 
with boards, partitioned into several rooms, and quite com- 
fortable. 

I had great reverence for the preachers, and considered 
the Bishop little less than a divine personage. A number 
of families from Madison county had camps there, and the 
meeting continued nearly two weeks. I had never seen 
anything equal to the excitement of that meeting. At night 
the camp fires were lighted and the beautiful grounds made 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



283 



brilliant. After each sermon, the mourners, as they were 
called, were invited forward for prayers, and many would 
corae. I had no other idea but that it was the singing and 
prayers that gave the people religion, and why all did not 
get it was a wonder to me, — seeing there was so good a 
chance. It was at this meeting I first heard the word 
" hallelujah." I have often heard it since, but never with 
such voice and joy as then. It is a good word when rightly 
used. My recollection is that over one hundred persons 
made profession of religion. It was this feature of religious 
worship in America that excited great wonder in Lamar- 
tine, who says: " The people will meet in great numbers in 
the proves, and stay for days in an excited state of mind, 
and professing to get religion." 

The married preachers this year received $73.00 each 
quarter; the single men, $36.50. Jesse Hale was sent to 
preach for the societies in Madison county. He was rather 
au eccentric man, and never was married. 

Complaints had been made against Brother Hale's man- 
ner and peculiarities. He was very severe in his remarks 
against fine dress, — although no one was finely dressed here 
in those days. For a lady to wear a veil or a ribbon on her 
bonnet, or a ring on her finger, was with him quite enough 
to exclude her from the church. I have seen him take oft' 
his coat in warm weather and preach in his shirt sleeves. A 
committee was appointed to address him on the subject of 
his eccentricities, and, if possible, tone him down a little. 
They made, however, but small progress. He was a fair 
preacher, very conscientious and pious, wholly devoted to his 
work. He died at the Conference at Nashville in the fall of 
1838. 

LOCAL PREACHERS. 

A very imprrtant feature in the early history of the 
church in Illinois, and largely so in Madison county, was the 
work and influence of local preachers. In many places the 
local preachers were the right arm of the churches, and 
notwithstanding they have been derisively termed " ecclesiasti- 
cal bummers " by a high official in the church, it was 
by and through them, that the Methodist Church in Illinois 
took the front rank. They were the first pioneer preachers. 
Laboring six days in the week, for the maintenance of their 
families, they had but little time for reading and study. 
Their serraoui lacked the flavor of education, the skill of 
logic, the subtleties of wit and grace of eloquence, but they 
had what was better, the flavor of a rich religious experience, 
earnestness, zeal, practical piety, backed by a life of true 
Christian conduct which gave them influence, and the canfi- 
dence of the people. Learning and talent in the pulpit are 
of great value, but any minister who expects succe.«s on any 
other line than that of a holy life, and simple fidelity to the 
teachings of the Great Master will be disappointed ; without 
the sanction of the Divine Spirit all other endowments and 
gifts are vain in bringing men to an experience of the truths 
of the gospel. These men were taught in the Scriptures, 
and their acquaintance with the writings of Wesley, 
Watson, Fletcher, Clark and the fathers of the Churches was 
good, and their labors successful. Without the sacrifices, 
the labors the influences of these " ecclesiastical bummers" 



the Methodist Church and the cause of religion in Illinois 
and the West would be far below what we see it to-day. It 
has been my observation for many years that local preachers 
were not estimated at their worth and merit Their sermons 
to be received with equal favor with those of the circuit 
preachers, had to be superior to them. Their every day life, 
eucurabered with the business, labors, occupations and profes- 
sions of life, and coming a^ was often the case in conflict with 
the opinions and interests of others in their neighborhood, they 
had to overcome prejudices that itineraut ministers did not 
meet. Their common oneness in the communities where they 
lived, their avocations and weaknesses, which a regular 
minister's life does not make so apparent, tended to lesson 
that degree of reverence for them, which was felt towards 
the minister who was rarely seen except in the pulpit. It 
was also expected of them they should give much more of 
their time, and means to the church than those who might 
have more time, and larger means. Fortunately for the 
church iu Madison and St. Clair counties they had superior 
advantages in being blest with a large number of those men, 
mo.st of whom were of deep piety and more than ordi- 
nary preaching ability. I may mention some of them. 
Joseph Lilliard, in 17:10, James Clark, 1798, who preached 
in Madison and St. Clair counties. Hosea Kigg, in 1796, 
Thomas Harrison, 1809. Thomas Talbot, 1810 Benjamin 
Watts, 1811, Edward and Samuel Mitchell and William 
Heath 1818, who settled in St. Clair county, and had a mark 
ed and valuable iufluence, both as citizens and ministers. 
In Madi.son county, were John Kirkpatrick, Josias Randle, 
Benjamin Delaplain, Thomas Randle, Bennett Maxey, 
Parham Randle, Washington C. Ballard, and a few years 
later, William Hadley, Richard Randle, Thomas G. Lofton, 
and Jesse Rcnfro. I was personally acquainted with all these 
men except Lilliard and Clark, and have heard them preach. 
They deserve to be honored and remembered by the church. 
Richard Randle, now in his84lh year, Jesse Renfro, in his 
85th year, William Hadley in his 76th year, alone remain. 
The others have long since heard the voice of the Master 
say " come up higher," and have entered into rest, but 
their names are not forgotten ; their memories and their 
Christian labors remain to bless the church, and although 
called " ecclesiastical bummers " by him who should have 
been the last to apply such an epithet to this worthy class of 
Christian men, their names and memories will live and be 
cherished by thousands after the names of the more learned 
and pretentious will be forgotten. The occasion and circum- 
stances which gave rise to that office in the church and which 
made local preachers effective in Illinois, seem to have 
passed aiyay, and they have almost passed away with the 
necessities which give rise to them. John Dew was ap- 
pointed to this circuit for 1820-21. He was a plain, rather 
rough man, in style and address, but a man of extraordinary 
fine talents. 

He became a traveling preacher in 1813, and early ex- 
hibited tho.se traits of character which made him distin- 
guished. Of great strength of will and force of character, 
with brilliant mind and self-reliance, he occupied for many 
years a prominent position in the church. No man of his 



284 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



time drew more largely or more effectively on his own 
mental strength and resources for his pulpit efforts than did 
he. He was outspoken in his opposiliuu to what he thought 
wrong in the church or out of it, and had those positive 
traits of character which make warm friends, and decided 
opponents. He acted on the theory that fruit-trees needed 
pruning as well as cultivating, and was a strict adminis- 
trator of discipline. He and Samuel H. Thompson were 
neighbors, and a close friendship ever existed between 
them, although quite unlike in their make up and disposi- 
tion. While Dew was much the best preacher, Thompson 
was the most wiuniug and successful. Dew was the most 
talented of the two, but Thompson was the most popular. 



This year a Methodist society was organized at the 
house of John Jarvis, at Troy, where for a time regular 
preaching was had. Afterward the society constructed a 
small frame church building, called "Gilead," on section 
14, on the premises now belonging to the estate of James 
Lang. The society grew and prospered, having at one time 
over a hundred members. Subsequently the society occu- 
pied a brick school-house, on section 11, near the residence 
of Rev. Jesse Renfro, who for many years was an effective 
local preacher and leading member in the church, and who 
in 1S52, was circuit preacher on Edwardsville circuit. In 
1876 the members of the Gilead society removed their mem- 
bership to Troy. The society in Troy was re-organized with 
seventeen members, and preaching was had there. In 1844 
the membership had increased to forty-four. Wm. J. Barns- 
back was class-leader and steward. In 1864, the society, 
feeling the necessity of a church building, erected the 
"Jubilee church, a neat frame building on brick foundation, 
24x34 feet, with substantial seats, pulpit and bell. The 
society was materially aided by John C. Dugger and others 
of Gilead .society. This building served the necessities of 
the society until 1870, when they concluded to build a larger 
house in a more convenient place, which was done, and a 
handsome brick church was erected during the pastorate of 
Rev. Van Winkle, and dedicated by Dr. Peter Cartwright, 
and was about the last public service of his life. He was then 
quite feeble, the mere shadow of himself in mind and body. 
The society was made a station, and at present numbers 
one hundred and five members, under the pastorate of Rev. 
T. J. C. Tolle. 

1821-2. — Parham Raudleand James Scott were the pastors. 
I have already spoken of Mr. Randle, who was well and 
favorably known all over the county. New and additional 
societies bad been formed in the county. I have heard Mr. 
Scott spoken of very favorably by those personally ac- 
quainted with him, as an earnest and acceptable preacher. 
There were many appointments, and but few of the societies 
had Sabbath preaching, but were supplied with weekday 
preaching by the circuit preachers, and on Sabbath by the 
local ministers. In all the societies there were class-leaders, 
who met their classes weekly. Tliis excellent part of Church 
polity and religious service is now rarely kept up with any 
regularity. Then absence from class-meeting three times in 



succession, without satisfactory excuses, was deemed good 
cause of exclusion from church membership. This year 
(1821) a society was formed at the house of Dempsey Gut- 
hrie, and a church built on hisland in 1838, called Plea- 
sant Ridge, and regular services had thereuntil 1844, 
when the church and society were removed to Collinsville. 
1822— The Conference of 1822-3 met in St. Louis, Octo- 
ber 24, 1822. There was no church in St. Louis except a 
Catholic church. Jesse Walker had commenced a church 
building on Myrtle street, bat it was unfinished. Col. Rufus 
Easton offered his house fur the use of the Conference, 
which was accepted. Col. Easton was a whole-souled gen- 
tleman, and made the Conference welcome to an enlarged 
hospitality. I had the pleasure last year of meeting Col. R- 
E. Easton, (son of Col. Easton^ now and for many years 
in the United States engineering service, and a graduate of 
West Point. I found him a very intelligent and pleasant 
gentleman, much like his father ; but he had no recidlection 
of this Conference, being too young— then only two years 
old. There were now fifty-one preachers appointed to work 
in the four states, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri aiid Arkan- 
sas. This year there was no increase in the Church in the 
Illinois circuit. We were in the most exciting election 
which has ever been held in Illinois. Nothing less than the 
settlement of the slavery question. The people seemed to 
think or care about little else. The excitement pervaded 
all classes and professions. 

At this conference Zadoc Casey, afterwards known 
throughout all Illinois, was elected to Deacon's orders. Casey 
was a man of superior talent, and became a fine preacher, 
for many years a prominent member of the legislature, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lieutenant Gov- 
ernor of the State, and for some years a representative in 
Congress, and regarded in Washington as a superior parlia- 
mentarian and useful member. In 1847 he was a member 
of the Constitutional Convention in Springfield. 

He became interested in the coal mines near Collinsville, 
laid out the town of Caseyville, and whilst eng.iged in attend- 
ing to his interests in that place he was taken sick. At night 
kneeling at his bedside, as was his custom, to offer prayer 
before lying down the messenger came to him, and in the 
morning he wa^ found on his knees cold in death. Jesse 
Hale and Cornelius Ruddle were the pre.ichers. This year 
also showed a decline in church membership in Madison and 
St. Clair counties, when the great battle on the slavery 
queston was fought. 

1823-24. John Dew and Orcenith Fisher were the pastors. 
Fisher was a young man of extraordinary character. I have 
never known a man to exceed him in earnest zeal and effort 
in gathering young persons into the church. There were revi- 
vals in the societies wherever he went. To his zeal was 
added application to books. He became an industrious stu- 
dent, acquiring not only a knowledge of the English but of the 
Greek, Latin and Hebrew languages. But theology was his 
most constant study, so that with a vigorous constitution and 
strong mind he was able to do an immen-e amount of work. 
He was very effective in his labor in this county. Later in 
life he went to Texas, and was there in 1844 while the 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



285 



church was divided. Remaining in the South he retained 
his relations to that branch of the church, and for many 
years preached in that State. He afterward went to Cali- 
fornia, but returned to Texas, and when near 80 years of age 
could hold a congregation in earnest attention for two hours. 
He died in Texas in 1880. 

In an article by John Hogan, taken from [ the St. 
Louis Christian Advocate it is stated that the stewards this 
year settled with the married preachers at $32.(52. Single 
preachers at $20.31. We hope there is some mistake in 
this. A public collection was taken on Sunday by the Con- 
ference then sitting in St Louis to pay for the new church, 
and $50.00 was raised. New circuits were organized this 
year. That country in north-eastern Illinois, lying north 
and west of Terre Haute and toward Chicago, was embraced 
in a circuit and called Vermillion circuit. 

1824-25. The Ninth Conference was held 23d October, 
1824, at Padfield's Camp Ground near Lebanon. It was a 
session of much importance. Three bishops were present, 
Robert R. Roberts, Wm. ]McKendree, Joshua Soule ; Roberts 
presided-. William Beauchamp, a minister of prominence 
had died on the 8th of October. He and Soule had been 
the candidates for the office of bishop at the late General 
Conference, and Soule was elected by one majority. Beau- 
champ had settled near Mount Carmel in 1817, and had 
formed quite a settlement there. Comparaiively a young 
man, being in his 47th year, and the most prominent preacher 
in Illinois, and of most aflectionate and gentle disposition ; 
his death was deeply deplored. Bishop Soule preached his 
funeral sermon by request of the Conference. He did jus- 
tice to the occasion and to the subject. All who heard the 
discourse considered it the most able to which they had ever 
listened. The General Conference at its last session had 
divided the Missouri Conference. Illinois and Indiana were 
united, making Illinois Conference. All west of the Missis- 
sippi river formed jMissouri Conference. Thomas Raudle, of 
Madison county, was made a circuit preacher and sent to 
Kaskaskia. 

The Conference before the division contained 12,579 mem- 
bers, an increase of over 800 the past year. There were 
Walker, Thompson, Hale, Pattison, Matheny, Dew, Cart- 
wright, Fisher, Sharp, and Ruddle, who had been instrumen- 
tal in building up the church in Illinois, in which ^Madison 
county was quite in advance of any other. Bishop McKen- 
dree, who was an old man, had been in the ministry thirty-sev- 
en j^ears. It was his last visit to Illinois. He .spent a week 
in the neighborhood of Turkey Hill, visiting Edward and 
Samuel Mitchell, Judge Risdon Moore, Father Walls, Wm. 
Scott, and my father. Boy as I was, I treated him to the 
best I had — a large plate of hickory nuts and apples. I 
remember how he described the growth and maturity of 
fruits and nuts, to me a new but very interesting subject, 
and yet remember much he said. There were the brothers 
Mitchell, Jloore, and some others present- On rising to 
leave, he turned around and said: 

"Cliildren of the Heavenly King, 
As we journey let us sing." 
I thought he was making poetry, but they all began sing- 



ing, after which all knelt and the old man offered fervent 
prayer. I am now nearly sixty years older than then, but 
the pleasant remembrance of the occiision is still fresh. 
Rev. John Dew and J.imcs Johnson were sent to this 
circuit. 

1825-26. -Conference met at Charleston, Indiana, 25th 
August, 1825. There had been additional preaching places 
and societies established in the county, but as yet few- 
societies in the towns. There was no church building in 
any of the villages in ^ladison county except a small build- 
ing in Upper Alton. There was a society in Scarritt's 
prairie called Bethel ; one at Salem ; one at Samuel Brown's, 
on Long Lake; one at Samuel Gillham's, on Sis Mile 
prairie; one at Ebenezer; one at Dempsy Guthrey's, on 
Pleasant Ridge ; at Gilead ; at Upper Alton ; at Lamb's 
Point ; at Rodger Snell's, near Staunton, and at John C. 
Dugger's. 

Washington C. Ballard came to Madison county in the 
early part of 1825, and had preaching appointments in 
many places, and was well received and useful. Although 
not a man of much preaching ability, yet such was his 
Christian life, his kindly disposition and genial nature that 
no preacher was more favorably received or had better con- 
gregations than he. He lived to a ripe old age and died in 
1870, beloved by all who knew him. This year the preacher 
in charge. Rev. John Dew, reported an increase of seventy- 
three members. 

For 1825-26, Thornton Peeples and Ebenezer Webster 
were sent to this circuit. They were sensible men and fair 
preachers. Peeples had lived near Lebanon and Webster 
had come from Ohio. It was not a very prosperous year ; 
the number of members of the church being 695, the same 
number as reported last year. I remember once at a night 
meeting at ray father's house, when Rev. Webster was 
preaching, seeing a man walk up deliberately to where the 
preacher was standing, take up the candle, light his pipe 
and go back to his .seat enveloped in a cloud of smoke. Both 
these pieachers died in 1878; Mr Peeples in Kansas and 
Webster in Ohio. They had long been faithful ministers of 
the gospel, and left a record behind them of much good 
accomplished in the Master's service. This year James 
Hadiey was made a circuit preacher. 

1826-27. — Conference met at Bloomington, Indiana Sep- 
tember 28, 1826, and Samuel H. Thompson and John Miller 
were sent to this county. At this conference three young 
men of Madison county, Stith M. Ottwell, son of William 
Ottwell; Isaac Hou.se, of Edwardsville, and Smith L. Robin- 
son, of Ridge Prairie, joined the traveling ministry. They 
were young men of fine talents and much promise of future 
'' usefulness, and their lives and history fully justified the 
hopes of their friends and the church. They deserve a more 
extended notice than can here be given. Ottwell and Robin- 
son became prominent and able ministers, although neither 
lived to old age. 

1827-28.— Conference met at Mount Carmel, Illinois, 
September 20, 1827. Samuel II. Thompson and John 
Hogan were sent to the circuit, and Peter Cartwright to 
Illinois district The appointment pleased everybody. 



286 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Cartwright was rising rapidly to distinction, of whose his- 
tory so mucli is known as to make it unnecessary for me 
here to say much. He was one of those men who attract 
attention, and make lasting Impressions wherever they are. 
Asa self reliant and original man; of forcible character, 
strong determination, moral and physic il courage able iu 
the pulpit and wise in council, he had no superior and but 
few equals. The last time I saw him was at the dedication 
of the church in Troy, in 18 72. It was, perhaps, the last 
public act of his life. He was then, however, the mere 
shadow of himself in both mind and person. 

John Hogan was a young man of Irish parentage. Had 
come to this country when a boy and learned a trade in 
Baltimore. Was early impressed on the subject cf religion, 
and made profession whilst a youth. On reaching his 
majority he came west, and in 1826, became a traveling 
preacher and was sent to Salem circuit, Indiana. It was a 
rough circuit and hard fare, but he made a deep and lasting 
impression wherever he preached This year he came to 
Illinois, which embraced Madison and St. Clair counties. 
He was young in age and even youthful iu appearance, but 
full of zeal and a natural orator. He made more impression 
iu the societies in Madison county, and especially with young 
persons, than any minister who had ever been sent on the 
circuit, except Orcenith Fisher, and in the pulpit he was 
his superior. 

In 1827, there was a church built three miles east of Col- 
liiisville, on land belonging to Philip Teter, called '• Zion 
Church." There had been a society formed and a preaching 
place at the house of Robert McMahan, in the earliest his- 
tory of the county, which had been kept up to the time of 
budding the Zion church. This very early settlement of 
MeMahon's, Seybold's, Downing*!', Hall's, Gaskill's, Gil- 
let's, Teter's and others, was the place where, under the efforts 
of Joshua Atwater in 1809, the first benevolent association 
in Illinois territory was formed. The object of the associa- 
tion was to provide for the necessities of the poor and indi- 
gent •' without distinction to race or color,"' and more particu- 
larly for the families of those engaged in defendingthe frontier 
settlements from Indian hostilities. The original paper or 
constitution, with the names of the members of the associa- 
tion, and the amounts of subscription by each, to be made in 
quarter-yearly payments, is in the possession of E. M. West. 
The Zion Church Society is now embraced in the Troy 
charge. 

There was also a preaching place at the house of Sylvanus 
Gaskill, about three miles north of the Zion church. Very 
nearly all of the original settlers and their descendants of 
this rich and beautiful part of Madison county are now 
deceased or moved away, and the present occupants of that 
region know nothing of the hardships of those early pioneers. 

Hogan visited and preached in almost, if not quite, every 
neighborhood and town iu the county, and in conjunction 
with Thompson, added largely to the membership of the 
church. It is not extravagant to say he was a favorite with 
all classes, and perhaps, somewhat to his injury. Under his 
preaching, all the societies were increased and several new 
ones formed It was while he was on the circuit that the 



church iu Edwardsville was established. He preached in 
the old court-house, which would be filled with anxious and 
attentive hearers. In December, 1827, a society was formed 
of twenty-one members, and Rev. Richard Randle, the only 
survivor of the original society, was appointed leader. The 
society was composed of: Richard Randle, Washington C 
Ballard, Elizabeth Ballard, Thornhill Ballard, Alexander 
White, Rebecca Atwater, Julia Ann Atwater, Mary Brooks, 
Susannah Kendall, Sarah Cotter, Joel Neff, Sarah Wright, 
Heiress Baker, Josiah Randle, Elizabeth Randle, Hosea 
Armstrong, Marilla Wilder, Samuel McNeil, Samuel A. 
Walker, Ryland and Mary Ballard. In February follow- 
ing, Alexander Miller and Eleanor Gay joined the society. 
In April and May, nineteen more, including : Hail Mason 
and wife, William P. ^IcKee and wife, Joshua Atwater, 
William and Catharine Miller, Thomas Kendall, Ann M. 
Randle, Thomas Gulliher, Alisworth Baker, Elizabeth Gib- 
son, Mary Adams, Lucretia Lusk, and others. The church 
now composed of 40 members, most of whom were leading 
and prominent citizens, met for worship sometimes in the' 
court house and also in the library building, where the St- 
James hotel now stands. 

In the spring of 1829, the society having continued to 
increase steadily, they determined to build a church. It was 
a frame building, 40 by 60 feet, where the present church 
now stands. Wm. P. McKee, Alexander Miller, William 
Ottwell, W. C. Ballard, Richard Randle, Barton Randle, 

Joel Neff, were trustees. Two lots, where the 

church now stands, were donated by James Mason. The ser- 
vices were held in it during the sitting of the Conference, and 
the first sermon preached was by Elder George Locke, of 
Wabash District, Indiana, the father of Rev. Doctor John 
Locke, President of McKendree College, Sunday, October 
29th, 1829. Elder Locke became a man of prominence in 
the church, whose history may be found in " Sprague's 
Anna/s of the American Pulpit," also in " Mc Clintoek and 
Strong's Encyclopedia of Methodism in America." The 
society worshipped in this building until 1853, when 
a new brick church was erected, called Thompson's 
Chapel, in honor of Rev. Samuel H. Thompson. John 
Hogan was invited to dedicate the new church, but not 
being in good health at the time, invited Rev. D. R. 
McAnally to preach the sermon. Air. Hogan was present, 
and gave an interesting account of the societies in Madison 
county, and the formation of the church in Edwardsville 
twenty-five years before. 

Since the first organization of the church in Edwardsville, 
there have been regular religious services kept up, and 
amid all the changes which time and circumstances have 
wrought, there have ever been at her altars " those who have 
borne, and have had patience, and for the Master have 
labored and have not fainted ; who have a little strength, 
and have kept the Master's word, and have not denied His 
name." 

I may here mention a revival which took place in the 
winter of 1857-8, under the ministrations of Rev. Carlyle 
Babbitt. Mr. Babbitt was a singular and rather remarkable 
man. He had been raised in Kentucky, and for several 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



287 



years had preached among her hills and mountains. A man 
of impulse, which sometimes betrayed him into acts of 
doubtful propriety. He was of fine presence, good voice, 
genteel manners and winning address, but had no education 
and was no great preacher, yet his understanding of men 
and things was such that iu almost every charge to which 
he went, there was a revival. His tact aud management in 
getting up and carrying on a revival were superior to that 
of any other minitter I ever knew. It was fully displayed 
on this occasion. During the progress of the revival, he 
secured the aid of the most efftctive help. Rev. Joseph 
Brooks, editor of the Central Christian Advocate and a dis- 
tinguished preacher. Rev. Joseph Earp, Prof. Mudge, and 
President "W. R. Davi;, of McKendree college. Rev. Hiram 
Sears, Rev. Wm. Jerome, all fine preachers, rendered 
material service. He had also that which few ministers 
possess, the faculty to make each member of the church feel 
that they form an important part of it, and that their labor 
and influence was absolutely necessary in the accomplish- 
ment of certain ends. He had the faculty to utilize all the 
material within his reach better than any mau I ever knew, 
and could be entrusted more safely with the manage- 
ment of a meeting. One hundred and forty-four persons 
made profession of religion and united with the church. As 
might be supposed iu so large a number, and under the 
excitement of the occasion, some forgot their profes-ion and 
religious obligations, and forfeited their church membership, 
whilst others remained true and steadfost iu the profession 
they had made, and are valuable members of the church. 
The meetings were exceedingly interesting and enjoyable ; 
the preaching was very good, and there was that mingling 
of solemnity and pathos, joy and love, which crown human 
effort with b essed eflect. The church in Edwardsville, since 
its organization, has had fifty-three pastors, including their 
assistants. 

Rev. Dr. J. A. Robinson is the present pastor. Mr. 
Hogau located in 1831, and settled in Edwardsville, and 
engaged in merchandizing, but continued to preach every 
Sabbath. In 1835 he removed to Alton, and soon after 
engaged in politics, and was elected to the legislature, and 
the next year was made Commissiouer under the Internal Im- 
provement system of the State. In 1840 he was very actively 
engaged in the Presidential campaign, and was amongst the 
best political stump speakers in the State. He was appointed 
Register of the Land Office at Dixon, Illinois, by General 
Harrison. Two years after he was removed by President 
Tyler, because of his friendliness for Mr. Clay. He then 
went to St. Louis, and was for some time engaged in mer- 
chandizing aud manufacturing. Was appointed Postmaster 
of that city, and was elected to Congress. He still resides 
in St. Louis. For years he has taken a very active part iu all 
matters pertaining to the interests of that city, aud in the 
improvement of the navigation of the Mississippi and Mis- 
souri Rivers, and has very largely contributed to the passage 
of the bill iu the Congress of this year for the improvement 
of those rivers. A man of extraordinary application and 
ability, of fine talent, and natural oratory, had he remaintd 
a traveling preacher there is every reason to believe he 



would have arisen to the highest office in the church. He 
still preaches occasionally with the force of his early years. 

The nest year William Chambers and A. F. Thompson 
were the t^o preachers sent to the Circuit. 

1829-3J. — The Illinois Conference, then including In- 
diana and Illinois, met at Ebenezer Camp Ground, a mile 
southwest of Edwardsville, October 18th, 1829. Bishop 
Soule presided, and had his room at the house of Joshua 
Atwater. Material changes were made in the district. 
Sangamon District was created, reaching from Lsbauou 
to Galena. Peter Cartwright was Presiding Elder. Isaac 
Scarritt, of Scarritt's Prairie, was sent to Kaskaskia. 
John H. Benson, of Ridge Pj^irie, to Mt. Vernon. Smith 
L. Robinson, to Springfield. Jamas Hadley, to Indiana. 
John Hogau, transferred to St. L^uis. I mention these 
naaies, because they were Madison county men. Stith M. 
Ottwell, to Salem, Indiana. The name of this Circuit was 
changed to Lebanon Circuit, at the dictation of Cartwiight, 
because McKendree Seminary had been started, and lo- 
cated at Lebanon. Johu Dew and Asahel Phelpj were 
on this Circuit. 

I have heretofore spoken of Mr. Dew, who was welcomed 
heartily wherever appointed. Phelps was a young man who 
had joined the Conference three years before, a little im- 
pressed with the dignity of a traveling preacher, but withal 
of fair talent and good promise of future usefulness; and 
became in after years, an able minister and valued member 
of the Conference. The addition in church membership 
this year was thirty-one. Society was undergoing some 
change in Illinois about this time. (See Ford's history of 
Illinois). The people were dressing better ; trade aud com- 
merce in the State was more active than ever before. A 
materiid prosperity and business activity was very appa- 
rent. St. Louis and western Illinois were improving rapidly. 
Transportation by steam-boats was increasing, a better 
market for produce was being had, and better returns for 
labor. The people put forth more industry, and were more 
intent on making money and accumulating property. 

It became a common thing now to hear the preachers 
speak against dress, and a love of money, and striving to 
get rich. I always thought this rather a waste of breath. 
I never noticed that it had much good effect. It may have 
had a tendency to make a lazy mau better satisfied with 
himself, but had no influence with the industrious and en- 
ergetic. Besides, I never knew a minister who would not 
accept a good salary, or own property if honestly acquired. 
On this subject every one feels that iu their case there is no 
danger of being hurt iu that way. 

There was a camp meeting held on the Ebenezer grounds 
during the session of the Conference, which was largely at- 
tended. Rev. Edward and Samuel Mitchell were present, 
and rendered good service. Rev. Samuel Mitchell preached 
a powerful discourse on the subject of Christian holiness, 
which had great efiect, and many persons made profession 
of that grace. His three sons, John, James and Francis, 
made profession of religion at this meeting, each of whom 
became able aud distinguished ministers. Also, a young 
mau, E. R. Ames, who subsequjutly became a bishop. The 



288 



HISTORY OF MADISOI^ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



nest year John Mitchell and Ames were recommeoded for 
license to preach. Mitchell was readily accepted ; there were 
some doubts as to the qualifications of Ames, and the vote 
was close. Immanuel Wilkinson, a colored local preacher, 
father of Rev. Daniel A. Wilkinson now of this county, was 
a member of the Quarterly Conference, and was acquainted 
with young Ames, and voted to recommend him. It was 
the vote that elected him. He became one of the most eloquent 
and able ministers in the Methodist church. 

This year, 1830, a church was built in Six Mile Prairie 
near the house of Thomas Gillham. The society became 
very strong. Thomas Gillham, Wm. Gillham, John Gill- 
ham, Thomas Y. Lofton, Mflses Seeds, Joshua Delaplain, 
Wra. Snyder, O. W. Sims, Calvin Kinder, Peter Barco, 
and Ephraim Davidson with their families and many others 
were members, and it became a very important appointment. 
After this church became old and unfit for use, under the 
auspices of Calvin Kinder, a new brick two story building 
was erected for a church and district school-house. The 
upper story was used for a church, where the society wor- 
shipped until 1880, when Mr. Kinder and all the old fami- 
lies being deceased, and very few members left, the society 
sold their interest in the building and transferred their 
membership to Venice. 

1830-31. Stith M. Ottwell and William S. Deueen were 
sent to this circuit. Ottwell had grown into an able preacher. 
I had known Mr. Deneen in 18'29 when he first came to 
Illinois, and was on Salt creek Circuit, Sangamon county. 
He was not a ready speaker, but was of fine mind and 
studious habits, and a very able and interesting preacher. 
He subsequently settled in St. Clair county. His son, 
Samuel H. Deneen, has long been a professor of languages 
in McKendree College, and his ouly daughter married Hon. 
A. W. Metcalf of Edwardsville. 

Mr. Deneen was the first stationed Methodist minister in 
Edwardsville, and was greatly beloved by the church here. 
He was a fine mathematician, and was for many years sur- 
veyor of St. Clair county. The societies prospered this year. 
Notwithstanding there was consideiable txcitcn-.ent in the 
state caused by the Black Hawk war, there was an increase 
of sixty members. 

1831-32. Conference met at Indianapolis, Oct. 4, 1831, 
Barton Raudle of this county joined the Conference, and 
was sent to Shelbyville, Illinois. John Dew and W. R. D. 
Trotter were the preachers sent to this circuit. There was 
great excitement again this year about the Indian war in 
the northern part of the state, and an increase in church 
membership of sixty. There was a camp meeting at Ebe- 
nezer this year, largely attended. The next Conference was 
at Jacksonville, September 1832. Smith L. Robinson and 
Nicholas S. Bastion, both of Madison county, were sent to 
this circuit. They were young men devoted to their work, 
and industrious students. Robinson was in the habit of 
getting up at four o'clock in the morning to pursue his stu- 
dies. Mr. Bastion became a man of note, and was sent to 
Liberia as a missionary. His plans while there for enlarging 
the missionary work among that people, was considered 
rathtr visionary, which discouraged him, and he returned to 



America, and was afterward sent to Alton The last I knew 
of him he had withdrawn from the church. 

1833-34. Conference met at Union Grove. St. Clair 
county. Sept 2.5, 1833- Samuel H. Thompson was sent to 
this circuit and James Hadley to Alton circuit. Elihu 
Springer, son of John Springer, joined the Conference and 
was sent to Carlinville. There was at this time no church 
in Alton and but little preaching. Sometimes there was 
preaching in the upper part of a small house not far from 
where the Baptist church now stands, in which Sunday- 
school was kept, by Mr. W. S. Gilman, superintendent. 

There was this year, an organized plan of local preaching 
adopted, by whi^h all the societies in the county had regular 
preaching every Sabbath, alternating in their appointments 
The plan worked well. 

1834-35. Conference met at Mt. Carrael, Oct. 1834. 
John Vaucleve and William W. Mitchell were sent to 
this circuit. Both of these men deserve a more extended 
notice than I can give them in these notes. They became 
well and flivorably known throughout all Southern Illinois, 
and served the church as ministers as long as they lived. 
Mr. Mitchell died at Richview in 1867, and Vancleve in 
1876. Mr.^Vancleve was originally from Cincinnati, and com- 
menced preaching in 1828. He had a logical mind of more 
than ordinary ability, was studious, and rose to a prominent 
position in the church. Was frequently elected to the 
General Conference, deservedly made Doctor of Divinity, 
and was considered the ablest preacher in Southern Illinois 
Conference. He died full of years and honors, loved and 
lamented by the church. 

W. W. Mitchell, was a younger man, son of Capt. Jas. 
Mitchell of Belleville. Had graduated at Yale College 
and studied for the law, and it was a great disappointment 
to his father when he became a circuit preacher. While at 
Yale College he and Trusten Polk, of Missouri, afterward 
Governor and U. S. Senator from that state, were class- 
mates in their studies, and whilst there belonged to a Meth- 
odist class formed by the students. After joining the Con- 
ference, his habits of study were continued, and he rose 
rapidly and soon became prominent as an able minister of 
the gospel. From the time he received his first appointment 
until 1867-68, when he received his last appointment, which 
was to Edwardsville, he was always prompt and ready for 
his work, whether it was on the circuit, in the station or 
on the elder's district. His sermons were well studied and 
always extempore, short, full of fervor and models of excel- 
lence in style. 

The chief and most prominent quality, and which charac- 
terized him most, both as a man and minister, was his extra- 
ordinary simplicity, faith, aul holiness of life. In my inter- 
course with men and ministers, now somewhat extended, I 
have never known one whose faith in the Scriptures, and be- 
lief in the djctrines of the church to which he belonged, was 
greater than his, or who was more conscientious in living 
up to his sense of Christian duty. Every sermon was filled 
with the unction of the spirit of the Master. He died when 
only fifty- two years of age, yet ripe in all Christian charac- 
ter and experience. It was a pleasant year to this church 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



289 



in Madison county, perhaps as much as any year in the ex- 
perieuce of the church. All the appointments were regularly 
filled; the quarterly meeting, which was an interesting feat- 
ure in the church services, were largely attended. There 
were ahout eight appointments and religious interests kept 
up in all the societies. 

Barton Randle was sent to Alton Station, and J. H. Ben- 
son to Alton circuit, 1835-6. Conference met at Springfield, 
Oct. 1st, 183.5. John H. Benson and G. Worthiugton, were 
on this circuit. Mr. Benson was a Madison county man, 
highly esteemed by all who know him, and an excellent 
preacher and very well received. Mr. Worthiugton was a 
young man, had just been received in the Conference, and 
was of moderate ability. Joseph Foueks was sent to Alton 
Circuit, and A. L. Risley to Alton Mission. There were 72 
members in Alton Station, and 360 on Alton circuit, which 
embraces Upper Alton. Scarritt's prairie and several societies 
in the northern part of Madison and southern part of Jersey 
county. There was a camp meeting at Ebeuezer in the fall 
of 1835, at which much interest was manifested, and quite 
an increase of members in the church Nineteen additional 
preachers entered the Conference this year. 

1836-7. Conference met at Rushville, Schuyler county. 
Thirty-five new preachers joined the Conference. Jesse 
Walker had died this present Conference year, and all 
mourned the death of this noble pioneer missionary. The 
Conference extended from the Ohio river in the South, to 
Green Bay, Prairie Du Chien and Milwaukee on the North, 
and from the Wabash to the Mississippi river. Charles 
HoUiday was on Lsbanon district. John H. Benson and Nor- 
man AUyn on this circuit. Simon Peter and Wm. AY. 
Mitchell reported 295 members were at Alton. William 
Meldrum and Daniel Blackwell on Alton circuit 115 white, 
10 colored. Alton circuit returned 295 members. Alton 
mission 125. Few ministers ever did as much or so effectual 
labor in .Middle and Southern Illinois, as Norman Aliyn, of 
very strong physicial constitution and untiring zeal and en- 
ergy, and of iiost loving heart and gentle manner he always 
succeeded in winning the coufic'ence and aflections of the 
members of the church wherever he went. He usually did the 
work of two men yet never seemed weary. Unfortunately his 
zeal caused him in his commencement as a preacher to con- 
tract a habit of speaking at the top of his voice, and most of 
his sermons were screamed rather than spoken. He would 
preach at the top of his voice to an audience of 20 persons, 
and in rooms 20 feet square. It was a misfortune that he 
never corrected this error in his style of delivery, for other- 
wise his sermons were most e.xcellent. In a revival meeting in 
Woodburn in the winter of 1866-7 which he attended, his pro- 
tracted and hard labor produced congestion, of which he 
died in a few days, a martyr to his zeal. There were e'ght 
or nine societies, the circuit having been made smaller, 607 
church members. Sir. Benson salary was 8400. Mr. Allyn 
a single man SlOO, the presiding elder 840.00 Calvin Kin- 
der was this year licensed to exhort. He was born in Penn- 
sylvania, 1804, came to Illinois 1820. He at once took a 
leading position in the church, an earne.-t, devoted, con- 
scientious man, and most valuable member of the church and 
37 



of society. Outspoken sometimes to bluntness, but alwavs 
desiring to think and act right. His earnestness and zeal 
he retained to the close of his life. His decease took place 
in the winter of 1880. 

1837-38 Rev. W. Cumming was appointed to Edwards- 
ville circuit and Wm. L. Deneen, assistant. By an arrange- 
ment made, Mr. Deneen removed his family to Edwardsville, 
and it was made a station. N. P. Cunningham was at 
Alton. Upper and Middle Alton J. II. Benson and Nor- 
man Allyn. 

Twenty-eight new preachers joined the Conference this 
year Among them was John Gillhani, son of Ryderus 
Gillham, of Salem. An unforlunate circums^tance had taken 
place the year befoi-e while Conference was in session at 
Jacksonville, by which Rev. Simon Peter, of Scarritt's 
Prairie, then presiding elder, was expelled from the church. 
He afterward rejoined the church, and secured the confi- 
dence of his Christian brethren, which he retained to the 
close of life. Alton Station now had 224 white and 16 
colored members as reported in Minutes of Conference, 
Vol. I, page 503. Alton circuit 300. 

This year tiie Society in Edwardsville had a valuable ac- 
quisition to its membership. Thomas Eaton, Wm. Pomery 
and H K. Eaton moved from Kentucky to Edwardsville, 
and with their families joined the church. Also Mathew 
Gillespie, who became a valued officer in the church, and 
for many years superintendent of the Sunday school. 

Matthew Gillespie, formerly a member of the Cumberland 
Presbyterians, also joined the Meth( dist Church in Edwards- 
ville. It was a prosperous year for the church. Since the 
days of Wm. P. McKee and William Ottwell there have not 
been so efficient members of the church in Edwardsville as 
Gillespie and Eiton. ]Men of fine mind, unquestioned piety, 
good culture, enlarged observation, gifted in the public 
exercises of the church, dignified in deportment, and of fine 
presence. They were influential and popular men in the 
county, as evinced by numerous public offices held by them. 
As a notice elsewhere of these two men will appear in this 
volume, I may refer to that, for a more extended histo-y. 
of them. Mr. Gillespie died in March, 1871, and Judge 
Eaton in 1881. 

1838, Sept. 12, Conference met at Alton, 22 additional 
preachers. John Dew was presiding Elder ; John S. Barger 
and J. H. Benson were the Circuit preachers. James B. 
Corrington, afterward a distinguished minister in Southern 
Illinois, joined the Conference. Alton City was a mission 
with 79 members. Upper Alton and Middle Alton 190 
members. W. S. McMurray, a young man, and quite an 
orator, was sent to Upper Alton, and David Blakwell to 
Middle Alton. N. P. Cunningham to Lower Alton. 

1839-40. W. S. McMurray and L. D. Bragg were the 
men sent to the Circuit. McMurray was an eloquent 
preacher. It was a rich treat to hear him. He had the 
readiness and style of an Irish orator. I admired his 
preaching very much. He had a strong passion for the law 
and would have made a fine advocate. He died in 1844, of 
cholera, at Waverly. 

1840-41. Conference was at Springfield, and Rev. 



290 



HISTOUY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Joseph Eilnnindson was sent to this Circuit. He commenced 
preaching ill Mi.-souri, iuid was far more than an ordinary 
man and preacher. Self-reliant, copying no man in style or 
argument, for conclusive and logical argument he ttood 
in the front rauli of ministers. Under his ministration the 
Churches prospered and increased in membership. It was 
a year, too, of great political excitement. The Harrison 
Campaign as it was called. Politics ran high and Gen. 
Harrison was elected President by a large majority. 

In 1841-4'2, Mr. Benson was on the Circuit, but his 
health failing, there was no especial religious interest in the 
county, e.'icept at New Ebenezer, where Bro. Wm. Atkins 
had erected a neat and comfortable Church for the Society 
at that place, which thereafter had regular Circuit preaching 
and an interesting Society. 

1842-43, Joseph Eclmundson and Aaahel Brown were on 
the Edwardsville Circuit. The Circuit had been divided 
the year before, and the preacher's health having failed, 
there were 449 members returned in the Conference minutes. 
It was during the latter part of the year 1^42 that the 
writer of these notes joined the Church and was made 
steward, which office he has since retained. Col. Jacob 
Judy, an early and prominent citizen, and his wife joined 
the Church this year. 

Mr. EJnnmdson was again returned to the Circuit for 
1843-44. The appointment was sftry agreeable to both 
preacher and the Church. Congregations were large, and 
frequent additions were made. But quite a change took 
place in 1844, which was the year of the great flood of the 
Miss-isi-ippi river, the waters rising higher than for fifty 
years before or have ever been since. The whole country 
west of the blufl' was inundated. Steamers plying from St. 
Louis to Alton did not follow the river channel, but 
would steam through the wide waters and go through the 
timber land and over farms. I stood in the second story of 
Gay's store in St. Louis, (the first story being under water) 
and saw a steamboat leave St. Louis and take a straight 
course east across fields and orchards and go to the bluff 
five miles east. It was a vast sh-^et of water five miles and 
in some places ten miles wide. It was this flood that de- 
stroyed the ancient town of Kaskaskia. After the flood 
abated some of the settlers in the bottoms returned to 
their farms. Mr. Ednnindson continued his travels in that 
part of the country, visiting all the families. It was an 
exceedingly sickly time, and contracting a malarial fever he 
died. His death was a great loss to the Church, for he 
was in the meridian of his manhood, and great good was 
anticipated from his labors. 

1S44-45. George \V. Robbins was Presiding Elder, Wra. 
Willson and Samuel Smith, Circuit preachers. I refer to a 
former nate for particulars of this year. There were thirteen 
societies or preaching places in the Circuit, viz,: Edwarda- 
ville, Liberty, Salem, NI.k's, Widow Gillham's, Ebenezer, 
Six Mile, Venice, CoUinsville, Mount Zion, Troy, Gilead, 
Ridge Prairie; also Alton, Upper Alton, Scarritl's Prairie, 
Highland, Marine, Augusta. There were ten local preach- 
ers" W- C. Ballard, Thos. Raudle, Parham Randle, J. M. 
S. Smith, E. L. Dwight, T. J. Lofton, Wm. Hadley, Wm. 



Gillham, Jesse Renfro, James M, Green ; nine Exhorters, 
viz: H K Eaton, M Gillespie, Henry Guthrie, John Hcm- 
saker, L. McD)nough Gales, Wm. McKinley, Calvin Kin- 
der, Comfort Roben, J. Delaplain, and eighteen class loaders, 
1845-4(5. Rev. Elijah Corrington was on the circuit. He 
was an elderly man, in poor health, and remained only one 
year. 184G-47. This year Rev. W. W. Mitchell was sent to 
this circuit, much to the gratification of the church. At 
the first quarterly meeting, Jesse Renfro, William Hadley, 
and H. K. Eaton, as estimating stewards, reported the sura 
of $135.98}, as the amount to be raised by the circuit for 
table expenses for the preacher's family this year— the family 
consisting of four persons ; traveling expenses, 810 00; quar- 
terage salary, §232.60. The presiding elder's claim on the 
circuit, S48 33 ; rents for preacher, 8"6 60. Whole amount, 
S463.31i. The number of members of the chunh was 473. 
The financial charge was small, and was promptly met, and 
the societies were prosperous. 

1847-48. Rev. Mitchell was returned to the circuit, 
with Daniel Fairbank, assistant. The salary of Mr. Mitclull 
was §378; Rev, Fail-bank, -S 100; Presiding Elder, 04S.33; 
parsonage rent, S42. Total, 8o68. 38. Thisyear a parson- 
ao-e lor the circuit preacher was purchased in Edwardsville 
for goOO. At the quarterly conference, held in Edwardsville 
July 26, 1848, there were 29 members present. A plan for 
a circulating Sunday-school library for the circuit was this 
year organized under the care of H. K.Eaton and Matthew 
Gilbspie, librarian, which was successful. There were 515 
Sunday-school scholars. 

1848-49. Rev Collin D. James was the presiding elder, 
and James Hadley and N. Cleaveland, circuit preachers. 
The financial charge for ministerial support was §733. It 
f was not a very successful year in the church. There was 
I considerable cholera this year ; and such is the nature of 
our people, that panics and epidemics are unfavorable to 
religious revivals. 

In 1849 50, R. W. Travis and James Hadley were the 
preachers Mr. Travis was a young man of good mind and 
studious habits, and became in after years rather a noted 
! man in the ministry in Illinois conference. His wife's health 
becoming seriously impaired, compelled him to locate about 
1870. He was induced to take the traveling agency of the 
Lamar Insurance Company of Chicago in 1872. This was 
a swindling institution, gotten up by unprincipled parties, 
who selected Travis as agent, because of the confidence 
} which the public had in his Christian integrity. Mr Tra- 
vis was an honest, upright man, and had been grossly de- 
' ceived in the character of the in^titu ion, which soon 
exploded. I think his death, which took place two years 
after its failure, was hastened by that cause. 

1851-52. Rev. George Rutledge was appointed elder, and 
C. F. Jay and James Estep were the circuit preachers. 
This year the Conference was divided, and that part of Illi- 
nois south of Jersey, Macoupin and iMontgou^ery counties, 
and running east to the Wabash, was called "Southern Illi- 
nois Conference." This year a church was built five miles 
north of Edwardsville, on land donated by John E-tabrook, 
called " Liberty M. E. Church." 



HISTOBY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



291 



1852 53. This year W. W. Mitchell was presiding elder. 
Prof. S. Matteson, formerly of McKendree College, and 
Henry S. Blackwell were the preachers. Prof Matteson 
was a man of miu'h culture and fine talent. His health, 
however, was much broken, and at the close of the year he 
went north and died the same year. Mr. Blackwell was a 
young man of fine mind, hut a hopeless dyspeptic. Every 
one who knew him loved him for his excellence of charac- 
ter aud piety. He died a few years after on the bank of the 
Okaw river, near Carlyle. This year the present brick 
church in Edwardsville was commenced. John H. Weir 
and John A. Prickett were the building committee. 

18j3 4. Rev. Hiram Sears was the stationed minister at 
Edwardsville, and Charles A. Kinson and James Hadley 
were on the circuit. This j^ear the church in Edwardsville 
was finished and dedicated, as heretofore mentioned. There 
were at this date the following Methodist churches in Jladi- 
son county: Alton, Upp^r Alton, Sea rritt's Prairie, Liberty, 
Salem, E hvard vill-', Highland, Gilead, Troy, Zion, Six- 
mile, Colliusville, Troy, Augusta, New Ebenezer ; al;0, 
UnioQ churches at JUarine, Ridgely, Goshen, Lamb's Point, 
Greenea-tle, and White Rock, where our preachers had 
stated religious service-;. There were over 1000 members of 
the church in the county. 

1854 55 Rev Dr. James B. Corrington was the presiding 
elder. These notes would not be complete without some 
further notice of Dr. Corrington. 

James B. Corrington was b;)rn in Kentucky, October 24, 
1801, and learned a trade at which he worked in the city of 
Louisville for several years. 

On the first of January 1828 he made a profession of reli- 
gion and joined the church, and two weeks thereafter was 
made a class leader. So cle;ir were his conceptions of reli- 
gious life and character, and of his own experience of 
change of heart with the ability to strengthen and encourage 
others in faiih and practice, that no hesitation was felt as to 
the propriety of his appointment. At a Quarterly Confer- 
ence mei ting held at Jlillersburgh, Bourbon Co., Kentucky, 
he was licensed to preach. In March, 1830, he removed to 
Jacksonville, Illinois, and at once took position in the church 
as a local preacher. 

In 1832 he removed to Greene county. In 1838 at the 
annual Conference held at Upper Alton he was made a trav- 
eling preacher and went to Carroliton Circuit. In 1847 
was sent to Jackscnville, then the most important station in 
the Conference. In 1849 was appointed presiding elder of 
Lebanon district, in which he remained five years, which were 
years of great usefulness to the church. In the full strength 
of a matured manhood, in mind and in person of almtst Her- 
culean proportions, his preaching was marked by much pa'hos 
and intellectual strength, often rising to true oratory; he was 
a field nlar^llal of Melho(li^t cavalry in southern Illinois 
In 1854 he was appointed to Alton district, which introduced 
him to Madison county- From this time until 1872, when 
his health began to fail, Dr. Corringt(ui exercised a wide 
spread influence as an able minister. Free from all idiosyn- 
crasies as to doctrine he was a power in whatever depart- 
ment of the church service he was called, and was a dele- 



gate to every general Conference of the church from 1852 
to 18G8, and until publicly declining a continuanca of that 
service. He died in D.irchester, Mac< upin county, in Nov. 
1881, full of faith and hope of the future life. 

As it might not b.'^ e«p3eially interesting to the reader to 
pursue the details or particular history of the M. E church 
down to the present time I will not attempt it. 

There have been great changes in all the societies in the 
county since 1854. Some have ceased to exist whilst others 
have become merged into other societies. 

These changes have been the result of decease or removal 
of the members of the societies aud a change of population. 
Most of the lands where the extinct societies then existed 
are now owned by Germans, who belong to other denomiua 
tions. Very few of the old settlers reside there. 

Yet has the church sustained her high standing as a 
Christian denomination. There are now thirteen regularly 
organized societies in the county numbering as heretofore 
stated, 1165 members with nine reguhir pastors. These 
pastors are supported by the societies. There are nine par- 
sonages The various religious enterprises and benevolences 
of the church are generously supported. There are thirteen 
organized Sabbath schools with 144 teachers and officers and 
HOG .scholars. 

In all these societies there is a life, spirit and devotion in 
their religious services, and a desire to have them in- 
crease in moral and relijriuus influence. 



THE GERMAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 



BY REV. W.M. SCIIWIXD. 



HIGHLAXD. 



It was in the year 183G when some of the leading minds 
in the Methodist Episcopal church in the United States 
deemed it practicable to establish a domestic mission among 
the Germans. The movement, though slow at first in form- 
ing congregations, met with ultimate success and was carried 
on 1))' the church with much zeal and activity. From Ohio 
and Pennsylvania where it began it spread westward. 

As early as 1845, the Rev. Wm. Hemrainghaus, a Ger- 
man Methodist preacher, went from INIascoutah, St. Clair 
county, to Highland, to preach to the Germans then resid- 
ing there. He was one of the early pioneer preachers among 
the Germans iu Illinois, and died at Beardstown while 
yet young. 

He was succeeded in 1S4G by Rev. Chas. Koencke, and 
the first society was organized in that 3-ear. Some of the 
first members were, Michael Molet, John Zimmerman, 
Philip Gruen, J. Miller and C Kluge. As it soon appeared 
ncces^ary to have a house for worship, a delibsrative meet- 
ing of the society was helil on the 14tli of Decenjber, 1846, 
which decided that a church should be built ; but owing to 
circumstances it was not accomplished until a few years 
later. 



292 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Eev. Charles Koeneke was succeeded by Rev. Louis Kimz 
in 1847. Rev. Wm. Fiegenbaura followed in 1848. In the 
fall of the same year the building of a cluiroh was eom- 
inenced and carried on until it was under roof. Its comple- 
tion was delayed till the following spring. It, was dedicated 
on the '2Gth of June, 184i), by Rev. Henry Koeneke, presid- 
ing elder. The church is 40 by 30 feet, two stories high, 
with steejile and bell. The lower stoiy was built of rough 
stone ; the upper story was built in partnership with the 
American Methodist, which relation it still sustained. Its 
value is about §2,000. It is still used for public worship 
and is of interest to many yet living who often went to 
Highland at those times to attend quarterly meetings which 
always were of great interest. S,ime of the first members 
were, F Kandert, J. Kir.sher, Galium Rutz, Henry Becker, 
J. Kaeser, Charles Grundeiiberg, and C Britt. The mission 
at that time already embraced a large territory and many 
appointments. It included Edwardsviile, Fosterburg, Staun- 
ton. Looking Gla.*s Prairie, Btaver Creek, Blackjack, Smooth 
Prairie, Silver Creek, Ridge Prairie, The Bluff-*, Moro and 
Upper Alton. The membership in the whole field of labor 
numbered 67 at the time the church was dedicated. Rev. 
Wm. Fiegenbaum was in charge of the mission with two 
assistant preachers. They were Rev. J. Keck and Rev. 
Herman Koch, who is now President of Central Wesleyan 
College, Warrenton, Mo. The latter taught school at High- 
land, besides preaching regularly at several appointments. 

Great and exhausting were the labors of those early i)io- 
iieer preachers, but they felt themselves equal to almost any 
emergency. With heroic devotion to their work and self- 
denying determination, they shared the hardships and diffi- 
culties of the early German settlers. They were on horse- 
back almost every day, seeking the lost sheep of the house 
of Israel, preaching in log cabins, school houses, and where 
ever they could get any hearers, many or few, to teach them 
the way of righteousness, expecting very little compensation 
but what the great Shepherd might please to give them at 
the great day. And their labors were not in vain. Many 
persons became converted and rejoiced in the experience of 
a new life. 

W^hen in the year 1849 the Cholera broke out, eight to ten 
persons died almost every day at Highland. Rov. Wm. 
Fiegenbaum was stopped on his rounds for fear he would 
spread the disease. But then he went to nurse the sick and 
dying, often day and night, for two mouths, administeiing 
faithfully to their bodily and spiritual wants. After that he 
resumed his labors and was eminently successful in building 
up the societies in Madison county. Several years later a 
new church was built at Beaver Creek, where a society still 
exists. Most of the above mentioned appointments are 
still places for public worship ; they are either formed into 
separate organizations or connected with other charges. 

The early history of Highland church is of more special 
interest, as it was the nucleus from which sprung most other 
societies in the county. Of its later history I have very 
little knowledge. Its present membership is 70. It carries 
on two Sabbath-schools of about 100 scholars, 16 officers and 
teachers. 



EDWARDSVILLE. 

It appears that Missionary labor by the German Metho- 
dist preachers began in the vicinity of Edwardsville, in the 
year 1847, and had a very small beginning. An assistant 
preacher residing at Alton, met Mr. John Stullken, and in. 
quired of him, about the religious condition of the people. 
He was invited to make an appointment for preaching at 
the school-house No. 4, now called Progress school-house, three 
milesnorth of Edwardsville. Mr. C.Bernreuter, ayoungraan 
of some education and influence previously held private 
religious meetings in the neighborhood. Most persons who met 
there fordivine worship were of a marked religiousdisposition. 
They were glad to have religious meetings now regularly 
held among them. And they went even to Highland in 
those times to attend Quarterly meetings, where at a revival 
of religion many were converted to God. 

Among the first members were ; - C. Bernreuter, C P. 
Smith, J. Stullken, Henry Stullken, and at Pleasant Ridge, 
Henry Blume and Wm. Blume. In 1852, a camp meeting 
was held in the neighborhool of Progress School-house un- 
der the supervision of Rev Phil. Kuhl, presiding Elder, 
who is still living, and one of the oldest preachers in the St. 
Louis German Conference. 

The Society gradually increased. E. H. Kreige and 
Wm. Kreige became members, and helped greatly to build 
up the church. The society commenced to hold its meet- 
ings at Edwardsville, about the year 1855, in the Old School- 
house on Main Street. Rev. H. D. Schmidt, being then 
preacher in charge, resided at Highland, with which place 
the society was still connected. In 1860 Edwardsville was 
made a separate charge, with a preacher of its own, chiefly 
by the influence of Dr. Weir, Sr., who felt a great interest 
in the German work, and gave it his hearty support. Rev. 
Wm. Koeneke, was the first resident pastor. He was re- 
turned to Edwardsville in 1866. 

In 1861, the Quarterly Conference appointed a committee 
consisting of C. P. Smith, E. H. Kreige and Wm. Kreige, to 
see after a suitable lot for a church building and to call a 
meeting of the society, as soon as convenient to report the 
results. I!ut as the Baptist church was for rent, it was 
thought best to rent it and it continued the place of worship 
until the year 1866, when it no longer answered the pur- 
pose. The building is at present used for an engine- 
house. About the same time a house was bought on Main 
Street for a parsonage, at a cost of $1200, and the Epis- 
copal Church near to it was rented and used for divine 
services until 1869 ; when it was for sale, on the 11th of 
September, 1869, the Trustees, who were, C. P. Smith, J. 
Stullken, Wm. Kreige, C Ortman, J. Kettelkamp, reported 
to the Quarterly Conference that they had bought the church 
in which they worshiped for S1500. This amount besides 
the cost of repairing and changes necessary, which amounted 
to $349.34, was raised by the society soon after, some of the 
trustees paying a large share. The membership was then 
140, wdiich is about its present number. 

The society carries on two Sabbath-schools of 100 scholars 
16 officers and teachers, 230 volumes in the library. They 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



293 



take 65 Sabbath-school papers, 95 Bible Lesson leafs, con- 
tributed $25.00 for mission, and their annual expenses are 
$ 8.00. 

Wm. Stullkenand Herman Engeling are at present their 
efficient superintendents. 

ALTON. 

The German M. E. Church at Alton, dates its beginning 
back to the year 1845, when in the fall of that year, Rev. 
Lewis Kunz, who preached occasionally at Fosterburg, visit- 
ed the place, attended by -J. H. Appel, a member of the 
church as a guide. The first services were held in the 
American M. E. Church, Lower Alton. It then became a 
regular appointmeut for preaching, and the place was succes- 
sively visited even by the jiresiding Elders of St- Louis 
District, Rev. Henry Koeneke and Rev. Geo. Boeshenz, 
whose labors at that time were to a large extent missionary. 
But it does not appear that an organization took place until 
1852. The first members were, J. H. Appel, Val. Miller, 
J. Miller, J. Wiand. 

A Sabbath-school was organized, consisting of about 30 
scholars. The first Quarterly Conference was held on the 
1st of January, 1852. A German Methodist congregatiou 
at Alton was now an established fact. In 1854, when the 
society had gradually increased, a church was built at 
Hunterstown, Walnut and Third Street, under the adminis- 
tration of Rev. Jacob Miller. Rev. Miller, labored exten- 
sively in Madison county. He was several times stationed 
at Alton, and at Highland and Staunton. He came to the 
United States while young, and early joined the M. E. 
Church. In 1848, he was admitted into the Illinois Confer- 
ence, and labored with great success until by reason of fail- 
ing health he was obliged to ask for a superannuated relation, 
lu 1860, he was placed on the active list and again sent to 
Alton. He was a popular and successful preacher, and died 
at Bushnell, Illinois, March 7th, 1871. 

The size of the first church at Alton, was 40 by 25, and 
its cost $800. A few years after, however, it became evident 
that its locality was not the most suitable one for the atten- 
dants on public worship there, and as opportunity offered it 
was exchanged for the American M. E. Church, on Union 
Street, the size of which was 60 by 40. Tlie ministers sta- 
tioned at this church, from 1854 to 1862, were Thomas 
Heger, H. Pfaff, H. Hankemeyer, E. Kriege, J. Miller, J. 
Ritter. Most always some other appointments were con- 
nected with the charge, and occasionally it happened that 
church members moved away, on account of which progress 
was more or less retarded. 

In April, 1880, the Church on Union Street was destroyed 
by fire, the cause not being known. The society immedi- 
ately resolved to build a new church, which was soon after 
erected on Henry Street. The size of the new church edifice 
is 67 by 48 feet, and its cost about 810,000. At the same time 
a parsonage was built, the value of which is 82500. Church 
and parsonage are built in the very best modern style. The 
enterprise owed its success largely to the eflicient labors of 
Rev J. J. Hilraes, who is at present the presiding Elder of 
Belleville District, and the earnest work of the trustees who 



were Henry Lehne, J. Lorck, Rud Bierbaum, Louis Unger, 
Rev. Bilderbeck. The society has at present a membership 
of 80 persons. It carries on a prosperous Sabbath-school, 
and stands in regard to his contributions fur benevolent ob- 
jects in the front ranks. 

There is also a German M. E. Church at Fosterburg. 
We have been unable to learn its history, but it has a 
Church built in the year 1864 ; its first members, who are 
still liviug, were Paul Meissenheimer and Fred. Weber. Its 
present membership is 70. 



THE AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL 
CHURCH. 

BY REV. M. W. BECKI.Y. 



The Lower Alton A. M. E. Church was organized by the 
most venerable elder William Paul Quinn, in the winter of 
1839. It is not known which one of the winter months, but, 
it is certain the organization took place in 1839. He was 
a regularly ordained elder for many years previous to this 
period He was duly elected by the General Conference, 
May 7th, 1844, to fill the office of Bishop. This election 
took place in Pittsburgh, Pa , which made him the fourth 
bishop in this connection, who lived many years after he or- 
ganized the A. M. E. Church in Alton. He came to Alton 
in the winter of 1839, and found seven persons of our race 
here who were of the Methodist persuasion, who occasionally 
went to the IM. E. Church to hear (he gospel of the Son 
of God. The names of the seven persons who composed 
the organization of the first A. M. E. Church, in Madison 
county, and the second A. M. E. Church of Illinois state, 
were William Barton, Jane Barton, Loudon Parks, Shad- 
rach Stewart, Jane Parks, Eliza Ellesworth and Thomas 
Ellesworth The first sermon preached by this venerable man 
of God, was in William Barton's house, in Alton, located 
between Abby and Easton streets. This house was 
the preaching place for years afterward. William Bar- 
ton was also the first local preacher of the A. M. E. Church 
in Madison county and also in the state ; he was licensed the 
same week as the organization. Shadrach Stewart was the first 
A. M. E. preacher in charge of the A. M. E. Church, 
in the state. All the members who composed the first or- 
ganization are dead but Mrs. Eliza Clarke, who still lives in 
Alton, and is still a member of the A. M. E. Church. 

The second place of worship was in a house now 
standing on Sixth between Easton and Market streets. 
The third place of worship, and the first church building 
owned by the congregation, was a small brick house on 
Third between Walnut and Vine streets. This house cost at 
that timeaboutfivehundred dollars, and isnow converted into 
a dwelling-house. As the congregation remained small from 
its organization until 1865, and as there were only a 
few families previous to this date, this little house 



291 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, IILINOIS 



answered well. About the middle of the war and iin- 
luediately afterward, our people moved to Alton and the 
chureli kept pace with the times, and as the population in- 
creased our membership increased and the little building was 
too small for the growing congregation. Consequently we 
were compelled to seek another locality. We sold out on 
Third and Walnut and Vine streets aud bought a lot on Third 
between Ridge and Henry, and erected a brick building 
oue story high 40xG0, in 1867. It cost between four and 
five thousand dollars. Brother Henry Depugh was pastor 
in charge at that time. It was dedicated by Bishop J. P. 
Campbell, and the church building was named Campbell 
Chapel. S2,.500 was borrowed, mortgage given, accom- 
panied with notes drawing ten per cent, interest, 1867, and 
continued ten per cent, until 1876. Neither the princi- 
pal nor interest were paid. The membership ran down 
and the congregation decreased, and what little was 
accomplished was not done without heroism. In 1876, Mr. 
William Eiiott Smith, the creditor, made a proposition to 
Rev. H. Depugh and the members, that if they would raise 
S500 and pay the interest that year, he would give them cre- 
dit for §1,400, thus giving the church $900 as a donation. It 
was not paid that year, but Rev. R. C. Cooper followed 
Depugh, and in two years he raised the §500, and paid the 
intere-st. Mr. Smith gave the credit for §1,400, and this act 
of philanthropic charity itself did more to encourage the 
congregation than anything that had ever been done by any 
one, and for this beneficent act of Jlr. William Eiiott Smith, 
our membership and congregation will always remember 
him in our devotions, and love him aud his family. By 
that act the success of the church is manifest in many 
ways, one of the pleasantest of which is the reduction, and 
I believe the extinction of the church debt will take place 
this year. The work has moved along in a deep current of 
religious feeling, making itself felt among (hose of mature 
age, who have long stood aloof from the church. Our 
church value is §5, -500. The Sunday-school here was or- 
ganized by Rev. J. C. Emery, in 1866. It has continued every 
year since, and the acting superintendent, Z Crawford, and 
eight zealous, active, religious teachers are determined to 
make it a religi jus power in the church. It numbers 80, 
and is still increasing. The membership is 175 ; congregation 
numbers 250 regularly. This congregation has had since 
18o9 to 1882, 20 different ministers. All served two years at 
a time but two, and these served three years. There are 
a very few of this number living They have gone to heaven 
"where the wicked cease from troubling and the wear)' are at 
rest.'' There are six A. M. E. Churches in this county : 
Lower Alton, Upper Alton, Edwardsville, Collinsville, Ridge 
Prairie and Rocky Fork. The Edwardsville church build- 
ing is now being finished ; a one story frame, 30x46. The 
Collinsville church building is a one story frame ; do not 
know its dimensions. The Ridge Prairie church building is 
a one story frame. Upper Alton church building, 26x40 ; 
a one story frame ; all paid for. The membership through- 
out the county numbers 550. The number of church goers 
in this county is probably one thousand. We have six 
churches in the county, and every church has a Sunday- 



school. Sunday-school scholars number four hundred. 
Tie value of our church property throughout the county 
is estimated at twelve thousand dollars. 



THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 



BY REV. AUGUSTUS T. NORTON, D. D. 

There are ten existing organizations ; a sketch of each is 
appended, iu the order in which they were establishec\ 

EDWARDSVILLE CHURCH. 

There have been four distinct organizations in this place. 
The first was made March 17, 1819, by Rev. Salmon Gid- 
dings, of St. Louis, with fifteen members. The records are 
lost. Thomas Lippincott and Hail Mason were probably 
the first Elders. Mr. Lippincott removed from Miltoa to 
Edwardsville in the fiill of 1820. Jeremiah Abbot aud 
Matthew B. Torrance were elders sub equeutly. 

The widow of Dr. John Blair Smith, at oue time Presi- 
dent of Hampden Sidney College, Prince Edward county, 
Va., came to Edwardsville in 1817. Ten years later, when 
residing at Springfield, III., she says : " When I came to 
Edwardsville I could find no professor of religion in the 
place, and for eighteen months after no sermon was preached 
there. I lived to see a church of nine members increased 
to thirty." 

The early members were nearly or quite all of Scotch- 
Irish descent. Previously to 1828 the church enjoyed no 
stated gospel ministrations. The ftishiou was in those days 
for missionaries to come out from the East and itinerate 
through Missouri and Illinois, wherever they could find or 
gather Presbyterian churches, spending only a few weeks, 
or perhaps only a few days, with each. In 1818 Rev. 
Messrs. Benj. Lowe and Samuel Graham performed services 
of this kind. Messrs. Edward Hollister and Daniel Gould 
were here in 1821, and labored more or less in Edward.s- 
ville. In 1822 came Messrs. Oren Catlin and Daniel G. 
Sprague. Salmon Giddings ahso performed much labor this 
side the river. I suppose ]Mr. Lippincott himself conducted 
religious meetings at Edwardsville when no minister was 
present. 

This was one of the original churches of Center Presby- 
tery, which held its first meeting at Kaskaskia, January 9, 
1829. The church had then thirty-three members. From 
that number it steadily declined. One year later it had 
only twenty-five. The last time it was represented in Presby- 
tery was at Greenville, September, 1831. The last time its 
uame appears in the minutes of JPresbytery is at the meet- 
ing in Collinsville, September, 1833. It died, and from 
starvation. The only ministerial labors it ever enjoyed 
were those of passing rais.<ionaries, remaining one or two 
Sabbaths only, and an occasional visit from Air. Giddings, 
of St. Louis. It was only by slow degrees and after many 
failures that the Church came to learn the better way. 



E IS TO BY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



295 



The Second Presbyterian organization in FAlwardsville j 
was made sometime in the winter of 1837-8, by a Commit- 
tee of Alton Tresbytery, N. S. It was received under the 
care of that Presbytery, March 30 1838, Joseph M. ;MeKee j 
being pres.^nt as ekler. Another elder was ilatthew B. 
Torrance This church was supplied from October, 1 '^43, 
to April, 1845, by Rev. Thomas Lippincott, in connection 
with Troy. A little before Mr. Lippincott's labors closed 
at EJwardsville, Dr. James Spilman, an elder brother of 
Rev. B. F. Spilman, and a staunch Old School elder, came 
there to reside. He was friendly, but not disposed to unite 
with a New School organization. The church being weak, 
wishing to secure his influence and seeing little to choose 
between New and Old School went over to him and connec- 
ted with Kaskaskia Presbytery, which had organized an Old 
School church there, June 'I'l, 1845. 

This was the Third Presbyterian organization in the 
county seat For one year Rev. 15. F. Spilman was their 
minister. He was succeeded by Rev. Alexander Ewing until 
his death, Aug. 12, 1848. At that time the church occupied 
the Baptist house of worship. In 1856, Dr. Spilman leased 
the Episcopal house. Rev. L P. Bates was miuister from 
1856 to 1859. After Mr. Bates' death and Dr. Spilraan's 
removal, the Third Presbyterian church at Edwardsville, 
ended in death, and its name was erased from the roll of 
Presbytery 

The Fourth organization, which still exists, was made 
Sabbath, Augu.n Uth, 1867, by Rev. A. T. Norton, D D., 
Rev. Andrew D. Jack, with these members, viz : Mrs. Caro- 
line Dimmock, Mrs. Lizzie H. Pogue, Mr. Befaliel 
Day, Mrs. Huldah Ann Day, Miss Nancy N. Day, Miss 
Amelia C. Day, Mrs. Mercy, E. T. Jack, Mrs. Anna 
Glass, Mrs. Rebecca Snyder, Mrs. Susan Karr, and Mr. 
Samuel W. Temple, ilr. Temple was made Elder. The 
present Elders are Judge John G. Ir«io and Mr. C. W. 
Fangenwroth. The ministers have been A. D. Jack, A. H. 
Parks, Lucius I. Root, James F. Berry, and John D. Geh- 
ring, who is now there. This congregation has a good house 
of worship. It reported in 1882 fifty-one communicants. 
It has a vigorous Sabbath-school and maintains a weekly 
prayer meeting. 

ALTON CHURCH. 

There have been two organizations. The first was made 
by Revs. Edward Hollister and Daniel Gould, June 9th, 
1821 with the.<e eight members, viz: Enoch Long, Mrs. 
Mary Long, I-aac Waters, Henry H. Snow, E luah Hastings, 
Abigail Waters, Lavina Bishop, Brittania S Brown. The 
next day the Sacrament of the Supper was administered. 
On July Sih, August 12th and October 9th of the same year 
Mr Gjuld preached to the church. On December 4, 1821, 
and March 25, 1822, Mr. Hollister preached, and the nest 
morning took leave of the church to return to his native 
place at the East. Brittania S. Brown ditd on the 28th of 
August, and on September 15, 1822, her funeral sermon 
was preached by Rev. Jesse Townsend. On January 28th, 
February 18th and JIarch 5th, 1823, Rev. Oren Catlin 
preached. At the last date, Henry H. Snow was made 
clerk of the Session, and John L. Ramsey, Mrs. Martha 



Ramsey and Mrs. Twitchell were received into the church 
on examination. On April 7th and April 2!, 1823, Rev. 
Oren Catlin and Rev. Daniel G. Sprague visited and ad- 
dressed the church. April 24, 1824, Mi.ss Eduah Hastings 
was dismissed. This is the last entry on the session book by 
the clerk. But to it the following statement is appended, 
viz : " At the session of the Presbytery of Missouri, held 
at St. Charles in ]Mareh, 1826, a resolution was passed in- 
corporating the church of Alton with the church of Ed- 
wardsville, in consequence of the removal of all the mem- 
bers of said church except two, viz: Enoch Long and Mrs. 
Mary Long. The above fact is certified by the undersigned, 
who — as au Elder of the church at Edwardsville — was a 
member of said Presbytery at the time of the passage of 
the resolution. 

"Alton, June 18, 1831. Thom.\.s LirpiNcOTT." 

THE PRESEXr PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ALTON 

was organized June 19, 1831, by Rev. Thomas Lippincott, 
with these members, viz: Enoch Long, and Jlrs. Mary 
Long ; Wm A. Robertson and Eleanor M. R .bertson ; Mrs. 
Mary Ann Tolman ; Samuel Thurston and Dorcas Thurston; 
George W. Fuller. 

Elders: Enoch Long, June 19, 1831, dismissed December 
18, 1836; Samuel Thurston, January 21, 1832, died May 
16, 1833; HK. Lathy, October 10, 1831, ex. :Maich 8, 
1846; S. E. Moore, July 25, 1835, dis- April 8, 1841 ; 
Andrew Alexander, September 2j, 1835 died September 18, 
1838; J. D. Bissell, December 22, 1837, dis. March 23, 
18 59; A. \V. .Cjrey, February 10. 1858, dis. January 4, 
1840 . W. S. Oilman, December 8, 183J, dis. Juue 10, 1841 ; 
Benjamin Godfrey, July 5, 1810, dis. September 18, 1844 ; 
Charles W. Hunter, July 5, 1840, ex. February 1, 1841; 
Orriu Cooley, ^ilay 28, 1841 ; dis. December 13, 1841 ; 
Lawsou A. Parks, May 28, 1841 ; Samuel AVade, May 28, 
1841 ; D. T. Wheeler, Nov. 14, 1841, di.s. August 19, 1843 ; 
P. B Whipple, November 14, 1841 ; Isaac Scarritt, No- 
vember 14, 1841 ; Stei)hen Lufkin, April 29, 1849; Nathan 
Johnson. April 29, 1849. April 26, 1849, the church 
adopted the limited term of eldership. The elders under 
this system have been as follows : Lawson A. Park.«, elected 
April 27, 1851 ; Isaac Scarritt, elected April 27, 1851 ; P. 
B. Whipple, elected Oatober 9, 1853 ; Joshua G. Lamb, 
elected October 9, 1853 ; Nathan Johnson, elected August 
5, 1855, dis July 23, 1867 ; Samuel Wade, elected August 
5, 1855, dis. June 17, 1870; Lawson A Parks, elected Sep- 
tember 2), 1858, died JIarch 31, 1875; Isaac Scarritt^ 
elected September 20, 1858. died December 22, 1873; Per- 
ky B. Whipple, elected December 18,1859; Joshua G. 
Lamb, elected December IS, 1859; Dr. Benj. K. Ilart, 
elected December 18, 1859, died September 2, 1S65 ; Robert 
Barr, elected March 5, 1865, died August 13, 1868 ; James 
Newman, elected March 5, 1805, dismi.-sed ; J. G Lamb, 
elected March 17, 1867. dismissed ; Perly B. Whipple, 
elected March 17, 1867; Edward Hollister, elected .Alarch 
17, 1867; A. W. Greenwood, elected ISIarch 17, 1807, dis- 
missed . John A. Cousley, elected January 16, 1870 ; P. B. 
Whipple, elected May 7, 1871 ; Heury L. Nichols, elected 



296 



HIS TOBY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



May 7, 1871 ; John P. Nisbett, elected April 25, 1875 ; 
Martin I. Lee, elected April 2o, 1875, dismissed ; Perley B. 
Whipple, elected June 10, 1877 ; Henry L Nichols, elected 
June 10, 1877 ; S. B. Funk, elected June 10, 1877, died 
January 25, 1831 ; Oliver S. Slowell, elected March 7, 1880. 
Ministers: Thomas Lippiucott, until June, 1832. He 
was succeeded by Elisha Jenny, who remained until April, 
1835. Frederick W. Graves began in June, 1835. The 
following October he bacame pastor and remained until 
November 1838. During the succeeding winter the pulpit 
was supplied by Albert Hale, now of Springfield. Augustus 
T. Norton entered upon his lab >rs as pastor elect March 1, 
1839. On the 9th of May following he was installed by 
the Presbytery of Alton. Mr. Norton served as pastor until 
May 24, 1857, when he resigned, but continued either in 
person, or through other ministers, to supply the congrega- 
tion, for the most part, until July 1, 1858, when he was dis- 
missed by the Presbytery — making the whole period of his 
service nineteen years and three months. Cornelius H. Tay- 
lor was installed pastor July 1, 1858, and remained until the 
latter part of March, 18(J8, making a pastorate of nearly 
ten years. The church then remaiued without a pastor for 
one year. C. Solon Armstrong was invited to the pastorate 
April 16, 1869, and entered upon his duties the 15th of the 
ensuing Miy. He was duly installed December 16, 1869, 
and dismissed by Presbytery April 9, 1880. 

The congregation was then served by various ministers, 
principally by their former pastor. Rev. A. T. Norton D. D., 
until September 1, 1S81, when Rev. Thomas Gordon com- 
menced his labors. Mr. Gordon was duly installed as pastor 
Tuesday evening, October 25, 1.^81. 

The whole number of members in the church up to Janu- 
ary, 1879, is 1066. Of these two hundred and forty-three 
were added before Mr. Norton's pastorate and three hundred 
and seventy-one during its continuance. In Mr. Taylor's 
pastorate, two hundred and two were added ; in the year be- 
tween Mr. Taylor and Mr. Armstrong, five ; in Mr. Arm- 
strong's two hundred and forty-five. The number of mem- 
bers reported to the Assembly at the close of Mr. Norton's 
administration was two hundred and thirty ; at the close of 
Mr. Taylor's two hundred and fortj'-two ; in the spring of 
1878, at the close of Mr. Armstrong's ninth year, three hun- 
(?re I were reported. In 1870 about forty-eight members were 
dismissed to form a Congregational church. The reduction in 
numbers by this movement was serious, but the loss in pecu- 
niary strength was far more so, amounting to fully one-half 
the financial ability of the congregation. Though never 
rich, the benevolence of this congregation has been so sedu- 
loisly cultivated and so largely developed that during the 
whole of Mr. Norton's and Mr. Taylor's administrations, its 
offerings for benevolent causes, outside of itself, were larger 
than any other Presbyterian church in the State except one 
or two in Chicago. Content with a modest, inexpensive 
house of worship, it supported its pastors well, and gave 
largely to all benevolent causes, especially Home Missions. 

There have been many revivals in the history of this con- 
gregation ; but the one most notable, for the character and 
standing of its converts, was that of the winter and spring 



of 1819. Value is not to be estimated by numbers, but by 
weight. The conversion of Saul of Tarsus was worth more 
to the Church and the world, than that of the whole three 
thousand on the day of Pentecost. The population of all 
our Western cities and villages is extremely fluctualiog. 
That of Alton has ever been pre-eminently so. Hence the 
small permanent growth of this church, notwithstanding 
I the constant and large increase of members. 

Its place of worship. The church of 1821, noticed in 
another place, was organized in a log school-house in Upper 
Alton. It stood on the corner diagonally opposite the north- 
east corner of John Bates' premises. A small one-story 
brick house now occupies the spot. In that log school- 
house. Deacon Long and Henry H. Snow gathered a Sabbath- 
} school in the summer of 1820. The present church was 
â–  organized at the hou.se of Deacon Enoch L mg, corner of 
Main and College streets. Upper Alton, the spot now occu- 
pied by the late Joseph Burnap's residence. The public 
services of the occasion were held in the brick school house 
in upper Alton, The next place of worship was the frame 
building on Second street, Alton, next east of the residence of 
the late Simeon Ryder. The next building occupied was 
LfCium H ill, on the northeast corner of Alby and Second 
streets. This building was burned July 30, 1874. Captain 
Biujamin Godfrey united with this church on profession, No- 
vember 8, 1833. The same year he erected with his own means, 
a commodious stone church, with a spire and basement story 
on the northeast corner of Third and Market streets, where 
the Episcopal church now stands. He retained the title in 
• his own hands, and afterwards gave the property to the trus- 
tees of Monticello Seminary, by whom it was sold to the 
Episcopalians in the spring of 1845. A fine bell was in the 
I tower, presented to the church by Mrs. Gilraan, mother of 
[ B I. and W. S. Oilman. Early one morning, immediately 
after the sale, that bell descended from that tower and went 
away on a dray. This church occupied that building from 
its erection till the time of sale, paying rent for it to Monti- 
cello Seminary, while it was owned by that Institution. Its 
next place of worship was in a small frame church on the 
northeast corner of Third and Alby streets, where the Uni- 
tarian parsonage now stands. The pressed brick house of 
worship was erected at a cost of $'!,500, and was dedicated 
June 14, 1846. In 1853, it was enlarged by an addition of 
twenty-five feet to the front, making the entire length eighty 
feet. This addition, with other improvements, cost S2,500. 
In 1858 a $2,00) organ was put up in the building. In July 
and August of 1865 there was another renovation which in- 
volved an expense of seven hundred dollars. But the chief 
renovation and re-arrangement was made iu 1875 at a cost 
of §4,000. A re-dedication ensued October 17, 1875. A 
sermon was preached on the occasion, reciting the whole 
history of the church, especially in reference to its places of 
worship. A debt was created by this last improvement which 
for several years was the source of no little annoyance. It 
and all the other indebtedness of the church was fully can 
celled on the first of January 1882. 

A large fine parsonage of brick was purchased in 1871 at 
a cost of $4,000. This was the offering of the congregation 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



297 



to the magnificent Memorial Fund of nearly eight millions 
raised that year by the j 

RE-UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CIU'RCn. 

The Sabbath-school of the church has been sustained 
the whole year through, and with great vigor. Its Superin- 
tendents have been Andrew Alexander, Moses Forbes, David 
T. Wheeler, Benjamin E. Yiall, L. S. Williams, L. A. 
Parks, Isaac Scarritt, Edward Hollister and Thomas P. 
Nisbett. The last named is still in office — 1882. During a 
large portion of the church's history a mission !^abbath- 
school has been sustained — at first in Hunterstowu and 
then in Sempletown. 

The Semi-Centennial of the church occurred on Sabbath, 
June 18, 1881. It was celebrated with great interest and 
profit. The services commenced Friday evening, June 17, 
and continued through Saturday, the 18th, and Sabbath, I'Jtii. 
The entire i)roceedings were published in a pamphlet of 
140 pages. 

Copies of this pamphlet, of all the Psalms and hymn- 
books, used in the church service for these first fifty years of 
its history, a copy of the " History of Presbyterianism in Illi- 
nois, by A. T. Norton, D. D.," and the various Historical 
shields used on the occasion, are deposited in a nicely con- 
structed bos which is to be in the custody of the stated 
Clerk of the Session, until the occurrence of the Centen- 
nial Anniversary of the ciiurch, July 19, 1931. 

At the time of the observance of this Semi-Centennial, 
two of the original members of the church were alive, viz: 
George W. Fuller, now of Galena, Illinois, and Enoch L)ng. 
But the venerable and venerated Enoch Long passed to his 
rest without a struggle, at his residence, Sabula, Iowa, July 
19th, 1881, at the age of 90 years, nine months and three 
days. The number of communicants April, 1882, was 234. 

COLLINSVILLE CHURCH. 

The place at its first settlement was called Uuionville^ 
afterward was named Collinsviile. from tiie Collins family. 
The church was organized May 3d, 1823, with these mem- 
bers, viz : William Collins, Esther Collins, Augustus Col- 
lins, Elizabeth B. Collins, Eliza Collins, Almira Collins, 
Frederick Collins, Oriel Wilcox, Susan Wilcox, Horace 
Look, Emma C. Look. Seven of these belonged to the 
family of Diacon William Callins, who came to this place in 
the fall of 1822, with his wife and three daughters and one 
son. Four of iiis six sons — viz., Augustus, Anson, ilichael 
and William B. — had preceded him by several years. The 
family was from Litchfield, Conn., to which place William 
B. Collins, when a young man, had removed from Guilford, 
Conn. The church, from its foundation until the fall of 
1843, worshiped in a house erected iu 1818, one of the first 
frame meeting-houses built in Illinois. The stated preach- 
ing of the gospel was not enjoyed until 1830, though for 
nearly twelve years a Sabl)ath school had been sustained, 
and worship of some kind had been held almost every Sab- 
bath. When a minister could not be obtained, they met 
for prayer and exhortation, or read a sermon. From 18.30 
to 1840 the church enjoyed for half the time, successively, 
38 



the services of Revs. Thomas Lippincott, John F. Brooks, 
Roswell Brooks and Robert Blake. Up to 1835 it was 
aided by the Home Missionary Society. Since that time it 
has received no as-istance from abroad. Mcnister-S: 
Charles E. Blood, pastor, commenced laboring with them 
July 4, 1840; Thomas Lippincott, supply pastor, 1848; 
Lemuel Grosvenor, pastor, 1848 ; David Dimond, supply 
pastor, 1850 ; Gideon C. Clark, pastor, 1856 ; Charles F. 
Halsey, pastor, 1864 ; John D. Jones, pastor, 1867; J. R. 
Barnes, pastor, 1870 ; George W. Coit, pastor, 1874 ; Joseph 
G. Reasor, D. D., pastor, 1878. John R. Reason, supply 
pastor, commenced Oct. 10th, 1880, and is still— May, 1882, 
in oflice. Elders: William Collins and Oriel Wilcox 
at the organization ; Horace Look and Frsderick Collins, 
January 12, 1829; William B. Collins, November 10th, 
1832; Lewis Wteks, August, 1837; Hiram L. Ripley, 
September 15, 1838 ; Philander Braley, Austin B. Beach, 
James Ilaffy, November 14th. 1841 ; J. Vanstavoren, S. 
Sheppard, January 24th, 1847 ; E. B. Lockwood, February 
21, 1847 ; C. C Treadway, 1861 ; Hon. J. R. Miller, July, 
1880. Deacons : James S. Wadsworth, G. W. Peers and 
George A. Miller. 

The present church building was erected in 1843, at a 
cost of about eighteen hundred dollars. It was badly shat- 
tered by a storm in 1879. In addition the church owns • 
property in shape of lots, a parsonage, and another valuable 
residence. It is not in debt, and pays a liberal salary to the 
pastor, and contributes, though not systematically, to the 
benevolent agencies of the Church at large. The member- 
ship at present is about one hundred and forty. The Sab- 
bath-school is quite flourishing; two officers, fourteen teach- 
ers, one hundred and seventy-five pupils. 

MARINE CHURCH. 

This was organized Nov. 2d, 1834. Roswell Brooks 
preached here one-half the time for one year. Next 
succeeded, Robert Blake, one-half the time for two years. 
Then the church was vacant until 1840, when T Lippincott 
was employed, and continued, one-half the time for three 
years. A pleasant revival occurred tind twenty-seven were 
added to the church. Then followed James R. Dunn. After 
eighteen months' labor elsewhere, Mr. Lippincott supplied 
again for one year. The subsequent ministers, named in 
their order, are these: Calvin Butler, Sigmund Uhfelder, 
James A. Darrah, C. J. Pitkin, William Filers, A. D. 
Jack, H. AV. Wood, J. Scott Davis, C. T. Hal- 
sey, the last from Jan. 1874, to Jan. 1878, and Robert 
Stewart. Elders : James Breath, James M. Nichols, Geo. 
W. Welsh, Nov. 2d, 1833; C. Lyman, Feb. 10th, 1842; 
Geo T. Allen, April 30, 1843; John Breath, same; 

j A. L Saunders, Feb. 7th, 1848; J. S. Cottrell, same; Joel 
Simpson, April 30, 1854 ; Richard P. Marshall,. '^ame; Lewis 

i Potter, April 16th, 1864 ; Samuel H. Brown, May 8, 1869 ; 

I Richard A. Marshall, April 21, 1872. The original mem- 
bers were these : James Breath, Elizabeth Breath, Geo. C. 

â–  Allen, Mary Allen, Janus M. Nichols, Elizabeth Nichols, 
Geo. W. Wal.><h, John R. Kerr, Wni. Anderson, Eunice A. 

i Anderson, Gertrude Anderson, Zilphatt Parker, Geo. Foster, 



298 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Hannah N. Foster, Rebecca L. Breath and Mary A- 
Breath. Calvin Butler came here in 1849, and died Nov. 
Sd, \HA: His hcvise, cccujitd by lis widow and Jamily, 
was burned in the fall of 1855. For several years past the 
Sabbath-school, and indeed the whole church work here, has 
devolved on Elder Lewis Potter ami his excellent wife. 
There is a good frame church, built in 1851. Before its erec- 
tion, all denominations used the same building. This church 
is at present— 1882— in a very depressed condition. It last 
reported a membership of twenty-six. But the number 
in 1882 is not more than twelve or fifteen. 

ITPER ALTON CHURCH. 

The organization was made January 8th, 1837, by 
Revs. F. W. Graves, T. B. Hurlbut and Thomas Lippin- 
cott, with twenty members. It appears that in June follow- 
ing a >.inion was effected between this and a Congregational 
church in the same place. By this union twenty-six mem- 
bers were added. One article provides for the election of 
Elders triennially. E P. Lovejoy was the first minister. 
He labored gratuitously. C. G. Selleck was installed pas- 
tor Nov. 16, 1837, and resigned the charge in October, 1841. 
Hubbel Loomis succeeded him as stated pastor until May, 
1843. Mr. Loomis was succeeded by H. B. Whittaker, who 
continued his labors here until his death, Sept. 15th, 1844. 
Williston Jones succeeded Mr. Whittaker, and remained 
uatil May, 1845. Lemuel Foster, T. B. Hurlbut and Wil- 
liam Barnes, labored for different periods. W. R Adams 
from 1861 to 1867. Since then Lucius I. Root, Robert 
Rudd, John Huston and Samuel B. Taggart have served 
this church. Elders : Euoch Long, Ebenezer Dennison, 
John Manning, Samuel Archer, William Clark, Alfred 
Cowles, Joseph Gordon, Winthrop S. Gil man, Russell Scar- 
ritt, John Bates, Win. Cunningham, Myron Ives, J. J. 
Hastings, S. W. Ball, J. P Burton, T. R. Murphy, Joseph 
Piatt, W. S. R. Robinson and probably some others. The 
Records have been very imperfectly kept. The first church 
edifice was erected in 1836, and occupied the same site as 
the present one. Previous to that the church worshiped in 
what is known as the " Brick School House." The first church 
edifice was burned February 10, 1858. The present build- 
ino- was commenced soon after, but for lack of funds went 
on^but slowly. It was finally finished, and dedicated No- 
vember 15, 1865. This church has had many difficulties. 
Among these were its semi-constitution, the vicinity of oth- 
er strong churches, and the exceediogly fluctuating charac- 
ter of the population of the place. 

The church is now, May 1882, without a minister. It 
has only oue elder, John Bates. Its membership is about 
thirty. 

MONTICELLO CHURCH. 

The post office is Godfrey, Madison county, Illinois. For 
several reasons peculiar importance attaches to the 
history of this church. Hence I propose to give it fully 
enough for complete comprehension. In doing this I siiall 
derive my materials from the '' church manual compiled 
and published by an order of Session in 1860," from the 



church records, from the records of the Presbytery of 
Alton, and, in relation to the church edifice, from the re- 
cords of Monticello Seminary. It was organized in the 
chapel of Monticello Female Seminary, Nov. 2, 18.49, Rev. 
Theron Baldwin, who was then a memb>;r of Alton Pres- 
bytery, presiding. I undoubtedly state the exact truth, 
when I say the peculiar shaping of the church s constita 
tion was due alone to Mr. Baldwin. The original mem 
bers were : Jabez Turner, from the Reformed Dutch 
Church, Kinderhook, N. Y. ; Timothy Turner, Jairus Burt 
Turner, Ann W. Turner, Elizabeth Turner, from the Vala- 
tia, Kiuderhook, Presbyterian church, N. Y. ; James Howell, 
Ann D'Hart Howell, Sarah Howell, from the Reformed 
Dutch church, Beawenburg, N. Y. ; Rufus G. Turner, Mary 
Ann Turner, from the First Presbyterian church, Mattea- 
wan, N. Y. ; Edwin B. Turner, Congregational church, 
Jacksonville, 111. ; Catharine Ingham, Rebecca Ingham, 
Elizabeth Wilkius, Mary E. Gihnan, Calvin Godfrey, from 
the Presbyterian church, Alton ; John Mison, sr., from 
Congregational church, Castleton, Vt. : Elizabeth Howell, 
from Presbyterian church. New Brunswick, N. J. Eighteen 
persons, twelve of whom were from Presbyterian churches, 
four from the Reformed Dutch, which is Presbyterian under 
a different name, and two Congregalionalists. With a 
Presbyterian organizer, sixteen out of eighteen Presbyterian 
members, oue would have especttd a Prtsbyttriau church. 
Martin Ash, Maria Ash, Susan \V. Miles, Caroline W. 
Baldwin, Benjamin Ives Oilman, Philena Fobes. Huldah 
M. Sturtevant aud Mary Marr, were received on exaiuina- 
tion. This constitution wai adopted: "Art. (1) This 
church shall be called The Church of Chrid in Monticello. 
(2) The business of the church shall be transacted by a 
Session, consisting of the pastor (who shall be ex-officio, 
Moderator) and a certain number of elders chosen by nom- 
ination. The elders shall hold their office no more than oue 
year, at any one time, without a re-election. Art. (3) The 
nomination of elders shall be made by the pastor, with the 
consent of ihe Session, not less than two weeks previous to 
the time for entering upon the duties of this oflice, and un- 
less objections are publicly made by at least two members 
of the church in regular standing, they are to be con.-idtred 
as elected. (4) In the reception of members, and all cases 
of discipline, a vote of the church shall be necessary to 
ratify the decision of the Session. Art. (5.) No alteration 
shall be made in this Constitution or in the Co:ife.-sion of 
Faith, except by a vote of two-thinls of the members pres- 
ent at a regularly notified meeting for this purpose." 
Ecclesiastical history can scarcely furnish a match to this ! 
According to Art. 1, there was and could be in the village, 
or precinct called Mooticsllo, no church but this one. Ac- 
cording to Art. 2, when the church had no pastor, there 
could be no Ses ion, for he was an essential part of it. The 
elders were not to be chosen by vote of members, but by 
nomimtioii of pastor— Art. 3. Heuce necessarily, the elders 
were the creatures of the pastor. And when the church 
had no pastor, no elders could be appointed. By Art. 4 
the Session was deprived of all real authority. 

The Confes-ion of Faith adopted consisted of nine Arti 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



299 



cles, and was thoroughly orthodox and Calvinistic. The 
first ehlers put in office under this uniijue constitution were 
Timothy Turner and Benjamin I. Gilmau. Others, down 
to 18o4, are as follows : Abijah W. Corey, 1841 ; Benjamin 
Godfrey, 1842; Nathan Johnson, 1845; John Mason, sr , 
1846; George Smith, 1847. The ministers have been — 
(1) Theron Bildwin, supply pastor fn)ni November 2, 1838, 
till November 22, 1S40. Ojt)ber 4, 1841), the church invi- 
ted Mr. Baldwin to become their pastor, and instructed B. I. 
Gilman anil Timothy Turner to apply to Presbytery t^have 
him installed. This was done, November 22, 1^40. A. T. 
Norton, of Alton Presbyterian church, preached the sermon, 
T. B. Hurlbut, of Upper Alton, gave the charge to the 
pastor, and T. Lippineott to the people. It was a semi- 
installation— Presbyterial, inasmuch as Presbytery was con- 
sulted about it, and agreed to Mr. Baldwin's wishes as to 
the individuals to officiate, all of whom were co-Presbyters 
with himself — «oft-Presbyterial in that the constitutional 
questions were omitted. Nothing can be more farcical than 
Mr. B's. attempts to wear, and not to wear the Presbyterian 
harne'is. Tnereor.l-i of the Sassion during the whole of 
Mr. B's. administration are very neatly kept in due Presbijte- 
riaii form. From only a single entry would one suspect the 
church to be anything else than Presbyterian. '-July 31, 
1841, Timothy Turner was appointed (by the Session) a 
deleg.ite to the Alton Presbytery on the ground that sucli 
delegates were received on certain conditions, by said Pres- 
bytery as corresponding members." The " conditions " 
referred to are contained in apian of correspondence drawn 
up by 'Sir. Baldwin and foolishly adopted by the Presbytery 
of Alton at its fall session in Upper Alton, 1840. That 
" plan " is as follows: (1) "That we adopt the practice of 
receiving delegates, as corresponding members, from such 
Congregational and other churches within our bounds as 
harmonize with us in belief of the essential doctrines of 
Christianity, provided they are willing regularly to report 
to this body. (2) That such delegates have the right not 
only to speak, but also to vote on all matters which come 
bsford this body, except such as are strictly Presbyterial. 
(3) That we consent to act as an advisory council in all 
cases of reference which those associated churches may bring 
before us. " At the fall meeting in 1867, these resolutions 
were repealed. But from the fall of 1840 to the fall of 1867, 
they were theoretically in force, though practically disre- 
garded. The fact is, the Presbyterian system is complete in 
itself. All foreign elements engrafted upon it are so many 
excrescences, which have in the end to be cut off or out. 
Mr. Baldwin left in April, 1844. He was succeeded by 
Elisha Jenney until September, of the same year. George 
Pyle followed and remained till his death, Jan. 22, 1846; 
Joseph A. Ranney from JIarcb, 1846, to Nov., 1847; Wm. 
Homes from June, 1848, to June 18.50; Geo. M. Tuthill 
from Oct. 1850, till ]\Iay, 1852 ; Charles Temple from June 
1852, till June, ls54. All the above ministers were connect- 
ed with the Presbyterian Church save Charles Temple, and 
all with Alton Prenbytery save Mes.-;rs. Temple and Homes. 
Monticello church was received by Presbytery, according to 
the terms of correspondence, May 3, 1842, and thereafter 



represented in Presbytery and Synod with as much i-egularity 
as any other church down to 1854. 

January 18, 1855, the Presbytery of Alton met with 
the Monticello chuich. That church presented a re- 
quest, lo cDme fully into connection with Presbytery. The 
request was granted. Subsequently, but on the same day, 
Wellington W. Wells was, by the Presbytery, ordained pas- 
tor of that church according to Presbyterian usage. The 
church remained in this connection until Oct. 2, 1860, when 
the following minute appears upon the Records of Presby- 
tery: " The Alton Presbytery have received certain papers 
from the congregation at Monticello, in which they express 
their opinion that the relation subsisting between said 
Presbytery and the congregation ought to be dissolved. 
The Presbytery express their regret that such a feeling 
should exist among those brethren with whom we have 
lived for years on terms of the greatest friendship. But as 
the papers inform the Presbytery, the church Aas withdrawn 
from our body, we erase the name of the Monticello church 
from our roll. " The manual of the Monticello church 
refers to this matter thus: "In 1855, the church united 
'A'hh the Preshytenj of Allan, and remained in that connec- 
tion till June, 1860, when the Presbytery having ceased to 
co-operate with the A. H. M. Society, (with which this 
church had co-operated since its first organization and still 
preferred to co-operate) it withdrew from Presbytery, and 
resumed its original independent condition. " While under 
the care of Presbytery, the church was prosperous and uni- 
ted. For the first year W. W. Wells was their pastor. He 
was duly released from that charge by Presbytery, Sept. 29, 
1855. In October, Rev. Albert Smith became supply 
pistor. He was called to the pastorate and installed by the 
Presbytery of Alton, Nov. 22, 185G, and remained in that 
relation until his death, April 24, lS63 Mr. Smith did not 
withdraw from the Presbytery with his church. Very sin- 
gularly the records of the church during the period of its 
connection with Presbytery cannot be found. That they were 
duly kept there is no doubt. Such pastors as Messrs. Wells 
and Smith would not have neglected so vital a matter. 
Besides, they were before Presbytery, in the spring of 1856 
duly examined and approved. In 1855, the church reported 
eighty members. In 1856, ninety-one; 1857, ninety-five; 
1858, ninety-three; 1859, ninety-eight ; 1860, one hundred 
and eight. In 1857, Benjamin Webster was added to the 
Session. Those six years nearly, tf connection with the 
Presbytery, were years of union, peace and unmixed pros- 
perity. In those years the church edifice was erected by 
the trustees of the seminary, " for the joint use of the Mon- 
ticello Prenbyterian congregation " and the seminary, ac- 
cording to a plan, dated August 10, 1857, and signed by B. 
Godfrey and P. Fobes, on the part of the seminary, and 
B. I. Gilmau and A. W. Corey, on the part of the congre- 
gation. The title to this property is with the trustees of the 
seminary. To trace the history of this church since its 
withdrawal from Presbytery is not here in place. While 
]Mr. Sn)ith lived it prospered. His wise and steady course 
kept the elements in repose December 16, 1867, the first 
constitution of the church was essentially changed. Since 



300 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



that time, or rather since its withdrawal from the Presbytery, 
it has not beeu Presbylerian, whatever else it may have been 
or is. Upon the whole, the history of this church, since the 
death of Dr. Smith, lias demonstrated the utter absurdity 
of attempting to build up an orthodox church which shall 
be M/i-deuoiniuati( nil. Dr.-!. Baldwin and Smith were able 
men. They could hold a church to orthodox moorings by 
their individual power and Presbyterian connections. Lesser 
men, witli no such connections, will surely fail. No church 
can live and grow and be useful ivitliout i-one distinctive and 
ackaotvledjed syntem of doctrine and polity. 

TKOY CHURCH. 

The organization was made Oct. 2d, 1842, by Revs. Wm. 
Chamberlain, T. Lippincott and C. E. Blood, with these 
members : J. K. Reiner, E. C. Reiner, James Perigo, H. 
Perigo, Cyrus Scott, jr., P. Scott, E. Scott, L. A. Scott, B. 
Posey, G. W. Scott, E. Goodwin, E. Davis and Cynthia 
Scott. This was the first church organization of any denomi- 
nation in the village of Troy. Up to Dec. 22d, 1867, the 
church had received eighty-five members, only sixteen of 
whom were theu remaining. At that time Rev. Robert 
Stewart commenced his permanent labors. Since then and 
up to Jan. 1st, 1878, one hundred and twelve have beeu 
added. Before Mr. Siewart, the church was served by the 
fjUowing ministers: Wm. Chamberlain, Thomas Lippincott, 
J. R. Dunn, Calvin Butler, L. A. Parks, licentiate, John 
Gibson, Socrates Smith, James A. Darrah, Caleb J. Pitkin, 
William Ellers and A. D. Jack. Most of these labored here 
only half the time. The following are the elders : Dr. 
J. K. Reiner and James Perigo, the first two. Thomas 
Smith, Wesley Jarvis, Oliver Beard, John R. Swain, Dr. 
F. AV. Lytle, L. R. Cornman, John McKee, Dr. F. A. 
Sabin, Andrew Kiraberliu, James A. Henderson, Samuel 
Yandell, James W. Barlow, Edward Bigelow, Thomas H. 
Bell, R. C Morris, Henry A. Risser, James Lang, Thomas 
J. Purviance and John Bosomworth. In 184-5 the church 
adopted the limited period of Eldership. The first house of 
worship was a neat frame, twenty -four by thirty feet. When 
the new house was erected the old one was sold and is now 
private property. This new house is of brick, sixty by 
thirty-six feet, with basement story and audience room above, 
and cost $10,1100. Eleven hundred of this was donated by 
the Board of Church Erection. The corner stone of this 
house was laid on Mr. Stewart's birth-day. May 3, 1871. It 
was dedicated May 3, 1872, the day the pastor was seventy- 
four years of age. 

Mr. Stewart remained in charge of the church until his 
death, which took place at his residence in Troy, July 11, 
1881, at the advanced age of eighty three years, two months 
and eight days. The present minister of the church is Rev. 
John Gehring. The present Elders are D. F. A. Sabin 
and Thomas H. Bell, and the number of members about 
sixty-five. 

MORO CHQECH. 

The church of Rattan's Prairie, now called Moro, was 



organized by Revs. Valentine Pentzer and P. D. Young, 
December D, 1848, in a school house where the village of 
Bethalto now is, with these members, viz.: Samuel Smith, 
Ruth Smith, Hugh S.nith, Lstitia Dorsey, James Purdy 
Smith, Elizabeth Smith, D.Duncan Smith, Ann M. Pentzer, 
Mrs Ann Smith. Samuel Smith was made elder. He died 
in June, 18j(3. Since apjwiuted, Hugh Smith, November 
20, 18-54; William A. Lauterman and George F. Stahl, 
same date ; Samuel Dorsey, James Harvey Smith, Hiram 
E. Stahl. elected in first part of 1870 ; W. S. B. Robinson 
about 187G. 

Ministers: Valentine Pentzer; P. D. Young, 18.50; 
Peter Hassinger, 18.53-56 ; S. B. Smith, 18-57-58 ; R. M. 
R)berts, 1860; F. H. L. Laird, 18G2 ; A. N. Denny, 1864, 
till his death. September 29, 1863 ; R. G. Ross, 1869 ; M. 
B. Gregg, 1871 ; George B. McComb, 1872 ; John Huston, 
1874 ; William L. Johnson, 1876; Samuel B. Taggart, 1879. 
The name of the church was changed from " Rattan's 
Prairie" to "Moro" by Presbytery April 6,1865. There 
has beeu but one house of worship. It was erected in the 
summer and fall of 1853, and is situated near the Moro 
depot. A cemetery is in the same enclosure with the 
church and adjoins the church site. Before the church was 
erected, the common place of meeting was Bethalto school- 
house. 

Mr. Taggart is still in charge of the church. His post- 
office address is Upper Alton, Illinois. The membership is 
about fifty-five. 

ZION (gERJIAN) PRESBYTERIAN CHOECH. 

This church was organized at Fusterburg, Madison count}', 
October 12, 1857, by Revs. J. G. Schaible and H. Blanke, 
with twenty members. Up to the fall of 1877 the church 
was served by three ministers — H. Blanke, J. H Reints and 
August Busch, who entered upon their work in 1857, 1869 
and 1873. respectivel)'. 

The first Elders were Fred Wortman and C- Breuken. 
Afterward P. A. Scheldt, Eruest Wortman aud C. F. Lob- 
big. In August, 1S78, the church adopted the time service 
method, at the same time reducing the board to two, C. 
Breuken and P. H. Scheldt. This church has had a 
membership of one hundred aud thirty-nine in all from the 
beginning. Its present membership is eighty-nine. 

A house of worship was built soon after the organization, 
which cost about five hundred dollars. A parsonage was 
erected at the same time at a cjst of about four hundred 
dollars. Additions have been made to the parsonage since, 
so that the present value of the church property, including 
house of worship, parsonage and grounds, is about §1,500. 
Since the fiill of 1877, this church was without a pastor. 
During the spring and summer of 1878 it was served by a 
licentiate, Albert F. Beyer, theu a student of Danville 
Seminary, whom the church elected their pastor, and who 
was ordained over them May 14, 1879, by a committee of 
Alton Presbytery. The church building is situated in T. 6 
N., R. 9 W., Sec. 14, N. E. \ of S. W. } of the section. 

The present (1882), Elders are C F. Lobbig and Ernest 
Wortman. The number of members is fifty. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



301 



SALEM (GERMAN) PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 

This church was organized August 19, 1869, by Revs. 
John A. Reiiits, Mr Tschudy and I'^lder Frederick Wort- 
man with these members: Henry Bausch, Anton Telgmann, 
Henry Kocli, Fredericli Schallenl)erg, Nicolaus Ysch, Carl 
Wenzel, Hermann Bockstrock, August Seiler, John Hauser, 
Chr'st. Schlei ker, Ernest Scballenberg, Henry Banker, 
Henry Landwehr, Henry Schallenberg, Y. E. Schallenberg, 
Mathilda Koch, Teadore Telgmann, 8usanne Bausch, Char- 
lotte Schallenberg, Mrs. Ysch, Charlain Wenzel, Charlain 
Bockstrock, Hanne Hauser, Anna Schlenker, Dina Schallen- 
berg, Rosienc Seiler. Elders : Henry Bausch, Anton Telg- 
mann. Ministers: John H. Reints from the organization 
until August, 1877 ; August Biisch, 1878 ; Albert E Bayer, 
present minister, was ordained over them May 5, 1879. The 
church house was erected within two months, September and 
October, 1869, and cost about §1,000. It is in T. 6, R. 9, 
S. E. i Sec. 18. This church together with Zion church at 
Fosterburg. Madison county, constitute a very interesting 
parish. All the members of both are native Germans. Their 
religious services are in that language. The present (1882) 
Elders are, Anton Telgmann and Henry Bausch, and the 
number of members sixty. Godfrey, Madison county, Illi- 
nois, is the post-office address. 

Woodburu (German) Presbyterian church, just across the 
line, in Macoupin county, has been quite recently organized. 
Salem, Zion and Woodburn constitute one field, under the 
charge of Rev. A. E. Bayer, whose residence is at Foster- 
burg. 



THE BAPTIST CHURCH. 



BY JUSTUS BULKLEY, D. D. 

At the closa of the Revolutionary war the entire number 
of Baptists in America did not exceed fifty thousand, and in 
all the valley of the Mississippi there were but two small 
churches. The first ministers of the gospel who visited the 
region of Kentucky were Lewis Lunford (called in Virginia 
"the Wonderful Boy") and John Taylor, who made excur- 
sions to that region in 1779. The Presbyterians were the 
second denomination to enter this valley. Their pioneer 
was Rev. David Rice, who in October, 1783, with his 
taraily, settled near Harrod's Station, Kentucky. In 1786 
two itinerant Jlethodist ministers arrived in Kentucky, and 
laid the foundation for their numerous people. 

So far as I can learn, the first evangelical or Protestant 
minister that preachod the gospel in the Illinois country, 
was Rev. James Smith, a Separate Baptist minister, who in 
the summer of 1787 visited and preached to the scattered 
inhabitants of what is now Monroe county. In 1790 he 
made a second visit to the same territory, preached, was 
taken prisoner by the Indians, near Waterloo, carried to the 
Kickapoo town on the Wabash, ransomed and returned to 
Kentucky. In 1796 Rev. Josiah Dodge, a native of Con. 



necticut, but a pioneer from Kentucky, visited Illinois, and 
baptized four persons, who had professed conversion under 
Smith's preaching. One of these was James Leraen, Sr., 
who, with his four sons, became subsetjuently Baptist min- 
isters- Rev David Badgley in the spring of 1796 came to 
Illinois from Hardin county, Virginia. He baptized fifteen 
persons, and, aided by Joseph Chance, who was not then an 
ordained minister, constituted the New Design Baptist church, 
Monroe county, with twenty-eight members, — the first Bap- 
tist church in Illinois. It was constituted May 28, 1796. 
In the spring of 1796 Badgley moved his fiimily to Illinois, 
preached, enjoyed revival seasons, and in 1798 constituted 
another church in the American Bottom, with fifteen mem- 
bers. 

Fint Church. — The first Baptist church organized within 
the present limits of Madison county was at Wood River 
It was constituted May 3, 1807, by David Badgley and 
William Jones. Among the cou.stituent members were : 
William Jones, by letter; Elizabeth Jones, Susan Brown, 
William Stubblefield, Isaac Hill, Lucy Hill, Joseph Cook, 
Sarah Cook, John Rattan, Mary Rattan, Anne Rose, 
John Finley, and possibly others. July following Joseph 
White, James Gillham and Anne Gillham joined, by letter. 
In June, 1809, Abel Moore, Mary Moore, James Beeman 
and Nancy Beeman were received by letter. In September, 
1809, George Moore and Nancy Moore joined by letter. 

In 1807 the first Baptist Association was formed, called 
the "Illinois Union." It consisted of five churches. Wood 
River, New Design, Mississippi Bottom, Silver Creek and 
Richland. It had four ministers, David Badgley, William 
Jones, Robert Brazil and Joseph Chance, with sixty-two 
members. Hence Wood River church, with its pastor, 
AVilliam Jones, was one of five churches to constitute the 
first Baptist Association in Illinois. In 1809 the Associa- 
tion held its annual meeting with this church. The first 
Saturday in April, 1811, letters of dismission were granted 
to William and Elizabeth Jones; but the first Saturday in 
October, 1814, they were again received by letter. The 
first Saturday in June, 1815, James Beeman was appointed 
to get plank to floor the meeting-house, and get two acres of 
land from Joseph Vaughn, for meeting-house and grave- 
yard. The first Saturday in July, 1816, Joseph Vaughn 
offered to sell to the church two acres of land where the 
meeting-house and grave yard were tituated, for five dollars 
per acre. After consultaion, the church purchased one 
and a half acres, and Vaughn donated a half acre and 
twenty rods. 

These pioneers were a hearty, thrifty, social generous peo- 
ple; their hospitality was unbounded. A common foe in the 
Indians by whom they were surrounded connected them 
very closely in their friendship, as well as united them for 
common defence. Their settlements were sparse. Their 
custom was to hold monthly meetings, beginning on Saturday 
and holding over the following Sabbath. Their faith was 
simple and their piety sincere; their preaching was largely 
hortatory and their worship jirimitive and unostentatious ; 
members were often widely scattered ; their mode of travel 
was on horseback, and attended with great danger from a 



302 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



prowliog foe; and yet they exhibited great earnestness and 
punctuality in tiieir attendance upon the stated appoint- 
ments of the church. One of the members of this church, 
Mrs. Bates, the mother of the wife of Abel Moore, lived 
near Jersey Lauding; another, iNIrs. Askew, sister of Mr. 
Abel Moore, also lived near Jersey Lauding, and yet both 
came monthly, on horseback, exposed to imminent danger, 
and yet with great regularity and delight, to attend the 
stated appointments of the church. During the war of 1812 
Elder William Jones became a soldier, and was elected 
captain of his company. During this period he often 
preached in the Block House, which stood near the pre- 
mises of William Gill. 

This church eiijoj'ed a good degree of prosperity until 
about 1849, about which time its membership declined, and 
it was then merged into the Bethlehem United Baptist 
Church. 

EDWARDSVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH. 

Dr. Benjaraiu F. Edwards came from Kentucky, and set- 
tled in EJwardsville March 19, 1827. At this time, the 
number of Baptists living in Madison county was very 
small. lu Edwardsville only two were known to profess 
Baptist sentiments, viz : Mr . John Adams, who had been a 
member of a Baptist church in the East, and George Kelly, 
who had been baptized by Rev. J. M. Peck, and held from 
him a certificate of his baptism. Dr. Edwards, desirous of 
developing his religious character and of engaging as far as 
possible, with others in Divine worship.^ngaged in devo- 
tional meetings with the Methodists, Presbyterians, and 
Cumberland Presbyterians, in Edwardsville, and enjoyed 
them. But he could not thus fully satisfy the convictions 
of his own conscience. Believing that Baptist churches 
were organized essentially on the New Testament pattern, 
he corresponded with the Rev. John S. Wilson of Kentucky, 
and persuaded him to visit Edwardsville in the spring of 
1828- Mr. Wilson was then a licentiate of the Mt. Gilead 
Baptist church, Kentucky, the same church to which Dr. 
Edwards belonged. 

A series of meetings were held in Edwardsville, Rock 
Spring, and other places in the vicinity. Extensive revivals 
accompanied his labors. In Edwardsville, business houses 
temporarily suspended and whisky shops were closed. The 
meetings were held in the court-house. The citizens gen- 
erally attended, and the most hardened were deeply impressed. 
The meetings in Edwardsville continued about eight weeks ; 
about thirty persons were baptized- Among those baptized 
was Paris Mason, a prominent and influential citizen, and 
afterward a deacon of the church, and John Adams, sub- 
sequeijtlv sheriff' of the county, and for many years clerk 
of the church. Daring these services, a little band of seven 
persons, looking out upon the future of this valley, deemed 
it loyalty to Christ to organize a Baptist church. They 
gathered at the residence of Dr. Edwards, (subsequently the 
residence of Hon. Joseph Gillespie^ April IS, 1828, and 
organized the Baptist Church of Edwardsville. Let their 
names be recorded : Rev. Thomas Ray and wife, Jacob 
Gonterman and wife, Dr. Benjamin F. EJwards and wife, 



Eliza A. Fall, subsequently Eliza A. Adams of Alton. The 
first pastor was Rev. Thomas P. Green. He was succeeded 
by Rev. Joshua Bradley from New England. Rev. J. B. 
Smith was the third pastor. He was bjrn in Alexander 
county, Illinois. Rev. Thomas P. Green persuaded him to 
come to Elwardsville. At that time he could scarcely read 
intelligibly. He attended Rev. J. M. Peck's theological 
school at Rock Spring, but becoming in some way involved 
in difference of opinion with his teacher, he came to Ed- 
wardsville and resided and studied with Dr. Edwards, who 
was accustomed to refer to him humorously as his " theologi- 
cal student." He served the church two years, aud after- 
wards settled in Lexington, and Louisville, Kentucky, and 
other places, and subsequently rose to considerable eminence 
in the ministry. 

Among the early pastors of the church. Rev. Alvin 
Bailey and Rev. George Stacey demand h norable mention. 
During its early history. Rev. Elijah Dodson, Rev. Hubbell 
Loomis, Rev. J. il. Peck, Rev. Ebenezer Rodgers and Rev. 
James Leraen frequently supplied the pulpit. Mr. Wilson's 
labors resulted in the organization of a church at Rock 
Spring, now Oak Hill, the residence of Dr. Peck. The Ed- 
wardsville and Rock Spring churches applied for admission 
to the Illinois Association, but were refused because they 
openly advocated and earnestly supported Missions, Bible 
aud Tract societies, and kindrtd benevolent organizations. 
These matters with these churches were not made a test of 
fellowship. Each member was permitted to support, or re- 
fuse to support, these benevolent enterprises, but as churches, 
the support was open, earnest and avowed. The rejection 
of their application for membership in the " Illinois Associa- 
tion" led these churches, with the Upper Alton Baptist 
Church, which was organized April 2-5, 1830, to unite in an 
Association in accordance with their views At that time 
there was not in the state an Association that openly sup- 
ported these benevolent enterprises. 

Hence, October 16, 1830, Edwardsville, Rock Spring and 
Upper Alton churches met, by delegates, in Edwardsville 
and organized the Edwardsville Baptist Association, the 
only organization in the state openly, earnestly, avowedly 
missionary. True, the Lemens had earlier organized the 
South District Association, which was friendly to the cause 
of missions, and at its annual meeting in September, 1829, 
it passed a resolution commending the American Bible So- 
ciety to the confidence and support of its members, and in 
its circular letter, it speaks approvingly of the cause of 
missions. At the meeting that organized the Edwardsville 
Association, the following resolution was passed : 

"Resolved: That the Baptists in this State who are favor- 
able to a general union of the denomination be affectionately 
invited, to attend a meeting to be held at Elwardsville, on 
the Friday before the fourth Lord's day in July next (1831) 
to consult upon the practicability of such a union." At the 
same time, James Lemen, J. M. Peck, B. F. Edwards, 
Georu-e Stacev, and George Smith, were chosen a committee 
to prepare au aJdresi to the Baptists iu Illinois. A this 
meeting in July, Rev. John Logan, a Baptist minister from 
Schuyler county, and the Lemen brothers were present — 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



303 



and there was then organized the Illinois Baptist State 
Convuition, which met at Canton, Fulton county, Illinois, 
in Nov. Is44, united with the North Western Baptist 
Convention and formed the Illinois Baptist General Asso- 
ciation. 

Dr. Edwards removed from Edwardsville in ISHT. The 
highest nieniberthip attained up to this date was ahout 50. 
From 1837 to 1842 the records are scanty. It is affirmed, 
however, by tlie older citizens whose memory is reliable, 
that about 1840 it had reached a membership of about 150, 
and was a strong vigorous body. The first house of worship 
was built about 18.30, upon a lyt donated by James ^Nlason, 
to the county commissioners for the use of the Baptist 
Church. Edwardsville, at an early day numbered among 
its citizens many whose influence was extensively felt in the 
early development of the State. Here resided three of the 
Governors of the State, Ninian Edwards, Gov. Coles, and 
Gov, Ford. Here also lived Judge Smith, Jesse B. Tliomas, 
father of Jesse B. Thomas, D. D , of Brooklyn, New York, 
John Adams, Cyrus Edwards, Paris Mason, Rev. Hubbell 
LooQiis and others. Among the prominent members of the 
Church were Paris Mason and wife, Mrs. Judge Smith, Mrs. 
Thomas (daughter of Judge Smith and mother of Rev. 
Jesse B. Thomas), Mrs. Erastus Wheeler, Dr. L. D. Boone 
and wife, sub.<equently of Chicago, and others. Dr. B. F. 
Edwards and Jacob Gonterman, were deacons of the Church. 
From 1838 to 184- in the minutesof the Edwardsville Associa- 
tion the Church reports no pastor, but names as a licentiate, 
S. B. Allard and also S. C. Scandritt, from England. Rev. 
Ebenezer Rodgers frequently supplied the pulpit in 1842, and 
in April, 184-$ was called to the pastorate. He resigned in 
March 1847. Subsequently J. M. Peck visited the Church, 
was called to the pastorate, but declined on account of poor 
health. Rev. \V. D. H. Johnson was pastor from 1848 till 
1851, preaching two Sabbaths each month. The Church 
now had only a nominal existence. Internal dissensions 
troubled it. There were onlj' three or four male members 
left, and but one of these in town. About 1852 this one 
moved from the city, as did also the family of a Dr. Johnson, 
â– which literally took what little heart there was out of the 
Church. On the 12lh of June, 1852, the Church disbanded 
after having given to the clerk, W. R. Adams, authority to 
grant letters of dismission to members in good standing who 
wished to unite elsewhere. From 1^51 to 1855 its name ap- 
pears in the minutes of the Edwardsville Association fol- | 
lowed by the wonls, " No report." 

It was virtually dead. From 1852 to 1860 the Baptist 
cause in Edwardsville was saved from total wreck by the 
labors of Revs. A. L. Cole, J. H. Mize, F. M. Ellis and 
others. In 1860 the number of avowed Baptists in Ed- 
wardsville was reduced to six, and in the midst of over- 
whelming opposition it required an unusual degree of firmness 
and moral courage to openly advocate Baptist tenets. In 
the fall of 1801 Rev. J. V. Hopper was appoiiitsd mission- I 
ary to labor within the bounds of the Edwardsville As-socia- 
tion ; and in February, 1862, he held a s-eries of meetings, 
continuing several weeks. Four persons were baptized, the 
scattered forces were gathered, and the little Church was 



reorganized. Rev. J. H. Mize, Rev. Sauford Alford, Lyman 
Barber then of Troy, and others aided in these meetings. 
Tlie reorganized Church began with nine mjinb^-rs; not one 
of the former members could be fi)und in Edvvard.-<ville. 
Rev. J. H. Mize was chosen pastor. He baptized three 
persons. In May 1863 two more were received by letter. 
Brother Mize resigned and was succeeded in ]\Iay 1864 by 
Rev. William J. Roseberry, who labored faithfully till hi* 
death in 1809. In the depressed and feeble condition of 
the Church his death was a sore calamity. During hi.s 
pastorate the Church held its meetings where best it could, 
as in 1866 the old house of worship had been sold by the 
Trustees and the prcceeds in whole or in part had been in- 
vested in a building site for future use. In ]\Iay 1870, at 
the earnest solicitation of the Church, Rev. W. C. F. Hemp- 
stead settled in Edwardsville, as a homoeopathic physician. 
In connection with his labor as a physician he became pas- 
tor of the Church, and labored earnestly and successfully 
till the fall of 1874, when he removed to California. 

In the winter of 187.3-74, he held a series of meeting.?, un- 
aided ministerially, for about six weeks, with encouraging 
results. Rev. W. Chapin, of Troy, then came to his assist- 
ance and subsequently, Rev. L. C. Qxrr, of CoUinsville, at 
that time pastor of the Bethel Church The raeeiings con- 
tinued from January to April. The Church received sixteen 
by baptism and four by letter. During the pastorate of 
Dr. Hempstead, the Church, aided by a liberal community, 
in addition to the one thousand dollars realized from the 
sale of the old Chur.h property, purchased an eligible site 
and built a neat church edifice. The building is a frame, 
32 by 55 feet, is commodious, tasteful, heated by a furnace, 
and comfortably furnished. It was dedicated Oct. 6, 1872. 
The sermon was preached by Dr. Bulkley, of ShurtlefT 
College. A considerable amount of money was raised to 
meet indebtedness. The Church, liowever, was still bur- 
dened with a debt, and were not able to support a pastor. 
Rev. Henry L. Field, after Dr. Hempstead's departure, 
served the Church twice a month. 

Since 1875 the church ha^ struggled, against fearful odd?, 
for continued existence. In April, 1876, Rev. William J. 
Chapin, of Troy, visited them ; and, as the result of earnest 
solicitation, consented to become their pastor. His labors 
were earnest, faithful and useful. He continued about one 
year. The church was without a pastor from the close of 
Mr. Chapin's labors till 1879 or 1880, when Rev. H. W. 
Theile. of Brighton, under the patronage of the Edwards- 
ville Baptist Association, preached lor them one year, one- 
half of the time. Since that time the church has had no 
pastor, and is exceedingly discouraged. Her great present 
need is a faithful, self-denying, earnest, godly minister. 
Unless some one thus qualified and adapted to the field 
can be secured, her future is discouraging and her prolonged 
existence problematical. 

The statistics are very imperfect The ministers of the 
Edwardsville Association, from the organization of the 
church to 1881, show 85 baptized, 70 received by letter, 79 
dismissed by letter, 35 excluded, and 21 died. The highest 
number reported was sixty in the year 1838. The largest 



304 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



number reported was sixty in 1868. Although the i 
church, from its beginning, has been compelled to .struggle 
against fearful odd.s, and never attained to a church of 
large membership, yet she has exerted, especially in her 
earlier histury, boundless influence in shaping the policy 
and determining the prosperity of the denomination id II- [ 

linois. i 

I 

THE UPPER ALTON CHURCH. — CONSTITUTION AND PRO- | 
GRESS. \ 

This church was constituted by Rev. John M. Peck, | 
April 25th, 1830, with ei>!ht members, viz : Ephraini Marsh, ; 
James D. \V. Marsh, Don Alonzo Spauldiug, Winston 
Cheatham, Henry Evans, Mrs. Julia A. Spaulding, Mrs. 
Frances Marsh, and Rachel Garrett. Deacon Don A. 
Spaulding, now of the Alton City church, is the only one 
of the number now living. The church was constituted 
under the name of the " Alton Baptist Church." 

In 1830, delegates appointed by this church met delegates 
from the churches of Edwardsville and Rock Spring 
and formed at Edwardsville, on the 16th October, and 
days following, " The Edwardsville Baptist Association." 
In February, 1833, the church dismissed by letter nine 
members, to unite with others in constituting a Baptist 
church at Lower Alton. In March, 1834, four were dis- 
missed, to aid in forming a church on " the Fiasa, or Brown's 
Prairie," now Brighton church. March, 1837, the church 
numbered 129, and 12 were dismissed to form a church in 
the " Wood River settlement," named the " Bethel" church. 
In May, 1864, a branch of the church was formed near 
the mouth of Wood River, at a preaching station of theo- 
logical students; and in June, 1867, forty-one were dis- 
missed, to constitute this branch — an independent church, 
first named " Gibraltar," afterwards " Miltou." This church 
has since become extinct. 

For about two years the church held its meetings in a log 
cabin, and fur three or four years more in the old brick 
school-house ; also, in the " meeting room " in Lower Alton, 
and occasionally at private dwellings in the Wood River set- 
tlement. January, 1836, the church resolved to build a sub- 
stantial stone house. 45x60 ft. with basement. This house was 
dedicated in Jan. 1837. Rev. Ebenezer Rodgers preached 
the sermon, and Prof. Washington Leverett offered the 
prayer of dedication. The church occupied this house 
thirty two years. In January, 1868, the church resolved to 
build a new house of worship, a frame, 50x80 ft., with a 
chapel in rear of fitting proportions, all in the Norman style 
of architecture, and at a cost, including lot, not over $12,- 
000. It was dedicated with appropriate services May 30, 
1869, the pastor, N. M. Wood, D. D., preaching the sermon. 

PASTORS AND SUPPLIES. 

Rev. George Stacey supplied the pulpit on alternate Sab- 
baths from April, 1830, to June 3, 1831, and was its first 
pastor, supplying alternate Sabbaths. He continued in this 
relation four months. — Additions, 19. Rev. Alvin Bailey 
commenced preaching early in 1832, when the church held 
its meetings alternately at Upper and Lower Alton. He 



retained the double pastorate until April 18-34. — Additions 
9. Rev. Ebenezer Rodgers from November 1834, to the 
close of 1838.— Additions 176. Jonathan Merriam from 
November 1839, until November 1840. — Additions 49. 

A years vacancy followed, after which Rev. Adiel Sher- 
wood was pastor two years. — Additions, 55. Then after an in- 
terval of nearly three years Rev. Jesse W. Dennison filled the 
office for one year — Additions, 18. Another vacancy of a 
year was followed by the pastorate of Rev Jeremy F. Tol- 
man one and one-half years— Additions, 17. After the lapse 
of six months his son Rev. John N. Tolman served two years 
— Additions 41. A vacancy of two and one-half years was 
followed by the pastorate of Rev. Isaac Woodbury, one year- 
Additions, 10. After two or three months, Rev. Daniel 
Read served as pastor two and one-half years — Additions, 
64. Rev. Wm. B Smith was his successor, two and one-half 
years— Additions, 25. After a vacancy of two years. Rev. 
J. Bulkley served two years— Additions, 92, and 21 received 
into the branch at Gibraltar. During the last half year of 
1806, Rev. E. C. Mitchell was the ".stated supply."— Addi- 
tions, 20 During the year 1867, Rev. R. E Pattison was 
"stated supply " — Additions 38, and to the branch at Gib- 
raltar 28— Then till May 1868, Rev. E. C. Mitchell was 
stated supply— Additions 10. In May, 1868, Rev. N. M. 
Wood became pastor and served one and one-half years — 
Additions 111. During the next three months the pulpit was 
supplied conjointly by Drs. Kendrick, Wood, Bulkley and 
Prof Stifler, all Professors in Shurtleff' College — Additions 5. 
Then Prof. Stifler was stated supply ten months, then regular 
pastor six and one-half months — Additions 90. After a va- 
cancy of five months during which the pulpit was supplied 
by Prof J. C. C. Clarke and others, (additions 17) Rev. 
David T. Morrill became pastor Nov. 1st, 1876, and at 
present, July, 1882, holds that relation. The additions 
under his ministry have been 116. 

It will thus be seen that the church has had fifteen regu- 
lar pastors, whose aggregate pastorates amount to 34 years ; 
also several acting pastors who have officiated about three 
years. The church has been without a pastor, at different 
intervals, about fifteen and one-half years. During these 
periods the Professors and Theological students have gener- 
ally supplied the pulpit, with additions amounting to 174. 
Deacons. — The church has had 12 deacons, seven of whom 
have died. George Smith served 30 years, died in 1860. 
Don A. Spaulding served three years, tl^eu joined the Alton 
church, still living; George Haskell, elected in 1834, served 
three years, removed to Rockford and is dead. Benjamin 
Green, elected in 1837, died in 1854. Alvin Olcott, elected 
in 1862, served 5i years, then united with the Alton city 
church and is dead. Warren Leverett, elected in 1852, 
served till his death in November 1872. Joseph M- El well, 
elected in 18.55, served till his death in 1866. H. N. Ken- 
dall, elected in 18.58, served till his death in October 1876. 
Jo.seph Burton, elected in 1858, resigned in 1873. Eliaha 
Whittlesey, elected in 1874, removed to Highland, 111., in 
1875. Asa R. Steele, elected in March 1873, still in office. 
Joseph H. Weeks, elected September 1^-76, still in office. 
Sabbath-Schools.— la 1830, a union Sabbath school was 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



305 



formed by Baptists and Presbyterians. Tiiis continued in 
harmony for five years. In 1855 the Presbyterians, with 
entire good feelings withdrew to organize a school of their 
own. From that date the church has sustained their own 
school. Its numbers and prosperity have varied, yet the 
school has generally exibited agood degree of prosperity and 
energy. It has been the nursery of the church — During the 
last forty years probably three-fourths of the additions to 
the church have come from the Sabbath-school. 

Summary, to December 25th, 1881. Constituent members 
8, added by baptism, 642, added by letter, 540, total, 1190. 
The number dismissed by letter who have not returned 672 
Dropped because long absent and residence unknown 62. 
Excluded 71; Died 121. Present number, December 25, 
1881, 270. The number of niiuisters, members of the 
church, ordained before they became members, has been 45 
The number ordained while members, and ihose ordained 
after their dissmission is 72 — so large a number of ministers 
connected at different times with this church arises from the 
fact of its intimate relations to ShurtlefT College. It has 
thus exerted unmeasured influence in the development and 
progress of the Baptist Denomination. 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF ALTON. 

This Church was constituted March 10, 1833, with 19 
members, viz; Ebenezer Marsh, Ephraira Marsh, William 
Manning, Wm. Hayden, D. A Spaulding, Henry Evans, 
and their wives — also Mark Pierson, Stephen Griggs, Herman 
Griggs, R Johnson, Jo?eph S. King, James W. D. Marsh, and 
Mary D. Bruner. Rev. J. M. Peck was present at this 
meeting. The church adopted the summary of faith and 
practice of the second Baptist church of Boston, Mass. 

Rev. Alviu Bailey was the first pastor, and served till 
April 1834. Rev. Hubbell Loomis supplied till the follow- 
ing fall In November, 1834, Rev. Ebenezer Rodgers be- 
come pastor of the two churches at Upper and Lower Alton. 
He resigned in December, 1835. Rev. D wight Ives, from 
June 1836 till May 1839. This pastorate, however, was 
very successful. For more than a year the church was 
supplied by Washington Leverett, and Zenas B. Newman, 
Professors in ShurtleflT College. Gideon B. Perry served 
from J-inuary, 1841, till some time in 1843; he subsequently 
entered the ministry of the Episcopal church. Then Rev. 
Adiel Sherwood, President of ShurtleflP College, supplied 
the church two years. Rev. Otis Hackett was pastor from 
April 1845, to April 1847. Rev Robert F. Ellis became 
pastor in October 1847, and served six years. During a 
vacancy of more than a year, Professor Washington Leverett 
and Rev. Silas C. James served aa supplies. Rev. R. R. 
Coon was pastor from January, 1855, a little more than four 
years. An interval of one year' followed, during which 
time Rev. Dr. N. M. Wood, Ex-President, and Dr. Read, 
President of Shurtleflf College, supplied alternately. In 
1860. Rev. Melvin Jameson became pastor, and served until 
1869, when he resigned to enter the service of the Amer. 
Bapt. Missionary Union, as their Missionary to Burmah. 
This pastorate was vigorous and successful — During 
his pastorate 99 were baptized and 71 received by letter. 
3j 



Rev. N. Butler became pastor io the fall of 1869, and con- 
tinued until December 1872. Revivals were enjoyed, 
and the membership of the church increased from 193 to 
235. On the 12th of October, 1873, Thomas G Field, re- 
cently from Newton Theological Institution, was ordained. 
The membership increased from 233 to 323, a gain of 90. 
Continued as the pastor till spring of 1879, and was followed 
by Rev. L. A. Abbott, the present pastor. 

HOUSES OF WORSHIP. 

At first the meetings were held in Lyceum Hall, corner of 
Second and Alby streets. Then, for several months, it 
occupied the stone meeting-house owned by Capt. Benjamia 
Godfrey, corner of Market and Third streets. 

In 1834, their first meeting-house was erected on the cor- 
ner of Third and Alby streets. The building would 
accommodate about two hundred and fifty persons. It was 
sold to the Methodists for 88,000. 

In 1836, a lot was purchased on the corner of Second and 
Easton streets, at a cost of §6.500, and a building erected 
costing SlS,000; making total cost, $24,500. This house 
was destroyed by fire in March, 1860. The bell, organ, 
town-clock, etc., all perished in the flames. The building 
was insured for $3,000. 

In December, 1860, the church occupied the basement of 
their present house of worship, and the house itself was 
completed and dedicated to God the first Sabbath in Septem- 
ber, 1867. Rev. Dr. Everts, of Chicago, preached in the 
morning and Rev. Dr. G. Anderson, of St. Louis, in the 
evening. The house is substantially built of brick, will 
comfortably accommodate three hundred and fifty persons, 
and cost, with furniture, §12,600 About $900 of this 
amount was provided by the Ladies' Sewing Circle. A 
liberal portion was contributed by citizens who were not 
members of the church. The house was dedicated free 
from debt. 

HOME AND MISSION SUNDAY-SCHOOLS. 

From the beginning, this church has given most earnest 
support to the cause of Sunday-schools. The church has 
conducted, uninterruptedly, a flourishing home Sunday-school 
during its entire existence. Its roll has often exhibited the 
names of two hundred and fifty scholars, with twenty -three 
teachers, and an average attendence of one hundred and sixty. 
Stephen Pierson was superintendent for more than twenty 
years, until impaired health compelled him to resign. The 
school contributes regularly to the cause of Foreign Missions. 
The church, in addition to the home school, has conducted 
several mission schools 

About the year 1849, a mission school began with the 
African Baptist Church, which was successfully conducted 
for many years. In 1860, a mission school was begun in 
Middletown by John L. Blair, in a hired room. In 1862, a 
lot was purchased and a suitable house erected, at a cost of 
about 8550. 

In 1875, a mission school wa,s established in Hunterstown, 
under the superintendence of Carey Emerson. A building 
was erected at a cost of $1,250. The school averaged one 



306 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



hundred and twenty five scholars, and sixteen teachers. 
Improvements and enlargements were made to the building, ) 
subsequeutly, at a cost of about §820- B. W. Smith suc- 
ceeded Mr. Emerson as superintendent in September, 1879, 
and served till 1880, when Dr. R. Gibson became superin- 
tendent, and is at present conducting the^school with marked 
success. At times the number in attendance reaches three 
hundred. An adjoining lot has recently been purchased, at 
a cost of $250. 

In 1859, a church was formed at Coal Branch by members 
from this church. Dismissed for that purpose seventeen in 
number. A commodious house was soon built, a pastor 
secured, an encouraging Sabbath-school organized, and a 
good congregation gathered. The church at Coal Branch 
has had a varied history, prospering at times until its mem- 
bership reached seventy, and again in adversity until its 
existence was imperilled. 

KELIGIOUS VISITATION, TRACT DISTRIBUTION, PLAN OF 
BENEVOLENT OPERATION. 

INIany of its members, for considerable periods of time, 
have engaged in the work of family visitation. This is 
accompanied with tract distribution, religious conversation, 
and prayer, as circumstances will allow. At one time 28 
persons, mostly females, were engaged in this service. In 
all its history, the church has given earnest and efficient aid 
to all the various benevolent enterprizes of the denomina- 
tion. To the cause of missions it has given one of its pastors. 
Rev. Melvin Jameson and his wife — one of its licentiates. 
Rev. Judson Benjamin, and one of its most promising young 
women, Miss Emma Inveen. 

Its plan of benevolence, in theory, embraces the idea of a 
contribution weekly, from every member, as each is pros- 
pered. The church has ever been especially interested in 
the Illinois Baptist Educational Society, and in Shurtleff 
College. Its money has been liberally given, and many of 
its members have always been on the Board of Trustees of 
the College. It is in fact difficult to see how the College 
could have prospered without their service and money freely 
and cheerfully given. 

OFFICERS. 

Deacons ivith the date of their Election. — Ephraim Marsh, 
April 20th, 1333. Don A. Spaulding, Dec 25th, 1834 
Wm. Manning, Feb. 20th, 1835. Jonas R. Gale, Nov. 8th, 
1836. B. F. Edwards and Eben. Marsh, April 27th, 1838. 
B. F. Edwards, D. A. Spaulding, Eben. Marsh, Wm. Man- 
ning, and Richard Flagg, Feb. 4th, 1842. T. C Morrison, 
Feb. 26th, 1855. John Woodruff and John L. Blair, Feb. 
20th, 1872. Ira H. Keizer and Henry A. Cheney, Nov. 
27 th, 1876. 

NORTH ALTON BAPTIST CHURCH, FORMERLY COAL BRANCH. 

This Church was really a Colony from the Alton Baptist 
Church. 

In 1859 Thomas Dunford and wife, and Robert Mitchell 
and wife were dismissed from the .•\lton Baptist Church, to 
unite in forming a church at Coal Branch. Soon afterward 



several from Coal Branch were baptized, and on the 21st of 
March, 1859, the church was organized with 17 members. 

Rev. H. Gallagher, then a student in Shurtlefl' Co'leae, 
served them for a considerable period, while pursuing a 
course of study. Since his pastorate, the history of the 
church has been at times prosperous, and at other times in 
great adversity. At considerable expense they built a good, 
commodious house of worship on the land of Thomas Dun- 
ford, who agreed to give the church a deed to the pro- 
perty His death prevented the fulfillment of the pro- 
mise, and the church has never been able to obtain the 
deed. After Mr. Gallagher's pastorate, the greatest degree 
of prosperity attained was probably under the pastorate of 
Rev. Mr. Place, and the darkest period under the Rev. 
Mr. Austermel, when the church became almost extinct. 
About two years since Joseph Bevan, a student in Shurtleff 
College, began to preach to them. Prosperity is being en- 
joyed. His labors are appreciated and blessed — congrega- 
tions are large. A flourishing Sabbath-school is in successful 
operation, and everything indicates increase in numbers and 
in power. The present membership is about 25. With the 
exception of Mr. Austermel, the pastoral labor has been 
almost exclusively performed by students from Shurtleff 
College. 

TEO\ BAPTI.ST CHURCH. 

The Baptist church at Troy was organized in 1833 by El- 
ders Joseph and James Lemen with fifteen members at the 
house of John Lindly, near Silver Creek in Madison county. 
It received the name of the " Union Baptist Church of 
Christ, Friends to Humanity." They called themselves 
" Friends to Humanity, " because of their opposition to 
American slavery. Beftre the church removed to Troy 
many precious revival seasons were enjoyed, and many 
were gathered into the church under the labors of different 
ministers. 

The Church records furnish the names of the following 
ministers who served the church either as pastors or as sup- 
plies, viz : James Lemen, Joseph Lemen, Charles Lucy, 
Samuel Wood, John Padon, A. B. Harris, T. W. B. Daw- 
son, Elijah Dodson, E. J. Palmer, John H. Mize, W. D. 
Ross, Niles Kinne, George Silver, J. W. Chapin, J. H. 
Mize, second time, T. W. B. Da\\sou, a second time and — 
Caster. 

Its licentiates are as follows, viz : Lynn Craig, William 
Vanhonser, Valentine Vanhooser, Asa Parker, Charles 
Lucy, Lyman Barber and John H. Mize 

But two ministers have been ordained at the call of the 
church ; John Padon and J. H. Mize. 

AVhen the church removed to Troy in 1846, it gave up its 
name Uninn and assumed its present name Troy. 

Its first meeting-house was a frame, and also the second at 
Troy. Tiie second was built under many difficulties. It was 
dedicated in 1849, Rev. Elijah Dodsnn preaching the ser- 
mon. Its third house is a frame a0xo3, eighteen feet ceiling, 
belfry and spire sixty feet higii — built at a cost of about 
82600. It was dedicated early in 1877, Rev. J. Bulkley 
preaching the sermon. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



307 



The following persons have served as clerks, viz : William 
Renfro, Jolin Vanhooser, Valentine Vanhooser, Gideon 
Flowers, William M. Lindly, J. B. Edgar, William M. 
Gonternian, T. W. B. Dawson, James Seybold and Deacon 
William A. Wilson. — Rev. T. W. B. Dawsou is the present 
clerk. 

The following have acted as Deacons: William Skinner, 
Isaac Renfro, Abraham Vanhooser, George Bradshaw, Caleb 
Gonterman, Andrew Waddle, Charles B. Street, Lyman 
Barber and William A. Wilson. Its present Deacons are 
William Waddle and John Seybold. Before the church 
removed to Troy a few brethren engaged in Sabbath-school 
work, but it was some time after it removed before it had its 
own Sabbath-school. For several years the teachers elected 
the officers and governed the school; of late years the Sab- 
bath-school has been under the direct control of the church. 

From the organizition of the church in 1833 with fifteen 
members, (most of whom are dead, and none of whom are 
now members) till 1S70 this church exerted a precious 
and lasting influence, and since that period many precious 
seasons of religious interest have been enjoyed. Its pastons 
have been among the most spiritual and useful in central or 
southern Ulincis. Many of its members have been persons 
of wealth, culture and high social position- The church 
however has become greatly weakened by removal and 
death. At present it has no pastor and no preaching. Its 
nominal membership is about seventy — twenty of whom are 
non-residents, and their present place of residence unknown, 
leaving the actual membership about fifty. 

THE BETHALTO BAPTIST CHURCH. 

Ever since the constitution of a Baptist church on Wood 
River in 1807 by Elder Wm. Jones, the vicinity of Bethalto 
has engaged the labor of different Baptist ministers whose 
efforts have been successful. The Bethalto church had its 
origin in preexisting material derived from these earlier la- 
bors. It was constituted February 4, 1874, with twenty-one 
members. At first it met for worship in the C. P. meeting- 
house, until 1875. Its present house of worship, a neat 
substantial frame, was commenced September, 1874, com- 
pleted at a cost, including furniture, of S3G00, and dedicated 
July 25, 1875. 

Deacons. — Its first Deacons were C. H. Flick, Jasper 
Starkey and James McKee, elected June 18, 1874, f >r one 
year, but continued in office two years. June 18, 1876, C. 
H. Flick, James Jones and George Taylor were elected. 
Deacon Taylor died in the fall of 1879. The present Dea- 
cons are C. H. Flick and James Junes. 

The number of members admitted to the church up to 
the present time, July 18S2, including the constituent mem- 
bers (21) is ninety-three, present membership fifty. 

It has a good Sabbath school of sixty-three scholars, and 
seven teachers. Superintendent, F. B. Black. Its pastors have 
been Monroe Starkey and J. H. Mize, and perhaps others. It 
is at present supplied once each month by Rev. J. Bulkley, 
of Upper Alton. It occupies an important field, and ought 
by the Divije blessing to become a strong church. 



THE COLLINSVILLE BAPTIST CHURCH. 

At the annual meeting of the South District Association, 
September, 1857, the church of CoUiiisville sought admission 
to the Association with thiriy member.s. Rev. D. M. 
Howell, pastor, L. W. Scanland, William Thompson and 
J. M. Johnson delegates. The church was charged with, or at 
least suspected of heresy. Rev. E. J. Palmer appeared as 
the principal accuser. Their application was referred to a 
select committee of seven persons, viz : J. Peters, C. J. 
Kelly, H. S. Deppe, L. Sleeper, M. Ely, J. W. Thwing 
and S. Roach, which committee reported that the charge was 
without foundation and they recommended that the church 
be received. The report was adopted and the church re- 
ceived. Its first pastor was Rev. D. M. Howell, who served 
them with great acceptance and fidelity, from the organiza- 
tion of the church until laid aside by a fatal disease which 
terminated his life, June 7, 1S6G. Rev. F. Hill and Rev. 
L. C. Carr, have also successfully guided the church in the 
pastoral relation, as have others. It present pastor is Rev. 
J. Cole. 

Previous to 1864 it had received by baptism thirty four, 
by letter, twenty-two ; it had dismissed seven, excluded seven- 
teen, and lost two by death. It had greatly increased in 
membership until in 1864 it numbered sixty-seven, since 
that period its history has been a peculiar one. At one 
time discordant elements endangered its existence. In 1870 
it enjoyed a precious revival. Nine were baptized and ten 
received by letter, and the church numbered ninety six. 
Another revival was enjoyed under the labors of L. C. 
Carr, in 1874 ; seventeen were baptized and eight received 
by letter ; the church then numbered seventy. A period of 
declension followed, and in 1876 its number had diminished 
to fifty-five. Such is the history of most of our churches. 
Revivals and declensions follow each other at longer or 
shorter intervals. Its present prospects are hopeful. 

THE MX. OLIVE BAPTIST CHURCH. 

This church was organized May 31st, 1851, by Elders 
J. V. Rhoads and John Brown, three miles east of Upper 
Alton. It organized with 48 members. Most of this num- 
ber have died, or moved away, six only remaining, viz : 
Nancy Deck, Lydia Williams, Eliza Deymon, Joseph 
Sherfy, James Jones, and Thomas Jenkinson. 

The pastors have been Rev. John Brown, from Mav 1851 
to 1856. Rev. A. C. Rafferty, from Oct. 1856 to Dec. 1857. 
Rev. J. V. Rhoads, from April 1858 to Aug. 1858. Rev. 
A. C. Raflerty, from Nov. 1858 to Aug. 1861. Rev. John 
Brown, from Dec. 1861 to Jan. 1863. Rev. Swift Brown 
and others, supplied to Jan. 1866. Rev., F. M. Long 
from Jan. 1866 to Jan. 1867. Rev. Whi ing, from Feb' 
1868 to Jan. 1869. Rev. Grear, from Feb. 1869 to Sept.' 
1869. Rev. G. P. Hanks, from Oct. 1869 to Aug. 1870. 
Rev. J. S Deck, from Feb. 1871 to Sept. 1871. Rev. Worley, 
from Nov. 1871 to Aug. 1872. Rev. Levi Jlitchell, from 
April 1873 to April 1874. Rev. W. P. Crawford, from 
Oct. 1875 to Jan. 1878. Rev. J. H. Mize, from Oct. 1878. 
Rev. John R. Jones, from Feb. 1880 to Feb. 1881. 



308 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Deacons were Madison Williams, chosen June 1851 ; 
Richard Young, chosen Nov 1851 ; John Norton, Jan. 
1860; T. Jenkinson and B. F. Gulp, July 1864; C. H, 
Flick and G. T. N. Harris, April 1868. 

The church has ordained three ministers. L. M. Whit- 
ing and J. S. Deck, in May 1868, and Green P. Hanks, in 
May 1869. 

It has licen.^ed the following: J. S. Deck, 1865; G. P. 
Hanks, 1868; Thomas and Joseph Deck, 1808, and A. Hill, 
in 1869. 

The church united with the Apple Creek Association in 
August 1851. 

Whole number baptized, 232 ; received by letter, 49 ; by 
experience, 23; dismissed, 115: excluded, 126; died, 49. 
Present number, 79. Its house of worship is a frame build- 
ing, 40 by 60 f.et; built at a cost of about $1,500. 

Its present officers are : Deacons, Thomas Jenkinson and 
T. N. Harris. Clerk, J. S. Gulp. 

THE STAUNTON BAPTIST CHURCH. 

This church was constituted in July, 1852, and in Se_p- 
tember of the same year it joined the Edwardsville Asso- 
ciation with sixty-three members, forty-five of whom had 
been recently baptized. J. V. Hopper, pastor, A. Deas, C. 
Sawyer and T. Caulk messengers. 

J. V. Hopper was pastor most of the time till 1856. 
William J. Roseberry, from 1857 till 1861. 

From 1861 to 1864 the church was without a pastor, but 
had occasional surplies. 

In 1864 F. M. Wadly was pastor. In 1865 Hopper, 
Wadly and Roseberry were supplies. 

In 1866 F. Hill, a student at Shurtleff College supplied 
half of the time. In 1867 and 1868 the church failed to 
report. 

In 1869 S. K. Fuson was pastor, and before his pastorate 
the church must have become extinct, as the baptisms re- 
ported are thirty-two, and the whole number but thirty- 
eight. Then follows a season of great declension. For six 
years the church makes no report to the Association. In 
1876 it recognized and reported an addition by baptism, let- 
ter and restoration, twelve, and the entire number twenty- 
six. The previous winter Rev. G. P. Hanks held a series 
of meetings with the forgoing result. 

D. P. Jones was pastor in 1877. In 1878and 1879 it was 
not represented. In 1880 G. G. Dougherty was pastor. In 
1881 no representation. 

In 1855 it reached its highest number, sixty-three, and 
at that time began to build a meeting-house. It proved a 
very great burden. The work progressed with great diffi- 
culty until 1860. A heavy debt remained which was diffi- 
cult to be borne. Through the effijrts of Rev. J. H. Mize 
the debt was removed in 1864. Then the angry contentions 
growing out of the war produced coldness, alienations and 
division until the church was well nigh destroyed. Much 
of the time it has had a severe struggle for life. 



The wliole number reporied a.s baiilized 70 

'' " " added by letter 34 

" " " experience and restoration 19 

" " '' dismissed 33 

" " " excluded and dropped 38 

" " " died 11 

Number reported in 1880 18 

No report to the Association in 1882. 

THE NEW HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH. 

This church is near the present town of Worden. It was 
constituted as early as 1840, as it appears in that year in 
the minutes of the South District Association with sixteen 
members. Its delegates were J. O. English and I. E. 
Sharp. Duriug the first ten years of its existence till 1851 
it was connected with the South District Association. Dur- 
ing this period it possessed a good degree of spiritual vigor, 
its membeiship increasing from sixteen to forty-seven. The 
greatest number baptized in any one year during this 
period was sixteen, in the year 1843. In 1844 J. 0. 
English appears as a licentiate. 

From 1851 to 1863 the church enjoyed very great 
spirituality. Rev. J. V. Hopper was pastor from 1851 to 
1859. Duriug this period 129 were baptized, forty six by 
letter, twenty-two by experience and restoration, fifty-eight 
were dismissed, twenty-seven excluded, four dipped, iourteen 
died. Its number had about doubled, passing from sixty- 
five to 125. The highest number recorded was in 1858 
when the church reported 128 members. During this pe- 
riod the church was engaged earnestly in Sabbath -schools. 
In 1852 it had two licentiates, J. O. English and Barber. 
Its house of worship was completed in 1853, and the debt 
upon it paid off in 1854. In June 1856 William J. Rose- 
berry, who had been previously licensed was ordained. The 
largest number baptized during Elder Hopper's administra- 
tion was in the years 1853 and 1858 ; in the former, thirty- 
six, in the latter thirty-two. 

In 1860 William J. Roseberry became pastor and served 
until 1863 or 1864. During his pastorate, eighteen were 
baptized, four received by letter, seven by experience and 
restoration, ten were dismissed, fourteen excluded, five died, 
leaving the church in 1863 reduced to 1 10. At this time so 
sharp was the contention about the war of the rebellion 
that the church became almost extinct, and ceased to be re- 
presented in the Association, except by messengers without 
statistics. From 1865 until 1873 when Rev. G. P. Hanks 
was its pastor, it reported a membership of thirty-three. 
For several years during the war it held no meetings. 
Since 1873 it has exhibited some vitality, and exerted 
some influence. " How pleasant it is for brethren to dwell 
together in unity." 

Since 1873 or 1874 it has been connected with the Apple 
Creek Association. In 1875 it reported a membership of 
sixty one. 

BETHLEHEM BAPTIST CHURCH. 

This church was constituted in March 1851. The follow- 
ing May it united with the Edwardsville Association with 
tweaty-four members. Rev. Luke Dillard was its pastor 
and William Coltharand A. J. Smalley delegates. During 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



809 



the previous winter an interesting revival had been enjoyed. 
Rev. Luke Dillard continued to be its pastor till ls64, when 
the church ceased to represent itself in the Association. 

During this period it had reported twenty-seven baptized 
and seven deaths. From 18.53 to 18.')9 its number varied but 
very little. lu 1853 they were thirty-seven ; in 1854 thirty- 
seven. They never went below this number nor above 
thirty-nine till 1859, when a revival of religion resulting in 
the baptism of twelve persons increased their membership 
to fifty-one. 

In 1866 Rev. Luke Dillard made in the Association a 
verbal report to the effect that the church was nearly ex- 
tinct, and henceforth it does not appear in the minutes of 
the A.ssociation. 

BETHLEHEM UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH. 

This church was constituted August 17, 1S49, by Elders 
Jacob V. Rhoads and R. G. Keele, with twenty-one mem- 
bers, as follows: John P. Liwrence, Jesse Lawrence, Delila 
Lawrence, William Jones, Margaret Jones, Elizabeth Jones, 
Sarah C. Jones, William Wright, Louisa Wright, Joseph 
Barckley, William F. Rawson, Henry Jackson, James Jack- 
son, William Squires, Mary Brown, Elizabeth Adams, Mary 
Lawrence, Elizabeth Seago, Elizabeth Brown and Saloh 
Jackson. 

For many years this church enjoyed a very high degree 
of pro-perity, and numbered in its membership many of the 
first citizens of that part of the county situated immediately 
south of Bethalto. In 1851 it numbered 102 ; in 1852, 
103 ; in 1853, lOG, and the number of members that had 
joined the church up to 1854 was 169, which added to the 
constituent membership made the whole number received, 
190. In 1858, it had a membership of 13S ; soon after this 
it began to decline, and in 1865, during the war, it was 
reduced to 80. It never regained its former vigor. In 
1868 it was reduced to 49. In 1872 it had increased to 60; 
in 1875, 51 ; in 1876, 44. Its present number is not large. 
On the fourth Saturday, in September, 1850, steps were 
taken to build a church. Jesse St^rkey, David Starkey and 
William Jones were elected trustees, and also a building 
committee. The same persons were appointed a committee 
to receive the deed from James Jones, and to have the same 
recorded. 

The church was a frame, 20x36 feet. They began to 
build in the fall of 1850, and completed it in the spring of 
1851. Prior to this time they held services at the Jackson 
school-house, (T. 5, R. 6). The pastors of this church have 
been R. C. Keele, followed by John Brown, who served 
eleven years ; then John R. Jones, grandson of Elder Wm. 
Jones, four or five years ; Thomas Greer, about one year ; 
T. W. Jones, G. P. Hanks, three or four years ; Thomas M. 
Marsh, then G. G. D.)ugherty as a supply. Its Deacons : 
David Starkey, William Wright, James Saunders, William 
Jones, J. P. Owens, Samuel Matthews and others. The 
highest membership recorded by this church approximated 
150. 

THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF NEW DOUGLAS. 

We find thb church in the minutes of the Apple Creek 



Association in 1872, with Elders T. Bennett and G- P. 
Hanks, and a membership of 85. In 1875 its membership 
had increased to 118, the third in numbers of an association 
of thirty-six churches. This church has experienced pre- 
cious seasons of Divine grace, has numbered in its member- 
ship many most excellent citizens, and has exerted wide 
control. Information, however, has not been obtained to 
give a specific and accurate history. 

THE GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH OF FOSTERBURG. 

This church was organized with fifteen members, in 1857. 
Its constituent members were : Carl Hummert and wife, 
August Ploeger and wife, Henry Niemeier and wife, Philip 
Stobs and wife, Carl Schobs and wife, William Gabriel and 
wife, Herbert Keiser, John Voss and Wilhelmine Wortman. 
Eight of these are still living members of the church. 

Carl Schobs was the first pastor. He served a brief period. 
Henry Williams, Sr. was the second pastor. He was or- 
dained by the church April I, 1861. He served till Feb 
ruary 2, 1^74. Carl Becker was ordained and became 
pastor August 12, 1874, and served till June 16, 1875. 
He was followed by Henry Schulz, who was ordained by 
the church and became pastor, March 30, 1876, and served 
until October 25, 1880. J. F. Hoefflin, from Iowa, became 
pastor October 1, 1881, and is still in that office. H Keiser, 
H. Kiemeier and A. Ploeger have served as deacons. Ditlerent 
persons have served as clerk. E, Peters is the present clerk. 

The whole number baptized is eighty-four. The whole 
number received by letter and experience, forty-nine. The 
whole number dismissed, excluded and died. 111. Of those 
excluded fifteen have been restored. Present number fifty- 
two. The church is and has always been in full sympathy 
with all benevolent societies of the Baptist denomination, 
but her sympathies are most earnestly given to the work of 
Evangelization among the Germans of the United Slates. 
Its Sabbath school is prosperous. It numbers from fifty to 
sixty pupils, and has from five to eight teachers. H. Keiser 
is superintendent. The church has a good brick meeting- 
house, and a frame parsonage. The prospects of the church 
are hopeful to a good degree. 

Present trustees: Philip Newhaus, John Krieg, Charles 
Galike. Clerk, E. Peters. 

PLEASANT RIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH. 

This church is in the vicinity of St. Jacobs. It first ap- 
pears in the minutes of the South District Association in 
1844, with 25 members, of whom 3 had been recently bap- 
tized. Its delegates were J Lindly, W. M. Lindly, and T. 
Steele. 

Its pastors have been Joseph Lemen, M. Ely, C. J. Kelly, 
H. Thomp.son, J. B. White, J. H. Mize, W. D. Ross, H. S. 
Deppe, and perhaps others. 

Its licentiates, W. M. Lindly, O. Ely, N. Linkumfelter. 
Previous to 1864, it had reported 124 received by baptism — 
67 by letter — 14 by experience and restoration. It had 
dismissed 50 — excluded 45, and lost 14 by death. The 
highest number of members reported was in 1857, 116. 



310 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Since 1864, its history, like most others, has been one of 
prosperity and adversity, revival and declension. In 
1873-4, the number reported as baptized, within the asso- 
ciational year, was 42, and its membership was 134. Two 
years later, according to the minutes of the Association, its 
membership was reduced to 2.5. The church exerted a very 
salutary influence in the community where located. 

paddock's prairie. 

About 183G or 1837, a small church was constituted on 
Taddock's Prairie. It united with the Edwardsville Asso- 
ciation in 1837, with nine members. Zenas Webster, and 
Elihu J. Palmer, brother of the Governor, were its first dele- 
gates. In the minutes of 1838, the name of Elihu J. 
Palmer appears as a licensed minister from this church, 
from whicir I conclude that from this church he receiv- 
ed license to preach — and by this church he was ordained 
at Paddock's Prairie, August 24th, 1840, and became 
its pastor. In 1843, Rev. R. Kimball become pastor. 
During this year the church reached its highest number, 
31 ; and in 1845 it ceased to be represented in the Associa- 
tion. Although its membership was always small, yet its 
influence was extensive and salutary. 

rattan's prairie. 

In 1849, the church at Rattan's Prairie, recently organized, 
â– wasadmitted to the Edwardsville Association, with 13 mem- 
bers Its pastor was Rev. Ebenezer Rodgers, and its delegate 
Luther Lyon. A few months previous to the meeting of the 
Association, in May 18.51, the church dissolved, and its mem- 
bers united with another church in the vicinity, which 
belonged to the Apple Creek Association. 

providence, near CHOUTEAU ISLAND. 

This church was organized by Rev. Ebenezer Rodgers in 
1843. It entered the Edwardsville Association that year, 
â– with nine members. Elder Rodgers looked after its inter- 
ests until 1844, when the high water scattered its members 
and they never again were re-united. One of the few Bap- 
tist churches destroyed by excess of water. 

THE MILTON BAPTIST CHURCH. 

This church was organized October 23, 1869, in the Amer- 
ican Bottom, below Alton. It joined the Edwardsville 
Association in 1870 with twenty-nine members. 

Rev. Cain preached before the church was organized from 
Nov. 1808 to June 1869. W. W. Reagan was pastor in 
1870 and in 1871. In 1871 the church by dismissal, by death, 
and by exclusion was reduced to the number of fifteen, and 
in 1872 it became practically extinct. 

FORKS OF WOOD RIVER. 

This church was organized in 1836. It came into the 
Edward-sville Association in 1S37 with sixteen members. 
It reported in 1838 with fifteen, in 1839 sixteen, in 1840, 
Aaron Trabue pastor, sixteen ; in 1841 sixteen were baptized, 
and the number was increased to twenty-six. 

In 1*42 Rev. Aaron Trabue was again pastor, and the 
church enjoyed a good degree of spiritual prosperity. Thir- 
teen were baptized and the number was thirty-six. This 



seems to have been its zenith of power and influence. From 
this time it began to decline, and in 1845 it disappeared 
from the minutes of the Association. 

CARPENTER BAPTIST CHURCH. 

This church was organized by Rev. G. G. Daugherty, 
January 1st, 1882, at the residence of David Nix, in Hamel 
Township. Its constituent members were, Wm. Mize, Miss 
Sarah Mize, Fred. Mitchell, Mrs. Fred Mitchell ; total four. 
The church has received three by baptism ; present number 
seven. Rev. G. G. Daugherty labored as pastor from the 
organization till April, when Rev. G. Steele, of Upper 
Alton, became missionary pastor. 

THE UNION BAPTIST CHURCH OF ALTON {Colored). 

This church was organized at the house of Charles Ed- 
wards, in Upper Alton, in the summer of 1836, with ten 
members, viz: Mr. Ogle, Eben. Rotgers, Mr. Edwards and 
wife, Alfred Richardson, Mr. Mariman, two by the name of 
Leraen, Wm. Barton and Wm. Johnson. The church im- 
mediately removed to Alton and located on Alby and Eas- 
ton streets between 3d and 4th. After a brief period it re- 
moved to Middletown, and again returned to Alton. It then 
located on 3d street between George and Alton streets. Their 
first house of worship was a small frame — they at present 
own and occupy a good substantial frame house. The church 
has never been large, but it has exerted a very beneficial in- 
fluence upon the colored population of the city. At times a 
very good degree of religious prosperity has been enjoyed, 
and in a revival in 1843, the church received twenty-nine 
members. Its first deacons were Wm. Johnson, who served 
about twenty years, and Wm. Barton, who served ten years, 
and then removed to Piasa. About the year 1851 J. M. 
Kelley was elected. 

The fol'owing have been pastors of the church in the order 
named : Livingstone, Robinson, Anderson, James H. John- 
son. Wilbert Steward, R. J. Robinson, a second time, Elder 
Bolden, James P. Johnson, J. Henry McGee, James P John- 
son, a second time, Henry Howard, R. T. Robinson, G. W. 
Clarke and Elder Pierraaii, who is the present pastor. Colo- 
nies from this church have established churches at Galena, 
at Quiucy, and near St. Charles, Missouri. Among the mem- 
bers of this church have been quite a number of men who 
have been good citizens of Alton, and excellent representa- 
tives of their race. 

THE SALEM BAPTIST CHURCH ON WOOD RIVER, ( Colored). 

The date of the organization of this church is May ?>, 1846, 
with eleven members. Its history is similar to the Union 
Baptist Church of Alton— both colored. It has never been 
large, but has exhibited a good degree of religious zeal and 
activity. The Wood River Association, (colored), has been 
held with it several times. It has exerted a very salutary 
influence upon the colored people of this section of country. 
Some of its ministers have been men of marked ability and 
earnest devotion to their work. At an early day they built 
a small house of worship, which they occupied until the 
social, financial and numerical standing of the church de- 
manded a better house. Their present house is of brick, 24 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



311 



by 36 feet; 13 inch wall, 14 feet in the clear ; built about 
1870— and is without debt. The present membership of the 
church is about 46. This is the home of Rev. James P. 
Johnson, who at present looks after the spiritual interests 

of the churcli. 1 

1 

SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH OF UPPER ALTON, (Colored). j 

In May, 1868, the Second Baptist Church was organized at 
the Salem school-house in Upper Alton. The constituent mem- 
bers were nine, all of whom had been regularly dismissed 
for that purpose, by the Alton City Union Baptist Church. 
The names of the nine constituent members were as follows : 
Cyrus M Howard and wife, Jno. A. Howard ; W. Scott 
and wife ; Eliza Grason ; Mary A. Wilson ; Martha Broner ; J 
Martha Foster ; James Brown. The council that organized ; 
them was composed of Rev. Washington Leverett ; Rev. 

Tilbury ; Rev. H. C. Hazen, and Geo. A. Cressy. 

Subsequently they were recognized as a regular Baptist 
Church, by a council convened in the meeting-house of the 
First Baptist Church of Upper Alton. Rev. R. E Patti- 
son, D. D., preached the sermon, and Rev. Melvin Jameson 
gave the hand of fellowship. 

In 1869 they completed a neat frame-house of worship, at 
a cost of SI, 400. The house is 36 by 56 feet, with 14 feet ! 
ceiling. In the completion of their house of worship^ they 
received liberal aid from outside parties. The house was 
dedicated in Sept. 1869. Rev. Dr. Read, President of 
Shurtleff College, preached the sermon from Haggai, 2 : 9, 
" The glory of the latter house shall be greater than the 
former, saith the Lord of Hosts." 

Pastars. — J. Robinson, 2 years; W. H. Howard, 1 year; 
Wm. Webster, 2 years ; W. H. Willitt, 1 year. W. C 
Carter, six months; J. Stratton and W. H. Willitt have 
been ordained by the church — and Samuel Hart, licensed. 
Cyrus M. Howard was the first deacon — others at different 
times have been chosen, as circumstances demanded. 

The highest number of membership recorded at any time, 
48. Present number, 34. Lost by death, 4. 

Immediately after the dedication of their meeting-house, 
a Sabbath-school was organized, which has been kept up 
till the present time without interruption, with an average 
of about 20 scholars. 

There have been in the county a number of other 
churches, small but influential, whose history could not be 
secured. The foregoing sketch of the Baptists of Madison 
county is of neces?ity exceedingly imperfect, arising from the 
impo.ssibility of procuring accurate and reliable data. The 
writer has done the best he could with the material at his 
command. 

BAPTIST MINISTERS WHO HAVE DIED IN THIS COUNTY. 

Rev. William Jones is believed to be the first 
Baptist minister who settled within the limits of what is 
now Madison county. He was born in Washington county, 
Virginia, Septendier 12th, 1771. He removed to the Terri- 
tory of Illinois, as early as 1805, and possibly as early as 
1802 He first settled on Shoal creek, near the present town 
of Greenville, Bond countv. There a fort was built and 



called Jones's Fort- He settled in Madison county pre- 
vious to 1S07, making his home on a farm about three miles 
south of the present town of Bethalto. In the war of 1812, 
he entered the service of his country and joined a company 
of Rangers. He was immediately elected captain — under 
his leadership the company engaged in several sanguinary 
battles, and with heroic fortitude endured the hardships of 
the campaign. When the war ended he returned to his 
farm, and there reared a large family. At the .same time he 
resumed ministerial work with energy, success and delight. 
In 1807, before he was aided by Elder David Badgley, he 
had organized the first Baptist church within the present 
limits of Madison county, " The B^iptist Church of Wood 
River. " It belonged to that branch of the Baptist Church 
who styled themselves 'â–  United Baptist." His ministrations 
to this people were performed with great fervor, simplicity and 
power — many were converted under his ministry. The 
membership of his church were widely tcattered, but 
attended the monthly covenant meetings of the church 
with great regularity and punctuality, often traveling longdis- 
tances on horseback exposed to attacks from the Indian.s in 
the wilderness that they might enjoy the means of grace as well 
as social visitation His nuniory is cheri.'hcd and re- 
vered by multitudes still living. Although entirely free 
from political aspirations his marked ability could not per- 
mit him to remain unnoticed. After the war of 1812 at 
the earnest solicitations of his friends he was elected a 
member of the Territorial Legislature of Illinois, and occu- 
pied a prominent position in that body. In 1818 he was 
elected a second time to the Legislature. His popularity 
was such that at one time he was earnestly importuned to 
become a candidate for Governor of the State. He declined 
on the ground that it would interfere with the proper dis- 
charge of his ministerial duties. It is believed by many 
of his friends that he would have been elected had he con- 
sented to run for office, because Ninian Edwards refused the 
use of his name until he learned that Elder Jones absolutely 
refused to be a candidate. He died January 2d, 1844, in 
the 73d year of his age. He was a man of decided ability, 
of unblemished reputation, of unimpeachable integrity of 
character, and of great personal worth. A moug the men of that 
time he commanded great respect, and upon them exerted 
great influence. He is held in great esteem, and his record 
is referred to with commendable pride by a large number of 
descendants and personal friends, in whose hearts are en- 
shrined his excellencies, and over whose development and 
destiny his character and teachings will exert unavoidable 
and immeasurable control. 

Rev. D. M. Howell was converted at the age of 
fifteen, and immediately felt the prcmptings of duty to 
preach the gospel, especially in Central and Southern Illi- 
nois. For the purpose of seeking more thorough prepara- 
tion he studied two years in Shurtleff' College. He was or- 
dained at the age of twenty-four. The first four years of 
his ministerial life were devoted to missionary labor, in which 
he was very successful. Afterward he was pastor at Bethel 
and at CoUinsville. He was a man of earnest piety, of ar- 
dent zeal, of strong mind, of iron will, of untiring industry — 



312 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



He was especially fond of laboring in protracted meetings, 
for which he seemed to possess peculiar adaptation, and in 
which he was successful. Hundreds were converted under 
his ministry ; about five hundred of whom he baptized- 
He was clear, simple, earnest, direct in his preaching. 
He was geniel and affable in social life, upright and honora- 
ble in his dealings, stern and uncompromising in his princi- 
ples, warm and tenacious in his friendships. Hediedof can- 
cer on the lower lip. The disease was in its progress exceed- 
ingly slow and painful. His sufferings for weeks were of 
the most excruciating character. They were borne with great 
fortitude and Christian resignation until he himself most 
earnestly prayed for release. He died June 7th, 1806. 

Rev. Zenas B. Newman was born in Seekonk, Mass., 
where he spent his early life. He entered Brown Universi- 
ty in 1830, pursued the entire course of study, but because 
of conscientious scruples about the distribution of the honors 
of the class, he with Dwight Ives and others refused to re- 
ceive his degree. SliurJeff College gave him subsequently 
the degree of A. M. 

He came to Alton in 1835, became Principal in the Pre- 
paratory and Academic departments of Shurtleff College till 
1840. In 1841 became Professor of oratory, rhetoric and 
belles-letters, and filled that office acceptably till his death, 
in 1844. He died after a protracted illness of consumption, 
while yet a young man. He was a scholar and Christian 
minister, whose life promised to be one of great usefulness. 
He was twice married, first to Misj Ide, of Seekonk, 
Mass., and again to Miss Carolina Loomis, of Upper Altoni 
who still lives in the village where he married her. He had 
one son by each wife, both of whom have also passed away. 

Rev. Wm. J. Roseberry was born near Louisville, Ky. 
April 24, 1829. His parents were members of the Metho- 
dist Episcopal church, although his mother was a Baptist 
in belief Hence the principles and practices of the Baptists 
were frequent topics of discussion in the family circle, and 
were apologized for, and sometimes defended with some 
degree of interest. This defence on the part of 
the mother, it is believed, had its effect upon the 
mind of the son; still the son when converted at seventeen 
years of age, united with the church of his parents. He 
soon, however, became confirmed in his Baptist views, and in 
1854, when twenty-five years of age, was baptized by Rev. J. 
V. Hopper, of Bunker Hill, Illinois. Immediately after his 
baptism his duty to preach was deeply impressed on his 
mind. His parents having removed to Illinois when he was 
quite young, his opportunities for intellectual culture 
were quite limited. He was naturally modest and retiring, 
hence the struggle was unusually severe. Was ordained to 
the gospel ministry in 1857. He has served as pastor, the 
churches of New Hope, New Douglas, Marine, Staunton 
aud Edivardsville, laboring with a good degree of earnest- 
ness and success. 

In the year 1861, he was elected superintendent of schools 
in Madison County, which office he held until his death, a 
fact clearly evincing the energy of his own character in view 
of his want of early culture, and also exhibiting the confi- 
dence of the people in his ability and culture. 



As a man he was quiet, industrious, energetic and honest. 
As a citizen, loyal and earnest in support of the government, 
while abstaining from earnest partisan political discussions. 

His disposition was mild and equable to an unusual de- 
gree, enabling him to secure and retain his brethren in the 
strongest bonds of Christian affection. 

He was a kind husband, an affectionate father, and hence 
highly esteemed and tisnderly loved. At the time of his 
death he was from home, attending to his duties as superin- 
tendent of schools. So severely aud rapidly did the disease 
do its work, that he was compelled just before reaching home 
to seek the residence of a neighbor as the scene of the last 
struggle. He died in perfect peace, March 29, 1869. He 
was married, March 8. 1849, to Miss Sarah J. Lamb, of 
Madison county, 111. They were the parents of ten children. 
Four of the children preceded the father to the spirit 
land. The widow and six children survive him. 

Profs. Warren and Washington Leverett, whose self- 
denying, unwearied and successful labors in Shurtleff College 
for so many years have inseparably connected tht ir name, 
with the prosperity and development of Madison county, 
and of the state, and this college, were " twins by birth and 
twins in all labors and a.ssociations of life." They were 
born in Brookline, Mass., December 19, 1805. Soon after 
reaching their majority they united with the First Baptist 
church in Cambridgeport, Mass. They pursued a preparatory 
course of study under ihe tuition of their elder brother. Rev. 
Wm. Leverett, of Roxbury, and then entered Bruwn Univer- 
sity in 1825; graduating in 1832. Wa'ren entered the Theo- 
logical School at Newton, Mass , but failing health compelled 
him to abandon the course of study he so earnestly coveted. 
In quest of health he spent a period in circulating Bibles in 
Charleston, S. C He afterward taught school in Lawrence- 
burg and Franklin, Indiana. Frequent and severe hem- 
orrhage of the lungs compelled him to give up all hope of 
finishing his studies at Newton, and he resolved to give his 
life to teaching in the Mississippi valley. To enable him 
the better to fulfil his purpose, as well as to meet the Divine 
instincts of his being, he souiiht a companion and found just 
such an one as he desired in Miss Mary A. Brown, of Strat- 
ham. New Hampshire, who was at that time preceptress of 
the Young Ladies' Academy at Townsend, Mass. After 
marriage they immediately came west. They first began 
labor in Greenville, Bond county. After teaching there a 
little more than one year he was called to a professorship in 
Shurtleff College. His brother, Washington, preceded him 
the year before. In 1853 he resigned, and for the next 
two years conducted a school of a high order in Upper 
Alton. H ewas then reelected to a Professorship in the 
college, which position he occupied until the close of the 
academic year, 1867-8. There was the scene of his active 
life. He spent thirty-five years of his life in Upper Alton, 
and twenty-seven of the same in the Faculty of Shurtleff 
College. With an assiduity and faithfulness rarely excelled, 
he gave all his energies to the intellectual and moral devel- 
opment of his pupils. He died at his residence in Upper Al- 
ton, November 8, 1872, of typhoid pneumonia, after an ill- 
ness of three days. His widow aud three chidreu survive him- 



HISTORY OF MADISOM COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



313 



Rev. Hubbel Loomis was born amid the throes of the 
Revolution, May 31, 1775, in Colchester, Conn. At the 
age of sixteen he was converted. Impressed with the duty 
of consecrating himself to the ministry he entered upon the 
work of thorough intellectual and theological training. On 
his 28th birthday he preached his first sermon, under license 
from the Congregational Association of Ministers, of New 
London county, Conn. In 1S04, he was ordained and 
installed pastor of the Congregational church in Willington, 
Conn. He enjoyed a profitable and pleasant pastorate of 
four years. But having changed his views during the 
latter part of his pastorate, he was conscientiously compelled 
to seek a home among the Baptists. In 1828 he was bap- 
tized and ordained to the ministry in the Baptist church. 
He came to Illinois in 1830, and after teaching a brief period 
in Kaskaskia, he made his home in Upper Alton. In 1834, 
he, with si.x others, laid the foundation of a Baptist seminary, 
which, in union with the removal of Rock Spring Semiuary> 
subsequently developed into Shurtleft' College. He wa.s the 
first principal of the seminary, and continued at its head 
until 1836. when he resigned to give place to younger men. 
After his resignation he resided in Upper Alton for thirty- 
six years, devoting the evening of his day to literary pur- 
suits and religious study. Father Loomis, as he was 
familiarly called, possessed very tine social qualities, kind- 
ness, affability, excellent conversational powers, benevolence, 
conscientiousness, sympathy with the suffering, perfect trans- 
parency of (jharacter, and these qualities greatly endeared 
him to his friends, and awakened in all with whom he asso- 
ciated the kindest regard, the warmest and sincerest respect. 
His entire life was given to study. After he reached his 
ninety-fourth year he purchased the "Ante Nicene Fathers," 
and perused them, up to a very brief period before his death, 
with all the eagerness, assiduity and interest of his earlier 
years. His mind was vigorous and unclouded to the last ; 
he was an able preacher, a clever reasoner, an exemplary 
citizen, and devoted Christian. He died in Upper Alton, 
December 15, 1873, at the advanced age of nearly ninety- 
eight years. 

Rev. Ebexezer Rodgers was born near Newport in Mon- 
mouthshire, England, March 17th, 178S. His parents were 
Welsh. His father was a dissenter, a Baptist, but not a 
preacher. He had two younger brothers who were Baptist 
ministers. In England he pur.-ued a course of study prepar- 
atory to the Christian ministry, and then emigrated to the 
United States in 1818. After preaching a brief period in 
Kentucky he went to Howard county Mo., in'1819. The 
country was sparsely settled, and he devoted himself largely 
to gratuitous missionary labor. He soon gathered a church, 
over which he was ordained pastor. The church soon num- 
bered 102. To preach the Gospel he frequently traveled 
long distances, over prairies, through forests, amid dangers, 
often sleeping in the open air with his saddle for a pillow. 
Jn August 1823, he was married to Miss Parmelia Jackson, 
who still lives in Ufper Alton, making her home with her 
youngest daughter, Mrs. Dr. E. C. Lemen. The union was 
a happy one. A large family surrounded the paternal 
.hearth. Four of the children, two sons and two daughters, 
live in and near Upper Alton. In 1833, on his return from 
40 



a visit to England he passed through Alton and spent sevpral 
weeks with the churches in Alton and Upper Alton. The 
result was a call to the pastorate of these two cburche.*:, 
which he accepted. He removed his family to Upper Alton 
in November, 1834, and began his labors. In December, 
1835, he closed his labors with the Alton church and de- 
voted himself exclusively to the church at Upper Alton. 
Thii pastorate continued until the close of 1838. After 
1838, several churches in the vicinity enjoyed his labors. 
He baptized during his ministry about 700, 500 of whom he 
baptized in Missouri, the remainder in Illinois. Father 
Rodgers, as he was familiarly called, was among the first 
and .strongest supporters of every benevolent enterprise of 
every denominational society. Home and foreign missions, 
the Bible cause, general and ministerial education found in 
him an able and unwavering advocate and firm supjjoiter. 
His last illness was characterized by that unwavering confi- 
dence in God that had been his study and delight in life. 
He contemplated his change with great composure, and en- 
tire resignation ; said he, " The doctrines of grace I have 
found eminently adapted to me in life, and i now find them 
all that is necessary in death. God orders all things right. 
His will be done." Thousands heard the doctrines of the 
Gospel from his lips, and hundreds under his ministry were 
converted. He died at his residence in Upper Alton, sur- 
rounded by his sorrowing family, April 2-5th, 1854. 

Rev. Adiel Sherwood, D. D., was born in Fort Edward, 
N. Y., October 3d, 1791. He was baptized in the 17ih year 
of his age by Rev. Mr. Warrington of New York. He 
studied a season in Middlebury College, Vt., and subse- 
quently graduated from Union College at Schenectady. He 
graduated also from the Theological Seminary at Andover. 
After filling many important positions he was elected Presi- 
dent of Shurtleff College in 1840, and served the college in 
that capacity until 1846. He then returned south and 
settled in Georgia, where he remained until the close of the 
civil war. After the war he made his home in St. Louis, 
where he died August 19th, 1879, in the 88th year of his 
age. He was a man of very distinguished ability, a pro- 
found scholar, a vigorous thinker and writer, an eminent 
Biblical exegete, an able preacher and a noble man. 

BAPTLST MINISTERS WHOSE LABORS IX MADISON COUNTY 
DESERVE MENTION BUT WHO DIED ELSEWHERE. 

Rev Alvin Bailey was the first pastor of the Bajjtist 
church in the city of Alton. He was born in Westminster, 
Vt., Dec. 9, 1802. He joined the Baptist church when four- 
teen years of age. Graduate<l at Hamilton Literary and 
Theological Seminary in 1S81, and soon thereafter came to 
this county. He opened a school in Upper Alton, which 
many regard as the germ of Shurtleff College. He removed 
to Carrollton,and became the pastor of that church. He was 
subsequently pastor at Winchester and Jacksonville, 111. At 
the latter place he published "The Voice of Truth" and 
the " Western Star." From 1847 to 1853 he labored in the 
state of New York ; he then returned to Illinois, and was 
pastor of the churches at Carroliton and Rome. He died in 
the state of New York, May 9th, 1SG7. He was one of the 



314 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



best Baptist ministers that ever labored in the state of Illi- 
nois 

Rev. Robert F. Ellis, was pastor of the Baptist 
church in Alton from 1847 to 1853. He was born in 
Mxine, Ojt. 16th, 18>)3, anil was onverteJ at the age of 
twenty and baptized Dec- 26th, 1830. In 1833 he entered 
the Freshman class in Bowdoin College. In June, 18 34, he en- 
tered the Theological school at Newton, Mass., and gradua- 
ted in 1838. He was pastor of the Second Baptist church at 
ypringlield, Mass., seven years. In the spring of 1845 he" en- 
tered the service of the American Sunday School Union, in 
the state of Missouri. In 1847 he became the pastor of the 
Alton Baptist church and served the church till 1853, with 
acceptance and usefulness, and then became corresponding 
editor of the " ^yester^ Watchman," a Baptist paper pub- 
lished in St. Louis. He died away from home and family, 
at the residence of Deacon Briggs in Clark county. Mo., 
July 24th, 1854, in the 45th year of his age. He was an ex- 
cellent minister, a noble man. 

Rev. Norman Nelson Wood, D. D., was president of 
Shurtleff College from 1850 to 1855. He was born in Fair- 
fax, Vt , May 1st, 1808, and died in Jacksonville, Illinois, 
Jan. 21st, 1874, in the 66th year of his age. In 1835, when 
27 years of age, he graduated from Middlebury College, Vt. 
After graduation he served for one year as principal of the 
Black River Academy, Vt. In 1836 he entered the depart- 
ment of Theology in Madison University, N. Y. In conse- 
quence of impaired health he did not complete the course 
of study intended. In 1838 he was ordained at the call of 
the Baptist church at Lebanon Springs, N. Y., and became 
jiastor of that church. In 1842, he became the pastor of 
the church in Vicksburg, Miss. In 1845 he btcame pastor 
of the Market street church, Zanesville, Ohio. In 1850 he 
became President of Shurtleff college. He filled this position 
with honor until 1855, He subsequently became pastor of 
the church in Palmyra, Mo., and during the rebellion was 
chaplain in the army. His subsequent life was spent in 
Jacksonville, Illinois, where he pursued with ardor literary 
labors, and for several years filled the office of Professor of 
Mental and Moral Philosophy and Logic in the " Young 
Ladies' Athen;cum " of that city. Dr. Wood possessed un- 
usual natural abilities, was highly cultured ; a man of real 
scholarly attainments, he was a profound logician, thoroughly 
master of the science of metaphysics. His mind was quick, 
l)enetrating, analytic and comprehensive. 

Rtv. R. E. Pattison, D. D., was born in Benson, Vt., 
August 16th, 1800. He was converted at the age of twenty, 
and baptized at Warsaw, New York. He graduated at 
Amherst College in 1826. After teaching a brief period 
in the Academy at Amherst he became tutor in Columbian 
College, Washington, D C. In 1828, he became Professor 
of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy in Waterville Col- 
1" ge, IVIaine. In 1829 he was ordained as pastor of the 
Second Baptist Church in Salem, Mass. In 1830 he was 
called to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church, in Provi- 
dence, R. I., a position to which he was called a second time 
in 1840. He was twice President of Waterville College, 
Home Secretary of the Missionary Union, President of the 



Western Ba[)tist Theological Institution at Covington, Ky. 
Professor of Christian Theology in Newton Theological Semi- 
nary, Mass. In 1865, he was elected to the chair of Syste- 
matic Theology and History of Doctrines in Shurtleff Col- 
lege, which position he filled with great popularity and effi- 
ciency until 1869, when he resigned. The last four years of 
his life were spentin Chicago in connection with the University 
of Chicago and the Theological Seminary. He was a 
member of the Faculty of the Seminary at the time of his 
death, which occurred in St. Louis, March 21st, 1874. 

Rarely, if ever has one man, filled with acceptance and 
honor, so many important and responsible positions as 
R. E. Pattison He possessed superior mental endowments. 
In all metaphysical questions, the clearness of his percep- 
tions, and the growth of his intellect gave him preeminent 
power, and fitted him in an eminent degree for a teacher of 
the highest order. 

Nathaniel Milton Wood, D. D. was born in Camden, 
Maine, May 24th, 1822. He entered Waterville College, 
in 1840, was baptized in 1843, soon after graduated, and 
went directly to Mississippi under the patronage of Gov. 
Tucker of that state and served as private tutor one year — 
In 1846. he entered the Theological Institution in Covington, 
Ky., under the charge of Dr. Pattison — He was ordained as 
pastor of the Bloomfield Church, Maine, in 1874. His pas- 
torate continued four years — followed by a pastorate of eight 
years at AVaterville, Maine. He was pastor at LewLston 
six years, at Thomaston one and a half years. In 1868, he 
became pastor of the Baptist church at Upper Alton, Illinois. 
During his pastorate he performed acceptable service, tem- 
porarily as a member of the Faculty of Shurtleff College. 
In 1872, he resigned his pastorate and accepted in the Col- 
lege the professorship of Systematic Theology. After an 
acceptable service as Professor for two years, he returned to 
New England. He died August 2d, 1876. In N. M. 
Wood, as exemplified in his character and services, we have 
a beautiful example of the union of rigid intellectual 
culture, extensive learning, the purifying influences 6f Divine 
grace, with great simplicity of spirit, modesty in deport- 
ment, urbanity in intercourse, transparency in character, and 
purity in life. 

Though John Mason Peck was never a resident of Mad- 
ison county, yet his Labors in early days were so inseparably 
blended with the early religious development of the county 
that a brief sketch of his life seems peculiarly appropriate. 
He was born in the parish of LitclWield, South Farms, 
Conn., October 31, 1789. In the 20th year of his age, he 
married Miss Sarah Paine, with whom he lived in pleasant 
conjugal relations nearly fifty years ; by whom he had seven 
sons and two daughters. The wife and mother preceded 
him to the spirit land. Shortly after marriage, himself and 
wife made a public profession of religion, and united with 
the Congregational church in his native town. Soon after 
he removed to Green county, N. Y. There his religious 
views underwent an entire change, and he and his wife united 
with the Baptist church. Having studied for a season with 
Dr. Staughton of Philadelphia, in company with Rev. James 
E. Welch, under the apjwintmeut of the Baptist Board of 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



315 



Missions, he and his family, in 1817, removed to the "Great 
West." He spent four years in indefotigable labors in Mis- 
souri, and then, in 1821, located at Rock Spring, Illinois. 

He there organized a Theological and High School, which 
prospered for several years under his faithful superinten- 
dence. At one time it numbered more than one hundred 
students, some of our most talented ministers and some of 
our most distinguished politicians received their education 
at this institution It was subsequently merged into Shurt- 
leff College. His unwearied effiirts in favor of Rock Spring 
Seminary and of Shurdeff College, afest the intensity of 
his interest in general and in theological education 

The degree of D. D. conferred upon him by one of the 
ohlest and most distinguished Universities of the U S , was 
well merited, although it evoked the jealousy of some of his 
less favored brethren. Hi vast store of learning, however, 
was the result of his own superior natural endowments, 
directed by his own personal efforts, unaided by money, 
friends or institutions of learning, if we except perhaps a 
single year's training under the celebrated Dr. Staughton of 
Philadelphia. 

He was, in the discharge of his ministerial duties, faith- 
ful, energetic and self-sacrificing. His labors were varied 
and extensive. His correspondence, diaries, journals, re- 
ports, addresses, sermons, debates and printed material, if 
collected, would make many volumes. He was perfectly at 
home in science, in politics, in statesmanship, as well as in 
religion. He exerted b )Uiidless influence over the Lemens, 
through whose iifluence, more perhaps than any other men, 
Illinois became a free state. Politicians and statesmen 
sought his opinions, and enjoyed his companionship. 

In his manners, Dr. Peck seemed to exhibit a degree of 
coldness, which indicated the superiority of his intellectual 
over his social or affectionate nature, and yet he had a warm 
heart, and deeply sympathized with all in distress. He was 
noble, generous and charitable in disposition. He possessed 
an iron will that brooked no opposition, yielded to no ad- 
verse influence, was intimidated by no danger. He never 
surrendered. What he believed the cause of the Master 
demanded, no combination of adverse circumstances could 
deter him from undertaking. He was autocratic in his ten- 
dencies, and yet always ready to yield when convinced that 
principle demanded it. In the expansiveness of his Christ- 
ian sympathy he embraced the world. The heathen in 
foreign lands, the Aborigines of our own country, the slaves 
of the South, all alike shared his labors and enjoyed his 
sympathy. 

The wholesome and affectionate counsel given to minis- 
ters and to church members will be long remembered. The 
last time he ever attended public worship, he preached to 
his church, and closed with the words of Simeon : "Now, 
Lord, lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine 
eyes have seen thy salvation," and, bursting into a flood of 
tears, he took his seat. 

He met the King of Terrors with undaunted courage. 
He gave most minute directions relative to both burial and 
funeral exercises, having even procured his coffin two or 
three days beforehand, and inquiring if it was paid for. 



His death occurred March 15, 1858. On the following day, 
in accordance with his own request, Rev. James Lemen 
preached the funeral sermon, assisted by Dr. Crowell of St- 
Louis, and Rev. W. F. Boyakin of Belleville. He was 
buried in Rock Spring Cemetery, but twenty-nine days later, 
his remains were removed to Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. 
Louis, where they remain. " They rest from their labors, 
and their works do follow them.' 

Rev. Is.\ac Demison Newell was born in Tinmouth, 
Vt., Nov. 1st, 1793. Most of his youth was spent on a farm. 
After reaching his majority, he engaged for a season in mer- 
cantile pursuits, and then entered the Christian ministry. 
To prepare himself for his work, he entered and graduated 
at Madison University, N. Y. His energv, while in college, 
led hira to active and successful ministerial labor. He was 
successively pastor at Warren and Winfield, N. Y., and 
Danville, Vt., preaching often at other places, among which 
was Rutland, Vt. 

At this time the richness and rapid settlement of the Mis- 
sissippi Valley attracted the attention of the agriculturalist, 
the adventurer, and the Church of Christ. Mr. Newell was 
eminently fitted by nature and cultivation for such a field, 
and was irresistibly attracted to it. In 1836 he came with 
his family to Illinois, and settled in Rushville, Schuyler 
county. Thence, after a successful pastorate of several 
years, he removed to Leroy. Subsequently, he was succes- 
sively pastor at Bloomington, Newcastle, Canton, and Peo- 
ria. In all these places great spiritual prosperity was 
enjoyed. The churches increased rapidly in membership 
and in all the elements of pawer. In most of them excel- 
lent houses of worship were built, and the churches a-^sumed 
a position which comra inded the confidence and respect and 
secured the co-operation of the leading forces in the social 
and religious life of the several communities. 

In 1847, at the urgent solicitation of the hoard of trustees 
of Shurtleff College, he resigned a pleasant and important 
pastorate at Peoria, removed his family to Upper Alton, and 
became the financial agent of the college. He brought to 
his work all the intensity of his energy and all the ripeness 
of his experience. He traveled extensively, gained friends 
for the college, and added largely to its financial prosperity. 
It was through his influence that the attention of Elijah 
Gove, of Quincy, was directed to the college, than whom no 
man in the west has given more princely donations to its 
funds. Leaving the service of the college, he became pas- 
tor of the church at Batavia, Ills., and then of Aurora, Ills. 
He was an enthusiastic friend and supporter of the " Amer 
ican Bible Union " of New York, a society devoted to the 
revision of the Scriptures ; and, at the close of his pastorate 
in Aurora, entered its service as agent. A brief period of 
service in this capacity was followed by the purchase of a 
considerable tract of land in Iowa, to which he removed, 
with the intention of spending the evening of his life in quiet 
— but God had otherwise determined. 

In the winter of 1850-7, he was thrown from a sleigh, and 
received injuries which, it is supposed, hastened his death. 
He gradually but rapidly declined, and was removed to 
Carrollton, 111 , where he died at the residence of his soa-in- 



316 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



law, Rev. J. Bulkley, August 18th, 1857, in the full posses- 
sion of his intellectual faculties, and in the assurance of a 
glorious and blissful immortality. 

As a preacher, he was among the very first in the state at 
that time. He possessed superior natural ability, and had 
enriched his mind by the most thorough culture then 
afforded. He was clear, logical, analytical, and orthodox. 
His sermons were direct, positive and awakening. He pos- 
sessed remarkable powers of adaptation to the field of labor 
assigned him, and remarkable power in the execution of 
any plan he devised. He believed in special efforts for the 
promotion of revivals of religion; hundreds were converted 
under his ministry. He engaged in New York in what were 
then called " Two Days' Meetings," beginning on Friday 
and closing Sunday night. Extensive and wonderful dis- 
plays of Divine power were exhibited, and great multitudes 
converted. In Illinois, his services in protracted meetings 
were in great demand and attended almost universally with 
extensive and powerful revivals. Hundreds in Peoria, Can- 
ton, Bloomington, Jacksonville, Springfield, Alton, Rush- 
ville, Leroy, Newcastle, and other places, listened to his 
fervent and eloquent appeals, and scores bowed to the 
authority of Jesus Christ, under his preaching. He was 
emphatically an organizer. He possessed in an eminent 
degree the elements of earnestness, activity, discrimination, 
sound judgment, united with the ability to comprehend far- 
reaching influences, and to grasp the forces about him, and 
compel them to subserve the interest to which he was di- 
recting his energies. Hence, in connection with the labors 
of Rev. Thomas Powell, the foundations of the Illinois river 
and McLean Associations were early laid. In the minutes 
of the Illinois Baptist Convention, it is declared that in 
1839 he baptized one hundred converts, many of whom were 
the leading spirits in these associations, and have had much 
to do with shaping the destiny of the Baptists in Illinois. 
He was a man of wonderful energy. He pushed vigorously 
to completion every enterprise in which he engaged. Ob- 
stacles that would have impeded and appalled most men, 
only added determination to his energy, and were made sub- 
servient to his success. 

His home was a fountain of perpetual sunshine and joy. 
When worn and pressed down beneath the weight of heart- 
crushing responsibilities, he instinctively retired within the 
eacred precincts of home. Home was to him the most per- 
fect earthly type of heaven, and he was untiring in his efforts 
to make it conform to the Divine ideal. His children had 
unbounded confidence in the piety and integrity of the father, 
whose efforts were seconded by one of the noblest of Chris- 
tian wives ; and in early life they all entered the church of 
their parents. 

He was twice married — first to Miss Sarah Green, daugh- 
ter of Deacon Green, of Rutland, Vt., to whom he was mar- 
ried June 2oth, 1826. She proved to be exactly adapted to 
his character and to the labors of his life. She possessed 
rare natural endowments, largely developed by intellectual 
culture. Her prudent foresight, wise counsel, ardent piety, 
heroic endurance, inflexible purpose, and domestic aptitude, 
contributed largely to his success, and she deserves to share 



with him the honor of that success. Four children were 
the fruits of this marriage. The eldest, Harriet G., was for 
thirty years the devoted and honored wife of Rev. J. Bulk- 
ley, Professor in Shurtlefl' College. The second, George 
Ide, a young man of very great promise, died in Rochester 
University, New York, while studying for the Christian 
ministry. The third, Sarah J., formerly the wife of Herman 
G. Cole, of Chester and Upper Alton, is now the wife of 
Prof. J. C.C Clarke, of Shurtlefl'College, a woman of wealth, 
culture, and Christian earnestness. The fourth, Isaac D., 
served his country during th'i rebellion, was several times 
promoted for his gallantry, until he passed from the rank of 
a private to the position of Commander of Gen. Elliott's 
flagship in the Mississippi JIarine Brigade. He is now a 
worthy Baptist minister in Glenville, Nebraska. Mrs. 
Newell died in Upper Alton, Nov. 23, 18.54. His second 
wife was Miss Cecilia E. Bishop, of Philadelphia. She is 
an intelligent Christian lady, who, since the death of her 
husband, has lived and still lives in Upper Alton, respected, 
useful, and beloved. 

Elder Jacob V. Rhoads was born in Hardin county, 
Kentucky, March 30th, 1793. He spent his minority with his 
father, in the faithful discharge of his filial duties. He was 
converted in 1811, and in 1812 baptized into the fellowship 
of the Rock Creek Inited Baptist church in Kentuckj^. 
He was licensed to preach by this church in 1821 — and in 

1831 ordained. In 1831 he emigrated to Illinois, and in 
October settled at Rhoads' Point, Macoupin county. In 

1832 a church was constituted at this point, of which he be- 
came pastor, and retained the pastorate for 27 consecutive 
years ; probably the longest pastorate ever held by a Baptist 
minister in Illinois. He aided in the constitution of 17 
churches, and at different times was pastor of 13 of them. 
During his life he was pastor of 17 churches. For more 
than fifty years his life was one of unremitting toil, self- 
abnegation and sacrifice for the good of others. His name 
was widely known, and his influence immeasurable. His 
ministry was peculiarly successful. He seemed exactly 
adapted to reach the masses, and hundreds were converted 
under his preaching. His leading elements of character 
were an inflexible purpose, and an unwavering zeal — inde- 
fatigable industry, and spotless integrity, tender conscien- 
tiousness and unyielding devotion to principle. He was a 
good citizen, an affectionate husband, a tender and a loving 
father, a devoted Christian man. He died with armor on. 
Stricken down with paralysis, in 187i, at the advanced age 
of 78, he fell asleep. During his last hours he gave clearest 
evidence that the cause of Christ had the first place in his 
heart. 

Rev. Aaron Teabue was of French parentage, and born 
in Woodford county, Kentucky, Jan. 2d, 1793, and died in 
Jersey county, Illinois, December 29th, 1877, at the age of 
85 years. His early life was spent on a firm. In the war 
of 1812 he served under William Henry Harrison for two 
years. He was in the cavalry service, and engaged in many 
battles — one of which, on the head waters of the Waba^^ll 
was very severe. He was converted and baptized in 1810. 
He was licensed to preach by Mt. Gilead Baptist church in 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



317 



Todd county, Kentucky, January 21st, 1832, and ordained 
by the same church, March 23d, 1833. lu 1837 he emi- 
grated to Illinois, and settled in Upper Alton, where be 
remained till 1844, when he removed to Montgomery county, 
and thence in 1847 to Jersey county, where he remained 
until his death. His field of labor embraced Logan and 
Todd counties, Kentucky ; Madison, Montgomery and Jer- 
sey counties, Illinois. We do not claim for him the 
highest order of talent, but he was emphatically a good man, 
and a good preacher. His preaching was experimental, sim- 
ple, hortatory and scriptural. His entire life was charac- 
terized by industry, integrity, conscientiousness, charity, 
sociability, ardent friendship, strong domestic attachment, 
simple, child-like faith, and conscientious devotion to the 
doctrines and practices of the Baptist church. 

His disease was cancer on the nose, or scrofula. For long, 
weary months, with anxiety approaching impatience, and 
yet with wonderful fortitude and peaceful resignation, he 
awaited the summons of his Master. 

BAPTIST MISISTER3 NOW LIVING IN THE COUNTY. 

Prof. WAsniNoroN Leverett, LL.D , born in Brookline, 
Mass., Dec. 19th, 1805. Between the ages of 14 and 21, 
worked on a farm near Rutland, Vt. United with the First 
Baptist Church, Cambridgeport, Mass , soon after 21 years 
of age, graduated from Brown University in 1832, im- 
mediately afterward completed the theological course of 
study at Newton, Mass. Prof of Mathematics and Natural 
Philosophy in Shurtleff College from 1836 to 1853, and 
acting President of the College, during this lime from 1836 
to 1841 and again from 1846 to 1849. Resigned as Pro- 
fessor in 1853, re-elected in 1855 and served till 1868. 
Since 186S resided in Upper Alton, serving the college as 
Librarian, Curator, and treasurer, and most of the time 
Secretary of the Board of Trustees. 

Rev. a. a. Kenwrick, D. D., born in Ticonderoga, N. Y. 
Jan. 7th, 1836. After receiving his primary education he 
pursued a course of study in Granville Academy, Wash- 
ington Co., N. Y., and later entered Middlebury College^ 
Vt., where he took a partial course, and subsequently in 
May 1861 graduated from Rochester Theological Seminary. 
Previous to his theological studies he had studied law, been 
admitted to the bar, and had practiced law one year in 
Wisconsin and one year in St. Louis. In 1861 he became 
pastor of the North Baptist Church of Chicago. In Jan- 
uary 1875 he removed to St Louis, served one and a-half 
years as assistant pastor of the Second Baptist Church, and 
then served the Beaumont Street Baptist Church as pastor 
till June 1872, when he became President of Shurtleff Col- 
lege, a position which he still occupies. 

Rev. Prof. J. C C- Clarke, born in Providence, R. I., 
where he lived until seventeen years of age. He received 
an English education in the grammar and high schools of 
that city. He prepared himself for business by thorough 
education, but the purpo.se of his life having been entirt ly 
changed by his conversion, he joined a Baptist Church in 
Brooklyn, and in 1854 he commenced study for the Chris- 
tian ministry. He was gratuated from the University of 



Rochester, N. Y., in 1859, and from Rochester Theological 
Seminary in 1861. From Si'ptember 1861 to May 1865 he 
was pastor of the Baptist Church at Youkers, N. Y. In 
the fall of 1865 he for one year supplied the place of the 
absent Prof, of Greek in the University of Chicago. In the 
following year he officiated as Professor in several depart- 
ments in the Baptist Theological Seminary of Chicago, and 
preached for the North Baptist Church, was pastor at Madi- 
son, Wis., from May 1867 to November 1870. He then be- 
came Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy in 
Mt. Auburn Young Ladies' Institute, at Cincinnati, and 
pastor of the Baptist Church there, a little more than two 
years, then pastor in 1873 of the Beaumont Street Baptist 
Church, St. L)uis. In September 1875 he accepted the 
Professorship of Greek iu Shurtleff C illege, teaching also 
French, German, Hebrew, and Biblical Interpretation. He 
still occupies this position. 

Rev. L. a. Abbott was born in Beverly, Ma^s , 1824; 
was converted and baptized at the age of fourteen. In 
early life he followed the sea. After having pursued a 
course of study at Worcester Academy, Mass., he made 
several voyages as mate and as master of a vessel. He was 
ordained pastor of the Baptist church iu Milford, Mass., in 
185-5, and was pastor in that state thirteen years; was pastor 
at Rochester, Minn., four y£ars; at La Crosse, Wis., .seven 
years. He became pastor of the Baptist church in Alton in 
April, 1879, a position which he still holds. Before he 
entered the ministry he wa.s twice elected to the Legislature 
of Mass., and afterward served three sessions more, making 
five sessions in all. He served on such committees as 
"Accounts," "Military Affairs," " Soldiers' Bounties," 
"Education," etc. He is now in the prime of life — useful, 
energetic and highly esteemed. 

Rev. J. F. Hoefflin was born November 13, , in 

the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany. Came to America 
in March, 1857 ; was converted and baptized in New York 
City, in August, 1857 ; was educated in Rochester, N. Y. ; 
was ordained pastor of the First German Baptist church, of 
Chicago, 111 , July 16, 1868. He first came to Illinois in 1868, 
and to Madison county iu October, 1881, as pastor of the 
German Baptist church in Fosterburg, a position which he 
occupies at present, July, 1882. Rev. T. W. B. Dawson, 
an aged veteran, lives at Troy. Rev. Robert Gibson is 
a practicing physician at Alton. There are several others 
living in the county. 

In addition to the foregoing, a large number of Baptist 
ministers, some dead, others now living outside of Madison 
county, have performed valuable service in the cause of the 
Redeemer. Rev. Adiel Sherwood, formerly President of 
Slwirtleff College, dead ; Rev. R. Kimball, dead ; Rev. Elijah 
Dodson, dead ; Rev. J. Merriara, dead ; Rev. J. F. Tolman, 
dead; Rev. John Brown, dead ; Rev. John Padon, dead; 
Rev. L. C. Carr, dead; Rev. Dwight Ives, D. D., dead: 
James, Josiah, Joseph and Moses Lemen, all dead, and many 
others. Among those still living, but not in Madison county. 
Rev. D. Read. D. D, former President of Shurtleff College, 
now pastor at Bloomiugton, 111. ; Rev J. B. Hopper, Bunker 
Hill; Rev. Melviu Jameson, former pastor at Alton, now 



318 



HISTORY OF' MADISON COUNTY, IILINOIS. 



niis.*ionary in Burniah ; Rev. Thomas G. Field, former pastor 
at Alton, now pastor at Winona, jNIIiiu. ; Rev. William J. 
Chapin, Rev. J. 11. Mize, Rev. Luke Dillard, Rev. J. F. 
Howard, Rev. R. Gibson, Rev. R. Johnson (colored), and 
many others. The extent, value and influence of these men 
can only be estimated by Him who knows the secrets of all 
hearts, and perfectly unravels the tangled web of human 
influence. 

THE EDWARDSVILLE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. 

By invitation of the Baptist churches of Edwardsville. 
Rock Spring and Upper Alton a conference of ministers 
and brethren was held at Edwardsville October 16, and 
days following, 1830. The principal object of this meeting 
was to bring about a general union of the Baptists of the 
state. During the se.ssion of this conference, the Edwards- 
ville Baptist Association was organized by delegates from the 
three churches above mentioned. This was the first Baptist 
Association in the state of Illinois, that was open, avowed and 
active in its support of missions, and the various objects of 
benevolence. The following is its 

SUMMARY OF FAITH. 

The " Association thinks the following sentiments (among 
many others) are revealed in the Holy Scriptures, viz. ; 
The self-existence of one infinite and Holy God, as revealed 
in three persons. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, — the eternal 
and essential deity of Christ, — the entire depravity of the 
human heart; the perfect purity and unalterable obligation 
of the divine law, that requires supreme love to God and 
corresponding aflections to mankind — the necessity of a 
change of heart, or the new birl4*, effected by the Divine 
Spirit as the agent, and the word of God as the means — the 
duty of every sinner who hears the Gospel to repent and 
belieye in Christ, and that a wicked heart, in which consists 
his helplessness is no excuse; the perseverance of the saints; 
the duty of every believer to be immersed in the name of 
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit — the strict and entire in- 
dependence of each church, or religious congregation, in all 
government and discipline,— the duty of every believer to 
conform to all the laws of Christ ; our obligation to observe 
the Lord's day, or Christian Sabbath — the resurrection of 
the dead, and final judgment — with the eternal punishment 
of the wicked and salvation of the righteous." 

The association worked under the constitution adopted at 
Edwardsville without change until its session at Nokomis, 
Oct. 4th, 1878, when it revised and enlarged its constitution. 
Its essential features, however, are unchanged. 

At that time, however, Oct. 4th, 1878, its summary of faith 
•was greatly enlarged and quite materially changed. 

This body has been in active operation for more than half 
a century. Under its influence originated 'The Illinois 
Baptist Education Society." " The Baptist Convention of 
Illinois " which in 1844, united at Canton, Illinois, with the 
North-western Baptist convention and formed the present 
"Illinois Baptist General Association." 

Prominent and far-seeing men then living at Rock Spring, 
Edwardsville and Upper Alton, looking out upon the future of 



this great commonwealth, felt the pressing necessity of lay- 
ing broad, deep and permanent, the foundations of the 
Baptist faith. They planned wisely as the present prosperity 
of the denomination in the state now testifies. From a 
handful in 1830, the denomination in Illinois has increased 
until it now numbers 42 a-sociations, 892 churches, 938 
ministers, 626 of whom are pastors. Baptized in 1881, 
3,244: whole number 64,094. 

In 1830, there was not iu Illinois a single association that 
was progressively earnest in its support of missions, Sunday- 
schools, temperance, the Bible cause, ministerial education 
and other benevolent institutions and causes. The " Ed- 
wardsville Association" from the beginning, was open, 
avowed and earnest in support of all the benevolent enter- 
prises of the day. Rock Spring Seminary and Shurtleff" 
College had their origin and support in the active beneficence 
of this association. 

The question of slavery was introduced in the session of 
1837, was earnestly discussed and condemned, as unjust, un- 
scriptural and wicked. 

After the organization churches united with this body as 
follows : 

Bluffdale, Green co., July 26th, 1833, with 32 members; 
Lower Alton, July 27th, 1833, with 21 members; Piasa 
(Brighton) July 2-5th, 1834, with 11 members; Carlinville, 
May 22J, 183.5, with 10 members; Woodburn, May 20th, 
18o6, with 18 members; Shoal Creek, May 20th, 1836, with 
17 members; St. Charles, Mo,, May 20th, 1836, with 10 
members; Greenville, with 16 members; Forks of Wood 
River, with 16 members ; and Paddock's Prairie with 9 mem- 
bers ; May 2Bth, 1837 ; Hillsborough, May 22d, 1840, with 
22 members ; Bunker Hill, May 21st, 1841, with 2.5 mem- 
bers ; Providence (near Chouteau Island) May 26th, 1843, 
with 9 members ; Spanish Needle prairie. May 24th, 1844, 
with 27 members; Greenville, May 26th, 1848, with 19 
members; a new church organized July 4th, 1847, the old 
church having disappeared from the minutes in 1845 ; Rat- 
tan's Prairie, Sept. 25th, 1849, with 13 members; New Hope 
with 65 members, and Bethlehem with 24 members, May 
23d, 1851 ; Staunton, with 63 members, and Union, Bond 
CO , with 14 members. May 23d, 1853; New Salem, with 23 
members, Sept. 22d, 1864; Litchfield, with 15 members, 
Sept. 25th, 1850 ; Marine Prairie, with 29 members and 
Walnut Grove, Bond county with 34 members, Sept. 25th, 
1857; Nokomis, with 8 members, Sept. 24th, 18.58; Butler, 
with 12 members, Sept. 23d, 1859 ; Nilwood, with 17 mem- 
bers, Oct. 13th, 1866 ; Shipman,|with 16 members, Oct. 12th, 
1867 ; Milton, with 37 members, Oct 8th, 1869 ; Pleasant 
Grove, Christian CO., with 12 members, Oct. 11th, 1872; 
Hillsborough (a new church), with 16 members and ^''oster- 
burg (German) with 88 members, Sept. 29th, 1876 ; Beth- 
alto, with 47 membei-s, Oct. 3d, 1879; Union Avenue, 
Litchfield, with 62 members, Sept. 30th, 1881. 

The above are the dates of the first admission of these 
churches. Many of them after several years became too weak 
to report by letter or messenger and were dropped from the 
minutes, others disappeared for a season and again returned, 
others, still, took letters of dismission and united with 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



319 



other associations. In one or two instances as in Edwards- 
ville and Hillsborough, the church became extinct, and after 
several years reorganized. The Providence church on the 
American Bottom was dispersed by the flood of 1844. 
The Kock Spring church disbanded between the sessions of 
the association in 1849 and 1850. 

It will thus be seen that 47 churches, including the three 
constituent churches, have been members of this body. The 
first church whose membership reached 100 was the Upper 
Alton church. In 1838, it reported 40 baptisms, 41 received 
by letter and a membership of 132. In 1841, Alton city 
reached a membership of 108. In the year 1864, Upper 
Alton reached a membership of 200. In 1870 Alton re- 
ported a membership of 238 and Upper Alton of 220. 
From this time Alton leads, steadily growing in member- 
ship until its greatest number was reached in 1879; 319. 
The greatest number attained by the Upper Alton church 
was in 1^80, when it reported 289. These are the strongest 
churches in the association. 

sr.MMABy. 

AV hole number received by baptism 3,083 

' " letter 2,134 

'' 'â–  " â– ' e.\perience 263 

'• " restored 51 

Whole number dismissed by letter 2,291 

" " dropped 90 

" " excluded . 703 

" " died 532 

Present number 1,320 



THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 

COMPILED rXDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE RT. REV. 
BISHOP P. J. BALTES. 

Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Alton. — In the year 
1S40, we find some fourteen Catholic families in Alton, and 
its neighborhood. Amongst them were Andrew Clifford, 
Thomas Clifford, Sebastian Wise, Peter Wise, Christian 
Walter, Mr. Gutiweiler, Mr. Dooling, etc. At this date ser- 
vice was held in a small frame building in Upper Alton, 
owned by Mr. Clifford. Father George Hamilton, previ- 
ously residing at Springfield, Illinois, attended this mission. 
He resided here till the spring of 1841, and boarded with 
Mr. Clifford, of Upper Alton. In December 1841 Father 
Michael Carroll succeeded Father Hamilton, and resided 
lierc till 1857. In the spring of 1842, a lot was bought on 
Third street, on which site the Unitarian church now stands^ 
The erection of a stone church was commenced during this 
year and finished in 1843. In 1853 this church was de- 
stroyed by fire. After this accident service was held in a 
hall on Third and State Streets, over Hart's livery stable. 
Subsequently a lot was secured on State street, and a large 
stone church erected on it, which is now Sts. Peter and Paul's 
Cathedral. Service was first held in this new but yet unfin- 
ished church in 1856. The City of Alton was raised to the 
dignity of an Episcopal See by a Bull of Pope Pius IX., 
January 9lh, 1857, and Rt. Rev. Henry Damian Juncker> 



appointed its first bishop. He was consecrated by Arch- 
bishop Purcell, in the Cathedral at Cincinnati, April 26th, .-,{"'] 
IS??, and arrived at Alton, the following month. Bishop / '^ * 
Jtfincker, was born at Fenestrange in the province of Lor- 
raine, France, August 22d, 1809, was ordained priest, 
March 16th, 1834, and died at Alton, October 2d, 1868. 
September 24th 1869, Rt. Rev. Peter Joseph Baltes was ap- 
pointed to succeed Bishop Juncker. He was consecrated in 
St. Peter's church at Belleville, Illinois, January 23d, 1870, 
and came to Alton February 3d, following. Bishop Baltes 
is a native of the Rhenish province of Bavaria, Germany, 
born April 7th, 1827, and came to America, with his parents 
in the spring of 1833. He is the first Roman Catholic 
Bishop ever consecrated within the limits of the State of 
Illinois. When Bishop Juncker arrived at Alton there was 
not a Catholic church between Alton and Carlinville, 
nor between Alton and Jacksonville. Litchfield, East St. 
Louis, Grafton, and all surrounding places, for many 
miles which at that time had no churches, were attended 
from Alton. 

ST. Mary's germas rom.\n catholic church, altox. 

The corner-stone of this church was blessed in 1858. It 
was finished and service held in it in 1859. June 2d, 1860, 
this church was blown down by a tornado. Rev. F. A. Os- 
trop, the first resident rector of the church who was — though 
not injured, — buried under its ruins, had it rebuilt soon 
after. To accomplish this, he took up collections even out- 
side of the diocese, and delivered lectures for the same end. 

Flourishing Catholic parochial schools have been in exist- 
ance from the time Bishop Juncker took posession of the 
see of Alton. For some years secuLr teachers had charge 
of these schools. In 1860, the Brothers of the Cross took 
charge of the parochial school connected with the Cathedral. 
The Sisters of Notre Dame have charge of St. Mary's paro- 
chial school since 1875. Besides the above, the Ursuline 
Convent and Academy were founded in 1860. St. Joseph's 
Hospital in charge of the Sisters of Charity was opened 
1865. The Bishop's fine palace was erected 1863. It was 
partly destroj-ed by fire May 25,1877, but was immediately 
rc-built. Alton has at present a Catholic population of not 
less than three thousand. 

EDWARDSVILLE, ST. MARV'S CHURCH. 

In Edwardsville, service was first held between the years 
1835 and 1840 in the dwelling-houses of Jlrs. McCabe, IMrs. 
Bartlett and Mr. IMichael Murray. The first two mentioned 
places were situated in that part of the city called "down 
town," now the third ward ; the last mentioned place is situ- 
ated one mile ea.st of the town, on the Hillsboro road. The 
first church was built in 1843 ; its title is " The Immaculate 
Conception of the Blessed Virgin i\Iary. " When service 
was first held the Catholic families numbered from seven to 
ten. After the separation of the Germans from it, it still 
has about seventy-five families. The congregation has had 
a resident rector since 1859, with an occasional interregnum. 
Rev. L. Hinssen was the first resident rector. 



320 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



EDWAEDSVILLE, ST. BONIFACES CHURCH. 

About 1867 the Catholic Gerniaus of Edwardsville came 
to the coDclusion to erect a church for themselves. A place 
was bought, and brick yard erected. On the 2d of June, 
1S69, the corner-stone of St. Boniface's church was blessed 
by Very Rev. P. J. Baltes, of Belleville, Illinois. Rev. A. 
Rustigc was its first resident rector. On the first Sunday of 
October of the same year service was held in the new church. 
There is a flourishing Catholic parochial school connected 
â– with this church. Of the two Catholic congregations of 
Edwardsville this is now the larger ; it numbers about one 
hundred and seventy-five families. 

ST. Paul's church, highland. 

The first Catholic Church of Highland was built and di- 
vine service held in it in 1844. It was a frame structure, 40 | 
X 25, which has been converted into a school-house for boys. 
There were about 2-5 families in Highland at this time. 
Divine service was held in difierent houses as early as 1841. 
The new church, 110 x 45, was built under Rev. P. Lima- 
cher between 1854 and 1856. Its cost maybe set down 
at §10,000 ; but to complete it took at least as much 
again. The first divine service was held in this church 
Easter Sunday, 1856. The Catholic school dates from 1851, 
taught at first by secular teachers. Under the Rectorship of 
Rev. P. Peters, a convent of the Sisters of Notre Dame was 
erected at Highland in 1866 ; since that time the sisters of 
Notre Dame and a secular teacher have conducted this 
school. In 1878, under the Rectorship of Rev. Jos. Meckel 
the congregation erected a fine hospital of which the Sisters 
of the Third Order of St. Francis have charge. The sick 
of all denominations are admitted to this institution. The 
congregation has had a resident priest since 1851. The 
number of practical families at present is about 250. The 
church of Highland is in a prosperous condition. 

SAINTS PETER AND PAUL's CHURCH, AT COLLINSVILLE. 

Catholic service was first held in this neighborhood by 
Father Carroll from Alton, in 1856, at the residence of Mr. 
Octavius Lumaghe's, east of Collinsville. It appears towards 
the close of the same year, Father Carroll, assisted by Fa- 
ther Cavanaugh, dedicated the first church, a brick build- 
ing, 25 X 50 feet, which still froms part oi'the present build- 
ing. When the church was built, there were from 12 to 15 
Catholic families here. It being a mining district, the popu- 
lation is fluctuating ; though there are over 200 families of 
Catholics, not more than 120 families can be counted practi- 
cal Catholics. The congregation has a good Catholic 
parochial school, taught by two lay teachers. 150 children 
are enrolled. Father Reiss appears as the first resident rec- 
tor. He resided here in 1858. In 18^0 the sanctuary and 
transept of a new Gothic church was erected, serving at 
present as an addition to the old church. The new church 
will be completed within a few years, and then be numbered 
amongst the handsomest churches in Madison county. 

BLACK JACK. 

St. John's Church, Black Jack, situated in Jarvis town- 



ship. There was a frame church erected here in the country 
in 1856. This congregation never increased much, on 
account of the large number of Catholic churches which 
sprung up in the neighboring towns, many of which were 
partially made up by families taken from it. The members 
of this church are generally well to do farmers, and have 
as a rule, kept up a Catholic school. They have a fine 
graveyard and other church property, but, the congregation 
being small, has never had a resident j)riest. It now num- 
bers about 25 families. 

ST. ELIZABETH CHURCH, JIARINE. 

Marine formerly constituted a part of the congregation of 
Highland. The origin of this Catholic congregation may 
be dated back to the year 1856, when Jacob Brockhaus and 
Patrick Carroll, both old settlers in this section of the 
county, headed a subscription list for building a Catholic 
church by signing $300 each. The number of Catholic 
families here at that time being only about 15, others assisted 
their Catholic friends in raising the amount signed to S1500. 
The present brick building, (34x50 feet), was erected in 
1857, on an elevated piece of ground (350 x 200 feet), partly 
donated by August Versen. Rev. Paul Limacher, rector of 
St Paul's church, Highland, of which congregation, as 
already stated. Marine had hitherto been a part, came to 
celebrate the first mass in this new building on Easter ]Mon- 
day, 1859. Rev. Peter Peters attended the congregation for 
nearly seven years, every third Sunday. The present par- 
sonage was erected in 1868, at a cost of about S3000. Rev- 
L. Hinssen was the first resident rector. The congregation 
has supported a parochial school since 1868, which s'nce 1877, 
was conducted in the new school building erected at a cost 
of $1,500. Last year a building fund was established for a 
new church, (38 x 75 feet), which will be erected next spring. 
The steeple will be over 100 feet high, and will contain a 
nice chime of bells, donated in 1879 by two ladies of the 
congregation. The number of families at present is about 
100. 

ST. martin's CHURCH, BETHALTO. 

Bethalto formerly constituted a part of the cathedral con- 
gregation of Alton. Catholic service was first held in 1858, in 
a little frame house belonging to the Madison Coal Compa- 
ny, two miles north of Bethalto. The church, a frame 
building, was put up in 1861 The Rt. Rev. Henry Damian 
Juncker, Bishop of Alton, blessed the corner-stone of this 
church in the month of May of that year. When service 
was first held there were about 27 Catholic families. The 
congregation has a good parsonage and a resident rector 
since 1879, but has not yet been able to keep up a Catholic 
parochial school. It has about 50 families. 

ST. UBALDUS' CHURCH, NEW DOUGLAS. 

Service was held here first about 1862, and irom time to 
time up to 1871 in the following places or dwellings : First 
at ]\Ir. Filley's, one mile west of town ; then at Mr. Andrew 
Newman's, half a mile south of town ; and lastly, at INIr. Louis 
King's and Mr. Johu Van Delft's, in town. The church 
was erected in 1871. The number of Catholic families in 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



321 



the New Douglas mission when service was first held there 
was seven, more or less. Now there are about 60. New 
Douglas has no resident rector ; it is attended from Edwards- 
ville two Sundays in the month. 

ST. Gertrude's church, salike. 

The Catholics of this place formerly constituted a part of 
the congregations of Highland and Marine, from which they 
separated and built a church for their own use in 1872. To 
attain this end, a sukscription of about three thousand dol- 
lars was made up by about thirty families. In 1877, a par- 
sonage was erected, and ever since that time, with some little 
interruption, they have had a resident priest. Under the 
direction of its first resident rector. Rev. M. Weis, a school- 
house w:is erected, and the parochial Catholic school, which 
had hitherto been kept in the rector's residence, was then 
removed to this new school-house. Under the same clergy- 
man's supervision, the church, which had never been plas- 
tered anil had become too small to contain the congregation, 
was enlarged and fini.shed and otherwise so improved as to 
make one of the finest churches of Madison county. The 
congregation now has a graveyard, and everything else re- 
quired to constitute it an independent Catholic community. 
The present rector of the Catholic church at this place is 
Rev. B. Hasse. The number of families belonging to this 
congregation is about 17.i. 

ST. Elizabeth's ciiukcu, mitchell. 

The building of this church was commenced September, 
1871. The comer-stone was blessed October 1, 1871, by 
Rev. J. F. Mohr, assisted by Revs. F. A. Ostrop, F. H. Za- 
bel, D. D., A. Rustige and C. Koenig. Service was held in 
the church soon aftef it was finished. Before that time. Rev. 
Zabel, then of East St. Louis, held service at Mitchell. In 
1881, under the rectorship of Rev. P. Kaenders a fine par- 
sonage was erected, aud since October 4th, of the same year, 
it has had a resident rector. Rev. P. Kaenders being the 
first in charge. The congregation has as yet no parochial 
school. It numbers about 40 families, mostly well to do 
farmers. 

ST. mark's church, VENICE. 

The first service of the Catholic church was held in Ven- 
ice, April 16, 1882, in the new church. Before this time, 
the Catholics here attended church in East St- Louis and St. 
Louis. After they had been erected into a separate congre- 
gation by the Bishop of Alton, they at once went earnestly 
about building a church for their own use. The corner- 
stone of this church was blessed October 25, 1881, by Rev. 
C. Koenig, a.ssisted by Revs. P. Peters and P. Kaenders. 
There are about 32 Catholic families. Though there is no 
Catholic school yet, nor a resident priest, the prospects are 
fine, and the probabilities are that it will soon be a flourish- 
ing congregation, able to support its own priest and to keep 
up a Catholic parochial school. The mission is at present 
attended from Mitchell by Rev. P. Kaenders, under whose 
direction this church was put up. 
41 



THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 



BY A. M. POWELL, M. D. 

The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United Stato 
comprises sixty dioceses and missionary jurisdictions, (each 
presided over by a Bishop), with some three thousand and 
five hundred clergymen and about three hundred and fifty 
thousand lay communicants. The Church possesses about 
twenty-five Universities, Colleges and Seminaries, and a 
large number of Societies, Hospitals, Orjihans' Homes and 
other institutions devoted to the amelioration of the moral 
and physical condition of man ; while the contributions to 
its support aggregate from seven to ten millions of dollars 
aunually. By far the greater proportion of its membership 
is to be found in the older States of the Union, as for ex- 
ample, in the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, 
and Virginia. The city of New York alone contains 
seventy-eight episcopal churches and nearly two hundred 
and fifty clergymen, with a corresponding proportion of 
lay membership. 

Generally the Dioceses are coextensive with the states in 
which they are situated, but in some large aud populous 
States the territory has been divided into two or more Dio- 
ceses. In the year 1877, the Diocese of Illinois, which 
comprised the entire State, was divided into three Dioceses, 
now called " Illinois, Quincy and Springfield ; " the bound- 
aries of the latter including all of the State lying south of 
the counties of Woodford, Livingston, Ford and Iroquois, 
and east of the Illinois river— in reality nearly one half of 
the State. As its name implies, Springfield is its See city, 
the residence of the Bishop, the chief pastor of the Diocese, 
and president of its Councils, which are held annually in 
that city, and are composed of all canonically resident 
clergy and one or more lay delegates from each parish or 
organized mission. 

At the first Convention of the Council, (or Synod, as the 
meetings of this body are now called,) held in December, 
1877, the Rev. George Franklin Seymour, S. T. D., LL. D., 
Dean of the General Theological Seminary in New York, 
was unanimously elected the first Bishop of Springfield. 
Dr. Seymour declined the election, but upon the unanimous 
request of the Convention held in May, 1878, the Bishop 
elect reconsidered his declination, and was consecrated in 
June following, aud soon after entered upon his duties. 

The first Bishop of Illinois, was Rt. Rev. Philander Chase, 
who was the Missionary Bishop of a vast territory compris. 
ing Minnesota, Illinois and Ohio; and it was under his 
jurisdiction that the State of Illinois was erected into a 
Diocese at an early day in the State's history. So, also, 
was it under his jurisdiction that most of the parishes in 
Madison county were organized. The first of these was the 

PARISH OF CHRIST CHURCH, COLLIKSVILLE, 

which was organized by Bishop Chase in the year 183-5, and 
is the oldest parish organization in the Diocese of Spring- 



322 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



field, (Trinity, Jacksonville, was organized the same year,) 
and is one of the oldest in the State of Illinois. About the 
year 1833, the Rev. Joseph L. Darrow,M. D., removed from 
New York to Collinsville, then a very small village, and 
entered ui)on the practice of Medicine, giving much of his 
time and energy, however, to Missionary work of the Epis- 
copal Church, of which he was an ordained minister. Soon 
after his arrival, Dr. Darrow determined to push the claims 
of his church in Madison county, and his pluck and energy 
were soon rewarded by seeing erected in the county three 
church edifices, which at that early day were considered 
commodious and creditable buildings, and erected almost 
solely by the Doctor's own personal means, added to contri- 
butions from his friends at the east. These buildings were 
put up in Edwardsvilie, Marine and Collinsville, and that 
in the latter' place still remains the house of worship of 
the parish, being in an excellent state of repair and a cosy, 
comfortable " home " for its occupants, though somewhat out 
of date as to style of architecture. It was consecrated by 
Bishop Chase, December 17, 1841. The Rev. Dr. Darrow 
remained the fiiithful rector of this parish until his death, 
which occurred on July 28, 1855, he falling a victim to 
Asiatic Cholera, a severe epidemic of which he had just 
practiced through, with characteristic energy administering 
unceasingly to the wants of his patients, both as a physician 
and as a spiritual adviser. 

After Dr. Darrow's death the parish remained vacant until 
1860, when the Rev. A. P. Crouch took charge. He was 
followed in 1862 by the Rev. Robert Trewortha, and he 
again in 1865 by Rev. John Portniess, who served the par- 
ish nearly three years. Since that time the parish has been 
in temporary charge of several ministers, including the Rev- 
Dean Dresser of Carlinville. In September, 1881, the Rev. 
Gardiner C. Tucker, then of St. Louis, was called to the 
parish and is now its acceptable pastor. 

Among the old and prominent citizens who assisted Dr. 
Darrow in his church work at an early day, were Daniel 
Ground, of Marine, John S. Clark and Hon.] George 
Churchill, the latter of whom was for many years Senior 
Warden of Christ Church, Collinsville. The present oflScers 
of that parish are : Dr. A. M. Powell, Senior Warden ; 
Thaddeus Kneedler, Junior Warden ; S. Newson, Clerk, 
and W. H. Brown, Treasurer. 

The Sunday School is in a flourishing condition, and the 
parish is making fair progress, and is entirely out of debt. 

ST- Andrew's CHgRCH, edwardsville. 

•'Trustees duly elected on Monday, April 26th, 1841, 
of the Protestant Episcopal Church, known as St. Andrew's 
Church of Edwardsville, in the County of Madison, State 
of Illinois, to hold the office until Easter Monday, 1842, 
and until others are elected, in conformity with the Act of 
General Assembly of the State of Illinois, entitled an Act 
concerning Religious Societies, approved February 6th, 
1835. Given under our hands and seals this sixteenth day 
of August, in the year of our Lord 1841." 

Comfort Roberts, A. J. Lusk, James L. Brackett, Wra. 



T. Brown, Isaac Foster, Solon Stark, Horace Look, James 
H. Treadway. Orren Meeker. 

" State of Illinois, Madison County, ss. 

'â–  This twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our 
Lord 1841, personally appeared before me, Erastus Whee- 
ler, an Acting Justice of the Peace, in and for the County 
aforesaid, Solon Stark, who being duly sworn, deposes that 
the foregoing certificate is correct and true. Sworn and 
subscribed before me, Solon Stark." 

ERA.STUS Wheeler, J. P. 

Orren Meeker, deeded to Trustees of St. Andrew's 
Church, Lot No. 125 in Edwardsville, 111., for the sum of 
SIOOO— November 7th, 1841. Recorded, Dec. 15th, 1841. 
The organization erected a commodious frame building, 
in which services were held for a number of years, under 
Dr. Joseph L. Darrow, the first pastor. He was followed 
by Dr. S. Y. McMasters, who was stationed at Alton, 111. 
The Parish here being smalh and a number of members 
moving away, the Church was rented to the Presbyterians, 
who held services in the same for several years. The Union 
Sabbath-school also met there. 

At an election held at an annual meeting of the Parish 
of St. Andrew's Church in Edwardsville, Madison county, 
Illinois, on the 29th day of March, a. d., 1869, the fol- 
lowing named persons were duly elected Trustees of said 
Parish : S. E. McGregory, Richard B. Ground, Prince H. 
Jones, John A. Prickett, James R. Brown, Charles H. Spil- 
man, John Hobson. and Benj. D. Berry. 

The above named Trustees deeded Lot No. 125, with all 
appurtenances to the trustees of the German M E. Church of 
Edwardsville, Illinois, on the 28th day of June, A. D., 1869, 
for the sum of $1500. The present edifice is a brick struc- 
ture, Gothic style, situated on the corner of Hillsboro and 
Buchanan streets, erected in 1870. Services were held in 
the same for a few years, when it closed for a time. Dr. 
John W. Burchmore, the present pastor, has held religious 
exercises for the last six months, including a flourishing 
Sunday-school. 



ST. PAULS CHURCH, ALTON. 

The first services of the church in this county were said to 
have been held by the Rev. Amos Baldwin, who came to 
Alton and Edwardsville and preached in 1823. 

The church in Alton received parochial organization in 
1888, the Rev. Dr. S. Y. McMasters being the first Rector. 

who was succeeded in 1845 by the Rev. Brittain. The 

Presbyterian house of worship at the corner of Third and 
Market streets, was bought at a cost of $2000. Subsequent- 
ly the Rev. McMasters was recalled, during whose Rector- 
ship the present edifice was built on the site of the old one, 
and consecrated by Bp. Whitehouse, July 5th, 1857. The 
building of stone, 45x95, cost about $10,000 and seats com- 
fortably 300 people. 

The church was unroofed, the tower demolished and bell- 
broken by the tornado, which visited Alton, June 2d, 1860, 
the last two of which have never been restored. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



323 



The Rev. C. A. Bruce, the Rev John Foster, the Rev. 
Dr. McCullough, the Rev. C. S- Abbott and the Rev. Marsh 
Chase were successively Rectors, the latter succeeded in 
Dec. 1880, by the RiV. Thjs. Haskiiis, the present incum- 
bent. 

In 1870, Trinity Chapel was built in North Alton, (on 
ground given by Messrs. J. J. & W. H. Mitchell), at a 
cost of about .S-,000, where services are regularl)' held, and 
which has a large and flourishing Sunday-school under the 
Superintendence of Mr. T. W. Radcliffe. 

Among the wardens and vestrymen, now deceased, of St. 
Paul's Parish, were Judge Bailhache, Col. Long, Charles 
Trumbull. Utten Smith, S. R. Dolbee, M. M. Dutro, T. L. 
Waples, Harry Taylor, Charles Merriman. In 1881 the 
church building was extensively repaired at a cost of over 
S 1 200, two memorial windows added and the organ enlarged 
and repaired. A house and lot adjoining have also been 
purchased, upon which it is purposed to erect a Grammar 
School for the Christain education of the children of the 
pariah. There are about eighty families connected with the 
church. 

The present lay officers, elected on Easter Monday, 1882. 
are: William Huskiuson, Joseph Graiian, Wardens. T. W. 
Radcliffe. F. H. Robe, Charles Brown, Thos. Cannell, Jacob 
Wead, Vestrymen. 



THE CHURCHES OF CHRIST (Chrlstian). 



BY REV. W. H. MfGISSIS. 
SILVER CREEK CHURCH. 

This church was established July 4, 1830, being now 
almost fifty-two years old. The following persons were the 
original members: Solomon Taber, Elizabeth Taber, John 
Hoxey, Polly Hosey, Abel Olive, Elizabeth Olive, Joel 
Ricks, Nellie Ricks, Sina Martin, John A. Wall, Temper- 
ance Wall. Elders Hum])hries, Austin Sims and Robert 
Foster were the early preachers, who laid broad and deep the 
foundation for the future prosperity of the church. Their 
names are held in grateful remembrance by all the older 
members. In later years, Elders Lucas, Birge, Philips, 
Kathcart and W. B. Foster have served as pastors and 
evangelists. More than three hundred persons have enjoyed 
the fellowship of this church. But many have gone to 
swell the ranks of the Lord in other states, and many others 
have entered their final rest. Many of the best citizens of 
the vicinity compose the member.'-hip at the present time. 
Though this church has passed through m.any vicissitudes, 
there has never been a time when the Gospel was not faith- 
fully preached, sinners warned, and the faith of the right- 
eous strengthened. The outlook of the future is hopeful. 
Thomas Vance labors in doctrine at j)resent. 

MARINE CHURCH. 

This church was established April 7, 1860, at a place then 
known as Reid school-house ; Elder William Birge acted as 



the officiating minister. The following names were enrolled 
at the beginning: A. W. Jeffress, Mary A. JefTress, J. W 
Jeffress, D. W. Biggs, Catherine Biggs, Elisiia Stapleton, 
Mary Stapleton, Curinda Stapleton, Anna R. Farghuharson, 
Mary E. Parker, ]\Iargaret Graham, Adaline O. Bacon, 
Ella Stocton, Harriet Weidman and Ella Boosinger. 

For seven years from the date of the organization services 
were held in the Coon school-house. The following named 
preachers served the church while meeting in the above 
named place: William Birge, John C. Mathers, John C. 
TuUy, John A. Williams, Jacob Creath and John Sweeney, 
Sr. In the year 1871, with a view to convenience and a 
wider field of usefulness, a meeting-house was built in the 
town of Marine, at a cost of §2,500. The dedication took 
place on the 3d Lord's day in December, 1871. St. Clair 
ilcKean, E J. Jeffress, P. S Weidman, J. W. Boosinger 
and' David Crandall were chosen trustees. The following 
named preachers have served the congregation since its 
removal to Marine: Frank Talmadge, J. Ellis, George T. 
Bridges, J. H. Garrison, F. M. Philips, B. F. Lucas and 
AV. B. Foster. W. H. McGinnis is pastor at the presei t 
time. Thij congregation though small, (numbering only 
about thirty-five) includes in its membership a fair propor- 
tion of the best citizens of the commuuit}'. Religious 
intelligence and steadfastness of faith manifest themselves in 
most of its members. The traits of Christian character have 
secured the existence of the church amitlst a very strong 
and bitter opposition. 

FAIRVIEW CHURCH. 

This church was organized in May, 187.3, during a meet- 
ing held by Elder Frank Talmadge. At that meeting there 
were thirty conversions. A. H. Goodman and Jones Toutz 
wtre chosen elders. George S. Thompson and Allen J. 
Armstrong were chosen deacons. F. M. Philips and George 
F. Bridges have done excellent evangelistic and pastoral 
work. A meeting-house was erected in 1874, at a cost of 
§1,350. Fairview church has shown commendable zeal in 
religious work. More than two hundred souls have been 
brought into her comnmnion. But death and removals 
have kept the membership from being very large at any one 
time. There remain about twenty-five faitliful members ia 
whose hands the cause of Christ is safe in that community. 
Thomas Vance, pastor at the present time. 

RIDGELEY CHURCH 

Was organized about forty years ago. Through the Chris- 
tian Zealand liberality of Mrs. O'Banon, a meeting-house 
was soon afterward erected, and is still kept in good repair. 
Prosperity attended the church for a number of years, but 
death and removals have reduced its numbers until only 
about twelve remain. But these are true to their profession, 
being prompt at divine service and in the exercise of a 
wholesome influence throughout the community. Elder E. 
L. Craig was one of their earliest pastors. His memory is 
precious in the hearts of many Christians in Illinois and 
other states. After him. Elders Houston, Foster and Cor- 
wine preached for them. From 1873 to 1879, James E. 



324 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Masters served them as pastor with great acceptance. Elder 
\V. H Groiier is their present pastor. The outlook toward 
future prosperity is very encouraging. 

NEW DOUGLAS CHURCH. 

This congregation was orgmized ia 1875, through the 
labors of Elder T. J. Shelton. The following persons were 
charter member^: Samuel Bennett, Sarah J. Bennett, Burrel 
H Hill, Rebecca Hill, Sarah A. McCottery, Marion Fletcher, 
Jennie McCottery, B. H. McKinney, Siddie McKinney. A 
jieat and substantial house of worship was built in 1879. 
Elder H. R. Tricket preached the dedicatory sermon. 
Eiders Fisher, Linn, Smart, Tandy, Kathcart, Avery, have 
held meetings and served as pastors. Elder Thomas Vance 
is the present pastor. Fifty two persons have been added 
to the church since its organization. 



UNITARIAN DENOMINATION. 

BY EEV. J. FISHER. 

The history of Unitarianism in Madison county is that of 
a single church or society, in the city of Alton. As early 
as the year 1836, Rev. W. G. Eliot, D. D., pastor of the 
Unitarian Church of the Messiah in St. Louis, Mo., held 
occasional services in Alton, preaching to a small congregation 
either in a school-room or in the office of one Dr. Emerson, 
brother of the celebrated Ralph Waldo Emerson of Concord, 
Mass. This was when the facilities of travel were such as 
made it necessary sometimes to go on horseback or on foot, 
or else by the river-boat which required eight hours for its 
trips, stopping twice to " wood up," on the way. Dr Eliot 
continued his frequent visits for several years, and it is sup- 
posed some kind of organized society existed as the result of 
his labors, although no definite records have been preserved. 
The first regular minister was Rev. Charles A. Farley, who 
is remembered as an eloquent preacher and excellent man. 
This preliminary organization, however, became inert and 
virtually extinct. 

In October 1853, Rev. W. D. Haley, a young man of 
character and gifts, came to Alton with a purpose to re- 
establish the society, and shortly succeeded in awakening such 
interest as led to the organization now existing, known as 
" The First Congregational Society oj Alton," which adopted 
a constitution essentially the same as that of Dr. Eliot's 
church in St. Louis. Its first board of officers were the fol- 
lowing : Edward Keating, President; B. F. Barry, Secretary ; 
Moses G. Atwood, Treasurer; Henry Lea, Marcus H. Top- 
ping, Geo. B. Ingersoll, L. S. Metcalf and Wm. McBride^ 
Trustees. On the records of the first year, appear, besides 
these, the names of the following members : N. Hanson, E. 
D. Topping, A. K. Root, S. W. Robbins, C. Stigleman, W. 
A. Piatt, A. L. Corson, Robert Smith, H. W. Billings and 
George Moody. 

In January, 1854, it was decided to build a church, and 
money was raised lor the purpose, the St. Louis society con- 



tributing $3,500 in aid of the enterprise. Before the close 
of the year opportunity occurred for the purchase of the 
Roman Catholic Church and grounds, corner of Third and 
Alby streets, which church, a massive stone building beau- 
tiful for situation, had been partly destroyed by fire. Re- 
construction was at once begun, and the new edifice, costing 
the society about $13,000, was dedicated October 14, 1855, 
Rev. G. W. Hosmer, D. D., of Bufl^alo, N. Y., preaching the 
sermon for the occasion. A church organization was formed 
with a list of thirty communicants. 

The ministry of Mr. Haley was closed by his resignation, 
October 1st, 1856. He was succeeded by Rev. J. G. For- 
man from Massachusetts, installed May 17th, 1857, under 
whose earnest ministry the society enjoyed a period of growth 
and prosperity for the next five years. The war of the Re- 
bellion being then in progress, he enlisted as a chaplain in 
the Federal service, and the church was closed from October 
1861, until May 1863 ; after which, he returned and cou^ 
tinned his service for about one year. On his retirement, 
Rev. Joseph Mason and Rev. D- A. Russell preached, each 
for a short time, but not as regular pastors. In 1865, Rev. 
D. H. Clark was called, and continued pastor two years, 
followed by Rev. H. P. Cutting, two years. In June 1 870, 
Rev. Isaac Kelso was engaged, and served three years, after 
which occasional labors were rendered by Rev. Dr. Eliot, 
Rev. J. L. Douthit and others, until December 1874, when a 
call was given to Henry C. Hogg, a young man, who with 
auspicious tokens entered upon a ministry which was sud- 
denly closed by his death, April 14, 1875. 

During the three years following, the society was without 
a minister; yet at no time relinquished its regular Sunday- 
school service, nor its labors in laying up treasure for future 
enterprise. In April 1878, a call was extended to Rev. Jud- 
son Fisher from Wisconsin, who reraaius the pastor to the 
present time. The same year, a commodious parsonage was 
built and repairs made upon the church edifice. The society, 
although deprived by death and lemoval of the larger part 
of its original members, is financially without debt and in a 
united and prosperous condition. It embraces about thirty 
families, and has an active and growing Sunday-school, with 
a valuable library of 600 well chosen volumes. 

The following is its board officers for the year 1882: 
Marcus H. Topping, President ; John S. Roper, Secretary ; 
Mrs. A. D Spark, Treasurer ; M. H. Topping, Dr. W. A- 
Haskell, Homer S auford, D. R. Sparks, H. G. McPike, 
Trustees- 



THE CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 



BY REV. W. C. LOGAN. 

The opening years of thel9th century witnessed the intro- 
duction of Cumberland Presbyterians into Madison County. 
As early as 1817, perhaps earlier, Mr. Robert Paisley came 
from Kentucky into Illinois, and settled at or near Edwards- 
ville, county seat of Madison county. He found none of his 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



325 



own religious faith there, but in the community were a few 
Methodists and Presbyterians, most of whom were converts 
of the great revival of 1800. Being religious a prayer meet- 
ing was soon in operation. Being destitute of the means of 
grace they entered into a verbal agreement to pray both for 
a revival, and for a minister to preach for them, agreeing to 
employ the first one that should come, of whatever evan- 
gelical denomination. Mr. Paisley, feeling anxious that one 
of his own choice should come, wrote to Rev. Wni. Barnett, 
of Kentucky, stating the condition of things and urging him 
to come. Upon the strength of that letter money enough 
was raised to complete his outfit, and the trip was made. 
As Mr. Paisley said nothing of what he had done, and as 
Cumberland Presbyterians were strangers to most of the 
people, a strong prejudice at first sprang up, but it was 
speedily overcome. As only a few days' notice was given of 
the coming of Mr. Barnett, the only place where the meet- 
ing could be held was at what was called Ebenezer camp 
ground, about two miles south of Edwardsville. Only one 
person made profession of religion at that camp meeting, 
and he was a colored man. Tliij was the first camp meeting 
held by Cumberland Presbyterians in the state. No organi- 
zation was effected then, although there seems to have been 
material. The results of this meeting, however, may be 
seen to-day. The seed was there sown which sprang up 
grew and increased, until to-day there are four good, active 
congregations in the county, which have been instrumental 
in accomplishing much good. 

As early as Dec. 1824, Mt. Pisgah congregation was 
organized at the house of David Robinson, who, with 
Joseph Robinson, constituted the first session. The minis- 
ter first in charge was Rev. John Barber, Sr. There were 
seven charter members. A good meeting continued from 
the organization for two days, and work then begun 
seemed to continue and numbers were conistantly added to 
the membership. Thus the vine was fruitful for some time. 
Schism, however, entered after a while and caused confusion 
in the ranks. How long this continued, or what was the 
history of the congregation further is not known to the wri- 
ter. In 1841, according to a request sent by the congrega- 
tion, Vandalia Presbytery divided it, forming therefrom a 
new congregation. The organization was effected by Rev. 
J. M. Bone, on Monday, Nov. 1st, 1841, at the house of 
Robert McKee. The new society was called Goshen. 
Seventeen of the parent organization became charter mem- 
bers of the new. Joseph Robinson, Robert and J. N. Mc- 
Kee constituted the first session. Additions were continually 
made, and the new organization seemed to flourish under 
the ministrations of Mr. Bone. The congregation had no 
house in which to worship, and it is not kuown where their 
meetings were at first held. The name of the congregation 
was changed from Goshen to Columbia. The latter is its 
present name. The change was made between Aug. 13th, 
1859, and May 22d, 1864. 

Rev. John Barber succeeded Mr. Bone as ministerial sup- 
ply (whether father or son is not stated ) In 1847 Rev. T. K. 
Hedges became their pastor. For six years (more or less), 
he served them, and was succeeded by Rev. A. M. AVilson. 



In 1856, the services of Rev. W. W. Brown were secured, 
who labored among this people until some time in 18G1. Dur- 
ing his service the society took steps toward erecting a church 
house of their own. They received a grant of land by deed 
dated Aug. 13th, 1859, in trust from Jefferson Fruit and wife 
for the purpose of erecting thereon a house of worship. la 
1861, Rev. C. G. Keown was employed for a part of his 
time. He served them until the spring of 1863, when the 
services of Rev. A. Johnson were secured. He remained 
with them for three years. He was followed by Rev. Wni. 
Turner. Mr. Turner sustained his relation with them for 
ten or a dozen year.?, preaching to them, baptizing their chil- 
dren, marrying their young and burying tluir dead. The 
congregation flourished during the time he had charge of it. 
For some time, as early as Aug. 1869, the congregation 
worshiped in the school-house, and sessional meetings 
were frequently held in it. In accordance with an arrao ge- 
ment entered into by the ministers and others interested, a 
quarterly association was held to discuss questions relative 
to the prosperity of Cumberland Presbyterians in Madison 
county. 

On the Uth of August, 1871, it convened with Columbia 
congregation. The assembly discussed two questions : How 
to strengthen and make more efticient the congregations, 
and how best to promote revivals of religion. Encouraged 
by the success of the meeting, on Monda}', 14th inst , the 
male members met in the school-house to consider the ques- 
tion of building a house of worship. Rev. Joel Knight pre- 
sided and Rev. J B. Logan acted as secretary. After a full 
and harmonious discussion a paper for subscriptions was cir. 
culated ou a basis of not less than $1500. The ofler of 
John F. Sloan of a site for the house was accepted, and the 
house was built. It is a neat frame structure, a credit to 
the comunity in which it stands. After a long and useful 
service Mr. Turner severed his connection. He was suc- 
ceeded by Rev. W. J. McDavid, who became the incumbent 
in 1876, and remained to this day. He is surrounded by a 
good people by whom he is beloved, and bids fair to do them 
and the entire community great good. 

OMPH-GHENT. 

Omph-Ghent congregation was organized on the 10th of 
April, 1848, this being the second organization effected in 
the county. Eleven persons petitioned Vandalia Presbytery 
to form them into a congregation. The petition was granted, 
and Rev. J- M. Bone ordered to eflTect said organization. 
For this purpose the petitioners met at the Omph-Ghent 
school-house at the time mentioned. Rev. J. M. Bone and 
T. K. Hedges were present. The ruling elders elected were 
Daniel Crowder and John B. Robinson. Rev. T. K. Hedges 
was secured immediately to serve the new congregation. 
The organization was followed by a protracted meeting, in 
which the Rev. J. M. Bone assisted the pastor. This meet- 
ing seemed to be one of unusual interest ; and many were 
added to the church as its result. It being inconvenient to 
meet in the school-house, a subscription paper was circulated 
for the purpose of building a house of worship. Money was 
secured, the house was built, and on the 15th of September, 



326 



HIS TOBY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



1841, it was solemaly dedicated to God, Rev. J. G. White, 
preaching the sermon. Two days after Vandalia Presby- 
tery luet tliere, which resulted iu a protracted meeting of 
great power. October 6th, a missionary society was formed 
iu the church to aid Vaudalia Presbytery in its missionary 
operations. In April, laaO, Mr. Hedges severed his con- 
nection with the congregation. Presbytery meeting there, ! 
the services of Rev. Barber were secured for six months, 
to preach one-half his time. 

On the 11th of March, liSoO, the session adjourned to meet 
at Liberty Prairie school-house on Monday evening, April 
8th. At, a session meeting September 1st, the services of 
Mr. Hedges were again engaged with the understanding that 
he preach in the Omph-Gheut church the first and third Sab- 
baths in the month, and at Liberty Prairie school-house at 
night of the same Sabbaihs. On the 19th of June, 1852, the 
session ordered one of the members to appear and answer to 
several charges — of misconduct unbecoming the Chris- 
tian character. These charges show the vigilance exercised 
in earlv days over members of the church. Mr. Hedges 
continued as pastor until some time in 18.53, when he became 
involved in difficulty with his session, because of unlawful 
power assumed by him and the neglect of duties ordered by 
the session to be performed. In view of these facts the el- 
ders resigned their offices — at least until a new minister was 
secured. This was a heavy blow to the congregation, and 
threw it into disorder. Some time after the services of 
Rev. J. B. Logan were secured for one Sabbath in the m nth 
for one year. His services closed with a series of meetings 
of profound interest and widespread results. Four mouths 
later Mr. Logan came to receive members into the church, 
bringing with him Rev. J. B. Lowrance. These two, with 
one elder, composed a session. Mr. Logan ceasing his con- 
nection with the congregation, Mr. Lowrance succeeded 
him. After six months (October 18.55) Mr. Lowrance, left. 
During the following winter Rev- A. M. Wilson, of Upper 
Alton, supplied them. In October, 1856, Rev. W. W. 
Brown entered upon his duties as their pastor, and continued 
to serve them till the fall of 1861. At that time Rev. C. G. 
Keowu was ordered by his Presbytery to su[)ply the congre- 
gation according to their request. During the winter of 
1864 the congregation was without a minister. Rev. A. 
Johnson was secured in the spring to minister unto them, in 
cjnnection with Columbia congregation. He served till the 
spring of 1866, when he resigned. 

In 1866 Rev. Wm. Turner accepted the call to this 
church, which then only enrolled the names of 14 members. 
Tor a number of years he divided his time between Oraph- 
Ghent and Columbia congregations. During the fifteen 
years he served Omph-Ghent, he received 66 persons into the 
church In 1880 there were five elders, one deacon, six addi- 
tions, four adult and two infant baptisms, fifty-seven commu- 
nicants, sixty-two in Sabbath-school, two hundred volumes in 
library. They contributed during ihe year, §60 for the 
Sunday-school cause, S50 for home missions, $175 for foreign 
missions, S ?40 for pastor's salary, 865 for supplies, S5.30 
for Presbyterial purposes, $88.75 for donation to pastor — 
total, $695.30. Value of church property, $4,000. After 



a long and successful pastorate, Mr. Turner gave way in 
1881, to Rev. J. W. McDavid. He is a faithful, energetic 
worker, untiring iu the discharge of duty. He has the 
esteem of the entire communities where he labors. The 
congregation has been well trained, and gives liberally to 
every enterprise of the denomination. While the old parent 
church at Omph-Ghent is losing its hold, the one at Liberty 
Prairie is fast in the ascendancy, and is destined ere long to 
give name to the congregation. At the latter place there is 
a pretty country church, with many of the modern appli- 
ances, close to which is a convenient parsonage, all located 
in a fine farming country. The congregation is prosperous 
and hopeful. 

Connected intimately with the history of Omph-Ghent, 
was Samuel Jb. Miller. Born iu Baltimore, Md., March 7th' 
1803, he came to Omph-Gheut in 1839 or 1840. He united 
with the church soon after its organization, and for more 
than twenty-seven years was a member and clerk of its Ses- 
sion. He was a frequent attendant upon the lower judica- 
tories, and always interested in any plan put forth for the 
welfare of the church He was eminent also in other circles. 
Before leaving Baltimore he had taken all the degrees in the 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and it was his pleasure 
to organize the first lodge weit of the Alleghenies. He 
organized the first lodges in St. Louis and Alton. He was 
indeed the oldest Odd Fellow but one in the United States 
at the time of his death. After leaving Baltimore he lived 
for five years in Alton, whence he moved to Omph-Ghent, 
where he lived the rest of his days. He died at his home, 
July 25th, 1879, at the ripe age of 76 years. Honorable 
mention should also be made of John Estabrook, a 
member of this congregation. He inaugurated the move- 
ment of sending two young men as missionaries to Japan, 
by subscribing $1000. Nor did his beneficence in this 
direction cease here. For several years after he gave each 
year $100 to the same cause. He died a few years since^ 
beloved by all. 

No unfair distinction will be made if notice is taken of 
J. Russell Newman. Devoted to his church, he has 
spared neither time nor means to help it advance. The 
neat little cottage in Liberty Prairie is due largely to his 
liberality. The parsonage that stands close to it, costing 
something more than $1 200 was built entirely by him. 

Omph-Ghent congregation may well be proud of its 
record. If it has not been great, it has been useful, and 
bids fair for a long and prosperous career. It is thought it 
will soon purchase the p rsonage, and hold it as church 
property. 

ALTON. 

Alton congregation has had the most eventful history 
perhaps of all the congregations in the county, and, in some 
respects, in the State. A missionary society organized by 
I Vandalia Presbytery employed Rev. A. M. Wilson as mis- 
1 sionary under the bounds of the Presbytery, who reported, 
in the fall of 1850, a subscription paper for sustaining a 
missionary at Alton. The proposition met with such favor 
that in 1853, Rev. T. H Hardwick was employed as a mis- 
sionary there. He entered upon his work December 1st. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



327 



During this time he and others held a meeting of considera- 
ble interest in Upper Alton, at which there were over 30 pro' 
fessions, and twenty-sis offered themselves to form an or 
ganization. Mr. Hardwick. however, became discourajj;e<l 
from some cause, and refused to stay longer than one year- 
For about six months Rev. A. M. Wilson supplied the mis- 
sion. In the spring of 1855, Rev. J. B. Logan, who was 
then publishing the Missouri Cainherlmd Presbyterian in St. 
l/ouis, removed to Alton. He was solicited to take charge, 
and agreed to do so until a missionary could be secured. 
In June of that year he organized a congregation of 18 
members, — all females except four, — in the Lutheran 
church on Henry street. The four male members were 
Benjamin R )se and A. JI. Wilson, of Upper Alton, and 
William Blair and Stephen Lufkin, of Alton. Only one of 
these — Jlr. Wilson, is alive at this writing so far as the 
writer knows. AVilliam Blair was the father of Mr. J. L. 
Blair, an old and esteemed citizen of Alton, who for ruany 
years was one of her leading wholesale merchants. Mr. 
Lufkin removed from Alton to Joliet, and became warden 
of the penitentiary there. Mr. Rose lived to a ripe old age 
and died in Upper Alton. These three laymen were the 
origional elders. 

The Lutheran people had promised the use of their hou.se 
each Sabi)ath afternoon to the new organization. But one 
Sabbath whcu the time for assembling came the pastor and 
his people found tiie door locked against them. Only a few 
services were held after this until the first Sabbath in 
January, 1856, when the basement of a building they had 
begun was so far finished that they could worship in it. The 
ne.xt Sabbatli a Sabbath School was organized of twenty-five 
or thirty members, with Mr. Lufkin as superintendent. In 
the spring the audience room was finished, and the building 
was formally dedicated in June, Rev. Jacob C.Clark, of 
Sullivan, Mo., preaching the sermon. The building and 
grounds cost about 85,500, not more than one half of 
which was provided for. 

The mission flourished until the war came on in all its 
darkening fury and cast a black pall of despair over it. It 
was cut off from communication with the Board of missions 
at Lebanon, Tenn., from which it was rceiving $200 a year. 
Added to this was a debt of nearly $2,300, bearing ten per 
cent, interest. To deepen the darkness, Mr. Logan was on 
a small salary, all of which he never received, and he was 
individually responsible for the debt on the church. But 
generous friends provided for the wants of the missionary 
and his family, who, aided by Mr. R. M. Beard as agent, 
raised the money and paid off the debt. The re-adju.stment 
everywhere taking place after the war, had its effects upon 
the church, crippling her numerically and financially. On 
the heels of this an addition was made to the church build- 
ing iavolving a debt of $2,503, which, to some extent, still 
hangs over the congregation. Up to 1870 there had been 
in that church over seven hundred professions of religion, 
and between four and five hundred had been received into 
membership. In 1871, Mr. Logan, after a long, active and 
useful service, resigned. His resignation was not accepted, 
however, and he wfs prevailed upon to serve them another 



year. In 1872, he renewed the resignation, which was ac- 
cepted. 

A very brief sketch of his life is all that the allotcd space 
will allow. Mr. Logan was born in Limestone count}', Ala., 
December 18, 1820. In early life he went with h's parents 
to East Tennessee, where he lived till early manhood. 
While (juite young he was the subject of deep and pungent 
convictions upon the subject of religion. In his seven- 
teenth year he became a candidate for the ministry, and in 
a year or two thereafter was licensed and then ordained. 
Leaving Tennessee, his parents removed to southwest Mis- 
souri, where his father died. In April, 1852, at the advice 
of friends, he started the 3figsouri Cumberland Presbyterian, 
in Lexington, Mo. After about one year the paper was re- 
moved to St. Louis, and from there, in the winter of 1855- 
56, to Alton, 111. In May, 1857, he sold out to A. F. 
Cox, who was publishing a paper in Louisville, Ky. Soon 
after he, in conjunction with Rev. W. W. Brown, bought 
the Lidies' Pearl, and published it in Alton till stopped by 
the war in 1861. In June 1862, he started the Wedeni 
Cumberland Preshyierian, which he published till 1866, when 
he sold the list and material to Mr. T. H. Perrin, retaining 
the editorship. In 1868, Rev. J. R. Brown bought a half 
interest. Mr. Logan then bought the list of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian, published in Pennsylvania, and the two 
lists were united, Mr. Logan being one of the editors of the 
consolidated paper, which bore the last named ti le. Soon 
after he sold out all right and title to the paper. In 1875, 
the Cumberland Presbyterian having been bought by the 
Board of Publication and removed to Nashville, Tenn., Mr. 
Logan and T. H. Perrin started a little monthly called Our 
Faith, which they continued to issue until the St. Lmiis 
Observer, a weekly, started from St. Louis, bought the 
list. 

Besides these things he was connected with the Board of 
Missions for many years, holding the offices of President and 
Secretary. He also issued several works of a doctrinal and 
historical character. After five years of pastoral labor at 
Taylorsville, 111., on the 14th of September, 1878, not quite 
58 years of age, he " fell asleep." His body lies in the Alton 
cemetery. The ministers who followed Mr. Logan at Alton 
were Revs. J. T. May, J. W. Blosser, J. H. Hendrick, E. B. 
Crisman, D. D., W. B. Farr s^nd M. Lowe. 

In 1863 the General Assembly appointed a missionary 
committee at Alton to do the work for the churches in the 
north, which the board of missions at Lebanon, Tenn , could 
not do on account of the war. The committee consisted of 
eleven members. In 1865 the General Assembly converted 
this committee into a board of missions, of which Mr. Logan 
was elected president. For four years this Board continued, 
caring as best it could for the missions under it. While the 
men composing it held opposite views in regard to the issues 
of the war, these views never found their way into the 
counsels of the Board. The interest and information on this 
subject prevalent over the northern states may be due, in 
no small desree, to its work. In 1869 the General Assem- 
bly consolidated the two missionary boards, locating the 
new board at St. Louis, where it remains to-day. 



328 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



BETHALTO 

Congregation was organized by Rev. J. B. Logan and 
H. M. E .gan, on the 23d of April, 1866, in the Bethel 
school-house, with twenty-seven members. The original 
Elders were: D H. Starjjey and J. A Miller. The first 
deacons were: Joe H. Gadd and E. C. Long. Rev. H. M. 
Eagan was secured as their minister, and the congregation 
soon after their organization began the erection of a house 
of worship. A lot was secured, upon which a neat brick 
church was built, at a cost of $4,000. The house was 
finished in the fall, and soon thereafter Mr. Eagan ceased 
his ministrations. He was a warm-hearted, zealous Chris- 
tian gentleman, and the society flourished under his care. 
Their memory of him is fresh to-day. At the time he lived 
at Alton, and was secretary of the board of mjssions located 
there. After a long and useful life he is now spending his 
old age in WashingtonTerritory, loved by all who know him. 
Rev. Thomas Potter was secured to preach for them for 
one year for $1,000. At the end of the year he severed 
connection. Efforts were made to secure the services of 
Rev. J. R. Brown, but without success Rev. J. R. Madden 
offered to supply them one-half his time; but before they 
decided he took other work. At the fall session of 1869, 
Presbytery ordered Rev. T. W. McDavid to supply the 
congregation for six months. At the spring session of 1870, 
Rev. William Turner arranged tosapply them in connection 
with Omph-Ghent congr gation. For two years he served 
them, and then they were again without a minister. Du ring all 
these years the congregation had been increasing in members 
and influence. In the fall of 1873, F. H. Culley, a licentiate! 
a young man of pleasing addre.ss, becanae supply to them. 
He remained for at least a year, and then entered the halls 
of Lincoln University. Disgrace overtook him and he fled. 
He was subsequently deposed from the ministry by Vandalia 
Presbytery. Dark days followed. A shock had been given 
to the society from which it seemed they would not rally. 
They had no minister for some time, and became somewhat 
discouraged. Rev E. B. Crisman, moving into the village 
preached for them occasionally, although he was not 
regularly employed. After his departure, the little band 
had no one to minister to their spiritual needs. In the spring 
of 1879, W. C. Logan, a young man just licensed to preach, 
supplied them for a few months upon alternate Sabbaths. 
In June, or July he left, having been called to a church in 
Indiana. They dragged along as best they could until June, 
1880, when Rev. W. T. Baker was secured to supply them 
for a time. In the spring of 1881, Rev. D. H. Starkey, 
who had been a charter member and also a ruling elder in 
the congregation, engaged to supply them half his time . 
Since then they have had regular services. The frequent 

changes made, and the long intervals when they had no 
minister, have worked greatly to the disadvantage of the 
congregation. But a few of the persevering ones held ou> 
and now there is a better prospect before them than there 
has been for many years. They have an interesting Sabbath 
school, which meets each Sabbath morning, and sustains a 

teachers' meeting in connection therewith. Although not 



strong, they are prompt to pay their minister, and are hope- 
ful for the future. 

This brief sketch is by no means perfect. Blaterial for 
an accurate account was not at hand, and the lack of time 
forbade any extensive search. It will serve, however, to 
show the reader something of what has been done by this 
particular branch of the great Vine. It has in the county, 
four organizations, five church-houses, all in good condition 
with, perhaps, one exception ; all supplied statedly with the 
means of grace and a membership of five hundred (more or 
less). There was an organization effected in the American 
Bottom, but it did not attain much permanency, and is now 
out of existence. 



CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER, CONGREGA- 
TIONAL, OF ALTON. 



BY REV. E. G. CHADDOCK. 

The beginning of the movement that resulted in the or- 
ganization of the church, was the organizing of a Sunday 
school in the spring of 1858, under the auspices of the 
Young Men's Christian Association. The first place of meet- 
ing was the German Methodist church with an attendance of 
nine pupils. But there was in it a spirit of aggre.ssiveness 
and there followed a period of rapid growth. Before the 
close of the year it numbered over a hundred pupils. 
Several changes of location followed, but notwithstanding, 
the school continued to prosper not only increasing in 
number but becoming instrumental in the conversion of 
many who were added to the several churches of the city. 
And as no conveniently located hall could be secured, it 
was finally determined to build, and thus secure a permanent 
house for the school. In 186S the main building of that 
now used for a church was erected. The school at that time 
numbered more than three hundred pupils, and had taken 
its place among the more efficient moral and spiritual forces 
of the city. 

There had been in the Presbyterian church of Alton, from 
its beginning, many whose early training had been Congre- 
gational and the propriety of organizing a Congregational 
church had from time to time been a subject of considera- 
tion on the part of some of them. On the evening of June 
3d, 1870, a preliminary meeting was held at the house of 
Mr. T. T. Lewis, fifteen persons were present. It was made 
a subject of prayer, and after a season of devotion, there was 
a general and free discussion of the propriety of organizing, 
and all were found to favor it. 

A committee was appointed consisting of Samuel 
Wade, James Newman and John Atwood to pre- 
pare a statement setting forth the reasons and motives that 
actuated them in the movement. On the 10th of June this 
committee gave the following report : 

" Seeing in the present prosperity and large membership 
of the church with which we stand connected, (the Presby- 
terian), indications of God's providence pointing to this as a 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



329 



time to colonize, we, the undersigned, while grateful for a 
place in its fold so long, and with most fraterual feelings to- 
ward all its nieiubars, do rejoice to unite in ourefforUs to build 
up another church of God of such polity as we think m)st 
scriptural and best adapted to utilize, and bring out the 
working force of individual Christians. Looking to the 
Great Head of the Church for guidance in our Christian 
work for the salvation of souls and for our growth in grace, 
we do hereby pledge each to the other our hearty co-opera- 
tions in prayers, in efforts and in suffering if need be, to 
plant an organization which shall hold forth the word of 
Life to souls that are perishing." 

This statement was adopted and signed by all present. 

On the 2!)th of July following, The Church of the Re- 
deemer, of Alton, was duly organized with 48 members. 
Rev. H, D. Piatt, of Brighton, Illinois, presiding. Thirty 
of this number had letters from the Presbyte'ian church of 
Alton. Seventeen had letters from other ciiurches of Alton, 
and from churches out of the city, and one was received by 
profession of faith. Soon after eleven more came from the 
Presbyterian church. A call was immediately extended to 
Rev. M. K. Whittlesey of Ottawa, Illinois, to become pas- 
tor of the new church and was accepted. At a meeting held 
August 27th, a manual was adopted and officers were elect- 
ed. Oct. 18th, a council convened to recognize the church 
and install its pastor. Shortly after the action of this coun- 
cil the church and its pastor were admitted to the Southern 
Association of Illinois. Very soon the church was to have 
the chastening which the Word declares shall be given to true 
children This came in the loss by death of several of those 
who had been most active in connection with the organiza- 
tion of the church. During the first year of its history, four 
were called awaj' and their loss was most seriously felt, but 
a very considerable number were also added, chiefly by pro- 
fession and the church had abundant reason to believe it 
had the Master's approbation in its work. 

The pastorate of Rev. M. K. Whittlesey continued two 
years, and he was then dismissed by advice of council that 
hemi^ht takethe more responsible position of superintendant 
of Missions for the southern part of Illinois. 

In December of the same year the church called Rev. 
Robert West, of Ludlow, Ky , and he began his labors Feb- 
ruary, 1873. During this same year additions and repairs 
were made upon the church building, and one of Hook's 
most excellent organs was placed in the church, a gift from 
Samuel Wade. During the winter following the church 
was greatly revived and received a large accession to its 
membership. Rev. Robert West was installed pastor of the 
church, April 29th, 1^574, and resigned his pastorate in the 
autumn of 1876. The church declined to accept it, but he 
urged the acceptance and the church finally yielded, and 
his labors closed Oct 12th, 1876, when Mr. West became 
superintendant of Missions for the State of Missouri. 

The church had no pastor until March \»i, 1877, when 
Rev. Geo. C. Adams, of Hillsboro, received a call and began 
his work. He was installed Sep 28th, 1877, and was dis- 
missed by council on his resignation, April 20tb, 1881. 
D.iringhis pastorate a fine parson ige was built and paid for, 
42 



with the exception of one thousand dollars the land having 
been a gift of Arba Nelson, one of the members who 
united with the church at its organization, but who died 
soon after. Mr. Nelson had planned liberal things for the 
church, and had he lived would have done much for its 
spiritual and financial prosperty. 

During the pastorate of Mr. Adams a very considerable 
increase in membership was made and it was a period of 
general prosperity with the church. He left to take charge 
of a ne* and promising interest in St. Louis, where he is 
at this time located. 

On the 17th of July, 1881, a call was evtended to Rev. 
E. G- Chaddock, of Michigan, and he began his labors the 
1st of September, 1881 ; since that time eleven have united 
with the church, m istly by profession, and arrangements 
have been nearly completed to pay off' the i)arsonage debt, 
only one hundred dollars now being needed to have the 
church clear from debt. The church is united and pros- 
perous, with a flourishing Sunday-school, and a good congre- 
gation. The whole number received into the church since 
its organization is 199 ; of these 100 have been received by 
profession. The present membership is 147. 



LUTHERAN CHURCH. 



BY REV. W \\. WILKEN. 



The fundamental laws of the United States guarantee 
perfect religious liberty to all — or, to use the words of Fred- 
erick the Great — allow all to seek their way to heavenly 
bliss on their own confession of faith. The German Protest- 
ant Church has thriven and prospered under those laws of 
liberty. The church had, however, to encounter many 
difficulties and overcome them, before it gained the inde- 
pendent position it now generally enjoys It is proper to 
state here that the liberal and'material aid extended by the 
native Americans with a ready and willing hand, has been 
the means of overcoming the pecuniary difficulties of the 
beginning. Other and graver ones, however, had yet to be 
met and conquered ; and this was a diffi -ult task to be per- 
formed by prudent and cautious clergymen, who had to act 
as mediators among heterogeneous elements. This was not 
always done, or, perhaps, injudiciously done, and hence we 
do meet here and there German Protestant congregations 
with the worm of di.scord in their vitals. In almost all cases 
these troubles may be traced to errors and blunders of hasty 
and inconsiderate preachers. 

One should bear in mind that the German churches recruit 
themselves from immigrants from all parts of Germany and 
Switzerland, and that these people, in many instances, differ 
widely in their confessions of faith. It was a herculean 
task to be performed by the leading members. The most 
violent and stubborn contradictions had to be met, and 
abrupt lines of division to be obliterated, in order to form 
and crystalize the heterogeneous elements of Catholic.^, Lu- 
therans, Calvinists, Presbyterians, Methodists, Trinitarians 



330 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



and Unitarians into a homogeneous congregation, the mem- 
bers of which should not longer quarrel about dogmatical 
differences, but excel one another in faith and works of 
love. Faith and love ! It is through them that the founder 
of our religion will enter our hearts, for He dwelleth not in 
a confession of faith pronounced by the lip, but liveth and 
worketh in the heart filled with the truth of His doctrine of 
love and burning with the sublimity of His Spirit. 

Such was the spirit penetrating these congregations and 
animating their members to bear witness of their Christian 
purity. Thus fell the rugged partition of dogma, for the 
Church of God is not where confessions of faith are merely 
spoken, but where the Spirit of the sublime founder of our 
religion lives and works in the hearts of men. 

It is nevertheless true, that the Synod of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church did, and to this day does, desire to main 
tain an independent church government, founded on the tra- 
ditions and the '• Concord ia-Book " of this church ; and that 
they therefore peremptorily refused, and still refuse, a union 
of Lutherans and the Reformed, and do not allow communion 
with others, whose clergymen are even excluded from the Lu- 
theran pulpits. However, the congr -gations of the Lutheran 
Synod have made decided progress. Persevering labors and 
great sacrifices have enabled them to build splendid and 
mao-nificent churches and schools, and it is apparent that 
they, like other denominations, know how to erect edifices 
in which the Lord dwelleth with His Spirit and blessing. 

Thus has the Protestant church of Madison county suc- 
ceeded to have most of their congregations develop, without 
beino- fettered by an exclusive confession of faith. They 
have retained the Christian religion, as taught in the books 
of the Old and New Testament, and as explained or defined 
by the Confession of Augsburg {Confessio Augudana). 

The " Credo unam sancta7n CaihoUcam et ApostoUcam 
ecclesiam '' has not yet been reached, but it is drawing 
nearer; for it is the free and living unity, held up by the 
ties of peace ; the unity in spirit, developing its various 
gifts ; the unity of order and concord ; the homogeneous- 
ness, despite dogmatical differences, which forever seeks, 
surely finds, and ultimately secures the '' Una Sanda Ec- 
eleiUi." 

In order to reach the historical development of the Ger- 
man congregations in the American Bottom, Madison 
county, we must refer to the beginning of the church life of 
the first inhabitants. 

THE M E. F.BENEZER CHURCH ON CHOUTEAU SLOUGH. 

This church was erected in 1836. It was an unadorned 
loo- house, but answered all purposes of the times. A 
church yard, located in close proximity, became the last 
resting-place of the weary wanderers, and is to this day, 
now and then, used as a place of interment. A second 
church, 

THE M. E. SIX-MILE CHURCH, 

was erected in 1840 near the Edwardsville plank-road, si.x 
miles east of the Mississippi. The most prominent members 
of these two congregations, whose descendants, now as nu- 



merous as the stars of the firmament, belong to the first 
families of the county and state, were : Benjamin Irish, T. 
J. Irish, Samuel Squire, Peter Barco, Calvin Kinder, Geo. 
A. Kinder, Samuel Kinder, J. W. Delaplain, J. Davidson, 
Wesley Lucas, James S. Smith, Th mas G. Lofton, William 
Atkins, William Snyder, Captain William Gillham, Isaac 
Gillham, Newton Gillham, George Hayes, John Hayes, 
Charles Harward, John Woods and Isaac Bradon. 

Some German and Swiss families, who had arrived at an 
early day, were cheerfully granted permission to use those 
buildings as places of worship. 

The population was constantly increasing, and the neces- 
sity of a larger place for public worship was universally 
felt. The Odd Fellows built a large hall in 1852, and had 
the spacious and beautiful room on the ground floor arranged 
for a church ; as such it is used to this day. The old church 
had by this time become rather dilapidated, and was aban- 
doned by the Americans, while the Germans still used it as 
a meeting-house. The firmer erected at Kinder station a 
beautiful brick church in 1856, with foundations of cut 
stone. The upper flioor is the church-room, and will com- 
fortably seat four hundred persons, while the lower rooms 
are used for schools. 

The German population was now numerous enough to 
have a congregation of their own. Rev. W. W. Wilken,then 
a chaplain in the U. S. army, founded the first German 
congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Confession, in 
1861. 

THE GERM.\N INDEPENDENT EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN ST. 
JOH.^.NNES' CHURCH, 

A plain, frame building, was erected in the Six-mile Prairie, 
intended for a church and parochial school. The church 
was dedicated March 1,1862, by Rev. W. W. Wilken, who 
was then chosen pastor, and remained in charge for twelve 
consecutive years. The church building of 1862 had be- 
come too small for the increasing congregation, and the pro- 
priety of building a more suitable chur.h was apparent to 
all members. AVhile all agreed that a larger and hand- 
somer building should be erected, discussion arose in refer- 
ence to the site of the proposed church, and the praisewor- 
thy harmony of the members, which had lasted for so many 
years, was sadly disturbed. During this agitation an offer 
was made by the M. E. Church at Kinder station to sell 
their handsome church, mentioned above, to the Germans of 
the St Johannes' Congregation. Henry Deterding, Conrad 
Deterding, Fred. Philipps, Henry Fehling, Louis Hill, Her- 
man Brandes, Christ Ahrens, William Buenger, and Fred. 
Beekmau bought the building in 1880, and invited Rev. W. 
W. Wilken, then p stor of a congregation at Alton, to organ- 
ize and take charge of this congregation, which now (1881) 
adopted the name of 

THE GERMAN EV. LUTHERAN ST. PETER's CONGREGATION AT 
KINDER STATION. 

The unmistakable and wonderful success of the new con- 
o-regation, counting eighty-six members within a few mouths 
after organization, ought to have induced all members of the 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



331 



St. Johanues' Congregation to join it. Instead of doing so, 
they resolved, although not as numerous as the St. Peter's 
Congregation, to erect a new church on the site of their for- 
mer frame edifice. The new building was consecrated in 
1882. It is a modest, frame building, fairly equipped 
within, has a steeple and a bell, and is large enough to 
ajcamm3Jate all for many years to come. 



FRENCH CONGREGATION IN HELVETIA. 



DATA FURNISHED BY EEV. L. F. YULLIET. 



On Sept. 6, 1848, an omnibus brought from St. Louis a 
dozen of immigrants, hailing from French Switzerland, one 
of whom was A. E. Bandolier, Constant Rilliet, in later 
years successor of Bandelier in the Swiss consulate, and as- 
sociate county justice in 1861, and lastly Rev. Francis 
VuUiet, a minister of the Free Evangelical Church of 
Canton Vaud, who had come to America in the hope of 
finding here freedom of religion, that had been denied to 
him in his native country, the republic of Switzerland. 

Soon after his arrival. Rev. VuUiet opened his house for 
religious worship every Sunday, to all persons speaking 
French, natives of Switzerland as well as of France. Rev. 
Vulliet was frequently reminded of the propriety of affiliat- 
ing with the Presbyterians as nearest to the standard he 
acknowledged, but he preferred remaining independent. 
Notwithstanding this freedom from ecclesiastical connections 
and the willingness of the preacher to allow freedom of 
action to church members, petty differences appeared before 
long among the hearers. Some wanted a more familiar form 
of worship, some a more definite organization. Pastor 
Vulliet proposed to the disaffected to organize themselves, 
showing a readiness to help, but not disposed to lead. Some 
of the congregation had however other views, effected a 
separation, with the view of establishing, as they said, a 
stricter discipline and, at the same time, a less vigorous ad- 
herence to the historical forms of worship. Under the 
name of the ' Brethren," they started their own meetings in 
1850. They formed the nucleus of the congregation of the 
" Plymouth Brethren," whose church, a frame building, 
stood for a period of twenty years on Sect. 24, three-fourths 
of a mile from the town of Sebastopol. A new church 
has since been erected, half a mile noith of the former. 

After the secession of the " Brethren " in April, 1851, 
the remaining members, about a dozen families, continuing 
to worship with pastor Vulliet, asked him formally to draw 
a confession of faith for them and to act as their pastor In 
this way was the French Evangelical Church of Highland 
organized. Meetings have been held regularly ever since 
on Sundays, first in the house of one member, then in the 
house of another, as they moved from the town to the country. 

This order of things lasted about nine years. In 1858 the 
church resolved to buy lots and erect therou a building for 



worship. It became therefore necessary to be incorporated 
under the laws of the Slate and to elect Trustees. C. Rilliet 
among them. The church was erected on lots 1 and 2, 
block 63, of brick, under contract with Niciiolas Rohr ior 
$1,352.20. The new building was dedicated on the first 
Sunday of October, 1859. In 1860 Florentine Delassus, Sr , 
and Louis Vulliet were elected elders Delassus died Dec. 
1, 1865. The next to follow was pastor Vulliet, Feb. 21, 
1874. Being then under the sole charge of the younger 
Elder, Louis Vulliet, the church elected him pastor in May, 
1*<74, and resolved to perfect their organization by a revision 
of the constitution and to connect it with the Congregational 
Churches of America. This last did not take place till 
April 6, 1876, when the Southern Associatii)n of the Con- 
gregational churches of Illinois, convened at Bunker Hill, 
Macoupin county, admitted the French Evangelical Church, 
by her delegates, as a member of the Association. On the 
same day Louis Vulliet, one of the delegates of the church 
in Highland, was ordained to the ministry of the gospel. 

In 1852 a number of families from North France for the 
most part converted from Roman Catholicism to the Baptist 
church arrived at Highland, settling in its vicinity. They 
first participated in worship with the French Evangelical 
Church, but their views on communion led them also to hold 
separate meetings. Thus originated the Bethania Baptist 
Church, organized near Sebastopol, by Rev. Foulon. The 
church building, dedicated in 1860, stands to this day on the 
N. W. corner of the N. E. quarter of section 24, in Hel- 
vetia township. 



ALLGEMEINE CHRISTLICHE KIRCHE, HIGH- 
LAND. 



FROM DATA FURNISHED BY REV. O. RENTSCHLER. 

The origin of this congregation dates back to the very 
foundation of the town. The inhabitants, some of them 
Catholics, others Protestants of various persuasions were not 
numerous enough to justify the organization of separate 
congregations. A most admirable spirit of tolerance per- 
vaded the colony, and the little meeting-house of 1840 was 
open to all. It is not uncommon to hear it said that the 
Germans as a rule are indifferent to religion and even great 
skeptics. There are of course a number of them inclined 
that way, but by no means a proportionably greater number 
than among other nations. In fact, it may be said, that a 
certain deep religious feeling pervades that nationality, not 
met with elsewhere. True, they are not loud and noisy in 
their professions, nor inclined to punish their flesh in the 
adoration of Him on High. Their poet's rapturous excla- 
mation : "O wunderschoen ist Gotte's Erde, uud werth dar- 
auf vergnuegt zu sein." O beautiful is God's wide earth, 
well worthy to enjoy life's pleasures thereon ! is appreciated, 
thoroughly understood and universally practiced by that 
people. The popular songs of the German, his " Volks- 



332 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



lieder," breathe the very spirit of chaste and beautiful 

religion and worship, for instance : 

Wer hat dich du schoener Wald aufgebaut 

So hoch da droben ? 
Wohl den Meister will ich loben, so lang 

Noch mein Stimm erschallt ! 

(Who has built up the beautiful forest on yonder height? 
O, Jet me praise the Master as long as voice is left in me !) 

These " Volkslieder" might in many instances be called 
hymns, which in fact they are. But to return to the subject. 
The historical sketch of the Catholic churches gives the 
names of the priests, who conducted the religious services 
in the colony. Among the Protestant clergymen adminis- 
tering to the religious wants there, we mention first Rev. 
Rieger, a Lutheran Missionary, who visited the colony from 
time to time in 1840, 1841 and 1842. He was a devout 
Christian and a good man. His memory is cherished by 
the few survivors of that period to this day. Rev. Ciolina 
officiated in 1843 and 1844, Villnier in 1845. Rev. Douy, 
of Belleville, in 1847, Rev. Reineke, stationed at Marine, in 
1848, Rev. Meier of St. Louis, in 1849 and 1850. The name 
of "Allgemeine Christliche Kirche " (a church for Chris- 



tians of all denominations) was adopted in 1850, when a per- 
manent organization was eflected. The following clergymen 
have conducted the religious services there, to wit : Rev. 
Krauss, 1850, Rev. Lepique, 1851, Rev. Mueller 1852 and 
1853, Rev. Rettig, 1854 and 1855, Rev. Lepique, a second 
term, from 1856 to 1860, Rev. Luchsinger from 1860 to 
1862, Rev. Schuepbach from 1862 to 1867, Rev. Mettel- 
mann from 1867 to 1879. The congregation erected a 
beautiful church edifice in 1878. Rev. G. Rentschler suc- 
ceeded Rev. Mettelraann, May 1, 1879. The interior of the 
building was finished during the year, an excellent organ 
procured and three church bells purchased. Rev. Rentsch- 
ler organized a church choir, composed of ladies and gen- 
tlemen, and placed it under the directions of C. H. Seybt, 
who by zealous and untiring efi'orts, backed by talent and 
skill, has succeeded in making his choir peer to any in the 
country. The church membership is constantly increasing, 
and embraces now one hundred and forty families. 

A Ladies' Association, counting over one hundred mem- 
bers, whose object it is to be charitable to the needy, to take 
care of the sick and to be good and kind to all, was called 
into existence by the persistent efforts of Rev. G. Rentschler, 
the present pastor of this most tolerant and highly interest- 
ing church organization. 




EDWARDSVILLE. 



t«-»^ 




IIOMAS KIRKPATRICK, a South 
Carolinian, in the year 1805 made the 
first settlement on the site of Edwards- 
ville. The piece of land on which he built 
his cabin was a militia claim of one 
hundred acres, on Cahokia Creek, ori- 
ginally granted to Pierre Lejoy. This 
(.ff^^^Qc-s^ claim covered the northwest part of the 
^kX present town. When the Indian troubles 

which preceded the war of 1812-14, be- 
gan, a block-house was built for the protection of the several 
families which, by that time, had settled in the vicinity. 
This structure was known as Thomas Kirkpatrick's fort, and 
was an important link in the chain of military stations 
which guarded the Illinois frontier from the attacks of the 
savages. It stood to the north of the old court-house about 
three hundred yards from the banks of Cahokia Creek. It 
is said to have been built by a military company of which 
John G. Lofton was captain, William Jones, first lieutenant 
and Daniel G. Moore, second lieutenant. 

The county of Madison having been organized in 1812, 
Kirkpatrick's farm was selected as the best location for the 
seat of justice. At the house of Thomas Kirkpatrick, on 
the fifth day of April, 1813, the court of common pleas for 
JIadison county held its first session. At this term of court 
Kirpatrick obtained license to keep a public house. The 
first merchant in the town was Abraham Prickett, and the 
second Benjamin Stephenson. Their stores were opened in 
1815 or 1816. John T. Lusk was proprietor of the first 
hotel. In 1816 a town was surveyed by Kirkpatrick, and 
called Edwardsville, in honor of Ninian Edwards, then the 
territorial governor of Illinois. The growth of the new 
town was rapid. In a few years it attained a population of 
several hundred, and numbered among its citizens many in- 
fluential and distinguished men. Governor Edwards made 
it hi^ residence, a bank was established, it became the seat 
of the United States land office and to the town flocked en- 
terprising and talented men who deemed it the best point in 
the state from which to push their schemes for gaining wealth 
or' securing political advancement. 

The first mention of a government for the town is in 1819, 
on the twenty-third of February of which year an act was 
passed by the state legislature, appointing Benjamin Ste- 
phenson, Joseph Bowers, Robert Latham, John Todd, Jo- 
seph Conway, Abraham Prickett and Theophilus W. Smith a 
board of trustees. On the third of the following May, an 
election was held at which Abraham Prickett, James AVatts> 



John Todd, Robert Pogue, William Holland, Palemon H- 
Winchester and William L. May were chosen Trustees. At 
this election Josias Randle, Abraham Prickett and Paris 
Mason acted as judges, and John Y. Sawyer and Stephen 
Dewey as clerks. The trustees elected in 182(1, were Ed- 
ward Coles, John Y. Sawyer, David Swett, Josias Randle, 
John T. Lusk, Joshua Atwater and Paris Mason. 

In 1819, Benjamin Stephenson, Ninian Edwards, Theophi" 
lus W. Smith, John Todd and others petitioned the board o 
tru-tees that a tract of land owned by them adjoining the 
town and which they had laid off" into lots, should be an- 
nexed to and made a part of the town of Edwardsville. 

In the "Sketches of the Western Country." published by 
E. Dana, in 1819, Edwardsville is described as " a flouri.^hing 
town, containing si.Kty or seventy houses, a court-house, jail, 
public bank, printing office, which issues a weekly paper, and 
a United States land office of which Col. Stephenson is re- 
ceiver." " As this county embraces all the lands above, east 
of the Mississippi river, and all the bounty lands in Illinois,' 
the writer goes to state, " soldiers' patents and grants of 
Illinois bounty lands are recorded here. In the vicinity of 
the town is a society of Methodists. There is an extensive 
tract of land around this spot of an excellent quality on 
which many plantations have been opened. But, unfor- 
tunately for settlers, the most valuable tracts have been mo- 
nopolized by speculating men who are non-residents." 

EARLY CITIZENS OF EDW.VRDSVILI.E. 

The names given above of persons connected with the 
early government of Edwardsville, furnish a fair list of 
the leading men in the town about the year 1820. Benjamin 
Stephenson was a Virginian by birth. He came to this state 
from Kentucky in 1809. He served as sheriff" of Randolph 
county, and was colonel in the military service in two cam- 
paigns of the war of 1812-14. He was elected delegate to 
congre.ss from the territory of Illinois in 1811, and when the 
land office was established at Edwardsville was made the 
first receiver. He was an ardent Democrat in politics, an 
admirer of Andrew Jackson, and his sentiments were 
strongly pro-slavery. He was quiet, unpretentious and 
agreeable in his manners, and attended to his duties as re- 
ceiver of the land office with much faithfulness. He died at 
Edwardsville, about 1824. 

Dr. Joseph Bowers was one of the early physicians of 
Edwardsville. With his profession he united the occupation 
of a farmer. He removed to Carlinville, and represented 
Macoupin county in the state legislature. Dr. John Todd 



334 



HISTORY OF MADISOIf COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



was a pronjiiunt represfiitalive of the medical profession 
He came fioni Lexington, KeLtucky, and was the brother 
of Robert Todd, who was the father of the wives of Abraham 
Lincoln and Ninian Edwards. He was a Whig in politics- 
He resided in Edwardsville, on Main street, where Judge 
Joseph Gillespie now lives. A log bouse was here first 
erected by Dr. Bowers to which Dr. Todd made a frame ad- 
dition. He subsequently became a citizen of Springfield, 
where he practiced medicine some years and died. 

Joseph Conway came to Illinois from Maysville, Ken- 
tucky, and settled at Kaskaskia in 1812, and there engaged 
in the practice of law. During the war of 1812-14 he was 
in the contractor's department on the frontier. From 
Kaskaskia he came to Edwardsville. For some years he 
filled the office of circuit clerk ; he was elected a member of 
the state senate in 18-4, and represented Madison county as 
senator till 1833. He removed to the northern part of 
the state, and was killed by a lall from the upper to the 
lower deck of a steamboat on the Mississippi river, near 
Kock Island. 

Jaines, Paris and Hail Mason were natives of New Hamp- 
shire. James Mason purchased Kirkpatrick's interest in the 
original town ; he removed from Edwardsville in 1833. He 
was the founder of the town of Grafton, on the Mississippi, 
in Jersey county. Paris Mason carried on the milling busi- 
ness. Hail Mason was one of the early justices of the 
peace; be removed to Scarritt's prairie, in Godfrey town, 
bliip. 

Abraham Piickett, the pioneer merchant in Edwardsville, 
wiis born near Lexington, Kentucky, and first came to 
Madison county in 1808. He was employed for some time 
in the drug business in St. L -uis, and then opened a store 
in Edwardsville. The first county court of Madison county, 
held in 1813, granted him a license to retail merchandise. 
About the year 1825 he removed to Adams county, and 
made an addition to the present city of Quincy. While 
a resident of that part of the state he was engaged in 
trade with the Indians. While at work on a contract to 
clear a portion of the Red river from snags and other 
obstructions to its navigation, he died, at Natchitoches, 
Louisiana, in 1836. He was the postmaster at Edwards- 
ville for a number of years; he was a delegate from Madi- 
son county to the convention which assembled at Kaskaskia 
in July, 1818, and framed the first constitution of the state 
of Illinois, and was a member of the first legislature which 
met after the admis.'ion of the state into the Union. His 
son, George W. Prickett, now a resident of Chicago, is said 
to have been the first white child born in Edwardsville. 

Isaac Prickett, who in 1815, had settled in St. Louis, 
cime to Edwardsville in 1818, and engaged in the mercan- 
tile business in partnership with his brother Abraham. He 
afterward established a store on his own account, which 
he carried on for many years, in the brick building on 
Main street, in which Mrs. Nancy Eberhardt now lives. 
He was postmaster, public administrator, quartermaster- 
general of the militia and inspector of the Illinois peni- 
tentiary. From 1838 to 1842 he filled the oflice of receiver 



of public moneys for the laud office at Edwardsville. He 
died in 1S44. 

Palemon H. Winchester was born either in Virginia or 
Tennessee, in 1794. On the evening of Saturday, January 29, 
1824, he killed Daniel D. Smith, recorder of Pike county, 
and his trial, on the charge of murder, was one of the most 
interesting in the records of the early Illinois courts. He 
was acquitted. He removed to Mac .upiu county, opened 
the first law office in Carlinville, served there for several 
years as judge of probate, and died in 1F60. 

Theophilus W- Smith was a lawyer and politician. la 
1822 he was elected a member of the state senate. In 1825 
he was made one of the judges of the supreme court, and 
was on the bench till 1842. He possessed fine judicial 
ability, but could never entirely abstain from dabbling in 
politics. He was strongly pro-slavery in his sympathies, 
and was one of the leaders of the "Convention party" in 
1824. He established the Illinois Republican, at Edwards- 
ville, in the interest of the slavery movement. 

John T. Lusk was born in South Carolina, November 7, 
1784. In 1791, his father, James Lusk. removed to Ken- 
tucky, and established a ferry across the Ohio river, opposite 
the present town of Golconda. This was widely known as 
Lusk's ferry, and a creek which empties into the Ohio iu 
the vicinity bears to this day the name of Lusk creek. In 
1805 John T. Lusk came to Madison county, and settled in 
the neighborhood of svhere the town of Edwardsville is now 
built. In 1809 he married Lucretia. daughter of Charles 
Gillham. She was the only one of his eight children who 
remained in Madison county. He was in the ranging 
service during the war of 1812-14. AVhile the men were 
absent, the women sought refuge in the fort, or block- 
house, and Mr. Lusk's wife was appointed their captain. 
She was an excellent rifle-shot, and had plenty of spirit and 
bravery. When Edwardsville began its growth, he moved 
into the town and erected a building of heavy hewn logs, 
a story and a half in height, with three rooms on the 
ground floor, in which he opened the first hotel in Ed- 
wardsville ; he kept this hotel for some-years. He served 
as dt-puty circuit clerk under Hail Mason, and afterward 
filled the office of county clerk ; he was also recorder and 
postmaster. He died December 22, 1857. 

Joshua Atwater was one of the earliest school-teachers in 
Edwardsville. He emigrated from Westfield, Massachu- 
sett.«, to St. Claircounty,iu 1801, and taught school in Illinois 
as early as the year 1807. He became a citizen of Madi- 
son county in 1817. He was a man of New England edu- 
cation and habits. He wa-" the founder of, perhaps, the first 
charitable institution organized in the Territory of Illinois. 
This society, which was formed March 1st, 1809, was called 
the "Charitable Society," and its members bound them- 
selves to make quarterly contributions to a fund which was 
to be employed for the relief of the oppressed and afflicted 
of all ranks and colors, without discrimination or preju- 
dice." The constitution is drawn up in the handwriting of 
Mr. Atwater, and his name, although he was then a poor 
man, appears at the head of the list for the highe.t amoun 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



335 



subscribed.* He began the mercantile business in Edwards- 
villa in 1820, which he carried on till 1837. 

One of the most remarkable men who ever lived in Ed- 
wardsvile was James D. Henrj'. He worked in the town a? 
an ordinary shoemaker, occasionally showing evidence of a 
brutal and passionate nature, but subse(iuently achieved dis- 
tinction in the Black Hawk war and became the nominee of 
the " People's party," for the position of governor of the 
state. He was born in Pennsylvania. At Delaware, Ohio, 
in 1816, he had a fight in the shop in which he was working, 
and whipped three or four of his brother siioemakers, and 
then left the town in haste. He journeyed down the Ohio 
and up the Missis*ippi river in a keel boat, landing at the 
mouth of Wood river. He came to Edwardsville in 1822. 
His education was deficient, and he attended a night school 
taught by William Barrett, where he gained his first know- 
ledge of arithmetic. His passions were revengeful and un- 
controllable when aroused, and his physical strength and 
readiness to fight, gave him the reputation of a dangerous 
antagonist. 

He fancied that a negro named Jarret, who belonged to 
Joseph Conway, had insulted him, and he inflicted on the black 
man a terrible revenge. The negro had taken refuge in the 
stable of Rowland P. Allen, whence Henry dragged him 
forth. Stripping him of all his clothing, except his trousers, 
he fastened him to the end of the horse rack in the public 
street. He had procured five hitkory withes as the instru- 
ments of punishment, and laying a sword and pistol on a 
block within three feet of his victim, with a dagger in 
one hand and whip in the other, he began to lash the poor 
negro unmercifully. When the negro drew back on the rope 
and begged for mercy Henry would draw the keen edge of 
his bowie knife over the negro's naked abdomen and 
threaten him with instant death unless he submitted quietly 
to the punishment. Court was in session, and a hundred 
men were in town, present and looking on, including the 
sheriff and other officers of the law, but none dared to in- 
terfere. When he had used up his second, or third whip, 
the wife of Rowland P. Allen heard the negro's cries and 
ran to his rescue. Appealing to the men present in vain, 
she went back to her kitchen, and procuring a formidable 
carving knife, rapidly approached and cut the rope by 
which the negro was bound. Henry stood still with aston- 
ishment, suspending his blow in the air, and as the woman 
led the negro away .said threateningly that a woman might 
lie his hands but it would not have been well for any man 
to have done to oppose him. 

This is the dark side of Henry's character. He was am- 
bitious, and possessed an intense longing for militar}' fame. 
He was fond of hearing of the exploits of Cresar and Na- 
poleon, and the other great generals ol the world, and Judge 
Joseph Gillespie, then a boj', was accustomed to spend hours 
in his shop, reading to Henry, while he worked, of the 
achievements and campaigns of celebrated warriors. He 
left his trade to engage in the mercantile business. In 182() 

*.A.niong the signers are Jesse Walker, William Scott, Fen. M. 
Pia't, John Ererett, David Everett, William Barioi, Ih )mas Kirk- 
palrick, Robert McMaban and Giles Maddux. 



he moved to Springfield. He was elected sheriff of Sanga- 
mon county, and filled the office with satisfaction. The 
Black Hawk war gave him at last the opportunity for which 
he longed. His genius for military affairs soon gained him 
distinction, and he came to be recognized as the ablest and 
most successful general of the war. 

In his person he was si.K feet in height and well formed. 
In his disposition he was exceedingly modest and retiring, 
and sometimes gloomy and melancholy. At long inter- 
vals he indulged in spells of intoxication, and then, if his 
anger was excited, he was reckless and desperate. The fear 
of danger never entered his breast. The unfortunate cir- 
cumstances of his birth made him sensitive and diffident, 
and he avoided the society of ladies. At the close of the 
Black Hawk war the citizens of Springfield gave a splen- 
did entertainment in honor of his military services, and 
it is said that during the evening he never once appeared iu 
the apartment where the ladies presided. He died among 
strangers at New Orleans, on the fourth of March, 1834, and 
such was the peculiarity of his disposition that he never in- 
firmed his attendants at the hotel of his identity as General 
James D. Henry of the Black Hawk war. 

Erastus Wheeler became a citizen of Edwardsville in 
1819. He was born in Otsego county, New York, in 171)7. 
He was a soldier in the war of 18r2-'14, and was present 
and participated at the battle of Lundy's Lane, and the siege 
of Fort Erie. He enlisted in the Black Hawk war in 1831, 
and in the campaign of the following year was captain of a 
company under Gen. Samuel Whiteside. He was a cap- 
tain in Col. Bissells regiment in the Mexican war. 

Josias Handle, the first county clerk and an early promi- 
nent citizen, is mentioned fully in a biography. 

Five persons, who filled the office of governor of the 
State, were for various periods residents of Edwardsville in 
early days. These were Niiiian Edwards, Edward Cole.s 
Joseph Duncan, John Reynolds, and Thomas Ford Among 
other distinguished men who made the place their home, 
were Jesse B Thomas, sr., United States Senator from 1818 
to 1829; Daniel P. Cook, the first representative in Con- 
gress after the admi<sion of the State into the Union ; 
Emanuel J. West, Judge Jesse B. Thom^, jr. ; Judge 
Samuel D. Lockwood ; George Forquer, John D. R-eves, 
afterward editor of the Gongreidonal Glnbe'j Chester Ashley, 
subsequently United States Senator from Arkansas ; Benja- 
min J. Seward, brother to William H. Seward, governor of 
New York; Judge James Semple; Benjamin Mills, and 
Henry Starr. 

It was not unu.sual for Wiggins' hotel, the popular hos- 
telry of Early Edwardsville, to have twenty-five regular 
boarders. Edward Coles boarded at this hotel for years. 
Many of these guests were young professional men, doctors 
and lawyers, who according to a lady, whose memory 
reaches back to that olden time, " were well dressed, 
fashionable, and handsomer than any that can be seen now- 
a-days." 

An election was held by the voters of the township of 
Goshen on the third of May, 1819, for seven Trustees of the 
town of Edwardsville. The poll list, still preserved, shows 



336 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



that fifty three votes were cast, among which were those of 
the following persons : John Y. Sawyer, Jolm T. Lusk, Paris 
Mason, Joseph Conway, Theophilus W. Smith, Robert 
Latham, John Ringokl, John H. Randle, Robert Pogue, 
Jacques Metta, Benjamin Stephenson, Don Alonzo Spauld 
ing. Hail Mason, John Wilson, William L. May, John 
Todd, Simon Ray, Abraham Prickett, Joseph Remington, 
Isaac Prickett, James Watts, Isaac Scarritt, James Mason, 
Palemon H. AVinchester, Jacob Prickett, Joshua Atwater, 
Thomas Tindall, Charles Jackson, Willam Holland, John 
L. Whaling, and Asa Morse. 

To Mrs. Nancy Eberhardt now belongs the honor of being 
the oldest resident of Eilwardsville. She was born in Ken- 
tucky. In 1813 her brothers, Jephthah and George Larapkin 
came to Illinois. The former settled at Edwardsville, and 
for five or six years carried on a potter's shop, which stood 
on Main street, just above the residence of Judge Gillespie. 
He removed to Quincy in 1819, where a few years after- 
ward he died. George Lanipkin settled on a farm south- 
east of Edwardsville. On the return of Jephthah Lampkin 
from a visit to Keutucky in 1818, he brought back with 
him his sister, Nancy, then a young girl. She has lived in 
Edwardsville ever since. In 1822 she became the wife of 
Isaac Prickett. Her first husband died in 1844. But two 
other persons are now living who were in Edwardsville 
when she came ; Rev. Richard Randle, now of Taylorville, 
and his sister, Mrs. Martha Ripley, of Staunton, Illinois. 

ITEMS OF HISTORY. — 1820-24. 

In the files of the early newspapers of Edwardsville may 
be found many items of interest in reference to the town. 
The physicians had formed a medical association, and there 
is a notice signed by John Todd, president, that the First 
District Medical Society of the State of Illinois would con- 
vene at Edwardsville on the second Monday of May, 1820. 
Another notice shows that Samuel G. J. De Camp was the 
secretary of this society. The mechanics of the place had 
also formed an organization, known as the Edwardsville 
Mechanics' Society, which during the year 1820, held monthly 
meetings at the house of Messrs. Bruner and Stuckey- Wesley 
Allwine advertises, under date of June, 1820, that he has 
c.)ntinually on hand all kinds of Windsor chairs, and that 
he neatly executes house and sign painting. 

James Wright, tailor, informs the public that he is pre- 
pared to execute any kind of work in his line of business in 
the neatest and most fashionable manner and on the shortest 
notice. Officers' uniforms made in the most elegant style. 
He advertises for an apprentice, between fourteen and 
eighteen years of age, and adds that members of the artillery 
company can have their uniforms made in an elegant and 
cheap manner. S. T. & J. A. McKenney, next door to the 
post-office on Main street, call attention to the fact that they 
have the exclusive right to make and vend spring- 
saddles itt Illinois, on Bryan's old spring cantle plan, and 
on his new and highly improved style. Their other goods 
•' Bridles, martingales, valises, portmanteaus, hor.-eman's 
caps, holsters and other military accoutrements," they war- 
rant equal, if not superior, to any made in the western part 



of the United States. Theyofler the above goods for " cash," 
good hides, deer skins, beeswax and tallow. 

Announcement is made in October, !S20, of the dissolu- 
tion of partnership between John W. Skidmore and Sampson 
Willard. A subsequent advertisement states that the for- 
mer gentleman, on the road between Edwardsville and 
Wilt's mill, had lost a portmanteau containing one linen 
shirt, marked J. W. S., one pair white pantaloons and two 
handkerchiefs, one white and the other silk. A liberal re- 
ward is offered for the return of the above articles to the 
subscriber at Edwardsville. Francis Richman, baker, wishes 
to inform the public that he keeps constantly on hand an 
assortment of bread and biscuit, and that he sells superfine 
flour, made in Cincinnati, at seven dollars per barrel. 
William F. Roberts, in 1823, calls the attention of the 
public to the fact that he has opened a porter cellar, where 
the best Pittsburgh porter in bottles can be had at all times, 
for cash or Illinois state paper. Atwater & Meeker adver- 
tise, in 1823, that they have groceries for sale, and the 
same year, John Adams announces that he has put up 
machinery for carding wool and fulling cloth, and having 
had long experience in the business he expects to give satis- 
faction. 

Under date of November 20, 1819, W. C. Wiggins, pro- 
prietor of the " Edwardsville Hotel, — sign of General Wash- 
ington," informs his friends and the public that he has 
opened a house in the brick building, on the northeast side 
of the public square, where he will be glad to accommodate 
those who fiivor him with a call. A year later, October 
10, 1820, William H. Hopkins announces that he has opened 
a house of entertainment on the southeast corner of the 
new public square, where he will endeavor to give satifac- 
tion and be happy to attend upon the calls of those who may 
favor him with their custom. We also learn that Henry 
Kelly kept a tavern at Edwardsville, in 1824. 

Among the professional announcements is that of Theo- 
philus W. Smith, who states, May 2, 1819, that he has com- 
menced the practice of the law, and will attend the circuit 
courts in Madison, Bond, Washington and St Clair counties, 
and the supreme court at Kaskaskia. Chester Ashley, 
attorney, announces that he will practice in Illinois, and in 
the counties of St. Louis and St. Charles, Missouri. D. P. 
Cook &S D. Lockwood, under date of April 1, 1823, state 
that they have entered into partnership to practice law, 
and that their office is in the upper end of Edwardsville. 
J. D. Woolverton, physician and surgeon, gives the infor- 
mation, in May, 1823, that he has returned to Edwardsville. 
William Mason Simons, M. D , offers his professional services 
as practitionei of phys'cs, midwifery and surgery. He could 
be found one door above the post-office, or at the residence 
of Rowland P. Allen. 

That the early residents of Edwardsville were not destitute 
of popular amusement is shown by an advertisement which 
states that Messrs. Ludlow & King and the St Louis The- 
atrical Corps have the pleasure of informing the ladies and 
o-entlemen of Edwardsville and vicinity that they propose 
o-ivino- three evenings' entertainment in the form of a dra- 
matic olio. Tne advertisement is dated Miiy 1, 1820, and 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



337 



the pprnirmances were announced to take place on the fol- 
lowing Tupsday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings, at the 
house of John T. Lusk. John H. Handle, librarian, calls 
an annual meeting of the stockholders of the Edwardsville 
Lilirary to be held at the court house on the 1st of January, 
l'y21,for the election of five directors. On the lOlh of 
September, 1820, tlie regiment of niili ia, under coraniand 
of Col. AVilliam Parkinson, was reviewed bj' Gov. Btiud. 

The newspapers of Edwardsville for some years subsequent 
to 1S20, had larger circulations and were more widely read, 
than any other journals published in the state. The adver- 
tisements show that they were expected to reach a class of 
readers outside the limits of the state. Sales of town lots at 
Naples, Columbus and other towns on the Illinois river are 
announced in the columns of the Spectator. Robert Mc 
Cloud informs the citizens of Missouri, north of the Missouri 
river, that no delay will be occasioned on his part in com- 
mencing the publication of the MUsourian, a weekly paper 
to be issued at St. Charles, Missouri. Advertisements of 
runasvay slaves from owuers in ]\Iis30uri are not uncommon. 

ANTICIPATED VISIT OF L.VFAYETTE. 

It was thought that the Marquis De Lafayette, while on 
his visit to America in 1824, would visit Madison county^ 
and the patriotic citizens of Edwardsville made arrange, 
nients to give him a cordial recepti(m. A meeting was held 
at the Washington hotel on the ninth of October, 1<S24, for 
the pur])Ose of appointing suitable committees. Emanuel 
J. West was called to the chair, and Abrahatn Prickett was 
appointed secretary Theophilus W. S uith spoke at large 
on the character and services of the defender of American 
liberty. On the motion of J )hn T. Luik, a committee of 
forty-two persons was appointed to receive the distinguished 
visitor. This committee was made up, in considerable part, 
of citizens of the couuty who had served in the war of the 
Revolution. Lafayette reached St. Liuis on the last day of 
April, 182.5. but did not come to Edwardsville. He was 
greeted at St. Louis by a large concourse of people, ma ly of 
whom were citizens of Madison county. Thirteen cannon 
were fired in his honor. Several of the residents of Ed- 
wardsville were introduced to the distinguished man by 
D.iuiel P. Cook, then a representative in Congress. Gov- 
ernor Coles escorted him from St. Louis to Vandal ia and 
Shawneetown. 

TnE SLAVERY CONTEST IN' EDWARDSVILLE. 

Many articles in reference to slavery appear in the early 
papers, and during the campaign of 1824, much space is de- 
voted to the discussion of the subject- In July, 1824, 
Hooper Warren, editor of the Spectator, gives an account of 
an attack made upon him by Theophilus W. Smith, editor of 
the Illinois Republican, the journal published in the interest 
of the pro-slavery party, from which it appears that Smith 
entered Warren's office on the Vllh of July, with a dirk and 
a whip, but seeing that the latter was ariued with a pi-stol, 
he turned about and left. Emanuel J. West, who had aji. 
parently been in waiting, then immediately entered the office 
and observed that Smith only wished for an explanation and 
43 



intended no harm. Warren thereupon observed that if 
Mr. Smith would demean himself peaceably he might come 
in, and on Jlr. West pledging himself that such should be 
his deportment, Smith was sent for. Tnen ensued a confer- 
ence in which each endeavored to obtain a written acknow- 
ledgement that the other had no personal knowledge of 
anything derogatory to his character a.s an individual. The 
difficulty was as to which should take the load in making this 
acknowledgement. 

Before the conference began, upon the suggestion of Mr. 
West, a mutual surrender of arms was made. It appears 
that while Mr. Warren was engaged in writing, Smith found 
Lis way to his opponent's pistol and threw the priming out 
of the pan. This, Mr. Warren remarks, " displayed his cun- 
ning, at the expense of his bravery." Upon the final re- 
fusal of the editor of the Spectator to make reparation, Mr. 
Smith, knowing his adversary had no weapon of defense, at- 
tempted an assault with his whip and dirk, but was prevent- 
ed by Mr. West from doing Mr. Warren the slightCft injury. 

After the defeat of the couvention party at the election 
in August, the announcement is made that the elders of the 
Presbyterian church at Edwardsville, " concurring with 
their brethren of the Methodist church in the Kaskaskia 
and Illinois circuits, in believing it to be the duty of the 
pious in this State to give public testimony of their grati- 
tude to Almighty God, for his goodness in averting the evil 
of slavery which lately threatened our State, ' have ap- 
pointed the last Friday in October to be observed as a day 
of thanksgiving and prayer. 

EDWAKDSVILLE IN 1833. 

The settlement of the countrj'' to the north of Madison 
county, and the establishment in that region of new centres 
of trade, took away much of the importance of Edwards- 
ville. Its trade was absorbed by St. Louis, and subsequently 
by Alton, and about the year 182-') its population began to 
decline. The town, in 1833, had about three hundred and 
fifty inhabitants. The princij)al mercantile business at that 
date was carried on by Joshua Atwater and Andrew R. 
Skidmore, under the firm name of A. R. Skidmore & Co- 
Mr. Atw^ater retired from business with a competence in 
1837. Mr. Skidmore went to Alton in 1838, failed there in 
business in 1841, and subsequently removed to California, 
where he died. Isaac Prickett still carried on his store in 
the brick building on Main street, nearly opposite the old 
court-house. Daniel Sleeker also had a store. He came to 
Edwardsville from New York, and died about 1840. From 
1831 to 183U, John Hogan was a merchant in Edwardsville, 
The latter year he removed to Alton. He was then a Meth- 
odist minister, and frequently preached throughout the 
county. In 183C, he was elected a member of the State leg- 
islature, and subsequently, was the Whig candidate for 
congress against Gov. John Reynolds. He was appointed 
by President Harrison register of the land office at Dixon 
in this state, but was removed during the succeeding admin- 
istration of Tyler. He then became a resident of St. Louis 
wiiere he still lives. For some years he was the postmaster of 
that city. 



338 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



John Adams was also in the mercantile business in 1833, ' 
carrying on a store in connection with his castor oil factory, 
and wool carding machine. He subsequently disposed of 
his store, and was elected sherifl'. He was a Whig in politics 
and a strong supporter of the Baptist church. He was a 
man of generous impulses, popular with the people, and had 
for enemies. The mill owned by Paris Mason was in operation 
in 1833, but not long afterward was abandoned. The floods 
in the Cahokia occasionally caused great damage, and it was 
found difficult to keep it in repair. 

The physicians in Edwardsville in 1833, were Dr. B. F. 
Edwards and Dr. Peter W. Randle. Dr. Edwards made 
Edwardsville his residence in 1827, when thirty years of age. 
Dr. Todd was then the only regular physician in the county. 
Edwards bought Dr. Todd's house, the latter moving to 
another loca ion. For two years, these two were the only 
physicians in the county. Their practice extended for fifty 
miles around. Dr. Edwards kept four or five horses, and 
frequently rode one hundred miles in tsventy-four hours. For 
months in the sickly seaioi, his sleep did not average four 
hours out of twenty-four, and yet he was accustomed to say 
that iu those days he did not receive large enough returns 
from his practice to support his family. Dr. Peter \V. Ran- 
dle began practice iu 1833. He had studied his profession 
under Dr. Edwards, and succeeded to his practice, the latter 
being anxious to relinquish it. He was an able and popu- 
lar physician. From Edwardsville he went to Alton, and 
afterward to California He became the President of the 
Eclectic Medical College, founded at San Francisco, of which 
city he is still a resident. Dr. John Woodson, a very ta- 
lented gentleman, who had begun a successful practice at 
Edwardsville, died in 1832. Dr. Solon Stark practiced 
his profession at Edwardsville for some years, becoming a 
resident of the town previous to 1836. 

The most prominent attorney in Edwardsville in 1833 
was James Semple. He removed to AltoI^ and repre- 
sented Illinois in the United States Senate from 1843 to 
1847, and subsequently was appointed minister to one of the 
South American States. Jesse B. Thomas, jr., was also 
practicing the legal profession at Edwardsville, and was in 
partoership with David Prickett, under the firm uaine of 
Prickett & Thomas. John S. Greathouse was another at- 
torney" of that period, and Seth T. Sawyer, now of Alton, 
who had studied law in Semple's office, was entering upon 
his legal career. 

In 1833 there were two churches; a frame structure, 
used by the ^lethodists, stood on the site of the present 
Methodist church. The Baptists occupied a building which 
is now used by the fire company as an engine house. The 
town at that time was as moral and religious iu its tone as 
any place of its size in the State. During the winter of 
1827-28 there had been a marked revival of religion, which 
still left its influence on the community. 

In "Peek's Gazetteer of Jllimis," published in 1834, 
the population of Edwardsville is given as seventy fami- 
• lies, and the town is described as containing a court- 
house and jail of brick, a land office for the Edwardsville 
district, four stores, two taverns, two physicians, four law- 



yers, a castor oil factory, and a female academy taught by 
a lady, and occupying a commodious building The inhabi- 
tants are represented as generally industrious intelligent, 
and moral, a large proportion being professors of religion. 
The location is spoken of as pleasant and healthy, on high 
ground, and in the centre of a well watered and well-tim- 
bered country, settled with enterprising farmers. The 
" Travellers Diredonj," by the same author, issued five 
years later, gives the same description of the place, with the 
exception that the number of stores is stated at seven instead 
of four. 

SUBSEQUENT GROWTH. 

For some years the town showed little signs of improve- 
ment. The fear of the removal of the county seat was an 
incubus on its growth. Alton kept up a constant agitation 
with the view of obtaining the public buildings, aud be- 
coming the seat of justice. This uncertainty was 'somewhat 
removed by a provision in the State constitution of 1848, 
inserted chiefly by'the eflbrts of Edward M. We-t, of Ed- 
wardsville, a delgate to the constitutional convention, which 
made it a matter of great difficulty to secure the division of 
a county, or the removal of a county seat. Substantial 
improvements began then to be made, and the growth of 
the town has since beju prosperous and steady. The popu- 
lation iu 1847 was about seven or eight hundred. In 1860 
the number of inhabitants had increased to two thousand. 
^ Among the representatives of the business interests of 
the town for the twenty years succeeding 1835, may be 
named Edward M. West, who became a resident of Edwards- 
ville in 1833, and in 1835 began the mercantile business 
which he continued until 1854. He was born in Botetourt 
county, Virginia, in 1814, and came with his father Tilgh- 
man H. West, to this State, when four years old. In 1829 
he went to Sangamon county, and was in the recorder's 
office (his uncle, Edward Mitchell, being recorder of San- 
gamon county and postmaster at Springfield,) till 1831. 
In 1834 he learned the mercantile business at Alton, with 
Godfrey, Gilmau & Co., then the largest business firm in the 
State. Since 1858 he has been in business as a banker. 
Alfred J. Lusk opened a store in 1834, which he carried on 
for a number of years. Orren Meeker was in business as a 
merchant eight or nine years, and was succeeded by Fred- 
eriek.T. Krafft. William Peel and Edward S. Brown had 
stores, and William Gillham was in the mercantile business 
from 1837 to 1841. Julius L. Barnsback settled in Ed- 
wardsville as a merchant iu 1837, and the name of "Barns- 
back " has since been a familiar one iu connection with the 
business interests of the town. 

Previous to the building of the present court-house, in 
1857, business was all transacted in the lower town. After 
the completion of this structure the stores gradually moved 
up town, aud in the course of a few yeaps a complete change 
in the business locality was effected. The removal of the pub- 
lic buildings from the lower to the upper town, was the end of 
a struggle which had continued from the commencement of 
the growth of Edwardsville. As early as 1820 active ex- 
ertions were made by prominent citizens to have the court- 
house and jail removed to what they considered a better 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, IILINOIS. 



339 



location, and in June of that year Benjamin Stephenson, 
Theophilus W. Smith and Ninian Edwards, for themselves 
and other property owners, offered a square of ground as a 
site for a court house with sufficient space on which to build 
a " gaol." Still more liberal oflers were subscfiuently made 
in the hope of securing the removal of the county buildings 
from their original location. 

L.iND OFFICE. 

An important institution in Edwardsville in early times 
was the land office. This brought many visitors to the town. 
The act reducing the price of the public land to a dollar 
and a quarter an acre went into eftect Alay, 1820. Procla- 
mation was made by the President of the United States of 
public sales of land in the Edwardsville district, thirty-eight 
townships and fractional townships, on the first Monday of 
October, 18'20, and at various other times. The sales of 
laud for two weeks in the following January amounted to 
twenty-six thousand five hundred dollar.'^. Most of these 
lands were in the Macoupin and Apple Creek settlements, 
and were sold to actual settlers. 

Advertisement was made in the newspapers of the banks 
whose bills would be received at the laid office. In 1820 
these banks were, Bank of the United States and branches, 
Bank of Illinois at Shawneetown, Bank of Edwardsville, 
Bauks in Boston, i^ew York City, Phihulelphia and New 
Orleans, Bank of Baltimore, Bank of Maryland, banks in 
the District of Columbia except Merchants' and Franklin 
Bank of Alexandria, Bank of Bath, Maine; Cumberland 
Bank, Portland, JIaiue; Cheshire Bank, Keene, New 
Hampshire ; Merchants' Bank, Salem, Massachusetts; New- 
port Bank, Newport Rhode Island ; New Haven 
Bank, Bristol Bank, Bristol, Rhode Island ; New Lon- 
don Bank, Mechanics and Farmers' Bank, Trenton 
Banking Conii)any, Trenton, N. J. ; Easton Bank, Easton, 
Pa., Harrisburg Bank, Harrisburg, Pa., Branch of Farmers 
Bank of Delaware at Newcastle ; Offices of disc unt and 
deposit of Bank of Virginia at Fredericksburg!); Lynch- 
burgh and Petersburgh, Virginia ; Bank of Augusta, Ga., 
Planters and Mechanics' Bank, Hunlsville, Alabama terri- 
" tory, and Bank of Mi.ssouri, at St. Louis. 

Subsequently by order of the Secretary of the Treasury, 
it was directed that the bills of the following banks should 
only be received : Bank of Illinois, Shawneetown, Banks 
in Boston, Banks in the City of New York, Banks in the 
City of Philadelphia, Banks of Baltimore (except City 
Bank), Banks in District of Columbia (except Merchants' 
and Franklin Banks of Alexandria), and Banks of Rich- 
mond, Virginia. 

KEGISTF.RS OF LAND OFFICE AT EDWARDSVILLE. 



RECEIVERS OF LAND OFFICE AT EDWARDSVILLE. 



John McKee > | April 30, 1816 

Xatiri Pope Oct. 31, 1818, Nov. 13, 1818 Appointed Judge. 

Edward CoIps . . . Mar. 5, 1819 Jan. 5, 1 820 Re-signed. 

William P. McKce. j J an. 13, 1S23 

Sani'l. II. Thomp.-on 'Jan. 17, 18.3S Died Mar. 19. 1842. 

\le.x. W. Jones May 14, 184-2 Died Jan. 1845. 

Jacol) Judv .... I Mar. 12, 184.5; 

Matihew Gillespie .1 'Mar. 16, 1849 

>iMiLliael G. Dale... . i iMar. 21, 1853| 



Benj. Stephenson. . .' April 29, 1816 

Samuel D. Lockwood 'Jan. 28, 1823 

Janus Mason .... May 21,182.') Jan. 4, 1826 
July 3, 1820 



E. J. \Ve.st. . . . , 
Benj. F. Edwards. 
Ale.v. M. .lenkins. 
Isaac Prickett . . 
John G. Cameron. 
Blueford Johnson . 
W. A. J. Sparks. . 



|Oct. 10, 1849 



Not Confirmed. 
Dec. 17, 1829 Resigned Mav 3,'.%. 
July 5, 18301 " Mar. 14, '38. 
April 5, ls38lDicd July 1-5, '44. 
Jan. 23, 184.5 Resigned Dec. 3, '49. 
Ang. 27, 18.50, 
Mar. 30, 18o3| 



THE BANK OF EDWARDSVILLE. 

The act incorporating the bank of Edwardsville became 
a law on the 9th of January, 1818. It was provided that 
the capital stock should not exceed three hundred thousand 
dollars, to be divided into shares of fifty dollars each. One 
third might be subscribed for by the legislature of the terri- 
tory or state. As soon as fifty thousand dollars should be 
subscribed and ten thousand dollars actually paid in, the 
corporation might commence business and issue their notes 
accordingly. At the time of making the subscription it was 
directed that five dollars should be paid on each share, iu 
gold or silver, or bank bills that could command the same, 
the residue of the stock to be paid at such times and in such 
installments as the directors might order, although no 
single installment should exceed tweuty five per cent, on 
the s:ock subscribed for, aud St least sixty days' notice 
should be given in one or more newspapers of the territory. 
If any subscriber should fail to make the second payment 
the sum originally paid should be forfeited to the corporation. 
The corporation which was styled " The President, Direc- 
tors and Company of the Bank of Edwardsville" was char- 
tered to continue till the fiist day of January, 1838. The 
management of its afl^airs was placed iu the hands of a board 
of nine directors of whom not less than four should consti- 
tute a board for the transaction of business. The cashier 
was required to give bond in the sum of not less than ten 
thousand dollars. ^The total amount of debts which the 
corporation might at any time owe, whether by bond, bill, 
note, -or other contract, should not exceed twice the amount 
of the capital stock actually paid over, and above, the 
moneys there actually deposited in the bank for safe keeping. 
In case of excess the directors should be liable for the same 
in their individual capacities. 

It was directed that half-yearly dividends should be made 
of so much of the profits of the bank as should be deemed 
expedientand proper, and that the corporation should not 
at any time suspend, or refuse payment in gold or silver, of 
any of its notes, bill.^ or obligations, or of any moneys received 
on deposit. Benjamin Ste])henson, James Mason, John Mc- 
Kee, Joseph Conway, and Abraham Prickett, or any three of 
them, were appointed commissioners for receiving subscrip- 
tions. 

An organization was effi?ctcd under this charter in 1818, 
and the bank placed in operation. In the only newspapers, 
of Kaskaskia and Edwardsville, there are notices calling 
for successive installments on the shares of capital stock. 



3iO 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Benjarahi J. Senrard, was the cashier in 1819. and was suc- 
ceeded by K. T. McKeuuey. The tstablishnient of the bank, 
and tlie issue of its notes, had for a time a favorable iuflu- 
euce on the prosperity of Edwardsville, but like all the 
other banking enterpiises oT that time in the state, the in- 
stitution faikd and its notes fell to a value of less than fifty 
cents on the dollar. 

EARLY HOTELS. 

The first hotel in Edwardsville, built by John T. Lusk, 
was on Main S reet where now stands a building owned by 
Jacob Dengenfeldtr, and used as a saloon and grocery store. 
It was a long log building, and had three large rooms fronting 
the street. After Lusk closed out the hotel, the centre of 
these rooms he used for the post-office. One end was rented 
to Mrs. Howard who kept a pie and cake shop, and in the 
other a saloon at diflerent times was carried on by various 
parties 

The old Wiggins hotel stood on the public square, east 
from the old jail. It had an extensive and fashionable pa- 
tr.inage, and many distinguished men ate and slept within its 
walls. Before its door swung the sign of Gen. Washington. 
Its walls were so badly cracked by an earthquake that it 
was found necessary to abandon the building. It was pur- 
chased by I-iaac Prickett, who tore the building down, and 
with the brick were built the two small houses ttill standing 
on Main Street, between the residences of Judge Joseph 
Gillespie and Dr. Weir. 

William H. Hopkins carried on a hotel in " upper town. " 
It was a frame building, and stood opposite the southeast 
corner of the public square near the residence of Henry C. 
Gerke. 

A second hotel was built by John T. Lusk, on the spot 
now occupied by the Wabash hotel. It was a large frame 
building, and was destroyed by fire in 1839. Meriam Pat- 
terson kept this hotel for a time. His successor was Horatio 
G Street, and he was fiillowed by Cassius Hesket. While 
Street was proprietor, about the year 1830, it was re- 
nowned for the excellence of its fare and the superior man- 
ner in which it was conducted. The ftvshionable people of 
St. Louis patronized it during the summer months, and on 
Sundays it was a frequent resort of the citizens of Alton who 
drove over for the purpose of obtaining a good meal and 
having, at the same time, a day's recnation. It was during 
Hesket's administration that the old frame building burned 
down. The present brick structure was at once erected in 
its place, and was considered, in that day, a remarkably fine 
specimen of architecture. 

OLD BUILDINGS. 

There are four houses in Edwardsville that have been 
standing since 1818. All are in the lower town. The first 
is the frame building now occupied as a store by William 
Hainlan. The second is the building just below Prickett's 
old store, now owned by Mr?. Eberhardt. It was originally 
built of logs, and has since been covered with weather board- 
ing. Dr. De Camp lived in this house in 1818. It was at 
one time also the residence of Alexander Jenkins. The 



third is the frame house on Main Street in which Mrs. Sido 
now lives. Paris Mason occupied this house as a residence 
in 1818. Pjlemou H. Winchester, once lived in it. 



EARLY MAILS. 

The residents of Edwardsville, sixty years ago, were 
content to receive their letters once a week. In 1823 
the mails all arrived and departed during the latter part 
of the week. The eastern mail arrived every Friday 
morning at nine o'clock, and fifteen minutes afterward de- 
parted for St. Louis. Returning from St. Louis it reached 
the town at ten o'clock Saturday morning and proceeded 
east with little delay. The western mail arrived Friday 
afternoon at five o'clock, and departed the next morning at 
half-past six. A mail from the south arrived Saturday 
noon. One left for CarrolUon every other Saturday, and 
returned the following Tuesday. 

In 1824, a weekly mail for the southern part of the state 
left Edwardsville, meeting at Belleville the mail from St. 
Louis to Shawneetown. In September, 1824, the time of 
the departure of this mail was changed from Thursday to 
Saturday evening, of which the editor of the S/jedator com- 
plains as the new arrangement deprived him of his facilities 
for supplying his subscribers in the southern part of the 
state with their papers. In 1824, the mail between St. Louis 
and Vandalia, known as the great Eastern mail, by which 
the main bulk of matter for the post office reached Ed- 
wardsville, passed through the town, going east, on Thursdays 
and westward on Saturdays. About this period general 
complaints were made about the irregularities of the mails. 
Sometimes newspapers were months in reaching their desti- 
natioQ. The mail bags were frequently surcharged with 
numerous public documents and blanks of various descrip- 
tions, which it was the practice of the goverment departments 
to forward in this manner to public offices in the AVest. 
The Spectator observes that great and important improve, 
ments in the mail establishment are contemplated, the pro- 
position having been made to convey the mail by stages 
three times a week each way instead of making one trip on 
horseback. 

On the first of April 1820, the Edwardsville postmaster, 
David Prickett, advertised that there were letters re- 
maining in the office uncalled for, for one hundred and 
sixty-two parties. The town, then the location for the land 
office, was the common point of destination for emigrants 
from the East, many of them on their arrival scattering to 
the settlements on the northern frontier and this may ac- 
count for the large number of uncalled for letters. 

In 1832, a line of four horse coaches between St. Louis 
and Springfield was established. Leaving St. Louis every 
Thursday and Sunday at six o'clock in the morning, a stop 
was made for dinner at Edwardsville, and Springfield was 
reached at two o'clock in the afternoon of Friday and Mon- 
day. The stages left Springfield on Thursday and Sunday 
mornings; the passengers had breakfast at Edwardsville the 
next morning and arrived in St. Louis at two o'clock in the 
afternoon. The fare was five cents per mile. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



341 



EARLY SCHOOLS. 

In the Spectator of 1820, Madame De Jerome announces 
that she has opened an academy of science in which all will 
be taught the French language, geography, with use of 
globes, history, drawing and arithmetic. iShe also professes 
her readiness to teach young ladies the art of embroidery 
and needle work. Instruction was given to children in the 
rudiments of the English language. The school was open 
every day in the week, excepting Saturdays and Sundays, 
from nine to twelve in the morning, and from two to five in 
the afternoon. In her advertisement, which is dated October 
10th, 1820, IMadame De Jerome states that if parents or 
guardians, disposed to favor her school, should doubt her 
ability to teach the branches named, she is willing to submit 
to an examination as to her qualifications. This was doubt- 
less the first scho d of the kind in Edwardsville. Ordinary 
subscription schools, in which the common English branches 
were taught, had previously existed. 

One of the early teachers wa^ Joshua Atwater, who taught 
a couj)le of years previous to 1820, when he relinquished the 
avocation of a teacher and opened a store. Don Alonzo 
Spaolding. during six months of the year 1S19, taught 
school in E Iwardsville. The first schools were mostly " loud 
schools,'' in which all the pupils studied their lessons aloud, 
so that they ould be heard at some distance away. The 
earliest schools were all taught by men. • Wheu the directors 
were urged to employ a young woman, who had come from 
the E.ist, the reply was that a lady would never succeed in 
niinaging the boys. The experiment was tried, however, 
and it was found that the young lady. Miss Hastings, had 
no trouble in controlling the boys, and maintained an excel- 
lent school. 

In 1829 John York Sawyer taught school in a frame 
building, which still stands on Main street, on a lot adjoin- 
ing the jail property. This building then faced another 
direction, and stood further back from the street, on the 
brow of the hill. Sawyer taught till he became the editor 
of the Speditor. He was succeeded liy Thomas Atwater, 
a brother to Joshua, and by au Englishman by the name 
of Scandrit, whose speech was strongly marked by a British 
accentuation. Mrs. Stearns subsequently kept a school iu 
the house which afterward became the residence of Matthew 
Gillespie, and in which Dr. Fifgenbaum now lives. Some 
of the older children used to attend, between 1830 and 
1S40, a school taught by John Barber, three miles south of 
the town. Barber was a man of superior education and an 
excellent teacher. 

The E Iwanlsville Female Academy was established in 
May, 1831, through the eiiorts of James Mason, William P. 
Mclvee, Dr. B. F. Edwards, John Adams and other leading 
citizens. B. Y. Messenger was the secretary of the board of 
trustees. The tuition was from two dollars and fifty cents 
to three dollars and fifty cents per (juarter. The school was 
held in a frame building, erected for the purpose, on Third 
street. Miss Alden came from the East to take charge of 
the academy, but her connection with the school was severed 
by her marriage to the Rev. Mr. Jenney, a Presbyterian 
minister of Alton. The next principal was Miss Chapin, 



who became the wife of the Rev. Mr. Hale, a Presbyterian 
clergyman of Springfield She was succeeded by Miss 
Loomis, daughter of a Baptist minister. She married 
Cyrus Edwards The school had a good patronage but the 
rapid changes in the faculty, occasioned by the marriage of 
its principals, destroyed its usefulness. After the academy 
was discontinued, the building was used for a time for a 
p ibiic school, but was afterward removed to the corner of 
Thira and Purcell streets, and is now occupied by T. C. Clark 
as a grocery store. 

A Presbyterian minister named Young, taught a parochial 
school for some years, which was attcndeil by children be- 
longing to families connected with his congregation. Samuel 
AUard taught school several years in the old academy build- 
ing He afterward became a teacher in Shurtlefl' College. 
In 1838, a man by the name of Gibson, who was said to be 
a minister, taught school. He drank whisky, ate o]>ium, 
and preached an occasional volunteer sermon. Among 
subsequent teachers were Messrs Dwight, Potter and Teriy. 

CHURCH E.S. 

The earliest religious organization in Edwardsville was a 
Pre.ibyterian Church, which was formed on the seventeenth 
of March, l8l9, with fifteen members. There was preach- 
ing at occasional intervals ; but iu a few years the society 
became extinct. It was revived by the Presbytery of Alton 
about 1828. The Rev. James Ewing was pastor from 184.5 
till his death in 1818. The congregation used the Baptist 
church during this time. In 1856 the Episcojjal church was 
lea>ed. The latter ye.ir the Rev. L. P. Bates became pastor. 
He died in 1859. 

The Meth-idiat Episcopal Church was organized December, 
1827. The original class-book shows that the members of 
the class were Richard Rau'lle, Rsv. Washingt>n C Ballard, 
Elizabeth Ballard, Thornhill Ballard, Mary Brooks, Rebecca 
Atwater, Ji>el Neff", Sarah Wright, Josias Handle, Heiress 
Baker, Marilda Wilder, Samuel A. Walker, Mary Ballard, 
Alexander Miller, Aletha Ballard, Agnes H. Ballard, Eliza- 
beth Gibson, Alworth Baker, Mary Adams, William Galli- 
gher, William P. Mjlvee, Sarah H. M^Kee, Hail Mason, 
Grace Mison, Joshua Atwater, Aun M Randle, William Mil- 
ler, Katherine Miller, Alexander White, Susamiali Kendall, 
Julia Ann Atwater, Sarah Cotter, Elizabeth Randle, Hosea 
Armstrong, Samuel McNeal and Roland Ballard. The 
church membership having increased in 1830, it was de- 
termined to build a house of worship. James Mason gave 
the congregation a lot, on which was erected in 1831, a 
plain frame building, forty by sixty feet in dimensions. 
This gave ])lace to the present brick building, which was 
constructed in 1854. 

The Biptist Church was organized at the house of Dr. B. 
F. Edwards, in 1828. The Rjv. Mr. Bradley was pastor 
for some time during the early history of the society. The 
first church building erected by the congregation is now 
used as an engine-house. 

St- Mary's Catholio Church was regilarly organized in 
1843, and a frame church edifice erected. Previous to this 
Catholic services had beeu held in Edwardsville at irregular 



342 



RISTOEY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



intervals. The Rev. Mr. Reiss was one of the early pas- 
tors. St. Bouit'ace's church, a congregation of Catholic 
CJerinans, was formed in 1867, and a church building 
erected that year. 

St. Andrew i Pi-otestant EpUeopxl Church was organized in 
1841. A commodious frame church building was soon af- 
terward erected, in which services were held for a number 
of years- 

The German MethodUls held religious services in Ed- 
wardsville as early as 1847, and it 1860 the congregation 
at EJrtardsville was made a separate charge. 

INCORPORATION AS A TOWN. 

A meeting of the citizens of Eviwardsville ivas held on 
/ Saturday, the thir ieth of May, 1837, at the oourt-house, at 
which a vote was taken on the question of whether or not 
the town should become an incorporated place, under the 
general law of 1831. James Wilson was chosen president, 
â–  and William T. Brown, clerk. Fifty-seven votes were cast 
in favor of the incorporation, and seven in the negative. 

February 10th, 1853, the town was again incorporated by 
special act of the Legislature, which provided that the cor- 
porate powers and duties of said town shall be vested in five 
trustees who shall be elected on the first Monday in April of 
each year. This organization existed until Oct. 23d, 1872, 
when it was organized as a city under the general law. 

INDIAN TREATY AT EDWARDSVILLE. 

In early days the Kickapoo Indians visited Edwardsville 
to obtain their annuities from Ninian Edwards, who then 
acted as Indian agent. Traces of their camps in the vicinity 
of the town, and the peculiar marks made by their stripping 
the bark from trees, were visib'e for many years afterward. 

On the sixth of August, 1819, the commissioners on the 
part of the government of the United States and the chiefs 
of the Kickapoo tribe, negotiated a treaty by which the 
United States purchased an extensive tract of land, covering 
the central part of the state, and estimated to contain ten 
million of acres, bounded by a line comenciug at the 
mouth of the Illinois river, and running eastwardly by the 
old purchase Hue to the line dividing the state of Illinois 
and Indiana, thence north to the Kankakee river, and 
thence down said river and the Illinois to the place of be- 
ginning. The United commissioners were Benjamin 
Stephenson and Auguste Chouteau.* 

* The treaty is as follows : 

Aktici.e 1. The undersigned chiefs and warriors, for themselves and 
their said tribe, for and in consideration of the premises and stipulations 
hereinafter made, do hereby cede and relinquish to the United Slates 
.forever all their right, interest and title of, in and to the following 
tracts of land, viz : All their lands on the southeast side of the Wabash 
river, including the principal village in which their ancestors for- 
merly resided, consisting of a large tract, to which they have had from 
time immemorial, and now have a just right that they have never 
heretofore ceded, or otherwise disposed of, in any mannpr whatever, 
also all the land within the following boundaries, viz: Beginning at 
the Wabash river at the upper point of their cession, made by the 
second ariiile of their treaty at Vincennes, on the 9th of December, 
ISOy, running thence northwestwardly, to the dividing line betNveen the 



EARLY MANUF.VCTURING ENTERPRISES. 

The first step in the way of manufacturing enterprises in 
Edwardsville was the old water mill of Thomas Kirkpatrick. 
This mill passed into the hands of Paris Mason, who carried 
it on for some years till the floods in the Cahokia caused 
such frequent damage that its maintenance was no longer 
profitable. About the year 1818 Josias Randle, the first 
county clerk of Madison county, con.structed an ox mill near 
his residence which, after his death, was carried on by Josiah 

states of Illinois and Indiana, thence along said line to the Kankakee 
river, thence with said river to the Illinois river, thence down the 
latter to its mouth, thence with a direct line, to the northwest corner 
of the Vincennes tract, as recognized in the treaty with the Pianke- 
shaw tribes of Indians at Vincennes, on the the 3')th of December, 
ISOo, and thence with the western and northern boundaries of the ces- 
sions heretofore made by the said Kickapoo tribe of Indians, to the 
beginning of which last described tract of Laud the said Kickapoo 
tribe claim a large portion by descent from their ancestors, and the 
balance by conquest from the Illinois Nation, and uninterrupted jios- 
session for more than a half century. 

Article 2. The said tribe hereby confirm all their former treati&s 
with the United States, and relinquish to them all claim to every 
portion of thi^ir lands which may have been ceded by any other tribe 
or tribes, and all and every demmd which they might have had in 
consequence of the second article of the treaty made with the PottHW- 
attomie Nation of Indians at St. Mary's on the 2d of Oct. 1818 (pro- 
claimed Jan. 15th, 1819). 

Article 3. The said tribe acknowledge themselves now to be, and 
promise to continue, under the protection of the United Statts of 
America, and of no other nation, power or sovereign whatever. 

Article 4. The said tribe release the United States from all obli- 
gations imposed by any treaties heretofore made with them. 

Article 5. The United States in lieu of all former stipulations, 
and in consideration of the ce.ssions of land heretofore made by the 
said tribe, promise to pay them, at their town on the waters of the 
Osage river, two thousiind dollars in silver, annually, for fifteen suc- 
cessive years. 

Article 6. Alterel so as to read Article 1, of treaty .July 19th, 
1820. 

Article 7. The United States promise to guarantee to the said 
tribe the peaceable possession of the tract of land hereby ceded to them 
and to restrain and prevent all white persons fiom hunting, settling, 
or otherwise intruding upon it. But any citizen or citizens of the 
United States being lawfully authorized for that purpose, .shall be 
permitted to pass and repass through said tract, and to navigate the 
waters thereof, without any hinderance, toll or exaction from the 
said tribe. 

Article S. For the purpose of facilitating the removal of the said 
tribe to the tract of land hereby ceded to them, the United Slates will 
furnish them with two boats, well manned to transport their property 
from anv point they may designate on the Illinois river, and some 
judicious citizen shall be selected to accompany them in their passage 
through the white settlements to their intended residence. 

Article 9. The United States will take the said Kickapoo tribe 
under their care and patronage, and will afibrd them protection against 
all persons whatever provided they conform to the laws of the United 
States, and refrain from making war or giving any insult or ofiense 
to any other Indian tribe, or to any foreign nation, without having 
obtained the approbation and consent of the Uuited States. 

Article 10. Thesiid tribe, in addition to their above cession, do 
hereby cede and relinquish to the United States generally and with- 
out reservation all other tracts of land to which they may liave any 
right or title on the left .side of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. 
Proclaimed January 13th, 1821. 



.f-: ' ,'%â– ^ p"v^^T^w^ 




PUBLIC SCHOOL 







PilmplifiliiiiiiitWiliiiiiiiiii 







OLD COURT MOUSE 



NA'ABASH DEIPOT 



PuACES OF PUBLIC INTEREST Edwardsville.Ill. 



B:iSTOJiY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



343 



Randle, and afterwards by George D. and John II. Randle. 
The Messrs. Randle, wiih their father in-law, Aaron Arnold, 
turned this ox mill into a steam mill about the year 18o2. 
This was the first steam mill in Edwardsville, and it stood on 
the lot in rear of the present residence of W R. Brink. 
It was destroyed by fire soon after being placed in operation. 

The castor oil mill of John Adams was carried on suc- 
cessfully for several years. It was established in 1825. That 
year he made five hundred gallons of oil, which sold at two 
dollars and a half a gallon. The next year the product had 
increased to eight hundred gallons, and the price had fallen 
to a dollar and a half In 1827, one thousand gallons were 
manufactured, and sold at a dollar and twenty-five cents a 
gallon, and in 1828, eighteen hundred gallons, which only 
brought a dollar a gallon. In 1829, a little more than five 
hundred gallons were made, and in 1830 the production 
arose to ten thousand gallons. One bushel of the ca.«tor 
bean yielded about seven quarts and a half pint of oil. For 
the beans, about seventy-five cents per bushel was paid. 
Before starting his oil mill, Mr. Adams had encted a 
fulling mill on the Cahokia, which was placed in operation 
in 182:!. For several years this was conducted under the 
management of George W. Putnam. 

The Edwardsville Steam Mill Company was organized in 
1839. J. C. Dagger was president of the company. All 
the stock came subsequently into the possession of George 
W. rhillips, who operated it for a number of years. 

EDWARDSVILLE INDUSTRIES, MAXUF.VCTURES, ETC. 

Edwardsville Mill and Elevator. — This industry was estab- 
lished by Kehlor Brothers in the spring of 1^79, and is 
located on Main street, about three blocks north of the court- 
house. The mill is a brick building, four stories high with a 
basement. Its size on the ground is 45 x 82 feet- The 
machinery consists of the latest improved roller process, 33 
pairs of rolls and 3 burrs, with a capacity of manufacturing 
600 barrels of flour in twenty-four hours. This product is 
shipped to diflerent parts of the United States and Europe. 
The elevator is 45x60 feet, and 60 feet in height, and has 
the capacity of elevating 10,000 bushels of wheat daily, and 
a storing capacity of IIO.OOK bushels. It is constructed in 
regular elevator style, and every grain bin is hoppered. The 
machinery for distributing grain to all parts of the elevator 
and for changing from bin to bin, is complete. The bran 
bin is 20 x 35 feet, and 50 feet in height. The elevator 
building is iron-clad, the better to protect it from fire, and 
the grain from the driving storms. A warehouse is detached, 
100 X 104 feet in size, and capable of storing 7,0(10 barrels 
of flour. The engine room is constructed of brick, and in 
aize is 28x66} feet. The engine is of the Harriss-Corliss 
make, 3'iO-horse power, and said to be one of the best of its 
size in the State. The boilers are four in nundier and con- 
structed of steel, being four feet in diameter and twenty-four 
feet in length. By this enterprise, about sixty men are given 
constant employment. This includes the cooperage necessary 
to the busines.s. The estimated capital invested is .$150,000. 

Oik ll'll Riji'ii'ig C'jmpamj. — This factory is located on 
the N. E. i of the N. W. 1 of section 13, on the farm (.f C. M- 



Schwarz, about one-half mile from the city limits. The 
manufacture of sugar anil syrup from Northern grown 
sugar-cane, is a question which has for several years en- 
grossed the attention of some of the best scientists, and most 
enterprising manufacturers, as well as the more advanced 
farmers of the North. It is an industry, which as yet is in 
its infancy, and has not, until within the last year or two, 
leceived even a small per cent, of the encouragement due it. 
The first sugar-cane grown in this vicinity was by Mr. 
Schwarz, a member of the above company. This was in 
1857, since which time he has made its culture, etc , a care- 
ful study. In 1880, under the firm name of Belcher & 
Schwarz, a co-partnership was formed, and the preparation 
for manufacturing the cane into sugar was commenced. The 
season of 18?'0 was a very disastrous one, and no attempt 
was made to make sugar, other than in an experimental way, 
although 6000 gallons of syrup were manufactured, from 
which the com|)any realized a good profit. In 1881, for the 
purpose of inducing more of the farmers to become inter- 
ested in the cultivation of cane the firm organized a stock 
company under the name of ' The Oak Hill Refining Com- 
pany of Edwardsville,' with a capital stock of §5.000. The 
first election of directors and officers was held in the summer 
of 1881, when the following directors were chosen : Geo- 
C. W. Belcher, St. Louis; C. F. Mdler, Dundas, Minn.; 
C. M. Schwarz, B R. Burroughs, and F. K. Gillespie of 
Edwardsville. Ofiicers: Geo C. W. Belcher, President, 
B. R. Burroughs, Vice-President, C M. Schwarz, Secretary 
and Treasurer. 

The season of 1881 was also a poor year for the cane crop, 
yet 4,000 gallons of syrup were marketed at home, finding a 
ready sale. This season, 1882, promises well, and there is 
a large acreage of the product planted. These works have 
been greatly improved, and their capacity largely increa.sed 
by new machinery since last year. The present cap city is 
about 800 gallons of syrup daily- If the company is pro- 
perly encouraged by the farmers of this vicinity, it is their 
intention to erect an extensive establishment near the junc- 
tion of the W. St. L. and P. and the P. C and St. L. rail- 
ways. 

Carriage Mawfaciory, Springer & Brothers, Proprietors. 
This factory is situated on the north side of Vandalia street, 
one block south of the public sipiare, and was established 
by H.J. Springer in the spring of 1870, but is now conducted 
in the firm name above given. The business occupies a brick 
building two stories high, and 30 by 65 feet on the ground ; 
also, a two story frame attached, 50 by 30 feet. The latter is 
utilized for a painting and trimming room, and repository for 
manufactured carriages. The machinery is driven by a four 
horse-power steam engine, and the manufactured product is 
about fifty carriages annually. The business gives em- 
ployment to eight men. C nnected with the same building 
is the firm of Gillespie & Springer, engaged in the manu- 
facture of patent thill couplings. One of the firm of this 
establishment, F. J. Springer, is exclusively interested in 
the manufacture of a patent "ea.sy riding spring." 

Gesterl's Custom Flouring Mill was established by George 
Gessert, in the fall of 1877, and commenced operations the 



344 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



January following. It is a frame building, 40x50 feet, in- 
cluding I)oiIer-rooni, two stories high, and cost over $5,000. 
It contains two run of burrs, and has a capacity of grind- 
ing thirty-five barrels of tlour daily, giving eui|)loyraeut lo 
three men. The machinery is driven by a thirty horse- 
power engine. The mill is situated on Second, near Union 
street. It is constructed for both a custom and merchant 
mill, and has the facilities of mauufacturiug the patent pro- 
cess flour. 

Carriage, Wagon and Machine Shop. — This shop is situ. 
ated on the corner of Vandalia and St. Louis streets. It 
was built in the spring of 1874 by Michael Desmond, the 
present proprietor, who has been engaged in the business in 
the city since 18G4. The building is a frame, two stories, 
and 60x30 feet iu dimensions. The business is mainly con- 
fined to the repairing of machinery and general work. A 
building, 40x30 feet, is connected with the shop, for the 
pnr[)Ose of doing the wood-work of the establishment. 
Eight men are given employment. It is run by steam- 
power. 

Cooper SJiops, owned and conducted by Martin Dippold 
and located on the southwest side of the railroad, on St. 
Louis street, near the Wabash, St L. & P. depot. There is 
a branch shop situated in lower town. The business was 
established several years ago, with the purpose of furnishing 
the Edwardsville flouring mills with barrels to ship their 
flour. Thirty-eight men are employed, and about 80,000 
barrels are manufactured annually. 

• Wagon and Cxrriage Man ufi dory, established by Weber 
& Sou, in the spring of 1873, is locatedvon Vandalia 
street, about two blocks southeast of the court-house. The 
elder member of the firm has been engaged in the business 
in Edwardsville since 1854 The present building is a 
frame, 50x80 feet, and two stories high. A one-story frame 
attachment, 45x50 feet, belongs to the shop, and is utilized 
for storing wood-work, lumber, etc. Some seasons of the 
year from ten to twelve men are employed. The wok is 
all hand made. 

Star Flouring Mills, Jacob Dunstedter pr^prit tor. This 
mill was erected in the summer of 1866, at a cost of $15,000 
and is situated ou Second street, near the railroad. It is a 
frame building, three stories high and a basement, with 54 
feet frontage, and is constructed in the form of an L. The 
main building is 45x54 feet, and the engine-room 30x42 
feet. It has four run of .stone, and a capacity of manufac- 
turing 125 barrels in twenty-four hours, and has six men in 
its employ; the engine is fifty horse-jjower. This is purely 
a merchant mill, and ships its flour both to the East and 
the West. Mr. Dunstedter is a practical machinist, and 
was the first to run a steam-thresher in Madison county. 

Ma'lixon Conuty Marble Works are situated on Main street, 
opposite the court house. These works were established by 
G. J. Starmer in the spring of 1880. This industry gives 
employment to four men. The building is a small frame, 
one story, with a workshop in the rear of salesroom. 

Enierjirise Marble Worh, situated corner of St. Louis 
and Vandalia streets. These works were established by Ed- 
ward F. Koch, proprietor. 



Cigar Manvfadory, F. Begeraanu, proprietor, established 
in 1867, and located on Main street, east of the scjuare. 
This factory manufactures annually 250,000 cigars, and 
employs five persons. All goods are hand-made auJ sold at 
various points in the state. 

Soda Fad'ty, owned and operated by Frank- Harles, 
situated on Main street, one block south of the court-house 
square. Mr. H. commenced business in the spring of 1671. 
The capacity for manufacturing is from three to four thou- 
sand boxes of soda-water per annum. Mr. Harles also 
supplies the city with ice. 

Wolf Brothers' Coal Mine. — This shaft is situated in the 
southwest quai'ter of the southeast quarter of section 11, 
about one-half mile southeast of Court-House Square. It 
was sunk by the above firm iu the summer of 1879, with 
a capital investment of $20,000. Its depth is 217 feet to 
the surfice of the coal, and the vein averages six and one- 
half feet. The coal is of the finest quality found in this 
part of the state. When the mine is worked to its full 
capacity, 7,000 bushels of coal are raised daily, and it requires 
150 men to operate it. The amount for wages paid out per 
mouth, when in full blast, is $7,800. An engine of forty 
horse-power is employed in raising the coal. This firm is en- 
gaged in sinking another shafc on the Narrow Gauge railway. 

St. Louis and Edwardsville Coal Compiany, J. S. Trares, 
President. This mine is located on section 10, on the City 
branch of the W. St. L & P. railroad. The shaft was sunk 
by Tunstell & Holmes, in 1868 or 1869. About ten years 
later it was purchased by John A. Prickett, and was leased 
by the above company in the fall of 1881 for the term 
of twenty years. The depth of the shaft is 125 feet, and 
the coal vein averages seven feet, When fully worked, it 
will mine 2,800 bushels of coal daily. The coal is raised by 
steam-power. 

Schramek Coal Mine was opened by Frank Schraraek in 
the spring of 1879, and is located on the Wabash, St. Louis 
and Pacific Railway, on Union street. Its depth is 65 feet, 
and the coal vein averages six and one-half feet. The capi- 
tal invested is $0,000. In the busy season, twenty-five men 
are employed, and will mine 200,000 bushels of coal within 
the year. The main shipments are made to St Louis. A 
OO-horse power engine is employed to lift the coal. 

Another shaft, owned by Mrs. Smidt, is situated near the 
Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific Depot. This mine was 
opened by Henry Hitter about 1857, and came into the pos- 
session of Mrs. Smidt in 1877. Coal is reached at the 
depth of 96 feet, and the vein is five feet. Ten workmen 
are usually employed in this shaft, and mine from five to 
six hundred bushels of coal per day. Horse power is utilized 
in hoisting the coal. 

Hellrung's Brick Yard. — This industry, established 
about 1850, by D. Brown, passed into the hands of Louis 
Klinger in 1860, and was purchased by the present proprietor 
in 1867. It is situated about a quarter of a mile north- 
east from the public square. It contains but one kiln, and 
annually turns out about 170,000 bricks, giving employment 
to three men. The bricks are hand made. 

Elevator, R. B. Evans & Co., proprietors, is situated on 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



345 



the South side of the railroinl track, above the Wabash 
depot. It was built in the fail of 1876 by the above cora- 
pauy. It is a frame building, -0x40 feet, aud inachiuery 
room attached, 12x20 feet, aud has the capacity of eltvating 
5,000 bushels of corn per day, and will store 7,000 bushels. 

Machine Shop, Edward Naeher, proprietor. This busi- 
ness was commenced by the above in 1871 ; and in 1873 
a foundry was run in connection with the shop, but it proved 
a non-paying investment, aud was therefore abandoned. In 
1878 a saw mill was attached, but it was removed to the 
country a short time since. The building is located on 
.Second street, a little souli and east of the Star Flouring 
Mills ; it is a frame, two stories, and its entire size, with 
attachments, is 60x35 feet The business consists in general 
repair work, and, when in active operation, gives employ- 
ment to several hands. 

Elevator, owned by M. B. Sherman, is situated on the 
Edwardsville Mill Switch.southwest of the big flouring mill. 
It was built in the spring of 1875, and has a capacity of 
shelling aud elevating 2,500 bushels of corn daily, and has a 
storage capacity of 6,000 bushels. 

Brick Yards — William Bardelraeier, proprietor. These 
works were established in 1876, and are located in Wheeler's 
addition, about one-fourth mile east of Court-hou.se Square. 
Two kilns are kept in operation, aud manufacture about 
300,000 bricks yearly, giving employment to six men. 

In the same part of the city, near the above, is situated 
the brick yard of Jacob Hettergott, consisting of one kiln. 
It went into operation in the spring of 1881. Four men 
are engaged in running the yard, and 200,000 bricks are 
moulded within the season. 

Crocker'.^ Vegetable Gardens. — This industry was estab- 
lished by C. W. Crocker in the spring of 1864, and is located 
in out-lot 51, in Upper Edwardsville. The grounds occupy 
eight acres, and are furnished with four hot-houses and 
other conveniences suitable to the business. All kinds of 
plants and vegetables peculiar to the climate and markets 
are cultivated. Shipments are made to Chicago, St. Louis, 
Decatur, Litchfield, and other towns. In the busy season, 
five hands are given employment. 

Edwardsville Fire Company, Xo 1. — This company was 
organized Feb. 7th, 1874, consisting of hose, hook and lad- 
der, and engine departments. The first officers of the hose 
company were Fred. Sochlke, captain ; and Joseph Hentz, 
assistant. Hook and ladder : Arnold Schultz, captain ; and 
Albert V. d. Broeck, assistant. All the members belong to 
the engine department, of whom William Friday was the 
first chief, and Charles Silze, assistant. The company is 
well uniformed, and under efficient drill to do good service 
in case of fire. In this, however, the city has been very 
fortunate, scarcely giving the fire company since its organ- 
ization the privilege of proving their efficiency. 

Company F , I5th Batfalion, I. N. G. was organized June 
15th, 1878, by Lieut. Col James T. Cooper, of Alton, com- 
manding the Battalion and mustering officer. Forty-three 
men were enrolled, and the following officers chosen : John 
T Fahnestock, Captain ; Cyrus Happy, 1st Lieutenant ; 
Clay H. Lynch, 2d Lieutenant. The following non-commis- 



sioned officers were then appointed : Orderly Sergeant, Geo 
Richmond ; 2d Sergeant, Will. R. Crossman ; 3d Sergeant, 
Thomas J. Morton ; 4th Sergeant, James E. Tunuell ; 5th 
Sergeaut, John J. Parker, Jr. ; Corporals, M. Desmond, D. 
A. Lynch, Jule L Prickett, aud James B. Dale; Musicians, 
O. E. Wolf, and E. I'hillips Additions were made to the 
company at different times until the number reached 53. 
August 30th, 1881, new officers were elected, being as fol- 
lows : John T Fahnestock, Captain ; Thomas W. Springer, 
1st Lieutenant; and Eugene Wahl, 2d Lieutenaiit. On 
account of the resignation of Geo. Richmond, Orderly Ser- 
geant, the other sergeants were advanced one position higher. 
Will. L. Crossman filling office of Orderly. 

The company is in excellent condition, being well uni- 
formed and equipped with Springfield breech -loading rifles. 
Their drill is among the best, and they have been highly 
complimented by the different inspecting officers. 

Edwardsville Public Library was organized in the spring 
of 1879, with proper officers to conduct the a.ssociation. 
This enterj)rise is due to the efforts of several of the ladies 
of Edwardsville. The association commenced with twelve 
lady members, and the library consisted of 300 volumes 
The membeiship has increased to about 100, and ihe library 
has reached upward of 900 volumes. The literature con- 
sists of standard works of travel, biographies of eminent 
men, authors, etc., histories, and the leading works of 
fiction. A matriculation fee of $2 per annum is required to 
become a member of the association. For the last year the 
library has been self-sustaining. The rooms are open every 
Saturday afternoon and evening. 

Bank of West iC- Prickett is situated in No. 2 Purcell 
street, and was established the 1st of January, 1808, with 
abundant capital to conduct a safe banking business. It is 
supplied with Hall's burglar-proof safe, with time lock, and 
the best fire proof vault. 

J. A- Prickett (t- Sons, Bankers. — This bank was chartered 
under the title of Farmers' Exchange and Loan Company, 
on the 2Uh of March, 1867. The minimum capital was 
$25,000, aud limited to 8500,000. Although organized at 
the time above stated, the bank did not open for business 
until in October, 1869. April 20th, 1881, it assumed the 
name of J. A. Prickett & Sons, in whose hands it is now 
efficiently managed. It is located in No. 3 Main street 
It has Hall's burglar-proof safe, time lock, and fire-proof 
vaults. 

There are three live, enterprising newspapers published 
here weekly, the Edwardsville Republican, Edioardsville 
Intelligencer, and the Edwardsville Democrat. 

Park. — This is situated in Todd's and others' addition, 
" Upper Edwardsville," and between Buchanan and Kansas 
streets extending north and south. It contains one block, 
and was left vacant for the purpose in time, to fit it up for a 
park or place of leisure resort Within the last few years 
it has been improved by grading and planting it with 
beautiful shade trees. Good walks extend through the 
grounds, and we are informed that it is the intention of the 
city authorities, at some future period, to arrange it in regular 
park style. 



3t() 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Edivardsville Gun Club was organized May 16th, 1879, 
with but a few members, but it has increased in numbers 
until it now has thirty, is in a prosperous con(lition,_and 
owns all the paraphernalia of a first-class gun club, consist- 
ing of tents, traps, etc. Some fine shots belong to the club, 
and some of the finest guns in the state of Illinois are owned 
by its members. Its first officers were, W. E. Wheeler, 
President; E. B. Glass, Vice President; Herman Ritter, 
Secretary ; J. R Brown, Treasurer. The Board of Mana- 
gers was composed of H. E. Bayle and F. Mumme, in con- , 
nection with the other officers. Its constitution states the 
object of the club, as follows : " The object of the club shall 
be the establishment of Trap Shooting matches between its 
members, and the encouragement of all things tending to 
social and gentle manly intercourse between its members, 
and also for the preservation of game and fish in the State 
of Illinois." 

St- James' Hotel, Hugh Kirkpatrick, proprietor This 
hotel was erected in 187,5, by the above, and is situated on 
Main street about one-half square from the court-house. It 
cost, including grounds and furniture, S20,000. It is a fine 
brick structure, three stories high and basement, with Man- 
sard roof^nd has a frontage of 66 feet, with a depth of 90 
feet. The architecture is of the modern style, and the ar- 
rangement of rooms, etc., is of the most convenient order. 
It has the capacity of accommodating seventy-five guests; is 
supplied with two sample-room.*, a commodious office, and a 
dining room si-fficient in size to accommodate its guests, 
and is indeed an ornament to the city of Edwardsville. 

Hoffman House, kept by A. Hoffman, is a good, commo- 
dious brick hotel, situated on Main street, fronting the 
Court-house Square, and is a popular house. It has been 
recently enlarged, and is being otherwise improved. 

There are five other hotels in the city, including the 
house at the Wabash depot: Bernreuther Bowse, kept by 
David Bernrtuther ; Broadway House, Henry Daube, pro 
prietor ; Wabaxh Hotel, kept by Mrs. Anna Swarz ; Union 
House, Fritz Gubritz, landlord ; and the Railway House, 
kept by William Storig. The latter is situated at Edwards- 
ville Junction. 

Schools. — The city contains two public schools (one col- 
ored), and three parochial schools. In this connection, we 
shall speak at length only of the present schools and 
SL-hool buildings of the city. The question of building a 
school-house suitable to the wants of the large number of 
pupils of the town, was mooted in the year 1859. A vote 
was taken for and against the proposition of borrowing 
$9,000 to erect a building that the times demanded. The 
vote was in favor of raising the necessary means. A site 
was chosen and a plan of the house prepared, but the sum 
voted was too small for its erection. The plan was submit- 
ted to the people, who adopted it, and authorized a loan to 
be made, sufficient to cover the expenses of the same. The 
cost of lot and buildings was about §14,000. The house is 
a substantial brick structure, three stories high and base- 
ment. Nine teachers are employed, beside the principal, 
and it has an attendance of between five and six hundred 
pupils. At this writing, the school is under the efficient 



management of Prof I. H. Brown, aided by a competent 
corps of teachers, who have succeeded in placing it among 
the best graded schools of the state. 

Wood Lawn Cemetery. — This is one of the finest kept 
grounds in western Illinois. It was incorporated August 
19th, 1871, with the following as members of the associa- 
tion : John C. Burroughs, Michael G. Dale, William E. 
Wheeler, Joseph Pogue, William H. Jones, David Gillespie, 
F. A. Wolf, John A. Prickett, and Andrew W. Metcalf 
The ground comprises fifteen acres, and is situated one mile 
west of the Court-house Square. The first interment was 
made July 8th, 1872. The number of adult persons buried 
hereat this writing is 108; children, 192; colored, 28 ; total, 
328. Only about one-half of the above number were the 
deceased of the city of Edwardsville. This would indicate 
that the town is situated in a healthy locality, as the num- 
ber of deaths is comparatively small for one decade. 

There are two other cemeteries in the city, the Catholic, 
and the first place of interment used before the laying out of 
Wood Lawn. The latter is now abandoned for burial pur- 
poses, and is fast going to ruin and decay- 

The city also contains nine ehurches, the histories of 
which will be found in the Eccles-iastical chapter. The 
newspapers have a special chapter ; hence, for their rise 
and progress, see Chapter on the Press. 

SOCIETIES.* 

Edwardsville Lodr/e, A^o. 99, A. F. and A. M , was char- 
tered the 6th day of October, 18-51, with eight charier mem- 
bers. The total number enrolled since organization is 183 ; 
present membership, 100. The lodge meets in Masonic 
Hall (Wolfs buildings), on Main street, the first and third 
Thursdays in each month. The society has an excelleut 
lodge room, and all the facilities to do good work. 

The charter members were: Dr. John H. Weir, H. K. 
Eaton, Matthew Gillespie, John A. Prickett, David Gilles- 
pie, James S. Jett, William Glass, and Thomas O. Springer. 
Of the above named, only two are now living, John A. 
Prickett and Thomas O. Springer. 

Edwardsville Chajiter, No. 146, R. A. M., was chartered 
October 6th, 1871. Instituted November 20, A. D. 1871, 
A. L. 5881, with twenty-two charter members. First offi- 
cers, Samuel V- Crossman, High Priest ; John A. Weir 
King; Wesley R. Graves, Scribe. Present membership, 40. 
The chapter meets in Masonic Hall (Wolfs building), Satur- 
day, on or before the full moon in each month. 

'Caractactis Lodge, No. 72, K. of P. — This Lodge was in- 
stituted May 30th, 1877, with 13 members. It received its 
charter from the Grand Lodge, October 16th, 1878. Its 
present membership is 25. Withdrawal cards have been 
issued to 11 members since organization. The Lodge meet 
in Odd Fellows' Hall each alternate Wednesday evening 
During the first year of its organization the Lodge was 
oblio-ed to borrow money for necessary wardrobe, etc. but 
it is now out of debt, and is a live working society 

Edwardsville Lodge, No. 46, I. O. O. F., chartered De- 

* For this data we are iimier obligations to the various secretaries of 
the same- 



HISTORY OF MADISOJSI COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



347 



ceinber 27th, 1848, and instituted January 12th, 1849. 
There were but five chartered members. Present member- 
ship, 90. The Lodge is in excellent financial condition, 
having in real estate, and moneys due, upwards of 85,000. 

IJdwdrdsville Encampment, No. 119, I. O. O. F., was char- 
tered October 10th, 1871, with a membership of eleven. The 
present membership is 28. It is in good working order, 
and its members stand high in the estimation of the com- 
munity. 

Bohemian Roman Cafliolic Benerolenf Society of St. J. of 
N. This society was incorporated August 19ih, 1880, with 
14 chartered members. Its present membership is 15. Its 
time of meeting is the first Sunday in each month at the 
Catholic church on Main street. The Lodge is free from 
debt, and has several hundred dollars in the treasury. 

t'ahokia Count of U. O. of F. No. 182. Charter was 
granted June 2d, 1881, there being 19 charter members. 
Whole number enrolled since organization, 20. Presen 
membership, 14. 

Frank/in Grove, No 22, A. O. D. Chartered May 5th, 
1869, with seven members, and at this time has increased to 
56. The Lodge meets at their hall on Main street everyt 
Wednesday uight. The society is in excellent condition 
financiallj', owning their hall, which with other property 
is valued at 82,200. 

Edwardsville Turnverein, was organized in the spring of 
1858, and discontinued in 1860. Was reorganized the 10th 
of July, 1868, commencing with 14 members. Present 
memliership is 50, The society has bought lots on Main 
stretrt, upon w^hich a hall is to be erected, costing four or 
five thousand dollars. The society meets the first .Saturday 
in each month. 

Maennerchor was organized in 1853, and discontinued 
about 1860. Reorganized in 1868- Active membership, 
16 ; passive, 20. 

Tuscan Lodge, No. 1798, G. U. of O. F., (Colored). 
This Lodge was organized May 7th, 1877. The Lodge is 
in good working order. Is situated on Main street, First 
ward. 

Star Lodge No. 5, (colored) was instituted May 15th, 1877, 
with seven charter members. Present membership 29 ; 
finance members, 25. 

BUSINESS HOUSES — TRADE OF 1882. 

General Stores. — G. B. Crane, William F. Hainliu, Anton 
Schroeder. 

Groceries and Queensware. — Tiiomas C. Clark, Leonard 
Flackeneker, Adolph Kliugel, Edward L. Schwarz, Chas 
Hack, Tunnell Brothers, Joseph Schmidt, Jacob Hoehen, 
Brendlett Co. 

Dry Goods, Clothing and Shoes. — Aloysius Gerher. 

Millinery and Furnishing Goods. — A. O. French. 

Agricultural Warerooms. — Agent for McCormick Har- 
vester. F. McNulty. 

Hardware, Tinware, Stoves, Agricultural Implements. — 
James T. Tartt, Trares & Keller, A. Schultz ct Co. 

Harnes-i and S'lddle Stores. — John H. White, August 
Fischer, August Heisel & Co. 



Furiiinhiiig Goods, Millinery, etc — J. G. Barnsback. 

Druggists and Pharmac st.<. — Harmist &. Cook, Henry 
Bickelhaupt, Joseph Pogue. 

Physicians. — Joseph Pogue, John M. Armstrong, T. B. 
Spauling, E W. Fiegeubaum, John Kern, Edward H. Weir 
J. W. Enos, William Olive, S. T. Robinson. 

Shoemakers. — Edward Ballwcg, Joseph Ballweg, Ignatius 
Brendle, Sebastian Brendle, Lewis Hartung, Ferdinand 
Schott, Jacob Wenner, John Wilhelm, J. Schoenberger. 

Blacksmiths. — Henry Ballhoru, Joseph Levora, Andrew 
Silzle, Philip Wenner, Elbert Samuels. 

Bakeries and Confectioneries. — George Bernius, Charles 
Sommerlad. 

Confectionery. — T. W. Yates & Co. 

Meat Markets. — George M. Lenz, James Whitbread 
Schwarzkotf Brothers, Charles Lenz, William Steehliuger 

Furniture Dealers. — Jacob Eberle, Charles Leuckle. 

Dentists.— Geo. A. McMillan, H. B. Bull. 

Gun-imith. — Gus Herder. 

Merchant Tailors. — Joseph Brendle, John Briukmauu & 
Co., Adam Herweck, Henry Krebs. 

Barbers.^GeoTge Brendle, Henry Brinkmann, Robert F. 
Story, Benj. F. Peters. 

Painters. — G. Bergmann, Francis Heisterbaum, John W. 
Gooch. 

Justices of the Peace. — Joseph Chapman, Edward Phil- 
lips, Irwin B. Randle, John Hobson. 

Abstractors 0/ Title. — Chapman & Leverett, L. C. Keown. 

Architect. — Charles H. Spilman. 

peal Kitate Dealers. — A. L. Brown, Henry C. Gerke. 

Sewing Machine Dealer. — Robert Young. 

Contractors and Brick Masons- — F. Stilwell, Jacob Kaber. 

Grain Dealers and Live Stock Traders. — Sherman and 
Berger. 

Lumber Dealers. — A. A. Perley, John Stolze. 

Jewelers. — J. B. Dale, Theodore Stockburger 

Carpenters and Builders. — Alouzo Keller, John Keller, 
Charles Pauldy, T. J. Newsham, Herman Berlemann. 

Insurance Agents.- — Chas. A. Gaiser, R. B. Evans. 

Pestaurants. — Frank Stenzel, Jacob Pjeitler. 

Po.'<t Master — John Coventry. 

Livery Feed and Sale Stables — John H. Lee. 

Saloons.'- — Simon Kellerman, Frank Stenzel, Fred Mum- 
me, Valentine Bauer, Jacob Dengeufelder, Lorenz Knaus, 
Gottliebe Rohrkaster, Herman Sachse, Anton Schroeder 
Joseph Schwager, Thomas Sedlacek, Jacob Baier, Miller's 
Exchange, by Ali)ert V. d Broeck, William Friday, Peter 
Abrams, Henry Mick. 

SETTLEMENTS IN EVH AIUi,>\ JLLE TOWNSJIIP. 

Among the earliest pioneer settlers in Edwardsville 
township were Charles Gillham, and his two sisters, Marj' 
and Margaret, with their husbands, Thomas Good and 
Bryant Mooney, who, with their families, emigrated from 
Georgia to this state in 1803. Charles Gillham pre-empted 
what is known as the Phillips' farm, on section 13, about two 
miles south of Edwardsville. After living there some 
years, he sold his claim to John and Beniah Robinson, and 



348 



HISTORY OF MADISOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



removed to Hurricane Creek, iu Bond county. He died in 
Iowa, at an advanced age. His wife also lived to a verj' 
old age. He was a son of Ezekiel Gillliam, who settled iu 
Georgia, and a grandson of the original Thomas Gillham 
and his first wife, of Virginia. Charles Gillham and his 
two sisters, above mentioned, were the only children of 
Ezekiel Gillham, who settled in Illinois. Thomas Good 
settled on section 23, on the farm now owned by W. R. 
Prickett. He reared a large family, and many of his de- 
scendants are yet residents of the state. He and his wife 
remained on this place until their death. His youngest 
son, H. Davidson Good, lived on the old place a number of 
years, was deputy sheriff under William E. Wheeler, and 
died near Marine at an old age. Bryant Mooney located 
in the same neighborhood, and gave name to Mooney's 
branches, two small streams in that vicinity. He after- 
ward moved and located near Greenville, in Bond county. 

Another of the oldest farms is the Shaeffer place, in section 
fifteen, two miles and a half southwest of Edwardsville. 
This was pre-empted by John T. Lusk soon after 180.5. He 
was then unmarried, and an aunt, Mrs. Sally Sams kept 
house for him. In 18G9 he married Lucretia Gillham, 
daughter of Charles Gillham ; she was born in Georgia, 
January 11, 1793. He afterward sold his improvement, 
southwest of Edwardsville, to John W. Wright, and moved 
to what has since been known as the Fair Grounds. Here 
he lived in a tent till a cabin could be erected. The double 
log cabin which he built stood for many years on the Fair 
Grounds, and in it was born Alfred Lusk, who was said to 
have been the first white child born in township four, range 
eight. After his removal into Edwardsville, where he be- 
came the proprietor of the first hotel iu the place, Mr. Lusk 
continued for some time to cultivate this farm. 

In the year 1811, an important accession to the popula- 
tion in the vicinity of the present town of Edwardsville was 
made by the arrival of the Wright, Randle, and Bell fami- 
lies. Leaving Georgia in September of that year, these 
families reached Turkey Hill, near Belleville, in St. Clair 
county, on the 17th of October, and, after remaining there 
a few days, came to Madisou county. John W. Wright pur- 
chased, as above stated, what is now known as the Shaeffer 
place, two miles and a half southeast of Edwardsville, and 
lived there till his death. His three oldest sons were in 
Captain Bolen Whiteside's Company of Rangers during the 
warof 1812-'14. 

Josias Randle settled the place where the family of the 
late Judge David Gillespie now resides. He was born in 
Virginia. He became the first clerk of the county court, 
after the organization of Madison couuty. He built an ox- 
raill near his residence in 1818. He had four sous. Barton, 
Richard, Peter, aud Josias. Barton was a minister in the 
Methodist Church, and died in 1882. Richard became also 
a ^Methodist minister, and is still living. Peter practiced 
medicine at Edwardsville and Alton, and moved to Califor- 
nia. He was a surgeon in the Army of the Potomac dur- 
ing the war of the rebellion, and president of a medical 
college in San Francisco. Josias adopted the legal profes- 
sion, and, after achieving success as a lawyer, died of the 



cholera in New Orleans in 1842. The only daughter, Martha, 
married George Ripley, and is now living at Staunton. 

j After the death of Josias Randle, his nephew, Josiah Ran- 
dle, became the owner of his place of residence, and con- 
tinued for some time to operate the ox-mill. 

In the fall of 1814, Mrs. Randle, the mother of Irwin B. 
Randle, of Edwardsville, reached the county from Tennes- 
see, with a family of eight children, of whom six were boys. 
The youngest was Irwin B Randle, then three years old. 
Their father died in Tennessee. The next year the family 
settled on the northwest quarter of section thirteen, of Ed- 

I wardsville township, on land now owned by Ernst Kriege. 

j This land was pre-empted by Edmund Randle, the oldest 
son. After living here several years, the family scattered 

^ to different parts of the county. The three oldest of the 

I sons, Edmund, John H., and Josiah, died within a short 

j time of each other, in 18.53 and 18.54. George D. Randle 
is now a resident of Mason city. Parham and Henry L. 
Randle returned to Kentucky, the former in 1827 and the 

i later in 1829. Temperance, one of the daughters, married 
Thornton Peoples, one of the early residents of Edwards- 
ville, who removed to St. Clair county. Lucy became the 
wife of John Dew, one of the pioneer Methodist ministers of 
Illinois. 

Beniah Robinson, an early resident on section twenty- 

Vfour, was one of the pioneer surveyors of the county. He 
removed to Oregon. On the farm of Thomas Good, two 
miles south of Edwardsville, the early camp-meetings were 
held. His wife was an earnest Methodist. William Gill- 

i ham made the improvements on the northwest quarter of 
section twenty-four. The farm is the one now owned by 
Herman Giese. Jeptha Lampkin was an early settler on 
the northeast quarter of section twenty-four, and Robert 
Holliday on the northwest quarter of section twenty-five, 
and Robert McKee on the southwest quarter of section 
twenty-four. George Barnsback, in the spring of 1810, 
settled on section twenty-five. He was born in Osterode, 
Germany, in 1781, and emigrated to the United States in 
1797, and shortly afterward went to Kentucky. He came 
to Illinois in 1S09. He served for two years in the ranging 
service during the war of 1812-'14. From 1825 to 1831 he 
was a resident of St. Francois county, Missouri, and then 
returned to his old home in Edwardsville township. 

George Kinder, one of the early settlers in the southeast 
part of the township, was a native of Pennsylvania. The 
family moved at an early day to Kentucky where his father, 
Jacob Kinder, was killed by the Indians. He came to what 
is now Madison county, in October, 1811, aud settled on the 
northeast quarter of section thirty-six, on land now owned 
by Nelson Montgomery. He died on this farm. Of his 
nine children two were born in Kentucky previous to the 
coming of the family to this State ; six children reside in 
Madison county : Capt. Jacob J. Kinder, Jane R., who 
married Robert Holliday, Robert H., George W. Kinder, 
Mrs. Mary A. Jarvis, and Eleanor, the wife of Nelson 
Montgomery. James Holliday, who came to this State from 
Georgia, settled in section thirty-four previous to 1811. His 
only child, Robert Holliday, was a man of conservative 




HARNIST & COOKS DRUG AND BOOH S TO ff E ^ E DIA/A R DS V I LL E , ILL 




â–  SIMON KELLERMAMN 



ir':^'-'J'TJ:r^p^^SM PRINTING OFFICE 




SIMON K ELLE RMANNS OYSTER D E POT E DWA R DSV I L L E , I LL . 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



349 



disposition. Although the owner of seven hundred acres of 
land in this county, he moved to the poorest part of Macou- 
pin county where he purchased land, and died. Franklin 
Roach (whose projier name is said to have been Fields,) and 
who was a soldier under Gen. Marion in the war of the 
Revolution, made the first improvement on the farm now 
owned by Capt. Jacob J. Kinder in section thirty-six. He 
was a native of South Carolina. His son, David Roach, 
served with the rangei-s in the war of 1812, and with the 
money he received for his services, purchased the quarter 
section on which Capt. Kinder's house is built. The Roach 
family moved to the neighborhood of Worden where the 
older members died. 

In the northwest part of the township, Ambrose and 
David Nix were among the pioneer settlers. Ambrose Nix 
made the first improvements on the farm now owned by 
William ^\. Lee in section thirty-two. Lee married one of 
his daughters. David Nix settled the place where the 
Edwardsville road comes down from the bluff. The house 
in which he lived and died is still standing. Nix's Ford, a 
well known place in the early history of the county, was 
half a mile northwest of David Nix's house. The ford was 
free from quicksands, and the best on the Cahokia. Jacob 
Varner .settled north of Nix's on land now owned by Henry 
F. Brockmeyer. Abraham and Joel Varner were sons of 
Jacob. Capt Bolen Whiteside lived under the bluff' in 
section seventeen. 

David Gillespie, the father of Matthew and Joseph, removed 
with his family and settled near Edwardsville in the early 
part of the year 1819, and resided here until the summer of 
1827, when he went to the Galena lead mines He returned 
in the fall of 1828, and located in the American 
bottom or rather under the bluff where he purchased the 
farm that was settled by Henry Cook in early times. He 
resided there until 1834, when he removed to Grant county, 
Wisconsin, where he died at a ripe old age. His wife had 
previously died in 1831, at the farm above mentioned. 

John Barber, who became a resident of the township 
about 1825, taught school for several years in a log school- 
house near his residence, three miles south of Edwardsville. 
The school-house stood in the middle of the Troy road, north 
of what is now known as the McKee place. Barber was a well 
educated man, who understood the Latin and Greek 
languages, and was considered an excellent teacher. His 
school drew to it pupils from Edwardsville. 

George Coventry came to the county in 1813. He was a 
millwright by trade, and built a water-mill in what is known 
as the Tan Yard branch. This mill was in existence some 
years, and traces of the old mill-race may still be seen. The 
mill was about a quarter of a mile distant from the fair 
grounds. J. W. Coventry, who for several years has been 
postmaster in Edwardsville, is a son of his,'and came with his 
father to this county in 1813. The branch received its name 
from the tan-yard which once existed at its head. This tan- 
yard was started by Benjamin Steadman, who sold it to Rich- 



ard Randle, and he to Tilghman H. West and William P. 
McKee. West and McKee rented the place to Solomon 
Harkey. In January, 1833, it was rented by C. W. Crocker. 
The yard was little used after 1840. It was placed in opera- 
tion as early as 1816 or 1817, and was a noted place in 
pioneer days. 

On the Cahokia, in section 8, just above the mouth of In- 
dian creek, a mill was built at an early day, but was never 
placed in operation. Some of the rock used in its construc- 
tion is still visible. Though the mill was never put to any 
use, it was productive of a law suit which found its way to 
the supreme court of the state. 

On the spot now occupied by the residence of Nelson 
Montgomery, in section 2-5, an ox-mill once stood. Its con- 
struction was changed, and attachments made with the idea 
of propelling it by wind. It did not operate successfully, 
however, and the structure was suffered to fall into decay. 
Daniel Tolman was the projector of this enterprise. 

One of the earliest Methodist churches in the West was 
the Bethel Methodist church, two miles and a half south- 
west of Edwardsville. It was built in 1805. About the year 
1817 a church was built at Ebenezer, now called Centre 
Grove. The old Ebenezer church was attended for some 
years by the people of Edwardsville, there being no churches 
or religious organizations in that town for some time previ- 
ous to 1828. At the old Ebenezer school-house Hiram Roun- 
tree was one of the earliest and best teachers. He taught 
two years, and his school consisted of eighty pupils. 

The earliest entries of land in town.ship 4, range 8, were 
made in 1814. On the 20th of August of that year William 
Ottwell entered 160 acres in section 4. On the 13th of 
September Thomas Kirkpatrick secured patents for two 
tracts in section 2, one containing 102 and the other 10 
acres. On the same date John T. Lusk entered 830 acres 
in section 3. Both Lusk and Kirkpatrick made additional 
entries during the balance of the year. Michael Dodd also, 
on the 13th of September, entered 317 acres in section 5. 
Two weeks afterward John Robinson entered one hundred 
and twenty-five acres in section two. Entries of land were 
also made in 1814 by Nicholas Jarrot, George Davidson, 
George Sanders, R. G Gillham, Samuel Delaplain, James 
Greenwood, Benjamin Steadman, Josiah Randle, Josias 
Wright, Daniel Brown, Robert Reynolds, John McKinney, 
Thomas Randle, Tiiomas and John Good, Charles Gillham, 
George Barusback, James Holliday, Robert Gillespie, Jacob 
Trout, George Belsha, John Nix and George Hubbert. 

The following named gentlemen have represented this 
township in the county board of supervisors: John A. 
Prickett elected in 1876 and re-elected in 1877, being 
chosen chairman of the board both terms; Jacob W. Terry, 
elected in 1878, and by re-election .served until 1881, when 
William H. Cotter and Henry Brockmeier were elected, Mr. 
Cotter being re-elected in 1882, with George W. Kinder as 
assistant. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



EDWARD COLES* 
Edward Coles, the second Governor of the state of Illi- 
nois, resided in Edwardsville. He was an extraordinary man, 
and was more instrumental in shaping the destinies of Illi- 
nois (and perhaps of the Nation) than any man who ever 
resided within her limits. In order to understand the force 
of this remark, it is proper to premise that the Constitution of 
the United States contained three provisions that were distaste- 
ful to the opponents of slavery. One was that the African slave- 
trade should not be abolished before 1808 ; secondly that there 
should be a fugitive slave law, and thereby that five slaves 
should be reckoned equal to three white persons on the floor 
of Congress. These clauses were all in [the interest of 
slavery. In order to induce its opponents, to accept the 
constitution with these clauses in it, it was agreed that sla- 
very should be confined to its then limits, and accordingly 
it was prohibited in the Northwestern territory by the Con- 
gress of 1787, then in session, cotemporaneously with the Con- 
vention, which was all the territory belonging to the United 
States. In 1802, we purchased Louisiana, in which slavery 
had been planted by the Spaniards, and French. In 1812 
Louisiana was admitted as a slave state without much op- 
position inasmuch as slavery had existed there from the 
outset, and as the acquisition of the French possessions was 
looked upon as a necessity. In 1819, Missouri applied for 
admission as a slave State, formed out of this French territo- 
ry, and as slavery was principally introduced from the 
original thirteen States it was considered, that her admission 
would be in derogation of the understanding had in 1787, 
and hence, the agitation of 1819-20, which was finally set- 
tled by the admission of Missouri, and the compromise, 
which excluded slavery from all the French territory North 
of 36°30' latitude except Missouri. Edward Coles, who 
was a Virginian, inherited a hatred for slavery, and upon the 
death of his father he determined to manumit his slaves, 
and in order to do so, and make comfortable provi- 
sion for their livelihood, he removed to Illinois ; before reach- 
ing which, while on the Ohio river, he set all his slaves free, 
and when he arrived at Edwardsville, he bestowed upon 
each head of a family, a tract of land, ample for their main- 
tenance within about three miles of this place. Coles was 
soon appointed Register of the Land office here, and was 
consequently brought into contact with the people, and be- 
came very popular with all classes, particularly with those 
who were hostile to slavery. Soon it became manifest that 
an effort would be made to introduce slavery into Illinois, 
notwithstanding the ordinance of 1787. Illinois could not 
have been admitted into the Union with slavery, but the 
proslavery men, ever fertile in resources conceived the idea 
that the ordinance could be defeated by coming in as a Free 
State, and then altering the Constitution, so as to admit sla- 

* For this Sketch we are indebted to Judge Joseph Gillespie. I 

aso 



very. An election for Governor of the State coming on 
in 1822, Coles became a candidate, evidently with a view of 
frustrating the designs of the slavery propagandists, and was 
elected. From this moment the Governor set all his energies 
to work to defeat their schemes. He devoted his time his tal- 
ents, his money, and risked his life in the cause he had espous- 
ed, and never relaxed his exertions until victory crowned 
his efforts. He gave his salary as Governor to the cause. He 
was instant in season and out of season. It would be impossi- 
ble to do half justice to his efforts. He wrote and he rode. 
He loaded the mails with comments and correspondence. He 
addressed the people publicly and privately, whenever an 
opportunity offered. He was harassed with law suits, he was 
threatened with death, his property was destroyed by fire. He 
was fined $2000 for not giving bonds that the slaves he freed 
should not become a public charge, when the law requiring 
it had not been published fifteen days at the time, and not one 
in a thousand knew of its existence. The Legislature remitted 
the fine, but the judge who tried him, held the act to be an ex- 
post facto enactment. The Supreme Court however gave 
him the benefit of the law. It may truthfully be said that 
at that early day he was the most earnest and energetic anti- 
slavery man in the United States, and to his eflTorts may be 
ascribed the defeat of the scheme to drag Illinois into the 
sisterhood of Slave States. Had Illinois succumbed at that 
time Indiana would have followed suit, and if they had 
thrown their weight into the scale with the rebels, at the 
breaking out of the rebellion, it would have been difficult, if 
not impossible, to have suppressed it. So that the contest in 
which Governor Coles took such an active and efficient 
part may be said to have been the turning point in the his- 
tory of slavery in the United States. Governor Coles was 
on terms of great intimacy with Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Madison, 
Mr. Monroe and J. Q. Adams. He was appointed bearer 
of despatches by Mr. Madison when President to Mr. Ad- 
ams, when Minister to Russia. He could have had any place 
he desired within the gift of any of those men. He could 
have basked in the sunshine of official favor, but he surren- 
dered all his prospects for fame and power to the work 
more congenial to his heart of giving freedom to the op- 
pressed. After he had saved Illinois from the curse of 
slavery and seen his former slaves comfortably pro- 
vided for, he removed to Philadelphia, where he married and 
raised a family, and after a long, eventful, and useful life 
was gathered to his fathers, honored and beloved by all who 
knew him. 

An admirable Biography of Governor Coles has been" 
written by the Hon. E. B. Washburn, of Chicago. He has 
done all that man could do with his materials, but it is 
unfortunate that upwards of half a century should have 
elapsed, before attempting to rescue from oblivion the life 

d character of so good and great a man as Edward Coles. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



351 




Among the old settlers and prominent men, who have for 
many years been identified with Madison county, is Joseph 
Gillespie. He is to-day perhaps the most conspicuous figure 
in her history. He is one of the connecting links between 
this and the pioneer era of Illinois, and comes down to us 
from a former generation. In his active life he was the 
contemporary, associate, and friend of men who have grown 
great and added a page to the world's history. He is of 
Scotch-Irish parentage, and the son of David and Sarah 
Gillespie, who were born, raised and married in county 
Monaghan, Ireland. The ancestors of the Gillespie family 
were originally Scotch. They left their native country two 
years after the battle of the Boyne and settled in Ireland. 
They were Presbyterians in religion, and, it might be said, 
Kepublicans in their politics. Mrs. Gillespie even belonged 
to the " United Irish Society," which had for its object the 
liberation of the Irish people from the yoke of British tyran- 
ny ; and her brother was so particularly active in the rebellion 
of 1798, that he had to make his escape to the United States 
in order to save his life. The parents of ^Nlr. Gillespie were 
warmly attached to America and her people, and, when the 



opportunity offered, quickly embarked for this country. 
They landed in New York in 1807, and located in New 
York city, where they remained until 1819, when they re- 
moved west and settled in Madison county, Illinois. Here 
Mr. Gillespie followed the occupation of tilling the soil. In 
1831 his wife died. In 1834 he moved to Grant county, 
Wisconsin, and died there in 1855. There were two sons 
born to David and Sarah Gillespie— Matthew and Joseph. 
Matthew died in 1861. Joseph, the subject of this sketch, 
was born in New York city, August 22, 1809. His educa- 
tion in schools was limited, and ceased entirely in his eleventh 
year. In those days schools were the exception, and at best 
were provided with incompetent teachers. His mother, 
however, who was well-informed and extremely fond of read- 
ing, in a measure supplied the want of suitable opportunities. 
She gave her sons all the instruction she could impart, pro- 
cured the best reading matter that the county afforded, and 

. by her endeavors awakened in them a thirst for knowledge. 
She gave them her views upon what they had read, which 

i strengthened their recollection, created habits of reflection, 
and made amends for the lack of early scholastic advantages, 



352 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Joseph remained at home until 1827, when he went to the 
lead mines at Galena, and spent that season and also the 
seasons of 1828-29. A change in the tariff about that time 
made the sale of lead difficult, and the business of mining it 
became unprofitable. He returned home and remained 
there until 1831, when he went to Edwardsville. The same 
year he was invited to read law with Hon. Cyrus Edwards, 
at his*.re8idence on Wood River. This kind offer he hesi- 
tated to accept, on account of his lack of early educational 
training, but Mr. Edwards overcame his (Gillespie's) fears, 
and persuaded him to accept the offer. He lived in the 
family of Mr. Edwards for two years, and in that time 
read law under the direction and tuition of his generous 
benefactor. 

During that time the Black-Hawk War broke out. He 
volunteered and made the campaign of li^Sl and 1832. 
About the time he was ready to commence the practice of 
his profession, he was elected probate judge of the county, 
which position he held for two years. After the expiration 
of his term as probate judge, he began to travel the circuit. 
The bar of this circuit at that time, as well as the bench, 
consisted of an array of learned and talented men. Judge 
Breese was on the bench, and such men as Alfred Cowles, 
Gustave Koerner, J. M. Krum, George T. M. Davis, A. P 
Field, Abraham Lincoln, James Shields, William H. Under- 
wood, Governor Bissell, J. L. D. Morrison, Lyman Trum- 
bull, U. F. Liuder, and others, composed the bar. There 
were, indeed, giants in those days, and it required courage 
and confidence to enter the list against such an array of 
talent; but, nevertheless, Mr. Gillespie did enter, and 
proved himself a foeman worthy of their intellectual steel. 

In 1840 he was elected on the Whig ticket to represent 
Madison county in the State Legislature. His colleagues 
from this county were his preceptor, Mr. Edwards, and James 
Reynolds. The Whigs being in a hopeless minority, there 
was but little to do. After his return, he again went to the 
practice of his profession, in which he was not disturbed 
until 1847, when he was elected a member of the State 
Senate, in which body he continued until 18-57. During 
that time the bill for chartering the Illinois Central Railroad 
came up. It was managed by Mr. Rautoul of Boston, the 
company's agent. It had passed the house as he had drawn 
it up, to wit : That the company should pay to the State 
seven per cent, of its gross earnings and no taxes. Thirteen 
senators, among whom was Gillespie, determined to preserve 
the principle of taxation, and they struck out " seven per 
cent." and inserted "five per cent.," providing that the com. 
pany should pay State taxes at the rate of seventy-five cents 
per hundred dollars; and if that did not equal two per cent. 
of its gross earnings, the company should make it up to that 
ggure, — so that it was not to pay less than seven per cent, 
in the shape of bonuses and taxation ; but, as they under- 
stood it, it might have to pay more. Mr. Gillespie, and the 
other senators were favorable to, and desired to charter the 
road ; but desired, above all things, to retain the principle 



of taxation, and by no act of theirs show that they in any 
manner surrendered that principle. Their action was mis- 
understood at the time, and no little abuse was heaped upon 
them ; but time has proven that they were right, and their 
position well taken. The Supreme Court afterward decided 
that seven per cent, was the maximum the company was to 
pay. During his time in the Senate, what was called "State 
Policy" originated. The Terre Haute and Alton Railroad 
had been chartered, and about $1,000,000 were invested in its 
construction, when a charter for the Atlantic and Missis- 
sippi Railroad, between nearly the same termini, was asked 
for. More than two-thirds of the district represented by 
Mr. Gillespie were in favor of the Terre Haute and Alton 
road, and he saw that the chartering of the Atlantic and 
Mississippi Railroad would forever destroy the former road, 
unless the latter was first built (as the Atlantic and 
Mississippi was a much shorter and straighter route), after 
which the second could be constructed, — maintaining that 
you could build a straight road after building a crooked 
one, but never a crooked one after a straight one was com- 
pleted between substantially the same termini. He was then, 
and is yet, in favor of building all the roads possible, and 
letting competition reduce rates and regulate traffic, without 
the interference of legislative bodies In 1861 he was elected 
to the ofiice of Judge of the Twenty-fourth Judicial Cir- 
cuit of Illinois, and occupied that position for twelve years. 
While upon the bench his judicial opinions were marked by 
great clearness, exhibiting thorough research, careful analysis 
and a sound knowledge of the principles of elementary law. 
Since his retirement from the bench he has practiced his 
profession. 

In matters of religion, Judge Gillespie is inclined to a 
liberal belief. Politically, he was originally an old line 
Whig, and remained a member of that party until its organ- 
ization was abandoned. He was opposed to slavery, and 
the intimate friend of men who were the acknowledged lead- 
ers of the advanced thought upon that question in that day ; 
and, so soon as an organized opposition was formed against 
slavery, that had in it the elements of success, he joined its 
ranks, and of necessity became a Republican, with which 
political organization he has remained to the present- He 
was always ojiposed to the dogma of State Rights, which was 
one of the cardinal principles of the Democratic party. 

In 184.5, at Greenville, Illinois, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Mary E. Smith. There have been eight children 
born to them, five of whom are living. Their names are — 
Cyrus E., Mary J., Charles S., Frank K., and Maria L. 
Gillespie. His wife was born at Harper's Ferry, Va., and 
is of English and German descent. Her father's family 
were from England, and her mother's from Hanover, Ger- 
many. Her step-father (Thomas Keyes) and her mother 
came to Illinois in 1832, and settled near Greenville, in 
Bond county, where Mrs. Gillespie resided at the time of 
her marriage. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



353 





c^i^?. 




r'>-z^^(:^^^^'SZ 



The subiect of the following brief sketch is a native of 
Edwardsville. He has beeu for many years, and is yet one 
of the active business men of this city. He is of English 
ancestry. His grandfather, George Prickett, emigrated 
from England to America some time before the revolutionary 
war. In that struggle he cast his lot with the patriots, and 
fought for the independence of the colonies. The Pricketts 
first settled in Maryland, and there George and his brother 
Jacob married two sisters, by the name of Anderson. Soon 
after that event they moved to the Carolinas, thence wenl 
to Georgia, and subsequently removed to Kentucky, and in 
1808 came to the territory of Illinois, and settled in what is 
now known as Madison county. Abraham Prickett, his 
son and father of the subject of this memoir, was born July 
27th, 1790. He was, in the early days of Illinois quite a 



prominent man, was a member of the Territorial Legisla- 
ture, and a member of the convention that framed the constitu- 
tion for the State in 1818. He was a Democrat and a strong 
Jackson man. He removed to Quincy, which was then a 
trading post, and there died, June 12th, 1836. He married 
Martha Harris, who was also of English ancestry. She was 
born in Norwich, Connecticut, and died in 1823, leaving 
twin children, Thomas J. and John A. ; the date of their 
birth was May 4th, 1822. John A. received his primary 
education in the log school-houses of the pioneer days of 
Illinois, where he learned to read, write and calculate ordi- 
nary examples in arithmetic. He always had a passionate 
love for study, and read every book that fell into his hands, 
and being blessed with a very retentive memory, soon 
acquired a knowledge of algebra, physics, chemistry, and 



354 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



the Latin language. His education therefore was mainly 
acquired by self-culture. The habits of study formed and 
nurtured in his youth still abide with him, and through life he 
has read voluminously and closely, books upon scientific sub- 
jects, travels, memoirs, and the authors of the past and present. 
His library, comprising over one thousand volumes, contains 
many rare books, and the standard authors, and all exhibit 
refined taste, and excellent judgment in their selection. 

After the death of his father he was placed in charge of 
an uncle, who was a lawyer by profession, and who designed 
to prepare young Prickett for entrance upon the profession, 
but owing to domestic tyranny, he ran away and engaged as 
a cabin-boy on a steam-boat. Before he entered upon hig 
engagement, however, he was intercepted by his brother, 
who prevailed upon him to return home, offering as an in- 
ducement that he should attend school. He returned, en- 
tered school, studied diligently, and made rapid progress, un- 
der the idea that he was a burden to others, and above all 
things he desired to be self-supporting. He left school and 
entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the saddlery 
and harness trade, which he followed closely for six 
years. About that time the Mexican war broke out He 
was induced by Gov. Ford and other friends, to assist in 
raising a company of men for the service. He complied with 
their request, the company was raised, and enlisted for one 
year, and upon its organization he was elected First Lieuten- 
ant. It became known as Co. E, of the 2d Regiment 
of Illinois Vols., Colonel, afterwards Governor Bissell, com- 
manding. Mr. Prickett remained with the regiment, and 
participated in the battles and skirmishes in which it was 
engaged up to and including the battle of Buena Vista, 
where he was wounded, the bullet shattering his left shoul- 
der. In consequence of the wound he returned home before 
his enlistment expired. In 1847 he was elected Recorder 
of Deeds, a position he held for two years. In 1849, he 



was elected County Clerk, and twice became his own succes- 
sor, and held the office for twelve years. His official career 
was marked by a close attention to the business of the office 
and an honest and faithful discharge of the duties apper- 
taining thereto. In 1864 he purchased a flouring mill in 
Edwardsville, which he operated until it was destroyed by 
fire. In 1869, he embarked in the banking business, in 
which he still continues in connection with his sons, under 
the firm name of J. A. Prickett & Sons. 

Politically, Mr. Prickett was originally a Whig, and voted 
that ticket until 1855, when he became a Democrat, and 
from that time to the present has been active in support of 
the principles of that party. In matters of religious belief 
he subscribes to none of the formulated creeds or dogmas, 
but believes that the truths enunciated and enjoined by the 
teachers of old and reiterated by our Saviour, are perfectly 
adapted to the wants of man, and that from them have 
grown manifold blessings that are enjoyed by the human 
family. He is a member of the orders of A. F. and A. M. and 
I. O O. F., and is the only surviving charter member of 
the Odd Fellows, instituted in Edwardsville in 1849. 

Mr. Prickett was Chairman of the first Board of Super- 
visors under township organization, and the first Mayor of 
the city of Edwardsville. 

In 1847 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth M.^ 
daughter of Julius L. and Mary M. (Gonterman) Barns- 
back, a native of Madison county. Mr. Barnsback was a 
native of Germany, educated at the University of Gottin- 
gen, and emigrated to America early in this century. They 
have five children living, Clara J., wife of W. H. Jones, 
Jule L., Minna M., wife of Cyrus Happy, Harry E., and 
Jessie E. This is but a brief sketch of Mr. Prickett. His 
life has been one of energy and industry, by the aid of which 
he has risen to an enviable and honorable position in life. 




HISTORY 01 MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



355 




Was born in London, England, September '29th, 1828. 
In 1834 he came with his parents to America, and settled 
in New York City. While yet a mere boy, he came west 
to Cincinnati, and there learned the printer's trade. 
In 1854 he removed to Alton, in Madison county, and 
engaged in the printing business, as foreman of the 
Alton Telegraph. The Telegraph office was subsequently 
sold out to Geo. T. Brown of the Alton Courier, and Mr. 
Grossman became superintendent of the office. During his 
connection with the Courier it was one of the best equipped 
offices in Illinois, and did a large business in book and 
commercial printing. Subsequently, in connection with 
others, he published that paper for a short time. In 1860, 
at his suggestion and earnest solicitation, the Alton Telegraph 
was revived, and he became one of the proprietors, under 
the name of L. A. Parks & Co. In the establishment of 
the Daily Telegraph also he took an active part, and secured 
sufficient subscribers by personal solicitation to guarantee 
its success. Parks & Crossman continued together until 
1864, when the latter withdrew. He then, in connection 



with .James H. Hibbard, established a job office, and con- 
tinued job printing until 1869, when he removed the office 
to Edwardsville, and here established the Echvardsville Re- 
publican, with which he was connected until his death, 
which occurred June 17, 1875. Mr Crossman was a dis- 
tinguished member of the Masonic fraternity, and belonged 
to the several orders of Blue, Royal Arch, Cryptic and 
Templar Masonry. In religious faith he was a Methodist, 
and attached himself to that religious organization in 1862. 
He took a great interest in Sunday-school work, and was 
superintendent of the M. E. Sunday-school in this city and 
in Alton for a number of years. On the 27th of February, 
1849, he was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Alice Mor- 
gan, with whom he lived happily until July, 1873, when she 
died. Eight children were the offspring of that marriage, five 
of whom still survive the parents. Their names in the order 
of their births are: Charles C, Thomas M., William E., 
Kate, Ellen E., Eva, Samuel V., Jr., and Edward V. Cross- 



356 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 




<t> 



^ 




A NATIVE of Virginia, was born May 2, 1814, and is the 
son of Tilghman H. West and Mary A. nee Mitchell. His 
ancestors emigrated from England to Maryland, previous to 
the Revolution. His paternal great-grandfather held an 
office under the British government, and when war was 
declared returned to England ; but his grandfather, Benja- 
min West, and his mother's father, Edward Mitchell, 
entered the service under General Washington, and con- 
tinued till the close of the revolutionary war. The history 
and many incidents of the war, as related by his grand- 
fathers, made a strong impression on the youthful mind of 
the subject of this sketch. His father, who was a large 
slaveholder, becoming dissatisfied with the institution of 
slavery, manumitted his slaves, and in 1818 removed to 
Illinois, and settled four miles west of Belleville, which 
contained about half-a-dozen houses. Here he was assisted 



in building perhaps the first school-house erected in the 
county. 

The hardships incident to a frontier life, instead of dis- 
couraging, tended to strengthen the resolution to succeed iu 
life, and gave to him when a boy, that decision of character 
which has marked his life. There is nothing more instruc- 
tive and significant than a record of the early experiences 
and influences which develop the character and direct the 
lives of successful men. When only twelve years of age, he 
was hoeing corn in the field, and there passed along the 
road near where he was at work, Governor Ninian Edwards 
and two other gentlemen, one a lawyer, the other an office- 
holder under the general government. They were talking 
of General Jackson and Henry Clay as having risen from 
farmers to men of the highest standing and influence. Then 
and there the boy determined, that if unfailing effort ou 



EISIOJRY OF MADISON CO UNI Y, ILLINOIS. 



357 



his part would achieve success, he would do so, and he 
never lost sight of the object to be attained. Leaving 
home the next year, he spent two years in the recorder's 
office in Springfield, and recorded all the deeds made in 
Sangamon county during that time, also attended to the 
post-office, and cultivated the garden of his employer. 

In 1833 he obtained a clerkship in the land office in Ed- 
wardsville, in the office of William P. McKee, register, 
where he spent two years, working fourteen hours a day, at 
a salary of twelve dollars a month. Saving one-third of 
his wages, and having acquired a knowledge of book-keep- 
ing, he opened a store in Edwardsville in the early spring 
of 1835. With almost no capital except industry and 
energy, and with a sense of rectitude which governed all 
his thoughts and actions, he had so trained his mind to right 
thinking, and his will to right feeling and right doing, that 
it became a part of his intellectual and moral nature. He 
soon established the reputation of a reliable business man, 
and by industry, fair dealing, pleasant manners and prompt 
attention to all the details of his business, built up the 
largest trade in the town. 

Since the year 1824 there had been no bank in Ed- 
wardsville, and the business in the town having largely 
increased, the want of such an institution was felt ; and in 
1867, in connection with his son-in-law, Major William R. 
Prickett, he erected a fine building, and established the 
banking house of West & Prickett. The institution has 
ample capital, and is conducted on strict business princi- 
ples, and has met with that success which must follow a 
business conducted on a sound basis and honorable dealing. 
In the financial panic of 1873, when almost every bank in 
the county suspended payments, the house of West & 
Prickett continued to pay and to discount as usual during 
the whole time ; and at the close of the panic the number 
of their depositors was largely increased, and they had 
more money in their vaults than at the beginning. 

Notwithstanding his close attention to business, Mr. West 
has devoted much time to reading and selfculture. An 
earnest student, and with great fondness for literature, he 
has collected a fine library, comprising some choice and 
rare books. Among them may be found Ossian's poems, 
Herodotus, Plato, Locke, Sir William Hamilton's Meta- 



physics, Bacon, Brown's Philosophy, Thiers, Wiseman, La- 
martine, Guizot, De Tocqueville and others. In recognition 
of his literary attainments the board of trustees and faculty 
of the oldest college in the state conferred on him the de- 
gree of Master of Arts. When the Illinois National Guards 
was being formed he was commissioned captain in the 15th 
Battalion. In political aflTairs Mr. West has taken an active 
interest, and has received many expressions of confidence 
from his fellow-citizens ; he has been a candidate for office 
fifteen times, and with two exceptions, has always been 
elected. He was a member of the State Constitutional Con- 
vention in 1848, and took an active part in the debates of 
that body, and commanded the respect of the members of 
the convention. He was on the finance committee, and it 
was by his eflTorts in that committee that the article for the 
payment of the state debt was reported, and by its opera- 
tion the state debt was paid. He also drafted the article 
"On Counties," by which a stop was put to the evil of 
dividing counties and removing county seats. His ambi- 
tion, however, has not been for political distinction, pre- 
ferring rather the pursuits of business and the quiet of 
domestic life. In business he has been remarkably suc- 
cessful, never having had but one suit at law in the county, 
where he has been in constant business nearly fifty years. 

In politics he was formerly a Whig, but since that party 
became extinct, has acted with the Democratic party. For 
years he has been an active and prominent member of the 
^Slethodist church, and for fifty years engaged in Sunday- 
school work. In 1835 he was married to Miss Julia A. 
Atwater, in whom he found a worthy companion and wife, 
for fifty-two years. Only three of his children arrived at 
age : Virginia, wife of Major W. R. Prickett, Mary, wife of 
W. F. L. Hadley, and Norah, the youngest, who is with 
him at home. 

Mr. West is now sixty-eight years of age, and although 
possessed of ample means, may be found every day at his 
place of business, with the energy and quickness of a man 
of fifty years. A man of pleasing address ; social and hos- 
pitable; generous and liberal in his sentiments; retaining 
the activity, vivacity and cheerfulness of youth, his life re- 
veals the success that may be attained by self-reliance, 
integrity and persevering industry. 



46 



358 



HISTOBY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 




KD 0\^v^^a\^ \j 



\JUut^^. 



"^ 



Was born in Edwardsville, 111., September 30, 1828. He 
was the eldest child of Matthew and Nancy (Gordon) Gil- 
lespie. His mother died during his early childhood. David 
in his youth had but few of the advantages for obtaining an 
education that are now enjoyed by nearly every child in the 
land. The State was then in its infancy, and the school 
system but imperfectly operated. His education was there- 
fore mainly obtained at the select or subscription schools, 
with a short time spent at Shurtleff College. As a boy or 
man he was always a careful student, and by his industry 
acquired a vast fund of general information. So thorough 
and complete was his system of study that he could at any 
time call to mind and into practical use anything that he 
had ever read or learned. He had a remarkably retentive 
memory, and was well-versed in the sciences and literature 
of the day. He was in the broadest and most liberal sense 
of the term a self-made man, which, in after years, was 
fully demonstrated by his powers of clear thinking, prac- 
tical reasoning and self-reliance. Several years before he 
had attained his majority he had conceived the idea that he 
would like to follow the profession of law. He accordingly 



became a student of law in the office and under the direc- 
tion of his uncle Joseph Gillespie. Here he obtained the 
mental food that stimulated his active mind. The intrica- 
cies of the proper government and conduct of man with 
his fellow man, as laid down by Blackstone, Kent, Story, 
and other eminent jurists, found a fertile field in the mind 
of the young student; and on arriving at twenty-one years 
of age he was admitted to practice at the bar. He had, 
however, previously attended a course at the law school in 
Cincinnati, Ohio. From the time of his enrollment as an 
attorney-at-law until the day of his death he was actively 
employed in his chosen profession. 

Few, if any, lawyers ever practised at the bar in Madison 
county who were more thoroughly acquainted with the phil- 
osophy and intricacies of the law than he. As a lawyer he 
worked with zeal and energy for the cause of his client, 
but he would never resort to any unfair or unlawful means 
to win a case. He became a successful practitioner from the 
fact that he possessed legal abilities of a high order, and by 
his honesty and integrity won the confidence of judges and 
juries. He participated in several important causm celebre, 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



359 



which have shed lustre upon the jurisprudence of the State 
of Illinois. As an advocate he was both wittj- and logical, 
and when his full powers were aroused and called into requi- 
sition in the interests of his client, his language became not 
only ornate, but truly eloquent. 

In 1861 he was appointed Master in Chancery, a 
position he filled with credit for twelve successive 
years. While discharging the duties of that office, 
he was further honored by being elected to the office of 
County Judge, which position he filled from December, 1865, 
to December, 1869. With all the multiplicity of duties 
devolving upon him as Master in Chancery, he never neg- 
lected his extensive law practice, and at the same time made 
a record as County Judge that his friends may point to 
with pride, as being among the purest and most economical 
in the history of Madison county. 

His death occurred at his home in Edwardsville, after a 
very brief illness, on the evening of August 1st, 1881. 

He was married to Miss Minna A. Barnsback, October 
8th, 1855. She was the daughter of the late Julius L. Barns- 
back. His widow, two sons and two daughters survive 
him. 

In his social and family relations, he was one of the 
purest and best of men — ever true to his friends and to the 
principles that he believed to be right. In politics, he was 
a Republican. 



JOSIAS RANDLE 

Was born in Brunswick county, Virginia, Oct. 1st, 1766. 
Entered the itinerant ministry of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church in early life. Removed to the state of Georgia in 
1790, and was married to Miss Ann Thorn in 1795. He 
continued an itinerant minister in Georgia until 1810. 

Becoming dissatisfied with the institution of slavery, and 
unwilling to raise his family in a slave state, he removed to 
Illinois territory in 1811, and settled on a tract of land, one 
and a half miles south of the present city of Edwardsville. 

There were at that time only two counties in the ter- 
ritory, Randolph and St. Clair. St. Clair was the northern 
frontier. Soon after, however, these counties were divided, 
and Madison county was organized, embracing all the nor- 
thern frontier. Mr. Randle was appointed by Gov. Ninian 
Edwards to the offices of clerk of the county, and circuit 
court and county recorder. 

In 1818 the state government was formed, and he was re- 
appointed to the same offices by Gov. Bond. Soon after his 
second appointment, a great speculation sprang up in what 
was called the " Military district " of lands granted to sol- 
diers, which so increased the business in the recorder's office 



that he resigned the clerkship and confined himself to the 
duties of the recorder's office, which he continued to hold 
until his death, which occurred on the 15th January, 1824, 
from acute inflammation of the lungs. 

His family consisted of eight children, seven sons and 
one daughter. Four of the sons died in early life. Rev. 
Barton Randle, the oldest son, died in Staunton, Macoupin 
county, January 2, 1882, in the eighty-sixth year of his age. 
Rev. Richard Randle, the second son, now in his eighty- 
fourth year, resides in Taylorville. The daughter, Mrs. M. 
P. Ripley, lives in Staunton, Illinois ; and Doctor Peter W- 
Randle resides in San Francisco, Cal. 

Mr. Randle's name occurs in the history of the M. E. 
Church of Madison county, as a prominent and influential 
local minister from 1811 to 1824, the time of his death. 

He was a warm and intimate friend of Hon. Wm. H. Craw- 
ford of Georgia, and deeply deplored the difficulty which 
existed between Mr. Crawford and Governor Edwards, when 
Crawford was secretary of the treasury in Monroe's ad- 
ministration, and which led to the recall of Gov. Edwards 
whilst on his way as minister to Mexico. 

Mr Randle was of a genial disposition, fine presence, and 
enlarged hospitality. His death was deeply felt and de- 
plored by all who knew him, and indeed by all the citizens 
of the county. 



ROBERT BOSOMWORTH 

Was born in Yorkshire, England. He is the son of George 
and Alice (Wright) Bosomworth. His mother died in Eng- 
land. In 1854 he emigrated to America and brought his 
father with him, who died the same year. Mr. Bosomworth 
is the only survivor of the family. He settled in Spring- 
field, Ohio, stayed there but a short time, then came 
west to Morgan county, Illinois, where he remained two 
years. In 1856 he came to Madison county, and in 1866 
bought 160 acres of woodland, where he now lives, cleared 
ii and opened a farm, and there he still remains. On 
the 10th of June, 1829, he married Hannah Porter, who 
was born in Sussex, England, June 30, 1805. By this mar- 
riage there were eight children, five of whom are living. 
George, John, and Robert are dead. Charles lives in Ma- 
coupin county. Mary, Alice, William, and James are the 
names of those living. Politically Mr. Bosomworth has been 
and is yet a Republican. He has all his life been a hard 
working man of industrious habits. He has been a resident 
of the county since 1856, and in that time has made many 
acquaintances, who all know him as an honest upright man, 
who at all times strives to do his duty, and fulfil evfery 
obligation made by him. 



360 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 




Ul . 4f. ^z^^v^ 



Charles Dale, an ancestor, was a native of England, who 
in 1690 removed to Ireland. Samuel Dale, his grandson, 
and grandfather of M. G. Dale, emigrated from Ireland to 
America in 1766, and settled in Chester county, Pennsyl- 
vania. In the revolutionary war he espoused the patriot 
cause, and the records show that he took an early and active 
part in the defense of colonial rights. He was an earnest 
advocate of the rights of the peojile, and was a member of 
the House or Senate of Pennsylvania for twenty years. 
The visitor to the State Capital at Harrisburg, will see on 
the walls of the Governor's room, in appropriate frames, 
sundry documents kept as precious relics of the earhj days 
of the Commonwealth. They are original commissions 
issued to the Presidents and Vice Presidents of that com- 
monwealth : One to Joseph Reed as President, and William 
Moore as Vice President in 1782, in the seventh year of the 
commonwealth, one to the eloquent and gifted John Dicker- 
son as President and James Irvine as Vice President in 
1784, and one to Benjamin Franklin as President and 
Charles Biddle as Vice President in 1786. These are 
signed by the members of the General Assembly and Su- 
preme Executive Council of the commonwealth, convened 
in the State House at Philadelphia, and the name of 



Samuel Dale, the grandfather of M. G. Dale, is subscribed 
to each. 

In 1769 Samuel Dale married Ann, daughter of Samuel 
Futhey, of Chester county, Pennsylvania. She died in 
1835 at the age of eighty four-years. Nine children were 
the offspring of that marriage, among whom was Samuel F., 
father of M. G. Dale. He, too, spent years in public life ; 
was commissioned lieutenant colonel of militia when scarce 
of age. He represented the counties of Mercer and Ve- 
nango for many years in the Pennsylvania Legislature. He 
disciplined and commanded a regiment on the northern 
frontier in the war of 1812. He devoted much time during 
his life to the various positions he held as president or trus- 
tee of literary and benevolent institutions. He also served 
as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and Oyer and 
Terminer of Lancaster county, from 1819 to 1842. He 
married Eliza, daughter of Michael Gundaker, an extensive 
and successful merchant of Lancaster City. Her father 
was the son of Michael and Ann Gundaker (maiden name 
Smith), from Nassau, Germany ; her mother was Barbara 
AValter, of York Pennsylvania, daughter of Henry and 
Magdalena Walter (maiden name Myers), from Basle, 
Switzerland. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



361 



Michael G. Dale, whose name heads this memoir, was 
born in Lancaster city, Pennsylvania. His youth was spent 
in the schools of his native city, except one year in attend- 
ance at West Chester Academj^ in Chester county. He 
entered Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg and graduated 
in the class of 1835, delivering the Latin salutatory of that 
year. 'An honor which might well be highly appreciated by 
him was conferred by Pennsylvania College in electing him 
to preside on the 28th of June, 1882, at the semi-centennial 
celebration of that Institution. The large attendance, the 
character of the addresses and the varied exercises made it 
an occasion of interest. His remarks on taking the chair are 
favorably noticed in several numbers of the " College 
Monthly." He commenced the study of law in Lancaster, 
and was admitted to the bar there in 1837. 

Traveling in Illinois in 1838, he was retained at Green- 
ville, Bond county, as counsel in a suit. His success led 
him to be employed in others. This induced him to remain 
in Greenville and open a law office. The next year, 1839 
he was elected Probate Judge, an office held for, fourteen 
years or during his subsequent residence in Bond county. 

In 1844, he was under the State militia law elected and 
commissioned Mayor. He, with Colonels Parker and 
Ferguson, held the military court convened at Alton in 1847. 
In 1846-7, after the failure of the banks and consequent 
great scarcity of money, the State being largely in debt 
from the unsuccessful attempt at railroad building, and the 
State warrants being at a heavy discount, repudiation of the 
State debt was openly advocated. Judge Dale earnestly de- 
nounced repudiation, insisting that wastefulness and extrava- 
gance consequent on an inflated currency had caused the 
debt, but that a system of retrenchment should be inaugu- 
rated by a constitutional convention, and that the debt could 
in time be honorably paid without serious inconvenience to 
the tax-payers. A State Constitutional Convention being 
called in 1847, he was elected a member of that body, and with 
the friends of reform worked indefatigably in incorporating 
into the constitution such a system of retrenchment and 
such provision for the future as assured the gradual reduc- 
tion of the public debt, and made the new constitution 
acceptable and welcome to the people of the State. By the 
convention journal it appears that he was at the organization 
of the convention appointed a member of the Legislative 
Committee, subsequently of the Committee of Internal Im- 
provements, and at the close of the convention one of the 
committee to prepare the address of the convention to the 
people of the State. 

In 1853, Judge Dale resigned the office of county Judge 
of Bond county to accept the office of Register of United 



States Land Office at Edwardsville, to which he was ap- 
pointed by President Pierce. On the removal of this office 
to Springfield he was elected county Judge of Madison 
county, which office he held for eight years. As county 
Judge of Madison county he manifested the same prudence 
and economy in the management of the county affairs, 
the same devotion to the interests of the county that had 
rendered his administration in Bond county successful and 
popular. After an interval of between eight or nine years 
he was again elected county Judge, and in 1877 and 1882 
re-elected, and at present fills the office. 

When Judge Breese was elected Judge of the circuit, he, 
unsolicited, appointed Judge Dale, Master in Chancery of 
Madison county ; he held the office during the succeeding 
administration of Judge Snyder. 

In May 1849, at Vandalia, he was united in marriage 
with Miss Margaret M. Ewing. Her grandfather. Finis 
Ewing, was one of the founders of the Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church. Her maternal grandfather was Col. E. C. 
Berry, the first Auditor of the State of Illinois. Her father. 
Gen. W. L. D. Ewing, had filled many public places. He 
had been Speaker of the House of Representatives of Illi- 
nois, had also represented tliis State in the United States 
Senate, and had been acting Governor of the State. Mr. 
Dale has four sons living. His eldest son (Erving), having 
died whilst in the practice of his profession (medicine) in 
Kansas. Tho.se living are, James B., Charles S., Lee, and 
Samuel G. 

Judge Dale was an early friend and advocate of free 
schools, believing that our government depended much for 
its strength on the intelligence and virtue of the people. 
He rejoices in the wonderful improvement he has witnessed 
in tlie school system of the State. He has been for nearly 
forty years an officer under the common school law of the 
State, and is now President of the Board of Education of 
1 the city of Edwardsville. 

We have stated some facts in the life of Judge Dale from 
' which the reader may infer that he has always possessed the 
esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens. He is known 
as a man of the strictest integrity ; indeed, throughout his 
long public life, no man has ever questioned the sincerity of 
his conduct or the purity of his motives. 

He has been distinguished throughout his whole life for his 

industry. His life has been one of incessant application. 

llis industry, coupled with a clear, practical mind, rendered 

I him successful as judge, legislator and lawyer. Whatever 

' he undertakes, is undertaken earnestly and accomplished 

with thoroughness and correctness. 



362 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 




JUDGE MATTHEW GILLESPIE— (deceased.) 



Judge Matthew Gillespie, was born in the city of 
New York on the 26th of November, 1807, and was 
the eldest son of David and Sarah Gillespie, there 
being but two children, Matthew and Joseph. The 
latter is yet a resident of Edwardsville, and one among 
its oldest and most honored citizens. They were of Scotch - 
Irish parentage, the family having emigrated from Mona- 
ghan, Ireland, to New York but a short time prior to Mat- 
thew's birth. In 1819, the family moved to Illinois when 
Matthew was but twelve years of age, and with his 
parents settled in Madison county, where he continued 
to reside to the time of his decease ; and where the priva- 
tions and struggles incident to pioneer life tended to deve- 
lop those strong and leading traits of character, which mark- 
ed his after life. At that early day, the facilities for obtain- 
ing an education were very limited ; he therefore, received 
no more than a common school education, and even this was 
mainly due to the instructions of his mother. It was to her, 
more than all others, that he was indebted for that early 
training which made him so useful a man in after life. 



With his love for books, he became familiar with modern 
history, and acquired much more than an ordinary know- 
ledge of law and theology. 

In February, 1827, when he was twenty years of age, he, 
with his brother Joseph, proceeded to «the Galena lead 
mines ; from which he returned in the fall of the same year, 
when he married Miss Nancy Gordon, a sister of the Rev. 
Joseph Gordon, late of Vandalia. Of this union there was 
but one child born who lived to maturity — the late Judge 
David Gillespie of Edwardsville. His wife dying, he again 
married March 10th, 1839, Mrs. Martha Hynes, nee Mc- 
Grew, a lady of Scotch parentage. Only three children of 
this marriage grew to man and womanhood ; Isabella J, 
wife of Moses B. Sherman ; Nellie, wife of W. R. Brink, 
both residents of Edwardsville, and Joseph J. living in 
San Francisco. 

Judge Gillespie was a man of sanguine temperament and 
positive qualities. He readily arrived at decided opinions 
on all subjects presented to his consideration, and ever main- 
tained what he deemed to be right with much ability and 



HISIORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



36" 



zeal. His friendships were strong and enduring, and he was 
ever found a warm champion for those he loved. He was 
a good judge of human nature, and was rarely, if ever mis- 
taken in the character of men. His hospitality and charities 
were fully commensurate with his means. His social quali- 
ties were of the best order ; genial, lively, quick at repartee ; 
he threw around him a degree of animation that made it 
impossible to feel dejected in his company. 

Mr. Gillespie was an able and efficient public officer ; his 
qualifications were of the first order, and his faithfulness 
worthy the example of all who are entrusted with public 
cares. In 1832, he was the elected Coroner of this county ; 
from 1836 to 1838, he was engaged in the Land Office; in 
1839, was elected Judge of Probate, which office he honora- 
bly filled for four years. Was enrolling and engrossing 
clerk in the State Senate in 1839 and '40; was elected 
Treasurer and Assessor in 1844, for four years; was ap- 
pointed by Gen. Taylor, Registerof the Land Office in 1849, 
for four years ; was subsequently elected Police Magistrate 
of Edwardsville, which office he continued to fill to the time 
of his decease. In all his official positions he performed his 
duties with honor to himself and satisfaction to his constitu- 
ency. He was strongly imbued with Whig proclivities, and 
was a great admirer of Henry Clay. After that party be- 
came disorganized he affiliated with the Republican party. 
He was an old and intimate acquaintance of President Lin- 
coln, and gave him the most ardent support for the office of 
the Chief Magistracy of the United States. The house of 
Mr. Gillespie, when Mr. Lincoln was stopping at Edwards- 
ville, was one of the. latter's favorite places of " breaking 
bread," and where the family and friends enjoyed the rare 



treat of listening to the fun-loving anecdotes so peculiar to 
Mr. Lincoln. 

As a friend to youth, Mr. Gillespie had no superior. 
He was a zealous advocate of temperance, and by his pre- 
cepts and example, he labored hard to further the welfare 
and success of the young men of his time. But of all his 
excellent memories, his moral, religious, and domestic char- 
acter is the most pleasant. Early in life he made a profession 
of religion, and attached himself to the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian Church, of which body he continued a consistent 
and leading member during its organization in this vicinity. 
In 1836, he united with the Methodist Church, of which he 
continued a communicant to the time of his decease. His 
earnest liberality, zeal, and sound judgment made him a 
valuable member of the church and of society, and at the 
time of his death he was one of the trustees of McKendree 
College. As a neighbor, he was obliging and generous to 
the last degree, and as a husband and father, he was all that 
affection could desire. 

He passed to the unknown beyond, on the evening of the 
24th of March, 1861. His last words were, " I am gone," 
and he instantly breathed his last. He was nearly 54 years of 
age, and had spent a large portion of his life in active, public 
service, and it can be truthfully said, that the world is better 
for his living. At this writing, his widow is yet living, and is 
a resident of Edwardsville. She is now in her sixty-eighth 
year of age, and is strong physically and mentally for one 
of her years.* 

*For much of the above we are indebted to an article published in 
1801 by Mr. E. M. West, who was a warm friend of Judge Gillespie- 




364 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 












(p^^-jC/Zt^ 



^/U(rio(<i, 



i,i/n<<ty^^ 



Is of Irisli descent, his grandfather being a native of Ire- 
land, and came to the United States in 1769, and settled 
near Philadelphia. When the clash of arms for i-ight and 
liberty came, he was one of the first in the ranks, and served 
with distinction throughout the war. He lived to rear a 
large family, six daughters and four sons ; among whom was 
William, the father of Nelson. He was born November 
20, 1786. As early as 1809, he braved the wilds of the 
frontier, and came as far west as St. Louis. In 1814, he 
married Sarah Rattan, and located permanently on Indiana 
Creek in Madison county, Illinois. By this union eleven 
children were born. Nelson, the eldest, was born August 
1st, 1815. John was born February 7, 1817. William N. 
January 9, 1819, and died January 20, 1855. Nancy R., 
January 18, 1821. Thomas J., January 22, 1823. James, 
February 20, 1825. Paris, February 24, 1827. Matilda, 
January 10, 1819. Amanda F , June 11, 1830. Hampton, 
November 10, 1833. Ann, February 20, 1837, Eliza 
Jane, March 31, 1840. Of the daughters, four are yet liv- 



ing : Nancy R., wife of Thomas J. Barnsback ; Amanda, 
wife of J. B. Job ; and Eliza J., wife of Thomas Belk, are 
all residents of the county. Ann, wife of William Love- 
land, resides at Golden, Colorado. Besides Nelson, there 
are two other sons yet living, John and Hampton. The 
latter resides on the old homestead in section 13, Wood 
River township. John living in Macoupin county. Nelson 
was married to Eleanor, daughter of George Kinder, one of 
the earliest and most respectable citizens of Madison county. 
This union occurred March 22, 1838. By this marriage 
eight children have been born, six of whom are now living, 
the dates of their births being as follows : Ann M., born 
November 30, 1838 ; Nancy J., February 24, 1842; Mary 
M., August 2, 1844; William L, May 5, 1848, died near 
Papinsville, Mo., January 26, 1878 ; Sarah Isabel, born 
October 23, 1850, died February 21, 1851 ; Phebe E., Octo- 
ber 26, 1852; Zephaniah J., born July 20, 1855 ; Robert 
N., October 6, 1862. Ann M., and Francis M. Wood were 
married May 5, 1870, and reside in Christian county j 




MRS. ISABELLA KINDER. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



365 



Nancy J. and John F. Jarvis were married November 4, I 
1869 ; Mary M. was married to Henry C Barnsback, Janu- i 
aryl7, 1877, and lives in Coles county, Illinois; William 
T., now deceased, was married to Jane Kinder, August 30, 
1871 ; Zephaniah married Lillie McKittrick, and now re- 
sides near the old homestead. 

Mr. Montgomery is one of the staunch and wealthy men 
of the county. His farm, consisting of 573 acres of very 
valuable and cultivated land, lies within four miles of the 
city of Edwardsville, besides other lands in the county, 
aggregating in all over one thousand acres. He is also the 
possessor of 320 acres in Coles county, 1,240 acres in Bates 
county. Mo., and 800 acres in the State of Iowa. His home- 
stead near Edwardsville is one of the finest in the county, 
and as a stock raiser Mr. Montgomery ranks among the first 
in this part of the State. 

Among his many cares, he does not forget his friends, and 
delights to entertain all with a generous hand, his hos- 
pitality being well known among the large circle of his 
acquaintances. In politics he is a life-long Democrat, yet 
so reasonable in his political views, that he desires to give 
exact justice to all parties, and that political supremacy 
shall not he attained by intrigue or party machinations. 

The name of Montgomery is pioneer in Madison county, 
and for generations yet to come, will maintain its prominent 
place as being among the first families of "Old Madison." 



ANSEL L. BROWN, 
The present editor and proprietor of the Edwardsville Dem- 
ocrat, was born in Edwardsville, September 26th, 1847. 
47 



He is the son of Edward S. and Sarah J. (Lusk) Brown. 
His father was born in Upper Alton, Nov. 19, 1819, and his 
mother was born in Edwardsville, Nov. 10th, 1828. They 
were married April 10th, 1846. The issue of this union was 
Ansel L. and a daughter, Mary Lucretia, who was born 
November 14th, 1849, and died September ;26th, 1850. 
The father was the son of Dr. Erastus and Brittania (Eas- 
ton) Brown, who settled at Upper Alton in 1818, the former 
being one of the original proprietors of that place. The 
mother is the eldest daughter of the late John T. and Lu- 
cretia (Gillham) Lusk, who were among the early settlers of 
Illinois, having located where Edwardsville is now laid off 
and platted, about the beginning of the present century. At 
the time of the death of Edward S. Brown, which occurred 
July 9th, 1850, he occupied the position of assessor of Madi- 
son county, and had filled the position for several preceding 
terms. After the death of Mr. Brown, the widow intermar- 
ried with the late John R. Torrence in 1853, and the issue 
of this union was a son and daughter, Harry L. and Gillian 
L. Torrence. The subject of this notice obtained his educa- 
tion in the schools of Edwardsville and at the City Univer- 
sity at St. Louis, Mo. His earliest business pursuits were 
in real estate, in which he continued until his purchase of 
the Edwardsville Times, May 1st, 1882. Immediately after 
the purchase of that paper, the name was changed to that 
first mentioned, the material was increased, and the capa- 
city of the office generally was added to ; and under his 
vigorous management the journal has assumed a respectable 
and enviable standing. 




^l-'' 



366 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 





':a^i^,^^^^^^. 



Is a native of Berlin, Prussia. The date of his birth 
was February 13, 1831. His father, Charles S. Fangenroth, 
emigrated to America in 1843. He settled in Madison county, 
Illinois, and there bought an improved farm, in section 16, T. 
4, R. 8, where he made his home until the present. He is now 
in his eighty-fourth year, and is still a vigorous and active 
man. His wife, Augusta Louise, died in 1854. There were 
two children born to them, viz : the subject of this sketch 
and Augusta Louise, who is the wife of Charles Gerting, a 
citizen of this county. Charles W. received a good educa- 
tion in the schools of his native city. His school-days ended 
with his coming to America. Here he learned the English 
language, which he acquired in a very short time, and now 
speaks it with as much purity as a native born citizen. In 
1852 he commenced farming for himself, and has continued 
in that occupation until the present. 

On the 6th of January, 1852, he was united in marriage 
to Miriam, daughter of Robert McKee. She died in 1854. 
On the 16th of April, 1862, he married Miss Frances Ann 
Richards, daughter of William Richards. She is of Eng- 
lish parentage, and was born in Luzerne county, Pennsyl- 
vania, August 21, 1841. By this union there have been eight 



children, six of whom are living. Their names in the order 
of their births are: Alice Frances, born March 21, 1864; 
Robert Newton, born July 29, 1865; Mary Louise, born 
February 7, 1867; Ann Jane, born May 14, 1868; Charles 
W., born August 19,1873; Julia Clara, born August 10, 
1875. Katy and Edith H. died in infancy. Both Mr. and 
Mrs. Fangenroth are members of the Presbyterian church. 
Politically Mr. Fangenroth was originally a Democrat; but 
in 1860 he joined the Republican party, and since that time 
has been a consistent member of that political organization. 
Mr. Fangenroth has attained considerable prominence 
and notoriety throughout the county and state as an experi- 
mental farmer, and has been the means of adding much to 
the store of agricultural information. "He who makes two 
blades of grass grow where only one grew before is a public 
benefactor." Viewed in this light it may be truly said of 
Mr. Fangenroth that he has, through his many experiments, 
benefited his brother farmers throughout the State. He is an 
active member of the different agricultural societies which 
have for their object the advancement of the agricultural 
interests of the county. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



SOI 




2^Â¥^^cr^^i 



tyt 



Among the representative and successful farmers of 
Madison county, is the subject of the following brief sketch. 
He was born in Green county, Indiana, October 24th, 1821. 1 
His father, Abner Cotter, was a native of Tennessee, born j 
near Nashville. He was a farnierby occupation. He re- \ 
moved to Indiana soon after it was admitted to the Union, 
and settled in Green county, bought a tract of laud and j 
commenced improving a farm. He died in March 1827. He 
married Sarah Kendall, a native of Ohio. After the death 
of her husband, Mrs. Cotter brought the family to Illinois, 
and settled iu Edward.sville. The date of their arrival here 
was October Uth, 1827. The family then consisted of six 
children. She provided for their support until the fall of 
1829, when she married Zadok Newman, by whom she had 
six children. She died in 1852. By the first marriage 
there are two sons living, John S. Cotter and the subject of 
this sketch. William H. had but slight opportunities for 
receiving an education in his youth. He was compelled to 
become self-supporting at an age when most youths are in 
school. He remained at home at work on the farm until the 
summer of 1842. In 1840, the family removed to Lawrence 
county, Missouri, where subsequently his mother and step- 
father died. In 1842, Mr. Cotter returned from Jlissouri to 
this county, and commenced work for Mr. Joseph Burroughs. 
In 1845, he rented land of Mr. Estabrook. Soon after he 
purchased eighty acres of land of his stepfather. It was the 
tract now owned by and on which is situated the residence of 
C. P. Smith. In 185.3, he bought a farm on Ridge Prairie, 
and lived there until 1866, then purchased his present farm 
in section 32, 5-8, and there remained until the spring of 



1882, when he took up his residence in Edwardsville. On 
the 18th of February, 1846, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Eliza J. Harrison, a native of Kentucky. She died 
November 1846. One child was born to them; it however 
died in infancy. On the 13th of December, 1849, he mar- 
ried hi.3 present wife. Her maiden name was Miss Mary A. 
Kimball, daughter of Joseph K. Kimball. She is a native 
of Madison county. By this union there have been ten 
children, five of whom are living. Those that are deceased 
died in infancy. The names of the children living are 
Sarah E. wife of Warren C. Cushman ; Charles S. who mar- 
ried Rebecca, daughter of Wiley Preuitt ; John E. who 
married Anna, daughter of Rev. H. Delicate ; Julia I. wife 
of John M. Livis and Fanny F. who is still beneath the pa- 
rental roof. Both INIr. aud Mrs. Cotter are consistent and 
active members of the M. E. Church. He is a member of 
the order of A. F. and A. M., and also belongs to the chap- 
ter in Royal Arch Masonry. Politically he is a Republican, 
and has voted that ticket upon all state and national occa- 
sions since the'organization of the party. He has represented 
his township in the Board of Supervisors for several terms. 
In his habits he is temperate, and iu principle a prohibi- 
i tionist. Such is a brief sketch of Mr. Cotter's life. He 
started iu life poor, but by persistent energy and industry 
with the exercise of good common sense, he has succeeded in 
carving out for himself and tho.se depending upon him a 
comfortable competency, and at the same time making and 
maintaining for himself a name for strict honor and integrity, 
which is a valuable heritage to leave to his posterity. 



368 



HISTORY OF MALISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 




i<l/^(^<!^ 



Captain John T. Fahnestock, is a native of Lyco- 
ming county Pennsylvania. The family is of German ances- 
try, and are the lineal descendants of Laborious Fahnestock, 
who was a native of Haarlem in the Province of Westphalia, 
Germany. Diedrick Fahnestock, an offspring of the fivmily, 
emigrated to America in 1726, and settled in the colony of 
Pennsylvania. From him have sprung a numerous progeny. 
Abner Fahnestock, the father of John T., was born in Ly- 
coming county, Pennsylvania, and there resided until 1852, 
when he came west to Illinois, and stopped in Alton one 
year, then purchased a farm in Chouteau township and en- 
gaged in farming, in which he continued until his death, 
which occurred May 4th, 1866. He married Lavina Mc- 
Carty. She died March 1st, 1834, leaving two sons, William 
M. and Henry A. Fahnestock. He subsequently married 
Matilda Brewer, a native of the same county as himself in 
Pennsylvania. She still survives her husband, and at pres- 
ent is a resident of the county. By the latter marriage there 
were ten children, eight of whom are living. John T. is I 



the third in the family. He was born September 24th, 1838. 
He was reared upon the farm and received a fair education 
in the public schools of his neighborhood. He remained at 
home until the spring of 1859, when in company with four 
others, he went to Pike's Peak in search of gold. After a short 
sojourn there, he was convinced that a longer residence at the 
Peak would be unprofitable. He accordingly returned 
home the following fall, and there remained until the break- 
ing out of the late war, when with patriotic devotion to his 
country, whose liberties were threatened by armed force, he 
enlisted under the first call for 75,000 troops. He became a 
member of Co. I 9th Regt. Ills. Vols. The regiment was 
stationed at Cairo, Illinois, where it remained the greater 
portion of its time of enlistment. After the expiration of 
his term of service he returned home sick, the result of be- 
ing unused to camp life, and change of water and climate. 
After he had recovered from his illness, he enlisted for three 
years in Co. K of the 10th, Kegt. He entered as a pri- 
vate, and passed through the different grades to Orderly 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



3G9 



Sergeant, a position he held for two years. In 186-t, he was 
promoted and commissioned First Lieutenant of Co. K, 
and held that rank until mustered out of the service, the date 
of which was July 4th, 1865. He veteranized with the regi- 
ment, December 31st, 1863, while the army was in Camp 
near Rossville, Georgia. He was never absent from his 
company during its entire service except for a short time, 
when he was detailed as Provost Marshal, and at another 
time when he was acting Aid de Camp on the Staff of Gen. 
Tillson. He participated with his regiment in the battles 
of Island No. 10, and Fort Pillow. Took part in all the contests 
of Gen. Pope's Army in moving on Corinth, its capture and 
subsequent pursuit of the rebel forces to Booneville, the 
Atlanta Campaign, and then went with Sherman's forces in 
their memorable "March through Georgia to the Sea." 
He returned home at the close of the war, and engaged in 
different occupations until L. W. Moore, was elected Sheriff 
of Madison county, when he was appointed deputy, and held 
the position for two years. When James T. Cooper was 



elected Sheriff he was appointed to a like position, which he 
held, for eight years. In 1880, he was nominated for the 
office of Sheriff by the Republican party in convention as- 
sembled, and in the ensuing election in November, was 
elected by a handsome majority, and is now serving the peo- 
ple in that capacity. In his administration he has been effi- 
cient and vigilant, and has faithfully executed the mandates 
and orders of the courts, and has labored to uphold the 
dignity of the laws he has sworn to execute and obey. On 
the 8th of November, 1866, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Angelica Boyd, daughter of James Boyd. She is a 
native of Edwardsville. Three children have been born to 
them. Their names are, Alvin E., Mattie L., and Nellie B. 
Fahnestock. Captain Fahnestock is an honorable member of 
the order of A. F. and A. M., member also of the K. of P. In 
politics he is a staunch and active Republican. His first 
presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, 
and from that time to the present he has not wavered in his 
support of that political organization. 




370 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 




<^y^. (^/r(^:^.^i- 



William M. T. Springer, (deceased,) the second son 
of John and Elizabeth Springer, was born on section thirty, 
town five, range eighty, in Madison county, Illinois, August 
31, 1828. He was reared upon the farm and attended the 
public schools of his neighborhood, and was therein fitted 
for entrance in McKendree College, at Lebanon, Illinois, 
which he attended during 1848 and a part of 1849, when 
his health becoming impaired he returned to the farm. In 
the spring of 1850 he in company with some of his neigh- 
bors fitted out teams and went overland to California, where 
he remained mining until the summer of 1851, when he re- 
turned home and resumed the occupation of farming. 

In the spring of 1852 in connection with his brothers, 
Thomas O. and L. C. Springer, he erected a sawmill on section 
30, town 5, range 8, in Madison county, Illinois, of which 
he took the principal management until about the year 1875 
when he sold his farm and removed to Edwardsville. Here 
he engaged in the business of hardware, farm machinery, 
etc. In 1855 he was elected School Treasurer of town 5, 
range 8, and served continuously as such until April, 
1876. He was married to Margaret J. Barber, daugh- 
ter of Rev. John Barber, formerly of Madi.son county, 
Illinois, January 7, 1857. By this union there were 
born six children to wit: Lizzie T., Thomas W., Jennie 
E., Mary E., Josie L., and William B., all of whom 



are still living except Lizzie T., who died in infancy. 
Politically Mr. Springer was originally an old line Whig, 
but on the organization of the Republican party he joined 
its ranks and continued until his death, an active member 
of that organization. Both he and his estimable wife were 
active members of the M. E. Church of Salem. He was 
Superintendent of and an active worker in the Sabbath- 
school at that place. 

Mr. Springer was a man of generous impulses, strict in- 
tegrity, and pure moral character, a kind and loving hus- 
band and father. In all official positions to which he was 
called, either civil or religious, he performed his duties with 
honor to himself and satisfaction to the community in which 
he resided. He was a member of the order of A. F, and 
A. M., R. A. M., and also member of the Knights of Honor. 

In the latter years of his life he was affected with asthma- 
tic or bronchial troubles, and in the autumn of 1881, started 
on a trip to Colorado, for the benefit of his health. At 
Lawrence, Kansas, he stopped to visit a sister, where he was 
taken ill and died October 9, 1881. His remains were 
brought to Edwardsville, and interred in Woodland ceme- 
tery. His demise was generally felt in the business and social 
circles of Edwardsville, and his memory is held in great es- 
teem by hosts of friends who knew him as an upright 
Christian man. 



HISTORY OF 3f AD IS ON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



371 




^C^/f/3r 



James R., was the son of James and Ann Brown, and 
was born in Bedford, England, January 24, 1836. At the 
age of fifteen he left his native country and emigrated to 
America. He went direct to St. Louis, and in 1853 came to 
Edwardsville, Illinois, and here made his home until his 
death, which occurred after a long and painful illness, April 
30, 1882. He learned the printer's trade, and June 1856 
started a weekly newspaper in Edwardsville, called the 
Madison Enquirer. Disposing of the paper by sale he worked 
at the case until Aug. 11, 1858, and then in connection with 
Theodore Terry issued the first number of The Madison 
Press. He soon afterward sold his interest to his partner. 
In October 1862 he started and issued the first number of 
th"6 Edwardsville Intelligencer, of which paper he was sole 
editor and [iroprietor until his death. As a newspaper man 
Mr. Brown was eminently successful. He had learned every 



detail of a country printing office, and was not only a good 
artistic printer, but combined with it good executive ability 
and management. He was a good ^vriter, and excelled as a 
paragraphist. He belonged to the positive order of men, 
and therefore never hesitated to condemn that which he 
deemed to be wrong. This trait of character sometimes led 
him to be unusually severe. When his friendship and con- 
fidence were once given he remained constant and true. He 
was twice married, first to Mrs. Sophia W. Cox, a daughter 
of JIajor Purcell of this county. The marriage occurred 
Aug. 24, 1858 ; she died May 9, 1871. On the 28th of May, 
1874, in the city of Philadelphia, he married Miss Matilda 
Wolf, daughter of Frederick A. and Caroline Wolf, of 
Edwardsville. By this union one child, a son, named James, 
Jr., was born. He died July 15, 1879, while yet iu 
infancy. 



372 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 





Ci^y?^ 



c/^^-Ci^tykJ- 



The present efficient Circuit clerk of Madison county is 
a native of Hessen Darmstadt, Germany, born July 6, 1836. 
His parents were Adam and Cliarlotte (Frankenstein) Daech. 
His father's family consisted of five children, only two of 
whom are now living, William and Frank, in Edwardsville. 
In 1844, Adam Daech emigrated to America, locating in 
St. Louis, and subsequently sent for his family, who arrived 
about 1858. He died in Missouri, in 1860, and his wife, the 
mother of William Daech, died in Edwardsville, in 1863. 

William Daech received his education in the common 
and high schools of his native province. At the age of six- 
teen he left his home and emigrated to the West Indies, 
where he became overseer of a large sugar plantation. 
While there he was united in marriage to Ann pjlizabeth 
Wright, a lady of English birth. He remained in charge 
of the plantation until 1861, when he came to the United 
States, landing in New York city ou the 4th day of July, in 
that year. From thence he came to Kirkwood, Missouri, 
where his mother was then residing. After a few mouths' 
stay in Missouri, he moved to Edwardsville, Illinois, Janu- 
ary 1, 1862, and accepted a clerkship in the distillery of 



Ritter & Hunicke, which position he held until the failure 
of the firm. He was also clerk in Phillip's mill, and for a 
time engaged in teaming between Alton, Edwardsville and 
St. Louis. Upon the election of H. Kuhlenbeck, in 1868, 
to the office of Circuit clerk, Mr. Daech was made a deputy 
in his office. From December of that year, with the excep- 
tion of three years as office deputy of sheriff Cooper, he 
continued as clerk or deputy in the circuit clerk's office until 
August 1879, at which time he received the nomination of 
County Treasurer, and was defeated by a small majority. 
In 1880, he was elected to the Circuit clerkship, which posi- 
tion he at present occupies. Politically, Mr. Daech is a 
staunch Republican He is a member of the Lutheran church, 
and was the first clerk of that society in Edwardsville. His 
wife is a member of the Episcopal church. He is also a 
member of the United Ancient order of Druids and the 
United order of Foresters. 

Mr. Daech has reared a family of six children— Minnie, 
deceased wife of Herman E. Wolf, died November 11, 
1880 ; William A., Frank J., Edward, Frederick and John 
H., residing at home. 




RESTAURANT AND PROPERTY OF FRANK STENZEL ED 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



373 



Major THOS. J. ^EWSHAM. 

The subject of tlie Ibllowiug biographical sketch is a 
native of Preston, Lancashire, Englantl. He was born Nov. 
1st, 1832. He is the eldest sou of James and Ann Parkin- 
sou Newshara. His parents emigrated to America in the fall 
of 1840. James Newsham had, however, made a trip to 
America as early as 1817, and remained here until 1821, 
when he returned to England, and brought his ftiraily here 
at the time above mentioned. They landed at New Orleans, 
and came up the river to Harrisonvllle, in Monroe county, 
Illinois, and. soon after Mr. Newsham purchased land iu 
Prairie Da Long, and engaged in farming, in which he con- 
tinued until his death, the date of which was October, 1845. 
His wife, the mother of Thomas, died in 1844. After the 
death of his father, young Newshara went to St. Ljuis, and 
apprenticed himself to John F. Mitchell to learn the car- 
penter trade. After serving two years he worked under 
instructions for another year. Four months later his indus- 
try and desire to excel earned for him the position of fore- 
man of the shop At the age of eighteen years he com- 
menced business for himself. One of his first contracts was 
the ereciion of the Convent market-house. He remained in 
St Louis until 1850, then came to Edwardsville. Here he 
worked for a short time at his trade, under the direction of 
other parties, but so m commenced business for himself, in 
which he continued until the breaking out of the war, at 
which time he and Capt. J. G. Robinson, under the call for 
75,000 troops, organized a company of one hundred and 
sixteen men, and tendered their services to the government. 
On the 22d of April, 18(51, they were taken to Springfield, 
where they were organized into a company of eighty-four 
men, which was known as Co. I, of the 9t.h Regiment of 
Illinois Infantry. Mr. Newsham was elected 1st Lieut., and 
commissioned April 25th, 1861. The 9th regiment was or- 
ganized at Camp Yates, and soon after received orders to 
proceed to St. Louis to guard the Arsenal, but before the con. 
summation of that order, were ordered to Cairo, Illinois, to 
protect it against a threatened attack by the rebel forces 
gathered at Columbus, Kentucky. Company I was sent 
up the river to protect a battery which had command of the 
river above Cairo. 

On the 25ih of May, 18G1, Lieut. Newsham was appointed 
and commissioned Adjutant of the regiment. Company I 
remained in support of the battery ijutil the expiration of 
their term of service, and were mustered out, July 24th, 
1861, and mustered into the three years' service, July 26th, 
two days later. Lieut. Newsham was mustered in as Adju- 
tant of the regiment, and remained with it until Sept. 4th, 
1861, when he was detached, and appointed Acting Assistant 
Adjutant General of the Expeditionary forces that captured 
Paducah, Ky.; Sept- 5th following. On the 9th of Sept 
1861, he was appointed Acting Assist. Adjutant General on 
the staff of Major-General C F. Smith, and on the 5th of 
October following was comaiissioned by the President as 
Assist. Adj't General of Volunteers, with the rank of Cap- 
tain, and ordered to report to Gen. Smith for duty. He 
remained upon the staff of Gen Smith until after the battle 
48 



and capture of Fort Donelson, and battle of Shiloh or Pi'ts- 
burg Landing, Tenn. On the 14th of April, 1862, he resigned 
his position on account of ill health. His resignation was ac- 
cepted by Gen. Grant, and a])proved conditionally — those 
conditions were promotion. He returned home, sick, and 
remained at home until he had in a measure regained his 
health. In the summer of 1802, under the call for 600,000 
additional troops, he assisted in raising the 117th regiment, 
and up)n organization was elected and commissioned Major, 
the date of which was Sept. I'Jth, 1862. He remained with 
the regiment until Dec. 20th, 1862, when he was detached 
and took command of the Detachments at Fort Pickering, 
Tenn. The many honorable positions and commands he 
held during the late war, are best told in the followirg 
which is copied from the records on file in the War Depart- 
ment at Washington, and to which is attached the highly 
complimentary letter of Gen. Sherman, General of the 
Army : 

"With Regiment at Cairo, Illinois .mil Padiicali, Ky , 7ih Sept. 
1861. Asst. Adj. Gen. on Stall' of Gen. C. F. Smith, to April 14th, 
1SG2. Out of service until Sept. 19th, 1862. With Regiment in the 
Army of Tennessee, to Dec. 20th, 1862. CommanJing Delaehments 
at Fort Pickering, Tenn., to January 13ih, IS63. Act. .Asst. Inspector 
Gen. at Columbus, Ky., to Aug. 19ili, 1863. Gen. Picket officer, 5th 
Div., IGlli Army Cor|).s, to Oct. 20th, 1863. Commanding Provisional 
Encampment at Fort Pickering, Tenn., to April 13th, 1S64, when he 
resigned." 

Signed, Thomas M. Vincent, 

Asst. Adjt. Gen. 
To Gen. Sherman, Gen. of the Army. 

The following is the letter to Major Newsham : — 

" Headquarters or Army. 
Washington, D. C, July 19ih, 1876. 
The above most honorable record is official, and I take great plea- 
sure, in adding that I remember Major Newsham well, when he was 
on the Staff of Major Gen. C. F. Smith, and hereby certify that he was _ 

held in high esteem. 

W. T. Sherman, Central." 

Major New.«ham retains as mementoes and souvenirs 
of the war, many letters and orders, which in a measure 
serve to keep alive the memories of the past, and call 
vividly to the mind the many incidents and perils connected 
with the years of the war, which were the most eventful of 
his life. It may he said of him that he was the trusted and 
confidential aid and comrade of men who then and since 
have grown great, and who have added a page to the world's 
history. He was selected by Gen. Grant as bearer of des- 
patches from Headquarters to Washington. In every posi- 
tion which he was called upon to fill, he did his whole 
duty, and earned the commendation of his superior officers. 
His health failing him again, he was compelled to re- 
sign, and seek rest at home. His resignation bears date 
April 13th, 1864. He was afterward cammissioned Colonel 
of the 1st Regiment Florida Cavalry, but owing to his con- 
tinued ill-health, was compelled to decline that flattering 
mark of honor and confidence. This closed the record of 
Maj. Newsham's military service. That he was a brave and 



374 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUXTY, ILLINOIS. 



gallant soldier, the records and many commendatory letters 
(if his superior ofiicers amply testify. Alter his retnrn home, 
and as soon as his health would permit, he re-eiigaged in 
contracting and building, and has t'ullowed that business to 
the present. 

On the 7ih of Nov. 18.58, he was united in raarrirtge to 
Miss Mary Jane, daughter of Judge H. K. Eaton, now de- 
ceased. iShe was born in Edwardsville, Sept. 28th, 1838. 
Four children have been born to them. One sou and three 
daughters. The son died in infancy. The names of the 
daughters are : Caroline A , who is the wife of John W. 
Sanncr, a prominent farmer of Shelby county. 111. ; Matilda 
Alice and Mary Elizabeth are yet beneath thg parental roof, 
Mrs. >i'ewshain is a member of the M. E. Church. ^lajor 



Newsham is a member of the order of A. F. and A. M., and 
was made a mason in England in 1854, in the Lodge pre- 
sided over by the Earl of Zetland, and now by the Prince 
of Wales. 

Politically he was originally a member of the Whig party, 
lu 1860, he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and from that time 
to the present, has been a Republican. In his habits he is 
temperate, and an advocate of prohibition. He has been 
identified with every temperance movement started in Ed- 
wardsville since 1850. In his manners he is a pleasant and 
agreeable gentleman, and in the community where he has 
long resided, is regarded as an honorable man and a good 
citizen. 



â–  cQ^-^ j^S^^- 



THE CITY OF ALTON. 




,HE first settlement on the site of the 
present city of Alton, seem-j to have 
been made about the year 1783, by a 
Frenchman named Jean Baptiste Car- 
dinal. The evidence of this rests on the 
report made in 1813, by the Board of 
Commissioners appointed to examine the 
claims for land within the district of 
Kaskaskia. The Commissioners state 
that about thirty years previous Cardi- 
nal lived at Piasa, five or six leagues above Cahokia, that he 
there built a house and resided with his family, but was 
taken prisoner by the Indians, when his family were obliged 
to abandon their frontier location and retire to the village 
of Cahokia There was no proof before the Commissioners 
that he had placed any land under cultivation. Cardinal 
appears to have conveyed his claim in the year 1793 to John 
Edgar, then a prominent and wealthy citizen of Kaskaskia, 
who was largely interested in the land speculations of the 
time. The deed was witnessed by La Violette in September, 
lTi)5, and acknowledged before William Morrison five 
months afterward. Cardinal affixed his mark to the deed, 
but Edgar, to show the fairness of the transaction, produced 
a letter from Cardinal, dated July, 1795, ofiering Edo-ar the 
land, which letter was signed by Cardinal himself in a very 
good hand. These facts made the Commissioners suspicious 
of the transfer, and they recommended that, should the 
claim (for a tract of land four arpents in front by forty in 



depth) be confirmed by congress, " the confirmation be to 
the said Cardinal, or his legal representatives, as the title 
papers of the said John Edgar appear not to be regular." 
It is altogether probable that the Piasa where Jean Baptiste 
Cardinal made this settlement in 1783 was on ground now 
covered by the city of Alton. While five or sis leagues 
fdll short of the real distance from Cahokia, a matter of not 
so much importance when we cDnsider the inaccurate way in 
which distances were computed at that time, still there could 
scarcely have been any other Pjasa than at the locality 
where was depicted upon the rocks the famous Piasa bird, 
an object of great interest to the French from their first ex- 
ploration of the countr.v, and the story of which was one of 
the most familiar of the Indian legends.* 

*The figures of the Piasa bird were painted on the face of th' 
rocky bliiff, just above the city. They are first referred to by Mai 
quette, who descended the Mi.-wissippi in the summer of 1673. He 
says : ''As we coasted along rocks frightful for their height and length, 
we saw two monsters painted on one of the roek«, which startled us at 
first, and upon which the boldest Indicin dare not gaze long. "They 
are as large as a calf, with horns on the head like a deer, a frightful 
look, red eyes, bearded like a tiger, the face somewhat like a man's, 
the body covered with scales, and the tail so long that it twice makes 
the turn of the body, passing over the head and down between the leg?, 
ending at last in a fish's tail. Green, reJ and black are the colors 
employed. On the whole the.se two monsters are so well painted that 
we could not believe any Indian to have been the designer, as good 
painters in France would find it hard to do as well. Besides this lliev 
are painted so high upon the rock that it is hard to get conveniently at 
them to paint them." Traces of these figures were visible till some 



HISTORY GF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



375 



la the year 1807 there was one small stone buililiiig to 
mark the site of the present city. It was near where the 

time after 1S40. The face of the blufl' on which they were depicted, 
lias uow been quarried away. 

The tradition connected with this rock existed among all the abori- 
ginal inhabitant-iof the West. No Indian passed up or down tlie river 
without discharging bis arrow at the painting, and after the Indians 
became accustomed to lire-arms bullets were substituted for arrows. 
Tlie marks of ten thousand bullets were on the clifl". Sometimes 
the Indians left their canoes and proceeded to the bluffs where they held 
a .solemn war council, concluding the whole with a splendid war dance, 
manilisiing all tlie while the most exuberant joy in the recolleclion of 
their deliverance from this great mon-^ter. 

Tlie legend of the Piasa is told as follows : " Many thousand moons 
before the arrival of the pale faces, when the great raegalouyx and 
mastodon whose bones are now dug up were still in this land of green 
prairies, the numerous and powerful n.ation called the Illinois, inhabi- 
ted the state which now bears their name, over the greater portion of 
which their hunting grounds extended. For many years they con- 
tinued to increase in numbers and prosperity, and were deemed the 
bravest and most warlike of all the tribes of the great valley. At 
length in their most populous districts near the residence of their 
greatest chief, there appeared an enormous animal, part beast, and 
part bird, which took up its abode on the rock and banqueted daily 
upon numbers of the people, whom it bore off in its immense talons. 
It was covered with scales of every possible color, and had a huge tail, 
with a blow of which it could shake the earth. From its head which 
was like the head of a fox, with the beak of an eagle, projected im- 
mense horns, and its four feet were armed with powerful claws, in each 
of which it could carry a buflalo. The flapping of its enormous wings 
was like the roar of thunder, and when it dived into the riverit threw 
the waves far up on the land. To this animal they gave the name of 
the bird of the Piasa, or bird of the evil spirit (according to some, 
" the bird which devours men). In vain did the Medicine men use all 
their power to drive away this fearful visitor. He would be satisfied 
with nothing but human flesh, and day by day the tribe diminished to 
feed hia insatiable appetite. Whole villages were desolated, and con- 
sternation spread through all the tribes of the Illinois. 

At length Owatoga, a chief whose fame as a warrior extended even 
beyond the great lakes, separating himself from the rest of his tribe, 
fasted in solitude for the .space of a whole moon, and prayed to the 
Great Spirit, the Master of Life, that he would protect his children 
from the Plasa. On the last night of his fast the Great Spirit ap- 
peared to him in a dream, and directed him to select twenty of his 
warriors, each armed with a bow and pointed arrows, and conceal them 
in a designated spot. Near the place of their concealment another 
warrior was to stand in open view as a victim for the Piasa, which they 
must shoot the instant he pounced on his prey. When the chief 
awaked in the morning he thanked the Great .Spirit, returned to his 
tribe, and told his dream. The warriors were quickly selected and 
placed in ambush. Owatoga offered himself as the victim, willing to 
die for his tribe; and placing himself in open view of the bluff, he 
soon saw the Piasa perched on the cliff eyeing his prey. Owatoga drew 
up bis manly form to its utmost height ; and, placing his feet firmh- 
upon the earth, began to chant the death-song of a warrior. A 
moment after, the Piasa rose in the air, and swift as a thunderbolt, 
darted down upon the chief. Scarcely had he readied his victim 
when every bow was sprung, and every arrow sjjcd to the feather into 
bis boily. The Piasa uttered a wild, fearful scream, that resounded 
far over the opposite side of the river, and expired. Owatoga was 
safe. Not an arrow, not even the talons of the bird had touched him ; 
for the Master of Life, in admiration of his noble deed, had held over 
him an invisible shield. The tribe now gave way to the wildest joy, 
and held a great feast in honor of the event, and to commemorate it, 
painted the figure of the bird on the side of the rock on whose sum- 
mit the chieftain stood.'' 



railwaj' depot now stands, and was used by the French as a 
place for trading with the Indians. It was constructed of 
loose rock, without mortar, and its roof was a covering of 
elm bark. The early American settlers could not tell how 
long it had been standing, and it i.s possible that here may 
have been the original location of Jeau Baptiste Cardinal. 

FOUNDATION OF THE TOWN BY COL. EUFUS E.iSTON. 

The first to recognize the advantages of the site of Alton 
as the place for a flourishing town seems to have been Col. 
Rufus Easton, of the neighboring territory of Missouri. 
He was born at Litchfield, Connecticut, on the fourth of 
May, 1774 ; studied law in Connecticut, and after practicing 
\\\i profession a couple of years in Oneida county, New 
York, came to St. Louis in the year 1804. He enjoyed the 
friendship of Gideon Granger, Aaron Burr, and other influ- 
ential men of that day, and through their influence was 
commissioned by President JeflTerson, Judge for the terri- 
tory of Louisiana. In the year 1808 the first post office 
wa^ established in St. L)uis, and Rufus Easton was appoint- 
ed postmaster. From ISH to I8l8 he was delegate in 
Congress from Missouri territory. On the organization of 
the state government of Missouri in 1821, he was appointed 
attorney general for the State, and held that office till 1826. 
He died at St. Charles, Jlissouri, on the fifth of July, 1834. 
He had fine executive and administrative ability. His son, 
Alton Rufus Easton, whose Christian name was given to 
Alton, commanded a regiment, known as the St. Louis Le- 
gion, in the Mexican war, and is still a resident of St. 
Louis. 

Col. Easton obtained possession of land in the vicinity, 
and early in the year 1817 laid out a town which, in ftonor 
of his son, Alton R. Easton, he called Alton. It is also 
said that Langdon, George and Alby streets were named 
after some of his children. The town was laid out on 
fractional sections eleven and fourteen, of township five 
north, range ten west.* The old town plat, or Easton's 

^ The following is a list of the lands included in the limits 
of Alton, showing when and by whom each quarter and fracliimal 
section was entered, together with the number of acre^ in each. 
These lands are comprised in sections eleven and twelve, and frac- 
tional sections ten, thirteen and fourteen, all in township five north 
and range ten west of the third principal meridian : 

S. E. quarter section eleven, containing 100 acres, was entered by 
Andy Donegan, August 19, 1814. S. W. quarter section twelve, con- 
taining ItJO acres, was entered by Andy Donegan, August 19, 1814. 
Fractional section thirteen, containing 278.V acres, was entered by 
Andy Donegan, August 19, 1814. Fractional section fourteen, con- 
taining 93. l-') acres, was entered by Andy Donegan, August 19, IS14. 
N. E. and N. W. quarters section twelve, containing .320 acres, were 
entered by Lester, and Easton, legal representative of John Lester, 
. December 14, 1814. S. E. quarter secti<m ten, containing 29.13 acres, 
was entered by heirs of Babo, April 2-5, 1815. N. E. quarter section 
eleven, containing 1G(J acres, was entered by Wil.iam Russell, .\pril 

27, 181-^. S. W. quarter section eleven, containing 154 28 acres, was 
entered by William Russell, April 27, 1815. N. W. quarter .section 
ten, containing 29.13 acres, was entered by Dennis Valentine, April 

28, 1815. East half S. E. quarter section 12, containing 80 acres, was 
entered by James Smith, September 27, 1816. West half ,S. E. quar- 
ter section twelve, containing 80 acres, was entered by James Smith, 



37G 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Alton, extended from Market street on the west to Henry 
street on the east, and iroin the river north to Ninth street- 
The firrft step which C.)l. Edston took towards building up 
the town was tlie establishment of a ferry. As early as the 
year 1806 a f<rrry was in existence on the Mississippi, just 
above the mouth of Wood river, conducted by Eli Lang- 
ford, who carried passeng-TS to the opposite shores of both 
the Miseissippi and the ilissouri. A man by the name of 
Piper had a ferry across the Mississippi at the mouth of 
Hop Hollow, above the site of Alton. This ferry afterward 
came into the possession of Michael Squire and a man 
named Smeltzer, and at the time the town of Alton was 
founded was known as Smeltzer's ferry For much of the 
time the landing place on the Illinois side was several miles 
above Alton. Sjneltzer built a brick house on the Missouri 
side witli brick ma<le on the Illinois side of the river. This 
house gave the name to the " Brick House Bend," and was 
in existence till 1SG6, in August of which year it fell down. 
Smeltzer was a great miser. He was accustomed to ride 
with a tow-string bridle. Once when sick he told his 
brother-in law that he had a barrel of silver dollars buried, 
but died finally without telling where the money was 
hidden. 

In opposition to Smeltzer a man, in the interest of Col. 
Easton, established at Alton a ferry, which he called the 
Fountain Ferry. The landing place was at the mouth of 
the Little Piasa, or as the ferry-man called it, "Fountain 
Creek." It is likely that the name of "Fountain" was 
given to the creek and ferry on account of the well-known 
cave (or fountain) spring in wliich the cave has its source. 
A few log cabins were soon afterward built, one of which 
was used as a ferry house to accommodate travelers cross- 
ing the river at this point. 

The first year gave the town no brilliant promise of fu- 
ture growth. Its conditi iii in the year lrfl8 is thus por- 
traytd by the Rev. Thomas Lippincctt : "In a few days 
after my arrival in St. Louis I was employed for a little 
while to do some writing for Rufus Easton, Esfj. One of 
the jobs executed by me for hira was making a fair copy of 
a plat, or map, of Alton, a town which he had laid out the 
previous year, on the banks of the Mississippi, in Illinois. 
The map was designed for exhibition in the East in order 
to aflect the sales of lots. I took some pains to make it 
look well, and, I believe, gave satisfaction. After a few 
months spent by me as clerk in a store, Col. Easton pro- 
posed to me that I should take a stock of goods, in partner- 
ship with him, and keep a store at Alton or neighborhood, 
and accordingly I became a resident, as before said, in Illi- 

September 27, 1816. N. W. quarter section eleven, containing 160 
acres, viraa entered by Bufus Easton, September 30, 1816. N. E. quar- 
ter section ten, containing 149.60 acres, was entered by Abraham 
Prickett, July IS, 1817. By reason of tbe diagonal course of the 
streets it is difficult to give the e.\act boundaries of tliese sections. 
Section eleven includes the central p.art of the incorporation north of 
a line drawn east and we.^t through the intersection of Market and 
Sixth streets. Fractional section fourteen is immediately souih of it, 
including the business blocks. Section twelve is east of eleven, frac 
tional section ten immediately west of it, while fractional siction 
thirteen is east of fourteen and south of twelve. 



nois — now become a State — on the first of December, 1818. 
It wa? not in Alton that my store was opened. Alton was 
in embryo. When Col. Easton brought me first in his gig 
to see the place, there was a cabin not far, I think, from the 
southeast corner of the penitentiary wall, or corner of State 
and Short streets, occupied by the family of a man whom 
the Colonel had induced to establish a ferry in competition 
with Smeltzer's ferry, a few miles above. I have forgotten 
the name of this ferryman, but his habitation was about as 
primitive and unsightly as I had seen anywhere. I do, not 
think he was overworked by the business of his ferry at 
that time, for the old east and west road passed north and 
out of sight of the Fountain Ferry, and it was not easy to 
persuade travelers to try the new one, even if they ever 
heard of it, which was probably rather seldom." 

At a very early day a cabin was built on Shields' branch 
by James Shields who lived in it a number of years. From 
this circumstance the creek received its name. 

Hunter's Spring, on the northeast corner of Second and 
Spring streets, is said to have been discovered in 1804 by 
James Preuitt and James Stockden, who at the time were 
living on the bluft', below what is now known as Alton junc- 
tion. On a hot Sunday in summer, taking their rifles they 
traveled up the river to explore the country. Becoming 
thirsty at noon they followed up a small stream till they 
came to its source in the rocks, and there discovered the fa- 
mous spring, since known as Hunter's spring. 

Near this spring in 1811 a man named Price was killed 
by the Indians.* 

In the year 1818 William G. Pinckard, William Heath and 
Daniel Crume settled on ground now comprised within the 
city of Alton. Pinckard's and Heath's families each consist- 
ed of a wife and one child, and Crume was their brother-in- 
law. They emigrated from Springfield, Ohio, and arrived 
at what is now known as Bozzatown on Shields' branch, on 
tbe loth of October, 1818. Four weeks were occupied in 
makitig their journey. On their way westward they occa- 
sionally met emigrants eastward bound who declared that if 
they (the Pinckard party) went to Alton they would all die> 
as the country was very unhealthful and the " graveyard of 
the West. " On their arrival at Shields' branch they took 
possession of a " half-faced " camp, as it was called, in which 
the whole party lived for nearly two months. The room, 

* In the latter |iart of ISIO Price and Colter built a log cabin 
on the hill above the spring and cleared a small tract of land in the 
bottom. Near the fame, June 20, 1811 , they were in the field at work. 
Price hoeing corn. Colter was plowing ; they discovered two Indians 
approaching. Price said " I will go to the cabin and get the gun. " 
The Indians came up pretending to be very friendly, the larger one 
gave his hand to Price, at the same time seizing the gun and holding 
Price while the other Indian ran up behind Price and shot him in the 
back, being so near that the powder burned a hole in his shirt as large 
as a person's hand. Colter seeing what was going on mounted his 
hor.^^e to escape but received a shot in the leg. He succeeded in giv- 
ing the alarm. Solomon Preuitt and two of his brothers with others 
gave pursuit until coming into the heavy timber in Wood River bot- 
tom, night coming on they gave up the pursuit. The ne.xt day they 
found that the Indians had taken refuge under a large tree that had 
been blown d )wn and escaped. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



377 



which was about sixteen feet square, had a clap-board roof 
with a hole in it through which the smoke of the fire escap- 
ed. About one-half of the floor was cos'ered with punch- 
eons, while the balance served as kitchen and fire-place. 
Here was spent some of the coldest and most disagreeable 
weather of that winter. Soon after their arrival. Major 
Charles W. Hunter, proprietor of what was afterward called 
Hunterst>wu, made an offer of town lots to the party if 
they would establish a pottery ou his land. The proposi- 
tion was partially agreed to, and Pinckard and his comrades 
built a cabin of rouud logs on Shields' branch, about one 
hundred yards above where the covered bridge now stands. 
It had only one room, sixteen feet square, with hewed 
puncheon floor, clap-board roof, and was chinked and 
daubed. Into this comfortable cabin the families moved 
one week before Christmas, 1818. For some days previous 
the weather had been very cold. Ou Christmas day the 
men found a fine bee tree on the branch, and the honey 
contributed greatly to the enjoyment of the festivities of the 
day. 

During the winter of 1818-19 William G. Pinckard 
and Daniel Crume made a contract to build a house for 
Col. Eiston. This house was built of hewed oak logs. It 
had two large rooms with one open space between them 
over which a roof was thrown. This bouse was long the 
stopping-place, or hoel, of the villago of Alton. For many 
years it was occupied by Thomas G. Hawley. It stood 
near the corner of Second and Piasa streets, and when torn 
down in 1868 the logs were found to be as sound as when 
placed in position. Some of these logs came into the pos- 
session of H. G. McPike, and are now in a small building 
erected on his premises as a memento of the early days of 
Alton. 

Although small cabins had been erected previously this 
was the first structure which could be called a house built 
upon the site of the city of Alton. 

In 1819 William T. Pinckard, assisted by Crume and 
Heath, built for Major Hunter, a frame house which was the 
first frame building erected in Hunterstown. This house 
stood on Second street. 

About four hundred yards above the bridge over Shields' 
branch, Pinckard, Heath and Crume built a large log cabin 
intending to start a pottery, but their plan was not carried 
into execution. The cabin remained in at) unfinished con- 
dition, and for many years afterward, in fact as late as 1830 
or 1831, was used in warm weather as a meeting-house for 
the Methodists. William Heath built a cabin for himself on 
Shields' branch, just below the covered bridge in which he 
lived till August, 1829, when his wife died. 

Joel Finch became a resident of Alton in 1819. He was 
a carpenter and began building houses. During the year 
1819 he built a house for Major Hunter, in which Hunter 
moved the same year, and in which his wife died not many 
months afterward. In this year a row of small teaements 
was built under the brow of the bluff, extending along where 
Second street now is, west of Piasa. 

In order to induce travelers to come by the Fountain 
fjrry, a road was necessary to Alton from the old town of 



Milton, in the forks of Wood river ; and it was found indis- 
pensable to build a bridge over Shields' Branch. A frame 
bridge was accordingly built by Joel Finch, under contract 
with Col. Easton, who agreed to pay him two hundred dol- 
lars at the store of Thomas Lippincott in Milton. This 
bridge was constructed very near the site of the present 
covered bridge, and the original was succeeded by one or 
two structures of a similar kind, at or about the same place, 
before the bridge which now spans the Branch was erected. 
At first the road wound partly through the bottom, but was 
soon made, as now, along the slope of the bluff. 

There were about this time (1819) two families residing 
between Wood river and Alton. Ou a farm adjoining Wood 
river, the Widow Meacham had resided from a date pre- 
vious to the war of 1812. Near Alton lived James Smith, 
whose daughter became the wife of Jubilee Posey, one of 
the pioneer settlers in the neighborhood of Troy. 

In the columns of the Edwardsville Spectator of the 18th 
of April, 1820, appears the following advertisement. The 
buildings referred to are, doubtless, those we have already 
mentioned to have been erected during the year 1819 by 
Joel Finch and Pinckard, Crume and Heath : "The sub- 
scriber has just finished large and commodious buildings, 
suitable for public entertainment, in the town of Alton, on 
the bank of the Mississippi, near Fountain ferry, on the main 
road to Boone's Lick and Salt river. lie is disposed to let 
them on moderate terms, when suited with a tenant. From 
its local situation, there can be no doubt of its becoming one 
of the best stands in the State. CiiAS. W. Hunter." 

In the same number of the Spectator, Matthias P. Ringer 
& Co. advertise, that " Any quantity of good, unslacked 
lime may be had for 25 cents per bushel at Alton, on the 
Mississippi," from which it would seem that the manufac- 
ture of lime was begun in this vicinity at an early day. 

On the same page of the same paper is a notice, dated 
February 23d, 1820, in which Eneas Pembrook calls the 
attention of the traveling public to the fact that "The sub- 
scriber has caused the roads leading to and from Fountain 
ferry to be put in good repair ; and he has an excellent set 
of boats and hands." Lest travelers " be not misled nor 
otherwise delayed," he gives the following directions : " On 
leaving Milton for the river, keep the left hand road to the 
foot of the bluff. It is level and dry. lu travelling to the 
east, from St. Charles to the State of Illinois, take the right 
hand road, when you get within about a mile of Smeltzer's, 
where you will observe the marks of a sign board knocked 
down. In passing this way, you will not be ddained by 
high ^vinds." 

In connection with the fact th .t Smeltzer was running a 
ferry in competition farther up the river, the rea.son for 
these directions is very obvious. Pembrook adds, that ho 
also keeps a tavern at the ferry for the accommodation of 
travelers. Whether this Eneas Pembrook was the same 
person who started the Feuntain ferry in 1817, it is impos- 
sible to ascertain. 

Bjck's Gazetteer of Illinois and Mis-souri, written in 1821, 
thus speaks of Alton : " Alton, although yet small, pos- 
sesses natural advantages rarely equaled. Situated, as it is, 



378 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



at the junction of three large and navigable rivers; possess- 
ing a fine and commodious harbor and landing for boats at 
all seasons of the year ; surrounded by a fertile country, 
rapidly settling, it bids fair to become a populous, wealthy, 
and commercial town." 

The superior advantages of the town came to be recog- 
nized by some of the leading men of the state, who obtained 
possession of a claim to the land on which the town had 
been laid out adverse to that of Col. Kiifus Easton. Among 
the opponents of Easton were such men as Niniau Edwards, 
(the territorial governor), and Nathaniel Pope, who for 
many years sat on the bench of the United States District 
Court. Easton had the wealth, legal talent and experience 
of influential adversaries to contend with. Meanwhile, as 
no clear and undisputed title to property could be given, 
persons who would have become purchasers were driven 
away, no permanent improvements were made, and the 
town languished. This difficulty was final'y compromised 
by a division of the land. Among the portion allotted to 
Edwards, Pope, and their associates, were some blocks in 
the northeastern part, now partly included in what is called 
Middletown. 

By an act of the State Legislature, in session at Vanda- 
lia, approved February loth, 1S27, Shadrach Bond, Wil- 
liam P. McKee, and Gershom Jayne, were appointed 
commissioners to select and procure a suitable site for 
a penitentiary on the Mississippi river, at or near Alton, 
in Madison county. They were directed to see that the title 
be secure, and were authorized to cause the erection of 
buildings with the necessary cells, guard houses, work 
shops and other apartments. The funds for defraying the 
cost of the building and other expenses were to be obtained 
from one-half the proceeds of the sales to be made by 
James Caldwell, the commissioner appointed to sell certain 
lands within the Saline reserve of Gallatin county. Dur- 
ing the summer of IS'ii) the commissioners selected about 
seven acres on the bluff which William Russell ceded as a 
site for the penitentiary. The contract for erecting the 
building was let by the Board of Inspectors to a man 
named Ivory, who brought on some mechanics and worked 
on the building for some time, but by reason of some mis- 
fortune, failed, and left the country. The contract was 
then re-let to Joel Finch, who completed the wood work, 
and to Laurence Stone, who constructed the masonry. 
Work was begun late in the year 1830, but little was done 
till the following spring, when the construction of the build 
ing was rapidly carried forward. 

In June, 1828, biock one, bounded by Front, Second, 
Alby and Market streets, was purchased from William 
Russell, who had succeeded to the interest of Col. Rufus 
Easton, by Gershom Flagg, who a few days afterward sold 
a portion of the block to William Miller, who had recently 
moved from Edwardsville. Mr. Miller occupied the ferry 
house, kept a small grocery, and acted as agent for William 
Russell, who resided in St. Louis and visited Alton at occa- 
sional intervals. 

On the 21st of August, 1829, Beal Howard and Charles 
Howard arrived in Alton. They came from Maryland. 



There was at that time an old frame building on a portion 
of the ground now occupied by the mill of D. R. Sparks & 
Co., which had been previously used by some old Indian 
traders. This building in 1829, and for .some time after- 
ward, was occupied by Winthrop S. Gilman as a ware- 
house. It was subsequently replaced by one larger and 
more substantia ly built of stone, which was the base of 
operations for the firm of Godfrey, Gilman & Co., so widely 
and favorably known among the early business men of Al- 
ton. Beside this old frame house and the ferry house, 
there were only a few log cabins to constitute the old town. 
These cabins had been inhabited occajionally by transient 
residents for ten years previous. Corn was growing on a 
portion of the land between the Little Piasa and the bluff, 
and on the north and east there was a heavy growth of tim- 
ber. Along the slope of the bluff wild grape vines grew 
luxuriantly, while in the forest, east of the creek, the un- 
derbrush was so dense that the river could scarcely be seen 
ten rods distant. In Hunterstown resided Major Charles 
W. Hunter, and a few others, among whom were a man 
named Taylor and his sons-in-law. Oiler and Million. Of 
these last, their chief occupation and delight was bee-hunt- 
ing, and they certainly feasted on corn-bread, milk and 
honey. They were not of that class of men who yield 
gracefully to the requirements of civilization, and it was not 
long before they sought wider freedom in a location farther 
out on the frontier. 

In the year 1829 a frame building was erected on the site 
of the present Presbyterian church on Market street. The 
workmen were brought from St. Louis. It was two stories 
high, about thirty feet in length, and was occupied by Beal 
Howard as early as November, 1829. This is said to have 
been the first frame dwelling on the original town site. lu 
September, 1829, Gershom Flagg sold the east half of 
block one to Charles Howard, who on the southeast 
corner of the block put up a small log dwelling. It stood 
just opposite the place occupied afterward so many years by 
the Alton House. In 1829, a few days after the arrival of 
the Howards, a Mr. Jlintony became a resident of the town. 
He purchased a piece of ground, about two roods in extent, 
west of the Little Piasa creek and south of where Third 
street now is, for the sum of one hundred dollars. Upon 
this ground he built a steam saw mill, which stood a littl' 
way east of the present machine shop of George D. Ha; 
den. After running this mill about two years, Mr. Mintoi _ 
sold it to Ninian Edwards. It then came into the manage- 
ment of J. S. Lane, a son-in-law of Gov. Edwards, who 
leased it for a time to Don Alonzo Spaulding, who had pre- 
viously resided some years in the vicinity of Edwardsville. 
With the exception of a cooper shop, carried on by William 
Miller, this was the first step in the way of establishing 
manufactories in Alton. 

PROSPEROUS GROWTH. — 1831-36. 
The vigorous and healthy growth of the town began in 
the year 1831. The previous year a few permanent settlers 
were added to the place, but in 1831 the tide of immigra- 
tion began to flow in more strongly, mercantile houses were 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



379 



established, and several important business enterprises set 
on foot. Among those who came that j-ear were : Samuel 
Avis, Edward Bliss, Robert M. Dunlap, Dr. William Emer- 
son, Mr. Fleshman, Stephen Griggs, Benjamin I. Oilman, 
William Haydcn, Elijah Hayden, A. C. Hankinson, Jona- 
than T. Hudson, William Manning, Mark Pierson, Jacob 
D. Smith, and Samuel Wade. 

Edward Bliss erected a frame building and opened a gen- 
eral store in the spring of 1831. This store was at the north 
side of Second street west of Little Piasa creek. William 
Manning, a former resident of Boston, who arrived in Alton 
April, 1»31, soon afterward opened a store on Second street, 
opposite the present city hall. For several years he kept 
the largest stock of goods, and had the most extensive trade 
of any of the Alton merchants. He was assisted in the 
store by his brother-in-law, Samuel Avis, and by Mark 
Pierson. He died in October, 1855. Mr. Fleshman was a 
merchant of considerable means, and for some "time was 
actively engaged in making building improvements. He 
erected a two-story brick store, the first substantial mercan- 
tile building in the place. It stood on the south side of 
Second street, west of the Pia.>^a, and was destroyed by fire. 
Early in the year 1831, Elijah Hayden purchased from 
William llussell the land from where the present building 
of Topping Bros, now stands, to one lot west of State street, 
and from the levee north to Third street. This purchase 
included the Fountain ferry privilege. He disposed of a 
large portion of the tract of ground for as much as he had 
paid for the whole, and then turned his attention to the ferry 
which had been discontinued for several years. He had a 
fine opportunity, as the boat at Smelter's ferry had sunk, 
and the emigration to Missouri and points westward was 
very heavy. He went to work with energy, and put tlie 
ferry in good order, securing a fine boat, horses, and fixtures. 
Under his management the Fountain ferry became a source 
of profit to the owner and a benefit to the town. At times 
the throng of emigrants was so great that many were com- 
pelled to camp out and await their turn. A horse boat was 
first used which was afterward replaced by one propelled by 
steam. After running the ferry three or four years Mr. 
Hayden sold the boat and ferry privilege to Eli and Isaac 
J. Foster. Subsequently the ferry was kept in operation 
only at intervals till its permanent establishment in recent 
years. 

Dr. William S. Emerson was the pioneer of the medical 
profe.ssiou. He was the first physician to locate in the town. 
His professional attainments were superior, while toward 
every one he manifested a kind and gentlemanly demeanor 
which gained him the good-will and respect of the commu- 
nity. He was a member of the town Board of Trustees as 
early as 1834 ; in a few years he returned to the East. 

Jonathan Trumbull Hudson was the first lawyer who 
opened an office in Alton. He was a member of the first 
Board of Trustees of the town, of which, except in the year 
1834, he was president during the four or five years of his 
residence in that place. In 1832 he built a two story dwell- 
ing near the corner of Second and Henry streets. He had 
fine natur.il abilities and a good education. His manners 



were genial, and he was well fitted to become a popular and 
successful leader. Thomas G. Hawley and Andrew Miller 
had become residents of the place previous to the year 1831. 
The Rev. John M. Peck in his " Guide for Emigrants " 
written in 1831 thus spoke of Alton as it was at that date : 
"Lower Alton is thought by many to present superior 
advantages for commerce and business to any other spot ia 
the State. It is at the place where the curve of the Missis- 
sippi penetrates the farthest into the interior of Illinois. 
It is within one mile of the mouth of the great Missouri, 
sixteen miles below the mouth of the Illinois, and at the 
junction where the business and commerce of the wide- 
spread regions of the northeast, north, and northwest, must 
arrive. The great road from all the northern portions of 
Illinois, and from the counties that extend along the eastern 
side of the Illinois river, in the direction of St. Louis, and 
the mouth of the Ohio, passes through this place. The 
Legislature of Illinois, at its last session, memorialized Con^ 
gress to have the great National Road, now being constructed 
through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, to the seat of govern- 
ment in Missouri, pass at or near this place ; and, many are 
sanguine in expectation of this result. If it crosses the 
Mississippi aioue the mouth of the Missouri, Alton lies direct- 
ly in its route. It has the best landing for steamboats on 
the east bank of the Mississippi, having a solid rock of level 
surface, of suitable height, and to which boats at any stage 
of water can come and discharge and receive cargoes. It 
has been selected as the site of the state penitentiary, which 
is now building ; and it is thought by many that it will yet 
become the seat of government for ths state. " 

This town is twenty miles north of St. Louis, and sixty 
miles west from Vandalia. One of the finest bodies of tim- 
ber in the state surrounds it for several miles in extent. 
Bituminous coal of a good quality and in common use by 
the blacksmiths, exists in abundance, and but a short dis- 
tance from the place. There are inexhaustible beds of lime- 
stone of a gopd quality for buildings, and easily quarried, 
and a species of sandstone, possessing a fine grain, which is 
quarried and dressed for monuments and architectural pur- 
poses. Here also is an abundance of that peculiar species 
of lime used for water-cement. The population of this place 
is rapidly increasing, and improvements are going on with 
great activity." 

" Building lots sell from twenty to one hundred dollars, 
according to situation. The policy of the principal pro- 
prietors is to sell lots thus low, but on condition that good 
buildings shall be erected on them within one year, on 
penalty of a forfeiture. A large number of these lots were 
sold a few months past, subject to these conditions. This is 
the finest place on the river for building and repairing steam- 
boats. Land is reserved for a large boat yard, and a steam- 
boat is contemplated to be built shortly to run between this 
place and St. Louis." 

'• With all these advantages Lower Alton is not without 
its disadvantages. As my object is to give an impartial 
statement relative to this place, I shall not pass over them. 
It is too much confined for a pleasant situation, being sur- 
rounded on the west and north with abrupt hills and bluffs. 



380 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



As the business part of the town will necessarily be about 
the river and the landing, it will be a confined place. The 
south and southeast is open; but across the river, an exten- 
sive low bottom stretches up the Missouri and alonr; the 
Mississippi. From these circumstances it will be more ex- 
posed to fall fevers than on an elevated and airy situation. 
St. Louis is within twenty miles — a place admirably located 
and of great business. It now draws a considerable portion 
of the trade of Illinois, and will be a powerful rival to com- 
pete with. These difficulties leave the future prospects of 
the rise of a great commercial city shortly at this point, a 
li tie problematical at the present. Still it is a place that 
merits the attention of men of capital and business. Three 
or four mercantile houses are already established, are erect- 
ing warehouses, and calculate upon doing a large business 
in trade with the interior. Eight or ten merchants in the 
wholesale and retail line, and a suitable number of mechanics 
and manufacturers, would soon determine the question of a 
commercial town. Mechanics of almost every trade are 
wanted here; coopers to supply not only the demand here, 
but the St. Louis market, in casks, barrels, and firkins. 
Another large tannery, with shoemaking ; one slaughter 
house here, now in opera ion, will furnish five hundred hides 
yearly. A soap and tallow chandler. Cabinet-makers to 
supply the St. Louis market with furniture. Much of the 
supply of that market is now brought from Cincinnati. 
Stone and brick masons, plasterers, carpenters, and joiners 
are much needed. Hirdly any msehanic, needed in a 
rapidly increasing country, but might do well at Altoti. 
We advi e, however, that none but sober, industrious,, and 
enterprising men come to Alton, either Upper or Lower. 
The idle, profligate, and the intemperate will find the lead- 
ing men, and a large majority of the people, combined 
against them." 

" Lower Alton in March last (18S1) had thirty-two 
families and one hundred and seventy souls, to which there 
h;is been considerable increase. There were at that time 
one steam saw mill, one warehouse for packing beef and 
pork, one carpenter, one wagon maker, one tannery, one 
cooper with six journeymen and three apprentices, two 
brickmakers, one brick mason, one stone mason, one black- 
smith, two shoemakers, one lawyer, one tavern and boarding- 
house, and one retail store There are now in addition, one 
penitentiary with warden's house and offices, mechanic 
shops, yard, and twenty-four cells for convicts, three or four 
wholesale and retail stores, one physician, one week-day 
and Sabbath-school, several mechanics' shops, and a plan 
under consideration to establish a seminary of learning in 
the immediate vicinity. A steam fl curing mill is about be- 
ing built." 

Preparations for building a steam flouring mill were made 
during the autumn of 1831 by William Manning. This 
was the first important manufacturing establishment in 
Alton, and the project of building it excited much interest 
among the citizens of the town, and especially among the 
fiirmei'S of the surrounding country, who were anxious to be 
relieved from the slow and wearisome process of having 
their grist ground at the old band mills. Work was cim- 



menced at the mill in September, 1831, but it was not com- 
pleted and placed in running order till the year 1833. 
Lewis J. Clawson built the stone work and masonry. A 
man known as Boss Lee was the first contractor for getting 
out the frame, but afterward William Hayden superin- 
tended the construction of this part of the building. When 
the frame was ready to be "raised," invitations to attend 
the raising were sent to all the settlements for several miles 
round, and on the appointed day not less than one hundred 
and fifty men were present, gathered from curiosity to see 
the progress of so great a work, and to lend a helping hand. 
In raising the first " bent," the following poles broke and 
down came the massive timbers, fortunately without seriously 
injuring any of the men. After a few days, during which 
the damages resulting from this accident were repaired, a 
still larger number of persons assembled to complete ~the 
task. A whole day of hard labor was occupied in getting 
into position three "bents," or about one half of the two 
lower stories. It was then found necessary to procure an 
outfit of building rigging with which, and some ten or 
twelve men, the work of raising was completed. During 
the latter part of the year 1831, Stephen Griggs became 
associated in tha enterprise with Mr. Manning. A stock 
company was afterward organized, called the "Alton Manu- 
facturing Company," which was chartered by the legislature 
on the first of Fei)ruary, 1833. In this Mr. Manning was 
a large stockholder. The other charter members were 
David R., Stephen, Nathaniel, John, and Thomas Griggs, 
William Manning, Winthrop S. Gilman, Jonathan T. Hud- 
son, Elijah Lincoln, William Miller, Nathaniel R. Cobb, 
and Aaron D. Weld. The capital was fixed at fifty thou- 
sand dollars, with leave to extend to one hundred thousand. 

The building was four stories in height, with a basement 
of stone. It stood on the site of the present water-works. 
When built, the bluft", which has since been removed, ad- 
joined it. It was intended to have a side track of the rail- 
road (it was supposed that Alton would have railroad con- 
nection with other parts of the state at an early day) extend 
along the summit of the bluflf to a door in the upper part 
of the mill, from which the car loads of grain could be car- 
ried by spouts to any part of the mill desired. 

The mill remained under the management of the st 
company for some years, and though it was in charr 
skillful millers and mechanics, and was run with ecoi 
the profits were only nominal. It was afterward leasea . 
various parties, among whom were a Mr. Olney, George and 
Joseph Brown, and McElroy, Tibby & Co. Messrs. S. & P. 
Wise made important improvements, and ran it with success 
for some years. The stock of the old incorporation finally 
passed int(^ the hands of J. J. & W. Mitchell, who added a 
distillery and for sorpe time carried on a large milling and 
distillery business. F. J. Shooler was successor to the 
Mitchells, and was the last occupant. The ground on which 
the mill stojd about the year 1863, passed into the ppssession 
of the city, and the mill was taken down and removed. 

Jacob C. Bruner, was postmaster in 1832, and for some 
yeai-s subsequent to that date- William Barrett began the 
dry goods business in June, 1832. The first newspaper, the 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



381 



Alton Spectator, was established in Jaiiuarj-, 1.832, by Ed- 
ward Breath and Orlean M. Adams. 

In the " Gazetteer of Illinois," published by Mr. Peck in 
1834, we find much of the matter concerning Alton pre- 
viously printed in the " Guide for Emigrants." The 
author, however, stated in addition that " the corporate 
bounds extend two miles along the river, and half a mile 
back. The town plot is laid out by the proprietors upon a 
liberal scale. There are five squares reserved for public pur- 
poses and a large reservation is made on the river for a pub- 
lic landing and promenade. Market street u 150 feet wide, 
other streets are one hundred, eighty, and sixty, according 
to the situation and public accommodation. Lower Alton 
now contains (July, 1834), sixteen stores, several of which 
do a large wholesale business, two public houses, and several 
private boarding-houses, mechanics of various kinds, an 
expensive steam tlouring mill with four run of stones, owned 
by an incorporated company, and which cost 8-5,000 ; a 
steam saw mili in operation and another projected ; a boat 
yard contemplated, and a dock for the repair of steamboats, 
and about one thousand inhabitants. There is also a print- 
ing office which publishes weekly the Alton Spectator, a 
post-office, two lawyers, three physicians, one settled minister 
of the gospel, and preaching by Presbyterians, Episcopal 
Methodists, Protestant Methodists, and Baptists, each of 
which have churches organized. The public buildings are 
the penitentiary. It has the warden's house, guard house, 
twenty-four cells, and a portion of the wall erected, and the 
other parts of the work are in progress. A large stone 
ineetine-house, with a handsome spire, has been erected, and 
will soon be finished for the Presbyterian church ; the 
Protestant Methodists have erected a small but neat stone 
chapel ; and the Baptist church have just commenced build- 
ing a convenient house of worship. A week-day school, 
under good regulation, and a large Sabbath-school, are 
taught here. 

•' Landed property in and near the town has risen in value 
two and three hundred per cent, within three years. Eligi- 
ble lots have been recently sold for several hundred dollars, 
and lots on the blufl^s back have exceeded one hundred dol- 
lars. The facilities for business of various kinds will draw 
men of capital and enterprise to this place. The building 
and repair of steamboats may be made an extensive business, 
and no place on the western waters offers equal advantages. 
"With this object in view a foundry for casting and making 
all kinds of machinery is contemplated. Large quantities 
of provisions will be packed here, and business of every de- 
scription must increase to an indefinite extent." 

Among the institutions which the active and enterprising 
business men of that day considered essential to the prosperity 
of the town was a good hotel, and on the 12th of February, 
1835, the Alton Hotel Company was incorporated with a 
capital stock of twenty thousand dollars. The com])auy 
designed erecting a large and tine building which would be 
creditable to the city. The work was begun, but when the 
financial crisis of 1837 came, like many other promising 
enterprises throughout the state, the project was abandoned. 
Portions of the foundation remained for long years after- 
49 



ward. The building was to extend from State streit east to 
Belle, about two hundred feet, and from Fourth northward 
nearly one hundred feet. 

The year 1836 was one of prosperity, and in the incor- 
poration of several large companies we have the evidence 
that the business men of Alton were looking confidently 
forward to the rapid growth of the place, and its increased 
importance as a manufacturing and commercial centre. On 
the 16th of January, 1836, the " Alton Shot and Lead 
Manufacturing Company" was granted a charter. The 
capital stock was fifty thousand dollars. Jonathan A Town- 
send, Benjamin I. Oilman, Isaac Prickett, Caleb Stone, 
Isaac Negus, and Sherman W. Robbins were the members of 
the Conipan)'. On the 18t,ii of January, 1836, the " Illinois 
ExportingCompany " was incorporated, with power to carry 
on the manufacture of ilour, wool, hemp, and other agricul- 
tural products, and to erect the necessary mills and machi- 
nery. The capital stock of the company was placed at one 
hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Neither of these incor- 
porations were able to put their projects into actual opera- 
tion. 

The Alton Branch of the State Bank of Illinois was esta- 
blished in 183 3, with Benjamin Godfrey president, and 
Stephen Briggs cashier. A branch of the Shawneetown 
Bank, with D. T. Wheeler as cashier, was established the 
subsequent year. On the 7th of February, 1836, the " Al- 
ton Marine and Fire Insurance Company " obtained a 
charter, and organized with a capital stock of twenty thou- 
sand dollars, exclusive of premiums, notes, and profits aris- 
ing from business. Benjamin I. Oilman was president, and 
E Marsh secretary of the company. 

EFFORTS TO BUILD UP ALTON. — PROJECTED RAILROADS. 

When Vandalia was made the capital of the state, in 
1819, it was stipulated that the seat of government should 
remain there twenty years, but at the expiration of that 
period some other point might be selected. In 1834 the 
Legislature voted on the question of the future capital, and 
chose Alton. Afterward, however, in consideration of other 
advantages conferred by the Legislature, Alton yielded this 
honor, and in 1837 it was resolved to make Springfield the 
seat of government. 

A new state bank was chartered in 1835, with a capital 
stock of $1,500,000, with power to increase to $2,500,000. 
The principal bank was at Springfield, with branches at 
other points. Godfrey, Oilman & Co., of Alton, were largely 
concerned in negotiating for suras of money in the East to 
invest in the stock, and when the bank was organized were 
among the parties prominent in its control. The resources 
of the bank were freely given in furtherance of the ambi- 
tious scheme, then entertained by the public men of Illinois, 
of building up Alton as a commercial rival of St. Louis. 
To this end Godfrey, Oilman & Co. were loaned $800,000, 
with which to divert to Alton the immense trade of the lead 
mines about Galena, of which St. Louis was then in control. 
Godfrey, Oilman & Co. bought largely of lead, and by 
reason of the competition, the price of that commodity ad- 
vanced directly from -50 to 75 per cent., but after holding 



:3S2 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



the lead a long time in store in the East for a corresponding 
advance in the market there, sale had finally to bs made 
at a ruinous saorifice. To Stone, Manning & Co., and 
Sloo & Cj., several hundred thousand dollars were liiie- 
wise advanced to operate in produce, and with the same dis- 
astrous results. To their movement is greatly due the re- 
markable, but transient, prosperity of Alton from 1835 to 
1837. 

About this period the people of Illinois entertained vast 
schemes of internal improvements, to be made at the. cost of 
the state. Of these expected improvements Alton secured 
the lion's share, though with the understanding that she 
should relinquish her claim to be the capital of the state. 
The Internal Improvement Act was passed in February, 
1837, and by it Alton was made the terminus of three great 
lines of railroad. 

One, known as the Southern Cross-road, was to extend 
from Alton to Mt. Carmel, by way of Edwardsville, 
Carlyle, Salem, Fairfield, and Albion. From Mt. Carmel 
it was expected a line would be built through Indiana to 
iS'ew Albany, and there become connected with the great 
railroad chartered and surveyed from the Ohio river to 
Charleston, South Caroliua Another was designed to run 
from Alton to Shawneetown, to diverge from the Southern 
Cross-road at Edwardsville, and thence pass through Le- 
banon, Nashville, Piuckneyville, Frankfort, and Equality. 
At Lebanon this road was to be intersected by one running 
from Belleville to the Southern Cros.s-road. The third road 
was projected to run from Alton, by way of Hillsboro, to a 
central railroad to extend north and south through the state. 
For this last 8600,000 was appropriated, and like liberal 
sums to the other lines. 

Less than three years witnessed the collapse of the great 
internal improvement system, leaving an incubus of debt 
upon the state, and it was not till twelve years afterwards 
that the locomotive reached Alton. 

ALTON IN 1837. 

At the beginning of the year 1837, Alton had twenty 
wholesale stores, thirty-two retail stores and groceries, four 
hotels, two of which had commodious accommodations; four 
large pork-packing houses, and the shops of numerous me- 
chanics. The professions were represented by eight lawyers, 
seven physicians, and seven clergymen. Four newspapers 
were published, the Alton Spectator, the Alton Ttlcgraph, the 
Alton Observer, and the Illinois Temperance Journal. A 
large temperance society held monthly meetings, and a ly- 
ceum met once a week for the literary improvement of its 
members. There were two schools. Five churches had 
been organized, the Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist Episco- 
pal, Methodist Protestant, and Protestant Episcopal, all of 
which, with the exception of the last, had erected conve- 
nient houses of worship. 

There were two banks, one a branch of the State Bank of 
Illinois, and the other a branch of the Bank of Illinois at 
Shawneetown. The value of the pork packed and prepared 
for the market ran up into hundreds of thousauds of dol. 



lars; and other products were shipped from the place in 
large quantities. In four years the value of real estate liad 
risen more than a thousand per cent. 

The best locations near the river sold at from three hun- 
dred to four hundred dollars per front foot. Lois in more 
retired situations, for private residences, commanded from 
twenty-five to one hundred dollars per foot. The rent of 
stores was from four hundred to fifteen hundred dollars, and 
of dwelling-houses from two hundred to six hundred dollars. 
Some of the large wholesale houses did a business amount- 
ing annually to from a quarter to a half million of dollars. 
Seven or tight steamboats were owned, either in whole or in 
part, b)' citizens of the town ; arrivals and departures oc- 
curred every day, and the river landing was a place of 
bustle and activity. Alton commanded a large proportion 
of the trade of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers, and 
of the interior country for the distance of a hundred miles. 
The National Road, the great highway between the Atlan- 
tic seaboard and the " Far West," already located as far as 
Vandalia, was expected to cross the Mississippi at Alton, 
according to the formal request to Congress of the State 
Legislature; while the liberal system of internal improve- 
ments devised by the State of Illinois contemplated making 
Alton an important railway terminus, and thus securing to 
her the commercial supremacy of the Upper Mississippi 
Valley. 

A traveler, who visited Alton in 1837, thus gives his 
impress'ons of the place : 

" The far-famed village of Alton, situated upon the Illinois shore, 
a few miles above the confluence of the Mi-ssissippi and ihe Missouri, 
soon rose before us in the distance. When its multiform declivities 
shall have been smoothed away by the hand of enterprise and covered 
with handsome edifices, it will, doubtless, present a fine appearance 
from the water ; as it now remains, its aspect is rugged enough. The 
penitentiary, a huge structure of stone, is rather too prominent a fea- 
ture in the scene. Indeed, it is the tirst object which strikes the atten- 
tion, and reminds one of a gray, old baronial ca.stle of feudal days 
more than of anything else. The churches, of which there are several, 
and the extensive warehouses along the shore, have an imposing 
aspect, and offer more agreeable associations As we drew near to 
Alton, the fireman of our steamer deemed proper, in testimonial of the 
dignity of our arrival, to let oil" a certain rusty old swivel, which 
chanced to be on board; and to have witnessed the marvelous fashion 
in which this manoeuvre was executed by our worthies, would have 
pardoned a smile on the visage of Heraclitus himself One lanky- 
limbed genius held a huge dipper of gunpowder ; another, .seizing 
upon the extremity of a hawser, and, severing a generous fragment, 
made use thereof for wadding; a third rammed home the charge with 
that fearful weapon wherewith he poked the furnace; while a fourth, 
honest wight, — all preparation being complete, — advanced with a 
shovel of glowing coals, which, poured upon the touch-hole, the old 
piece was briefly delivered of its charge, and the woods, and shores, 
and welkin rang again to the roar. If we made not our entrance into 
Alton with 'pomp and circumstance,' it was surely the fault of any 
one but our worthy fireman. 

" The site of Alton, at the confluence of three large and navigable 
streams (allusion is here made to the Missi)!sippi, Missouri and Illi- 
nois. — Ed.) ; its extensive back country of great fertility ; the vast 
bodies of heavy timber on every side ; its noble quarries of stone ; ita 
inexhaustible beds of bituminous coal, only one mile distant, and its 
commodious landing, .all seem to indicate the design of Nature that 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



383 



here should arise a populous and wealthy town. Tlie place has heen 
laid off by it.< proprietors in liberal style; five squares have been re- 
served for public purposes, with a promenade and landing, and the 
coriiorate bounds extend two miles along the river, and half a mile 
into the territory. Yet Alton, with all its local and artificial advan- 
tages, is obnoxious to objections. Its situation, in one section abrupt 
and precipitous, while in another depressed and confined, and the ex. 
tensive alluvion lying between the two great rivers opposite, it is be- 
lieved, will always render it more or less unhe.ilthy ; and its unenvi- 
able proximity to St. Louis will never cease to retard its commercial 
adv.intages. Until within six years past, it could boast but few houses 
and little business. Its population now amounts to several thousands, 
and its ediliees for bu.-iness, private residence, or public convenience, 
are large and elegant structures. Its stone churches present an impos- 
ing aspect to the visitor. The streets are from forty to eighty feet in 
width, and extensive operations are in progress to render the place as 
uniform as its site will admit. A contract has been recently entered 
upon to construct a culvert over the Little Piasa Creek, which pas.ses 
through the centre of the town, upon which are to be extended streets. 
The expense is estimated at sixty thousand dollars. The creek issues 
from a celebrated fountain among the bluffs, called ' Cove Spring.' 
Alton is not a little celebrated for its liberal contribution to the moral 
improvements of the day. To mention but a solitary inst.ance : a gen- 
tleman of the place recently made a donation of ten thousand dollars 
for the endowment of a female seminary at Monticello, a village five 
miles to the north; iind measures are in progress for carrying it 
into immediate execution. Two railroads are shortly to be con- 
structed from Alton ; one to Springfiehl, seventy miles distant, and the 
other to Mount Carmel, on the Wabash. The stock of each has been 
mostly subscribed, and they cannot fail, when completed, to add much 
to the importance of the place. Alton is also a proposed terminus of 
two of the state railroads, and of the Cumberland (or National) road. 
'' In the evening, when the sultriness of the day was over, passing 
through the principal street of the town, I ascended that singular range 
of blufls which, commencing at that point, extend along the river, and 
to which, on a former occasion, I have briefly alluded. The ascent is 
arduous, but the glorious view from the summit richly repays the 
visitor for his toil. The withering atmosphere of the depressed, sun- 
burnt village at my feet was delightfully exchanged for the invigorat- 
ing breezes of the hills, as the fresh evening wind came wandering up 
from the waters. It was the sunset hour. The golden slanting beams 
of departing day were reflected from the undulating bosom of the 
river, as its bright waters, stretched away among the western forests, 
or from a .sea of molten, glittering silver. On the left, directly at your 
feet, reposes the village of Alton, overhung by hills, with the gloomy, 
castellated walls of Ahe penitentiary lifting up their dusky outline 
upon its skirts, presenting to the eye a perfect panorama as you look 
down upon the tortuous streets, the extensive warehouses of stone, 
and the range of steamers, alive with bustle, along the landing. Be- 
yond the village extends a deep forest, while a little to the south 
sweep off the waters of the river, bespangled with green islands, 
until, gratefully exp.-inding itself, a noble bend withdraws it from the 
view. It is at this point that the Mis.souri disgorges its turbid, heavy 
ma-ssof waters into the clear floods of the Upper Mississippi, hitherto 
uncheckered by a stain. At the basse of the bluffs upon which you 
stand, at an elevation of a hundred and fifty feet, rushes with violence 
along the crags the current of the stream ; while beyond, upon the 
opposite plain, is beheld the log hut of the emigrant, couched beneath 
the enormous sycamores and sending up its undulating thread of blue, 
curling smoke through the lofty branche.s. A lumber steam-jiiill is 
also here to be seen. Beyond these objects, the eye wanders over an 
interminable carpet of forest-tops, stretching away till they form a 
wavy line of dense foliage circling the western horizon. By the aid 
of a glass a range of hills, blue in the distance, is perceived, outlined 
against the sky ; they are the bluffs skirting the beautiful valley of the 
Missouri." — The Far West; or, A Tow Beyond the Mountains, by Ed- 
MCND T. Flago. 



LE.\DIXG BUSINESS MEN AXD E.\RLY CITIZENS OF ALTON. 

Among the enterprising business men to whom Alton^ 
mainly owed its early prosperity were Winthrop S. Gil. 
man William Manning, Edward Bliss, Mr. Fleshraan, 
Simeon Ryder, Benjamin Godfrey Caleb Stone, and A. G. 
Sloo. The firms of Godfrey, Oilman & Co., Stone, Man- 
ning & Co., Sloo & Co., and H. Miller & Co. were con- 
spicuous for business activity and for their efforts to extend 
the trade of Alton. Godfrey, Gilman & Co. transacted 
a large business and had a wide reputation through- 
out the western country. Both Mr. Godfrey and Mr. Gil- 
man were men of philanthropic liberality, who deserve 
especial mention in any history of Alton. The latter is still 
living in New York city. Mr. Godfrey died in 1862, but 
there remains to mark his memory the most enduring and 
honorable of all monuments — the Monticello Female Sem- 
inary, erected by his munificent liberality. 

Of the men who began business in Alton previous to 1840 
only a few are now living. Dr. E. Marsh began business 
in 183'2, Arba Nelson in 1836, Isaac Scarritt in 1837, Rich- 
ard Flagg in 1837, Robert De Bow in the autumn of 1835, 
Thomas G. Starr in January, 1838, (establishing the first 
family grocery in Alton) William Hayden in May, 1831, 
and Michael W. Carroll in 1832: all the.se, after conduct- 
ing business for many years, are now dead. Amasa S. 
Barry, who became a citizen in 1837, and commenced busi- 
ness in 1842, is now a resident of Chicago. Of those still 
living and now residents of Alton are Samuel Wade, who 
began the lumber business in 1831; Perley B.Whipple, 
who commenced business in October, 1835 ; Horatio B. 
Bowman in January, 1839; Charles Phinney in 18 i8 ; J. 
W. Schweppe, who came to Alton in 1837, and began busi- 
ness in 1840 ; Henry Sweetser in 1838 ; George Quigley in 
1832; and Elisha L. Dimmock, who began business in 
1838. 

The following are the names of persons who became resi- 
dents of Alton previous to the close of the year 1840 : 



George B. Arnold, 
Paul Alt, 
Moses G. .Vtwood, 
John Atwood, 
John P. Ash, 
A. Alexander, 
Charlei B. Avio, 
Stephen Aldrich, 
Orlean M. Adams, 
J.acob C. Bruner, 
Joseph Brarahall, 
William Barrett, 
Simuel G- Bailey, 
John Bailhache, 
iSamuel I'ush, 
W. A. Beatv, 
J. R. Bullock, 
Edward Breath, 
Abraham Breath, 
Nathaniel N. Buckmaster, 
George T. Brown, 
Barney B Barker, 
Horatio B. Bowman, 
Henry W. Billings, 
Amasa S. Barry, 
David P. Berry, 
John W. Buffum, 
George Barry, 



Elijah P. Lovpjoy, 
J. Leonard, 
Henry Lea, 
Washington Libhy, 
William S. Lincoln, 
Richard Largent, 
John Lincoln, 
William Lamed, 
James H. Lea, 
Joshua G. Lamb, 
Stephen Lufkin, 
William K. Levis, 
Edward Levi.s, 
Usher F. Linder, : 
John A. Langdon, 
William P. Lamoihe, 
William McCorkle, 
Dr. Ebenezer Marsh, 
Solomon E. Moore, 
William Martin, 
Francis B Murdock, 
Richard McDouald, 
Jjimes M. Morgan, 
Washington T. Miller, 
Joshua C. Milnor, 
Horatio G. McClintock, 
Robert McFarland, 
Samuel L. Miller, 



384 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Horace BulTuin, 

John Baltertim, 

James 1). Kurns, 

Michael W. Carroll, 

Benjamin F. Child, 

Aaron \V. Corey, 

Amos L. Corson, 

John W. Chickering, 

John Chaney, 

Effingham Cuck, 

Aaron Corey, 

Willian. L. Chappell, 

Benjamin Clitibrd, 

Thomas Cliflbrd, 

S. B. Catts, 

Shadrach R. Dolbee, 

Hezekiah Davis, 

Alfred Dow, 

S. H. Denlon, 

Robert De Bow, 

Eli-ha L. Dimmotk, 

Wm. A. Davidson, 

George T. M. Davis. 

Dr. Edward W. Dill, 

John Dill, 

John Dve, 

â– VVilliamF.D'Wolf, 

Dr. Benjamin F. Edwards, 

Rev. Charles A. Farley, 

Eli Foster, 

Isaac J. Foster, 

Richard Flagg, 

George W. Fox, 

Moses Forbes, 

Charles E. Frost, 

E. F. Fitield, 

Rev. Frederick W. Grf)ves, 

Z. Guild, 

Matthew Gillespie, 

John Green, 

Reuben Geary, 

James Gamble, 

William S. Gaskins, 

Benjamin Godfrey, 

Dr. Benjamin K. Hart, 

Judge Ilezekiah Hawley, 

Charles Hubert, 

George Heaton, 

J. T. Hulton, 

John A. Haldeman, 

William Harned, 

John Ilogan, 

John W. Hart, 

Junius Hall, 

Dr. Thomas M. Hope, 

Charles Hubert, 

George Holton, 

William A. Holton, 

Enos H. Harrison, 

Johnson (colored), 

Edward Keating, 

John King, 

George Kimball, 

George Kelley, 

John M. Krum, 

Samuel H. Kenne<Iy, 

Lewis Kellenberger, 

W. F. Leonard, 

H. G. Van 



William McBride, 
George McBride, 
Andrew Mathers, 
John Mullady, 
Thomas Middleton, 
John S. IN'oble, 
Isaac Negus, 
Levi Nutt, 
Arba Nelson, 
William R I'ajson, 
Samuel C. Pierce, 
William Pope, 
Samuel Pitts, 
Lawson A. Parks, 
T. G. Pettingell, 
William Post, 
Anson B. Piatt, 
Stephen Pierson, 
Charles Phinney, 
John Quigley, 
George Quigley, 
John Rowe, 
Sherman W. Robbins, 
George Robbins, 
Calvin Riley, 
A. B. Rofi; 
John L.Roberts, 
John Rowe, 
Simeon Ryder, 
Andrew Runzi, 
Richard Shipley, 
George Smith, 
J. W. Stoddard, 
Robert Smith, 
Thomas G. Starr, 
Calvin Stone, 
Newton D. Strong. 
A. G. Sloo, 
Caleb Stone. 
James E. Starr, 
James S. Stone, 
John W. Schweppe, 
Henry C. Sweetser, 
John Sigerson, 
James Semple, 
Seth T. Sawyer, 
Jacob Smith, 
William Shattuck, 
A. R. Skidmore, 
Charles Trumbull, 
Thomas G. Thurston, 
William Tanner, 
Henry Tanner, 
R. M' Tread way, 
E. Trtnchery, 
Erastus 'J'opping, 
John R. Woods, 
Perley B. Whipple, 
Timothy L. Waples, 
Thomas Waples, 
Thomas P. W'oolridge, 
John C. 'Woods, 
George W. Walworth, 
George Ij. Ward, 
Royal \Veller, 
Thomas Wallace, 
Green Walker, 
John Van Antwerp, 
Waggenen. 



There are now forty persons over seventy years of age, 
who have residedin Alton more than thirty years. 

THE MURDER OF LOVEJOY.* 

The most tragic event that ever occurred in the history of 
Alton was the murder of Elijah P. Lovejoy on the seventh 
of November, 1837. This was the first important act in 

* We have given a short account of Lovejoy in the chanter on the 
Press, as that article would be incomplete without such reference. 



that great struggle between freedom and slavery, which cul" 
miuated a quarter of a century afterward in the war of the 
Rebellion, and which ended iu the complete triumph of the 
priuoiples which the ardent Lovejoy was among the first to 
espouse. 

Elijah ParishLovejoy, son of the R3v. Daniel C. Lovejoy, a 
Congregational minister, was born at Albion, Maine, on the 
second of November, 1802. After graduating at Water- 
ville college, he came to St Louis, where he first taught 
school, and then became the editor of the St. Louis Times, 
a whig newspaper. Soon afterward, in 1832, he united 
â– with the Presbyterian church, and the same year entered 
the Theological Seminary at Princeton, New Jersey, with 
the view of preparing himself for the Presbyterian ministry. 
He was licensed to preach in 1833, and returned to St. Louis, 
where i i November he assumed editorial charge of the 
St. Louis Observer, a paper started as the organ of the Pres- 
byterians in Illinois and Missouri. He soon incurred the 
ill-will of the Roman Catholic residents of St. Louis by his 
strictures on the doctrines and practices of their church, and 
his articles against slavery which began to appear in 1835, 
excited intense opposition. The owners of the press were, 
at one time, obliged to publish a card to allay the excite- 
ment and prevent the mob from destroying their property. 
A letter was addressed to Mr. Lovejoy by a number of the 
leading citizens of St. Louis, and the minister who had re. 
ceived him into the church, who expressed the opinion that 
slavery was sanctioned by the Bible, and asked him to desist 
from its further discussion. This letter was published in the 
Observer with a reply from Mr. Lovejoy in which he claimed 
the right to print his honest convictions. His views at that 
period favored colonization and gradual emancipation. The 
proprietors of the paper finally requested him to retire from 
its management. To this he cheerfully consented. The 
paper, however, was in debt, and the owners gave up the 
press and material to a Mr. Moore, the endorser on a note 
soon to fall due, aul this gentleman insisted on Livejoy's 
continuance as editor, provided the paper was removed to 
Alton. While making arrangements for the publication of 
the paper at Alton he was invited to return to St. Louis, 
and there continued his editorial labors quietly for some 
months. «^^^ 

An editorial which appeared in May, 1863, relative to the 
burning at the stake, by a mob, of a negro, who, while un- 
der arrest, had killed an officer of the law, and one in June 
in severe criticism of Judge Lawless who, in his charge to 
the grand jury, had asserted that the action of the mob was 
beyond the jurisdiction of the law, aroused much feeling 
among the slave holding citizens of St. Louis, and it was 
deemed adsdsable to at once ship the press to Alton. Part 
of the office furniture was destroyed, by citizens of St. 
Louis, before it could be removed. 

The press reached Alton before daylight on the morning 
of Sunday, the twenty- first of July, 1836. Mr. Lovejoy 
proposed to let it remain on the wharf till Monday, but after 
bearing the curious inspection of the crowd all day Sunday, 
during the night it was broken into pieces, and cast into the 
Mississippi. When this cowardly act became known the 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



385 



next day, stroug expressions of disapproval were made by- 
citizens of Alton, and in the evening a large public meeting 
was held in the Presbyterian church, which was addressed 
by Jlr. Lovejoy and other speakers. Mr. Lovejoy stated 
ihat he had come to Alton to establish a religious news- 
paper, that he was pleased with the town, and that, since 
most of his subscribers lived in Illinois, it was desirable that 
he should make it his future home. He regretted that his 
presence should cause so much excitement. Though an 
uncompromising enemy of slavery, he was not an " abolition 
ist," and had been frequently denounced by Garrison and 
others as being pro-slavery, because he was not in favor of 
their measures. 

It was said that at this meeting he pledged himself not 
to discuss the subject of slavery in h s paper, but ten of the 
most respectable citizens of Alton (George H. Walworth, 
A. B. RoA; Solomon E. Moore, Effingham Cock, John W. 
Chickering, James Morse, jr., F. W. Graves, W. L. Chap- 
pell, J. H. Alexander and Charles W. Hunter,) subse- 
quently testified that he closed his speech with this remark ; 
" But, gentlemen, as long as I am an American citizen, and 
as long as American blood runs in these veins, I shall hold 
myself at liberty to speak, to write, and to publish whatever 
I please on any subject, being amenable to the laws of my 
country for the same." 

The citizens of Alton contributed money for the purchase 
of a new press, which soon arrived, and on the eighth of Sep- 
tember, 1836, the first number of the Alton Observer was is- 
sued. Its discussions were at first mostly confined to sub- 
jects of a literary and moral character, and under the able 
management of the editor its circulation soon extended. 
But soon the question of slavery was again brought forward, 
and it was evident that the views of Mr. Lovejoy had ad- 
vanced so far as to be in ftivor of immediate abolition. In 
his paper of the twenty-ninth of July, 1837, at the in- 
stance of the American Anti-Slavery Society, he published 
a call recjuesting signatures to petitions for the abolition of 
slavery in the District of Columbia. But the most obnox- 
ious of his articles written on the fourth of July, appeared on 
the sixth of July, 1837. It was an editorial advocating the 
formation of an Illinois State Anti-Slavery Society, and in 
it he said : 

"This day reproaches our sloth and inactivity. It is the 
day of our nation's birth. Even as we write, crowds are 
hurrying past our window, in eager anticipation to the 
appointed bower, to listen to the declaration that ' all men 
are born free and equal ; ' to hear the eloijuent orator 
denounce in strains of manly indignation the attempt of 
England to lay a yoke upon the shoulders of our fathers, 
which neither they or their children could bear. Alas! 
what bitter mockery is this ! We assemble to thank God 
for our own freedom, and to eat and drink with joy and 
gladness of heart, while our feet are upon the necks of 
nearly three millions of our fellow-men! Not all our shouts 
of self-congratulation can drown their groans ; even that 
very flag of freedom that waves over our heads is formed 
from material cultivated by slaves, on a soil moistened by 
their blood, drawn from them by the whip of a republican 
task -master. 



" Brethren and friends, this must not be, — it cannot be, 
for God will not endure it much longer. Come, then, to the 
rescue. The voice of three millions of slaves calls upon 
you to come and ' unloose the heavy burdens, and let the 
oppressed go free.' " 

On the 8th of July an anonymous hand bill was posted 
about the city, calling on those who disapproved the course 
of the AlloiiOhserver to meet at the public market on the 
eleventh. The man who called this meeting to order stated 
that it was " for the suppression of Abolitionism." Resolu- 
lutions strongly disapproving Mr. Lovejoy's course were 
passed, and a committee consisting of Dr. B. K. Hart, Louis 
J. Clawson, Nathaniel Buckmaster, A. Olucy and Dr. J. 
Haldeman, was appointed to confer with Mr. Lovejoy, " and 
ascertain whether he intends to disseminate through the col- 
umns of the Observer the doctrine of Abolitionism, and re- 
port the result of their conference to the public." This 
committee, thirteen days afterward, communicated with Mr. 
Lovejoy by letter through the post-office. He replied by 
denying their right to dictate to him what it was proper to 
discuss, and at the same time tendered them the use of 
his paper to refute his opinions, if they were wrong. 

The St. Louis papers about this time were influential in 
stirring up the deep feeling which had manifested itself at 
Alton. The iligsoiai Republican, which was generally 
taken and read at Alton, in its issue of August, 1837, said ; 
" We perceive that an Anti-slavery society has been 
formed at Upper Alton, and many others doubtless will 
shortly spring up in diflerent parts of the state. We had 
hoped that our neighbors would have ejected from amongst 
them that minister of mischief, the Observer, or at least 
corrected its course. Something must be done in this mat- 
ter, and that speedily! The good people of Illinois must 
either put a stop to the efforts of these fanatics or expel 
them from the community. If this is not done, the travel 
of emigrants through their state, and the trade of the slave- 
holding states, and particularly Missouri, must stop. Every 
one who desires the harmony of the country and the peace 
and prosperity of all, should unite to put them down." 

At nine o'clock of the evening of the 21st of August, 
1837, Mr. Lovejoy was assaulted by some eight or ten 
persons who, it is said, had determined to give him a coat of 
tar and feathers, and then send him adrift in a canoe down 
the Mississip])!. He then resided at Hunterstown in a build- 
ing in a secluded spot below the road that led to Upper 
Alton ; and it was while on his way home from the drug- 
store with some medicine for his sick wife, that he was 
roughly stopped by the crowd, who at once disclosed their 
purpose. With great coolness, he said : " I have but one 
request to make of you, and then you may do with me 
what you please. My wife is dangerously ill, and it is 
necessary that she should have this prescription imraedi- 
diately. Will one of you take it, and see that it is delivered 
at the house, but without intimating what is about to befal 
me? I am in the hands of God and ready to go with you." 
This request was complied with, and after a few moments of 
silence, one of the party exclaimed, "Boys, I can't lay ray 
hand on as brave a man as this ! " and turning away, he 



386 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



was followed by the others, and Mr. Lovejoy was left alone. 
But at a later hour during the same night a mob entered 
the Observer office, drove out the employes and completely 
demolished the press. Though these outrages were boldly 
committed, no attempt was made by the city officials to 
bring the riotors to justice. 

After the destruction of the second press, some of his 
friends in Alton seem to have begun to doubt the wisdom of 
his continuance as editor. On the II th of September, 
1837, Mr. Lovejoy addressed a letter to the friends of the 
Observer, the subscription list of whic h at that time num- 
bered two thousand one hundred names, in which he offered 
to resign the editorship. A meeting of the supporters of the 
paper was acconlingly held, and after an adjournment and 
long consideration, it was decided that the Observer should 
be re-established, and that Elijah P. Lovej)y ought to con- 
tinue its editor. Assurances of aid came freely to Mr. Love- 
joy, — some from distant states. His brethren in the ministry 
also expressed a wish that the publication of the paper 
should go on. The new press and material arrived at Alton 
on the 2Ist of September, 18.37, at a time when Mr. Lovejoy 
was absent at a session of the Presbytery. Many of hii 
friends gathered around it as it was conveyed to the ware- 
house of Gerry & Wilier. No violence was offered, but 
cries of "There goes the Abolition press! stop it!" were 
heard. The mayor, John M. Krum, now a resident of St- 
Louis, seemed desirous of protecting it, and asked that it be 
left in his hands. The provision he made, however, was 
entirely inadequate. He had a constable posted at the door 
of the warehouse till a certain hour in the night ; but as soon 
as the official left, ten or twelve ruffians, disguised with hand- 
kerchiefs over their faces, broke into the store, and rolled 
out the press to the river bank, where it was broken up and 
thrown into the river. Mayor Krum arrived before the 
work of destruction was completed, and ordered the party to 
disperse, but without efltct. 

About ten days after this occurrence while at St. Charles, 
Missouri, (to which place he had accompanied his wife on a 
visit to her mother, whose maiden name was Celia A. French, 
and who was a former resident of St Charles, Mr. Love- 
joy was violently assaulted by a mob on a Sunday evening. 
He had preached twice during the day, and at about nine 
at night the house in which he was stopping, was entered by 
a drunken and brutal crowd. It is probable that his heroic 
and devoted wife alone prevented the mob from carrying out 
their murderous purposes. His friends insisted on his 
quitting the place that night, and before daylight he was on 
the road back to Alton, leaving behind him his wife and 
child. 

Another press, the fourth and the last, was ordered. 
The means to purchase it were furnished by some friends of 
free speech in Ohio. Some thought was entertained of trans- 
ferring the publication of the paper to Quincy. A convention 
to form a State Anti-slavery Society met on the twenty-sixth 
of October, 1837, in the Presbyterian church at Upper Alton. 
Some of the opponents of the object of the meeting, among 
them Usher F. Linder, then attorney-general, and John Ho- 
gan, now of St. Louis, gained control of the convention ; 



though the real friends of the anti-slavery movement met 
elsewhere and organized a State Society, of which Mr. Love- 
joy was made corresponding secretary, and recommended 
that the publication of the Observer should be continued at 
Alton. On the thirtieth of October, the Rev. Edward 
Beecher, then president of Illinois College, delivered an ad- 
dress in the Presbyterian church in Alton in which he ex- 
pressed himself strongly in favor of defending Mr. Lovejoy 
to the last. Mr. Beecher's speech was interrupted by a 
stone being thrown through one of the church windows, 
and it is probable that serious trouble would have ensued 
had not ample provision been made to repel any attack by 
a mob. At the moment the stone was thrown, William 
Tanner called a company, previously organized, to arras, 
and in a few minutes the church door on either side was 
flanked by a row of armed men, whom it was not safe for 
any mob to attack. Among the citizens in line were Enoch 
Long and Aaron W. Corey. Mr. Beecher went on with iiis 
address to the close, and as the people retired Mayor Krum 
called on the outsiders to disperse. The promptness of their 
defense was due to the fact that after repeated consultations 
between Mayor Krum, Mr. Lovejoy, Winthrop S. Gilman, 
Henry Tanner and others a company of fifty men had 
been organized to resist any attack on Mr. Lovejoy, and to 
protect the new press which was daily expected to arrive. 

These events had thrown the city into a fevtrish state of 
excitement. On the second of November, 18--i7, only five 
days before the mournful and tragic end of these troubles, 
a public meeting was held, participated in by both parties, 
" to take into consideration the present excited state of pub- 
lic feeling in the city, growing out of the Abolition question 
and to endeavor to find some common ground on which both 
parties might meet for the restoration of harmony and good- 
fellowship. " To this meeting Winthrop S. Gilman and the 
Rev. Edward Beecher, presented a series of resolutions 
which declared the right of every citizen to speak, write, or 
print his opinions on any subject, being responsible only to 
the law for the abuse of that right, and that " we are more 
especially called upon to maintain this principle in the case 
of unpopular sentiments or persons, " as in no other cases 
will any etfjrt to maintain them bs needed ; and that " fur 
these reasons alone, and irrespective of all moral, political, 
or religious sentiments, protection was due to the person and 
property of Mr. Lovejoy, the editor of the Alton Observer ; 
that this protection should be offered on the ground of prin- 
ciple solel}', and altogether disconnected from approbation 
of his sentiments, but personal character, and his course as 
editor of the Alton Observer. " 

The adoption of these resolutions was opposed by Usher F. 
Linder and others, and they were finally referred to a 
committee composed of Cyrus Edwards, John Hogan, Ste- 
phen Griggs, Usher F. Linder, H. G. Van Wagenen, Tho- 
mas G. Hawley and Winthrop S. Gilman, while the meeting 
adjourned to the next day. 

The committee next day oflfered, instead of the resolutions 
of Mr. Gilman, resolutions of their own, to the effect that 
it was sometimes expedient to abstain from a discussion of 
principles, in tVemselves deemed r'ght and of the highest 



HISTORY OF MADIS0:N COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



387 



importance ; and that without desiring to restrain the liberty 
of the press in general, it was indispensable that Mr. Love- 
joy should not be allowed to conduct a paper in Alton ; and 
that he ought to retire from the charge of the Alton Observer. 
These vieivs were adopted by the meeting. Against them, 
Wiuthrop S. Gilnian, alone of the committee, presented a 
protest. He thought the rigid enforcement of the law would 
prove the only protection of the rigiits of citizens, and the 
only safe remedy for similar excitements in future. 

Mr. Lovejoy addressed the meeting in a speech which 
excited the sympathy of his hearers, and in which he for- 
cibly and bravely stated his position. After referring to his 
respect for the feelings and opinions of his fellow-citizens, 
and his sorrow that he was compelled to differ from them, 
he sai 1 that he was impelled to the course he had taken 
because he feared God, and as he should answer to his God 
on the great day, he dared not abandon his sentiments, or 
cease in all proper ways to propagate them. He continued : 
" I, Mr. Chairman, have not desired, or asked any com- 
promise. I have asked for nothing but to be protected in 
ray rights as a citizen — rights which God has given me, and 
which are guaranteed to me by the constitution of my 
country. Have I, sir, been guilty of any infraction of the 
laws? Whose good name have I injured? When and where 
have I published anythintr injurious to the reputation of 
Alton?" 

" You have, sir, made up, as the lawyers say, a false issue ; 
there are not two parties between whom there can be a com- 
promise. I plant myself, sir, down on my unquestionable 
rights, and the question to be decided is, whether I shall be 
protected in the exercise and enjoyment of those rights, — 
that is the question, sir : whether my property shall be pro- 
tected ; whether I shall be suffered to go home to my family 
at night without being assaulted, and threatened with tar 
and feathers, and assassination ; and whether my afflicted 
wife, whose life has been in jeopardy from continued alarm 
and excitement, shall, night after night, be driven from a 
sick-bed into the garret, to save her life from the brick-bats 
and violence of the mobs ; that, sir, is the question" 

Here, much affected by his emotions, he burst into tears, 
and the sympathies of the whole meeting were deeply excited. 
He continued : " Forgive me, sir, that I have thus betrayed 
my weakness. It was the allusion to my family that over- 
came my feelings. Not, sir, I assure j'ou, from any fear on 
my own part. Not that I feel able to contest the matter with 
the whole community ; I know perfectly well I am not. I 
know, sir, you can tar and feather me, hang me up, or put me 
into the ilississippi without the least difficulty. But what 
then ? Where shall I go ? I have been made to feel that if I 
am not safe in Alton, I shall not be safe anywhere. I recently 
visited St. Charles to bring home my family, and was torn 
from their frantic embrace by a mob. I have been beset 
night and day at Alton, and now, if I leave here and go 
elsewhere, violence may overtake me in my retreat, and I 
have no more claim on the protection of any other com- 
munity than I have upon this ; and I have concluded, after 
consultation with my friends, and earnestly seeking counsel 
of God, to remain at Alton, and here to insist on protection 



in the exercise of my rights. If the civil authorities i-efuse 
to protect me, I must look to God ; and if I die, I have 
determined to make my grave in Alton." 

Three days after this speech of Mr. Lovejoy, on the night 
of the 6th of November, the fourth press reached Alton. It 
had been shipped from Cincinnati. It was received in the 
dead of night from the steamer "Missouri Fulton," whose 
captain had agreed to land the press at midnight, even if he 
should have to lay his boat by for awhile to do so, by the 
friends of Mr. Lovejoy, in the presence of the mayor, and 
taken to the stone warehouse of Godfrey, Gilman & Co. 
Ample preparations had been made to defend it. About 
sixty men, well-armed and drilled, were stationed on the 
different floors in companies of sufficient strength to do full 
execution if any attack on the press should be made by the 
mob. The sound of a horn, blown by some unknown per- 
son, as if a signal, was heard ; but no one appeared to inter- 
rupt the labors of the defenders of the great i)rinciples of free 
speech and a free press as in the silence of the midnight hour 
they transferred the mass of boxed-up iron, the innocent 
cause of so much bitter feeling, from the river bank to the 
third floor of the warehouse of the largest and most 
responsible firm in the city. 

The abseuce-of any hostile demonstration on the night of 
the 6th encouraged the friends of Lovejoy to hope for a 
peaceful solution of the difficulties, but as the night of the 
7th approached they gathered in the building to talk 
over the situation, and be ready, if necessary, to defend the 
press. Nine o'clock came, and there was, as yet, no sign of 
disturbance. The company of men began then to disperse 
for their homes, when Mr. Gilman asked some few of the 
number to remain through the night, as he intended staying 
as a precaution in case the warehouse should be attacked. 
Nineteen men remained. An hour more, and it became 
evident that a mob was gathering. It was a brilliant moon- 
light night. It could be seen that the mob was armed, and 
their blowing of tin horns, and hootings and exclamations 
demonstrated the fact that plenty of liquor had been flowing 
among them. A part of the mob filed in front of the ware- 
house on the south, toward the river, knocked and hailed 
the building. Mr. Gilman answered from an upper door, 
when one William Carr, presented a pistol and demanded 
the press. Edward Keating, a lawyer and Henry H. West, 
who had been made acquainted with the designs of the mob, 
asked to see Mr. Gilraan, and were incautiously admitted to 
the building, thus enabling the mob to learn the smallness 
of the force with which it was defended. These persons in- 
formed Mr. Gilman and his party that unless the press was 
given up, the building would be burned over their heads or 
blown up with powder. Early in the evening Enoch Long 
had been selected as captain of the defending party. His 
method of defense was much milder than that advocated by 
some of his men, who considered it best to fire on the mob, 
and make short work of it ; but Long commanded that no 
one should fire without his order, an order which he hesitated 
to give from mistaken motives of mercy, till too late to be 
of value in intimidating the besiegers. 

The active attack began with volleys of stones, by which 



388 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



the windows were broken, and by the firing of two guns. 
Tlie forbearance of the men inside emboldened the mob, but 
wlien a shot from the outside had entered the building the 
order was given to one of the men to fire. The shot proved 
effective. It struck a man named Lyman Bishop, one of 
the mob, who died before he could be removed from the 
ground. This incident caused only a short lull in the ope- 
rations of the attacking party. Some bore away the body of 
Bishop, others summoned re-enforcements, while the grog 
shops near by furnished ready material to feed the ruffian 
fire. The bells of the city were rung,* horns blown, and an 
excited multitude came rushing to the warehouse, some 
urging on the drunken mob, and some using their efforts in 
behalf of peace. The infuriated mass surrounding the 
warehouse cried out with savage jells and oaths, that they 
would fire the building and shoot every abolitionist as he 
tried to make his escape. Mayor Krum now appeared on 
the scene, and he was asked by Lovejoy's men that he lead 
them out to face the mob and order them to fire if the mob 
would not disperse at his command. His answer was that 
he had too much regard for their lives to do that, but at the 
same time he justified those in the warehouse in their defense. 
His own subsequent efforts to disperse the mob were 
powerless. 

Attempts were now made to fire the building. On the north 
side there were no windows or doors, and here a ladder was 
placed on which a man ascended with a burning torch to 
ignite the roof. The position of the ladder made it impos- 
sible to check this design from within, and Captain Long 
callfed for volunteers to make a sortie from the building and 
dislodge the man from the roof Amos B. Roff, Royal Wel- 
ler and Mr. Lovejoy promptly issued forth to execute this 
commission. They returned to the building in safety, but 
on going forth a second time, as Mr. Lovejoy stepped out 
into the bright moonlight, the party was fired on by assassins 
concealed behind some lumber piled up on the levee. Five 
balls entered Mr. Lovejoy's body. He ran back into the 
building and up stairs, exclaiming, " I am shot! I am shot! 
I am dead!" and when he reached the counting-room he 
fell into the arms of one of his friends, and was laid upon 
the floor where he instantly passed away without further 
struggle and without again speaking. Mr. Roff and Mr. 
Weller were both wounded by the same volley. 

Soon afterward Edward Keating and Henry H. West 
again approached the building, and informed Mr. Oilman 
that the roof was on fire, and offered, in behalf of the rio- 
ters, that if the press should be surrendered, the fire would 
be extinguished, and no further harm done to any other 
property. After consultation it was thought best to aban- 
don the building, and give up the press. There was pro- 
perty of great value in the warehouse, and now that Love- 
joy was dead, no further good could come of hopeless oppo- 
sition to the mob. It was stipulated that the defenders of 
the w arehouse f should be allowed to depart in safety, but 

* It jaan interesting fact that Sirs. Graves, wife of the Presbyterian 
minister — a slender and delicate woman— opened the church in her 
l]iisbaud's absence, and rang the bell with all her strength. 

fTlio names of the twenty men in tlie building that night are as 



no sooner had they left the building than the rioters broke 
their truce, and fired .after them more than a hundred shots, 
which, owing to the slope of the ground, passed harmlessly 
over their heads. The press, like its three predecessors, was 
broken into fragments, which found a resting-place at the 
bottom of the Mississippi. 

The next morning the body of Lovejoy was removed to 
his late home. His wife was absent at the house of a friend, 
so prostrated by the terrible shock that her life was despair- 
ed of for many days. His brother, Owen Lovejoy, was at 
the house to receive the corpse. The funeral was on the 
9th of November, a rainy, depressing day. The burial ser- 
vice was simple, and consisted merely of prayers by Mr. 
Lovejoy's constant friend, the Rev. Thomas Lippincott. No 
inquest was held over the body — no flowers were strewn upon 
the coffin. Thus passed away Elijah Parish Lovejoy, at 
the age of thirty-five. The place of interment was in the 
eastern part of the city, where some years afterward the site 
for the Alton Cemetery was selected. In laying out the 
cemetery grounds the main avenue chanced to pass over the 
grave of Lovejoy, and his ashes were then removed to a new 
locality. The spot is now marked by a simple stone, with 
the inscription : 

Hie Jacet, 

Lovejoy, 
Jmn Farce Sepulio. 

The death of Lovejoy occasioned a profound sensation 
throughout the country, and did more to crystallize the op- 
position to slavery than any event that had yet occurred. 

At the January term, 1838, of the Municipal Court of 
the City of Alton, indictments were brought, both against 
persons who attempted to destroy the press, and those in de- 
fense of the building. The Grand Jury, of which Thomas 
G. Hawley was foreman, charged Enoch Long, Amos B. 
Roff, George H. Walworth, George H. Whitney, William 
Harned, John S. Noble, James Morse, jr., Henry Tanner, 
Roval Weller, Reuben Gerry, Thaddeus B. Hurlburt, and 
Winthrop S. Gilman, with " unlawfully, riotously, and in a 
violent and tumultuous manner," resisting an attempt to 
break up a printing-press, and to force open and enter the 
storehouse of Benjamin Godfrey and Winthrop S. Gilman. 

Winthrop S. Gilman was granted a separate trial, and 
was defended by George T. M. Davis and Alfred Cowles, 
then leading members of the Alton bar. Usher F. Linder, 
the Attorney-General of the State, assisted the prosecuting 
attorney, Francis B. Murdock, in the prosecution. It was 
shown that every act of Mr. Gilman and his associates was 
performed with the concurrence of the Mayor, and, as those 
gentlemen supposed, with the authority of law. Mr. Gil- 
man was promptly found " not guilty," and a nolle prosequi 
was then entered in the cases of his associates. 

follows :— Elijah P. Lovejoy, Amos B. Rofi; Royal Weller, William 
Harned, James Morse, jr. ; John S. Noble, Edward Breath, George H. 
Walworth, J. C. Woods, (leorge H. Whitney, Reuben Gerry, Winthrop 
S. Gilman, Enoch Long, George T. Brown, Samuel J. Thompson, H. 
D. Davis, D. F. Randall, D. Burt Loomis, Thaddeus B. Hurlburt, and 
Henrv Tanner. 




ft£SIDENC£ OF MAJOR F RAN H_ M 00 R E ^ U PP E R ALTON , I LL 




TA. 







m»^ 


, 




-J 




>i 


Jl â–  


M 



^ 



THE MOB A 
7!^ OF 



TTACHING 
NOVEMBEP 



NIGHT OF J H L 



WAREHOUSE OF GODFREY GILMAN & CO M 

AT THE TIME LOVEJOY WAS MURDERED AND HIS PRESS DESTROYED 



o 



/^^ 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



389 



The same Grand .Jury found indictments again?t John 
Solomon, Solomon Morgan, Levi Palmer, Horace Beall, 
Josiah Nutter, James Jennings, Jacob Smiih, David Butler, 
William Carr, James M. Rock, and Frederick Bruchy, for 
"unlawfully, and with force and violence," entering the 
storehouse of Benjamin Godfrey, and Winthrop S- Gilman, 
and " unlawfully, riotously, and with force and violence," 
breaking and destroying a printing-press. These men were 
also acquitted, and thus ended judicial investigation of all 
matters connected with the death of Lovejoy. 

SUBSEQUENT HISTORY. 

The commercial crash of 1837, the pro-slavery riot in 
which Lovejoy lost his life, and the collapse of the State 
railway system of which Alton was to have been the centre, 
all contributed to the downfall of the business prosperity of 
Alton, and for some years subsequent to 1837, trade was 
stagnant and property depreciated, while many of the most 
enterprising business firms met with financial ruin. About 
the year 1842, business revived again, and from that time on 
the city has had a healthy, steady, and constant growth. 

The first railroad to Alton was completed in September, 
1852. The Chicago and Mississippi railroad (now a part of 
the Chicago and Alton) extending to Springfield, began 
running at that date. To the enterprise of Benjamin God- 
frey was principally due the construction of this road. The 
road terminated several blocks from the river. St. Louis 
passengers were transferred to boats till 1861, when the com- 
pany secured railroad connection with East St. Louis by 
means of the Terre Haute and Alton road, which was used 
for their trafiic till the completion of the present line of the 
Chicago & Alton Company to East St. Louis, in 1864. 

Alton in 1853 is described by a well known writer (Gov. 
John Reynolds) as a city of twelve churches, six public free 
schools, and several private schol.istic institutions, three 
newspapers of which two were daily, with nine lawyers, 
eight ministers, ten physicians, and three large and commo- 
dious hotels Two hundred dwelling-houses and twenty 
. large stores were erected that year. Two large flouring 
mills were in operation. Between forty and fifty steam 
engines and saw mil's were made each year, and a large 
quantity of valuable agricultural machinery'. Its lime 
product was celebrated throughout the Mississippi valley. 
During the year, exclusive of the St. Louis packets, eighteen 
hundred and eighteen steamboats arrived, many of these 
boats steamers from New Orleans. The average num- 
ber of pa-ssengers between Alton and St. Louis each day 
was two hundred and ten. The penitentiary contained two 
hundred and seventy-seven prisoners. The receipt of wheat, 
corn, and oats, ranged from two hundred and fifty thousand 
to three hundred thousand bushels of each staple. Twenty- 
seven thousand head of hogs, and three thousand head of 
cattle were slaughtered and packed. 

Alton was a military pest; during (he war of the rebel- 
lion, from the beginnii/g of the year 1862 to the close of 
the war. It was garrison^atjHtlereiit times by theSi^venty- 
seventh Ohio, the Tenth Kansas, the One Hundred and 
Sixty;fi)urth Illinois and the Thirty-seventh Iowa infantry 
^..^ 



regiments, and the Fifteenth regiment of the United States 
regular army. A number of rebel prisoners, sometimes as 
many as sixteen hundred, were confined in the old peniten- 
tiary. About two hundred of them died and were buiied 
in a piece of ground near the village of North Alton. The 
small pox at one t'rae prevailed among the prisoners, and 
those attacked by this disease were taken to a hospital across 
the river. Those who died there were buried in the " tow 
head," as it is called, and since the construction of the gov- 
ernment dyke the current of the river has washed their 
graves away. 

lOWN AND CITY CHARTERS, — OFFICES. 

Alton was incorporated as a town on the 6th of February, 
1833. Previous to this the town was governed by a Board 
of Trustees, though the date at which the first organization 
was efltcted cannot now be ascertained. The Legislature 
granted a charter as a city on the 21st of Julj', 1837. An 
election was held on the 11th of September, 1877, at which 
the proposition to organize as a city under the general law 
was carried. The debt of the city on the first day of April, 
1882, was S87.525.82. The City Hall, which cost in the 
neighborhood of fifty thou.sand dollars, was completed in 
1858. The city receives from the United States five hun- 
dred dollars a year rent for the space occupied by the Post 
Oflice. 

From 1832 to 1834 Jonathan T. Hudson was president of 
the Board of Trustees; 1834-5, J. S. Lane; 1835-6, J. T. 
Hudson ; 1836-7, lienjamin K. Hart. The first election 
under the city charter was held in 1837. From that time 
until the present the following gentlemen have filled the 
office of Mayor : 

1837-8 John M. Krum. 

1838-9 Charles Howard. 

1839-40 John King. 

1840-1 Stephen (.Jriggs. 

1841-2 William Martin. 

1842-3 Samuel G. Bailey. 

1843-4 Steplien Pierson. 

1S44-6 (two terms) . George T. M. Davis. 

. 1846-7 George T. Brown. 

1847-8 Edward Keating. 

1848-9 Robert Ferguson. 

1849-51 (two terms) . Samuel Wade. 

1851-2 Henry W. Billings. 

1852-3 Thomas M. Hope. 

jJ853-4 Samuel Buckmaster. 

1854-5 O. M. Adams. 

1855-6 Samuel Wade. — 

1856-7 Joseph Brown. 

1857-8 Samuel Wade. -' 

1858-9 Lyne S. Metcalf. 

1859-60 William Post. 

1860-62 (two terms) . Lewi.s Killenberger. 

—4802-3 Samuel A. Buckmaster. ~ 

1863-6 (three terms) Edward HoIli.ster. 

1866-7 William Post. ~ 

1867-8 Silas W. Farber. 

1868-72 (four terms) James T. Drummond. 

1872-3 Lucas Pfcifii'nbergcr. 

1873-4 Charles A. Caldwell- 



390 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



1874-5 Lucas Pfeiffenlierger. 

1875-7 (two terms) . Alexander W. Hope. 

1878-9 Lucas Pt'eitrenberger. 

1879-81 Henry Brueggeraann. 

1881-83 Lucas Pfeiftenberger. 

Olher elective offices of the city are filled iu 1882 as fol- 
lows : 

Clerk James Mc?»u!ly. 

Treasurer Gustavus A. Jotsting. 

Altorney James E. Dunnegan. 

Aldermen — First Ward, G. Frank Crowe, Edward A. Burke. 

Second " Andrew Clifford, Denis Noonan. 

Tliird '' .John Curdie, John Armstrong. 

Fourth " Seth S. Hobarl, David Kyan. 

Fifih " George II. Weigler, Noah C. Halheway. 

Sixth " Louis Bissinger, Victor Bruch. 

Seventh " Joseph Murphy, Cliarles A. Herb. 

CITY COURT OF ALTON. 

The Alton City Court was organized in 1859, and its first 
session was held on the 11th of April of that year. The 
name Was changed in 1874 from the Alton City Court to 
the City Court of Alton. It has jurisdiction of all chancery 
and common law causes, except murder. Henry W. Bil- 
lings was the first judge. He was succeeded in 1866 by 
Henry S. Baker, who remained on the bench till the Sep- 
tember term, 1881, when Alexander H. Gambrill, who now 
presides over the court, became judge. On the organization 
of the court, James William Davis was clerk, and acted as 
such till 1861, when John W. Ash assumed the duties of 
the office. Patrick Ward, the present incumbent, became 
clerk in 1875. 

EARLY HOTELS. 

The best known hotel of Alton was the old Alton House, 
which occupied the corner of Front and Alby streets. A 
substantial frame building was erected on this spot in 1832 
by Jonathan T. Hudson, in which a hotel was opened under 
the name of the Alton House. Among the proprietors in 
early times were Andrew Miller, a Mr. Delaplain, Samuel 
Pitts, and Washington Libby. This building was destroyed 
by fire in 1837. Calvin Stone replaced it by a brick build- 
ing about fifty by twenty-five feet in dimensions, and three 
stories in height. About the year 1844 it came into the 
possessionof Major B.T.Burke, of Carlin villa, who remodelled 
and much enlarged it. Various parties leased it for short 
periods. It was kept for many years by Amos L. Corson, 
who was succeeded in the spring of 1866 by William Siem- 
ens, who was the proprietor till it was burned down on the 
eighth of January, 1870. 

The Franklin House was built by a Mr. Blakeley. It 
was afterward purchased by Benjamin Godfrey, who made 
additions to it. For a period of ten years George W. Fox 
was the proprietor. He was succeeded by Ephraim Bliss, 
who kept the hotel four years. Samuel Pitts was then in 
charge for six years preceding 1861. The next proprietors 
were Edward S. and Ilufus H. Lesure, and then it came into 
the possession of W. H. K. Pile. In later years it lost the dis- 
tinction it once enjoyed of being a popular and well-kept 
hotel, and was known under several differeui names. The 



building is still standing on the west side of State street, 
facing Third street. 

The Piasa House on the northeast corner of Fourth and 
Piasa streets was at one time a prominent and well patron- 
ized hotel. It was built by Judge Hezekiah Hawley pre- 
vious to the year 1835 Among its proprietors in its palmy 
days were Mrs. Wait, Mr. Reno, William Weutworth, Capt. 
William Post, Samuel Brooks, Jacob C. Bruuer, and John 
Hart and sons. In the vicinity was the old terminus of the 
railroad from Springfield, from which passengers and bag- 
gage were transferred to the boats, and its situation gave it 
a large patronage. After the railroad track was extended 
to the river and rail connection made with East St- Louis^ 
the hotel declined and was thereafter maintained in but an 
indifferent way. 

The old Union Hotel, at one time a well managed house, 
was where the first Presbyterian Church now stands, in the 
building erected by Beal Howard, in 1829. It was after- 
ward known as the Virginia House, and was destroyed by 
fire. 

CHURCHES. 

It is believed that the Rev. Thos. Lippincott preached the 
first sermon in Alton. In the winter of 1829-30, William 
Miller, Beal and Charles Howard, and a few of their neigh- 
bors, began holding religious services, first in the cooper 
shop of William Miller, and afterward in new buildings as 
they were being erected from time to time and were yet 
unoccupied. A Sabbath-school was begun in 1831. Dur- 
ing that year the Baptists and Presbyterians united in hold- 
ing services in what was then known as the Lyceum Hall. 
Rev. Hubbel Loomis was the Baptist minister, and Rev. 
Elisha Jenny, the Presbyterian. The Protestant Methodists 
had occasional services at which Charles Howard usually 
officiated. The first church edifice stood on the ttortheast 
corner of Third and Market streets, the site of the present 
Episcopal church, and was a stone building, about sixty by 
forty-five feet in size, erected through the liberality of 
Benjamin Godfrey, who granted the free use of it to both 
the religious societies, organized in Alton, the Baptist and 
Presbyterian. It was adorned by a neat cupola in which 
was a bell, the gift of Mrs. Gilman, mother of Benjamin I. 
Gilman. 

A Presbyterian church was formed on the ninth of June, 
1821, by the Rev. Daniel Gould and the Rev. Edward 
Hollister, who were employed by the Connecticut Domestic 
Missionary Society. H. H. Snow and Enoch Long w^re 
elders. In 1827, removals having reduced the membership 
to two, the church was united with the church at Ed«ards- 
ville. The present Presbyterian church was organized June 
19, 1831, by the Rev. Thomas Lippincott, with eight mem- 
bers. Enoch Long was chosen elder. From 1835 to 1845 
the congregation met in the church on the corner of Third 
and Market streets, for one year in a frame building on the 
corner of Third and Alby streets, and in June, 1846, the 
present Presbyterian church on the corner of Second and 
Market streets was dedicated. The Rev. Thomas Gordon 
is now the pastor. 

The First Baptist Church was constituted on the 10th of 



HISTORY OF MADISONCOUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



391 



March, 1833, with a membership of nineteen persons. Rev. 
Alviu Bailey was the first pastor. A church was built in 
1834, on the northeast corner of Third and Alby streets. 
In 1831) a lot was purchased for three thousand dollars at 
the northeast corner of Second and Easton streets, and a 
church erected at an additional cost of eighteen thousand 
dollars. This building burned down in March, 1860, and 
in 1861, the congregation occupied a new church at the 
corner of Fifth and Market streets. The present pastor is 
the Rev. L. A. Abbott. 

The First Methodist Episcopal church sprang from a 
Methodist class, formed in 1831, of which "William Miller 
was leader. In 1836 a frame church was purchased on the 
northeast corner of Third and Alby streets, and occupied 
five or six years. In 1814 a stone church on the northeast 
corner of Fourth and Belle streets was completed, and in 
1855 enlarged. The church on the southeast corner of 
Si.vth and Market streets was finished in 1859. The con- 
gregation is now under the care of the Rev. S. P. Groves. 

St. Paul's Protestant Episcopal church was organized in 
1836 with si.K members. The Rev. Depuy was the first 
rector, and after his departure in the fall of 1837, Owen 
Lovejoy was lay reader for several months. In 1843 the 
building and ground on the corner of Third and Market 
streets, the site of the present church, was purchased, and 
about 1850 the old building was removed and the present 
church edifice erected at a cost of thirteen thousand dollars. 
A terrible tornado in the month of June, 1860, demolished 
the tower of the church, and injured the roof, altogether 
causing damages amounting to five thousand dollars. The 
present rector is the Rev. Thomas W- Haskins, who also 
has pastoral charge of Trinity chapel. 

St. Peter's and St. Paul's Roman Catholic church. A 
frame building was erected in Upper Alton in 1838 for the 
use of the Catholic congregation, of which Rev. George 
Hamilton was pastor. The Rev. Michael Carroll undertook 
the building of a new church on the corner of Third and 
Alby streets, which was completed in 1844. This structure 
was destroyed by fire in 1854, when the building of the pre- 
sent Cathedral was commenced. In 1857 Alton was raised 
to an Episcopal See, and the Rt. Rev. Henry D. Juncker was 
consecrated as first bishop ; his death occurred in 1868, and 
the Rev. Father P. J. Baiters, formerly pastor of St Peter's 
church, Belleville, was consecrated as bishop on the twenty- 
third of January, 1870- The Rev. Charles J. Zeiwisler is 
now the pastor. 

The German Evangelical Church was established in 1850. 
The church is situated on Henry street. The Rev. Carl 
Becker, pastor. 

The Unitarian church was organized in 1853. After the 
burning of the Catholic church on the corner of Third and 
Alby streets, in 1854, the ground was purchased by the 
Unitarians who, using the same walls, completed the present 
church building The Rev. J. Fisher is the pastor. 

The First Cumberland Presbyterian church was organized 
with SBveateen m^rabsrs in June, 1855. Their present 
church building, at the corner of Twelfth and Henry streets, 
was completed in 1856. 



The German Methodist church was organized about ]8.j8. 
The church is on Union street, and the congregation is 
under the care of the Rev. Louis Harmel. 

St. Mary's Catholic church, the congregation which is 
composed of German Catholics, was completed in 1859. 
The tornado of June, 1800, destroyed the church building, 
and also the school-house and priest's residence adjoining. 
A larger and finer building was then erected, and was dedi- 
cated in 1861. The Rev. Peter Peters is pastor. 

The Congregational church was organized in 1870. The 
church edifice is on the corner of Sixth and Henry streets. 
The Rev. E G. Chaddock is pastor. 

A large Union mission Sunday-school was organized in 
185S, under the care of the Young Men's Christian Asso- 
ciation. For several months its meetings were held in the 
upper story of a building known as Hunter's tavern; after- 
wards in a vacant store owned by Major Charles AV". Hunter, 
on Second street near Henry ; and then in Weigler's Hall, 
at the corner of Second and Henry streets. A larg'i mission 
Sunday-school is now carried on in Hunterstown under the 
care of the Baptists and one on State street in charge of the 
Presbyterians. 

There are two churches maintained by the colored popula- 
tion. The Union Baptist church was organized about 1840, 
and occupies a church edifice at the corner of Seventh and 
George streets. The Rev J. T. Pierman is pastor. 

The African Methodist Episcopal is on Third street be- 
tween Henry and Riilge streets, and the pastor is the Rev. 
W. H. Beckley. 

ALTON AND ST. LOUIS PACKETS. 

The first steamer to begin making regular trips as a packet 
between Alton and St. Louis, not the " Tiskilwa, " in the 
year 1833. This boat then carried the mail. She was 
named after an Indian chief, and after leaving the Alton 
and St. Louis trade was sunk in 1836, in collision with the 
steamer Wisconsin. The "Alpha" in 1837 was the next 
boat to begin running as a regular packet. She was suc- 
ceeded by the Eagle, commanded by captains Wilson, Reed, 
and Clay, of St. Louis. In 1843 this boat was bought by 
captain William P. Laraothe, of Alton. In January, 1844, 
captain Lamothe, in connection with Messrs. Starnes & 
Springer of St. Louis, built the "Luella. " In 1845 Frink 
& Walker, of Chicago, proprietors of stage lines, placed in 
opposition to the " Luella, " the " Governor Briggs, " cap- 
tain James E. Starr, and the two boats soon came to be the 
property of one joint-.stock company. In 1848 Messrs. S. 
& P. Wise with captain Thomas G. Starr and other citizens 
of Alton, bought the " Tempest, " with which an opposition 
line was started. At that time the fare between Alton and 
St. Louis was one dollar. The year 1849 witnessed a warm 
competition between the two lines. The old company de- 
termined to sharply oppose the '' Tempest, " and captain 
George E. Hawley of the "Luella," cut down the fare to 
seventy-five cents, then to fifty, then to twenty-five, 
then to ten cents, and finally carried passengers without 
charge and freight for nearly nothing. The " Tempest" 
was prompt to meet these reductions, and lively times be 



392 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



tweeu the two rival lines were experienced during the sum- 
msr of 1849. Each boat carried a ban 1 of music and left 
at the sam3 hour. Eich was anxious to make better time 
than its rival, and rosin and turpentine were burnt freely 
with the wood for fuel. At that time there was no law re- 
Etricliug engineers as to the amouut of steam they should 
carry. After furnishing cheap transportation for several 
months, the owners of the boats came to the conclusion that 
a better way could be devised for the management of their 
business, and consolidated their interests. The " Luella" 
ran in the trade during the spring of 1850, and the "Tem- 
pest, " the balance of the year, and the whole of the year 
1851. Frink & Walter sold their interest in the company 
to captain Joseph Brown, who in partnership with S. & P. 
Wise and Gaty, McClune & Co., of St. Louis, bui't the 
" Altona, " which began running in December, 1851, and 
was then the fastest boat on the western waters. She made 
the run from St. Louis to Alton in one hour and thirty- 
seven minutes, which for many years afterward stood as the 
fastest time ever made on the river from St. Louis to Alton. 
In September, 1852, the Chicago & Mississippi railroad 
company, on the completion of their road from Springfield 
to Alton, purchased the Altona, Capt. D C Adams, and 
the " Cornelia," Capt, Lamothe, for the accommodation of 
their freight and passenger traffic between Alton and St. 
Louis. Two trips were made each day. The Cornelia sank 
in December, 1853, and the Altona the first day of January 
1854. The "St. Paul," Capt. Lamothe, then did all the 
business till March, 1854, when the " Keindeer," Capt. 
Adams, and the " Winchester," Capt. John A Bruner, were 
added to the line. These boats did not prove profitable in- 
vestments, and were sold, J. J. & W. Mitchell, W. P. 
Lamothe, Joseph Brown, and Gaty, McCune & Co. becom- 
'ing the purchasers and agreeing to do the business of the 
railroad between the two points. There were some changes 
of ownership in 1857, when we find the company with three 
boats, the Reindeer, Baltimore and York State. The Rein- 
deer sank November 10th, 1857; September 10th, 1859, 
the York State sank ; in October of the same year the 
" David Tatum " was purchased, and the following Decem- 
ber witnessed the end of Baltimore ; she sank like her com- 
panion boats. Several different boats were then chartered 
until the company built the femous ' City of Alton," Capt. 
George E Hawley, which went into service in the fall of 
1860. About the time of the breaking out of the war the 
railroad company began sending their passer gers through by 
rail over the Alton k Terre Haute railroad (the present In- 
dianapolis & St- Louis) when the " City of Alton " was with- 
drawn, and ran South from St. Louis in command of Capt. 
AVilliam Barnes. In June, 1862, the company bought the 
" B. M. Runyan," Capt. James S. Bellas, which ran between 
Alton and St. Louis till 1864, when she also went South and 
sank on the 2lst of July, proving a total loss. The 
'• David Tatum" was then brought into requisition. Mean- 
while, the Chicago & Alton railroad company (the old 
Chicago and Mississippi) had extended their road to St. 
Louis, and all the railroad freight was taken from the boat 
toward the close of the year 1864. The Tatum continued 



to run during January and February, 1865, but not prov- 
ing profitable, she was withdrawn, and the Alton trade 
abandoned to the through line packets. 

After a month or more Capt. John A. Bruner, in connec- 
tion with Tunstall & Holmes and others of St. Louis, began 
running the " May A. Bruner. " In the summer of 1865 
the " South Wester " was purchased, and ran between Alton 
and St. Louis, till the winter of 1868-9, when the company 
built the Belle of Alton which was in service between Alton 
and St. Louis, in the fall of 1871, when she was sent South, 
and was burned at New Orleans, on the 28th of March, 
1872. The Schuyler, in the fall of 1871, supplied the place 
of the Belle of Alton, and ran till the next year. In 1872, 
the Illinois River Packet Company placed the Illinois in 
the Alton and St. Louis trade, and she ran about two years 
and a half. In March, 1874, Capt. John A. Bruner, pur- 
chased the De Smet and started her in opposition to the 
Illinois, which was now taken off. In the summer of 1874 
the Eagle Packet company began business, and shortly 
afterward Capt. Bruner and this company con.solidated their 
interests, and have since at different times ran the " De 
Smet," the " Bald Eagle," and the " Spread Eagle," be- 
tween St. Louis, Alton, and Grafton. 

THE ALTON CEMETERY. 

The grounds now embraced in the Alton Cemetery, in the 
eastern part of the city, were formerly the property of 
Major C'harles W. Hunter, and had been used for burial 
purposes from a date early in the history of Alton. In 
March, 1845, the mayor and common council of the city of 
Alton, and their successors in office, were incorporated as 
the " Alton Cemetery," and the grounds remained under 
their control till 1875, when they were transferred to an asso- 
ciation, incorporated under the name and title of the 
" 2Vlton Cemetery," of which all the lot owners were made 
members. The present officers of the association are : 
Charles A. Caldwell, president, and H. J. Crane, secretary 
and treasurer. This association agreed to assume the old 
indebtedness and enlarge the grounds, which now comprise 
about twenty acres. Here is the grave of Elijah P. Love- 
joy. In laying out an avenue the removal of his remains 
was made necessary, and they now lie about one hundred 
feet from the place of their original interment. A lot has 
been set apart for a monument which the Lovejoy Monument 
Association design erecting to his memory, and to this part 
of the cemetery it is intended to remove his ashes when the 
monument shall have been built. The cemetery contains the 
graves of one hundred and sixty-four United States soldiers 
who died at Alton during the war of the Rebellion. They 
belonged to the Seventy-seventh Ohio, the Tenth Kansas 
and the One Hundred and Sixty-fourth Illinois, and the 
Thirty-seventh Iowa infantry regiments, and the Fifteenth 
regiment United States regulars. 

****** 

There are two Catholic cemeteries, with commodious and 
handsomely arranged grounds, in which numerous inter- 
ments have been made. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



393 



NEWSFAPEliS. 

Four newspapers are published iu Alton. The Alton 
Tdegraph is a daily and weekly paper, W. T. Norton, 
editor and proprietor. Perriu & Smith are editors and 
proprietors of the Alton Dcni'icrat, published daily and 
weekly. The Alton Banner is a weekly German paper. 
The Madison County Sentinel is issued weekly by J. J. Mc- 
Inerney. 

PUBLIC LIBRARY. 

The Alton Library Association was organized in 1852. 
Among the members were : P- W. Randle, Norton Johnson, 
W. T. Miller, A. S. Barry, Harvey Baruett, Isaac Scarrilt, 
W. H. Turner, A. G. Walford, L. S. Metcalf and S. W. 
Robbins. A small collection of books was made, which, in 
February, 1866, was sold at public auction and purchased 
by a number of the ladies of Alton for the sum of one 
hundred and sixty-five dollars. In 1869, the constitution of 
the association was amended, and twelve ladies elected to 
manage the library. In April, 1871, the room in the City 
Hall, now used for the post-ofBce, was obtained for the 
library and fitted up at the expense of the association. In 
February, 1876, the library was moved into the rooms now 
occupied, and the following April a free reading-room was 
established. There are about five thousand volumes in the 
library. The library rooms are open on Wednesday and 
Saturday afternoons of each week. Books may be taken 
out on the payment of an annual subscription fee of two 
dollars and a half The present officers are : Mrs. R. G 
Perley, jjresident ; Mrs. J. P. Laird, vice-president; Mrs. C. 
L. Wright, corresponding secretary ; Mrs. M. F. Topping, 
recording secretary. Miss Florence Dolbee is the librarian, 
and Mrs. C. M. Crandellat the head of the book committee. 

SECRET AND BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES. 

Masonic. — The history of Free Masonry iu Alton began, 
with the organization of the Franklin Lodge, No. 25, in 
1837, uuder the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. 
There was at that time no Grand Lodge in the State of Illi- 
nois. The charter members in Franklin Lodge were Jacob 
C. Bruner, Samuel C. Price, Jabez Carter, J. A. Langdou, 
John A. Maxey, H. S. Summers, J. D. Combs, A. Hart, 
Charles Howard, and R. McFarland ; Charles Howard was 
the first Master. This was the first Masonic Lodge insti- 
tuted in Madison county. It remained under the Missouri 
Grand Lodge till 1844, when the Grand Lodge of Illinois 
was formed. It was removed to Upper Alton in 1843, where 
it has since maintained a useful and active existence. Piasa 
Lodge, No. 27, was granted a charter in October, 1844. 
Among those interested in its establishment were John 
Bailhache, Samuel G. Bailey, and David Allen. The last 
named was the first Master. Alton Lodge, No. 284, was 
chartered in October, 1SL8, and is not now in operation. In 
October, 1859, Erwin Lodge, No. 315, was instituted, 
composed largely of Masons of Germaa nationality. 

Howard Chapter, No. 8, Royal Arch Masons, was char- 
tered in Upper Alton, where it met till November, 1851, 
when it was removed to Alton. The name was changed to 
Alton chapter in 1852 Alton Council, No. 3, of Royal and 



Select jSIasters was established in Feb. 18-53, by charter 
from the Grand Council of Kentucky. Belvidere Comman- 
dery, No. 2, Knights Templar, was instituted in September, 
1853. The charter members were Josiah Hunt, B. J. Kirk- 
ham, J. W. Schweppe, and William H. Tarner. Constau- 
tine Conclave, No. 10. Red Cross Knights of Rome and 
Constantine meet at Alton. 

Independent Order of Odd Fellows. — Alton was the early 
home of Odd-Fellowship in Illinois. The first Lodge of Odd 
Fellows in the State was organized here about the year 
1837, and was known as Western Star Lodge, No. 1. Past 
Grand Sire — Wildey, the founder of this order in the United 
Stales, visited Alton, and to his labors is largely due the in- 
troduction of Odd Fellowship in Illinois. Shortly afterward 
Alton Lodge, No. 2, was formed. The third Lodge iu the 
State was Clark Lodge, No. 3, in Greenville, iu Bond county. 
The Grand Lodge of Illinois held its fir.st ses-sion at Alton 
in August, 1838. Among those connected with the early 
history of the order in Alton, were John R. Woods, James 
E. Starr, John R. Batterton, John P. Ash, and John M. 
Krum. The Lodge of Odd Fellows in Alton, chiefly on ac- 
count of extravagant expenditures became embarrassed, and 
ceased work in October, 1839, and with them the Grand 
Lodge of the State. The Grand Lodge was reorganized in 
March, 1842. Western Star Lodge, No. 1, was never re- 
vived, but Alton Lodge, No. 2, resumed work, and is now in 
active existence. The Encampment was instituted at Alton 
in July, 183S. It soon afterward suspended operations, and 
was re-opened in June, 1850. The bodies of Odd Fellows 
now in existence in Alton, are Alton Lodge, No. 2, Germa- 
nia Lodge, No. 299, and Wildey Encampment, No. 1. 

The Knights of Pythias are represented by Fleur de LyS 
Lodge, No. 68 ; the Kuiglits of Honor by Alton Lodge, No. 
920. There are also lodges of the Independent Order of 
Mutual Aid and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. 
Other organizations are Alton Turn Verein, the German 
Benevolent Society, Lodge of Hope and Alton lodges of 
the Order of Harugari, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, 
and the Catholic Total Abstinence Society. 

STREET CAR AND OMNIBUS LINES. 

A street car line, making hourly trips between Alton and 
Upper Alton, has been in operation since December, 1868. 
A line of omnibuses furnishes communication between Alton 
and North Alton. The city is supplied with gas, the works 
for the manufacture of which were erected in 1855. 

ALTON WATER WORKS COMPANY. 

This company was incorporated in 1875, with a capital 
stockof S15l»,000, and completed the present water works 
after the city had expended fifty thousand dollars in their 
construction. These works were placed in operation on the 
twenty-ninth of January, 1876. and have a capacity of four 
million gallons per day. Two powerful engines at the river 
pump the water to a reservoir, situated on one of the highest 
points in the city, at an elevation of two hundred and 
seventy-five feet above the Mississippi, whence the water is 
distributed. The completion of these works gave Alton 



304 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



superior means of estinguishiug fires. So strong is the 
pressure in the lower part of the city that ten streams of 
water have been thrown at one time to the height of one 
luindred and fifty feet. The use of steam fire engines has 
thus been made unueeessary. All the stock of this com- 
j>any is now owned by Henry Watson. 

TUE FIRE DEPAKTMENT 

Consists of a chief engineer, assistant, and a force of men 
strong enough to man the two hose carriages owned by the 
city. Tiiero are two engine-houses, one on Market street 
and the other on Second street. 

THE rniyciPAL maxufactures of altox. 

Alton has many advantages as a manufacturing pointy 
among which are excellent railroad and river facilities, cheap 
fuel, and a healthy and advantageous locatiou in the midst 
of a rich and productive region of country. 

THE ILLIXOIS GLASS COMPASY 

Is the largest and most important manufacturing establish- 
ment. Glass works were started on Belle sti'eet, of which 
in Se[>tember, 1873, the Illinois Glass Company, William 
Eliot Smith, president, became the owner. In 1876 the 
works were removed to their present location, between the 
line of the Chicago and AJton railroad aud the river, in the 
lower part of the city. At that date there was only one 
building. The second glass-house was erected in 1877, the 
tiiird in 1830, and the fourth in 18S2. Four hundred and 
tlf[y hands have been employed, and on the completion of 
the prujected improvements this force will be increased to 
six hundred. The production has largely consisted of green 
aud amber bottles, which have been sold extensively through- 
out the We^t. A larger amount of this class of goods has 
been made here than at any other factory in the United 
States. It is also proposed to begin the manufacture of 
flint-glassware. The sand used is brought from Pike county, 
forty miles up the Mississippi, opposite Cap-au-Gris, Mis- 
souri. The value of the production in 1881 was $450,000, 
which will be increased to §650,000. William Eliot Smith 
is the owner. The works occupy three acres of ground. 

HAPGOOD PLOW COSIPA>T. 

This company has a large brick building on Front aud 
Henry streets, and employ about one hundred hands. 
Riding plows, walking plows, aud cultivators are manu- 
factured. The implements made have a just reputation for 
excellence, are sold everywhere throughout the West, and 
the manufacturers have been uuable to supply the constantly 
increasing demand. Charles H. Hapgood previously car- 
ried on the business in Chicago and St. Louis, where, iu 
each city, his works were destroyed by fire. The factory 
was established at Alton in 1874. The company was incor- 
porated iu December, 1879, with a capital stock of $150,000. 
The president is Charles H. Hapgood ; the vice-president, 
J. P. Black ; the trea urer, F. H. Ferguson ; and the secre- 
tary, Thomas Bates. 



THE ALTOS AGRICCLTCRAL WORKS 

Manufacture threshing machines, horse powers, and dif- 
ferent agricultural implements. With the machine shop 
a foundry is connected. When in active operation seventy- 
five or eighty men are employed. The works are now owned 
by Andrew T. Hawley. They were first started by N. Han- 
sou about 1840. 

ALTOX CITY JIILLS. 

The Alton city mills came into the possession of E. O. 
Stanard & Co., in March, 1881. Since then important im- 
provements have been made, and the capacity enlarged, so 
that now the mill is the largest and most complete in Madi- 
son county. There are thirty-two sets of rolls, and flour is 
manufactured by the latest improved process. Among the 
well-known brands are "Stanard's Eoyal Patent," " Alton 
City ]\IilI Roller Process," " Burbridge's Best," " Stanard's 
Best" and "Eagle Steam." The best grades of flour are 
shipped directly to the Ei^st, and shipments are also made to 
the European markets. The power is furnished by a new 
Corliss engine. The mill building is one hundred by one 
hundred aud twenty feet in dimensions, with a warehouse 
fifty by one hundred feet. The shipping facilities are ex- 
cellent, cars of the Chicago aud Alton, and Indianapolis 
and St. Louis railroads, running alongside the mill. The 
capacity is seven hundred barrels every twentj'-four hours. 
Thirty-one hands are employed. 

NATIOXAL ROLLER MILLS. — D. R. SPARKS & CO. 

These mills have a capacity of five hundred barrels a day. 
The new roller process was adopted in February, 1S82, aud 
superior grades of flour are now manufactured. The leading 
brands are the " Armadale " and " Roller C A. Process " 
There are twenty three setts of rolls. Five run of burrs 
were retained, aud are sometimes used. A Harriss Corliss 
engine of two hundred horse-power runs the machinery. 
Eighteen men are employed. The building is constructed of 
brick and stone, is ninety-five by one hundred feet in di- 
mensions, and four stories in height with a basement. 

EMPIRE MILLS. 

The E u^)ire Mills, of which Matthew Wilkinson is pro- 
prietor, are ruu on the custom plan, aud have a capacity of 
fifty barrels of wheat fljur per day. There are two run of 
burrs, one used for grinding wheat, and the other corn. 
Four men are employed. 

MADISON MtLI^. 

The Madison Mills, in Bozzatown, are owned by Oliver 
B. Ground. The mills have three run of burrs, two used 
for wheat, and one for corn, and can manufiicture fifty or 
si.xty barrels of flour every twenty-four hours, aud about one 
hundred barrels of mjal. H.ilf-a-doz9u miu are employed. 
The best grades of flour find a maiket in Alton. On 
Tuesdays and Saturdays custom work is done, and the rest 
of the week is devoted to merchant milling. 

DRUMMOXD TOBACCO COMPANY. 

This factory was established in 1862, by Myers it Pierce- 



HISTORY 01 MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



395 



The firm afterward became Myers & Drummond, nud ia 
1873, Dausman & Drummond. In 1876, the company was 
incorporated as the Dausman & Drummond Tobacco Com- 
pany with a capital stock of SHiU.OilO. lu 1879 the name 
was changed to the Drummond Tobacco Company. The 
officers are John N. Drummond, president, Charles H. Ean- 
dle, secretary and treasurer and J. T. Drummond, general 
superintendent. These gentlemen, with John E. Hayuer, 
are the owners of the stock. The works occupy a three story 
brick building, eighty by one hundred feet, on the corner of 
Front and Alton streets, with a warehouse, fort3'-one by 
eighty feet, on the corner of Second and Alton streets- Three 
hundred and fifty hands are employed, and about three 
million pounds of plug tobacco, valued at $1,500,000, are 
manufactured annually. The same company also carry on a 
factory in St. Louis, started in 1880, which has a capacity 
of five million pounds each year. 

ALTON BOX MANUFACTUKING COMPANY. 

The box factory, now operated by this company on the 
Mississippi above Alton, was established by John E. llay- 
ner iu 187"2, and in 1877 the present company was formed, 
and iu 1880 was incorporated with a capital stock of thirty 
thousand dollars. The president is G. R. Allen, the secre- 
tary, J. M. Ryrie, and the treasurer, John E. Hayner. The 
company also own a saw mill, which partly furnishes the 
lumber used in the manufacture of boxes. Forty-five hands 
are employed in the saw mill, and three million five hundred 
thousand feet of sycamore and cottonwood lumber are sawn 
annually. In the box factory from eighty to one hundred 
hands are kept at work. Boxes of sycamore for plug to- 
bacco, are the principal goods manufactured, though tobacco 
butts, cracker boxes and barrel headings are also turned out. 
This is one of the largest box factories in the West, and the 
boxes are shipped to towns along the Mississippi river from 
Burlington to New Orleans. 

MACHINE SHOP — GEORGE D. HAYDEN. 

The machine shop of George D. Hayden was established in 
1872; it now employs thirteen men, and has the re])utation of 
turning out work of a superior character. Repairs to 
stationary and portable steam engines are made a specialty, 
and attention is paid to plumbing, gas, steam and water fit- 
ting. The shop is on Second street, between Piasa and 
State. 

THE ANTON FOUNDRY AND MACHINE SHOP, 

Is carried on by the firm of Brunner & Duncan. Orders 
are executed for engines, flouring mills, saw mills, pumps, 
pulleys, shafting, water pipes, brass work and fittings of 
all kinds. A specialty is made of coal-mining machinery. 

ALTON PLANING MILL, 

Was established by the firm of Martin & Boals, in 18G4, 
and moved to the present location on Second street, 
between Spring and Walnut, in 1872. The building now 
occupied was erected by the Indianapolis and St. Louis 
railroad as a car factory. M. H. Boals is the pr<sent 
proprietor. Sash, doors, blinds, frames, mouldings and 



brackets are made, principally for the home market. The 
mill furnishes work for twenty-fivo men. 

WHEELOCK & GINTEK, 

Also carry on the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds, 
brackets, mouldings and stair rails at their planing mill 
on Front street, between George and Langdon. This 
establishment began operations in 1866 under the same 
management as now. Twelve hands are employed. 

CARRIAGES AND WAGONS. 

The wagon and carriage factory of Charles Rodemeyer 
was established by his father, Charles Rodemeyer, in 1854. 
Forty-five men are employed in the establishment, and all 
kinds of wagons, buggies and carriages are made. The 
annual sales amount to about 830,000. Daniel Miller 
manufactures carriages exclusively, and emploj's twenty- 
five hands. His factory is at the corner of Fifth and 
Belle streets, and began operations in 1869. William 
Rodemeyer is engaged iu the manufacture of buggies and 
carriages at the corner of Fourth and State streets. Wagons 
are also made by Nick. Seibold, George Luft and J. H. 
Koehne, on Belle street, and Joseph Amman, in Hunters- 
town. 

COOPERAGE. 

Cooper establishments are carried on by William Arm- 
strong, Adam Gundall, Jacob & Thomas Jun, Fred Holfert, 
John Ubelhack and Henry Laux. The most of these are iu 
the lower town. The largest shops are those of Armstrong 
and Gundall. Flour, apple and lime barrels comprise the 
principal articles made, for which a strong and constant 
home demand exists. 

LIME. 

William Armstrong has four kilns for the manufacture 
of lime, and produces from one hundred thousand to 
two hundred and fifty thousand barrels each year. Cop- 
pinger & Biggins have one kiln, and make about forty 
thousand barrels annually. There is another kiln in opera- 
tion, recently owned by Theodore Dietz. The stone found 
about Alton is a very pure carbonate of lime, and burns 
into the best and whitest lime made in the country. It has 
won a wide reputation throughout the West for its excellence, 
and the Alton manufacturers ship to different points in Illi- 
nois, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska. 

EARTHENWARE. 

J. Wilhelm & Co., established themselves iu the manu- 
facturing of earthenware iu Alton in 1855, in a stone build- 
ino- used during the Mexican war as headquarters for the 
quartermaster's department. They employ in their business 
a capital of about 83000. Their supply of clay is obtained 
from Whitehall and North Alton. 

BRICK MANUFACTORIES. 

J. Henry Hellrung pursues the manufacture of brick, a 
business handed him from his father. At present the capacity 
of his works is about a half million per annum. 

Ernest N. Ftldwick, brick manufacturer, employs from 



396 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



ten to fifteen men, and manufactures a million bricks an- 
nually. 

Thomas Corbctt coniraenced the manufacture of brick in 
1869. Gives employment to eighty men and turns out 600, 
000 bricks annually. 

STONE QUARRIES. 

Henry Watson commenced the quarrying of stone in 
1859. His business has assumed large proportions, giving 
employment to seventj'-five hands, and aggregating about 
$150,000 per annum. 

James Bannon's quarries have been in operation about 
fifteen years. They give employment to an average of 
twenty men. 

THE ALTON CIDER VINEGAR AND FRUIT EVAPORATING 
COMPANY, 

Began operations in the summer of 1881. Large quantities 
of dried fruit are manufactured by Williams' evaporators, 
according to the Alden process. The works are on William 
street, between Wall and Fourth streets, and are owned by 
John A. Bruner. 

BREWERIES. 

There are two breweries in Alton, that of John Jehle, 
between Alton and North Alton, called the Alton 
Brewery. This makes about four thousand barrels of 
beer every year. The product is sold mostly in Alton, and 
small towns within a radius of a dozen miles. The bluff 
City brewery, of which James Carr is proprietor, is situated 
in the lower part of the city. This is the old Yeckel brewery, 
the first ever started in Alton. 



Are manufactured by John A. Neiuinger, Henry Bruegge- 
mann, Kranz Bros , George Mold, and Frank C. Pelot, Jr. 

SODA AND MINERAL WATERS. 

The following gentlemen are engaged in the manufacture 
of soda and mineral waters : Schmidt and Knecht, also, 
Christopher Weisbach. 

ALTON STONE, BALLAST, AND MACADAM COMPANY. 

This company, composed of Henry Watson, William 
Armstrong, and William Huskinson, in February 1881, put 
in operation a crusher to reduce the limestone rock of the 
bluflf, above Alton, to a size suitable for macadam and bal- 
last purposes. The crusher is one of the largest in use. 
Twenty car-loads of crushed stone can be furnished daily. 
The company, in the spring of 1882, furnished stone with 
which to ballast the Chicago and Alton railroad from Alton 
to East St. Louis. The capital invested in the works is 
about twelve thousand dollars. 

Supervisors. — The following gentlemen have represented 
Alton in the board of supervisors : C. A. Herb, H. C. 
Sweetzer, John M. Tonsor, 1876-77 ; William Hayden, R. 
C. Berry, John M. Ton.sor, C A. Herb, 1877-78 ; G. D. 
Hayden, C. A. Herb, C. Ryan, J. M. Tonsor, 1878-79 ; N. 
E. Hatheway, F. H. Ullrich, William Hayden, J. M. Ton- 



sor, 1879-80; N. E. Hatheway, F. W. Joesting, J. M. 
Tonsor, G. D. Hayden, 1880-81 ; I. E. Hardy, F. W. 
Joesting, J. J. Mcluerney, J. M. Tonsor, 1881-82 ; John 
A. Bruner, J. M. Tonsor, F. H. Ullrich, James M. Cotter, 
1882-83. 

UPPER ALTON. 

Upper Alton sprang into existence about the same time 
as Alton, though in the earlier years of its history it had a 
more vigorous growth than its rival by the river. Joseph 
Meacham, a native of the State of Vermont, who came to 
Illinois in 1811, was the original proprietor, and surveyed 
the site of the town into lots in the year 1817. He proposed 
to dispose of these lots by lottery, each ticket entitling the 
holder to one lot, or thirty acres more or less. For some 
years there was considerable trouble with the titles. Mea- 
cham, who pre-empted the land,had only paid the land office 
one fourth of ihe amount due. Under the rules of the Land 
Office, then in force, he received a certificate of entry, and 
was entitled to a j^atent on jjayment of the balance of tlie 
purchase money. Subsequently he became financially em- 
barrassed and unable to pay his debts, and assigned his cer- 
tificate to James W. Whitney, Erastus Brown, John Allen, 
and Ebenezer Hodges, who paid the balance due the Land 
Office, and obtained a j)atent. Meanwhile Ninian Edwards 
and Charles W. Hunter had procured judgments against 
Meacham, and sold under execution a number of lots for which 
deeds had been given by j\Ieacham while he held the certi- 
ficate of entry. • Litigation followed, and a compromise was 
finally made by which Whitney, Brown, Allen, and Hodges, 
and Edwards and Hunter, divided the most of the lots be- 
tween them, while the original purchaser was crowded out 
entirely. 

For some years after 1817 Upper Alton (it was then 
simply known by the name of Alton), both in population and 
the character of its improvements, surpassed the Alton laid 
out by Easton.* 

Among the early settlers were : Dr. Augustus Langworthy, 
Ebenezer Hodges, James W. Whitney, Robert Sinclair, 
Elisha Dodge, William Kessler, Benjamin Spencer, Heze- 
kiah H. Gear, Isaac Woodburn, Benjamin Steadman, David 
Smith, George Smith, Erastus Brown, the Rev. Bennett 
Maxey, John A. Maxey, John Seeley, Nathaniel Pinckard, 
William G. Pinkcard, John Allen, Willis Webb, Benjamin 
Hail, Samuel Delaplain, Henry P. Ruudle, Alauson S. 
Wells, Jonathan Brown, Ephraim Marsh, Levi McNeil, 
Thomas Allen, Zachariah Allen, Shadrach Brown, William 
Heath, Daniel Crume, Enoch Long and Joel Finch. 

James W. Whitney was a lawyer, and for some years pre- 
vious to his death was the oldest member of the bar in the 
state. He died in Adams county at the age of eighty-five. 
He was familiarly called " Lord Coke." Among the papers of 
George Churchill was found this memorandum : " Whitney 

* Meacham, after founding Upper Alton, had purchased whatw.as 
known as the Bates farm, and projected a town whicli he advertised 
as Alton on the river. Major Charles W. Hunter became interested 
in (his last enterprise in 1818, .and out of it grew Ilunterstown, now 
incorporated in the city of ."Vlton. 



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PLACES OF PUBLIC INTEREST, ALTON^ILL. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



397 



13 a Yankee, from the viciuity of Boston, and came to this 
country in 1800. Has been two thousand five hundred miles 
up the Missouri, and was taken prisoner by the Indians." Dr. 
Augustus Langworthy had come to Illinois from Vermont. 
On the establishment of the po.st-office in 1818 he was ap- 
pointed postmaster. The office was then called Alton, 
and was supplied by a weekly mail, carried on horseback, 
on a route from Carlyle to St. Charles, Missouri, crossing | 
the MJesissippi at Alton. Dr. Erastus Brown had the first 1 
drug store in the town, and the Rev. Bennett Maxey was 
the first minister of the Gospel. John Allen and Benjamin 
Spencer filled the office of justices of the peace in 1818, and 
Willis Webb and Benjamin Hail served the same year as 
constables. Robert Sinclair was deputy sheriflT. He was 
shrewd, eccentric, and illiterate. He was found guilty of 
complicity in a robbery, and though present when the ver- 
dict was rendered, escaped before the officials could secure ' 
him. He fled to Arkan.sas, there became popular, and was 
elected a member of the State Legislature. 

Bennett Maxey, Erastus Brown, Isaac Waters, and Zach- 
ariah Allen, laid out the town of Salu, adjoining Upper 
Alton * 

One of the early residents of Upper Alton, who came to 
the place in 1818, describes the town on his arrival as a little 
village of log cabins. There was one store kept by Shad. 
Brown in a little log house in the extreme south part of the 
town. It was a general store, but with a very poor and 
small stock of goods. There was a double log cabin, in one 
room of which whiskey was kept for sale, and in the other 
was the only hotel in the place. William Morris was the 
proprietor. There was one small frame building, erected by 
Benjamin Spencer, and used by him as a shop. 

The first school-house was a small log cabin, about four- 
teen feet square. 

*An advertisement in the Edwardsville Spectator, in 1S20, 
S2ts forth the advantages of Salu, and gives the reason for the laying 
out of the town. It is as follows : 

" When it is considered that the Missipsipi river is bounded on the 
east by alluvial land, from four to seven miles in width, beginning at 
the mouth of the Kaskaskia River, and extending to two miles above 
the junction of the Missouri River, a distanceof eighty or one hundred 
miles, has nowhere in this distance a permanent or rocky shore, but 
overflows the country in unusually high freshets— and when it is 
considered that from the termination of this alluvial land, at which 
place the town of Alton is situated, to the mouth of the Illinois river, 
the shore of the Mississippi is a perpendicular rock, from one to two 
hundred feet high, with only here and there a narrow break admitting 
a few small streams of water to flow into the Mississippi, but not pre- 
senting anywhere a situation for a town — and when it is also consi- 
dered that the eastern bank of the Illinois river for some distance is 
rocky and broken, and then it becomes low bottom land for more than 
two hundred miles from the mouth of the river, the mind is irresistibly 
led to the opinion that the town of Alton is situated on a conunandirg 
and important site, there being nowhere else on the eastern bank of the 
Mississippi and Illinois rivers, formore than three hundred miles, a good 
situation for a town. This opinion is drawn from the advantage this 
place may receive from the navigation of those rivers. Let us look 
forward only a few years when the internal navigation shall be com- 
pleted from the Hudson through the Lakes to the Mississippi, and the 
importance of this station for a great commercial town will be more 
fullv appreciated. 
51 



The floor was of rough-hewn, split logs, laid in a manner 
as rough as the material. This structure stood in the south 
part of the town, and was soon supplanted by another 
building more centrally located on the street, or road, lead- 

''The surrounding country equals in richness of soil and agricul- 
tural advantages the most fertile portion of the western country. In 
addition to the foregoing considerations, freestone, lime-stone, and 
stone coal abound in great abundance in the neighborhood of these 
places, and by reference to the actual survey of this state, Alton is 
found to be nearly due West from Vandalia, the seat of government 
The Mississippi at this point is fifteen miles nearer that town than 
any other navigable water of the state, excepting the Kaskaskia river 
which is navigable to Vandalia, only two or three months in the 
year." 

" But even here, although the bank is rocky, the river is easy of 
access, and there is a good boat landing or harbor, the land is for more 
than one mile back broken and uneven, interspersed with hilU and 
sink-holes. Therefore, the site for the town of Salu is considered 
more eligible than others which can be selected on the waters of the 
Illinois and Mississippi rivers. This town is situated on the first high, 
rolling, and commanding ground from the river in section six, in town 
five north, and range nine west, of the third principal meridian, ad- 
joining, and north of Upper Alton, in the County of Madison, and 
State of Illinois. There are no ponds, nor stagnant waters, the source 
of so much disease in this country in this town, nor in its vicinity, 
but it is well supplied with springs of pure water." 

" The great road leading from the East through this state to the 
Missouri territory, the Boon's Lick, and Silt River countries, runs 
through this town, and crosses the Mississippi at the well-known 
Smeltzer's Ferry. This road will be made to fork at this town, and 
run also to Fountain Ferry, at Lower Alton. These two ferries are 
the only ones of any importance that can ever be established on the 
Mississippi between the Illinois and Missouri rivers. The great Na- 
tional Road, running from the city of Washington westwardly, must 
neces-sarily cross one or the other of these ferries, when it shall be ex- 
tended to Missouri and the Rocky Mountains The important road 
leading from the South to the military boimty lands in the fork of 
the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, and to the Sangarao country, must, 
from the peculiar make of the land, either on the West or on the East, 
run through this town." 

" Good mechanics of moral, industrious habits, and respectable men 
of other occupations, will receive liberal encouragement to settle in 
this town." 

" It may be considered extraordinary that a new town, bearing a 
new name, should be laid out adjoining Upper Alton, as this town is 
well situated, and already contains more than thirty families. It i» 
from these considerations that the town of Salu is laid out, and the 
lot-s offered to actual settlers. No clear and indisputable title could 
heretofore have been obtained for any lot in Upper Alton, and the 
legal (luestions connected with the land are complicated and difficult. 
Under these cii nunstances, the people who had settled in Alton could 
not prudentially make improvements, but had become more and more 
convinced of the unusually healthy and commanding situation for a 
great town, and were unwilling to remove to any other town, or part 
of this state or country. Therefore, the subscribers purchased the site 
for the town of Salu, which has all the advantages of Alton, and have 
given the new town a new name, because Alton embraced Upper and 
Lower Alton, two separate and distinct sites for towns, situated more 
than one mile apart; from these considerations it was not thought ad- 
visable to extend Alton to greater limits, and therefore the subscribers 
have named the town Salu." 

Bennett Maxey. 
Erastus Bkown. 
Isaac Waters. 
Zachariah Allen. 



398 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



ing to Milton. This was likewise built of logs, but was 
more commodious and comfortable than its predecessor, and 
was used for several years. The seats were made out of 
slabs hauled from the saw-mill at Milton. One of the 
pupils of those days, who does not seem to have entertained 
the most pleasant recollections of this school-room, writes : 
" The small scholars were required to sit on these miserable 
benches without backs, and be very quiet, though some of 
the smallest could not reach the floor with their feet. The 
larger scholars were better provided for, as their seats were 
next to the wall, and a board was placed in front of them 
for a writing-desk. Our school-books were : Webster's 
Speller, Walker's Dictionary, Pike's Arithmetic. Murray's 
Reader, and Murray's English Grammar." Among the 
early teachers of this school was Mr. Rose, Nelson Aldrich, 
H. H. Snow, Enoch Long, Rowlet Maxey and Levi McNeil. 
For a shcrt time, a man named Jinks held sway over this 
temple of learning, but was discharged for lying down and 
sleeping on the benches during school hours. His devotion 
to whiskey was the cause. Except for this one failing, he 
was an excellent teacher. 

William G. Pinckard,* William Heath, and Daniel 
Crume, and their families, all of whom had removed to Illi- 
nois from Ohio, and first settled at Huuterstown in the fall 
of 1819, ciirae to Upper Alton (or Salu) ; and these families, 
fifteen persons in all, spent ihe following winter in a log 
cabin of two rooms. That winter Pinckard and Heath con- 
structed a pottery, and in the spring of 1820 began the man- 
ufacture of pottery ware, for which there was a great demand, 
persons coming from far and near to procure dishes, cups, 
crocks, and all kinds of earthen vessels. Nathaniel Pinck- 
ard, father of William G. Pinckard, became a resident of 
Upper Alton at the same time.f 



* Thomas Stanton Pinckard, son of William G. Pinckard, after men- 
tioning that his father, in 1834, moved from Upper to Lower Alton ; 
in 1837 to Middle Alton, and in 1846 back again to Lower Alton, 
writes : 

" I have a vivid recollection of several of the old settlers who were 
living when I was a boy. Abel Moore, in his Dearborn wagon, with 
his wooden leg. Tommy Nichols, with his favorite by-word, ' Dad- 
burn it.' OldMcAuley ; old George Bell— all old rangers in the In- 
dian troubles. Often these men visited my father's house when I was 
a boy, and by a bright, glowing fireplace, seated on father's knee, I 
listened to the hairbreadth escapes and thrilling incidents of border 
life. The murder of the Eeg.an family in the forks of Wood River in 
1814, was often spoken of by these old ' rangers,' some of whom par- 
ticipated in the pursuit and killing of the .savage murderers. It was a 
common occurrence for us, children, to pick up Indian arrow-heads in 
the timber and fields of Middle Alton up to 1840." 

t In the columns of the Edwardsville Spectator, in 1820, ap- 
pears an account of a Fourth of July celebration at Alton (Upper 
Alton) that year, "which excelled anything of the kind heretofore wit- 
nessed in this country.'' Hezekiah H. Gear, momited on horseback, 
in full military uniform, was the marshal of the day. J. W. Whitney 
read the Declaration of Independence, and William Jenks delivered 
an oration. The company then repaired to the table, where a plen- 
teous and excellent repast was served by Dr. .Viignstus Laugworthy. 
James Smith, an aged Revolutionary Patriot, and one of the first 
settlers, presided, asfisted by K. P. Day, the Vice-President. Several 



From the time they made their home in Upper Alton, the 
houses of Nathaniel Pinckard and William G. Pinckard 
were the stopping-places of the pioneer preachers, and reli- 
gious services were often held at their houses, and also at 
that of Jonathan Brown. The Revs. Samuel Thompson, 
Thomas Randle, John Dew and Jesse Walker were among 
the early ministers. Nathaniel and Oliver Brown removed 
j to Illinois in 1817 from Champaign county, Ohio. In 1818 
they became residents of Upper Alton. 

The first postmaster, Augustus Langworthy, appointed in 
1818, was succeeded by the Rev. Bennett Maxey in 1824. 
The Rev. Mr. Maxey was one of the early Methodist circuit 
preachers in Virginia, from which state he removed to Ohio, 
and then to Illinois. His residence was in " Salu," and con- 
sequently the change of name was made to that from " Up- 
per Alton." In 1826 he resigned the office, and George 
Smith received the commission. The oflice was then brought 
from Salu, and the name changed back to that of " Al- 
ton." In 1835 David Smith received the appointment 
as postmaster. The name of the oflice was then changed to 
" Upper Alton," and the post-office at Lower Alton, which 
had previously borne the name of " Lower Alton," was called 
" Alton." In the year 1849, Frank Hewitt was appointed 
posttnaster, and was succeeded in 18.53 by Joseph,Chapman. 
James Smith was ne.xt placed in charge of the oflice. Aaron 
Butler was commissioned in 1861, and was followed in 1866 
by the Rev. T. B. Hurlburt. Aaron Butler was re-appointed 
in 1867. Joseph H. Weeks, the present incumbent, has had 
charge of the office since 1877. 

The following description of Upper Alton appears in the 
"Guide for Emigrants," published by John M. Peck, 
in 1831 : 

" Its situation is high and healthy, and it contained last 
spring (1831) thirty-five families and two hundred souls. 
Its numbers, within a few mouths, have augmented nearly 
one-third. The soil of the surrounding country is fertile 
and rolling; the prevailing timber walnut, hickory and oak. 
In March it had two stores, one tavern, one blacksmith shop, 
one ox flouring mill, one wagon-maker, one tannery, one sad- 
dlery, one shoemaker, one brick-maker, two carpenters, two 
physicians, one pottery for coarse earthenware, a post-office 
and a brick school-house building. Methodists, Baptists 
and Presbyterians have organized societies, and preaching 
alternately by one of these denominations every Sabbath. 
A flourishing Sabbath-school is kept up. At Upper Alton 
the first Sunday-school in Illinois was opened in 1819." 

Three years later, in 1834, the same author, in his " Gaze- 
teer of Illinois," writing of Upper Alton, states that there 
were " three stores, one house of entertainment, three physi- 
cians, various mechanics, a pottery, a commodious brick 
school-house for town purposes, a steam flouring-mill now 

toasts were drank, " interspersed with suitable pieces of vocal and 
instrumental music, and each accompanied with the discharge of a 
piece of artillery, together with the reiterated cheers and plaudits of 
the company." Benjamin Spencer, Hezekiah H. Gear, Dr. Hewetson 
of Milton, and Robert Sinclair were among those who participated in 
the toasts. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



399 



building, no grocery or whiskey-shop, and about sixty fami- 
lies." He adds : 

" Upper Alton is improving ; the society is good, and it is 
a desirable place for family residence, out of the bustle of 
business. The post-office is distinguished as 'Alton.' Upper 
Alton was laid oft' by the proprietor in 1816, and incor- 
porated by the Legislature, under the government of trus- 
tees, in 1821, when it contained seventy or eighty families. 
In 1!^27 it had dwindled down to seven families. It was 
reduced from several causes, but especially from various 
conflicting claims to the soil, which have been happily 
terminated by a decision of the court of chancery, according 
to the mutual agreement of all the claimants. Hereafter, 
no doubt the town will experience a regular and rapid , 
growth. The Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians hold 
worship regularly here." 

The same writer, in 1839, describes the place as containing ^ 
eight stores, five groceries, two lawyers, five physicians, me- 
chanics of various descriptions, a steam saw and flour mill, 
and about tliree hundred families, or fifteen hundred inhabi- ; 
tants. The Baptists, Methodists and Presbyterians have 
houses of worship. The Baptist and Presbyterian houses are 
handsome stone edifices, with spires and bells, and provided 
with ministers. There are seven or eight ministers of the \ 
gospel connected with this place, some of whom belong to 
the college and theological seminary. Others are agents for 
some of the public benevolent institutions, whose families | 
reside here. Good morals, religious privileges, the advan- 
tages for education in the college and in three respectable 
common-schools, with an intelligent and agreeable society, 
make this town a desirable residence." He predicts that 
" Upper, Lower and Middle Alton will eventually grow 
into one great city." Their aggregate population was at 
that time about four thousand. 

Another writer, Edmund Flagg, who in 1838 published 
"The Far West, or a Tour Beyond the Mountains," visit, d 
Upper Alton in 1839, and thus describes it : 

Note. 'At sunrise of the morning succeeding my visit to the hlnffs, 1 
was in the saddle, and clambering up those intolerably steep hills on the 
road leading to the village of Upper Alton, a few mile.s distant. The 
place is well situated on an elevated prairie, and to my taste, is pre- 
ferable for private residence to any spot within the precincts of its 
rival namesake. The society is poli.^hed, and a fine-toned morality is 
said to characterize the inhabitants. The town wa.s originally incor- 
porated many years ago, and was then a place of more note than it lias 
ever since been ; but owing to intestine broils and conflicting claims to 
its site, it gradually and steadily dwindled away until, a dozen years 
since, it numbered only seven families. A suit in chancery has hap- 
pily settled the.se ditiiculties, and the village is now thriving well. A 
seminary of some note, under the jurisdiction of the Baptist persu,ision, 
has within a few years been established here, and now comprises a 
very respectable body of students. It originated in a seminary form- 
erly established at Rock Spring, in this state. The present buildings 
are situated upon a broad plain, beneath a walnut grove, on the 
eastern skirt of the village. I visited this seminary, and was much 
pleased with its faculty, buildings and design." 

CHORCHE.S. 

A Methodist cla-ss was formed at Upper Alton in 1817, 
the members of which were Ebenezer Hodges, Mary Hodges, 



Jonathan Brown, Delilah Brown, Oliver Brown and John 
Seely Mrs. 3Iary Woodburu was the next person to unite 
with this class, and after her the wife of William G. Pinck- 
ard. The first religious services were held in the cabin of 
Ebenezer Hodges, which stood where afterward the old 
Baptist church was built. It is supposed that John Dew 
was the first preacher. The Rev. Samuel H. Thompson 
ofliciated as pastor from 1818 to 1820. In 1835 the first 
church edifice, a frame building, was erected. In 1849 a 
brick church was built. The Rev. L. E. English is pastor 
of this church. 

The Btptiist Church at Upper Alton was constituted in 
1830, by Rev. John M. Peck. The original members were 
eight in number. The Rev. Ebenezer Rogers was pastor 
from 1834 to 1838. For nearly six years services were 
held, either in private houses or in what was known as the 
" brick school-house." In 1826 a house of worship was com- 
pleted, and was used by the congregation for more than thirty 
years, till the building of the present church structure. The 
church is now under the pastoral care of the Rev. David T. 
Morrill. 

The Presbyterian church was organized in 1837 with 
twenty-four members. The first minister was the Rev. 
Elijah P. Lovejoy, then a resident of Alton, and publisher 
of the Alton 06.*eri'er, who supplied the pulpit till the in- 
stallation of a pastor. In 1838 twenty-six new members 
were received, many of whom had been connected with Con- 
gregational churches, aud to meet their views a Union form 
of church government was adopted. A house of worship 
was built in 1838, and in 1858 destroyed by fire. A new 
church building was partially completed in 1861, and was 
dedicated in 1865. 

There are two church~es, supported by the colored popula- 
tion, one Methodist and the other Baptist, in Upper Alton. 

EDUCATIONAL IN.STITUTION.S. 

No place in Illinois ofliers better educational advantages 
than Upper Alton. Shurtleft' College is well known as one 
of the oldest and best institutions in the State, and the 
Wyman Institute is a liberally patronized and well govern. 
ed school. 

THE BUSINESS INTERESTS 

of Upper Alton are represented by E. G. Webster, Thomas 
R. Murphy and Henry Loehr, as general merchants. Mah- 
lon Malson, E. 0. Reader, August Hildebrand, and Albert 
H. Hastings deal in groceries. Henry C. Swift and Fred J. 
Stebbins are in the drug business. Books, stationery, and 
gents' furnishing goods are sold by M. A. Leverett ; i-toves 
and tin ware by Evan E. Betts ; and boots and shoes by 
Mrs. K. K. Boyle and Louis Ehrler; F. L. Vogelpohl is 
baker ; Bradley & Col and Albert H. Hastings, butchers ; 
Henry L. Walke, shoemaker; Robert R and John McRey- 
uolds, wagon makers ; Oliver G. Stelle, architect and build- 
er ; and Israel H. Streeper, undertaker ; H. S. Darnielleand 
H. H. Rippe, manufacture cigars, Cyrus W. Leverett is at- 
torney, and Daniel W. Collett and Amos E. Benbow, jus- 
tices of the peace. The physicians are Drs. T. P. Yerkes, 



400 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Edward C. Lemen, and Henry T. Burnap ; Benjamin P. 
Harris is principal of the public schools 

THE SECRET AND BENEVOLENT ORDERS 

Are represented in Upper Alton as follows ; Franklin 
Lodge, No. 25, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Frank- 
lin chapter, No. 15, Royal Arch Masons ; Upper Alton 
Lodge, No. 466, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; Madi- 
son Lodge, No. 110, Ancient Order of United Workmen; 
Upper Alton Lodge, No. 1594, Knights of Honor. 

TOWN OFFICERS — 1882. 

President of the Council, J. B. Lathy. Councilmen ; 
John Atkins, O. L. Castle, W. J- Maharr, and Jones Wor- 
den. 

The population of the town, according to the census of 
1880, was fifteen hundred and thirty-five, and is now about 
seventeen hundred. 

NORTH ALTON. 

The town of Greenwood, by which name the village of 
North Alton was formerly known, was surveyed into lots by 
James C. Tibbett, and the town plat recorded in February, 
1853 Directly across the line, is congressional township 
six, range ten. The Buck Inn had been built in 1837, and 
a post-office was establit^hed in 1S68, kept by P. J. Melling 
at his house, in township six, range ten and called Buck 
Inn. William Hall, about two years afterward was ap- 
pointed postmaster, and the office was removed to the present 
town of North Alton There was formerly a voting pre- 



cinct, called Greenwood, which compri-sed parts of town- 
ships five, range ten, and six, range ten. In 1875 the 
village of North Alton was incorporated, and the name of 
the post-office was then changed from Buck Inn to North 
Alton. Within the corporate limits of the village there are 
about nine hundred and fifty inhabitants. George F. Long 
succeeded William Hall as postmaster, and George F. Barth, 
who now has charge of the office, was appointed in 1880. 

There are two general stores kept by H. A. Betz & Co., 
and Charles Henderson. Anthony Buri and Kohler & 
Walter are the proprietors of grocery stores. John Redmond, 
and William P. Kolb deal in harness and saddles. George 
F. Barth is druggist. There are two millinery stores, one 
butcher and one shoemaker shop, and two blacksmith shops, 
one livery stable, and seven saloons. An Episcopal mission 
is carried on under the care of St. Paul's Protestant Episco- 
pal church of Alton. The North Alton Reformed Club, 
a prosperous temperance organization, with one hundred 
members, which has been in existence about five years, owns 
a Temperance Hall, used for their meetings. Greenwood 
Lodge, No. 421, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was 
instituted in 1870, with John Rutledge, William Benson, 
William R. Jones, Thomas Hall, Robert Crawford, Jacob 
Strong, and George Moulding, as charter members. The 
board of village trustees for 18S2 is composed of John Toi - 
sor, Joseph Krug, Mathias Hilt, John Kohne, Frank Wor- 
den, and C W. Colby. 

At Coal Branch, in congressional township five, range ten, 
there is one store, two blacksmith shops, and some other 
business establishments. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 




General James Semple was one of the pioneers of the 
state of Illinois, and one among its most distinguished 
citizens, who have contributed to its prosperity ; and depart- 
ing, left behind them monuments of their labors that will 
be remembered and lauded for centuries yet to come. He 
was born in Green county, Kentucky, January 5th, 1798. 
His parents, John W. and Lucy Semple (nee Robertson), 
were natives of Virginia, descendants of one of the old 
Scotch families of Remfordshire, Scotland. James was the 
eldest in a family of nine children. He received a fair edu- 
cation in the schools of Greensburgh, Kentucky, which was 
supplemented by a legal course pursued in Louisville. Prior 
to this, however, he had learned the calling of tanner and 
currier, a business which proved unsuited to his tastes and 
talents. His first advent to the state was in 1818, locat. 
ing iu Edwardsville, where he remained for a short time, 



when he returned to Kentucky. In the year, 1820, 
he moved to Chariton, Jlissouri, and in 1822, was elected 
colonel of the 21st regiment of the Missouri militia. In 
1824, he was licensed to practice law in the state. In 1828, 
he removed to Edwardsville, where he continued the practice 
of his chosen profession, that of the law, with great success. 
He was exceedingly diligent and careful, and being a man 
of magnificent presence and fine manners, he rose rapidly 
to distinction. Upon the breaking out of the Black Hawk 
war he was commissioned as brigadier-general on Gen. 
Whiteside's staff Immediately after the cessation of Indian 
hostilities, he engaged iu politics. He represented ]Madison 
county in the state legislature several terms, and was twice 
elected speaker of the house — a merited compliment to a 
natural parliamentarian and statesman, and leader of his 
party. He had become so prominent in national affairs 

401 



402 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



in 1837, that he was appointed by President Van Buren, 
minister to Santa Fe de Bogota, and it is related by the old 
timers that the General was somewhat in doubt with regard 
to the location of his mission. He, therefore took into his con- 
fidence Abraham Lincoln, who although of different politics, 
was a warm personal friend. After consultation, i\Ir. Lin- 
coln confessed that he was as ignorant of the geography of 
South America as Semple. They, therefore, concluded to 
visit a book-store and post themselves upon South American 
history. The mission was accepted, and General Semple 
took passage for New Grenada in January, 1838. He held 
his position here until 1842, when he returned to Edwards- 
ville, and the following year received the appointment of 
judge of the supreme court of the state, which position he 
resigned after a few months' occupancy to accept a seat in 
the Uuited States Senate, by appointment under the ad- 
ministration of Governor Ford, to fill the vacancy of Samuel 
McRoberts, deceased. In this body he stood almost alone 
in the advocacy of the establishment of a line of communi- 
cation with the Pacific coast. In this regard his keen fore- 
sight placed him several years in advance of his age, and 
he was, therefore, subjected to ridicule by flippant and shal- 
low critics, who were incapable of comprehending his broad 
conceptions pertaining to the future great republic. In 1842 
and '43, General Semple specially distinguished himself in 
speeches made at Alton and Springfield, Illinois, relating to 
the " Oregon " question, which was then agitating the minds 
of the people of the states. We glean the following from 
one of these powerful and patriotic speeches : " I regret 
that the Western boundary was not settled in the late treaty 
with England in reference to boundary lines in America, and 
that I considered the right of the United States to the 
whole of Oregon as far as the Russian Boundaries, as clear 
as the noonday sun ; that the right of the state of Maine to 
all she claimed equally as clear. But a foreign nation laid 
claim to a part of that territory without any shadow of right 
whatever. Yet, we have seen the special agent of the nation 
refusing even to discuss the question of right, and propo.sing 
for the sake of ' peace,' to divide the country in dispute ; 
and we have seen that proposition agreed to by the executive 
and senate of the United States. For his part he was as 
much in favor of peace as any of his countrymen, but that 
he would prefer war, to yielding one inch of territory that 
justly belonged to the Uuited States." Through the eflorts 
of Mr. Semple, Judge Lyman Trumbull, Stephen A. Doug- 
las and other leading men of the West, a set of resolutions 
was prepared and published that had great weight with the 
action of Congress relating to the Oregon controversy. 

After the expiration of his term in the Senate, in 1847, 
he returned to his home in Edwardsville. Having been so 
long absent from the pursuit of his profession, legal duties 
became irksome to him, and he retired from both the bench 
and the bar, and devoted himself to business (principally 
town making), a taste for which had been somewhat culti- 
vated long before, in laying out the town of Highland. He 



laid off an addition to Alton, which perpetuated his name, 
and to which he removed afterward, but sub.sequently lo- 
cated in Jersey county, Illinois. 

General Semple spent considerable time and money in 
the construction of a self-propelling wagon, which proved to 
be a failure. He was ahead of his age. The enterprise 
would have resulted in a success had he lived twenty-five or 
thirty years later, but we had no mechanics at that day who 
could carry out his plans. Semple was robbed of all that 
he had been able to lay up of his salary, as he was on his 
return from Bogota ; but he afterward became, by judicious 
trading, principally in lands, moderately wealthy. He was 
an uncommonly exact and methodical man in his business, 
and could, in the dark, lay his hand upon any paper he 
wanted from his desk or shelves. He was pre-eminently 
straightforward in all his dealings, professional, political, or 
private, and any deviation from the path of rectitude met 
with a scathing rebuke from him, without regard to conse- 
quences. He observed so much ignoble conduct in political 
attairs, that he became disgusted and withdrew from public 
life. Although he possessed the elements of great popu- 
larity, "he could not bend the pliant hinges of the knee, that 
thrift might follow fawning." He was very kind and affec- 
tionate in his family, and exceedingly sociable with his 
neighbors. He was six feet three inches in height, and ad- 
mirably proportioned. He was one of the finest specimens 
of manhood to be found in a day's journey. His style of 
speaking was easy and flowing, but not in the least ostenta- 
tious. His object seemed to be to present his subject, and 
not himself, to his auditors. He was a Democrat of the 
Jefferson type, but would not brook modern innovations, 
invented for the sake of expediency. His motto was to 
live and die by his creed. In political principles he thought 
there was but little room for improvement, and that the 
stream was purest at the fountain-head ; but in all other 
aflfivirs of life, he was pre-eminently a man of progress, and 
had no concern about being out of the line of safe precedents- 
Semple was a public-spirited man, and always lent his aid 
and influence to the advancement of measures which he 
believed would be conducive to the public welfare. 

He was married to Mrs. Mary S. Mizner, a daughter of 
Dr. Cairns of Monroe county, Illinois, June 5th, 1833. Dr. 
Cairns was a prominent politician, and a member of the 
first Constitutional Convention of Illinois, and bitterly op- 
posed to the introduction of slavery into the State. 
By this union there were born four children, of whom Mrs. 
Lucy V. Semple Ames, of St. Louis, is one; Mrs. Julia E. 
Scott, of St. Louis ; and Eugene Semple, of Oregon. Mrs. 
I. M. Floyd-Jones (nee Mizner), of St. Louis, is his step- 
daughter. The evening of Gen. Scrapie's life was passed in 
one of the most sightly spots in the State — Trevue — an ex- 
ponent of his own excellent taste, a home naturallj' beau- 
tiful, but aided by art. Here he passed away, December 
20th, 1866. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



403 



X 





Among those who have contributed largely iu energy 
and in means towards the developmeat of their native 
county's resources, Capt. John A. Bruner takes a prominent 
place. He was born in Edwardsville, September 1st, 18-2. 
His parents were Jacob C. Bruner, a Kentuckian, and Mary 
D., a native of Massachusetts. They were married in 
Kaskaskia in 1821. Jacob C. Bruner, was a hatter by trade. 
Not satisfied with the trade of his adopted home, he opened 
branch establishments in St. Louis, Mo. and Springfield and 
Alton, Illinois. In 1833, he entered into general merchan- 
dising in Alton, and was appointed by Andrew Jackson as 
postmaster - the first in the place. Wheu the Illinois State 
Prison was located here he was appointed as its first Warden. 
He was a man of wonderful resources, great executive abili- 
ty and untiring energy. He died in June 1843. His wife 
was a school teacher, ai\d as such numbers among former 
pupils many prominent citizens of this county. 

John A. Bruner was the oldest in a family of eight chil- 
dren. He received a ff.ir common school education, which 
was supplemented by a short attendance at McKendree Col- 
lege. In 1839, he commenced his long and active career as 
a steam-boatman on the unpretentious Alton ferry boat, 
St Charles. The next year he became pilot on a boat ply- 
ing between Keokuk, Warsaw and Churchville, now Alex- 
andria ; then on a boat between St. Louis and Venice and St. 



Louis and Alton. His father's sickness and death inter- 
fered with his business, and in 1843, hebecame a clerk in a 
hotel in Vicksburg, Mississippi. The following year he 
embarked, with his brothers, in the grocery trade in Alton. 
In 1847, he returned to steaniboating, in which he remained 
until 1881, when he embarked in his present business, 
manufacturer of vinegar and cider and evaporator of fruit. 
He wa.s united in marriage with Catharine Smith, in June, 
1844, who died March 27th, 1847. On the 5th of January, 
1855, he was married to JIaria L. Godfrey, daughter of 
Benjamin Godfrey, of Godfrey, Illinois, by whom he had two 
children one of whom survives the wife of E. B. Widaman, 
near Carliuville. He was married to his present wife, Ellen 
Thoni]ison, September 27th, 1875 ; a bright, intelligent, boyi 
John H., blessed the union. 

Politically Capt. Bruner is an uiiswerving democrat. Al- 
though often importuned to accept ofiice, he has never con- 
sented, except to become Supervisor from his township, a 
position to which he was chosen in the spring of 1882, and 
the duties of which office he is faithfully and impartially 
discharging. 

In business life active and straightforward ; in social 
circles a true and firm friend, he is surrounded by many 
well wishers. 



404 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 





^^^/ 



"Was born March 8th, 1825, in Barren county, Kentucky. 
His parents, Isham and Martha Hardy (Edwards), were re- 
spectively Virginian and Kentuckian by nativity. To im- 
prove his condition in life, his father, a farmer, came to 
Illinois in the fall of 1825, making the trip on horse-back. 
He located in Hamilton county, where he resided until 18.S7, 
when he came to Alton. Here at the age of fifteen the 
subject of this sketch commenced attendance at school in 
Upper Alton. For a part of his attendance of five years 
he acted as janitor. When a junior, in Shurtleff, he pre- 
sented himself to Dr. B. K. Hart as a student of medicine. 
The Dr. accepted him as such, and he laid the foundation 
for a life-time devoted to his profession. In 1846, when the 
tocsin of war sounded, he was among the first to oflTer his 
services to his country. After a year thus spent, he resumed 
his studies in Louisville University, from the medical de- 
partment of which institution he graduated March 5th, 
1849. During the prevalence of the cholera he practiced 
in ISIadison Landing, and in 1852 he opened an office in 
Alton, where he has since resided In 1859, he visited Pike's 
Peak, where he remained two and a half years. Upon the 
breaking out of the war he entered the service first as con- 



tract Surgeon at Alton, then became Acting Assistant Sur- 
geon U. S. Army. In all he remained iu the service four 
years and one month. As a practitioner of medicine, the 
doctor has been quite successful. Politically, he is an ardent 
Democrat. His qualifications for the office led his fellow 
citizens to elect him as Supervisor, the duties of which po- 
sition he ably discharged. He served three terms as a 
member of the City Council. At present he is City Physi- 
cian. 

Few men have taken a deeper interest in Masonry than 
the doctor. He was made a Master Mason, June 28th, 1846 ; 
been passed to K. T., and has taken all the degrees in Scottish 
rites. His zeal knows no flagging, and his interest in ma- 

! sonry is abiding. 

j The doctor was married to Sarah J. Hardy, August 12 h, 
1848. By this union there have been born nine children, 
seven of whom are living. 

I The doctor is eminently social. He is a skillful and suc- 
cessful practitioner, combining firmness and tenderness. He 
overflows with kindness and good nature. In all his rela- 

I tions to the public, his actions are prompted by pure motives 

' and a desire for the general good. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



405 




\ V V ^ 



^-rln^ J/CLa^^ 



For many years a prominent citizen of Alton, was born 
in Craftsboro, Vermont. In the year 1836, when Alton was 
engaging so largely the attention of eastern men, he made 
his way hither. His first pursuit in life was that of school- 
teaching which he began in a country school-house in his 
native State. This business he exchanged for that of hand- 
ling stoves and tinware. Gradually he extended this busi- 
ness, embracing the handling of hardware and steel. He 
52 



associated with himself in this John E. Hayuer, which 
partnership continued until his death, in March 1871. Mr. 
NeUon was a successful merchant, strict and just in all his 
dealings ; benevolent without ostentation. He left a large 
estate, the result of faithful, earnest labor. He was twice 
married. Had six children by the first wife. His last wife, 
now Mrs. Crocker survives him. 



406 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 







L^ZCy fi^^-t^ftly 



A NATIVE of Leicester, Liviugston Co , New York, was boru 
July 23, 1819. He is the sou of Lorey Bulkley and Har- 
riet nee Scott. Both his parents were natives of Connec- 
ticut. His father was a farmer, generous, industrious and 
upright in all his dealings. He died at Barry, Pike Co., 
Illinois, July 24, 1859, and his wife, at the same place, a 
few years later. Mrs. Bulkley, his mother, was.au earnest 
Christian and a devoted member of the Baptist Church, 
and by her earnest piety, consistent Christian life and care- 
ful training, she left the imperishable impress of her piety 
and zealous life upon her sou. 

When Justus was three years old his parents removed to 
Allegheny Co., New York, a cold, rugged 'mountainous 
region, and here the surrounding developed in him a spirit of 
self-reliance, economy, industry, and temperance that has 
developed and modified his entire life, and character. 
Until seventeen years of age he attended school during 
winter in a log school-house, in primitive style, and in summer 
worked on his father's farm. He early developed a taste 
for literary pursuits, and was especially fond of mathe- 
matics. When seventeen years of age he removed with his 



parents to Illinois, and settled near Barry, in Pike county, 
on a farm. During the session of the Blue River Baptist 
Association, near Barry, in the autumn of 1837, he made a 
public profession of religion and united with the Baptist 
church at Barry, under the pastorate of Rev. Joel Sweet, 
who baptized him. This event changed his entire life. He 
was immediately profoundly impressed with his duty to 
preach, but for six years fought persistently against his con- 
viction of duty. At length, duty conquered ; he prepared to 
enter the Christian ministry. To qualify him for this work 
he entered the preparatory department of Shurtleff College 
at the age of twenty-three, and was graduated in 1847. 
After his graduation, Rev. Washington Leverett directed 
his theological studies. Immediately after graduating he was 
elected principal of the Preparatory Department of the 
college, and held the position two years, until the death of 
his wife determined him to seek a home elsewhere. Hav- 
ing received a call to become pastor of the Baptist church 
of Jerseyville, Illinois, he was ordained in Upper Alton, at 
the call of the Jerseyville church. 

At the expiration of four years he resigned to become 



EISIORY OF' MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



407 



Professor of Mathematics in his Alma Mater. But in con- 
sequence of bitter opposition awakened by his ardent espou- 
sal of the cause of Bible Revision, then exceedingly dis- 
tasteful to many of the trustees of the college and of his 
ministerial coadjutors, he resigned his position in 1855, and 
during nine years thereafter held the pastorate of the 
church at Carrollton, Green Co., Illinois, and was happy and 
prosperous in his work. In April, 1864, he accepted a call 
from the Baptist church at Upper Alton, and at the expira- 
tion of one year and a half was elected Professor of Church 
History and Church Polity in Shurtleft' College, a position 
he still holds. Aside from his regular duties he acted as 
president of the college, while that office was vacant after the 
resignation of Dr. Read, and has supplied many feeble 
churches with preaching as opportunity offered. 

In the various capacities in which Dr. Bulkley has acted, 
he has taken a leading part, and has occupied a prominent 
position among the leading men of his own denomination. 
The Illinois Baptist Pastoral Union in 1851, elected him 
Chairman of the Committee on Ministerial Obituaries, and 
he has filled that position at every annual meeting except 
one, for thirty years. During that period the preparation 
of brief sketches of nearly three hundred Baptist minis- 
ters in Illinois, deceased, has passed under his supervision, 
and been prepared for permanent record in the minutes of 
the body. In 1853, 1855 and 1859, he was clerk of the 
Illinois Baptist General Association. In 1864, he was 
elected Moderator of that body. He was elected again in 
1869, and served continously till 1877 inclusive. He has 
been President of its Board since 1869, and still occupies 
that position. His service in this capacity has been marked 
by promptness, energy, decision and executive ability, and 
during the entire time there has never been in the Associa- 
tion an appeal from his decisions, and but one appeal in the 
Board, when the chair was not sustained. In all these offices 
he has been firm and decided, but kind and courteous. In his 
religious views he is positive and unwavering, firmly believ- 
ing that the Baptists are scriptural in their doctrines and 
polity, and yet he is liberal enough, not only to allow others 
the same freedom and independence of opinion that he 
claims for himself, but he honors adherence to conscientious 
conviction of duty and faith in any one with whom he may 
differ in religious belief In political life he was formerly a 
Whig, and cast his first presidential vote for Wm. Henry 
Harrison. During the civil war he was a firm supporter of 
the government, and has given his unwavering support to 
the Republican party since its organization. 

He has been three times married. His first wife wa.s Miss 
Lucy Perry Ide, of Massachusetts to whom he was married 
July 27, 1347. She died August 24, 1848; and June 25th, 
1849, he was married to Harriet Green Newell, eldest 
daughter of Rev. Isaac D. Newell. He lived with her in 
great domestic bliss about thirty years. She died January 
4, 1879. She was a woman of many virtues, and excellent 
qualities, and largely contributed to the success of her hus- 
band. They had born to them one son and eight daughters. 



of whom six daughters are now living. The eldest, wife of 
Rev. Charles B. Roberts, pastor of the Baptist church at 
Decatur, Illinois, is the first lady graduate of Shurtleff Col- 
lege. The second is the wife of Rev. John E. Roberts, 
pastor of the Baptist church at Kansas City, Mo. She is 
also a graduate of Shurtlefl' College, as is the third daugh- 
ter. The next two will graduate. in June 1883. Dr. Bulk- 
ley believes that women should have all the advantages of 
education afforded to the sterner sex. Hence his settled 
purpose to give all his daughters the advantage of a com- 
plete college course of study. His third marriage was June 
15th, 1880, to Mrs. Mary B. Head of Carthage, Illinois, but 
a native of Virginia, a most estimable Christian woman. 

In personal appearance Dr. Bulkley is of medium height, 
of slender build, swarthy complexion, black heavy hair and 
beautiful dark keen eyes, grave almost to severity. He is 
naturally social, domestic, and of a sympathetic disposition. 
" As an orator he is emotional and enthusiastic, with a won- 
derful magnetic power of impressing his hearers. His 
popularity with the young is well attested by the fact that 
he is invited far and near to perform the ceremony of mar- 
riage ; and the warm place he holds in the hearts of numer- 
ous Christian families of his acquaintance is equally ap- 
parent in the eagerness with which they turn to him for 
consolation in the hour of their bereavement. A warm- 
hearted, companionable friend, a zealous Christian worker, 
and able theologian, he has impressed himself strongly upon 
the social and religious character of the sphere in which he 
has moved." He is now 63 years of age.* 



HERMANN KLEINWORT, 

The able editor of the Alton Banner, vias born in Wedel, 
Germany, March 23d, 1843. His father, Martin Kleinwort, 
was a thrifty miller in his native village. In 1869, Her. 
mann came to America, to try his fortunes. He had acquired 
a fine education in the school at Kiel and university at Leipsic. 
Hischosen profession wasthatof thelaw, to the study of which 
he bent all his energies, graduating in that branch of study 
from Leipsic University just beforestarting for America. His 
objective point in this country was the city of St. Louis, 
Missouri. On arriving there he entered into merchandis- 
ing. From there he went to Texas, thence returned to 
the old country. In 1882, he again came to America, 
whose institutions he had learned so well to love during his 
former sojourn ; this time to Alton, where he bought a half 
interest in the Banner, of which paper he assumed editorial 
charge. Mr. Kleinwort is an agreeable companion, a man 
of good judgment and fine social qualities. Independent in 
his views he has allied himself with neither political party, 
but supports men and measures as meet his ideas of right. 
He is an active member of the Independent order of Odd Fel- 
lows. 

* Largely taken from the U. S. Biographical Dictionary. 



408 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 





Charles A. Herb, an enterprising and successful mer- 
chant, was born in LofFeuane, Wirtemberg, September 21st, 
1846. His father, Jacob, was a cooper by trade. 
He brought his family to America in 1854, making the trip 
across the ocean in the " Connecticut," a three mast sail ves- 
sel. For Uyo years they lived in St. Johnsville on the 
Mohawk. Because of loss sustained in the old country by 
being robbed Jacob Herb was so short of funds as to be 
compelled to walk from Albany to Schenectady on the way 
to his new home. In 1856, he came to Alton. Charles A- 
Herb, entered the army at the age of fifteen as drummer. 
He first enlisted in the 5th Missouri State troops, which 
were soon disbanded, then offered himself to the 80th Illinois 
Regiment, but was rejected on account of size, after- 
ward accepted in the 1st Missouri Infantry, where he re. 
mained two years, then served fifteen months iu the 14th 
Missouri Cavalry. His service was in the state of Missouri, 
Arkansas and Kansas. In 1865, after the war was over, 
he was with those who made the treaty with the Indians at 
the mouth of the Little Missouri. For a time after the war 



he was engaged as salesman in a St. Louis house, then as clerk 
inthegeueralstoreof Conrad Schaub, of Bunker Hill, Illinois. 
Whilst a resident of Macoupin county, he held several offi- 
ces, for which he proved himself well adapted. Was City 
Marshal of Bunker Hill, for five years City collector, was 
Deputy Sheriff' and in 1870, was elected Coroner. In 
1872 he came to Alton, where he has since resided engaged 
in mercantile pursuits. During the years 1876-77 and '78 
he was a member of the county Board of Supervisors, the 
duties of which position he discharged with general satisfac- 
tion. He has been a member of the City Council of Alton 
three terms of two years each. Politically he is an earnest 
Republican. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias 
order. Masonic, in which he is a Knight Templar, and Alton 
Turner's Society. When the Alton Guards were organized 
he was made 1st Lieutenant. Mr. Herb was married to 
Barbara Dye, February 25th, 1^70. By her he has four 
children. 

Mr. Herb, is a man of great energy, and commands the 
respect of all who know him. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



409 





Frederick William Joesting. — Was born in Hanover, 
Germany, November 5th, 1810. He was the son of Anton 
Deiderick Joesting, a schoolmaster. He learned the baker's 
trade in the old country. Came to America in 1834, locat- 
ing first in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1837 he came to 
Alton, and in 1838 was married to Otitia Sack. She died in 
1846. He was married again December 11th, 1856, to Ida 
Holtzmeuller. From the time he came to Alton until 1864, 
when he retired upon a competency, the result of the exer- 
cise of strict business principles he carried on the baking in- 
dustry, except during three years, when he tried his hand at 
farming. In 1844 the high water drove him from his place 



of business. He had to swim to his ovens and put his pans 
on top of the house to keep them dry. At that time he went 
by skiff from State to Piasa street, so high was the water. 
Mr. Joesting was a natural musician, playing equally well 
the violin, piano or flute. While watching his baking he 
would be found playing flute or violin. A world of happi- 
ness to him was found in music. 

Persevering, continuous and enegetic eflxjrt was the great 
secret of Mr. Joesting's success. Sound judgment, and a 
determined power of will hewed out for him the means to 
pass life's twilight in ease. 



410 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 




^^iMy ;^.^^ 



^^**<L^MC 



Taking high rank among pushing business men of A.lton, 
is John M. Tonsor. He was born October 5th, 1827, in 
Fuerstanberg, Prussia. His father, for whom he was named, 
was a farmer iu humble circumstances. In the troubles 
which thrilled all Germany in 1848, and which are popu- 
larly spoken of as the revolution of that year, Mr. Tonsor 
was an active participant. In common with thousands of 
his fellow-men, he sought a home in freedom-loving America 
shortly after the troubles. He crossed the Atlantic in the 
vessel "Louisiana," landing in New Orleans in 1850. Two 
years thereafter, he came to Alton, where he has since 
resided. For three years he was engaged as teamster by a 
company manufacturing lime, then bought a team and drove 
his own dray. From this humble beginning he laid by 
sufficient to become a liquor merchant, which he did in 
1864. Mr. Tonsor has ever been an ardent, active Demo- 
crat. His first vote was cast for James Buchanan, in 1856. 



For five years he was a member of the City Council. Ever 
since the adoption of township organization in this county, 
he has been a member of the county board of supervisors, a 
position he has most worthily filled, and whose duties he has 
most faithfully discharged. He has also been a member of 
the Board of Trustees of North Alton ever since its organ- 
ization. He is a member of the Mascnie, Odd Fellows, 
German Benevolent, Turner and other orders. Mr. Tonsor 
has been twice married : fir.-t, to Mary Ann Maxinal, June 
2.3d, 1855, by whom he had three sons, Henry, John and 
Charles. She died July 29, 1864. His present wife was 
Mary Ann Boosa, to whom he was married December 20, 
1864. By her he has one child living. Bertha by name. 
Physically, Mr. Tonsor is a large and powerfully-built man. 
His proportions make him a conspicuous personage in public 
assemblies. His sound judgment on all questions of general 
interest receives quite universal recognition. 



HISTORY OF MADIS02f COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



411 



"WILBUR T. NORTON, 

The son of an eminent Presbyterian clergyman and writer 
the Rev. A. T. Norton, is the able editor of the Alton Tele- 
graph. Like his father, a ready writer, a clear, logical think- 
er, an independent outspoken citizen, he wields much in- 
fluence. His father's influence was exercised from the pul- 
pit, and as a minister, whilst his is from the press and of a 
political character. The Rev. A. T. Norton, and wife, Eliza 
Rogers Norton, removed from Connecticut to Illinois in 
1835. Alton became their home, and here on September 10, 
1844, the subject of this sketch was born. His education 
was obtained in the schools of Alton, and ShurtleS" College, 
from which institution he graduated in 18(56. During the 
war his patriotic ardor led him to join a company of stu- 
dents who offered their services to the government, and 
whose services were accepted. They were placed in the 
133d Regiment, Illinois Volunteers. After graduation from 
Shurtleff' College Mr. Norton entered the office of the Alton 
Telegraph as associate editor. After a year thus spent he 
became part proprietor of that journal, and subsequently 
bought out his partner's interest. The Telegraph, under his 
eflieient management, has accomplished much in behalf of 
Republicanism, and ever keeps step in the music of progress, 
fearlessly condemning wrong and commending whatever is 
deemed right. 

Mr. Norton's services in behalf of his party were recog- 
nized in 1880, by his being made a Presidential elector from 
his Congressional district. Affable in manner, pleasing in 
address, Mr. Norton proves himself well fitted for his profes- 
sion. 



THOMAS HARRISON PERRIN, 

One of the proprietors of the Alton Democrat, was born in 
Alton, Illinois, in 1844. His parents, Harrison and Isabella 
Perrin, were natives of England. They were among the 
pioneers of Alton, having located here in 1832. His father 
was engaged for many years in the transfer business. He 
died in 1862. His mother is yet living, and is now eighty 
years of age. 

T. H. Perrin early availed himself of the opportunity 
afforded, and learned the printer's trade in the office of the 
Alton Courier, published by George T. Brown. As printer 
and publisher, he has made a record of which he feels justly 
proud. As a journeyman printer he worked in the Courier, 
the Telegraph, and Democrat offices. His first venture in 
journalism was the purchase of the Western Cumberland 
Presbyterian, a weekly religious paper, from Rev. J. B. 
Logan. This paper he published for many years, when he 
sold it to the Board of Publication of the Cumberland Pres- 
byterian Church. In connection with Dr. Logan, he then 
commenced the publication of a monthly religious paper in 
the interest of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which 
was sold to Dr. W. B. Farr, who started the St. Louis Ob- 
server, which is now published by T. H. Perrin and Rev. W. 
C. Logan. In 1875 he entered into partnership with E. A. 
Smith as general printers. This firm bought the Alton 



Democrat in 1876, which they have since continued to pub- 
lish as a daily and weekly newspaper. Under their guid- 
ance, the Democrat has become a power throughout jNIadisou 
and adjoining counties, recognized as it is as being a paper of 
genuine worth. 

Mr. Perrin is a most active and zealous member of the 
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and devotes much time 
and means to enhance its well-being. In the church he has 
held positions of prominence, for the discharge of the duties 
of which he has proved himself well fitted. At present he 
is one of the trustees of Lincoln University, Lincoln, Illi- 
nois. 

A friend of education and morality, Mr. Perrin's influ- 
ence is for the good of humanity. 



M. H. BOALS. 

The life history of him who head.'* this article, though it 
has many points in common with that of other men, partic- 
ularly of that large class, who hailing from the eastern states 
have contributed so largely to western development, has yet 
many interesting features peculiarly its own. Born of a 
highly respectable family, the atmosphere of his young life 
.seems to have been permeated by influences which tended to 
the growth of his nobler nature, while the circumstances of 
his earlier manhood, and the events of his later life have all 
assisted in the development in him of the true man. 

M. H. Boals was born in Venango count}', Pennsylvania, 
April 3d, 1833, the seventh in a family of thirteen children. 
His parents were Lanie F. and Sarah Boals. His father 
was a thrifty farmer who brought up his children to habits 
of industry. He remained with him until he reached his 
twentieth year when he set about to learu the carpenter's 
trade, which he soon mastered, and prosecuted in all about 
twenty years. In 1854, he left his native hills for a home in 
the west and located in Alton. In 1S63, he purchased the 
planing mill, and in 1866, added greatly to its utility by 
opening a lumber yard in connection therewith. 

With the years came experience and added industry in 
his case. In 1878, he commenced the manufacture of tile 
which business he continues. He has proven himself one 
of the few men who can successfully prosecute two or more 
independent lines of business. 

He was married to Margaret M. Logan, March 6th, 1857, 
by whom he had one child. She died February 29th, 1864. 
On the 10th of April, 1867, he was again married to Juliette 
Johnson Vaughan, by whom he has six children. 

Politically he is an ardent and prominent Republican. 
With the origin of the party in 1856, he espoused the cause, 
voting for John C. Fremont for President. His contributions 
to party success have been considerable. He is a member of 
the Knights of Pythias, in whose workings he takes a great 
interest, also a Knight Templar in the Masonic order. He 
is a member of the Congregational Church. In a word Mr. 
Boals is one of the pushing, active business men of Alton. 
Anything conducive to the public good finds in him a friend 
and supporter. 



412 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



HENRY G. McPIKE. 

This gentleman comes of good old Revolutionary stock, 
his ancestors having lived in America many years prior to 
the struggle for Independence. The three families, McPike, 
Guest and Dumont, were of vigorous, energetic blood and 
high literary attainments. 

Capt. James McPike, a Scotchman, came to the United 
States before the Revolution. Henry Guest, Esqr., lo- 
cated on the present town site of the city of New Bruns- 
wick, in New Jersey, where his stone residence over a , 
hundred years old, yet stands in good repair. He had 
lived there a long lifetime, and in 1775, was so old that he | 
could only wheel in his chair. His son, Capt. Moses Guest, 
was Captain of the New Jersey Blues, and as such, entered 
the Revolutionary Army at the same time with Capt. James 
jMcPike. Both were with General Washington at Valley 
Forge — that terrible winter. After seven years of untold 
hardship and suffering, crowned with many exhibitions of per- 
sonal prowess, upon the declaration of peace in 1783, they 
returned to their anxious families. 

Capt. McPike came to Maysville, Kentucky, in 1795, with 
his family, including John and Richard, his sons. Of these 
Richard did valiant service in the war of 1812. 

Moses Guest, whose wife was Miss Dumont, having sold 
his merchant vessel (in the Montreal and West India trade) 
and retired from active business, came to Cincinnati, Ohio, 
in 1817. It is related of him that while at sea, he invented 
a still for salt water, which saved his passengers and crew 
from horrible deaths. In 1823, he published a book of 
poems and personal reminiscences, extending through a 
busy and interesting lifetime. 

The late General E. Dumont, of Indianapolis, Indiana, 
was of this family. His mother, Julia L. Dumont, of literary 
note, was the authoress of a series of American Tales — and 
" Life Sketches from Common Paths." 

Henry Guest McPike, one of the four sons of John Mc- 
Pike, located in Alton in 1847 ; at that time he was under 
age. His brothers were Haley (a soldier in the Mexican 
war,) George and William. H. G. McPike's business life 
has all been spent here. It has been characterized by ear- 
nest endeavor, unswerving fidelity and fixed determination. 
Politically Mr. McPike has ever been true to his early 
teachings. His father, the editor of a Whig paper, and an 
early advocate for the abolition of slavery ; his grand- 
fathers, both revolutionary patriots, have transmitted to him 
the same patriotic ardor that ever prompted their actions. 
Ever active in politics, he has never sought, but many times 
refused office. He was called by the Department to act as 
Deputy Provost Marshal of this Congressional District, 
during the most trying period, and upon him devolved the 
management and decision of many very delicate and serious 
policies of the War Department. He has represented his 
fellow citizens in many unpaying public and private labors. 
Always an untiring and consistent Republican, laboring 
zealously and conscientiously in its behalf, he has devoted 
much per.sonal labor and considerable expenditure of money 
in its interests. He has represented our people in many 
conventions and public assemblies — in the city council — in 



consultation with Legislators and in behalf of public im- 
provements. In a general sense he has been the dispenser 
rather than the seeker for public positions or emolument. 
In all matters pertaining to Agriculture and Horticulture 
he takes an active interest, and has contributed no little to 
the advancement of these arts. To tell it in few words Mr. 
McPike, true to his purpose is actively engaged in business, 
independent in action; a zealous, energetic, temperate, public- 
spirited citizen. 



J. J. McINERNEY, 

The editor of the Alton Sentinel, was born November 23, 
1853, in the city of Alton. His parents were natives of 
county Clare, Ireland, and came to this country in 1851, 
landing at New Orleans, thence, in 1852 they made their 
way up the Mississippi river to their present home. Austin 
Mclnerney, the father of the subject of this sketch, is an 
honest, law-abiding laboring man, who brought up his son 
to respect morality, and observe in his life its precepts. At 
an early age J. J. Mclnerney graduated from the Cathedral 
School in Alton, in fact he was but thirteen years old when 
he had completed his course of study. He at once entered 
the office of the Cumherland Presbyterian, a paper published 
by the Rev. J. B. Logan in Alton, to learn the printers' 
trade. After two years service here he went into the Tele- 
graph Office, where he remained until seventeen years of 
age. In the Spring of 1876 he entered upon his first ven- 
ture as a newspaper publisher, starting in company with 
others the Alton Morning News. The paper was short- 
lived. In 1879 he opened a neat job printing office, and in 
October of that year commenced the publication of the (Sen- 
tinel, an independent journal devoted to the interests of 
Madison and adjoining counties. Politically its tone is 
eminently independent, being a free lance in dealing with 
candidates and measures. Wien Mclnerney had but 
reached his majority he was a candidate for township clerk 
of his township. For this position he was defeated by a 
majority of thirty-five votes in a poll of fifteen hundred. ' At 
present he is an independent candidate for Legislative hon- 
ors, — the first who has ever had the temerity to thus offer 
himself before the people of Madison County. His inde- 
pendence has won for him many friends. 

He was married to Miss Alice Mullen, May 30th, 1881. 



HERMON C. COLE, 

Was the son of Nathan and Sarah Cole, and was born 
in Ovid, Seneca county. New York, May 9, 1813. He 
was the third of seven sons. In 1821 his father re- 
moved with his family to lUinoistown, now East St. 
Louis, Illinois, where he became the pioneer pork packer 
of the Mississippi Valley. Hermon C. received his educa- 
tional training in St. Louis and Alton. He was a pupil at 
one time of Rev. John M. Peck, in St. Louis, and after- 
ward in Alton Seminary, which latter became Shurtleff Col- 
lege, and was under the tuition of Rev. H. Loomis, in whose 




BUSINESS BLOCK OF NEISUfi & flANDALL , DEALIRS /N DRUGS. HARDWARE 

AfJD AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. BETHALTO, ILLINOIS. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



413 



family he boarded. His business education was obtained 
partly in connection with his father's business, and in em- 
ployment over a large part of the states of Missouri and 
Illinois in the purchase of cattle. 

At the age of twenty-one he opened for himself a store 
in lUinoistowfi, on a small capital, and in two years accumu. 
lated several thousand dollars. For two or three years after 
this he was an invalid, and unable to attend to any business. 
In 1837 his father, with his family, removed to Chester, Ran- 
dolph county, Illinois, where he built and opened a saw mill, 
flour mill and beef packing house, and Hermon C. opened 
and successfully conducted a general store, until 1840, when 
he sold out, and his father dyiug, he becime a partner, with 
his brother Abner, in the flour mill. At that time the mill- 
ing business was very precarious owing to the financial 
crisis of 1837, and also to the fact that wheat was raised in 
very limited quantities in that part of the country. In the 
alternations of trade Mr. Cole came into liabilities, not all 
his own, such as would have utterly discouraged many 
men, and led others to accept the relief offered by the bank- 
rupt law, but he steadily pursued the course of integrity 
and persevering industry, until every debt was paid, and a 
way opened to complete success. In 1851 he added to his 
business a general store which soon had the largest trade in 
southern Illinois. From this time, continued and large 
successes attended his enterprises. In 1853, the old mill 
was removed and a new one erected, which was then regarded 
as a model mill. In 1861 he became sole owner of the mill 
property, his brother Abner removing to Oregon the follow- 
ing year. As the business increased, enlargements were 
made from time to time and, the mill became the leadingone 
of southern Illinois, with a capacity of grinding three hun- 
dred and fifty barrels daily, provided with storage capacity 
of seven thousand barrels, and grain warehouse with storage 
capacity of one hundred thousand bushels. An extensive 
lumber trade was also added to his other business. 

Mr. Cole's operations were not conducted solely for his 
own benefit. He sympathized with struggling men, and 
with broad views of the needs of the surrounding country, 
he engaged in enterprises for the promotion of its welfare 
and growth. At his own expense, he improved roads, built 
bridges, and gave employment to many men. He en- 
couraged the production of wheat, and introduced the Medi- 
terranean variety in 1862. 

In 1867, in connection with his brother Nathan, he open- 
ed the extensive produce commission house in St. Louis, 
under the name of Cole Brothers, which became and still is 
eminently successful. In this firm he continued a partner 
until 1872. 

His business enterprises in Randolph county, meanwhile 
continued enlarging, and in 1872 he added to them a bank- 
ing house. At this time he was president of the Millers' 
Association of Illinois. His mercantile business was varied 
and extensive, and his lands in several counties embraced 
over ten thousand acres, including several cultivated farms. 
In 1868, desiring better church and educational facilities, he 
removed to Upper Alton, where was enlarged and improved 
at great expense the beautiful home where he spent as much 
53 



of his time as his business allowed, and where he died after 
a short and painful illness, October 20, 1874. 

The character of Mr. Cole S'^cured for him both tlie re- 
spect and affection of his associates. While of the quick 
and impulsive temperament that makes leadership, he was 
sympathizing and generous. Positive in conviction and 
expression, he was yet modest and forbearing. Engaged in 
practical business, he was alive to the enjoyments of refine- 
ment and taste and was earnest in promoting family and 
public education and culture. 

In Chester he united with the Baptist church, under the 
ministrations of Rev. U. L. Barber, and added integrity of 
Christian character to an elevated manhood. In Upper 
Alton he became a member of the Baptist church, and a 
liberal contributor to it. He became a trustee and benefac- 
tor of Shurtleff" College, donating at one time, five thousand 
dollars, and liberal sums at other times. He was a gener- 
ous helper of struggling students, and of worthy indigence, 
wherever he found it. Few men possessed greater energy 
and will power, and these elements of character united to a 
sufficient amount of cautiousness, to prevent his engaging 
in speculations, carried him to the front in business circles, 
and ultimately crowned his efforts with the highest succ'ess. 
Mr. Cole was twice married. First in June 1844, to Miss 
Emily Cox, of Stamford, Conn., who was a faithful compan- 
ion in his struggle, and successes until her death October 14, 
1859, and who left to him six children, named Charles B., 
Zachary Z., Alice E , Henry C, Eunice E., and Edward E. 

In February, 1862, he was married to Sarah J., daughter 
of Rev. Isaac D. Newell, one of the most eminent early 
Baptist ministers of Illinois, of whom a sketch appears in 
the history of the Baptist church in this county. She was 
then the widow of Mr. Joseph S. Flanagin, a young mer- 
chant of Bunker Hill. Five children were born of this 
marriage, viz: Cora V., Grace, Hermon, Newell, and Na- 
than. His death left his widow with the important and 
difficult trust of the sole guardianship of the persons and 
property of their five children, a trust for which she is 
eminently qualified by natural endowments and educatior, 
and in the discharge of which her course has been a con- 
tinued and conij)lete success. November 26, 1879, she was 
married to Prof. John C. C Clarke of Sburtlefl' College, 
and still resides at her home in Upper Alton. 

The following extract from the records of the Merchants' 
Exchange of St. Louis, Mo., shows the esteem in which 
Mr. Cole was held by his brother merchants, and presents a 
very just view of some elements of his character. 

St. Louis, October 24, 1874. 

Mr. George P. Plant offered the following preamble and 
resolutions : 

On the morning of October 20, 1874, Hermon B. Cole, a 
member of the Union Jlerchants' exchange of St. Louis, 
departed this life a,i the family residence in Upper Alton at 
the ripe age of sixty-two, after an illness of about ten days. 

Mr. Cole has long been identified with the business in- 
terests of St. Louis, and of the country adjacent, especially 



414 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



in southern Illinois, and attained to eminence in all the re- 
lations of life. 

He needed no public proclamation, no elevation to office, 
to determine his standing. His high rank was admitted by 
common consent, and his innate modesty forbade any other 
announcement. His business example was regarded a safe 
call to financial investments. His business habits were an 
unremitting challenge to young men hoping for success. 
His integrity and honor did not involve a question. His 
enterprise and energy were the eagle and lion united, high 
in purpose and strong to execute. Success was the certain 
crown of such a life. As a manufacturer his establishments 
became a market for the produce of a large surrounding 
country, and as a merchant he made a market for his manu- 
facture, and reflected a good name upon all associated with 
him. 

In social life he was humble, genial, mirthful ; a man 
â– whom children loved, and the poor approached as a com- 
panion and benefactor, who had trod their paths and knew 
by experience their joys aud sorrows. 

Educational and religious institutions had substantial evi- 
dence of his sympathy, and the benedictions of friends and 
the smiles of an approving Providence surrounded, entered, 
and blessed his home. 

In a life thus well spent he had the best preparation for 
the better, eternal life upon which we believe he has entered. 



To acknowledge unobtrusive worth and to perpetuate the 
memory of true greatness so beautifully exemplified in the 
life and character of our departed friend we are called toge- 
ther to day, therefore. 

Resolved, That the Union Merchants' Exchange of St. 
Louis in the death of Hermon C. Cole has lost a member of 
rare business capacity and attainments, of sterling integrity, 
of unsullied honor, enterprising, energetic, wise and prudent 
whose good example we commend with confidence to the 
young men of the west, as a model for their emulation. 

Res lived, That we regarded him in civil life as a true 
gentleman, modest, affectionate, genial, considerate of the 
rights and feelings of others, and tender towards those whom 
misfortune had humbled. Although dead he yet speaks to 
us of noble manhood and a good life in the midst of per- 
plexing cares. 

Resolved, That we tender to the family, the brother and 
the sorrowing friends of the deceased, our sincere sympathy, 
assuring them that his loss will be deeply mourned in the 
business community as well as in the home circle. 

Resolved, That this preamble and these resolutions be 
placed upon the records of this Exchange, and that a copy 
thereof be furnished to the afflicted family. 

The resolutions were seconded by Gov. Stanard, who 
spoke of the esteem in which the departed was held by his 
brother millers, and then unanimously adopted. 



-^*l^e^t^ 



WOOD RIVEE. 




lOWNSHIP 5, Range 9, known as 
"Wood River, lies in the northwes- 
tern part of the county, and borders 
on the Mississippi. It is bounded 
on the north by Fosterburg, on the 
east by Fort Russell, on the south by 
Chouteau, and on the west by the 
Mississippi river and Alton. The Mis- 
sissippi river crosses the southwest 
corner, and includes within its waters -about five sections. 
No finer or more productive body of land is probably 
contained within the western half of the county. The sur- 
face is sufficiently undulating to insure excellent surface 
drainage Originally it was mainly covered with good tim. 
ber, but has long since yielded to the woodman's axe, and 
beautiful farms now greet the eye of the passing traveler. 
Patches of timber are interspersed here and there, sufficient 



at least for the purpose of fuel, building material, etc. The 
soil is mainly composed of a gray loam, and especially 
adapted to the culture of wheat. Rattan's Prairie, which 
lies in the north and east part of the township, is composed 
of a darker quality of soil, and has very much the appear- 
ance of the prairie land in the central part of the State. It 
is credited with being somewhat richer than the soil of the 
timber. But a small portion of the township contains the 
rich alluvium of the American Bottom. A peculiar forma- 
tion known as Sand Ridge, lies in the southeast. It is a 
large sand bar, four or five miles in length, aud about one 
and a half in breadth, which by some convulsion of nature 
has been deposited here. 

The principal water course is Wood River, from which 
the township received its name, flowing in a southerly direc- 
tion, discharging its waters into the Mississippi, in section 
28. This stream has two branches, known as East and West 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



415 



Forks. The former enters the township in the northeast, 
and flows in a southwesterly direction, and unites with the 
latter in section 16. The West Fork enters in the extreme 
northwest, and meanders in a southerly direction, and 
unites with the other branch, as aforementioned. The rail- 
roads are numerous, reaching off like arms from a common 
center, in sections 16 and 17. One branch of tlie Indianapo- 
lis and St. Louis railroad enters from the northeast, in sec- 
tion 1, describes a crescent in its course through the township, 
and passes out in section 34. The other branch of the 
road enters in section 5, connecting with the main line in 
section 16. The C and A. road leading from Alton 
crosses the Wood River line in sec. 18, forms an elbow near 
the Indianapolis and St. Louis, and extends with it on a 
]>arallel line through the township The old Madison 
County railway crosses the southern boundary, extending 



east and west, and forms a junction with the former roads in 
section 34. 

THE EARLY HISTORY 

of Wood River dates back nearly eighty years, and has 
recorded in its career more stirring events tlian the 
most of its sister townships. It was here within the forks of 
Wood River that occurred the brutal Indian mas.«acre in the 
summer of 1814, a full account of which may be had in the 
pioneer chapter. This sad affair, which threw the little 
band of pioneers and their families into such a consterna- 
tion, transpired on Sunday, the 10th day of July, 1814. The 
place where this ghastly tragedy was enacted, is situated in 
the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of secticn 4, 
on the premises now owned by John Brown and sister. In- 
stead of a place covered with timber, as it was at the time 
of the massacre, it is now part of a cultivated field.* 




WOOD RIVER FORT, 1812-1814. 



Susan Paddock, of Fort Russell, kindly furnished us with 
the above correct sketch of the old Wood River Fort as it 
was when the families of this vicinity fled to it on the night 
of the massacre. It was situated on a little rise of ground 
near the barn now owned by William Gill, who resides in 
section 10. 

Another sensational sSmt of Wood River occurred in 
1823, at the house of Abel Moore. It was the killing of 
William Wright by Eliphalet Green. Some dispute arose, 
when Green grasped a gun and deliberately shot his oppo- 
nent. Green was tried, convicted, and executed. Judge 
Reynolds, afterward governor of the state, was then on the 



bench. The time fixed for execution was just four weeks 
from the day of conviction. This was the first case tried for 
a capital oflfense in Madison county, and the second in the 
state. 

The first white man to settle in the wilds of Wood River 
was Thomas Rattan. He came from Ohio in 1804, and lo- 
cated in section 13. This was prairie land, and composed 
of black soil, richer in appearance than the surrounding 
timber land. The prairie afterwards received his name, 
which it bears to this time. He reared a large family, and 

* For a full account of this lr.ngp(ir fee page 81. 



416 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



soon after the war of 1812 removed to Greeu county, where 
all traces of the family are lost. Martin Preuitt and family 
came about the same time, and settled on Sand Ridge, the 
history of whom will be found in the chapter on Fort Rus- 
sell. 

Toliver Wright, a native of Virginia, settled near the 
mouth of Wood River in the Spring of 1806. He bought 
out the improvement right of Shadrach Williams. At his 
coming he had a wife and several children. Mrs. Wright's 
maiden name was Elizabeth Ray. The family lived in this 
place two years, when they moved to section 10, and occu- 
j)ied the place now owned by William Gill- In the war of 
1812, Mr. AVright joined the Rangers. He was detailed as 
captain of a company of spies, and in the fall of 1812, while 
on the way to Peoria, he was shot by an Indian and mor- 
tally wounded. He was taken back to the Wood River 
Fort, where he died in about six weeks after being wounded. 
Mrs. J P. Owens, of Fort Russell, is a grand-daughter of 
Mr. Wright. 

Abel Moore, one of the pioneers, was a native of North 
Carolina, and migrated to Kentucky in 1804, and thence 
to Illinois in 1808. He located in section 4, now Wood 
River township. His family then consisted of his wife Mary, 
nee Bates, and two children, William and Joel, then respec- 
tively ten and eight years of age, both of whom were among 
the victims of the Wood River massacre. Eight other chil- 
dren were born at the old home&tead in section 4, as follows : 
John, Nancy, Sarah, Joshua, Rachel, Lydia, Anna and 
Franklin. Only three of this large family are now living ; 
Nancy, who resides in California ; Lydia, widow of Madison 
Williams, who lives near Bethalto, in section 2 ; and Major 
Franklin Moore, of Upper Alton. The latter has a history 
as eventful as his father before him, having served with dis- 
tinction through the entire late war. Indeed, he has the 
h mor of holding the first commission in the state under the 
'' Three-hundred-thousand call." Such were the services he 
rendered his country on the battle-field, that he received the 
soubriquet of "Fighting Frank." Abel Moore died in 1846, 
at the age of 63 years. Mrs. Moore died the day before her 
husband, aged 61. They lie side by side on the very spot 
of ground where their pioneer cabin was constructed. In 
the sale of the old homestead the children reserved this sa- 
cred spot as a lasting tribute to their departed parents. The 
old farm is now owned and occupied by George Cartwright. 
George and William Moore, brothers of Abel, came with the 
latter and their father as far as Ford's Ferry, on the Ohio 
river, where they separated from Abel, and went to Boon's 
Lick, Missouri, where the father died. The following year 
the brothers and their families came to Illinois, and settled, 
near their brother Abel in section 10. William's family 
consisted of his wife and two sons, John and George, both 
of whom were also victims at the Wood River massacre. 
Two children were afterward born to the family. They all 
moved to Pike county, Illinois, in 1830. George had no 
children when he came, but two were born while residing 
here, Margaret and Walter. The family migrated to Inde- 
pendence, Mo., in 1837. Mr. William Gill now occupies 
and owns his farm. Both William and George were gun- 



makers, and followed their trac'e in the township. The lat- 
ter also manufactured powder. 

Reason Reagan and family came about the same time as the 
Moores, but we have been unable to glean any satisfactory 
history of their nativity, etc. A lone apple-tree now stands 
near where their cabin was located, at the time of thedeath 
of Mrs. Reagan and her children at the hands of the In- 
dians. Another pioneer was William Montgomery, who was 
born in Kentucky, and came from his native state a single 
man in 1S09, and first stopped in St. Louis, having but one 
dollar in his possession. In the year 1814, he came over to 
Illinois, and located on Indian Creek in Fort Russell. The 
same year he married Sarah Rattan. He remained here 
about three years, when he moved into Wood River, and 
settled in section 13. He reared a large family, consisting 
of twelve children, Nelson, John, William N., Nancy R , 
Thomas J., James, Paris, Matilda, Amanda F., Hampton, 
Ann, and Eliza Jane. Mr. Montgomery became a very 
prominent and prosperous farmer, owning at his death, — 
which occurred in the ftill of 1849,-2,000 acres of land. 
Mrs. Montgomery died two years before her husband. Three 
sons and four daughters are yet living, Eliza, wife of T. W. L. 
Belk, Wood River ; Nelson and Nancy R., wife of Thomas 
Barnsback, Edwardsville ; John, who resides in Macoupin 
county ; Ann, in Colorado ; Amanda, wife of Z. B. Job, 
of Alton, and Hampton, who occupies the old homestead in 
section 13. These children are all well-to-do in the world, 
and are among the most respected citizens in their various 
localities. Two brothers, George and Thomas Davidson, 
came from South Carolina about 1306, and settled in section 
36. Both were men of families. The former established a 
tannery on his premises in 1810, where be conducted the 
business until 1818, when he sold out to a man by the name 
of Smith, and moved to Bond county. Thomas improved a 
good farm, and was a prominent man in his neighborhood, 
having served many years in the capacity of justice of the 
peace. He died long ago, and none of the family are now 
residents of the county. Prominent among the early settlers 
was the Collet family, consisting of Mrs. Anna Collet and 
her three sons, John W., Robert, and Mark. They came 
from Philadelphia to Illinois in 1817, and located at the 
now extinct town of Milton, situated on Wood River. 
Mark lived but two years, and Robert moved to Galena in 
1819. Mrs. Collet, the mother, subsequently moved to St. 
Louis, where she died about 1830. John W. was married 
to Miss Mary Ground in 1829. From this union two chil- 
dren were born, Daniel W., and John W., jr. Mr. Collet 
lived until 1846, and his wife died about two years ago, 
1880. Daniel and John, jr., both reside at Upper Alton, 
and are much respected citizens. It is said that from the 
seed of some poppies sown by Mrs. Anna Collet in 1817, 
grew plants which are yet alive, and which bloom every 
year. 

Another early settler of Milton was Thomas Lippincott, 
who was born at Salem, New Jersey, in 1791. At the age 
of twenty-five, he married Patty Swift. In the fall of 1817, 
he started westward, and landed in St. Louis in Feb., 1818. 
In the fall of the same year he brought a small stock of 



--%!*â–  Aj: ,i' 



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^V^'^ 







^f?,v R€Side:nce: or CH. FLICK Sec. 1 1. T. 5. R.9. IWoooRiv^R Vp ) Mad 




HOTELL. AND SuS/WESS B LO CK . o r C. H. T LI C H BETHALTO, III. 



HISTORY OF MADISOl^ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



417 



goods to Jlilton, and commenced business under the firm 
Dame of Lippincott & Co. Rut'us Eastou, of St. Louis, fur- 
nished the capital, and Mr. Lippincott conducted the busi- 
ness. He landed his goods from a keel-boat at what is now 
the city of Alton. Mr. L., in his uieraoirs, says that Alton 
was then in a state of nature. His first dwelling at Milton 
was a log-cabin 10x18 feet. His business affairs at ]\Iilton 
were not a success. The town was a very sickly place on 
account of the stagnant water caused by the mill-dam 
thrown across the river at this point. The following year 
his wife died. In 1820 he married again, but only a few 
months had passed when he was called upon to bury his 
second wife. He soon afterward moved to Ed*ardsville, and 
from that time fortune seemed to turn in his favor. He 
again married and reared a large family. General Charles 
E. Lippincott, of Chandlerville, III., is a son of the third wife- 
His life was a busy and useful one. He died at Pana, 111., 
in 1869. 

James Huston was a native of Virginia, and moved to 
Kentucky when a boy. He mirried Judith Fountain in 
1808, and in 1819 came to Illinois and settled in Upper 
Alton. The family at that lime consisted of his wife and 
five children, only one of whom is now living in Madison 
county, — Sarah Wood, wife of Joshua Wood. There are 
several others who settled here in an early day, but at this 
late date it is impossible to get even a synopsis of their his- 
tory, they having moved away or died, leaving none of their 
descendants in the county. Among this class are John 
Vickery, who settled in section twelve, on the farm now 
owned by Z. B. Job and Wm. Ogle, who settled in the same 
sections on the property now owned by Robert Kennedy. 
Then there were the Starkeys, the Odells, the Seeleys, the 
Wallaces and others. Those of a later date and now living 
are the Lowes of Upper Alton, Capt. J. A. Miller, and Esq. 
W. L. Pigott, of Bethalto ; E. B. Handle, of the same place, 
an old resident of the county ; William R. Wright, of Upper 
Alton; Col. Andrew F. Rodgers, in section three, this town- 
ship ; Amos Squires, in section twenty-two ; William Gill, 
section ten ; Susan W. Cooper, of Upper Alton ; Sarah Ann 
Badley, section nine ; I). W. Stockel, in section ten, and 
others too numerous to mention. 

Only three militia claims are laid in this township. Those 
claims were founded on an act of congress granting one hun- 
dred acres of land to each militiaman enrolled and doing 
duty in Illinois on the first day of August, 1790, within the 
district of Kaskaskia. They are as follo\ys : " Claim 1855, 
Baptiste Lionais, Nicholas Jarrot, 400 acres ; affirmed, situ- 
ated opposite the mouth of the Missouri." This claim was 
laid in section 32, and has long since been in the Mississippi 
river. The landing of the Madison County Coal Company 
was formerly situated on this claim. " Claim 2603, George 
Biggs, John Whiteside, 100 acres, located on Wood river, 
including a mill." This claim was laid in section 17, and 
was situated in the old town of Milton. " Claim 756, John 
Sullivan, Larkin Rutherford and — Harrison, 440 arpents." 
This land lay mostly in sections 8 and 9, and embraced the 
farm of the Hon. Cyrus Edwards, and was the only claim in 
the vicinitv- 



The following were the first land entries : August 23d, 
1814, Abel Moore, in section 4, entered several acres. On 
the same day, George Moore entered the northwest quarter 
of section ten, 160 acres. August 24th, 1824, Charles 
Kitchens entered the southeast and the southwest quarters 
of section three, 320 acres. John Walker entered on the 
26th of August, 1814, the southeast fraction of section 19. 
Absalom Woolum entered 328 acres in section 3, September 
13. 1814. 

The trials, vicissitudes and hardships of these early s?ttler3 
sound more like a romance than actual facts to one of this 
age, where every opportunity of education, culture and 
pleasure is within his grasp. The facilities of rapid transit 
from state to state, and city to city, has almost wiped out the 
idea of distance, and all the wants of man are virtually 
landed at his very door. What a transition is this from the 
" good old days of our fathers ! " What would the young 
men of to-day think of loading a flatboat at the mouth of 
Wood river with the simple produce of those early times, 
and then being obliged to pilot the rude craft down the Mis- 
sissippi to the New Orleans market? And yet the trip down 
the river was not the hardest part of going to market, — for, 
after the produce was sold, they were obliged to trudge 
back on foot to their homes. This may seem over-drawn, 
but several of the old men now living assured us that they 
have often heard their fathers give an account of their trips 
to market at New Orleans as above described. It also 
seems a little strange that guns and gospel were so closely 
mingled in those days. The inside of their places of wor- 
ship bristled with their rifles. Instead of a gilt-edged Bible 
or hymn-book in their hand, it was their gun they carried ; 
for at any time they might need it to protect themselves and 
families from the prowling Indians. Indeed, they were 
obliged to be so much on the alert for this savage foe, that 
serious results sometimes accrued therefrom. One case of 
this kind happened to the Starkey family. They were then 
living in the timber close to Rattan's Ravine. In the year 
1814, Jesse Starkey and his sou had gone out to hunt their 
horses, which had wandered off some distance from the set- 
tler's cabin. As was the custom then, each one bore his 
rifle. It was a foggy morning, and they had separated to 
make a more thorough search. It must be remembered 
that many of the early settlers wore buckskins, and in many 
other particulars their dress resembled somewhat that of the 
Indian's. The father and son, in their tramping through 
the timber, had unconsciously strayed near each other. A 
thicket of brush separated them, so that nothing but vague 
glimpses of either could be obtained. Both came to the 
same conclusion, that is, that the party gliding behind the 
brush was an Indian. Then commenced a hurried prepara- 
tion to see who should get the first shot. The father was 
the first to shoot; but what must his feelings have been when 
he found that he had shot his own son ? Fortunately, the 
wound was not mortal, and the boy finally recovered. Little 
forts or block houses were situated at every few miles, for 
the convenience of resort in case of any hostile demonstra- 
tions on the part of the savages. Beside the Wood River 
fort, there was another in this tuwiK-hip, situated in .section 



418 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



21, and known as Benen's fort. It was constructed in 1811, 
and was located on the land now owned by A. E. Benbowe, 
about a mile south of the old site of Milton. Jacob Preuitt, 
son of Solomon Preuitt, was born in this fort. This birth 
and that of Isaac Cox, who was born in 1812, were among 
the first in the township. Tradition says the latter was the 
first born in Wood River. But there are grave doubts as to 
the correctness of this traditional statement. It must be 
remembered tliat Thomas Rattan had then been residing 
here eight years, and a few others nearly as long. 

The first place of interment is situated in section 24, and 
is known as " Vaughan's Graveyard." It is now overgrown 
with timber, but it is said once to have been a cleared spot 
of ground. In this cemetery the bodies of the killed at the 
Wood River massacre are buried. On a small sandstone 
we deciphered the following inscription : " William and Joel 
Moore were k lied by the Indians, July 10th, 1814." The 
letters are nearly obliterated by age. There are also the 
names of Ogle, members of the family of William Ogle. 
John Rattan's name also appears. It is engraven on a sand- 
stone — a broken piece — and reads: "Deceased Oct. 11th, 
1821, age 74." Several are so old and dim, they cannot be 
deciphered. The oldest, which is legible, bears the following 
name and date: "James Odell,died September 11th, 1809." 
Thus it is evident that this place of interment antedates 
1809. Upon this same ground was built the first church- 
house, about the year of the above inscription. The house 
was a, small log-cabin, and was constructed by the Baptist 
denomination. A frame building was afterward built in its 
place, but it too passed away more than a quarter of a cen- 
tury ago. Rev. William Jones was the early pastor. And, 
apropos of this, we will relate a little anecdote, as handed us 
by one of the old settlers. It is traditional, however, and 
we give it for what it is worth. It is said the circumstance 
occurred in the days of the first house, the log-cabin, ser- 
vices then being conducted at the house of " Uncle"' Johnny 
Rattan. The Rev. David Badgley, from St. Clair county, 
was over in this part of the moral vineyard aiding the Rev. 
Mr. Jones in conducting a series of meetings. At this par- 
ticular time the Rev. Badgley was engaged in making the 
exhortation, and Brother Jones was sitting by his side. Now 
in those times, not even the minister of the gospel, made any 
great pretensions to dressing in esthetic style. Suspend- 
ers were unknown among them, and the pantaloons were 
supported at the hips by what was called a draw-string. 
Brother Badgley had become very much warmed up with 
his subject,— so much so, in fact, that he was not aware that 
the draw-string of his pants had by some unexplainable 
cause become untied. In short, he was the only one present 
that was ignorant of the fact. From all appearances there 
was soon likely to be a very embarrassing catastrophe. Bro. 
Jones took in the situation, and nudged his brother, and at 
the same time gave an ominous glance and nod at Badgley's 
unmentionables. But the Rev. B. was equal to the occa- 
sion. He stopped, quietly secured a knot in the string, and 
proceeded with his discourse as though nothing had hap- 
pened. 

Among other early preachers, besides those already mcn- 



tioneil, were Bennett Maxey, Nathaniel Pinckard, Thomas 
Raudle, and Samuel Thompson, all of the Methodist per- 
suasion. 

The first school-house was situated in section 4, on the 
land now owned by George Cartwright. The house was an 
unpretentious one, being constructed simply cf rough logs. 
The first teacher was an old man by the name of Peter 
Flinn. He taught here some little time, and went to pirta 
unknown. The early Ju.sticas of the Peace were Nathaniel 
Pinckard, Wm. G. Pinckard, John Allen, and Benjamin 
Spencer. These were all magistrates as early as 1818. The 
first Sunday school was organized by Mrs. Thos. Lippincott, 
at the old town of Milton, in 1819. This was not only the 
first Sunday-school in Wood River, or Madison county, but 
it was the first in the state of Illinois. The first to practice 
medicine here was Dr. Tiffin, who resided about three 
miles down the river at a point then called St. Mary's. He 
afterward moved to Edwardsville, an 1 thence to St. Louis. 
Erastus Brown was also an early physician. The first post- 
office was established at Milton in a very early day, but 
at just what date none now living are able to tell. 
Richard Cartledge opened a coal mine in section 1, as early 
as 1839. No shaft was sunk, as coal could be procured by 
drifting into the bluff. The first blooded stock was iutro- 
trodueed in 1840, by a man of the name i f Van Wagner. 
It consisted of hogs and horned cattle, imported from 
Europe. It may not be generally known, but in an early 
day (1818, or before) there was quite an extensive packing 
house, established at the mouth of W^ood river, in section 28. 
D. E. Tiffin was the proprietor. Both beef and pork were 
packed here for the foreign markets. 

The first town or village of any sort in Wood River was 
the town of Milton- The exact date of its inception is 
now difficult to determine, but from the best proofs at hand 
it must have commenced its existence about 1808-9. It 
was situated three miles from the mouth of Wood river, 
in section 17. The town was undoubtedly started by 
John Wallace and Walter J. Seeley, as they owned in 1818 
nearly all of the improvements in the village. They were 
transacting business under the firm name of Wallace & 
Seeley, and owned three mills, two saw-mills and a grist 
mill. A dam was thrown across the river here which gave 
a head for water jx)wer. The saw mills were located at op- 
posite sides of the river, and at either end of the dam. The 
town also contained a distillery, one store, a blacksmith shop 
and a tavern. The latter was kept by Joel Bacon, and the 
store was conducted by Thomas Lippincott, under the firm 
name of Lippincott & Co. This was in 1818, and Milton 
was then flourishing and enjoying its palmiest days. The 
miasma rising from the back water caused by the dam, pro- 
duced a great deal of sickness at certain seasons of the year, 
and Milton's sun began to set. A few years, and it was 
nearly depopulated. Another decade and the buildings 
were torn down and removed to other parts ; only one rickety 
building was left standing, tenantless and silent. Other ex- 
tinct towns, were Chippewa, Gibralter, and we also find the 
name St. Mary's; but they were all in the Mississippi or 
the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, nearly half a century 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



419 



ago. Chippewa was situated directly opposite the mouth 
of the Mi-^fouri, and could boast of one of the first steam 
mills in Madison county. Gibraltar was about a mile above 
the mouth of Wood river and located on the west bank. St. 
Mary's must have been a place or town in name only. 
Abraham Preuitt, now residing at Dorsey's station, says that 
Dr. Tiffin settled near the mouth of Wood river and built a 
two story house, and the place was called St. Mary's. Lip- 
pincott in his Memoirs also speak of Dr. Tiffin residing at 
the aforementioned place. 

VILLAGE OF BETHALTO. 

Thii is a thriving little town, situated on the Intlianapolis 
and St. Louis railway, and contain* a population of about 
800. It was laid out by Joel U. Starkey, and the plat was 
recorded June 23d, 1854. The original site was located in 
the southeast quarter of section 1, but other additions have 
been made, and now about one-fifth of the population reside 
over the line in Fort Russell township. The town was first 
called Bethel, but as soon as the post-office was established 
it became necessary to change the name, as there was 
already another town of the same name in the state. A 
compromise was, therefore, effected between the two names, 
Bethel and Alton, Beth-alto. The first building was a board 
shanty, sixteen feet square, erected by Thomas Smith, in 
1854, and situated on what is now the widow Mape's place 
on Oak street. Mr. Smith utilized it for a dwelling, and 
also kept a small stock of groceries. The next business 
house was built by Wm. Tyron in the spring of 1855. It 
was a frame building 30x40, and situated on Prairie street 
and Railroad avenue. Mr. Tyron put in a general stock of 
goods, and continued business for some years. The house is 
yet standing, and is occupied by Charles Bruening for a 
general store. The next industry in the town was a brick 
yard, established by John A. Miller, in the spring of 1856, 
and located north of the railroad on the corner of Mill and 
Oak streets. The same spring the firm of Hamilton & Pig- 
gett erected a steam circular saw mill on the north side of 
the railroad on Oak street, between Second and Third. At 
that time the present site of Bethalto was covered with 
heavy timber, as was also a portion of the surrounding 
country. In consequence of this the mill flourished and did 
a thriving business, but in a few years timber became scarce, 
and it was moved to Hamel township. William Tyron kept 
the first post office. This was in 1855. The first hotel was 
built and kept by Anthony B. Carroll in 1858. It was situ- 
ated on Prairie street and Railroad avenue, and north of the 
railroad. The first blacksmiths were the firm of Richard & 
Samuels. The trade was established in 1856, and located 
on Second and Oak streets north of the railroad. The first 
church was erected by the Catholics, and dedicated in the 
summer of 1862. It is a frame structure in a very good 
state of preservation, and was considered in the day of its 
construction a pretty fair building. The first Justice of the 
Peace elected in the corporation was John A. Miller, 

Incorporation. — Bethalto was incorporated as a town under 
a special act in force, April 19th, 1869. The first officers 
elected were, Jacob Huppert, President of the board ; 



trustees, John P. Richards. J. P. Gumming, J. C. Bau- 
gert, and John Jackson. April 23d, 1873, an election was 
held to determine whether the town should incorporate as a 
village under the general law, with the following result: For 
village organization 14 votes ; against village organization 9 
votes. The majority being in favor of organization, an 
election was called May 5th, following, for the purpose of 
choosing village officers. The following named persons were 
elected : Stephen A. Albro, President of Board ; Trustees, 
Conrad H. Flick, John V. Richards, Adam Elspermann, 
Charles Gundall and John Stolze ; Clerk, William E. Lehr ; 
Police ^Ligistrate, John A. Miller. Frank M.- Handle was 
appointed village constable, F. W. Stolze, Supt. of streets, 
and Lewis Kleim, treas. The present board recently elected 
are : John Wiedraer, E. W. Reid, John Dippold, F. Weaver, 
B. Picker, and John Falkenberg; Clerk, W. H. Battles. 
The town is in good condition financially, and the walks and 
other improvements indicate a tasty and prosperous people. 
One of the largest and most extensive flouring mills in 
Madison county is located here. 

President Merchant Mills and Elevator. — John W. Kauff- 
man, proprietor. This industry was established in 1859, by 
James Neimrick, it then having three run of stone with a 
capacity of manufacturing 100 barrels of flour daily. In 
1877, it was torn down, and rebuilt by the firm of Meyer & 
Guye with a daily capacity of 500 barrels. In 1879, both 
of the firm died, and the following year it was leased by E. 
O. Stanard & Co., for twelve months. January, 1881, it was 
purchased by J. W. Kauff"man who increased its capacity to 
600 barrels. In March 1882, a complete change was made 
in the grinding apparatus, substituting the Gray roller system 
in the place of burrs. This is a new departure, and consid- 
ered far in advance of the old system. Its former capacity 
remains unchanged. The mill proper is 54x80 on the 
ground, and five stories in height, and has a stone basement. 
The elevator, which is run in connection with the mill, is 
40x80 feet base, and 85 feet high. It has the capacity of 
elevating 15,000 bushels of grain daily, and of storing 70,- 
000 bushels of wheat. A ware-house is detached 65x150 
feet, and will store 10,000 barrels of flour. A cooper shop is 
conducted in connection with the works, and is a part of the 
property. The whole concern covers one and a half acres 
of ground. It is located on the I. & St. L. Railway. The 
switch from the mill to the road is owned and operated by 
the proprietor of the mill. The capital invested is estimated 
at $125,000. Fifty men are employed by this enterprise. 
Flour is shipped mainly to the Eastern states and Europe. 
This vast machinery is driven by a 250 horse-power engine. 
No elevator or mill in the county has better facilities for re- 
ceiving and discharging grain, feed, flour, etc , than this. 
The elevator is hopper-bottom, or in regular elevator style, 
and so conveniently arranged for changing grain from bin 
to bin that it is not necessary to use the scoop in any part of 
the building. The mill contains a bran bin capable of 
holding ten car loads of bran, and a smaller one that holds 
four car loads of shorts. A corn elevator also belongs to the 
concern. It is a frame building 16x30 feet on the ground 
and 30 feet high, and stores 5,000 bushels of corn. The 



420 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



whole business U under the general superiutendence of John 
AViedmer. 

Karnack Mill — This mill was established by the firm of 
Ewan & Flick in the fall of 1872, and passed wholly into 
tiie hands of the senior member of the firm, J. T. Ewan, in 
the fall of 1879. It is located on Prairie street, a little 
north of the railroad. It is a frame building, two stories 
high with a basement, and 28x60 feet on the ground. The 
engine rojm is one story, and 16x40 feet. The mill has 
four run of burrs, and has the capacity of grinding 100 
barrels of flour daily, and gives employment to twelve men. 
The annual manufactured product is estimated at $165,000. 
The capital invested is $14,000. The flouring is done by an 
improved process, and the flour sells well in the Eastern 
markets; it is however, mainly confined to custom work. 
The machinery is driven by a forty-horse power engine. A 
cooper shop is run in connection with the mill. It is a de- 
tached building 20x30 feet in size. 

Coal J/wte-j.^There are two small coal mines near the 
suburbs of the town. One is owned by David Brunton, the 
other by Michael Mayer. Bethalto is situated over a fine 
vein of coal which is from five to eight feet in thickness, and 
it is obtained by going only about 70 feet below the surface. 
The only wonder is, that this industry receives so little at- 
tention. The shafts in operation do but very little work, 
and are not prepared to do anything like an extensive 
business. 

Sheridan Home. — Conrad H. Flick proprietor. This 
house has been recently built, and is a fine brick building 
three stories high, and with basement under ground. It is 
nearly square, being 45x56 feet base. It contains sixteen 
guest-rooms and two store rooms ; also a commodious office 
and sample room. A dumb-waiter is arranged to communi- 
cate from the kitchen to the basement, and the house con- 
tains all other conveniences peculiar to a good hotel. It is 
located on the corner of Third and Oak streets. The 
property is valued at $6,000, and it is indeed an ornament 
to the town. There are three other hotels in the village. 
The Union Hotel, H. J. Hensech, proprietor ; Bethalto 
House, John Cooper, proprietor; and the Cooper's Ex- 
change, with John Husum as proprietor. 

Public Hall. — This is situated in the second story of the 
Neisler building. It is 40x60 feet in size, and is conveniently 
arranged with stage and stage fixtures, and is seated with 
chairs capable of accommodating 500 persons. The stage is 
16 feet in depth, and has a breadth of thirty feet. It is ar- 
ranged with foot-lights and has three sets of scenery. 

A Cornet Band was organized about two years ago, and 
it is now in good working order. There are thirteen mem- 
bers in the band, and they are all well uniformed. It contaius 
eleven horns, two tenor drums and one bass drum. The in- 
struments and uniforms cost about $500. 

School House. — This is a fine brick building situated in the 
eastern part of the village, and was constructed in 1867, at 
a coat, including furniture, of $7,000. It is two stories 
high, with a cupola and bell, and contains four rooms. Four 
teachers are employed, and it is sutably graded for the best 
advancement of the pupils. There are three church houses 



of fair dimensions, the Cumberland Presbyterian, United 
Baptist and the Catholic. For a full history of these socie- 
ties see Ecclesiastical chapter. 

We here append a directory of the present business of the 
village not already mentioned. 

General Stores. — W. H. Battles, Lewis Klein and Charles 
Bruening. 

Gh'oceries, Queensware, etc. — John Hickerson. 

Druggists and Pharmacists. — Neisler & Randall. 

Boot and Shoe Store. — Charles C. Bangert. 

Hardware, Tinware and Agricultural Implemeuts.— 'Neis- 
ler & Randall. 

Hardware, Groceries and Agricultural Implements. — John 
A. Miller. 

Furniture and Undertaking. — George Dorr. 

Tin Ware. — Isaac Scammill. 

Watch Maker and Jeweler. — August Smitz. 

Harness and Saddlery. — John Gray. 

Physicians. — N. B. Richards, E. W. Reed, Joseph Cobb. 

Black-smithing. — John Bahr, Gottleib Klem. 

Wagon Maker. — Charles Buck. 

Painters. — Charles Andrews, Angil. 

Barbers. — August Smitz, John Russell. 

Restaurants. — JSIary McAliney, Hannah Gill. 

Livery Stable. — Joseph Starkey. 

Justices.— iohn A. Miller, C. H. Flick. 

Notaries, Insurance and Real Estate Agents. — W. L. Pig- 
gett, John A. Miller. 

Carpenter and Builder. — C. H. Flick. 

Shoe Makers — Charles Langhart, Charles Bangert and 
Charles Gundall. 

Meat Market. — John Falkenburg. 

Mdliners and Dress Makers. — Laura Smith, Mrs. Cobb. 

Carpet Weaver. — Caroline Starkey. 

Postmaster. — W. H. Battles. 

There are also five saloons in the town at this writing. 

SOCIETIES.* 

Bethalto Lodge, No. 406, A. F. and A. M., was chartered 
October 5th, 1846, with 18 charter members. Whole 
number enrolled, 74. Present membership, 24. The Lodge 
meets before the full moon in each month. It has a good 
lodge room, and is in good condition financially. 

United Ancient Order of Druids, Teutonia Grove, No. 
25. This society was organized September 9th, 1871, and 
chartered September 27th, 1874, with a membership of six. 
There have been 46 members enrolled ; five have died since 
organization. There are now 25 members enrolled and in 
good standing. The society has paid out for sick benefits. 
$929. Each of the five deceased members have received 
$500. The Lodge meets the first and third Fridays in 
each month, in the village Hall. It is in excellent condition 
financially. 

EMERALD 

Was laid out by George W. Carr and George A. Smith, 
and the plat recorded July 14th, 1858. It is situated on 

* \Vc are iiidobtoil lo tlie secretaries of the societies for lliese data. 



HISTORY OF MAD ISO y COUNTY, ILIINOIS. 



421 



the east line of a tract of land containing 180 acres, being a 
part of the east half of section 16. This town is better 
known as Alton Junction, and is named Wanda station by 
the railroad corporation. The I. and St. L. railroad trans- 
fer and feed all the stock passing over the line at this point. 
The road has six long switches here, and one switch engine 
is kept busy in making transfers, etc. The Tile works of 
M. H. Bowles & Co., are located a little above the station, 
and are one of the most extensive industries of the kind in 
this part of the state. Not less than $100,000 have been 
invested in establishing the works, and they give employment 
to about twenty men. All sizes of tile are manufactured 
from two inches in diameter to the largest sewer pipe. 
There are two general stores at the station. John Koch and 
George Smith are the proprietors. The former is also post- 
54 



master. There is also a blacksmith shop conducted by 
David D. Tomlinson, besides fiye saloons and two boarding- 
houses. The town contains about 250 inhabitants, and has 
an air of considerable push and business. 

Salu was laid out and the plat placed on record August 
1st, 1825, by Bennett Maxey, Erastus Brown and Zachariah 
Allen. It is situated in the southwest quarter of section 6, 
on the first high, rolling ground from the river. It long 
since merged into Upper Alton, as the latter place grew in 
importance, and Salu is now known only in history and on 
paper According to the census of 1880, Wood River town- 
ship contained a population of 4,885, composed of various 
nationalities. S. B. Gillham has the honor of representing 
the township in the county board since townshij) organiza- 
tion in 1876. 




422 



HISTORY OF MAD I SOX COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 





'^^^C^ 



Bartlett Hinds Mills, was born in Montrose, Penn- 
sylvania, on the 22d day of October, 1815. He married 
Delia Halsey, at Fairfield, N. Y., August 26th, 1841. The 
family for a time lived on the paternal farm, west of Mont- 
rose. He afterward taught school and made some prepara- 
tion for the practice of the law, and was editor of the Inde- 
pendent EepublicMi. This with a short engagement in mer- 
cantile pursuits occupied him until January, 1852. There 
were born of the marriage in and near Montrose, Charles 
Francis Mills, born 29th day of May, 1843, Martha Lewis 
Mills, born 18th day of March, 1845, and Henry Edmund 
Mills, born 24th day of June, 1850. In January 1852, the 
family removed to Candor, Tioga county. New York, where 
was born Ruth Catharine Mills, on the 3d day of May, 
1853. lu 1854, the family moved west, and settled at Up 
per Alton, Illinois, where Mr. Mills continued to reside until 
his death, July 30th, 1877 Oncoming West Mr. Mills 
became interested in the cause of Temperance, principally 
laboring with the Independent Order of Good Templars- 
He was for many years Grand Worthy Secretary of the 
Grand Lodge of Missouri, having an office in St. Louis, and 



for several terms was Right Worthy Grand Secretary of the 
National Lodge of the United States and Canadas. For 
eleven years he published the official organ of the order 
known as " The Good Templar." At the breaking out of 
the war, although past the age for active engagement and 
not being physically strong enough for service, he took an 
active interest in encouraging those who could go, and in 
sustaining them by aid and comfort at home. He was one 
of the charter members of the first Union League started in 
Upper Alton, which was among the first organized in the 
State. He organized the first Ladies' Union League, com- 
posed their ritual and caused the organization to spread over 
the entire State, thus starting a movement which caused large 
amounts of money, clothing and sanitary stores to be col- 
lected for the use of the army in the field besides educating 
public sentiment to the necessity of a vigorous prosecution 
of the war. He had imbibed strong anti-slavery sentiments 
from his father, Josiah Mills, who had been an old revolu- 
tionary veteran. 

He was for some time Financial Agent and a Trusteee of 
Shurtleff College. In 1868 he became engaged in the in- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



423 



surance business in St. Louis, still making his residence in 
Upper Alton, and in 1870, became editor of the Western 
Insurance Review, which he continued to edit until his 
death, furnishing copy to the last number which appeared 
before his death. He became a member of the ]5aptist 
church while yet a young man, and was a regular attendant 
upon the services of the Upper Alton Baptist Church, and a 
frequent attendant upon the meetings of the Edwardsville 
Baptist Association. 

The immediate ancestors of Bartlett H. Mills, were Josiah 
Mills, who married Elizabeth Sturdevant in January 1812. 
Josiah Mills, was born in Roxbury, Mass., on the 7th of 
October, 1763. In his 14th year, then a homeless orphan, 
he enlisted in the Revolutionary army as a drummer. After 
a year's service he received a musket which he carried until 
the close of the war. Was at the battles of White Plains, 
with Gates at Stillwater and Saratoga, with Washington at 
Trenton, Princeton, the march through the Jerseys, Valley 
Forge and Yorktown. Emigrated soon after the war to Joy, 
Oxford county, Maine. In 1804, he received a commission 
(now in possession of the family at Upper Alton) as Captain 
of Massachusetts volunteers, ]\Iaine, being then a province of 
Massachusetts. Removed to Susquehanna county, Pennsyl- 
vania, and with Bartlett Hinds (^after whom B. H. INIills was 
named) made the first settlement near Montrose in 1817. 
He died on his farm west of INIontrose, March 23d, 1833. 
He was a pensioner of the Revolution. See Blackman's 
history of Susquehanna county. Pa., pp. 313 and 314. 

Elizabeth Sturdevant Mills, mother of B. H. Mills, was 
born in Danbury, Conn., in 1771, and died in Montrose, 
Pa., in September, 1841. Her father was Elder Samuel 
Sturdevant of the extensive Sturdevant family of Braintrim, 
Skinners Eddy and Lacyville, Pa. Their ancestry is traced 
back to an original Sturdevant, who was stolen from London 
Bridge when a boy, and brought to America and sold for 
his passage. From his looks and clothing he was supposed 
to be of noble birth, and in his last years was advertised for 
in England, but owing to his age and the rigors of the voy- 
age he did not go to answer the call. 

Delia (Halsey) Mills, was born in Fairfield, Herkimer 
county. New York, on the 5th day of February, 1817, and 
was married to B. H. Mills, August 2t!th, 1841. After the 
death of her husband in 1877, she removed to St Louis, 
and lived with her son, Henry E. Mills, until the summer of 
1881, when she removed to Greenville, Illinois, to live with 
her daughter, Ruth C. Mills, Principal of Almira College. 
Her immediate ancestors were Sylvanus Halsey and Cordelia 
( Sayre) Halsey. The Halseys were descended from Thom- 
as Halsey who died in 1078, at Southampton, Jjong Island, 
and was one of the twenty original settlers of Lynn, Massa- 
chusetts. In lt)37, he was a resident of Lynn, and in 1638, 
he owned there 100 acres of land. His first wife was mur- 
dered by the Indians (See Howell's History of Southampton 
and Prime's History of Long Island, pp. 94 and 96.) The 
arms of the family in Hertfordshire, England, are Argent, 
three boars' head,s, couped in pale sable. He came from 
England in the Speedwell in 163.5. The original Thomas 
Halsey. d. 1678, had a son, Thomas Halsey. The â– â– ^ Thomas 



had a son Josiah b. 1656-7 Feb. 15 ; David b. Apr. 12, 1663, 
d. 1732 and others. '" Josiah d. 1739 had ason.Deacju Jo- 
siah, b. 169-, d. 1744. Deacon Josiah had a son, Israel. Israel, 
had a son, Willnian, b. 1750, d. 1786. Willman Halsey had 
a sou Barzillai, a son Sylvanus, father of Delia (Halsey) Mills. 
Her mother, Cordelia (Sayre) Halsey, was a descendant of 
Thomas Sayre, the first of that name in Southampton, and 
one of the eight original " Undertakers,' so called because 
they bought a vessel and came in it to Southampton. The 
great age to which these early settlers lived in the salt at- 
mosphere and on the abundant oyster and fish diet which 
they enjoyed would have proved profoundly discouraging to 
modern " Undertakers." He came to Southampton in 1640, 
and was originally from Bedfordshire, England. (See Ho- 
well's History of Southampton, p. 18.) Inl63S, heandhisson 
Job had each 60 acres of land allotted to them in Lynn, 
Mass. The arms of this family in Bedfordshire, England, 
are Gules, a chevron ermine between three sea gulls. Ar- 
gent, Thomas Sayre d. 1670, b. about 1594, had a son 
^Francis, and others. Francis had a son, Ichabod, '" Icha- 
bod had a son ' Joshua, who was in the Revolutionary war 
with General Clinton. ' Joshua had ason - Joshua, who had 
a son Paul, b. Oct. 22, 1766, who married Mary Halsey, Dec. 
9, 1784, and had among other children Cordelia Sayre, who 
married Sylvanus Halsey, and was the mother of Delia 
(Halsey) Mills. The Sayre or Sears family is traced to one 
Richard Sears who lived in 1507. The name is evidently 
French, and Captain Thomas Sayre, of Southampton, claims 
that there is evidence that the family were originally Hu- 
guenots, and settled in England after some hostile edict in 
France. It is recorded that one Stephen Sayre left South- 
ampton and returned to England and became High Sheriff 
of London, which office he held at the tine of the Revolu- 
tionary war, when his American sympathies could not be re- 
pressed, and for their expression he was compelled to retire 
to France. There he found relatives of their orignal stock 
with whom he remained until his subsequent return to 
America. 

Charles Francis Mills, was born in Montrose, Pa., on 
the 29th day of May, 1843. Attended Shurtleff College up 
to the Sophomore year. Enlisted as private in the 124th 
Regt. Illinois Vols. Was appointed Hospital Steward, U. 
S. A. by Western Depot at Camp Butler, Illinois, and at 
Nashville, Tenn. After the war, was engaged in the insu- 
rance business in St. Louis, and subsequently removed to 
Springfield, Illinois, where he is engaged as Assistant Sec- 
retary of the Board of Agriculture of the State of Illinois, 
and also in the breeding of Clyde.sdale Horses, Jersey Cattle, 
Cotswold Sheej) and Berkshire Swine, in all of which enter- 
prises he has achieved success. He was married on the 26th 
day of May, 1869, to Mary E. Bennett, and has three chil- 
dren, Minnie, William and Carrie. 

Martha Lewis Mills, was born on the farm in Bridgewater 
township, near Montrose, on the 18th day of ISIarch, 1845. 
Was married to Captain Joseph H. Weeks, now Postmaster 
at Up|)er Alton, and died in Upper Alton, in 1869, leaving 
one son, Charles Henry Weeks, born in Upper Alton, on the 
3d day of August, 1866. Henry Edmund Mills, was born 



424 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



in Montrose, Pa , on the 24th day of June, 1850. Was 
graduated at Shurtleff College, in June, 1869, taught 
school one year and entered the St. Louis Law School, and 
was graduated in May, 1872, having passed the best exami- 
nation in his class of 21 and being awarded the prize of 
$50 for the best Thesis. Received the degree of A. M. from 
Shurtleff in June, 1874. Was married to Emma Brown 
Sprague, at St. Louis, Mo. August 30th, 1877, and has two 
children, Edith Cynthia, born, in St. Louis, July 2d, 1878, 
and Constance, born at St. Louis, July 15th, 1880. In 1878 he 
published a work entitled a Treatise on the Law of Eminent 
Domain which was favorably received by the press and the 
profession. In July 1881 , purchased his present residence in 
Upper Alton, and continues the practice of the law in St. 
Louis. Is a member of the Board of Trustees of Shurtleff 
College, and author of several valuable treatises on law. 

Ruth Catharine Mills, was born in Candor, Tioga 
county,New York, on the 3d day of May, 1853. Was gradu- 
ated from Shurtleff College in June 1876, receiving the de- 
gree of A. B. Was instructor in Latin, French and Litera 
ture at Mount Carroll Seminary, Mt. Carroll, Illinois, for 
five years. In 1851, took charge as principal of Almira 
College, Greenville, Illinois, in which capacity she is at 
present engaged. 

Emma Brown (Sprague) Mills, was born on the 19th day 
of September, 1855, in Lowell, Washington county, Ohio, 
and was married on the 30th day of August, 1877, to Henry 
E. Mills at St. Louis, Missouri. She has devoted herself to 
instrumental music in which she has become proficient both 
on the piano and pipe organ, having been for five years or- 
ganist at Dr. Brooks' Church, in St. Louis. 



CAPT. JOHN A. MILLER, 

Is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, where he was born 
June 26th, 1826. He is the eldest child of Samuel L. and 
Susan (Kirby) Miller. His mother died in Baltimore when 
he was a child of five years of age. His father subsequently 
married Miss Mary, daughter of Henry and Frances Belk, 
a native of Leeds, England. He was born in Baltimore in 
1802, emigrated to Alton in 1834, where he was among the 
first to engage in the manufacture of lime. This employ- 
ment was succeeded by that of brick-maker, which, in turn, 
gave way to farming, near Omph- Ghent, in which avocation 
he passed the evening of a well-spent life Mr. Miller waa 
one of the pioneers of Odd Fellow.ship in the West, and 
aided in establishing the first lodge of that order west of the 
Alleghanies. He was a charter member of the Lodge at 
Alton, and was regarded with the highest esteem and vener- 
ation by his brethren of the Mystic Tie wherever he was 
known. He was an earnest, active member of the Cumber- 
land Presbyterian Church, in which he became an elder. 
His life was characterized by devotion to principle, earnest- 
ness of purpose and exemplary action. He died in August, 
1880. 

The subject of this sketch was married on the 17th of 
March, 1853, to Miss Mary, daughter of Daniel and Jane 
Hagerman, natives of Pennsylvania, who moved to Lawrence- 
burg, Indiana, where Mrs. Miller was born November 10th, 
1822. 




np 




JOHN WIEDMIR, SUPERlNTENDEt^T. 



THESE MILLS ARE HUN E NT/ RELY i 



PRESIDENT MILLS, BETHALTO, ILLS. PROPERTY OF JOHN W. KAUFFMAN. 




THE ROLLER SYSTEM. 



J 



PARK MILLS ST. LOUIS, MO. PROPERTY OF JOHN W. KAUFFMAN. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNJY, ILLINOIS 



425 




^Wvnr 



^ 




, ^^a^-j/y^^^ ^p/^-^-^^ 



There is, perhaps, nothing of which a man may be more 
excusably proud than of gallant service in the cause of hi.s 
country, nor is there any service which lives longer in the 
grateful memory of a people. Major Moore was among 
those who early offered their services to their country in it^^ 
hour of peril, and who never deserted their posts until a con- 
quered peace had crowned their efforts. He was born in 
Madison county, Illinois, September 2d, 1826. His parent::! 
were North Carolinians, from whence they first emigrated to 
Kentucky, thence to Wood River, this county, in 1808. 
They had in all eight children, of whom Franklin was the 
youngest. Franklin's first attendance at school was to that 
taught by Sophia Loomis (Edwards) in his father's cabin in 
1832. He subsequently attended Shurtleff College. He 
was married to Telitha Elliott, near Bunker Hill, Macoupin 
county, June 4th, 1846. By her he had six children, one 
of whom died during the war of the Rebellion, and the 

others are much scattered. One, a doctor, in Dallas, Texas ; 
55 



another, a farmer, same State ; a daughter, now the wife of 
Shields Preuitt, lives in Fort Worth, Texas ; another, the 
wife of H. E. Rupert, Dallas, Texas; the youngest is a 
student in Shurtleff College. His wife died May 31st, 1872. 
Major Moore has principally followed farming, although 
for six or seven years he operated a saw-mill on Wood River. 
Major Moore's military record is quite fully set forth in the 
chapter devoted to such history. His patriotic ardor found 
full vent on many a hard contested field of battle, where he 
was ever eager to discharge his full duty and more. 
Wounded by a rifle ball, August 27, 1862, we find him again 
a leader of the fight on September 3d following. As a com- 
mander, he was kind to his men, and ever aggressive towards 
the enemy. He accepted fearful odds, but his military 
genius ever triumphed. In political faith an earnest Re- 
publican, the Major has contributed no little to his party's 
success iu various campaigns. Companionable himself he 
enjoys the society of hosts of friends. 



HELVETIA. 




I HIS township is situated in the southeast 
corner of the county Its name is of 
recent date, to wit: 1876. In prior years 
it was known as Highland precinct, 1S40 
to 1876; from 1812 to 1817 it was part 
of Sugar creek precinct, and after the 
organization of Bond county, became a 
part of old Silver creek — a townshi]) 
extending from the St. Clair county 
line in the south to the southern boundary line of Canada 
in the north. The township is designated as No. 3 north, 
5 west of the 3d principal meridian line. The boun. 
dary lines, south and east, were established in April, 
and the northern one in May, 1808, by Messenger and Moore, 
United States surveyors. Section lines, etc., were run some 
five years later. The field notes of Madison county state 
that the area of this township contains 22.998Tff'o acres. 

The first arrival of white settlers may have been in 1804, 
when Joseph Duncan with a few others made the extreme 
southeast corner of the county their home. At, or very 
nearly the same time the Higgins and the Hobbs arrived 
also. Mii6. H. Hobbs stated she knew the settlement to have 
existed in 1808; the principal part of the settlement, how- 
ever, was locat-d in Clinton county, oiily one-half mile 
south of the Madison county line. The buffalo had barely 
disappeared from the state ; the elk was still seen at times, 
deer were roaming in herds, large carnivorous animals— the 
panther, the lynx and bear infested the timber, and when at 
night stillness was expected to reign, numberless wolves raised 
their hideous voices. The Carolina parrot yet roosted in the 
trees, and each season of spring rains brought countless 
numbers of water-fowl to lakes and ponds into which the 
prairies were then converted. The surfaces of these prairies 
were covered with high grass ; the hill tops bore occasional 
groves of trees, and the general proportion of timber and 
prairie was subject to alternate changes,, caused by prairie 
fires, which at times swept down into the immediate vicinity 
of the creek banks. 

The Howards settled in the southwest corner of township 
4-5, in the year 1809, but it is not certain whether they then 
knew anything of the existence of the Duncan settlements, 
six miles south of them. No progress seems to have been 
made in settling this part of the county prior to 1815. 
The war of 1812, between the United States and England, 
had broken out. England succeeded in making allies of the 
Indians on the frontier, who had before been friendly and 
inoffensive. They had roamed through this and other 
426 



counties as peaceful hunters, and were often seen at the log 
cabin of the pioneer. Now they were foes. Reports of 
murders and depredations reached the isolated settlers, and 
they realized the terrible fact that the greatest calamity of 
border life, Indian warfare, was upon them. It became a 
period of anxious care. Liable to surprise by a merciless foe 
at any hour of the day or night, the few scattered families 
huddled together in block-houses enclosed by a row of strong 
posts, called forts, whenever alarm was given. In the intervals 
they tilled their small fields, with the rifle on the shoulder. 
Cox's fort,near Old A vision, aflTorded shelter to thesettlers on 
Sugar creek. It was never attacked, but a Mrs. Jesse Bailes, 
daughter of one Bradsby, then living on Silver creek, was 
shot in 1814, by Indians on Sugar creek. She fled across 
the prairie to her father's house, where she died of her 
wounds. Mrs Bailes was a relative of Joseph Duncan, 
probably a sister-in-law. Peace was concluded in 1814, and 
thelllinois settlements were generally restored to tranquillity. 
Joseph Duncan, James Good, Gilbert Watson and Jonathan 
L. Harris made their settlements on Sugar creek now per- 
manent. Duncan had been a ranger during the war, and 
on his return located on the east side of the creek, on section 
15. Duncan was a man of fair education for that day. He 
was appointed justice of the peace in 181V, and when the 
office became elective in 1827, his neighbors chose him and 
continued to elect him their justice term after term. Duncan 
filled that office for nearly forty years. In later years he had a 
post office established at the place and was for many years 
postmaster. He died in 1852 His wife was a Cuddy, aunt of 
George Cuddy, so well and favorably known by the present 
generation of the township. The Duncans raised a family of 
five children, four daughters and a son, Hugh M., who became 
the father of a large family, and was looked upon as one of 
the best and most respected men •of his time. He lost his 
life by accident; being thrown out of his carriage while on 
his way to attend a funeral. The daughters, none of whom 
survive, were : Linnie, who married .John S. Carrigan ; Sarah. 
Alexander Forrester; Rebecca, B. C. Plant, and Mary, 
married James A. Berry. Mr. Duncan and many others 
lived for years on their lands as squatters. The records of 
the county contain the following in reference to entering 
land : William Morrison * entered section 36 on the 10th of 
April, 1815, and thus became the first bona fide landowner 

* William Morrison bouglit those land.s on speculation ; he had 
been a resident of Kindolph county since 1790; was a merchant and 
contractor, and died in 1837. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



427 



of the township. Gilbert Watson, the friend and companion 
of Joseph Duncan, entered the southeast quarter of section 
22, directly south of where Duncan had squatted, and James 
Gingles (Jingles), the southeast quarter of section 26, on the 
14th of November, 1816. Watson remained a resident of 
the township until his death ; none of his descendants, how- 
ever, remained in the county. His farm is now owned by 
A. Thalmann. The Gingles, or Jingles lived nearly fifty 
years in the townshij), but none of them are residing there 
this day. James Good, also a companion of Duncan, 
remained in the township until his death, but none of his 
descendants have remained 

John L. Hearrin entered 160 acres in section o"), December 
12, 1816, and James Ramsay, 160 acres on the 2.'5d of 
December, 1S16. Duncan and Good, who had been squatters 
since their arrival, entered their tracts on the 27th of 
October, 1817- J. Duncan's farm, which has remaiued in 
possession of the family to this day, is the oldest farm in the 
township. Jonathan L. Harris settled in the edge of the 
timber on the old trail from Duncan's to Carlyle. He had 
a horse-mill there, which he continued to operate until 1834- 
He left the county in 1840, and now resides in Clinton 
county, only a short distance from his old place. 

Robin Craigg came to the settlement about the year 
1818. He improved a farm on the east side of Sugar creek, 
and remained there the balance of his days. Madison 
Craigg, a son of Robin, was a skillful mechanic, cart- 
wright, and established himself in business at Edwardsville. 
Henry and William, his brothers, were farmers, and their 
sister became the wife of R. Shields. 

Lee Cuddy, brother-in-law of Joseph Duncan, brought 
his family, consisting of George, John (still living"), Shelby, 
Ephraim, Anna, and Elizabeth, his children, to Madison 
county in 1823, settling in the immediate vicinity of Joseph 
Duncan. The Cuddys had resided for many years in Union 
county, Illinois. Lee Cuddy cultivated a farm on the west 
side of Sugar creek, now known as the Bellra place. Sub- 
sequently he moved to Deck's prairie, where he died. 

John Gracey settled on the north half of section 11 as 
early as 1818, cleared some 30 acres and continued his resi 
dence there until 183.5, when he removed to Hancock county. 
His brother, Joseph, had also cleared a small field in the 
same section, sold his improvement to Alexander Forrester, 
and removed to Bond county. 

Allen Bryant, also an early settler, improved what is 
no\v known as the Anton Schuler place in section 2. He 
died on the farm, but none of his children, two girls and 
four boys, have remained in the county. 

B. GuUick settled the H. Drancourt farm in section 26, 
and established a distillery there ; which he operated for 
many years. He died on his farm ; his family left Madison 
and went to Bond county, where one of his sons is now 
sheriff. 

Alexander Forrester says he came to the township in 
1829. The families mentioned on this page, he says, were 
all personally known to him as living there at the time of 
his arrival. Forrester raised his first crop, a little patch of 
corn near Highland, just north of the township line. He 



IkkI come in company «ith Thomas Carr from Sumner 
c)unty, Tennesssee, inteuiling to start a tan yard- This 
plan was soon abandoned, bark being scarce and lime high, 
priced. Carr returned souih after sojourning three years in 
the township But Forrester remained, e .listed in the 
service during the Black Hawk war, and then joined a 
ranging company, on an expedition west, where the com- 
pany had to act as guards to traders freighting across the 
plains. This ranging company was enlisted out of Bond, 
Madison and Fayette counties, 100 strong, commanded by 
Captain Matthew Duncan of Vandalia- After having 
served eleven months the men were discharged and sent 
home. In 1833, Forrester bought Joseph Gracey 's improve- 
ment, and married Sarah H. Duncan, daughter of Joseph. 
He now went to work in earnest to improve his place. After 
the first year he moved his buildings to the edge of the 
prairie where he now lives. He has been married three 
times and raised a family of ten children. Mr. Forrester is 
80 years of age, hale and hardy enough to be taken for 
a man of 65 or 70 years; a trip to Edwardsville and return 
(nearly 50 miles) on horseback in one day is but sport to 
the old gentleman. 

Norris W. and James Ramsay came into the township at 
an early day. They were sons of John Ramsay, who settled 
in Clinton county in 1818 They first located in the south 
part of the township where James had bought 160 acres of 
land as early as 1816. In 1834, they settled the AV. T. 
Ramsay place in section 12, where they farmed in common 
for many years. Norris was married early in life, and 
raised a family of ten children, of whom only four, one son 
and three daughters, lived to the age of maturity, two of 
whom are now living. William S., on the old place, and 
Rachel, now INIrs. James Lessley, living at Sparta, Randolph 
county, Illinois. 

Elder James Ramsay did not marry until he was of 
middle age. He raised no family ; he was a Presbyterian 
preacher. Norris died in 1863, and James in 1864, both 
on the home place. 

Norris W. was road supervisor when the Carlyle and 
Edwardsville road was laid out and opened to road from the 
east line of the township to Highland. Was a great worker, 
and started in life with nothing but his energy. The proceeds 
of his labor in breaking 40 acrcs of prairie land and making 
4000 fence rails, enabled him to buy his first " property," 
a horse. Norris owned, at the time of his death, 1,016 
acres of land and quite an amount of personal wealth. He 
was a Pre.'-byterian in religion and a Djmocratin politics. 

Herbert Hobbs, mentioned abave, was a North Carolinian. 
He settled on the northwest quarter of section 34, in 1824, 
where he improved a small farm but never entered the land. 
About 1842 he entered land in section 32, and continued to 
live on that land until his death, in 1846. His widow was 
living as late as 1876. Two of his sons, T. A. and Frank 
Hobbs, are residents of the township to this day. 

John Hobbs, a brother of Herbert, settled the Calvin Lee 
place (section 33) in 1826, and lived on the land until he 
died. James R. Hobbs, the only surviving son of a family 
of seven children, resides now in Joplin, Mo. 



428 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Thomas Savage settled iii the township as early as 1827, 
and improved a small farm. He met with an accident in 
St. Louis, that caused his death some 25 years ago. He left 
a widow and seven children. 

Adam Kile, a son of Adam Kile, Sr., cue of the pioneers 
of Marine township settled in this township in 1825, a 
neighbor of Savage. 

^ The settlements in the west half of the township were of 
later date, and less numerous than those of the east half 
The prairie lands were at first overlooked and ignored 
Their advantages being once understood, they soon attracted 
the greater part of new arrivals. 

Up to this time immigration was scarcely perceptible, and 
the increase of population very slow. The first white child 
born in the township was H. M. Duncan. His older sisters, 
born in 1806 and 1809, saw the light of the sun first in 
Clinton county, where their father's first cabin had been 
erected. Altogether, up to 1830, not more than 25 families 
inhabited the township, and they may have cultivated 
five hundred acres of ground. The agricultural pursuits 
were simple and limited ; each family cultivated from ten to 
twenty acres of ground, a farm of 40 acres tilled being 
almost deemed a hazardous enterprise. Corn and wheat 
were their main productions, and until 1830 they also raised 
cotton for home use, picking it in September. 

The families held but a limited intercourse, mostly among 
themselves. The nearest church was at Pocahontas, in Bond 
county, ten miles off. Divine service, after the Presbyterian 
creed, was held, however, on Sugar creek, in a private cabin. 
In 1824 George Ramsay taught school there also. James 
A. Ramsay succeeded in 1828, and John Shinn in 1830. It 
seems that James A. Ramsay caused a school and meeting- 
house (church) to be erected about the year 1825 or 1826. 
It stood near Craigg's improvement, was constructed of 
hewn logs, and known as the Ramsay church (Presbyte- 
rian). Mr. Forrester remembers to have attended church 
here in 1829, and it is in this building where James A. 
Ramsay and John Shinn taught school. Subsequently the 
congregation built a church on section 28. This building 
was bought by R. N. Ramsay, and is now used as a tenant 
house. The neighborhood church is now in Clinton county, 
one mile south of the Madison county line. 

About this time townships 3-4 and 4-5 formed an election 
precinct, and the elections were held at Joseph Duncan's 
residence, called Pleasant Hill. In subsequent years but 
few additions are to be made to the pioneers of American 
birth, among whom mention is to be made of Calvin Lee, a 
native of Illinois, born in Fayette county, 111., who died here 
in 1844. His three surviving sons, Calvin, Pinkney and 
Green, farmers, are to this day residents of the township. 

Oliver Hoyt, a New Yorker, settled on the farm where he 
now resides in 1836. He was the second man in the neigh- 
borhood to risk prairie farming. He bought the improve- 
ment of a man named Giloman, near Sugar creek, and 
moved the cabin and what rails there were to his place on 
the prairie. He occupied the cabin for seven or eight years 
as bi.^ dwelling ; he subse<|uently erected better and more 
comfortable buikling:*, and the house now occupied as a 



dwelling is the third one built on the same site. The farm 
of Mr. Hoyt has in the course of time — forty-five years — 
Tiecome one of the finest and best farms of the township. 

James Billingsley tried prairie farming a year or two 
earlier on W. Hagnaur's land. He afterward moved to 
Pike county, and from thence to Texas, where he 
died. 

E. M. Morgan, born in Clinton county, just across the 
Madison county line, January, 1817, settled in 1844 on sec- 
tion 31. He was the only son of John Morgan, the pioneer 
of Clinton county, Illinois. A sister of E. M. Morgan, Mary 
A., was married to George Richardson, who resided at the old 
Morgan homestead during his life. E. M. Morgan was a 
good man in the truest sense of the word. He was from 1857 
to 1861 appointed associate justice of the Madison county 
court. In later years he opened a store on his land on sec- 
tion 31, and had a post-office established there, with himself 
as postmaster, and named St. Morgan. Judge Morgan died 
May 16, 1881, and was interred with all the honors and 
ceremonies of the Masonic fraternity. The site of the 
former post-office, St. Morgan, has now developed into a 
little village, with the tavern of Nicholas Zopf — the old 
democratic wheelhorse of his vicinity — as centre place, 
Frederick Hanzelmann as blacksmith, and John Kaeser as 
wagon-maker. 

The attention of European immigrants was called to the 
fertile soil of Illinois at an early date ; a number of them 
h d shared in the trials and hardships of actual pioneer 
life, as stated in the chapter on Immigration. The town- 
ship of Helvetia was now to receive her full portion of the 
foreign element, and a full portion it proved to be. 

The first Europeans arriving did not exactly make this 
township their home, but were so intimately connected with 
the inhabitants of it as to become a part of them. Under 
the leadership of Dr. Caspar Koepfli, of Sursee, canton 
Lucerne, Switzerland, a cluster of Swiss parties arrived in 
1831 ; among them Joseph Suppiger, whose name is honor- 
ably connected with every enterprise in the locality. He 
was one of the most useful men which the township ever 
possessed, equally devoted to the interests of the locality 
and to those of the country at large. For nearly twelve 
years he had filled the office of justice of the peace ; higher 
offices, though repeatedly tendered, had no charm for him, 
and were politely but decidedly refused. Mr. Suppiger 
died April 24, 1861. Artthony Suppiger, a younger brother 
of Joseph, was also of the party, and he alone remains to 
speak of their manifold experiences. Mr. Anthony Sup- 
piger, a public-spirited man and exemplary citizen, has 
repeatedly been called to fill local offices, and in 1865 he 
became a member of the county court. 

Dr- Koepfli was accompanied by his sons, Joseph and 
Solomon ; Bernhard Koepfli, and Dr. Caspar Koepfli, Jr., 
arrived later. These earlier pioneers were re-enforced by 
constant arrivals. They all clustered around the home- 
steads of the Suppigers and Koepflis. In 1836 an event 
occurred that made the northern part of Helvetia township 
the centre of life and activity of this Swiss colony. It was 
the foundation of 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



429 



THE TOWN OF Hrr.IILAXD. 

The era of town aud city foundations in Illimiis is cotem- 
porary with the internal improvement fever. A railroad 
leading from Mount Carmel to Alton, and passing through 
this township, was in contemplation. General James Sempk, 
then a member of the House of Representatives of the ninth 
General Assembly of Illinois, from this county, together with 
Joseph Su])piger and Solomon Koepfli, selected section 5 of 
this township for the site of a future town. The new railroad 
wa* formally recognized by the State, and an appropriation of 
81,600,000 made for the construction of this and the Alton ( — ) 
Shawneetown railroad. February 27, 1837. General Semple 
was Speaker of the House during the term of the tenth Gen- 
eral Assembly, 1836 to 1838, and a warm personal friend of 
Abraham Lincoln, who represented Sangamon county at 
that time. The question of naming the town was mooted 
by the parties interested, the names of New Switzerland and 
Helvetia being suggested. Semple thought those names to 
be rather foreign, and being by birth a Scotchman of the 
Highlands, and his associates hailing also from elevated re- 
gions, the name of Highland, as complimentary to the three 
founders was adopted. The original plat of the town, as re- 
corded, shows not only the projected railroad, but also the 
depot grounds aud an additional railroad, named "Die 
Belleville und St. Louis Zweigbahn," (branch road to Belle- 
ville and St. Louis.) The road was never built. 

The foundation of the town was succeeded by the terrible 
commercial crisis of 1S37. The little community was 
virtually without any circulating medium iu the form of 
money for years. Xo debts could be paid except in cattle 
or produce, but even these were nearly worthless. Despite 
all these discouraging surroundings, the population developed 
a certain activity. A steam mill was erected as early as 
1837 by a copartnership, Joseph Suppiger & Co., consisting 
of Joseph Suppiger, Dr. F. Ryhiner, and Caspar Meyer. 
The capacity of the mill was then about 30 barrels of flour 
in 24 hours. It had a saw-mill attached to it. From 1840 
to 1850, the firm was composed of Joseph, Melchfor, and 
Bernard Suppiger, James Reynohls, and David Thorp. ~~ A ' 
fourth brother, David, bought Bernard's share in 1850. In 
1854, James Reynolds sold out to Bernard Suppiger, who 
then became again a partner of the firm. In 1866, the mill 
passed into the hands of David Suppiger, Robert Suppiger, 
(oldest sou of Bernard), Hale M. Thorp, and Henry Wein- 
heimer. The latter sold his share to Otto Suppiger, (young- 
est son of Bernard), and Edwin J. Raith in 1880. H. M. 
Thorp's interest, 1, was recently bought liy Adolpli Rucg^er, 
the present treasurer of Madison county. The name of the 
firm is now David Suppiger & Co. The first building was 
put up by Joseph Suppiger, and the machinery for both 
grist and corn mill by au eastern millwright, named Gale, a 
brolher of the late "Benny" Gale, who lived in section 14 
in this township until recently. Additional improvements ! 
were constructed in 1845 by Ingersoll, also an eastern man. ' 
In 1857 the whole mill was remodeled, the saw-mill removed, 
55 ' 



and a new engine constructed under the supervision of Cap- 
tain Julius Ruith * the father of the present partner. 

These mills have ground three and a half million? 
of bushels of whe;it since 18 J7, of which three mi lions 
have b.'en ground since 1857. Their products have 
found a market in St. Louis, Terre Haute, New Orleans, 
New York, Boston, Baltimore, Albany, England, Ireland 
Scotland and Belgium. The present capacity is 250 barrels 
per day. The highest price paid for wheat was 82.45 in 
gold in 1858, and §3.50 in greenbacks in 1867. The lowest 
price, 62] cents, was paid in 1851. Flour brought then 
S3.50 per barrel, S14. 00 gold in 1858, and §17.50 greenbacks 
in 1867. The mills have now been operated 45 years, 
and the proprietors state with pride and satisfaction, that 
during all this time no accident causing the loss of life or 
limb has ever occurred, nor have the works ever been injured 
by fire. The company have always used French burr stones 
for grinding wheat. The gross value of all mill products 
turned out in 1881 exceeds the sum of 8200,000, and that of 
all productssince 1837 reachesalmost five millions of dollars. 
j The first mechanic of Highland was a wagon niak'er, 
I named Krucker, from St. Gall, Switzerland. His first wagon 
was completed in 1839. Krucker had formerly worked at 
gun carriages for Carrera, the celebrated half breed ruler of 
Guatemala, in Central America. Lang, a blacksmith, re- 
moved to Nauvoo in 1840. Charles Kinne started a harness 
shop about the same time. The first store in Highland was 
opened by Elijah Ellison, on the site of the Highland House. 
David Thorp opened a store at the site of the present 
bank in 1838 or 1839, and became first postmaster of High- 
land, which heretofore had to send to Clifton, in Clinton 
county, and then to Troy for their mails. 

Jacob Eggen, who had arrived in 1833, sjarted a brick- 
yard soon after, and connected, in company with Labhard, a 
pottery with it. The first vessels for the St. Louis White 
Lead Works were made in this pottery. Mr. Eggen was 
also the founder of a distillery, and later a bakery, the first 
in Highland, and still in existence, now conducted by R. 
Bauraann. The first hotel of the town was opeued by 
Anthony Buchniann. 

In 1843, the town became a station on the stage route be- 
tween Vandalia and St. Louis' and a proud day it proved 
for the town people when the first stage coach, drawn by 
four hor.-es, came thundering along through the town. 

A wool carding machine was erected by N. Smiley in 
1843; in after years it passed into the hands of Mr. Stahl, 
who converted it into a yarn factory. The works were 
greatly enlarged by Bosshard and Feickert, but never be- 
came remunerative. 

BREWERIES. 

John Guggenbuehler was the founder of this industry. He 
started the Jeferson Jireivery in 1843, which afterward 
passed into the hands of Daniel Wild. In 1865 it was con- 
solidated with the 

*Capt, Raith had won hi.* caplaincv in tlie Mexican war. He com- 
manded a regiment in the civil war, and fell in llie liattle of Sliiloli, 
lea'ling a charge. 



430 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



ITIgldaml Brewery, founded in 1854, by Charles L. Ber- 
nays, who in 185G took Gerhard Schott and M. F. Schott in 
as purtucrji. Bernays sold bij whole interest to these par- 
ties in 1857. Soon after Gerhard Schott sold his interest, 
and Martin F. and Christian Schott remained sole proprie- 
tors until 1870, when Christian Schott withdrew from the 
business. It has been since and is now most successfully 
managed by M. F. Schott. The capital invested is $40000 ; 
the capacity of the brewery is 6,000 barrels per year, and 
gives occupation to 12 laborers, whose wages amounted to 
§8,000 in 1S81. The value of products sold in 1851 was 
§45,000, and about §400,000 since 1870. 

DISTILLERY. 

Jacob Eggen, together with Ludwig Gruetli, started a 
distillery in 1844, with Henry Hermann and George Ruegger 
as partners. In 1849 the business passed into the hands of 
Anthony Miller, Henry Hermann, and J. J. Spiudler, and 
was successfully continued until 1865, when the partnership 
wa? dissolved. The capacity of the works was ab )ut 15 barrels 
of high wines per day. Amount of corn used, 200 bushels 
per day. A rectifying apparatus was connected with the 
distillery since 1849. Henry Hermann continued in the 
business another year, when he turned his attention to the 
erection of the 

HIGHLAND CITY MILLS. 

Henry Hermann, John Leder, and C. H. Seybt, partners — 
capital stock, $100,000. The old firm has undergone some 
changes, and at ihis day, the capital stock is composed of 
7 shares, of which Henry Hermann and C- H. Seybt own 
each 2 ; and John Hermann, Emil Hermann and Mrs 
Blakeman, each 1 share. The products of these mills are 
favorably known in both hemispheres, and command first 
prices Last year's transactions amounted to over $300,000. 

EARLY SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. 

The founders of Highland made great efforts to provide 
for the education of the children at the very beginning of 
the settlement, ready to sacrifice the last dollar for that 
purpose. A Miss Slater was retained as teacher, although 
there was no school-house provided ; she taught in the 
houses of the various families. Joseph Suppiger, the man 
■who taught and labored for all, succeeded at an early day — 
probably in 1839 or 1840, to raise funds enough to erect a 
school-house. It was built by Joseph Mueller, on what is 
now called Methodist Hill, at an expense of $300. Re- 
ligious services were held occasionally, as itinerant 
preachers of any creed or denomination happened to come 
into the settlement. The school-house on Methodist Hill 
was open to all. Joseph Rieger, a Lutheran preacher, who 
had for years been a missionary among the Indians, made 
regular visits to Highland until 1S41. Father Maragno 
â– was the first Catholic priest to come to Highland. Pro- 
testants and Catholics united to erect an edifice for public 
devotion for all Christians, irrespective of dogmas and rites 
in 1844. 

Music, vocal and instrumental, was practiced from the 
verv beginning. Some few of the old oruard are surviving. 



and it is with pride and delight that the old .^ielf-constructed 
bass, serviceable to this day, is shown, although the materials 
out of which it was so skillfully "built," were "annexed," 
or appropriated without price. 

The musicians of 1840 were, Edward Hammer, 1st vio- 
lin ; Charles Kiune, 2nd violin ; Fritz Kinne, bass. (Ham- 
mer and Fritz Kinne, cabinet makers, had procured the 
materials while in Louisville, and built the instrument). 
David Suppiger, clarionet ; .Joseph and Melchoir Suppiger, 
violins ; and John Suppiger, flute, united with the old guard 
soon after their arrival. 

Theatrical performances commenced in 184S with Anthony 
Beck (Saline), Mrs. Durer, Miss. Staffelbach, Melchoir 

Suppiger, Rudolf Fischer, C. Wasen, and Schubert on 

the stage. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Boernstein and also Mrs. C. 
L. Bernays participated with great zeal in 1849 and 1850. 

Vocal music was cultivated by an organized society, in 1850, 
composed of Jacob Kleiner, Christian Branger (dead), 
Henry Zobrist, Dominic Brey, Christian Rubin (dead), 
Chr. Feutz, Samuel Krebs, Vincent Steiner, Hugo Reichert, 
Joseph Schepperle and Albsrt Waldschmidt, (dead). 

The village was now past its infancy. The stormy years 
of 1847 to 1849, when the whole continent of Europe 
seemed to be in a state of revolution, had driven large num- 
bers of immigrants to America, and Highland received its 
full share. The town developed rapidly, many business 
houses threw their doors open to the public, the shops of the 
mechanics resounded with the bustle of busy labor, the 
prairies surrounding the towu had been converted into fields 
of plenty, and all seemed to prosper. But the breaking out 
of the civil war called the men to arms. The mechanic of 
the workshop threw down the hammer, the farmer boy left 
his plow, the teacher his school, the clerk his pen, to take 
up the gun in defense of the republic, which had given to 
all a cherished home, with a promise of a future of plenty. 

The war over, those who had been spared, returned to 
their former fields of labor. The town had now a popula- 
tion of nearly two thousand inhabitants. The log cabins 
and light frame buildings were disappearing, substantial 
houses built of brick, perhaps 200 in number, gave the 
towu a city4ike appearance. 

An agitation to incorporate the town resulted in the adop- 
tion of a towu charter, which was enforced April 1865. The 
names of the towu officials are here introduced : 



1805, Prest., Jacob Eggen. 

" Triis. Jos. Speckars, 

'' " Henry Weinheimer, 

" " Xavier Suppiger, 

" " Frank Appel. 

" Clerk, B. E. Iloflmann, 
1866, Prest., John Bucbter. 

'' Tru3., Leopard Knoebel, 
" J. E. Blaltner, 

'' " Alvis Bruegger, 

" ' '' Cbristopber Menz. 

" Town Magistrate, Clias. Bees- 
chenstein. 

" Clerk, B. E. Hoffmann. 
1807, Prest, J. II. Williiiiann. 



1867 Trus., Cbas. Kinne, 
" " Dr. A. FeUler, 
'' " Alvis Bruegger, 
'' " Andrew Just. 
John Blattner. 
Joseph Harnisch. 
Stephen Schwarz. 
George Kuegger, 
Henry Hermann, 
Andrew Just. 
B. E. Hoffmann. 
Charles Kinne. 
Stephen Schwarz 
Dr. A. Felder, 
Chas. Feickert, 



Clerk, 
, Prest., 
Trus., 



Clerk, 
I, Prest., 
Trus., 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



431 



1869 Trus., Martin Ilalin. 
" Clerk, John Blallner. 

1870, Pre-t.,Chas. Kiniie. 
" Trus., J. J. Spindler, 
" " Xavier Siippiger, 
" " Martin Ilalin, 
" " Stephen Schwarz. 
" Clerk, John Blattner. 

1871, Prest., John Suppiger. 
" Trus., Lorenz Winter, 
" " J. J. Spindler, 
" '• J. J. Biiner, 
" " Christ. Hotz. 
â– ' Clerk, John Blattner. 

1872, Prest., Charles Kinne. 
" Trus., Jos. Speckard. 
'' '' Fritz Pagan, 
'' " J. J. Briner, 
" " Louis Apple. 
" Police Mag'st., Jacob Eggen. 
" Clerk, Chas. Boeschenstein. 

1873, Prest., .J. H. Willimann. 
" Tru.^., Lorenz Winter, 
" " Jacob Kamm, 
'' " Arnold Stocckling, 
" " Chri.-tian Hotz. 
•' Clerk, .\lexander Beck. 

1874, Same as in 1873. 

1875, Prest., J. H. Willim.inn. 
" Tru.s., Louis Kinne, 

'' " Timothy Gruaz, 

'' " Cha-s. F. Kuhnen, 
" " George Durabeck. 
" Clerk, John Menz. 

1876, Prest., J, H. Willimann. 
" Trns., Stephen Schwarz, 
" '' Dominik Weber, 



1870 Tnis., Chas. F. Kuhnen. 
" " George Dumbeck, 
" Clerk, Chas. Bo&*chenstein. 

1877, Prest., J. H. Willimann. 
" Trus., Stephen Schwarz, 
•' •' Dominik Weber, 

" " John Wickenhausen, 
â– ' " Fred. Zinmierraann. 
" Clerk, .\dolph Riiegger. 

1878, Piest., Morilz Huegy. 
•' Trus., L. Grapp, 
" " Dominik Weber, 
•' " John Wickenhausen, 
" " John Buchter. 
" Clerk, Chas. Ilagnauer. 

1879, Prest., Moritz Huegy. 
" Trus., L. Grapp, 
" " Dominik Weber, 
" " John Guggenbuebler, 

" Jac Grossenbacher. 
Clerk, Chas. Bosshard. 
18S0, Pre.«t., Fred. B. Suppiger. 
" Trus., Henry Mueller, 
" " Dominik Weber, 
•' " John Guggenbuebler 
" " Jac. Grossenbacher. 
" Clerk, Charles Bosshard. 

1881, Prest., Fred. B. Suppiger. 
Above Trustees re-elected. 

'' Clerk, Alexander Beck. 

1882, Prest., Fred B. Suppiger. 
'' Trus,, L. Grapp, 
" " Edward Boe.schenstein, 
" " Htnry Hediger, 
" " Jac. Grossenbacher. 
" Clerk, Alexander Beck. 



The government of the town was an easy task. The oflS- 
eers have invariably acted with prudent economy ; as at 
a time of the all-prevailing railroad fever, the citizens voted 
a subvention of .$10,000 to the Vandalia road— August 12, 
1867,— the town board wisely levied a special tax to meet 
interest and payment of amount borrowed at fixed periods 
of time ; the last payment on account of this railroad debt 
became due and was paid in 1875, eight years after the crea- 
tion of the debt. The town has not paid a corporation tax 
since, has its streets and sidewalks in good condition, no 
debts to pay, and .$2500.29 in its cash-box,— March 31, 
1882. 

The town is divided into four wards, some of which have 
been classed as follows : 1st Ward is known as the Red 
Quarter; 3d Ward, Fort Sumter ; and 4th Ward, Methodvst 
Quarter; why the second Ward has been slighted is un- 
known to the writer. The name of " Fort Sumter" is of 
recent — war times — date. Some of its valiant denizens were 
decidedly loud in the denunciations of secession, and it was 
on their account that the ward was given this name. 

Some of the leading manufiictorics of the town have been 
named above. We may add here the Highland foundry, — 
a stock concern, — N. Rohr's planing mills and door and 
sash factory ; Grossenbacher's Custom Mills, the Highland 
Mineral Water Factory. 



Grain-elevators, erected near the depot grounds, facilitate 
the shipment of the agricultural products of this and adja- 
cent townships. 

Great sacrifices have been made in endeavors to open ccal 
mines, but without success. Artesian wells have been sunk, 
and are now supplying some of the manufactories with 
water. 

The population of the town, nearly all of direct European 
immigration, have retained a great many features of their 
native lands. The " Vereine " (.societies for rational enjoy- 
ments and recreation) are as numerous, or more so, than in 
any of the villages of the " Fatherland." A few lines may 
be devoted to a briefs :etch :— 

SOCIETIE.S AND LODGES. 

Highland Library Association, organized December 9th, 
1859, A. E. Bandelier, President. 

First Board oj Trustees. — Frederick Ryhiner, Joseph Sup- 
piger, Sjlomjn Koepfli, John Suppiger, aad A. E. Ban- 
delier. 

This association collected a valuable library, carefully 
selecting works that would answer the respective needs of 
pupils, teachers, and people of all vocations in life. In order 
to create a desire for study and self education, courses of 
lectures on natural science were arranged during the winter 
months, and practically illustrated by an expensive physical 
apparatus. The lecturers were: Professor Baer, Julius 
Hammer, Drs. Ryhiner, Suter, Bernavs and Halter, and 
Messrs. A. E. Bandelier, C. L. Bernays, A. F. Bandelier, 
and others. See personal mention below. 

Highland was at its best. The library of 1859 has been 
constantly enlarged, and is now in charge of the literary 
section of the Turn-Verein, open to all in the comfortable 
reading room of the society. 

Joseph Suppiger heretofore mentioned, born in Lucerne, 
Switzerland, was educated for the pulpit at the Jesuit 
College. Not being disp >sed to devote himself to this voca- 
tion, he entered the cloth factory of his father and uncle, 
Joseph and John Suppiger, as bjok-keeper. He emigrated 
to the U. S. in 1831, as stated heretofore. Father and uncle 
followed in 1833. 

Solomon Koepfli. The families of Koepfli and Suppiger 
were by no means in favor witli the Ultramontanes of their 
native Canton, and this circumstance, together with the 
prospect of finding a larger field of occupation for their nu- 
merous families, induced them to emigrate. Solomon 
Koepfli, a son of Dr. C. Koepfli, mentioned heretofore, was, 
as Hon. G. Koerner in his work, " Das Deutsche Element," 
spea4is of him, as prudent and calculating, as active and en- 
terprising. His main aim was to advance the prosperity of 
the Swiss colony, as well as the town of Highland. He 
lent a helping hand to every public enterprise, was untiring 
in the improvement of public roads, and, in later years, in 
his efforts to secure railroad facilities for his town. The au- 
thorities of the county, as well as the committees of the Le- 
gislature, were incessantly besieged by him with petitions 
and propositions. His labors, though not always accom- 



4:32 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



panied with success, triumphed iu the end, and gave to him 
a wonderful political influeuce. The American population 
held him, who was always iu the lead and never seemed 
fatigued, in higher estiraaiiou than the German. His energy 
was by many regarded as egotism and self-aggrandizement, i 
and envy took every opportunity to question his motives. 
It may be that he insisted too rigorously on what he thought 
to be his rights, and that his decided and sometimes hasty 
acts gave offense. However, he was the proper man in the 
proper place. The rapid growth of the settlement, the good 
reputation it enjoys, even beyond the limits of the state, 
are, in part, his work, as well as that of Joseph Suppiger. 

Solomon Koepfli, though deeply interested in political life, 
never sought office, only once, in 18G2, consenting to become 
a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of Illinois. His 
over-fdtiguing labors during the session of this convention 
undermined his otherwise robust health. He tried to im- 
prove it by repeated visits to Europe. At his last sojourn 
at Zurich, he occupied his time with preparations for the 
execution of his favorite plan — to found a high school at 
Highland. He was also engaged in a literary work, the 
history of the Swi.ss Colony iu Madison county, but death 
intervened soon after he returned to Highland, 18G!1. His 
labors in the improvement of public schools should also be 
mentioned, as well as his readiness to materially aid the 
public schools at home. 

Dr. F. Ryhinee, born December 7, 180G, died July 14, 
1879. Dr. Ryhiner was a graduate of the Uuiversity of 
Heidelberg, had frequented the Universities of Vienna, 
Prague, and heard lectures iu Paris. Became military sur 
geon of his native city, Basel, iu 1833. He got entangled 
in political troubles on account of his broad and liberal 
views, and became disgusted with affairs generally. He came 
to the U. S. in 1835, and became a resident of Highland in 
1837. He has always been known as a public-.spirited man. 
As a physician he was. peer to all. 

A. E. Basdeliee, a native of the Jura region, the French 
part of Canton Berne, Switzerland, educated for the legal 
profession at Lausanne, he became a member of the Superior 
Court, when scarcely 21 years of age and presiding judge a 
few years later. " The happiest period of my liie soon 
ended, for unfortunately," says Mr. Bandelier, " did the 
sovereign people see fit to elect me to the legislative council, 
although I had never felt any inclination for political labors." 
Mr. Bandelier was soon after called to the government 
council. The political troubles of those years caused a radi- 
cal change ; a new constitutional convention was called, of 
which Mr. B. became a member. He was again offered the 
presidency of the superior court, but refused to accept and 
chose, as he says, to look for once beyond the narrow boun- 
daries of Switzerland. He visited Brazil in 1847, in com- 
pany with his friend, J. Balsiger, and arrived in 1848 in 
Highland, where in 1854, he in company with Dr. F. Ryhin- 
er and M. Huyge, opened the well, and to this day favorably 
known banking house of F. Ryhiner & Co. He is the only 
surviving partner of the firm. The Home Government of 
Switzerland, remembering the sterling qualities of this man, 
made him consul of that Republic at an early date ; his 



consulate embraced not only the Mississippi valley to New 
Orleans, but extended southeast to the Carolinas. 

Mr. Bandelier's labors as school director of Highland 
from 1858 to 18(i0 are still remembered, as elevating the 
schools to their present proud rank. 

PROFES.SOR B.VEK, au educated and eminent pedagogue 
of Zurich, had for years tried " Latin " farming in Texas. 
Horace's celebrated ode : 

Beatus ille qui proeul negoliis, 
Ut prisca gen.s mortalium 
Biira paterna bubus exercet suis 
Solutus omni foenere. elc. 

found but indifferent application in Texas, and Mr. Baer, 
bidding farewell to the lone star state, hastened to the Swiss 
Eldora, where he took charge of the public schools as priu- 
cipal and with the assistance of but two other teachers, suc- 
ceeded to manage, instruct and greatly advance not less 
than 300 pupils. His labors were not appreciated by all, 
for many were incompetent to comprehend them. He laid 
down the ferule in 1862. His weary head was laid to rest 
in the same year. A grateful community erected a monu- 
ment in honor of this pioneer pedagogue. The writer of 
these sketches conducted the mourning children to the grave 
of their beloved friend and teacher in September, 1862, to 
decorate it, and the monument with the choicest flowers of 
the beautiful gardens of Highland. 

Julius Hammer, candidatus iheologcc, a somewhat ec- 
centric gentleman, but of sterling qualities, was cast on the 
shores of America, in consequence of insurrections and civil 
wars in Germany. He bore the joys and ills of bachelor 
life with the ease of a philosopher for many years, and when 
painful and incurable disease seized upon him, he died as 
only stoics can. 

Carl Ludwig Bernays, a journalist of note, and con- 
noisseur of fine arts of distinction, came to Highland in 
1848, engaged in commercial and manufacturing pursuits. 
Ill luck seemed to have pursued him. Losses by fire made 
him, comparatively speaking, a poor man ; but men of fer- 
tility of brain as Bernays enjoyed are never without re- 
sources. Adversity might bend him, but never break him. 
He was a splendid writer, a man of most liberal views. His 
articles published iu the " Anzeiger" of St. Louis, from 1858 
to 1861 were forcible and pointed, and made the German 
element of St. Louis a unit in opposition to secession. Ber- 
1 nays was U. S. consul at Zurich, and Helsingaer, and after 
I resigning this position he entered the U. S. army, advancing 
to the rank of colonel, and remaining in the field until the 
war was ended. After the war he took up the journalistic 
: pen again, plying it as pointedly as every before, never lay- 
ing it down until 1880 when he was called off to attend the 
grand parade of the mysterious realms beyond. 

Adolf F. Bandelier, born August 6, 1840, came to 
Highland in 1848. His education is principally the work 
of his parents. A great linguist, he mastered various mod- 
ern languages and has studied the classical works of France, 
Germany and England. In later years he perfected 
himself in the Spanish tongue and now understands the lan- 
guage of various Indian nations in Mexico. His researches 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



AZZ 



iu Mexico have raised him to a national prominence. The 
scientific world, deeply interested in several pamphlets pub- 
lished by hira, at the request of Prof. Jlorgan.of Rochester, 
are now awaiting with anxiety, the publication of a work 
contemplated by A. F. Bandelier, who has, for several years, 
braved the dangers of life among the savages, for the sake 
of science. 



HELVETIA SCIIUETZEN VEREIN-SHARPSHOOTERS,- 



-1861. 



Henry Hermann first presiding ofiicer. This society is 
still in existence. Its rolls contain the names of 139 
members, many of whom, however, have fired off their last 
cartridge, and now are awaiting the often mentioned' horn 
of Gabriel to recall them to action. This society has done 
much to make Highland as attractive as it is now. A 
beautiful park, donated by Joseph and Solomon Koepfli to 
the society in trust, has been embellished at great expense, 
and has ever since 1863 been the favorite place of resort. 
Thousands have gathered there from almost every state of 
the Union to participate in the festivities by this society. 
List of names : — 



Ily. Hermann, 
(jeo. Kuegger- 
.Ino. Huchter. 
Dr. R. Halter. 
Fritz Pagan, pr. 
B. .V. Siippigcr. 
David Siippiger. 
Jacob Weber, sr. 
Doni. Wiget. 
Martin Seliott. 
(xei). Sleinegger. 
J. U. Kurth. 
Peter Voegeli. 
Nic Voegeli. 
Hv. Laengli. 
The. Mengi. 
Fr. Ileger. 
J. II. Willimann. 
Tim. Gruaz. 
J. Spoeni. 
B. Ilurlimann. 
Aug. J. Pagan. 
Kiul. Blattner. 
.Tohn Mcnz. 
F. Eychner. 
Ad. iSandelier, Jr. 
L<iiii.s Kinne. 
Moritz Iluegy. 
F. C. Ryhiner. 
F. Unger. 
J. F. .Vekermann. 
Arnold Freitag. 
Jos. Koepfli. 
X. Suter. 
S. KoepHi. 
Wm. Schaeffer. 
An. Hammer. 
Wm. Zeller. 
Sell. H after. 
.Tvil. Lani. 
B. E. Hofrmann. 
Ad. Bandelier, sr. 
J. Amsler. 
D. Weber. 
F. Senn. 
Hy. Gleyre. 
Val. Kreuzer. 



Aug. Flecklies. 
John Faesi^ler. 
Cha.s. Feickert. 
Jac. Zimermann. 
C F. Kuhnen. 
€. Schott. 
Hy. Riedlinger. 
R. Baumann. 

C. Baer. 
Clias. Bossliard. 
F. Kacmpff. 

S. T. Mason. 
J. F. Cooper. 
Jno. Guggenbuehler. 
H. Melzger. 
L. Appel. 
M. Feilliauer. 
Peter .Streif. 
Rut). Widmer. 
AVend Heger. 
Sam. Blattner. 
Dr. A. Felder. 
B. Siii)piger, sr. 
Const. Rilliet. 
Celestine Bros.sard. 
A. Iloeufli. 
Val. Krenzer. 
Mich. Kaempff. 
Con. Meyer. 
Xavier Siippiger. 
Bern. Durer. 
A. Bruckner. 
Jno. Snppiger. 
And. Wehrly. 
J. F. Wachsmuth. 
Rud. Duckliard. 
Rob. Suppiger. 
M. Hofer. 
J. Gro.«senbacher. 
J. Fischbach. 
J. P. Frie,s. 
Caspar Kamm. 

D. Wild. 

J. Weber, .Jr. 
Hy. Weinlieimer. 
F, Hegner. 



J. Obeding. 

H. Blattner. 

M. StreiB". 

P. Jacober. 

â– S. Kleiner. 

A. Ott. 

F. Schneider. 

J. Mueller. 

.1. Bircher. 

C . Bircher. 

F. StreiB". 

J. Kamm. 

O. Schlegel. 

C. Suppiger. 

Ad. Ruegger. 

J. Riche. 

Nic. Rohr. 

.Tac. Menz. 

Jac. Krutz. 

.1. S. Hoerner. 

.Jas. Keith. 

Jno. Wettstein. 

L. Ruhr. 

C. Hoffmann. 

F. Gleyre. 

J. Hermann. 

Clias. Lambelet. 

Hy. Wirz. 

L. Englehom. 

Dr. J. Wirlh. 

F. B. Suppiger. 

J. Bachniann. 

Hv. Mueller. 

Hy. Riniker. 

vS. Leutwiler, .Jr. 

J. Amsler. 

Jas. F. Law. 

J. G. Dumbeck. 

John Khrbard. 

J. C. GarlKild. 

Wm. Schaeller. 

Jacob Buehlmann. 

Rud. Bruner. 

Aug. Iberg. 

L. Senn. 

Jolin Kraenchi. 



to erect a public hall of fine architecture, large enough to 
comfortably seat 700 persons. The musical organizations 
of the day, theatrical troups, amateur or professional, poli- 
tical meetings find accommodations in the building. We ap- 
pend an alphabetical list of the members— 87 — is added : 



Adelmann Theo., 
Ammann Jos. C., 
Appel Jac .M., 
Appel Louis, 
Appel Loviis J., 
Appel William, 
Baer Erwin, 
Bandelier Ad. Eug., 
Bandelier Ad. F., 
Beck Athos, 
Blattner John, 
Blattner Louis, 
Boeschenstein Chas. sr., 
Botschenstein Chas. jr., 
JBoeschenstein Edward 
BoUmann Henrv, 
Bosshard Chas ,' 
Briner J. J., 
Buehlmann Jacob, 
Chipron P. C, 
Christian Jacob, 
Debrunner Albert, 
Dumbeck George, 
Ernest Louis, 
Freuler Fritz, 
Grautzow Louis, 
Gruaz Tim., 
Gubler Frank, 
Guggenbuehler John, 
Guggenbuehler Xavier, 
Ilalfer Eri.est, 
Hellmuth P. F., 
Hermann Emil, 
Hermann John, 
Hermann Robert, 
Hoerner Jno. S., , 
Hofl'mann B. E., 
Kamm Kobt., 
Kamm William, 
Keith James A., 
Kempff Fritz, 
Kinne Fritz, 
Kinne Eaiil, 

^immeiu 



Kinne Louis, 
Knoebel J. B., 
Kuhnen Chas. F., 
LeutwillerSam, 
Laon Dave, 
Maechtlen C. L., 
Machtlen Jac, 
Manhart Louis, 
Mason Leroy, 
Menz Jacob, 
Mever Henrv, 
Jlilltr Jas. H., 
Mueller Adidph, 
Mueller Gustave, 
NoheJ.T., 
Oshler Arthur, 
Osthoft' Albert, 
Pabst Selmar, 
Kaitli Edw. J., 
Koth Geo., 
Ruegger Adolph, 
Ruegger Arnold, 
Ryhiner F. C, 
Schott Chr., 
Schott M. J., 
Schott Otto, 
Siedler Robt., 
Schuepbach .Vd., 
Spindler .J. .J., 
Stamm M., 
Stanim Adolph, 
Stoecklin Arnold, 
Suppiger Chas. B., 
Suppiger David, 
Sti| piger Leo., 
Suppiger Otto, 
To.ld Joseph, 
Weber Duni., 
Weber Fred. E., 
Weber .John, 
WildiJohn, 
AVildhaber Henry, 
WiggeuhaiLser John, 
lann Jacob. 



HIGHLAND TURN VEREIN — ORGANIZED MAY 1866. 

This society has enjoyed the greatest popularity ever be- 
stowed upon an organization of the kind in the town. Do- 
nations have poured in from all sides, enabling the " Verein " 



HARMONIE SINGING CLUB — ORGANIZED, DEC. 8, 1867- 

First president, F. Kaeser. 

Charter members : Jacob Weber, Samuel Weber, 
— Vogt, Jacob Morath, Fritz Kaeser, John Kaeser, Alfred 
Bosshard, Erwin Bosshard, Jli. Butikofer. 

Additional members : — Jacob Menz, Fritz Frenler, Gott- 
lieb Huber, Jacob Frenler. Fritz Siegrist, J. J. Briner, John 
Moser, Christian Koch, Henry Hediger, and Casper Blum. 
Jacob Simons has been musical director since 1876. 

Lovers of vocal music, after all the best can be produced, 
must be delighted to hear this club. The writer was fortu- 
nate enough to listen to some of their most beautiful pieces 
at a recent day, and takes pleasure to make mention of it in 
these pages. 

HIGHLAND LODGE 583 A. F. AND A. MASONS — CHARTERED 
OCTOBER 6, 1868. 

On the 11th of September, 1867, Jerome Gorin, Grand 
Master of Masons of the state of Illinois, granted a dispen- 
sation to Curtis Blakeman, Robert Halter, John B. Knoe- 
bel, G. Rutz, H. E. Todd, Robert Suppiger, H. M. Thorp, 



434 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



and Henry Laengle to meet and work with John Bevens of 
Marine Lodge 355 as Worshipful Master. On the 6th day 
of October, 18G8, a charter was granted to Highland 
Lodge No. 583, with the above and Otto Brodtbeck, Louis 
Kinne, and Louis Appel as charter members. The first 
officers were Robert Suppiger, W. M., H. M. Thorp, S. W., 
Louis Kinne, J. \V., Curtis Bleakemau, Treasurer. Galens 
Rutz, Secretary, Otto Brodtbeck, S. D., Louis Appel, J. D., 
and H. E. Todd, Tyler, who were installed and the 
lodge constituted by S. V. Grossman as proxy of the M. W. 
Grand Master, November 19, 1868. 

The present officers are : Edwin J. Raith, W. M., John 
Guggenbuehler, S. AV., Ernst Hoefle, J. W., L. E. Kinne, 
Treasurer, Robert Suppiger, Secretary, J. C. Ammann, S. 
D , H. M. Mason, J. D , Albert Debrunner, Tyler. 

The present membership is 40. Since the granting of the 
dispensation the lodge has had 66 applicants, 49 of which 
were accepted, five of which have not received the master's 
degree. By death the lodge has lost five members, to wit : 
Curtis Blakemau, April 26, 1875, Robert Halter, October 4, 
1S77, G. \V. Herrin, January 29, 1879, P. D. Mervin, 
April 18, 1881, and \V. J. Collins, October 7, 18:!1. 

Druids. Highland Lodge 44, V. A. O. D., organized Sep- 
tember 19, 1874. 

Charter members: Martin Hahn, Frank 'Lorenze, 
Arthur Odhler, Charlei Boeschenstein, Frank Weiss, and 
Fritz Kunz. The lodge has now eighteen members in 
good standing, officers as follows: J. J. Briner, E. E., 
Henry Hebrank, Martin Hahn, and Daniel Grosseubacher. 

Odd Fellows. Highland Lodge, No. 651, I. 0.0. F., in- 
stituted, February 1, 1878. 

The charter members were : James N. Jarvis, J. B. 
Purviance, Charles Boeschenstein, Arnold Stoecklin, and 
Jacob Buehlniann. 

This lodge has now 24 members in good standing. The 
present officers are : Ernest Hoefle, N. G., Jacob Maecht- 
leu, V. G., Charles Bjescheustein, Secretary, and Arnold 
Stoecklin, Treasurer. 

Knights of Honor. Highland Lodge, No. 1605, K. of H. 
was instituted May 15, 1879, with 29 charter members, to 
wit : Arnold Stoecklin, Charles Boeschenstein, H. E. Todd, 
James H. Miller, Robert Hagnauer, Charles Bosshard, Fritz 
Kunz, Frank Weiss, Jacob Maechtlen, James A. Keith, 
Jacob Zimmermann, Dr. J. Wirth, L. L. Maechtlen, E. J. 
Raith, W. J. Collins, T. J. Richardson, Louis Grantzow, 
Emil Chipron, Adolph Mueller, J. V. Roseberry, Fred 
Harnist, J. C. Ammann, S Pabst, Jacob Menz, Henry Rini- 
ker, E. B. Huegy, F. B. Suppiger, H. Meyer, and P. C. 
Chipron. 

The lodge hast lost oae member, W. J. Collins, by death, 
October 7, 1881. 

It is now composed of 49 members, officers as follows : 
F. B. Suppiger, S. P. Dictator, Robert Suppiger, Dictator, 
C. L. Maechtlen, V. D , J. H. Miller, A. D., H. E. Todd, 
Guide, Emil Chipron, Chaplain, E. J. Laith, Reporter, S. 
Pabst, F. R., A. Mueller, Treasurer, H. J. Wildhaber, 
Guardian, and P. C. Chipron, Sentinel. 

The Highland Agricultural society founded January, 



1869, by A. E. Bandelier, Jacob Eggen, John Balsigcr and 
others, has developed great activity. In later years agri- 
cultural and mechanical expositions were introduced, and 
have proved a decided success. 

The Gruetli Oerin a society organized with a view of mu- 
tual assistance in need or disease, as well as for the purpose 
of mental culture, was founded in 1871 by Charles Boesch- 
enstein, F. Kunz, and Jacob Weber. 

Highland is now, 1882, one of the most enterprising and 
prosperous towns of the county. The commercial interests 
are represented by the Banking House of F. Ryhiner & 
Co., and the mercantile houses of (1 Kinne & Co., J. J. 
Spiudler, Lorenz Winter, Ammann Wildi, J. H. Wil- 
linianu,C. F. Kuhnen, George Roth, P. C Chipron, Thorp, 
Kinne & Suppiger, L. Grantzow, August Majonier, A. H. 
Junod, Robert Suppiger and others ; the leading tradesmen 
and mechanics are M. Stamm, J. J. Briner, Arnold Stoeck- 
lin, Charles Suppiger, Henry Hediger, Wiggenhauser and 
Streif, M. Kempf, O. Schlegel, John Riffijl, Jacob Freuler, 
A. Marxer, J. Mueller, Louis Knoebel, Stephen Schwarz, 
Henry Mueller, Joseph Speckart, Caspar Kamm, Otto Spel- 
lerberg, Charles Tuffli, etc. Professionals: T. J Richardson, 
John Blattner, Law : Dr. A. Felder, Dr. J. B. Knoel)el, Dr. 
G. Rutz, Dr. J. Wirth, Dr. Walliser, Dr. P. E. Hellmuth. 
Physician, Surgeon and Dentist. Timothy Gruaz, Notary, 
Financial Land and Insurance Agency ; Alexander Beck, 
Insurance, Charles Boeichenstein, Notary and Justice of 
the Peace. 

Hotel accommodations, as comfortable as may be desired, 
by Albert Orthoff, Jacob Zimmermann, Peter Giesler, Casi- 
mir Hoffmann, J. G. Dumbeck, Mueller Wick and 
others. Highland counts a number of retired farmers 
among its inhabitants, who of late are being jocularly named 
'â–  Zinsli JBuere." 

The public buildings of the town. Churches, Hospital, 
and School-houses, have been mentioned elsewhere. 

An effective volunteer fire brigade, with complete appara- 
tus, have in all cases fought the fire fiend with success. 

The publishing houses of J. S. Hoerner and C. Boeschen- 
stein, are mentioned in the article on the Press. 

As stated above, the town, and in a measure the township, 
are essentially a Swiss colony, but mention should also be 
made of other nationalities identified with the growth and 
subsequent developments of both. 

Soon after the laying out of the town of Highland, the 
Swiss colonists were reinforced by a numerous immigration 
from the grand duchy of Baden. In 1840, the fiimilies of 
Bender, Meyer, Hammer and Bader arrived. Seventy-two 
persons arrived in 1841, among whom were Hotz, Federer, 
Rail, Trautner, Fellhauer, Essenpreis, Weber, Kustermann 
Holzinger, Voegele, Schwarz, Frey, Sjhaefer, Bellm, Bartli, 
Koch, Winter, Woll, Ehrhardt, Hirsch, Weiduer, Knopf 
Metzger, Hoffmann, and Zopf. Calentiu Krenzer, a Bavarian 
had preceded those parties a few years. Most of these fami- 
lies settled east, or northeast of Highland, in a semi-circle, 
extending not more than six or seven miles from Highland. 

They all had to become " pioneers," for their means were 
insufficient to buy improvements. Their privations were 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



435 



numerous, and many not used to the tropical heat of the 
American summer, nor the terrible cold of our winter bliz- 
zards, would exclaim — " Oh, had we remained in the father- 
land?" Their frugality and diligence enabled them to over- 
come all privations, and their toils were richly rewarded. 
Fields of plenty appeared iu the course of a few years 
throughout the settlement, which in time had become as 
prosperous as any other in the blessed county of Madison. 
These people were all devout Catholics, and in 1844 they 
were able, with the assistance of their Swiss friends, Solomon 
Koepfli, Dr. Caspar Koepfii, and Jao b Durer, and others, I 
to erect their first church edifice. The first permanent | 
priest of this congregation was Rev. Father P. Limacher, 
1850. 

The ecclesiastical chapter gives a succinct and accurate 
account of the wonderful development of this church, and of 
the noble works of priests and members. 

We next turn to what is called the " French- Settlement" 
in the township. It is of more recent date. Swiss colonists 
from the French Cantons, among them A. E. Bandelier, 
John Balsiger, Constant Rilliet, and F. Vulliet, had domi- 
ciled among their countrymen as early as 1848. Wielandy, 
Pury, and others, had done likewise, without forming a dis- 
tinct French settlement. In 1856, however, steps were taken 
to colonize the French speaking immigrants in the eastern 
part of the township. 

This French settlement, located south of the town of 
Sebastopol, was then started by L. Tremblay, a resident of 
Clinton county. He was well accjuainted with the village 
life in the agricultural parts of France, and succeeded iu 
selling his lands in Madison county to these new comers in 
small tracts, frequently containing only five acres, or even less. 
The northeast forty of the northwest quarter of section 24 
has thus been divided into nine tracts, all highly cultivated 
now. It looks more like a small village than a number of 
"farms." John B. De Fountain erected a wind mill in 
1858. It grinds corn and saws lumber. The churches built 
here are mentioned in another chapter. L Tremblay was a 
native of France, but had arrived many years prior to 
the foundation of his settlement. He died last year (1881), 
leaving a widow and four children, three of whom reside in the 
settlement, the fourth having removed to Bond county. 

SEBASTOrOL. 

The town of Sebaslnpol, the centre of attraction for the 
neighborhood, was laid out by Timothy Gruaz in 1860. Mr. 
Gruaz had opened a store in the settlement in 1S58, and 
erected tlie store building, now occupied by John C. Steiner, 
in 1859. The name of the town originated in a humorous 
conversation between T. Gruaz and Norris Ramsay, who, as 
the nestor of the settlement, was asked by the former to 
name the projected town. Ramsay declined doing so, when 
Gruaz cautioned him, saying : Mr. Ramsay, you had better 
give my town a name, and do it soon, for these Frenchmen 
around here will presently invent some long outlandish and 
jaw-breaking name, Sebastopol, for instance, if you don't 
name it. The store at the time was full of French custom- 



ers, laughing at the conversation and the odd name suggested. 
On the next day, Mr. Ramsay came around to the store, as 
was his wont, and entered it with the (jueslion : " Well, and 
how is Seba topol to-day?" The name was established. 
The village is now composed of about a dozen houses, has a 
general store, owned by J. C. Steiner, two blacksmith shops, 
John C. Luchsinger and Elislia Demoulin ; cartwright, 
Rudolf Kaufmann ; one shoemaker shop, August Keiser. The 
town has never had a post-office, but by courtesy of the post- 
master of Highland is daily supplied with a mail, carefully 
packed up in a U. S. mail bag, and convej'ied to Steiner's 
store by his freight team. 

The retrospect of less than 70 years, during which the 
township has become what it is at the present day, gives 
satisfaction. Sixty-seven years ago not an acre of the 23,000 
acres in the township was in private hands; now every acre 
is made useful. Sixty years ago there was neither a public 
place of worship nor a school house iu the township, and 
now there is a score of them. The population, less than 500 
in 1840, has increased to 3,300 in 1882 

Official statistics of 1881 give the following figures in re- 
lation to productions: 162,420 bushels of corn, 228,450 of 
wheat, 35,223 of oats, 23,235 of fruit, 62,400 gallons of 
wine, 1,557 tons of hay, other field products in proportion. 
Dairy products were valued at over 810,000, and the receipts 
from the sale of fattened cattle and hogs amounted to over 
$30,000. 

The lands, 18,220 acres, of which, under the plow, repre- 
sent a cash value of $900,000, the town property is worth 
$325,000, and the personal property amounts to a value of 
at least $400,000, aggregating $1,625,000. The taxes of 
1881, for all purposes, amounted to $13,834.48, of which 
$40.15 remained unpaid. 

The township, a political corporation since the adoption 
of township organization, April, 1876, was represented in 
the county board until 1882 by H. M. Thorp, whose sterling 
qualities soon secured him a most prominent position in the 
board, although his party, the Republican, was largely in 
the minority there. 

At present, 1882, Helvetia township is officered as follows : 
Louis Latzer, Supervisor ; Lewis Feutz, Clerk ; H. E. Todd, 
Assessor; Robert Hagnauer, Collector; Christian Hotz, 
Christian Koch, and Christian Baumaun, Highway Commis- 
sioners; David Suppiger, Lewis Latzer, and William Hag- 
nauer, Trustees of Public Schools ;* Robert Suppiger, School 
Treasurer; and Charles Boeschenstein, and John Buchtcr, 
Justices of the Peace. 

Several of the citizens of Helvetia have filled county- 
offices, among whom mention is to be made of the late E. M. 
Morgan, associate justice from 1857 to 1861, succeeded by 
Constant Rilliet in 1861. The late Garrett Crownover, 
member of the House of Representatives, I860 to 1862; 
Hon. Henry Weinheimer, ditto, 1872 to 1874; the late 
George Rucgger, sheriff, 1864 to 1866 ; B E. Hoffmann, 
county clerk, 1809 to 1877, and Adolph Rueggcr, oldest son 
of G. Rucgger, county treasurer since 1877. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



TIMOTHY GRUAZ. 

Few men have passel more active lives tlian Timothy 
Gruaz ; fewer yet have acconiplishtd more. Belonging to 
the cUiss of thinkers, he mapped out for himself an inde- 
pendent course in life — distinctively his own. A fair share of 
success has fallen to his lot ; that it has not characterized 
all his ambition is partly due to the fact of his physical 
disability. He was born in Lyons, France, June 8th, 1831, 
of Swiss parents. His father, John Francis, was a merchant. 
His mother was Mary Anna Lerck. In 1833, when Timothy 
was a lad of seven, his parents returned to the laud of their 
nativity, locating in Lausanne. Here the subject of this 
sketch enjoyed rare opportunities for the acquisition of 
knowledge under the direction of such master teachers as 
La Harpe, Monnard and Vinet. His parents were Wesleyan 
Methodists in faith, their minister being the eminent mission- 
ary. Rev. Cook. Those of this belief were subjected by the 
Swiss authorities to persecution, which caused many to seek 
a home in free America. Of this number were the Gruazes ; 
they came to Highland in 1849. In IS-oC, Mrs. Gruaz died 
here. In 1868, John Francis Gruaz returned to his native 
land where he died January 13, 1881, having attained the 
good old age of eighty-four years. Timothy Gruaz' first 
labor in this country was as teacher in the household of 
Captain Ledugerber, near Shiloh, St Clair county, then of 
Adol[)li Bandelier; then as assistant in the store of Huegy 
& Bandelier. On the 1st of July, 1851, these parties opened 
a bank in Highland and installed him as book-keeper, teller 
and cashier, at a salary of §S per month. This salary looked 
large at the time in comparison with the $4 per month he 
had formerly earned and out of which he saved sufficient to 
purchase a couple of cows which he gave his father. Being 
of a speculative turn he commenced laying the foundations 
of his successful business career by buying the present 
village site of Sebastopol and laying out the town. In com- 
pany with Huegy & Baudelier he prosecuted merchandising 
here for three years, when ill health compelled abandonment 
of such pursuits. In 1862 he bought the Hiijhland Bute,o{ 
which he remained proprietor and editor for six years. In 
1868 he visited Europe, traveling extensively over the Con- 
tinent. Upon his return he enlisted his energies in real 
estate and insurance, a business he has since prosecuted. A 
traveler from ta«te he has passed much time abroad. His 
letters to the St- Louis papers and the local press have 
attracted much attention by their force and vigor. Par- 
ticularly is this true of his letters from Mexico, a country 
â– whose customs are happily set forth by his ready pen. Politi- 
cally, Mr. Gruaz is a Democrat. He was married June 8th, 
1872, to Josephine Ruegger, nee Durer, widow of George 
Ruegger. 
4.16 



CHARLES B0E.5CHENSTEIN, Jr , 
Editor aud publisher of the H!ghland Herald, was born 
October 27, 1862, in the town of Highland, Madison county, 
Illinois. It was here, in the common schools, that he received 
his early education. However, he attended Smith Academy 
for a time, and when the Hiyhland Herald was about to 
collapse, he then discontinued his studies to take charge of 
the Herald, in August, 1881. Politically he is an ardent De- 
mocrat, and his paper wields a large influence in the ranks 
of this party. His father, Charles Boeschenstein, Sr., was 
born on the 9th of March, 1829, at Stein Am Rheim. canton 
Schaffhausen, Switzerland, immigrated to America in 1848, 
aud arrived at New Orleans in February, 1849. After 
working about in South St. Louis which was then known as 
" Wiebush," he came to Highland in 1850, where he has 
lived ever since. After arriving at the latter place, he 
made his living by working on farms and putting his hand 
to work at almost anything. For years he carried the 
mail between Highland and Trenton, on the 0. & M. rail- 
road, and between Highland and St. Louis. In 1857 he 
was married to Rosette Heder. Of this union there were 
eight children, four of whom are dead. Of those living 
Charles is the oldest. In 1861 he was elected constable, 
aud in 1865 justice of the peace, which office, together with 
the office of notary public, he still holds. He is a charter 
member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Honor, Druids and 
Good Templars (the latter lodge is disbanded), and of 
Gruethi, Turner and Singing Societies. He was for years a 
member of the board of education, and as such was secre- 
tary of the board. He has always taken a great interest in 
educational matters and public enterprises. During the 
war he was a staunch Unionist, aud a leader of the liberal 
league ; in 1872 he joined the Greeley movement and is now 
a Democrat. 



C. P. CHIPRON. 

Prominent among the energetic, pushing business men 
of Highland is C. P. Chipron, who was born in Paris, 
France, March 30, 1834. His father was a commission 
merchant in that city. In 1848 he came to America, his 
objective point being St. Louis. After remaining here a 
year he moved to Highland, where he died, September 23d, 
1880. The subji^ct of this sketch, familiarly known as Paul, 
had the advantages of the best schools in his native city, 
and early manifested a genius for invention. He followed 
farming near Highland until 1867, when he commenced 
operating in agricultural machiner3'. This was a field of 
labor much more congenial to his tastes, and one too which 
afforded him opportunities to exercise his peculiar talents to 




LAENGLE'S HOTEL ~ HENRY LAENGLE PROPRIETOR, ST. JACOBS. IWNOIS. 




RESID£/JCE& OffJCE OF T/MOTHY CRUAZ, NOTARY PUBUC & FINANCIAL AGENT, H/GHUNO, ILL. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



437 



their highest degree. In 1868 he erected the machine shops 
with which he has since been connected. Whilst a farmer 
in 1860, he invented an improvement in self-rakers which he 
disposed of to D. M. Osborn & Co., and which has been 
largely used since. The second patent issued to him was 
for a corn sheller, bearing date February 11, 1868. This 
sheller has t.aken premiums wherever exhibited, notably at 
the Illinois State and the St. Louis Fairs. The award of 
these premiums where competition was great— entering into 
generous rivalry with many makes — was certainly very 
gratifying to Mr. Chipron and his hosts of friends. 

Self-binders arrested his attention, forced as he was in 
selling agricultural machinery to handle them largely, and 
an improvement made by him seems destined to be univer- 
sally adopted. It is saying only what is richly deserved 
when Mr. Chipron is declared to be one of the best and 
most expert machine men in the State. 

He was married to Mrs. Alice Wielandy, March 2, 1858. 
By this union there have been born six children, two of 
whom are now teachers in good positions. Politically he is 
a pronounced Republican, taking an active part in every cam- 
paign and contributing largely to his party's success. He is 
especially proud of the fact that his first ballot was cast for 
Abraham Lincoln for President. He has held the position 
of Chief of the Fire Department, city of Highland, and 
under his charge the efficiency of the department was 
materially enhanced. In business circles he is recognized as 
being energetic, zealous and successful. His mechanical 
ingenuity finds full exercise in the prosecution of his 
business. 

JOHN S. HOERNER, 
The able editor of the Hlcfhland Union, was born January 
28, 1846, in Remlingeu, Bavaria, Germany. He came to 
56 



America with his parents in 1856, arriving in Edwardsville 
in October of that year. After obtaining a common school 
education, he commenced as apprentice to the printer's trade, 
October 17, 1860, in the office of the Madison Advertiser. 
From there he went to the office of the Free Fress. In order 
to perfect himself in the art he learned to love, he served 
an additional apprenticeship in the large book and job 
printing house of A. Weibusch & Son, St. Louis, Missouri. 
Having quite mastered his trade, he went to Alton, where 
he worked in both the Telegraph and Democrat offices. 
Thence he went to Highland in the fall of 1865, where he 
took charge of the Union office as foreman. In December 
of the same year he purchased the Union office in connection 
with Dr. G. Rutz, and in 1874 became sole proprietor of that 
office. As editor and proprietor of the Union, he has estab- 
lished a fine reputation, and his is one of the best equipped 
offices to be found in southern Illinois. 

His father died in 1859, three years after reaching this 
country. Thenceforward the support of a widowed mother 
devolved upon him, and well did he discharge his duties as 
a son. During the first year after his father's death, he was 
compelled to saw wood for neighbors to gain a livelihood. 
His mother died in Highland, January •2d, 1874. He was 
married to Rosa Eggen, daughter of Jacob Eggen, May 9th, 
1878. 

Mr. Hoerner is a pronounced and active republican. As 
editor of a republican paper he has contributed much to his 
party's success. He is a member of several orders, in the 
workings of which he takes a lively interest. Among them 
are the Masonic, Knights of Honor, and Turnverein. 

Mr. Hoerner is an honor to his profession, — a live, 
thorough-going business man, of that systematic class who 
succeed. 




JARVIS. 




fHIS TOWNSHIP, the bounflaries of 
^vhich coincide with those of congres- 
t^ioiial township, 3 North, range 7 West, 
was so named in honor of the Jarvis 
lamily, menbers of which were among 
the early settlers of this part of the 
county. 
The first settlers in the township arrived 
in 1803. In J;he spring of that year, the Greggs, (sometimes 
spelled Gragg), came from Kentucky, and Robert Seybold 
from Virginia. In an address delivered by Dr. John S. 
Dewey, on the 4th of July, 1S76, he states that "Jacob 
Gregg, the father, settled the Baird place and planted the 
old pear tree in 1804, which has done faithful service since, 
and in 18G4, yielded a crop which sold in Dubuque, 
Iowa, for one hundred and twenty-five dollars. Philip 
Gregg settled the place owned by Julius A. Barnsback ; 
Titus, the place owned by Ignatius Riggln ; John, James 
H. Taylor's place on the west of the prairie, and Herman 
Gregg, the site of Troy. Robert Seybold made a settle- 
ment on section eight, not far from John Gregg and near the 
head of Cantine creek. The township was not surveyed till 
the)'ear 1806. These pioneers were soon followed by other 
settlers, among whom were William F. Purviance, John Jar- 
vis, Robert McMahau, Jesse Reufro, William Hall, James 
Watt, and some others, all of whom had made their homes 
here previous to the organization of the state government 
in 1818. The first entries of land in the township were 
made on the 10th of September, 1814, by Titus Gregg and 
John Jarvis. The former entered the north half, and part 
of the south half, in all five hundred and twenty acres, in 
section four. Robert Seybold entered one hundred acres, 
part of the northwest quarter of section seven, Oct. 20th, 
1814. September 23d, 1815, David Gaskill entered seventy- 
nine and a half acres in section seven. May 1st, 1815, Pierre 
Menard entered one hundred and sixty acres in section one. 

AA-^illiam F. Purviance, whose name appears above as one 
of the early pioneers, was born in Cabarrus county. North 
Carolina, in 1783, and came to Illinois in 1809. He first 
worked at the trade of a wheelwright with Titus Gregg, who 
was a wheelwright and blacksmith, and carried on those 
branches of business ou the present farm of Ignatius Riggin, 
north of Troy. After paying a visit to Tenuessee, he was 
married iu 1811 to Rebecca, daughter of Robert Seybold, 
and then settled two miles north of Troy, in what is now 
Pin Oak township. About the year 1816 he moved back to 
Jarvis township, settled on section seven, west of Troy, 
438 



where he lived till his death in December, 1870. He was a 
member of the first graud jury convened at Edwardsville 
after the orginization of Madison county, and survived 
longer than any other member of that body, He was once 
appointed a justice of the peace while Illinois was yet a 
territory, but never transacted any of the duties of that office. 
For many years he carried on a wheelwright shop on his 
farm. In the early times he made spinning wheels, both for 
spinning flax and cotton, and at his wheels the pioneer wo- 
men of the country spent many a busy hour. Two of his 
children are yet living in the county ; James Purviance, 
who was born in 1811 and resides on part of the land which 
his father entered, and William H. Purviance, a citizen of 
Troy. James Purviance is now one of the oldest persons 
living in the county, who was boru within its limits. 

George Bridges and Daniel Semple settled southeast from 
Troy in 1808, and Walter Denny and William Skinner also 
came up at a very early period. John Lamb became a 
citizen of this part of the county in 1810. All these were 
from Kentucky and Tennessee. 

Robert McMahau settled on Ridge prairie, two miles and 
a half southwest from Troy. He was born in Virginia, 
emigrated thence to Lexington, Kentucky, and in that state 
married Margaret Clark. He removed to Illinois in 1793, 
and settled near New Design. His wife and four children 
were killed by the Indians, and he and his eldest daughter 
taken prisoner. He married a second, wife and raised a 
large family. He died in 1822, at the age of sixty-three. 
In 1795, John Jarvis, a native of Virginia, became a mem- 
ber of the settlement on the 1st of January, 1813. He 
moved from Turkey Hill, a short distance southeast of 
Belleville, in St. Clair county, where he had settled about 
the year 1806. The Turkey Hill settlement was the only 
American settlement made in St. Clair county previous to 
the year 1800, and in the history of St. Clair county we 
find that Franklin Jarvis, a brother of John Jarvis, was a 
member of the original colony which settled Turkey Hill in 
1797. John Jarvis bought of Herman Gregg his improve- 
ment. On the 10th day of September, 1814, he made the 
first entry of land from the government ever made in Jarvis 
township. He kept a house of entertainment for the accom- 
modation of the emigrant travel moving, westward, and in 
1816 built a band mill. This mill was a great convenience 
to the settlers. The travel to it caused the convergence of 
the rude bridle paths and cart ways to this point, so that the 
site of the mill became the most desirable place in the vicini- 
ty for the establishment of a store. Jarvis' band mill may 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



439 



thus be said to have been the origin of the town of Troy. 
Jarvis left behind him the name and reputation of a good 
man. Although in his youth accustomed to slavery he be- 
came conscientiously opposed to the practice of holding 
human beings in bondage, and sacrificed his own pecuniary 
interests in slaves. He was probably the first practical 
abolitionist in Jarvis township. He requested that his faith- 
ful old slave, Ben, should be buried near him. He died on 
the 29th of October, 1823. He had three sons (by the 
second marriage,) John, Wesley and Fletcher, who grew up 
and lived in Troy till they died. Many of their descendants 
still reside at Troy. 

George Churchill, who settled on section eight, west of 
Troy, was one of the most remarkable men who ever lived in 
the township. In early life he had learned the printing 
business and after coming to the township, he at intervals 
went to St. Louis and worked in the printing offices of that 
place. He remained a bachelor, and his habits were pecu- 
liar and eccentric. He, however, was held in high estima- 
tion by the community, and was several times sent as a rep- 
resentative to the legislature. Here, though he was no ora- 
tor, and indeed never attempted to make a speech, his talent 
as a ready writer came in play, and he drafted a considerable 
part of the bills brought forward by his side of the house. 
He was one of the most active opponents of the efforts to in- 
troduce slavery into the state in 1824. His votes in the leg- 
islature excited the displeasure of those opposed to his views, 
and he and Nicholas Hanson, a fellow member of the assem- 
bly, were burned in effigy, at Troy. 

Jesse Renfro, who lives a mile and a half east of Troy, is 
DOW one of the oldest residents of Madison county. He was 
born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, in 1796. In the year 
1810, when he was fourteen, his father, James Renfro, emi- 
grated from Kentucky to Illinois. The family spent the 
winter of 1810-11 in Ridge Prairie, three miles south of 
Troy, a short distance from Downing's station, a fort erected 
for the protection of the settlers against the Indians in the 
edge of the present county of St. Clair. In the spring of 
1^11, the family moved to section twenty-four of township 
three, range eight. James Renfro died in the fall of 1814, 
â– while on a visit to Kentucky. In the spring of 1814, Jesse 
Renfro, then not quite eighteen, enlisted as a mounted ran- 
ger in Capt. Samuel Whiteside's company which was en- 
gaged in the protection of the frontier settlements. He 
served a year as a ranger and six months additional in the 
militia service. In September, 1817, he married Letty 
West, daughter of Isaac West, one of the pioneer settlers of 
the present Collinsville township, and settled in section 
eleven of Jarvis township, where he has resided ever since. 
This marriage ceremony was performed by Joseph Eberman, 
a son-in-law of John Jarvis, who at that time filled the 
office of justice of the peace. Mr. and Mrs. Renfro lived 
together quietly on this spot nearly sixty-five years, till the 
death of Mrs. Renfro, which occurred in March, 1882. In 
the year 1817, when Mr. Renfro settled at this place he 
remembers the following persons who were living in the 
township : 

At Troy, John Jarvis to whom reference has already, 
been made. 



Joseph Eberman, a son-inlaw of ]\Ir. Jarvis. He 
was the first justice of the peace in the township, having 
received his appointment soon after the war of 1812-14. 
He built a house at the corner of Main and Market streets, 
on the spot now occupied by Fred. Auwarter's store, which 
he used as a tavern. Titus Gregg, who lived north of Troy 
on the present farm of Ignatus Riggiu. Mr. Renfro re- 
members him as a conservative and unprogressive man who 
grumbled excessively at the passage of the law establishing 
a free school system to be supported by taxation. He 
thought every man should school his own children. The 
land on which Herman Gregg lived covered the site of 
Brookside. About the year 1818 a Kentuckian by the 
name of Laban Smart began making an improvement on 
section one. Samuel Wood, who lived on section five, was a 
native of Kentucky. He was a Baptist preacher, and an 
honest, upright man, held in estimation by the community. 
His son, Andrew Wood, is still a resident of the township. 
Calvin and Horatio McCray came to the township and made 
settlements on section five in the year 1816 or 1817. They 
•were from Connecticut. Most of the early settlers were of 
Southern origin, and the McCrays on account of their New 
England birth, were called "Yankees," a term which had 
been brought into some disrespect by the sharp tricks of 
some Yankee clock peddlers and itinerant vendors of 
various articles, who had traveled through the country. 
The name, however, was subsequently redeemed by settlers 
from the eastern states who set the community good ex- 
amples of sobriety, thrift and enterprise. Horatio McCray 
was one of the fifst to give much attention to the raising of 
stock. Calvin McCray was for some years engaged in the 
mercantile business at Troy. About the year 1830 he 
started on his farm a mill for grinding grain which was in 
operation only a short time. It was worked by means of a 
tread power and a yoke of oxen. Bennett Posey, one of the 
early residents of section six, is still living in Pin Oak 
township. His father. Jubilee Posey, came to this county 
during the winter of 1810 11, and took an active part in the 
ranging service during the war of 1812-14. James White- 
side made an early improvement on section six. His father, 
Joel Whiteside, and his uncle, Capt. Samuel Whiteside, were 
among the first settlers of what is now Collinsville township. 
Gaines Moore, a son-in-law of John Jarvis, lived in 1817 on 
section eight. Jesse Rountree in 1818 began making an 
improvement on part of the land entered by Jesse Renfro 
in section eleven. He afterward moved to one of the coun- 
ties north of Madison. David Heudershott, a Virginian by 
birth, was one of the early settlers on section ten. He was 
in favor of slavery, and is said to have been one of those 
connected with the burning of Churchill and Hanson in 
effigy at Troy for their opposition in the legislature to the 
efforts of the pro-slavery men to secure in Illinois the adop- 
tion of the slave system. He thought that the establishment 
of .slavery would raise the price of land and he would be 
enabled to sell out at a good figure. William Vinyard, 
previous to 1820, had made a settlement on section two. In 
section tvvelve Stephen Col Iyer wiis an early resident. He 
was a tanner by trade, and carried on a tan yard on his farm. 



440 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



The first house on section thirteen was built by a man named 
Nowlaud. He was a local Methodist minister and preached 
occasionally. He sold his place to one Maxey, and though 
the property has since passed through several different hands, 
part of the original log house now used as a barn, is still 
standing. Section fourteen was first settled by two brothers, 
John and Jacob Haj^ler. Cleveland and Benjamin J. 
Hagler were sons of John and Jacob Hagler. William 
Good was also an early resident on this section. The Hag- 
lers and Goods lived within a short distance of one of the 
oldest schools in the township, a circumstance which was of 
much convenience, for Benjamin J. Hagler had thirteen 
children in his family and William Good fifteen. William 
R. Hagler, an early resident of the county, was a native of 
North Carolina. After residing some years in Tennessee he 
came to Illinois and settled in Jarvis township in 1818. 
He died in 1832. On section sixteen the early settlers were 
Abraham Van Hooser, Daniel Reese, and Coulson Townsend. 
Van Hooser's land remained in the possession of his de- 
scendants till within a year or two. J- P. Anderson had 
settled south of Troy, at a comparatively early date, and i 
-was prominent and active as a business man. To the south 
of Troy, John and Charles Edwards were early settlers. 
John Edwards filled for many years the position of justice 
of the peace, and discharged the duties of this otfice in a satis- 
factory manner. William Hall became a citizen of the 
township in 1815, and selected a location on section twenty- 
nine. He had a family of six sons and two daughters, and 
many of his descendants are now honored and respected resi- 
dents of the county. 

James W. Watt settled in the prairie two or three miles 
south of Troy in 1817. He came to Illinois from Green 
county, Kentucky, and was the son of James Watt, who had 
been a soldier in the war of the Revolution. Mr. Watt was 
for fifty-eight years a leading menaber of the Methodist Epis- 
copal church. He died in December, 1861. He left several 
children residing in the county. John Cook, the father of 
Harrison, William and Wesley Cook, was an early resident 
of the township. The place originally settled by John 
Gregg, in section seven, was afterwards purchased by Syl- 
vanus Gaskill, a native of the State of New York. Gregg 
moved to Arkansas. Between 1825 and 1830 Gaskill 
carried on a hoise mill at this place. Early Methodist 
meetings were frequently held at Gaskill's house. S. W. 
Cowles, who is now a resident of Troy, became a citizen of 
Jarvis township in 1829. His step-father, James Mills, with 
whom he came, settled two miles south of Troy. 

Josiah Caswell came from Vermont in 1823, and after 
living for a time east of Troy, purchased the place now 
owned by William Donoho, west of the town. On the west 
edge of the town, from 1834 to 1838, he kept a store. He 
moved to Macoupin county in 1838, and afterwards died 
in Green county. His son, O. H. Caswell, is still a resident 
of Troy. John Cook, father of William Cook, now residing 
in the township, first settled in the present Collinsville town- 
ship, and afterward became a resident of this township. The 
hou.se which he built is still standing. Morris M. Armstrong, 



a native of Warren county, Kentucky, and now a citizen of 
Troy, has been a resident of the county since 1816. 

We give in this form a list of the early settlers of the 
township. Many of their names have been aheady referred 
to: 

William Hayes, 
David Moore, 
Gaines Moore, 
Henry Hall, 
William Hall, jr., 
William Kingston, 
Samson Kingston, 
Baptiste St. .John, 
Kivers McCormack, 
Stephen Dewey, 
William Beard, 
Israel Turner, 
John Kiggin, 
Milton Hall, 
William W. Hall, 
George Bolton, 
Thomas Bolton, 
James Downing, of Down- 
ing Station, 
John Harrington, 
David Hendershoit, 
Fiehl Jarvis, 
Samuel Vincent, 
Anderson Smith, 
James Simmons, 
Andrew W. Waddle, 
Hardy Warren, 
Walter Denny, 
Isaac Clerk, 
Giles Kelley, 
G. W. Kerr, 
Elijah Renshaw, 
Harry Riggin, 
James Newell, 
James Riggin, 
AVhitmill Harrington, 
Nicholas Russell, 
John I'ainier, 
Henry A. Longstaff, 
Jesse Rountree, 
Andrew Black, 
James Watt. 



Titus Gregg, 
.John Jarvis, 
Joseph Eberman, 
Abraham Van Hooser, sr., 
Abraham Van Hooser, jr., 
Henry Peck, 
Daniel Reeea, 
.Joshua Armstrong, 
William Robinson, 
Job Robinson, 
Josiah Caswell, 
George Churchill, 
William Howard, 
William Vineyard, 
Jesse Renfro, 

Cleveland Hagler, 

Benjamin J. Hagler. 

Andrew Stice. 

William Hall, 

John Hall, 

Robert McMahan, 

Noah Hall, 

Lyman Gillet, 

Jonathan Denton, 

Sylvanus Gaskill, 

David Gaskill, 

Jacob Gregg, 

William F. Purviance, 

Valentine Van Hooser, 

Joseph Snodgrass, 

Isaac K. McMahan, 

Robert K. McMahan. jr., 

Thomas S. McMahan, 

Andrew Moore, 

JohnC. Kiggin, 

Dr. Thomas Baker, 

Calvin McCray, 

Horatio McCray, 

Samuel Wood, 

Alexander Coulee, 

John Conlee, 

Isaac Conlee, 



The first school taught in the township, was on the western 
line of section eight in the year 1811. The teacher was 
Greenberry Randle, who agreed to teach the principles of 
arithmetic as far as the " Double Rule of Three." In this 
school the Kinders, Jarvises, Gaskills, and others of the early 
settlers received the first elements of an education and laid 
the foundation for their subsequent usefulness as honored 
and respected citizens. No school was established in Troy 
till the year 1824. One of the early teachers of the town- 
ship is still living, Jesse Renfro. He one year taught a six 
months' school on section ten for one hundred dollars, and 
furnished the necessary books to all the scholars. 

Among the early churches of the township wastheGilead 
Methodist church, which stood on section fourteen. This 
was the first building erected in the township for religious 
purposes, though early Methodist meetings had been held at 
the house of John Jarvis and elsewhere. The church was 
also used as a school-house, and Jesse Renfro taught here 
several years between 1830 and 1840. The old church was 
a plain, square frame structure, about twenty by 
thirty feet in dimensions, weather boarded on the outside 
with clap-boards. The interior was plastered. Logs split 
open with pins fastened in the round side formed the benches. 



irrSTOIiY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



441 



The edifice was of course, destitute of paiut. Among the 
early preachers here were the Rev. Samuel H. Thonipsou, 
John Dew, J. H. Benson, and Washington C. Ballard, a lo- 
cal minister. 

On the southwest corner of the same section (fourteen) a 
church was subsequently built by the Baptists, in which 
preaching was only held a few years. In the northern part 
of section fourteen is an old graveyard still in use, in which 
the first interment was the wife of John Hagler. An Old 
School Baptist church was established on section sixteen. The 
Methodists of the western part of the township found the 
Zion Methodist church on section nineteen ; the present 
building was erected in 1838. 

A Roman Catholic church was established on section 
twenty-seven, with the services in the German language. 

The land of Troy township is a good average in fertility 
and value of the lands of lEadison county. About one- 
third of the townshij) is embraced in Ridge prairie, than 
â– which there is no better land in the county. The bottom of 
Silver creek, which flows south through the eastern part of 
the township, is unusually wide and subject to overflow, which 
lessens its value for agricultural purposes. South of Troy, is 
what is known as the " black jack " district. It contains a 
good deal of fine land, is excellent for the cultivation of 
wheat, and the farms here sell at high figures. This part of 
the township is inhabited mainly by a German population, 
most of whom are good farmers. 

SUPERVISORS. 

Ignatius Riggin was the first elected in 1876, and served 
two terms, and in 1878 was succeeded by J. A. Barusback, 
who by re-election has continued in the oflice to the present. 



The land on which the town of Troy is mainly built was 
entered by John Jarvis in September, 1814. In 1818, the 
year Illinois became a state ; there was a store carried on 
here by Stephen Dewey, a tavern by Joseph Eberman, and 
the place was called Columbia. Jarvis had a horse mill at 
his residence. In the year 1819, Jarvis sold ten acres of 
the land lying south of his residence to James Riggin and 
David Hender.shott, who surveyed the tract into lots and 
laid ofl" the town of Troy. Ten dollars an acre was the price 
paid for this land. The name of Troy was given to the 
place by James Riggin. 

James Riggin and his brother, Harry Riggin, had come 
to Troy in 1818, and afterward, in 1822, were followed 
by another brother, John C. Riggin, father of Ignatius Rig. 
gin, now a resident of Jarvis township. They were born in 
Sevier county, Tennessee. Their father was a Methodist 
preacher who traveled a circuit in East Tennessee eight 
years, and then went to farming with the view of securing a 
better support for his family. 

After the town was platted a store was started in which 
James Riggin, Harry Riggin, and Samuel Reid were part- 
ners. All were alike without means or any previous know- 
ledge of the mercantile business, but with Henry Hayes who 
lived in the Six-mile prairie in the Bottom as their backer, 



they bought three hundred dollars worth of goods and began 
business. Afterward, George W. Carr, came out from St. 
Louis, to help run the establishment. He had a good edu- 
cation, bright talents, and was a good business man though 
inclined to dissipation. From him James Riggin learned 
the business, but the store not proving profitable, he loaded 
the goods in a one-horse wagon and moved them to Lebanon; 
where he engaged in the mercantile business for many years, 
and accumulated considerable property. Harry Riggin 
moved to ^Menard county. In 1829, John C. Riggin pur- 
chased the farm north the of town originally settled by Titus 
Gregg. The money with which to buy this land he secured 
during a trip to the Galena lead mines in 1828. He lived 
on this farm till his death in 18G9. 

One of the earliest buildings in Troy was a house on the 
southwest quarter of Main and Market streets, built by 
David Gaskill. It was so rough in its construction that 
Mr. Carr and others, in a playful spree, tore it down and 
burned the rough, round logs that they might not again dis- 
grace the town. On the northwest corner of the same streets 
stood a building which in 1822 was occupied by Calvin Mc- 
Cray as a storehouse. McCray was one of the early mer- 
chants of the town, and carried on business for a number of 
years. He owned the whole block. A log cabin stood on 
it, and to this a frame addition was made, and in this 
Horatio McCray, a brother to Calvin, kept " accommoda- 
tions for travelers." The block pissed into the possession 
of Jacob C. Gonterman, who continued the tavern. A 
frame store-house was built by Riggin and Hendershott on 
the northeast corner of Main and Market streets, and on 
the southeist corner Joseph Eberman built a frame house for 
tavern purposes. 

The growth of the town was slow. It was not till many 
years afterward that the inhabitants were acco nmodated with 
a post office, and then the appointment was given to George 
Churchill, whose house was in the Ridge Prairie a mile and 
a quarter west of the town. This was in the year If. 33. 

In the year 1831, the firm of White & Merritt conducted 
the only store in town. It stood on the corner where Fred 
Auwarter's store now is. Lswis Scantland kept a public 
house which occupied the site of the present White Horse 
hotel. He subsequently sold out to a man named Hickman. 
A harness maker, named Abner Kelly, was also a resident of 
the place at that time. 

The town plat on which the names of William Hender- 
son, John Reed, Frederick T. Kraft't and Theodore J. KrafTt 
appear as proprietors, was placed on record on the fifth of 
March, 1839. Mechanicsburg, laid out by Josiah Caswell, 
is recorded as an addition to Troy. 

Andrew Mills has lived in Troy since March, 1842, and 
has always been intimately connected with the business 
afiliirs of the town. Since ISGO he has filled the office of 
police magistrate. Troy contained but few inhabitants when 
be became a resident of the place. The only store was kept 
by John Brady in a small building on Market street now 
occupied as a barber shop. The building on the southwest 
corner of INLain and Market streets, now used as the Bulletin 
office, had been occupied a short time previously by Fred 



442 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Kraffc who had erected the building and carried on a store 
there for some time. This building was without an occu- 
pant iu the spring of 1842. William Heuders(m kept 
tavern in a building, one end of which was log and the 
other frame, which stood on the site of the White Horse 
hotel. John Henderson, now a resident of Christian county, 
a son of William Henderson, had hired a journeyman 
blacksmith and carried on the blacksmith business. The 
same year, 1842, a man named Curtis came to the place and 
began work at his trade of a blacksmith. George Hulme at 
that time served the community as tailor, but shortly after- 
ward moved to a ftirm east of the town. Thomas P. Moore 
and Andrew Kimberlin kept groceries. Moore's place was in 
a building erected by a man named Bardsley which stood 
on the opposite side of the street from the White Horse hotel. 
His building is still standing and looks about the same now 
as then. Moore lived in a two-story frame house on Market 
street east of the present post-office, still standing and owned 
by Mrs. Martin. His place of business now is ou the north 
side of Market street, opposite the post office. Daniel Peter- 
man was engaged in the carpentering business. In the 
spring of 1842, Dr. Green was the only physician. The suc- 
ceeding summer he removed to Marine, and his place was sup- 
jdied by Dr. J. K. Reiner, who practiced his profesdon here 
for a number of years and died in Minnesota, The post- 
office was kept in John Brady's store, though George 
Churchill being west of the town, held the commission as 
postmaster. 

Among those promiently identified with the business inter- 
ests of the place still living is Julius A. Barnsback. He 
opened a store in Troy in 1846, and for several years carried 
on a large and prosperous business. He acted as postmas- 
ter, and also as agent for J. P. Yoris & Co., the proprietors 
of the St. Louis and Terre Haute stage line. When Mr. 
Barnsback came to Troy in 1846, the place contained about 
a dozen houses and a population of less than one hundred. 

The route of the National Road, which had been con- 
structed as far as Vandalia, had been surveyed through 
Troy. Over this route passed a daily line of stages running 
between St. Louis and Terre Haute, Indiana. The arrival 
and departure of these stages was the great feature of the 
day. The stages going east left St. Louis in the morning 
and reached Troy during the forenoon. Going west they 
usually passed through the town late at night. Troy was the 
first station out from St. Louis at which horses were changed. 
After the building of railroads connecting with the East the 
through stage line was taken off. A hack line was then es- 
tablished between Highland and St- Louis, which passed 
through Troy and Collinsville, and carried the mail. This 
line was kept up till the building of the Vandalia railroad. 

In 1842 there was no polling place at Troy, and the voters 
had the privilege of casting their ballots at any polling 
place within the limits of the county. The most voted at 
Edwardsville. The Troy voting precinct was established 
about the year 1844. 

It was not till the year 1824 that a school was started at 
Troy, and not till 1842 that a church was organized. The 
latter year the Rev. William Chambcrlin, who had been 



appointed itinerant missionary for Southern Illinois by the 
Presbytery of Alton, and the Rev. Thomas Lippincott, the 
first Sabbath-school in the state, held a protracted meeting 
in a grove or block twenty-two, west of where the White 
Horse hotel now stands. This meeting resulted iu the or- 
ganization (on the sixth of October, 1842,) of the Presby- 
terian church. The original thirteen members were Dr. J. 
K. Reiner, Cyrus Scott, Benjamin Posey, Mrs. E. C. Reiner, 
P. Scott, G. W. Scott, James Perigo, S. A. Scott, E Davis, 
Cintha Scott, I. Perigo, E. Scott, and E. Goodwin. J K- 
Reiner and James Perigo were ordained elders. In 1843' 
the members strained their means to erect a rough house of 
worship in block thirty-nine of W. Jarvis' addition to Troy- 
Twenty dollars were paid for the lot on which the church was 
built. Dr. J. K. Reiner, Wesley Jarvis and Andrew Kimber- 
lin, the latter two having become members of the church, 
were prominent in securing the construction of the 
church edifice, which was a neat frame, twenty-four by 
thirty feet in dimensions. The studdings were hewed poles, 
covered in with split weather-boarding. The floor was 
made of one foot wide, unmatched plank. The old oak 
seats were the gift of the Collinsville Pres-byterian church. 
Among the early pastors were the Rev. William Chambcr- 
lin, the Rev. Thomas Lippincott, the Rev. J- R. Dunn, and 
the Rev. Calvin Butler. The old church gave place to a 
fine brick structure erected in 1871, at a cost often thousand 
dollars, during the pastorate of the Rev. Robert Stuart- 
Rev. J. D. Gchring is the present pastor. 

In 1843 a Methodist church was also built. Its site was 
then in the woods. Dr. Dewey, in his Centennial address, 
remarks that by some of the members the church " was said 
to have been built by the devil, as most of the movers were 
irreligious, and were actuated by strife against the Presby- 
terians, and not by religious motives." The building was 
erected for no particular denomination, but when completed 
was given by vote to the Methodist Episcopal congregation. 
Afterward, in 1847, a bell, which had belonged to a sunken 
steamer, was bought of James B. Eads, of St. Louis, who 
was then a diver and wrecker on the river, and placed on 
the church. This bell was afterward removed to the school- 
house. The old church was succeeded by the present brick 
structure on Main street, the erection of which was largely 
due to William J. Barnsback and William Donoho. The 
Rev. C. J. T. Tolle is now pastor of this church. 

The Baptists built their firs| church on Main street in 
1848. This building was supplanted by a larger and more 
handsome structure in 1876. Among the ministers who oc- 
cupied the pulpit at various times were the Rev. John M. 
Peck, the Rev. Mr. Harris, Elijah Dodson, Elihu J. Palmtr, 
T. W. B. Dawson, John Padon, John H. Mize and W. D. 
Ross. 

The Evangelical Lutheran church was built in Gonter- 
man's addition to the town in 1865. The church has a large 
membership among the German population. The Rev. Mr. 
Cleppesch is pastor. In connection with the church the 
Lutherans maintain a school, which is quite largely attended 
by the children of the congregation. 

The church of the German Reformed congregation was 
built in 1S76. 



HISTORY OF MADISONCOUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



443 



In 1856 a large and substantial brick school building was 
erected. It is two stories in height, aud contains four reci- 
tation rooms. The principal of the school is Arthur G. 
Caned}% with Jane Mills, Jennie Rawsonaud Alice Badgley 
as assistants. 

In addition to the public school facilities there will soon 
be in operation a High School, which will afford to the young 
people of the town educational advantages of a superior 
order. By the will of the late Angel ine McCray Dewey, 
widow of Dr. John S. Dewey, her estate, estimated as worth 
in the neighborhood of thirty thousand dollars, is left to five 
trustees, citizens of Troy, with directions that the income 
shall be used in the erection of a suitable building for school 
purposes, and the maintenance of a high school. The bene- 
fits of this institution are extended gratuitously to anj' person 
under the age of twenty-six years residing in the town of 
Troy, or within the limits of the common school district or 
districts, in which the territory of the town of Troy may be 
included. The trustees have purchased the former residence 
of Dr. Dewey, in which suitable changes will be made, with 
the view of placing the school in active operation at an early 
date. 

Dr. John S. Dewey was a native of Massachusetts and 
became a resident of Troy in 1846. He stood high as a 
physician, and secured an extensive practice. He was sur- 
geon of the 109th regiment Illinois Volunteers during the 
war of the rebellion. He was twice elected to the legisla- 
ture. His death occurred on the 17th of July, 1879. His 
wife was the daughter of Calvin McCray, one of the early 
settlers of Jar vis township. 

The first number of the Commercial Bulletin, the first 
newspaper in Troy, was issued on Saturday, April 20, 1872. 
James N. Jarvis was the publisher. This was the foundation 
of the Troy Bulletin, which has been regularly published 
since May, 1872. Henry B. Morriss is the present editor 
and proprietor. 

In 1848 the members of Neilson Lodge, Ko. 2-1, Independ- 
ent Order of Odd Fellows, erected a hall on Main street. 
The upper part of it is used for lodge purposes, and here all 
the secret societies of Troy hold their meetings. School was 
held occasionally in the lower part of the building till the 
erection of the present school-house. The lower floor is now 
occupied as a public reading room, carried on under the 
auspices of the Royal Purple Temperance Association of 
Troy, of which William Donoho is president, and Jane Mills 
secretary. 

The Troy Cemetery had its origin in the gift to the town 
of an acre of ground to be used for burial purposes by Wes- 
ley Jarvis, about the year 1843. The town afterward pur- 
chased additional ground. The cemetery now embraces three 
and one-half acres. It contains a number of handsome and 
tasteful monuments erected to the memory of the dead, the 
most costly of which is that which marks the graves of Dr. 
John S. Dewey and members of the McCray family. 

The Troy Park As-socintion was founded in February, 1882, 
with the purpose of procuring and preserving a public square 
or park. The A.ssociation has a capital stock of one thou- 
sand dollars, divided into share.s of twenty-five dollars each. 



A square of ground immediately south of the school-house 
has been purcha.sed, which is to be laid out a.s a ])ark. The 
officers of the Association are : President, Dr. F. A. .Sabin ; 
Vice President, William Freudenau ; Secretary, Henry II. 
Padon ; Treasurer, Frederick Gerfew. The four ])ersons 
above mentioned, with David Seligraann, comprise the board 
of directors. 

INCOKPORATION — BUSINES.S IN PERESTS. 

Troy was incorporated by act of the legislature in 18.57. 
No changes have since been made in the charter. The first 
president of the Board of Trustees was John Padon. 

The population of the town is now about one thousand, 
and with Brookside, the settlement formed south of the 
town about the railroad depot, is considerably in excess of 
that figure. The plat of the town of Brookside wa.s re- 
corded Sei)tember 26, 1873 : Susan Taylor, Sylvania E. 
Ground, James M. Taylor and Julius A. Barnsback, pro- 
prietors. 

MILLS. 

The milling business has been the most active and im- 
portant manufacturing industry. 

The Troy City Milh, were built in 1856, by John R. 
Swain & Brother. Mr> Swain, who was a prominent 
citizen of Troy, and at one time sheriff of the county, 
had erected a mill on the same spot some years before 
which burned down. It is supposed to have been set 
on fire by an incendiary. The present mill is constructed 
of brick, and at the time it was built was considered 
one of the finest mills in Southern Illinois. It has 
an excellent situation, adjacent to a pond of water, fed 
by springs, which has never been known to be dry. The 
mill has a capacity of about three hundred barrels per day. 
The present proprietors are Gustav Vetter & Co. 

The Brookside Mills, near the railroad depot, were built 
in 1877, and have a capacity of one hundred and twenty- 
five barrels of flour per day. William Donoho is the pro- 
I prietor. This mill is provided with machinery of the most 
1 approved description, and manufactures flour by the new 
patent process. 

Brookside Coal Co. — In 1880 work was begun on a coal 
shaft near the railroad depot. A five and a half foot vein 
of coal was found at a depth of three hundred and thirteen 
feet. It was ready for operation in the early part of the 
year 1881, and the work of mining and raising coal has 
since been successfully prosecuted. This mine is the farthest 
east on the line of the Vandal ia railroad in this State. 
Beside supplying the local demand and that of towns 
farther east on the line of the railroad considerable quanti- 
ties of coal are shipped to St. Louis. William Freudenau 
is president of the company. 

The remaining business interests of the town are repre- 
sented as follows : 

General Merchants, — .Samuel Rawson & Bro., F. M. Au- 
warter, David Seligmann, Stolte & Feldner, Louis Karges 
& Son (Brookside). 

Hardware, Groceries and Drugs. — Henry A. Risser. 

Hardware and Tin- — Jacob Gebauer. 



444 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Stoves and Tin Ware. — William Hampe. 

Furniture. — J. Stieiihaus. 

Drug St 'res. — S. Kingston, J. P. Lytle & Co. 

Lumber. — Henry H. Padon. 

Agricultural Implements. — James B. Thomas, Henry INIar- 
tin, Frederick Gerfeu. 

Jilacksmith and 'Wagon Maker. — Frederick Gerfeu. 

Blaekimith and Plow Maker. — Elias Burke. 

Blacksmith. — John Riebold. 

Carpenters and Builders. — John Seybold, James Seybold, 
John and James Peterman, Stolte & Salter. 

Shoe Shops. — Joseph Kiesel, Andreas Klein, Bennett 
Smith. 

Watches and Jeivelry — Fred. Simon. 

Livery Stable. — S. W. Cowles. 

Saddler and Harness Maker. — Frank L. Hampton. 

Tailor. — Julius Nill. 

Butchers. — John Diemling, Ernst Albrecht. 

White Horse Hotel. — William Jleiuers. 

Johnson House- — Mrs. Sarah Johnson. 

Physicians. — Dr. F. A. Sabin, Dr. Fred. Zenders, Dr. 
Charles Sehott, Dr. J. J. Brown, Dr. Fred. Zenk. 

Postmistres-i. — Mattie Johnson. 

Justices of the Peace. — Frank L. Hampton, James N. 
Jarvis. 

Police Magistrate. — Andrew Mills. 

SECRET SOCIETIES. 

NEILSON LODGE, NO. 25, INDEPENDENT ORDER OF 

ODD FELLOW.S, 

Was instituted on the 14th of July, 1847. The charter 
members were J. K. Reiner, John S. Dewey, John R. Swain, 
T. J. Brady, Thomas McDowell, and Andrew Kimberlin. 
The present officers of the lodge are, George B. Henderson, 
N. G. ; Dr. J. J. Brown, V. G. ; George Rawson, Secretary ; 
Henry A. Risser, Treasurer. 



TROY LODGE, NO. 588, ANCIENT, FREE AND ACCEPTED 

MASONS, 

Was chartered October 6, 18G8. The original members 
were Samuel Rawson, Dr. F. A. Sabin, Stephen G. Barnes, 
Dr. John S. Dewey, A Lindermaun, Jesse Padon, William 
Dunoho, George Rawson, John Carney, Julius A. Barnsback 
William Shaw. The officers now are: Elias Burke, W. M. , 
Dr. F. W. Zenders, S. W. ; M. W. Powell, J. W. ; Julius 
A. Barnsback, Treasurer : George Rawson, Secretary. 

PISGAH ENCAMPMENT, NO. 104, INDEPENDENT ORDER 
OF ODD FELLOWS, 

Was instituted October 11, 1870, with Samuel Rawson, 
Fred. W. Zenders, T. H. Bell, F. A. Sabin, J. P. Anderson, 
J. W. Staton, and G. W. C. Gates, as charter members. 
The present officers are : Andrew Rawson, C. P. ; Henry H. 
Padon, S. AV- ; F. W. Zenders, H. P. ; George Rawson, 
Scribe ; Henry A. Risser, Treasurer ; Joseph Granger, 
Junior Warden. 

MAYFLOWER LODGE, NO. 1586, KNIGHTS OF HONOR, 

Was instituted May 1, 1879. The present officers are: 
James Bosomworth, Dictator ; Joseph Granger, Vice Dicta- 
tor; Henry H. Padon, Asst. Dictator; Frank L. Hampton, 
Reporter ; Andrew Rawson, Financial Reporter ; George 
Rawson, Treasurer. 

MADISON COUNCIL, NO. 356, LEGION OF HONOR, 

Was instituted in December, 1880. Elias Burke is now 
Commander; William Freudenau, Post Commander ; Gus- 
tav Vetter, Vice Commander; Philip Eckert, Treasurer; 
Jacob Clipper, Secretary. 

The present board of trustees of the town of Troy is 
composed as follows ; Julius A. Barnsback, John F. Jarvis, 
William J. Vetter, David Seligmann, William Schultz. 



•^^^g^^^^3^^- 



PIN OAK. 




^^i' QMPRISES the whole of town four, range 
seven. It is bounded on the north by Hamel, 
on the east by Marine, on ' the south by 
Jarvis, and on the west by Edwardsville 
township. Silver creek flows in a southerly 
direction through the eastern part of the 
township, entering at section 1 and passing 
out section 36. Along this stream the land 
is considerably broken, and there is a heavy 
growth of young timber. When the township was first 
settled, it is said a deer might have been seen at a great dis- 
tance, from point to point, across this stream. Only here 



and there a large tree, and no undergrowth, interrupted the 
view. Since settlement began the fires have been kept out 
and for the past sixty years the timber has grown rapidly. 
At present large trees thickly cover what once, within the 
memory of man, was a vast undulating plain, covered only by 
the grasses indigenous to the soil. Ou section 16, at the head 
of a small stream, there was a Pin Oak grove, from which the 
township took its name. Here, in the early times, was the 
militia training ground. 

Joseph Bartlett, Lockhart and Taylor, were the first set- 
tlers. The latter two made small improvements near the 
Pin Oak grove. Uncle Joe Bartlett, as he was familiarly 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



445 



called, located in section 21. They settled here in 1809. 
Bartlett became a permanent and prominent citizen. He 
was born in the state of Virginia, January 13, 1775, and 
emigrated to the vicinity of Kuoxville, Tennessee, where 
he resided many years. From there he went to Kentucky 
and thence to the territory of Illinois in 1897. lie first 
located near the old village of Milton, in the Wood river 
settlement, where he remained until 1803. He then settled 
as above stated. During the Indian troubles he served as a 
ranger, and took part in the building of Fort Russell. He 
also built a fort or block house on the west eighty of the 
northwest quarter, section 21. This block house stood about 
three hundred yards west of where his daughter now resides, 
on the north side of the road. He was one of the party 
that gave chase to the Indians that committed the Wood 
river massacre. He was also in the Black Hawk war, 
accompanied by three of his sons. He built a double log- 
house on the state road on the tract that is well known as 
the Bartlett place. His block house remained standing un- 
til about 1834, when he tore it down, moved it near his 
residence and converted it into stables. Mr. Bartlett 
was married to Patience McCoy, April 5, 179S. She 
was born February ^2, 1778. He raised a family of 
seven children, and died January 1, 1864. Martin 
settled a place on the southern line of Hamel township. 
Nicholas located a short distance north of his brothers. 
William settled the place where C. B. Gonterman now lives. 
Jesse, the youngest son, lived in the old homestead. Sarah 
married George Day, who settled a place in the north-eastern 
part of section 9. Rachel, the youngest, became the wife of 
Daniel E. Adams. She is the only survivor of the family, 
and now a widow. Lydia married William Kirkpatrick, 
who settled in Montgomery county. She had two children, 
and died many years ago. Uncle Joe attended school only 
eight days. He often related this fact. In after life, by 
close application and intuition, he qualified himself quite 
creditably. He was the first assessor and treasurer of the 
county. A former writer has said of him, " He was a man 
of domestic habits, and did not even visit the neighboring 
city of St. Louis, though less than twenty-five miles distant, 
for forty-four years previous to his death, which occurred 
December 25, 18G3. The horse ferry had just been estab- 
lished about the time of his last trip there, in 1819, and his 
surviving friends state, that having but little curiosity for 
things new or strange, he never went to see a steamboat or 
railroad, neither did he visit a county fair nor camp meet- 
ing during his life, a period of ninety-one years, preferring 
to devote his whole time to his domestic afl!kirs and his books. 
He was a man of excellent mind, well stored with informa- 
tion, especially in politics. In his day he was considered a 
walking history of Tennessee, and for many years acted as 
justice of the peace. He â– was county treasurer, and held 
other oflBces of trust and responsibility. He had a large 
and well-selected library, and also a file of the papers then 
published in this state and Tennessee." 

Paul Beck located on section 5, before the war of 1812. 
During that struggle he was a ranger. His cabin was built 
in the style of a block house, in which he lived manv years. 
57 



September 6, 1814, he entered the northeast quarter of sec- 
tion 5. The same day George Hutton entered one hundred 
and sixty acres. These were the first land entries in 4-7. 

George Coventry, a native Englishman, came to Madison 
county from Christian county, Kentucky, in 1813. He was 
married in Kentucky to Sarah Stanford, August 10, 1805. 
He had four children born to him in that state, two of whom 
died. John W. and Indiana he brought with him to this 
county. The latter has since died ; the former is one of the 
well-known citizens of the county. Two children were born 
in this county, William M. and Elciann ; the former lives 
in Davenport, Iowa, and the latter is now Mrs. George Bay- 
less, of Montgomery county. 111. Mr. Coventry was a mill- 
wright by trade. Upon coming to the county he first stopped 
with Thomas Davidson. Subsequently he came to Edwards- 
ville and kept a public house. At an early day he bought 
the Paul Beck place, which consisted of a block hou.se, 
several other small buildings, and a horse-mill. He opera- 
ted the horse-mill for some time. The place was afterward 
known as the Governor Cole place. Mr. Coventry afterward 
moved to Belleville, and subsequently returned to the coun- 
ty and located near Salem, in the bottom, where he died 
July 15, 1819. His wife survived him until May 24, 1874, 
when she died, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. 

September 10, 1814, John Robinson entered the northeast 
quarter of section thirty-two, and the southwest quarter of 
section thirty-three, where he started an improvement which 
he afterward sold to Jubilee Posey. April 14, 1815, John 
R. Jones entered the greater part of section fourteen. All 
other entries were of a later date. 

Jubilee Posey, a native of Georgia, came to Madison 
county in 1811, being at that time about seventeen years of 
age. He came to the territory in company with an older 
brother, Chesley Posey, who settled in St. Clair county. Ju- 
bilee Posey was a ranger during the war of 1812, and ren- 
dered valuable services in guarding the settlers during that 
eventful period. Immediately after this he was united in 
marriage with Catharine Smith. He purchased an improve- 
ment, started by John Robinson, on section thirty-two, where 
he afterward improved a good farm and resided until his 
death, which occurred August 4, 1878, when he was eighty- 
five years of age. In the latter part of his life he drew a 
pension. He was twice married, and raised a large family 
of children. Of his children by his first wife, four still sur- 
vive. Bennet Posey was born in the county in 1823. He 
is a farmer and resides on part of his father's estate. Julia 
is now the widow of John McKec ; Martha married James 
Thomas ; Chesley is a farmer, living in Clinton county, Illi- 
nois. Of the second marriage there were born to him three 
girls. He accumulated a considerable amount of property, 
and in every relation of life maintained the name of an 
honorable and honest citizen, and died regretted by a wide 
circle of friends. 

Laban Smart came to the county in 1816, and settled in 
section one, town three, range seven. He was a native of 
North Carolina and came here from Kentucky. He con- 
tinued farming until about 183-i, when he lost his wife. 
Thev had raised a large familv of children wi hom the 



44G 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



old geatleman lived until his death, some three years later. 
He served as a soldier during the Revolutionary war, and 
drew a pension. Wiley Smart, the oldest son that came to 
â– 4his county, (for some members of the family were left in 
Kentucky), was among the first settlers in the northern part 
of the county. About 1832, he exchanged fiirms with Peter 
Long and then located on the Long farm, where he continued 
to reside until his death in 1850. He raised quite a large 
family of children, some of whom settled in Shelby county, 
Illinois, and others went west. He was twice married, and 
served in the war of 1812. Peter Smart, the next son, im- 
proved the Gerhardt StruckofF place, in section 36, as early 
as 1S20, where he resided until 1849, when he moved west 
He died in Putnam county, Mis.souri, some ten years later. 
His family was not large. Henry B., the next son, was born 
in the year 1830. He settled on section 35, where his son, 
H. A. Smart, now lives, as early as 1830. Here he improved 
a large farm. He died in 1882. His wife was a Miss 
Thompson, who came here with her uncle, Thomas Ray, in 
1818. They raised a family of seven children. Alsey S. 
and Henry A. are farmers in the township. Maria, now 
Mrs. John Smith, and Martha E., now Mrs. Whiteside, also 
live in the township. 

Jacob Gonterman, son of Henry Gonterman, a native of 
Germany, was born in Maryland, March 27, 1764. He 
moved with his parents to Shelby county, Kentucky, where 
he afterward married Hannah Stark, daughter of Jonathan 
Stark. They moved into Christian county, where ten children 
were born to them. They emigrated from Kentucky to 
Madison CDunty, and lauded here in the fall of 1816, and 
immediately located on section 20, where he began an im- 
provement. Shortly after his coming, he built on his place 
a horse-mill that was operated for many years. His oldest 
son, Caleb B., was born August 20, 1797, and was married 
to Elizabeth Miller, March 14, 1819. He resided in this 
township, and raised a family of nine children. For many 
years, in early times, he was captain of a militia company , and 
ever after he was known as Captain Gonterman. His death 
occurred September 11, 1861. C. B. Gonterman, Jr., his 
youngest child, lives in section 17. Rev. Thomas Ray, 
a Kentuckian, came in 1818, and settled in the northeast 
part of section 1 1 ; now the place of his daughter. He was a 
member of the Baptist church and one of the early preachers 
in this settlement. He was a successful farmer, and gathered 
about him a good deal of property ; he was twice married and 
raised two daughters by his second marriage : Adeline, now 
Mrs. John Keown, and Mary, now Mrs. Mary Fruit, of 
Edvvardsville. The old gentleman terminated his pilgrimage 
on his place, October 21, 1S54, in the eighty-first year of his 
age. James Pearce, a nephew of Joseph Bartlett, settled the 
H. Kuhn place, in section 21, in 1815, where he lived three 
years, and then located in the southern part of Leef town- 
ship. Alvis Hauskins came to the county in 1819, from 
Rutherford county, Tennessee, with his step father, Willorby 
Adams. He was then twelve years of age. In 1825, he 
began farming near Bethalto. In 1832, he entered a farm 
in section 10, where his sou, Elias, now lives. Here he 
built a cabin in the spring of 1832, and resided until 1863. 



He has been twice married and has raised a family of twelve 
children. The old gentleman, for some years, has been a 
transient resident; not claiming any special place as home. 
Elias Hauskins was born on the place where he now resides, 
in 1832. John Minter, from Kentucky, was one of the 
early settlers of the county. He first located in Montgomery 
county when he came to the state. He settled the place 
where John Minter, Jr. now lives, more than fifty years ago. 
The latter was born on this farm. The elder Minter lived 
here until his death. He raised a family of six children, four 
boys and two girls, five of whom are now living. Thomas 
and John are unmarried, and reside on the old homestead. 

James Tunnell was the fourth son of William and Mary 
Tunnel], of East Tennesse. In 1814 he was married to 
Dicy Hauskins, and in 1816 he came to Illinois with his 
family and became one of the pioneers of Fort Russell. He 
purchased land of Rev. William Jones, near Bethalto, which 
he afterward sold to W. Adams. His death occurred in 
1825. His widow married Rev. Thomas Ray, of this county, 
in 1827. The family then became residents of Pin Oak 
township, where they continued to reside. Mr. Tunnell had 
two children: Nancy Elvira and William West. The for- 
mer married Levi Harnsberger. They have afaniily of three 
children living, viz.: Mary Jane, wife of Harrison Wood, 
now residing in St. Jacobs ; William Augustus, of Kansas 
City, and Charles E , residing with his parents at Green- 
castle. William West Tunnell was born February 23, 1824, 
in Madison county. He was married to Letitia McKee, 
February 7, 1850. He reared a family of eight children, 
five of whom are now living, viz.: Robert F., Ella F., wife 
of A. M. Ghost, of Denver, Colorado ; James E., Charles 
W. and Frank W., all of whom reside in Edwardsville. 
He died October 7, 1S65. Mrs. Tunnell was born July 1, 
1833, and died January 4, 1874. 

Mathias Handlon, from Kentucky, came herewith George 
Kindler, about 1810, at the age of nineteen years. He sub- 
sequently married Miss Harriet Walker, and improved a 
place near Lamb's Point, where he remained several years. 
Upon leaving this locality, he settled in the southern part 
of Pin Oak, in the edge of the timber on the east side of 
section thirty-two, where he bought an improvement of a 
man named Burroughs. This was before 1825. He built 
the house and barn where his son George now lives in 1831, 
and resided there until his death in 1856 He left a widow 
and seven children, four girls and three boys. George and 
Walker, his sons, are farmers in the township. The elder 
Handlon was a Ranger in the war of 1812. He also went 
through the Black Hawk war. He was a successful farmer, 
and when he died left his family in good circumstances. 
Samuel McKitrick, a native of Ireland, was one of the early 
settlers in the southern part of the township. He bought an 
improvement on section twenty-eight before 1825. He after- 
wards improved the place where his son William now lives, 
and made it his home until his death. He raised a family, 
all now deceased except William and Elizabeth. The latter 
is now Mrs. James Montgomery. Edmond Fruit was boru 
in Randolph county, North Carolina, November 1st, 1786. 
When about sixteen years of age, his father, James Fruit, 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



447 



went to Christian county, Kentucky, where he afterward 
died. Ediuond was married in that county to Miss Polly 
Gray, a native of South Carolina, who came to Kentucky 
with her parents when quite young. They had one child 
born to them in Kentucky, Cicero, who died a young man. 
In 1811, Mr. Fruit came to the Territory of Illinois, but on 
account of the Indian troubles returned to Kentucky. In 
1817, he, in company with his two brothers, Enoch, and 
Alexander, and John Walker started west again. Coming to 
Illinois, the two brothers proceeded to what is now Missouri, 
because of the chances of its becoming a slave State. Walker 
lived here for some time, and then moved to Oregon. Mr. 
Fruit in the spring of 1818 located in the northeast corner 
of section nineteen, where he continued to reside until his 
death, which occurred in March, 181)1. Before the State 
was admitted into the Union, he was appointed by the Ter- 
ritorial Governor a justice of the peace, but he returned the 
commission, not accepting the office. In after years he was 
11 member of the Board of County Commissioners. He 
improved a large farm. He was twice married, and reared 
a family often sons and five daughters that lived to become 
men and women. His second wife was Jane B. Robinson, a 
daughter of Alexander Robinson, of Bond county, Illinois. 
His sons were Cicero, Franklin, Washington, John, Perry, 
Jefferson, Enoch, William, James, and Henry. The 
daughters were Eliza, Amanda, Mary, Sarah, and Maggie. 
John and Jefferson are farmers in Hamel township. Mary, 
now the widow Wilson, resides in Edwardsville, and Maggie 
lives with her. Amanda married Jackson Hedges, and is 
DOW a widow living in Nebraska. 

James Keown was one of the early settlers of Olive town- 
ship. As early as 1830, he began an improvement on the 
southern township line of Pin Oak, in section thirty-five. 
He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was in the engage- 
ment at New Orleans. He raised a large family, but only a 
few of his descendants now live in the county. Michael 
Dunn, who lives on section three, came to the county with 
his father, Patrick Dunn, in 1836, from Ireland. Patrick 
settled in Fort Russell township. In 1846, he went to Han- 
cock county, Illinois, where he remained only a short time, 
and then returned to Madison. He died at his son's a num- 
ber of years ago. When Michael Dunn settled the place 
where he now lives his cabin was among the first built out 
in the prairie. He bought one hundred and twenty-five 
acres of Andrew F. Young, at two dollars per acre. J. B. 
McKee, who lives on section three, is a descendant of one of 
the old families of Madison county. John McKee, Sr., a 
native of Kentucky, came to the county in 1816, with a 
family of eight children, viz. : James, John, Joseph, Paten, 
Samuel, ^lary, Lutitia, and Miram. James was killed when 
a young man by the falling of a limb, while chopping in the 
woods. John married ^lelinda Watt, daughter of James 
Watt, one of the early settlers of ]Madison county, and lived 
on his father's homestead place for a long time. His last 
years were spent in the neighborhood of Troy, where he died. 
Joseph married Emma Wright, daughter of James Wright, 
and improved a place south of his father's, on the same tract 
of land where Joseph McKee, Jr. , now lives. Paten married 



Miss West, daughter of Tilghraan AVest- For a number of 
years he was employed in the land ofl5ce. He afterwards 
improved a farm southwest of Elwardsville, known as the 
Ballard place. Subsequently he went to Belleville, Illinois, 
where he dieJ. Samuel married Miss Mary Tiiompson, 
daughter of Rev. Samuel Thompson, who was, for many 
years, a practicing physician in Eilwardsville, and who now 
lives in Kansas. Mary married William Watson, and Lu- 
titia became the wife of Robert McKee. 

John McKee, sen , lived many years in Edwardsville, and 
was the first register of the land office, which he held from 
1816 to 1818. He then improved a good farm (now the 
George Kinder place), on the Troy road, south of Edwards- 
ville. He accumulated a large estate here, where he died 
more than half a century ago. His wife survived him many 
years, and afterward married Rev. John Barber, sen., a pio- 
neer Cumberland Presbyterian preacher. 

Robert McKee, a nephew of John McKee, sen , came to 
the county with his uncle John in 1816. He was at that 
time a young man, twenty-one or twenty-two years of age. 
He married Lutitia McKee soon after his coming here. He 
entered the southwest quarter of section 24, Edwardsville 
township, and immediately commenced the improvement of 
a farm, where he resided until his death. He was twice mar- 
ried, his second wife being Nancy Cornelison. He raised a 
family of five children by his first wife, three girls and two 
boys, viz : Mary Ann, who married Carroll Parkenson, and 
now lives in Wisconsin ; John, who married Julia Posey, 
now deceased; Margaret, who became the wife of Peter Par- 
kenson, now deceased ; Sarah A., who married John P. Me- 
Farland, and now lives in Iowa ; and James B., the young- 
est of the family, who was born in 1828. He married Miss 
Helen F. Ottwell, daughter of one of the prominent old 
residents of Madison. He located where he now re- 
sides in 1852, and has a finely improved farm. Robert 
McKee had a family of sis children by his second wife, viz : 
Lutitia, ^lirara, Jane, Joseph N., Robert, and Nancy M. 
Lutitia married William W.Tunnell, now deceased; Miram 
became the wife of Charles Faiigenroth, now deceased; Jane 
married Robert Kinder, and lives on the old home place ; 
Joseph N. is a farmer of Edwardsville township; Robert 
died at the age of twenty-two ; Nancy IM. married Thomas 
Jud}', of this township. Tho.s, J. Barusback, who improved 
one of the finest farms in the township, began his improve- 
ment in 1854. January 13, 1842, he was married to Misa 
Nancy J. Montgomery. His death occurred March 9th, 
1880. He left a widow and a family of four children. 

William W. Barnsback, also a prominent farmer of the 
township, was born in the county, January 24th, 1813. He 
learned the blacksmith trade in Potosi, Missouri. He mar- 
ried Miss Nancy Watt, April 23, 1834. After his marriage, he 
started the improvement where his widow now lives ; he 
also opened a blacksmith shop here, and made a specialty of 
plows anil farm implements. It is said that he made the 
first iron mould-board plow that was used in this settlement. 
He worked at his trade here twenty-two years, where he 
continued to resiile until his death, which event occurred 
April 4th, 1872. He left a widow and f^ur chi'dren. 



448 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Jacob Barnsback died Marcb 10th, 1861 ; was twice 
married, leaving a widow and eight children. 

Elias Hayes settled on section 25, northeast quarter, in 
an early day. 

Joseph Gaskill settled the J. H. Smith place, section 24, 
before 1830. Alfred Riggin settled on the same tract. 

Oliver Bolster settled the H. Bremermanu place, section 
24. He owned a large tract of land here, and died in Ma- 
rine township in 1865, without rearing a family. 

]\Iajor Geary settled the place where G. Loos now lives, 
section 13. He owned a large tract of land here, and when 
he died, left a large family, all of whom have since left the 
state. Many of his descendants are now living in Missouri. 
The last five settlers above mentioned located in the town- 
ship about the same time. 

Among the first Germans to locate in the township were : 
F. Schramm, old man Gusevelle, and John Eichmann. 
The first school was taught by a Mr. Atwater, in a small log 
building that stood on section 32. In the early times, school 
was kept in an abandoned cabin that stood near the cabin of 
James Keown, and on his land, in section 35. Among the 
early teachers were Thomas S. Waddle, who improved a 
farm on the same section, southeast quarter, where he died 
nearly forty years ago. His wife died about the same 
time, and they were buried in the same grave. A great 
many deaths occurred in the settlement, about this time, of 
a disease called by the early settlers " a plague." Mr. 
Waddle was one of the early justices of the peace, and 
served the county as commissioner. He was a Whig in po- 



litics, and a very influential citizen. None of the family or 
descendants now live in this settlement. 

There is quite a large colored settlement in the township. 
The first colored man, Robert Crawford, was located here 
by Governor Cole, who gave him a small farm situated in 
sec ion 9. Crawford was a preacher, and he induced others 
of his race to settle here. Michael Lee came and bought a 
small farm, now part of the Blair estate, where he resided 
until his death. Crawford afterward went to Montgomery 
county, where he died. Other early colored settlers were : 
Samuel Vanderburg, Henry Daugherty, and Thomas Sex- 
ton. They were generally honest and upright in their deal- 
ings. Henry Blair, the most successful, died in 1880, leav- 
ing quite a large estate. His widow and family live in the 
old place. This settlement increased steadily until it num- 
bered fully three hundred. It is now considerably dimin- 
ished. They built two churches on section 15, of the Meth- 
odist and Baptist denominations respectively. They have a 
separate school district, and conduct their own school, gen- 
erally employing colored teachers. 

The gentlemen whose names appear below, have served 
the township as supervisors : James B. McKee was elected 
1876, and was in office one term. George Handlon, elected 
in 1877, served one term. D. A. Hagler was supervisor for 
1878-79. James B. McKee was re-elected in 1879, and 
served one term. Alsey S. Smart, elected in 1880, held the 
office two terms. Elias Hauskius was elected in 1882, and 
is the present incumbent. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 






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uiy)^J^a.o^_ 



The Barnsback family is of Genuaii ancestry. George 
Frederick Julius Bereuback was boru iu Osterode, Ger- 
many, July 2od, 1781, and emigrated to the United States 
in the year 171I7, touching first at Philadelphia, from whence 
he soon removed to Kentucky. He was united in marriage 
with Mary, daughter of Thomas Minter, about the year 
1807, and from thence removed with his family to St. Clair 
county, Illinois iu 1809 — there being but two counties, St. 
Clair and Randolph, organized within the limits of the State 
at that tim3. In the year 1840 Mr. B. changed the ortho- 
graphy of his name to Barnsback, since which the family 
retained it in that manner. His family consisted of ten 
children, as follows : Jacob J., born April 21st, 1808 ; 
George J., born Blarch 2d, 1810, and who died November 
21st, 1839 ; William J., born January 24th, 1813, died April 
4th, 1872; Johu J., boru April 10th, 1815; Thomas J., 
born March 29th, 1817 ; Hannah J , born July 18th, 1819, 



and married to Siiadrach Gillham June 20th, 1837. Hen- 
rietta J., born December 10th, 1821, and died August 7th, 
1823; Marinnna J., born April 7th, 1824, and died Janu- 
ary 13th, 1839. Julius J., born May 14th, 1826, and Isa- 
bella J., born January 4th, 1829, and married to Jeremiah 
Job in the year 1846. The children and grandchildren of 
the family above given, now make a large proportion of the 
population of Madison county. 

Thomas J. Barnsback chose for life-partner Nancy J., 
daughter of William Montgomery, and sister of Nelson 
Montgomery; they were married January 13th, 1842. Their 
family consisted of six children : John, who was born Janu- 
ary 27th, 1844, and died June 6th, 1845 ; Sarah Elizabeth, 
born October 22d, 1846, was married to William W. Jarvis, 
now a prominent citizen of Troy, in this county, December 
18U7; Julia Ann was born April 6th, 1850, and married 
Frederick W. Wolf, November 25th, 1868, and reside near 

419 



450 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Edwardsville, in this county ; Jeremiah, boru August 18th, 
1851, and died January 20th, 1853; Lucy Jane was born 
December 21st, 1854, and Fannie was born March 7th, 
1860. Thomas J. Barnsback died March 9, 1880. In 
his life he was more than ordinarily successful, and by 
his superior judgment and good management succeeded in 
acquiring a large jjroperty. He took a great interest in 
stock raising, and in breeding fine stock, and in that particular 
did the county much good. He belonged to the enterprising 
class of citizens; was public-s])iiited ; and enterprises that 
had for their object the advancement of the material in- 
terests of the county, always found in him an active friend. 
He was adverse to speculation of any character, but was 
devoted to his occupation as a farmer and stock raiser. 
As a citizen he was much respected. All unite in saying 
that in every transaction he was honest, upright and hon- 
orable to a fault. 



JOHN H. SMITH 

Was born in Frederick county, Virginia, January 26th, 
1827. His father, James Christopher Smith, who was a na- 
tive of same county, went with his father, Christopher, to 
Ohio about 1828, and there died. James C, his son, moved 
to Holmes county, same state, in 1829, and in 1839 went to 
Lawrence county, Indiana. In the fall of the same year he 
came to Effingham county, Illinois. One year later he 
went to Clay county, which was his home until January 
13, 1843, when he died. He married Elizabeth Tewalt, a 
native of Frederick county, Va. She died in November, 
1843. There were eight children by that marriage, five sons 
and three daughters. Five children are yet living. John 
H., the subject of this sketch, is the third in the family. He 
was raised on the farm, and received his education in the 
common schools, which ceased when he was twelve years of 
age. Mr. Smith remained at home until 1847, then went 
to St. Louis, and in January following, 1848, came to Madi- 
son county, and stopped in the town of Alhambra, where he 
and W. W. Pierce hunted game for the St. Louis market. 
The next spring he came down to the part of the country 
where he now lives, and worked on a farm, first for seven, 
and afterwards for ten dollars per month. He soon after 
bought one hundred and sixteen acres on Smart's Prairie, 
forty acres of which were improved, and continued there un- 
til January, 1853, then sold the farm and bought one hun- 
dred and ten acres in section twenty-four of Pin Oak town- 
ship. The latter was slightly improved, and had on it a small 
log cabin, and there he has lived ever since. He has built 
a large, fine dwelling-house, barns and out-houses, and has 
now a beautiful place, as will be seen on another page of 
this work. 

On the 23d of August, 1849, he married Miss Maria 
Smart, daughter of Henry and Sally Smart, old settlers of 
Madison county. Henry Smart was a native of North Caro. 
liua, and Mrs. Smart of Kentucky. Mrs. Smith was born 
near where she yet lives. Twelve children have been born 



to Mr. and Mrs. Smith, eight of whom are living. Their 
names in the order of their birth are : James H., who mar- 
ried Miss Elizabeth Boliger ; Martha Jane, wife of F. M. 
Bartlett ; "William A., married Miss Elvina Shadrick ; Sid- 
ney L., married Miss Julia Dietz ; Mary Alice, Itha Ra- 
chael, John A., and Narcissa E. Smith. Those that are 
married live in the township, and the others are yet at home. 
Mrs. Smith is a member of the Baptist church. Politically 
Mr. Smith has been a Democrat since 1852, when he cast 
his vote for Franklin Pierce for President. He is an hon- 
ored member of the order of A. F. and A. M., and belongs 
to Troy Lodge No. 588. He has been reasonably successful 
in life, all of which is owing to his industry and energy. He 
is a good man and much respected in his neighborhood. 



CALEB B. GONTERMAN. 

The Gonterman family, on the paternal side, is of German 
ancestry. Henry Gonterman, the great-grandfather of the 
subject of this sketch, was born in Germany. Caleb B., the 
father, who was better known as Capt. Gonterman, was born 
in Kentucky. He came with his father, whose name was 
Jacob, to Illinois, in 1818, and settled in what is now known 
as Pin Oak township, and there entered and bought land, 
and followed the occupation of farming until his death. 
The latter event occurred in September, 1861. He married 
Miss Elizabeth Miller, daughter of Michael Miller, of Mon- 
roe county, Illinois. She died in 1848. He afterward 
married Mrs. Gillenwaters nee Hall. She is also dead. By 
the first marriage there were five sons and four daughters, six 
of whom have survived the parents. Caleb B. is the youngest 
of the family ; he was born in section 27, in Pin Oak town- 
ship, Madison county, Illinois, October 1st, 1834. He grew 
to manhood on the farm, and remained in the county to the 
present time, except two years, when he was absent in Ohio. 
In 1858 he bought eighty acres of land in Marine Prairie, 
and farmed it for eight years, then sold out and purchased 
the land where he now resides. It was slightly improved, 
but all the buildings, (of which there is a large and com- 
modious farm-house on the place), have been erected by 
him. There he has resided since 1866. On the 22d of 
December, 1858, he was united in marriage to Miss Lydia, 
daughter of Jesse and Nancy Bartlett, old and prominent 
settlers of Madison county. She was born in Madison 
county. May 16, 1837. The Bartletts were among the first 
settlers in the county. There have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Gonterman three children, whose names are Thomas 
E., Jessie O. and Laura A. Gonterman. Mr. Gonterman 
has been a staunch Democrat since 1856, when h'e cast his 
first vote, which was given for James Buchanan for Presi- 
dent. The Gontermans, as will be seen by the foregoing, 
belong to the pioneer families of Illinois. Several genera- 
tions have been born and passed away since they came to 
Illinois. They were all, in their occupations, wedded to the 
soil, and were then, as they are now, among the substantial 
farmers of the county. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



451 




^ 



<14je ' 



/%iAtZZl 



Was a native of Madison county, born February 5, 1810. 
He was the son of Jesse Bartlett, who was one of the pioneers 
of the state. Here he grew to manhood, and May 12, 1831, 
married Nancy Ann, daughter of Daniel E and Sarah (In- 
gram) Adams, who died May 21, 1855. In May, 1857, he 
married his second wife, whose name was Sophia Stallings. 
By the first marriage ten children were born, whose names 
are given in the order of their birth : Joseph, who married 
Nancy Ann Whiteside, by which union there are five sons 
and one daughter ; Daniel, who is dead. He married Sarah 
Elizabeth Sappington, and left three children. Lydia is 
the wife of Caleb B. Gonterman, and they have three chil- 
dren. William R. is dead. He married Mexana Green, 
and left six children. Sarah, wife of Elias Hauskins, who 
has four children. Nancy Catherine has been thrice married, 
lately to William Seuacer. She has two children living 



by her former husbands. Martha Elizabeth, wife of Frede- 
rick W. Berger, who have four children. Rhoda Adeline, 
who is the wife of William S. Judy. They have three chil- 
dren. Jesse Allen, died in his fifth year, and John in his 
infancy. 

By the second marrriage of Mr. Bartlett there were seven 
children, whose names are : Anna Eliza, James JI., Austin 
(dead), George Sherman, Lincoln S., Charles F., and Mar- 
tin E. The latter three are also dead. Mr. Bartlett remained 
in Madison county until August, 1870, when he removed 
to Chariton county, Missouri, and there remained until his 
death, January 11, 1873. His body was brought back, and 
now lies interred in the old burial ground on the old home- 
stead. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, and was 
first lieutenant of a company. 



452 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



WILLIAM MAY 



Was bora in Bavaria, Germany, March 3, 1833. He came 
to America in 1847, with his father, Valentine Maj; landed 
at New Orleans ; came up the river to St. Louis, and in 
April of the same year came to Madison county, and settled 
one mile north of Marine, where he bought land, and lived 
until his death, which occurred August 2, 1878. He mar- 
ried Catharine Steg, a native of Bavaria; she died in 1860. 
There were thirteen children, seven of whom are living ; 
William is the eldest He remained at home until his 
twenty-third year. He then followed teaming for a few 
years. In 1856 he bought eighty acres of land in section 
24 of Pin Oak township, and the next year moved on it and 
commenced its improvement. To that eighty he has added 
until he now has about seven hundred acres of as fine land 
as there is in the township. All of it is improved, with fine 
buildings. A view of the place can be seen on another page. 
On the 13th of February, 1856, he married Elizabeth Wid- 
mar, a native of Bavaria, born October 22, 1833. She 
came to America in 1835. Thirteen children were born to 
tbem— twelve living. Their names and births are given : 
William, born April 26, 1857; Lena, July 28, 1858; 
Henry, March 25, 1860 ; Otto, November 17, 1861 ; Emma, 
born September 23, 1864, died September 14, 1865; Anna, 
born December 27, 1867 ; Mina, November 7, 1869 ; Louise, 
July 17, 1871; Karl, April 29, 1873; Albert, March 15, 
1875; Daniel, March 24, 1877 ; Leo, January 9, 1880. Both 
Mr. and Mrs. May are members of the Presbyterian church. 
He has. been a Republican since 1856, at which time he cast 
his vote for John C Fremont. He is one of the represen. 
tative farmers of Madison county, and one of its most 
successful ones. 



ELIAS HAUSKINS, 

Was born in section ten, in Pin Oak township, ^Madison 
county, Illinois, March 15, 1832. He is the son of Alvas 
Hauskins, who was born in Rutherford county, Tennesee, 
March 16, 1807, and who came with his father to Illinois 
in 1819, and settled in Pin Oak township in this county on 
the place where he still resides. On the 18th of December, 
1828, he married Sarah Lawrence She died in 1860. On Feb- 
ruary 15, 1863, he married Mrs. Lydia W. Rathburn nee 
Smith. She died in 1874. By the first marriage there 
were twelve children, eleven of whom survived the mother- 
Three of the sons were soldiers in the late war. Thomas en- 
listed in company I, 9th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and 
veteranized with his regiment, and was mustered out and 
honorably discharged at the close of the war. He was 
twice wounded, and at the battle of Pittsburg Landing was 
taken prisoner. James Hauskins enlisted in 1862, and 
went through the war. Edward, another brother, enlisted 
during the last year of the war. It will be seen that the 
family are of patriulic stock. In 1832,Mr. Hauskins entered 
one hundred and sixty acres of land ; it is the same on 
which the subject of this article now resides. Elias is to the 
manor born. He was raised upon the farm, and attended 



the subscription schools in the winter months. He remain- 
ed home until he was of age, then he visited the land on 
which he now lives, and continued to lease and farm it un- 
til 1870, when he bought it and has made his home there to 
the present time. 

On the 25th of February, 1857, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Mary Cornelia Stevenson, who was born in Howard 
county, Missouri. She was the daughter of Augustus Ste- 
venson. She died, February 16, 1865. On the 4th of Feb- 
ruary, 1867, he was united in marriage to Miss Sally Bart- 
lett, daughter of Jesse Bartlett, one of the oldest settlers 
of Madison county. She was born in Pin Oak township, in 
this county. By the first marriage there were three chil- 
dren, whose names are Sally, Charles, and Fanny Hau- 
skins. By the latter marriage there are four children living. 
Their names are Jesse Alvas, (Belle died in her eighth 
year), Mary, Katie, and Jacob Hauskins. Both he and his 
estimable wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
church. 

Politically Mr. Hauskins is a Republican. He was op- 
posed to slavery and early espoused the cause of human 
freedom, and in 1856 when the party was formed which was 
opposed to that institution he joined its rank.?, and cast 
his vote for John C. Fremont. From that time to the pre- 
sent, he has been an active and consistent member of that 
political organization. He has beeu frequently honored by 
hi-i fellow citizens with offices of local trust, and at present 
represents his township in the Board of Supervisors. 

The Haii.-skins family is an old one in this county. They 
are of E igli^h aud Irish ancestry. They came to America 
prior to the Revolution and the great-grandfather of the 
subject of this sketch took pj,rt in that memorable struggle. 
They are also an old family in this county. They came 
here while it was yet a frontier State, helped to subdue the 
wilderness and make this country a fit habitation for the 
people of the present. In the early Indian wars they took 
part. Lucien the uncle of Elias was a soldier in the Black 
Hawk war of 1831-32. It is with pleasure that we record 
these brief remarks, and give an outline sketch o f the 
Hauskins' family. 



ALSEY S. SMART. 
The Smart family are of English ancestry. Peter 
Smart, the great-grandfather of the subject of the sketch, was 
a native of the Carolinas, aud was born February 7, 1730. 
He had two sons, named Laban and Amos Smart, both of 
whom were soldiers in the Revolutionary war, and were 
with Gen. Morgan at the memorable battle of the Cowpens. 
The present Smart family are the descendants of Laban 
Smart, who was born November 9, 1758. He married 
Susanah Simmons in North Carolina, by whom he had ten 
children, one of whom was Henry B., the father of Alsey S. 
He was born in Chatham county, N. C, August 25, 1800, 
and came with his parents to Kentucky in 1806, where they 
remained until 1816, then moved to the territory of Illinois, 
and settled in Madison county, in what is now known as 
Jarvis township, where the father of Alsey afterward 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



453 



entered land, improved a farm and made his home until his 
death, which took place January 22, 1882. He proftssed 
religion, joined the regular Baptist church, and lived in full 
communion with that Christian organization during life, 
and died in the belief and full faith, that he would meet 
his Redeemer in the world beyond. He was one of the pio- 
neers of the State, and the prairie known as " Smart's Prairie' ' 
took its name from the family, as they were the first actual 
settlers in that section of the county. He married Sally 
Thompson on November 9, 1826. She was the daughter of 
Henry and Mary (Ray) Thompson, who were natives of 
Kentucky. The Rays were among the pioneers of Ken- 
tucky, and were companions of Daniel Boone. Mrs. Smart's 
parents died while she was yet in her infancy, and she was 
brought to Illinois by her uncle. Elder Tliomas Ray, in 1818, 
and was living in this township when married to Mr. Smart. 
She died in 1879. There were eight chddren, the offspring 
of that union. Their names are, Alsey S., Maria, wife of 
John H. Smith, i\Iartha E., the widow of Samuel White- 
side, Henry A., Itha J., wife of B. P. Harris, of Chetopa, 
Kansas. Lucy married Alexander Taylor, died and left five 
children. Alsey S., the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of 
the family. He was born in " Smart's Prairie, " Madison 
county, Illinois, September 23, 1827. In his youth he was 
in delicate health, and was weak physically, and in conse- 
quence it was thought he would be unable to perform manu- 
al labor, and was therefore sent to school, and therein gain- 
ed a better education than usually fell to the lot of boys in 
his days. When the gold excitement broke out in Califor- 



nia in 1849, he in company with a number of others made 
the trip across the plains and mountains in ox carts to the 
land of gold. Mr. Smart remained in California for two 
)'ears mining gold That change of life and roughing it 
had the effect of hardening up his constitution, and he re- 
gained his health and robust form. In 18ol he returned 
home by the Isthmus of Panama ; here he re-engaged in 
farming on the place where he now lives, and there has 
made his home, quietly engaged in agricultural pursuits, and 
stock raising until the present. 

On the 7th of December 1854, he married Miss Rhoda 
Giger, daughter of Joseph and Nancy (McAdams) Giger. 
She died July 25, 1862, leaving two children named, 
Jerusha, wife of George Anderson, and Sally Smart. On 
the 20th of October, 1864, he married Miss Mary Joslyn, 
a native of Greene county, Illinois. She died August 10, 
1874, leaving one child, named, Henry W. Smart. 

In matters of religious belief Mr. Smart is inclined to be 
liberal. He is a respected member of the Masonic fraterni- 
ty, and belongs to Troy lodge, No. 588. Politically he has 
always voted the Democratic ticket upon State or national 
occasions. He has represented the township in the Board ' 
of Supervisors. In 1877 he was elected one of the Justices 
of the Peace, w^as re-elected, and is now serving his third 
term. Mr. Smart is one of the old settlers of the county, 
and like them he is a plain, unassuming, honest man, striving 
to do his duty to his fellow men, and live a life that will be 
marked by no act that would condemn him in the estima- 
tion of his fellow citizens. 



--gstt^^^t^ 



COLLIlSrSVILLE. 




:HE history of the early settlement and 
subsequent progress and development of 
the township and city of Collinsville, 
present many features that are interest- 
ing. It is one of the southern tier of 
townships, bounded on the North by 
Edwardsville, East by Jarvis, South by 
St. Clair county, and West by Nameoki. 
The surface is divided between uplands 
and bottom, the former being about two- 
thirds, to one-third of the latter. The bluffs, which form 
a chain running almost due north and south, across the 
â– western part of the toAvnship, are very irregular in size 
and shape. In many places they are very rugged, and 
in others, gracefully sloping into the bottom lands. Su- 



gar Loaf Mound is the most prominent point on the bluffs 
in this township. It is cone-shaped, rising to a considerable 
height, and is supposed to be the work of the mound builders. 
The territory is well drained by Cantine and Cahokia 
creeks and their numerous tributaries. These streams also 
furnish an abundance of water for stock and manufacturing 
purposes. Originally much of the surface of this township 
was covered with a heavy growth of timber, most of which 
has been cleared and replaced with finely improved farms, 
yet there remains enough along the variou.^ streams for all 
local demands. The fertility of the celebrated American 
Bottom, is 90 widely known, that it is needless to mention it 
here. The soil on the upland is of a lighter character, though 
as rich and productive as any in the county. 



454 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



FIBST SETTLEMENTS. 

Epiiraim Conner, was the first American settler in Madi- 
son couuty, and Collinsville ha^ the honor of having had 
this individual locate within her borders. This settlement 
was made early in the year 1800, and was twenty miles in 
advance of other settlements. Conner was a squatter, and 
one year later, in 1801, Samuel Judy purchased his im- 
provements and settled on the place. This is known as 
claim number 338, made by Sir. Judy. It lies partly in T. 
3, K. 8, and partly in T. 4, R. S, the residence being in section 
5 of T. 3, R. 8 or Collinsville. Samuel Judy, born Aug. 
19tb, 1773, was a son of Jacob Judy a native of Switzerland, 
who settled in Kaskaskia in 1788. The elder Judy, was a 
gunsmith by trade. He resided at Kaskaskia foui years' and 
then moved to the New Design settlement in Monroe county. 
He had a very early mill, which was patronized by settlers 
ev^n from a great distance. He died at his mill seat in 
1807. Samuel Judy, then a lad of fifteen years, came with 
his fiither to Illinois, and became a hardy, resolute pioneer 
and a conspicuous, honorable and enterprising citizen. In 
his youth he was ever ready to enter into any campaign 
against the Indians, and in many of those desperate conflicts 
Gov. Reynolds says he proved himself to be the " bravest 
of the brave. " In the frontier troubles during the war of 
1812 he was always actively employed in the service. He 
was in command of a company of spies in the campaign un- 
der Gov. Edwards, in 1812, against the Indians, also in the 
year following he was Captain of a company in the army 
under Gen. Howard. In all of his military services he was 
active and efiicient, and at the same time prudent and, cau- 
tious. In the fall of 1812 he was elected to the legislative 
council of the Illinois territory. This being the first legisla- 
ture that convened under the Territorial Government, was 
necessarily an important assembly. This position he held 
for four years, and was an excellent member. He was 
elected to the office of County Commissioner for many years. 
Col. Judy was a very energetic man, and improved a large 
plantation and became wealihy. He manufactured the first 
brick, and erected the first brick house in Madison county. 
This was built in 1808, and is located just within the limits 
of Collinsville township, on the line dividing sections 5 and 
6. It is a two story house, and can still be seen in good con- 
dition. He was married to Miss Margaret Whiteside, sister 
of General Samuel Whiteside, and reared a large family. 
Their children were as follows : Jacob, who married a daugh- 
ter of Wm. B. Whiteside, May 16th, 1797, was Register of 
the Land Office at Edwardsviile, and died IMay 15, 1850, in 
Weston, Mo., of which place he had long been a resident. 
Sarah Judy was born August 21st, 1800, and married 
Ambrose Nix; she died January 14th, 1852. Samuel Judy, 
Jr., was born September, 1801, and married Elizabeth, 
daughter of Stephen Whiteside; they settled in Green 
county. Ills, and he died there about 1870. Thomas Judy 
was born December 19th, 1804. Nancy was first married 
to Moses Whiteside, son of Wm. B. AVhiteside; she nest 
married John Owens ; her third husband was Thomas Grant; 
she is yet living, and enjoying the evening of her days 
among her children and many friends. Kathcriue died at 



the age of seventeen or eighteen years, just entering woman- 
hood. Margaret was first married to John McGaughey and 
next to Moses Barber ; she is now dead. After a long and 
very useful life. Col. Samuel Judy died January 12th, 1838. 
Further mention of this family is made in the chapters on 
Pioneer and Civil History in this work. 

In 1802, there were several additional settlements made, 
including the Whitesides, Robert, Samuel and Cyrus Sey- 
bold, Grotts and others. The heads of these families were 
all brave, hardy pioneers, who had already been in the 
country for many years and who were accustomed to a fron- 
tier life. Robert Seybold and Grotts were soldiers in the 
Revolutionary war. The country was then exposed to 
Indians, not entirely friendly to the whites, and it required 
the most fearless man and womaa to brave the dangers 
and hai-dships of the frontier. The Dennis and Van Meter 
murder had recently occurred in this neighborhood and the 
settlers were distrustful of the Indians. In the winter of 
1802, " Turkey Foot, an evil-disposed and cruel chief of a 
band of Pottawatomie Indians, while returning home from 
Cahokia to their towns toward Chicago, met Alexander Den- 
nis and John Van Meter, at the foot of the Mississippi bluff, 
about five miles southwest of the present town of Edwards- 
viile. The country contained, at that day, very few inhab- 
itants above Cahokia ; and Turkey Foot, seeing the Ameri- 
cans extending their settlement towards his country, caught 
fire at the spectacle, and killed those two men." As above 
stated, this depredation must have occurred in the north- 
west corner of this townships 

In 1803 Samuel and Joel Whiteside settled and made a 
claim in the northeastern portion of the township. The 
Whitesides were a firm and intrepid faruily, and were among 
the most noted men engaged in Indian warfare in Illinois. 
For many years the name Whiteside struck terror among 
the red skins. Their progenitors were of Irish descent, 
reared on the frontiers of North Carolina. The old patri- 
archs, William and .John, were soldiers in the Rev^Jutionary 
war, and acted well their part in that struggle. These two 
brothers came to Illinois in 1793 and settled at New Design- 
They reared large families and many of their descendants are 
living in the West. Samuel and Joel Whiteside made the 
fir.«t improvements on the uplands in this township. Samuel 
Whiteside rose to considerable distinction in the frontier wars, 
and was promoted to Brigadier General. The Whitesides 
are mentioned more fully in other portions of this work. 

We give below the numbers and names of a few claims made 
in this township. The original claimant of claim 602, was 
Peter Casterline. It lies mostly in section 32 just west of 
Collinsville. Casterline settled here soon after 1800, and re- 
sided here for some time. Claim 1061 was made by John 
Whiteside, consisting of 100 acres, mostly in sections 1 and 2. 
Claim 600 was made by Levi Piggot, and contained 100 acres. 
This lies mostly in section 29. Piggot was an old resi- 
dent of St. Clair county. Francis Louval made claim number 
331, consisting of 10) acres. This claim includes the military 
claim of William Young Whiteside, M30, and is located in 
the northwestern part of the township. Henry Cook settled 
it Claim 338 was made by .Samuel Judy, 100 acres. There 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



455 



were four claims located here together, apparently about 
1830. Claim 1653 was made by Isaac West. This was 
surveyed about 1802, and is in section 19. West was an 
actual settler and had considerable improvements in 1802, 
and continued to reside on this place until 1812, when he 
sold out to William Rabb. 

The south boundary of the township was surveyed in 
December 1807, by John Messenger, the east boundary in 
January 1808, and in May 1810, the township was surveyed 
and sub divided into sections. 

A Frenchman by the name of Da Lorm, from Cahokia, 
settled in the southwestern part of the township, not far 
from Cantine creeek in 1804. The Indians having become 
less hostile, several new settlements were made before 1812, 
when they again became troublesome, which somewhat re- 
tarded immigration, and caused some of the French settlers 
to remove to their villages. 

The first laud in this township was entered August 22d, 
1814, by John Turner. It consisted of 160 acres, iu section 
25. September 15th, 1814, William Gillham entered 253 
acres in section 8. September 23d, 1S14, David Gaskill enter- 
ed 161 acres in section 13. liobert McMahan entered 159 
acres in section 13, August 2-J, 1814. September 5th, 1814, 
Micajah Cox entered 80 acres in section 5. Sept. 28th, 1814, 
Michael Healy entered W. ^, S. E. i of section 11, 80 acres. 
Section 16, reserved as school land, was sold in 1837. 

In 1813, Abner Kelly, Josiah, William, Andrew and 
John Wallace with their families, settled under the bluffs. 
The Wallaces soon removed to the Marine settlement, and 
subsequently went to Boonville, Missouri. Kelly located 
in the northern part of section 20, near the Sugar Loaf 
Mound, where he remained for a short time, and removed 
to the eastern side of the township. He reared a family of 
seven children. Mrs. Elizabeth Muirhcid, residing with her 
son, William Terry, in Colliusvillc, is the only one now 
living. She is sixty-nine years of age. 

Michael Squiers settled on section 28, on the Stephen 
Johnson place, as early as 1814. He had three sons, Amos, 
Joseph and Wates, but none of the descendants of this family 
are now living in the neighborhood. Michael Squiers was 
the first person buried in the Connellsville Cemetery. 

John Hadley was born in Maryland in 1776, of English 
parents, and when a young man went to Kentucky, where 
he married a lady by the name of Guthrie. This family 
came from Virginia, and settled in Madison county at a very 
early date. Iq 1817, Mr. Hadley removed with his family 
to Illinois, and settled on Pleasant Ridge, in this township, 
June 20th of that year. He was a volunteer in the ranging 
service of 1812. He reared a family of children, who grew 
up and settled around him. Of his sons, James, Dempsey, 
and William, only one, William, is now living. Dempsey died 
here, and James died in Missouri, whence he moved a few 
years ago. William Hadley was born in Kentucky in 1806, 
and is well known to many of the citizens of the county. 
He is a Methodist minister, and was among the early 
preachers in Madison. At present he is living at Carbon- 
dale in this State, while members of his family are still 
residents of the county. 



John Williamson, a native of Virginia, came here from 
Tennessee with his wife and three children, one son and 
two daughters, in 1819. He purchased of Michael Squiers 
100 acres of land in the S. E. } of section 28, where he resided 
till his death in October 1828. Mrs. Stephen Johnson, 
who is a step-daughter of Mr. Williamson, is the ouly one 
of this family living. She is iu her seventieth year, still 
hale and hearty. David Morgan settled where William 
Combs now lives, about 1817. A Mr. Bennett, Abraham 
Clapole, Mathews, MoflTatt and Richard Muirheid, settled 
under the bluffs west of Collinsville, before 1820. Muirhei 1 
died there. Stephen Johnson arrived in Madison county 
in 1818. He was present at the treaty made by the Com- 
missioners of the United States, with the Kickapoo Indians, 
at EJwardsville, August 6.h, 1819. Jlr. Johnson was 
a carpenter by trade. He located in Collinsville about 
1829, where he married the stepdaughter of John William- 
son, above mentioned. 

After the close of the war of 1812, and treaties of peace 
had been made with the Indians, the county began rapidly 
to fill up with emigrants from many of the southern States, 
and CjUinsville received her share of these settlers. In a 
short time the rattle of the saw and grist mills was heard ; 
the rude log and pole cabins of the pioneers were replaced 
with larger and more comfortable frame buildings ; schools 
and churches were established, and a country that a few 
years before was a vast wilderness, inhabited only by wild 
beasts and the fiercer red man, was changed to a civilized 
and highly improved region. 

The following named parties were also among the older 
settlers: William Hall, Philip Teter, Robert Rundle, Syl- 
vanus Gaskill, John Conoway, Richard Long, George Arm- 
strong Luther Drury, Mr. Revis, Lewis Scandlin, Hampton 
McKinney, Benjamin Johnson, William Wagner, James 
Hutchinson, Jacob Swigart and some of the Lemens. Guy 
Morrison was also an early settler, and a very large land- 
owner at one time in this township. John A. Cook was 
prominent among the later settlers. He was a native of 
Virginia, and came to this state about 1833 or 1834. He 
was married to Mrs. Lucinda Bowman, a daughter of Rev. 
James Lemen, of St. Clair county, April 18, 1836. She 
was the widow of Samuel Bowman, of Green county, a cap- 
tain in the Black Hawk war, who was shot through the 
body by the Indians, on the 2J of August. 1832, in the final 
bloody contest with that savage chieftain, in this state. In 
April, 1836, Mr. Cook purchased of Ezra Post the cortheast 
quarter of section 23, and in August of the same year he 
sold the same to John L. Clark, and bought of Andrew 
Waddle the northeast quarter of section 1, where he re- 
sided until his death, July 15, 1869, in the si.\tieth year 
of his age. His wife, Lucinda, died August 25, 1867, 
in the fifty-third year of her age. They were the parents 
of twelve children, of whom but four survive. John L. 
Clark was also an early settler The late John Ander- 
son, born in New Jersey in 1793, and a patriot of the 
war of 1812, came west and located in the Marine settle- 
j ment, Madison county, in 1820. He subiequently became 
1 a resident of this township, where he died April 11, 



4r>6 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



1875. J. J. Renfro, residing in section 24, was born 
in Madi-iou county in 1830. His wife, Nancy E. Gas- 
kill, was born in this county in 1839. Fielding Wool- 
ridge, a native of Kentucky, settled in the county in 1830. 
Hon. D. D. Collins, a native of Portland, Maine, a retired 
farmer, residing on section 27, came to the county in 
1843. His wife, whose maiden name is Anderson, was born 
in Madison county in 1826. Mr. Collins was an associate 
judge of the county for several years, and is among the pro- 
minent and respected citizens of Collinsville. John Ander- 
son, late husband of Mrs. M. L. Anderson, residing on section 
23, was a native of New Jersey, and settled in the county in 
1822. The above named parties are among the oldest 
settlers now living in the township. 

EAI5LY MILLS. 

The first .settlers in Collinsville experienced much incon- 
venience in milling ; they were frequently compelled to 
travel many miles with ox-teams or on horseback, to have 
their grists ground, and then often waited several days for 
their turn. One of the nearest mills was that of Judy's, 
in Monroe county. The earliest mills were very rude 
affairs, propelled by ox or horse power, a full description of 
which can be seen in the Pioneer chapter. About the first 
mill in this region was that of Talbott's, on Cantine creek, 
just south of Collinsville. It was first propelled by horse- 
power, and subsequently by water. Col. Samuel Judy, and 
others also, had horse-mills. 

About 1812 Isaac West sold his claim to William Eabb, 
who in the spring of 1S13 erected a large four-story frame 
water-mill, with a run of three or four burrs. It was pro- 
pelled by the water of Cahokia creek, on the banks of which 
it was located, about a quarter of a mile west of where 
School creek empties. It was a merchant mill, quite exten- 
sive for those days. The flour is said to have been of an 
excellent quality, and found a good market in St. Louis, New 
Orleans and other southern'cities. Mr. Rabb also had a store, 
with a complete stock of general goods. He was a German, 
and a man of considerable ability and prominence. He 
was elected in 1814 to represent Madison county in the 
third Territorial Legislature, and held other important 
positions. In 1820 Mr. Rabb sold his property and business 
interests to Joseph Hertzogg, who added to it a distillery. 
Hertzogg continued the business for several years, until his 
death. Many of the older citizens remember Hertzogg's 
mill. 

Dempsey Guthrie, who settled about two miles northeast of 
Collinsville, operated a horse-mill that was in existence in 
1818. A Mr. Pickern erected a saw and grist mill in 1825, 
on Cantine creek, south of Collinsville, which after operating 
several years, he sold to Luther Drury, and it subsequently 
passed through several hands. 

SCHOOLS. 

In 1804 or 1805, a school was taught in a log cabin on 
Peter Casterline's place, about a mile west of the present 
site of Collinsville. The teacher was one James Eradsbury, 
â– who continued at this point about one year. The school was 



attended by children from all the neighboring settlements. 
It is related that many grown men and women sought Mr. 
Bradbury's instruction in learning their A, B, C's. This 
was undoubtedly the first public school in Madison county. 
In 1812 a school was taught in Samuel Judy's door. yard, by 
Eli^ha Alexander. A Mr. Thompson taught there in 1813, 
and the year following was succeeded by Mr. Yancy, and 
after him, in 1816, came Mr. Enlow, who taught a term of 
six months. Benaiah Robinson, a pupil of Eulow's, finished 
the unexpired term of the school. 

There were several log cabin schools in this township, but 
little of their history can be gleaned. They were all sub- 
scription schools ; the teacher " boarded around." At this 
wiitingthe several districts have large and well furnished 
school-houses, where school is taught the greater part of 
the year. * This township has been represented in the 
Board of Supervisors by B. R. Hite, ever since township 
organization in 1876. 

PLEASANT RIDGE, 

located in the centre of section 10, is entirely a German set- 
tlement. Henry and William Blum were the first settlers. 
It is surrounded by a beautiful rolling prairie, adorned with 
rich and finely improved farms, occupied principally by 
thrifty Germans. The little village contains a general store 
and saloon, kept by Chirles Anacker ; blacksmith shop, by 
John C. Shoettle, and a shoemaker, Frederick Nordmaier. 
The Lutheran society have a fine brick church and school- 
house, in which is taught a parochial school. 

THE TEN MILE HOUSE, 

is a general store and saloon, located on the St. Louis road 
in section 6 of this township. 

CONFIDENCE COAL AND MINING COMPANY. 

This mine is situated two and one-half miles north-east of 
Collinsville, on the line of the Vandalia railroad. The 
shaft was sunk in the spring of 1870, by Seybt, Bandelier 
& Co. In the fall of 1870, the mine was leased to ,the 
Bartlett Coal and Mining Co., and it was extensively worked 
by them until the spring of 1873, when they forfeited their 
lease and Seybt, Bandelier & Co., began operating it and 
have continued to the present. The depth of the shaft is 
219 feet to the surface of the coal, and the vein will average 
seven feet. The mine is 0{>erated by machinery, run by 
compressed air. They employ 50 men, and the average 
amount of coal raised is eighteen car loads per day. The 
company have in all eighteen buildings including the tipple 
house, office, boarding houses and dwellings. Most of the 
dwellings are situated on the blufi"s a short distance east of 
the mine. 

HEINTZVILLE 

is a new town, surveyed and platted in the fall of 1880, by 
Walter Rutledge, for J. L. Heintz, the proprietor. The 
plat contains about ten acres in the S. E. quarter of S. E. 
quarter of section 27. It was named in honor of the pro- 

* See Oiapter on Common Schools. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



457 



prietor, an energetic and go-ahead gentleman. It contains 
at this writing twenty two houses, twenty-six families and 
about 150 population, quite a rapid growth for two years. 
The business interests are one store, a blacksmith shop, zinc 
works, coal mine and stone quarry. 

The Stone Quarry is located on blufl's on the south side of 
the Vandalia railroad which passes through the village. 
The rock is a hard grey limestone, which makes an excellent 
material for foundation and building purposes. There were 
about 500 perches quarried in 1881, and the proprietor in- 
tends working it more extensivtly the coming year. It is 
owned and operated by J. L. Heintz. 

Heintz Bluff Mine was sunk in 1876, by J. L. Heintz. It 
is 165 feet to the surface of the coal, and the vein will 
average from seven and one-half to eight feet in thickness. 
July 1st, 1881, Mr. Heintz sold the mine to J. H. Wicklitfe, 
who is now operating it with Mr. Heintz as superintendent- 
The mine employs about 65 men and raises about 90,000 
bushels of coal per month. 

CITY OF COLLINSVILLE. 

This is the largest and most important place ou the line 
of the Vandalia Railroad, in Madis-m .county. It is ten 
miles east of St. Louis, and about twelve miles south of the 
county seat, in the heart of a rich agricultural and coal re- 
gion. Coal mining and manufacturing are the chief inter- 
ests of the place. 

The original town plat was laid out by the representatives 
of Wm. B. Collins, deceased, Joseph L. Darrow and Ho- 
race Look. It constituted a part of the N. E. i of thirty- 
three, jind a part of the X. W. i of section thirty-four, of 
three-eight or Collinsville township. The plat was recorded 
in the office of county clerk May 12, 1837. Since this date 
there have been seventeen additions made to the plat. 

The first settler on the present site of Collinsville was 
John A. Cook, who entered land,, erected a log cabin, and 
made some improvements in the eastern part of section 
thirty four, about 1816. "In 1817 three brothers, Augus- 
tus, Anson and Michael Collins, from Litchfield, Connecti- 
cut, purchased the premises of Mr. Cook, and immediately 
commenced improvements. They soon erected a distillery, 
of logs, with two s' ills— one of thirty gallons' and the other 
of sixty gallons' capacity — a frame store-house, a large, 
double-decked ox-grist and saw mill, cooper, blacksmith, 
wagon and carpenter shops, tan yard, and several dwellings. 
Thus was laid the foundation of the present city of Collins- 
ville. To this place these brothers first gave the name 
Unionville, which was subsequently changed to its present 
name." The following letter from the pen of the late Rev. 
Thomas Lipjiincott, gives a good description of the place at 
the time of his visit : 

" I think it was in the winter of 1820-21, that I went in 
company with Major William H. Hopkins to the southern 
part of the county ; and visited a place of business enter, 
prise that even then had begun to attract attention. These 
were mills — saw mill and flour mill — driven by horses or 
oxen, a distillery, a store, a tan yard, and a shoemaking 
shop, all carried on by five brothers who had con)e from 



Litchfield, Connecticut, and were united in the enterprise. 
I do not know if they had then laid out a village, which 
they called Unionville, but they did so then or afterwards. 
At the time of this visit I only saw one of the brothers, who 
was at work on a large frame house — large, even now — 
which they were erecting preparatory to the coming of their 
venerable parents and sisters. The names of the.se brothers 
were Augustus, Anson, Michael, William B.,and Frederick 
Collins. A noble band of brothers. While actively and 
energetically driving their business in the most economical 
and profitable way, and rapidly accumulating wealth, they 
were far from being unmindful of the higher interests, so- 
cial and spiritual, of themselves and those around them. 
One of their fir^t cares was the erection of a commodious 
(for those days) and well arranged place of worship ; which 
also served the purpose of a school-house. Only one of the 
brothers, Augustus, was then married. In due time thrte 
others became so. William B. Collins married a daughter 
of Mr. Hertzogg, of St. Louis, then running a mill in the 
American B jttom ; Michael, a daughter of Captain Blake- 
man, and Frederick, a daughter of Captaiu Allm, both of 
Marine settlement. I said they were growing wealthy. 
Each attended to a special department, and all worked in 
unison. It was their aim and boast to have the products of 
their labor of the best quality. Their whisky was consid- 
ered first rate, and their inclined wheel ox-mill flour com- 
manded an extra price in eastern markets. Not only had 
they a store at their own establishment on the Cantine creek, 
but opened a depot at St. Louis for their commodities. They 
obtained a post-office, but iuasmuch as there was one place 
by the name of Unionville in the State, the Postmaster 
General changed the name of this, which, being accepted by 
them, thencelbrth was known as Collinsville." * * * * 
" They were convinced at length that the distilling business 
was ivrong, was unchristian, and ceased operations; and, in- 
stead of selling the machinery, as they might have done for 
a round sum, they totally demolished the building, broke up 
the generators, took the huge tanks to their dwellings for 
cisterns, and sold the wash-tubs to farmers for granaries. I 
have seen these double hogsheads or tubs at different farm 
houses, full of wheat or other small grain, while yet there 
were few or no barns in the county. The partners then 
separated ; Augustus soon died ; several went to the Illinois 
river and established mills, &c. at Naples ; and Wm. B. 
Collins remained alone at Collinsville, carrying on the busi- 
ness — minus the distillery — until his death. ***** 
All are now gone, including the oldest son, Amos M. Collins 
of Hartford, the well-known philanthropist and Christian, 
but the youngest brother, Frederick, who resides in Quincy, 
and a sister, the widow of him who has been ever known 
among Presbyterians as the apostle to the great west, the 
venerated Solomon Giddiugs." ***** All the 
members of this family are now deceased. 

In 1820, a Mr. Wilcox, from New York, located in Col- 
linsville, and began the tanning business, which he after- 
ward increased to forty-nine vats, and carried on the business 
successfully for ten years, when he sold out to Hiram L. 
Ripley. Mr. Ripley c'butinued the business several yeais, 



458 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



and is still living in the city. Another New Yorker, Horace 
Look, came west in 1818, and first stopped in St. Louis, 
where he married and went to Edvvardsville, and in 1821 
permanently settled in Collinsville. He was a harness 
maker, and formed a partnership in that business with Mr. 
Wilcox. Mr. Look was an early justice of the peace, and 
was postmaster in Collinsville fur nearly thirty years. He 
reared a family of eight children, four of whom are now 
living. Oliver P. Look in Collinsville is the only one re- 
tiding in Illinois. Mr. Look died on Christmas day, 186-3. 
Among other early and enterprising residents were Benjamin 
Johnson, Aaron Ford, Isaac and Eheuezer Lockwood, James 
Haffey, Jesse Glover, Aaron Small, Dr. Gunn, Dr. Samuel 
Hall, Dr. Gurnsey, Dr. Strong. Dr. Henry Wing. Dr. Wm. 
S. Edgar, Dr. J. L. Darrow, and Captain William N. Wick- 
litfe. Dr. Gunn was the first physician. Richard Withers, 
a blacksmith, and enterprising man, had, at one time, quite 
an extensive plow factory. Peter and Paul Wonderly had 
a distillery, and operated the first coal mine. 

Daniel Berkey, a native of Pennsylvania, came west in 
1819, and settled in St Clair county, just south of Collins- 
ville. In 1830, he moved and made this place his perma- 
nent home. Jonathan J., the third son of Dauiel Berkey, 
is now among the oldest settlers in this neighborhood. 
Joshua S. Peers came from New York with his father, who 
settled in St. Clair county in 1832. Mr. Peers was, for 
many years, a prominent citizen of Collinsville, and one to 
whom we are indebted for much of the history of this town- 
ship and city. 

CHURCHES- 

The first house of worship was a frame building erected in 
1818. It was a union church, used by all denominations, 
and also for school purposes. The first sermon is said to 
have been preached by a Baptist divine. Rev. Salmon Gid- 
dings organized a Presbyterian society here in 1817. Revs. 
James and Joseph Lenien, Thomas Lippincott, and Isaac 
McMahan were among the early preachers. There are at 
present five churches in the city, viz. : Presbyterian, Metho- 
dist, Episcopal, Catholic and Lutheran. A. complete history 
of these churches may be seen in the Ecclesiastical chapter. 

SCHOOLS. 

The earliest schools were taught in the union church 
above mentioned. Philander Braley, who had been teach- 
ing here for some time, erected a house with his own means, 
and established a private school. Mr. Braley was a good 
teacher, and his school at one time had quite a reputation, 
and was patronized by parties from St. Louis, and other 
places. He afterwards moved to Carlinsville, where he still 
resides. The Braley school house which can yet be seen, is 
a two story frame building, the property of Dr. H. L. Strong, 
situated on the southwest side of Center street, south of 
Main. Mr. Braley was followed by Rev. Charles E. Blood, 
l)astor of the Presbyterian Church. Blood erected a two 
story frame building on the same lot as the present school- 
house, and established an academy. He introduced the 
higher branches and prepared students for college. This 
school existed about five years when the building was pur- 



chased by the directors, and in it the first public schools were 
taught. It was used for that purpose until 18(J7, when it 
was moved and now forms a part of Wilson's bell factory, and 
a new three story brick school house was erected. It was 
built on the same lot, and in 1872 was destroyed by fire. 
Contracts were almost iuimediately let for the building of 
the present house, which was completed in 1873. It is a 
handsome three story brick structure, with dressed limestone 
and yellow fire-brick trimmings, surmounted with a cupola. 
It contains twelve rooms, four on each floor. It is a graded 
school, employing nine teachers. 

Cemeteries. — There are three burying grounds, the Col- 
linsville Cemetery, and the Catholic and Lutheran. 

Incorporation. — Collinsville was first incorporated under 
the general law as a village iu 1850. We find on the 
records, that the following named gentlemen were elected 
trustees and met in first session, November 30, IS.jQ :— Presi- 
dent, D. D. Collins ; A. Tufts, clerk ; J. J. Fisher, H. L. 
Ripley and Horace L-jok. September 30, 1872, there was au 
election held to vote on city organization, which resulted in one 
hundred and one votes for, and .seventy-eight votes against, 
a majority of twenty-three votes for city organization. Ou 
the llih of November, 1872, an election was held and the 
following city ofticers elected : Muyor—Sohn Becker. Al- 
dermen — A. W. Brown James Combs, J. J. Fisher, C. Kalb- 
fleisch, A. M Powell, J. M. Verneuil. City Clerk— i. G. 
Gerding. City Attorney— EAvia.r(\ Wilburn, {not inaugu- 
rated.) Appointed Officers. City Marshal— John G. Blake. 
City Superintendent of Streets— John G. Blake. The town 
from its beginning had only a gradual growth until the 
building of the Vandalia railroad through here iu 1868, 
which gave it a new impetus, and it soou became more pros- 
perous. Her coal intensis were soon developed aud became 
an important fivctor in her business. Her beautiful heights 
were sought by citizens of St. Louis, as suburban homes ; 
houses in pleasing variety of architecture were here and 
there erected, and Collinsville became, not only a mining 
aud manufacturing place but a city of residences. In 1880 
it contained 2,893 inhabitants. 

MINING AND MANUFACTURING INTERESTS. 

There is a fine body of bituminous coal underlying the 
whole surface of this region of country, and in the vicinity 
of Collinsville the vein will average from seven and a half 
to eight feet in thickness. The oal found at a depth of 
160 to 190 feet is of an excellent quality, and is exten- 
sively mined. The mines have a slate and lime- 
stone roof, and are comparatively dry. Some of them are 
mentioned above, as they are not within the corporate limits 
of the city. 

COLLINSVILLE COAL AND MINING COMPANY. 

This company is the owner of the first shaft that was 
sunk in Collinsville. It is the first mine east of the depot, 
and was sunk by Peter Wonderly, about 20 years ago. The 
mine was then worked by horse power. 

The company consists of George Savitz, president ; and 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



459 



J. H. WicklifFe, who are owners and proprietors of the 
mines. 

They operate two shafts, tlie second of which was sunk in 
1873. The depth is 150 feet to the surface of the coal, and 
the vein will average seven and a half feet in thickness. 
They employ 100 men; capacity ot the mines 11,000 bush- 
els per day. OfBce, 414 Olive street, St. Louis. 

LUMAGHI MINE 

Was opened in 1869, by Octavius Lumaghi, and is still 
owned and operated by him. The shaft is 165 feet deep ; 
the vein will average from 7 to 8 feet. The average amount 
of men employed, sixty. 

CANTINE CO.\L AND MINING COMPANY. 

The Cantiue mine was sunk in 1873, by Morrison and 
Ambrosius, and is now owned by the above named company. 
The depth of the shaft is 182 feet to the coal, which aver- 
ages 7i to 8 feet in thickness. The company employ about 
65 men. The average amount of coal mined in 1881 was 
100,000 bushels i)er month. The officers of this company 
are: President, C. A. Ambrosius ; Treasurer and Secretary, 
J. G. Gerding. 

ABBEY COAL AND MINING COMPANY. 

This is the most extensive mining company on the line of 
the Vandalia Railroad. However, there is only one mine 
operated by them in Madison county, the others being in 
St. Clair. The shaft near the depot at CuUinsviile, desig- 
ated as " Abbey No. 3," was sunk by Reid and Strain, in 
1875, and the following year leased it to the above comi)any. 
It is 138 feet to the top of the coal. The vein will run from 
seven to 8 feet in thickness, and it is worked entirely by 
machinery, employing GO men on top. The Lawrence Mine 
No. 4, is similar to that of No. 3, being a machine mine. 
The others are worked by the old system, employing in all 
froni 400 to 500 men. In 1881 the Abbey company raised 
in all their mines 13,400 car loads, or about 5,000,000 
bushels. ^ 

THE COLLINSVILLE MILL 

Is an old building, having been in existence for twenty-five 
or thirty years. The older portion was built by James Mat- 
thews. There have been several additions made to it since, 
and it has been many times remodelled. It is now owned 
and operated by Baker & Co. It has four run of burrs, 
with a capacity of grinding 150 bis. per day. It is a mer- 
chant mill, and the brands Argentine and Sonora are an ex- 
cellent quality of flour. 

CANTINE MILL. 

This mill is owned by F. Lange, and leased and operated 
by J. Higley. It is four stories high, frame, and has a run 
of four burrs, with a capacity of manufacturing 150 bis. per 
day. Several good brands of flour are manufactured, and 
find a market in St. Louis and other cities. 

COLLINSVILLE ZINC WORKS. 

In 1875, Dr. Octavius Lumaghi erected works for the 
smelting of zinc ore, at bis coal mine, and operated them 



until the fall of 1881, when he leased them to Parks &Bros. 
After operating about three months Messrs. Parks & Bros, 
failed, and in January, 1882, the works were leased 
by Reichenbach & Co., who are operating them very sue- 
ces.sfully. They also leased the works at Heintzville, giving 
them altogether four furnaces. The works have three cal- 
cining kilns, to prepare the ore for the smelting furnaces, 
ore crushers, clay mill, and a regular pottery for manufac- 
turing the retorts. They are the Belgian pattern of furnace. 
There are two kinds of ore used, silicate and blende, which 
are brought from Joplin and Webb City, Mo., and manu- 
factured into spelter, and shipped mostly to the east. The 
works have a capacity of 6000 lbs. spelter per day, consum- 
ing four car loads of ore per week, and about 600 bushels 
of coal per day, and employ fifty men, 

THE STOCK BEI,L FACTOEY 

Of 0. B. Wilson was established several years ago. The 
present owner, Mr. Wilson, is the successor of I. C. Moore. 
He purchased the business and property of Moore in 1876, 
since which he has made several important improvements in 
the machinery and process of manufacturing, and added new 
furnaces, forges, etc. The machinery is run by steam power, 
and from 150 to 200 doz^u bells are manufactured per day, 
It employs from ten to twenty men. Mr. Wilson has in- 
vented, and patented, a process for coating bells with brass 
which is a great time and labor saving item. His bells are 
sold directly to dealers in ail the cities in the United States, 
and they give the best satisfaction. 

BLUM & SCHOETTLE's STOCK BELL FACTORY, 

Was established in July, 1879. It is a one story building 
arranged and fitted up with all the necessary furnaces, forges 
and machinery for manufacturing a good article. They 
have a capacity of manufacturing 100 dozen bells per day, 
employing from twelve to fifteen men. The bells are sold iu 
all parts of the country. 

MACHINE SHOP. 

This is a new enterprise, established by Allen & Son, 
practical general machinists. It is a well fitted shop, with 
improved machinery, run by steam power, and all kinds of 
work are done in good style. 

BRICK YARD. 

This is located in the northeastern limits of the city. It 
contains two kilns, and about 70lt,000 brick are annually 
burned. They arc made by hand. It is owned by Fred. 
Hoga, and was established in 1879. 

THE COOPER SHOP 

Owned and carried on by Charles Hartmann, employ six 
men and manufacture about 500 barrels per week. 

NURSERY AND SEEDS. 

John W. Kropf, at the west end of Main street, has about 
one acre of plants and nursery stock. He deals iu all kinds 



460 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



of vegetable and flower seeds and green house plants, which 
are always fresh and guaranteed. 

BUSINESS OF 1882. 

Physicians. — J. L. K. Wadsworth, H. L. Strong, Charles 
Odtmann, Frederick Biendemuehl, A. M. Powell, J. W. 
Davis. 

General Stores— J. L. Loyet, C. H. Pabst, F. C. Metz, 
Bertram & Snodgrass, John H. Kuhlenbeek, C. A. Single- 
tary, Kalbfleisch & Son, Charles Anwater, M. Weisenben- 
berger, J. Wilbert & Son, Solomon Hartman, Roberts & 
Son. 

Drugs — Wadsworth & Son, Herman Graze, Charles P. 
Ochsner. 

Hardware and Tin Stores. — John Schoettle, Christian 
Blum, Martin Brede, Albrecht & Werter. 

Hardtvare and Machinery. — W. D. Gardiner. 

Farniture and Undertaking. — Moritz Wilhelm, Charles F. 
Heinecke, Martin Schroepple. 

Groceries.— ■!>. C. Wiukler, Gus Eoedger, J. N. Chilton, 
August Guy. 

Confectioneries. — G. W. Scharpf, James Bullock, Lewis 
Hoffmann, David W. Jones, J. Dudley. 

Restaurant and Bakery. — William McKeag. 

Bakeries. — Gus. Gang, Conrad Mueller, Henry Dewald. 

Vegetable and Produce. — H. R. Johnson, William B. 
Whittaker. 

Jewelry. — William Stevens, Fred. Bron. 

Livery. — O. C. Look, George Blake. 

Meat Markets. — Jonathan Turner, Valentine Loyet, Mat- 
thews & Knedler, Peter Sweitzer. 

Harnes.? Shops.— H. M. Sanders, J. H. B. Willoughby, 
Charles Korinek. 



Hotels. — Berry House, Mrs. William Berry, proprietress ; 
Central House, William Terry, proprietor; Gaskill House, 
S. W. Gaskill, proprietor ; American House, Daniel Steele, 
proprietor. 

Neivs Depots and Stationery. — Max Zucker, Wadsworth & 
Son, Miss S. H. Nelson. 

Shoe Shops. — M. Eoedger, AdamSchroeppel, J. Bandhauer. 
Luther Robinson, Henry Stumpf, John Breslyn. 

Segar Stores and Manufactories. — J. H. Meier, Lorenz 
Klein, James O'Connell, Max Zucker. 

Tailor Shops-— Frank Suchy, John Masek. 

Wagon Shop. — John Gronau. 

Carpenter Shoji.i. — Joseph Judy, M. Eberhardt, Philip 
Listerman. 

Dry Goods and Clothing. — ^Jacob Fisher. 

Millinery. — John N. Davis, C. A. Singletary. 

Broom Factory. — Kneedler & Schultz. 

Feed Store. — William H. Brown. 

Blacksmith Shop. — Peter Klina, John Kalina, Timothy 
Kane, Adam Wendler. 

Architect. — G. A. Miller. 

Dentist— T. S. Wilson. 

Newspapers. — Collinsville Weekly Herald, J. N. Peers, 
proprietor ; Collinsville Star, W. A. Wetmore, proprietor. 

Buss Line — 0. C. Look. 

Justices of the Peace. — J. M. Lawrence, Daniel Weaver^ 
L. Robinson.- 

Lumber Yard. — J. W. Peers. 

Saloons. — James Smith, Thomas & Hadfield, Philip Wil- 
bert, Henry Huffendieck, Daniel Steele, Mrs. Christian 
Wacker, George Baumgoertner, Casper Saunier, Albert 
Vujtch, Joseph Berka, Joseph Kalina. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 




y^2^^>^^^^u^, 



Was bora September 13, 1841, in Marion county, Illiuois, 
the third in order of birth in a family of nine cliildren born 
to Louis and Dorothea Hite (RufTner). His mnther was 
of the family of Ruftners, well known throughout the 
Kanawha Valley, West Virginia, as having establi!^hl(l ihe 
salt works there. Louis Hite was a farmer, a contractor on 
railroads and a politician. At the age of twenty six years 
he served his fellow citizens as a member of the Ohio Legis- 
lature. In 1858, he was engrossing clerk in the Illinois 
Senate. He died in Potosi, Missouri, December 24, 1881. 

Benjamin R. Hite, the subject of this sketch, obtained a 
common school education in the schools of Salem and Col- 
linsville. To the latter place, his present home, he came in 

1866. His qualifications, eminently fit him for representative 
59 



positions and his fellow citizens appreciating this fact honored 
him with a seat in the 2sth General Assembly of Illinois, 
and have kept him as supervisor in the county board ever 
since the inauguration of township organization. He was 
chairman the fourth and seventh years of his service. He 
was married to Sarah E. Griffith, daughter of Joseph W. 
Griffitl), one of the pioneers of this county, Feb. 8, 1866. 
Four sous have gladdened this union. 

Mr. Hite is a pronounced Democrat politically, and a re- 
cognized party leader. At a Democratic convention recently 
held he was nominated for County Treasurer by acclama- 
tion and elected to that office in November 1882. Possessed 
of eminently social qualities, he has hosts of friends. His 

business qualifications fit him well for positions of trust. 

461 



462 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 




^;:t:J^t^^t?Z/^ 



Was born ia Hobokeu, New Jersey, in 1793. His 
parents were David and Gertrude (Nagel) Anderson. Upon 
the breaking out of the war of 1812, he offered his services 
and was accepted as drummer boy. A pension granted him 
in this behalf served as a constant reminder of his soldier 
boy days, during the last years of his life. In 1820 he 
came west and located in the Marine settlement. lu 1822, 
he married Susan S. Creamer, in Kaskaskia, by whom he 
had twelve children. By the death of his wife he was left 
for some years a widower. On the 23d of April 1868, 
he was married to Margarett L. Cream?r, by whom he 



had two children. Mr. Anderson was eminently success- 
ful ; he amassed considerable property, which he improved 
after a manner worthy of emulation. His houses, barns, 
orchards, etc, all bespeak his excellent taste. He died 
April 11, 1875. His widow lives on the old homestead, 
about two miles from Collinsville, surrounded by such 
luxuries as a competency can yield. Mr, Anderson was a 
man of commanding presence ; of unquestioned integrity of 
character; of excellent business qualifications, and of 
philanthropic ways. 



HISTORY OF MAD ISO I^ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



463 



CONRAD A. AMBROSIUS 
Is a native of Germany, born in 1839. His father emi- 
grated to America in 1842, first locating in St. Louis, Mo. In 
1849 he removed to the vicinity of Collinsville, and engaged in 
farming. Conrad A. is the second son of afaniily of four chil- 
dren. In his youth he received a liberal education, and early 
in life began the vocation of a farmer, which pursuii he con- 
tinued until 1874, at which time he embarked in the business 
of coal mining, in the neighborhood of Collinsville. He is 
now president of the Cantine Coal and Mining Company of 
that place, a position for which he is eminently qualified. 
Mr. Ambrosius has filled the position of alderman in his city 
for a term of five years, and has served as street commis- 
sioner for the same length of time. He is still in the prime 
of a vigorous manhood. Though beginning his career with 
little but strong hands and a willing heart, his life has been 
a success, having accumulated considerable wealth, consist- 
ing of coal lands and valuable city property ; and has filled 
positions of trust and responsibility in the community. In 
1862 he was united in marriage to Miss Maria Smith, 
which union has been blessed with seven children. 



JOHN BECKER. 

This gentleman is the present mayor of the thriving city 

of Collinsville. He is the grandson of one of Napoleon's 

old soldiers, and a son of John Becker, who was born in 

Bavaria, and emigrated to America in 1833. He landed in 



New York, and there married Eva Nichols, by whom he had 
a family of twelve children. John Becker, of whom we 
write, was born in the city of New York, July 2oth, 1837, 
being the eldest of the family. In 1839, his father immigra- 
ted to Missouri, locating in Perry county, where he remained 
a short time, moving thence to St. Louis, where he died in 
1873. Young Becker received his schooling in Perry 
county and in St. Louis. The first business in which he en- 
gaged was clerking in a store, after which he went to Cin- 
cinati, Ohio, where he was employed for three years in the 
upholstering business. He again returned to St. Louis, and 
served an apprenticeship at milling in the Saxony Mills, of 
that city. 

On the 20th of ilay, 1860, he was united in marriage to 
Miss Wilhelmina Maye, of St. Louis, Misourri, and ten 
children, eight of whom are living, have blessed their liappy 
wedlock. In 1864, Mr. Becker located permanently in Col- 
linsville, where in company with George C. Berg, he pur- 
chased the flouring mill, which he has since continued to 
operate so successfully. He is now sole owner and proprie- 
tor. In 1872, at the time Collinsville was organized as a 
city, Mr. Becker was honored with being elected the first 
mayor, to which position he has been twice re-elected, filling 
the office at this writing. He has led an active, energetic 
life, and his enterprising spirit has been felt in all the move- 
ments to advance the business and social interests of his 
city, since he became a resident. In his official positions he 
has shown executive ability and attends well the duties of 
his office. He is a popular and much respected citizen. 



ST. JACOBS. 




' HIS township comprises the whole of town 
3, range 6. It is bounded on the north 
by IMarine, on the east by Helvetia and 
on the west by Jarvis township, and on 
the south by St. Clair county. The prin- 
cipal stream is the east fork of Silvi r 
creek, that flows through the northwest 
part, in a southerly direction. A con- 
siderable quantity of tiraler is found along this stream ; but 
the township is substantially prairie, embracing many 
sections of the Looking Glass Prairie. In its natural state 
it was a most beautiful tract of country. It is said by a 
former writer : '' It looked more like a great park than a 



wild country. This was not like many other prairies, a 
monotonous level, where the eye can find no resting-place ; 
but out of this plain, covered with luxuriant gra.ss and flowers 
of all colors, rose a great number of beautiful and shapely 
hills, all easy to ascend, and many covered with a growth of 
fine trees. Small water-courses, frequently embellished with 
fine willows, crossed the prairie in all directions. A number 
of small groves made up of trees of great variety, such as 
linden, oak, hickory, buckeye and locust, ornamented the 
scenery. The landscape in all directions was surrounded 
by the limber-crowned hills of Silver creek, and the rich 
forests of Sugar cr^ek. The country at this time was in 
its natural state. Along the skirt of timber ynu might 



464 



HISTORY OF MADJSON COUNTY, JLJ.l^OIS. 



see at ditfereut points, not far apart, a small field pushed 
out into the prairie, the cabins mostly hidden by the treis, 
and only the smoke arising from them disclosing the abode 
of man." 

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS 

were made along the timber's edge, on the east side of Silver 
creek, by some hnrdy pioneers from Krntueky and Ten- 
nessee, iu 1810. The families of John Lindley, of Augustus, 
William and Cyrus Chilton, of Harrison and Smeltzer, 
lived here in peace and quietness until the war with Eng- 
land broke out in 1812, and the Indians began to show 
themselves hostile. The Chiltons and their neighbors wh(p 
lived in this and adjoining townships, built a fort and 
stockade for defence. The fort stood in the northwest corner 
of section 17, near where Augustus Chilton .settled, and 
eleven families received shelter here the first winter. The fort 
was commanded by Major Isaac Ferguson and Capt- Abra- 
ham Howard. This fort was never attacked by the Indians. 
From Jesse J. Renfro, a worthy old citizen of Madison, and 
a Ranger during the war of 1812, we received a description 
of this fort. During the winter of 1814, he with a dozen 
other rangers, wss placed on guard here under the com- 
mand of Pamuel Whiteside. At this time the pioneers 
lived at their homes in the settlement, and would only come 
into the fort upon hearing of some Indian depredations, but 
after a short time would become pacified and return to their 
cabins. This fort was constructed by picketing around four 
or five cabins The pickets were logs from eight to ten 
inches through, set on end close together, and eleven or 
twelve feet in height. On each corner of the picketing 
were log houses, projecting over so that the sides of the 
fort might be covered by the rifles. Such a venture would 
be fraught with many dangers, difficulties and privations 
The desert wastes, the forest gloom and the near proximity 
of savage Indians, seem to have possessed, however, no 
terrors for these hardy pioueers. What must have been 
the nature of their lonely musings during the long and 
weary months of isolation, is difficult to imagine. Suf- 
fice it to say, with a fortitude unsurpassed, and a tenacity 
of purpose which knew no defeat, they patiently bided their 
time, never dreaming in the early years of this voluntary 
exile that this was destined to be a populous and pros- 
perous farming community. It is related by an old set- 
tler that during the early Indian troubles a lone Indian 
committed some overt act near the fort. Capt Howard 
took his trail, riding a little bay animal that was well 
remembered by the old settlers in later years. After a 
ninety miles' chase in a northeast direction, alone in a 
strange land and among savages, he by his adroitness and 
bravery, killed the Indian and brought his bleeding scalp 
to the fort. Within the walls of this old fort occurred 
the first birth in this part of the county, that of Thomas 
Chilton ; also the first marriage ceremony was solemnized 
here, Joseph Ferguson, a brother of the Major, and Miss 
Virginia Smeltzer being the contracting parties. It was 
here that they enjoyed the bliss of courtship, made their 
solemn vows of marriage and passed their days of honey- 
moon. Here, too, may be recorded the first death, being that 



of Augustus Chilton, who laid down his life and the cares 
of this world at a good old age, and was buried in the 
timber near the fort, where since many others have been 
laid to rest. No stone marks his grave. About 1820 a 
town was laid out here, and called Augusta, but the plat 
was never recorded. No lots were sold, and the town only 
existed in the imagination of its originators. The Chiltons 
settled in the near vicinity of the fort, as also did the Har- 
rison and Smeltzer families. Cyrus Chilton afterward im- 
proved a place about half a mile we.st of Herrin's Grove. 
.John Liudley was a great hunter and a very successful 
beaver trapper. He first settled in the timber in the south- 
west pan of section 18, near a spring that affords running 
water at this time. He afterward improved a farm out 
in the prairie, where he died, his wife surviving him many 
years. Their children were John, Matthew, Lucinda, Han- 
nah, Elizabeth, Ellen and Mary. 

Mr. Liudley 's father, Simon Liudley, settled on Silver 
Creek, in the north edge of St. Clair county, iu 1812. He 
was a native of North Carolina, an<l emigrated from Ken- 
tucky to this state, and first settled in what is now Bond 
couuty. His family of three sons and four daughters were 
well grown on coming to this state. He was a man of good 
education, a pioneer Baptist preacher and surveyor. About 
1820 he moved uf^rth, and settled in what is now Sangamon 
county, where he resided until his death. 

John Giger, a Pennsylvania German, entered several 
tracts of land in section five, Nov. 8, 1816, where he im- 
proved a good firm and resided until his death. He raised 
a family of f )ur son-t and one daughter. She married Ben- 
jamin Rfimmer; and the sons, Jacob, John, Joseph, and 
Moses, married, raised families, and improved farms in the 
county. 

Gilmore Anderson, from Bourbon county, Kentucky, 
settled the southwest quarter of section seventeen in 1816. 
He was accompanied by his wife and family of four sons 
and two daughters, viz : William, Carroll, Robert G., James 
G ; Nancy, who married John Penn ; and Sarah, who mar- 
ried a man named Flynn. He died, and she afterward 
married Jacob Giger. All are now deceased but Nancy, 
who lives in Texas. The sons, after they grew to maturity, 
all went to other states, with the exception of James G , 
who remained and lived on the old homestead. His father 
lived only a few years after coming here. Of James G. An- 
derson's children, John P., James G , Elizabeth, now Mrs. 
Miller; Nancy, now Mrs. Stephens; Elvira, now i^Irs Lamb, 
live in the township. Gilmore resides in Litchfield, Illinois 
Mr. Anderson was the first blacksmith of the township, and, 
iu company with William Faires, a wood-worker, made 
many wagons for the early settlers, and manufactured the 
old wooden mould-board plow. In 1831, Mr. Anderson en- 
listed as a soldier in the Black-Hawk War. His soldierly 
bearing brought him into notice. He was soon promoted to 
the post of Major of his regiment, which position he filled 
until the close of the war. He was one of the worthy and 
much respected citizens of the township, and was represent- 
ing the county iu the commissioners' board at the time of his 
death, which occurred September 25, 1847. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



465 



William Faires, a native of North Carolina, was one of 
the early settlers of the township. He located on the north- 
east quarter of secti )n thirty-one, now the James A Smith 
place. He afterward improved a farm on section thirty- 
f lur. He raised a family of nine children, viz: Naomi, now 
Jlrs. Abner Pyle; Wilson, William H., Eliza, now Mrs. 
Abraham Thomas, who lives in Macon county, Illinois ; Sa- 
nh Ann, now Mrs. John Barton, who lives in Reno county, 
Kansas; Elim, who raised a family here, was killed by light- 
ning, while working in a harve.«t field ; Mary, who was the 
wife of George Cuddy, now deceased, raised a family, and 
lived in Helvetia township ; James died wliile yet a y ung 
man ; Jane married William Woods, and lived only a short 
time after her marriage. The old gentleman was a first-class 
wagon maker of his time, and worked at his trade many 
years. He died on the place he improved, section 34. 

Herrin's Grove, section 16, was settled by John Herrin as 
early a? 1816. His house stood on the old Goshen and Ohio 
Salt-works road, which was laid out in 1808, and which 
extends in a southeasterly direction through the township 
He entertained travelers, sold feed to the emigrants, and the 
timber round about the Grove, at times, was filled with the 
camps of the frontiersmen. These, with the camp-fires and 
the white covered wagons, presented a scene resembling an 
army camp. He raised a large family, and resided here until 
his death, which occurred more than half a century ago. 
One of his sons, G. W., improved a farm on section 11, 
where he died in 1880, leaving a widow and a large family 
of children. 

Phillip S>arcy, a Tennesseean, came in November, 1817, 
and improved a farm adjoining Giger's, where he lived until 
his death. Two of his sons, George W. and Edward, live in 
the township ; the former in the village of St- Jacob's, and 
the latter a farmer on the old home place. Nancy, now Mrs. 
Potter, lives in Edwardsville. These three are the only de- 
scendants of the family living. 

Wesley Dugger, born in North Carolina, April 30, 1793, 
grew to manhood in that state, then went to Tennessee, 
where he married Charlotte Young, a native of Virginia. 
He lived sixteen miles east of Nashville till the fall of the 
year 1817, when he emigrated to Illinois and settled on sec- 
tion 3 of this township. He carried on farming, had a horse 
mill, and for some years kept a store, the first in this part of 
the county, which was entered and robbed, and was once 
destroyed by'fire. He was successful as a business man, and, 
for that day, acquired a considerable amount of property. 
He had been a soldier in the War of 1812-14, enlisting with 
the Tennessee troops, and serving under Gen. Jackson at the 
battle of New Orleans He died Feb. 14, 1850. His wife 
died April 23, 1846. They raised a family of nine children, 
of whom five were boys, and four girls. John C. Dugger 
settled the F. S. Pike place. He improved a good farm 
here, on which he died, leaving a widow, one son and five 
daughters. Jarrett Dugger settled the A. Zwilchenbart 
place. About 1828 he erected an ox-mill, which he operated 
several years, until he sold out ; then Mr. Zwilchenbart ran 
the mill for a long time. Mr. Dugger moved north into 
Macoupin county. 



Henry Burton Thorp was born in Stratford, Conn., April 
30, 179.3. In 1819 he came to Madison county with Capt. 
Curtis RIakeman, driving a four-horse team for the captain- 
Two years previous he had one hundred and fifty acres of 
land entered in section two, this township, where he started 
an improvement, and then returned to the east for his wife, 
who lived only a short time after her arrival in this new 
country, leaving one child, Hatinah, who afterwards mar- 
ried William Hull. Mr. Thorp subsecjuently returned to 
the east for a second wife, and married Sarah Sheppard, of 
Redding, Conn. He immediately returned with his wife, 
and brought out one of his brothers, Samuel Thorp, who, in 
1833, returned east, and influenced another brother, Nathan, 
to try his fortune in the far west. Nathan Thorp had five 
grown daughters, three of whom were afterward married 
at their father's house on the same occasion, the Rev. John 
H. Benson officiating. H. B. Thorp had a family of seven 
children by his second marriage, viz : Harriet, Henry B., 
Eliza, Charles, Frank, William, and George. His occupa- 
tion was principally that of a farmer. He and his brother 
Samuel, as early as 183<>, built a distillery on their place, 
and continued to run it for several years. David Thorp had a 
store here in early times. He and Albert Judd built a distillery 
on the Marine and St Jacob's wagon road,at the Silver Creek 
ford. Henry B. Thorp died Jan. 14th, 1849; his wife died 
the 27th of January following. Mr. Thorp was a public- 
spirited man, and lived beloved and respected by all who 
knew him. 

John Howard, a son of the widow Howard, who built the 
first cabin in the southeast part of Madison county, settled 
the Sohler place, near the Augusta church, in an early day. 
He was a ranger during the Indian troubles. In the Legis- 
lature of 1818, he represented his county, and was the first 
Justice of the township, and filled the office until his 
death. He had a liberal education for his time, was 
honest and upright in his dealings, and lived a much re- 
spected citizen. He reared two sons : Abraham, the eldest, 
lived on his father's old homestead until his death, ant^now 
lies buried in the Augusta graveyard ; Riley, the youngest, 
lives in Iowa. Nicholas Kyle, a son of Adam Kyle, one of 
the early settlers of Marine township, located in the e<lge of 
the timber northwest of St. Jacobs, among the early settlers, 
where he improved quite a large farm, and built a sub-tan- 
tial brick house which was among the first of that kind of 
structures in this part of the county. He was the first 
constable of the township His family consisted of three 
sons and two daughters. William Parkinson, a native of 
White county, Tenn., came to the township in 1816, and 
lived on the Searcy farm which was originally the Chilton 
place, near the old fort- May 31, 1817, he entered his first 
land, the west half of the southwest quarter of section one. 
eighty acres. After his family grew up and settled in life 
for themselves, he sold out and moved to Wisconsin, where 
lie died. None of his family now live in the county. 
Washington Parkinson, his brother, came two years later. 
The first two crops he raised in the Marine prairie. In 
1820, he settled the E C. Dugger place, section two. The 
records show that he entered this tract of eighty acres in the 



466 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



fall of 1816. He had three children born to liitn in White 
county, Tenn., viz.: William, George, and Alfred J., and 
two in Madison county, viz.: Catharine, who died a young 
girl, and Melinda B., who married Edward C. Dugger. 
The old gentleman improved a fine farm, was a successful 
farmer, and lived here a quiet citizen until he was assassi- 
nated, in 184G. He was in his sitting room just after sup- 
per, when some one unknown, in the darkness of the night 
fired a shot through the window and during the excitement 
that ensued made his escape. The murderer has never been 
brought to justice. Alfred J., his son, who was born in 
White county, Tennessee, January 20, 1816, is one of the 
prominent farmers of the township, having often been 
called upon to fill important positions of honor and trust. 
At the present writing he is a member of the State Legisla- 
ture. In 1842, Miss Mary E. Baldwin became his wife, and 
they have had nine children, seven sons and two daughters. 
JorJen Uzzle, a Tennesseean, settled iu the edge of the 
timber on section three, about the same time the Duggers 
located here. In early years camp-meetings were held at 
his place or near his spring, on what was called the Uzzle 
camp-meeting grounds. He was a devout member of the 
Methodist church. He died on his old homestead, leaving a 
widow and quite a family of children. James A. Smith, 
who lives on section 31, came to the county from Tennessee, 
with his father, Thomas Smith, in 1827. In 1835, the latter 
with his family went to Arkansas. After a short stay, 
James A., returned to Madison county, where he has since 
resided. Edmund Townsend, who lives on the same section, 
while not a very old settler of this county, was born iu this 
vicinity. His father, Whitfield Townsend, a native of 
North Carolina, settled in the northern part of St. Clair 
county, in 1814. William C. ]\IcAlilly located on the place 
where he now lives, in 1840. (For early history of the 
family see Saline township). 

W. B. Bradsby, who lives on section thirty-two, was born 
on the township line, now the Erastus Pyle place, in 1846. 
He is a son of John Bradsby, who was a descendant of the 
Bradsby family, of St- Clair county. Early in the spring 
of 1804, William EI. Bradsby, in company with two other 
young men from Kentucky, located on Silver Creek, about 
three miles north of the present town of Lebanon, where 
they made an improvement and raised a crop. In the fall 
of the same year the elder Bradsby brought the balance of 
the family from Kentucky and located on a form where he 
continued to reside. Reynolds in his Pioneer History says: 
" The Bradsby family were brave and energetic pioneers. 
They possessed good talents and were fearless and intrepid, 
they were firm and decisive, when they took a stand, and 
were also moral and correct, and made good citizens. The 
elder Bradsby taught school in various neighborhoods. His 
sons were in the Ranging service, and made good soldiers. 
In 1814, William H. Bradsby represented St. Clair county 
iu the territorial legislature. He became a physician, and 
was quite prominent in the early history of Washington 
county." 

The first school was taught in the old fort, by David 
Smcltzer. The first school house, a small log cabin put up 



about 1818, stood near the site of the fort. The second was 
built in the Dugger settlement, and stood near the Uzzle 
spring. Alexander Trucsdale was one of the first teachers. 
He was also a preacher, of the Cumberland Presbyterian 
faith. For several years prior to the building of this house, 
school was taught by Edmunds and others, in an abandoned 
cabin that stood near the Dugger ox mill. John Kyle also 
taught near Wesley Dugger's place, before any school-house 
was built in this settlement. He afterward improved a 
farm in Helvetia township, being one of the first settlers 
there. 

Augusta Church was the first house of worship, and was 
built near the site of an old log school-house, by the Metho 
dists about thirty >ears ago. It is a brick building, and 
stands in the southeast part of section seven, in a good state 
of preservation. For many years before this church wa.s 
built, the congregation met at the residence of John C. 
Dugger who was a worthy member of the church, and was 
mainly instrumental in the construction of the building. 
Between the site of the old fort and the place where the 
Augusta church now stands, in early times, the militia were 
accustomed to meet, this being their training ground. It 
was here, also, that the young athletes of the country gath- 
ered to exhibit their muscle. Each settlement or neighbor- 
hood would have its champion, and as this was the place of 
general resort for sports of an athletic kind, many are the 
tales told by the old settlers of feats perf jrmed and plaudits 
won by the wrestlers, runners and jumpers. 

Among the Germans first to come to this township was 
Dr. Henry C. Gerke, who emigrated from his native land, 
Laar, in Hessen Cassel, Germany, to America, coming direct 
to Madison county in 1824. He left his family behind 
him, and afterward crossed the ocean several times. On 
his second trip, in 1830, he brought with him his oldest son, 
William H. The Dr. located on the Herrin place, Her- 
rin's Grove, and placed his son William H. in the Marine 
settlement. In 1842, William H. married Mi^s L^vina 
Blakeman, a daughter of Capt- Curtis Blakeman. Mrs 
Gerke died young, leaving one child. Judge Henry C. Gerke, 
of Edwardsville. Mr. Gerke never married again, and 
died in the Marine settlement in 1840, about six years after 
his wife's death. Dr. Gerke was a classical scholar, besides 
being educated to the profession of law. He was the author 
of several volumes, published in Germany, relating to the 
history of North America, and especially to that of the Mis- 
sissippi valley. These works were largely distributed 
throughout G ruiany, and it was through their influence, 
and the efforts of the Doctor, that this part of the Stale has 
become so largely populated by the Germans. He was 
thoroughly democratic in his views of government and po. 
litical economy ; in fact the very cause that induced him to 
come to America was on account of her free institutions. 
In 1836 he brought to this country the remainder of hig 
family, consisting of his wife and son, John P. The Doctor 
lived on his place iu St. Jacobs until his death in 1842. He 
left a vast estate, and a wide circle of friends. His widow 
survived him until 1871, and died at Marine, at the resi- 
dence of her grandson, Judge Henry C. Gerke. John P. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



467 



Gerke was married to Bertha, daughter of Joseph and Eliz- 
abeth Stoffelbach of this township, in 18-13. and had two 
daughters. At his father's death he fell heir to the property 
in St. Jacobs. He was an artist of considerable celebrity, 
and executed many valuable paintings, now greatly admired- 
He resided mostly in St. Louis, where he died in 1847. 

Theodore and Joseph Miller came with their widowed 
mother, three brothers and three sisters, in 1835, from Ba- 
den, Germany. The mother died five years later. Theodore 
improved a large farm in section 20, where his son, J. G. 
Miller, now lives, and became one of the foremost men of the 
township. He served for a time as constable. Afterward 
he was elected magistrate, the office of which he filled twelve 
years. In 1870 he was elected a member of the General 
Assembly of the State. In 1846 Mrs. Elizabeth Anderson, 
daughter of Major James G. Anderson, became his wife. 
His brother Joseph lived here for many years, and was a 
successful farmer. Afterward he went to Lebanon, St. 
Clair county, whe-e he resided until his death. Samuel 
Frey made a good farm of the prairie, section 22. He came 
to the county in 1^40, and has been a very sucecssful 
farmer. Henry Frey, a brother, improved a good farm 
adjoining, on the east, where he accumulated much propert)'. 
He died several years ago, leaving two sons, who are promi- 
nent farmers of the township. Peter Frutiger came to St- 
Jacobs in 1842, and improved a large farm in sections 
23 and 24. He has been dead manj' years. Several of 
his children are worthy citizens of the township. Jacob 
Leder, who lives on section one, is a native of Switzerland. 
He came here in 1837. Rudolph Baer, also a native of 
Switzerland, arrived in 1844, with his father, who improved 
a good farm on the prairie, in section fourteen, where Ru- 
dolph now lives. Christ. Hirni also made a farm on the 
prairie, on .section thirteen. Jacob Leutwiller also improved 
a farm on the same section. Henry Ritter, who lives near 
Herriu's Grove, has resided there since 1844. John Schniitt, 
south of the grove, is one of the early Germans, as are also 
P. Juckweiler, who now lives in St. Jacobs, Jacob Schroth" 
first store-keeper of St. Jacobs, and A. Zwilchenbart, who 
bought the Dugger Ox-mill and farm. Henry Laengle 
came to the county in 184ti, and since that time has been 
engaged in farming and hotel-keeping. He built his brick 
hotel in St Jacobs in 1879. 

The following gentlemen have represented the township 
in the board of supervisors : F. S. Pike, 1876-'77, re-elected 
1877-78; E. N. Peterson, 187S-'79; James S. Miller, 
1879-'80; John P. Anderson, 1880-'81, re-elected 18S1,'82, 
and is now in oflBce. 



TOWN OF ST. JACOBS. 

The first house was built by Jacob Schutz, where he 
sold whisky by the gallon. In 1849 Jacob Schroth started 
a store ; he bought two and-a-half acres off the corner of 
Jacob Schutz's fiirm, being in the northwest part of the 
northeast forty of section 16 ; he built a small house (since 
enlarged), now the St. Jacob's House. He entertained 



travelers and had a wagon-yard in connection with his saloon 
and store. In June, 18.51, he got a post-office established, 
and because his name was Jacob and Jacob was the original 
owner of the land, and the blacksmith's name was Jacob, 
they concluded to name the place of the then cross-roads 
St. Jacobs. Mr. Schroth ccmtinued in business here until 
his death in 1:^60. His wife was then commissioned post- 
mistress, and continued the business many years. In 18.50 
Jacob Willi started a blacksmith shop and worked at his 
trade several years; he is now on a farm half a mile north 
of town, in good circumstances. The third house was put up 
by Louis Schiele. It is in part now the Pfaclzer Hof. Mr. 
Schiele, in 1866, laid out the town of St. Jacobs, in the 
southeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 9. 
The village increased principally around the Schroth corner 
and on the St. Louis wagon-road, until the construction of 
the railroad, since which the growth has been almost entirely 
toward the depot. There were about twenty houses in the 
place before the railroad was built. The census of 1880 
gave it a population of four hundred and sixty-one. Dr. Buck 
was the first physician In 1866, Edward Dee and William 
C. M'AIilly built a saw-mill a quarter of a mile north of the 
town. They afterward sawed out a frame and put up a 
small grist mill, and then took into partnership with them, 
Charles Valier, who was a practical miller. The mill com- 
menced grinding in 1869 ; since that time it has been owned 
by several different parties. The saw-mill has long since 
been abandoned. The mill has been greatly improved from 
time to time, and it now standi a substantial frame, four- 
stories high with basement, having four run of burrs and a 
capacity of one hundred and twenty-five barrels per day. 
It is owned and operated by Joseph Peeler and Jacob Willi. 
The saw-mill near the depot was put up in 1880 ; now 
owned by John Bartle. The Independent Bucket Factory 
was started in June, 18SI, by John Schaefer. It employs 
from six to eight men. 

The school building is a two story brick of four rooms, 
where three teachers are employed. J. W. Welles has been 
the principal for the past three years. There are two 
churches. The Lutheran, a neat brick structure, was built 
in 1869 ; the Methodist, a frame building, in 1879. 

The St. Louis, Vandalia & Terre Haute railroad passes 
through the northern part of the township, entering near 
the center of section 1, and passing out near the southwest 
corner of section 7. St. Jacobs is situated on this line at 
nearly an equal distance from the eastern and western 
boundaries of the township. Its location in the midst of a 
fertile and prosperous country secures for it a good trade. 
It is the shipping point for Marine, a village of eight hundred 
inhabitants, five miles distant. 

PRESENT BUSINESS. 

Phjsiciam. — B. F. Stephens, E. Miller, H. R. Kirsten. 

Postmaster. — G. W. Hays. 

Hotels. — Henry Laengle, Laengle's Hotel ; Louis Wasem, 
Pfaelzer Hof ; Henry Schmitt, St. Jacob's House ; Ernst 
Pahmeyer, Rail Road Hotel. 



468 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



General Stores. — G. W. Searcy, Karges & Williams, F. 
Sohler. 

Lumber Yard, Lime, Cement, etc. — E. N. Peterson. 

Dealer in Hanhvare awl Farming Implements. — John 
Schaefer. 

Grain Dealers- — Anderson & Wiseman. 

Druff Stores. — Charles Spies, H. F. Wood. 

FiirniiHrv a7id Undertaker.— H. A. Reichenbecher. 

Harness and Saddles. — Theodore Schmidt, Fred. Pfunder. 

Meat Market — Louis Schiele ; J. Freys. 



Merchant Tailor — F. Gain. 

•Blacksmith Shops. — Fred Spies, Joseph Beekler, Leonz 
Buehlraann. 

Wagon Shops- — Leonz Buehlmann, Henry Maurer. 

Wagon-maker. — Fritz Graf. 

Bakery. — H. Meyer. 

Barbers — Melch Hochul, Thomas Cannon. 

Shoemakers- — Joseph Hilbi, C. M. Petry. 

Cigar Manvjactorij. — W. Fisher. 



â– ^^^^^3^i!^9^^- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



GEORGE W. SEARCY. 

The Searcy family are among the old settlers and the 
descendants of one of the pioneer families of Madison county. 
Philip T. Searcy, the father, was a native of North Carolina 
born in 1802. He was left an orphan while yet youug in 
years; he was taken by his guardian, Granser Dugger, to 
Tennessee, and brought by him to Illinois, November 17, 
1817. The Dugger family stopped for a short time in the 
forks of Silver creek, then a part of Marine township, in 
Madison county, but soon after moved to Bond county, and 
Battled on Hurricane Fork of Shoal creek; three years later 
they returned to Madison county and permanently located 
on the piece of land upon which they settled when they first 
came to Illinois. Mr. Dugger entered laud in .sections 5 and 
6, of what is now St. Jacob's township. From the Dugger 
family sprang a numerous progeny. John, Wesley, Jarret, 
sons of Mr. Dugger, were soldiers of the war of 1812, and 
also of the Black-Hawk war of 1831-'32. Philip T. Searcy 
married Elizabeth, daughter of Granser Dugger. She was 
the widow of John Hunter, by whom she had one son, named 
John Andrew Hunter; he was also a soldier of the Black- 
Hawk war. Mr. Searcy died February 13, 1861, and his 
wife February 13, 1864. There were twelve children born 
to Philip T. and Elizabeth Searcy, three of whom are now 
living. Their names are Nancy Jane, Edward C and George 
W. Thomas J. was a soldier in company I) of the -SOth 
Illinois Volunteers. At the battle of Perryville, October 8, 
1862, he was wounded, and died two years later from the 
effect of the wound. Edward C. was also a soldier in the 
same company and regiment, and was captured by the rebels 
when in the act of bearing his wounded brother from the 
field George W., the subject of this sketch, was born on 



the old homestead March 6, 1834. He there grew to man- 
hood, and remained at home until twenty-one years of age; 
he then clerked for his half brother, Mr. Hunter, for two 
years. Realizing that he had insufficient education, he spent 
the winter of 18.57-'58 in school. The fall previous, he had 
been elected constable, a position he held for twelve years. 
In the spring of 1858, he purchased sixty acres of land in 
section 17, and there made his home until 1866, when he 
moved to section 18, where he had purchased one hundred 
and fifty-five acres. On this tract, in former years, stood 
Fort Shilton, one of the block-houses during the Indian 
troubles in 1812. 

Mr. Searcy made his home on section 18 until the spring 
of 1880, when he removed to the village of St. Jacobs, and 
there, on the 28th of February, 1882, engaged in general 
merchandising; in which he still continues. On the 2d of 
April, 1858, he married Miss Mary Ann Taylor. She was 
born on the ' Old Chase " farm, in St. Jacob's township 
December 6, 1833. Her parents were natives of Virginia, 
and removed to North Carolina, tlien to Illinois and .settled 
in White county, and subsequently came to Madison. There 
were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Searcy; one living 
named George L., who was born June 2, 1860. The others 
died in infancy and early childhood. Both Mr. and Mrs. 
Searcy attached themselves to the M. E. Church while young. 
In politics he is a Republican ; he was justice of the peace 
for his township for four years, and was special deputy 
sheriff for six years. During the late war he was enrolled 
officer from November, 1864, until the close of the war. 
In his manners he is plain and unassuming, and his charac- 
ter and reputation is that of an honorable and honest man. 



HISTORY OF MADISON' COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



469 




;H^ ^. ^^<:^ 



The subject of this memoir was born on section 31, in St. 
Jacob's Township, Madison County, Illinois, Aug. 14tli, 
1832. His father, William Faires, was born in North Caro- 
lina, Aug. 5th, 1789. He 'emigrated to Illinois in ]82(>- 
and settled on what was then and since known as Terrappiii 
Ridge in this county. His first settlement was in section 
31, T 3, R 3. He afterward moved to section 33, and tlieif 
died, Feb. 14th, 1855. He married Elizabeth Orr, who was 
born in North Carolina, January 17th, 1791. The date of 
the marriage was January 13th, 1813. She died in August 
1863. There were nine children by that marriage, four 
sons and five daughters. Two sons and three daughters 
have survived the parents and are yet living. William B. 
is the youngest of the family. He was brought up on the 
farm and received his education in the public schools of the 
neighborhood. At the age of twenty he commenced the 
trade of blacksmithing, but soon abandoned it to engage in 
farming. He purchased two hundred acres of raw unim- 
proved land in section 26, where he now resides, and com- 
menced its improvement, and there he has remained to the 



present time. To his original purchase he has added until he 
has now over five hundred acres of fine land, all of which is 
under cultivation. He also commenced dealing and trading 
in live stock when he commenced farming, and those two 
businesses have been his chief occupation up to the present 
time. In April, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss M. 
J. Putnam, daughter of Hiram Putnam. She was born in 
Wilson county, Tennessee, in 1842. By this union there 
have been eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Faires. Their 
namfs in the order of their birth are, William A., Charles 
Henry, Elizabeth O , Horace Greeley, Julia Ann, Lula 
Jane, (the latter two are twins) Edward Allen and Hattie 
Faires. Mr. Faires is a member of the ancient and honor- 
able order of A. F. A. M. Politically he has always voted 
the Democratic ticket. Mr. Faires may be regarded as one 
of the old settlers of Madison county. He has lived here 
fifty years. His father's family were among the pioneers of 
the state. In the present and years gone by the neighbors 
of Mr. Faires have known him as an open, generous-hearted 
man, a true friend and an honest, upright man. 



470 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 




''/^^-5^^^ JuyCi^ 



The Pyle family is of Eoglish aud Welsh ancestry. 
Samuel Pyle, the ancestor of the present, family was of 
Quaker origin and came with William Penn to America 
in 1682, and made the first settlement in Pennsylvania 
and founded the city of Philadelphia. Subsequently his 
offspring removed south and helped to form the settle- 
ments along the coast in the Carolinas. There they lived 
during the revolutionary war, and iu which struggle both 
the paternal and maternal grandfathers of Abner Pyle took 
part. Abner Pyle, the father of the subject of this sketch, 
was born in Chatham county. North Carolina. The family 
moved to Kentucky soon after that state was admitted to the 
union, and remained there until 18 IS, when they came to 
Illinois and settled in Jackson county in a section that is 
now .a part of Perry county. Mr. Pyle was one of the first 



commissioners of the latter county, and helped to locate the 
coanty seat and lay out the town of Pinckneyville. He re- 
mained a citizen of Perry county until the death of his 
wife, then came to Madison county, where he lived with his 
sons until his death, which event occurred in July, 1863- 
He married Sarah Wells, a native of South Carolina. She 
died in Perry county, January 25, 1825. By the union of 
Abner and Sarah Pyle there were twelve children, ten of 
whom lived to maturity and raised families. Abner Pyle, 
Jr., the subject of this sketch was born iu Christian county, 
Kentucky, January 25th, 1809, and was a mere boy when 
the family came to Illinois. Here he grew to manhood and 
received such instruction as the public schools of Perry 
county afforded. His first effort in public life was acting as 
surveyor of Perry county, a position he was appointed to by 



HISTORY OF MADISON COU^'TY, ILLINOIS. 



471 



Gov. Duncan. He afterward engaged in farming and 
trading. In 1848, lie moved to St. Clair county and re- 
mained there until March ITth, 1859, when he purchased 
one hundred and twenty acres in section twenty-six, of St. 
Jacob's Township, in Madison county. He improved his 
land, added more tn it, and there he has resided to the pres- 
ent. In May, 1833, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary 
llogue. She died in 1844, leaving one son named Andrew, 
who grew to maturity, married, and died in 1879, leaving 
a wife and two children. On the 19th of August, 1848, he 
married Naomi Bradsby, widow of John Bradsby. Her 
maiden name was Faires, daughter of William and Eliza- 
beth (Orr) Faires. She was born in North Carolina, Janu- 
ary 14, 1815. By her marriage with John Bradsby she had 
three children, named Francis M., Mary E. and William D. 
Bradsby. By her marriage with Mr. Pyle, there are also 



three children, whose names are Martha A., wife of James 
Thompson, Lyman and Henry B. Pyle. Both Mr. and Mrs- 
Pyle are members of the Christian Church. Politically he 
was originally an old Jacksoniau Democrat. His first 
presidential ticket was cast for the hero of New Orleans. 
From that time to the present he has not swerved in his 
allegiance to the party of his first choice. Mr. Pyle is one 
of the pioneers of Illinois, and is a connecting link between 
this and a race of hardy and venturesome men that are 
rapidly passing away. A few more years will witness their 
departure, and they will only exist in the memories of the 
older people and in the pages of history. Would that the 
free, generous, open-hearted pioneer of old could always be 
with us and teach us by example what open and true hospi- 
tality is, and means. To that class belongs Mr. Pyle. 



CHOUTEAU. 




I HIS township lies wholly in the Ameri- 
can Bottom, and was once covered 
with heavy timbers of oak, elm, walnut, 
hickory, ash, etc. The soil is composed 
of the rich alluvium peculiar to the 
Mississippi bottom. It contains more 
sand, however, than the bottom further 
down the river, in St. Clair county. It 
is variously interspersed with lakes or 
sloughs, the larger of which lies in the north and east, and 
occupies about 600 acres. Long Lake, so called, enters the 
township in sec 4 and extends southward entirely through 
the territory. It is a theory by the more thoughtful, and 
close observing, that this was once the original bed of Wood 
River, and that it emptied its waters into the Mississippi 
further down. Chouteau Island lies at the southwest, and 
comprises about four sections, one-half of which extends into 
township 4, range 10. The island is formed by Chouteau 
slough on the east, and the Mississippi river on the west. 
There was a peculiarity about the timber on this island as com- 
pared with that on the rest of the bottom, it being of the soft or 
porous kind, such as cotton-wood, lynn, etc. The passage 
from the main land to the island is effected by a dike thrown 
across the slough about three hundred yards from the Missis- 



sippi. The township is well supplied with railroads, the 
Chicago and Alton and the Indiana and St. Louis railways pass- 
ing side by side, through its entire territory. They enter 
from the north in section three, take a southerly course and 
pass out in section thirty-three. The Wabash, St. Louis & 
Pacific road enters in section thirteen, extends southwest, 
and joins the former road in section twenty-seven, crossing 
the southern line of the township on the same grade. Chou- 
teau is bounded on the north by Wood River township, on 
the east by Edwardsville, south by Nameoki, and west by 
the Mississippi river. It contains about thirty sections of 
land, and had a population in 1880, of 1,094. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

The honor of the first white settlement in Madison county 
belongs unquestionably to this township. As near as can be 
determined the French established a small settlement on 
Chouteau island, as early as 1750. Not only does Gov. 
Reynolds so establish the date, but there were evidences 
many years ago, substantiated by those now living, and be- 
fore the river had encroached upon the Illinois side, that the 
above date is not far from correct. Mr. Amos Atkins, who 
is now 61 years of age, and who was born on the island, in- 
formed the writer that when he was a mere boy there was an 



472 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



apple and pear orchard, the trees of which were t^o large 
that they must have been planted raiinv year^ before. One 
pear tree, he says, was at least a foot and a-half in diameter, 
and the apple trees were not far from the same size. It was 
near this orchard where the French settlers biiiied their dead. 
When the river encroached upon the banks, reaching this 
place of burial, many a ghastly skeleton was washed from its 
long resting place. The citizens of the island kindly 
gathered up the remains as best they could, and re-buried 
them in what is now the corner of Amos A'kins' pasture, in 
sec. 19, From present appearances in the conduct of the 
river, it is only a question of time when these same skeletons 
will again be washed by the waters of the Mississippi. 

We are unable to present more than one of the names of 
these early French settlers, that of La Croix, who afterward 
moved to Cahokia, where he died. Many years ago the 
island was known as Big Island, but was afterward called 
Chouteau, in honor of Pierre Chouteau. It is from the 
island that the township receives its name. 

The first settlement made by the Americans, was by the 
Gillhams about 1802. Their ancestor, Thomas, was a 
native of Ireland, and emigrated to this country prior to the 
Revolution, and he and his sons served in the war for inde- 
pendence of the Colonies. His family consisted of five sons 
and two daughters. Thomas, the eldest, was never a citizen 
of Illinois, but his sons all moved to this state and settled in 
the American Bottom. Their names were Thomas, James, 
William, John and Isaac. That which led to their settle- 
ment here, is shrouded with a romance of heart-aches and 
suffering, a brief synopsis of which is substantially as fol- 
lows : * James, the second son, was born in South Carolina, 
where he married, and afterwards moved to Kentucky and 
settled with his little family, upon the then western frontier 
They had three sons and one daughter, between the ages of 
four and twelve years. In the summer of 1790, while Mr. 
Gillham and his son Isaac were at work in the field, a band 
of Kickapoo Indians, from Illinois, were prowling in that 
neighborhood. Coming upon the- cabin of Mr. Gillham, 
thev stalked into the house, and at once took the mother and 
children captives. Mrs. Gillham was so overcome that she 
recollected nothing distinctly of the capture, until she was 
brought to her senses, by one of the boys, Samuel, exclaim 
ing, " Mother, we are all prisoners." But why harrow the 
minds of our readers, by relating the long, weary march, 
and the untold hardships of their journey through the 
wilderness, until their captors reached the village of the 
Kickapoos, then situated in Logan county, Illinois. What 
must have been the feelings of father and son, on returning 
to their little cabin, to find the fearful evidences that those 
they loved so well were in the hands of the cruel savages '. 
As there was no appearance of blood about the premises, 
Mr. Gillham became satisfied that his family were mere 
captive.'^, and that they were still unharmed. He, and one of 
his neighbors soon started on the trail, but after a long and 
tedious march they lost all trace of it, and were obliged to 
return. But hope that his wife and children were yet in the 

* For lluse facts we are indebted to the Madison Ccunly Gazetteer. 



land of the living, buoyed him up, and he resolved that he 
would continue the search until they were found. According- 
ly he sold out his little improvement in Kentucky, placed 
his son Isaac in the family of a friend, and soon began the 
long, and almost hopeless search. He traveled all through 
the Western frontier, visiting Vincent, ( now Vincenues ), 
Kaskaskia, and afterwards at Fort Washington, Cincinnati, 
to confer with Gen. St. Clair, then Governor of the North- 
West Territory. He here learned that the Indians were 
about to take the war-path against the white settlement. 
Nothing daunted he proposed to push into the wilderness, 
and visit every tribe until he found his family, but was dis- 
suaded from such a hopeless and perilous effort by Gen. St. 
Clair, and others who were familiar with the state of affairs 
in the Indian country. 

Five years had passed since the commencement of this 
vain search, when Mr Gillham learned from some French 
traders, that the chief of the Kickapoos, had promised to 
give up all American captives for a certain ransom. This 
was a bolt from a clear sky to him who had hoped and 
waited so long. He at once took two guides with him, and 
proceeded to the Indian village, situated on Salt Creek 
Imagine if you can, the joy of all when on his arrival here, 
the long lost family were found alive and well. The young- 
er son, Clement, was unable to speak a word of English, 
nor could he recognize his father. Some of the old settlers 
who are yet living, inform us that they recollect him well, 
and that he always acted, and had more the general appear- 
ance of an Indian than of a white man. The family 
returned to Kentucky where they remained about two years. 
But Mr. Gillham could not forget the beautiful prairies of 
Illinois that he had seen while in search of his family. 
Accordingly in 1797 he moved with his family to the state 
and located in the American Bottom, not far from Kaskat- 
kia. He remained here until about 1802, when he removed 
to the Bottom above, and settled in what is now Chouteau 
township. Three children were born to them after the re- 
union of the family, James H., David, and Nancy. None 
of them are now living, yet several of their descendants are 
citizens of the county. The coming of t is pioneer to the 
State, was really the introduction, and cause of the settle- 
ment of the pioneer Gillham families, and to give a history 
of each would require a large volume. In 1824, it is said 
that this numerous family could poll over five hundred votes. 
Wilson W. Gillham, who resides in section twelve, is one 
of the descendants of this stock. Samuel P. Gillham, a son 
of John the pioneer, died a few years ago, leaving much 
valuable data of the history of early times. His death was 
regretted by a large circle of friends. In the Pioneer chap- 
ter will be found a more detailed account of these sturdy 
; fathers. 

At this writing, there are but few aged persons residing in 

this township who were born here in an early day. One 

among them is Amos Atkins, born in 1821. His father, 

John Atkins, was a native of Massachuisetts, and when but 

I sixteen years of age enlisted as a patriot in the Eevolution- 

I ary war, where he served with merit until peace was declared. 

! After the close of the war he moved to Kentucky, where he 




RESiDZNCZ OF H ENRY W AT S O N _ A LT O N J LLI N O I S . 




RtS. HOT EL AND STORE Of W '- W. MA RS H , B US h \/l L L E , 3 MILES M .W. OF MITCH ELL STATION MADISON CO- ILL. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



473 



married his wife, Miss Nancy Stewart. In 1807, he moved 
to Illinois, and settled in what is now Venice township. He 
afterward moved to Missouri, but not liking the country he 
returned to Illinois, and finally located in Naraeoki town- 
ship, where he died at an old age many years ago. His 
wife survived him but few years. Three children were born 
to the family at the time of their coming, William, John, 
Jr., and Charles. Three other children were born in Illi- 
nois. None of the family are now living. Amos, son of 
John Jr., is now residing on Chouteau Island in section 24. 
Even he is advanced in years, and has seen many hardships, 
and especially those connected with the great floods of the 
Father of Waters. In 1844 the water came into his house 
several feet deep, and the family were obliged to abandon 
their Home, and flee to the blufi' for safety. Within the last 
year he informs us, that he was surrounded by a sea of 
water, it intruding to the very door of his residence, and 
that they were fearful lest their house would be undermined, 
and perhaps, be washed into the angry flood. Mr. Atkins 
has lived to sec a portion of his farm go into the river. 
The channel is now far eastward from where it was when he 
was a boy. He predicts that it is only a question of time 
when his whole farm will be the river channel. 

Andrew Emert was one of the early settlers. He was 
bora in Pennsylvania, and came to the American Bottom 
about 1807, and located in section 33, near the southern 
boundary of the towusliip On his advent here he had a 
wife and four children, Elizabeth, Andrew, Sarah, and Henry. 
Two other children were born of this marriage ; Polly and 
Rose A. He was twice married ; from the latter re- 
union four children were born, Rachel, Eliza, William, and 
James. The father and mother died many years since, and 
but three of the children survive them ; they are all resi- 
dents of Madison county at this writing. The widow of 
William, Harriet Emert, lives in section 10, and owns one 
of the best farms and farm houses in the township. Two of 
the old living settlers, are the widows of Joseph C and 
Thomas Dunnagan, wee Sarah M., and Elizabeth Davidson, 
the father of whom was a pioneer who settled in the southern 
part of Edwardsville township. From the above it will be 
seen that two brothers married sisters. The husbands of these 
old ladies were the sons of Isaiah Dunnagan, the first settler 
of Fort Russell, and of whom a brief history will be found 
in the chapter on that township. A son of Sarah M., is 
residing with her, and conducts the affairs of the old home- 
stead farm, situated in section 12. They are a happy, and 
hospitable family, partaking of the traits of their ancestors. 
Henry Job was born in Pennsylvania, and when a small 
boy went to Virginia. Moved to Missouri in an early day, 
and thence came to JIadison county and settled in this town- 
ship in 1839, where he died about 1842. Mrs. JIary E. 
Montgomery, widow of Paris Montgomery, is a daughter, 
and the only one of the family residing in the county. 

Among other early settlers of about the same period, we 
record the names of the Hickles, the Bridges, the Ribolds. 
the Pettingills, and the Days. As stated at the outset, for 
some cause, there arc but few early settlers now living. It 
must be that the Boltom is not conducive to longevity. 
61 



The following are some of the claims founded on an Act 
of Congress granting a donation of one hundred acres of 
land to each militiaman enrolled, and doing duty in the Il- 
linois territory, on the 1st day of August, 1790, within the 
district of Kaskaskia : "Claim 18C9, Jean Brugier, Nicho- 
las Jarrot, 100 acres." This claim lay a little above the old 
town of Madison, and has long since been washed into the 
Mississippi. "Claim 115, Charles Hebert, [alias Cadieu) 
Nicholas Jarrot, 100 acres. Affirmed and located with 
others on the bank of the Mississippi, about two miles below 
the mouth of Mad river, now Wood " This claim is also in 
the river. " Claim 1841, Baptiste Lecompte, Nicholas Jar- 
rot, 100 acres." This claim was in section seventeen, close 
to Madison Landing, and is now in the river. Claims 18S0, 
Louis Menard, Nicholas Jarrot, section eight; and 113, Jo- 
seph Ives, Nicholas Jarrot, section seventeen, and several 
others are now submerged in the river. "Claim 545, 
David Waddle, 100 acres. Affirmed and located with 
two other militia claims in Six Mile Prairie. (This 
survey includes the militia claim of Alexander Waddle, 
and the improvement right of 250 acres of this claimant.") 
They lie mostly in sections 31 and 32. The above are sub- 
stantially the early militia claims of Chouteau. The first 
land entry was made by David Stockton, Sept. 13th, 1814, 
being several acres in sections 4, Sept. 14th, 1814. James 
Gillham entered 205. 75-100 acres in section 1. Samuel 
Gillhara entered 6.i, 37-100 acres in section 17, the 17th of 
Sept. 1814. John McTaggon on the 20th, following, entered 
several acres in section 3, Sept. 29th, of the same year, 
James Gillhara entered the southwest quarter of section 15, 
160 acres. 

From some of the reminiscences left by Samuel P. Gillham 
we are able to glean many facts of the pleasures, hardship?, 
customs, and dangers of the hardy pioneers of the western 
fronti r. In 1811, the Indians manifested a war-like spirit, 
giving evidence to the settlers that it would be wise on their 
part to prepare for an emergency in case of any hostile dem- 
onstrations on the part of the Indians. Indeed, they had 
already murdered one of the settlers, and wounded another 
near Hunter's Spring, now within the city of Alton. This 
overt act threw the people into a fever of excitement, and 
they soon gathered together and erected a block house, sit- 
uated iu section l,on the farm now owned by Lemuel South- 
ard. It was understood by all the faniilics in the neigh- 
borhood, that iu case of any signs of Indian hostility the 
news was to be spread abroad in the settlement, and all were 
to flee for protection to the Fort. In after years the build- 
ing was utilized for school purposes, as will be mentioned 
in its proper connection. No signs of the old Fort now 
exist. 

The pioneers tilled the soil but little, and their wants were 
few. A small patch of corn, enough for family use, and a 
little wheat, with a few garden vegetables, were sufficient to 
satisfy their wants, so far as food was concerned, with the 
exception of their meats, which were principally confined to 
wild game, then so plenty in all parts of the West. Deer 
and wild turkeys abounded in great numbers, and bee-trees 
wer>2 so coramju that they were found without an effort. 



474 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



They also cultivated small patches of cotton and flax of 
â– which to manufacture their garments ; the men, however, 
were dressed more or less with buckskin. Nearly every set- 
tler had his tan trough whereby he tanned his own leather 
and manufactured the material for his family shoes. Their 
means of transportation in getting what litile they had to 
market, was chiefly the ox team and wooden cart. One old 
settler says: it was as late as 1837, before he beard the name 
of "buggy." Cattle and hogs were their chief reliance for 
money. These were marketed in St. Louis, and were 
bought in the interest of the packing houses. The articles 
of barter were mainly deerskins, honey, and beeswax For 
these they would get in exchange their supply of groceries, 
a d other indispeusables for housekeeping. And yet with all 
these hardships and inconveniences, they were a happy and 
cjiitented people. 

The first marriage solemnized in this township among the 
Americans, was probably that of James Gillham and Polly 
Good, January, 1809. The groom was the second son of 
John Gillham who was one of the first pioneers of that name. 
Four children were born to this couple : Sally, Polly A., 
Kaucy and Martin. One of the oldest places of interment 
of the American settlers was a neighborhood burial ground, 
situated on the preniio,es of Samuel Gillham. It was at his 
house that church services were held in an early day, and 
his land was also the camp ground for the militia when 
called upon to muster. The first school was taught in the 
summer of 1813, by Vaitch Clark. The school-house was 
the little fort or block house, situated in section 1, which has 
already been mentioned. The second teacher was M. C. 
Cox, who taught in the summer of 1814. It seems that 
there was an interruption in ihe school until the winter of 
1817-'18, when it was again revived, and taught by a man 
named Campbell, in the same old fort; he taught at intervals 
for nearly two years, and here the young pioneers enjoyed 
their only school privileges and advantages. It is said that 
the religious privileges were much better than the educational. 
There were several pioneer preachers, and their meetings 
were frequent. The services were conducted in the cabins of 
the settlers. The earthquake of 1811 caused many accessions 
to the church, it being a prevalent idea among them that the 
world was about to come to an end, and those outside of the 
fold made haste to join the church. Several good and lasting 
conversions were made, while others, after the fear had 
passed away, soon fell back to their old habits. 

Justices of the peace, at an early day, in Chouteau, were 
unknown, because the township was so sparsely settled. 
Those in the south, having any business before a magistrate, 
would take their cases before Samuel Sqniers, in Mameoki. 
Those in the Gillham settlement would go to Alton, and 
those in the northeast, to Edwardsville. This department of 
government in Chouteau is, therefore, of a comparatively 
modern date. Among the early physicians were Doctors 
TifEu, Claypole and White. The former resided at St. 
Marys, near the mouth of Wood river, but afterward moved 
to St. Louis, where he gaiued considerable celebrity as a 
physician. Dr. Claypole lived at Edwardsville, and White 
at St Louis. The first post-office was established at ' Old 



Madison," in 1839. Moses Job was the postmaster. At 
that time a stage line extended from Galena to St Louis, 
and Madison was situated on the route. The first mill was 
built by a man named Dare, about 1819 or 1820, and located 
iu section 32, on the property now owned by William Sippy. 
It was a rude affliir, and was propelled by oxen. A small 
distillery was connected with it. About 1837, the property 
was purchased by Samuel Kinder, who ran it but a short 
time, when it went to decay. Moses Job kept the first store, 
and sold the first goods. The business was conducted at Old 
Madison ; he had a small stock suitable to the wants of his 
customers, and also handled the mail for the people in that 
vicinity. This was in 1839. It was near this place that the 
first church-house was built in about 1<S4(), by the Baptist 
denomiualion. It is a small frame building without much 
architectural pretensions. It is yet standing, but in a condi- 
tion so dilapidated that it is not occupied for any purpose. 
It withstood the flood of 1844, and if it had not been situated 
some distance from Old Madison, it, like the rest, would have 
been in the river some years ago. The remains of an orchard 
stand near the bank of the river at this point, and some of 
the trees had recently toppled into the flood, wish the roots 
still clinging to the soil in which they had been planted. 

But one village plat has ever been placed upon record 
from this township. There are two or three little hamlets 
situated in various parts of its territory, where a small busi- 
ness is transacted. 

MITCHELL STATION 

Was laid out by the C. & A. Railway Company, and is situa- 
ted in the northeast quarter of section 33, and the north- 
west quarter of section 34. The town contains two general 
stores, one of which is owned by the firm of Hinze & 
Krueger, and the other is kept by Henry Reinamaun. 
Henry Quinn owns a blacksmith shop, and also keeps a 
grocery store. Meat market, A. Rapp, proprietor ; physi- 
cian, D. E. Smalley ; post-master, Robert Krueger. The 
little village may boast of a go ,d Catholic church building 
and parsonage. Father Kaenders is the officiating priest. 
The town lies on both sides of the Chicago & Alton, Wabash, 
St. Louis & Pacific, and the Indianapolis & St. Louis rail- 
roads, and with such facilities will in time, undoubtedly, 
become quite an important point. Old Madison, which has 
already been mentioned, was a little hamlet established 
about 1830, by Nathaniel Buckmaster and John Montgom- 
ery, and situated in section 17. In its glory it contained a 
store, blacksmith and wagon shop, post office, and one saloon. 
It stood upon the sand, the floods came, and it is no more. 
The present Madison situated one-fourth mile below was laid 
out the same year that old Madison was washed away, 1865. 
Amos Atkins built a store-house and placed a general stock 
of goods in it, and was the proprietor for some time, but 
afterward sold out to his son-inlaw, AVilliam Harshaw, who 
is the present proprietor. There are also here a blacksmith 
and wagon shop. The former is conducted by John Link, 
and the latter by R. E, Shultz. 

Salem, another hamlet, is located in the northeast corner 
of section 1. It received its name from the old Salem 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



475 



church, which is situated just across the line iu Wood River 
township. The place was subsequently named Gillhara. In 
l'<74, J. K. Fdhaestock opened a store here, and the fol- 
lowing year a post office was established and called Wanda. 
It is now known also by the name of Salem. Mr. 
Fahnestock still conducts the store, and is postmaster. 

Bush Corner is located in section 16, and contains two 
grocery stores, one kept by Mrs. H. Marsh, and the other 
by Henry Oldenburg. Saloons are conducted in connection 
with the stores. The following named persons have repre- 
sebted the township as members of the county boanl : Amos 
Atkins was elected in 1876, and served until 1878. D. A. 
Pettingill elected ia 1878, and served one term. Amos 
Atkins re-elected in 1879, has served to this date, 1882, 
being the present incumbent. 

Chouteau has had many ups and downs since its first set- 
tlement. The floods have at intervals made havoc with 
the products and improvements of the people, and the Mis- 
sisfcippi, like a cancer, is continually eating at its vitals. 



Even within the last eight years, serious inroads have 
been made, especially in sections 11, 12, and 17. A part of 
the estate of Wm. Emert, nearly the whole of the property 
of Henry Hoberg, L. V. Bogy, F. M Christy, and about a 
half mile of the American Dike in see. 17, are now in the river. 
The people of Chouteau manifest a great deal of pluck and 
energy in securing their farms from inundations. They employ 
a system of drainage that they may be enabled to cultivate 
their lauds as early iu the season as possible. The construction 
of the American dike was a great enterprise, and was completed 
in 18G6, at an exj)ense of $100,000. It commences in section 
9, and extends southward through the entire township, fol- 
lowing the course of the river and Chouteau slough, and 
thence it passes into the township below. Its entire length 
is twenty-one miles, with an altitude from three to twenty 
feet. This dike has been of immense value to the husband- 
men of the Bottom. Indeed, it is the salvation of their in- 
dustries, and with its aid Chouteau ranks with the first land 
in the county for productiveness. 



FORT RUSSELL. 




I HE early history of this township dates 
back over three-quarters of a century, 
its first settlement commencing as early 
as 1803. When township organization 
was adopted in 1876, the commissioners 
gave this territory the name of Fort 
Russell, in honor of the old fort which 
was situated in section 34, on the premi- 
ses now owned by the heirs of John S. 
Wheeler deceased. This fort was erected early in the fall 
of 1812, under the direction of Gov. Edwards, who was then 
the executive officer of Illinois Territory. This frontier 
post was made the headquarters for military stores and mu- 
nitions of war by the Governor. It was named Fort Rus- 
sell, in honor of Col. Wm. Russell, a regular commissioned 
officer ill. the United States army. He was placed in com- 
mand of a regiment, consisting of ten companies of 
rangers for the purpose of protecting the frontier against the 
depredations of the Indians, who had taken the war path 
in the interest of the English then at war with the United 
States. Gov. Reynolds in his history entitled "My Life and 
Times," says, that the fort was supplied with the cannon re- 
moved from old Fort Chartres, and with these and other mili- 
tary decorations, Fort Russell blazed out with considerable 



pioneer splendor. The pickets of tlie stockade remained 
here for several years after the war. George Belk, now resi- 
ding in Oraph-Ghent township, has in his possession a barrel 
in a good state of preservation that was manufactured from 
the white oak pickets surrounding the fort, by Joseph New- 
man, the grandfather of W. E. and J. R. Newman. 

This is one of the best townships in Madison county ; 
the land lies high and rolling, and the splendid farms 
and farm-houses form a landscape beautiful to behold. 
AVheat is the staple product. An eastern man ouce 
visiting the central part of the state of Illinois, said 
in looking over the country, that all he could see was 
corn and sky, but the product is changed here, and the ex- 
clamation would now be, nothing but wheat and sky. The 
soil is mainly a rich clay loam, with a small sprinkling of 
sand, and in some localities gravel appears at the surface. 

Liberty prairie, lying between Cahokia and Indian 
creeks, is very fertile and finely improved, while in an early 
day it was considered worthless and uu])ro(luctive as com- 
pared with the heavy timbered land situated near the water 
courses. Originally the township was about two-thirds tim- 
ber, but at this time it is nearly cleared away, and fine farms 
now occupy the place of the forest. 

Fort Russell, town 5-8, is bounded on the north by More 



476 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



township, on the east by Hamel, south by Edwardsville and 
west by Wood River. Prior to township organization this 
territory comprised a part of Edwardsville, Oraph-Glieut and 
Bethalto precincts. It is now just six miles square, and con- 
tains upwards of 23,000 acres of land. The natural drain- 
age of the township is very good, the northeast bfiug drained 
by Paddock's creek, while in the southeast the Cahokia 
winds through sections 13, 24, 25, 26, and passes out in sec- 
tion 35. The western portion is drained by Indian creek 
and its tributaries. This stream receives its name from the 
fact of its being in an early day the grand camping ground 
of the Indian-. The bottom was very fertile, and contained 
a bountiful growth of native grass, hence it became a 
favorite stamping ground for the natives. An Indian vil- 
lage was once located on the land now owned by Wiley 
Preuitt in section 18. Arrowheads, stone axes and other 
relics of the Indians may be found to this day along the 
creek. Tiling is being introduced to a considerable extent, 
so there is but little if any waste land now in the township. 
The railroad facilities are limited ; the AVabash, St. Louis & 
Pacific railway enters the township in the southeast, in 
section 24, and passes out in section 25. The I. & St. L. R. 
R. traverses the northeast corner of section 6 ; and the 
Madison county railroad — now Wabash — touches the south- 
west. 

FIIiST SETTLEMENTS. 

The history of the first settlement, and the first pioneer 
of Fort Russell has never been placed in print until this 
time. Former historians have disagreed with regard to the 
date, and so far as the name of the pioneer is concerned, all 
are wrong, not giving the honor to whom honor is due. For 
some reason historic gleaners have placed the date all the 
way from 180G to 1810 ; and have further recorded that 
Major Isaac Ferguson was the party who blazed the way for 
coming generations. We do not wish to clip the laurels 
from any of the early settlers, but facts are stubborn, and 
we must record the events of history as they are, without 
veering from the path of truth. To Isaiah Dunnagan 
belongs the honor of being the first settler of what is now 
Fort Russell. He was a native of Georgia, and came to 
III nois in 1803, and squatted in section 31, a little north 
and east of the old Salem Church, situated just over the line 
in Wood River. He had a wife and two children, Joshua, 
and Thomas. Their first home was a little log cabin, but he 
afterward improved a small farm and built a good log 
house. Four children were born here, Louisa, Abner F., 
Joseph C, and Isaiah Jr. Mr. Dunnagan died in 1814, at the 
old home. Mrs. Dunnagan lived until 1834; but before 
her death she entered 40 acres of land for each of her 
children in sections one and twelve in Chcniteau township. 
Only one of the children are now living, Joshua, who re- 
sides in Jlontana Territory ; two of whose daughters are 
residents of Alton. Liuisa has one daughter residing at 
Bethalto, wife of Esquire \V. L. Piggott. The widow of 
Joseph C, is among the oldest residents of Chouteau, men- 
tion of whom will be found in the chapter of that township. 

From the best evidences, after a careful research, Joseph 
Kewraau was the second pioneer in this territory, having 



settled here as early as 180 1. He was a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, and with his wife — nee Rabb, — and f )ur children. 
Zadock, Maria, John and Andy, left their native state for 
the purpose of trying their fortune in the wilds of the Wtst. 
They reached Cincinnati, Ohio, where the mother and chil- 
dren, in company with several other families who were then 
pushing westward, came across the country on pack horses, 
often being obliged to swim their horses across the swollen 
streams, and to convey the women and children over in bark 
canoes, constructed for the occasion. At one stream they 
were delayed for a week or more, and suffered much from 
the lack of provisions. Among the families of these hardy 
few were the Fords, one of whom (Thomas), afterwards be- 
came the Governor of the state of Illinois. Mr. Newman 
constructed a small fl.t boat at Cincinnati to convey his 
goods and chattels, and thus made his way down the Ohio 
and up the Mississippi rivers, stopping at St. Louis. He 
then joined his family, when they came to what is now Fort 
Russell township, and squatted in section 34, on the property 
now owned by the heirs of J. C. Burroughs and C P.Smith. 
He constructed a pole cabin and moved into it where they 
lived for some timf>, when he built a comfortable hewn log 
house. The old gentleman was a mechanical genius, 
it having often been said that he could construct almost any- 
thing from wood with the most meager set of tools. As early 
as 1819, he had constructed a turning lathe, and also did the 
coopering for his neighborhood. One child was born to the 
family after coming to the county, Emily, who afterwards 
became the wife of Robert Clark. Mr. Newman served as 
the first road overseer in the county. He was a useful man 
in the community in the day he lived, and died about 1825, 
leaving many warm friends to cherish his memory. 

Zadock, the eldest of the family, and the father of J. R. 
and Wm. E. Newman, married Miss Martha Ewing, in 1810. 
The ceremony was performed by the Rev. William Jones, 
and the marriage was probably the first solemnized in the 
township. T\Irs. Newman was a native of Virginia, and 
with her parents in an early day, moved to Kentucky, and 
thence to Illinois. She died at their old home in section 
34, in 1828. After his wife's death, Mr. Newman subse- 
quently married Mrs. Sarah Cotter, widow of Abner Cotter, 
and afterwards moved to Missouri, where he died in 1864. 
Six children were born by the first marriage — only two of 
whom are living, J. R., and William E., who are prominent 
farmers, residing in section 11, Fort Russell township. The 
third improvemeut was made by the pioneer. Major Isaac H. 
Fero-uson, who is usually credited with being the first settler 
of the township. He emigrated from Kentucky here in 1806, 
and settled in section 18, on the land now owned by James 
Jones. In about 1806 or 7 he sold out his improvement to 
William Jones, and removed to what is now Marine town- 
ship. The family consisted of his wife and two children, 
Melinda and John L. Mellnda died in St. Jacobs in 1880, 
and John L died two years before in Marine. Major Fer- 
guson had command of a little fort in St. Jacobs during the 
war of 1812, and it was here that he gained his military 
title of Major. He left the county in 1842. and moved to 
Texas. When the war with Mexico broke out, he was 



HISTORY OF ITADISOIf COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



477 



among the first to enlist in the cause. He contracted an 
illness while in the service, and die<l in the city of Mexico. 

B,ev. William Jones, who bought the claim of Major 
Ferguson, was b)rn in Virginia, and in an early day 
migrated to Kentucky, and thence to Tennessee. From 
that state he came to Illinois about 1806, and located on 
the Sand Ridge, near Alton Junction. A few years later 
he bought out Ferguson, and moved on to the claim. It 
was then but a small clearing, co taining but ten acres of 
land, and a cabin. His family then consisted of his wife 
and five children, Martin, John, Laviua, Letitia, and AVil- 
liam. Seven other children were born to the family after 
coming to the state. Only one of this large family is now 
living in the county, James, who resides in section 18, on 
the old pioneer farm of his father. William Jones was an 
active and prominent man in his day, having been one of 
the pioneer teachers of the gospel, and organized one of the 
first church societies in the county. He served as county 
commissioner in 1820, besides filling other places of honor 
and trust in later days. He died at the old homestead in 
1844, at the advanced age of 73 years. Mrs. Jones died 
several years prior to her husband. Both are buried in the old 
cemetery in Wood River township, situated in section 24. 
In the days of Indian troubles a block house was built on 
the north half of section 18, upon the land then owned by 
Martin Preuitt, father of Solomon Preuitt, who died but a 
few years ago. In the spring of 1817, the fort was taken 
down and removed to the premises of William Jones, and 
from the information given by James, his son, it would 
appear that at that time it was used for a residence by the 
Jones family as the latter informs us, that it was in this 
block house that he was born. Ephraim Woods, a brother- 
in-law of the Rev. Jones, came to the township soon after Mr. 
Jones and settled in the same neighborhood. His wife was 
a sister of Solomon Preuitt. Robert Wood, residing at 
Bethalto, is a son of Ephraim, and the only one of the 
family living in the county. John Finley came from 
Virginia, and settled here about the same time as Mr. Woods. 
He settled in section 20, but removed to Green county, 
Illinois, in an early day. He was one of the first justices of 
the peace in this part of the State, having been appointed 
as such by Gov. Edwards in 1810, when Illinois was one of 
the frontier territories. Jacob Linder and family, came to the 
county and settled near the Finleys in the same year, but 
removed to parts unknown soon after the war of 1812. No 
further history of the family is obtainable at this time. 
Another pioneer was John Springer, who was born in Har- 
rod"s Fort, Kentucky, in 1784. He emigrated from Wash- 
ington county of that State to Illinois in the fiill of 1810, 
and stopped in what is now Bond county, on Shoal Creek, 
near Greenville. When the Indian troubles commenced, 
two years later, he, with other families of that section, took 
refuge in the old Jones' Fort. In the fall of 1814, he 
moved to Madison county, and settled in section 30 of this 
township. When he first came to the state he drove a 
four-horse wagon, in which was stowed his little family, and 
household goods. Three extra horses were brought along, 
but during his stay on Shoal Creek, they were all stolen by 



the Indians. He manufactured a one horse cart, and with 
this outfit brought his family, consisting of his wife and 
three children, Sirah A , Elihu, and Susannah, to Fort Rus- 
sell. He constructed a substantial hewed log house on his 
laud, and was as comfortably situated as the pioneer times 
could make him. Mrs. Springer died in the summer of 
1825, and the following year Mr. Springer again married, 
his wife's maiden name being Elizabeth Byrd. By this 
union ten children were born, Thomas O., William M. T., 
Martha E., Levi C, Nancy E., Emily P., John W., Lu- 
cinda, Joshua S , and Joseph E. Only three of the family 
are now residents of the county. Thos. O. resides at the 
old homestead in section 30. His neat farm residence is 
built nearly upon the very ground that the old pioneer log 
house occupied. Mr. Thomas Si)ringer has represented his 
township in the county board, and is one of the leading 
citizens of the county. Levi C. Springer lives in Godfrey, 
and Emily P., wife of R. C. Gillham, resides in Edwards- 
ville township. 

Early in the summer of 1849, the cholera broke out in 
this neighborhood, and John Springer, the pioneer, and his 
wife were both stricken with the dread malady, and died 
only a few hours apart. They were buried the same day, 
and one grave became their sepulchre. Seven other deaths 
occurred within a week, and many more were afflicted. In 
fact, so extensively did it prevail in this neighborhood, that 
there were scarcely enough well persons to bury the dead 
and take care of the sick. And what made it more serious 
for the people, it was in the midst of harvest, and it was 
almost impossible to procure hands sufficient to secure the 
crop. Many are the woful narratives related by the old 
citizens of the hardships and afflictions of that summer. 

One of the leading and prominent early S'ttlers was 
Gershom Flagg. He was born in the State of Vermont in 
the fall of 1792, and moved with his father to Richmond, 
Vermont, in 1800. Here he grew to manhood, and when 
he was twenty years of age, joined the Vermont militia, and 
saw service in the war of 1812. At the close of the war he 
commenced the study of civil engineering in Burlington, 
Vt. Completing his studies in 1816, he turned his face 
westward, making his first stop in Indiana. He remained 
here until the winter of 181G-'17, when he took a flat-boat 
and went to the mouth of the Ohio, and thence overland to 
St. Louis. The following spring he came over the river to 
Madison county, and located in the southeast quarter of sec- 
tion 3, town 5-8, receiving a patent of the same October '.:0, 
1823. Mr. Flagg was one of the government stall" of sur- 
veyors in this part of Illinois, about the time of its admis- 
sion into the Union in 1818, and from thenceforth became 
one of the prominent men of his times. He improved an 
excellent farm and became one of the first horticulturalists 
in the State. He aided largely in introducing grafted fruit 
in the orchards of the early settlers. His orchard of grafted 
fruit was planted in 1822, it being among the first in the 
county. As late as 1845, Solomon Robinson, of Collinsville, 
wrote a letter to the Prairie Farmer, stating " That Mr. 
Flagg, a Green Mountain boy, but not a greenhorn, under- 
took to make a farm on the prairie in Madison county, and 



478 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



was told by the settlers in the thick woods that he was crazy 
to think of cultivating land that was so poor as not to 
bear timber." This farm is situated in Liberty Prairie, and 
is now considered among the valuable lands in the county- 
111 the fall of 1827, he was married to Mrs. Jane Rich- 
niond, nee Paddock, eldest daughter of Gains Paddock. But 
one child was born to them, Willard C. Mr. Flagg died at 
the old home in section 30, in the spring of 1857. His wife 
survived him six years her death occurring in December, 
1863. Hon. Willard 'C. Flagg, their only child, was born 
Sept. 16th, 1829. He became a prominent citizen in the 
community, representing with credit his constituency one 
term in his senatorial district in the State Legislature. In 
1856, he married Miss Sarah Smith, of St. Louis, a highly 
accomplished lady. He was also an appointee of the United 
States Government as collector of revenues. He died in the 
spring of 1878, lamented by a large circle of friends. His 
widow survives him and at this writing is residing at the 
old Flagg homestead wich her three children, two daughters 
and one son. Much credit is due to her and her late hus- 
band for the data of this chapter, and other early history of 
tlie county. Willard C , her husband, had contemplated 
l)lacing in print the early history and events of Fort Russell, 
but death claimed him before his noble effort was completed. 
Mrs. Flagg has kindly furnished the writer of this article with- 
her husband's historic notes and manuscript. 

Another early settler was Gains Paddock, whose farm ad- 
joined Mr. Flagg's, and they were, therefore, near neighbors 
and were close friends until their death. Mr. Paddock was a 
native of Massachusetts, born in 1758. When in the seven- 
teenth year of his age he enlisted in the war of the Revolu- 
tion, where he served until its close. In 1786, he was married 
to Mary Wood, and the following year moved to the State 
of Vermont, where he resided until the fall of 1815. The 
Western fever then took possession of many of the people 
of the New England States, and he among others said 
" Westward Ho ! " Cincinnati, Ohio, was his objective 
point, where he arrived late in that year. Subsequently he 
removed to St. Charles, Mo., and from thence to St. Louis 
in the spring of 1817. The next year he crossed the Miss- 
issippi river, and came to Madison county where he pur- 
chased the northeast quarter of section three, now Fcrt 
Russell. Here he resided until his death, which occurred in 
the summer of 1831. Mrs. Paddock survived her husband 
nineteen years, dying the 15th of July, 1850. They were a 
family that stood high in the estimation of all who knew 
them, and were widely known for their charity and benevo- 
lence. Ten children were born to these pioneers, Jane — 
afterward wife of Gershora Flagg, Mary, Salome, — married 
Pascal P. Enos, Susan, Joanna, Sprout Wood, Julia, after- 
ward wife of Henry Reily, and secondly of E. C. Blankin- 
ship, Eveline, Orville, and Elvira. Only two of this large 
family of children are living, Susan and Eveline, who are 
residing in section three, at the old homestead. They par- 
take of the kindness and hospitality ^\hich was so charac- 
teristic of their parents. The latch-string is always out, and 
the sojourner is warmly welcomed, as was the custom of the 
olden time. The old Indian trail from Lake Michigan to 



the Mississippi river, passed just across the laud occupied by 
their present residence, and this trail, in places, from lorg 
usage, was worn to a considerable depth. Mr Paddock was 
a descendant from one of the pilgrim ancestors who settled 
in Plymouth, Mass., in early colonial times. Many of the 
relics of coins, etc., that existed in the time of the Pilgrim 
Fathers are in the possession of the Paddock sisters, having 
been passed down from generation to generation as heir 
looms of the family. 

John Estabrook, then a single man, joined with the Pad- 
docks, and other emigrants, at Marietta, Ohio, and was with 
the former in their various meanderings until they came to 
this county. He was born in Massachusetts, and in 1815, 
concluded to try his fortune in the western frontier. He 
therefore started out single and alone, and by chance 
fell in with the Paddock family as above stated. On coming 
to the county, he was favorably impressed with the appear- 
ances of the land in Madison, and especially of what is now 
called Liberty prairie. He, therefore, made his settlement 
in section fifteen. On his land he built a small log cabin, 
where he kept bachelor's hall, mainly, until his marriage 
which occurred in 1820. His wife was Miss Nancy White, 
and by their union ten children were born, John, Edward, 
Lucy A., Emeline, James, Albert, Harriet, William L., 
Clara, and Sarah ; all of whom were born in the township, 
except Clara, who was born in Wisconsin while her parents 
were in that State on a visit for the benefit of Mr. Esta- 
brook's health. Mr. E. improved a good farm and was one 
of the substantial citizens of his time. His death occurred 
on the second of May, 1881 Mrs. Estabrook survived her 
husband but a few months. They lie side by side in the old 
Liberty Prairie Cemetery. All of their children are living, 
except Lucy Ann ; only two, however, are residents of the 
county, Emeline, wife of William Gait, living in section 
fourteen, and William L., who at this writing, resides in sec- 
tion nine. 

Mr. William Gait, one of the enterprising farmers of the 
township, is a native of Scotland, and came with his father 
to America. The family then consisted of five children, 
Margaret, Elizabeth, Alexander, William, and Jean. They 
landed at New Orleans, La , in 1844, and from thence came 
to St Louis up the Missouri river. The father stopped in 
Missouri, but William and Alexander came over to Madi- 
son county, and purchased land in sections 14, 5-8. 
This was in 1845; Alexander remained here but a short 
time, and subsequently moved to Galena, where he was ac- 
cidentally killed by the kick of a horse, in 1847. William is 
the only one of the family now living, and is enjoying life 
at the old farm, highly esteemed by all who know him. 

Mrs. Gait has in her possession some of the old papers of her 
father, John Estabrook, and among them we find one, now 
rusty with age, which is the constitution of the first temper- 
ance society established in Fort Russell township, and one of 
the first in the county. This association was a branch of 
the Madison county Temperance Society, and met at the 
house of John Estabrook the 23d of March, 1833, when 
the constitution and by-laws were adopted. The following 
are the names of the persons signing that instrument : Mrs. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



479 



Sarah Newman, Miss Julia Newman, Miss Nancy Cotter, 
Mrs. Lettice White, Mrs. Rebecca Barber, Lethie Barber, 
Betsy Barber, Mrs. Nancy Estabrook, Mrs. Letitia Robin- 
son, Mrs. Elizabeth Robinson Polly Ann Robinson, Letitia 
Gordon, Miss Jane B. Robinson David Swett. David Lin- 
coln, Zadock Newman, John Estabrook, David Robin.son, 
Wm. S. B. Robinson, Charles Hubbard, Mrs. Lucinda Hub- 
bard, Louis D. Palmer, Elihu J. Palmer, John M. Palmer, 
Zeuas Webster,Mrs. Paruell Webster, Miss Cordelia Webster, 
Miss Permelia Webster, Winfield S. Palmer, John Speer, 
Mrs. Betsy Speer, Miss Rebecca Bridgeman, Thomas Fer- 
guson, Auely Stotts and Mrs. Polly Stotts. Only two of the 
above named persons are now residing in this part of the 
county, Wm. S. B. Robinson and Mrs. Jane Chapman, nee 
Robinson. 

One who figured very prominently among the pioneers, 
and who lived to see the development of his country, and 
the wilds of the AVest transformed into comfortable homes, 
was Major Solomon Prcuitt, a native of Virginia. He emi- 
grated to Illinois from Teunes ee, with his father, Martin 
Preuitt, in 1806, and located on Sand Ridge Prairie, three 
miles east of Alton, now Wood River township. It was 
here that Mrs. Martin Preuitt died in 1807. Solomon was 
the youngest of the family, and he, with his father, lived 
alone at this place fur some years. In 1813 Major Solomon 
Preuitt enlisted in the Unittd States service, and joined the 
Rangers on the frontier, where he served until the close of 
the war. Four years prior to his entering the service, he 
married Miss Rebecca Higgins, who was then seventeen 
years of age. In 1818 he moved to Fort Russell township, 
and located in section 18. It was here that his father, 
Martin Preuitt, died at the ripe old age of ninety seven 
years. In 1831, when Black Hawk and his braves took the 
war-path. Major Preuitt was one of the first to enlist in the 
cause of subduing the Indians. He was elected captain of 
a company, and served with credit until the disbanding of 
the regiment, at the mouth of Fox river. On his ar- 
rival home he was elected Major of the militia, an office 
which he held for many years with credit to himself and 
those he commanded. He was twice married, his first wife 
dying in the fall of 18J5. He afterward married Elizabeth 
Higgins, a sister of his former wife. No children were born 
by this union. Ten children were born by the first mar- 
riage, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Martin, James, Elizabeth, 
William, Nancy, Wiley and Mary, only one of whom is now 
living in Fort Russell, — Wiley, who is residing in section 
18, not far from the farm of his father. Abraham, Isaac, 
James and Nancy, wife of John Dillon, are residents of 
various parts of the county. Major Preuitt died suddenly 
at his old home on the 9th of January, 1875, at the age of 
eighty-five years. He was a history within himself of the 
pioneer times of Madison county, and if living to-day, many 
incidents and facts of those days could be recorded that the 
present historian is not able to glean. Elizabeth, his second 
wife, passed away nearly twenty years ago. They are now 
resting in the family burial-ground in section 18. 

Daniel A. Lnnterman came from Kentucky to this state 
in 1818, during the excitement of the grand influx of im" 



migratioE to the Prairie state. He first located in St. Clair 
county, where he remained for one year. The spring fol- 
lowing he came into ^ladison county, and engaged in the 
profession of school teaching. His family then consisted of 
his wife, Sally, and one son, William A. He taught his 
first school in a log cabin situated on the premises now 
owned by James Jones, familiarly known in early times as 
the Ferguson improvement. This cabin was arranged with 
two fire-2)laces, and mud and stick chimneys A log was 
cut out on one side, a few feet from the floor, for lighting 
purposes. The teacher's post in the room was also lighted 
by a small aperture made by cutting through the logs. 
William A. Lanterman, who was then attending his father's 
school, informed the writer that his first book was made by 
pasting letters upon a wooden paddle. This was a very 
convenient arrangement, as it served the purpose of a primer 
and also for correcting refractory pupils. Mr Lanterman 
continued the calling of teaching for a few years, when he 
b ught the farm of Jacob Linder, in section 19. In 1843 
he was elected county school commissioner, which office 
he filled with credit to himself and constituency. Several 
children were born to the family at this homestead. Mr. 
L. died here in the fall of 1875, being then in the eighty- 
ninth year of his age.' William A. is the only one of the 
family now living, and resides in section 16, where he owns 
a large and well cultivated farm. His family consists of 
his wife and six children, three sons and three daughters. 
Mr. L. and wife possess the hospitality of their pioneer 
ancestors, and are enjoying their old age in peace and 
plenty. 

Voluey P. Richmond, grand.son of Gains Paddock, came 
with his grandfather to the county in the year before stated. 
He was then less than a year old. His mother was Jane 
Richmond, who afterwards became the wife of Gershoin 
Flagg. At the age of twenty-nine years, Volney P , was 
married to Miss Victoria West; they have two children, 
Edward W., and Isabel G. Mr. R. now resides in section 
ten, and is a thrifty and prominent farmer. He has in his 
possession the old compass that was used by the govern- 
ment surveyor. Mr. Flagg and John Estabrook were in h's 
employ, surveying the lands of this part of the state. He 
also has a valuable relic of the Revolutionary time, consist- 
ing of a pouch and a powder horn, picked up on the battle 
field of Bunker Hill. The former is manufactured from 
moose hide, and sewed together with buckskin strings. The 
buttons, which are Uied for enolodngthe pjuch,are cut from 
rawhide. Even at this time it contains two bullets of difll'rcut 
sizes, one of which is said to be British lead and was ex- 
tracted from the body of the eoldier who wore it. The horn 
is of the ordinary size, and is engraved with the letters, bear- 
ing the name of Jonathan Lawrence. He also has in his 
possession the muster roll of Gains Paddock's company 
of Revolutionary soldiers. One who figured promiently 
in the county' was E nanuel J. West. He came from 
Indiana about 181^0, and located in section 7, on the 
ftirm now owned by F. H. Herren. lu 1824, he moved to 
Edwardsville. He had a family of five children, only one 
of whom is living. She resides in Kentucky. There arc two 



480 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



grand-children living in Fort Russell, the children ofVolney 
P. Richmond. Mr. West took an active part in politics, 
and in an early day represented the county in the Legi^la- 
ture. Later he was appointed minister to Ptru, South 
America, and died on tlie passage to that country. In his 
lifetime, and while residing in Fort Russell, he was the owner 
of several indentured slaves. They were afterwards liberated. 
Another of the early settlers, was Joseph Robinson, a native 
of North Carolina. He came to the county in 1815, and 
located in section five, Edwardsville township. He drove a 
four-horse team overland, bringing his family in a covered 
wagon so coramin in those days. His family consisted of his 
wife and three children, Margaret, Eliza, and William S B. 
John and Mary Ann, were born in this county. He bought 
160 acres of land on which was a small cabin, and here com- 
menced the life of a pioneer. Only two of the children now 
reside in the county, William S. B., and Eliza, widow of the 
late Rev. Joel Knight. The former moved to the township in 
18.'!2, and settled in section 11. Mrs. Robinson died Septem- 
ber 10th, 1879. She was Miss Letitia A. White, and from this 
marriage five sons were born, Lewis C. Sidney, W. J., J. A., 
and J. H., only two of whom reside in the township, Sidney, 
and J. H. Mr. Robinson now lives with his son Sidney. 
Edmond Owens, another early comer, was from Tennessee, 
but born in South Carolina. He migrated from the former 
state to Illinois in 1838, and first located in Fosterburg 
township, section 28. He came here with his wife and six 
children, Gaines, Anna, Susan, Elizabeth, Payton, and 
Jojiah P., only three of whom are now living in Madison, 
Liza, Gaines, and Josiab P.; the latter resides jn section 20, 
and is a prosperous farmer. His wife is one of the old resi- 
dents in the county. She was Sarah L., daughter of Martin 
Jones. 

Among others now living who are old citizens, and promi- 
nent farmers, are Luther W. Lyon, Henry Engelhart, the 
Belks, C. P.Smith, JNimrod Still well, D. C Scheer, and 
others. Henry Belk, father-in-law of Russell Newman, is 
a native of Yorkshire, England, and came to America in a 
very early day. He is now 9^ years of age, and probably 
the oldest resident citizen in the county. 

Mr. Lyon is now residing with his son-in-law, Wiley 
Preuitt, in section 18. He planted one of the first grafted 
orchards in this part of the county. He has in his posses- 
sion a relic of Revolutionary times, being a gun taken from 
the Hessians at the siege of Yorktown by his grandfiither. 
It has been remodeled by attaching a cap lock, and is in a 
good state of preservation. 

The following are among the first land entries made in the 
township. On the lath of August, 1814, Ephraim Wood, 
entered the southwest quarter of section 17. September 
12 h, 1814, Martin Preuitt, entered several acres in 
section 18, and at the same time Thomas Daniel entered 
the whole of section 20, except 160 acres. September 21st, 
1814, Isaac Hill entered 344 22-100 acre? in section 19. 
During the same month William Jones entered different 
tracts in sections 18, 19, and 20. There were quite a num- 
ber of entries made in the year 1814, but we have given 
sufficient names to show who were the first to enter their 



farms. J. L. Ferguson, son of Isaac Ferguson, the pio- 
neer, was the first born in the township. His birth occurred 
in 1807, in sectijn 20, on the farm owned by John Huron. 
The first death also occurred in the Ferguson family, about 
1807 or '8- The interment was made on the farm now owned 
by James Jones. The first school was taught by the Rev. 
William Jones in 1818, at the old block house, then situated 
in section 18, on the Jones homestead. At this writing a 
few apple trees cover the spot. The first regular school- 
house constructed was in 1819, and situated in section 20. 
A school was taught in it the same year. Abraham Amos 
and Wdliam Jones were the first to preach the gospel, the 
former being a Methodist minister and the latter a Baptist. 
The early services were conducted at the house of Isaiah 
Dunnagan, in 1809. The Rev. Abraham Amos was 
then in charge of the ministry in the interest of the M. E. 
Church in the counties of Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair. 
The first organized Sabbath-school was instituted by John 
M. Peck and William Oltwell, in the spring of 1824, at the 
house of Dunnagan. The German Lutheran denomination 
constructed the first church house in 1842, near the store of 
F. Gaertner in section 23. The second church was built by 
the Methodist congregation at Liberty Prairie, in 18.50. The 
Baptist congregation commenced their house late in the fall 
of the same year, but did not complete it until the following 
year. Both houses are yet standing. 

LIBERTYVILLE 

Is a little hamlet composed of a few houses scattered along 
the old Greenville road. At this time there is only a wagon 
and blacksmith shop, conducted by Ludwig Silland. There 
was once a store and post-office at this point, but they have 
some years since been abandoned. 

There are several well-kept public burial places in the 
township ; one of the largest is situated on Liberty Prairie. 
The ground was deeded to the county for said purpose by 
Mr. J. Scott. Another is located at Paddock's Grove, and 
still another near F. Gaertner's on the Springfield road. The 
latter is attached to the German Lutheran Church — St. 
James Congregation. 

The following are the first Justices of the Peace appointed 
or elected in the township : John Finley was appointed in 
1810; John Springer in 1813; Jesse Starkey in 1819; 
Daniel A. Lanterman, 1821; Emanuel J. West in 1822; 
and Gershom Flaggin 1825. Isaiah Dunnagan was the first 
to shoe the horses and mend the clevises and linch pins for 
pioneers. His shop was a rude afl'air, situated on his pre- 
mises in section 31. This shop was in running order as early 
as 1805. John Drum was also an early blacksmith ; his shop 
was situated in section 29. The first person to establish a 
store and sell goods was John Newman in 1818 or '19. The 
building or store-room was a little log concern, and located in 
section 14. Volney P. Richmond was the first postmaster, 
and the office was situated on the premises of Gaius Pad- 
dock, and known as the Paddock's Grove, P. O. Mr. Rich- 
mond also kept a small stock of goods at that time, combin- 
ing this business with his official duties as postmaster. This 
was in 1838. Both a water and a honse grist-mill were con- 




SOLOMON PREUITT. 



480 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



grand-children living in Fort Russell, the children of Volney 
P. Richmond. Mr. West took an active part in politics, 
and in an early day represented the county in the Legisla- 
ture. Later he was appointed minister to Peru, South 
America, and died on the passage to that country. In his 
lifetime, and while residing in Fort Russell, he was the owner 
of several indentured slaves. They were afterwards liberated. 
Another of the early settlers, was Joseph Robinson, a native 
of North Carolina. He came to the county in 1815, and 
located in section five, Edwardsville township. He drove a 
four-horse team overland, bringing his family in a covered 
wagon so common in those days. His family consisted of his 
wife and three children, Margaret, Eliza, and William S B. 
John and Mar}' Ann, were born in this county. He bought 
160 acres of land ()n which was a small cabin, and here com- 
menced the life of a pioneer. Only two of the children now 
reside in the county, William S. B., and Eliza, widow of the 
late Rev. Joel Knight. The former moved to the township in 
18 i2. and settled in section 11. Mrs. Robinson died Septem- 
ber 10th, 1879. She was Miss Letitia A. White, and from this 
marriage five sons were born, Lewis C. Sidney, W. J., J. A., 
and J. H., only two of whom reside in the township, Sidney, 
and J. H. Mr. Robinson now lives with his son Sidney. 
Edmond Owens, another early comer, was from Tennessee, 
but born in South Carolina. He migrated from the former 
state to Illinois in 1838, and first located in Fusterburg 
township, section 28. He came here with his wife and six 
children, Gaines, Anna, Susan, Elizabeth, Payton, and 
Joiiah P., only three of whom are now living in Madison, 
Liza, Gaines, and Josiah P.; the latter resides jn section 20, 
and is a prosperous farmer. His wife is one of the old resi- 
dents in the county. She was Sarah L., daughter of Martin 
Jones. 

Among others now living who are old citizens, and promi- 
nent farmers, are Luther W. Lyon, Henry Engelhart, the 
Belks, C. P. Smith, Nimrod Still well, D. C Scheer, and 
others. Henry Belk, father-in-law of Russell Newman, is 
a native of Yorkshire, England, and came to America in a 
very early day. He is now 9-1 years of age, and probably 
the oldest resident citizen in the count}'. 

Mr. Lyon is now residing with his son-in-law, Wiley 
Preuitt, in section 18. He planted one of the first grafted 
orchards in this part of the county. He has in his posses- 
sion a relic of Revolutionary times, being a gun taken from 
the Hessians at the siege of Yorktown by his grandfather. 
It has been remodeled by attaching a cap lock, and is in a 
good state of preservation. 

The following are among the first land entries made in the 
township. On the I5th of August, 1814, Ephraim Wood, 
entered the southwest quarter of section 17. September 
12 h, 1814, Martin Preuitt, entered several acres in 
section 18, and at the same time Thomas Daniel entered 
the whole of section 20, except 160 acres. September 21st, 
1814, Isaac Hill entered 344 22-100 acreS in section 19. 
During the same month William Jones entered different 
tracts in sections 18, 19, and 20. There were quite a num- 
ber of entries made in the year 1814, but we have given 
sufficient names to show who were the first to enter their 



farms. J. L. Ferguson, son of Isaac Ferguson, the pio- 
neer, was the first born in the township. His birth occurred 
in 1807, in sectijn 20, on the farm owued by John Huron. 
The first death also occurred in the Ferguson fiimily, about 
1807 or '8. The interment was made on the farm now owned 
by James Jones. The first school was taught by the Rev. 
William Jones in 1818, at the old block house, then situated 
in section 18, on the Jones homestead. At this writing a 
few apple trees cover the spot. The first regular school- 
house constructed was in 1819, and situated in section 20. 
A school was taught in it the same year. Abraham Amos 
and William Jonss were the first to preach the gospel, the 
former being a Methodist minister and the latter a Bapti-st. 
The early services were conducted at the house of Isaiah 
Duunagan, in 1809. The Rev. Abraham Amos was 
then in charge of the ministry in the interest of the M. E. 
Church in the counties of Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair. 
The first organized Sabbath-school was instituted by John 
M. Peck and William Ottwell, in the spring of 1824, at the 
house of Dunnagan. The German Lutheran denomination 
constructed the first church house in 1842, near the store of 
F. Gaertner in section 23. The second church was built by 
the Methodist congregation at Liberty Prairie, in 18-50. The 
Baptist congregation commenced their house late in the fall 
of the same year, but did not complete it until the following 
year. Both houses are yet standing. 

LIBERTYVILI.E 

Is a little hamlet composed of a few houses scattered along 
the old Greenville road. At this time there is only a wagon 
and blacksmith shop, conducted by Ludwig Silland. Tiiere 
was once a store and post-offiee at this point, but they have 
some years since been abandoned. 

There are several well-kept public burial places in the 
township ; one of the largest is situated on Liberty Prairie. 
The ground was deeded to the county for said purpose by 
Mr. J. Scott. Another is located at Paddock's Grove, and 
still another near F. Gaertner's on the Springfield road. The 
latter is attached to the German Lutheran Church — St. 
James Congregation. 

The following are the first Justices of the Peace appointed 
or elected in the township : John Finley was appointed in 
1810; John Springer in 1813; Jesse Starkey in 1819; 
Daniel A. Lanterman, 1821; Emanuel J. West in 1X22; 
and Gershom Flaggin 182-5. Isaiah Dunnagan was the first 
to shoe the horses and mend the clevises and linch pins for 
pioneers. His shop was a rude afl^air, situated on his pre- 
mises in section 31. This shop was in running order as early 
as 1805. John Drum was also an early blacksmith ; his shop 
was situated in section 29. The first person to establish a 
store and sell goods was John Newman in 1818 or '19. The 
building or store-room was a little log concern, and located in 
section 14. Volney P. Richmond was the first postmaster, 
and the office was situated on the premises of Gaius Pad- 
dock, and known as the Paddock's Grove, P. 0. Mr. Rich- 
mond also kept a small stock of goods at that time, combin- 
ing this business with his official duties as po.straaster. This 
was in 1833. Both a water and a hor.se grist-mill were con- 




SOLOMON PREUITT. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



481 



structed about the year 1815, or perhaps earlier. The 
former was built by John Newman, and his father Jo- 
seph, and situated on Indian Creek on section 28. It was 
a wonderful piece of mechanism, inasmuch as the entire 
machinery was constructed of wood, even to wooden cogs for 
the fanning mill. The machinery was utilized for both 
saw and grist-mill. It has gone with the things that were 
many years ago. Mr. John Newman also constructed the 
first frame house in the township, section 14. This house is 
now standing, and in a fair state of preservation. John Fin- 
ley built the horse-mill, and it was located in the northeast 
quarter of section 20, on the farm now owned by John Hu- 
ron. By some it is said this mill was built prior to 1815. 
John Springer introduced the first blooded stock into the 
township in 1845 It was the short horn Durham breed, 
and was imported from Ohio. The raising of horses, horned 
cattle, etc., is not made a specialty by the farmers of Fort 
Russell ; wheat is the grand production, and so well is the 
soil tilled that the people raise bountiful crops, and are fast 
gaining in wealth. For the most part, good roads and 



bridges are found in all parts of the township; two fine iron 
bridges, with stone abutments, span Indian creek. There 
are no towns in this territory, except a small portion of 
Moro, and Bethalto, the history of which will appear in their 
respective township chapters. In section 23, on the line of 
the old stage route between St. Louis and Springfisld, ap- 
pears the business house of F. Gaertner, and the blacksmith 
shop of B. Schwarzkopf A coal mine owned by Green & 
Brothers, is situated about a mile from Moro, in section 6. 
It was sunk in 1880. The shaft is 90 feet, and the coal vein 
41 feet in thickness, and is of excellent quality. The coal is 
raised by horse-power, and it furnishes coal in quantities 
only to supply local demands. 

We here append the names of those who have represented 
the township on the county board since its organization : 
John B. Gibson was elected in 1876, re-elected in 1877, '78 
and '79, serving until the spring of 1881. T. O. Springer, 
elected in 188!, and served one term. The present incum- 
bent is H. C. Lanterraan. 




BIOGRAPHIES. 



-♦-V o — %-♦- 




<:^0Ajvv\QfteJyriH7f\ 



NANCY ESTABEOOK. 



John Estabrook, ( deceased ), was born in Lexington, 
Mass., March 15th, 1799, and died at his home in Fort Rus" 
sell township, May 2d, 1881. In his youth he received a 
limited education. Desiring to improve his condition in 
life, and believing the great West offered larger and better 
opportunities to a young man who was willing to forego the 
pleasures of older countries, and endure the hardships of 
frontier life, he turned his footsteps westward and in company 
with Gershom Flagg and Paul Enos left his native state in 
1816. Arriving at Pittsburg, they bought a flat boat and 
started down the river, and after a toilsome journey of three 
mouths, arrived at St. Louis, which was then a small French 
village. Young Estabrook found work and remained there 
two years. In 1818 they came to Madison county, and all 
three invested in lands in the same neighborhood. There 
482 



John Estabrook cultivated his land until his death. He 
also engaged in other pursuits, such as milling, buying and 
selling land, speculating, etc. In 1820 he was united in 
marriage to Nancy White, who was a native of Charlotte, 
North Carolina. She died November 3d, 1881. There 
were ten children born to John and Nancy Estabrook, nine 
of whom are living, and all heads of families. Their 
names in the order of their birth are: John, Emeline 
James, Albert, Harriett, William L., Clara, Sarah, Lucy A., 
deceased. William L. was a soldier in the late war, and 
served three and a half years. He was a member of Co. 
E. 25th Regt. Wis. Vol. Infty. 

John Estabrook was, in some respects, a remarkable man. 
To quote from one who knew him long and intimately : " He 
never used tobacco in any form, never drank a glass of spirits 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



483 



or beer as a beverage, never played a game of chance or bet 
a dollar, never had a lawsuit or open quarrel with any man, 
never held an office, civil or military, never was sued and 
never failed to pay a debt — either for himself or security for 
others when called upon to do so ; never took a newspaper 
without paying the subscription in advance ; never was too 
late for the railroad cars, nor stood on the bank of the river 
and asked how long has the boat been gone. * * * * 
A man of more than ordinary strength of mind and force 
of will, he made a success of every enterprise he undertook. 
Attending to all the minutiai and details of business, he 
suffered very few losses, and his success in business was such as 
caused a constant increase of property to the close of his life. 
Judging of the future with almost prophetical vision, his ex- 
pectations rarely failed of being realized, and his iinowledge 
and judgment of character were intuitive. Strictly hon- 
est and always truthful himself, he was intolerant of decep. 
tion in others. The writer has known him well for forty- 
eight years, and has had through all these years business 



relations with him, and for him with others, and never knew 
him to vary a point from the strictest rules of honor and 
justice. Of deep religious convictions, he was a true Chris- 
tian and ever ready to aid in sustaining religious institutions. 
Though a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, 
he was truly Catholic in his views and free from sectarianism. 
Although more than ordinarily successful, he pursued no 
devious paths to acquire property or fame. An honest and 
honorable man. His sympathetic nature, his old time sim- 
plicity of life and manner, his singleness of purpose to be 
right and to do right, his dignified manner, freedom from any 
narrow or jealous feeling, regarding with sacredness and per- 
forming with fidelity all the obligations which family, society 
and religion imposed. To him death had no terror and the 
grave no victory. The funeral took place from the old 
homestead, improved by him over fifty years ago. * * * 
I We stop a moment in the whir of active life to pay this 
I merited tribute of regard to the life and memory of a valued 
friend and an old and honored citizen." 




484 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 




\--^ 




<M/.6). 




The Spriuger family in Madison county are of Swedish- 
German descent, and trace back their lineage to Otto the 
Great, Emperor of Germany, born in the year a. d. 912. 
Christopher Springer, a lineal descendent of the 21st genera- 
tion from Otto the Great, was born a. d. 1592, in Germany, 
and subsequently by cession of German territory to the 
King of Sweden, became a subject of and attached to that 
kingdom, where he became prominent in the councils of 
the King and a successful and influential officer in the set- 
tlement of treaties with foreign nations, greatly to the ad- 
vantage of his sovereign, for which he was munificently 
rewarded by grants of large landed estates by the King. 
His son, Charles Christopher Springer, the first to come to 
Amerwa, was born at Stockholm, Sweden, a. d, 1647. 
When he was twenty years of age, having completed his 
education in the Swedish language, he was sent by his father 
to London to finish his education in English, and was placed 
in charge of the Swedish Ambassador, and became an 
inmate of his family. In an unguarded moment he was un- 
luckily pressed on board an English merchant vessel. 



brought over to America and sold into slavery to an English 
planter, in the Colony of Virginia. From Ferris' history 
of the Swedes on the Delaware, page 281, we make the sub- 
joined extract of the particulars of the kidnapping of Mr. 
Springer. 

That biographer says : " Mr. Springer was in the family 
of the Swedish Ambassador in London. Driving home one 
evening in a Post-Chaise, he was seized and carried on board 
a merchant vessel in the Thames, bound to Virginia. He 
was there sold as a servant for five years ; at the expiration 
of his term of service he was set at liberty, when he joined 
his countrymen on the Delaware, and afterwards, by his 
sterling virtues and fine capacity, became honored and in- 
fluential, and was elected a Justice of the Peace in the dis- 
trict of Christiana." It was by his energy and perservance, 
together with the assistance of the minister in charge of the 
Swedish congregation, that the old Swedes church of Wil- 
mington was built about the year 1697. He served the 
church as vestryman and kept the records during his life. 
He came to America about the year A. D. 1667. He was a 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



485 



devout Christian, and a useful and active member of the 
Swedish church, aud being quite prominent in both religious 
and civil circles his memory has ever been revered by his 
countrymen. His death occurred on the 26th of ^lay, 1738, 
at the age of 91 years, and his remains now repose beneath 
one of the arches of the old Swedish church at Wilmington, 
Delaware. His grand-son, Charles Springer, was married 
to Susannah Seeds, at Wilmiuictou, Delaware, April 7th, 
1752, and soon after removed to Frederick City, JIaryland. 
where he died, leaving a family of eleven children, six sous 
and five daughters. John Springer (the second son), was 
â–  with Daniel Boone two years in his early exploring expedi- 
tion in the wilds of Kentucky, and afterwards with his 
family, wife and two children emigrated to Kentucky in 
1783, and was among the first settlers around Harrod's Fort, 
in said state. He afterward removed to Washington 
county, Kentucky, where he died 1812. His son John, the 
father of the subject of this memoir, was born in Harrod's 
Fort, Kentucky, January 8th, 1784, and was married July 
13th, 1809, in Kentucky, to Susan Sage. By this marriage 
he had four children, one of whom, Sarah A. Davidson, is 
still living. He emigrated to Illinois in October, 1810, and 
settled at Jones' Fort in what is now Bond county, Illinois, 
near Old Ripley. On the breaking out of the war of 1812, 
Mr. Springer was enrolled as a home guard, and served as first 
Lieutenant of Captain Jones' Company which was stationed 
at the Fort. In the fall of 1814, in company with Captain 
William Jones and others, he removed to Fort Russell town- 
ship, in Madison county, Illinois, and settled on the farm 
where Thos. O. Springer now resides. Here he at once en- 
gaged in the vocation of an agriculturist, and was ever recog- 
nized as one of the best and most careful farmers of his time. 
For many years he discharged the duties of Justice of 
the Peace, and was noted for his high-toned, courteous 
and impartial bearing, aud for his fidelity to the respon- 
sible trust. Always prominent in matters affecting the in- 
terests of the community in which he resided, he really 
filled a large place in public esteem. When he came to Fort 
Russell township he at once united with the Methodist 
church at Salem, and was soon after selected as class-leader 
of that society, which position he occupied and continuously 
filled to the time of his death, which occurred June 25th, 
1849. He was a man of the strictest integrity, firm in 
his convictions, an energetic and devoted Christian, and 
faithfully filling all the trusts imposed in him. His death 
created deep regret among all who knew him. His wife, 
(Susan Sage), died July 8th, 1825. On the 16th of March, 
1826, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Biggs, nee Byrd, a native 
63 



of Alabama. By the latter union ten children were born, 
to wit: Thomas O., AVilliam M. T., Levi C, Martha E., 
Nancy E., Emily P., John W., Lucinda, Joshua S., and 
Joseph E., tix of whom are still living. His wife, Elizabeth, 
died of cholera June 24th, 1849; his death occurring on the 
following day they were both buried in one grave. 

Thomas O. is the first offspring of John Springer aud 
Elizabeth Byrd. He was born on Sec. 30, T 5, R. 8, in 
Madison county, Illinois, March 2d, 1827. He was reared 
upon the farm, and obtained his rudimentary education in 
the public schools of his neighborhood, attending JIcKen- 
dree College at Lebanon, Illinois, and graduated in the 
Scientific Department of that institution in July 1849. The 
death of his parents occurring about that time, he returned 
home, and with his brothers William M. T. and Levi C. 
Springer, he succeeded in educating and providing for them 
until they became of age. The death of his parents and 
his desire to keep the family together served to modify his 
plans for the future, and threw him into the channel of 
farming, which business he has continued almost uninter- 
ruptedly to the pnsent. 

On the 10th of October, 1855, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Emily M. Thompson, daughter of John Thompson, 
of the American Bottom, in Madison county, Illinois. She 
died January 21st, 1858. There was one child born to them, 
who died August 2d, 1857. 

On the 7th of November, 1872, Mr. Springer was mar- 
ried to Miss Ella J. Randle, his present wife. She is the 
daughter of Edmund Randle, formerly of Madison county, 
Illinois. 

Politically Mr. Springer was originally an old line 
Whig, and cast his first presidential vote for Gen. Zachary 
Taylor, in 1848. On the organization of the Republican 
party he joined its ranks, and from that time to the present 
has been an active and staunch Republican. In 1856 he 
received the nomination for Clerk of the Circuit Court, and 
in the ensuing election was elected to that office. In 1860 
he was again the nominee of his party, and became his own 
successor, and held the office until December 1864. He 
made an able and efficient officer, and retired from the office 
with honor and credit. 

In September, 1880, he was appointed to fill the vacancy 

in the lioard of County Supervisors occasioned by the death 

of John B. Gibson, and in 1881 was elected by the voters of 

his township to the same position. He is a member of the 

\ order of A F. & A. M. and R. A. M., and Knights of 

I Honor. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the 

! M. E. church. 



486 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



/^t 




^i 


'/' 


i \ ,V 

-* 






Zadock Newman, was a native of Pennsylvania, as was 
also his father before him. His grandfather was a native of 
Ireland, and emigrated to America during the colonial days. 
He reared a large family of children. Of his seven sons, 
six settled io the southern states. Joseph, who was a boat 
maker came west in 1804, and located in Madison county, 
(for particulars see history of Fort Russell township). Zadock 
Newman, his son, was in his fifteenth year when his father 
brought the family to Illinois. He remained at home and 
received a fair education for those days. He taught school 
for some time, but farming was his chief occupation. He 
remained in Madison county until 1840, when he removed 
to Missouri and settled in Lawrence county, where he spent 



the remainder of his days, and died there in 1864. During 
the Indian troubles in the early history of this state and 
during the war with Great Britain in 1812, he was in the 
ranger service and helped to put down the marauding bands 
of Indians who threatened the settlements of Illinois. In 
the year 1810, he married Miss Martha Ewing, whose father 
was one of the early pioneers of the territory. There were 
six children by that union, two sons and four daughters. 
Their names are Louisa, who died in infancy ; Eliza, wife of 
Joel Johnson, a well known hotel keeper of Springfield, 
Illinois; Julia A., married Alva Beecher; J. Russell, Wil- 
liam E , and Emily M., who married William Graves. The 
two sons are now the only survivors of the family. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COINTY, ILLINOIS. 



487 






Ji 






dbLi^K lyjf â– ccK/^'i'^'M^^^^ 



One of the sub3tantial farmers of Fort Russell Township 
is the subject of the following brief biographical sketch. 
He was born in Madison county, October J9, 1818, and is 
the son of Zadock and Martha (Ewing) Newman. His 
grandfather, Joseph Newraau, settled in the territory of 
Illinois as early as 1804. He belongs to the pioneer stock, 
not only of the county, but of the state. He grew to man- 
hood in the same township in which he now lives, and has 
followed the occupation of farming throughout his life. In 
1845, he married Elizabeth Belk, daughter of Henry Beik. 
Mr. Newman and his brother, William E., are the only sur- 
vivors of Zadock Newman's family. The latter (William 



E. ) was born in January, 1821. He married Martha A. 
Harrison, and has a family of four children, whose names 
are Charles E., Eliza, Henry and Mattie Newman. In 
matters of religious faith, J. Russell Newman is a Cum- 
berland Presbyterian. He is exceedingly liberal to the 
church, and gives freely of his means to support and sustain 
it. Politically he is a Democrat. In his habits he is quiet 
and unassuming, and with a kind and honest heart, he aims 
to do all the good he can, and that without the least show or 
ostentation. He is temperate, and an advocate of prohi- 
bition. It is with pleasure that we here present this short 
sketch of one of Madison county's best citizens. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 




^rC^^:.^^ 



'A 



Was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, December 
10, 1835. His father, Samuel Smith, was born in the same 
county, Oct. 30, 1791. Hugh Smith, the paternal grand- 
father of William A., was a native of Scotland, and subse- 
quently moved to Ireland, and emigrated to Cumberland 
county, Penn., about the year 1765. He there married 
Elizabeth McCormick, the date of which was Feb. 22, 1784. 
He died March 17, 1823, and his wife died May 28, 1822. 
There were nine children. Samuel, the father of Wm. A., 
was the eldest. He came to Illinois in 1843, and stopped in 
Alton one winter, then moved to the northern part of Fort 
Russell township and purchased land in Rattan's prairie. It 
was raw and unimproved. He moved on it in 1845 and 
commenced its improvement, and thus he lived until his 
death, which took place June od, 1856. He married Ruth 
Duncan, a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, 
daughter of David Duncan, a native of the same county, 
whose father was a native of Ulster county, Ireland. She 
was born January 11, 1800, and died March 6, 1855. Her 
father, David Duncan, married Silieia Anderson. There 
were six sons and four daughters; three sons and two daugh- 
ters are yet living. William A., the subject of this memoir, 
was but eight years of age when his parents came to Illinois. 
Here he has lived, except six years he spent in Missouri 
and the time he was in the army. Soon after the war broke 
out, or in 1862, he enlisted as a private in Co. D, of the 
117th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He partici- 
pated with his regiment and company in all the skirmishes. 



/ ^£/;w56 



battles, and marches in which it was engaged, and remained 
in the service until the close of the war. He was mustered 
out and honorably discharged August, 1865. He returned 
home and re-engaged in farming. In 1869 he moved to 
Lafayette county, Missouri, and remained there until 1875, 
then returned to where he now lives, and there he has re- 
mained to the present. On the 8th of February, 1860, 
Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Polly Ann, 
daughter of William A. and Eliza Lanterman. She was 
born in Fort Russell township, June 3, 1840. By this 
union there were twelve children, of whom there are six sons 
and two daughters living. The names of the children in the 
order of their birth are : Margaret Eliza, who died in 
infancy; Ruth A , born Oct. 22, 1S62; Clara Estella, born 
May 24, 1864, and died Dec. 20, 1865 ; Frederick J. A., 
born July 6, 1866; Lewis James, born January 6, 1868; 
William Norman, born Sept. 24, 1869; Joseph E., born 
Feb. 25, 1872; Martha Letitia Harriett, born January 4, 
1874; Frankin, born April 10, 1876; Mary Elizabeth, born 
April 30, 1878, died May 24, 1878 ; John Henry, born 
March 26, 1880, died August 4,1881; Chester Marshall, 
born December 14, 1881. 

Both Mr. and Mr|. Smith are members of the old school 
Presbyterian church. PoliticaU^ifi has always voted the 
Republican ticket. Mr. SmitlqgSfcupation and business 
through life has been that of a farmer and stock raiser, in 
which he has been more than ordinarily successful. 







I^'^'^T' 



^•SP****^'' 



": V 








HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



489 





^w^/. 




One of the enterprising farmers of Fort Russell township, 
and an old settler of Madison county, was born in Fleming 
county, Kentucky, Nov. 26, 1815. The family is of Ger- 
man ancestry. His father, Daniel A., was a native of Penn- 
sylvania, and from there moved to Kentucky, where he 
remained until 1818, when he brought his family to Illinois, 
and settled in St. Clair county. One year later he removed 
to Madison, and located on section 19, T. 5-8, and com- 
menced farming. He taught school for several terms during 
the winter seasons, and was one of the early teachers in what 
is now Fort Russell. He remained in the township, engaged 
in farming and living a quiet life until his death, which oc- 
curred in 1865. He married Sarah Luman, a native of 
Kentucky. She died in 1849, leaving two sons — the subject 
of this sketch and Peter Lanterman, now deceased He 
subsequently married Mrs. Elizabeth Irwin, widow of John 
Irwin. She died October 4th, 1874. By the latter union 
there was one child, a daughter, named Elizabeth Lanter. 
man. She died March 15, 1870. The subject of this sketch 
is the sole survivor of the family. He was in his fourth 
year when his father came to Illinois, and here in Madison 
county he has passed his boyhood, manhood, and maturer 
years. 

His education was limited to the common schools of his 
neighborhood. He remained at home, assisting his father 
upon the farm, until he attained his twenty-third year. He 
then moved on a forty acre tract in section 16, and com- 
menced its improvement. To these original fortv acres he 
64 



has added, until he is now recognized as one of the substan- 
tial farmers of the township. 

On the 3d of January, 1839, he was united in marriage 
to Miss Eliza Luman. a native of Lewis county, Ky. Her 
parents, John and Polly Luman, emigrated from Kentucky 
to Madison county. Ills., in 1828. The union of Mr. and 
Mrs Lanterman has been blessed with ten children, six of 
whom are living. Their names, in the order of their birth, 
are : Polly Ann, who is the wife of William A. Smith, a 
prominent farmer of this county ; Melinda, wife of S. B. 
Waples, a farmer and resident of Montgomery county. Ills- ; 
Harriett, wife of A. G. Drennan, a farmer and resident of 
Woodburn, Macoupin county. Ills. ; William H., who mar- 
ried Miss Jennie Russell ; Edward A., and John B. Lanter- 
man. The sons are now farming upon the home p'ace. 

Both Mr. and Mrs. Lanterman are members of the Pres- 
byterian Ghurch. Politically, ^Ir. Lanterman was originally 
an old line Whig, and cast his first presidential vote for W. 
H. Harrison in 1840. He joined the Repubican party in 
1860, and has been au active supporter of that political 
organization to the present. He has held the office of Jus- 
tice of the Peace for nearly sixteen years. He was the first 
collector in the township, when the county was changed to 
township organization, and has held other offices of minor 
importance. Nearly sixty-five years have fled since Mr. 
Lanterman came to and has been a resident of the county ; 
and in all those years he has sustained the character of an 
uprisiht man, good neighbor and honest citizen. 



MORO. 




j;))ORO is situated iii the northern tier of 
townships, bounded north by Macoupin 
county, east by Oniph-Ghent, south by 
Fort Russell and west by Fosterburg. 
It comprises congressional township 6, 
range 8 ; the northern tier of sections 
being fractional. The surface is gener- 
ally rolling, with considerable timber 
along the various streams. The prairies 
are small, and extend in a northerly and southerly direction. 
Paddock's creek, Indian creek, Rocky Branch and their 
tributaries furnish a good system of drainage. They run in 
a southerly direction across the township. The soil is rich 
and productive, and the improvements are among the best 
in this part of the county. 

This portion of the county was settled at a much later 
date than the central and southern portions. We find on 
the records of land entries that Zenas Webster and S. W. 
Paddock entered the first land December 11, 1820. It was 
the N. E quarter of the S. E. quarter and the S. E. quarter 
of the S. E. quarter of section 34, eighty acres. Zenas Webster 
settled on the former tract and was the first resident in the 
township. His cabin was located near the Springfield road, 
on the east side. He resided here a number of years. The 
next settlement was made in the southwestern part of the 
township in section 19, near Rocky Branch, in the fall of 
1828, by Thomas Luman ; he came from the Wood river 
settlement, and Abraham Preuitt and others assisted in 
raising his cabin. Luman died there of fever in 1832 ; his 
widow s )on afterward married John Norton, who moved up 
on Macoupin creek, in Macoupin county. This settlement 
was soon followed by Thomas Wood, in the same year, 1828. 
He is a native of Kentucky, born in 1808, and came to Illi- 
nois in the year above named. He was then a single man 
and stopped for a short time with his uncle at Troy, in this 
county. He settled on the Springfield road, on the south- 
east quarter of section 10, where he has ever since resided ; 
he married Jane Tolon, of this county, by whom he had a 
family of thirteen children, si.K of whom are living. His 
wife died October 12, 1875, and he still survives, hale and 
hearty. 

The second land entry was made by Solomon Preuitt, 
March 30, 1830, consisting of two tracts in the southwest 
quarter of section 8, eighty acres, and was settled by his son, 
Abraham Preuitt, on the 9th day of May, 1830. Abraham 
Preuitt was born in Wood river township, October 12, 1810, 
where he grew to manhood and married Mildred Wood, 
490 



daughter of Ephraim Wood, another old settler of Wood 
river. He has been twice married, the second time to Mrs. 
Louisa Wells, in 1861, and reared a family of nine children ; 
he has two children living by his former wufe : Valentine, 
who joined the army in 1861, and still remains in the service, 
and Matilda, who married Jonathan Wood, and resides in 
the county. Mr. Preuitt is now living in the third house on 
his place ; his first was a rough log cabin, which was burned ; 
the second a hewed log house, and the present one a frame 
building. Another land entry was made February 27, 1830, 
by William Jones, the southwest fraction of section 4, 

75iVo acres, and two more in 1831, by Wood and 

James Mason. 

In 1830, Joseph Hughes came from St. Clair county and 
located in the northeast corner of section IS, in the fall of 
the year ; he brought with him a family of young children. 
About 1832 Solomon Preuitt bought him out and entered 
the land on which he had settled, and Hughes removed to 
Macoupin county. In 1831, Louis D. Palmer came with his 
family from Kentucky and settled on section 28. He was 
the father of Hon. John M. Palmer, ex- Governor of Illinois, 
who is now practicing law in the city of Springfield. He 
purchased and entered land, and improved a farm, where 
he continued to reside until 1844, when he sold his farm to 
William Cooper, and removed to Jerseyville, and sub" 
setjuently to Litchfield, where he died in 1869, in his eighty- 
eighth year. Henry Thornton Carter, a native of Tennessee, 
born June 19, 1811, came to Illinois in 1827, with his father, 
Edward Carter, who lived in Madison and St. Clair counties. 
June 6, 1833, H. T. Carter married Hannah Davis, which 
was the first marriage ceremony performed in Omph-Gheut 
township, where her father lived. In October, 1834, he and 
his young wife settled on the north half of the southeast 
quarter of section 26, of this township, which he afterwards 
entered; he died here July 21, 1844, and left a family of 
five children, all of whom are yet living. His widow con- 
tinued on the homestead, reared her children and improved 
the place, and is still living there with her son, Henry D. 
Carter, in the sixty-seventh year of her age. 

Samuel Sanuer, another proniinent arrival in 1833. was 
born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, September 
12, 1803. He was of German origin. April 26, 1827, he 
was married to Barbara Paul, and in May, 1833, tliey emi- 
grated west, and settled on the Springfield road, in this town- 
ship. A family by the name of Lathey accompanied them 
from Pennsylvania, and in partnership with them purchased 
a farm of 160 acres. After living there about seven years 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



491 



Mr. Sauiier sold his interest in the farm and purchased 
another about a mile distant, on which the family resided 
until their remova' to Shelby county in 1866. Mr. Sanner 
was a very industrious and ener<iPtic man, and succeeded in 
accumulating a competence and being owner of a fine and 
valuable farm consisting of 400 acres, situated in sections 
26 and 27. As above stated he moved with his family to 
Shelby county, this state, in 1866, where he purchased 
between two and three thousand acres of unimproved land- 
He resided there until his death, April 19, 18S0. His widow 
slill survives. John Mahuern, from Kentucky, emigrated 
to Illinois with his father, Samuel Mahuern, settling in 
Wood river in 1816 ; married a daughter of Captain Abel 
Moore, and located in Moro, in 183o, on section 18 ; he lived 
here but a short time. An Irishman, by the name of John 
Kingston, settled the Gay place, near Moro, about the same 
time in 1833, and resided here until his death several years 
afterward. 

John Speer and Low Jackson also settled in 1833. In 
May of the following year (1834), came Nirarod Dorsey, 
a native of Maryland. He was born in 1789, and went to 
Kentucky, where he married Jlatilda Dorsey, a cousin, and 
in the year above named emigrated with his family to Illi- 
nois, and settled in the northeast quarter of section 29 of 
this townshi|), where he resided until his death, in August, 
1849. His widow survived him until 1881, being in her 
eighty-eighth year. They had a family of eleven children, 
five of whom came with them to this State, viz : Samuel L., 
Edward J., Nimrod M., Susan, who married Anthony B. 
Hundley; Urath M., who married Adam Blair, and after- 
ward Minor O'Bannon, all of whom are now dead except 
Samuel L. He was born in 1814, and has lived in this 
township ever since his father settled here. He has been 
three times married, and reared a family of six children. 

Isaac Preuitt, brother of Abraham Preuitt, located on 
section 7, in 1834. He was born Aug. 14th, 1812, and mar- 
ried Susannah Braden, and reared a family, some of whom 
are residing in the county and others in the west. In 1849 
he emigrated to Texas, but returned the following year, and 
is now residing in this township. 

Jacob Preuitt was born Jan. 1st, 1815, married Clarinda 
Starkey, and settled in section 17, in 1835, and is now resid- 
ing in Texas. 

Martin Preuitt settled the William Butcher place in 
1839, and afterward sold out and moved to Gillespie, Ma- 
coupin county, where he died. James Preuitt located on the 
northeast quarter of section 17, about 1840, and is now liv- 
ing with his son, E. K. Preuitt, on the Dorsey place. These 
are all sons of the old pioneer, ^lartin Preuitt, a complete 
history of whom can be read in the Wood River history. 
In 1834, Buford T. Yager, who was born January 30th 
1806, in Virginia, settled on section 30, in the fall of that 
year He came from Kentucky, whence he had removed 
with his father, at the age of nine years. His wife, Juda 
Ann Wdhite, born in June, 1814, is a native of Kentucky. 
They had a family of thirteen children, seven of whom are 
now living in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Yager are still 
living on the spot where they settled. 



Fleming Huestis came in 1835, and located in section 1.5. 
He was born in New York in 1797, was twice married, and 
reared a large family. He died in Aug. 1876. His brother, 
Benjamin Huestis, born in the same State in 1799, came in 
1836, and entered 160 acres in section 22, where he resided 
until December 19, 1880. He was also twice married, and 
his second wife is still living on the old homestead. There 
were three children born to him, two sous and one daughter. 
William E. is residing on the home place. Benjamin L. 
Dorsey came from Kentucky, and first located near Bethal- 
to, where he remained a few years, and removed to section 
17 of Moro, settling on a beautiful little prairie which has 
ever since borne his name. This was in 1836. He resided 
here until his death in the fall of 1880. Only three of his 
family are now living in the township, viz : William, Theo- 
dore, and John. ]Mr. Dorsey was a very energetic and en- 
terprising man, and succeeded in accumulating considerable 
property. 

Frederick Meyer, a native of Germany, came to this 
country about 1836, settled in Madison county, and after- 
ward became a resident of this township. He died in 1866, 
and his widow, an old resident of the township, still survives. 

John A. Campbell, born in New Jersey in 1812, also 
settled in .section 11 in 1836, and is still residing there. 
William Cooper, J. M. Cooj)er, and Henry Cooper, three 
brothers, natives of England, came to this country and set- 
tled in Moro in the decade of 1840. After they had been 
here a short time, they brought their father and mother 
to this country. The father, John Cooper, died here, and 
their mother returned. 

Cornelius McKinney and Jonathan Smith were also early 
settlers. 

C. H. Hatcher, a Kentuckian, settled at Ridgely in 
1856. Although not an old settler in this county, Mr. 
Hatcher made a tour through the country in 1818. He 
visited most of the settlements in this county that year, and 
continued his trip to Vandalia, where he taught school for a 
short time, and the following year clerked in St. Louis. He 
was twice married, and reared a family of seven children, 
all of whom are still living. He died in 1865, and his 
widow still survives, residing in Tennessee. 

We have mentioned the names of many of the earliest 
settlers in Moro township. It is not necessary, neither would 
it be interesting to name them all, even were it possible to 
do so. Many of those who first came remained but a short 
time, and their history would be of little value. The 
permanent settlers, — those who have helped to make the 
township what it is to day, — are the ones we seek to place 
upon the historic page. 

This township has been represented in the board of super- 
visors by Elias K. Preuitt, who was elected in 1870 and 
served till 1880, when N. S. Gay was elected, and i.s tlie 
present incumbent. 

KIDOKIA', 

Is a point at the junction of the Alton and Hillsboro and 
Springfield road, in section 22, where, at one time, consider- 
able business was done. About 1850, a store was kept by 
Richard O'Bannon ; two saloons, a post-oflnce, a blacksmith 



492 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



shop, and three churches, Catholic, Christian, and Metho- 
dist. At present there ia no business transacted here. 

DOKSHY STATION, 

Is situated in section 16, on the line of the Indianapolis and 
St. Louis railroad, which is a great convenience to the citi- 
zens of the northern part of the township. There is a store 
kept by H. L Koeneman, and a blacksmith shop by Fred. 
Best, at the station. The 

VILLAGE OF MORO, 

Started with the building of the railroad through here in 
1853. It was first called Hampton, and was laid out on the 
southwest corner of the southwest quarter of section 32, and 
blocks 34 and 35, on the southeast quarter of section 31, by 
James H. Smith and James Montgomery, and plat recorded 
March 7, 1855. August 23 of the same year, the same par- 
ties made a small addition, replatted the town, and named it 
Moro. 

Hugh and James F. Smith built a frame store-house soon 
after the road was completed, and put in a general stock of 
goods. The next house was a residence, built by Samuel 
Smith, a frame two story and a-half dwelling. 

Lowder Tatman, Peter Hassinger, Mrs. Matilda Dorsey, 
and several others began building about the same time, and, 
in a year or two, quite a nice little village had sprung up. 
A large general warehouse, for shipping purposes, was also 
soon erected by James Montgomery. 



In 1856, James Montgomery and Hugh Smith erected a 
large frame three story steam flouringmill, with a run of 
three burrs. It did a good business until the winter of 1870- 
'71, when it was destroyed by fire. 

The old school Presbyterian church, a frame structure 
erected in 1852, was the first and only house of worship 
built in the village. It stands just across the township line 
in Fort Russell. There is a good one story brick district 
school-house located about three-quarters of a mile north of 
the town. It was built in 1880, and cost $2500. First black, 
smith was Mr. Skiles. 

PRESENT BUSINESS. 

General Stores. — William Montgomery, T. A. Mutchmore. 

Blacksmith Shop. — John Klaus, George Griffith. 

Shoemaker Shop. — Carl Boettger. 

Tailor. — William Zoelzer. 

Wagon Maker. — T J. Sapp. 

Saloon. — George Schubert, William Meyer. 

Post Master. — William Montgomery. 

Physician. — Frank Gere. 

Brick Yard- — Henry De Werff. about three quarters of a 
mile north from the village, manufactures a very fine quality 
of brick. Has a well arranged yard with kiln, and burns 
about 140,000 brick per year. 

There are two or three coal mines, operated by horse- 
power, in the vicinity of Moro. The vein is about five feet 
thick, and coal is found about thirty feet from the surface. 



â– ^^^^^^^^^3^^- 



BIOGRAPHY. 



WM. C. FORMAN, 

Was born in Lincolnshire, England, February 28th, 1833, 
being the son of Samuel and Eliza Forman. When an in- 
fant, his mother died. His father married again, and in 
1845 emigrated to America, with his wife and two children, 
William C. and Alfred. Samuel Forman came directly to 
Madison county, and settled in Fort Russell township, where 
he still remains, having followed the profession of farming 
since the period of his arrival in this country. The subject 
of this sketch remained at home with his father until his 
nineteenth year; he then went west, and for nine years 
was principally engaged in mining ope>-ations in Nevada, 



which proved very successful. Immediately after Mr. For- 
man's return from the mines he sought an opportunity for 
investing his capital, and became the owner of the farm he 
now occupies, in Moro township, formerly known as the 
Nimrod Dorsey farm. An illustration of the same can be 
seen on another page of this work. Mr. Forman has con- 
fined himself exclusively to fiirming operations since his 
return from the West, and has his land in an excellent state 
of cultivation. In 1874 he was united in marriage to Miss 
Sarah Tipton, daughter of Elijah Tipton, a former resident of 
Macoupin county. By this union there has been born a family 
of fi)ur children, Samuel E , William, Nellie, May and Sarah. 
Politically Mr. Forman is a staunch Republican. 



MARINE. 




"1^ HIS beautiful, fertile and highly improved I 
township, now covered with valuable 
farms, dotted with handsome and com- 
fortable homes, and commodious barns, 
teeming with their rich stores of agri- | 
cultural wealth ; and the large herds of 
stock gri-zing upon the rich herbage of 
the meadows, are but the indices to the 
people, who are now reaping and enjoy- 
ing the fruits of those pioneers, who bore 
the brunt and withstood the privations incident to the early 
settlement and development of a wilil region. The early 
history of the township precedes the admission of Illinois 
into the Union as a State. Among the early settlers were 
found the athletic and hospitable Kentuckian ; the hardy 
backwoodsman from the mountains of Tennessee ; the 
thrifty and bargain-driving New Englander; the Knicker- 
bocker, and the chivalrous gentleman from Virginia. The 
present generation are a people of intelligence, education 
and enterprise. They are now enjoying the products and 
blessings of a civilized community, surrounded by all the 
necessaries, comforts and even luxuries so essential to man's 
happiness and contentment. They are the debiors of the 
sturdy yeomen of pioneer days for much of what they now 
enjoy. Through the etforts of the pioneer, the land has 
been made to blossom and bring forth the fruits of civiliza- 
tion and prosperity ; and while history may bear their 
names down to posterity, the early struggles with untamed 
nature and its final subjugation through their labors and 
the results thereof erect a lasting monument to their mem- 
ories. 

Marine township lies east of the central portion of the 
county, and is bounded on the north by Alhambra, on the 
east by Saline, on the south by St. Jacobs and on the west 
by Pin Oak. In form it is a perfect square, and contains 
thirty-six full sections. The township received the name 
of " Marine Settlement " at a very early day from the 
settlement of so many sea captains within its limits. 

The surface is beautiful rolling prairie, save that portion 
bordering on the water courses, which was formerly covered 
with heavy forest^ ; but time, the fertility of the soil, and 
the necessity of man, have transformed nearly all into 
fertile farms. The soil is rich, and produces large yields of 
the cereals and hay. Sugar Fork of Silver Creek, which 
enters at section three and traverses the township from north 
to south, finding its way out in section 33, several small 
streams upon each side, and the east Fork of Silver Creek 
65 



in the southeast corner, afford an abundant supply of pure 
water for stock, and excellent drainage, as well. 

PIONEER SETTLEMENTS. 

Major Isaac H Ferguson and John Warwick, brothers- 
in-law, were the first to intrude upon unbroken nature in 
this town.ship. They built their cabins in the edge of the 
timber on the southwest quarter of section 33, in 1813. 
Mjjor Ferguson came to this section of the country as an 
officer in the United States army, as early as 1806, and 
lived in the vicinity of Fort Russell for several years. 
He was a ranger during the war of 1812. He con- 
tinued his residence in the township until 1842, when 
he sold his home to Jacob Spies, and went to Texas. When 
war was di clared against INIexico, though an old man of 
seventy five years of a^e, he enlisted and participated in the 
war; and while in the city of Mexico, was taken sick and 
died. His children were Melinda, who married Nicholas 
Kyle, and died in St. Jacob's township in 1880 ; John L., 
who was born in a block house in Fort Russell township in 
1807, married Elizabeth, daughter of Captain Curtis Blake- 
man, Jr., and lived in Marine township, continuously, 
until his death, which occurred in 1878: his widow still sur- 
vives him ; Lucinda, married Henry Riggiu, and subse- 
quently became the wife of Squire Peterson, and now re- 
sides in Bond county ; Elizabeth Ann, became the wife of a 
German, named John; Minerva Ann, married Thomas 
Uzzell. The two last named, with the other children, Wil- 
liam, Justice, Nicholas and Mary, accompanied their father 
to Texas. 

John Warwick remained but a short time, .sold his im- 
provement to Capt. Blakeman and left^the settlement. 
John Laird was also an early settler and the first magistrate 
in the settlement, receiving his appointment from the Legis- 
lative Council. He left the township prior to 1819. Other 
pioneers who made permanent settlements were John Woods, 
George Newcomb, Joseph and Absalom Ferguson, Aquilla 
Dolahide, Abraham Howard and John Dean, who settled in 
1813 and 1814 and Chester Pain, John Campbell John 
Giger and Thomas Breeze in 1815. On the 19th day of 
September, 1817, a company left their plea.-'ant homes in 
New York city, and turned their course westward, to seek 
homes in the vicinity oi' Edwardsville, Illinois, where some 
of the party, the Masons, had been the previous year, and 
brought back favorable reports of the new country. Row- 
land p. Allen, his wife and son, George T. ; a nf gro boy, 
Henry, and a negro girl, Jane, servants given to Mrs. Alien 

4J3 



494 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



by her father in New York. Paris Mason, wife, a sister of 
Mrs. Allen, one child and two negro servants ; James Ma- 
son and family ; Hail Mason and family ; Elijah Ellison, 
â– wife and Towuscud, John, and Jacob, his sons ; Richard 
Ellison ; Theophilus W. Smith, an able lawyer, and after- 
ward a judge, with his family ; William Townsend, Daniel 
Tallman and several young men composed this party of 
pioneers. They came in wagons to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, 
and there purchased a large flat boat, in which they pur- 
sued their journey as far as Shawneetowu, where they dis- 
embarked, continuing their travels by wagons to Edwards- 
ville, where they arrived on the afternoon of December 23, 

1817, and found a comfortable log house provided for their 
reception, where they spent the winter. In the spring of 

1818, Rowland P. Allen and Elijah Ellison moved into 
Marine, and on section 28 built their cabins, entered the 
land together, inclosed the same and farmed in common for 
many years, the land interests not being divided until 1838. 
Rowland P. Allen lived on his farm several years, then 
went back to New York, returned to the township again to 
live on his farm and ultimately moved to Alton, where he 
died in 1858. Mr. Allen was twice married, but only raised 
one son, George T., whom he brought with him when he 
first came west, and who in later years represented Madison 
county in the General Assembly in 1855, was a surgeon in 
the army during the late war, and afterward had charge of 
the United States Hospital at St. Louis, for many years, 
where he died. 

Elijah Ellison lived on the farm, which he improved until 
his decease, which occurred in 1858, his wife having died 
thirty years previously. He left a family of six sons and two 
daughters: Townsend, living in St. Paul, Minnesota ; John, 
who lives in this township and is the oldest settler now liv- 
ing in it, being well and favorably known by all the old 
settlers of the county and having honorably filled the re- 
sponsil)le ofiice of justice of the peace for twenty-one years; 
Jacob, who improved a fine large farm in the northern part 
of the township, when he died August 1, 1881 ; William 
was a farmer of this township, until his death in June, 1866; 
Mary Jane was killed by lightning while sitting in her 
father's house in 1838 ; she was a young lady of nineteen ; 
Smith lives in Taylor's Falls, Minnesota, and has never 
married ; Phujbe married J. Carlton for her second hus- 
band, and now resides in Champaign, Illinois, while George, 
the youngest, died at Du Quoin, while on his way home 
from the army in which he was a soldier during the late 
war. 

During the year 1819, Captain Curtis Blakeman, Captain 
George C. Allen, James Breath, Justice Deselherst and Cap- 
tain David Mead,"'all _old sea captains, arrived in the town- 
ship. They all had families, and came from New York, 
New England and New Jersey. They were all supplied 
with money, and were able to live comfortably. Captain 
Blakeman located on the Louis Spies place, which had been 
previously occupied by an early settler named John Scott, 
a native of Tennessee. Captain Blakeman brought with 
him a four-horse wagon, which was driven by David Thorp, 
a two horse wagon, driven by Henry B. Thorp, and a one- 



horse rockaway driven by James Sackett. Captain Blake- 
man and his companions were all strong Whigs, and while he 
was a member of the Legislature the question as to whether 
the state would become a free state or a slave state claimed 
the attention of the members. Captain Blakeman and 
George Churchill were the Whig members from this county, 
and E. J. West was the representative of the Democratic 
party. A vote was about to be taken; the legislature 
was very evenly divided, requiring the presence of every 
member of the Whig party to sustain their position. At 
this juncture. Captain Blakeman received a message to re- 
turn home in haste, as a favorite child was lying dangerously 
ill and momentarily expected to die. He went to his col- 
league, E. J. West, and requested him to pair with him 
stating the reason, and was flatly refused. Being unable to 
secure the desired and reasonable favor, he publicly stated 
that he would not leave his post in the legislature even 
though his entire family were dying. A Democratic mem- 
ber, by the name of Dr. Alexander, from the southern por- 
tion of the state, hearing of the circumstance, took pity on 
the old captain and paired with him. Mrs. John L. Fergu- 
son, of Marine, a daughter of Captain Blakeman, is now 
the only survivor of his family, but also of those of the 
same name. Elijah Blakeman, a brother of the captain, 
came with him in a two-horse wagon, bringing a wife and 
five children. He improved a farm— now known as the 
Sutter place— in section thirty-two. He afterward returned 
to the east with his family, and in 1840, he again came into 
the county and remained until his death, which occurred 
some seven years later. James Sackett, who now lives in 
Marine, came with Captain Blakeman. He was a boy of 
only fifteen years, and drove the captain's rockaway. He 
married a Miss Parker, whose father, Andrew Parker, came 
into the township in 1829. Mr. Sackett pursued the voca- 
tion of a farmer, until about nine years ago, when he moved 
into the town of Marine. He raised a family of six chil- 
dren, and lost his wife in 1866. About four years ago he 
lost his eyesight ; but his memory remains intact, and he 
can with much accuracy relate the incidents of the early 
settlements, and a conversation on the events of pioneer 
times is a source of much enjoyment to the old gentleman. 
Justice Deselherst, who at one time had been a mate on a 
ship, commanded by Captain Blakeman, came into the town- 
ship at the same time. With his family he improved the 
Frank Frisse place, and was the second justice of the peace 
in the settlement. During the excitement caused by the 
discovery of lead at Galena, he went to that place and never 
returned. M. Botchford, Solomon Curtis and Wheeler Cur- 
tis, each with families and two-horse wagons, came at the 
same time. Captain George C Allen brought two teams, 
one driven by himself and the other by William Coon. 
William May, a carpenter by trade, resided here about the 
same time, but soon returned to his former home in the east. 
A few years later, William Goodsell and fiimily came from 
the east, but dying about three years subsequent to his arri- 
val, his family returned to their former home. James 
Ground, an Englishman with a liberal education, settled on 
section nineteen, in 1820; and the same year built a com- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



495 



fortable frame dwelling, the first in the township. The 
house is still standing, and is used as a residence. He 
raised a family of three boys and two girls, none of whom 
are residents of the eount_v, though some of his grand- 
children are residents of different portions of it. i^lizur 
Judd, a native of Connecticut, came into the state at an 
early day, and first settled at Old Ripley, Bond county. In 
1822, he moved into this township, located on section nine, 
the place now being known as the George Accola place, 
where he resided until his decease. For many years he 
kept a tavern and the post-office on the state road. His 
death was sudden and caused by heart disease. He left a 
widow, three sons, Albert H., who settled and improved the 
south east quarter of section four more than forty years ago, 
and there died in 1865 ; George B., who lived on the old 
home place for many years, then moved to Minnesota, where 
he was extensively engaged in lumbering, and where he 
died ; Lewis S-, improved a place north of the homestead of 
his father, and resided there until his death, in 1849. The 
daughters were Sarah, who married and now lives in Minne- 
sota, and Emelinc, now deceased. Among the seventy-two 
families who came in a body in 1818, were John Baruaby, 
Lefferd French, Jacob Juhnson, two families by the name of 
Matthews, the Andersons, Shinns and the Balsters. Adam 
Kyle was among the earliest to settle out in the prairie, and 
as early as 1817, he improved the Jacob Schneider place on 
section twenty-nine. He raised a family of five sons, all of 
whom made homes for themselves in St. Jacob's township ; 
but all are new dead. Davidson Gooch, whose father 
settled near Edwardsville at an early day, improved a place 
in the southwest part of the township as early as 18:^5. 
He left one son, Thomas, who has been dead several years. 
The pioneers on the east side of Silver creek were Ambrose 
Houser aud his father; Felix, Michael, Henry and Joseph 
Deck aud their father, all of whom were natives of Vir- 
ginia, antl thrifty farmers; Mathias Long, John Ambuhl 
and William Geiger. Reuben Reynolds and Benjamin 
May were early settlers on the Vandalia road. John Har- 
rington, whose widow lives on section five, came with his 
lather, Whitmil Harrington, one of the early settlers of the 
county. Mr. Harrington was an extensive trader and 
lived in many parts of the county. He raised a family of 
ten children : Nancy, John, William, Charles, Sarah, Jane, 
Enoch, Parmelia, Harrison and Susan. Mr. Harrington 
died while on a visit to his daughter in Troy, his home 
being in Macoupin county at the time of his death. Jor- 
dan AV. Jeffress was a native of Virginia, and came into 
the township in 1834, and located where the town of Marine 
now stands. He, in company with George Welsh, opened a 
store soon after his arrival, carrying a general stock. Two 
years later he sold his stock to ilr. W^elch and moved to 
Washington county, Missouri, and engaged in the mercantile 
business until 1843, when he returned to JIarine and com- 
menced merchandifing anew, iu company with his son-iu; 
law, Thomas Fanjuharson, which he continued for two years, 
and then closed up his business and turned his attention to 
the improvement of one thousand acres of laud in the 
north and west part of the township. This land he had 



entered aud purchased when he first came into the county. 
He continued farming until 'his death, which occurred on 
the third day of May, 1866. He was twice married and 
reared a family of two sons and four daughters, children of 
his first wife. His sons, Alexander W. and Edward Jordan, 
are prominent farmers of the township. The latter lives on 
the old homestead and the former near by. Mrs. Catharine 
Voight, who lives on section five, is a daughter of Martin 
Schmidt, one of the earlj' German settlers in St. Clair county. 
Mr. Schmidt came to Madison county in 1838, and settled 
on Looking Glass prairie near St. Jacobs. He subsequently 
settled in Pin Oak township, on land purchased from Major 
Geary, where he died, leaving a widow, three sons and one 
daughter. George Howard, who resides on section thirteen, 
settled there forty-four years ago. His father, Blackstone 
Howard, came from Kentucky to Illinois in 1809. He was 
a native of Virginia, and first made his home at Turkey 
Hill, St- Clair county, and in 1812, came to Madison county 
and located in the six mile prairie, southwest of Edwards- 
ville, in the American Bottom. Subsequently he moved to 
the Chouteau Slough, where he improved a farm and spent 
the remainder of his life. He was a ranger in the war of 
1812. He raised a large family of children: Patience, 
Obediah, John and Lovell were born in Tennessee; George 
in St. Clair county, in 1809 ; Elizabeth, Electa, Alexander 
and James B., were born in this county. George and 
Electa, the widow of James East, are all that are now left. 
The old gentleman was married four times ; aud died in 
1853, at a ripe old age. William McAdams was one of the 
earliest settlers of the county, a native of Tennessee, and a 
veteran of the revolutionary war. As early as 1819, he had 
quite an improvement on section thirty-five, between the 
east fork of Silver creek and Sugar Fork. His fiimily con- 
sisted of five daughters and one son, from whom numy of 
our most promiuent citizens trace their lineage. The old 
gentleman died at an advanced age at the residence of Aaron 
Rule, a son-in-law, — who was also an early settler — received 
the military honors at his interment, and all the old muskets 
in the neighborhood were brought into requisition for the 
occasion. 

Major Isaac H. Ferguson built the first house, a rude log 
cabin, and also improved the first farm. The first marriafje 
was that of Lefferd French and Sarah Matthews, in 1815. 
Elijah Ferguson, a brother of Major Ferguson, was the first to 
die in the settlement, in the year 1815. In the summer of 
1814, Arthur Travis taught the first school iu the smoke-house 
of Major Ferguson. About twelve pupils were in attendance. 
In 1819, a young man from New Haven, Connecticut, opened 
a school in an empty cabin which stood between the houses of 
Captain Blakeman and Rowland P. Allen, and for many 
years thereafter, the youth of the settlement were taught in 
old cabins and the Union church. The first sermon was 
preached by Rev. Samuel Lindley, a Baptist minister, at 
the residence of Major Ferguson, in 1813; and Rev. Peter 
Cartwright preached in the settlement the same year. The 
Union church, a substantial frame building, with clapboard 
siding and split shingle roof, was the first erected. It was 
built in 1821, on section thirty-three, and was in constant 



496 



EISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



use until the Union church was built in the village of Ma- 
rine. The old building was then purchased by John L. 
Ferguson, who used it as a barn. The first post-office was 
established many years prior to the laying out of the village. 
They received mail every other day. Rowland P. Allen 
and John L. Ferguson were the first postmasters, and had 
the office at their houses. Eben. Twiss, who settled on the 
State road, on section eleven, kept the first tavern, as early 
as 1820. This was a stopping place for the stages, until the 
village was established. The first mill was an old tread 
mill, requiring ten oxen to furnish the motive power, built 
by Captain Blakeman on his place in 1823. It was a great 
improvement on the old horse mills, as one hundred bushels 
per day could easily be ground. It was destroyed by fire in 
1835, and as steam mills were then being established in the 
neighborhood, it was never rebuilt The school and church 
facilities of the township are excellent The numerous school- 
houses that dot the wayside, speak well for the intelligence 
and culture of the inhabitants. One of the finest school 
buildings in Madison county adorns the town of Marine, 
and her schools have a deserved reputation for discipline 
and proficiency. The gentlemen whose names follow, have 
been members of the Board of Supervisors : John L. Fergu- 
son was chosen in 1876, and was in office for three succes- 
sive terms. He was succeeded by C. W. Kettler, who served 
two terms. A. W. Jeflress was elected in 1881, and followed 
in office by E. J. JeflPress, who was chosen in 1882, and is the 
pre-seut incumbent. 

The building of a town was early contemplated by the 
pioneers, and to that end the following prospectus was is- 
sued, but the attempt was not crowned with success at that 
time. 

" One hundred Tuivn Lois for sale, in the town of Madison, 
in the Marine settlement, Illinois. 

On Saturday, the 18th day of November, 1820, will be 
sold at auction, at the house of Rowland P. Allen, in the 
Marine Settlement, between the hours of 12 and 3 p. m., 100 
Lots, in the town of Madison." 

The town of Madison is situate near the centre of pop- 
ulation of Madison county, in perhaps the most flourishing 
settlement in the state of Illinois. The beauty of its site 
surpasses that of any other town in the state, being situated 
on a handsome prairie, embracing at one view almost every 
variety of scenery. From the town site, on the north, the 
view is uninterrupted by timber ; the eye wanders over a 
vast extent of prairie, variegated only by its appearance, so 
much as to prevent satiety and the view is ultimately lost in 
the sublime idea of infinite extent. On three sides, eat, 
south, and west, there are seen more than thirty finely im- 
proved farms, which, with the numerous flocks of cattle and 
the operations of the inhabitants, afibrd the most active and 
delightful employment to the mind. Beyond this busy 
scene the eye rests upon a beautiful and variegated view of 
w oods. 

In addition to the beauty of its situation, the town pos- 
ses.ses every substantial, natural and acquired advantage, 
among which are, an intelligent and industrious society, a 
salubrious atmosphere, an abundant supply of fine water, a 



first-rate soil for cultivation, timber, building stone, coal of a 
superior quality and an abundant supply of salt wrll shortly 
be produced from works lately established. Besides these 
local advantages, the great road from Vandalia to St. Louis 
and the roads from Vincenues to Edwardsville and Alton, 
and from Shawneetown to the Sangamo country, pass 
through this settlement. It is, however, needless to dwell 
upon the advantages of a place so well known as the Marine 
Settlement. Its reputation is established, and has become 
proverbial. 

fiiS^'The sale of the lots above mentioned, will be made 
without reserve. Terms, ten per cent, of the purchase 
money cash The residue in equal instalments of 6, 12, 18, 
and 24 months. 

Curtis Blakeman, Rowland P. Allen, George C. Allen, 
Pierre Teller, Adrian Hegeman, Abraham Beck, Nehemiah 
Allen, W. M. O'Hara, Justus Post, T. \V. Smith, proprietors." 

MARINE. 

Situated on the contemplated site of the town of Madison, is 
the beautiful little village of Marine, with its fine public park 
handsome church edifices and fine public school building. 
The town is well built, the private residences are handsome, 
while their surroundings are of the most pleasing character, 
bespeaking the wealth, taste and thrift of an intelligent and 
refined people. The town was laid out in 1834, on sections 
sixteen, seventeen, twenty and twenty-one, by George W- 
Welsh, James Semple, Jordan W. Jefl?"res3 and Abram 
Breath. The streets are wide, well shaded, kept in good re- 
pair and cross each other at right angles. The fir=t stores 
were kept by Jordan W. Jeffress, George W. Welsh and 
Abram Breath. The first physicians were Drs. George T. 
Allen and P. P. Green. 

The Cable Mill.— This mill was built in 1866, by Curtis 
Blakeman, John B. Parker and Jacob Spies. When first 
built it had but three run of stoue ; but since falling into 
the hands of Charles Yalier and Jacob Spies in 1876, it has 
been greatly enlarged, until it is now a handsome four-story 
brick building, with numerous frame additions, cooper shop, 
and all necessary attachments for its successful and profita- 
ble operation. It now contains six run of stone, two sets of 
rollers, with a capacity of two hundred barrels per day, 
most of which find a ready market in the New England 
States. The flour is hauled in wagons to St. Jacobs, from 
which station it is shipped. 

BUSINESS OF M.VEINE. 

Physicians. — Peter S. Weidman, Peter Fischer, Henry L. 
Judd. 

General Stores. — Valentine Miller, John G. Goerke, Henry 
Iloppe & Co., Henry Gehrs, Blauke Bros. 

Hardware. — Fred. Wentz, Kold & Richardson. 

Drug Stores. — L. A. Richardson, Porter G. Parker. 

Bolel.—U H Elbring. 

Post Master.— Fred. Blanke. 

Stove and Tinware. — John M. Hettel. 

Blaehimilh and Wagon Shops. — Charles Adler, John Koch, 
V. Deibert, Michael Ford. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUJ^TY, ILLINOIS. 



497 



Wagon Maker and Bridge Contractor. — Henry A. Hoyer." 

Carpenter and Bridge Builder. — Fred, ^\'ebold. 

Wagon Maker and 3Ii!luright. — Julius Busch. 

Furniture Dealers. — George Gravius, Henry Ortmaun. 

Barbers. — William Apffel, John Weber. 

Clothing and Furnishing Goods — John Deibert & Son. 

Harness and Saddlers. — Henry Brandes, William Kocb. 

Cigars. — Charles Lewis Yarwig, Edward Frey. 

Bakery and Confectionery — Charles Pfister. 

Millinery. — Catherine Nemnich, Mrs. Mary Ellison, Mrs 
William Koch. 

Meat Market. — Henry Schmidt, Jacob Weder. 

House and Sign Painlers.—iSohn R. Kircheis, F. VV. Over 
beck. 

Watch Maker. — Andrew Volk 

Shoe Makers. — Herman Vaudersten, Peter Harnist, Henry 
Ackermann. 

There are five churches in the town. The Roman Catho- 
lic, German Lutheran and Christian, have fine brick build- 
ings, while those belonging to the Presbyterian and Metho- 
dist denominations are neat frame structures A handsome, 
two-story, five room brick school-house building was erected 
in 1874, in which are employed five teichers. The cost of 
the buihling was 810,000. Prof. William E. Lehr is the 



principal, and Messrs. H. C. Gerke, H. H. Elbring and 
August Versen were the directors at the time the hou.se was 
built. The Park was given to the town by Abraham Breath 
for a public square, and has since been fenced, trees planted 
and otherwise beautified by the citizens. It is now under 
the jurisdiction of the city authorities and is kept in excel- 
lent order. 

Marine Lodge No. 355 A. F. and A. M. — This lodge was 
instituted on the ISth day of July, 1859, with Thomas J. 
Prickett, as W. M., and William W. Pearce, George W. 
Fitch, William J. Loury, Curtis Blakeman, Alexander 
Keown and Joseph P. Steppe, as Charter Members. The 
Lodge now has a membership of forty-two, and is in good 
working order. The present officers are William E. Lehr, 
W. M. ; Henry Geisemann, S. W. ; Charles Schacht, J. W. ; 
Fred. Wentz, treasurer, and H Elbring, secretary. 

Marine Turners. — This order has a membership of seven- 
ty-five, owns a nice hall, handsomely arranged with stage 
and scenery, and frequently entertain the citizens with thea- 
trical and athletic entertainments. 

Treubund Lodge No. 30, was organized June 5th, 1879. 
It is a German organization, and has a membership of 
twenty-four. It is in good working order, and meets every 
Saturday evening, in Philipp Volk's Hall. 



â–  c<:^G'^ ^md^^- 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



HENRY L. JUDD, xM. D., 

Was born in Marine, Illinois, on the second of December, 
1842. He is of English extraction on either side. His 
parents were Louis S. Judd and Mary (Danforthi Judd. 
His fivther was born in Massachusetts, in li^Ol and came to 
Illinois, locating in Marine, about the time the state was ad- 
mitted into the Union. His wife came to the county with 
her uncle, Mr. Caldwell, and it was here that they were 
united in marriage in the year 1835. ^[r. Judd was one of 
the early merchants of Marine, and subsequently one of the 
leading farmers in that township. He reared a family of 
three children, two sons and one daughter, viz: Samuel, re- 
siding at Marine Mills, Minn. ; Mary E., the wife of James 
M. Patterson, of St. Louis ; Henry L., of whom we write, 
and one child who died in infancy. Louis L. Judd, the 
father, died December the 28th, 1849, aged forty-eight years, 
and his wife died August 29th, 1863, there being but a few 
weeks' difference in their ages at death. Henry L. Judd, as 
before mentioned, was born and reared in Marine. He ob- 
tained his early training in the common schools of his native 
town, and attended for three years the McKendree College 
at Lebanon, Illinois. At the age of twenty he attended the 
66 



St. Louis Medical College, from which institution he gradu- 
ated in 1865 In the same year he located at Pleasant Hill, 
Missouri, where he engaged in the practice of his profession 
for two yearr5, which he vvas compelled to abandon on account 
of ill health. For five years he traveled in this country and 
Europe, for the benefit of his health, after which he located 
at his old home. Marine, where he has ever since engaged in 
his profession. In 18G5, he was united in marriage to Marie 
Antoinette Sherwood, daughter of Lyman Sherwood, of 
Albany, N. Y., who was at one time a prominent man in the 
business circles of Springfield, in this state, where he died in 
1875. This union has been blessed with three children, 
Edith May, born July 1st, 1866, Samuel Sherwood, b3rn 
Aug. 12th, 1872, and Nellie, born Feb. 22, 1878, being just 
six years between their ages respectively. 

The doctor has held several offices of trust in his town, 
having been elected to serve on the town board, of which he 
has been the presiding officer, has been school trustee, and 
is at present a formidable candidate for coroner on the Re- 
publican ticket. Dr Judd is a clever gentleman, much es- 
teemed by the citizens of Madison county. 



498 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, JLLINOlti. 




^ r 'P^^^^-^MT'" T^<'-" 




Amon(4 the prominent and influential Germans of Madi- 
son county is the subject of the lollowing biography. 
He is a native of Bavaria, Germany, where he was born 
August 3d, 1817. He is the second son of Valentine and 
Phillapena (Rietzman) Spies, who were also natives of the 
same country. His father died in 1834, and his mother in 
1838. Jacob was reared upon a farm, where he remained 
until his twenty-third year, then came to America on a tour 
of observation. He landed in New York April 20th, 1840, 
and a few days later came west to Illinois, and settled in Belle- 
ville, St. Clair county, and there remained for one year. In 
1841 he returned to Germany, and in 1843 came back to Ame. 
ricaand bought a tract of land in sections 32 and 33 of T. 3N. 
R. 6 W. To that tract he has added, until now he has 
a large body of as fine tillable land as cau ba found in the 
county. On the 27th of Mi^ 1843, he was united in mar- 
riage to Miss Catharine Kauffmann, a nacive, also, of Ger- 
many. By this union there have been ten children, nine of 



whom are living. Their names, in the order of their birth 
are, Minnie Rosa, Julia, wife of Alexander Richardson, 
Caroline Louisa, wife of Charles Yalier ; Charles, Louis, 
Amelia, who is the wife of Preston Fahnestock ; Bertie, wife 
of Louis Kolb ; Jacob and Anna Spies. The last two are 
yet at home. In polities Mr. Spies was originally a Demo- 
crat. In 1854, during the excitement attending the Kan- 
sas-Nebraska difficulties, when it was sought to introduce 
slaver)' into the territories, he left the party and joined the 
Republicans, and from that date to the present has been a 
warm supporter of the latter organization. Mr. Spies has 
been and is yet a very industrious and energetic man, and 
much of his success in life is due to those characteristics. 
He has been a resident of Madison county for nearly forty 
years, and has a well-earned reputation for honesty and up- 
rightness of character. lu short, few men in the county are 
more respected than Jacob Spies. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



499 



RUDOLPH BRUNNER 

Was born iu the Canton of Argo, Switzerland, December 
20th, 1834. His fother, Henry, died there in 1851. He 
married Mary Burkhart, by whom he had seven children, 
four of whom are yet living. In 1854 Rudolph left his na- 
tive country and came to America. He stopped one year 
iu Scioto county, Ohio. In the fall of 1857, he came to Il- 
linois, and in 1859 he rented land where he now lives, and 
continued a renter until 1872, when he purchased eighty 
acres and improved it, and is yet a resident upon it. He has 
lived upon those eighty acres as renter and owner since 1859, 
except three years, when he lived near Greencastle. On the 
7th of May, 1859. he married Miss ^lary Bircher, who was 
born in the Canton of Argo, Switzerland, September 14, 
1837. She came to America in 1851, with her father, Louis 
Bircher. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. 
Brunner, two of whom are living, whose names are Emily 
and Julia. Gustave died at the age of ten years from an 
accident Both Mr. and Mrs. Brunner are members of the 
Lutheran church. He has been a Republican since 1864, 
when he voted for Abraham Lincoln. He has held several 
offices in his township, and at present is road commissioner. 
He has been one of the school directors of the township for 
the past ten years. Mr. Brunner has been a successful far- 
mer, is a srood citizen, and enjoys the confidence and esteem 
of the entire community. 



A. W. JEFFRESS. 

The Jeffress family is of English ancestry. John Jeft'ress, 
the grandfather of the present family, was a native of Lunen- 
burgh county, Virginia. His son, Jordan W., father of A. 
W. Jeffress, was a native of the same place, and was born 
October 31st, 1797. He removed to Tipton county, Ten- 
nessee, and remained there a short time, then came to Illi- 
nois in 1835, and settled in Marine township. He, in com- 



pany with two others, surveyed and laid out the town of 
Marine. He soon after formed a partnership with George 
JM. Welsh, and engaged in the mercantile business. In 1836 
he sold his interest in the business to his partner and re- 
moved to Washington county, Missouri, and remained there 
seven years, then returned to Marine, and in connection with 
his soniu-law, Thomas Farquharson, again engaged in mer- 
chandising. Two years later he sold out, and purchased 
land in section 6, T. 4, R. 6, and removed there November 
5, 1848, and engaged in farming and stock raising, which he 
followed until his death, the date of which was May 3d, 
1866. He was a man of superior education, of a liberal 
and generous disposition, and pleasant and agreeable man- 
ners. In religious faith he was a member of the Christian 
church, and took an active interest in promoting the welfare 
of that religious organization. On the 14th of October, 1819, he 
married Mary C. Egglestou, who was born in Lunenburgh 
county, October 4, 1798. She died April 10, 1846. On the 5th 
of November, 1848, he married Mary A. Brilt, a native of 
Brewster county, Virginia. She died without issue March 17, 
1872. By the first marriage is Alexander W., the subject 
of this sketch. He was born in Lunenburgh county, Virginia, 
December 13, 1830, and was in his fifth year when the fami- 
ly came to Illinois. He received his education in the schools 
of Madison county, and here grew to manhood. His life 
has been spent upon the farm. From choice and inclination 
he delights in agricultural pursuits. He has a beautiful 
farm, handsomely situated, with a large and commodious 
farm house, elegantly furnished, surrounded by beautiful 
lawns ; there he lives in comparative ease, and enjoys life in 
its truest sense. Politically he was originally an old line Whig. 
Upon the formation of the Republican party he joined its ranks, 
and has remained identified with that political organization 
to the present. In 1881 he was elected to represent his 
township in the board of supervisors, and in 18S2 was re- 
elected. He is a member of the Christian church. He is 
a courteous and hospitable gentleman, and in his home makes 
it pleasant to all who come beneath his roof. 




t> V 



NAMEOKl. 




I HE word Nameoki is of Indian origin, 
and signifies smoky. It was first given 
to a station on the Indianapolis & St. 
Louis railroad by A. A. Talmadge, while 
a conductor on that road, and afterward 
to the township, which is in the south- 
western part of the county. In shape it 
is a regular square of thirty-six sections, 
or, more accurately, 22,600 acres of land. 
It is bounded on the north by Chouteau township, east by 
Collinsville, south by St. Clair county, and west by Venice 
township Geographically it is township 3 N. R. 8 W. It 
lies almost wholly within the Great American Bottom, and [ 
hence is low and level. Its soil is sandy, and of marvelous 
fertility, and needs only proper drainage to become the gar- 
den spot of Madison county. Horse Shoe lake occupies 
nearly 2000 acres in sections 31, 32, 29, 28, 21, 16, 15, 14, 
22, 23, 27 and 26. It abounds in fish, and is skirted here 
and there with timber. This lake was known to former 
geographers as Marais Mensoui. Long lake crosses this 
township diagonally, entering on section 12, and leaving 
on section 3, having here a length of nearly five miles. 
Several other small lakes or marshes are within its borders. 
Passing across the southeastern part is Cahokia creek, which 
receives the waters of Cantine creek from the east on section 
36. A levee has been thrown up extending almost the 
whole distance across the township from northeast to south- 
west, as a protection to farming-lands to the northwest 

In the southern part, on sections 34 and 35 are several 
mounds, thought by many to have been of artificial origin. 
The most prominent of these is the Monk's mound, so named 
from having been the abiding place of the monks of La 
Trappe. The following description of the American Bot- 
tom and Monks' mound is taken from the Chicago Daily 
American, Aug. 9, 1839. Notes by the editor, William 
Stewart. "About ten miles this side of St. Lou'^ the 
traveler comes upon the famed American Bottom, which 
extends from Alton, on the INIississippi, to the mouth of 
the Kaskaskia, a distance of about one hundred miles, 
and expanding from three to five miles in width. A lot- 
tery, chartered by the State, is now in successful operation 
for the purpose of raising funds to drain this land and im- 
proving its health. It is a highly laudable enterprise, and 
deserves the co-operation of the public. The rich tract of 
land, when drained and cultivated, is capable alone of sup- 
porting the whole western country. A few miles from this 
point (on road near St. Louis), on the right side of the 
500 



road, towers to the view a beautiful elevation of land called 
Monk's Hill, from its being inhabited by a monk about the 
year 1809. A romantic cottage peeps out from a thick 
grove, which ornaments the top of the hill, and which we 
understood was occupied by some Jesuits about the year 
1809." In 1807 the monks of La Trappe located on and 
around the mound, whose name perpetuates the fact. From 
Hair's Gazetteer the following interesting facts relative to 
these religious enthusiasts are gleaned : " The monastery of 
this order was anciently situated in the province of Perche, 
in France, in one of the most solitary spots that could be 
chosen. It was founded A. B. 1140, under the patronage 
of the Cistercian Monks. Their monastery had fallen into 
decay, and their rigid discipline relaxed, when the order 
was reformed by the Abbe Ranee a. d. 1664. Rauce was a 
gay man of the world, but meeting with a sudden misfor- 
tune — some authors say the infidelity of his wife, others the 
death of Madame Montbazon, whose favorite lover he had 
been — he renounced the world, entered this monastery, and 
took the lead in a system of the most severe austerity. 
Perpetual silence was the vow of the inmates. Every com- 
fort of life was rejected, a stone was their pillow, bread and 
water their only food, and every day each removed a hand- 
ful of earth from his grave. The furious storm of the 
French Revolution scattered them abroad. A branch of 
the order came to the United States in 1804, first establish- 
ing themselves near Conewago, Pennsylvania, then in 
Kentucky ; next at Florissant, near St. Louis, Missouri, 
where they remained but eighteen months, and came to the 
Mounds in 1807, accepting the lands as a gift from Colonel 
Nicholas Jarrot, of Cahokia. They numbered eighty in 
all, and expected an accession of two hundred others from 
France upon their settlement ; but the climate and situation 
were not congenial to the austerities practiced by the order. 
During the summer months fevers prevailed among them 
to an alarming extent. Few escaped, and many died. 
' They cultivated a garden, repaired watches, and traded 
with the inhabitants. Connected with the monastery was a 
seminary for boys. To them is attributed the first discovery 
of coal here. Their blacksmiths complained of a want of 
proper fuel, and on their being informed that the earth, at 
the root of a tree which was struck by lightning, was burn- 
ing, they went to the spot, and on digging a little below 
the surface, discovered a vein of coal. In 1816 they re- 
conveyed their property to Jarrot, the donor, and left for 
France. Among their self-imposed conditions of life were : 
No one was allowed to speak to another, or to a stranger, 











TT 






\ 



1#^ 



1' S TvivVS:.- 








p If 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



501 



except in cases of absolute necessity; neither could he ad- 
dress the superior, without first asking his permission, by a 
sign, and receiving his assent. They were not allowed to 
receive any letters or news from the world, and were com- 
pelled to obey the least sign made even by the lowest lay 
brother in the community, although by doing so they might 
spoil whatever they were engaged in. Their dress consisted 
entirely of woolen cloth ; they eat no flesh, and had but two 
meals a day ; their dinner was soup of turnips, carrots, and 
other vegetables, with no seasoning but salt, and their sup- 
per was two ounces of bread with water. They slept in 
their clothing upon boards, with blocks of wood for pillows, 
but in winter they were allowed any quantity of clothing 
they desired. When a stranger visited them he was re- 
ceived with the utmost kindness by their guest-master, his 
wants attended to, and everything freely shown and ex- 
plained to him ; and whenever he passed one of the monks 
the latter bowed humbly to him, but without looking at 
him. They labored all day in the fields or in their work- 
shops in the most profound silence, the injunction of which 
was removed only from the one appointed to receive visitors 
and those engaged in imparting instruction. When one of 
them was taken ill the rigor of their discipline was entirely 
relaxed, and every attention and comfort bestowed upon 
him. And if he was about to die, when in the last agonies 
he was placed on a board, on which the superior had made 
the sign of a cross with ashes, the rest gathered about to 
console and pray for him. The dead were wrapt in their 
ordinary habit, and buried without a coflin in the field ad- 
joining their residence. As soon as one was buried, a new 
grave was opened by his side to be ready for the next who 
might need it." 

The first sturdy pioneers to blaze the way of civilization 
across the sandy prairies of this township were Patrick 
Hanniberry and Wiggins, in 1801, who settled on what is 
now section 16, near the present Six Mile House, which is in 
section 15. The settlement, from its incipiency, bscame 
known as Six Mile from the fact that it was made at a point 
six miles distant from St Louis in Upper Louisiana. Wig- 
gins was a married and Hanniberry a single man. No de- 
scendants now live in Madison county to impart any intelli- 
gence as to whence they came or whither they went. The spot 
can only be designated and the date fixed of their early lo- 
cation. To the southeast across Horse Shoe Lake (known 
to the French as Marais Mensoui) on sections 35 and .36, or 
as entered claim 133 made by Jean Baptiste Gonville, alias 
Rappellay, and affirmed to Nicholas Jarrot, was Quentine 
or Cdutine village, established by Deloom and others from 
Praire du Pont, in 1804. This became a straggling village 
following the meanderings of Cautine and Cahokia creeks 
for several miles At one time it was a handsome village 
and the centre of considerable trade. About the same time, 
(1804) came Nathan Carpenter, an enterprising, thorough- 
going man. He erected a horse mill near Wiggins' on section 
16, which was patronized by parties far and near. It was 
the first effort at milling in this township, and had little com- 
petition throughout all Madison county. Carpenter was 
possessed of an indomitable will and great energy, and suc- 
67 



ceeded in subjecting rude nature around him until a fine 
farm rewarded his effurts. In 1804 or 180-5 came to this 
township, locating on section 17, Thomas Cumniings. He 
reared a large and intelligent family, and was himself an 
honest, energetic pioneer. His sons were declared by many 
old settlers to have been the largest boys ever raised in 
Madison county In 1817 he and his family moved to Jersey 
county. Isaac Gillham, a South Carolinian, came here at 
the same time with Cummings. Most of his children were 
born in South Carolina. Their names were Thomas, Wil- 
liam, John, James, Isaac Jr , Margaret, Susan, and Jane. 
Thomas was elected a Justice of the Peace, and subsequently 
held the office of County Commissioner. The Gillhams were 
a large and influential family throughout Madison county. 
Four sons and Isaac himself all died during the winter of 
1844-5. Isaac had been a Revolutionary soldier. One of 
his daughters married Robert Whiteside, of the popular 
family of that name. Amos Squire located where his son 
Samuel yet lives in 1808. He came to Illinois from Maryland, 
a few years prior to this, in company with Gov. Bond and 
others, and stopped first at Kaskaskia. In 1805 he married 
Temperance Worley, at Fort Chartres Here two sons, 
Samuel and Joseph, were born, so that he brought to his 
new home a family of four. He chose a pleasant place which 
had been improved many years ago. A pear orchard had 
been set out presumably by the French, simultaneously with 
their occupancy of Grand Isle (now Chouteau Island) ; a 
small clearing had been made, so that ready and willing 
hands found the way to prosperity already planned for 
them. Here members of the family have constantly resided 
since. Amos Squire was the first Justice of the Peace in the 
township. He held the position, after his first appointment 
by Gov. Edwards, for twenty consecutive years. He was a 
captain in the war of 1812, and was stationed for a time in 
Fort Russell. He died August 12th, 1825, and was buried 
in the family burial ground. This was the first interment 
there. His son, Samuel Squire, lives in the quiet enjoyment of 
life's evening on the old place, respected and honored of all 
who know him. His recollection of the past is vivid. The 
first school was taught in 1812 by Joshua Atwater ; the sec- 
ond, as Samuel Squire has a good reason to believe, was by 
an Irishman named McLaughlin. While his father was 
absent engaged in the war of 1812, when Samuel was yet a 
lad of six years, McLaughin gave him a terrible flogging. 
The incensed father upon his return from war, took the 
Irish teacher to task for his lack of of good sense. 

Among other early settlers were Henry Hayes, Isaac 
Braden, John Clark, Henry Stallings, and Dr. Smith. 
John Clark and Henry Stallings were both honorable, and 
for pioneer times thorough-going farmers. Dr. Smith was the 
first physician to practice his profession in the Bottom. He 
remained but a short time, and in 1815 was drowned in Kas- 
kaskia river. Henry Hayes, a native of Pennsylvania, hear- 
ing of Illinois' attractions came thither in 1811, and located 
on section 9, where he remained for thirty years. His per- 
severance was remarkable. Amidst a deep forest, he plan- 
ned and developed a fine farm. For pastime and amuse- 
ment, he loved to hunt the wild bee and from his sweet 



502 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



store-house gather his rich earnings. He raised a large fam- 
ily. John G. Lofton, too was an early settler and an 
active leader among his associates. He represented Jladison 
county in the territorial legislature at Kaskaskia, in 1816. 
Isaac Braden came later in 1817. He was from Washing- 
ton county, Pennsylvania, came in company with Valentine 
Kinder, who brought quite a colony with him. The party 
came by flat boat from Wheeling, Virginia, to Shawneetown. 
From this point their stock was driven across the country 
via the New Design settlement to this country, and they 
came from Shawneetown by keel boat to St. Louis, thence 
along the Si.x; mile route to their chosen home. The Hawks 
came with them. Both the Bradens and Kinders are repre- 
sented in the township. Thomas Kinder, Sr., one of this 
party amassed a competence for his family. He was a man 
of sterling worth, and died universally beloved. Robert 
McDow, a Kentuckian, who .settled near the present Kinder 
station, had a horse mill in operation at an early day. Those 
faithful servants of God, Revs. Chance and Jones, Baptist 
mis iiinaries, were the p'oneer preachers in this township. 
As early as 1813 they were declaring from house to house 
the blessings of Christianity. Rev. Lemen followed soon 
after. 

The first land entries, after the surveys made by John 
Messinger, Moore and Frazer, which were completed in 
1814, were as follows: Jacob Linder, Sept. 15, 1814, N. E. 
h sect. 4. ITOiVs acres; John Hawks, Sept. 14, 1814, E. 
part S. W. i sect. 5, 135 acres; Hardy Willbaiiks, August 
1-3, 1814, N. i sect. 5, 261} acres; John Atkins, Sept. 14, 
1814, several acres in sect. 6; Henry Hayes, Sept, 14, 1814, 
480 acres in sect. 9 ; Matthew Kerr, Sept. 27, 1814, several 
acres in sect. 10. Antedating these land entries were 
several claims, confirmed by the Board of Commissioners, 
formed for the purpose of adjusting the same ; which board 
reported, December 31, 1809, as follows; Claim 561, Clem- 
ent Drury, confirmed to heirs of Samuel Worley, 400 acres, 
described as being below the Narrows, adjoining patented 
militia rights of Samuel Worley and James McNabb, these 
rights having been located in the improvement. This is 
mostly in section 6, and includes the farm of Samuel Squire, 
which is among the earliest improvements in the county. 
Pear trees, two in number, are now standing there, a hun- 
dred and forty years old, as shown by the rings actually 
counted of those destroyed. Claim 1,844, Jacque Germain, 
confirmed to Nicholas Jarrot, 400 acres, at I'Abbe, thirteen 
miles above Cahokia. This is in section 32, on the borders 
of Horse Shoe Lake, and not far east from Venice Claim 
133, already referred to as being occupied by French set- 
tlers, who founded Cantine or Quentine village in 1804. 
This claim includes "I'Abbe" itself, the monastery of the 
monks of La Trappe. It lies mostly in sections 35 and 36. 
Claim 1,883, Joseph Hanson, confirmed to Nicholas Jarrot, 
situated at Marais Mensoui. This lies mostly in section 26, 
on Horse Shoe Lake. Claim 902, Isaac Levy, confirmed to 
Isaac Darnielle, 400 acres ; described originally as being on 
the river I'Abbe (Cahokia), above Cahokia about twelve 
miles, near where the French church stood. Part of this 
claim lies in sections 34 and 35. Claim 1,838, Michel 



Pichette, confirmed to Nicholas Jarrot. The most of this 
claim lies in section 31. 

The first brick house was that erected by Robert White- 
side, on section 21, in 1820. The first farm opened was that 
of Thomas Cummings, section 17, in 1805. The first ceme- 
tery was that on section 17, on land belonging to Cummings. 
The first interred there was a member of that family, about 
1810. The first married couple were united by Amos 
Squire, Esq., previous to 1812 Antoine Thomas and Cyn- 
thia Scott were the happy parties. To the war of 1812, 
went from here John Atkins and his two sons, William and 
John, Jr., Amos Squire, Isaac Hoadley, Phiueas Kitchell, 
John Thompson, who was killed at Rock Island, and Henry 
Hayes, certainly a large contribution from among the pio- 
neers of Nameoki. Being low and level, this township 
suffered great destruction during the high waters of 1844. 
Fully five-sixths of the entire surface was under water at 
that time. Steamboats from St. Louis, sent to the aid of the 
inhabitants, landed on section 6, at the site of an old Baptist 
church, where citizens had sought refuge. They were taken 
to St. Louis or to Alton, if they preferred to remain until 
the subsidence of the waters. In places, the rich alluvial 
soil deposited from the high waters is fully ten feet in depth. 
The first meeting-house erected »as the old Six Mile church, 
built on section 17, by the Methodists, in 1832. The Bap- 
tists built Ebenezer church, on section 6, in 1842. The 
building afterward passed into the hands of the Methodists. 

VILLAGE OF NAMEOKI. 

Consequent upon the building of the Indianapolis and St. 
Louis Railroad, in 1858, a station was located on the boun- 
dary line between sections 5 and 6, for the accommodation 
of shippers to which was given the above name by A. A. 
Talmadge, a conductor on that road. It is a small village, 
having the following business industries : 

Hotel.— B. F. Squires. 

Blacksmith Shop. — Henry Pretzel. 

Drug Store.— Dr. T. J. Irish. 

Physicians. — Drs. T. J. and E. T. Irish. 

Postmaster. — Dr. T. J. Irish, who was first appointed upon 
the establishment of the office in 1876. 

About a mile south of Nameoki is a German Lutheran 
church, erected in 1881. A fine cemetery adjoins the church 
grounds. 

The Sons of Herman have here a neat, substantial two- 
story building, erected at a cost of $4,400, which they occupy 
for lodge purposes. The name. Sons of Hermon, was be- 
stowed in honor of the fact that Hermon freed Germany from 
Roman Catholic rule. Moltke Lodge, No. 15, was organized 
September 6, 1872, by Robert Krueger. The name was 
bestowed upon the lodge by Krueger, as a compliment to 
General Moltke, under whose command he had been a 
soldier. The lodge numbers seventy-four members. It is 
exclusively German. Its objects are benevolent in character. 

Six Mile Lodge No. 87 1. O. O. F. was instituted January 
2, 1851, and the charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of 
Illinois I. O. O. F., signed by the Grand Master, H. L. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



503 



Riicker, and attested by the Grand Secretary, S. A. Gorman, 
to E. p. Pettingill, T. J. Irish, James S. Smith, Amos At- 
kins and Joseph Squires, charter members and first ollicers. 
There are now left only T. J. Irish, P. G. W., and Amos At- 
kins, P. G., of the original five whose names and energy in 
sustaining the Lodge ought never to be forgotten. Six Mile 
Lodge at present owns her own beautiful cemetery, her own 
Hall, and about sixty-three acres of land, well-improved, 
and carries in her treasury from $1000 to $1,500, shielded 
only by Friendship, Love and Truth, and always extending 



her charity when needed to the widow, the orphan and the 
helpless, especially when bereavement is at hand. 

Nameoki, since the inauguration of township organization 
has been represented as follows : 

187G-7, Philip Braden ; 1877-8, T. J. Irish; 1878-9, T. 
J. Irish ; 1879-80, W. H. Wilson ; 1881-2, Philip Braden ; 
1882-3, Philip Braden. 

The population of the township, census of 1880, was 1,466 
inhabitants. Extensive gardening is carried on here for the 
St. Louis market. The township is well supplied with 
schools. 




BIOGRAPHY. 





X^^^J^-'U/^ 



Few of the numerous residents of the American Bottom 
are as widely and favorably known as Dr. T. J. Irish. He 
possesses a firm mental-motive temperament. He is quick, 
impulsive and decided in character and conclusious. He 
penetrates a subject at a glance, grasps its minutise — com- 
prehending almost in a single thought what many others 
would require a long process of reasoning to determine. He 
has firmness and determination that never yields to 
disparagement. When he will, he will, and there is no 
use for the elements to oppose him. He is quick, but 
not combative ; firm, but not stubborn ; set, but yet 
reasonable. He is of a kind, generous, sympathetic 
nature. In his intellectual capacity he has the general ele- 
504 



ment of success. He is a man well calculated to win the 
good-will of all who are thrown in contact with him; and 
with his social, genial disposition he can disarm the most 
inveterate foe and secure his respect and good-will. Dr. T. 
J. Irish is a native of Livingston county, N. Y. He was 
born on the 28lh of -July, 182.3, and is the first child of Ben- 
jamin and Sarah (Tyler) Irish, who were natives of New 
York. The father of Benj. Irish was a Baptist minister in 
Auburn, N. Y. 

Benjamin Irish, the father of Dr. T. J. Irish, was born 
about the year 1798. He graduated in medicine in his 
native State, and in 1840 emigrated to Illinois, settling at 
Equality, near Shawueetown. At this point he remained 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



505 



about two years, and from thence removed to the American 
Bottom, Madison county, opposite St. Louis, where he en- 
gaged in the practice of medicine with great success. He 
rapidly rose to the front rank of his profession, and attained 
an enviable reputation throughout the State. lu 184S, the 
Pope Medical College of St. Louis conferred upon him the 
ad eundem degree. He continued the practice of medicine 
until July, 18.")1, when he fell a victim to cholera. 

Dr. T. J. Irish received his education in New York. In 
1842 he came to the West, stopping for a short time at 
Equality, near Shawneetown, Illinois, where he engaged in 
teaching school. In 1844 he came to St. Louis, and engaged 
in the study of medicine with his father, graduating, in 1848, 
in the Mi.'isouri State University, of St. Louis, in the same 
class with the late Dr. John T. Hodgen, who became one of 
the ablest surgeons of the West. In the same year he gradu- 
ated. Dr. Irish settled in the American Bottom, on section 
8, township 3, range 9, where he at once engaged in the 
practice of medicine, which he has since followed with fine 
success. By the death of his father, in 1848, Dr. Irish came 
in possession of a very extensive practice throughout the 
American Bottom, and we but echo the universal sentiment 
of those who know him best, when we say that he is truly 
" a chip oft" the old block." 

Dr. Irish was married on the 26th of October, 1848, to 
Miss Lucinda, daughter of Thomas Elliott, Esq., who was a 
native of Virginia, and who was descended from one of the 
more prominent families of that State. By this union Mr. 
and Mrs. Irish have had born to them a family of eleven 
children, four of whom are now living. Tyler E., now a 
practicing physician of Nameoki; William A., a farmer living 



near by ; Terrie M., now in Texas, and Gillie E., now at 
home. 

Dr. Irish started in life with ()uite limited financial means, 
and he states, as an incident illustrative of his early finan- 
cial condition, that when he first visited Shawneetown, he 
was walking along the street with F. M. Little, and fortu- 
nately picked up a dime from the sidewalk, which embraced 
the sum total of the young men's finances — the dime in ques. 
tion furnishing the cheese and crackers from which the 
young men made a tolerable dinner. Mr. Little afterwards 
became Mayor of Salt Lake City, and a man of prominence 
and independence in that city. He is an own nephew of 
Brigham Young. 

As we have stated, the Doctor ranked among the more 
prominent in his profession, and rapidly accumulated a com- 
fortable competence. He now, at the meridian of life, owns 
upwards of nine hundred acres of the celebrated American 
Bottom land. His fine home place, near Nameoki Station, 
on the W., St. L. & P., C. A. I. & St. L. Railways, 
is finely improved, and replete with superior grades of stock 
of every description. 

In politics, the Doctor is now, and has always been an 
admii-er of the principles of the old and historic Democratic 
party. His first vote was cast for Tennessee's stateeman, 
James K. Polk, candidate for President in 1844. During 
the late war. Dr. Irish espoused the cause of the Union, and 
no man in Madison county was more earnest in his support 
of the government than he. 

The Doctor holds a large space in the estimation of his 
fellow-citizens, and none know him but to honor and respect 
him. 



^^t^«^*J^§— 



GODFREY. 




Sft^^^^^^lHE extreme northwestern township of 
yjth^inV^isMt. Madison county was given its name in 
honor of Captain Benjamin Godfi-ey,one 
of the earliest and most distinguished 
citizens, and the founder of the Monti- 
cello Female Seminary. He was born 
at Chatham, Ma.ssachusetts, May 20, 1 7'J 4. 
His early life was mostly spent on the 
sea. It is said that he began the life of 
a sailor when only nine years old. He had time, however, 
to acquire a good practical education, and some knowledge 
of navigation. He spent some mouths when a boy in Ire- 
68 



land ; he was connected with the mercantile service during 
the war of 1812, and afterward became commander of a 
merchant vessel, and made voyages to Italy, Spain and other 
parts of the old world, and from Baltimore to New Orleans 
and the West Indies. On his last voyage he was shipwrecked 
near Brazos Santiago, and lost nearly all his property, and 
almost his life. This misfortune left him, literally, stranded 
in Mexico, with little means ; but his quick business tact 
enabled him to take advantage of the opportunities for 
trade which then existed with the inhabitants of that country, 
and he was soon at the head of a mercantile house at JMata- 
moras, then ou Mexican soil, and there laid the foundation 



506 



-HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



of his fortune After making large accumulations he re- > 
moved to New Orleans, and in that city carried on the 
mercantile business in partnership with Wiuthrop S Oilman. 
In the year 18 >2, the firm of Godfrey, Gilman & Co. began 
operations in Alton, and for some time transacted a larger 
business than any other firm in the state. Captain Godfrey 
first became a resident of Godfrey township in 1834 ; he j 
purchased a stone residence built by Calvin Kiley, a mile i 
north of the present village of Godfrey, to which he sub- 
sequently added a wing on the north, building it also a half- 
story higher, thus completing it as it stands at present. 
AVith the exception of one or two years, during which his 
family lived at Alton, this was Captain Godfrey's residence 
till his death, which occurred on the 13th of August, 1862. 
He was a large owner of real estate, at one time being the 
possessor of ten thousand acres, a great part of which lay 
in Godfrey township, and owned more than four thousand 
acres in Madison county at the time of his death. He built, 
as sole contractor, under great difficulties, the railroad from 
Alton to Springfield, now a part of the line of the Chicago 
& Alton road. His name, however, will be chiefly remem- 
bered as the founder of the Monticello Female Semmary, 
one of the most successful institutions of the kind in the 
â– west. The idea of founding such a school was first im- 
pressed upon his mind about the year 1833. In com- 
pany with Mr. Gilman he came to the house of Nathan 
Scarritt in 1834, in search of an appropriate site for its 
location. Mr. Scarritt accompanied them, and a place was 
first selected about three-quarteis of a mile from the spot 
where the seminary was afterward built. The erection of 
the original building was begun in the year 1836. Captain 
Godfrey gave, in all, to the institution, upward of one hun- 
dred and twenty-five thousand dollars. His widow and 
three children are still living; his son, Benjamin Godfrey, 
lives at the old residence north of Godfrey; a daughter, 
Catharine, is the wife of John M. Pearson, representative 
from Madison in the state legislature ; and the remaining 
daughter, Emily, is the wife of Joseph R. Palmer, and 
resides at New Brunswick, New Jersey. 

THE EARLIEST SETTLEMENTS 

In the township were made in the year 1826. Nathan 
Scarritt seems to have broken the first ground for cultivation, 
but the first cabin was built and occupied by Joseph Rey- 
nolds. Nathan Scarritt was a native of New Hampshire; 
he was a man of marked piety, who left a religious impress 
on the community which existed for many years after his 
death. With his wife and four children he emigrated from 
the town of Lyman, on the Connecticut river. New Hamp- 
shire, and reached Edwardsville in the month of November, 
1820. Ten weeks and four days were occupied in making 
this journey, though the weather was favorable, and they 
were able to travel every week day except one. On the 
Sabbath they always rested. On his arrival at Edwards- 
ville he had difficulty in getting a house for his family, and 
finally moved into a log house, with a stick chimney and 
hearth, and puncheon floor. With one or two exceptions all 
the buildings in Edwardsville at that time were log. The 



members of the family had no chairs to sit on, but their worst 
privation was the want of pure water ; but Jlr. Scarritt 
discovered that the insufficient depth of the wells and their 
lack of walls was the cause, and this matter was remedied. 
During the winter of 1820-'21, he built at Edwardsville a 
house of clap-boards, which Mrs. Scarritt helped to raise, 
" carrying up my corner," as she was accustomed to remark, 
" while the men carried up theirs," into which the family 
moved, in March, 1821. After a residence in Edwardsville 
of five years, Mr. Scarritt made his home in Godfrey town- 
ship. He settled on the prairie, and the farm which he 
made, now the property of L^ivi Springer, adjoined the 
present village of Godfrey. From the circumstance of his 
settling here the prairie was called Scarritt's prairie. His 
farm was the first improvement on the prairie. He died in 
the year 1848 ; his widow was living till recent years ; he 
was a member of the Methodist church, and the first religious 
services in the township were held in his house. The first 
school was taught in his barn, which stood a short distance 
north of his residence, where Mr. Springer now has a garden. 
His daughter was the teacher of this school, and the pupils, 
gathered from the families who had moved to this part of 
the county, were about sixteen in number. The first Sun- 
day-school in the township was also taught in this barn. 
Mr. Scarritt made brick and built the fir.-t brick house in 
the township. This was a large and substantial structure 
for that day, and still remains in good condition. Mr. 
Scarritt took no part in public aSliirs ; he had several sons 
who became useful citizens. 

The early settlements were made ai-ound, and on Scarritt's 
prairie, which was then three miles, or three and a half in 
length, with an average width of about two miles. Joseph 
Reynolds, who has been mentioned as having built the first 
cabin in the township, sold his improvement to Samuel Dela- 
plain. Among the early settlers on the east side of Scar- 
ritt's prairie, were Henry P. Rundle, Simon Peter, James 
Dodsen, Hail Mason, Joel Finch, Zebedee Chapman, Ezra 
Gilman and Rowland and Oscar Ingham. Later came John 
Peter, George Smith, John Mason, Zebedee Brown, James 
Meldrum, Richard Blackburn, Henry Waggoner, Samuel 
Waggoner, David Rood and Joseph AVhyers, all settling on 
the east side of the prairie. 

Henry P. Rundle occupied a cabin on the site of the pres- 
ent residence of Jeremiah Still. He was a tailor by trade, 
and carried on business for some time in upper Alton. His 
wife was the daughter of Samuel, and the sister of Benja- 
min Delaplain. Simon Peter came from Kentucky. He 
became a resident of the township about the year 1833. He 
was a leading member of the Methodist church, a local min- 
ister, and preached frequently. John Peter was his brother. 
Hail Mason became a resident of the county as early as 
December, 1817, at which date he arrived in Edwardsville, 
in company with his brothers James and Paris Mason, Row- 
land p. Allen, Theophilus W. (Smith, and a number of others. 
He lived in Edwardsville for a number of years, and filled 
the office of justice of the peace. He was anxious for the 
suppression of disorder, and while serving as justice of the 
peace at Edwardsville, issued a warrant for the arrest of one 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



507 



Mike Dodd, from AVood river, who was accustomed to come 
to Edwardsville, and, while iii the state of intoxication, dis- 
turb the peace. Dodd and his friends resisted arrest, and 
tlie constable called on the populace for assistance. Mason, 
â– who, though wearing judicial robes, considered himself one 
of the populace assisted in Dodd's arrest Dodd brought 
suit against him, but Mason, whom some of the best lawyers 
of the circuit offered voluntarily to defend, was acquitted. 
From Edwardsville he moved to Clifton, and after a resi- 
dence there of a year or two he came to Scarritt's prairie. 
His house was a short distance northeast of the town of 
Godfrey. He served as justice of the peace after moving 
to this part of the county, and filled other public offices. He 
was born at Grafton, New Hampshire, in the year 1794, and 
died in 1842. His second wife was the daughter of Joel 
Finch. None of his descendants now live in the township. 

John Jlason, brother of Hail Mason, was also an early 
resident of the township. He was born at Grafton, New 
Hampshire, in Uie year 1780, and lived in his native state 
till 1837, in October of which year he came to Illinois, and 
settled on the farm, a short distance northeast of Godfrey, 
where the widow of his son, John Mason, now resides. He 
died in 1867. His two sons, Aaron P. Mason and John 
Mason, were residents of the township for many years. The 
former died in 1880. His widow still lives in Godfrey. The 
widow of John Mason junior, lives on the farm in section 
twenty-three, on which John Mason, senior, settled in 1837. 

Joel Finch was a man of considerable intelligence. He 
settled the place a short distance northeast of Godfrey, now 
owned by J. R. Isett. He died in 18-16, at the ageof ^even- 
ty-two. Richard Blackburn settled the place on which 
Charles Wenzel now lives ; and David Davis, that which 
Thomas Still now occupies. George Waggoner, one of the 
early settlers of the township, was a native of Maryland, 
emigrated from that state to Tennessee, and thence to Cape 
Girardeau, Jlissouri. He became a resident of Godfrey 
township in 1833. Four of his sous, Henry B. Waggoner, 
Samuel H. Waggoner, William W. Waggoner and Wesley 
F. Waggoner, still remain there. 

James Meldrum settled the place on the Brighton road, 
now owned by the Rev. J. W. Caldwell, who married his 
youngest daughter. Another daughter became the 
wife of the Rev. Jotham Scarritt, like the Rev. Mr. 
Caldwell, a Methodist minister. Ezra Oilman, one of 
the early residents of the township, was raised in the family 
of Nathan Scarritt. Rowland and Oscar Ingham came to 
Illinois from the state of New York. The former died in 
this part of the county, and the latter went to California. 

West of Scarritt's prairie, in the northern part of the 
township, one of the earliest settlers was George Debaun. 
He was born of French descent at Harrodsburg, Mercer 
county, Kentucky. He emigrated to Illinois, reaching the 
vicinity of CoUinsville, on the 20lh of October, 1816. After 
a residence of two or three years in that part of the county, 
he moved to the neighborhood of Upper Alton, where he 
lived on a farm till 1829, when he entered land in section 
nine and moved to Godfrey township. William Scarritt 
had, previous to this, built a cabin on a piece of land ad- 



joining, and into this Mr. Debaun moved with his family, 
while he was building a double log cabin on his own land. 
His daughter, Elizabeth Debaun, still living.says that on 
first coming to that place the family had no neighbors ex- 
cept at a distance of two or three miles. Three miles to 
the north, in Jersey county, lived John Wilkins. Nathan 
Scarritt had settled near the present town of Godfrey. Mrs. 
Lurton, the widow of Jacob Lurton, a Methodist minister, 
lived to the west, on the Piasa, on the form which is now 
the residence of McKinley Ward. Mrs. Lurton had three 
daughters living at home. The sons had married and 
moved away. One of the sous. Nelson R. Lurton, kept the 
first house of public entertainment ever opened at Delhi. 
About a half a mile further down the Piasa, lived the Cum- 
mings famil)'. There were two sons, James and Thomas 
Cummings, and one daughter, Maria, who became the wife 
of Richard Simmons, of Jersey county- ISIr. Debaun had 
eight children, and the year of his arrival he employed Miss 
Abigail Scarritt, a niece of Nathan Scarritt, to teach them, 
as there were no schools in the neighborhood. The families 
living nearest took advantage of this and attended ]Miss 
Scarritt's school, two of Nathan Scarritt's children, three of 
Mrs. Lurton and two of John Wilkins, seven in all, beside 
the Debaun children. The school created so much noise 
and confusion at Mr. Debaun's house, that the next year, 
1830, it was removed to the old log cabin, built by William 
Scarritt, a quarter of a mile distant. Elizabeth Peter, a 
niece of Simon Peter, taught the school in this cabin in 1830. 
The next year while Miss Scarritt was teacher, the old log 
cabin caught fire and burned to the ground. George Debaun, 
resided at the place till the year 1849, and then moved with 
his family to St. Louis. In the days of the gold mining 
excitement in California, he started on a venture to the Paci- 
fic coast, and died in the far west, about the year 1852 Two 
of his daughters reside in Godfrey township, Elizabeth De- 
baun, and Jane, the wife of Isaac G. Howell. 

In the year 1833 Judge James Webb became a resident 
of the township, and settled the place north of Godfrey, 
where James Martin now lives. He came to this state from 
Syracuse, New York. He held the office of county commis- 
sioner of Madison county. Of his three daughters, one be- 
came the wife of George T. M. Davis, a lawyer then-engaged 
in practice in Alton, and now a resident of New York city. 
i Another resides in the east, and a third, who married Judge 
{ William Martin, of Alton, is now living in the township. 
Judge Webb died in Alton, at the residence of his son-in-law, 
Judge Martin. 
I The first improvement on the place, which afterward be- 
came the residence of Captain Benjamin Godfrey, was made 
' by Calvin Riley, who accompanied Judge Webb to Illinois 
from the State of New York. He was the brother of the 
Captain Riley who endured a captivity in Africa, and pub- 
I lished a book widely read in those days, known as " Riley's 
j Narrative," and from this connection was himself known as 
' Captain Riley. He built a stone house, which was pur- 
chased by Capt. Godfrey, and which, with the additions 
made by the latter, became the beautiful residence of Capt. 
Godfrev, in which his widow and son still live. One of 



508 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Capt. Riley's daughters became the wife of Amasa Barry, of 
Alton. Another (Mrs. Drennan), is living at Roodliouse, 
and another at Boston, Mass. After disposing of his prop- 
erty to Capt. Godfrey, Riley engaged in the mercantile busi- 
ness in Alton but with little success. He also resided one 
year at Edwardsville, and then returned to this township, 
and improved a farm on section eight. He met his death in 
Michigan, while on a fishing excursion. The boat in which 
he was with two comrades, capsized, and, not knowing how 
to swim, he was drowned. The first house south of the 
Godfrey place on the Jerseyville road was built by Captain 
Riley, and in it George T. M. Davis lived for a time. It 
was afterward occupied by James Hamilton, who kept it as 
a hotel. Hamilton was one of the workmen who came from 
the east to help build the seminary. 

A man na::;ed Larry Davis lived some j'ears in the north- 
western part of the township, but made no improvements of 
importance. Captain Edward Fisher settled about the year 
1834 on the place where John Ward now lives. In early 
life he had been a sailor — the captain of a vessel — and thus 
acquired the title by which he was known. He was an 
Englishman, born at Battle, in Sussex, in the year 1793, 
and died in 1843. His youngest son, William H. Fisher, 
was born in England in 1826. He enlisted in the Second 
Illinois Regiment, for service in the war with Mexico, and 
died at Saltillo, Mexico, in 1847, of wounds received at the 
battle of Buena Vista. 

M. Jones settled on the Piasa ; and his son, Merriwether 
Jones, is now living on part of his father's old farm. 

Another early resident of the township was Samuel Dela- 
plain, who lived on the jilace east of Godfrey, now owned 
by H. A. Somers. He was born in France, and accompa- 
nied his father to this country at a very early date. He 
lived for some years in Macon county, Kentucky, and came 
to Illinois in 1807. For a time, he was a resident of St. 
Louis, and then settled near Upper Alton. The settlers were 
obliged to take refuge in the forts near Edwardsville at the 
beginning of the Indian hostilities, which lasted during the 
war of 1812-14. His son, Benjamin Delaplain, who was 
born in Kentucky in the year 1805, was accustomed to re- 
late how, when the family reached the fort, he was so alarmed 
at the preparations which the settlers hurriedly made for 
defence, and the talk of an anticipated Indian attack, that 
he crept into a flour barrel for safety, and remained there 
for some hours. Samuel Delaplain moved to Godfrey town- 
ship from Upper Alton. At the latter place, Benjamin 
Delaplain was raised. He learned the trade of a carpenter- 
For a number of years he kept the Alton House in Alton. 
He moved to the farm in Godfrey township, where his 
widow now lives, in 1861, and died there in 1876. He had 
owned this farm many years previous to his settlement on 
it. Mrs Delaplain, who still resides on the farm, is now 
one of the old residents of the county. Her maiden name 
was Elizabeth Reed, and she became the wife of Benjamin De- 
laplain in 1834. Her father, James C. Reed, was a Virginian 
by birth. While livingat Washington, Rhea county, Tennes- 
see, he was asked by John Ross, chief of the Cherokee Na- 
tion, then on a reservation in Georgia, to become a resident 



of the Indian country. He lived with his family among the 
Indians for five years, and assisted in building them a mill, 
and instructing them in agriculture. In 1821 he left the 
Cherokees to come to Illinois. Mrs. Delaplain was then a 
girl of tender age. At first he was a resident of Edwardsville. 
In company with a number of young men from Madison 
county, he went to Galena to work in the lead regions, but 
was taken seriously ill and returned to Edwardsville. He 
afterward removed to Brown county, where he lived about 
twenty years. He died at Brighton. Mrs. Delaplain was 
living with her sister, the wife of Andrew Miller, in Alton, 
at the time of her marriage. Andrew Miller became a resi- 
dent of Lower Alton when there were only two houses there. 

Josiah Randle settled in the township about the year 
1834, and improved the place where George Lindley now 
lives. He was born in 1800. His father having died, the 
mother moved with the children, of whom there were eight 
sons and one daughter, from Stewart county, Tennessee, to 
this State, in the year 1814, and settled a short distance 
southeast of Edwardsville. Josiah Randle lived some years 
in Edwardsville and vicinity. In 1823 he became the owner 
of an old mill, built by his uncle, Josias Randle, at Edwards- 
ville in 1818, and operated it for some time. After coming 
to Godfrey township, Mr. Randle was one of its best citi- 
zens. He was a zealous member of the Methodist Church. 
He died at Brighton in 18.57, his death resulting from an 
accident in a coal shaft which he was visiting. 

One of the pioneer citizens of th-e county, Don Alonzo 
Spauldiug, is still a resident of Godfrey township, which 
has been his home since the year 1832. He was born in 
Rutland county, Vermont, in 1797. He acquired a good 
education in the common schools and in a private academy, 
and taught school. While his time was divided between 
farm work and teaching, he studied surveying. With the 
object of finding employment in surveying the public lands, 
he left home in May, 1818, and with a pack on his back 
which contained his clothes and a compass, he journeyed on 
foot to Olean, New York, a distance of three hundred and 
seventy miles. Here he met four other young men and 
joined with them in purchasing a flat boat, for which five 
dollars was paid. In this they floated and paddled down 
the river to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, making the distance 
of three hundred and fifty miles in twenty-one days. Here 
his companions left him, and he fell in with a family going 
down the Ohio who had a better boat, and with them made 
arrangements to board and travel. He landed at Massac. 
His first service as a surveyor was surveying a twenty-one 
acre tract of land for the county seat of Johnson county. 
This work took him six days, and for it he received twenty- 
five dollars. He made his way on foot by way of Kaskas- 
kia, to Edwardsville, where he arrived in July 1818. He 
knew Hail Mason, then a resident of Edwardsville, and also 
brought a letter to Dr. Caldwell. He says there was not a 
good house in the place at that time. During the winter of 
1818-19 he was employed in surveying a tract of land 
thirty miles north of Alton. During the two months in 
which he was so engaged he did not see a single white man, 
except the members of his party, and only four Indians. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



509 



During six months of the year 1S19 he taught school in 
Edwardsville. He was elected surveyor of Madison county 
in 1825, and held that office ten jears. In 1834 he took a 
contract to survey a tract of land forty mihs southeast of 
Chicago. In 18-58 and 1839 he surveyed public lands in 
Illinois in 1844 and 1845 in Missouri and Arkansas, and in 
1818 and 1849 in Wisconsin. From 1849 to 1853 he was 
thechief clerk in the surveyor's office in St. Louis, and in 
December, 1853, was appointed Surveyor General of the 
district compri.sing Illinois and Mis.souri with his office in 
St. Louis. In 1854 he received an appointment as clerk in 
the general land office at Washington, and soon afterward was 
sentto Florida to adjust the accuuntsof the Surveyor-General 
of that stale, and for three years was stationed at St Au- 
gustine. Mr. Spaulding, in the year 1 8-'8, settled on section 
twenty-uine of this township, and four years later on section 
twenty-eight, where he has since retidtd He is now eighty- 
five years of age, and has probably done more active work 
in surveying the public lands of the United States than any 
other person now living. He united with the Baptist 
church in Vermont, and assisted in the organization of the 
Baptist church at Alton. 

Joel D. Spaulding, father of Don Alonzo Spaulding, be- 
came a resident of Madison county in 1825. After living 
some months in Edwardsville he moved to Rattan's prairie, 
and from there moved to Godfrey township in 1828, and set- 
tled on the place where Don Alonzo Spaulding now lives. 
He died in the year 1844. Henry Spaulding, brother of 
Don Alonzo Spaulding, became a resident of the township 
also in 1828. He served as a justice of the peace for a num- 
ber of years. He died in Macoupin county. 

Among the early citizens of the southern part of the 
township was Major George W. Long, who died in the year 
1881. He was born at Hopkinton, New Hampshire, in 
1799. He entered the Military Academy at West Point as 
a cadet in 1820, and graduated in 1824. After his gradua- 
tion he was one of the corps of instructors at West Point 
for a year. He was subsequently employed as a govern- 
ment engineer in Louisiana and Florida till 1836 From 
that time till 1839, he held the position of State engineer 
for the state of Louisiana. In 1830 he entered land in sec- 
tions thirty-three and thirty-four, and here during the year 
1831 and 1832 he built the large brick house which was his 
subsequent^residence. At the time of the erection this was 
probably the largest and best building in the county. It 
was occupied by his youngest brother, Edward Preble Long, 
for some years, and became the home of Major Long on his 
retiring from the profession of an engineer in 1839. 

His brother, Dr. Benjamin F. Long, now a resident of 
Godfrey township, became a citizen of the county in Octo- 
ber 1831. He was born at Hopkinton, Massachusetts, in 
1805, graduated in the medical department of Dartmouth 
college in 1830, and the next year came to Alton on a visit 
to his brother. Deacon Enoch Long, then intending to enter 
on the practice of his profession in Louisiana. He, how- 
ever, remained at Upper Alton and practiced medicine there 
for twenty-one years. He assisted in the organization of the 
Illinois Mutual Fire lusuraif-e Company, was a member of 
69 



its first board of trustees, and was its president for nearly a 
quarter of a century. He is the only surviving one of five 
brothers— Colonel Stephen H. Long, Deacon Enoch Long, 
Major George W. Long, Dr. Benjamin F. Long, and Ed- 
ward Preble Long — who were among the most useful and 
respected citizens of the county. Col. Stephen II. Long 
was connected for many years with the Uuited States Engi- 
neering forces. He made several early explorations under 
the direction of the government of the West and the North- 
west, and secured a national reputation for scientific achieve- 
ments and engineering skill. He retired from active service 
in 1862. For some years he resided at Upper Alton. Deacon 
Enoch Long became a resident of Upper Alton in 1821. 
In 1844 he removed to Galena, and in 1863 to Sabula, Jack- 
son county, Iowa, where he died. 

Moses B. Walker was one of the first settlers on the Graf- 
ton road. He was a native of Tennessee, and came to the 
township about the year 1828. His wife was a .sister of 
Samuel Thurston, one of the proprietors of the town of 
Clifton. Walker first worked at the mill in Clifton when 
he came to the township, and then entered land in section 
twenty-nine, on which he lived till his death. He filled the 
office of constable for a number of years, serving in that 
capacity while Henry Spaulding acted as justice of the 
peace. Mr. Copley, a native of j\Iassachusetts, entered land, 
and settled in section twenty-seven. His sons, John and 
George Copley, live on the place where their father settled. 
The farm now owned by Charles Merriraan, adjoining the 
Copley place, was entered by Mr. Buckley. Parker Dela- 
plain was also one of ihe settlers in this part of the town- 
ship. 

William Squire, who was born in the year 1814, in Dev- 
onshire, England, came to this country in 1835, and became 
a permanent resident of Godfrey township in 1838. He was 
a good citizen, and for many years an active member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church. He died on the twelfth of 
March, 1865. His sons, James, William Frank, and Heber 
Squire, are now residents of the township. James Squire 
filled the office of justice of the peace four years, and in 
1877 was elected to represent the township in the board of 
supervisors, and has been re-elected every year since. Wm. 
Frank Squire served as township assessor twelve years, and 
is the present collector of the township. 

Elijah Frost became a resident of the township in 1840. 
He was born near Troy, New York, in 1812, and emigrated 
to Illinois in 1837. He lived at Kane, Greene county, till 
1840, and then came to this township, first settling on Coal 
branch. In 1841 he built the house in which he has since 
lived The land had been entered by a man named Emer- 
son, but Mr. Frost bought it of Robert W. Finch. He was 
one of the original members of Bethany Methodist Episco- 
pal church. He taught school at the Bethany church in 
1840, and has, altogether, taught thirty-six terms of school, 
mostly in Godfrey township. Ho has served eighteen years 
as township treasurer. 

Among the early residents of the village of Godfrey was 
'• Timothy Turner, who was born at New Haven, Connecticut, 
1 in 1784. He became a resident of Godfrey in 1839. He 



510 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



opened a small store, which was the first in the place. Ou 
the establishQieat of the p )s.-jlfica iu lS4rJ, he was appointed 
post master, and held the office till 1-569, when he resigned 
on account of advancing age and debility. He died in 
August, 1863. His son, Jarius B. Turner, still resides iu ' 
Godtiey. 

Abijah W. Corey, who, for many years, was a resident of 
the village of Godfrey, was born iu Orange county, New 
York, in the year 1803. He taught school in early life 
and intended to enter the minittry, but his feeble health 
obliged him to relinquish this purpose. From 1825, with 
slight intervals, to the time of his death, he was an agent of 
the American Sunday School Union. He came to this 
county in 1837. While in the employment of the Illinois 
Temperance Society, he edited for five years The Temperance 
Herald, published at Alton, a journal devoted to the inter- 
ests of temperance. He was appointed financial agent of 
Monticello Seminary in 1838. At the time of his death, 
which occurred in May, 1880, he was a member of the Board 
of trustees of the seminary. 

John Pattison, a native of the State of New Jersey, was 
one of the early residents of the township-. His son, Mi- 
chael H. Pattison, is living on the place which his father im- 
proved. Isaac G. Howell, Benjamin S. Howell, H. Howell, 
U Howell, and James Howell, all came from New Jersey ; 
Uriah and Henry in 1836, and the others in the spring of 
1837. They assisted iu the building of the seminary, and 
then settled iu the township Henry followed the carpen- 
teriucr business in Godfrey. In company with his brother, 
Uriah, now a citizen of Jerseyville, he built the mill at 
Godfrey in 1857. He is now living at Princeton, New Jer- 
sey. Isaac G. Howell married the daughter of George De- 
baun, and is now living in the township. Henry Caswell 
built a house at an early date on the site now occupied by 
the residence of Benjamin Webster. This place was also the 
residence of Father Chamberlain, a Presbyterian minister, 
an early citizen of this part of the county. 

We insert the following communication from the Hon. 
William F. De Wolf, of Chicago, believing that it will be 
interesting to his many friends and acquaintances in Madi- 
son county. He came to the county in 1836, and was for 
several years a resident of Godfrey and Alton : 

W. R. Brijjk, Esq., EJwardsville, HI. 

At your request I write a few of my recollections of dear 
old Madison county. I fear they will be meagre and unin- 
teresting for all of my papers and memoranda of early ex- 
perience iu Illinois were burned up in the great Chicago fire 
of 1871. Indeed all the original matter I can give you 
must be taken from a memory, none too retentive. I say 
dear old Madison, for there I really began active life. 
There with a young wife, I looked back on our ancestral 
homes in New England and having left the comforts, not to 
say luxuries, of highly cultivated society, undertook to 
breast the storms of life amid the new and uncultivated 
fields of the vast West, Illinois then being comparatively a 
frontier State. In Nov. 1836 in company with my wife and 
brother, Fitz Henry De Wolf, now of Bristol, R. I. I left 



our native state and after nearly a month's travel reached St. 
Louis, and after a few days' stay in that city, then contain- 
ing about 12,000 inhabitants, started for Alton, our destina- 
tion, on the steamer Alps. The steamer was a frail bark, 
and I remember that when we met the strong current at the 
mouth of the Missouri it seemed as if the trembling vessel 
could hardly stem the rush of waters that came pouring 
from that mighty river. I remember having pointed out to 
me the widow Gillham's farm on the Illinois side, as an old 
place- On this farm I could see from our deck, an orchard 
of apple trees, large and thrifty and in lull bearing. The 
farm lay on the river bank while behind it the vast forest 
of m nense trees stood intermingled with groves of smaller 
growth. Alas "the orchard, the grove, and the deep 
tangled wild wood " have all been swept into the Mississippi. 
We arrived at Alton after dark and found shelter at the 
Alton House. Such an hotel in almost any town or village 
in Illinois, would now, 1882, be considered very inferior. 
But we had made up our minds to meet the deficiencies of 
the new West with the best grace we could, and soon came 
to enjoy the life about to be entered upon. In a few days 
we removed to Liberty Hall, Upper Alton, kept by Mr. 
Randle. Here we passed three weeks very comfoi'tably and 
then removed to the Piasa House in the " Lower Town." 
This hotel had just been finished by the owner. Judge Haw- 
ley, and was well managed by Mrs. Elizabeth Wait, a 
motherly, kind-hearted old lady whom I shall always re- 
member with pleasure and gratitude. At the Piasa my first 
child was born. Judge Hezekiah Hawley, referred to, was 
a native of New England who had passed most of his life 
iu Kentucky. He was a gentleman of the Henry Clay 
period and an enthusiastic admirer of the great Kentuckian. 
To Judge Hawley, Alton owed much of her early prosperity. 
Her enterprise was such that many thought she would be 
the successful rival of St. Louis. Indeed in 1836 and for a 
time after, the great firms of Godfrey Oilman & Co., Stone, 
Manning & Co., C. B. Roff & Co , Simeon Ryder, Lewis 
K&llenberger and mauy others compared favorably with the 
largest wholesale houses in St. Louis. But two large cities 
could not exist so near to each other, and the capital of St. 
Louis, together with the splendid location, won the day at 
the time spoken of; Madison county already contained a 
very superior population. No county of the State could 
boast of better citizens than Capt. Benjamin Godfrey, Ben- 
jamin Ives Oilman, George Churchill, VVinthrop S. Oilmar, 
Capt Simeon Ryder, Dr. Marsh, Cyrus Edwards, Robert 
Smith, Alfred Cowles, Dr. Btnjamin F. Edwards, John T. 
Lusk, Judge William Martin, John Bailhache, Moses G. 
Atwood, and a host of others somewhat advanced in age, 
not to mention the younger men then just buckling ou their 
armor for the battle of life, among whom I will name the 
now venerable Judge Joseph Gillespie, J. Russell Bullock, 
since United States Judge in Rhode Island, Newton D. 
Strong, Junius Hall, John W. Chickeriug, George T, M. 
Davis, the talented but erratic Usher F. Linder, and the 
still more brilliant McDougal, afterward United States Sen- 
ator for California. Among the clergy I remember with 
ever growing esteem Graves, Norton, Depuy and the vener- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



511 



able Father Rogers of the Upper Town. Soon after Hon. 
Nathaniel Pope and David J. Baker took up their residence 
in Middletown, and increased the intellectual and social 
attraction of the neighborhood. About the year 1S42, 1 re- 
moved from the city of Alton into Godfrey township. Here 
among my neighbors I counted Major George W. Long, 
Don Alonzo Spaulding, the Mason and Scarritt families, and 
many others, all of whjm I look back upon with the kindest 
neighborly remembrances. Six of my eight children were 
born in M idison county. I take pride in saying two of my 
sous, both born in that county, served in the war for the 
suppression of the Rebellion. The eldest entered the ser- 
vice as a private at the breaking out of the war, leaving a 
lucrative position in the office of the President of the Illi- 
nois Central Railroad. He was one of the famous " Taylor's 
Battery," composed of some of the best young men of Cook 
county, and commanded by Capt. Ezra Taylor, of Chicago. 
After participating in several battles, among others, Donel- 
son and Belmont, at the last named receiving a wound, 
young De Wolf was promoted for merit to a 2d Lieutenancy 
in the Regular Army, to wit: Battery C. 3d Regiment of IJ. 
S. Artillery, commanded by Capt. (now General) Horatio 
Gates Gibson. At Williamsburg, Va., in his iirst engage- 
ment after his promotion on the 4th of May, 1862, he was 
mortally wounded while gallantly leading his men He was 
taken to VVashington, where at the hospitable residence of 
the Hon Isaac Arnold, then member of Congress from 
Cook county, after three weeks' suffering, he laid down his 
life on the altar of his country. His mother wa.s with him 
from the first moment ishe could reach him, after he received 
his wound, till he clo-ed his eyes in death. After knowing 
him for j-ears. Gen. McClellan, then Comraauder-in-Chief, 
endorsed an application for his promotion to ihe Regular 
Army in these words, " no better appointment can be made 
from civil life." Capt. Gibson, Commander of Battery C. 
under date June 7, 1862, thus writes a friend in Chicago: 

" In the battle of Williamsburg, one of my subalterns (a 
handsome, gallant boy from Chicago, named De Wolf), was 
wounded, and I regret to .say has since died. I was much 
attached to him, and if your friends know his family please 
assure them of my sincere sympathy with them in their 
bereavement, and my high appreciation of his coolness and 
gallantry in the midst of no ordinary danger. Poor fellow ! 
he joined my battery on the 4th of April; was wounded on 
the 4th of May, and on the 4th of June he was dead." I 
have dwelt upon the services and death of this young hero 
because I feel sure that the people of Madison will rejoice 
that the noble old county gave birth-place to such a man. 

Some remarkable events occurred during my residence in 
Madison county. The first was the murder of Elijah P. 
Lovejoy, and the riots preceding. On the 2d of November, 
1837, was held a public meeting, of which I was secretary, 
called ostensibly for the purpose of endeavoring to allay tlie 
excitement then existing, growing out of Mr. Lovejoy's 
advocacy of anti-slavery doctrines in the Observer. The 
meeting was soon found to be in the hands of those not will- 
ing to allow Mr. Lovejoy the rights of an American citizen, 
so far as public discussion was involved. This meeting. 



which will ever remain a disgrace to the American character, 
adjourned after the passage of some resolutions only calcu- 
lated to influence the mob, and which I will not disTjrace 
these pages by (juotiug. This meeting, had it been properly 
conducted, would have prevented the attack on the ware- 
house of Godfrey Gilman & Co., of the 7th of the same 
mouth, with all its horrible and appalling results. During 
the session of this meeting, 'Sir. Lovejoy made his great 
speech in defence of his principles and expressing his deter- 
mination, with the help of God and protection of the laws, 
to maintain his rights. I have heard many remarkable 
arguments in my life — some of the best efforts of Webster 
and Clay, and others of the great men of our country, and I 
have read of others uttered under the most thrilling circum- 
stances; but never did I listen to or read of such an appeal 
to the judgment and feelings of men as I did on that 2d of 
November, 1837. I cannot except the immortal defense of 
Paul before Festus. In spite of the hateful spirit which 
possessed the breasts of his foes, many of them wtre made to 
shed tears. But I can pursue this subject no further now, 
except to add the expression of my belief to those who have 
recorded the praises of Lovejoy, thdt he died fur his country, 
and did more than any one man, by so doing, to bring about 
theabjlition of slavery ; thus wiping a vile disgrace from 
the constitution of our country. I was attending court at 
Carrollton, Greene county, on the 7th of November, when 
the assault on the warehouse and the killing of Lovejoy took 
place, and thus escaped being present on the occasion which 
proved a lasting disgrace to Alton and left a blot on the 
American name ever to be regretted. 

The second event alluded to was the explosion of the 
powder stored in the magazine situated on the bluff behind 
the old penitentiary. A large amount of powder was there 
placed for safe-keeping, and it is supposed that fire was com- 
municated by some evil-disposed person, though what his 
particular object was could not be determined. So powerful 
was the effect produced that in St. Louis, twenty-four miles 
distant, it was distinctly felt, and people left the theatre and 
other buildings, fearing that an earthquake was about to 
topple the city into ruins. Almost every pane of glass in 
Second street, Alton, was broken, doors and windows blown 
in, plastering shaken down, and in one case at least a rock 
as large as an ordinary water-pail was thrown some twelve 
or fifteen hundred feet, falling on the roof of a house and 
breaking through a chamber, where a sleeping couple were 
suddenly awakened by the dreadful crash. 

The third event to which I have alluded was the great 
flood of 1844. In the month of June the " Father of Wa- 
ters" ro.se higher than at any time previous or during the 
present century. Large steamers received and discharged 
freight from and into the second story windows of the ware- 
houses on the levee at St. Louis. At Alton the same thing 
was done. Opposite St. Louis (now East St. Louis), then 
called Illinois Town, the river was from eight to twelve miles 
wide, and of sufficient depth for steamers to cross to the 
bluffs, to a place then called "Paps's" or '' Paapstown," 
where large transactions in cattle and swine, for the New 
Orleans and St. Louis markets, were made. The 



512 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



done bj' tlie overflow was as great, in proportion to the pop- 
ulation, as that caused this year (1882) on the Lower Mis- 
sissippi. Indeed, so great was the destruction of property 
that the Legislature, at its next session, exempted from tax- 
ation, for a time, that portion of the State which had sulfered 
so much. 

In 1846, while living in Godfrey township, I was elected 
to the State Legislature, my colleagues being William Martin 
and Curtis Blakeman. After a rather stormy session, dur- 
ing which many important questions as to the location and 
termination of certain railroads were discussed, we adjourned 
in the utmost good feeling. While at Springfield, I had 
heard great things of the then " coming Chicago," and in 
the autumn of 1846 removed to this city, then containing 
about fourteen to sixteen thousand people. I will not dwell 
upon the years that have passed'. Suffice it to say, I have^ 
lived to see the State of Illinois become the fourth in the 
galaxy of States composing our glorious Union, and the city 
of Chicago grow from less than 16,000 to 600 000 in popu- 
lation. I have twice rode on horseback from Alton to Ga- 
lena, and from Galena to the head waters of the Wabash, 
and from thence to Cairo, returning to Alton along the 
shores of the Mississippi, when the whole State did not con 
tain a population equal to that of one division of the city of 
Chicago at this date. Orchards, now forty years old, are 
growing on lauds which once were prairies that I have 
crossed, without a farm for forty miles ; and yet I ara a new- 
comer in comparison with some of the old settlers notv living 
in Madison county. Since my removal to Chicago, I have 
pursued a quiet life, not aspiring to office or political pre- 
ferment. I have been Treasurer of the city, and for four 
years a Justice of the county of Cook. As my record here 
would not be germain to your history, I here bid you good- 
bye, always assuring you, and through you the citizens of 
dear old Madison, that I remember my stay in that county 
with unalloyed pleasure, and look back upon it as a green 
?pot, an oasis, in the great desert of life. 



Chicago, April, 1882. 



William F. De Wolf. 



Judge Joseph Gillespie, having read the above letter, 
makes the following comments : 

" Hon, William F. De Wolf was for many years an hon- 
ored citizen of this county, and her able and faithful Kepre- 
sentive in the Legislature. He was one of the few citizens 
of Alton who took a stand in favor of sustaining the right 
claimed by the lamented Lovejoy, of expressing his opinions 
on the subject of slavery, as well as all other questions of 
ff public character, being amenable to the laws for the abuse 
of such a right, and if the counsels of Mr, De Wolf had 
prevailed we would have been spared the necessity of havii g 
to apologize for the greatest iniquity of the nineteenth cen- 
tury ; the atrocious murder of one of the greatest and best 
men in the land, by a worthless mob, for the exercise of a 
right guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the coun- 
try. But the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church, 
and Elijah Lovejoy's blood fructified the whole land- In his 
death he pulled down the temples of Dagon. Mr, De Wolf 



was a fine lawyer, an affluent and influtntial public servant 
and blameless in all the walks of life. He was fortunate 
and unfortunate in his family. Fortunate in rearing a large 
family of most estimable and aflfectionate children ; but 
sorely tried in the furnace of affliction in the loss of four 
lovely daughters by the explosion on the ill-fated steamer 
Bay State, in September, 1853, which was followed in 1862 
by the death of his noble and heroic son, William De Wolf, 
Lieutenant Co. C, Srd Regt., U. S. Artillery, who was 
mortally wounded while gallantly leading his command at 
the battle of Williamsburg, Virginia. Young De Wolf had 
been previously wounded at the battle of Belmont, showing 
that he was ever in the front, at the post of danger. Although 
he entered as a private into the service of his country, he 
very soon so signalized himself as to be transferred to the 
regular army. He was taken ofl' at the age of 21, with bril- 
liant prospects, and hopes of rapid preferment before him. 
He together with his brothers and sisters were born in Madi- 
son county, and we have a right to be proud of him. I am 
gratified to be afforded this opportunity of paying ihis feeble 
tribute of respect to so worthy a scion of my esteemed friend 
Hit> whom I have spent so much time at the Courts and iu 
the Halls of Legislation, He and I are in the sere and yel- 
low leaf, but I trust he may be spared many years to bless 
his family, and reflect honor upon his country as he has so 
well done in times past." 

The early residents of the township were obliged to in- 
dure the discomforts usual to pioneer life. Wild animals iu 
early days were numerous. The wolves killed in one night, 
nineteen sheep belonging to Joel, Finch, and in one night iu 
the winter of 1842, six, out of nine sheep, belonging to 
James Meldrum. It is said of Ezra Oilman, that he killed a 
panther with no other weapon than a heavy stick. His dog, a 
large, heavy one, was in pursuit of a wolf, and ran around 
the head of a hollow, which Gilman crossed, to find that a 
panther had clinched his dog, and that the two were strug- 
gling together, Gilman took a stake from his sledge, and 
beat the panther on the head till he killed him, and thus 
saved the dog. Panthers were seen iu the township as late 
as the year 1850. 

LAND ENTRIES, 

The earliest entries of land were made by Jacob Lurton 
one hundred and six acres, in section six, October 13, 1820, 
Josiah Cummings, Oct 13, 1820 ; N. E. quarter section six ; 
Isaac Scarritt, one huudred and seven and sixty-two-one 
hundredthsacres, section four, January 17, 1821 ; Joel Finch, 
I D Maurop, and M. Malary, eighty acres in section 26, Jan- 
uary 28 1822 ; Joseph S. Eeynolds, eighty acres in section 
twenty-three, March 2, 1822 ; and John Murray, east half 
of northeast quarter of section twenty-six, eighty acres. May 
24, 1822. 

PHYSICAL CHAEACTERISTICS. 

Though the whole or part of thirty six sections are com- 
prised in this township the area is but little in excess of thirty 
square miles. The northern tier of sections is cut by the line 
dividing Madison from Jersey and Macoupin counties, and 
the southwestern sections are materially encroached upon by 
the Mississippi river. A small portion of the township in 




FARM RESIDENCE OF LOUIS WALTER SEC- 16 T., 6 R. lO (GODFREY TP) MADISON,CO. ILL. 




FARM RESIDENCE OF Z. BROWN SEC. 9 T. 6 R. 10 (GODFREY TR MADISON. CO. ILL. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



613 



the northeast is prairie ; the remainder was originally cov- 
ered with heavy timber. The surface in the prairie portion 
of the township is level ; the rest is mostly rolling, but well 
adapted to agriculture. There is scarcely au acre that 
is not susceptible of cultivation in some form. A range of 
Rocky bluff lines the Mississippi. There area number of 
small streams, but only two of sufficient importance to have 
received a name. The Piasa creek, running through the 
wcbtern part of the township into the Mississippi, and Coal 
Branch in the southeast, emptying into Wood river. 

Beside the usuatagricultural products of corn, wheat and 
hay, much attention s devoted to the raising of fruit. Large 
quantities of apples, peaches, pears aud smaller fruit are 
shipped annually to the St. Louis aud Chicago markets. 
The bluff lands along the Mississippi have been found to be 
peculiarly adapted to fruit culture, aud numerous orchards 
and vineyards have here been planted. 

A fruit distillery was established by John Castagnetta, 
about a mile north of the village of Godfrey, in 1872. He 
manufactured large quantities of apple, peach, and grape 
brandy and champagne cider. Of cider he makes six or 
eight hundred barrels each year, and in 1880 he made one 
thousand barrels. 

EARLY SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. 

Mention has already been made that the first school in 
the township was taught in the barn of Nathan Scarriit, 
whose daughter Laura was the teacher. Sixteen children 
attended this school. A school was also taught in the years 
1829, 1830, and 1831, at the residence of George Debaun. 
Abigail Scarritt and Elizabeth Pettr were the teachers. 
About the year 1832 or 1833, a tchool was established at 
the Bethany church, and for some years afterward this was 
the only school in the township. A West Point cadet, 
named Johnson, taught this school in 1839. Elijah Frost, 
now living in the township, took charge of the school in 
1840, and taught it three years. This was still at that 
time the only school in the township, aud pupils came to at- 
tend it from Clifton and Jersey county, boarding in the 
neighborhood. Subsequent teachers were Mrs. Russell Scar- 
ritt, Mary Jane Scarritt, the youngest daughter of Nathan 
Scarritt, and William Cunningham. The township was or- 
ganized for school purposes in the year 1842. The first 
Sunday-school was taught in the barn of Nathan Scarritt in 
the summer of the year 1829. 

Early religious services were held at the house of Nathan 
Scarritt, and here the first sermon was preachfd in the sum- 
mer of the year 1828, by the Rev. John Hogan, a Metho- 
dist minister, now a resident of St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Hogan 
was then carrying on the mercantile business at Edwards- 
ville, subsequently became a resident of Alton, and afterward 
of St. Louis. 

A Methodist clasi was organized at the lime of the fir.''t 
settlement of the township, but no regular church organiza- 
tion existed till 1842. On the 26tli of Diceniber of that 
year Bethany church was organized Among the original 
members were Hail ^lason, Nathan Scarritt, Josiah Randle, 
Simon Peter, James Meldrura, John Mason, Jr., Aaron P. 
70 



Mason, Richard Blackburn, Elijah Frost, David Rood aud 
William Squire. The name of Bethany was suggested by 
Henry P. Rundle. Simon Peter gave to the society the 
ground on which the church was built. The Randies, 
Scarritts and others were warm supporters of the Methodist 
church, aud it was usual for them on Wednesday nights to 
get a big wagon and drive around the neighborhood, col- 
lecting a goo<lly number to go to Upper Alton and attend 
the weekly class. The Sunday-school, formed in 182D, had 
an irregular existence till 1841, when on the 6th of May a 
Sunday school was organized at the Bethany church, which 
has since permanently continued. The Rev. N. H. Lee is 
the present pastor of Bethany church 

"The Church of Cfirist," in the village of Godfrey, was 
organized on the 2d of November, 1839, with twenty-six 
members. At the first meeting, of which the Rev. Theoron 
Baldwin was moderator, a constitution, confession of faith 
and covenant were adopted, aud Timothy Turner and Benj. 
I. Gilman appointed elders. Soon after James Howell was 
added to the session, butou account of infirm health, resigned 
in October 1840. Rev. Theoron Baldwin was installed pastor 
of the church on the 22d of November, 1840. Abijah W. 
Corey was appointed elder in October, 1841. Capt. Benja- 
min Godfrey, who had united with the Alton Pre.«byteriau 
church in 1833, became a member of the church at Gotlfrey in 
1844, and on the 5th of October of that year was ap- 
pointed an elder. In the fall of 1842 a large addition was 
made to the church. The Rev. Eiisha Jenny was at that 
time supplying the place of the pastor, who was absent in 
the East. In the spring of 1844 the Rev. Mr. Baldwin re- 
.signed the pastoral care of the church, and the Rev. George 
Pyle was the pastor from that time till 1846. The Rev. C. 
W. Clapp is the present pastor. The house of worship was 
built at the joint expense of the congregation and Monti- 
cello Seminary, on land belonging to the si minary. The 
church was organized on an independent basis, and not 
connected with any denomination. Twelve of the original 
members were from Presbyterian churches, four from Re- 
formed Dutch, and only two from Congregational churches. 
The Rev. Theoron Baldwin, the 6rst principal of the Mon- 
tioel.o Female Seminary, and the Rev. J. M. Sturtevant, of 
Illinois College, were the leaders in its organization. In 
1854 the church became strictly Presbyterian, and united 
with the Presbytery of Alton. In 1867 the church withdrew 
from the Presbyterian connection and returned to its origi- 
nal independent basis. 

The Bap ist church, on the south line of the township, ad- 
joining North Alton, was built in 1858. Rev.Mr. Bevins now 
has the pastoral charge. With thechurch a large and pros- 
perous Sunday-school isconnected. There is a Congregational 
church at Melville, of which the Rev. H. D. Piatt, of 
Brighton, is pastor. A church building stands three miles 
west of the village of Godfrey, and is known as the White 
Oak church. It was built under Congregational auspices, 
and services are held in it occasionally. 

THE VILLAGE OF GODFREY 

Is situate four miles from Alton, in the midst of a beautiful 



514 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



and highly improved agricultural region. It is at the junc- 
tion of the Jacksonville branch, with the main line of the 
Chicago and Alton railroad, and the numerous trains to St. 
Louis make it an admirable point for suburban residence. 
The name of the town, which was laid off by Capt. Benja- 
min Godfrey and Enoch Long, is placed on the records as 
Monticello, but it is now universally called Godfrey, that 
being the appellation of the post office and railway station. 
The town plat was ri corded. May 30th, 1840. A town of 
Godfrey, ar joining the original Monticello, was laid out in 
town lots, by James fc^quire, in 1882, and is northeast of the 
old town. Tlie Monticello Female Seminary is the most 
prominent object of interest in Godfrey. Its proximity to 
Alton has prevented any great business devflopment. The 
first store was opened "by Timothy Turner, in a small 
building, which still stands on the lot on which is his former 
residence. Mr. Turner was also the first postmaster, and 
was appointed to that pcsition on the esiablishment of the 
office in 18-10. Previousto that time the citizens got their mail 
at Alton. Turner resigned the office in 1860, on account of 
old age and debility, and Thomas P. Walworth, who had 
formerly been his clerk, received the commission. He held 
the office only a short time, and was succeeded by Benjamin 
Webster, who was postma.«ter from 1801 to 1881, when he 
was succeeded by the present incumbent, Edward A. Masun. 
Few post offices in the state show such a record of infrequent 
changes, two of the post masters, each having held the office 
for twenty years. 

There are now two grocery stores kept by Edward A. 
Mason and John F. Boyd, and one in which dry goods and 
groceries are sold, of which George Churchill is proprietor. 
John Roberts has a restaurant. The business of blacksmith- 
iug and wagon making was carried on extensively by Aaron 
C. Mason and T. Baldwin, but is now conducted by Mark 
Robidou and the firm of Wirth & Weber. X. Maier and 
Carl Wenzel, have shoe shops. A flouring mill was built 
here in the year 1857, by Henry and Uriah Howell, who 
disposed of it to Richard Blackburn, who after running it 
about three years, died. Sears & Dodgson were the next 
proprietors. The mill was finally moved to Clifton, where 
for a time it was operated as a cement mill. The school- 
house is a neat structure, containing three rooms. The prin- 
cipal of the school is James Squire, with Fannie A. Burgess 
as assistant. The colored school is in charge of J. M. An- 
derson. 

CLIFTON, 

In the extreme southwest corner of the township, was laid 
out by D. Tolman and Hail Mason, and the plat recorded 
October 10th, 1840. A cement mill was established at this 
point and quite extensive arrangements made for the manu- 
facture of cement, but it was never operated with success. 
A saw mill was built by Daniel Tollman and Samuel Thurs- 
ton, about 18o5, and was in operation for a few years. Louis 
Steritz, who has the largest vineyard in the township, keeps 
a place at which he dispenses the product of his vineyard) 
and which is often visited by parties from Alton. 

MELVILLE 

Is the name given to a small settlement and post office. 



within less than a mile of Clifton. There are about half a 
dozen houses in the place. Mrs. Louis Schmidt has a small 
store, and has charge of the post office. There is a Con- 
gregational church and a public school, of which George F. 
Long is teacher. A distillery was formerly carried on at 
this point. 

COAL BRANCH 

In the southern part of the township, not far from North 
Alton, is a settlement comprising about twenty families. The 
inhabitants are mostly engaged in mining coal. There is 
one store, of which John and Hugh Pierce are proprie- 
tors. The Coal Branch is the name of a small stream, along 
which out-croppings of coal are visible. Coal was mined 
by Joseph and Richard Whyers, at an early date. They 
supplied the first coal usid in the penitentiary at Alton. 
The coal was procured by a drift, extending into the bank. 
The first pit was opened by James Mitchell, in the summer 
of 1848. A few months later a pit was sunk by Thomas 
Dunford. After ihe opening of the Chicago & Alton rail- 
road considerable quantities of coal were shipped to Spring- 
field, Bloomington, Chicago and other points in the northern 
and central parts of the state. Not only has this traffic 
ceased, but Alton itself is now largely supplied from more 
distant points. The coal is of superior quality, equal to the 
best mined in the state, but the vein only has a thickness of 
thirty inches, and the coal can not be mined as cheaply as in 
a larger vein. The shafts range from fifty to one hundred 
and twenty feet in depth. The vein is now nearly exhausted, 
and it is only a question of a few years when the working of 
the pits will be abandoned. The owneis of the pits are 
Dennis Noonan, James Mitchell, Peter Robinson, Charles 
Crowson and William Watte, Henry Camp, Peter Taylor & 
Co., Nathan Sydcl, Henry Conlon and John Rutledge. 

On the Coal Branch, in early days, stood a flouring mill, 
known as the Whyer's mill. 



^Vas the name of a former post office which has now changed 
to that of North Alton. James Strong, a native of Cum- 
berland, England, in the fall of 1837, built a large frame 
building, over the doorway of which the antlers of a buck 
were suspended, and opened it as the Buck Inn. This 
building stood on the south line of the township, where the 
Grafton road leaves the road to Godfrey. The building 
was burned down in 1 855, and the present brick structure 
was then erected. James Strong died in 1869, and his son, 
Jacob Strong, has since carried on a store at this point. The 
post office of Buck Inn was established in 1868, and Capt. 
P. J. Melling was the first post master. The office was 
kept at his house in the present"<jlodfrey township. After 
two years. Captain Melling was succeeded by William Hall> 
who removed the office to the present town of North Alton. 
The office was called Buck Inn, up to the time of the incor- 
poration of the town of North Alton. In this part of God- 
frey township, Adolphus Denz built a steam mill in I860. 
The machinery was transferred in 1882 to a new mill erecf 
ed just north of North Alton, on section thirty-five. There 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



515 



is also a blacksmith shop, wagon shop and marble-cutting 
shop, in this part of the township, 

Supervlmrs. Tohn M. Pearson, elected in 1876-77 ; was 
succeeded by James Squire, in 1877-78, and by re-elec- 
tion, Mr. Squire has represented the township to the present. 

Present Township OJicerg. — Supervisor, James Squire; 



Clerk, James W.Martin ; Assessor, Peter Hughes; Collector, 
William Frank Squire; Commissioners on Highways, Jona- 
than L. Pierce, Peter Myer, George Lindley ; Justices of the 
Peace, J. F. Boyd, P. J. Welling; Constables, Frank Boyd, 
John Meysenheimer ; Trustees, L. Bushnell, N- Challa- 
combe, John Y. Sawyer ; Sjhool Treasurer, Elijah Frost. 



— -«-^'^*J^^^?*?«-'-' 



BIOGRAPHIES. 



ROLAND J. INGHAM. 

The Emerald Isle has contributed many of her sons to 
America who have taken high rank in literature, in art and 
in science. Among such may be properly classed the Ing- 
ham family, who lived in Dublin, and who in their native 
home were liberal patrons of art. Thomas and Jennie Ing- 
ham came to this country in 181(3. lauding first in New 
York city, thence to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. Thomas 
was the son of a gentleman, a lauded proprietor of Dublin. 
He had a family of five sons and four daughters. A son 
Charles, was an artist, in which pursuit he excelled. Of his 
paintings at least two, "The Lovers ' and " Death of Cleo- 
patra," have received recognition of critics as masterpieces. 
Thomas, a retired merchant in New York city, and now the 
sole survivor of the family; Roland J., the subject of this 
sketch; Sydney, who was lost at sea in 1841 ; Oscar, who 
lived with Roland and died here in 1870 ; Florence, Paulina, 
Augusta and Jane Rowena. Roland J. Ingham was born 
in Dublin, Ireland, March 6ih, 1.^07. In 18:j."), with his 
father's family became west, locating about a mile from the 
present home of Lucretia Ingham. His father returned to 
Utica, New York, a few years after, where he died January 
9th, 1817. Mr. Ingham's first wife was Rebecca Peutzer, 
by whom he had five children, three of whom are living. 
Two of his sons, Charles and Theron B., were soldiers in 
the United States service during the rebellion. On the 22d 
of April, 18.5:i, he was united in marriage by Rev. Wash- 
ington Wagoner, a Methodist Episcopal minister, to 
Lucretia M Ragsdale, formerly of East Tennessee, although 
a Virginian. By this marriage there were b3rn eight chil- 
dren, seven of whom are living. Names as follows ; Emma 
Augusta, Thomas Cassius, Julia Paulina, James Arthur, 
Sydney Roland, Jane Rowena and William Eilward. 

Mr. Ingham was educated in Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, 
and brought to his farming operations fair culture and a 



great love of art. His beautiful home bespeaks his taste. 
He was an earnest Republican in p )litic3, and a devoted mem- 
ber of the Presbyterian Church in religious faith. Pro- 
gressive in his views, his days were all days of activity. 
Eminently social in his home, its attractions were shared by 
neighbors and friends. Loved and respected and full of 
years, he died February 2d, 1881. 



JOHN CASTAGNETTA. 

It is a peculiarity of the institutions of the United States 
in contradistinction to the institutions of every other 
country, that they assimilate different and discordant nation- 
alities. Every year hundreds of thousands of emigrants 
arrive from different countries, accustomed to other forms 
of government speaking other languages, observing differ- 
ent customs; yet are absorbed and assimilated into a nation- 
ality. In fact we are a nation of foreign elements. Italy 
has contributed many of her sons since Columbus discovered 
the islands along our eastern shores. John Castagnetta was 
born in Genoa, Italy, April 18, 1829. In 18.53, he reached 
New York to try his fortune in the new world. His first 
employment was as a railroad hand on the Charleston and 
Memphis railroad, then as a baker and confectioner, which 
he learned in Charleston In 1855, he made his way to St. 
Louis, thence in November to Alton. In 1856, he locited 
where he now resides, in Godfrey township, where he engaged 
in the manufacture of wines, brandies, etc., a business he has 
since prosecuted with great success. He married Julia 
Gro.«jean, July 4th, 18,58. She was a native of Paris, 
France, from whence she came to Highland when a child. 
They have three children living, Louis, James and Louisa. 
Mr. Castagnetta is prompt, energetic and awake to business. 



illtj 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 




yji Or-^^A^^^ L ^^' 



) ^l 






^^U/^ 



One of the representative men of bis township, was born 
ill New Hampshire, August 5th, 1806. His father and 
grandfather were also natives of the old granite state. 
When quite young his parents moved to New York, and 
during the war of 1812, moved to Vermont. Here he ac- 
quired a fair common school education. In October, 1837, 
they came to Illinois and settled where his widow now lives. 
He was married to Perlina Pond in Vermont, in 1833; by 
her he had three children, Ann Louisa Havens, now living 
in Chicago, Illinois ; Charles Henry, killed by the falling of 
a tree, and Hekn Perlina, wife of William B. Hancock. 



His second wife was the widow of a printer, Henry K. Stock- 
ton, who died in Upper Alton in 1838. Mrs. Stockton's 
maiden name was Cynthia Northway. She was born in 
New Hartford, New York, August 8th, 1798. From 1840 
to 1844, she was matron in Monticello Seminary. She was 
married to John Mason, May 1st, 1846. Few men in the 
community where he lived were more thought of than John 
Mason ; the counsel of few was more sought. Earnest in all 
his undertakings ; faithful in the discharge of all his duties, 
he was respected of all. His death was mourned by many 
friends. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



517 




C^..€A.y?-^ ^i^?k^^ 



Son of Asaph and Eunice Andrews Merriman, was born in 
Wallingford, Connecticut, on the 14th of August 1811. His 
parents were both direct descendants of Lieutenant Nathan- 
iel Merriman and Nathan Andrews, original settlers of the 
town of Wallingford in 1669. He was the fifth born of six 
children, and lived at home on the farm until his seven- 
teenth year, when his father died. He went to New Haven 
to learn the carpenter's trade; thence to Boston, ]\Iass., 
where he was united in marriage with Miss Edith Bishop on 
March 29th, 1834. This marked an epoch in his history, 
since by virtue of it he became, as was his wife, an earnest 
and zealous member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in 
which relation he remained until his death. Mr. Merriman 
was not free from the ambitions of this life. In the summer 
of 1835, leaving his wife and infant son Charles in Midd'e- 
town, he started west, going first via the lakes and canal to 
his brother's in Granville, Ohio. Tarrying but a short time 
he proceeded by horse and buggy westward, reaching Teoria, 
Illinois, in the early autumn time of 1835. There he pre- 
sented his church letters to Bishop Chase, who said to him : 
" You are the very man I want, come along with me." Ar- 
rangements were made for him to accompany the Bishop to 
the site of his new college. There he and the Bishop 
worked together in the construction of the famous " Robin's 
Nest," so called because composed chiefly of mud and sticks. 



They roomed together, sleeping on a rude sapling bed under 
which the chickens roosted. As soon as the Bishop and 
family were comfortably housed, Mr. Merriman left for St. 
Louis. For nine years he remained here plying his trade, as 
carpenter and builder. In 1844 he commenced farming 
operations in St. Louis Co., Missouri. Here he carried with 
him his devotion and influence as a Christian man, and was 
the means of establi.*hing a mission at Bridgeton, a town 
near his home. In 1845 his wife Edith died, leaving to his 
care one son and one adopted daughter. In 1850 he, ac- 
companied by his son Charles, then fifteen years of age, went 
to California, crossing the plains e/i route, here he remained 
two years, returning via the Isthmus and New Orleans, set- 
tling finally on the farm in Godfrey township, now occupied 
by hia son Charles. In 1873 he moved to property pur- 
chased by him in North Alton, near the chapel, and devoted 
much of his time to church labor. He was married to Lu- 
cinda Wells on the 15th of December, 1845. He died Au- 
gust 13, 1881. At the time he was Senior Warden in the 
church in whose success he took so great an interest. For 
nearly a half century, amid the ups and downs of a more 
or less wandering life beset by its strong temptations, he was 
found always faithful and true to his trust. His memory is 
held in dear esteem by hosts of his friends who knew him, as 
an honest, upright. Christian man. 



518 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 





. iay)^n.£j \y/^ju^^/yje_^£y' 



James Mitchell was born in Scotland, December 21st, 
1811. His parents were Robert and Mary Mitchell. His 
father was well liked by his fellows, among whom he was 
somewhat a leader. When he determined on bettering his 
condition by seeking an American home, he brought with 
him some three hundred colonists. His objective point was 
Nova Scotia. On the 4th of July, 1829, they landed at 
Pictou, a seaport in that province, brought over safely by 
the brig " Hero of Gdnnock." In all, Robert had a family 
of eleven children, six daughters and five sons, of whom 
James was the eldest. Not altogether satisfied with Nova 
Scotia, they determined on emigrating to the " States," as 
then called, and made their way to Pottsville, Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1834. The subject of this sketch obtained a fair 
education in the common-schools of Scotland in his youth ; 
he was a clerk in a g.»neral store. When he reached his 
majority he worked in coal-mines, first in Nova Scotia, then 
in Pennsylvania. In 1835 he made his way t) the salt 
works on the Kanawha river, in West Virginia; thence to 
Kentucky, stopped at a village on the Ohio river, about 
130 miles below Louisville, thence to New Orleans. Aftor 
a few years spent thus in looking about, he visited his 



old Nova Scotia home. While on this visit, he met and 
was united in marriage with Mary Smith, a native of the 
Island of Cape Breton. The marriage rites were celebrated 
in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, on the 7th of October, 
1839. Soon thereafter he returned to the States, this time 
to Missouri, and in 1848 to Madison county. To him be- 
longs the honor of having opened the first coal mine in 
Coal Branch, above Alton. By his first wife he had eight 
children, foUr of whom are living. She died October 4th, 
1857. He was married to his present wife, whose maiden 
name was Margaret Bird, November 3d, 1857. 

Politically Mr. Mitchell is an earnest, unswerving Repub- 
lican. His first ballot was cast for William H. Harnson. 
He has never failed attending a local Republican conven- 
tion since the organization of the party, when physically 
able to do so. Although thoroughly awake to party spirit, 
he never would accept office, save the supervisorship, which 
was forced upon him one terra. He has been often a 
member of the central committee, and has ever proved him- 
self a most loyal citizen. Farming and operating in coal 
have engaged mjst of his attention since locating in this 
county. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



519 




l^^^^-p^i^y^ 




The present popular supervisor representing Godfrey town- 
ship in the county board, is a young man possessed of many 
commendable traits of character. He was born December 
11, 1843. His parents were William and Lydia Squire 
(Widaman). His father, William, was a native of Devon" 
shire, England, where he was born August 9th, 1814. He 
came to America in 1835, locating first in Coshocton county, 
Ohio, from whence he came to Madison county, 111., in 1839. 
Arriving in Alton he commenced wrk as a laborer, but, 
upon his refusing to work on Sunday, he quit his employ- 
ment, and moved to Godfrey, where he became foreman on 
Godfrey's farm, a place he held for years. His wife, Lydia 
Widaman, «as a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, 
where she was born March 8, 1818. Her father was a 
teacher — a vocation he pursued first in Germany, then in 
this country. On the first of March, 18-13, she and Wil- 
liam Squire were united in marriage by Rev. I. B. Randle, 
of Edwardsville. 

James Squire received a fair common-school education, 
which was aided by attendance at Shurtleff College. It is 
related that when attending school taught by Miss Corbett, 
he'and his brother Frank encountered a panther in their 
pathway. Quite terrified, they hurried home, telling the 



story to their parents, who thought it incredible ; but the 
following day parties dispatched the monster, and established 
the correctness of the boys' story. During the war James 
Squire enlisted in the service of the United States in the 
144lh Regiment Illinois Volunteers. He has been quite 
uniformly engaged in farming and teaching. In both pur- 
suits he has been successful. He was married to Mattie 
Braden, March 25, 1874, by whom he has two children 
living, Vinnie Grace and Mattie Pearl, and one dead, James 
William. His wife died May 14, 1882. She, was a daugh- 
ter of Isaac Braden, one of the pioneers of Nameoki town- 
ship. 

Politically he is an earnest, outspoken Democrat; is a 
member of the Democratic Central Committee ; was elected 
supervisor from Godfrey township in 1877, and has been an- 
nually re-elected ever since. When it is considered that 
this is a Republican stronghold (Garfield's majority being 
66), his election can only be accounted for on the ground of 
personal popularity. He is a member of both the Masonic 
and Odd Fellow's orders ; has been a justice of the peace, 
and was deputy sheriff under R. W. Crawford ; has taught 
thirteen years, and is at present principal of the Godfrey 
school. 



520 



JIISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



WILLIAM LINDLEY 
Was born in Lincolnshire, England, May 10th, 1810. His 
father, George Lindley, was a mason by trade, and 
brought up his family in the ways of industry. At the age 
of nineteen years William came to America, landing at first 
in New York City. Thence he went to Lowell, Massachu- 
setts, where he engaged his services in print works. In 1839 
he made his way westward, and with his savings entered 
laud near Carlinville, Macoupin county. Breaking prairie, 
howevi-r, and waiting for returns until a farm could be made 
was too slow for him, hence he went to St. Louis, Missouri, 
where he engaged in the dairy business. Here it was he met 
Mary C. Straw, now his surviving widow. Engaged in sell- 
ing milk from house to house he had for a patron a family 
named Paterson, formerly of Quincy, and who had brought 
with them as one of the family Mary, to whom he 
was married November 22d, 1842. She was born in Ger- 
many near the river Rhine, and came with her people to 
America, in 1823. Her family located first in Hamilton, 
Butler county, Ohio; from thence she went with a sister to 



Quincy, Illinois, and then to St. Louis Together they con- 
tinued the dairy business successfully until 1851 when they 
moved to Madison county, Illinois, where Mrs. Lindley yet 
lives. There were born to them in all eight children, seven 
of whom yet live. By name they are Sarah, Mary C , 
George, William E Horace, John A., and Samuel S. All 
are straightforward, honest and energetic citizens Dur- 
ing his life Mr. Lindley was an earnest Republican and im- 
pressed that political doctrine indelibly upon his sons. He 
was a member of the Episcopal Church. Active and ener- 
getic, honest and frank, ever ready to help a friend or do a 
kindness, he succeeded well in life. He died March 2d, 
1869. His widow, a woman of more than ordinary business 
qualities, survives him and has continued farming with 
great success. She has cleared a hundred and twenty acres 
of land since her husband's death, and bought an additional 
farm in Jersey county. She relates her only transac- 
tion whereby she made money without work as being the 
sale of gold when it was worth two hundred per cent, at a 
bank in Alton. 



■^^^€^^(^^^^- 



VENICE 



«— '-'»'i/B^0^^2/ia--» — • 




^ S situated in the southwestern part of the 
county. It is irregularly shaped because 
of the river course which forms its western 
boundary. It is bounded on the north by 
Chouteau township, east by Naraeoki, 
south by St. Clair county and west by the 
State of Missouri, from which it is separa- 
^ ^ , , ^ ted by the Mississippi river. Geograph- 
,S ically it embraces township 3 north, range 

10 west. It is mostly low and level land, 
part of the great American bottom. Much of it is sandy, 
and is subject to overflow, against which citizens have tried 
in vain to protect it. Trending north and south at a short 
distance from the river bank is the American bottom levee, 
built for the protection of lands from overflow of the ri\-er. 
Its height varies from three to twenty feet. Separated 
from the main land, by a slough of the same name, is Cabaret 
(French tavern) Island, containing in all, about 1,042 acres 
of land. Much of this is overgrown with willow with here 
and there a sycamore, soft maple or other wood. The acre- 
age embraced in Venice township is nearly eleven sections, 
or 6,970 acres. There are within the limits, in all, over 



fourteen miles of railroad track, divided quite equally be- 
tween the Chicago and Alton, the Indianapolis and St. 
Louis and Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific railroads, which 
run parallel, passing diagonally across the south-half of the 
township, which they leave on section 13. 

Venice township was settled as early as 1804, but there 
are only meagre traditional accounts of such settlements. 
A few years afterward several families located here, among 
them George Cadwell, on section 13, and George Richard- 
son, on the same section. Robert McDow, Johu Atkins, 
Daniel Lockhart, and possibly others, were all here prior to 
the war of 1812. George Cadwell was a live, enterprising 
Yankee, who combined the practice of medicine with tilling 
the soil. In 1815 he was appointed by Ninian Edwards, 
Governor of Illinois, a justice of the peace. He brought 
with him a family of three daughters and a son. In 1818 
he was elected a Senator to the First General Assembly of 
Illinois. Not altogether suited with this section of country 
he emigrated to Morgan county at an early day, George 
Richardson, a farmer, a friend of Cadwell's, lived near him 
and also went to Morgan county, where he was drowned in 
Santa creek, near Jacksonville, during a freshet. A daugh- 




FARM RESIDLNGE OF T N HARRIS, SEC.Bo, T. 6, R 9 ( rOSTERBUBC TP) MADISON, CO.ILL. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



521 



ter Nancy, was married to A-her Cliaso, an eastern man. 
This was, perhaps the first niarriige in the township ; that 
of Moses S''e(1s to ^Irs. Mary Wad lie. of date October 10, 
1818, bpiug the second. R ibert McDow, a Kentuckian, 
was an ejiterpri.'ing, energetic man, and had a large family. 
He was the first to erect a horse- raill, which he did on section 
24. Upon leaving the country to go north he disposed of 
his mill to Benjamin Merritt. John Atkins located on sec- 
tion 1, prior to the war of 1812. He and two sons were 
engaged in that war and were present at the treaty made at 
Portage des Sioux, a short distance above Alton, on the 
Missouri side of the Mississippi. A remarkable fact in con- 
nection with Atkins' family is that in order of birth they 
were: William, John, Jr., Charles, Everett and James, and 
in order of death exactly the reverse, James being the first 
to die, then Everett, Charles, John, Jr. and William, who 
lived to be seventy seven years of age. John Atkins was 
originally from Kentucky; he and his sons were all large, 
able-bodied men, models among pioneers. Daniel Lockhart 
located on an elevated ridge, a short distance northwest of 
where now stands the Venice Elevator, on section 35. At 
present there are representatives of but one of these families 
living within the limits of Madison county, — that of John 
Atkins. The others are gone, and the records left of them 
areind.'ed meagre. A little later, perhaps in 1815, came a 
very eccentric pioneer, John Anthony, by name He was 
of the Pennsylvania Dutch stock. His was the first house 
built on the site of the old village of Venice, and was of 
hewed cotton-wood timber. Although it contained but one 
room, Anthony kept lodgers and served up meals to travelers. 
Ou a shelf was the bottle a,lways charged with " aqua mirac- 
ulous." He kept a number of skiffs which he hired to 
parties desiring to cross the river, at a shilling a trip, passen- 
gers doing their own rowing. Ou section 25, a family named 
Blum, settled about the same time of Anthony's coming. 
They, too, were Pennsylvanians. In 1818, Abraham Sippy, 
a young married man, came from Pennsylvania to try his 
fortunes in the then "far west." Mr. Sippy's father came to 
this country a soldier under Lafayette. After the battle at 
Yorktown he deserted the ranks, determined to remain here 
instead of returning to France. His name was Joseph 
Trimeau, but upon determining to remain in America he 
took his mother's name of Sippy. He became the father of 
seventeen children. Many of their descendants arc scattered 
throughout the west, and are energetic, thrifty citizens 
wherever found. 

Anthony's ferry, operated by skifls, after a few years time, 
proved unequal to the demands made upon it, whereupon 
Matthew Kerr, a merchant of St. Louis (and for whomKerr's 
Island was named), commenced a horse ferry, in 182G. The 
boat was named Brooklyn Since that time ferry-boats have 
run regularly to and from St. Louis. In 1842, Lieutenant 
Robert E. Lee, commander in-chief of the Confederate 
forces, during the war of the rebellion, built a dike running 
from Kerr's Island to the head of Bloody Island. This 
necessitated a change in the lauding place of the" Brooklj-u," 
and the company operating the ferry obtained 81,600 da- 
mages from the United States Government. This 81,600 
71 



was devoted to the c^-nstruction of a bridge connecting 
Kerr's Islanii with the main land. The national road — the 
great wagon refute connecting the east with the west — termi- 
nated here, and across Kerr's Island, about a third of a 
mile north of the present elevator, was the principal street 
of Venice. The " National Way," as it was called, was a 
hundred feet wide. It soon became the centre of a large 
trade. Two hotels ca'ered to the wants of travelers ; two 
livery stables supplied the trade with horses and vehicles; 
three general stores and two blacksmith shops completed 
the business industries- One of the stores, kept by Peter 
Smith, was the first brick building erected in the township. 
The flood of 1844 swept everything away except the brick 
store building, a livery stable, also of brick, and a 
part of one of the hotels. During the prevalence of the 
high waters, one of the blacksmiths, a German, in a fit of 
desperation, jumped from the bridge as it was being carried 
oflT and committed suicide. His was the first smithery in 
the township, erected in 1837. As soon as the waters 
receded the work of repairing commenced. A finer bridge 
soon spanned the slough, and business revived. Trade was 
represented by Peter Smith, James Morris and Charles 
Pearee, enoraeed in general merchandise. All went well 
with Venice until 1S51, when high waters again swept her 
away. iSIuch of the beautiful island «as carried off, so that 
the former terminus of " National Way" was far out in the 
Mississippi. The bridge was not rebuilt. A solitary brick 
building remained on the once busy site of Venice. — that is 
now gcme. The original town was named by Dr Cornelius 
Campbell, of St. Louis, a gentleman largely interested in 
the old ferry. At the time Venice was fir^t attracting at- 
tention in 1837. a pist-office was established on Cad well's 
tract, section 13, called Six Mile. It was first kept by 
Joseph Squire; he was proprietor of a public house, called 
the " Western." This was the first established house, wor.hy 
the name, in the township. It was a large frame building, 
and, as a hotel, was quite popular with stockmen from above 
Alton, who made it their heaiquarters. Large numbers of 
hogs and some cattle were annually driven this way to St. 
Louis, following what was called the slough road from Alton. 
The first burial ground was on Cad .cell's tract, and his 
son, Bach, was the first person interred therein. The exact 
date is impossible to obtain. It was, however, prior to 
1820. The first land entries were by John Atkins, Septem- 
ber 14, 1814, north fraction i, section 1, 43.8 acres; George 
Richardson, August 17, 1814, southeast fraction section 12, 
361 acres; William Gillham, August 15, 1814, west side 
southeast i section 13,78 acres, and Juhn McDow, August 
16, 1814, several acres in section 24. Prior to any of these 
entries there were numerous claims made. Some of them 
by heads of families, on account of actual settlement, others 
as militia claims, consequent upon service prior to 1790. 
Among the first, which comprised 400 acres each, within the 
limits of township 3 north, range 10 west, were claim 1,865, 
by Alexis Bryalte, in 1809, to whom it was confirmed; that 
of Nicholas Jarrot, situated ou the banks of the Mi.s^i-sippi, 
opposite Cabarat Island, and near the Kinder Station, and 
claim 637, bv James Kinkead, lying within sections 25 and 



522 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



26, two miles above Venice. Among claims confirmed 
to persons founded on act of Congress, granting a donation 
of one hundred acres of land to each militia man enrolled 
and doing duty in Illinois on the 1st day of August, ITStO, 
within the district of Kaskaskia, were, in this township: — 
Claim 1,258, Francis Campeau, confirmed in 1809 to Johi 
Rice Jones, survey lies in sections 1 and 12; claim 485, 
Pierre Clement, confirmed to John Briggs, on the bank of 
the Mississippi, in section 36, extreme southern p )int of 
township. Adjoining claim 12.58, were claims of nine other 
])arties, by name: Pierre Martin, Jr., J. B. Raplais, Jacque 
Mnlott, Louis Harmond, Joseph Poirer, Dennis Lavertue, 
Philip de Boeuf, James Lamarch and Constant Longtemps. 
Ill addition to these, bearing date January 4, 1813, among 
claims granted by the governors of the northwest and 
Indiana territories, in pursuance of Act of the 3d of March, 
1791 (other than those which were reported in the affirmed 
]i.<t of the late board of commissioners for the ditrict of 
Ka.-kaskia), and which, in the opinion of the present com- 
missioners, ought to be confirmed is claim 548, original 
claimant, Jean Baptiste Becket ; confirmed by Governor 
Harrison to Etienne Pencenneau This covers a part of the 
town plat of Venice. Evidences are not wanting, particularly 
in sections 1 and 12, to prove that some of these claimants 
or their representatives were the first settlers of this town- 
chip The French had correct ideas of how to settle a vast 
empire when they followed the Mississippi in the very heart 
of the continent, but were unable through paucity of num- 
bers, and through their plan of living in stockaded hamlets 
or villages, to accomplish their purpose. The first preaching 
was by Revs. Chance and Jones, two Baptist misssonaries, 
who preached at the house of Mr. Cadwell as early as 1812. 
George Cadwell was the first justice of the peace, appointed 
in 1815, by Governor Edwards. A Mr. Hart was the first 
constable. The '• Little Jim " was the first steamboat to 
ply between Kerr's Island and St. Louis. 

TOWN OF VEyiCE. 

A straggling village was commenced on the island op- 
posite the present village soon after the running of the ferry- 
boat Brooklyn, and in 1841 the name of Venice was given 
the place by Dr. Cornelius Campbell, who, in conjunction 
with Charles F. Stamps, laid out the town. It was made a 
matter of record November 22d, 1841. Its progress and 
reverses have already been presented up to its complete an- 
nihilation in 1851. For years thereafter its growth was 
slow. June 24th, 1873, an election was held to determine 
whether the town should be incorporated. It resulted in 
seventy-nine votes for and one against incorporation. Prior 
to this a public meeting was held June 6th, 1873, to con- 
si. ler the propriety of an incorporation under the General 
Laws of the State. A petition was drawn up, and thirty- 
seven residents signed it. The act of incorporation was 
consummated June 28, 1873, and Henry Robinson, Joseph 
Froehly, Theodore Selb, Francis McCambridge, William 
R iberts and John Kaseberg were elected members of the 
first board of trustees July 22d, 1873. Henry Robinson 



was chosen jresident, and Thomas "W. Kinder secretary. 
At present the members are: Henry Robinson, J. Fxoehly, 
Theodore Selb, Fred Kohl, Frank McCambridge. Henry 
Robins m. president, and C. S. Youree, clerk. Several of 
the first elected members have served continually since. 
Under the management of the Board improvements of a 
valuable character in the way of grading and macadamizing 
have been set on foot and successfully prosecuted. The 
jSIethodist Episcopal church building was erected in 1870, 
at a ost of 81,500. Seating capacity, 300. Catholic 
church, built 1881-'2, is an attractive house of public wor- 
ship. Venice has long been proud of her graded school. 
The building occupies a pleasant site, half a mile from the 
principal business street of the village, and is a handsome 
two story brick edifice, well adapted to its uses. It was 
erected in 1868. The Venice Elevator was erected in 1871 
by a stock company. Messrs. R. P. Tansey and John J. 
Mitchell were the prime movers, as they have since been 
the earnest ab-tturs of the enterprise. At first its capacity 
was 300,000 bushels grain. During the year 1881 this was 
doubled, so that the present capacity is 600.000 bushels. 
During the year 1881 over 3,000,000 bushels wheat were 
handled here. Its accessibility to both rail and river will 
commend it to shippers, so that a prosperous future awaits 
it. 

The Venice Branch Union Stock Yards were established 
in 1874. They have a capacity for handling ten thousand 
head of hogs and five thousand head of cattle. W. A. 
Ramsay, Manager ; J. J. Fletcher, Superintendent. In the 
matter of mills Venice has been unfortunate. Bell Bros., 
of Indianapolis, Indiana, erected an extensive saw-mill on 
the banks of the Mississippi, on the original town site of 
Venice, in 1877. It had a capacity for rawing from eighteen 
to twenty thousand feet of lumber per diem, and gave em- 
ployment to twenty-five men. In 1882 it was moved to 
Memphis. The Venice Flouring Milh were built by Glenn 
Bros, in 1871, at a cost of 822,000. They were afterward 
doubled in capacity, and 823,000 were expended in addi- 
tional machinery and building. They had five run of burrs, 
and were capable of turning out tour hundred barrels of 
flour daily. Keohler Bros, were the proprietors. On the 
13th of March, 1882, they were entirely destroyed by fire. 

GENERAL BUSINESS. 

Dry Goods' Merchants. — Henry Robinson & Co., Henry 
Rittmann. 

Druggists.— C. S- Youree, Hermann Wilfemeyer. 
Grocer;!.— Fred Kohl, Joseph Froehly, Henry Robinson 
& Co. 

Blacksmiths. — F. Kiseberg, Joseph Froehly. 
Carpenters— Biirrel Ogletree, B. V. Merritt, T. L. Con- 
ner, E. Mott. 

Stoves and Tinware. — J. H. Puckhaber. 
j Shoeni'iker. — F. Brewer. 
1 Botd.—^Yil\is.m H. Sippy, " Union House " 
Phijdcia7i-s — W. H. Grayson, C. S. Youree. 
1 Postmaster. — James B. Pinckard. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



523 



SOCIETIES. 

Venice Lodge A. F. & A. M. No 621, was instiiuted Sep- 
tember 8, 1868, by David Ryan. Charter members— Preston 
Bishop, W. Master ; G. N. Keener, Senior Warden ; R. J. 
Brown, Junior Warden ; Eli W. Petteugill, Secretary ; Calvin 
Kinder, Trea-surer; Jeptha Smith, Senior Deacon; Ben- 
jamin Woods, Tyler; Emit Reif, Junior Deacon ; T. J. Irish, 
S. T. Beale. Present Officers— Fred Kohl, W. M. ; J. S. 
Sippy, S. W. ; Henry Robinson, J. W. ; H. W. Miller, Sec. ; 
Henry Rittmann, Treas. ; T. P McFee, S. D. ; William T. 
Black, J. D. ; John Braden, Tyler. 

Aurora Lodge, Knights of Honor No. 325, instituted 
July 11, 1876, by members of the Seymour Lodge, K. of H., 
St. Louis, Mo., with fourteen charter members: C. S Youree, 
John F. Richardson, Fritz Reiske, Seaborn Miller, Burrell 
O^letree, John Ohrist, Preston Bishop, William Weyh, 
Alonzo Towsey, John Ballet, Frederick Ibig, D. S. Fries, 
D. Fennell and I. G. Wright. This Lodge has sustained 
eight deaths : John Ohrist, Fritz Ibig, H. Linkerman, H. 
C. Moss (murdered), August Breathuhn, Peter Marks, S. 
G. Williams and E. Hall. Present Officers-J. T. Rich- 
ardson, P. D. and Rep. ; B. Ogletree, D. ; Charles Spann, 
V. D ; William Weyh, R. ; R. J. Brown, Chaplain. The 
Lodge is in a flourishing condition, having an active mem- 
bership of forty-seven. 

Oak Lodge, K. of H., No. 1520, was organized Match 
22d, 1879, by John T. Richardson, D. G. D , with fourteen 
charter members. Present Officers — Walter Bain, P. D. 
and Rep. ; Henry W. Miller, Dictator ; D. K. Talley, V. 
D. ; F. P. McFee, A. V. D ; Wm. T. Black, R. ; Jas. B. 



Pinckard, F. R. ; Dr.iV^. H. Grayson, Treas. and Med. Et. 
Its present membership is si.xty-seven. 

Local Branch No. 18, Order Iron Hall, was organized 
July 28th, 1881, with twelve charter members: Jas. B. 
Pinckard, C J. ; Walter Bain, P. C J. ; H. W. Muller, 
Acct. ; W. H. Grayson, Trea-s. ; J. T. Richardson, Adj. 
Its object is similar to the K. of H., offering insurance. 
Members are paid such insurance during life. 

The population of the town of Venice, according to the 
census of 1880, was 613. Its future is bright with promise. 
Its railroad facilities are constantly being increased. Its 
manufactories just commencing to attract attention, will 
make Venice in time a large suburb of St. Louis. 

The town of Newport was laid oS' by I. W. Blackman, 
of St. Louis, Mo , and plat recorded April 27, 1858. It is 
situated on Survey 604, Claim 637, or, more properly. Sec- 
tion 26. It has never attracted any particular attention, 
and consists of a few dwelling-houses only. On Section 24 
is the station of Kinder, near which, on S. E It Sect. 13, is 
a neat church building, now occupied by the Gsrman 
Lutherans as church and school-house. It was erected at 
first as a school building by special legislation, obtained 
through the efforts of Calvin Kinder and others. For 
a time it was used as intended, for school purposes and 
church without regard to sect, but passed from such control 
into the hands of the present management. It is a brick 
building, two stories high. Since the inauguration of town- 
ship organization in 1876, Theodore Selb has uninterruptedly 
represented this township in the county Board of Super- 
visors The population of the township in ISSO was 1120. 



-^=65je^:5<c^9^^- 



OLIVE. 




named in honor of the Olive family, 
who were early settlers, comprises all of 
town six, range six. It is bounded on the 
north by Macoui)in county, on the east 
by New Douglas, on the south by Al- 
hambra, and on the west by Omph-Ghent 
township. It is drained by Silver creek 
and its tributaries, flowing princii)ally 
through the eastern and central part. 
Along this stream a considerable quan- 
tity of timber is found. The soil of the township is good 
and in a fair state of cultivation. 

The first settlers were Abiam Carlock, John Herringtoii, 



SS^' 



James Street, James Keown, Thomas Kimmett, Samuel 
Voyles, David Hendershott, and Samuel McKittrick, who 
settled here in 1819, and prior to that date. Abram Car- 
lock was the first. He located on section 34 in 1817, where 
he lived a few years and then left. His cabin stood near a 
spring, on the north and west sides of Silver creek, near the 
bank and also near the south township line. He made a 
small clearing eait of the cabin. An old settler says that in 
1833 saplings as large as a man's arm had grown ou his 
improvement. 

The next settler was John Herrington, Jr. He built 
quite a large cabin in the west edge of the township, section 
7, ill 1817. It had no opening f)r light, except the door. 



524 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



This was made out of heavy puncheons aud swung like 
double barn doors, the upper part bi'ing left open for light 
in pleasant weather. When securely closed, this cabin was 
inaccessible. Herrington's latch-string seldom hung on the 
outside. lu 1819 he sold out to Samuel McKittrick, who 
entered one of the first tracts in tiie township, Augu.«t 18, 
1819, 45 acres, in section 6 The same day, James Street 
entered 80 acres in section 36. Mr. McKittrick planted an 
â–  orchard on the Herrington place in 1819 or '20, and a tree 
that he set out has attained to a circumference of eight feet 
eight iuches, and is in bearing at this writing. In 1827 
Ephraim Best, a native of North Carolina, purchased this 
place, where he continued to reside until his death in 1876 
His widow still survives him, aged seventy-eight, and lives 
on the old place. They raised a family of ten children, six 
now living. He acquired a good properly here. In the 
early settlement of the county, he was Constable for several 
years. For a long period of time, the Methodists held their 
meetings at his residence. Among the early preachers were 
Ballard, Renfro, and Collins. Mrs. Best says when they 
settled on this place, the first house on the road to Edwards- 
ville was that of Francis Roach, and the nest was on the 
Barnett place 

James Street located on section 36 as early as 1818. He 
was one of the first land-holders in the township, as above 
stated. He made a small improvement here, but his prin- 
cipal business was that of making powder and combs — two 
articles that found a ready market among the pioneers. 
After the country began to settle up, he sold out and left. 

The first settlements in the northeast part were made by 
Samuel Voyles and David Hendershott, in 1»18. They 
built cabins near each other, in the northwest part of section 
13, on the west side of Silver creek. Voyles was from South 
Carolina; he raised quite a family of children, and resided 
here until his death. Robert Y. Voyles, a grandson, is the 
only one of the name now living in the township. Nancy 
Stephenson a daughter of Samuel Voyles, lives in the settle- 
ment. Abel, Henry and Samuel H. Voyles, sons of Samuel 
Voyles, improved farms in the' settlement, where they 
resided until their deaths ; the two former raised families. 
Hendershott lived here only a short time, and then moved 
to Iowa. 

Thomas Kimmett, an eastern man, located on the south- 
west part of section 12, in 1819, where he lived a few years, 
and then returned to the east. 

James Keown, Sr., a half-brother to John Keown, the 
father of Andrew Keown, settled the southeast 80 acres of 
section 35, as early as 1819. He afterward removed to 
Smart's prairie, where he died in 1S61. He was a soldier in 
the war of 1812, and was in the engagement of New Orleans. 
Wiley Smart located south of the Vincent place, a short 
distance, in 1819 or '20. Ishara Vincent went from North 
Carolina to Kentucky, and from that State came to Madison 
county in 1817, and was one of the well known old citizens. 
He first stopped in the vicinity of Troy, where he taught 
one of the early schools. After three years he came into 
what is now Olive township, and settled on section 36, now 
the Ed. Wardman place. He erected a cabin on the north 



bank of a little stream ; his hou?e stood due north of where 
the grave-yard now i-", on that section. Hi, housa was on 
the Hillsboro and St. Louis wagon-road, and for years this 
was a general stopping-place. He kept a barrel of whiskey 
in his cabin, aud was always ready to supply the thirsty. At 
his cabin for many years the votes were cast for Silver creek 
precinct, then comprising all the northeastern part of the 
county. In the early times it was the custom for the candi- 
dates to attend the different polls and treat to whiskey and 
make speeches, and on some occasions election day was a 
lively one, all the little neighborhood disputes being settled 
on that day, generally in the afternoon. Vincent had a 
horse mill, with a bolting chest, for a number of years in the 
early times, and made a good quality of flour for that day. 
He was a "Hard-Shell Baptist," and for many years meet- 
ing was conducted at his residence. William Jones, Thomas 
Ray, and James Street were the early preachers. For many 
years he filled the office of Justice of the Peace. He resided 
on the place he improved here until his death, February 26, 
1846, aged seventy-seven years. His wife survived him only 
eleven days, and died at the age of sixty-four years. They 
had a family of eight children. Four daughters grew to 
womanhood, viz., Elizabeth, who married Peter Long ; Mary, 
who married John Keown ; Barbara, who married William 
W. Pearce, and Martha, who married Isaac W. Pearce, who 
is now dead ; her present husband is William Eves. 

The grave-yard south of the Vincent place was started by 
the Vincent family, Edwin, a son, being the first buried there, 
about the year 1S24. 

James S. Breath located in section 36, among the early 
settlers, where he entered 80 acres. He lived here some 
time, and then went into the Marine settlement. John W. 
Keown came out with his brother Andrew, in 1825'; he after- 
ward married Polly's^. Vincent, daughter of Isham Vin- 
cent, and settled a place in sectiou 25, where he improved a 
farm and resided until his death. He raised a family of 
four children — Larkin C, Isham, Margaret, who married 
Matthias Pearce, and John, all now deceased but Larkin C, 
who is a well-known citizen of Edwardsville. Thomas 
Porter Keown settled east of his brother John's on section 
25, where he improved a farm and resided until his death, 
in the fall of 1867. Previous to his locating here, he lived 
for a time in what is now Alhambra township. His family 
that grew to manhood and womanhood, were William H., 
Margaret, who married Jesse Olive, Alfred, who died in the 
late war, Sinai, who married Joseph Ricks, and Mary, who 
became the wife of Thomas Tabor. Robert Keown settled 
in the edge of the timber southwest of Lewis Ricks' place, in 
1*^29, where he resided until his death in 1856. He raised 
only two children that lived to rear families, Hester, who 
married S. H. Farris, and Robert. The Keowns all came 
to this their new country on pack-horses. Robert and his 
wife came through in the dead of winter. They were a 
young married couple, having started immediately after the 
nuptial knot was tied. After his death, she became the 
second wife of Lewis Ricks. Her death occurred July 1, 
1875, at a good old age. 

Tobias Reaves, a native of North Carolina, came here in 



'^^. 






W^ 


















HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



525 



1828, and bought a small improvement started by a man 
named Ringo, iu the southwest quarter of section 36. Reaves 
lived here many years. He died at his son's, Wesley 
Reaves, in New Douglas, October, 1876. His wife preceded 
him several years. They raised a family of nineteen chil- 
dren, five now living. Wesley is the only one of the family 
residing in the county. At the residence of Tobias Reaves 
the Methodists held their early meetings. 

Peter Long improved a place iu the southeast quarter of 
section 25. He was a minister of the Baptist denomination, 
and is often spoken of in this work as one of the early 
preachers. He was four times married, and now lives at 
Old Ripley, Bond county, a very old man, but still con- 
tinues to preach. 

Elisha Sackett was one of the early settlers. He never 
owned any land, but lived here until about thirty-two years 
ago. Nine of his descendants are now residents of the 
county. Joel Ricks was married in Kentucky to Miss Ellen 
Martin ; he came here in 1829, and located in section 34, iu 
the edge of the prairie, northwest quarter, where he resided 
until 1845. He then joined the Mormons, went to Nauvoo, 
111., and subsequently to Utah, where he now lives. Lewis 
Ricks, one of the old residents of this township, was born in 
Nash county. North Carolina, October, 1800. His father, 
Jonathan Ricks, emigrated to Christian county, Kentucky, 
since cut oft' into Trigg county, in the year 1802, where he 
lived and died. Lewis married Miss Mary Anderson, in 
Stewart county, Tennessee, and in the fall of 1833 came to 
Madison county, and the following year built a cabin on 
section 26, where he has continued to live. He has been 
twice married, and raised a family of ten children by his 
first wife, three of whom are now living, viz.. Temperance, 
Alfred and Virgil. The two sous are farmers of the town- 
ship. The daughter married James Pearce, and now resides 
in Kansas. Mr. Ricks for many years was deputy county 
surveyor. He taught school, at an early day, in a school- 
house that was built on the southwest quarter of section 26. 
John W. Reynolds was the first to teach in this building. 
Mr. Ricks represented his county in the State Legislature 
of 1857. He has acquired sufficient of this world's goods to 
ease his declining years, and is now quite an old man, well 
preserved in body and mind, for one of his age. John 
Hoxsey was a native of Virginia, and came to Madison 
county in 1817. His wife, Mary Martin, a native of Ken- 
tucky, emigrated in 1819. Mr. Hoxsey was the father of 
John F. Hoxsey, who is a farmer and stock-raiser, now 
residing in section 32. His wife, Elizabeth Spangle, is a 
native of Tippecanoe county, Indiana. 

Abel Olive married Elizabeth, a sister of Joel Ricks, and 

the brothers-in-law came to this township together. Olive 

located northeast of Ricks, a short distance, on what is now 

the William Olive place, where he resided until his death, 

72 



leaving a family of six children, all married and settled in 
life, viz , Jesse, Joel H., Jonathan, Frank, William, and 
Charity, who married Henry Tabor. The old gentleman 
filled the office of Justice of the Peace many years, and lived 
the life of a much respected citizen. John Olive, a brother, 
was one of the early settlers, but lived in the township only 
a short time. For some years he followed tailoring in Ed- 
wardsville and Alton. Subsequently he studied and began 
the practice of medicine, and now lives in Staunton, Illinois. 
James Olive came to Alton in 1833. He was then a boy 
si.xteen years of age. The following spring he came to this 
township, and shortly afterward married the widow of 
James Tabor. She was, before this marriage, Sinia JIartin, 
of Kentucky, and had one child by James Tabor, now Mrs. 
Elizabeth Ann Lyon. After Mr. Olive's marriage, he began 
farming on his wife's place in section 22, where he resided 
until 1845 or 46. They then sold their home here and went 
to Nauvoo, Hancock county, Illinois, and located north of 
that place, where they continued to reside until the Mormon 
trouble, when he returned to xMadison, and bought the place 
where he now resides, of his nephew, Je.sse Olive. He had 
the misfortune to lose his wife in April, 18G4. The follow- 
ing November he married Mrs. Mary Shumate, widow of 
Michael Shumate. Mr. Olive has raised quite a large 
family, and as a farmer has been successful in life. For 
many years he has filled the offices of Justice of the Peace 
and Supervisor of the township. John A. Wall, as early 
as 1830 or '31, settled the James H. Meyers place, where he 
lived for several years. He then sold his improvements to 
James Keown, who located here and resided until his death. 
He lived the life of a bachelor, his widowed sister, Mrs. 
Margaret Embrey, keeping his house. Sackett settled the 
Francis place, and Jarrett Cudd, from Trigg county, 
Kentucky, the place just north, in section 23, about 1832. 
John Coleson, from the same county, came in 1834, and 
located on the west side of section 14, where he improved a 
good farm ; he now resides with his children. The following 
gentlemen have represented the township in the Board of 
Supervisors: James Olive, elected in 1876, was re-elected 
each succeeding year to 1882; he was Chairman of the 
Board in 1880-'81. James McKittrick was elected in 1882, 
and is the present incumbent. The first school on the west 
side of Silver creek, in the south part of the township, was 
taught in an abandoned cabin on section 34, by Matilda 
Thompson. The grave-yard on the north side of section 34, 
on the William Olive place, was started in 1834, the first 
grave being dug for the remains of George W. Olive, son of 
Abel Olive. Toe Christian church on section 34 was erected 
in 1862 ; it is a neat frame church, and is now attended by 
a good, liberal congregation. The Lutheran church on 
section 18 was built in 1870. 



FOSTERBURG. 




HE Township of Fosterburg is situated 
in the northwestern portion of the county, 
bounded on the north by Jersey and 
Macoupin counties ; east by Moro ; south 
by Wood River, and west by Godfrey. 
It comprises all of town 6, range 9 west, 
being the northern tier of fractional 
sections. The lands are drained by the 
West and East Forks of Wood River and their tributa- 
ries ; the former entering the township in the northwest 
corner, passing in a southpasterly direction, leaving it 
on section thirty-two ; and the latter entering in the 
northeast corner, meandering in a southwesterly course, 
passing out on .section thirty-five. These streams furnish 
a good system of drainage, and give an abundant supply 
of water for stock purposes. The surface is generally 
quite broken, and on approaching the streams, in many 
places, it becomes very rugged. About three-fourths of this 
township was originally covered with timber, the greater 
portion of which has been cleared and made into beautiful 
and productive farms. The soil is rich and well adapted for 
the growing of all the cereals. 

It is impossible to ascertain, at this writing, when or by 
â– whom the first settlements in Fosterburg township were 
made. We are informed by some of the oldest settlers, 
that when they arrived, there were several small log-cabins 
in the southern part of the township, which had been 
deserted by some hardy pioneers who, no doubt, became dis- 
sati.-fied with the location, and plunged deeper into the wil- 
derness. 

It is related that Joseph S- Reynolds was the first settler, 
and there is a good foundation for the assertion. We find 
in the records, October 11th, 1814, that Joseph S. Reynolds 
entered thirty-one acres in the northeast quarter of the 
southeast quarter, and forty acres in the southeast quarter of 
the southeast quarter section thirty-three. This was the 
first land entry made in this township. Reynolds lived 
here until about 1822, when he moved to Godfrey township, 
and afterward went to Greene county, in this State. 

Orman Beeman stopped and made some improvements 
on section 28, just south of the Wood's place, in 1816, and 
remained there until 1828. A man by the name of Honey- 
cutt was a very early settler. He located on a small branch 
of the West Fork of Wood river, which has ever since been 
known as Honeycutt creek. About the same time, James 
Dabbs settled on another branch, a mile northwest from 
Honeycutt, which has since been knoivn as Dabbs' creek. 
526 



He left about the same time, and probably with Honeycutt. 
An old lady, known as " Granny McAfee," settled on section 
28 in 1816, and she and her family remained here four or 
five years, and moved to Greene county. William R. 
Rhodes entered and settled the Wood's place in 1818 or '19, 
and sold it to Joshua Wood in 1821. October 11th, 1820, 
there were four more land entries made in this township, by 
Lorenzo Edwards, Daniel Wagoner, William W. Gallop and 
Jacob Deck. William Edwards entered the east half of 
the southwest quarter of section thirty-three, 80 acres. He 
lived here but a short time. Mr. Wagoner entered 160 
acres in section thirty-five. This settlement was made on 
the Gulp place. He was a single man, and remained there 
for a short period. William W. Gallop entered the east 
half of the southwest quarter of section thirty-one, 80 acres. 
It is not known that he ever lived here. Jacob Dt ck en- 
tered 160 acres, the southwest quarter of section thirty-five, 
and was the first permanent settler in the township. As 
above stated, this was in 1820. John and Isaac, brothers 
of Jacob Deck, were also early settlers in the neighborhood. 
These families were all quite large, and a number of their 
descendants are yet living in the county and in the state. 

Green W. Short, a native of Tennessee, came to Illinois in 
the fall of 1818, and located in the Wood river settlement, 
where he remained for two years, when he purchased the 
claim of Abram Sells, on section thirty-four of Fosterburg 
township, where he remained until his death. He had a 
family of seven children, only one of whom is now living — 
Perry W. Short — on the old homestead. He was born here 
in 1826. 

James Dooling was another very early settler, a native of 
Ireland, and left his native country for America in April, 
1818. He landed in New York city in July and came 
directly to this county, arriving at Edwardsville in the fall 
of 1818. In the spring of 1819 he moved with his fiimily, 
and settled in Greene county, where he remained until the 
spring of 1821, when he returned to Madison county, and 
purchased a small improvement of George Wood, in the 
northeast quarter of section thirty-four, in Fosterburg town- 
ship. He soon afterward entered 80 acres adjoining his 
purchase. Mr. Dooling continued to reside here until his 
death, in 1845 He had a family of six children, four of 
whom are now living, viz : Edmund, Elizabeth, widow of 
Christopher Coyne, living in Alton ; Catharine, wife of John 
S. Titchenal, in Macoupin county ; and John, in Grundy 
county. Edmund Dooling was born in this township, Oct. 
4, 1824, and has always lived on the old homestead. He is 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



527 



among the best citizens of the county, and haa held several 
offices of trust in his township, and was several times elected 
to represent Fosterburg in the board of supervisors. 

Oliver Foster was a native of New Hampshire, and mar- 
ried a Massachusetts lady. They emigrated to Illinois, and 
settled at Alton iu January, 1819, and from there moved to 
this township iu 1825, making his home one mile north of 
the village of Fosterburg, iu section eleven. Mr. Foster 
entered the land upon which he located: It had been im- 
proved, however, by a squatter named Blackburn. The 
ruins of the log cabin, which had been partially destroyed 
by fire, could be seen for some time after their arrival. Mr. 
Foster remained on this place until his death in 1855. He 
had a family often children, all of whom lived to maturity, 
and five are yet living, viz: Oliver P., who resides in Fos- 
terburg ; Alonzo, at New Douglas ; Aurora B., the wife of 
Jonathan L Woods, in Macoupin county ; James Monroe, 
in Macoupin ; and Ruse V., widow of Richard Jenkinsou. 
The township and town of Fosterburg are named after Oliver 
P. Foster. 

William E Hill, a native of Kentucky, emigrated to 
Illinois in the spring of 1830. He stopped one summer in 
St. Clair county, and then entered and settled on 160 acres 
of land in section twenty-six, and has lived there ever since. 
Mr. Hill is among the oldest and best citizens of to-day. 

John Vanuatta, a native of New Jersey, came west, and 
settled on the northeast quarter of section twfenty-one, in 
1832, where he still resides, at the age of 77 years. He 
reared a family of ciiildren, some of whom are now residing 
iu the state, and one in this county, the wife of C. C. Brown, 
in Fosterburg 

Joseph Sherfy was born in Tennessee, and settled in Wood 
River township in 1823, where he resided about two years, 
and moved to Missouri. Remaiued iu that State until 
183+, when he returned to Madi.sou county, and located in 
Fosterburg township, where he has since continued to reside. 
In digging the cellar for his residence on section sixteen, he 
came upon what was evidently an old burying-ground, 
Some of the bones were still almost perfect, and seemed 
much larger than those of our race. Richard Jones, another 
old settler, a native of Tennessee, came to Illinois in 1834, 
lived part of his time in this township, and died here. His 
son, James Jones, is an old and influential citizen, still liv- 
ing. 

William Dillon, an Ohioan, located within about one mile 
of Fosterburg, on section 23, where he entered land, reared 
a family, and is at present living retired in Fosterburg with 
his children. His brother, John D. Dillon, a native of the 
same state, settled in the township in 1837 He had the 
first blacksmith shop in Fosterburg township. It was 
located on section 23. His wife, Nancy Preuitt, is a daugh- 
ter of Solomon Preuitt, born in this county in 1826. 

George Wood, the father of Joshua Wood, whose name is 
familiar to all the older citizens, entered land in the north- 
east quarter of section thirty four, about 1821. He was a 
carpenter by trade, and was not a permanent resident. 

Joshua Wood settled in this township on section 28, where 
he resided until his death, November 11, 1865, in the 57th 



year of his age. He had a family of ten children, four of 
whom are still living. His widow still survives, residing on 
the old homestead, in the 71st year of her age, and is still 
hale and hearty. She is a daughter of James Huston, an 
old resident of the county, who was a native of Christian 
county, Kentucky, and came from there to Alton, May 22, 
1819. In the fall of the same year he moved out into Wood 
River township, on the place owned by Capt. Abel Moore, 
where he lived for about three years, then entered the south- 
west quarter of section 32, and lived there until the fall of 
1835, when he moved and settled near Shipman, where he 
died Nov. 12, 1846. His widow survived until 1856. He 
had a family often children, only two of whom are living — 
Sarah, the widow of Joshua AVood, above mentioned ; and 
Elizabeth, the wife of George N. Sapping, residing in Iowa. 
The Nichols, John Young, Alexander Hart, James Dren- 
nen, William and Mark Crowder, William England, Samuel 
S. Wilson, David Hill, Asa Brooks, Alford AUford, Ran- 
som Chandler, Thomas Eaton, James Reading the Titch- 

enals, David Rodden, Nelson, David Jones, Hugh 

Jones, and James Bevill were also among the early residents 
of the township. Mrs. Susannah Thompson is a daughter of 
Ransom Chandler, and came to this county in 18:-!9. Her 
first husband, Eldred Foster, was born in Madison county 
in 1821 ; and Jacob Thompson, her second husband, was an 
Ohioan, and came here in 1834. Hazel Luman, residing on 
section 25, is an old resident, and came here from Kentucky 
in 1828. His wife, whose maiden name was Williams, was 
born in this county in 1833. Mrs. Nancy Cavault, formerly 
the wife of John Deck, became a resident of Madison county 
in 1817. She is now residing with her husband, Abraham 
Cavault. 

The first graveyard was that located on the Jacob Deck 
place. The next was the Short graveyard, now incorporated 
as a cemetery, and named " Delraont." Mrs. Jacob Deck, 
jr., a daughter of Green W. Short, was the first person buried 
there. Members of the Wood family were also buried in 
the old part of the cemetery. 

School was first taught in a log house, built on Perry W. 
Short's place, on section thirty-four, iu 1832. It was used a 
short time for both school and church purposes. The ear- 
liest Sunday-school was organized in it. The logs of this 
house were subsequently moved from there and used in the 
construction of J. M. Cooper's residence. There are now 
seven school districts, and one fractional, in Fosterburg^ 
all of which have neat and substantial houses, where school 
is taught the greater part of the year. 

The old Antioch church was the first house of worship in 
Fosterburg township. It was a log structure, neither chinked 
nor daubed, erected in the latter part of 1832. There was 
afterward a frame church erected at the same place, which 
was destroyed by fire iu 1863. These were built by the 
Christian denomination. 

There have been only three attempts made at building 
mills in this township, the first being erected by Samuel 
and William Dillon, on section 23, in 1834. It was a saw- 
mill. The second was to be a flouring mill ; it was, how- 
ever, only partially completed when it was destroyed by fire 



528 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Thomas Titchcnal is operating a saw-mill at present in Fos- 
terburg. 

The first post-office was establisheJ duriug the days of 
stages, on the Springfield road, half a mile north of the vil- 
lage of Fosterburg. John Nichols was the first post-master. 

There is an abundance of coal underlying the whole sur- 
face of Fosterburg township, and several mines have been 
opened and worked to a limited degree, to supply only the 
local demands. The vein averages about four and a-half 
feet in thickness, and is found from sixty to eighty feet be- 
low the surface. There are at present three mines in opera- 
tion, worked by the following parties: John Hill, William 
Challingsworth and John Hankhaus, all located on section 
26, and worked by shaft with horse-power. 

The inhabitants of Fosterburg township are an enterpris- 
ing and intelligent people, who are using their united efforts 
to advance the township in wealth and prosperity. They 
are almost all of the agricultural class, industrious and 
l)ains-taking, and their improvements are equal to any in 

the county. ,1^1 

There have been only two gentlemen who have had the 
honor of representing this township in the board of super- 
visois— Edmund Dooling and John S. Gulp. Mr. Dooling 
was eleced in 1876, and, by re-election, served until 1881, 
when Mr. Gulp was elected, and has ever since continued in 
that position. 

The township, including the village of Fosterburg, has a 
population of 1,652 souls. 

FOSTERBURG, 

Is a little village situated in the southwest quarter of secti.m 
14, and was laid out by Oliver P. Foster, the proprietor. 
The plat was recorded in the office of the county clerk, Oct. 
12, 1»57. It was first called " Foster," but when applica- 
tion for a post office was made in 1858, it was found that 



there was another office of the same name, and the " burg " 
was attached. C. F. Lobbig has had the honor of being 
post master ever since the office was established. The first 
dwelling, house was erected by Kansom Ghandler. G. F. 
Lobbig opened the first store. 

This neat village contains several very good residences 
and business buildings. The principal street has good plank 
sidewalks, and is kept up in nice style. The place is a great 
convenience to the citizens of the township. It contains 
three brick churches, — the German Presbyterian, erected in 
1858 ; the German Baptist, in 1 865, and the German Method- 
ist, erected in 1864. The district school-house located in 
Fosterburg, is a brick structure, one story high, with a frame 
addition. It employs two teachers. 

PRESENT BUSINESS. 

Physician. — Fred. Halsey. 

General Stores. — G. F. Lobbig and Ernst Greible.. 

Blacksmith Shops. — Jacob Hoffer, John Ost, and Nicholas 
Ost. 

Painter. — Simon Koeppe. 

Shoemaker. — Jacob Luft. 

Saloons. — Ramers Bros., John G. Gregory. 

Fosterburg Cemdiry was originally a private burying 
ground. John G. Young and Thomas Eaton each donated 
a fraction of an acre, after which it was used by the public 
until 1873, when an association was organized and a charier 
obtained under the general law for a cemetery. The associ- 
ation purchased more laud, added to it, and made consider- 
able improvements. The village has 130 inhabitants. 

wood's station, 
Is located on section 29, on the line of the Ghicago, Bur- 
lington and Quincy railroad, which passes from north to 
south through the western part of the township. It is a 
great convenience to the people in that neighborhood. 



•■e^^gt^3?C^$=^^- 



BIOGRAPHY. 



WILLIAM E. HILL 



Was born in Livingstone county, Kentucky, on the 11th 
day of January, 1807, being the fourth child in a family of 
eight children, of whom five were boys and three, girls. 
Their father, David Hill, was a native of North Garolina, 
who removed to Kentucky, and settled on a farm, near the 
close of the last century. W. E. Hill, when a youth, at- 
tended school ; but the facilities fi r learning were so slight 
that he reached the age of manhood before making much 



progress in the art of reading or writing. Upon leaving 
school he worked upon his father's farm, and at the age of 
twenty-two, married Miss Mirtha Wilson, the daughter of 
a neighboring farmer. For a brief period after marriage, 
he remained located upon a portion of his father's farm, 
and then removed, with his young wife, to the State of Illi- 
nois, and settled on a farm in the northern part "f St. Clair 
county, a little south of the town of Golliusville. Here Mr. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



529 



Hill had the misfortune to lose h'9 wife, who died, leaving 
one son, named Anthony, who lived to the age of fifty. 
One year later, in 1831, Mr. Hill, not being satisfied with 
the location, removed to Madison county, and settled upon 
a half section of land in what is now Fosterburg township. 

About the year 1835, Mr. Hill again married. The name 
of his second wife was Mary Brooks, daughter of Asa 
Brooks, of Fosterburg, and formerly of New York. By 
this union he has had a family of thirteen children, six of 
whom are now living, namely : Henry, John, George, Annie, 



Martha and Charlotte. Mr. Hill has now a fine farm in a 
good state of cultivation, to which he has given almost his 
entire attention. Mr. Hill has acted as school director for a 
number of years, the only official position he would accept. 
In politics he was originally a Whig and strong Abolition- 
ist and staunch supporter of his intimate friend, L')vejoy. 
Religiously, he was inclined to the Presbyterian faith, but, 
as there was no church of that denomination in the neigh- 
borhood, he has lately become a member of the Methodist 
church. 



^6^^$^2^'C^9^^- 



NEW DOUGLAS, 




JIIIS, one of the smallest townships, is 
situated in the northeast corner of the 
county, and is a rectangle five and a 
half miles long by three and three- 
quarter miles wide, bounded on the 
north by Montgomery county, on the 
east by Bond county, on the south by 
Leef and on the west by Olive town- 
ship. The south and west is drained by 
tlie tributaries of Silver Creek. Dry Fork Branch is in the 
northeast part, where it is slightly timbered. There is some 
timber also on the west side. The remainder and greater 
j>art of the township is a beautiful prairie that has been 
settled principally within the past thirty years. The 
first settler was Daniel Fundcrburk, a native of South 
Carolina, born in 1786 and served through the war of 
1812, under Gen. Smith. He located on section seven in 
the fall of 1819. For several years he was the only resident 
of the territory that now comprises this township. In 1823, 
he taught the first school in a small cabin built near his 
residence. The children attending lived in the adjoining 
township. Mr. Funderburk lived on the place that he im- 
proved until his death December 11, 1838. He raised a 
family of eleven children, six sons and five daughters, viz : 
Sarah, Thomas, John, Elizabeth, Martha, Henry, Daniel, 
Julia A., Emily, Samuel, and Edward who died in the late 
war. Only two of his children now live near the settle 
ment, Thomas and Julia, now Mrs. Kell. The latter resides 
in Worden, and Thomas is a prominent farmer in the south- 
ern edge of Macoupin county, and has served the people 
at various timt-s in different positions of trust. John L. 
Carlock came into the township about 1831 December 14, 
1833, entered the first tract of land, the northwest quarter 
of the njrtheast quarter of section 19, now part of the S. 



A. Isaacs place. Carlock improved a forty acre form, and 
moved from here to Adams county, and subsequently went 
to Missouri. The Methodists held their early meetings at 
his residence. Cornelius Wood, a brother-in-law, located on 
a place southwest of Carlock's in section 19, about the same 
time. He improved a small farm here, and filled the office 
of Justice of the Peace for some time. He afterward moved 
to Bond county where he died. Robert Greening came in 
1830, and located on the same seciion, south of Wood's, now 
the Fred Rinner place, where he continued to reside until 
his death. He was a strict member of the Baptist church, 
and meetings were conducted at his house regularly for 
many years. Jackson Allen, a native of Virginia, came to 
the county in 1837, and settled in the township on section 
17, in the spring of that year. His location was some dis- 
tance out in the prairie, where he improved a good farm and 
continued to reside until he lost his wife in 1862. He then 
lived princip.-illy at his daughter's near by until his death 
in 1870. He raised a family of seven children, six boys 
and one girl, viz. : Andrew, George, Abraham, Isaac, David, 
Thomas, and Mary who married Andrew Jackson. Abraham 
who lives in the village of New Douglas, is the only one of 
the family now in the county. John P. Lindsey settled the 
H. Manshott place in section 20, in 1840. He was the 
second to settle out on the prairie. 

The second school house, a log building put up about 
1839, stood on the west part of section 18. Nelson 
Sparks was the first teacher. John Funderburk, son of 
Daniel and Mary. Funderburk, was the first born, Septem- 
ber 3, 1S22. The first death that of Mary, wife of Daniel 
Funderburk, occurred August 7, 1838. To the first mar- 
riage, the contracting parties were Aaron Voyles and Sarah 
Funderburk, in 1834. 

Alonzo Foster came to the county in 1819 with his father, 



530 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Oliver Foster, who settled in Salu aud afterward at Foster- 
burg, where he died. Mr. A. Foster came to New Douglas 
township in 1857. He was born in Main^, and was three 
years of age when his father settled in Madison county. 
When he located on section 16, in 1857, all the region 
about him was an open prairie. He laid out the town of 
New Douglas, September 5, 1860, on the west part of the 
southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 16. 
The original town contained twenty acres. Foster and Owen 
laid out an addition afterward on the west side of the road, 
and other additions have siuce been laid out. The corporate 
limits now include the whole of section 16. The T. C. and 
St. Louis extends through the township, intersecting the 
southern corporate limit of New Douglas. In 1860, Costen 
Sawyer put up the first business house, in which he opened 
a small stock of goods. The same year he built a black- 
smith shop and employed John Trype to work in it; Trype 
afterward conducted a shop on his own account. The 
second store was started by Dr. William F. Rubottom in 
1863. He got a post-office established the same year, with 
mails twice a week from Staunton. The town Las now a 
daily mail from the same place. Dr. Rubottom was the 
first physician. He came in 1860, and continued to practice 
about five years and then went west. The, first regular 
hotel was built in 1876, by Rodo Latowsky, the present 
owner and proprietor. The public school building was re- 
built after the cyclone on a larger plan. It is a two story 
frame building with three rooms, where three teachers are 
employed. The flouring mill, with two run of burrs, was 
built by Martin B. Day on a cheap plan. After about five 
years it was improved by R. P. Finney. Subsequently it 
was improved by Foster & Dee. In 1879, Murdock & 
Fletcher became the owners and improved the machinery. 
They sold it to Mrs. Anna Easton, and the mill is now run 
by Amos Easton. No town in the county, in proportion to 
its size has so many churches, there being six. The Metho- 
dist South was erected in 1867. It was destroyed in the 
cyclone of 1876, and rebuilt in 1880, on a plan somewhat 
less than the original. The Baptist church, 30x44 feet, was 
built in 1869. 

In 1874, the Lutherans built a neat frame church that 
was destroyed in the cyclone and was immediately rebuilt 
about its former size. The Catholics, who have the largest 
congregation, erected their church in 1870. The Methodist 
church, a neat brick edifice, was built in 1877. The Christ- 
ian church was erected in 1878. 

PRESENT BUSINESS. 

Physicians. — AV. W. Sharp, B. H. McKiuney, A. F. 
Dusenberry. 

Fostmaster. — J. W. Lord. 

General Store. — Long & Epstiue, Marney & Foster, 
Robert Alsop. 

Groceries and Confectionery. — Greening & McMuUen. 

Groceries. — J. B. Bishop. 

Drugs. — Lord & Livery. 

Hardware. — I. A. Olive. 

Butcher. — Robert Page, Jr. 



Harness and Saddlers — Latowsky & Douglas. 

Millinery and Dressmaking. — Mrs. Rosie Huber, Mrs. 
Ehard, Mrs. Eisenbach. 

Barber.— \\\ E. McDaniel. 

Undertaker, Furniture and Agricultural Implements. — 
Watson & Son. 

Agricultural Implements and Buggies. — E. F. Wait. 

Blacksmith Shops — William Long, John Hinc, B. W. 
Stepp. 

Wagon Shop. — John F. Smith. 

Shoe Makers. — Fred. Balweg, Jacob Melheim, Paul 
Douglas. 

Hotel.— Rodo Latowsky. 

Liuery. — N. B. Jernigau. 

SOCIETIES. 

Madison Lodge, No. 560, A. F. and A. M , was chartered 
October 1, 1867, with the following charter members: John 
J. Wilber, Master ; M. A. Cline, John L. Steward, Francis 
Reeding, G. W. Bently, J. A. Whiteside, H. C. Young, 
William Denney, B. J. Vallentiue, Willis McGilvary, A. 
J. Fleming. Present membership thirty-three. 

New Douglas Lodge, No. 547, I. O. O. F., instituted 
April 30th, 1874. Charter members : J. W. Nicoderaua, 
N. G. ; James R. Prickett, V. G.; Allen H. Newlin, John 
C Long, and Albert Camlet. Present membership, twenty- 
three. 

The 27th of February, 1876, a very violent cyclone 
passed through the township, entering at section 30, travel- 
ing in a due northeast direction taking its exit in section 3, 
on the south side of Dry Fork Branch. It passed dire(!tly 
through the western part of the village of New Douglas, 
entirely demolishing eleven dwellings, two churches, school- 
house and Masonic hall. It damaged a great many other 
buildings, by removing them from their foundations, un- 
roofing, etc. The cyclone struck the M. E. Church South 
while an afternoon meeting was being conducted. About 
forty persons were in the building at the time. Henry C. 
Young, a local minister and resident of the town, was killed. 
The church, a frame, 30 by 40 feet, was torn to 
atoms and sent whirling through the air. A great many 
were seriously injured. The German Lutheran church in 
the line of the storm was also made a total wreck. The 
five persons that were in Masonic Hall at the time it was 
destroyed all received more or less injury. The most 
seriously injured was Robert Alsop, who was taken out from 
the broken timbers with a crushed limb In the edge of the 
village farther north, although not in the exact line of 
destruction, some friends wpre performing the la^t sad rites 
of the dead, when the storm came uj/on them_ spreading 
devastation and horror on every side. Wagons were over- 
turned, the beds crushed to splinters and carried away. 
Several women seeing the storm approaching ran to a house 
near by for refuge. No sooner had they gained the inside 
than the building was picked up, whirled round and dashed 
to the ground a mass of broken timbers mingled with 
mangled humanity ; one lady had a babe killed in her arms, 



HISTORY OF MADISOIJ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



531 



another had an ankle broken, another an arm, and every 

one that took refuge in the house was more or less injured. 

The names of those who have represented the township 

in the Board of Supervisors aj>pear below : Andrew Jack- 



son was elected in 187(5 and held office one term ; Abram 
Allen was Supervisor in 1878-79 ; Martin Jones, elected in 
1879, served one term ; J. F. Long was first chosen in 1880, 
and has since held the office, being the present incumbent. 



g^t^^SS*J€§— 



HAMEL. 




^RIOR to township organization, Hamel con- 
tained a part of Edwardsville, AVorden, 
and OmphGhent precincts. It now com- 
prises the whole of town five, range seven, 
bounded on the north by Omph-Ghent, 
east by Alhambra, south by Pin Oak, 
and west by Fort Russell. It is drained 
by Cahokia and Silver creek and their 
tributaries. The former flows through the 
northwest part in a southerly direction, and the latter in the 
same direction through two sections in the southeast part. 
Along the Cahokia a con.siderable quantity of timber is 
found, and the land is somewhat broken. The larger part 
of the township is a beautiful prairie, well adapted to agri- 
culture. The Wabash railroad extends through it, entering 
at section nineteen and passing out at section two. Carpen- 
ter is the shipping point. To the papers of Hon. Robert 
Aldrich we are largelv indebted for much of the data in 
this chapter. Mr. Aldrich was born in Worcester county, 
l\Iass., January 4th, 1794. In the fall of 1816, he, in com- 
pany with his brother Anson, started on foot for the Illinois 
Territory. On their way westward, in the vicinity of Xenia, 
Ohio, they met some Massachusetts friends who had pre- 
ceeded them, with whom they remained and worked until 
tlie following fall, when they resumed their journey. At 
Cincinnati they fell in with Henry and George Keley, bro- 
thers, who with the family of Henry Keley were on their 
way to Edwardsville, Illinois. The Rileys had what was 
called a family boat, and the Aldrich brothers decided to 
go with them. The party floated down the Ohio until they 
reached Shawncetown. This was in October 1817. Here the 
Keleys decided to follow the river no farther and disembarked. 
They had brought three horses and a wagon on the boat. 
Here the little band decided to go first to Kaskaskia. The 
horses were hitched to the wagon, the women, children and 
household effects placed in it, and the journey commenced 
overland, through a country devoid of bridges. Oftentimes 
the wagon box had to be utilized as a ferry boat. Swim- 
ming the horses over was an easy task, but the danger 



of getting the family across swollen streams with floating 
timbers, in this frail craft, was perilous. The party 
consisted of the two Keleys, Mrs. Ann Young, her two 
grandchildren, viz: Henry T. Bartling and Harriet 
Bartling, Mrg. Henry Keley and Robert and Anson Aid- 
rich.* After arriving at Kaskaskia and resting the horses a 
few days, Henry Keley and the Aldriches mounted and rode 
up to Edwardsville, leaving George Keley with the women 
and children. Tlicy arrived at Edwardsville in the early part 
of November, and put up at the public house of Col. John 
T. Lusk. They secured the services of George Coventry 
who was acquainted with the country to show them around. 
After inspecting the settlement for a time, Mr. Keley decid- 
ed to locate in section twenty-nine of this township, the north 
line of which was the limit of the government surveys that 
had been made up to this time. On this section Henry Keley 
assisted by the Aldriches, built a cabin, and on the 4th of 
January, 1818, his family having arrived from Kaskaskia, 
they began their cabin life, the Aldriches boarding with 
them. With the exception of a small improvement made 
in the year 1811, and abandoned at the commencement of 
the war of 1812, by a man named Ferguson on section sevtn, 
just below the crossing of Cahokia creek by the Alton and 
Greenville road, this house of Capt Keley 's was the first 
dwelling erected in the township. The Kaskaskia and 
Peoria Trace, an old track made before the commencement 
of this century, passing along the center of Ridge Prairie 
(called by the French Fraire Du Long) through this towi,. 
ship, and a "trail " made by rangers from Wood river to 
B.)nd county, were the only roads in 1818. 

Thomas Barnet, a native of Gibson county, Tennessee, in 
1817, started to emigrate to Missouri and arrived at 
Edwardsville late in the fall of that year. He was a mar- 
ried man at that time and had one child, Juliet. She is now 
Mrs. William H. High, a widow, and lives in St. Joseph, 
Missouri. The winter coming on, Mr. Barnet concluded to 
remain at Edwardsville until spring, when he would con- 
tinue his journey. He rented a small cabin of John T. 
Lusk, that stood near the old fair grounds, iuto which he 



532 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



moved his family. He eing an active man, and desiring 
some occupation for the coming winter, entered the south- 
west quarter of section '^i, O ;tob3r 2S, 1817, and built 
a cabin and made other improvements, such as splitting rails> 
etc. This was the third entry in the township. John Edgar 
made the first, April 29th, 1815, entering five tracts in sec- 
tions eighteen and thirty. Joseph Smith made the second, 
October 21st, 1817, entering two huudred and forty acres 
in section twenty-five. Mr. Barnet was the first to improve 
entered land. He erected his cabin where the house of his 
sou K. T. Barnet now stands. He worked diligently on the 
place all winter and, in the following March, moved the 
family out from Edwardsville in order to he near his work, 
but with the firm intention of selling out during the summer 
and continuing his journey to his intended destination, as 
soon as the roads would permit. But after becoming settled 
he concluded perhaps this was as good a country as he could 
find on the west side of the Mississippi. So he remained and 
died here, April 2d, 1852, aged seventy-three years. His 
wife died June 25th, 1846. They had eight children born 
to them in this county, viz: Nancy B., Ruth, Samuel P., 
Thomas J., Kimbrough Tinsley , Sarah M., Rufus C, and 
Alfred P. The four brothers live in the settlement and are 
farmers. Thomas J., the oldest of the brothers, was born Sep- 
tember 10th, 1824, on the old pl.ace, and is n iw the oldest 
native born citizen of the township. Bennet Jones occupied 
a cabin on section three, during the early part of 1818. 
Allen and Keltner made small improvements on section 
five, the same year, but sold out directly and left. Archi- 
bald Lamb commenced his improvement in 1818, in section 
three, where he maile a good farm on which he lived until 
his death. In 1818, Samuel Walker built a cabin on section 
thirty, where B. Bange now lives. He lived a few years 
and then moved away. William Mize settled the Col. 
Thomas Judy place. Francis Roach born in Fairfax coun- 
ty, Virginia, a Revolutionary soldier, and Indian fighter in 
Kentucky, came into the Illinois Territory, in 1807, and into 
this township twenty years later and located on section three, 
where he lived until his death, in the year 1845, at the ad- 
vanced age of one hundred and six years. He was a man of 
very small stature, and of wonderful activity. When quite 
advanced in life he delighted to go out with the boys and 
"lay patterns," as he called it, for them to jump to. He 
would jump up and strike his heels twice together before 
coming down, and then laugh heartily to see the youth of 
the neighborhood try it again and again without success. 
His son, David, also died near the old place. His daughter 
married John Armstrong, who was the first settler in the 
northern part of Shelby county, Illinois. James Wilder 
settled the George McCune place in an early day. Robert 
Aldrich settled on the east side ofsection twenty-nine. The 
cabins of Capt. Keley, Wilder and Aldrich stood in a row 
extending east and west on the .same section. Keley and 
Wilder afterward moved away, and none of their descendants 
now live in the county. Aldrich improved a good farm here, 
married, reared a family, and became one of the prominent 
citizens of the county. He represented the county in the 
state legislature of 1842. His death occurred on the old 



homestead. His brother Anson died many years ago, and 
was buried near where they first settled. 

" Wheat that was sown in the fall of 1818, proved to be a 
good crop. It was the first harvested in the township. Many 
of the wheat fields, in 1820, were affected with what was 
termed ' sick wheat.' Persons who ate bread made from it 
would sicken and proceed to vomit, but instinct taught 
the brute creation to reject it. A dog might snatch a piece of 
bread thrown to him but would immdiately drop it. Neither 
cattle nor swine would eat it, and some farmers burned their 
sliicks, deeming it utterly worthless." About 1820, Henry 
Keley built on section twenty-nine, what was called a" band- 
mill," in which rawhide bands were extensively used instead 
of cogs It contained a good bolting cloth and chest, but 
was operated for a short time only as it did not pay. In Mr. 
Aldrich's reminiscences he ^ays : " There was not an apple, 
pear, peach, or cherry tree or any thing of the sort, except 
such as were in the wild state, in the township when I reach- 
ed it in 1817. It was a wilderness. In 181. i, Henry Keley 
and Anson Aldrich went to Griffith's nursery at Portage, 
Des Sioux, in St. Charles county, Missouri, and got apple 
grafts. They wrapped deerskins around the middle of their 
packages, so they could be placed before them on their horses, 
and thus they were brought to our settlement. That was 
the start of my old orchard, fifty-six years ago which bore 
fruit last year, 1874. Not far from the same period Archi- 
bald Lamb and Thomas Barnet set out apple ( rchards." Of 
the early settlers of Madison county, none are more widely 
known than the Judys. Col. Thomas Judy was a son of 
Col. Samuel Judy. He was born December 19th, 1804, at 
the old Judy homestead in the Goshen settlement. He was 
three times married. His first wife was Lavisa Snyder, 
daughter of Jacob Snyder, one of the early settlers of Madi- 
son county, whom he married March 23d, 1826 The chil- 
dren of this union all died youug, excepting Margaret, who 
became the wife of James L McCorkell. 

Col Judy married Nanc.y Hayes in 1833. She died 
eleven years later. His third wife was Mrs. Demaris Barns- 
back, widow of George Barnsback. He lived in the Amer- 
ican Bottom until 1849, where he improved a large and val- 
uable farm. In 1850 he came to this township. He was a 
very successful farmer and an extensive land owner. In 
1852 and '53 he represented his county in the Legislature. 
His death occurred October 4th, 1880, at a good old age. 
His widow survives him, and lives at the place where he 
spent the last thirty years of his life. He reared a large 
family, now mostly deceased. His sons, Thomas and Wil- 
liam, are prominent farmers of the county and live on parts 
of the old homestead, the former in Pin Oak township, and 
the latter in Hamel. John and Jefl^erson Fruit were among 
the first to improve farms in the prairie in the southern part 
of the township. A more extended notice of this family 
will be found in the Pin Oak chapter. Among the promi- 
nent early settlers was Judge H. K. Eaton, a native of 
Adams county, Mississippi. He was born April 4th, 1811, 
but spent his early manhood in the state of Kentucky, where 
he married Miss Elizabeth Pomerny. In 1836 he moved to 
Illinois, and located in Edwardsville, his first residence being 



HISTORY OF MADISOJ^ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



533 



the house now occupied by F. A. Wolf. He was a caliinet 
maker bv trade, and for many years followed his trade in 
the city of Edwardsville. By his probity aud uprightness 
in business matters, he gained the full confidence of the 
people. His good qualities soon pointed him out as one to 
be trusted with public matters, and he was chosen to the of- 
fice of county commissioner, and probate judge, the duties of 
which he discharged with remarkable ability and fidelity 
Although he was no lawyer by profession, his excellent judg- 
ment and sound common sense, peculiarly fitted him for 
either the Bench or Bar. After serving the people of the 
county so faithfully and well he withdrew from public life 
and retired to his farm in what is now Harael township. It 
was here that he died, the 1st of April, 1881, being nearly 
three-score and ten years of age. His .son, W. P. Eaton, 
now resides on the homestead. 

The first death in the township was that of Mrs Harber. 
while she with her husband was on a visit to an old acquain- 
tance in the vicinity of Archibald Lamb's place. 

The Omph-Ghent post office is kept at the residence of 
John Weaver in the extreme northwest part of the town- 
ship. Hamel's corner was started by Frederick Wolf in 
1865. He built a large brick building and opened a 
general stock of goods. He also built a feed stable and en- 
tertained travelers. Before the railroad was built through 
the township there was a considerable amount of travel on 
the St. Louis and Hillsboro and the Alton and Greenville 
roads, which passed the corners He did quite a thriving 
business until 1874, when he rented his establishment to his 
brothers, Ernest and William. The former has since pur- 
chased the building and bought his brother William's inter- 
est, and is now conducting a good payiog business. In 1867 
Christian Traub started a blacksnnth shop and continued 
the business until he died three years ago. The same year, 
after the blacksmith shop was started, G. A. Engelmann built 
a wagon shop and has continued in the business to 
present time. In 1869 A. J. Hamel, John Handshy & 
Sparks built a flouring-mill with two run of burrs. About 
four years after it was moved away. The upper story was 
cut off and converted into a blacksmith shop, now the pro- 
perty of William Wendlandt. In 1868 Hamel built a frame 
store building and opened a general store. He sold out 
afterward and the firm changed several times. The building 
and most of the stock of goods were c insumed by fire in the 
spring of 1880. Hamel sold to George H. Engelmann in 
1871, who had a post office established the following year 
For a time the mail was carrierl from Worden in a common 
two-bushel wheat sack by a private carrier, paid by the citi- 
zens. The mail now comes from Carpenter once a day, Ernest 
Wolf being the present postmaster. Dr. Jo.seph Roth com- 
menced the practice of medicine in 1869 and continued sev- 
eral years. The place now has no physician. Hamel's Cor- 
ner received its name from A. J. Hamel, a farmer who lived 
here and owned all the land originally on the north side of 
the Alton and Greenville road, near the corners. When 
township organization was effected his name was given to 
the township. 



PEEKKNT nilSINBSS. 

General Store — Ernest Wolf. 

Blacksmiths— '^WW&m Wendlandt, Louis C. Brunnworth 

The blacksmiths both carry a good stock of agricultural 
implements. 

Wagnn. Shop — G A. Engelmann. 

Shoe M'llcer — Henry Hanke. 

Hamburg was laid out in 1860 by Heiiiy Morrison and 
F. Soehlke aud was situated on the south part of the north- 
west quarter of section twenty-two. At one time it sup- 
ported a blacksmith. 

CARPENTER. 

In the spring of 1877 the Wabash railroad put in a spur 
a half-mile northeast of the station, and it was called " No- 
body's Switch." Six months later a switch was put in 
where the station now stands and the place was called Car- 
penter, by order of the company The same year twenty 
thousand bushels of corn were shipped from this point. The 
grain office of H. Breed & B. Clark was erected in January 
1877. The following month F. H. Clark established a build- 
ing attached to the grain office and opened a general store in 
it He was also the railroad agent. The following May a post 
office was established, with F. H. Clark as postmaster. He 
has filled the office to the present time. In the fall of 1877 
Peter Balmer built a house and opened a hotel. The fol- 
lowing winter John Brown built a residence and blacksmith 
shop. In the summer of 1877 Breed & Clark erected the 
grain house east of the office with a capacity of 5000 bush- 
els. D. S. Shellabarger & Co., of Decatur, in 1881 built a 
grain house south of the depot with a capacity of 30,000 
bushels. In 18S0 the railroad company constructed the 
tank and pond. T. H. Clark built his present business 
house in 1881. Carpenter was laid out by John F. Opel, 
and the plat was recorded IMay 9th, 1877. It is situated on 
the north half of the east half of the southwest quarter of 
the southeast quarter of section eight. 

PRESENT BUSINESS. 

Physician, — G. C. Gray. 

General Store — Frank H Clark. 

Grain Dealers — D. S. Shellabarger & Co. 

Grain Agents — B. Clark & Son. 

Hotels — Charles Spruner, J. H. Bange. 

Blachsmiih — John Brown. 

Wagon Shop — F. Wehling. 

Harness and Saddles — Louis Eckardt. 

Shoe Maker — H. G- Lehrke. 

Millersville was laid out and recorded by Fritz Miller. 
It is situated on the west half of the southwest quarter of 
the southeast quarter of section eight. 

The gentlemen whose names appear below have repre- 
sented the township in the Board of Supervisors : William 
A. Mize was elected in 1876 and held office for one year. 
Isaac Hall, elected in 1877, served three terms. John 
Weaver was supervisor for 1880-81. He was succeeded in 
office by William P. Eaton, who served one term. Mr. 
Weaver was again elected in 1882, and is the present in- 
cumbent. 



o34 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



The first school-house in town five, range seven, was built 
on the land of Robert Aldrich in 1825, and stood near his 
residence. It was a temporary structure, and was used but 
a short time. There were but few families in the neighbor- 
hood, and the school was too small to be a source of suffi- 
cient profit to a competent teacher, Mr. Carver and Joseph 
Thompson each taught a short time in it. Not far from the 
same time a log school-house was built near Archibald 



Lamb's. It was dignified with a stone chimney. This 
school-house also served as a church. The Lutheran church, 
a good substantial brick building standing in center of sec- 
tion one, was erected in 1861. The Cumberland Presby- 
terian Church, located on the southeast corner of section 
twenty-seven, was built in 1872. The Evangelical church, 
on the northeast quarter of section twenty-two, was con- 
structed in 1873. 




HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



535 






MRS. DEMARIS JUDV. 



The Judy family were among the pioneers of Illinois, and 
the earliest settlers of Madison county. Jacob Judy, the 
ancestor of the family, was a native of Switzerland, and 
emigrated to America in 1777, and settled in Maryland, 
where he remained ten years. In 1787 he came west to 
Kaskaski, and in 1800 came to the territory now compris- 
ing Madison county. His son. Col. Samuel Judy, the father 
of Thomas, was bom August 19th, 1773. He was a promi- 
nent man in his day, and was elected as Territorial Repre" 
sentative of the Kaskaskia District, which included the 
county of Madison. Upon the organization of Madison 
county, he was elected one of the Commissioners, and served 
the people for many years in that capacity. He was, during 
the Indian wars, one of the best Indian fighters that graced 
the annals of pioneer life in Illinois. He was always a 
leader, and was found in the front ranks in every perilous 
expedition against the savages. No family of the early days 
of Illinois can show a better record for fearless devotion to 
home and country than the Judys. He was united to Miss 
Margaret White.side, sister of General Whiteside, who was 
also a noted Indian fighter and altogether one of the most re- 



markable men who figured prominently in the early days of 
the west. Of that union, was Thomas Judy. He was born 
in Madison county, December 19, 1804. He grew to man- 
hood, and on the 23d of March, 1826, was united in marriage 
to Miss Lavina, daughter of Jacob Snyder. There were 
several children by that union, none of whom are living. 
Mrs. Judy died ;' after which Mr. Judy contracted a second 
marriage with Miss Nancy Hays, the date of which was 
March 22d, 1833. She die<l in 1844. There were two 
daughters by that union, named Eliza, wife of Rufus C. 
Baruett, and Sarah, wife of Isaac C. Davis. 

On the 8th of January, 1845, he married Mrs. Damaris 
Barnsback, widow of George Barnsback and daughter of 
Judge James Yowell, who settled in Macoupin county in 
1827, by which marriage there are three surviving children. 
She was born in Shelby county, Kentucky July 13, 1817, 
and died in Hamel township, in this county in the summer 
of 1882. She had survived her husband several years. Col. 
Judy died October 4th, 1879. The names of the surviving 
children are, Thomas .1., born May 15, 1846, and was married 
to Miss Nancy M , daughter of Robert and Nancy McKee. 



536 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLIN016. 



March 17th, 1870 ; William S., bom December 29, 1848. 
and married Miss Rhoda A., daughter of Jesse Bartlett, 
Feby. 22, 1871 ; Mary, born Sept. 24, 1850, and married 
Benjamin R. Burroughs, January 29th, 1873. Col. Thomas 
Judy was elected to represent Madison county in the General 
Assembly of Illinls, in 1852. In that position he sustained 
himself with credit and gave satisfaction to his constituents. 
He was often in the Indian wars in the early days of Illinois 
and was a man of great physical strength and undoubted 
courage, a true type of that pioneer class who are rapidly 
passing away. 

In his nature he was singularly kind and obliging. No 
one ever called upon him for aid or assistance, but that it 
was readily and cheerfully granted. He was a man of more 



than usual good judgment. In those things in which he 
took an interest he was more than ordinarily successful. 
He was eminently a faithful and honest man. What he said 
he believed to be true and whatever he promised he was 
faithful tu perform. Generous to all men he was lasting 
and true to his friends. In 1857 he made a profession of 
religion, and attached himself to the Methodist church, and 
ever after exhibited the genuineness of religious experience 
and true Christian faith. His wife was also a member of 
the same church. She was a kind and generous neighbor 
and friend, a true and feithful wife and devoted mother.* 

* The .ludy family is spoken of .it some length in several general 
chapters. Therefore we make the above sketch somewhat brief. 



-S®l^^^=^*^ 



LEER 




(HIS township is wholly prairie, with the 
exception of about two hundred and 
forty acres on Silver creek, in sections 
thirty-three and thirty-four, which are 
timbered. The township is drained by 
the head- waters of Silver creek flowing in 
a southerly direction. It contains thirty 
sections of laud, all of which is arable, 
and is bounded on the north by New 
Douglass and Bond county, on the east by Bond county, on 
the south by Saline, and on the west by Alhambra. In a 
point of timber on the east side of Saliu'j creek, in section 
thirty-four, in 1818, James Pearce made the first settlement^ 
It properly belonged to the Silver creek settlement, and hig 
cabin was the most northerly situated, as the old settlers 
spoke of it, at the head of Silver creek. All north of him 
was an unbroken prairie, for many years, with only a trail 
here and there through it from the settlement in Bond coun- 
ty, to the settlements on the west fork of Silver creek. He 
was the first land owner in the township. April 14, 1817, 
he entered the west half of the southeast quarter of section 
thirty-four. January 16, 1818, he entered eighty acres more 
in the same section. Hugh A. Pearce, his sou, entered the 
east half of the southwest quarter August 3d, 182i). All 
other entries here were of a later date. Mr. Pearce was 
born in North Carolina. His parents went to Kentucky^ 
where he grew up, and afterward married Miss Lucy Alii, 
son. Three children were born to them in that State, Hugh 
A., Robert, and William W. In 1815, he emigrated to 



Madison county, and lived for three years in the vicinity of 
Edwardsville, where he settled as above stated. He was 
twice married. Six children were born to him by his first 
wife, after coming to this county, viz: W^iley, Joseph B.^ 
Alfred C, Meliuda, Francis M., and James. His second 
wife was Miss Frances Martin, whom he married in 1837, 
and by whom he had five children, viz : Mary, who died in 
infancy ; Mathias B., Thomas N., Sarah E., and Rachel. Of 
the children, Hugh, Robert, W^iley, Joseph B., and Alfred 
C, when they grew to manhood, went into the southern 
States and settled. William W. located in Alhambra, where 
he now resides, as one of the largest land owners in the 
county. Francis M. has been a practicing physician in this 
and Macoupin counties for the past twenty-six years. He 
has represented his county in the legislature, and he now 
lives in the village of Alhambra. James was a farmer of 
this and Macoupin counties until 1881, when he moved to 
Kansas, where he now lives. Mathias B. is a farmer of 
Olive township. Thomas N. now resides in Texas, where 
he went only a few years ago. Sarah E., now the wife of 
Dr. William Allen, lives in Edwardsville. Rachel, now 
Mrs. James Tabor, lives in Alhambra township. Mr. Pearce 
was the first justice in the township. He filled the office 
for manv years. His house stood on the Vandalia and St. 
Louis road, and from the time the road was laid out shortly 
after he settled here, until it was changed and made to run 
farther south in 1835, he kept the stage stand. The first 
death was that of an infant child of his (the seventh son) 
in 1824. The first-born was Joseph B. Pearce, in 1820. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



537 



The first marriage was that of Hugh A. Pearce in 1859, to 
Miss Susan Carson of Saline township. The old gentleman 
lived in this settlement until 1848, when he moved into 
what is now Olive township, where he lived until his death 
in 1864, at the age of seventy- fur years. Jesse Alli.-^on, 
Thomas Allison and Thomas Johnson, were the other early 
settlers of Leef. Jesse Allison, a brother in-law of James 
Pearce, settled what is now the William Serumpf place, in 
1824. Some years prior to his settlement here, he had lived 
in the vicinity of the Biggs' salt workS: where he worked fir 
Biggs several years. He lived in Leef until 1839, when he 
went to Highland, and subsequently to Cooper county, Mis- 
souri, where he died. Th.onias Allison, his brother, built a 
cabin on the land of James Pearce in an early day. Here 
he lived a short time, and then moved to Cooper county. 
Missouri, where he was killed during the late war by the 
bushwhackers. 

Thomas Johnson, Jr., built a cabin a short distance north 
of where the Salem graveyard now is, about 1830. His 
father, Thomas Johnson, Sr., settled near the north line of 
Saline township, in 1818. The junior Johnson lived here 
about thirty years and then moved west. Hugh A Pearce 
settled a place north of his father's in 1829, where he lived 
until he moved south, in 1834. D. Charter located in the 
forks of Silver creek, about ten years later, where he im- 
proved a good farm. The first farms made north in the 
prairie, were improved by G. W. Rockwell, A. J. Flinnand 
Frank Housong. Mr. Rockwell lives on the northwest 
corner of section sixteen. He was born in Clay county, 
Missouri, and came to Madison county in 1838 His wife, 
now deceased, who was a Miss Catharine Peterson, was born 
in Madison county in 1834. The farmers of this township 
are principally Germans, and Jacob Leef, who was born in 
Canton Schaffhousen, Switzerland, was the first of his na- 
tionality to settle here. And when the county passed under 
township organization, this township was named in his honor. 
In 18 i4, then nineteen years of age, he came alone to Ame- 
rica, landing at New Orleans. He had just money enough 
to reach St. Louis, where he remained until 1840. He then 
came to Saline township and went into the employ of S. H. 
Mudge, where he remained five years. In the meantime he 
earned and saved money sufficient to buy a little farm. In 
1845 he purchased forty acres in section thirty-three, where 
he now resides, and began farming fir himself. His place 
was originally settled by Benjamin Furbee, and at the time 
he located here, the prairie north of him for milej was an 
unsettled country, and remained so substantially until after 
the late war, when, in a short space of time, ii: was wrested 
from nature's domain. Mr. Leef was married April 8th, 
1844, to Miss Regina Reichet. By this union there were 
born eleven children. He, by industry and economy, in- 
creased his possessions to upward of three hundred acres of 
land, and he is now living in the enjoyment of a competence, 
respected and honored by his fellow neighbors. John Am- 
buhl, a well-to do farmer on section twenty-eight, was born 
in Switzerland, and came to Madison county in 1839. Fran- 
cis M. Wagoner settled on the eighty acres east of the vil- 
lage of Saline. He is one of the prominent farmers of Sa- 
74 



line township D.iaiel Raedy settled on section twenty-sis, 
where he has improved a large farm. 

S.\LIXE. 

This U a pleasant little village of about one hundred and 
fifty inhabitants, lying on the township line, partly in Leef 
and partly in Saline townships. It was first called Fitz 
James, and was laid out in 1840, by Henry K. Lathey, 
James Carpenter, George Fulls, Jonas R. Gale, Z. Lowe, and 
William F. De Wolf, on the southeast quarter of the south- 
west quarter section thirty-three. John Duncan opened a 
store in 1840. His house stood on the north side of the 
road that runs on the township line. He kept a public 
house, and put up a large sign inscribed in prominent letters 
" Fitz James Hotel by John Duncan." He continued here 
in a fair [layiiig business, until his death, after which the 
buildings were burned. Some years after this, the town in 
the meantime making little progress R D. Leggitt put up a 
second store. This also stood on the north side of the road. 
After about two years, he sold out to William Schum, who 
subsequently sold to John Bardill and brothers. Mr. 
Bardill afterward purchased his brother's interest in the 
store and conducted the business for many years. He was 
instrumental in getting a post-office established, called Sa- 
line. The department ordered the name changed, and the 
citizens christened it Grant Fork, which is the [iresentname 
of the post-office. Martin Ruch, in the early history of the 
village, opened a store on the south side, where he is still 
engaged in business. In 1840 one Herrin opened a black- 
smith shop in a little log cabin that stood just cast of the 
Douglas store building. He was not an expert at his trade, 
but could mend a chain or clevis, and was looked upon as 
quite an acquisition to the settlement. He afterward left, 
and for many years there was no blacksmith John Link 
was the second snaith. The Catholic church is a handsome 
brick edifice, built in 1872. There is a school conducted in 
connection with the church. The Lutheran church is a neat 
brick structure erected the same year. The public school 
is a brick building, one story high, with two rooms, in charge 
of James Lane at the present writing. 

PRESENT BUSINESS. 

Physicians. — A R. Ransom and A. Sacconi. 

General Store and Post-master. — Martin Ruch. 

Hotel. — Anton Kraft. 

Drugs. — A. Sacconi. 

Blacksmith Shops — Charles Schmitt, Nic. Mollett and 
Theodore Schwartz. 

Wagon Shops.— G. Winter, Nic. Mollett. 

Harness Shop. — E. Salzmann. 

Butcher. — F. Landolt. 

Tinsmith and Stoves. — Joseph Miller. 

Undertaker. — F. Oswald. 

Shoemaker. — G. Zweifel. 

The following named gentlemen have been members of 
the board of supervisors : Daniel Ruedy was chosen in 1876, 
and was in oflice until he was succeeded by John Bardill in 
1879. John Mulloy was elected in 1880, and has held the 
office four successive terms, and is now the incumbent. 



OMPH-GHENT. 




(HIS, is one of the noithern townships, and 
received its name from the church that 
stood near tlie residence of David Swett. 
Originally Oniph-Ghent comprised all 
the territory between east and west 
Cahokia creeks, from the county line 
south to a line running east and west, 
in the center of town five, range eight. 
Since township organizations, it compri- 
ses the whole of town six, range seven, bounded on the north 
by Macoupin county, on the east by Olive, on the south by 
Hamel, and on the west by More township. It is drained 
by Cahokia and Swett creeks, and their tributaries,- running 
in a southerly direction through the more central part of the 
township. Along these streams the land is considerably 
broken and is timbered. The best farming land is found on 
the east and west sides of the township. The Wabash rail- 
road extends through four sections in the southeastern part, 
and Worden, a thriving village on this line, is the princi- 
pal trading poiut. 

EARLY SETTLEMENTS. 

Near where the Oraph-Ghent church now stands, in the 
fall, or winter of 1820, David Swett, a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, erected the first cabin. October 6th of that year, he 
entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. It was the 
first tract of land entered. He came to Edwardsville, in 
1817, from his native state. His father died when he was 
quite a boy. His mother bouud him out to learn the shoe- 
maker's trade. After serving out his time, he started west 
immediately, arriving here at the date above stated, when 
four years later he married Miss Elizabeth Tindall, who 
was born in North Carolina, and came here an orphan girl 
with her uncle, Thomas Tindall, in 1817, at the age of 
seventeen years. In the spring of 1821, Mr. Swett, with his 
young wife moved into his cabin, and began in earnest the 
improvement of his place. He became the first permanent 
settler in the prairie, near the creek now bearing his name. 
He was the fir^t justice in the district, and afterward rep- 
resented the county on the Commissioners' Board. He died 
nearly half a century ago, regretted by all who knew him. 
His worthy example in conducting public business is still re- 
membered with pride by many of the old citizens of Madison. 
He built the first frame house in this settlement, and it was 
on his land that the Omph-Ghent church, the first in the 
township, was built, in 1848. His widow, a much esteemed 
lady, lived at the old homestead until her d^ath which oc- 
curred April 1st, 1877. At Mr. Swett's death, he left six 
538 



children. Three only are now living : Emily, is the wife of 
John Kell, and now resides in Mi-ssouri. Helen, the wife 
of Dr. J. A. Slaughter, lives at Greenville, Illinois. Ade- 
line, widow of Templeton Elliott, now resides at Litchfield, 
Illinois. Mat bias Handlou entered eighty acres in section 
thirty-three, the same day Swett made his entry. If he 
ever lived on this land, it was only for a short time, as he is 
forgotten by the oldest citizens in this settlement. In 1825 
Charles Tindall settled the George Belk place. He came to 
the county in 1?17, and lived at Edwardsville, until he began 
his improvement in this township. As early as 1830, in 
company with David Swett, he built a horse mill on his 
place. He was a carpenter by trade, but improved a good 
farm, where he died in 1843, leaving a widow, who died in 
1851. They had a family of eleven children, seven of whom 
grew to man and womanhood, viz : Parham, Thomas, Dora, 
Emily, Nancy, Edward and Sarah. Mr. Tindall filled 
the office of Justice of the Peace many years, and lived 
the life of a much respected citizen, leaving his widow and 
children in good circumstances when he died. 

In 1826 Ezekiel Davis, from New Jersey, settled the 
Henry Moritz place, section thirty-one. Two years later he 
entered eighty acres of laud here, and this was the fourth 
entry in the township. He aud his wife both died on this 
place, the latter in 1844, and the former about fifteen years 
ago. Of their children, only three are now living. Hannah, 
now Mrs. Thornton Carter, a widow, lives in Moro township. 
Hiram lives at Dorchester and Howell in the west. 

Samuel H. Denton, a native of Tennessee, came to 
Edwardsville in the spring of 1817, where the following 
year, August the sixth, he married Miss Mary Tindall. In 
1833, he settled in the edge of the timber, section thirty, 
east side of Denton's branch, where he gathered a good deal 
of property about him. His farm comprised upward of 
four hundred acres. He raised horses and cattle in great 
numbers, allowing them to run on the range during the en- 
tire summer and fall at will. He was one of the early 
botanic doctors of the county. A Whig in politics, he never 
aspired to any office. He died on the place he improved, 
March 1st, 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Denton had born to them 
a family of nine children. Three died in infancy. James 
died in 1880. Jefferson in 1865. Martha, now deceased, 
married Amos Hodgeman. Benjamin is in the western 
country. Henry is a farmer, living on the old homestead. 
Sarah, now deceased, married Henry Moritz, and at his 
residence, Mrs. Denton now makes her home. She is the 
only old settler now living in the Omph-Ghent settlement. 
She was born in Ruthford county. North Carolina. Her 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



539 



father, Thomas Tiiidall, emigrated to the Territory of Illi- 
nois, in 1816, arriving at Edwardsville in November of that 
year. He was a native oF Virginia, and in that state he 
married Miss Martha Wall. They had two children born 
to them in Virginia, viz : Charles and Francis ; four in North 
Carolina, William, Mary, Parliam and David ; three in 
Christian county, Kentucky, George, Lewis and Richard. 
Mrs. Denton says when her father started west from Ken- 
tucky, he was accompanied by the families of Ben- 
nett Jones, Thomas Wall and Joseph McKinney. Their 
intention was to visit the Goshen settlement, and, if not 
pleased with that, to go on to Boon's Lick, in Missouri. The 
party camped and cooked dinner about where the Court 
House now stands. After dinner the teams were hitched 
and their heads turned westward for the Mississippi ferry, 
where lower Alton now stands. In passing through old 
Edwardsville, Edward Fountain, who was a hotel keeper 
there, recognized Mr. Tindall. They had been school-mates 
in Virginia. Fountain induced the party to stop for a few 
days. They went into camp near where the lower Wabash 
depot now stands Tindall soon moved his family into the old 
log court-house, where he wintered. There was no floor or 
chimney to the building. The fire was built in one corner 
of the room and the smoke escaped the best it could through 
a hole in the roof The second Monday in March, 1817, the 
court convened and the Tindall family had to abandon the 
court-house During the winter, Mr. Tindall built a com- 
fortable hewed log house that stood nearly opposite the 
place where Jud^e Gillespie now lives. Here he resided 
until he died in 1832. He followed teaming and farming. 
His wife survived him until 1851. Mrs. Denton is now the 
only survivor of the family. At the age of eighty she is 
hale and hearty, and looks much younger than her years. 
Her hair is raven black, with here and there a tinge of gray. 
Her memory retains its early vigor, and with ease she talks 
over pioneer times, giving facts and dates with much accu- 
racy. In 1830, Parham Wall built a double log house, a 
little east of the place where Adam Hohe now lives, where 
he had the misfortune to lose his wife. He then returned 
to Kentucky, where he lived many years. He afterwards 
came back to Madison county and died in Alton. Benjamin 
Bond, sr., came from Tennessee and settled in the northern 
part of section thirteen, in 1826, with his wife and family of 
five children, viz : Thomas, Elizabeth Jane, Benjamin, Mary 
and William. Holland was born on the old homeplace, this 
county. Mr. Bond's wife died about eight years after his 
coming here. Lucy Ann, the only living child of Mr. 
Bond's second marriage, is now the wife of Joseph Lamb, 
one of the prominent farmers of the townshFp. Mr. Bond 
was married the fourth time, and now lives at Staunton, iu 
his eightj'-sixth year. He was a farmer of the township 
until about twenty years ago. William and Benjamin are 
farmers here. Mary, now Mrs. Jordon Best, lives in Olive 
township. 

One of the oldest citizens now living in the township, is 
Mrs. Nancy Wilcox, widow ol Stephen Wilcox, who settled 
in the northeastern part as early as 1825. Mr. Wilcox op- 
erated a horse-mill here for many years. Mrs. Wilcox came 



to the county a widow. Her brother, George Kinder, 
brought her and her mother from Kentucky. He had lived 
here many years before he brought them out. Mrs Wil- 
cox's first husband was Jeremiah Brown. He died in Ken- 
tucky, leaving her with three children. She married Mr. 
Wilcox in 1834. He died thirty-five years ago. Since that 
time she has lived here on the old Wilcox homestead 
and only a short distance from where they first settled 
She has only one child living, Thomas Minter Brown, who 
is a well to-do farmer in Iowa. She has grand-children and 
several great grand-children living io this settlement. Mrs. 
Wilcox was born in 1796. Her mother was a daughter of 
John Schmidt, who with his wife came from Germany and 
settled iu Pennsylvania, where they died. Miss Schmidt first 
married Jacob Kinder, who was afterward killed by the 
Indians in the early settlement of Kentucky. She then 
married Thomas Miuter, who also died in Kentucky. The 
early preaching in this part of the township, for many years, 
was at the residence of Stephen Wilcox, by the Rev. Peter 
Long. The Leraens and Days were all of the Baptist de- 
nomination. Gjorge W. Beaird, one of the early settlers in 
the northeastern part, was a blacksmith, wagon maker, 
gunsmith, and shoemaker. He died near where Worden 
now stands, in 1846. His widow yet survive* him at the 
age of seventy-one. She is a native of Tennessee, and has 
lived in this immediate vicinity since 1830. William and 
James Best, sons of Michael Bast, a well-known old settler 
of Macoupin county, improved places in the northeastern 
part of this township among the early settlers. William 
died in Staunton, and James now lives in Kansas, but still 
owns his farm here. Thomas Grant Sr., settled in the edge of 
Macoupin county, on the north line of this township, in 1831. 
His son, Thomas, one of the early settlers of this townsliip, 
was born in S )uth Carolina. He has been twice married. 
His second wife, Nancy, was a daughter of Col. Samuel 
Judy, born in the county in 1809, and is the only survivor 
of Col. Judy's falhily, by his first wife. She has twelve 
children, four boys and three girls living. Her marriage 
with Mr. Grant, in 1840, was her third. Since marriage 
they have lived in section thirteen, this township. She is a 
hale and hearty old lady, with a good memory and is very 
correct in facts pertaining to the early tioies. A short dis- 
tance up the branch from where Mr. Grant now lives, in the 
early diys was a deer lick An ambuscade was arranged 
here by the settlers, and the deer coming to the lick fell an 
easy prey to the unerring rifle of the pioneer. Mrs Grant 
says that when she was a girl, she often passed this place on 
horseback going to and from her home to relatives who 
lived iu Macoupin and Greene counties. 

The vicinity of the deer lick was a desolate looking place, 
and the land looked white and poor. She often thought to 
herself if any body ever entered this land it must be a fool. 
She jokingly said that she afterward entered it herself, and 
on trial found it equal to any land iu the vicinity for pro- 
ductiveness. Captain Samuel Jackson, who in his early days 
was a sea captain, came to this township among the early 
settlers, and located a place on section fourteen, where Frank 
Peters now lives. Here he resided until his death some 



540 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNIY, ILLINOIS. 



twenty years ago. He was born and raised in North Caro- 
lina. There was a little " affair of the heart " connected 
with his life. Through some misunderstanding between him 
and his intended, the marriage was never consummated, and 
he spent his days in smgle blessedness. He lived here in 
a small cabin and did his own cooking. He was a very ec- 
centric character, and at one time in his life he had the im- 
pression that some evil-disposed person contemplated placing 
poison in his well. This thought so brooded upon his mind 
that he virtually became a monomaniac upon the subject. 
He accordingly built a cabin over his well, and ever after- 
ward kept it securely locked. This delusion led him so far, 
that if he at any time discovered any white substance upon 
his farm, he would view it critically with suspicion. He 
accumulated much property, land and personal, and took 
extra pride in his horses, and he always had some fine ones ; 
and yet his custom was to walk to church bare foot during 
the summer months. He joined the Methodist church, and 
at one time the preacher conducting the .'ervice asked him 
to lead in prayer. The congregation all knelt down as was 
the custom, then after several moments of suspense, the old 
gentleman spoke out, " I am not praying." The preacher 
remarked, " I see you ain't," and then asked some other 
brother to offer prayer. This was the first call for 
prayers that the old man had been solicited to perform. 
One can easily imagine the embarrassment of the situation, 
but the event passed off without any further observation on 
the part of the congregation. He was an excellent per- 
former on the violin, and always kept two or three instru- 
ments at hand. He would use a different violin for each 
occasiun, and thus he would entertain his friends, and 
while away many a lonesome hour. Every Friday, it 
was his custom to fast. He often went to the cabin of 
Thomas Grant. One day he stopped in just as dinner was 
on the table. The smoking chicken and new potatoes, 
the first of the season, fairly captivated the old man, Mrs. 
Grant said, Take some dinner with us. Captain. No, said he, 
this is my fast day. Mrs. Grant said. This is Thursday, Cap- 
tain. Said he, Well Nancy, if this is Thursday, I will believe 
you and eat. When the Captain died it was the general 
belief that he had money buried on his premises, and some 
parties did some digging in the vicinity of his house, with- 
out accomplishing anything, and if the old gentleman did 
bury his surplus money here, the secret of its whereabouts 
was buried with him. 

Jonathan McMannus, a Tenuesscean, was one of the early 
settlers. He built a saw and grist mill on Cahokia creek, 
west of where AVorden now ^tands, in an earlj' day, and 
continued to run it fur many years. He improved the farm 
where W. J. Piper now resides. He was very handy with 
tools of all kinds, and often made the remark that he could 
make any thing out of wood or iron He had a blacksmith 
shop at one time on the Piper place. For many years he 
lived on the west side of the Cahokia creek. He was twice 
married and reared a family of four children, by his first 
â– wife, and five by his second. In 1856, he went to Te.xas, 
where he died about ten years afterward. W. J. Piper, who 
lives on section twenty-four, was born in the Piper settle- 



ment, on Silvfr (re(k, Alhambra township, in 1819, where 
he lived until about 185l>, when he located where he row 
resides. His father and mctbfr ditd ( n the place thi y set- 
tled on Silver creek, the latter in 1861, and the former in 
1864, leaving a family of nine childien, six sons and three 
daughters, five of whom are yet livirg, W. J., leii g the 
only one of the family that is now a resident of the county. 
Moses Barker was one of the early residents en the cast side 
of the Cahokia. He vas an eastern man of good education, 
and po.'sessed eonsideiable ability, and was one of the prom- 
inent citizens of his time. He died on his old homestead 
many years ago, and was one of the first buried in the New 
Hope grave- yard. 

Edmund Butler settled near the center of the township 
on the west side of the Cahokia, about 1833. The improve- 
ment was first started in 1832, by Richard Wall, who built 
a cabin but never lived here. Butler died on this place 
nearly thirty years ago. His widow still survives him, and 
lives on the old homestead. In 1833 Darius Sprewell set- 
tled the P. C. Eandall place. He and his wife both died 
here. They left six children. His youngest daughter, Mrs. 
P. C Randall, now lives on the old homestead. The 
Edward McDonnell place was settled by Robert Page, as 
early as 1830. Edward McDonnell was killed on this place 
in the spring of 1879 in a cyclone. This storm appeared like 
a huge ball and seemed to revolve, moving along within a few 
feet of the ground. Houses were raised clear off their foun- 
dations, smashed to atoms and the pieces hurled in every direc- 
tion. Trees were uprooted or twisted off close to the ground, 
and animals and persons were picked up and carried for 
quite a distance through the air, then dropped, bruiseel and 
bleeding to the ground. L. R. Weeks was among the early 
settlers in the northern part of the township. He improved 
a good farm, on which he died, leaving quite a large estate. 
His wife still lives on the old place. William Kell, a native 
of North Carolina, came to Madison county in 1829. He 
entered three hundred and twenty acres near Where now 
stands the town of Worden. He reared a family of eleven 
children, all of whom giew up and married. His son, James 
Kell, who, in 1845, started out in life for himself upon a farm 
near AYorden, took an active part with Jeihn C. Worden and 
others in getting the T. W. & W. R. R. extended through the 
town. He died in Worden, in 1S76. Robert Roseberry 
settled just south of where Worden now is, in 18.S6. Part of 
the town has since been built on his land. He lived here 
until his death in 1848. His widow who was boru in the 
Territory of Indiana, in 1800, survived him until ISTO. She 
was the mother of seven children, four sons anil three 
daughters, and had lived a member of the Baptist church 
since 1821. Mr. Roseberry for several years filled the ofiice 
of Justice of the Peace. 

Sandford Dove and Samuel Walker were early settlers 
here. The death of the latter's wife was the first in the 
northeastern part of the township. The first death occurred 
in the Oniph Ghent settlement, and was that of the wife of a 
squatter named Camp. He was a trapper and hunter, and 
lived in the timber east of George Belk's place, in a pole 
camp, prior to the settlement of David Swetc. Mrs. Camp 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



541 



was laid to rest in the timber :icar by. Her coffin was truly 
a primitive affair. It was made by splitting a log into 
halves and bollowing them out like troughs, and fitting them 
together. They were fastened with wooden pins. If not as 
elegant as the modern style it was in keeping with the times 
of long ago. The first birth in this settlement was that of 
Mary Swett, daughter of David Swett, January 1822. 
Richard Sandbach. Sr., who was born in London, England, 
rame to the township in 1839. He bought a place in sec- 
tions 22 and 23, where his son-in-law, James A. Welch, now 
lives. He opened a general store here immediately after his 
arrival, which he continued to run until his death, in 1854. 
His widow carried on the business, with John C. Worden as 
manager, until her death, about ten years ago. Mr. Sand- 
bach was twice married. His children were: William, 
Richard, George S. and Alice A. The first school taught in 
Omph-Ghent settlement was in a small log building that 
stood near the present site of the church, in 1825, by 
Springer. The first schooling the children received in the 
northeastern part of the township was at a log house that 
stood where the Staunton graveyard is now located. At a 
later date school was kept by Henry Haveren, on the town- 
ship line, in an abandoned cabin built by Benjamin Bond. 
The first Sunday-school was held by Joseph Gordon, a 
Presbyterian, in David Swett's liig barn, in 183 >. The 
Omph-Ghent church was built by that congregation in 1848. 
New Hope Baptist church, north of Wurden, wa? built 
thirty years ago. Frederick Handshey was the first German 
to settle in the Omph-Ghent settlement. He lo ated a short 
distance south of Swett's, in 1833. He died in Hamel 
township, in 1852. Four of his children, two sons and two 
daughters, now live in the county. Among the older Ger- 
man citizens are: Adam Hohe, Frank Peters, Rev L. 
Blume, Christian and Julius Kohlenburg, Herm Wiseman, 
Fred and Henry Durstmann, Fred Klein, J. C Schafer, 
Fred Hillebrand, Fred Lesfmann ai.d H. C. Nobbe. On 
the Cahokia and its tributaries are found, in large quantities, 
building stone of easy access, such as limestone, freestone 
and soapstone. Some of the quarries have been worked 
(fuite extensively. But, owing to their distance from the 
railroad, none of them are now being worked except to 
supply the immediate neighborhood. 

WORDEN. 

John Lamb, one of the early settlers, lived where his fon, 
Joseph Lamb, now resides, in section 25. Nearly half-a-mile 
southwest of Lamb's a saw-mill was built and a post-office, 
called Lamb's Point, was established there by William Ro.se- 
berry,who lived near by. Afterward the office was kept by 
James Burley, who lived just across the road from Ro.se- 
berry. In 1857 this office was moved south to the farm 
residence of Hampton AVall, and kept by him Two years 
later Mr. Wall started a store here, and in 1860, he laid out 
the town of New Hampton, comprising ten acres, in the 
northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of section 35. 
Mr. AVall was a son-in-law of Robert Roseberry, and he 
now lives in Staunton, Macoupin county, and is one of the 
pmrninpnt and much respected citizens of that county. Mr. 



Wall, in 1867, sold his store and interest in the town to 
John C. Worden, who, in 1870, laid out in town lots the 
balance of the north eighty of the northeast quarter of 
section 35. INIr. Worden came to the county in 1^54, and 
by this time had a good deal of experience in store keeping, 
having, as before stated, superintended his aunt's, Mrs. 
Sandbach's store, for several years. He continued the 
business in the store purchased of Mr. Wall, with a 
steadily increasing trade. After the railroad was built 
through the place in 1870, the company, in honor of Mr. 
Worden, who had taken a very active part in securing for 
the conij)any the right of way and furthering the interests 
of the road, called the place AVorden. The name of the 
post office was then immediately changed. The first mail 
by rail was received here October 12, 1870. Mr. Worden 
was the first railroad agent, and did the company's business 
f >r seven years, at the same time attending to his store. 
For eleven years he was the postmaster. This town was 
originally a country cross-road. In 1867, W. F. Robinson 
started a grocery store. William Wyatt was the first black- 
smith. He opened a shop in 1861. Frank Ferliwasthe 
second. After the railroad was built the place received new 
life, and during the years of 1873, '74 and '75, grew rapidly. 
H. 11. Dorr, M. D. was the first physician. In 1871, the 
Methodists built their frame church, 30x40 feet, at a cost of 
nearlv S3,000 In 1876, the German Lutheran church was 
built and is used by them also for a school building. There 
are two steam elevators here. John C. Worden and James 
Kell built the first in 1870. At that time steam was not 
used as a ra')iive power by this firm. It has since been 
greatly enlarged : it is now owned and conducted by C. A. 
King cfe Co., of Toledo, Ohio The secoi d was built by 
George Breed & Bros., who are still the owners, and are 
residents of the place. In 1873, Joseph Floyd it Co. built 
a flouring mill of three run of burrs. This mill, through 
bad management, never accomplished much. After running 
about six years it was moved to Jonesborough, Illinois, and 
subsequently destroyed by fire. 



The Worden Mining Co.'s shaft was commenced in the 
winter of 1876. The first coal was sold the following year, 
June 26, 1877. The first wagon load of about twenty 
bushels', raised on that day, was drawn through the town, 
and then sold at auction to the highest bidder. Robert 
Nfethercott, then of the Worden City Mills, bought it at the 
highest bid, $52.00. After much jollification the load waa 
driven to the mill and burned in the furnace. The company 
is composed of farmers and business men of the vicinity. 
The depth of the shaft is two hundred and fifty feet, and 
the vein of coal averages from six to eight feet in depth. 
The Wabash Coal Mining Co.'s shaft on the farm of Joseph 
Lamb, was sunk in 1881, and it is owned by F. P. Baker &, 
Co., of St. Louis. J. H. McDonald and others are sinking 
a shaft on the land of W. J. Piper, section 24, and at this 
writing are at a depth of two hundred and fifty feet. They 
commenced work late in the fall of 1881. 



542 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



BUSINESS DIRECTORY OF WORDEN. 

Physicians. — H. R. Dorr, J, H. McDonald and H. Powers. 

General Stores.— H. C. Picker, C. Rudolph, Henry 
Reese. 

Groceries and Notions. — W. F. Robinson. 

Drugs and Notions. — P. H. Paul. 

Postmaster. — P. H. Paul. 

Notions. — D. Hirschfeld. 

Merchant Tailor and Clothing — F. A. Sohiiiltt. 

Groceries- — J. McDjnnell, H. KnoUniann. 

Bakery. — Philip Euerich. ' 

Furniture and Undertaking. — Joseph Heidel. 

Hardware and Tinsmith. — R. Wildi. 

Saddles and Harness — J. Uhl. 

Ho'el- — Frederick Putting. 

Livery. — J. M. Lowry. 

Boots and Shoes. — Jacob Dornseip, K L )rch. 

Barber.— F. W. Schwer. 

Black-Smiths. — Frank Firli, Wm. Schutte, Wm. Winter. 
' Wagonmaker. — Samuel Merz. 

Police Magistrate. — John C. Worden. 

Worden is young in years, situated twenty-nine miles from 
St- L )uis. The census of 1880 gave it a p<ipulation of 384. 
Since that time it has considerably improved and with the 
growiugcoal interests and other natural advantages, and from 
the fact that it controls a wide scope of country as a shipping 
point it bids fair to become a town of some importance. 



PRAIRIE CITY. 

Maurice Hartnett was the first settler of Prairie City. 
He built a small log house at the northwest corner of the 
four corners, in 1858. The same year the town was laid out 
by L L Dorsey. Mr. Klump, the ne.x:t year, started a saloon. 
The same year F. and E. Be.«t began blacksniithing, and 
continue in the business to the present time. In 1860 a 
general store and saloon was started by John SchafTer. Rich- 
ard Richards built about the same time and opened a general 
store. Mr. Schaffer had a post office established shortly 
after he began business, and was the first post master. The 
office is Prairie Town. The mail is a tri-weekly one on the 
Edwardsville and Bunker Hill route. Dr. Martin was the 
first phj'sician. The brick Lutheran church, a short distance 
west of the village was built in 1874 at a cost of $11,000. 
The frame church near by, of the same denomination, now 
used for school purposes, was built in 18'33. The following 
is the present business : — E. Engel, physician. M. Kyle, H. 
Grote and John McDonnell, have general stores. M. Kyle 
is the post master. F. & E. Best, Albert Earner, black- 
smiths. John Hess, wagonmaker. V. Schulz, C Bockoer, 
boots and shoes. With a population of one hundred and 
twenty-five, it is situated in a beautiful prairie, surrounded by 
a thrifty class of farmers, and all the facilities of an inland 
town that one could wish. 

The gentlemen whose names appear below have served the 
township as supervisors : James Kell was elected in 1876 
and was in office two terms. He was succeeded by W. F. 
Kell, one term. Henry Dorr was chosen in 1879 and re- 
elected for successive terras till 1881-'82, when Joseph 
Floyd, the present incumbent, was elected. 



BIOGRAPHY. 



JOHN C. WORDEN, 

The founder of the village of Worden, in this county, is a 
native of England, born at Preston, Lancashire, June 24, 
1834. He was the second son of Peter and Ann (Charnock) 
Worden, whose ancestry date back many generations in 
England, and members of the same family were among the 
earliest settlers on that narrow strip of country lying directly 
south of Cape Cod, in JIaM;achu.-etts. Peter Worden once 
owned land where now stands Yarmouth Port, in Barnsta- 
ble county of that State, where he was married, and died at 



the age of seventy years. Mr. Worden has in his possession 
a genealogical history of the Worden family covering a pe- 
riod of three hundred years. When, at the tender age of 
si.x, Mr. Worden had the misfortune to lose his father. He 
remained with his mother until the age of thirteen, when 
that ambition, so marked a characteristic in his life, tempted 
him to emigrate to America, which he did, locating at Al- 
bany, N. Y. Here he found employment for six months at 
the public works, with a salary of seven shillings a daj'. 
Soon afterward he apprenticed himself for one year to learn 












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OR/G/NAL PF?OPRIETOR OF WORDEN^ILL, 












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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



543 



I 



blacksmithing at Schenectady. While thus working at the 
trade he attended regularly the night schools, and by studi- 
ous application to liis books, made rapid progress in educa- 
tion. After the expiration of his apprentictship, he became 
a canal-boy on the Erie canal ; but being desirous of im- 
proving his education, he soon left, and sought a position 
with a farmer, paying his board by labor, and attending 
school during the winter months. 

His next occupation was working in a brick yard at four, 
teen dollars a month, which he continued during the brick- 
making season of six months. To further resume his stud- 
ies he attended for one term, Whitestown Seminary, after 
which he purchased a half interest in a canal boat. Ever 
changeable, this business did not occupy his attention more 
than six months. During the following winter he drove a 
stage from Mohawk to Herkimer, and in the ensuing spring 
clerked in a provision store. 

Mr. Worden, now competent to teach school, engaged in 
that profession in the winter of 185.3-5-1-, in western New 
York State. The next spring he again entered a provision 
store, in which he remained eight months, leaving in 1854, 
to engage with his aunt (Mrs. Elizabeth Sandbach), then 
residing in this county, about two miles northwest of the 
present village of Worden. Mr. Worden was in his aunt's 
employ about five years, and had now grown to manhood, 
and during the period of his rambling career, had managed 
to save money, and concluded that he could not do better 
than to devote a portion of it to visiting the home of his 
childhood. Accordingly, early in 1856, he returned to Eng- 
land, where he spent nine months with his relatives, and 
availed himself of the opportunity offered, during his stay, 
of visiting the many places of interest in his native country. 

Mr. Worden came back to this country in the fall of the 
same year, and taught school in St. Louis county. Mo. At 
ihe completion of his scholastic duties there, in 1857, he 



again returned to this county, and commenced teaching 

school in Moultonville, where be continued for five winters. 
In the meantime he was appointed Deputy Sheriff and Depu- 
ty Assessor. After the close of his school in Moultonville, 
he went into business for himself at New Hamj)ton, now the 
village of Worden. 

On the 26th of November, 1867, he was married to Miss 
Virginia J., daughter of G. S. and Nancy. J. Weaver. By 
this union six children were born, two of whom have since 
died. On the twelfth of September, 1881, Mr. Worden had 
the misfortune to lose, by death, his most estimable wife. 

In 1809 was in contemplation the Decatur k, East St. 
Louis Railroad, now the Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific. An 
election was held to consider the matter of contributions, 
and decided against the railway. A subsequent election, 
brought about by the exertions of Mr. Worden and a few 
others, resulted in a contrary manner. A short but pointed 
speech was made upon this occasion by Mr. Worden, in re- 
lation to the future prosperity of the town bearing his name, 
and the surrounding country. When the railroad was com- 
pleted the following September (1870), the town was laid out 
by Mr. Worden. 

Politically he is a Democrat, and in religion he is a mem- 
ber of the Methodist church. He is also a member of the 
Masonic fraternity. Few of our citizens can present such a 
varied career as the subject of our sketch — thrown entirely 
upon his own resources and in a strange land, at the early 
age of thirteen ; selfeducated and self-made — showing what 
a brave and determined spirit can do in battling with the 
world. The doubts, difliculties and impediments were each 
in turn overcome, and Mr. Worden stands to-day a repre- 
sentative of the most enterprising men of our country, and 
one of the most successful and best respected citizens of 
Madison county. 




SALINE. 



^til 




^^ ... 

'HIS divi.-ion of Madison county contains 
all of town five, range five. It is 
bounded on the north by Leef, on the 
east by Bond county, on the south by 
Helvetia, and on the west by Marine. 
The St. L. V. T. H. & I. R. R. enters 
the township at section thirty two, and 
extends in a northeasterly direction, 
p; passing out near the center of section 

twenty four. When the territory of the township was first 
settled it was about equally divided, between timber and 
prairie lauds ; but at present comparatively little timber 
remains standing. It is drained by Silver and Sugar creeks. 
Silver creek flows in a southerly direction through the west- 
ern part. Sugar cretk drains the eastern and more central 
portion. In the edge of the Silver creek timber, on the 
east side of section thirty-one, the first cabin was erected in 
the southeast part of Madison county, 1809. It was built 
by the widow Howard, who emigrated from Tennessee with 
her family, consisting of several sons and daughters, some of 
whom were nearly grown. Abraham and Joseph were the 
eldest of the sons. They selected for their home a beautiful 
locatiou on a ridge, in the edge of Looking Glass Prairie, 
from which they had an uninterrupted view of the landscape 
for many miles toward the south. This, the first cabin, 
stood on the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of 
the section. The Hon. Solomon Koepfli in an article says, 
"In 18.'51 this cabin had been removed to another place, 
but Joseph Howard, one of the sous of Mrs. Howard, 
pointed out to me the place where in 1809 they had built 
the first house on the south side of the tract above 
named. A fine spring on the north side of the 
ridge furnished them with water. Mr. Howard showed 
me a large oak stump which had been hollowed out 
and wherein they had made their first meal by beating corn 
with a club. A small field was enclosed south of this cabin. 
Joseph Howard was about twelve years of age when he 
arrived with his mother in this prairie, 1809. A mere boy, 
he served his country as a Ranger in the war from 1812 to 
181.5, protecting then the settlements of the Mi-ssissippi 
Valley. The neighbors said of him, that he killed several 
bears and panthers in this neighborhood, and the tree was 
pointed out to me where he shot the last panther, in 1818. 
In 1820, he married the daughter of Samuel McAlilly, and 
built a cabin on a beautiful hill, now called Souneuberg. 
Directly aLer our arrival I had the good fortune to form 
his acquaintance. A truer and better mun I never knew. 
544 



Of his learning and preaching. I cannot judge, but this I 
know, his life was that of a true Christian. His wants 
were not great, and it left him plenty of time to aid new 
comers in their early str\iggles, to help them with rare dis- 
interestedness by giving advice and assistance. When he 
heard of a neighbor's sickness, leaving him unable to attend 
to his crops, you were sure to see Joseph Howard the next 
day in the sick man's field plowing his corn or attending to 
his harvest, and in the night waiting upon him. This he 
did regardless of any difference of religion. It nas enough 
for him to know of one of his fellow-men being in distress 
to hasten to the place to give relief and ease, should it lay 
in his power." Rough and rude though the surroundings 
may have been, the pioneers were none the less honest, sin- 
cere, hospitable and kind in their relations. It is true as a 
rule and of universal application that there is a greater 
degree of real humanity among the pioneers of any country 
than there is among the inhabitants of a rich aud popu- 
lous country. If there is an absence of refinement that 
absence is more thau compensated by the presence of generous 
hearts and truthful lives. Neighbors generally did not even 
wait for an invitation or request to help one another in case 
of need. They came forward with as little hesitation and 
with as much alacrity as though they were all members of 
the same family aud bound together by the ti^s of blood. 

It is related by an old settler and a relative of the How- 
ards that, in 1811, when the eirthquake of that year caused 
so much terror among the pioneers, the Howards felt the 
shock so perceptibly that they thought the Indians were on 
the cabin roof with murderous intentions. With the bravery 
characteristic of the Howards, Abraham aud Joseph took 
up their riiSes and opened the cabin door cautiously, and after 
peering around and seeing no Indians while the shaking yet 
continued, came to the conclusion that the Indians were 
surely on the house top, where they had no business. That 
they must be dislodged immediately for the safety of the 
family flashed through the minds of the Howards. So they 
walked backward cautiously out of the cabin with uplifted 
rifles ready to shoot the first copper-colored peace-disturber 
that became visible. One of them went to the right and 
the other to the left until they came in sight of each other 
in the rear of the cabin when, to their surprise, no Indians 
were to be seen. They looked about them, and all was still 
as death. They re-entered the cabin believing they had 
been made the victims of a practical joke, by some lonely 
hunter that had been passing by. Mrs. Howard was quite 
an old lady when she immigrated here, and only lived a few 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



545 



years. Her death was the first in the settlement. Joseph 
and Abraham received eight}' acres of land each, from the 
government, for services rendered in the war of 1812. 
The former was a preacher of the Presbyterian faith. He 
married Jennie McAlilly, and they reared a large family of 
children. He settled the widow Rilliet place, and subse- 
quently went to Iowa, where he died. All of his descendants 
live in that state. Captain Abraham Howard, in 1830, 
went to Fayette county and settled a place east of Vandalia, 
now known as Howard's Point For further history of the 
Howards see the chapter on St. Jacobs. In 1810, Abraham 
Huser, of German descent, who married a Howard, settled 
not quite a mile north of the Howard place, and near some 
springs not far from the cd ter of section 29. This was the 
place which James Reynolds, twenty years later, adopted 
for his home. Abraham Huser, about 1815, selected a new 
place some miles south of Troy, and there laid the founda- 
tion of the Huser settlement. 

Archibald Coulter was the first settler in the north part 
of the township. He came from Kentucky in 181G, and 
located where the widow Mudge now resides. About ten 
years later he left the settlement and located farther south 
in the state. July 29, 1817, Robert Coulter entered the sec- 
ond tract of land here, one hundred and sixty acres in section 4. 
Rebecca Brotherton entered one hundred and sixty acres in 
section 8, July 3, 181T. This was the first entry. James East, 
a Kentuckian, arrived in 1816, having left his wife at home. He 
erected a pole cabin, and planted twoacresof cornin the edge of 
the prairie with a spade He then returned to Kentucky for his 
wife. Afterward he built a good hewtd log house. He was 
a man of industrious habits, accumulated a good deal of pro- 
perty, raised a large family of children, eight sons and three 
daughters, and died in the township. Samuel ]\IcAlilIy 
was born in South Carolina, near Chester, and was of Scotch 
descent. He married in his native state and immigrated to 
Tennessee, where he lived until 1818 He then emigrated to 
Illinois, with his family of four boys and three girls. At the 
time two of his sons, John and Samuel, were married. The 
others were William, James, Jennie, Elizabeth and Mary. 

He arrived at the cabin of Archibald Coulter, in the fall 
of 1818, where his family remained until a cabin could be 
erected. Building a house in the early times was a job of 
short duration ; for every man " turned out," and while the 
men cut and laid up the logs that) furnithed the primitive 
dwelling place, the women prepared the dinner. Sometimes 
it was cooked by big log fires near the site of the building, 
or it was prepared at the nearest cabin, and at the proper 
hour carried to the men where they were at work. The 
ladies of to-day, familiarized with elegantly fashioned cook- 
ing stoves, would make a sorry efibrt were they compelled to 
prepare a meal with no other conveniences than those of 
pioneer times. The cabin when finished stood in the south- 
east part of section thirty, on the present site of the High- 
land Cemetery. Mr. McAlilly dug two wells here upward 
of sixty feet deep, but could obtain no water. The place 
was abandoned after a few years, and he built a second cabin 
on what is now the Frank Lorenz place, where he lived until 
1832. He then moved to the M. Journey place, now the 
75 



Chas. Chipron farm, where he died two years later of chol- 
era. In four days his wife followed him. John McAlilly 
built a hewed log house near that of his father, where he 
lived a few years, and then went to Alabama. In 1826, he 
returned to the settlement, and subsequently located in 
Fayette county, north of Vandalia, where he died in 1872, 
leaving a family of two sons and four daughters. Samuel 
McAlilly, Jr., also built a cabin near his father's, where he 
lived some years. William C., Elizabeth and Matilda were 
born here. He then returned to Kentucky. After three 
years he came back to the settlement and rented the farm 
now owned by F. Ryhiner, to which he moved his cabin. 
Melinda and Mary were born on this place. In 1835, he 
bought out the heirs of his father, and moved to the old 
home place, where he lived many years. William C , the 
only son, lives in the northeast part of St. Jacob's township, 
William SIcAlilly also lived near his father's. His wife 
died after being married about two years, leaving one child, 
James J., who now lives in Clinton county, Illinois. Mr. 
McAlilly afterward married the widow of Adam Kyle, Jr , 
and lived east of Highland until his death, at which time 
he had three daughters. 

James INIcAlilly married here and moved to Indiana, 
where he was engaged in the mercantile business until his 
death. Jennie married Joseph Howard ; Elizabeth became 
the wife of Alfred Walker, who settled a place in the north- 
east part of St. Jacob's township as early as 1824. None of 
his descendants now live in the county. Mary married 
John Journey, who settled on part of the Adam Nagel 
farm as early as 1825. He afterward went to Fayette 
county and from there to Wisconsin, where he died. In 
1818 Samuel McAlilly, shortly after he arrived in the set- 
tlement, went up to Coulter's place one afternoon, and re- 
turningjust after nightfall discovered some dark object in a 
tree, around which his dogs were barking. He dismounted, 
and concluded to investigate. Having his rifle with him, 
as the pioneers at all times had, he walked round the tree, 
but, as it was quite dark, could not satisfy himself what the 
object was. Thinking it, however, an animal ferce naturae 
that ought to be exterminated, he drew up his rifle and fired. 
His aim was good, and at the crack of his gun the object 
came crashing down through the limbs and fell heavily on 
the ground. After satisfying himself the animal, as it 
chanced to be, was dead, he endeavored to put it on his horse, 
but after several attempts he became convinced he could not 
accomplish the feat. He rode down to the Howard cabin and 
related his adventure. Joseph and Abraham accompanied 
him back to the spot, and informed him he had killed one 
of the largest panthers ever slain in that settlement, meas- 
uring nine feet from tip to tip. The ball had passed direct- 
ly through the heart. The Howards assisted him in get- 
ting the panther on the horse, and, as they had had several 
years experience in the new country with the larger game, 
gave him some wholesome advice in regard to shooting pan- 
thers in the night when alone. This panther was killed 
near where the widow Ambuhl's residence now stands. Deer 
at this time might be seen daily trooping over the prairie iu 
droves. From ten to twenty and sometimes as many as fifty 



546 



JIISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



were seen grazing together. Game of all kinds was very 
plentiful. Deer were worth about a dollar, and deer hides 
brought fifty cents. Capt. Abraham Howard killed forty, 
seven, and Samuel McAlilly furty-five in one fall, in the 
prairie and in the timber between Sugar and Silver creeks- 
They found a ready market for them in St. Louis. Bears, 
while not plentiful, \ver^ often seen and killed. Wolves 
were so numerous that when the dogs ventured too far out 
from the cabins at night they would be driven back by them 
to the very doors. 

Cyrus Chilton settled in the edge of the timber on the 
east side of Silver creek, in section seventeen, about 1822, 
where he lived until the first State Assembly met at Vanda- 
lia. He then went there for the purpose of boarding the 
members of that body. He continued to live in Vandalia 
until his death. His widow afterward married a Mr. Mc- 
CuUom and returned to the farm, where they resided for 
some time, subsefjuently returning to Fayette county. One 
of the influential and honored citizens of this settlement 
was James Reynolds, who emigrated from Kentucky to Il- 
linois in 1818. He first settled near the old Chilton fort, 
but in 1830, bought the land Abraham Houser had settled 
in 1810. He was au energetic and enterprising man, and 
began farming on a larger scale than was at that time usual 
in this vicinity, and became a model for other agricukuralists 
in the settlement. He introduced the new inventions as 
soon as they were thrown in the market- Before his com- 
ing, the only plows used here were those with mouldboards 
of wood, and in seme cases of half wood and half iron- 
The man who had one of the latter description was looked 
upon as something of an aristocrat. But these old plows 
did good service, and turned the soil of many of the present 
best improved farms in the county. The prairies were sel- 
dom settled till after the pioneer period, partly because wi h 
the old style plow it was next to an impossibility to break 
the tough sod, while in the timber the grass grew less rank 
and the roots were more easily overcome. Mr. Reynolds 
was elected to the Twelfth Assembly of the State Legisla- 
ture in 1840, and also served the people many years in the 
capacity of Justice of the Peace. He left a family of four 
children, viz: Reuben, William, Nancy and Sarah. Nancy 
married Samuel Thorp, and after his death became the wife 
of his brother David. Sarah married Curtis Blakeman, 
Jr. They are all now deceased. Several of their descen- 
dants live in the county. Thomas Johnson, Jr., entered 
land in 1817 in section four, and began the improvement of 
his place that year. His cabin stood a short distance south- 
east of Martin Buch's store in Saline. He had a small 
farm where he resided until his death. He planted an or- 
chard soon after his coming, which in pioneer days was the 
best one on Silver creek. He was past middle life when he 
settled here. His son, Jackson Johnson, located about three 
quarters of a mile west at the same time the elder Johnson 
began his improvement, known as the Reimmer p'ace. He 
resided on his farm until his death. 

H. Carson, who was an old man, settled a place in 1829, a 
short distance southwest of Jackson Johnson's. He only 
remained a short time and then went to Arkansas. Benja- 



min May was one of the early settlers on the west side of 
Silver Creek. Benjamin Reimmer, one of the well-known 
old citizens, came in 1818, and fir-st located in the southern 
part of the township, where he resided until about 1830. He 
then moved into the west part, where he improved a good 
farm lying in this and Leef townships. Soon after the late 
war he went to Missouri. McCullom was one of the early 
settlers on the east side of Sugar Creek. In 1822 he located 
on what is now the Nancy Gillett place, where he resided 
some three years. William Pearce purchased the farm, and 
lived on it until an accident caused his death. He was 
reaping grain, when the horses became frightened and ran 
away, throwing him before the sickle, cutting oflTan arm and 
inflicting other injuries, from which he died in about a week. 
Mr. Pearce was twice married, and reared a large family by 
his fipbt wife. His second wife, to whom he had been mar- 
ried but a short time, was the widow of Samuel McAlilly. 
Her first husband died in 1852. Mr. Pearce died in 1864. 
Her third husband, Seth Gillett, died in 1881. She still 
lives on the Pearce homestead, a hale and hearty old lady 
of eighty-two years. 

H Liseubee settled on the east side of Sugar Creek, on 
section 26, about the same time. Here McCullom settled, 
and improved a small farm. He has been dead nearly fifty 
years. His widow still survives him, and lives where they 
first settled. One of the children, Maria, (now Mrs Edward 
Ellis), is still living. Mrs. Gillett and Mrs. McCullom, 
residing near together, are the oldest settlers now living in 
the township. 

James Pearce settled on section seven as early as 1817. 
His cabin stood near a spring. He was named " Salty 
Pearce " by his neighbors to distinguish hini from another 
James Pearce who lived in the settlement. The name Salty 
was an allusion to the fact that he was a laborer in the Biggs 
salt W'orks. About 1826 he sold out and located in the 
southern part of the state, on the Big Muddy, where he 
lived for some time. The family were afterwards all 
murdered by the Indians, with the exception of three, a 
married daughter and two sons. The daughter had moved 
south. A grown up son had gone to Texas, to put in a crop 
and build a cabin for the family who were to follow. As the 
family were making the trip, in the summer or fall, the 
Indians surprised them and murdered the entire party, with 
the exception of a young son. He slipped away during the 
massacre, but was captured again by the Indians. The boy, 
it is said, with true pioneer pluck, when his pursuers came 
upon him, showed a determination not to be captured. His 
bravery saved his life. He was taken into captivity, and 
after many years of dilligent search by his brother, was 
found among the northwest Indians. He had lost his know- 
ledge of the English language and declined to return to 
civilization with his brother, w-ho had paid a ransom of one 
thousand dollars. He had to be taken away by force. 

John Charter came into the township about 183.5. He 
bought the Archibald Coulter place of Robert Plant. The 
state road was subsequently changed to run south of his 
place, and the stage stand was changed from Pearce's, iu 
Leef township, to Coulter's. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



5t7 



lu 1823 William Biggs, a Kentuckian, sunk a salt well 
near the bank of Silver Creek, in section nineteen. He then 
bored to the depth of four hundred and forty feet, when the 
salt water began to flow. The creek has since so changed its 
course that now the old salt well is in the bed of the stream. 
Biggs invested a considerable amount of money in the 
works. He had forty large kettles for evaporating pur- 
p )ses. Fifteen cords of wood per day were consumed in 
making six bushels of salt. About twenty men were em- 
ployed in the works. Mr. Biggs was in the first General 
Assembly of the Territory convened west of the Ohio after 
the Revolution. Xovember 2oth, 1812, the first legislative 
body elected by the people of the Territory assembled. Biggs 
was a member (for two years) of the council elected from 
St Clair county. He was one of the gallant soldiers of Gen- 
eral Clark, and acted as a subordinate ofiicer in the conquest 
of Illinois in the years 1778 and '79. Governor St. Clair, in 
1790, appointed him sheriff of St. Clair county, an office he 
held many years. In the year 1826 Congress granted him three 
sections of land for services rendered to the colonies in the 
Revolution. He was at one time taken into captivity by 
the Kic'iapjo Indians and severely treated. He paid a 
random of nearly 8300, and obtained his freedom. In 1826 
he published a narrative of his captivity. He died the fol- 
lowing year, an aged and respected jiioneer, at the residence 
of Colonel Judy, \\\i brother-in-law. S)lomon H. Mudge, 
who was a prominent early citizen, came to St. Louis in 
1835 from Portland, Maine, where he had been engaged in 
the commission and shipping business. He engaged in 
blinking in St- Louis, and in the spring of 1836 made a trip 
ihr.uigh Madison county, prospecting for a country home. 
He bought and entered one thou^saiid and eighty acres of land 
in this township. In section three, he built a comforta- 
ble summer residence and beautified a home. Two years 
later he changed his business from banking in St. Louis to 
that of hotel keeping in New Orleans, La., where he made 
a reputation which extended throughout the Mississippi 
Valley as " mine host of the St Charles Hotel." He died 
ill the spring of 1860, and his remains lie buried at his 
country home. During his business career in New Orleans 
he was accustomed to spend the summer months at his 
country residence. His widow still survives him, as do also 
six daughters and two sons, G. M. B Mudge, now engaged 
in the dry goods bu.siness in New York city, and E. W. 
Mudge, at present well known in Madison county. 

Anton Suppiger was born in Switzerland. He came to 
this county in 1831. He is one of the prominent farmers 
of the township, and resides in section thirty-two. His 
wife, Monika, is a native of Baden. Among the other 
early immigrants to the county who now reside in the.town- 
siip, may be mentioned the name of Bern'h Trautner and 
Nicholas Trautner. his so'i, a farmer, «ho resides in section 
five; John Spengel, farmer and stock-rai.ser, residing in 
section twenty-three, and Charles A. Voegel, who lives in 
section twenty-six. 

Tna first preaching was at the cabin of Mother How- 
ard, by the Barbers and Knights. As early as 1825 
the Cumberland Presbyterians established a camp-ground 



in the northeast quarter of section thirty-one, where camp- 
meetings were conducted for several years in succession. 
Some of the camps were quite substantial, and afforded a 
good shelter during a hard rain. The early preachers 
officiating were John Barber, his son Joel and John Knight. 
It was here in the camp of Cipt. Abraham H)ward that 
the first school was taught by John Barber. School was 
conducted here for several summers and one winter. Wil- 
liam C. Mc.Ylilly and Alfred J. Parkinson, farmers, of St. 
Jacob's township, are the only scholars left in the settlement 
that attended that school. 

The following gentlemen have represented the township 
in the Board of Supervisors : Jones Tontz was elected in 
1876, and served two terras ; E. W. Mudge, elected in 1878, 
served one term ; J.ines Tontz, re-elected in 1879,' served 
two terms; George Hotz was elected in 18S1, and is the 
present incumbent. 

The Germans began settling here as early as 1831. The 
first to arrive were Casper Koepfli, Joseph Suppiger, the 
Ambuhls, F. Kustermann, C. Koffmann, H. Stufflebach, 
more fully written up in the article on European emigration. 
The Germans now comprise a large majority of the inhabit- 
ants of the township. There is no town wholly within the 
township. Highland lies partly in section thirty-two, Saline 
partly in section four, and Pierron partly in section twenty- 
four. 

PIERRON. 

The village of Pierron, is a station on the Vandalia Railroad , 
thirty-five miles from St. Louis, containing about two hun- 
dred inhabitants. That part lying in Madison was laid out by 
Jacques Pierron, September, 1871, and that in Bond in July, 
1874. In 1869, August Pierron erected a building on the 
present site of the village, which was used as a bar-room and 
grocery store by A. Pierron & Co. In February, 1870, the 
pjst-office was established, and August Pierron was appointed 
postmaster. Pierron & Rinderer carried on business as 
general merchants for four years, when, upon a dissolution, 
J. D. Rinderer built a large and commodious store-house on 
the B )nd county side of Main street, where he continued the 
same line of business. The first warehouse for grain was 
built in 1870 by J. Pierron and L. Knebel. In 1880 L. 
Knebel built an elevator, at a cost of about 85,000, capable 
of storing 20,000 bushels of grain. J. Weindel was the first 
blacksmith to begin operations in his line, which was in 
1870. The first hotel was that of Charles Britseh, opened to 
the public in 1870. The present business of the place is 
represented as follows : 

General Merchandise. — Suppiger & Utiger. 

Agricultural Implements. — Aug. Pierron. 

Wagon- Makers.— G- Schwarz and F. Helbolt. 

Grain and Lumber. — L. Knebel & Co. 

Physician and Surgeon — Dr. M D. Tibbitts. 

Saddler. — R. Balsiger. 

Blacksmiths.— R. Lang and W. Seegar. 

Carpenter and Builder. — J. Bosler. 

Holeii. — J. Kurz, F. Haenuy and L. Lehuert. 

Dressmaker.— liixi. R. Balsiger. 



BIOGRAPHIES. 




^-Â¥a^crt-^ /Yz'I^ 



Was born in Madison county, April 21st, 1843. As 
indicated by the name, his parents were of Teutonic origin. 
They came to America in 1840, locating north of Highland. 
Christian and Mary E. Hotz (nee Weber) were the parents 
of fourteen children, of whom ten are living, and who were 
all, save one, born in this country. Of these, George was 
the second. Such advantages as were offered in this country 
thirty years ago, in the way of schools, were made use of by 
him, and, by perseverance and energy, he acquired a fair 
business education. He was married to Anna Merkel, May 
5th, 1864. By this union there have been born twelve 
548 



children. Mr. Hotz is a progressive farmer, and, by force 
of circumstances, somewhat a politician. His neighbors 
have repeatedly placed him in office, the duties of which he 
has discharged with satisfaction to all In 1874 he was 
chosen constable ; in 1876, assessor ; in 1880, collector ; and 
in 1881, and again in 1882, supervisor. In politics he is an 
unswerving Democrat, and has contributed much to his 
party's success. Upright in his dealings, faithful in the dis- 
charge of all duties devolving upon him, he is a man worthy 
of confidence and position. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



549 




^^^ ^r^^-^^tHi^ 




There are many men of prominence in Madison county 
who are of Swiss origin ; among those is he whose portrait 
is presented on this page. Jones Tontz was born April 
27th, 1836, in Igis, Canton Gran-brienden, Switzerland. His 
parents were Christian and Barbara Tontz (Bernet). His 
father was a carpenter. There were four children in the 
family ; John, at present County Treasurer of Crawford 
county, Kansas, and mayor of the city of Girard, being the 
eldest; Jon(s, the second; Christian, a well-to-do farmer 
of Saline township, the third ; and Elizabeth Hirschi, the 
youngest. They all came to America, and directly to Saline 
township in the winter of 1845. Their attention had been 
attracted to this country through reading letters written by 
S. Koepfli, who spoke of Highland and vicinity as being a 
new Switzerland, with fertile plains in place of barren 
mountains. His writings brought many hither. The Tontz' 
came via. New Orleans. Christian Tontz, aged with his 
four-score years of life, still lives in Highland. His wife 
died August 26th, 1881. In the old country he was com- 
paratively poor. Hopes of bettering his condition had 
much to do with his seeking a new home. The subject of 
this sketch obtained a fair education in the old country, and 
followed it up by attendance upon the common schools here- 



in 1856 he went to Kansas, and there cast his first ballot in 
behalf of making Kansas a free state. In 'May, 1858, he 
returned here, where he has since resided. He was married 
to Elizabeth Hirschi, July 4th, 1860. By her he had six 
children, of whom five are living ; Chri.^ian J , a student at 
Eureka College; Magdalena, at Eureka also; Barbara, 
Elizabeth Susan, Frederick R., who died in 1872 ; and Mary 
Elizabeth. Mrs. Tontz died Sept. 24th, 1870. He married 
Dorothea Lemback March 23(1, 1871, by whom he had 
three children, George J., Frank F., and Dorothea R., who 
alone is living. His second wife died Sept. 9th, 1876. He 
married his present wife, Emma Kuhrt, Sept. 13th, 1877; by 
her he has two children living, Knowles Shaw, and James 
A. Garfield. 

Politically, Mr. Tontz is an avowed Republican. He held 
various positions, such as justice of the peace in 1867, de- 
puty sheriff' under Brooks Moore, supervisor in 1876, 1877, 
1879, and 1880. In the fall of 1880 he was elected a Re- 
presentative to the General Assembly. The duties of every 
position to which he has been chosen have been faithfully 
and honestly discharged. He is an earnest and faithful 
member of the Christian Church. 



ALHAMBRA 




HIS portion of the county is bounded on 
the north by Olive, on the east by Leef, 
on the south by Marine and on the west 
by Hamel township. It contains thirty- 
six sections and embraces the whole of 
town five, range six. The principal 
stream is the west fork of Silver creek, 
which enters the township at section 
three and flows in a southwesterly di- 
rection making its exit at section nine- 
teen. There is some timber on this stream but the township 
is principally prairie. The township was origiually about 
one-fifth timber, much of which has since been cleared and 
the laud put under cultivation. A tributary of the east 
fork of Silver creek drains the eastern part. 

William Hinch, a hardy pioneer, from eastern Kentucky, 
where he was born and raised, the son of George Hinch, who 
was an early settler in that state, was the first white man to 
make his home within the boundaries of what is now Al- 
hambra township. He came here not with the intention of 
hunting and trapping for a short time, and. as civilization 
pressed onward, of seeking other hunting grounds, but with 
the firm determination of making this his permanent home, 
where by the advantage of cheap lands and a rich agricul- 
tural country, he could more easily gather about him a com- 
petency. He brought out his family, which consisted of his 
wife and three children, in what was called a stage wagon, 
the best kind manufactured at that time for making long 
journeys, as it could be closed up, and was about as com- 
fortable as the primitive cabin. He arrived here November 
15th, 1817, and located in the edge of the timbers, a^short 
distance north and west of Silver creek, section nineteen. 
All winter he lived in a camp built out of poles and clap- 
boards. It had no door and the fire was built on the 
ground on one side. As there was no chimney the smoke 
escaped through the cracks or openings which were nu- 
merous. The pioneers were not afraid of a little smoke. On 
the inside were hung pauther-skins, deerskins and wolf- 
skins to keep out the cold and drifting snow. The pioneers 
became used to the hardships and vicissitudes of their pe- 
culiar life, and found pleasure in it. Many a one yet living 
can say with truth that the happiest moments of his life, 
were spent during the pioneer times, in the homely but to 
them comfortable cabins. It is noticeable with what affection 
the pioneers speak of their old log cabins. It may be 
doubted whether palaces ever sheltered happier hearts. 
During the winter Mr. Hinch built a cabin. He broke up 
550 



a small prairie field north of his house the following spring. 
He lived here about four years, and then erected a hewed 
log house north of the field. This put him nearly a half 
mile out on the prairie. This house had a puncheon floor. 
Some years later, he built the second hewed log house, 
one story and a half high, in the same yard. The lumber 
for the floors, doors and loft, as the upper room was called, 
he sawed out by hand. He was very skillful with the ax 
and whip-saw, and was also a great hunter, and kept his 
table well supplied with wild meats and honey. Hunting 
bee trees was a profitable recreation among the early settlers. 
The belts of timber along Silver creek were especially pro- 
lific of bee trees. The first winter Mr Hinch killed seven 
panthers in this settlement, and quite a number of wild cats 
and wolves. He brought a large bull dog from Kentucky 
with him, and when in the woods, this dog always accom- 
panied him. One day Mr. Hinch discovered a panther, 
about half grown, in a tree. He could easily have shot 
it, but he concluded to have some fun. Accordingly 
he cut a club of a length, to be easily handled. The tree 
was a forked one, and he climbed up the fork opposite the 
panther, and by motions of the club, and yells, frightened 
the beast till it jumped to the ground and into the embrace 
of the dog, that was quietly watching developments below. 
No sooner had the panther struck the ground than the fur 
began to fly, much to the amusement of Mr. Hinch, who 
wanted to test the grit of his dog, a very large aud fine 
specimen of his breed. The panthr was only half-grown, 
Mr. Hinch had much confidence in the dog's ability to kill 
him, but only after a hard struggle with the combined assist- 
ance of another large dog and Mr. Hinch's club was the 
panther finally killed. He would easily have escaped 
from Mr. Hinch's dog. The same winter Mr. Hinch 
wounded a full grown female panther, and this dog attempted 
the feat of dispatching her, when she unable to get up, 
seized the dog with one arm, and fastening her claws firmly 
in the side of his neck, held him as it were at arm's length. 
The dog used his utmost power to dislodge the panther's 
death-like grip, but without avail. Finally as a last resort, 
he began biting the panther's leg. The animal stood the 
severe punishment without a murmur, until ^Ir. Hinch sent 
a rifle ball thiough her head, and thus put an end to the 
struggle. A year or so later this dog was killed in the 
woods by the wolves. It is said that the wolves would often 
kill dogs, and that hunters took care not to allow their 
canines to get far out of sight, especially at night. The 
wolves were so numerous for many years in certain localities 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



551 



along the streams, and their bowlings so loud and incessant 
that to sleep was utter)}' impossible. The wolf was not 
only a midnight prowler, but was often seen in the day time, 
skulking through a thicket, or trotting cautiously along an 
open path. The panther is not to be found in a country 
after it begins to settle up. But wild cats were found here 
and the wolves were very troublesome for many years after 
settlement. Mr. Hiuch lived on his homestead until his 
death in 1845. He left a widow and a family of nine 
children. His widow, who is eighty-eight years of age, still 
survives him, as do also seven of the children Joseph T., 
lives in Kansas ; Mary H., now Mrs. Thomas S. West ; Ma- 
tilda E., who married John Harrington, now a widow ; Wil- 
liam C; Susau C, now Mrs. James Williams, and Martha 
A., who married William Hulett, now a widow, live in this 
settlement. Jesse G., lives in Arkansas, and the two now 
deceased were born in Kentucky. 

William Hoxsey a native of Rhode Island, came to the 
county late in the fall of 1817. For six weeks he lived in 
a tent in what is now Pin Oak township. In the mean time 
he built a camp in the edge of the timber in section eighteen, 
where he moved his family the following January. During 
the winter he erected a hewed log house, twenty feet S(]uare, 
near the camp, in which he built a fire place that admitted 
a ten-foot stick. The floor was ot puncheons made out of 
hickory logs split in t*o and placed evenly down and 
worked to a smooth surface. The red hard wood and the 
white oak sap wood of the hickory showed a beautiful con- 
trast, and Mrs. Doctor Weir of Edwardsville. a daughter of 
Mr. Hoxsey, says she has never seen a more beautiful floor 
than that old hickory puncheon one in the Hoxsey cabin of 
sixty-four years ago. Mr. Hoxsey raised a family of eleven 
children, several of whom were grown when he settled here. 
John and Archibald soon returned to Kentucky, and mar- 
ried, and brought their young wives into the settlement. John 
married Mary Martin, and Archibald. Harriet Stephenson. 
Mr. Hoxey lived in the edge of the timber, about five years, 
and then moved his cabin nearly a mile west, where he sub- 
sequently built a substantial frame house, and where he re- 
sided until his death, October 18th, 1832, at sixty-six years 
of age. His wife survived him until October 5th, 1850. 
John, James, Archibald, Tristram P., and Alexander, were 
the sons of the family. T. P., was for many years a promi- 
nent official of Macoupin county. The others owned a large 
quantity of land in the settlement, and were successful 
farmers and good citizens. The daughters were Jane, who 
married B. Robinson ; Ellen, who became the wife of John 
Gray; Eliza, who married Daniel Anderson ; Mary, who 
became the wife of John H. Weir, M- D.; Maria, who mar- 
ried Edward Dorsey ; Martha, who died a young girl ; Mar- 
garet, who married Anderson Blackburn, a son of Gideon 
Blackburn, who founded Blackburn University, and Lucy, 
who married Michael Walsh of Walshville, Montgomery 
county, Illinois. Mr. Hoxsey came from Kentucky to Illi- 
nois, and brought with him a colored woman who served the 
family until after 1840. When quite an old woman, she 
went with the colored settlement of Pin Oak. Old Aunt 



Tempey is well remembered by many of the early settlers. 
The only survivor.* of Mr. Hoxsey's family are Mrs. Weir, 
Mi-s. Blackburn and Mrs. Robinson. James Gray, a brother 
of Mr. Hoxsev's wife, settled in the edge of the timber cast 
of the Farris place in the early part of 1818. He raised a 
large family of children and afterwards moved to Mont- 
gomery county, Illinois. 

In the spring of 1818, James Farris came and settled the 
Thomas 8. West place in section eighteen. He had a 
family of five children, Smith, George, Larkin, Margaret, 
who married John Riggin and Lucinda, who married Wil- 
liam Davis. They are now all dead and none of the de- 
scendants live in the settlement. George Farris built a 
'' band mill" here in early times that did good service for 
many years. James Farris erected the first frame house in 
the township. It was ornamented with a brick chimney, 
made of the first brick brought into the township. This 
house is in a good state of preservation and stands near the 
new res-idence of Mr. West. The first death was that of the 
mother of James Gray, which occurred in 1818. She was 
buried in the home place of the Grays, in section seventeen, 
where many others have since been laid to rest ; but no tomb- 
s-tones mark their graves. It is said by the old residents 
that nearly one hundred persons lie buried there, and at this 
writing only two stones mark the places of the departed. 
The old settlers would bury a friend or relative, build a log 
pen around the grave, which would soon rot away, and leave 
no mark of the burial place. The first birth was that of a 
daughter of William and AnnaHinch, February 10th, 1819. 
It died in infancy. John Gray and Miss Nellie Hoxsey 
were the contracting parties to the first marriage. Mr. 
Gray was a son of James Gray, and Miss Hoxsey was a 
daughter of William Hoxsey. The young lovers were 
cousins, and their parents objected strongly to their mar- 
riage, and even went so far as to forbid the banns. The young- 
sters were determined. There was no rapid transit by steam 
to convey them speedily out of the country, into that haven, 
Missouri, where thousands of lovers living east of the Miss- 
issippi, have been united and made happy. They mounted 
two horses to take a morning ride and immediately set out 
for St. Louis, and before the enraged parents discovered 
the ruse, they were on their way with light and happy 
hearts. Of this union four children were born. Mr. Gray 
died in the township. None of his descendants now live in 
the county. 

In 1818, quite a settlement was started on the east side of 
Silver creek in southwest part of the township, called the 
Piper settlement, made by John Piper, Richard Knight, 
Matthew Hall, Jackson and Prior Scroggins. Piper settled 
in the edge of the timber on the northeast quarter of section 
thirty. He lived on this same section until his death in 
1864. He reared a family of six sons and three daughters, 
viz. William, James, Wesley, Holland, Oliver, Daniel, Jane, 
Nancy Ann and Catharine. Richard Knight settled farther 
down in the edge of the timber, in the southern part of sec- 
tion thirty, where he lived several years and then moved 
farther south in the state. He entered the first tract of land, 



552 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



ninety-seven and a half acres, in the township, September 
80th, 1817. William Hinch entered the second tract, one 
hundred and sixty acres, November 15th, 1817, and in De- 
cember following, he entered one hundred and sixty acres 
more in section thirty. November 18th, 1817, James Farris 
entered one hundred and fifty-one and a third acres in .sec- 
tion eighteen. December 11th, 1817, William Hoxsey en- , 
tered three hundred and twenty acres in section eight, and 
at the same time Robert Aldrich entered the northwest 
fractional quarter of section thirty. Mathew Hall located 
south of the Knight place in section thirty-one. He after- 
ward moved to Macoupin county. The Scroggin brothers 
lived in this settlement a short time, and moved farther 
north. They never entered any land here. Thomas S. 
West who lives on section eighteen came to the county with 
his father iu 1815. He was then two years of age, having 
been born in Kentucky in 1813. He married his present 
wife, Mary H Hinch, in 1838, and the same year settled on 
the place where he now lives. Three days after he located 
here he bought out the Farris heirs. He and his wife are 
now among the oldest settlers living in the county They 
have had born to them a family of nine children, of whom 
four daughters are now living. 

Andrew Keown was born in South Carolina. In the year 
1819 he visited Illinois, but soon went to Kentucky, where 
he was united in marriage in December of that year to Miss 
Sarah Goodwin. In the spring of 1825 he brought his 
family to the county on pack horses, and located in the 
southeast quarter of section 2, where he improved a good 
farm, and resided until his death, which occurred in 1880, 
when he was eighty-five years of age. He left a widow, who 
died the following year. They raised five children to be 
grown up, viz. : Elizabeth, who married Benjamin Brown, 
now deceased ; John, who improved a farm in the northeast 
corner of the township, where he now resides ; Mary, who 
married Henry Harnsberger, who is now a widow ; Calvin 
G., who is a Presbyterian minister, and Alexander, who 
lives in Jackson county, Illinois. Mr. Keown was a soldier 
of the war of 1812, and participated in the battle at New 
Orleans. January 8th, 1815. From 1871 until his death he 
received a pension as a survivor of that war. "Uncle 
Andy," as he was familiarly called, was a well-known citizen 
of the county ; he was much respected as a neighbor, and 
died regretted by a large circle of friends. William Pitman, 
a brother-in-law of Andrew Keown, came to the settlement 
about the same time, and settled on the J. M. Hiudsley 
place. He came from Kentucky, bringing his wife and all 
his worldly effects on one horse. It is said he walked, and 
carried his wife and axe. He made a comfortable home, where 
he died, leaving a widow, who never bore him any children. 
William W. Pearce, one of the old and wealthy citizens 
of the county, was born in Kentucky, June 20th, 1815. 
His father, James Pearce, came to this county the same 
year. William W. married Miss Barbara A. "Vincent, 
daughter of Isem Vincent, January 26th, 1834. He com- 
menced the improvement of a farm in what is now Olive 
township, the same year. Since 1851 he has been a resident 
of Alhambra township. Mr. Pearce had a natural turn for 



hunting, and none were more iuccessful in the county. He 
found a ready market in St. Louis for the fruits of his rifle, 
and he turned the profits realized into land. In this manner 
he entered about one thousand acres, since which time he 
has added largely to his possessions. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce 
have reared a family of ten children. 

J. B. McMichael came to the county in 1826 from Ten- 
nessee ; he was at that time a boy of eleven years of age. 
He indentured himself to Uncle Joe Bartlett, and remained 
with him until he was twenty-one years of age; he after- 
ward married a relation of his, Eliza Stinson, in 1846. 
Twelve children were the result of this union. Mr. Mc- 
Michael has lived in this township thirty-seven years, and 
spent most of his life at farming. From 1863 until 1867, 
he filled the office of assessor and treasurer of the county. 
He has served as constable, deputy-sherifi" and postmaster, 
and now fills the office of justice of the peace. Ephraim 
Harnsberger was born in Virginia, where he afterward mar- 
ried. In 1812 he went to Kentucky, where he remained 
until 1832 ; he then came to Madison county, and located 
on the William Wiseman place, where he continued until his 
death, November 26, 1846. His wife survived him only a 
short time. They reared a family of eight children, four boys 
and four girls, viz.: Levy, Mary Ann, who married James 
Hosey ; Jane L.. who married S. Aldrich ; Henry ; Martha, 
widow of P. Aldrich ; Rebecca, who married R. R. Cooksey ; 
Lewis M. and Ephraim. Mr. Harnsberger was one of the pro- 
minent citizens of his time, and was the first justice iu the town- 
ship. He represented the county in the commissioners' board, 
and was always identified with the best interests of the county. 
John Tabor came to the county with his family, consisting 
of a wife and four children, iu 1829; he located three miles 
east of Edwardsville. The following year he came to this 
township, and settled half-a-mile north of where the old 
Tabor homestead now is. There he continued to reside 
until his death in 1881. His widow still survives him, at 
the age of eighty-two years. They reared a family of ten 
children, who lived to marry and start in life for them- 
selves. Four are now living. Henry H. and James M. 
I are farmers in this township. Thomas K. lives in Wiscon- 
' sin ; Eliza J., now Mrs. Jacob Rimmer, lives in Jasper 
county, Missouri. R. R. Cooksey, one of the early settlers, 
improved a place on section 10. He was a successful 
farmer, was a member of the Methodist church, and often 
I preached to the early settlers. He was three times mar- 
' ried, and raised a family of eight children. The old gentle- 
man now lives in Worden. David Martin came iu 183 1 from 
Kentucky, and improved a farm in Fork Prairie, in the 
northern part of the township, where he resided until his 
death. He raised quite a family. John G., a son, is the 
I only one of the children living in the township, and is a 
farmer. The Prairie was settled principally after 1840. 
Among the first in the southern and western part were Cur 
tis Blakeman. William Highlander, Fred. Mindrop, Joshua 
Thompson and Gilmore. 

Nutter Piper taught school in an abandoned cabin on 
the west side of Silver creek as early as 1820. William 
Davenport taught in an empty cabin in the Hinch settle- 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



553 



nient prior to 1830, a subscription school, and boarded 
among his employers. After teaching part of a term, he 
stopped the school, as it was a non-paying undertaking. In 
1832 a log school-house was built in section 19. George 
Denny was the first teacher. School was taught at Andrew 
Keown's and R. R. Cooksey's, in out-buildings in the early 
times. The first school-house in the northern part of the 
township stood in the centre of section 2. This building 
was not put up until after 1840. It did service for about 
four years, and then burned down. It was heated by a 
large fire-place, from which some say it took fire. Others 
say the teacher set it on fire by saving ashes in an old 
barrel, for a lady in the neighborhood to make soap with. 

Early preaching was had at the residences of William 
Hinch and Andrew Keown. Rev. Thomas Ray, a Baptist 
minister, was the first to expound the gospel here. Several 
years later he was assisted by Elder Thomas Smith. They 
organized the first church at a date not now known. The 
congregation never built a house of worship, and finally dis- 
banded. The Baptists, some time later, built the first house 
of worship in the northwest quarter of section 32, which is 
still in use. 



ALHAMBEA 



Was laid out by Louis F. Sheppard, on the northern part of 
the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 14. 
The plat was recorded November 2d, 1850. Mr. Shep- 
pard's wife gave the place its name. William W. Pearee 
laid out an addition of three blocks, north of the original 
town, in section 11. Solomon Tabor and Louis F. Sheppard 
erected the first buildings, about the same time. Tabor put 
in his a general stock of goods; Sheppard's was a residence. 
He also built a saw-mill soon after the town was laid out. 
William J. Lowry was the first postmaster; he was a 
farmer, living about two miles west. In 1846 or 1847 he 
procured the establishment of a post-office at his farm resi- 
dence, called " Lowry." When Alhambra was laid out, he 
moved there, and the name of the post-office became "Al- 
hambra." The office has been changed several times between 
this place and Greencastle. James B. McMichael moved 
it to Greencastle, and afterward changed it back to Alham- 
bra. R. D. Utiger removed it to Greencastle in 1870, 
where he has since retained it. The Narrow Gauge, or T. 
C and St. L. Railroad, has been graded through the town- 
ship recently, and its completion is expected as early as the 
fall of 1882. A depot will be built in near proximity to 
Alhambra. This railroad extends diagonally through the 
township, entering at section 31, and passing out at section 
1. Alhambra built up slowly, but with a steady increase, to 
its present size. The last census gave it a population of 
108. The two-story frame school-house is a good substantial 
76 



building, erected in 1879, where two teachers are em- 
ployed. The town contains two general stores. 

PRESENT BUSINESS. 

General Stores. — ^ Samuel Rosenthal!, Leutweiler & 
Leuscher. 

Hotels. — John Ottenad, and William Berg. 
Physicians.— F. M. Pearee and H. T. Wharfi'. 
Blacksmith Shops. — Chris. Stait and Keintz Brothers. 

Wagon Shops. — George Schmidt and August Gross. 
Millinery and Dress Making. — Mary J. Warderman. 
Barber. — J. P. Pearee. 

Harness and Saddlers. — H. Riffle, Casper Fridili. 
Hardware and Agricultural Implements. — John Gehrig. 

Tailor Shop. — V. Deibert. 

GREENCASTLE, 

One mile west of Alhambra, was laid out by Levi Harns. 
berger, W. S. Randle and Henry Harnsberger, October 19th, 
1859, on the corners of sections ten, eleven and fourteen- 
They were farmers here, and laid the town out on adjoining 
parts of their respective farms. In 1860, John Thornburg 
erected a store building, and opened a general stock of 
goods. About 1865, Thornburg's store was burned down. 
John Gale built a store immediately afterward, and com- 
menced business. In 1869, R. D. LTtiger rebuilt the Thorn- 
burg store, and opened a general stock of goods. 

Shortly after the town was laid out, Thomas Thornburg, 
William Lieserman and John Gale built a grist mill with 
two run of burrs- It subsequently fell into the hands of 
Pearee and IMatthews, and about ten years ago was moved 
to Palmer, Christian county, Illinois. The Methodist 
church was built in 1861. The German Evangelical church 
was moved here from the Stepp neighborhood. It was used 
for both church and school purposes. It is now the German 
school. A new church was erected on the same lot in 1878. 
Captain John Thornburg gave the village its name, after 
Greencastle, Indiana. The last census gave it a population 
of 77. The following is the business. 

PRESENT BUSINESS. 

Post Master. — R. D. Utiger. 

Physician. — S. E. Bucknell. 

General Store. — Charles Ruedy. 

JTo^e/.— William Mees. 

Blacksmith. — Jacob Leef. 

Wagon SAop.— William Elliott. 

The following have represented the township in the Board 
of Supervisors ; R. D. Utiger was elected in 1876, and re- 
elected for each successive tsrm till 1881-82 ; H. H. Tabor 
was chosen in 1882, and is at present in office. 



BIOGRAPHY. 




^.'li'C^uMA^ 



The third son of James and Lucinda (Alison) Pearce, 
was born in Kentucky, June 20th, 1815. His father and 
family came into Madison County in 1815, and settled near 
Edwardsville, so that Mr. Pearce has spent his entire life- 
time, with the exception of a few months, here. At a very 
early age he manifested a taste for hunting, in which he great- 
ly excelled. The broad prairies in the eastern part of the 
county with their game of deer, turkey, etc., furnished him 
a fine field. Next to hunting, trading was his passion. 
When a mere boy he became the proud owner of a pair of 
match calves ; these he traded for the pre-emption right and 
improvements of an eighty acre tract of land a part of sec- 
tion 25. The improvements consisted of five acres of land, 
broken and fenced, and a log cabin. In about'two years his 
554 



j earnings enabled him to enter this land. From this begin- 
I ning he has become one of the largest landed proprie- 
i tors in southern Illinois. About one thousand acres of his 
' possessions was the direct result of successful hunting, actu- 
i ally made by his unerring rifle. 

Wriley Pearce married Miss Barbary A., daughter of 

Isham and Martha Vincent, January 25th. By her he has 

had five children. 

Mr. Pearce is energetic in a marked degree ; systematic in 

his looking after his business interest ; independent in his 
1 views on all subjects, and outspoken in their declaration. 

His personal identity is peculiarly his own, accepting no mod- 
\ el but marking out his own course. Possessed of quick percep- 
; tion and sound judgment he is of those who compel success. 



PARTIAL LIST OF PATRONS. 



CITY OF EDWARDSVILLE. 



POST OFFICE. RESIDENCE. 



OCCUPATION. 



it 



Armstrong, John M Edwardsville. 

Abrahams, P. H " 

Rra.lshaw, William P 

Ba>le, Hiitrh K 

Rrowii, A. L " 

Bii-kelhau[it, Geo. B 

Bull, H. B , 

Brown, Isaac H | " 

Barnsback, Jule G " 

Begemann, Fred " 

Bickelhaupt, Henry 

Brown, James R , dec'd.... " 

Bingham, Frank M i " 

Berger, Charles j " 

Bayer, Jacob " 

Bonner, S. O... " 

Burkhardt, Joseph 

Burrrnghs, B. R 

Bernins, G 

Cook, Cyrus L 

jCrossman, T. M 

I Cros-<man, W. R 

Coventry, J. W 

Chaiiman. Joseph 

CrcH-ker. ( 'lias. W 

Cutter. William H 

Clark, Thomas C 

Crane, G. B 

Daech, William 

Dale, M. G 

Durer, Bernard 

Desmond, Michael 

Daul)e. Heiirj- A 

Deterding, J. G 

Daech. Frank J 

Enos.J. W 

Eberle, Jacob, dec'd 

French, A. O 

Fahnestock, John T 

Fruit, Thoma.s E 

Fiegenbaum, E. W 

Flynn, Patrick 

Ferguson, Vincent 

f Friday, William 

I Julia A. Daniels 

Gillespie, Jo.seph 

Gaiser, Charles A 

Glass, E. Breese 

Gooch, John W 

Gerber, A 

Glass, John H 

Gessert, George 

Gerke, Ilenrs- C 

Happv, Cvrus 

Hadle'v, W. F. L 

Harnist. William D 

Hauser, Freil 

Hortraan, B. E 

Hoehn, Jacob 

Hoifmann. Athanas 

f Haag, Frank J 

i John R. Sutter 

( Hartuug, Louis 

I Herman, Berlemann 

Irwin, John G 



Edwardsville 



. Physician and surgeon 

. Proprietor Broadway hotel 

. Attorney at law 

. County clerk 

.Editor of Edwardsville Democrat 

. Dealer in confectionery and toys 

.Dentist 

.iSuperintendent city school ( 

. ^Ladies' & gents' furnishing & millinery goods 

.Cigar manufacturer 

.! Druggist 

.Late ed and pub'r Edwardsville LiteUigeneer 

.iMechanical engineer 

. Stock dealer 

. Proprietor of saloon 

. Fruit grower, auctioneer and collector 

. Bricklayer and stone mason 

. Attorney-at-law 

.Baker and confectionery 

.Attorney-at-law 

.1 (Editors and publishers of Edwardsville 

.| I Repiihlican 

.Postmaster 

.[Justice of the peace 

.'Market gardener 

.Farmer and supervisor 

. Dlr in groceries, provisions, glass & qu'nsware 

.!General merchandise 

.Circuit clerk 

. I County judge 

.IDeputy county treasurer 

.Machine shop and general blacksmith 

. Hotel, saloon and feed stable; 

Butcher 

.'Cooper 

.iPhysician and surgeon 

.Furniture dealer and undertaker 

. General Merchant 

.Sheriff. 

. Attorney-at-law and city attorney 

. Physician and surgeon 

. Street inspector 

. Farmer 

. Proprietor of saloon 

. Wife of William Friday 

. Attorney-at-law 

. Notary "public, real estate & insurance agent 

. Attorney-at-law and master in chancery 

• Painter 

. Dealer Id dr; goods, clolbmg, hnU, ctps, boots and shoes 

. Grain thresher 

. Proprietor of custom mills 

Real estate dealer 

. Attorney-at-law 

. Attorney-at-law 

. Druggist 

.Millwright 

.Retired 

. Dealer in groceries and provisions 

. Proprietor Hoflinann hou.se 

.Clerk 

. Farmer and printer 

. Shoemaker 

. Carpenter 

. Attornev-at-law 



La Salle CO., Ill 

Germany 

Illinois 

Philadelphia, Pa 

Madison co.. Ill 

St. Louis, Mo 

La Salle CO., Ill 

Fayette co., Ghio 

Madison co.. Ill 

Germany 

Madison co.. Ill 

England 

Cattaraugus co.,N. Y... 

Switzerland 

Bavaria, Germany 

Macoupin co., Ill 

Baden, Germany 

Charles co., Md 

Germany 

Madison co., Ill 

Ohio 

Ohio.. 

Clinton co., Kv 

Tyrrel Co., N.C 

Barnstable co.. Mass... 

Green co., Ind 

Madison co.. Ill 

New York 

Germany 

Lancaster co., Pa 

ISwitzerland 

'County Cork, Ireland. 

Germany 

Madison co., Ill 

Hesse Darmstadt 

iMadison co., Ill 

Germany 

jAlbany co., N. Y 

Lycoming co., Pa 

Madison co.. Ill 

Cooper CO., Mo 

Ireland 

Bucks CO., Pa 

Madison CO., Ill 

Madison co.. Ill 

New York City 

Germauv 

1st. Clair CO., Ill 

New Y'ork City 

France 

'Madison co., Ill 

(Jermany 

Madi.son co.. Ill 

Perry co.. Ill 

Madison co., Ill 

St. Louis, Mo 

Baden-Baden, Ger'y... 

Darmstadt 

Germany 

Baden, (iermany 

Germany 

Madison co., Ill 

Germany 

Germany 

Madison CO., Ill 



1852 

1864 



1866 
1847 
1846 
ISe.') 
1879 
1841 
1867 
1850 
18.52 
1880 
1855 
1847 
1842 
1869 
1867 
1869 



1867 
1857 
1813 
1819 
1831 
1827 
1839 
1864 
1861 
1838 
1839 
1860 
1870 
1857 
1867 



1863 
1864 

1852 
1854 
1865 
1857 
1840 
1844 



1819 
1869 
1864 
1853 
1844 
1849 
1865 
1832 
1869 
1847 
1865 
1858 
1862 
1850 
1868 
1859 
1857 
1858 
1859 
1842 



556 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



CITY OF EOWAROSVILLE- 



CONTINDED. 



POSTOFFICE. 



OCCUPATION. 



Jonea, William H Edwardsville.. 

Johnson, William B 

Krom, William H 

Kirkpatiick, Hugh I 

Kellerman, .Simon, 

Keller, Alonzo 

Kelley, W. E I 

Lynch, Clay H "^ 

Lcverett, (xeorge 

Lee, John H 

Library Public School I 

Long, William F " 

Lenz, George M 

Leuckel, Charles 

Little, H. B "^ 

Lane, James 

Mudge, E W j "_ 

f Martin, J. A ' 

I Charles A. Gaiser 

McMillen, G. A I " 

Newsham, Thomas J 

J Naeher, Edward ' 

I Anna Hartman 

(Olive, William -^ 

I Sarah E. Pearce j 

Prickett, John A j 

Phillips, Edward 1 " 

Pettingill, H. S " 

Perley, A. A 

Paulv, Charles 

Prickett, William R 1 " 

Parker, John J., Sr., dec'd.| 

f Pfeitt'er, Jacob 

I Wilhelmina Driemeier.. 

Pngue, Joseph 

Randle, L-win B 

Ruegger, Adolph 

Riclimnnd, George 

Ritter, Henry 

Ritter, Herman 

Robinson, Joseph G 

Rohrkaste, Gottlieb 

Springer, E. C 

Sherman, M. B 

Stolze, John 

I Simcox, J. L 

(J. S. Umberger 

Schlegel, August 

Stenzel, F. C 

Smith, James P 

Stramer, G. J 

Spaulding, T. fi 

Stillwell, Franklin 

Schulz, Arnold 

Spilman, Charles H 

Springer, T. W — 

Schramek, Frank 

Schneider, William 

f Sachse, Hermann 

j Maria Ecke 

j Steehlinger, William... 

I Lena Thuer 

Sneider, Anton 

Tartt, James T 

Trarcs, John S 

JTunnell, R. F 

I Tun noil, .Tames E 

i Trares, Henry 

( Keller, Edward A 

Von-den-Broeck, Adalbert 

West, E. M 

Wheeler, William E.... 

Whitbread, James 

Williams, F.M 



Edwardsville... Attorney-at-kw iSt. Louis, Mo...., J1865 

... City marshal jWarren co., N. Y 11856 

1 " ...JAttorney-at-law Jeflerson co., Ky 1850 

" ... I Proprietor St. James hotel Randolph co., Ill 1861 

" ...iRestaurant and saloon Germany 1863 

" ...jCity mayor, contractor and builder Switzerland 1853 

I " " ...jTeacher Madison co.. Ill il853 

.' " ...JAttorney-at-law [Madison co.. Ill 1847 

" ...'Surveyor and abstractor of titles Adams co.. Ill 1862 

,. " ... Livery, feed and sale stables England 1877 

.] " ... Butcher iNew Jersey 1853 

.! " ...Butcher iGermany 1863 

.j " ...Furniture dealer and undertaker IMadison co.. Ill 1851 

.! " ... Deputy circuit clerk Connecticut 1836 

J " ...JTeacher Madison co., Ill [1848 

...iDeputy county clerk Madison co., II! 1845 

...'Coal operator.'. St Louis, Mo 1881 

... Coal operator Madison co., Ill 1859 

... Dentist Grant co., Ky il876 

....(Builder and town collector [Preston, England 1850 

....iProprietor of machine shops and saw mills.... iSwitzerland J867 

... Wife of Edward Naeher Switzerland il867 

.... Physician and surgeon Madison co., Ill 1836 

... Wife of William Olive Madison co.. Ill 1840 

... Banker Madison co.. Ill il822 

... Attorney-at-law and justice of the peace.. .. Madison co.. Ill 1845 

... .\ttorney-at-law Madison co.. Ill [1850 

... Dealer in lumber, lime, plaster and cement.. Essex co., Mass 4874 

... Carpenter and builder Germany 1851 

Banker 'Madison co., Ill ! 

... Superintendent of county"i>oor farm London, England [1844 

... Proprietor of restaurant Holstein, Denmark....! 1856 

... Wife of Jacob Pfeiffer Prussia ;1865 

... Physician and surgeon Philadelphia, Pa 1858 

... Attorney-at-law and justice of the peace Stewart co., Tenn 1814 

... County treasurer Madison co.. Ill 1850 

... Book keeper Montgomery co.. 111... 1875 

Farmer St. Clair co.. Ill 1854 

!!. Attorney-at-iaw St. Clair co., Ill 1850 

... Ex-SheriflF. City of New York 1837 

... Proprietor of saloon Germany 1854 

... Attorney-at-law Madison co.. Ill 1854 

... Grain dealer Washington co., R.I... 1857 

... Dealer in lumber, lime and hair cement Germany .1852 

Mason co., Ky [1881 

I Dauphin co.. Pa 4875 

!.! Clerk, Pastor of St. Boniface church Baden, Germany !1878 

... Restaurant and saloon Germany 1869 

...Pastor of St. Mary's church |Ireland 1879 

... Marble works iJefferson co., Ky |1879 

....Physician and surgeon Jersey co.. Ill 1865 

....Contractor and builder [New Castle co., Del... 1864 

.... IKslcr in Stoves, Tinware, Hardwari! and Firm Maehincrj Germany 1865 

.... .\rchitect and superintendent ciarkvinc. Montgomery c 

Farmer Madison co., 111. 

.' Coal operator Austria 

..., Saddler Germany 

'Proprietor of .saloon Germany ;1878 

Wife of Herman Sachse Germany '1878 

Carpenter IGermany 1867 

Wife of William Steehlinger Germany 1865 

Agent for Anthony Kuehn's brewery 'Germany [1866 

Dealer in hardware and agricultural impl'ts.. Madison co.. Ill |1S47 

Retired druggist ....Hesse Darmstadt 1859 

Groceries and queensware IMadison co., Ill |1851 

Groceries and queensware Madison co., Ill 11856 

( Dlr. in stoves, hardware, agri'tural imprts,lRandolph co., Ohio. ..[1869 

j tinware and house furnishing goods 'Switzerland jl853 

Proprietor of Miller's exchange saloon iRhein Pftilz, Bavaria.. 1871 

Banker 'Botetourt co., Va 18,33 

Surveyor I Botetourt co., Va J1826 

Butcher 'London, England ls51 

Deputy Siieriti:...... [Macoupin co., Ill J1876 



1844 
1858 
1854 
1867 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



557 



CITY OF EDWARSVILLE.-cosTiNUED. 



POST OFFICE. RESIDENCE, 



OCCUPATION. 



; Wolf, A. P 

Wolf, F. W 

[WiiU, (). E 

Weber, Jacob, Sr... 
Weber, Jacob, Jr., 
Webb, George J..., 
Sarah Shore 



NAxn-iTY. 



Edwardsville... EdwarJsville... Coal operator Madison eo., Ill 1841 

... Coal operator 'Madison co.. Ill 1840 

" ... Coal ojierator |Madisou co.. Ill 1847 

" ... Carriage and vvagon manufacturer Prussia 1854 

" ... Carriage and wagon manufacturer Prussia 1854 

" ... Railroad contractor and farmer London, Eng 1853 

" ... Wife of George J. Webb Dublin, Ireland '1853 



ED^VARDSVILLE TO^VNSHIP. 



...Sect. 
...jSect. 
...Sect. 
...'Sect. 
... Sect. 
... Sect. 
'54.! 



Bosomworth, Robert Edwardsville... Sect. 

Hannah Porter " ... Sect. 

Kohni, Frederick 

^Sophia Blumc 

Dotterway, John G 

I Franek, Joseph 

I Mary Bender 

I Fangenroth, Charles W 

Miriam McKee Dec'd â–  

( Frances X. Richards Edwardsville. ..'Sect. 

( (iiese, Herman " ...Sect. 

I Fredericka Take " ...Sect. 

J Gillham, R. C " ...Sect. 

(Emily P. Springer " ...Sect. 

J HoUidav, Jane R., (iieeKiDder) " ...Sect. 

I Hollidav, Robert Dec'd Nov. 8,'74l 

J Jones, i). H Edwardsville... 'Sect. 

j JIary E. Barnes " ...Sect. 

I Kiiiiler, George W " ...Sect. 

I Eliza J. Purviance '' ...Sect. 

J Kriege, William " ...Sect. 

I Mary Hilge " ...Sect. 

( Kleine, John B., Jr " ...Sect. 

( Saiiiantha F. Wlialey " ... Sect. 

i Kkine, John B., Sr." " ...Sect. 

â– [Sarah Stallings Dc'd Feb.27,'78J 

J Klingemann, Louis Edwardsville... Sect. 

[ Caroline Wisa ' " ...'Sect. 

( Krouse, Martin ' " ...'Sect. 

\ .losipliino Durda Dec'd Apr. 6,'79| 

( Mary KoimrousL' Edwardsville... Sect. 

... Sect. 

...Sect. 

...:Sect. 

... Sect. 

...jSect. 

...Sect. 

...ISect. 

...ISect. 

... Sect. 

...|Scct. 

...jSect. 

...ISect. 

...'Sect. 

...[Sect. 

... Sect. 

...{Sect. 

...ISect. 

...'Sect. 

...;Sect. 

...Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 



Farmer and stock raiser England 

Wife of Robert Bosomworth England 

Farmer Hanover, Germany... 

Wife of Fred Bohm 'Hanover, Germany... 

Farmer Edwardsville, 111 

Wagon maker Austria 

Wile of Joseph Franek 'Austria 

Farmer and stock raiser iBerlin, Prussia 

First wife of Charles W. Fangenroth Madison co., Ill 

Present wife of Gharles W. Fangenroth Luzerne co., Pa 

Farmer Hanover, Germany... 

Wife of Herman Giese German)' 

Farmer .Madison co., Ill 

Wife of R. C. Gillham Madison co.. Ill 

Farming and stock raising Jefl'erson co., Ky 

Late husband of Jane R. Holliday Georgia 

Farmer and stock raiser iOhio 

Wife of D. S. Jones Sangamoa co.. Ill 

Farmer and dairyman Madison co.,Ill 

Wife of George W. Kinder Madison co.. Ill 

Farmer and stock raiser Germany 

Wife of William Kriege iGcrmany 

Farmer Madison co.. Ill 

Wife of John B. Kleiue, Jr Pike co., Ill 

Farmer iGermany 

Late wife of John B. Kleine, Sr Madison co.. III. 



I K' 'lien, John F 

) Margaret A. Bruegger 

I Kind&r, Robert II 

I Jane McKee 

J Langri'der, Fritz H 

( Matilda M. Kriesre 

j Luttrell, John \. 

I .\lice Murphy 

J Montgomery, Nelson 

I Elenora Kind('r...> 

j Montgomerv. Z. J 

\ Lilla D. McKittrick 

O'Neil, James 

iPremas, William 
Mary Schaa.schek 

( Smola, Paul 

1 Anna Berdick 

I Spahr, George W 

[ Martha TetlieringloD, {nee UutcbisoD)... 

jSchaffer, W. H 

I Bella B. Thompson 

j Smola, William 

I Sophia Rezank 

I Tartt, John 

(Sarah W. Randle 

J Windmoeller, Charles F... 

I Minna Borkharn Dc'd Mar. 2, '72 

J Yanda, Frank Edwardsville... 

1 Anna Bender j.t •' 



20 .Farmer and stock raiser Germany 

20 !Wife of Lcmis Klingeman Germany 

8 Farmer and stock raiser Bohemia, Austria 

First wife of Martin Krouse Bohemia, Austria 

8 Present wife of Martin Krouse Bohemia, Austria 

23 Farmer St. Louii, Mo 

2.3 Wife of John F. Kienlen Highland, 111 

23 Farmer Madison co.. Ill 

23 Wife of Robert H. Kinder |Madison co., Ill ' 

17 Farmer .Germany 

17 Wife of Fritz H. Langrcder 'Madison co.. Ill 

8 Farmer Knox co., Teiin 

8 Wife of John A. Luttrell Madison co , III 

|25 'Farmer, stock raiser and dealer 'Madison co., Ill 

25 Wife of Nelson Montgomery 'Madison co.. Ill 

36 Farmer and stock raiser Madison co., Ill 

36 Wife of Z.J. Montgomery Madison co.,Ill 

1 Farmer | Ireland 

34 Farmer ; Austria 

;.34 Wife of William Premas Austria 

'33 Farmer and stock raiser Austria 

33 Wife of Paul Smola Austria 

15 Farmer and stock raiser Perry co., Ohio 

15 Wife of George W. Spahr Mad'ison co., Ill 

22 Farmer Madison co., Ill 

22 Wife of AV. H. Shafler Licking co., Ohio 

32 Farmer Bohemia, Austria 

32 Wife of William Smola Boluinia, Austria 

22 Farmer and stock raiser Caldwell co., Ky 

22 Wife of John Tartt [.Madison co.. Ill 

34 Farmer and stock raiser 'Prussia 

Wile of Charles F. Windmoeller St. Louis, Mo 

34 Blacksmith Austria 

34 Wife of Frank Yanda Austria 



1856 

1856 

1839 

1843 

1853 

1871 

1868 

1843 

18.34 

1862 

1848 

1839 

1836 

1836 

1811 

1814 

1870 

1861 

1831 

1840 

1854 

1854 

IX.'il 

1.MJ7 

1845 

1.S33 

1849 

1859 

1852 

1852 

1880 

1852 

1854 

1827 

1837 

1.S52 

18.55 

1863 

1861 

1815 

1819 

18.55 ' 

1857 

1863 

1853 

1855 

1851 

18.55 

1856 

1823 

1841 

1868 

1851 

1854 

183(J 

1815 

1.S52 

1869 

18.52 

1868 



558 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



CITY OF ALTON. 



POST OFFICE. 



RESIDENCE. 



OCCCPATION. 



Alt, Andrew 

Allen, Geiirge R 

Baltes, Rt. Rev. P. J.. 

Bijrpins, Thomas 

IJrues.seni a n n , Hen ry 

Brenholt, John J 

Bruuer, John A 

Basse, H 

Boals, M. H 

Bruch, Victor 

Bauer, John 

Bickel, Louis 

f Busse, Die't H 

[ Busse, William M \ " 

Baker, H. S " 

Bowman, J. W " 

Buri, Anton North Alton.... 

Bassett, S. W Alton 

fBannon, James | '' 

Jane Mollov Dec'd Feb. 1860 

t Sarah Pi<rott Alton 

(Buddo, Frank '• 

Bndde, John Dc'd Mar. 5,'81 

( Thorisia Budde, (npo uciiruug). Alton 

Briinner, B.S i " 

f Bayle, George A " 

[ Pheobe Adams ! '' 

Curdie, John ' " 

Cooper, James T 

Cousley, Robert 0... 

Cotter, James M 

Cannell, Thomas 

Coppinger, .John E... 

Chamberlain, H. W j '' 

j Crane, Henry J " 

1 Carrie E.Pierce ' " 

Davis, Levi, Jr " 

I Deterding, J. E North Alton 

[M. Ellen Tibbitt j " 

Dietz, J. Theodore 'Alton 

Dunnegan, J. E " 

Ehrhardt. Anton ' " 

Flynn, William 

Fries, Theodore, 

Finke. Adolph F 

Fish, Henrv 

Flagg, R. H 

Fortin, Felix 

Fortin, .1 

Fcldwich, Ernst H.... 

[ Fahrig, Lorenz 

I Margaret Hartnian... 

I Fahrig, John 

[Fahrig. Bernhard 

(iray, George.. 

Gambrill, A H 

Galhally, Richard 

Guelich, Eniil 

I (rundall, Adam 

I Rosina Graner 

Holden, Charles, Jr. 

TIardy, I. E 

Hope, Alex. W 

Havner, J. E 

Herb, C A 

Havden, George D... 

Hart, H. W 

Hoffmann, John 

Hoffmann, Eniil F... 
HiUlebratid, Wm. A. 

( Hnppe. Fred. W 

i Honpe, W. A 

f IIotTniei.'^ter. John F. 

iThekla Walter 



North Alton. 
Alton 



Alton . 



Alton, 111 1852 

Orleans cc, Vt 1873 

Rhein Bavaria, Ger'y. 1870 

Co. Mayo, Ireland 11849 

Lippei)i-tmold, Ger'v. 185G 

StLouis, Mo ."..1847 

Alden fruit and brandy distillery JEdward.sville, 111 1822 

Hanover, Germany 1853 

Venango, Pa [18.54 

Baden, Germany 1855 

Wurtemburg, Ger'y... 1854 



Alton .\lton iHorse shoeing and general blacksmithing... 

President of Alton Box Manufactory 

Bishop, Diocese of Alton 

Prop'r of .stone quarry, dlr. in lime, cement.. 

Proprietor of cigar factory 

Attornev-at-law 



NATIVITY. 



Proprietor of European Hotel. 

Planing mill, lumber yard and tile factory. 

Alderman 

Dealer in furniture and undertaker 

Wholesale and retail dealer in ice iBaden, Germany 11849 

Of Busse Brothers saloon JHanover, Germany. ..|1866 

Of Busse Brothers saloon iHanover, Germany... 1866 

Kaskaskia, 111 1847 

W^ashington co.. Pa.. .11857 



Wurtemburg, Ger'y... 

Monroe co., N. Y 

West Meath co., Irl'd. 

Meatti CO., Ireland 

Limerick co., Ireland., 



Alton . 



Attorney-at-law 

Quincuplexical barber 

Dealer in groceries and provisions. 
Engineer of Alton Water Works... 
Proprietor of lime stone quarries.. 

First Wife of James Bannon 

Present Wife of James Bannon.. 

Dealer in groceries and provisions, & saloon Alton, 111 

Father of Frank Budde Westphalia, Prussia... 

Mother of Frank Budde Saxon, Prussia 

Of BrunnerA DuacoD. Alton FouDrlry aod Machine Shopa 

Cracker manufacturer Philadelphia, Pa 

Wife of George A. Bayle 'Alton, 111 

Alderman Culberne, Scotland 

Commissioner of Southern 111. Penitentiary.. Knox co.,Tenn 

Assistant Postmaster Co. Derry, Ireland 

Of Cllfforil 4 .Cotter, GroceriM. Provisions, Floor soaFeed jCo. Liniefick, Ireland, 

[Agent of U. 8. and American Express Co... England 



North Alton 
Alton 



Farmer and manufacturer. 

Druggist 

JLT. S. Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue, 

Wife of Henry J. Crane 

Attomey-at-law .'. 

Horse shoeing, blacksmithing, stationery... 

Wife of J. E. Deterding 

Proprietor of lime kilns on Second street 

City attorney 

Saloon and boarding house 

Monumental works , 

Proprietor of Empiie House 

Druggist 

Dealer in groceries and provisions 

Of Flagg & Hewott, dry goods and carpets. 
Photographer 



1868 
1866 
1849 
1849 
18G2 
1860 
1850 
1849 



1867 
1854 
1853 
1834 
1851 
1864 
1862 
1849 
1867 
1856 
1857 
1846 
1.^54 
1844 
1854 



Gahvay, Ireland 

St. Louis, Mo 

Berkshire co., Mass. 

Woodstock, Vt 

Sprinefield, II! 

Edwardsville, 111 

Alton, III 

Minden, Germany.... 

Alton, 111 [1853 

Baden, Germany |1872 

New York ." 1858 

Nassau, Germany 1861 

Clausthal, Hanover.. .1856 

Bavaria, Germany !l847 

Alton, 111 11847 

Calhoun CO., Ill I]862 

St. Louis, Mo |l878 

Muenster, Prussia 1857 



Photographer 

Proprietor of Feldwich brick yard 

Dlringroceries, feed, produce, wool, hides.etc.lSaxony, Prussia 1845 

Wife of Lorenz Fahrig Saxony, Prussia 1845 

Son of Lorenz Fahrig, dealer in groceries, etc. . ' 

Son of Lorenz Fahrig 

Collector city of Alton 

Judge of city court and counsellor-at-law... , 
Superintendent of Illinois glass works. 

Physician and surgeon Schleswig, Germany... 1859 

Proprietor of cooper shop Rheinpfalz, Bavaria... 1863 

Wife of Adam Gundall Wurtemburg, Ger'y.. .il869 



Alton," 111 1849 

Alton, 111 i860 

London, Eng jl867 

Annapol's, Md 1855 

Buffalo, N.Y '1872 



Postmaster . 

Physician and surgeon 

Attorney-at-law 

Cashier and stock holder, 1st Nat. Bank.... 

General merchant 

Machinist , 

Livery, sale and feed stable 

Dealer in stoves, tinware and undertaking.. 

Restaurant and bakery |Sachen Weimar, Ger.. 1870 

Dlr. in gen'l nier'dse, clothing and dry goods.jOldenburg, Germany.|1861 

f Of Hoppe Brohters, groceries, provisions, Alton, 111 1857 

I queensware and glassware ...| Alton, III 1 1860 

Sect. 2, T. 5-10.:Farmer and stock ra'ser 'Canton Basel, S\vitzl'd.il835 

Sect. 2, T. 5-10. Wife of John F. Hoflhieister |Obetschopfi.eini. Ba en.oer jl852 



Leeds Yorkshire, Eng.|1841 

Barren co., Ky 4837 

Alton, 111 1848 

Montgomery co., N. Y. 1848 
Wurtemburg, Ger'y. . . 1 1 856 

Alton, 111 1836 

Philadelphia, Pa ;i833 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOTS. 



559 



CITY OF AIuTON.-coNTiNUED. 



POST OFFICE. KESIDF.NCE. 



North Alton. 



OCCUPATIOX. 



Alton.. 



Cor. .(^hiul(la& 2d S 

Alton 



Dealer in boots and shoes, and farmer Izwinscnbcrg. 3cs«e namniaat. ..il863 

Wife of J. Adam Hechler Reniliiigen, Bavaria. ..Il856 

Carpenter, builder and contractor Hartford co., Jld ISrir) 

Ko.ul master C. & A. R. R Xottiiigliani.sliire, Enjr IS*'')! 

I'mprietor Heliruns briclcvard .Mton, III 1SS6 



I'mprictor Sluirp corner saloon Saxony, Prussia... 

Wile of I'eter Jlcllruns St. Louis, Mo 

rniprietor Globe saloon .Vlton, 111 

I'niprietor cooper shop .Vlton, 111 

Father of f'red Hoefert, Jr Saxony, Prussia 

or WilhelmsA Co., Alton pottery Coblenz, Prussia 

Wile of William Hack Alton, 111 

, Shoenuiker, and fatlier of William Hack (>)l)lenz, Prus 



KS49 
1855 
1856 
d857 

1855 
1856 
1855 



( Hechler, J. Adam Alton 

( A. JIargaret Hoerner " 

Hugo, Kdwar.l M | " 

Huskinson, William i " 

Helh-ung, J. Henrv i " 

I Hellrung, Peter....". ! " 

I Catharine Ammend ; " 

Hessenauer, Henrv : " 

f Hoefert, Fred, Jr." j " 

â– ) Hoefert, F"red,Sr 
Hack, William... 

i Bertha Mcver 

(Hack, M. Peter 

Ilch, David North Alton.... North Alton.... Dealer in wines and liquors .Mtenheim Baden, Gr. 1858 

Joesting, F. W Alton Alton Merchant Hanover, Germany.... 1858 

Jocsting, G. A " i " Book-keeper 1st National Bank Osnabrueck, Hanover. 186-i 

Joesting, E. A. W " " Confectioner, restaurant and bakery Hanover, Germany.... 1866 

Jehle, John i " " Proprietor of Alton brewerv Zcll Baden, Germany. 1 1877 

(Jones, David R iNorth Alton.... Sect. 2, 5-10 Retired ." South Wales ."..|l853 

j Gweneyfrad, Jenkins j " " .... " " .... Wife of David~R. Jones South Wales 11853 

( Jones, Stepehn F 'Alton Alton Dealer in family groceries and provisions.... Alton, 111 1861 

( Mary A. Jones, (dw B«yn 

( Joesting, Frederick W 

J. Otillc C. Sack 

j Ida Holtzmueller 

i Job, Z. B „.. 

[ Amanda Montgomery, 
Koerner, Charles 

(Koch, Charles 

I Julius I'ritch 

j Kran/., Jacob 

( Kranz, Henry 

Klunk, William L 



..jDec'dMar.9,'46 
..iAlton 



Mother of Stephen F. Jones....'. 'Kent, England 1852 

" Retired Beimo 0«nahrueck. U«nover ,1837 

First wife of Frederich W. Joesting (Westphalia, Prussia. ..1835 

Alton Present wife of Frederich W. Joestiag jMuenden, Hanover.... 1856 

" F.irmer and stock raiser IVirginia |1836 

" Wife of Z. B. Job Madison co., Ill 

" .\gent U. S. lands and war claims schwsriiturg. Rudoiprsudi, ocr 1868 

" Of F'ritsch & Koch, butchers and packers... Bavaria, Germany 1868 

" Of I'ritsch & Koch, butchers and packers... Bernstadt, Prussia 1863 

" Of Kranz Bros.' cigar factory Prussia 1873 

" Of Kranz Bros.' cigar factory iPrussia 1873 

" General undertaker York co.. Pa 1864 

Kohler, (ielasius North Alton. ...North Alton.... Of M. Walter & Co., fruit dealers & grocers Baden, Germany 1851 

Michael Walter " " ....I " " .... Of JI. Walter & Co., fruit dealers & grocers Baden, Germany 18i;6 

Koehne, John H Alton Alton iWagon maker and blacksmith {Hanover, Gernumy.... 1848 

Kohler, Franz 'North Alton... .'North Alton.... IFruit distillery and vineyard jobcrsdiopfheim. Baden, oormany., 1852 

Eleonora Einsele ' " " ....' " " ....|Wife of Franz Kohler |Oher8chopthciin.Badeii,c,eriiianr.|1854 

Koehne J. H Alton Alton 1 1 ! 

M. Walter 

Proprietor .saloon Kalb, Wurtemberg.... 1846 

Wife of J. Jacob Kopp Rhein Pfalz, Bavaria. 184!) 

Proprietor .saloon Canton Berne, Swtzld. 1854 

Wife of J. Gotlieb Kaeser ISt Louis, Mo... 1855 

Deabr in groceries, provisions & crockery... jCoblenz, Prussia 1863 

Wife of John Kremer ."....'Ahon, III 186i» 

Retired. Father of John Kremer Coblenz, Prussia 1863 

(If Schmidt* Knccht. manufacturers ot soda and mineral waters.... Zucricll, Switzerland.. 1875 

Wife of Theodore Knecht Alton, 111 1861 

f Of LeyserBro., candy factory, bakery, and Rhein, Bavaria, (icr... 1864 

(dealers in toys lRheiii,_ Bavaria, Ger...:1858 

Dealer in groceries and provisions 'Ost F^ricsland, Ger 1858 

Proprietor saloon fSt. Louis, Mo 1874 

Capt. "Spread l^agle" (Eagle Packet) jPrnssia 1875 

Proprietor saloon iLueben, Prussia 1858 



j Kopp, J.Jacob 

( Catherine Dick 

j Kaeser, J. Gotlieb 

I :\1. Barbara Piaff. 

( Kremer, John 

< Phiippine, Dick 

i Kremer, Peter 

( Knecht, Theodore 

'l Maria Hoppe • 

( Leyscr, Henry 

I Leyscr, John 

Lehne, Theodore 

Lannerth, Henry 

Leyhe, Henry I " 

Micssner, Paul " 

( Meley, Andrew " 

I Rose Gaynor ' " 

Murphy, Joseph | " 

Moritz, Henry 0. Ct " 

Maul, Joseph | " 

Maul, Paul, Jr ! " 

Mever, Joseph [North Alton... 

Mold, George J Alton 

Miller, Daniel " 

j Mollov, Edward J 'North Alton... 

( Annie Ma.s.s I '• " ... 

Jlelnernev, J. J Alton 

(McPike, H. G 

( John Atwood 

McCarty, John 

f McLane, Louis 

\ Caroline Wilker.... 

McGrath, Daniel... 

McMillen 



North Alton. 



Norton, W. T JAlton lAlton 



Retired |Co. Sligo, Ireland 1845 

" jWife of Andrew Melev Kings co., Ireland ;1840 

" !of Murphy & Co., butchers |.\lleghany co., Md 1853 

" IMerchant "tailor and clothier iLippe Detmoll, Ger.. .1854 

" Proprietor barber shop I.VIton, III 1859 

" ;Ton.sorial arti.st Alton, III 1859 

North Alton.. ..iDairyman Canton St.Gallen,Szld 1861 

Alton f^'Ki"" factory and shaving parlors lAlton, III 1K58 

" Carriage factory iRhcin, Bavaria, Ger.. .1865 

North Alton.. ..'Mine inspector," Madison county Co. Meath, Ireland ...11852 

" 'Wife of Edward J. Molloy ". iGermany 1857 

Alton 'l{;ditorand publisher of Alton Sentinel. Madi-son co.. Ill 1854 

" Real estate and insurance 'Indiana 1837 

" Real estate and insurance .Massachussetts 1846 

" ,l'ro]irietor of saloon Co. Cork, Ireland 1855 

" iCarriai.'e blacksmith lelferson Co.. Mo 1862 

" Wife of Louis McLane Kvarisville, Ind 1862 

" Proprietor of saloon Co. Limerick, Ireland. 1H49 

North Alton ;Real estate agent |}racken co., Ky 1S72 

Editor and publisher of Alton TelegrapJi jMadison co., Ill 1844 



560 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



CITY OF ALTON.— CONTINUED. 



Noonan, Dennis 

Neiuinger, I. A 

Neermann, Aujiust 

Nienhaus, Henry J 

Norton, Aug. T 

Eliza R. Norton 

Oltmanns, John H 

Perrin & Smith 

Pfeiflenberger, Lucas...- 

Peters, Rev. P 

Palm, Adam, 

Puetz, Till maun 

Mary U. Thomann 

Pieper, Frank 

Elizabeth Bartholme.... 

Public Library 

Pelot, Frank Charles.... 
Ann Maria LTtzinger.... 

Piafl', Valentine 

M. Louisa Hoffer 

Pelot, Frank C, Jr 

Fannie Krbeck 

Raible, Julius H 

Ryrie, J. M 

Roclemeyer, C 

Rutleclge, Walton 

Roe^sler, Charles 

Redmond, John 

Barbara Glasbrenner.... 

John Redmond -... 

Robidou, Paul L 

Emily Maville 

Richardson, Thomas.... 

Rain, Joseph W 

Isabell Clifford 

Sweetzer, Henry C 

Priest, Henry C 

Siem, William 

Schaub, Charley 

Stiner, Charles 

Steinheinier, Baptist 

Sparks, D. K. & Co 

Sommers, H. Aug 

Starr. Harry B 

Schollmeier, Joseph 

Smith, H. 

Sotier, Christopher 

Sauerwine, George 

Schenk, Henry 

Theresia Grossheira 

Santschi, Eugene 

Albert Fetterle 

Schlageter, Beda 

Eugenie Tilger 

Stanard, E. 'O 

Tonsor, .John M 

Thornton, Philip 

Jlargaret J. McClellau 

Threde, William 

Thompson, Wm 

Ll^nterbrink, Casper H.. 
Unterbrink, Casper H.. 

Ward, Patrick 

AVise, CharlesP 

Walter, V 

AV'empen, John 

Weigler, G H 

AV'yss, Samuel 

Wells, AV B 

Wagner, John 

Wagner, John 

Wedel, Adam 

Winter, Louis 

Louisa M. Baver 

Wrieht, Charles L 




EE3IDENCE. 



Alton i.\lton . 



OCCUPATION. 



X 



North Alton.... North Alton.. 

" ....1 " " .. 



Alton Boxl22.. 

Alton.... 



Contractor and Proprietor of Nilwood aod Alton CoalMioeg Co. Limerick, Ireland. 

Cigar factory JBaden, Germany 

Carpetry and upholstering HiMnhcim, Hunuver. cer 

Proprietor of saloon IHanover, Germany.... 

Pre.sbyterian clergyman jLitchfield co.. Conn... 

Wife of Aug. T. Norton Litchfield co., Conn... 

Dealer in general merchandise werdumOM Fnesiand, Hanover... 

Editoi-s and Publishers of Alton Democrat...\ 

Architect and Mayor of Alton 'Ohio 

Rector of St. Mary's church Keppeln, Prussia 

Tonsorial artist IMonroe co., Ill 

Proprietor of saloon | Gran. Ehclndort Bonn, Pnnsla.... 

Wife of Tillman Puetz jSchwaerstadt, Baden.. 

Proprietor of saloon and farmer iHoeinkhausen, Prus... 

Wife of Frank Pieper IWestphalia, Prussia... 



North Alton. 



Dec'd Dec. '63. 
Alton 



North Alton.... 



Carpenter and proprietor of saloon Canton Bern, Switz'ld. 

]Wife of Frank Charles Pelot iRhein Bavaria, Ger... 

Dealer in stoves and tinware !Niedcrschnpn,eim, Ger. 

Switzerland 

Alton, III 

Alton. Ill 

Wurtemburg, Ger'y... 

Alton, 111 



Alton . 



Alton 'Alton 



St. Louis, Mo.. 
Alton 



AVife of A'alentine Pfaff. 

jProprietor of cigar manufactory 

l; AVife of Frank C. Pelot, Jr 

Rectifier, wholesale liquor and wine dealer.. 

• «•.[ stiner & Ryrie, dealers in wool , rnrp, coal, wood, prodncfl and feed. . . 

" |Carriage and wagon factory 'Alton, 111 

" ICity engineer and county surveyor (Durham co., Eng 

North Alton iNorth Alton Park saloon OehHngen, TTurtembnrg, Oer.... 

" " .... Saddlery and harness dealer Queens co., Ireland.. 

AV'ife of John Redmond AVurtemburg, Ger'y.. 

Father of John Redmond Queens co., Ireland.. 

Horse shoeing and general blacksmithing...!St. Louis, Mo. 

AVife of Paul L. Robidou 

Horse .shoeing and general blacksmithing... 

Millinery store and restaurant 

AA'^ife of Joseph AV. Rain lEngland 

Of Sweetzer & Priest lumber yard 'Franklin co., Mass. 

Of Sweetser tfe Priest lumber yard iFranklin co., Mass. 

Merchant ." iHolstein, Germany 

Stock dealer and butcher 'Nieder.choprhcim, Baden. Ger 

or Stiner 4 Ryrie dealers in wool. Tars, coal, wood, produce and feed.. lAItOU, 111 

Proprietor of saloon 

Proprietor National Mills 

Broker and farmer 

Proprietor of Alton Ferry 

Proprietor of saloon Davenport, Iowa, 

Dry goods merchant iMadison co., Tenn 



North Alton. 



Amherstburg, Canada. 

Fifeshire, Scotland 

England 



2826 Thomas St., St. Loali 

Alton 



Prussia, Germany 

Harrison co., Ind 

Halle, Prussia 

Columbiana CO., Ohio. 



St. Louis St. Louis 

....Alton North Alton. 

' Alton 



St. Louis, Mo... 1512,-15 Bway. Sl.Lou 

Alton lAlton 

Dc'dJau.21,'82 

Alton .Alton 

North Alton.... â– '^ect. 2. 5-10.... 

" ....Sect. 2. 5-10 

Alton Alton 



Saloon and book binder Kissingen, Bavaria.... 

Butcher Nassau, Germany 

Groceries, feed and packer Saxon, Prussia 

AVife of Henry Schenk Saxon, Prussia 

f Of E. Santschi & Fetterle, watch makers f Canton Neuchatel, 
1 and jewelers | Switzerland 

Turner, manuftr of parasols, umbrellas, etc. ober't'lop'i"'!â„¢ saden 

jAVife of Beda Schlageter Rohrbach, B.aden 

Miller New Hampshire 

Rectifier and wholesale liquor dealer AVestphalia, Prussia... 

Dealer in family groceries and provisions Co. Louth, Ireland 

AVife of Philip' Thornton Co. Armagh, Ireland.. 

Proprietor of saloon 'Holstein, Germany.... 

Capt of steamer Gsm City, of St. Lonis and St. Paul Packet Co.. Euimetsburgh, Aid 

Proprietor of saloon Bueude, Prussia 

For Protestant German School ! 

Clerk of Alton city court 'Co. Down, Ireland 

Attoruey-at-law lEmraetsburgh, Md.... 

Music store andProp'rof Commercial Hotel. Baden, Germany 

Liquor merchant IHanover, Germany.... 

Alerchant [Elberfeld, Prussia 

Proprietor of Spring Street House [Canton Bern, Switz'ld. 

Dealer in horses and mules Madison co.. Ill 

Saloon and cooper Rhein, Prussia 

Father of ,Tfihn AVagncr, Jr Rhein, Prussia 

Of Berg & AV^edel's saloon 

Butcher 

AA^ife of Louis AVinter 



Hesse Darmstadt, Ger. 
AVestphalia, Prussia... 

Pranlicnbnrg, HeBSen Cassel 

Cambridge, Mass 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



561 



CITY OF ALTON.- 



-CONTINCKD. 



POST OFFICE. 



RESIDENCE. 



OCCUPATION. 



NATIVITY. 



Watson Henrv 'Alton Alton Contractor, builder, and prop'r of quarries... 

( Weisbach. Cliristopher j " I " Prop'r and mamifr of soda & mineral waters 

1 Christine Hetzel I " | " Wife of Christopher A\ eisbach 

I Wiciielman W...!.! ISt. Louis 1001 Market st. Wliolesale and retail grocer 

( Christine Knottnerus St. Louis ! Wife of W. Wiehelman.. ......... 

( Woodside, Alexander Alton 'Alton Foreman car and repair shops, t. & A. K.K. 

I Mary Huriiie ! " I " Wife of Alexander Woodside 

Yan-er T H . " | " State's attornev 

j Yomig, James.'.!!!!..!! North Alton.... Sect. 2, 5-10.... Prop'r N. Alton & Alton 'bus line & saloon.. 

1 Mary Schall 1 " " .... Sect. 2, 5-10.... Wife of James Young 

j Yackel, Casper ^Alton Cr.2d &AValnut Prop'r Farmers' boarding home & house 

1 Caroline C. Ohlev I " Alton Wife of Casper Yackel..... 



Zechmcister & Henzel. 

Zwi^slor. C. J .... 

Zirnes, Jacob 



Alton Editor and publisher of Alton Banner 

" Rector of Sts. Peter & Paul's cathedral 



Proprietor saloon. 



Durham co., Eng. 

Rhein, Bavaria, (Jer... 

St. Louis, Mo 

Brunswick, Germany.. 

Madison co.. Ill 

Ayrshire, Scotland 

Renfrewshire, Scotl'd. 

Saxen Weim, Ger 

Albany co., N. Y 

Palmyra, Mo 

Hessen Darmstadt, Gr. 

Belleville, 111 

(iermany 

Dayton, Ohio 

Scott CO., Mo 



1859 
185(5 
1856 
1879 
1851) 
18.52 
18.52 
1838 
1879 
1866 
1852 
1852 
1881 
1876 
1876 



UPPER ALTOX. 



(Ball, S. W 

i Isabella Chapin 

I Clark, Sarah J. Cole 

I Clark, J. C. C 

I Isaac D. Newell 

( Herman C. Cole 

f Cooper, Susan AV 

I Cooper, John 

I Finlev, James M 

I Marv'A. Holland 

JGillham, Daniel B 

\ Adeline Harrison 

J Hewit, Lucy, (nee Moore) 

I Hewit. Franklin 

I Ilavs, Henrv H 

I Sarah iZ. Bartlett 

I H:iys, Elijah 

\ .luliana Newell 

Iloliarth, S. S 

Starr. J. E 

(Kendrick, A. A 

I Marv Jewett 

JLowc, M. A 

( Eliza Waggoner 

j Lowe, R. E 

I Frances A. Radcr 

I Lochr, Henry 

( Aguste Heideman 

I Moore, Franklin 

I Tobitha Elliott 

I Moore, Abel 

I Marv Bates 

( :\Ioore, Troy 

I Clarissa A. Patterson 

j Mills, Henry E 

I Emma B. Sprague 

I Roirers. James T 

1 Alice .1. Brown 

(Rundel, Henry B 

) Ann Miller 

j Rixen, James 

j Jane Marshall 

fWeek.s, Joseph H 

1 Martha Mi Magill 

j Wyman, Edward 

1 Wvman, Jlartha L 

j Wright. William R 

I Helen M. English 

jWood, S. F 

1 Emma Head 



Upper Alton. 



Upper Alton., 



Dc'dAug.lS,'.57' 

Dc'dOct.20,'74 

Upper Alton... Upper ^1 ton.. 

Dc'd Mar. 2, '68 

Upper Alton... Upper Alton. 



LTpper Alton... 

Dc'd Dec.-22,'77 

Upper Alton... Upper Alton.. 



Dc'd Sep. 17,'78 

Alton Alton 

Elsah 'Jersey co., 111. 

Upper Alton... Upper Alton.. 



Dc'dMav31,'72 

Dc'd FelU0,'4(3 

Dee'dFeb.9,'4G 

Upper Alton... Upper Alton. 



Salesman 

Wife of S. W. Ball 

wife or J. C. U. Clark, ftnd former wi'e of the laic Henaaa C. Cole. 

Profes.sor, Sburtleft' College 

Father of Sarah J. Clark.T 

. First husband of Sarah J. Clark 

Retired 

. Late husband of Susan W. Cooper 

. Cooper 

. Wife of James M. Finley 

. Retired 

. Wife of Daniel B. Gillham 

. Retired 

. Late husband of Lucy Hewit 

Salesman 

. Wife of Henrv H. Havs 

. Father of Heiirv H. Havs 

. Mother of Henry H. Hays, 

. Contractor and builder 

. Farmer 

. President Shurtlotf College 

. Wife of A. A. Kendrick 

. Farmer and fruit grower 

. Wife of M. A. Lowe 

. Proprietor hotel 

.Wife of R. E. Lowe 

.Livery and feed stable 

. Wife of Henry Loehr 

. Farmer and stock raiser 

. Late wife of Franklin Moore 

. Father of Franklin Moore 

.Mother of Franklin Moore, wife of A. Moore 

.Wife of Troy Moore 

. .\ttornev-at-law, St. Louis, Mo 

.Wifeof'Henrj- E. Mills 

.;Wife of James T. Rogers 

.('itv marshal 

.Wife of Henry B. Rundel 

. (Janlener and florist 

.Wife of James Rixen 

. Prist master 

.Wife of Joseph H. Weeks 

.IPrincipal Wyman Institute 

.IWifeof Edward Wyman 

. ICnoper 

.Wife of William E. Wright ^ 

. I Farmer... 

.Wife of S. F. Wood 



Albany co., N. Y 

iHampden co., Ma.»8... 
Herkimer co., N. Y... 

Providence, R. I 

Burke co., Vermont... 

iSeneca co., N. Y 

Knox CO., Tenn 

.\ndersou co., Tenn... 

Bond CO., Ill 

Kobert.son co., Tenn... 

Madison co., Ill 

Green Co., Ill 

Monroe co., Ill 

.Vshtabula co., Ohio... 

Coles CO., Ill 

Madi.son co.. Ill 

New York 

Bradford co., Pa 

Montgomery co , 111... 



1854 
1854 
1847 
1875 
1847 
1868 
1834 
1834 
1847 
1847 
1826 
1840 
1848 
1848 
1841 
18.53 
1842 
1842 
1873 



Fs.'^ex CO., N. Y 

.\ddison co., Vermont 

Monroe co., W. Va 

Tennessee 

M(mroe CO., W. Va.... 

St. Louis, Mo ! 

Germany 

Germany 

Madison CO., HI 

Tennessee 

North Carolina 

South Carolina 

Monroe co., Ill 

Tennessee 

Susquehanna co.. Pa.. 
Washington CO., Ohio 
W.ashington co., Ky..., 

Green co.. Ill 

Madison CO., Ill 

Madison CO., Ill 

X'thamptonshire, Eng 
N'thamptoiishire, Eng 

New York Citv 

.Krsey CO., Ill 

Middlesex CO., Mass... 

Boston, Mass 

Summer co., Tenn 

Onondaga co., N. Y'... 

Madison co.. Ill 

Madison co., Ill 



1872 
1872 
1829 
1833 
1829 



1 s.-,i) 
is.-,:t 



iSL'i; 
is3(; 

1808 
1808 
1848 
1848 
18.56 
1881 
1872 
1872 
1828 
1838 
1858 
18.58 
I860 
1872 
1879 
1879 
1829 
1841 
1838 
1844 



5G2 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



FOSTERBURG. 



POST OFFICE. 



Fosteiburg. 



( Brnwn, Corydon C... 

Ingahco, Viinnatla... 

BcsMT, Cliarles R.... 

Louisa Hansiuann.. 
' Bicrbauiii, William jUpper Alton.... 

Louisa Malfe I " " 

Bierbaum, Emma I " " 

f Biggane, Hannah i " " 

\ Biggaue, Michael IDiedDec.6,'8L 

I Beckemeier, Gottlieb Upper Alton... 

I Caroline Wibbclmann 

f Brown, John 

â– ! Edmund Brown 

I Mary Rvan 

f Beyer, Albert F 

I Beineke, Mary H 

(Bar, Jacob 

\ Biir, Herman 

( Rosena Wolshlagel 

( Gulp, John S 

I Mary Moore 

( Cavault, Nancy 1 " " .... 

\ John Deck jDc'd July9,'70 

( Abraham Cavault Upper Alton..., 

j Dillon, John D iFosterburg 

t Nancy Preuitt |Fosterburg 



RESIDENCE. 



Sect. 23 

Sect. 23 

..Sect. 14 

Sect. 14 

Sect. 17 

Sect. 17 

Sect. 17 

Sect. 30 



De'd Oct.12,'79. 
Dc'dFeb.22,'78. 
Fosterburg 



Sect. 29.. 
Sect. 29.. 



Upper Alton.... 



Fosterburg... 
Fo.sterburg... 
Fo.sterburg... 
Fosterburg... 
Fosterburg... 

Sect. 35 

Sect. 35 

Sect. 34 



j Dooling, E. 

(Julia Welch 

j Ducommun, Emile 

I Augusta Plauitz 

I Evans, John 

\ Margaret Rees 

f Freark, Christian 

(. Fredereka HofFmeister 

J Frerichs, Frerich R 

t Meta Jan.ssen 

j Gerdt, Henry 

\ Sophia Ehbeler 

i Harris, William L 

\ Louisa Grocc 

•j Harris, T. N 

I Maria J. Gulp 

(Hill, William E 

\ Martha Wilson 

( Mary Brooks.... 

(Jones, James G 
Elizabeth Ann Deck 
Rutha Jane Deck 
Hannah D. Bevill 

j Klinke, Fritz 

j Adelhei Metzler 

Ki'ieg, Jacob 

Catherine Altmann 

Luman, Hazael 

JIary A. Hays, (nee wiiiiams), 

McKee, Samuel 

Catherine Steward 

Mary A. Arbuckle 

I Ost, John 

t Alice Warner 

Spurgeon, William J 

f/Soverns, Hilan 

1 Anna JI. Salzmann........ 

1 Short, Perry W 

\ Polly Deck 

j Rachel Nichols 

I Sherfy, Isaac 

( Louisa Isch 

2 Chandler.).. 



Upper Alton.... 



Sect. 34.. 
Sect. 14... 
Sect. 14.. 
Sect. 34.. 
Sect. 34... 
Sect. 30... 
Sect. 30.. 
Sect. 29.. 
Sect. 29.. 
Sect. 23.. 
Sect. 23.. 
Sect. 31.. 
Sect. 31.. 



Fosterburg' 
Fosterburg 
Fosterburg 
Fosterburg 

Godfrey iSect. 7 ... 

(todtVey Sect. 7.... 

Upper Alton.. ..iSect. 33... 

Sect. 33... 

Sect. 33.. 

Sect. 33.. 

Sect. 26... 



Sect. 26.. 



Fosterburg 

Dc'd Apr. 6,'31. 

Fosterburg 

Upper Alton... .ISect. 28 
Dc'dOct.13,'52. 
Dc'd Feb. 7,'57. 
Upper Alton.... 



I TbompsoD, Sunanuoh, (n 

Eldred Foster 

I Jacob Thompson., 

[Wood, Sarah 

! Wood, Joshua 



Fosterburg 

Fosterburg 

Bethalto 

Bethalto 

North Alton.... 
Dec'd Feb. 79.. 
North Alton.... 

Fosterburg 

Fosterburg 

Upper Alton ... 

Bethalto 

Bethalto 

Upper Alton.... 
Dc'dAug.22,'67 
Upper Alton.... 



Sect. 28.. 
Sect, 34.. 
Sect. 34., 
Sect. 21 . 
Sect. 21.. 
Sect. 25.. 
Sect. 25.. 
Sect. 18.. 



Sect. 18 

Fosterburg., 
Fosterburg., 

Sect. 33 

Sect. 36 

Sect. 36 

Sect. 34 



Fosterburg 

Dc'd June, '51 
Dec'd Sept. '74. 
Upper Alton.... 
Dc'd Nov. 11,'65 



Sect. 16.. 
Sect. 16.. 
Sect. 13.. 



OCCUPATION. 



NATIVITY. 



WHEN 
CAHE 
TO CO. 



Rensselaer co., N. Y... 

Madison co., Ill 

Saxen Weimer 

Prussia 

Prussia 

Switzerland 



Farmer 

Wife of Corydon C. Brown 

Carpenter and farmer 

Wife of Charles R. Besser 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of Wm. Bierbaum 

Daughter of Wm. Bierbaum Madison co., Ill 

Farming Jeflorsim co., Ky 

Late husband of Hannah Biggane Ireland 

Farmer and stock raiser Prussia 

Wife of Gottlieb Beckemeier Hanover 

Farmer Ireland 

Brother of John Brown Ireland 

Wife of Edmund Brown Ireland 

Presbyterian clergvman Prussia 

Wife of Albert F. Beyer Gasconade co., Mo.... 

Blacksmith Switzerland 

Coal miner Switzerland 

Wife of Jacob Bar jSwitzerland 

Farmer and supervisor [Madison co., Ill 

Wife of John S. Gulp ;Madison co., Ill 

Farming jSurrey co., N. C 

Fiist husband of Nancy Cavault jSuIlivan co., Tenn.... 

Present luisliand of Nancy Cavault jVirginia 

Retired lilacksmith and wagon maker Butler co., Ohio 

Wife of John D. Dillon 'Madison CO., Ill 

Farmer and stock raiser JMadison co., Ill 

Wife of E. Dooling [Ireland 

Jeweler and farmer 'Switzerland 

Wife of Emile Ducommun Switzerland 

Farmer [Wales 

Wife of John Evans Wales 

Farmer iPrussia 

Wife of Christian Freark IPrussia 

Farmer and steam thrasher iHanover, Germany... 

Wife of Frerich R. Frerichs Hanover, Germany... 



Farmer 

Wiie^of Henry Gerdt, 

Farmer 

Wife of William L. Harris 

Farmer 

Wife of T. N. Harris 

Farmer 

First wife of Wm. E. Hill iLiving.ston co., Ky |18... 

Present wife of Wm. E. Hill Chautauqua co., N. Y.|1832 

Farmer 'Maury co., Tenn 11837 



Sect. 28.. 



Prussia, 

Madison co., Ill 
Champaign co., Ohio.. 
Green co.. Ill 
Champaign co., Ohio.. 1852 

Macoupin co.. Ill [1842 

Livingston co., Ky |l831 



1853 
1834 
1857 
1857 
1849 
1847 
1854 
1852 
1851 
1864 
1864 
1861 
1859 
1859 
1878 
1881 
1855 
1855 
1855 
1844 
1847 
1817 
1817 
1872 
1837 
1826 
1824 
1849 
1867 
1867 
1857 
1857 
1848 
1848 
1858 
1857 
1871 
1860 
1851 
1846 



First wife of James G. Jones Madison co.. 111. 

Madison co.. 111. 
Madison co.. 111. 

Prussia 

France 



Second wife of James G. Jones 

Present wife of James G. Jones 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of Fritz Klinke 

Farmer IWurtemburg, Ger 

Wife of Jacob Krieg Wurtemburg, Ger.... 

Farmer Kentucky 

Wife of Hazael Luman tMadison co., Ill 

Farmer Kentucky 

First wife of Samuel McGee Nashville, Tenn 

Present wife of Samuel McGee [Kentucky 

Blacksmith 'Upper Alton, 111 

Wife of John Ost [Fosterburg, 111 

Farmer 'Madison co., Ill 

Farmer I Boone co., Ky 

Wife of Hilan Soverns [Saxen Weimer, Ger.. .1850 

Farmer 'Madison co., Ill 1826 

First wife of Perry W. Short Madison co., Ill ,1824 

Madison CO., Ill il821 

Madi-son CO., Ill |1836 

Michigan 11856 

North Carolina 1839 

Madison CO., Ill 1821 

Ohio' 1834 

Christian co., Ky 1819 

Ohio [1819 



1823 
1833 
1836 
1858 
1857 
1857 
1857 
1828 
1833 
1848 
1848 
1852 
1857 
1S61 
1865 
1863 



Divorced wife of Perry W. Short 

Farmer 

Wife of Isaac Sherfy 

Farming 

First husband of Susannah Thompson.. 
Late husband of Susannah Thompson.. 

Farming 

Late husband of Sarah Wood 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNT J, ILLINOIS. 



563 



GODFREY 



POST OFFICE. KESIDEXCE. 



OCCUPATIOX. 



I Brown, Zebulon GodCrev Sect. 9 Farmer and stock raiser Canada 

J Mary A. Moore Dc'd .\p. 14, '49 First wife of Zebulon Brown Philadelpliia, I'a.. 

1 Mary A. Cantrall Dc'd Feb. 9, '64 Second wife of Zebulon Brown Monroe CO., Ill — 

I Sarah Squire (ioiHrey Sect. 9 I'resent wife of Zebulon Brown England 

(Camp, Henrv Xortli Alton.... Seel. 34 Farmer and coal operator Harrisburg, Pa 18"i0 

I Marv Wearmouth North Alton.... Sect. 34 Wife of Henry Camp Dubuque Co., Iowa 1807 



1839 

1837 
1849 

isr,2 



Crawford, Robert W Godlrev Sect. 12 Farmer and stock raiser Co. Don 

Nanov J. Meldrum Dc'd Apr.— ,'58 First wife of Robert W. Crawford 'Illinois... 

t Ann Squire Godfrey Sect. 12 Frtsent wife of Robert \\\ Crawford iKnsland 



Ireland. 



j Castagneto, John 

{ Julia Grasjean 

( Copley, John S 

\ Lucy A. Holt 

I Copley, George W 

f Chamberlain, S. A 

\ Charlott Yarber 

i Geneye Hodgson 

( Chambers, Jacob 

\ Margaret Kidgeway 

I Joanna Steyens 

I Dayis, Willard W 

( Margaret Huntington 

I Delaplain, Eliz..(neeReid) 

I Delaj>lain, Benjamin 

f Donaldson, Calyin 

\ Elizabeth Williams 

J Dayis. James 

I Hannah Byrns 

f DePugh, Henry 

\ Amanda J. Bell 

[Ebbler, Henry, Sr 

I Frances, Breye 

I Ebbler, Henry, Jr 

[ Amelia Ulriih 

( Franklin, Edmund 

\ Jane Griswold,( nee Green) 

f Godfrey, Benjamin 

J Augusta E. Caldwell... 
I Godfrey, Benjamin, Sr. 

I Godfrey, Rebecca K. (uee PettiO.. , 

J Glenn, W^illiam A 

) Abby Neff. 

J Glassbrenner, Fred 

\ Sarah M. PitMco 



Sect. 14 JI;inufr of ap|>le. peach and grape brandies, tienoa, Italy 

.. Sect. 14 Wife of John Castagneto Paris, France 

..Sect. 27 Engineer and machinist |< )iieida CO., N. Y.. 

.. Sect. 27 Wife of John S. Copley Jackson co.. III... 

..Sect. 27 Farmer and painter...." Mattewan, N. Y... 

.. Sect. 25 Farmer and cider manufacturer jSalem, Mass. 

Dec'dAug.3,'58' First wife of S. A. Chamberlain Green co., Ill 

Godfrey Sect. 25 Present >vife of S. A. Chamberlain |l)earborn co., Ind 

Sect. 18 Farmer and fiuit grower iMonmouth co., N. J... 

Dc'd Apr.— ,'691 First wife of Jacob Chambers INew Jersey 

Godfrey Sect. 18 Present wife of Jacob Chambers iBordentown, N. J. 

" Sect.lO Farmer and stock raiser jPenobscot co., Mc, 

" • Sect.lO iWifeof Willard W. Dayis IMitdison co.. III.... 

" • Sect,24 Retired. Widow of Benjamin Delaplain.. ..'Hay Co., Tenn |1821 

Dc'd July 7,76' | Late husband of Elizabeth Delaplain Mason co., Ky il807 

North Alton.... Sect. 17 Farmer and stock rai^er Adanisyille, S. C- '1862 

North Alton-... Sect. 17 Wite of Cahin Donaldson Meckienburghcc, Va. 1862 

Sect. 26 Fruit and vegetable grower Madison co., Ill 1841 

Sect. 26 Wife of James Davis Ireland 1859 

Mason co., Ky 1867 

1862 
1841 
1847 
1S57 



1853 



1S40 
18.55 
18.'->4 
1834 
1837 
1834 
1832 



1867 
1861 
1861 
1865 
1844 
1834 



Godfrey 



Dc'dMar.20,'82 

Dc'dAug.l3,'62l 

Godfrev ISect. 14 

" " • ISect. 26 

ISect. 26 

North Alton !Sect. 35 

Sect. 35... 



Sect. 21 Minister African M. E. Church 

Sect. 21 AVife of Henry DePugh 

Sect. 2 Retired 

Sect. 2 jWife of Henry Ebbler, Sr 

Sect. 2 [Farmer and stock raiser 

Sect. 2 Wife of Henry Ebbler, Jr 

Sect. 17 iFarmer and stock raiser 

Sect. 17 [Wife of Edmund Franklin 

Sect. 14 ! Farmer 

Late wife of Benjamin Godfrey 

Father of Benjamin Godfrey 

Mother of Benjamin Godfrey 

Farmer 

Wife of William A. Glenn 'Madison co., Ill 4841 

Prop'r lie., feed, sale fiiables. Highesl ca.sh price p'd for horses, mules Germany .1873 

..!Wife of Fred Glassbrenner Madison co.. Ill 1855 



Lewis CO., Ky 

.... Pru.ssia 

.... Prussia 

....iMadison co.. Ill 

Madison CO., Ill I8iil 

Campbell CO., Va 1876 

St. Charles, Mo 1876 

1840 

18l;9 

1833 
1839 
1841 



Alton, 111 

Cooper CO., Mo 

Chatam, Mass 

Long Island, N. Y. 
Franklin co.. Pa. 



II iskell, Mi.ss II. N Godfrey Godfrev Principal Monticello Seminary ' 

( Ilickin, Edward 'Alton Sect. 26 Farmer England 

'( Harriet Atkin i " Sect. 26 Wife of Edward Hickin England 

( lldUadav. Cahin Godfrey ISect. 21 Farmer and slock raiser 

1 MahuldaWarficld I " .. '" ' "' 

( Hancock, William Palmer " 



1870 
1870 
1850 



Tcnne sue 

Sect. 21 Wife of t'alvin Holladay Madison co,Ill 1851 

Sect. 23 Csh'rR.S.:\lrC(irniiik's com. house, St.Lou's Willmington. Ind 1880 



I ILlen Perlina Mason " jSect. 23 Wife of William Palmer Hancock... 

j Ingham, Lucrclia M. (ncc liogsdale) " â–  SeCt. 11 WidoW Of Rohuid J. lugham 

j Ingham, Roland J 'Dec'd Feb. 2,'8l| Late husband of Lucretia M. Ingham 

( Isett, J. R Godfrev Sect. 14 Fanner and stock raiser 

(Elizabeth Hamilton " '. Sect. 14 Wife of J. R. Isett New Jer; 

( Lindley, George " Sect. 14 Farmer and stock raiser iSt. Louis, jlo... 

1 Mary Jane Waters. 



Madison co.. Ill 1840 

Monne co., E. Tenn.. 1852 

Dublin, Ireland 1835 

Montgomery co., Pa.. 1848 
. 1848 
18C1 



Lontr, James L North Alton Sect. 34 Farmer and stock raiser 



,'Sect. 14 Wife of George Lindley Madison co.. Ill 1854 

Madison CO., Ill 1839 



Elvira H. Lee " " Sect. 34 -Wife of James L. Long iManchester, Mass 1876 

Lindley, Mary C. (nee.stra»).. Godfrev Sect. 4 Retired. W^idow of William Lindley Itiermany 1851 

, Lindley, William Dc'd 5iar.2,'69l Late husband of Mary C. Lindley lEngland 1851 

( Lons, Benjamin Franklin. North Alton Sect. 34 Horticulturist and letired physician JHopkinton, N. H |l8;i 

I Lucy Martin IDc'dNov.17,'46' Firet wife of Benjamin F. Long Bradford, N. H 1836 

1 Hannah L. Furber iDc'd Feb. 8, '72' Second wife of Benjamin F. Long West Scarboro, Me 1854 

1 Mary J. Bailev North Alton Sect. 34 Present wife of Benjamin F. Long JHopkinton, N. H 1874 

Murray. William J I " " Sect. 8 Farmer England 1800 

I Mary M. Ma.sulli I " " Sect. 8 Wife of William J. :Murniy Madison co.,Ill 1S( 1 

â– | Murray, William Dec'd , '61.1 Father of 'William J. Murray Ireland 18.^8 

[Marceila Dillon iDc'd Mr. 22,'81; Mother of William J. Murray Dublin, Ireland 1800 

Mason, Edward A Godfrey Godfrev Postiiia-ster. Dealer in rruiu, nursery swck.pianu, seeds. 4c. Worcester co.. Mass... 1863 

( Melling, P. J North Alton Sect. 35 Iii>tice of the peace 'Co. Derrv, Ireland 1858 

I Sarah O'Connor \ " " Sect. 35 Wife of P. J. Melling Co. Dorry, Ireland 1850 

(Mitchell, James, Sr Alton Sect. 35 Proprietor coal mine, and operator Vvreshire, Scotlaud... 1848 

\ Mary Smith Dec'd Oct. 7, '57; First wife of James Mitchell Noya Scotia 1848 

I Margaret Hughe.s, (ii« BeardjiAlton Sect. 35 Present wife of James Mitchell [Ayrshire, Scotland U42 



564 



HISTORY OF MADISON^ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



GODFREY.-CONTI^LED 



POST OFFICE. 



RESIDENCE. 



occhpatiox. 



NATIVITY. 



(Martin. W. H De'd Mar. 1/82.; Was physician and surgeon Hillsboroiigli, N. H...I1857 



\ Mary F. Taylor Godfrey..... jGodlrey 

j Merriman, Charles B iNorth Alton.... Sect. 27... 

1 Martha Hill North Alton.... Sect, 27... 

(Martin, James W iGodfrey Sect. 14... 

I Elizabeth Winters '• " Sect. 14... 

J Mason Matilda, ineestcwani.i " Sect. 14 .. 

Mason, Charles H iDc'd Dec.11,'74 



, Widow of late Dr. W. H. Martin Canada 1857 

. Farmer and stock raiser Middletown, Conn 1852 

, Wile of Chas. B. Merriman Connorsville, Ind 1859 

. Farmer and stock raiser Alton 111 1837 

, Wife of James W. Martin Germany 

.Farming and stock raising llreland 1856 

Late husband of Matilda Mason Caselton, Vt 1837 

[Matlock, John A [Godfrey Sect. 5 iFarmer and gardener Crawford co., Mo 1865 

|Haiinali Hawkins " Sect. 5 j Wife of John A.Matlock Jlontgomery co., Mo.. 1863 

( MasuUi Louis JNorth Alton.... Sect. 8 Farmer and stock raiser Naples, Italy 1845 

< ChatherineMatilda,Fisher.lDc'dJan. 11'49 i (First wife of Louis Masulli England .....' 1833 



( Mary D. Kollaburn North Alton.... Sect. 8. 

f Mason, John, Mrs Godfrey Sect.-23., 

I Mason, John, Jr iDc'd Sep. 1,'75.| 

(Neal, James iNorth Alton.... ISect. 33.. 

(Emma Dukes " " ....ISect. 33.. 

( Otev, Jeremiah " " ....iSect. 28.. 

< Patsey Jenkins Dc'd Feb. 15,'68i 

j Eliiabeth HalUburlon (nee Donaldson.).. North AltOU.... ;SeCt. 28.. 

Pearson, John M 'Godfrey Sect. 26.. 

Catherine Godfrey I " Sect. 26.. 

" Sect, 11.. 



Present wife of Lvuis Masulli Madi-son co.. Ill 1828 

Farming .". Utica, N. Y 1838 

Late husband of Mrs. John Mason [New Hampshire 1837 

Farmer and stock raiser England 1858 

Wife of James Neal England 1858 

Farmer and stock raiser j Virginia 1864 

Fir.st wife of Jeremiah Otey Virginia 11864 

Present wife of Jeremiah Otey 'Tennessee 1862 

Farmer and breederof thor'bredJerseycattle.'E.ssex co., Mass 1849 

. Wife of John Pearson iMadisonco., Ill 1835 

( Pierce, George G " Sect. 11 Farmer and fruit grower Reboboth, Mass il838 

I Sarah Cannard " Sect. 11 1 Wife of George G.Pierce Richmond, Va '1838 

! Penning, Evert J ! " Sect, 25 l Farmer and stock raiser Hanover, Germany.... [1852 
Penning, John E Dc'd Mar.l5.'79 'Father of Evert J. Penning jHanover, Germany.... 11852 
Penning,Bertie(neeBruns) Dc'd Julyl3,'78 iMotberof Evert J. Penning Hanover, Germany....! 1852 
Pierce, Jonathan L North Al on.... Sect. 35 jFarmer and stock raiser Rookingham co.. Me... 1 1851 

] Mary A. Wissore North Alton.... Sect. 35 IWife of Jonathan L. Pierce |Madison co.. Ill [1843 

( Robidon, Mark Godfrey Godfrey jManufr of wagons, jilows, gen'l repair shops. Canada 11861 

(Jennie Grobliughoff. [ " Godfrey ^Vife of Mark Robidon [Springfield, Ohio 1861 

(Squire, James I " Sect. 10 IFarmer, teacher and township supervisor Madison co.. Ill 11843 

( Mattie Braden Dee'd 1882 Late wife of James Squire Madison co., Ill 1849 

(Squire, W. F Godfrey Sect, 22 [Farmer and stock raiser IMadison co., Ill 1845 

I Louisa A. Peters I " Sect. 22 Wife of W. F. Squire [Madison co.. Ill 1841 

(Salway, Harrv 'North Alton.... Sect. 34 'Proprietor of Canton mill 'England, 1861 

Mary Denz North Alton.... Sect. 34 [Wife of Harry Salway iMadison co., Ill 'l863 



( Spaulding, D. A iAlton iSect. 28.. 

< Julia Carolan 'Dec'd 1863 

I Sarah Ann Danforth lAlton Sect. 28, 

(Schneider, Julius F Melville Sect. 32. 

( Thercse Kientz Melville Sect. 32. 

rSchwarz,Mary(neeCliford)iNorth Alton.... Sect. 35. 
J Sehwarz, Joseph Dc'd Julv 4,'80 



Retired jRutland co., Vt.. 

First wife of D. A. Spaulding iNew York 

Present wife of D. A. Spaulding Amherst, N. H.. 

Farmer and stock raiser Germany 

Wife of Julius F. Schneider France 

Fruit grower Ireland 

Late husband of Mary Sehwarz Germany. 



I Sehwarz, David J North Alton.. ..Sect. 35 [Fruit grower and gas manufacturer Madison co., 111... 

[Mary Conners North Alton.... Sect. 35 'Wife of David J. Sehwarz 'Wheeling, W. Va 



1818 
1319 
1838 
1846 
1840 
1854 
1852 
1859 
1857 
1858 
1858 



j Ulrich, John Godfrey Sect. 3 (Farmer and stock raiser Wurtembcrg, Germ'y. 

I Johanna Babel [ " Sect. 3 Wife of John Ulrich Prussia 

f Volbracht, Ferdinand 'North Alton.... Sect. 17 'Farmer and stock raiser Madison co., Ill 1845 

< Caroline Schaub Dc'd Apr.28,'72 ;First wife of Fred Volbracht Madison co., Ill 1844 

( Minnie Buerkley iNorth Alton.... Sect. 17 'Pre.sent wife of Fred Volbracht Alton, 111 1856 

( Virden, F. W 'Godfrey Sect. 26 [Farmer and dairyman Ross co., Ohio 1877 

< Margaret H. Cox Dc'd Apr. 13,'72 First wife of F. W. Virden Scioto co., Ohio 

( Hattie Newberry iGodirey Sect. 26 Present wife of F. W. Virden Jersey co.. Ill 1877 

( Widaman, Rebecca (neeHiii.i[ " Sect. 25 Farming and stock raising Carroll co., Ohio 1842 

( Widaman. Daniel A Dc'd Oct. 9, '76.' 'Late husband of Rebecca Widaman Westmoreland co., Pa. 1842 

(Ward, John J Godfrey 'Sect. 6 'Farmer and stock raiser Madison co.. Ill 1855 

1 Sula Burley " Sect, 6 iWife of John J. Ward Jersey co., Ill [1876 

I Ward, McKinley " Sect. 7 iRetired and father of John J. Ward Grayon co., Va [1836 

Ward, Eliza, (nee Jones).. Dc'd Dec. 8,'69. l Mother of John J. Ward Kentucky 



( Ward, McKinley, Jr. 
1 Roenia McLean 

1 Webster, Benjamin... 
Rhoda Abbott 
Waggoner, Wesley F. 
Ann E. P"urgerson .... 

(Walsh, John 

1 Esther Mathews 

( Walsh, James M 

(Annie Murphy 

(Wenzel, Carl.." 

1 Louisa E.sserl 

I AValter, Louis 

I Mary J. Stevenson, ne 



Godfrey Sect. 2 [Farmer and stock raiser Madison co., Ill 1857 

" â–  Sect. 2 Wife of McKinley Ward, Jr Indiana 1S79 

" Sect. 23 'Retired '. Rockingham co.,N.H. 1851 

" .>^ect. 23 [Wife of Benjamin Webster Orange co., Vt 1851 



. Sect. 14., 
. Sect. 14.. 

Sect. 16 

Sect. 16 

Sect. 9.. 

Sect. 9 

Sect. 24 

Sect. 24 

Sect. 16 

Sect. 16 



Farmer and fruit grower Knox co., E. Tenn 1836 

Wife of Wesley F. Waggoner Massachusetts 1838 

Farmer and stock raiserT. Co. Dublin, Ireland... 1853 

Wife of John Walsh Co. Meath, Ireland 1868 

Farmer and stock raiser Co. Dublin, Ireland. ..1855 

Wife of James M. Walsh Cheshire, England 1862 

Farmer and stock raiser Kingd'm Saxony, Ger. 1854 

Wife of Carl Wenzel Kingd'm Saxony, Ger. 1854 

Farmer and stock raiser Prussia 1867 

Wife of Louis Walter Orleans co., N. Y 1857 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



565 



GODFREY.— CONTINUED. 



NAME. 


POST OFFICE. EESIDENCE. 


OCCUPATION. 


NATIVITY. 


WHEN 

TOCO. 


(Waters, Patrick 

Mary Lindley 

Zerwas, Nicholas 


Godfrey Sect. 9 

Godfrey Sect. 9 

Godfrey Sect. 35 


Farmer Ireland 

Wife of Patrick Waters St. Louis, Mo 

Blacksmith ; vol. Co. D., 4th Mo. cavalry Prussia 


1857 


Dc'd Feb 11 73 




Switzerland 

Alton, 111 


1Sfi8 


Maggie Hubner 


Godfrey .'....Sect. 35 


Present wife of Nicholas Zerwas 


1852 



ALHAMBRA. 



Aldrich, Harrison , 

iBucknell, Simeon E 
Marion A. Cochran 
Buescher, H. William.. 
Anna M. Wollbrinck... 

(Berg, William 

I Wilhelmina Udha 

j Carroll, James 

1 Mary Flvnn 

(Carroll, thos. J 

] Caroline Dzengolewski 

I Gehritr, Peter 

I ('iitherine Sin 

Gehris,', Adam 

Gelirig, Sadie 

Giger, Henry 

.Vngeliua SliaflTer 

Hoxsey, William , 

Jincy (jr. Lyon 

Martha M. Hoxsey 

\ Hoxsey, .James R 

j Harnsberger, Levi 

( Nancy Alvira Tunnell. 
( Harris, Jonathan M.... 

(Kachael Mills 

j Kaufman, (nistav 

(Mary Jehle 

( ;\Iartin, John G 

1 Martha J. Randall 

"I Martin, Matilda C 

I Martin, .^ariili J 

(Miller, II. William 

I Wilhehnina Finke 

(Messerlv, Gottlieb 

j Elizabeth riili'uer 

Pearcc, William W 

Barbara A. Vincent 

Pearce, Lucinda A 

Pearce, Martha E 

Pearce, William W., Jr.... 

Pearcc, Joseph B 

Pearce, Louisa J- 

.Suhre, Harman, Jr 

Mena Hanke 

Suhre, Edward L 

Snhre, .Vnna M 

(Schneider, Wm. P 

I Catherine Koch 

I Tabor, Heiirv H 

Cbaritv Olive 

Talmr," Sarah M 

I Tabor, James H 

( Lewis W. Kennedy 

Tabor, James M..." 

Rachel M. Pearce 

I Tabor, Isabella 

I Tabi>r, .lohn 

fWharlf, H. T 

I ]Marv A. Carnev 

Wharti; Edith W , 

1 Wharli; Howard E 

( Wetzel, .John- 

j Gerdraut Tripjjle 

j Wood, William A. J 

I Mary J. Harris 

j Wiegand, Henry William 
I Mary Stumpp 



Alhambra jSect. 9 Farmer 

t. 11 [Physician 

Sect. 11 Wife of Dr. Simeon E. Bucknell 

Farmer 

Wife of H. W. Buesher 

Pro[)rietor hotel 



Marine 



Sect. 32 

Sect. 32 

.\lhambra.... 
Alhambra.... 

Sect. 31 

Sect. 31 

Sect. 32 



Alhatnbra. 



Hiehland.... 
Highland.... 
Alhambra 



Marine .... 
Marine .... 
Alhambra, 



Marine 

Marine 

Alhambra 



Madison co.,Ill 

Pennsylvania 

Maine 

Prussia 

Prussia 

Lychen, Prussia 

Wife of William Berg Hanover, (Jermanv... 

Farmer :\Iadison co.. Ill 

Wife of James Carroll .Madisdu co., Ill 

Farmer Madison co., Ill 

Sect. 32 iWife of Thos. J. Carroll (Jernumy 

Sect. 24 Farmer and stock raiser IJavaria, Germany 

Sect. 24 Wife of Peter Gehrig [Bavaria, Germany 

Sect. 24 iSon of Peter Gehrig Aladison co.. Ill 

Sect. 24 'Daughter of Peter Gehrig iMadison co.. Ill 

Sect. 36 iFarmer and stock rai-ser IMadison co.. Ill 

Sect. 36 'wife of Henry Giger '.Johnson c 

Sect. 4 ! Farmer '. 'Madison c 

Sect. 4 jWife of William Hoxsey ICaldwell ( 



Sect. 4 iDaugliter of William Hoxsey. 

Sect. 4... 
Sect. 11.. 
Sect. 11.. 
Sect. 15.. 
Sect. 15.. 
Sect. 20.. 
Sect. 20.. 
Sect. 9. 



IMadison co., III. 



Ind 
III ., 

Ky 



Deceased 



Deceased., 
Alhambra, 



1843 
1873 
1873 
1878 
1878 
1850 
1853 
1841 
1859 
1847 
1861 
1858 
18.58 
1860 
1864 
I8;i4 
1842 
1S26 
1843 
,1865 

Son of William Hoxsey ;Madison co., Ill !lK62 

^ '-•••" 1831 

1815 
1822 
1830 
1844 
18.58 
1831 
1833 
18.54 
1861 
1858 
1858 
1849 
1854 
1815 
1818 
1837 
1841 
1842 
1847 



Rockingham co., Va. 

Tennessee 

Madison co., Ill 

Glasgow, Ky 



Farmer 

Wife of Levi Harnsberger... 

Farmer.. 

Wife of Jonathan M. Harris 

Farmer I Prussia 

Wife of Gustav Kaufman St. Louis, Mo. 

Farmer Kentucky, 

Sect. 9 1 Wife of John G. Martin. ..> iNorth Carolina 

Sect. 9 ! Daughter of John G. Martin Madi.'^on co.,III 

Sect. 9 Daughter of John G. Martin .Macoupin co., III.... 

Sect. 28 IFarmer Prussia 

Sect. 28 Wife of H. William Miller Prussia 

Sect. 35 iFarmer jRuegisberg, Switzl.d 

Sect. 35 |Wife of Gottleib Messerly Gallaen, Switzerland.. 

Sect. 11 Farmer and stock raiser Kentucky 

Sect. 11 iWife of William W. Pearce Madison co., Ill 

Sect. 11 'Dauchterof William W. Pearce Madison co.. Ill 

'Daughter of William W. Pe.irce 'Madison co.. Ill 

Alhambra ISect. 11 Son of W. W. and B. A. Pearce Madison co.. Ill 

Sect. 11 Son of W. W. and B. A. Pearce M.adison co.,Ill 



Sect. 29.. 
Sect. 29. 
Sect. 29. 



Madison co.,Ill 18.51 

Madison co., Ill 18.')6 

Madison co.. Ill 1857 

Madison CO.. Ill 1878 



Daughter of W. W. and B. A. Peasce 

Farmer 

Wife of Harman Suhre, Jr 

.iSon of Mena and Harmin Surhre, Jr 

Sect. 29 iDaughter of Mena and Harmin Suhre, Jr.. .Madison co., Ill 1881 

Marine Sect. 27 Farmer Bavaria, (iermany 18.58 

Marine Sect. 27 iWife of Wm. P. Schneider Bavaria, Germany 1866 

.\lhambra Sect. 11 IFarmer iTennessee 1829 

Sect. 11 iWifeof Henry H. Tabor iKentucky 1828 

Sect. 11 IDaughter of Henry H. and Charity Tabor...; Madison co., Ill 1860 

" Sect. 11 Son of Henry II. and Charity Tabor |Madison co , III 1863 

" 'Sect. 11 Cirandsou of"H. H. Taobr Madison co.. III... 

" 'Sect. 3 Farmer and stock raiser |Madison co.. 111... 

Sect. .3 Wife of James M. Tabor .Madison co.. 111... 

Sect. 3 Mother of .James M. Tabor; born 1799 jNorth Carolina... 

Deceased. ' Father of James M. Tabor; born 1797 'North Carolina... 



.,1878 
.!l842 
.'1846 
.1828 
.'1828 



Alhambra i Alhambra I'hvsieian and surgeon Jlaine 1870 

..JAlhambra Wife of H. T. Wharff. lEngland 1865 

..lAlhambra Daughter of H. T. and Mary A. Wharflf. Madison co., Ill 1874 

..|Alhambra Son of H. T. and Mary A. Wharff. IMadison co., Ill 1878 

..Sect. 11 iFarmer and stock raiser iBavaria, Germany 11849 

..Sect. 11 Wife of John Wetzel Hes,se Cassel, Ger'y...']849 

...Sect. 29 Farmer 'Madison co.,Ill 18.56 

Sect. 29 Wife of Wm. A. J. Wood Ma<li.son co.. Ill 1854 

Sect. 27 Farmer Iles.-ien, (iermany 1847 

Sect. 27 Wile of Henry William Wicsrand Bavaria, Germany 1856 



Marine 



5G6 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



JARVIS. 



POST OFFICE. RESIDENCE. 



Sect. 15.. 
Sect. 15.. 
Sect. 16., 
Sect. 16.. 
Troy 



Trov 



' Auwarter, M. F Troy Troy , 

Mary A. Johnson 

Armstrong, Morris M... 

Mary J. Henderson 

Bernbartlt, Peter 

Anna M. Sehwerdteger 

Bosouiworth, John B... 

'Alice R. Posey 

, Canimann, James W... 

Cammann, Dedrich P Dc'dMay28,'81 

(Mary A. Palmer Troy 

J Diehle, John 

I Annie S. Bertrem 

( Droll, Felix 

\ Anna B. See 

( Fehmel, Andrew. 

I Margaret Kau Dc'd Mar. 3, '81 

I Gerfen, Friederich iTroy 

I Louisa Meier I " 

( Gindler, Charles j " 

(Mary Engelhard i " 

iGerlach, Charles " 
Lena Geber I " 
Hampton, F. L " 
Martha A. Henderson iDc'd Jun.l9,'81 



OCCUPATIOX. 



NATIVITY. 



Father of Jas. W. CammaDn and pastor of Oermao LatbernD Church ' DrOchtcrSCn , Gcr 

Mother of James W. Cammann jAugusta co., Va 

Proprietor Troy City saloon Hessen Darmstadt, Gr. 



Sect. 34., 



Troy , 



Sect. 28.. 
Sect. 28.. 
Sect. 34.. 
Sect. 34.. 
Troy 



Trov. 



Troy 



Dc'dMar. 16,'81 
Troy 



General merchant and Insurance agent Baltimore co., Md 1858 

Wife of M. F. Auwarter iMadison Co., Ill 1852 

Retired harness and saddle maker IWarren co., Ky 1816 

Wife of Morris M. Armstrong [Botetourt co.,"Va 1836 

Farmer iDarmstadt, Germany.* 1852 

Wife of Peter Bernhardt [Bavaria, Germany [l852 

Farmer j Yorkshire, England... 1856 

Wife of John B. Bosouiworth 'Madison co !1854 

Salesman jRoanoke co., Va 1876 

1876 
1876 
1867 
1851 
1857 
1857 
1847 
1840 
1851 
1861 
1851 
1851 
1875 
1861 
1853 
1839 



Wife of John Diehle.. 

Retired hotel proprietor 

Wife of Felix Droll 

Farmer 

Late wife of Andrew Fehmel 

Carriage, wagon maker and blacksmith. 

Wife of Frederich Gerfen , 

Farmer 

Wife of Charles Grindler 



Sect. 28.. 
Sect. 28., 
Troy 



Dc'd Feb. 20,76 j, 
Troy 



Troy 

Sect. 26.. 

Sect. 26.. 

Sect. 26., 

Sect. 26., 

Sect. 27., 

Sect. 27., 

Sect. 28., 



â–  Troy , 



Collinsville.. 
Collinsville . 
Troy 



iSect.; 
. Sect. 



j Jarvis, James N 

I Lizzie A. Donoho 

j Joseph, A. S 

1 Susan Gastnecker 

I Jarvis, Edward Y 

< Jarvis, James G 

( Jarvis, Emily R., (oeeBroi 

f Liebler, John 

I Christina Nadig. 

j Langenwalter. Andrew. 
I Anna M. Wohlgemuth . 

iLieber, John A 
Anna Arth 
Metz, Augusta 
Frank C. Metz 

Morriss, Henry B..-r , 

Mills, Andrew 

Ann Deering 

Mills, G. W 

Catherine Cox 

Metz, August 

Julicta Kisell 

Myer, Henry 

Margaret Hausau 

Moore, Volney 

Nancy Gonterman 

iPadon, Henry H 
Mary E. Nicholas 
Petry, John 
Phillippiena Scheoeder 

j Riebold, Jacob 

I Mary Kraher 

j Riggin, Ignatius 

1 Mary A. Gillham 

jSchott, Charles 

I Augusta Hoftmann 

J Sabin, l'\ A 

\ Anna E. Lytle 

j Sabin, Horace B 

I Minnie E. Davis 

iSnodgrass, K. M 
Isabella McAdoo 

fSdigmann, David 

(Augusta Rethmann 

( Smith, Charles S 

-(Smith, Aaron 

(Phila Abbott Dc'dMar. 9, '76 

J Thomas, J. B JTroy'. iTroy 

(Martha Posey j " I " 



Prussia 

Baden, Germany 

Bavaria, Germany.... 
Bavaria, Germany.... 
Bavaria, Germany.... 

Germany 

Germany 

Hanover, Germany.... 
Rehine, Bavaria... 

Wagon and carriage maker, dealer in agricnlturnl imp is & hla lismith 1 rUSSia , 

Wife of Charles Gerlach Madison co. 111..., 

Harness maker iMorgan co., 111..., 

Late wife of F. L. Hampton 'Botetourt co., Va, 



Justice of the peace and notary public. 

Wife of James N. Jarvis 

Farmer 

Wise of A. S. Joseph 

Proprietor 'bus line 

Father of Edward Y. Jarvis., 



Madison co.. 111. 
Madison co.. 111. 
St. Clair CO., 111. 
Mother of Edward Y. Jarvis St. Clair co., 111. 



Madison co.,Ill il849 

Kent CO., Del |1871 

St. Louis, Mo '1871 



Farmer and stock raiser.. 

Wife of John Liebler 

Farmer 

Wife of A. Langenwalter 

Farmer 

Wife of John A.|Liebler 

Farming 

Late husband of Augusta Metz., 

Editor and publisher of Troy Bulletin Madison co.,Ill [1859 

Police magistrate 'Co. Donegal, Ireland.. 1841 

Wife of Andrew Milb Co. Donegal, Ireland.. 1841 

Farmer Madison co.,Ill 1831 

Wife of G. W. Mills Madison co.. Ill ,1832 



1850 
1862 
1811 
1847 
1840 
1851 
1847 



Germany , 

Switzerland 

Bavaria, Germany. 

Bavaria, Germany ]1852 

Madison co.,Ill 1852 

Madison CO., Ill 1859 

Germany 1S55 

Germany J1854 



Sect. 26., 
Sect. 26., 
Sect. 31. 
Sect. 31. 
Troy 



Sect. 34.. 

Sect. 34.. 

Sect. 26.. 

Sect. 26.. 

Sect. 4..., 

Sect. 4..., 

Troy 



Prussia, Germany [1854 

Lvcoming co.. Pa 1861 

St. Louis, Mo 1858 

Madison co.,Ill 'l852 

Madison CO., Ill 11821 

Madison CO., Ill 1828 

St. Clair co.. Ill |1849 

Madison co.,Ill 1850 

Hessen Darmstadt, Gr. 1864 
St. Clair co., Ill 1879 



Sect. 15 [Farmer 

Sect. 15 jWife of August Metz 

Farmer 

Wife of Henry Myer 

Farmer 

Wife of Volney Moore 

Lumber dealer 

Wife of Henry Padou 

Wagon and carriage maker and saloon.. 

Wife of John Petry 

Farmer Madison co., Ill 1843 

Wife of Jacob Riebold iMadison co.,Ill 1848 

Farmer and stock raiser jMadison co.,Ill 1830 

Wife of Ignatius Riggin Madison co.. Ill 1844 

Physician and surgeon Germany 1870 

Wife of Charles Schott |St. Louis, Mo 1852 

Physician and surgeon [Berkshire co.. Mass... 1862 

Wife of F. A. Sabin [Franklin co., Teun....[1847 

Druggist iBerkshire co.. Mass... 1865 

Wife of Horace B. Sabin Macon co., N. C 1881 

Farmer [Hamilton co., Ohio.... 1858 



Sect. 14.. 

Sect. 14 [Wife of K. M. Snodgrass Co. Donegal, Ireland.. 1854 



. Troy , 



Dc'd Dec. 7, '79', 



Sect. 8. 



General merchant j Bavaria, Ciermany 1866 

Wife of David Scligmann Prussia, Germany |l867 

Farmer [Madison co.. Ill [1855 

Father of Charles S. Smith Gloucester co., N. J. ..1832 

Mother of Charles S. Smith.. 'Maine [l838 

Agricultural implement dealer [Katchez, Miss 1848 

Wife of J. B. Thomas Madison co.,Ill [1833 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



507 



JAIiVIS.~<''"''''lNUED. 



POST OFFICK 



EESIDENCE. 



OCCUPATION. 



(Taylor, James M Troy Troy Farmer Ijladison co., Ill 1851 

I Lucy J. Bariisback "" j " IWife of James M. Taylor ^Madison co., Ill 1855 

I Vetter, Gustavus i " " | Proprietor of Troy city mills |Germaiiy 1802 

I Elizabeth Pluo; I " I " (Wife of Gustavus Vetter (n'rmanv 18(52 

J Vance, John A ! " Sect. 17 JFarraer BaltiiiKiiv co.. Md 18G9 

Nellie Barnsback I '• 'Sect. 17 iWife of John A. Vance Madison co.. Ill 1856 

'Physician and •surfteon .Madison co.. Ill 1851 

{Wife of John R. Whiteside JIadison co.. Ill 1851 

Sect. 34 iFarnier jBavaria, Germany 1840 

i^ect. 34 'Wife of John Widicus Bavaria, (Jcrmany 1847 

Troy tPhysician and surgeon [Ohillicothe, Ohio'. 1857 



; Whiteside, John R Vermillion.D.T 

! Cora G. Barnsback " " 

[ Widicus, John Lebanon 

Catherine Longenwalter...! " 

Zanders, F. W iTrov 



SALINE. 



J Ambuehl, Nickolas 

I Emilie Frey 

f Clayton, Parv 

(Eliza Rul...." 

iGruenenfeldcr, Joseph A.. 
Elizabeth Knobel 
Hntz, George 
Anna Merkle 

( Helbing, Henry 

\ Eliza Wirtz 

I Hartlieb, Philip 

1 Helena Knebel 

J Hot^, Christian, Jr 

j Catherine Schaefer 

i Haenny, Fritz 

1 Eva Mettior 

I Hammer, Bernhard 

iTheresia Schaefer, [netsader.) 
Kraft, Anton J 
Magdalena Mutchler 
Anna Gross 

f Knabel Albert, 

I Eva Ruedy 

j Kurz, Jacob 

( Charlotte Brizius 

("Knebel, Lepold 

J Caroline Walder 

1 Knebel, Sebastian 

(Juliana Greulich 

J Lorenz, John H 

( Lisette A. Hiiusli 

j Leduc, John 

\ Sophia Henchen 

I Lang, Henry 

I Barbara Siedler 

f Lorenz, Frank C 

-j Louisa Hausle 

I Lorenz, Wm. J 

j Oswald, Fridolin 

I Maria Rail 

j Blocker, Frank 

I Sophia M. Waage 

j Pierron, -Vu'iust 

I Barbara Rinderer 

f Pierrun, Jaques 

J. A. Julienn Morville 

I Mary Rose Packett 

I Roniger, Charles 

â– < Roniger, Fred A 

I Elizabeth Stumpf. 

f Rinderer, David 

1 M. Anna Pfirt'ner 

jSchrumpf, Fred H 

I Johanna Kropf 

jStelzer, .Vugnst 

\ Margaret Roniger 

fSpengel, John 

J Barbara Braun 

I Spengel, J. George 

I Franziska Haarmuth 



Highland.... 
Grant Fork.. 



Pierron . 



Grand Fork 

Dc'dApr.26,'82 
Pierron 



Grant Fork 

Dc'd Jan. 20,70 
Grant Fork 



.Sect. 20, [Farmer and highway commissioner 

,|Sect. 20 Wife of Nicholas Ambuehl 

.Sect. 15 Farmer and stock raiser 

.Sect. 15 jWifeofPh-ry Clayton | 

, Sect. 2 [Farmer, stock raiser and ex-tvv'ship assessor.' 

.Sect. 2 ;Wife of Joseph X. Gruenenfelder 

.ISect. 6 Supervisor, farmer and stock breeder 

, Sect. 6 Wife of George Hotz 

Saline .1. P. and proprietor of saloon 

, Saline Wife of Henry Helbing 

.Sect. 11 Farmer and stock raiser 

.Sect. 11 Wife of Philip Hartlieb 

.jSect. 6 farmer and school director 

Late wife of Christian Hotz, Jr 

Pierron Farmer, prop'r of saloon and wagon maker.. 

Pierron Wife of Fritz Haenny 

Sect. 22 Farmer and stock raiser 

Sect. 22 Wife of Bernhard Hammer 

Saline Propr etor of hotel and saloon 

First wife of Anton J. Kraft 

Saline Present wife of Anton J. Kraft 

" " Sect. S Farmer and stock raiser 

" Sect. 8 Wife of Albert Knabel 

Pierron Pierron Notary public, farmer and prop'r of saloon.. 

" iPierron Wife of Jacob Kurz 

" I Sect. 12 |Of L. Knebel & Co., of Pierron Elevator, dlrs. iu lumber, frames, etc. 

" Sect. 12 Wife of Leopold Knebel 

Dc'd Jan. 9,'50.| Father of Leopold Knebel 

Dc'd Aug. — '47.1 Mother of Leopold Knebel 

Highland Sect. 29 Farmer, stock breeder & memb. board of edu'n 

" 'Sect. 29 Wife of John H. Lorenz 

•' .*>ect, 7 Farmer and stock raiser 

" Sect. 7 Wife of John Lcduc 

" Sect. .34 1 Farmer and dairyman 

" Sect. 34 Wife of Henry Lang 

" Sect. 32 Farmer and .stock raiser 

S,ct. 32 Wife of Frank C. Lorenz 

" .Soot. 32 Son of Frank C. Lorenz and teacher 

Grant Fork Saline IDlr. in real estate, contractor and builder 

" " jSaline Wife of Fridolin O.swald 

Hiirhland iScct. 28 Farmer and township treasurer 

Highland Sect. 28 .Wife of Frank Plocker 

Pierron Pierron Iparmer, dlr. in agr'l impl'tsife tw'ship corctr. 

" Pieiron Wife of August Pierron 

" .Sect. 24 Farmer and stock raiser 

Dec'd 1850 First wife of .laques Pierron 

Pierron Sect. 24 Present wife of Jaques Pierron 

Highland Sect. 1(5 Farmer and school director 

" Sect. 1(5 Farn)cr and son of Charles Roniger 

'' Sect. 16... Wife of Fred A. Roniger 

Pierron Sect. 22 Farmer and stock breeder 

" Sect. 22 Wife of David Rinderer 

Highland Sect. 18 iFarmer and highw.iv commissioner 

Sect. 18 IWife of Fred H.Sclirumpf 

" Sect. 28 Architect, builder, cabinetmaker and turner. 

" Sect. 28 AVife of Augu.st Stelzer 

" Sect 23 Farmer and .tuck raiser 

" ISect. 23 Wife of John Spi-ngol 

Dc'd Aug. 3.'54.| Father of Jdliii Spengel 

Dc'd May 28,'72 ^Mother of .Tohn Spengel 



Madison co.. Ill 

Highland, 111 I 

Illinois 

Madison co.. Ill 

Madison co.. Ill 

Madison co.. Ill 

Madison co.. Ill 

(irouau, Baden 

iSaxen, Prussia 

Canton Aargau, Swt'd. 

Clinton co.. Ill 

Madison co., Ill 

Madi-son co.. Ill 

Hancock co., Ill 

Canton Bern, Switz'd.. 

Culitna OraubendCD, Switzerland.* 

Ocstringen, Baden 

Stcttfield, Baden 

St. Limis, Mo 

Gcriiianv 

New York 

Madisim co., Ill 

Madison co.. Ill 

Loerrach, Baden 

Bistcrschild, Bavaria.. 

Oestringen, Baden 

Philip]isburg, Baden... 

Oestringen, Baden 

Oestringen, Baden 

Kuril Hessen, Ger 

Canton Thnraan,Swt'd 
Dci^t. III-et-Vilaine,Fr 
Westphalia, Prussia... 

Madison CO., Ill 

Switzerland , 

Kuhr He.s.sen,.Ger 

Canton Thurgau,Swt'd 

Madison Co., Ill 

Switzerland 

Madison co., Ill 

Madison co.. Ill 

Madison co.. Ill 

St. Clair CO., Ill 

^. Clair CO., Ill 

Dept. Loraine, France. 
Dept. Lor.iine, France. 
Deot. Loraine, France. 

jNollingen, Baden 

Nollingen, Baden 

Rhein Pfalz, Bavaria.. 
Canton St.Gallon.Sw'd 
Canton St. (iallon,Sw'd 

Nassau, Germany 

Bavaria 

Reuss (lermany 

Madison co.. Ill 

Zeutercn, Baden 

Malsch, Baden 

Zeuteren, Baden 

Baden 



1847 
1852 
1862 
1845 
1851 
1860 
1843 
1854 
1868 
1872 
1879 
1856 
1849 
1873 
1852 
1846 
1847 
1840 
l.s.^.6 
1867 
1870 
13.H 
18(i0 
18.54 
1857 
11847 
1864 
'l847 
1847 
1853 
1854 
1853 
1854 
1843 
11854 
1853 
1854 
1857 
1865 
1852 
1843 
1853 
l,s51 
1857 
1851 
'18... 
1852 
18.50 
1854 
18.58 
1844 
1843 
18(54 
ihViO 
1875 
1859 
1841 
1843 
1841 
11841 



568 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



SALINE.— CONTINTJED. 




Suppiger, Ad. A Pieiron 

Leiiher, Baer ! " 

Suppiger, Anton jHighland... 

Monika Wickcnhauser " 

Tontz, Jones |Grant Fork 



Elizabeth Hirschi 

Dorothea Lembach 

^ Emma Kuhrt 

Trautner, Nicholas.... ....< 

Anna Aekola 

[Trautner, Bern'h 

I Tontz, Christian 

I Rosina M. Hirschi 

; Thalmann, Nic 

I Thalmann, Nic Jr 

Utiger, Albert J 

Moses D. Tibbetts 

Siidie L. Ketcham 

: Voegele, Charles A 

[ Mary Schafer 

Wilihauck, George Paul... 

Widniann, Jacob.... 

Anna Bopp 



Dc'd Sep. 24,70 
Dc'd Dec 9, 76 
Grant Fork 



Dc'd Jul. 8, 79 
Grant Fork 



Highland 



Picrron . 



Highland. 



Grant Fork. 



Pierron Of Suppiger & Utiger, general merchants... 

Pierron Wile of Ad. A. Suppiger 

Sect. 32 Farmer, and father of Ad. A. Suppiger 

Sect. 32 Wife of Anton Suppiger- 

Sect. 5 Farmer 

First wife of Jones Tontz 

[Second wife of Jones Tontz 

Sect. 5 'Present wife of Jones Tontz 

Sect. 5 IFarmer and stock raiser 

iLate wife of Nicholas Trautner 

Sect. 5 iRetired. Father of Nicholas Trautner 

Sect. Farmer and stock raiser 

Sect. T) iWife of Christian Tontz 

Sect. 35 Farmer and stock raiser 

Sect. 35 Son of Nic. Thalmann, Sr 

Pierron Of Suppiger & Utiger, general merchants.... 

Pierron Phvsician and surgeon 

Pierron. jWi'fe of Moses D. Tibbetts 

Sect. 26 iFarmerand stock raiser 

Sect. 26 iWife of Charles Voegele 

Saline jTeacher of St. Gertrude school 

ISect. 2 Farmer, highway com'r and school director 

iSect. 2 Wife of Jacob Widmann 



Madison co.,Ill 

Zurich, Switzerland... 
Canton Luzern, Swt'd 

Baden 

Ct'n Graubiinden, Szd. 
Canton Bern, Swtzld.. 

Madison CO., Ill 

Highland, 111 

Oestringen, Baden 

Ct'n Graubiinden, Szd. 

Oestringen, Baden 

Ct'n Graubiinden, Szd. 
Canton Bern, Swtzld.. 
Canton Bern, Swtzld.. 

Alton, 111 

St. Jacobs, 111 

Dearborn co., Ind 

Madison co.. Ill 

Stettfeld, Baden 

Langenbruecken,Bdn 

Boston, Mass 

DonaueschingeUjBdn. 
Kaststadt 



1843 
1858 
1831 



1845 
1850 
1846 
1859 
'1841 
1848 
1841 
1345 
1850 
1856 
1870 
1853 
|1866 
1858 
1841 
1843 
1880 
1856 
1854 



ST. JACOBS. 



( Anderson, James G 

I Josephine Robinson 

Anderson, J. P 

f Anderson, Charles W- 

I Louisa J. Cox 

(Bradsby, William B 

\ Norframes, Waddell- 

iLydiaPyle 

i Becker, Jacob 
Annie Ablv 
Baer, Rudolph. 
Louisa Wasim 

( Bartle, George W 

) Martha E. Havs 

j Balsiger, Charles E 

-< Balsiger, Rudolph 

( Auna Hencer 

f Binger, Ca.sper Henry 

I Mary Sanders 

( Bussong, Peter 

I Jane Wallace 

J Dugger, John AV 

j Laura E. Mahler 

j Ensminger, Joshua 

( Maria Chance 

j-Ensminger, John M 

lOllie Hay.s 

j Faires, William H 

I Amelia J. Putnam 

( Frey, Samuel 

I Freilerika AVeirich 

I Frances Grienenfelder.... 

j Frey, Volentine 

( Fredcrika Graf. , 

iFrutiger, Peter 
Elizabeth Mann 
Frey, Henry, Sr 
Catharine Daudemann.... 
Catharine Gabelmann.... 

f Frutiger, John 

\ Mary Frey 

I Ann Recer 

j Gonniger, William 

I Julia Metzger 

j Hoffman, N'cv (nee Black) 

1 Hotlinan, J. J 

( Hart, George 

I Sarah Parrett 



St Jacobs St. Jacobs JGrain and stock dealer 

" St. Jacobs |Wife of Jame5 G. Anderson 

" St. Jacobs IFarmer and supervisor 

" Sect. 26 IFarmer 

" Sect. 26 [Wife of Charles W. Anderson 

" Sect. 33 (Farmer and mechanic 

Dc'd Jan. 31,71 :First wife of William B. Bradsby 

St. Jacobs Sect. 33 iPresent wife of William B. Bradsby.... 

" Sect. 14 Farmer 

» -..Sect. 14 Wife of Jacob Becker Madison co.. Ill ,1854 

" s;;ect. 14 Farmer Switzerland 1844 

Sect. 14 Wife of Rudolph Baer JBavaria 18.50 



Madison CO., Ill 1838 

Madison co.. Ill !l852 



Madison co., 111. 
Madison co.. 111. 
Madison co., 111. 
Madison co., 111. 

Ohio 

Perrv co., HI 1873 

Madison CO., Ill 1849 



1834 
1849 
1855 
1846 
1865 



. St. Jacobs Farmer and mechanic. 



" St. Jacobs. 

" |St. Jacobs 

" St. Jacobs 

" St. Jacobs 

Sect. 17 

[Sect. 17 

Lebanon Sect. 28 

" Sect. 28 

St- Jacobs. Sect. 29 

;Sect. 29 

iSect. 25 



Tioga. Pa 1851 

Jackson co.. Ind 1873 

Amtseftigar, Switzl'd.. 1864 
Muhltharneu, Switzl'd 1864 
Albligen, Switzerland.:1864 

Prus.sia 11849 

Prussia 18.52 

Germany 11870 

Ireland" 11870 



• Sect. 25.. 
.Sect. 1.5.. 
.Sect. 15.. 
.Sect. 26.. 
. [Sect, 26.. 
.[Sect. 21.. 



Dc'd Aug.17,'65' 

St. Jacobs Sect. 21 

Sect, 21 

Sect. 21 

Sect. 2.3 

Sect. 2.3 

iSect. 23 

Dc'dFeb.10,'79; 

St. Jacobs Sect. 23 

" 'Sect. 33 

" iSect. 23 

Deceased 

St, Jacobs 1st. Jacobs.... 

St. Jacobs.... 

Sect. 23 

Dc'd Feb. 6, '69]. 

St. Jacobs |Sect. 28., 

Sect. 28.. 



Wife of George W. Bartle 

Proprietor Hanne house 

Father of Charles E. Balsiger 

Mother of Charles E. Balsiger 

Farmer 

Wife of Casper Henry Binger 

Farmer 

Wife of Peter Bussong 

Farmer Madison co.. Ill 1854 

Wife of John W. Dugger Madison co.,Ill 1858 

Farmer [Union, West Va 11838 

Wife of Joshua Ensminger jWayne co., Ky 11833 

Farmer [Madison co., Ill 1845 

Wife of John M. Ensminger 'jackson co., Ind [1874 

Farmer and stock raiser Madison co.,Ill 11832 

Wife of Wm. H. Faires Wilson co., Tenn 1859 

Farmer Germany 1840 

iFirst wife of Samuel Frey Germany 1851 

Present wife of Samuel Frey Switzerland 1845 

Farmer Germany [1840 

Wife of Valentine Frey Germany 1851 

Farmer Germany 1842 

Wife of Peter Frutiger Germany 1838 

Farmer Rhein Pfalz 1840 

First wife of Henn' Frev Rhein Pfalz 1847 

Present wife of Henry Frey New York City 18-53 

Fanner ". ." Madison co.,Ill 1848 

Wife of John Frutiger jMadison co., Ill 1850 

Mother of John FJUtiger Madison co.. Ill 

Farmer [Baden, Germany 1854 

Wife of AVilliam Gonniger iBaden, Germany il844 

Farming Co. Derry, Ireland 1849 

Late husband of Nancv Hoffman Germany 

Farmer .". St. Clair co., Ill 1837 

Wife of George Hart JLondon, England [1857 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



669 



ST. JACOBS.— CONTINUED. 




Hug, Jacob 

Louisa Frey ; 

Hilt, Joseph 

Elizabeth Kinney.... 
Herseman, Mary C.(d 

Hersemaii, William Dc'd Mar.14,'73 

Heslop, Fred. J Dec'd 1880. 



.St. Jacobs Sect. 27 Farmer Switzerland IS/g 

Sect. 27 Wife of Jacob Hug Madison cc, 111 1857 

Sect. 30 Farmer St. Clair co., Ill IS.'iS 

Sect. 30 Wile of Joseph Hilt St. Clair co., Ill 1858 

.Sect. 30 Farming M.idison co.,Ill 1848 

... First husband of Mary C. Herseman St. Clair co.,Ill |l.S(i2 

...Secondhusb'd, late divc'd.ofM.C. Herseman j England 1854 

(Hart, Albert P St. Jacobs Sect. 28 Farmer Madison co., Ill 1839 

-! Anna M Radcliff. Dc'd Oct.20,'78.] First wife of Andrew P. Hart [Pennsylvania 1S(.G 

I Faith S. Wood iSt. Jacobs Sect. 28 Present wife of Andrew P. Hart '^:^''W^ V,", '^^2 

(.lochum, C. A " 'Sect. 30 Farmer jSt. Clair co., Ill 1867 

\ Jochuni, John ipc'd_Mar.6,'68. iFalher of C. A. Jochum |^ew \ork....^.. 18G7 

I Mary M. IJarten, (nee sicbci.), 

I Karges, Louis, Sr 

1 Johana Kroehnert 



Kirri, .loseph A... 

Mary Meyer 

Kissel, Samuel 

Elizabeth Lutze.... 
Kireheis, August.. 

Clara Miller 

Laengle, Henry... 
Mary Florine.. 



I Leder, Jacob Highland 'Sect. 1.. 



St. Jacobs. .'..... Sect. 30 iWidow of John and mother of C. A. Jochum. St. Clair co., Ill 18{)7 

..:St. Jacobs Dealer in general merchandise Germany 18G4 

..1st. Jacobs IWife of Louis Karges, Sr Cermany 1S(!4 

..;Soct. 16 IFarmer Switzerland 1844 

..Sect. 16 IWife of Joseph A. Kirri .Madison co.. Ill 1841 

..Sect. 20 'Farmer Lycoming co.. Pa 1864 

.. Sect. 20 jWife of Samuel Kissel Lebanon co., Pa 1864 

..St. Jacobs Painter St. Louis, Mo ! 

.. St. Jacobs Wife of August Kirchies Madison co., Ill 

St. Jacobs Proprietor of Laengle hotel (ierniany |1846 

St. Jacobs Wife of Henry Laengle Switzerland 1840 

™ . - 11 • ^„.u 1.,.,.] iicyT 



Farmer . 



, Switzerland 1837 



.... Sect. 1 Wife of Jacob Lcder I'russia 

(.(_ \ Farmer Madison co., III.. 

!!!!"". Sect! 1 ."....."".. Wife of John Leder Nashville, Tenn. 

f Lovins, John C St. Jacobs Sect. 19 Farmer St. Clair co III.. 

1 Amelia A. Anderson Dc'd Feb. 7, '76.' jLate wife of John C. Lovins St. Louis, Mfi 



I Mary Gerkemaier. 
/ Leder, John 
Catherine Bargetze 



.. 1845 
.. 1S.53 
.. 1863 
.. 1S62 
...1861 



Madison co.,lll 1849 

Madison co., Ill 1852 

Switzerland 1853 



^ -Miller, John E St. Jacobs jSect. 20 Farmer 

1 EmmaEnsminger I " Sect. 20 IWife of John E. Miller.... 

f Mever, Conrad " Sect. 16 Farmer and stock rai.ser... 

1 Philipena Gerke I " Sect. 16 Wife of Conrad Mever Madison co., Ill 1.H48 

f Mever, Charles Highland Sect. 25 Farmer IGerniany 18)4 

I Caroline Becker Hichland Sect. 25 jAVife of Charles Meyer Madison co., 1 1841 

I .Miller, J. G St.^ Jacobs Sect. 20 JFarmer 'Madison co.. Ill 1847 

1 Anna Schmidt " Sect. 20 Wife of J. G. Miller Madison co., Ill 18o2 

(McAlillv, Wm.C Hidiland Sect. 1 Farmer Madison co.. Ill 1819 

1 Catherine Wren Highland Sect. 1 Wife of William McAlilly Edwardsville, III 1842 

(Noll, Frederick St. Jacobs Sect. 23 Farmer Khein Pfalz 1867 

-^Elizibcth Schmitt Dc'dMavl3,'79. First wife of Fred Noll St. Clairco.. Ill I.s47 

I Henriette Schmitt St. Jacobs jScct. 23 Present wife of Fred Noll Madison co., Ill jl!-32 

fPvle, Abner i " Sect. 26 Farmer Christian co., Ky 11847 

- iiarv Hogiie Dec'd 1849 1 First wife of Abner Pyle A"—;: "•;••; 

I NeonaBradsbv,(neeFarris);St. Jacobs Sect. 26 'Present wife of Abner Pyle North Carobna 11827 

f Parkinson, A". J Highland Sect. 12 Farmer \\ hite co., Tenn 1818 

I Marv E. Baldwin Highland Sect. 12 Wife of J. A.Parkinson I)ela^yare co., N. \ 1838 

( Pahinever, Ernst St. Jacobs St. Jacobs Pro])rietor of Rail Road Hotel Prussia 1852 

\ Anna Maria Schien Dc'd Apr. 10,'65 First wife of Ernst Pahmeyer (Jerfflany-. 18o6 

I Barbara Lucm St. Jacobs St. Jacobs Present wife of Ernst Pahmeyer Switzerland 1864 



( Peeler. .Tosci)h , 

1 Dora Glanzner 

j Peterson, Edward N... 

( Martraret Sohler 

j Hitter. Henry 

I :\rarL'aret .Schmitt 

( Schicle, Louis 

1 Rosa Speckart 

(Spies, Charles 

I Emma Blanke 

Schmitt, John, Sr 



••••I 



St. Jacobs Miller Champaign, France... 18.56 

.St. Jacobs Wife of Joseph Peeler Hesse Darmstadt, Ger. 1860 

.St. Jacobs Lumber dealer Rockland co., N. Y.... 1.S66 

. St. Jacobs Wife of Edward N. Peterson New Orleans 1852 

. Sect. 15 Farmer Germany 1344 

. Sect. 15 Wife of Henry Ritter St. Clair co., Ill 1847 

.St. Jacobs Butcher and stock dealer Madison co., Ill 1852 

. St. Jacobs Wife of Louis Schiele Miidison co.. Ill ' 

.St. Jacobs Druggist Madison co., Ill 1850 

. St. Jacobs Wile of Charles Spies | 

, „ , Sect. 21 Farmer Germany 1847 

â– ' Catherine Schaefer Dc'd Oct. 28,'53.' First wife of John Schmitt, Sr Germany 1847 

I Cissilia Roos St. Jacobs Sect. 21 Present wife of John Schmitt, Sr (Jcrniany 1840 

(Smith, .lames A Lebanon iSect. 31 Farmer Halifax, Va 1827 

I Catherine Vanhooser Dc'd July 24,'74l Late wife of James A. Smith Madison co.. Ill 1820 

j Searcy, George W St. Jacobs ISt. Jacobs General merchandise and farmer Madison co., Ill 1834 

I M.arv'A. Taylor 1 " St. Jacobs Wife of George AV. Searcy Madison co.. Ill 1834 

(Schneider, John ] " St. Jacobs Tinner & patentee independent dinner bucket Madison co., Ill 1847 

j Mary Laternser I " St. Jacobs Wife of John Schneider ;Wabash co., Ind ' 

f Tow'nsend. Edmund Lebanon Sect. 31 iFarmer St. Clair co.. Ill 1851 

I JaneHiggins Lebanon Sect. 31 Wife of Edmund D. Townsend St. Clair co.. Ill 1851 

fTincher, .Tohn H St. Jacobs St. Jacobs Contractor of mail line Madison co.. Ill 1849 

1 Margaret Anderson ' " St. Jacobs AVife of John H. Tincher I ondon, England 18.)6 

( Turner, Richard P I " St. Jacobs iMerchant London, England 1851 

t Melissa E. Goteh " St. Jacobs AVife of Richard P.Turner jMadison co.,Ill 1858 



670 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



ST. JACOBS-CONTINUED. 



(Virgin, Jefferson 

\ Harriet Axley 

I Annie M. Lindlv 

f Williams, W. D 

\ Ellen V. Hays 

( Mary J. Smith 

Wasem, Louis 

( Wopd, H. T 

1 Marv J. Harnsberger.. 

f Willi, Jacob 

\ MagJaline Hilbv 



POST OFFICE. 



OCCUPATION. 



St. Jacobs Sect. 29 Farmer 

Dec'd , '44.1 First wife of Jefferson Virgin 

St. Jacobs Sect. 29 Present wife of Jefferson Virgin.. 

St. Jacobs 'Sect. 30 Merchant and farmer 

Dc'd Feb.l7,'73j iFirst wife of W. D. Williams 

St. Jacobs [Sect. 30 [Present wife of W. D. Williams.. 

" St. Jacobs 

" St. Jacobs iDruggist 

St. Jacobs IWife of H. T. Wood 

" Sect. 9 Farmer 

Sect. 9 IWife of Jacob Willi 



St. Clair co.. 
Jlonroe co., 
Madison co. 
Fayette CO., 
Madison co. 
Madison co. 



Madison co., 
Madison co., 
Switzerland 
Switzerland 



1847 

1823 
1835 
1838 
1829 



1847 
1850 
1849 
1849 



OMPH-GHENT. 



Bormann, C. F. W 

Mary A. Floyd 

Baumgaertner, Henry 

Julie Bowles (nee Bond)... 

Beard, Samuel 

Mary K. Slipsie 

Blumer, Louis 

Blumer, L. C 

Louisa Kohlenberg ;Dc'd Sep. 9, '75 



Worden IWorden. 

" iWorden. 



Worden . 
Worden . 
Worden . 
Worden . 
Sect. 20.. 
Sect. 20.. 



f Bond, William. 

1 Ester M. Wyatt 

( Baumgaertner, John 

\ Catharine Kauffmann 

I Baumgaertner, Charles... 

i Dorr, Henrv C 

I Mary F. Be'lk 

I Dornseif, Jacob 

J Maria Opel 

I Dornseif. Catharine, (nee Schneider) 

I Dornseif, Jacob William. 
( Dorr, Henry., 



Worden ISect. 13.. 

...ISect. 13.. 

...ISect. 24.. 

...'Sect. 24.. 

...â– Sect. 24.. 

... Worden. 

... Worden. 

...Worden. 
AVorden. 
Dc'd Oct. 8, '81 
W^orden . 
Omph-Ghent... 



Worden. 
Sect. 31.. 



I Sophia Sutter I Dc'd Aug. 8, '54 



Worden . 



Prairie Town. 



Worden . 



Prairie Town. 



Worden. 



Dc'dAug.21,'76; 

Worden ' W^orden 

" IWorden 

" Worden 

Sect. 31 



Emrich, Philipp 

I Louisa Wolf 

I Filers, Christian 

j Anna Hagmann 

I Floyd, Joseph , 

j Rebecca Ward 

jGuesewelle, Henry 

( Sophia Batterman 

J Grant, Thomas 

I Nancy Judy 

I Herschhauser, Fritz 

I Caroline Mertz 

"I Herchhauser, Henry.... 

I Catharine Bender 

( Hubert, August 

I Henrietta Knappmeyer 
Hoeh, Adam Omph-Ghent 

I Sopha Stahlhut "^ "^ 

'\ Hoeh, Henrv J 

[Hoeh, Ernst W I " 

Huseman, Henry Prairie Town 

f Kavser, Albert E 1 " 

1 Johanna F. S. Meyer | " " 

JLueker, Hardwig H IWorden 

I Caroline W. Bormann 

f Lueker, Henry W 

\ Marg't C. L. Vahrenkamp 

f Lueker, Henry W 

I Marv Pieper 

(McDonald, J. H 

I Virginia J. L. Rust 

1 McDonnell, James 
Marv A. Murphy 
McDonnell, Edward 
Ida Smith 

j McDonnell, John 

1 Hellena Richardson 

I Picker H.C 

1 Catherine Dornseif 



W^orden 

Worden 

Sect. 18 

Sect. 18 

Worden 

Worden 

Sect. 28 

Sect. 28 

Sect. 13 

Sect. 13 

Worden 

Worden 



Constable and grain dealer !St. Louis, Mo !l866 

Wife of C. F. W. Bormann |Madison co., Ill 1854 

Farmer and stock raiser jSt. Louis, Mo |1855 

W^ife of Henry Baumgaertner 'Madison co.. Ill 11859 

^liner LTdt>rook, Glostershire, Eng 1878 

Wife of Samuel Beard .Westphalia, Prussia... 1857 

Farmer and stock raiser iMadison co.,Ill [1853 

Father of Louis Blumer IMadison co.. Ill 1848 

Late wife of L. C. Beard [Brunswick, Ger [1848 

Farmer and Auctioneer Madison co.. Ill 1829 

Wife of William Bond Macoupin co., Ill 1851 

Farmer and Barber jBellheim, Bavaria, Gr. 1856 

Wife of John Baumgaertner jLingenfeld, Bav., Ger. 1856 

Son of John and Catharine Baumgaertner... Madison co.. Ill 18.57 

Physician and surgeon St. Louis, Mo 1856 

Wife of Henry R. Dorr Madison co.. Ill '"'â– "'' 

Shoemaker and farmer jHesse Darmstadt 

Wife of J.acob Dornseif Bavaria, Germany.... 

Mother of Jacob Dorn.seif [Berleburg, Prussia.... 

Eng. Worden Mining Co., son of J. Dornseif St. Louis, Mo 

Farmer and supervisor [Kurhessen, Germany 

First wife of Henry Dorr iDortmund, Prussia... 

Bakerv and saloon IMackenbach, Bavaria. 

Wife of Philipp Emrich !Drohsen,Br'nsw'k,Gr. 1867 

Carpenter and farmer lOldenburg, Germany.. 1868 

- — ■ ■ "■' Oldenburg, Gremany.. 1 1869 

Montgoraerv co., N. C.il834 

Benton co.,'Tenn 1852 

f Hagenburg, Schae- 1857 
i unberg, Lippe, Ger.. 1856 



1856 
1861 
1861 
1861 
1861 
1856 



1874 



Wife of Christian Filers 

Stock trader, township supervisor.. 

Wife of Joseph Floyd 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of Henry Guesewelle ^ .. 

Farmer and stock raiser iSpartenburgdist, S.C. 1851 

Wife of Thomas Grant Madison co.. Ill 1809 

Pittsburgh, Pa 1876 

St. Louis CO., Mo 1879 

Hesse Darmstadt, Gr.. 1876 
Hesse Darmstadt, Gr.. 1876 
Meinersen,Han'ver,G. 1877 
Westphalia, Prussia... 1877 
Rhein Bavaria, Ger... 1842 



Stock dealer and butcher 

Wife of Fritz Herschhauser 

Father of Fritz Herschhauser 

Widow of Henry Herschhauser 

Carpenter and architect 

Wife of August Hubert 

Farmer and stock raiser.. 



..iSect. 31. 
..:Sect. 31. 
..Sect. 17. 



Sect. 31 !Wifeof Adam Hoeh techaumb'g, Lippe, Gr. 1847 

Son of Adam and Sopha Hoeh Madison co.. Ill 1850 

Son of Adam and Sopha Hoeh Madison co.. Ill 1853 

Farmer St. Louis, Mo 1866 

Sect. 16 iFarmer, stock raiser, and school director St. Cliarles co.. Mo.... 1857 

...ISect. 16 Wife of Alhci-t E. Kavser Madison co.. Ill 1849 

...I'Wordcn JFarmer, supt.i^ stockholder Worden Min'gCo Westphalia, Prussia... 1857 

...'Worden IWife of Hardwig H. Lueker St. L(mis, Mo .....1867 

...'Worden 'Farmer, proprietor private boarding house.. .|Westphalia, Prussia... 1878 

... Worden AVife of Henry W. Lueker iWestphalia, Prussia...l881 

... Sect. 34 iFarmer and st<)ck.raiser f Luebbecke, West-|1871 

...Sect. 33 jWifeof Henry W. Lueker | plialia, Prussia | 

Worden 'physician audsurgeon. General manager McDonald Coal Co lAberdceU, Scotland... 

... Worden... ...'.!. .IWife of J. H. McDonald jLoudon co., Va 

... Worden General merchant and farmer JMadison co.,Ill 

Worden IWiiC of James McDonnell Co. Tipperary, Ireland 

Dc'd Mr. ll,'79j IPather of James McDonnell Co. Tyrone, Ireland... 

Dec'd ,'54. JMother of James McDonnell Virginia 

Prairie Town. ..IPrairie Town... 'General merchant Madison co., Ill 

" " ... Prairie Town... AVife of John McDonnell England 

Worden Worden General merchant Westphalia, Prussia... 

.. Worden Wife of H. C. Picker St. L^uis.Mo 



1879 
1870 
1851 
1868 
1836 



1852 
1858 
1863 
1862 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



571 



OMPH-GHENT.-poNTi.NUED. 



POST OFFICE. RESIDESCE. 



f Peters, Frank 

1 Johanna Hoffman , 

(Paul, Philip H 

1 Minnie Bierbauni 

j Piper, William J 

( Susan A. McManus 

( Roffmann, W. W 

\ Catherine E. Meyer 

I Schmidt, John 
Philomina J. Schacl'er.. 
Schmidt, George 
Susan Spengcl 
Caroline Weinthaler.... 

Worden, John C 

Virginia W. Weaver... 

'Wildi, Rudolph 

Augusta Vogelsang 

Worden, John C 

Mathias Bowles 

! Luella Bond 



.iWorden . 



OCCUPATION. 



!Dc'd May 10/73 
Dc'dFeb.— ,'52 
St. Louis, Mo... 

Worden 

[Dc'dSep.l2,'81. 

Worden 

Worden 



Worden . 
Worden . 



Sect, l-l Farmer, stock raiser and Mexican veteran... wohicnberg. Banorcr. Gcrni«i,y... 

Sect. 14 Wife of Frank Peters Hildei^hcira, Hanover. 

Worden 'Dealer in drugs, stationerv and jewelrv Madison co., Ill 

Worden Wife of Philip H. Paul.. I ." Madison co.. Ill 

Sect. 24 Farmer and stock raiser Madison co., Ill 

Sect. 24 Wife of William J. Piper Madison co.. Ill 

Sect. .So Farmer and stock rai.ser Kemme, Hanover, Or. 

Sect. 35 iWifeof W. W. Botfmann Madison co., Ill 

Worden Schmidt hotel Highland, 111 

Worden ,... Wife of John Schmidt Highland, 111 

IFather of John Schmidt Alsace, France 

'First wife of George Schmidt Highland 

St. Louis, Mo... Widow of George Schmidt Baden, Germany 

Worden Police magistrate Presion. uncasiiire. Eng 

' Late wife of John C. Worden Virginia 

Worden Hardware and tinware Canton Aargan, Swt'd. 

WorJen Wife of Rudolph Wildi Madison co., Ill 

Director of school district Xo. 7 | 

Worden Farmer and .stock rai.scr Madison co., Ill 

IWorden ;Wife of Mathias Bowles JMadison co., Ill 



1851 
1851 
1854 
1858 
1819 
1836 
1854 
1851 
1852 
1855 
1845 



1853 
1854 
1867 
1872 
1801 



1847 
1851 



CITY OF HIGHLAND AND HELVETIA. 



Adelmann, Theo 

Ammann, Joseph C 

Boeschenstein, Charles.. 

Briner, J. J 

Boeschenstein, Charles.. 

Boeschenstein, Edward... 

Chiprou, Charles P 

Dumbeck, Johann G 

Felder, Abraham 

Feutz, Edward 

Gruaz, Timothy 

Guggenbuehler, John.... 

Grossenbacher, Jacob 

Grantzow, Louis 

; Gisler, Peter 

Eliza Manck 

Huegy, Maurice 

Hoeruer, John S 

Herman, Henry 

' Halter, Louisa (owsuppijer) 

Halter, Dr. Robert 

[Halter, Emma 

Kuhner, Charles F 

Kraeuchi, John 

Leutwiler, Samuel, Jr.... 

LambeLt, Charles 

Meckel, ,1 

Mueller, Henry 

Miller, Adolpii 

Maechtlen, C. L 

Miiller, Anton 

Mojonier, A 

Osthoff, Albert 

Richardson, T. J 

Riniker, H 

Roth, George 

Rutz. G 

Rvhiner, F. C 

Schott, ilartin J 

Suppiger, Charles B 

Schuele, John 

Suppiger, Fred B 

Stoecklin, Arnold 

Suppiger, David 

Spindler, J. J 

Seybt, CH 

Tschudy, Arnold 

Wildi, John, Jr 

AVirz, Arnold 

Zimmerman, Jacob 



Highland . 



Dc'd 



Hi. 



1852 



Oct. 4, 



jhland Superintendent of public school Bavaria, Germany 

" Merchant ' 

" Justice of the peace and notary public Switzerland 

" iBoot and shoe store Switzerland 

" Publisher and editor of Herald [Highland, 111 

" General express deliverer ISwitzerland 

" I Farm machinery iFrance 

" Prop'r of brick "yard and Badischen Hof.....|Weisloch, Baden 

" Physician and surgeon iSt. Galleon, Swttzerl'd 

" Sewing machines IHighland 

" Notary |)ublic and general agency Lyons, France 

" lintel proprietor and ice dealer Highland 

" 'jliller Switzerland 

" jClothing, hats and caps Germany 1864 

" IProprietor of Railroad hotel Haslach, Baden 1864 

" iWife of Peter Gisler Bavaria 1864 

" Banker Highland 1840 

" Publisher of Highland Union Germany |1856 

" Merchant miller Switzerland 1845 

" Retired Canton Luzerne,Sw'd. 1846 



1849 
1852 
1862 
1852 
1848 
1851 
I860 
1855 
1849 
1857 
1851 



1858 
1865 
1845 
1854 
1849 
1866 
1869 



Late husband of Mrs. Louisa Halter Canton Zurich, Swt'd. 

Highland Highland Teacher of vocal and instrumental music Highland, III 

Hardware, farm implements and seed Highland 

Soda factory Highland 

Distiller Highland 

Soda factorv Switzerland 

Catholic Priest West|ilialia 

Bakery and saloon Switzerland 1868 

Apothecary and stationery Germany 1869 

Photographer Germany 1870 

Retired , Switzerland 1844 

Proprietor of Highlaod P.leTttor, dealer In grain, reed and coal iC'antOn VaUtl, Swt'd... 1850 

Hotel proprietor Rhein Pfalz 1866 

Attorney-at-law and editor [Near Highland 1842 

Brick maker Switzerlan d 1863 

Dealer in farm machinery and hardware (Jermany 1846 

Phvsician and surgeon Switzerland 1845 

Of"T. Rvhiner & Co., bankers Highland 1846 

Brewer (iermany 1856 

Saddlerv and harness maker Highland 1852 

Retired". (iermany 1847 

Lumber dealer j Highland 1852 

Saddle and harness maker Switzerland 1845 

Merchant miller 'Switzerland 1834 

Merchant Switzerland 1849 

Merchant miller Ctermany i 

Butcher Switzerland [1861 

Merchant Switzerland 1872 

Cigar manufactvirer Switzerland 1872 

H<3tel Zimmerman Germany 1853 



572 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



CHOUTEAU. 



f Allen, John J 

( Lavina M. Skcen 

I Atkins, Amos 

( Aria Anna Job 

I Buenger, Henry 

1 Maria Prom 

iDunn, Michael 
Mary Ball 
Dunn, Katie 
Dunnagan, Levi S 
Julia E. Edwards 

"! v?arah M. Dunnagan 

\ Elizabeth Dunnagan 

Eniert, Hannah 

Euiert, Wni 

Emert, Dora L. B 

Farmer, Marion 

Farmer, Eliza B 

Feisler, Louis 

Elizabeth Sanders 

Forstiburg, Charles E... 

Caroline L. Dietz 

Forstiburg, Annie M 

Gillham, Wilson W 

Gillhani, Samuel P 

Ollethe AVilson 

Gillham, J. B 

Hattie Siekels 

Hughes, Wm. A 

Sarah Fahnestock 

Harshaw, Wm 

Maria Atkins 

Harshaw, Amos 

Harshaw, John E 

Harshaw, Mary Edith... 

Harshaw, Joseph W 

j Krueger, Robert 

( Anna Hinze 

Kaenders, Peter 

IKunnemann, Wm 
Minna Wezel 
Krauskopf, Theodore..., 
Tranv Stinismire 

f :\I(Cny, .laiiirs D 

I Framis ,i. Slowell 

JMrD'.iiiirll, Miss Mary, 
I !Mrl)oniicll, .lames 

Jloiire, Afarijuis D 

(Marsh, Wm. W 

I Hester Ann Tavlor 

Marsh, John A. 

(Mabee, Annie 

\ Mabee, Fred C 

( James Cahill 

Oldenburg, Henry W... 

f Rapp, Joseph 

I Cordelia Bonnett 

Rapp, John H 

Alevia M. Rapp 

Rammer, Julius 

Sophia Kahle 

Rankins, George 

Minerva Moore 

Recor, John 

Ada J. Job 

Reinamann, Henry 

Christina Kehler 

Rosebury, R. A .,.. 

Nora M. Johnson 

Smalley, David E 

Daisy E. Bennett 

Squire, Henrv C 

Ethel K. Barnett 

Squire, Nora I 



POST OFFICE. 



Long Lake., 



EESIDENCE 



OCCUPATION. 



Venice , 



Edwardsvil 



Alton 

Deceased.... 
Alton 

Long Lake. 



Sect, 

Sect, 
Sect, 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect, 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect, 
Sect. 
Sect, 
Sect. 
Sect. 




26 iFarmer and stock raiser Illinois 1858 

26 1 Wife of John J. Allen Illinois '1862 

4 iFarmer and supervisor jMadLson co.. Ill 11821 

4 IWife of Amos Atkins Madison co.. Ill '1836 

36, (4-10)..[Farmer |Hanover 1867 

36, (4-10).. Wife of Henry Buenger iGermany 1856 



36, (4-10 
36, (4-10).. 
36, (4-10).. 

12 

12 

12 

12 

10 



Alton . 



Edwardsville.. 

Deceased 

Deceased 

Long Lake 

Long Lake 

Alton 

Alton 

Long Lake 



Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 



Venice 

Venice 

Long Lake. 



Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 



Deceased, 1856, 
Long Lake 



Venice 



Farmer jCo. Wicklow, Ireland. 1856 

Wife of Michael Dunn Co. Mayo, Ireland J1853 

Daughter of Michael and Mary Dunn IMadison co.. Ill 1871 

Farmer IMadison co.. Ill 1864 

Wife of Levi S. Dunnagan IScott co.. Ill 1868 

Mother of Levi S. Dunnagan Madison co.. Ill 1813 

Sister of Sarah M. Dunnagan IMadison co.. Ill 1809 

Farmer and stock rai.ser , IGermany 11842 

Late husband of Hannah Emert Madison co., Ill 1843 

Daughter of Wm. and Hannah Emert IMadison co., Ill J1871 

Farmer iKentuckv 1852 

1862 
1846 
1845 
1870 
1857 
1881 
1857 
1809 
1856 



6, (4-10). 



Wife of Marion Farmer jBrunswick co., Va., 

Farmer 'Germany 

Wife of Louis Feisler jHancock co., Ind... 

Farmer Sweden 

Wife of C. E. Forstiburg JAlton 

Daughter of C. E. and Caroline Forstiburg.. Madison co., III. 

Farmer 

Father of WMlson W. Gillham 

Mother of Wilson W. Gillham 

Farmer 

Wife of J. B. Gillham 

Farmer 

Wife of William A. Hughes 

General merchant and saloon 

Wife of Wm. Harshaw 

Eldest son of Wm. and Maria Harshaw... 
Second .son of Wm. and Maria Harshaw... 

Daughter of W'm. and Maria Harshaw 

Son of Wm. and Maria H.arshaw 

Merchandising and saloon 

Wife of Robert Krueger 

Catholic Priest 

Farmer and .stock raiser 

AVife of William Kunneman 

Farmer 

Wife of Theodore Krauskopf. 

Railroad and Telegraph operator 

Wife of .Tames D. McCoy 

Resides with Mrs. Dunn, farming !St. Louis, Mo 

Father of Miss Marv McDonnell [Ireland 



Long Lake., 



Venice 

Venice 

Long Lake., 



Edw.ardsville.. 
Kdwardsville.. 
Long L.ake 



Alton., 
Alton. 
Alton. 



Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
'Sect. 
Sect. 
'Sect. 
'Sect. 



27 

16 

16 

16 

25, (4-10)., 

25 

25 

16 

34 

34 

33 

33 

36, (4-10).. 
86, (4-10) 

20 

20 

21 

21 

33 

33 

1 

1 

33 

33 

4 

4 

4 



Germany 

Hanover, Ger'y. 

Hanover, Ger'y. 

Germany 

Prussia 

Steuben CO., N. Y 11881 

Branch co., Mich '1881 

- - ' -^ ..'1858 

..18.56 

Farmer and stock raiser 'New Orleans 1863 

Engineer on river jPennsylvania jl858 



Madison co., Ill 
Madison co.. Ill 
Pike CO., Ohio.. 

Madison CO., Ill 1841 

Indiana... |1875 

Adams CO., Ill 11855 

Pennsylvania 1 852 

Co. Armaugh, Irerd...'1859 

Madison CO., Ill |1848 

Madison CO., Ill '1870 

Madison co., Ill il871 

Madison CO., Ill 11873 

Madison CO., Ill 11876 

Hanover 11869 

Hanover I860 

1873 
1855 
1855 
1866 
1834 



Ohio 11858 

.Tacksonville, 111 '1877 

Ireland 1859 

Illinois ! 855 

Madison co.. Ill 1864 



Wife of William W. Marsh 

Engineer on river 

Wife of FredC. Mabee 

Farmer and hu.sband of Annie Mabee, 

Son of Thonuas Cahill 

Merchant and farmer Hanover, Ger 

Farmer 'Madison co.. Ill 

Wife of Joseph Rapp jJackson co., W^. Va 

Farmer '.Jefferson co.. Ill 

iWife of John H. Rapp IJeiferson co.. Mo 

Farmer Germany 

AVife of Julius Rammer (Germany 

Farmer ;.Iefferson co.. Mo 

A\''ife of George Rankin Christian co.. Mo... 

Farmer [Canada 

AVife of John Recor 'Madison co 

Proprietor of hotel and saloon [Germany 



Wife of Henry Reinamann. 

Farmer 

AVife of R. A. Rosebury 

Homeopathic phvsician 

AVife of David E. Smalley 

Farmer and fruit grower 

Wife of Henrv C. Squire 

Daughter of Henry C. and Ethel Squire., 



1865 
1853 
1868 
1858 
1865 
1873 
1873 
1865 
1865 
1854 
1849 
1878 

(xermany 11878 

Madison CO., Ill !l852 

Madison CO., Ill 11856 

Illinois :1846 

Ohio '1854 

Madison co.. Ill '1842 

Madison CO., Ill '1853 

Madison co.. Ill l^'^B 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



673 



CHOUTEAU.-CONTINDED. 



J Segar, Joh7i W 

I Josephine Atkins 

( Stein, Ernst 

\ Sophia Wagner 

j Stein, Annie 

( Segar, William A 

I Segar, Henry A 

j Schillinger, John 

I Catharine ElizabethZibold 

I Mary Ann Zibold 

\ Regula Boiler 

f Souhtig, John 

•! Aria Ann Marcuin 

( Sachtig, John L. F 

I St. Clair, Alex 

\ St. Clair, M. A. (n» Hugh.,)... 

( Jessie Hughes 

I Southard, William 

1 Sarah L. Stannard 

I Southard, Lemuel 

I Martha T. (Jillhara 

t S'luthard, Emma M 

Trudell, Frank 

\ M;irv A. Mdfuire 

JTrudell, Emily P 

J Valterott, Honrv 

I Diminika Yohl". 

i Week^, Benjamin W 

\ Clara Luttr'ell 

I Weeks, B. W 



POST OFFICE. 



RESIDENCE. 



Long Lake Sect. 

" 'Sect. 

" " Sect. 

" " Sect. 

" " Sect. 

" Sect. 

" " Sect. 

" " Sect. 

Deceased 

Deceased 

Long Lake Sect. 

" Sect. 

" " IScct. 

" Sect. 

Edwardsville... Sect. 
" ...Sect. 

" ...'Sect. 

" ...Sect. 

...Sect. 
" ...Sect. 

" ... Sect. 

" ... Sect. 

Long Lake Sect. 

" Sect. 

" " Sect. 

" " Sect. 

" " Sect. 

Edwardsville... Sect. 

...jSect. 

" ...Sect. 



OCCUPATION. 



Farmer 

Wife of John W. Segar 

Farmer 

Wife of Ernst Stein 

Daughter of Ernst and Sophia Stein... 

F'armer 

Farmer Madison co.. 111.... 

Farmer Wurtcmburg, (ier 



Madison co., Ill 1844 

Madison co.. Ill 1846 

Hanover 1859 

Hanover 18()3 

Madison co.. Ill 1S80 

.MadLson co., Ill 1858 

18(50 
1855 



,|Wifeof John Schillinger Baden .'. 1856 

JWifeof John S.-hillingcr liaden |1864 

,'Present wife of John Schillinger Switzerland 1868 

.IFarmer and constable IMadison co.. Ill 1853 



Madison co., Ill 1857 

Madison co.. Ill ]1881 

Tenne.«see 1828 

Scott CO., Ill 11863 



Wife of John Sochtig 

Son of John and Aria Sochtig 

Farmer 

Wife of Alex St. Clair 

Daughter of Margaret A. & Sam'lT. Hughes Madison co.. Ill Il867 

Farmer McCracken co., Ky....;1865 

Wife of William Southard (iermany 1865 

Farmer ; Virginia 1841 

Wife of Lemuel Southard Madi.-<on co., Ill 1829 

Daughter of Lemuel and Martha Southard.. ICalifornia 1862 

Farmer iNew York 1881 

Wife of Frank Trudell .^. ICo. Cavan, Ireland 1881 

Madison co., Ind 1881 

Prussia 1874 

Switzerland 1846 

Illinois 1878 

Missouri 1864 

Madison co.. Ill 1875 



Daughter of Frank and Mary Trudell, 
Merchandising, boarding house and saloon.. 

Wife of Henry Vatterott 

Farmer '. 

AVife of Benjamin W. Weeks 

Son of Benjamin W. and Clara Weeks 



MORO. 



Ahlers, Henrv 

f Burwell, G. W 

1 Hattie M. Hovey 

j Becker, John 

I Annie Undderbrink 

f Carter, Henry D 

â– i Hannah Thornton (nee carter) 

( Carter, Henry T 

I Dorsey, Samuel L 

I Mirgaret Smith 

I Dorsey, John W 

I Laura Anthony 

Engelke, Carl 

Mary Wicsniein 

Forman, William C 

Sarah Tipton 

Green, Ephraim 

Ann Robson 

Gay, N. S 

Abigail Higbee 

'Hatcher, C. C 

' Letie Trabue 

1 Ella Lingeufelter 

Heuer, H 

Augusta Kustcr 

Hornback, A. L 

Elizabeth Smith 

Hays, J. C 

Martha M. Scull 

I Hambleton, Mark 

iMary Ann Rogers 
Krinard, Charles 
Anna Boettcher 
Meyer, Margaret 
Meyer, Frederick 

Mever, Henrv 

f MoVehead, Martha.... 
( Morehead, Thomas.... 

Meyer, Fricdericb 

f Preuitt, E. K 

( Mary 51. Kirkpatrick 

79 



iBethalto jSect. 

'Dorsey ISect. 

I " Sect. 

'Moro |Sect. 

I " 'Sect. 

'Dorsey Sect. 

" Sect. 

Dc'd Jul. 21,'44.. 

Moro |Sect. 

" 'Sect. 

" Sect. 

" Sect. 

Prairie Town... Sect. 

" ...;Sect. 

Moro Sect. 

" Sect. 

" Moro 

" Moro 

" Sect. 

" ISect. 

Dorsev Sect. 

Dc'd Jan. 26,'75[ 

Dorseyi 'Sect. 

" 'Sect. 

Dc'dNov.ll,'71 

'Dorsey Sect. 

" Sect. 

" !""""!!!!Sect! 

Omph-Ghent . . . Sect. 

"... Sect. 

Dorsey jSect. 

" Sect. 

Omph-Ghent... Sect. 

Dc'd Ap. 25, "66 

Prairie Town...!Sect. 

Moro Sect. 

Dc'd Oct. 28,'80 

Prairie Town... Sect. 

'Dorsey Sect. 

JDorsey ISect. 



Hanover, Germany.... 

Wayne co., Ohio 

Madi-son co., Ill 

Madison co.. Ill 

Madison co.,Ill 

Madison co.,Ill 



Farmer and laborer 

Contractor 

Wife of G. W. Burwell 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of John Becker 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Mother of Henry D. Carter jSalem co., N. J 

Father of Henry D. Carter 'Smith co., Tenn 

Farmer and stock raiser iKentucky 

Wife of Samuel L. Dorsey Pennsylvania 

Fanner and stock raiser '^Madison co.. Ill 

Wife of John W. Dorsey Madison Parish, La... 

Farmer and stock raiser 'Braunschweig, Ger.... 

Wife of Carl Engelke Hessen Darnutadt,Gr. 

Farmer and stock raiser Lincolnshire, Eng 

Wife of William C. Foreman England 

Coal operator (Staffordshire, Eng 

Wife of Ephraim Green i.adg.u;. Durham co., edb 

Farmer and dairyman New York 

Wife of N. S. Gay Allegheny co.. Pa 

Farmer jTodd co., Ky 

First wife of C. C. Hatcher jMacoupin co., Ill 

Present wife of C. C. Hatcher jMadison co.. Ill 

Farmer Hanover 

Late wife of H. Heuer Prussia 

Farmer and stock raiser Knox co., Ind 

Wife of A. L. Hornback jGlasgow, Scotland 

Farmer and stock raiser Franklin co., Pa 

Wife of J. C. Hayes Cumberland co., Pa... 

Farmer and stock raiser Staftbrdshiie, Eng 

Wife of Mark Hambleton Staffordshire, Eng 

Farmer Saxony, Germany 

Wife of Charles Krinard iMadison co 

Farming and stock raising 'Saxony, Germany 

Late husband of Margaret Meyer iHanover, Germany.... 

Farmer and stock raiser IMadison co.. Ill 

Farming and stock raising Madison co.. Ill 

Late husband of Margaret Moorehead Co. Donegal, Ireland.. 

Farmer and stock rai.ser Madison co.. Ill 

Farmer and stock raiser iMadison co.. Ill 

Wife of E. K. Preuitt Grant co., Wis 



1871 
1858 
1854 
1856 
1859 
1839 
1822 
1827 
1834 
1843 
1844 
1860 
1852 
1853 
1843 
1874 
1863 
1859 
1861 
1861 
1856 
1873 
1855 
1843 
1843 
1850 
1850 
1867 
1867 
1866 
1866 
1872 
1856 
1839 
1836 
1858 
1853 
1868 
1860 
1838 
1860 



574 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



MORO. —CONTINUED. 



POST OFFICE. 



BESIDENCE. 



Preuitt, Abraham Dorsev Sect. 8., 

Mildred Woods iDc'd july6,'61.! 

Louisa Wells iDorsev Sect 8. 



J Pape, Ludwig Prairie Town... 

\ Sophia Engelke jPrairie Town.., 

Rittcr, Reinhard 

(Schubert, George 

( Kalherine Knab 

(Schmidt, Daniel 

I Marv Lehcl 

I Yager, B. T 

(Judy Ann Wilhit 



Sect. 25 

Sect. 25 

Moro 

Moro 

Moro 

Sect. 34 

Sect. 34 

Sect. 3(1 

Sect. 30 



OCCUPATION. 



NATIVITY. 



Farmer and stock raiser Madison co., Ill 1810 

First wife of Abraham Preuitt iMadison co., Ill 1811 

1846 
1850 
1850 
1867 
1867 
1867 
1847 
1852 
1834 
1834 



Present wife of Abraham Preuitt IGermany, 

Farmer and stock raiser [Braunschweig, Ger.... 

Wife of Ludwig Pape I Braunschweig, Ger.... 

Painter St. Louis, Mo 



Druggist and saloon keeper Mcngan, Bavaria, Ger. 

Wife of George Schubert jLincrst(irf,Biivaria,Gr. 

Farmer and stock raiser [He.«se Darmstadt, CJer. 

Wife of Daniel Schmidt iHesse Darmstadt, Ger. 

Farmer and stock rai.ser jMadison co., Va 

Wife of B. T. Yager Mercer co., Ky 



OLIVE. 



fHoxsey, John F 

J Elizabeth Spangle 

] Ho.xsey, John 

I Mary Martin 

( Keown, William H 

< Elizabeth A. Van Sant, 

( Keown, Thomas P., 

( Lane, Elijah 

( Lucy A. Botkin 

I Lovejoy, Andrew 

Orpha (jokkmith 

- Lovejov, E. A 

E.G. ilcDaniel 

I Edwin McDaniel 

(Olive, Joel H 

1 Mary E. Van Sant 

( Pearce, Larkin A 

1 Margaret F. France 

(Ricks, Lewis 

-> Mary Anderson 

( Hester Keown 

J Vovles, Robert Y 

1 A. "J. Colson 



Worden.. 
Worden.. 
Dec'd .... 
Dec'd .... 
Staunton , 



Sect. 
Sect. 



Dec'd Oct. 1867 
Staunton 



Sect. 
Sect. 



Worden . 

Worden . 



.'Sect. 
â–  Sect. 
.Sect. 
.iSect. 
.iSect. 
.Sect. 
.Sect. 
.Sect. 
.'Sect. 
. Sect. 



12. 



Farmer and stock raiser Madison co., Ill 

Wife of John F. Hoxsey iTippecanoe co., lud... 

Father of John F. Hoxsey |Virginia 

Mother of J. F. and wife of John Hoxsey. ..|Madison co., Ky 

Farmer and stock raiser Butler co., Ky 

Wife of William H. Keown Muskingum co., Ohio.. 

Father of William H. Keown iSouth Carolina 

Farmer and stock raiser Sumner co., Tenn 



12 Wife of Elijah Lane IPiekaway co., Ohio... 



Staunton 

Dc'd Dec.30,'66 
De'd July, 1875 

Staunton : 

Staunton 



21 

21 

21 

21 

21 

27 

27 

34 

34 

26 



Sect. 
Sect. 



Farmer and stock raiser 'Tioga co., N. Y, 

Wife of Andrew Lovejoy Chemung co., N. Y.... 

Son of Andrew Lovejoy Tioga co., N. Y^ 

Son of Mrs. Lovejoy Chemung co., N. Y... 

Son of Mrs. Lovejoy Tioga co., N. Y 

Farmer and stock raiser Trigg co., Ky 

Wife of JoelH. Olive iMuskingum co., Ohio. 

Farmer Madison co.. Ill 

Wife of Larkin A. Pearce Montgomery co.. 111... 

Farmer and stock raiser iNash co., N. C 

First wife of Lewis Ricks Stewart co.,Tenn 

Second wife of Lewis Ricks Georgia 

Farmer and stock raiser Madison co., Ill 

Wife of Robert Y. Voyles Madison co.,Ill 



1832 
1849 
1817 
1819 
1824 
1836 
1824 
1852 
1852 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1864 
1828 
1836 
1859 
1865 
1833 
1833 
1829 
1831 
1837 



NAMEOKI. 



Emmert, William T 

Hammacher, Gustav 

Louisa Helhveg 

Hammacher Gustav, Jr... 
Hammacher, AmeliaLouisa 

Hillmer, W 

Carolina Scherer 

Heinemann, Balthaser 

Catherine Rosensteugel... 

Irish, Tyler J 

Lucinda Elliott 

Moellenbrock, Theodore.. 

Margaret Zitzmann 

Moellenbrock, John 

Moellenbrock, Maggie 

Ruwisch, August 

Ruwisch, Wilhelmine 

Ruwisch, August F.' 

Stallings, Thomas 

Rosanna Emert 

Voriihnlil, Casper 

Catherine Buekwinkle.?... 

Whalioir. Elizabeth A 

Deniiisov llarco 

AVhnling, William 

Harrison Bnreo 

Dem])sev Barco 

Peter Barco 

Zimmerman, Henry P 

vSophia Lueders 

Zimmerman, Henry A 

Zimmerman, William 



916 Lebaume st. 
Nameoki 


St. Louis, Mo... 
Sect. 9 




Sect. 9 


Venice 


Sect. 9 

Sect. 9 

Sect. 16 




Sect. 16 


11 


Sect. 15 


11 


Sect. 15 


Nameoki 


Sect, 8 




Sect. 8 




Sect. 15 




Sect. 15 


11 


Sect. 15 


11 


Sect. 15 


11 


Sect. 17 


11 


Sect. 17 


11 


Sect. 17 


„ 


Sect. 11 

Sect. 11 




Sect. 17 


Nameoki 


Sect. 17 




Sect, 15 












Sect. 15 . 




Sect. 15 




Sect. 15 


Nameoki 

Nameoki 


Sect. 8 

Sect. 8 

Sect. 8 


Nameoki 


Sect. 8 



Stock dealer 

Farmer....; 

Wife of Gustav Hammacher ! 

Son of Gustav and Amelia L. Hammacher.. 
Daughterof ( lustav t^ Amelia L. Hammacher 

Farmer and proprietor of .saloon 

Wile of W. Hillmer 

Farmer 

Wife of Balthaser Heinemann 

Physician 

Wife of Tyler J. Irish i 

Farmer 

AVife of Theodore Moellenbrock 

Son of Theodore and Maggie Moellenbrock..! 
Daughter of Theo. and Maggie Moellenbrock 

Farmer 

Wife of August Ruwisch 

Son of August and Wilhelmine Ruwisch 

Farmer 

Mother of Thomas Stallings 

Farmer 

Wife of Casper Vornhold 

Farming 

First husband of Elizabeth Whaling 

Second husband of Elizabeth Whaling 

Farmer, son of Eliz'bth and Dcmpsey Barco. 
Farmer, son of Eliz'bth and Dempsey Barco. 
Farmer, son of Eliz'bth and Dempsey Barco. 

Farmer 

Wife of Henry P. Zimmerman 

Son of Henry P. and Sophia Zimmerman 

Son of Henry P. and Sophia Zimmerman 



Madison co., Ill 

Germany 

Germany.... 

Missouri 

Missouri 

Hanover, Ger 

Prussia, Ger 

Germany 

Germany 

New York 

Jersey co., Ill 

Germany 

St. Clair CO., Ill 

Missouri 

Madison co., Ill 

Hanover, Ger 

Hanover, Ger 

Madison co.. Ill 

Madison CO., Ill 

Viiginia 

Hanover, Ger 

Prussia, Ger'. 

Madison co.. Ill 

Bradford CO., Tenn. 

JIadison co.. Ill 

^Madison CO., Ill 

Madison co.. Ill 

Madison co.. Ill 

Pennsylvania 

Hanover, Ger 

Madison co., HI 

Madison co., Ill 



1854 
1854 
1854 
1872 
1880 
1865 
1879 
1856 
1860 
1848 
1830 
1858 
1876 
1879 
1881 
1848 
1854 
1862 
1842 
1809 
1847 
1851 
1831 
1828 
1828 
1856 
1857 
1861 
1874 
1853 
1879 
1881 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



575 



CITY OF MARINE. 



POST OFFICE. RESIDENCE, 



Adier, Charles Marine. 

f Apffel, William 

jCresseiica Schmid 

i Bernard, Louis F 
Bertha lr>chniidt 
Blanko, F. G 
Christian Bakenhiede jDc'dNov.29,'60 
Christine E. Ortgies Marine 

J Blanke, William " 

( Gertrude S. Bcrnbrock " 

J Deibert, John " 

t Elizabeth Kolb " 

f Eaton, E. M " 

I Elizaln-th Smith " 

I Elbrim:. Otto A " 

\ Eibriiiir. lli'rmann Baltimore 

( Martraret Vondoersteu Dec'dMar.2,'78 

( Eaves, William Marine. 

\ Elizabeth Kuykendall Dee'd , '68 

I Martha Pearee Marine 

Elbring, H. H " 

Anialia Publy " 

Fiseher, Peter " 

Elizabeth Wermeling " 

' Gehrs, Henry " 

Fredrieka Kieutzberg " 

Giesemann, Henry " 

Miena Eickmann " 

Hover, H. A " 

I Annie R. Maud-sley 

I Hettel, John Matliias.. 

I .losephhie Redlicb, (aee Wenzell).., 

jHoppe, Henry 

I T^ciiiL Znrkuhlen 

j H.iiiri.h, Charles 

1 Elizabeth Hoeiung 

j .ludd, Albert H 

( Elizalieth Ann Smith 

Judd, Henry L 

\ Dr. Peter Fisher 

j H. H. Elbring 

Kireheis, John R 

Elise Keller 

Mebolt, F 

Marv Clunii 'i> 

McCiinnis, W. H 

Annie AVells 

j Neudccker, John | 

( Catharine Weisenbacher... 

Parker, Peter G 

fStoeekli, F 

I Elizabeth Liedel 

j Wiedman, P. S 

I Hirrict J. Breath !n« Jeleres.) 

j Wentz, Frieilerich 

{ Wilhelmina Wittmer 




OCCCPATIOS. 



WHEN 
CAMB 

TO CO. 



Marine Blacksmith, wagon maker, dlr. in farm impl'ts Germany 

Barber Germany 18.56 

Wife of William Apft'el Germany 18.}2 

Dealer in general merchandise St. Louis, Mo 1.^58 

Wife of Louis F. Bernard Ma<lison co., Ill 18.")9 

General merchantand postmaster Seelharst, Prussia 1855 

First wife of F. (i. Blanke Seelharst, Prussia 1855 

Marine Present wife of F. G Blanke Pahden, Prussia 1861 

(ieneral merchandise Seelharst, Prus.sia 1857 

Wife of William Blanke Hamm, Prussia 1857 

Dealer in drv goods and clothing Germany 1859 

Wife of Johii Diebert Germany 1859 

Auctioneer Boston, Mass 1853 

Wife of E. M. Eaton Bucks co., Pa 

Marine, 111 18.59 



Salesman 

Father of Otto A. Elbring 

Mother of Otto A. Elbring 

Retired farmer 

Fii-st wife of William Eaves 

Marine Present wife of William Eaves. 



....Baltimore. 



.. Marine . 



... Germany. 1853 

... Germany". 18.53 

... Rutlieriord Co., N. C... 1830 
... Buncombe co., N. C...'1830 

...Madison CO., Ill 1821 

Prop'r Marine hotel, insurance & book agt... [Germany 1853 

WifeofH.H. Elbring Germany 18.53 

Physician and surgeon Prussia 186-t 

Wile of Peter Fischer Mercer en., Ohio 1864 

Dealer in general merchandise iHanover, Germany.... 18.57 

Wife of Henr\' Gehrs Hanover, Germany.... 1857 

Proprietor saloon Bnnvnscheoys, Ger 1865 

Wife of Henr>- Giesemann Germany 

Wason & carriage mnfr., also bridge builderGermany 1844 

I Wife of H. A. Hoyer IManchester, England.l..^.. 

I Dealer in stoves, hardware. HanufaclT of copper i sheet Iron "are. BadcU, Germany 18.55 

!!!...IWife of John Mathias Hettel IBavaria, Germany l^i,')5 

General merchandise Germany 1><7(; 

Wife of Henry Hoppe St. Louis, Mo 1.S.54 

Constable and street commissioner Germany 1860 

Wife of Charles W. Heinrich Lanea.ster co., Pa 

Gr.iin speculator Marine, 111 1842 

Wife of Albert H. Judd London, England 1864 

f For school district No. 2, Marine 

â– ! For school district No. 2, Marine : 

( For school district No. 2, Marine ' ; 

House and sign painter Germany 1875 

Wife of John R. Kirchies (rermany 1S75 

Carpenter and builder Germany 1,S.5(! 

Wife of F. Mebolt Madison co.. Ill 1.S.52 

Minister of the gospel, Christian church Pike co., Mo 1881 

Wife of W. H. McGinnis Schuyler co.. Ill 1881 

Retired miller Germany 1853 

Wife of John Neudecker France 1853 

Druggist and jeweler Madison co.. Ill 18.55 

Proprietor Franklin saloon (xerniany 1877 

Wife of F. Stoeekli Mudison co., 111......... 18.56 

Physician and surgeon Schoharie Co., X. Y... 1857 

Wife of P. S. Wiedman Virginia 

Dealer in hardware, farm implements, etc... Rhein, Bavaria 1849 

(Wife of Friederich Wentz Rhcin, Bavaria 1854 



MARINE TOWNSHIP. 



(Accola, George Marine Sect. 9 Farmer Switzerland 

1 Anna M. Hurlemann " 'Sect. 9 Wife of George Accola t-witzer and 

(Accola, Casper " |Sect. 9 Farmer !-witzerland 

(Catharine Hurlemann " Sect. 9 Wife of Casper Accola ^-witzer and 

j Brunner, Rudolph " Sect. 12 Farmer i^vvitzer an. 

I Miry Bircher " Sect. 12 Wife of Rudolph Brunner Switzerland 

f Bader, .lohn " Sect. 24 J-^.rmer .-Switzerland 

1 Vnn Maria T.Gilgen j " IScct. 24 Wife of John Bader Switzerland 

Hoosin-er, J. W " 'Sect. 2 |Farraer jPortage co., 

Nancv Stockton I " ISect. 2 IWife of J. W. Boosinger |..... 

Balsiger, John, Sr Highland ISect. 36 Farmer and fruitgrower Switzer and, 

Julia Bulliet " Sect. 36 Wile of John Balsiger, Sr , Switzerland 

'Cook, Robert J I " ! Sect. 35 Farmer l5'; ^j'".'' c"- 

Ann M. Laslev " Sect. 35.. 



.1846 
.1852 



,1852 
, 1857 



Ohio. 



1859 
1859 
1852 



AVife of Robert Cook St! Clair co. 



.1848 
. 1S4S 
.1875 
.1875 



576 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS 



MARINE TOWNSHIP-CONTINUED. 



(Ellison, C. M 

- Ellison, Jacob 

( Ellison,Mary (nee Walker) 
I Gottenstrater, Harmann... 

I Margaret Kulins 

(Harrington, John W 

-j Harrington, John 

( HaiTingtoa, ( Matilda K. oec Hlucb) 

j Hentis, Frederick 

( Catherine Meier 

( Howard, George 

1 Mar>' Ann Long 

( Hnrlcniann, Anton 

JRose Debley 

I Ims, Henry, Jr 

\ Ims, Henry, Sr 

( Ims, Elizb'th, (nee Neulsllng). . 

j Iberg, August 

I Anna Maria Zobrist I 

j Iberg, Samuel 

I Caroline Iberg 

Jeffress, A. W 

f Johnson, John 

1 E;iizabeth Fitch 

j Kreutzberg, Conrad. 

( Pahlman, neeGrosenheider 

iKase, Eberhard 
Clara E. Zimmerscheid 
Kjttler, Charles W 
Christina Anselm 

j Leutweiler, Heinrich... 

(Elizabeth Hnber 

j Pence, George S 

( Margaret J. Kepler 

f Schafer, John 

1 Josephine, Kramer 

I Schaf'er, Michael 

( Mary K. Kramer 

I Schmidt, Andreas j 

\ Gertrude Kadel ' 

I RerthaSchmidt, .nceKaufmaim) 

iStoutzeuberg, Joseph I 
Fannie Lehr 
Schoeck, Christian 
Mary Kaum 

J Schmidt, Erasmus 

I Loui.sa Vouegt 

j Suter, Gustav 

I Eliza Hover 

f Voigt, Charles L 

\ Voigt. Ernst L 

I Voigt, Catherine, (ntesciimiijo 

I VoUrath, Jacob 

\ Margaret (Jtillie Hobeoz... 
j Waage, Mrs. Mary (hm docM) 
\ Waage, Conrad C 



POST OFFICE. 



RESIDENCE. 



Marine 

Dec'dAug.l,'81 
Marine 



Dc'd Apr.24,'80 
Marine 



Sect. 3. 



Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 



Dc'd Apr.28,'64 
Marine 



Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 



OCCtrPATION. 



Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 



Highland 
Highland 

Marine 'Sect. 

'Sect. 
ISect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
[Sect. 
ISect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 

" 'Sect. 

" Sect. 

" Sect. 

Dc'dOct.29,'6o.! 

Marine Sect. 

" ;Sect. 

" 'Sect. 

St. Jacobs Sect. 

St. Jacobs Sect. 

Marine Sect. 

Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 

" [Sect. 

Dc'd Xov.30,'61 

Marine iSect. 

" jSect. 

" !Sect. 

Highland jSect. 

Dc'd July 24,'66 



Farmer Madison co., Ill 

Father of C. M. Ellison Long Island 

Mother of C. M. Ellison Norfolk, N. Y 

Farmer i Westphalia, Ger 

Wife of Harmann H. Gottenstrater Indiana 

Farmer iMacoupin co., Ill 

Father of John W. Harrington North Carolina 

Mother of John W. Harrington .Christian co., Ky 

Farmer IGermany 

Wife of Frederick Hentis iGermany 

Farmer |St. Clair co.. Ill 

Wife of George Howard Rockingham co., Va... 

Farmer Switzerland 

Wife of Anton Hurleman IMadison co.. Ill 

Farmer jMadison co.. Ill 

Father of Henry Ims, Jr JRyerfelt, Ger 

Mother of Heniy Ims, Jr Overheim, Ger 

Farmer and stock raiser Madison co.. Ill 

Wife of August Iberg 'Germany 

Farmer iSwitzerland 

Wife of Samuel Iberg Madison co.. Ill 



1854 
1817 
1844 
1856 
1839 
18-50 



1817 
1854 
1854 
1812 
1831 
1852 
1853 
1852 
1844 
1844 
1840 
1845 
1841 
1836 

Virginia 1835 

Rensselaer co., N. Y... 1856 

Augusta CO., Va 1831 

Germany 1860 

Germany '1862 

1858 
1866 



Farmer 

Farmer 

Wife of John Fitch 

Farmer 

Wife of Conrad Kreutzberg 

Farmer Germany 

Wife of Eberhard Kase Germany 

Farmer Westphalia, Ger... 

Wife of Charles W. Ketthr iHaden,Gor 

Farmer Switzerland 

Wife of Heinrich Leutwieler Switzerland 

Farmer Warren co., Ohio., 

Wife of George S. Pence Warren co., Ohio., 

Farmer, born on Mississippi, on steamer Alex. Scott 

Wife of John Schafer Madison co 

Farmer Germany 

Wife of Michael Schafer St. Lonis, Mo 

Farmer ;Germany 



1864 
1864 
1843 
1843 
1856 
1856 
1862 
1853 
1862 
1852 
1837 

First wife of Andreas Schmidt IGermany 1844 

Present wife of Andreas Schmidt Germany 1844 

Farmer Monroe co.. Ill 1S61 

Wife of Joseph Stoutzenberg Madison co., Ill 1862 

Farmer Madison co.. Ill il848 

""" 1850 

1837 
1844 



Wife of Christian Schoeck Madison co., Ill 

Farmer (Jermany 

Wife of Ejasmus Schmidt Germany 

Farmer Switzerland [1856 

Wife of Gustav Suter Germany Il844 

Farmer Madison co.. Ill J1856 

Father of Charles L. Voigt Germany 1844 

Mother of Charles L. Voigt Germany 1839 

Farmer St. Clair co.. Ill 1861 

Wife of Jacob Vollrath Germany 1864 

Farming [Switzerland 1843 

Late husband of Mary Waage [Hanover, Ger 1836 



LEEF. 



Ambuel, John 'Grant Fork [Sect. 28.. 

Terres-a Kraft [ " " [Sect. 28.. 

' Ghidbach, Peter [ " " Sect. 20.. 

.Josephine Deibert [ " " !Sect. 20.. 

Kaltenbacher, Ferdinand.. " " Saline.... 

Mulloy, JohnJ " " Sect. 20.. 

Mead,'G. W Alhamhra Sect. IS.. 

Dugusta Wise jAlhambra Sect. 18., 

Rockwell, G. W [Alhamhra Sect. 16., 

Catherine Peterson Dc'd Mar. 3,'73 

Ransom, A. R Grant Fork Saline.... 

Anna Wilson Grant Fork Saline.... 

jStallings, Mary A Alhamhra ISect. 3... 

j Stallings, Harrison Dc'd Dec. 3,'73.' 

fSl0.S3, Roberto I Pocahontas. Bond Co... Scct. 36. 
Mary Britton [ " ", ...ISeet. 36. 



. Farmer and to\vtiship collector ISwitzerland 

.Wife of John Ambuel St. Louis, Mo 

, Farmer and stock raiser Graufen Coin, Prussia. 

.Wife of Peter Gladbach ! Baden, Germany 

.Proprietor of saloon Germany 

.Farmer and supervisor Co. Mayo,Ireland 

. Farmer and dealer in musical instruraents..|Wyoming, N. Y 

.Wife of (;. W. Mead 'Washington, Pa 

.[Farmer [Clay co.. Mo 

.Late wifcof G. W. Rockwell Madison CO., Ill 

. Physician and surgeon and justice of peace... Gallatin co.. Ill 

. Wife of A. R. Ransom Madison co.. Ill 

. Farmer Madison co., Ill 

. Late husband of Mary A. Stallings Madison co.. Ill 

.Farmer Florence, Alhamhra... 

.[Wife of Robert C. Sloss [Providence, Pa 



1839 

11857 
[1856 



1864 
1864 
1861 
1854 
1838 
1834 
1876 
1858 
1828 
1828 
18f9 
1868 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



677 



FORT RUSSELL. 



Bartels, Philopoena 

Bartels, Charles 

Biilstcrs, Coiiriul 

Ettie M. Eenkcu 

C(>oi)er, J. P 

Dierking, William H 

Xancv L. Talloii 

Estabrook, W. L 

Lillias C. Gilisnn 

Estabrodk, .John 

Estabrook, Nancy (Seewhiie). 

Engelhart , Heurv 

Charlotte Hill...: 

Flajrg, Mrs. W. C 

Flagg, WillardC 

Gaertner, Frederick 

Rebecca IJaurer 

Gait, William 

Eiiiclinc Estabrook 

G(jttk-ib Nictc'rt 

5Ia ry Lasemaii ii 

Gray, John 

Saduie Polev 

Hellrung, Rarthel 

Senoria Jocbl 

Helmkamp, George F 

Emilie M. Beckemeyer 

Hutchins, James D 

Mary J. Doubt 

Herreu, John 

Ida Miller 

Jones, Austin 

Mary A. Morgan 

Lantermann, H. C 

Mary D. Irwin 

Lanterman, William A 

Eliza Luman 

Lanterman, W. H 

Jennie A. Rus-iell 

Lake, Charles A 

Allie M. Robert-on 

Lake, Robert D 

Harriet McGilvary 

Lawrence, Mary Ann. 

Lawrence, George W 

Lautner, Margaret 

John George Lautner 

Morrison, Samuel, Sr 

Martha White 

Maeners, Ernst 

Martha Hamilton 

Meier. John 

Mary Longcndorf 

Miller, Catherine 

Miller, Casper 

Miller, John M 

Margaret Buchta 

McPlierson, Henry C 

Margaret M. Cornelison.... 

McPherson, James 

Sydney A. Lawrence 

Newman, W. E 

Martha A. Harrison 

Xeunaber, George 

Catharine Rankin 

Xe\yman, John R 

Elizabeth Belk 

Owens, J. P 

Sarah L. Jones 

Martin Jones 

Margt. Jones ( nee Wright) 

Preuitt, Wiley 

Martha H. Lyon 

Luther Wells Lyon 



POST OFFICE. RESIDEKCE. 



Edwardsville... Sect. 32, 
Dec'd Apr.6,'71 
Bethalto 



OCCUPATION'. 



NATIVITY. 



Edwardsville. 
Bethalto 



Edwardsyille... 

Dc'd Mav 2, '81 
Dc'd NoV. 3,'81 
Liberty Prairie 
Dc'd Apr. 14,7G 

Moro 

Dc'd Mar..30,'78 
Liberty Prairie. 
Liberty Prairie. 
Ed\vardsville... 
Eilwardsville... 
Liberty Prairie. 
Liberty Prairie. 

Bethal'to 

Bethalto 



Sect. 8... 
Sect. 8... 
Sect. li".. 
Sect. IG.. 
Sect. in.. 
Sect. 14.. 



..Farming Germany 

..Late husband of Philopoena Bartels jGermany 

..Farmer St. Clair co.. Ill 

..Wife of Conrad Balsters Osfriesland, Ger 

.. Farmer Madison en 

.. Farmer Hanover, (iermany. 

.. Wife of William H. Dierking Madison co.. Ill 

.. Farmer Madison co., Ill 



Moro 

Mnro 

Edwar sville. 
Edwardsville. 
Bethalto 



Edwardsville. 
Edwardsyille. 
Moro 



Bethalto... 



Mnro 

Dc d Apr. 17,'79 
Edwardsville... 
Dc'd Feb. 12,'74 
Liberty Prairie. 
Liberty Prairie. 
Omph-Ghent... 
Omidi-Ghent... 
Carpenter 

Edward.sville... 
Dc'd June2,'78 
Edw-ardsville... 
Edwardsville^... 
Moro 



Liberty Prairie 



Edwardsyille... 
Edwardsville... 
Dc'd Feb.in,'47 
Dc'd Aug. 11,'81 
Bethalto 



Sect. 14 Wife of W. L. Estabrook St. Loui.s, Mo.. 

Father of W. L. Estabrook East Lexington, Ma.ss. 

Mother of W. L. Estabrook Charlotte, X. C 

Sect. 13 Fanner Brunswick, Germany.. 

Late wife of Henry Engelhart Prussia 

Sect. 3 Farming ! Windsor co., Vt 

Late husband of Mrs. W. C. Flagg Madison co., Ill 

Sect. 23 Farmer and storekeeper Darmstadt, Germany.. 

Sect. 23 Wife of Frederick Gaertner Darmstadt, Gernnmy.. 

Sect. 14 Farmer Ayrshire, Scotland 

Sect. 14 Wife of William Gait Madison co.. Ill 

Sr(.'t. '^'1 FurillCr Bcrckoburg, Lippe, Schaumburg... 

Sect! 2ll!!!!!!!! Wife of Gottlieb Xietert Missouri 

Bethalto Saddle and harness maker Madison co., II! 

Bethalto Wife of John Gray JIacoupin co.. Ill 

Sect. 1 Farmer and stock 'raiser Saxony, Germany 

Sect. 1 Wife of Barthel Hellrnng Switzerland 

Se^t. 4 Farmer and stock raiser St. Lnuis, Mo 

Sect. 4 Wife of Geo. F. Helmkamp St. Lnuis, Mo 

Suet. 15 Farmer and stock r.aiser Calvert co, Md 

Sect, l.'j ;Wife of James D. Hutchins Madi.-snn co., Ill 

Sect. 20 Farmer Osfrie.sland, Germany. 

Sect. 20 IWife of John Herren |Osfriesland, Germany. 

Sect. 19 Farmer and stock raiser Madison co.,Ill 

Sect. 19 AVife of Austin Jones Madi.son co., Ill 

Sect. 19 Farmer Sangamon co., Ill 

Sect. 19 Wife of H. C. Lanterman |Edwardsyille, 111 

Sect. 16 Farmer and stflck raiser Fleming co., Ky 

Sect. II) Wife of Wm. A. Lanterman Lewis co., Ky 

Sect. Ki Farmer; son of Wm. A. and E. Lanterman. Madison co.. Ill 

Sect. 16 Wife of W. H. Lanterman Macoupin co., Ill 

Sect. 21 Farmer and stock raiser Madison co., Ill 

Sect. 21 Wife of Charies A. Lake Madison co.. Ill 

Sect. 21 Farmer and stock raiser St. Louis, Mo 

Sect. 21 Wife of Robert D. Lake -Macoupin co., Ill 

Sect. 4 Farming and stock raising :Logan co., Ky 

Late husband of Mary A. Lawrence Madison co., Ill 

Sect. 26 Farming '. Bavaria, Germany 

iLate husband of Margaret Lautner Bavaria, Germany 

Sect. 12 IParmer Go. Tyrone, Ireland... 

Sect. 12 Wife of Samuel Morrison Co- Tyrone, Ireland... 

Sect. 1 Farmer Friestland, Germany.. 

Sect. 1 AVife of Ernst Maeners St. Louis, Mo '.... 

Silt. 12 Farmer Madison co., Ill 

Sect. 12 Wife of John Meier Germany 

Sect. 34 Fanning Go. AVexford, Ireland. 

Late husband of Catharine Miller Carlsruhe, Germany... 

Sect. 22 Farmer Bavaria 

Sect. 22 lAVifeof John M. Miller Bavaria 

Sect. 5 'Farmer Logan co., Ky 

Sect. ') AVife of Henry C. McPherson.... Pierce co., Wis 

Sect. 9 Farmer and stock raiser Logan co., Ky 

Sei t. 9 AVife of James McPherson Madison co.. Ill 

Sect. 11 Farmer and stock raiser Madison co.. Ill 

Sect. 11 Wife of AV. E. Newmann Sangamon co.. Ill 

Sect. 14 Farmer Hanover, Germany.... 

Sect. 14 1 AVife of (Jenrge Xeunaber Hanover, Germany.... 

Sect. 11 [Farmer and stock raiser Madison en.. Ill 

Sect. 11 jAVife of .John R. X'ewman A'orkshire, England.... 

Sect. 20 Fanner and st^ck raiser Davidson co., Tenn... 

Sect. 20 Wife of J. P. Owens Madison co., Ill 

Father of Mrs. J. P. Owens 

'Mother of Mrs. J. P. Owens A'irginia 

Sect. 18 jFarmer Madison co., Ill 

Sect. 18 AVife of AVilev Preuitt Windom, Conn 

Sect. 18 Father of Mrs. AA^Iev Preuitt [AVindom, Conn 



1856 
'I8.i6 

!l8r)8 
'1879 
1848 
1874 
1843 
1833 
186.5 
1816 
1820 
1841 
1844 
1806 
1829 
1858 
11858 
1845 
1826 
18,54 
18.54 
48,58 
1862 
1852 
1.854 
1866 
1881 
1841 
1840 
1851 
1 .S65 
1844 
l.S,50 
1869 
1844 
1819 
,1828 
1858 
18,- 7 
11856 
1864 
18,53 
1869 
18.59 
1830 
1848 
1839 
18.55 
18.55 
1868 
1866 
1852 
1862 
bS.'-'S 
18.36 
1851 
1840 
1859 
1874 
18.59 
18.52 
1821 
1834 
1866 
1.S66 
1818 
1843 
18.38 
1826 



1806 
1.827 
1836 
1836 



578 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



FORT RUSSELL.-coNTiNUED. 



POST OFFICE. RESIDENCE 



Patterson, Andrew C 

Janette E. Harvey 

Paddock, iSusan 

Paddock, Gains ." 

Paddock, Mary (nee Wood) 
'Paul, Henry 

Louisa Sclilicpsick 

I Catlu'iiiie Mover 

Prany:e, Cliarlcs W 

\ Julia Kleffnum 

( Richmond, Volney P 

\ Victoria E. West 

(Harriet Anthony 

â–  Robinson, Sidney 

I. J. Harlan 

Robinson, W. S. B 

Robinson Letitia, nee White 

Russell, CO 

Lizzie Palmer 

I Springer, Thomas O.... 

Emily M. Thompson.., 

Ella J. Randie 

fStahlhut, F. 

I Louisa S. Nietret 

(Sfheer, D. C 

â– ', Christina Eva Cappel 
( Louisa D. Dierkiug... 

f Silland, John 

I Theresa Young 

fStulkin, Henry J 

Catherine W. Smith... 

Mary J.Young 

fStillwell, Nimrod 

Phoebe Surrett 

Lorena Lawrence iBethalto . 

( Smith, Wm. A iMoro 



Edwardsville.... Sect. 15 
" ... Sect. 15 

More Sect. 3.. 

Dc'dAug.lO,'31 
Dc'd Julvl5,'51 
Omph-Ghent.... 
Dc'd Oct. —.'61 
Omph-Ghent.... 
Edwardsville.... 



OCCUPATION. 



NATIVITY. 



Moro 

Dc'd Sept.8,'56. 

Moro 

Liberty Prairie 
Liberty Prairie 
Liberty Prairie. 
Dc'dSep.10,'79. 

Bethalto 

Bethalto 



Sect. 1... 
Sect. 36., 
Sect. 36., 
Sect. 10. 



Sect. 10. 
Sect. 11. 
Sect. 11. 
Sect. 11. 



Bethalto . 
Bethalto . 



Bethalto Sect. 30 

Dc'd Jan.21, '58 
Bethalto . 
Edwardsville.... 



Sect. 30., 
Sect. 22., 
Sect. 22., 
Sect. 14., 



Liberty Prairie. 
Dc'd Apr.23,'52 
Liberty Prairie. Sect. 14. 

Carpenter Sect. 9.., 

:Sect. 9.. 

Edwardsville.... Sect. 28, 

Dc'd Nov. 8,'74. 

Edwardsville... .jSect. 28 

Bethalto iSect. 5.. 

iDc'd June, '35. 

Sect. 5.. 
...Sect. 6 



I Pollv Ann Lanterman Moro Sect. 6.... 

JSL0tt,Eliz'th J. (neeBaird) Bethalto 'Bethalto jRetired 



Farmer 

Wife of .\ndrew C. Patterson 

Farming and stock raising...; 

Father of Susan Paddock 

Mother of Susan Paddock 

Farmer and stock rai.scr 

First wife of Henry Paul 

Present wife of Henry Paul 

Farmer 

Wife of Charles W. Prange 

Farmer a nd fine stock raiser 

First wife of Volney P. Richmond 

Present wife of Volney P. Richmond 

Farmer 

Wife of Sidney Robinson 

Father of Sidney Robinson 

Late wife of W. S. B. Kobin.son 

Barber 

Wife of C. C. Russell 

Farmer 

First wife of Thomas O. Springer 

Present wile of Thomas O. Springer 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of F. C. Stahlhut 

Farmer and stock raiser 

First wife of D. C. Scheer 

Present wife of D. C. Scheer 

Wagon maker 

Wife of John Silland 

Farmer and stock I'aiser 

First wife of Henry J. Stulkin 

Present wife of Henry J. Stulkin 

Farmer and stock raiser 

First wife of Nimrod Stillwell 

Present wife of Nimrod Stillwell 

Farmer 

Wife of William A. Smith 



Madison co.. Ill '1845 

Madison co.. Ill '|1844 

Middleborough. Mass. 1835 
Middleborough, Mass. 1815 
Middleborough, Mass. 1815 

Bavaria, Germany 1854 

Liber, Germany... 
Istrap, Germany... 

St. Louis, Mo 

St. Louis, Mo 

slock. WiDdior CO.. V\ 

Edwardsville, 111. 

Sberburur, Rutland co. VI 

Madison co., 111... 
Macoupin co.. 111. 
Lincoln co., N. C. 
Lincoln co., N. C, 
Wabash CO., 111.... 
Madison co.. 111... 
Madi.son co., 111... 
Madison co.. 111.., 
St. Clair co.. 111.. 
Madison co., 111.. 
Madison co., 111.. 

Hanover, Ger 

Bavaria, Ger 

Hanover, Ger 

Herman, Mo 



( Scott, Richard Dec'd Oct. 4, '65 



Bethalto . 



( Scott, C. L. (nee Chapman) Bethalto 

' Scott, J. H pc'ilDcc.31,'64 

'Smith, Christian P lEdwanlsville... 

Frances Kaiser JEdwardsville ... 

[ Schwarzkopf, Bernhard Liberty Prairie. 

Josepha Klaus Dec'd 1866 

Friederika Krieger iLibertv Prairie. 

J Silland, L iLibertv Prairie.iSect. 9, 

I M. Miller ILibertv Prairie. Sect. 9 



Sect. 28., 
Sect. 28., 
Sect. 23. 



Sect. 23. 



iSchmiz, G. A 
Mary Hilldermau., 
f Weiss, Friedrick.. 
I Marv A. Bauer.... 

J Welker, L 

( Elizabeth Crosby. 



Bethalto 

Bethalto 

Liberty Prairie. 
Liberty Prairie. 
Alton Junction. 
Alton Junction. 



Bethalto . 
Bethalto . 
Sect. 12.. 
Sect. 12.. 
Sect. 35.. 
Sect. 35.. 



Late husband of Elizabeth J. Scott 

Retired 

Late husband of C. L. Scott 

Farmer 

Wife of Christian P. Smith 

Wagonmaker and blacksmith 

First wife of Bernhard Schwarzkopf. 

Present wife of Bernhard Schwarzkopf.. 

Blacksmith 

Wife of L. Silland 

Jeweler 

Wife of G. A. Schmiz 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of Friedrick Weiss 

Farmer 

Wife of L. Welker 



1861 
1881 
1881 
1819 
1828 
1837 
1834 
1853 
1815 
1817 
1868 
1858 
1827 
1827 
1844 
1855 
1860 
1842 
1845 
1853 
1862 

Darmstadt |1859 

Oklenbcrg, Ger 1844 

Hesse Darmstadt 

Madison co., 111.., 

Berk co., N. C... 

Davidson co., N. C ,1834 

Davidson co., Teun...'1830 

Cumberland co.. Pa.. .11843 

Madison CO., Ill ^1840 

Madison co.. Ill 1840 

Alabama 

Madison co.. 111.... 

Madison co., Ill ... 

Hess'e Darmstadt.. 

Hanover, Ger , 

Wurtemburg, Ger, 



1861 
1834 



1841 
1836 
1847 
1848 
1859 



1867 

.Germany 1853 

. IGerniany i 1853 

Germany '1869 

Monroe co.. Ill 1860 

Saxony, Ger 1849 

Darmstadt, Ger 1848 

Knox CO., Ohio 1857 

Madison co.. Ill .1841 



WOOD RIVER. 



Upper Alton.... 
Dc'd Dcc.15,'65 
Upper Alton.... 
Upper Alton.... 

Bethalto 

Bethalto 

Upper Alton 
Upper Alton 
Bethalto 



iBadley, Sarah Ann.. 
Badley, Wm 
Bulkley, Justus 

iMary B. Rice 
Bangert, Jacob C... 
Catherine Humra 
Cartwright, George. 

( Charity Bachard 

rClark.'Wm. G 

J Clark, James F 

I Clark, James W 

I Fannie Smith 

(Flick, Conrad 

\ Mary J. Williams.... 
I Fliciv, Marv Lenora. 

TGillham, Shadrach B Upper Alton.... 

I Martha Smith Upper Alton.... 

â– ' Gillham, Thomas [Dc'd Nov. 8,'44, 

I Gillham, Mirsraret L lOc'd Dec.22,'62 



Sect. 9.. 



Sect. 6 

Sect. 6.... 
Bethalto . 
Bethalto . 

Sect. 4 

.â– Sect, 4.... 
Bethalto . 



Dc'd June 5,'68. 
Bethalto 



Howard co.. Mo 

Worcestershire, Eng... 
Livingston co., N. Y., 
Campbell co., Va 



1834 
1840 
1842 
1880 
1865 
1X65 
1851 



Farmina: and stock raising 

Late husliaiHJ of Sarah A'. Badley 

Prof, of Sliurtlctr College 

Present wife of Justus Bulkley 

Dealer in boots and Shoes....." 'Germany 

Wife of Jacob C. Bangert [Germany 

Farmer [Yorkshire, Eng. 

Wife of George Cartwright lYorkshire, Eng [1852 

Miller ^Adams co.. Ill [1877 

Miller [St. Louis, Mo 1878 

Foreman or Prosident Mills and Father or Wm. G. aud J. F. l-Mnrk .lUtica, N. Y 18/8 

Wife of James W. Clark [Ireland 1878 

Contractor and builder [Somerset co.. Pa 1855 

Late wife of Conrad Flick Madison co l""," 

Daughter of Conrad Flick iMailison co 1867 



Bethalto . 

Sect. 8 Fanner ami fruit raiser 

Sect. 8 jWifc of Sliadracli B. Gillham.... 

Father of Shadrach B. Gillham 

iMother of Sliadiivh B. Gillham 



Madison CO., Ill 1831 

Madison Co., Ill 1833 

North Carolina 1800 

South (Vrlinn 1810 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



579 



WOOD RIVER— CONTINUED. 



POST OFFICE. 



OCCUPATION. 



NATIVITY. 



Farmer Farqiier co., Va.... 

Late wife of William Gill Woodford uo., Ky., 

. Farmer Si'liuvlkill co., Pa.. 

Wife of Peter S. Greenwood Ohio 

..'Gardener Germany. 



(Gill, William Upper Alton... Sect. 10... 

(Elizabeth Trabue Dc'd Jan. 6, '81 

(Greenwood, Peter S [Bethalto Sect. 2... 

(Sarah M. Crawford Bethalto Sect. 2... 

( Gaeller, Michael lAlton Junction Sect. 18.. 

JMarvStutz Alton Junction Sect. 18 Wife of Michael Gaeller Germany 

Gesenhues, Herman Bethalto Bethalto iRector St. Martin's Catholic church St. Limis, Mo... 

( Haller, A. G Alton Junction Sect. 29 IFarmer Madison co., 111.... 

I Anna Tipel " " jSect. 29 Wife of A. G. Haller .Madi.son co.. III.... 

( Koch, John j " " Alton J'unctioniMerchant and grocer (iennany 

1 Henricttc .locsting ' " " JAlton Junction 'Wife of John Koch iCrerniany 

J Koort, Hcniv M jUpper Alton... Sect. 4 JFarmer and stock raiser iGermany 

I Eleanoni W iltfcld |Upper Alton... Sect. 4 |Wife of Henry M. Koort IMadison co.. 111.... 

(Miller J A Bethalto Bethalto iDealer in hivrdware and farm implements.... Baltimore, Md 

\ Marv E. Hagerman â–  " Bethalto Wife of J. A. Miller Dearborn co., Ind 

( Montgomerv, Hampton ....! " Sect. 13 iFarmer and stock raiser Madison co. 111.... 

i Martha Green Dc'd Nov. 2, '70' iLate wife of Hampton Montgomery \\ ilkes co., JN. C 1862 

( McKenzie, Joseph H Upper Alton... ISect. 8 iBroom manufacturer lelfcr.son co., Ky 1847 

t McKenzie, Jame.s...; Dc'd Ap. 16, '78 Father of Joseph H. McKenzie Ireland 

J Mcintosh, Francis M Upper Alton... Sect. 22 Farmer Union co.. 111...., 

I Millie E. Griffin Dc'd June 5, '76| Late wife of Francis M. Mcintosh Madison co.. III.. 

j Phaver, Mary Upper Alton... 'Sect. 8 Farming Wexlord co., Ireland...l852 

I Phayer, Joseph D Dc'd May 4, '70l iLate husband of Mary Phayer Limerick co., Ireland.. 1852 

( Rodgeii, Andrew F Upper Alton... iSect. 3 IFarmer and stock raiser Howard co.. Mo 1834 

I Jane F. Delaplain " " ...Sect. 3 Wife of Andrew F. Kodgers Madison co., Ill |1838 

I Rodgers Edward ! " " ... Sect. 5 Farmer and stock raiser Madison co.,Ill 1839 

I Ella Hewit " " ... Sect. 5 Wife of Edward Rodgers ;Madison co.. Ill il851 

"> Ebenezer Rodgers..... Dc'd Ap. 26, 'ol! Father of Edward Rodgers Monmouthshire,, Eug. 1834 

1826 



1835 
1836 
1858 
1860 
1867 
1867 
1881 
1836 
1844 
1868 
1869 
1874 
1858 
1834 
1834 
1833 



1847 
1843 
1852 



\ Permelia Jackson Upper Alton 

(Randle, Edward B Bethalto [Bethalto 

\ Mary E. Powers Dc'd Oct, 10, '67' 

(Marv Etta Nclscm Bethalto Bethalto 

( Rotsch, Rlu-inhold Betludto ISect. 11.. 

\ Mary Kamann Dc'd Sep. 15,'72 



Mother of Edward Rodgers Kentucky 

Dealer in drugs, liardware, agriculfl inqilt's Madison co., 111.. 

First wife of Edward B. Randle New York 

Present wife of Edward B. Randle iNew Himpshire 

Farmer and stock raiser iMadison co., 111.. 

^^„ ^._ First wife of Rheinhold Rotsch Germany 

, Mary Smith..........!.!. Bethalto.. .......ISect. 11 IPiesent wife of Rheinhold Rotsch IJackson co.. Mo. 

( Souires, Jeremiah Upper Alton... Sect. 6 Farmer Madison co.,Ill 18.57 

1 Marv J. Evans Upper Alton... Sect. 6 Wife of Jeremiah Squires North Wales 1859 

( Schmidt, Nicolas Bethalto Bethalto ICarpenter Germany 1861 

"(Ottele Stoehr Bethalto Bethalto 'Wife of Nicolas Schmidt Monroe co., Ill ;1861 

(Squires, Amos Alton Junction Sect. 22 Farmer jMadison co., Ill 

i Lucv Jackson i " " iSect. 22 Wife of Amos Squires |Madison co.. Ill 



1881 
1850 
1852 
1862 



J Wiedmer, John Bethalto. 

I Catharine Grob I " 



Weaver, Franklin J " 

Mary A. Gibbs iDc'd Apr. 7, '81 

Williams, Lydia (nâ„¢Moore)...|Upper Alton... 

Williams, Madison Dc'd Jan. 25,'68 

Young, Peter Alton Junction'Sect. 26, 



1831 
1836 
1836 
1840 
1864 
1864 
1864 

iBethalto iSuperinteudent President mills Switzerland 1854 

Bethalto 'Wife of John Wiedmer iSwitzerland 

Bethalto i Engineer President mills '.\rkansas co.. Ark. 

Late wife of Franklin J. Weaver lEast Tennesee 

Farming JMadison co.. Ill 

Late husband of Lydia Williams Knox co., Tenn.... 

Farmer and stock raiser Belgium , 



f Smith, Upton I " " Sect. 35 Farmer Madison co.. Ill 

I Emma Kimball ' " " |Sect. 35 'Wife of Upton Smith Indiana 

(Van Prefers, M. H tipper Alton... (Sect. 17 Farming lefferson co.. Mo 

\ Van Prefers John F Dc'd Jan. 26,'70' Late husband of M. H. Van Preters IWashington co.. Mo... 

Van Preters Louis B I Dc'd Aug. 8, '75' ;Son of John T. and M. H. Van Preters Jetterson co.. Mo 



1848 
1849 
1855 
1821 
1835 
1858 
Anna'Smith.'..................! Alton Junction Sect. 26 |Wife of Peter Young IGermany |1865 



Sect. 2.. 



HELVETIA. 



f Baumann, Christ 

( Anna Habbegger 

( Bellm, Vallentine.... 
\ Barbara Buchiiiann. 

( Blacet, Francois 

I Juliet Astopiiey 

j Buchmann, Joseph.. 
( Mary Y'ann 

ICuddv, Julia 
Cuddy, Sarah A 
Cuddy, Ephraim D.. 
Cuddy, George 
Mary Faires 

IDelassus, Isaiah 
Delassus, Henry 
Delassus, Edward C. 
Delassus, Zeline (He" Boiteo... 



Highland |Sect. 1... 

" ISect. 1... 

" Sect. 9... 

Sect. 9... 

Sect. 24.. 

" Sect. 24.. 

" Sect. 4... 

" Sect. 4... 

" Sect. 9... 

" Sect. 9... 

" Sect. 9... 

Dc'd July 25,'71 

Dc'dJulyl7,'56l 

Highland ISect. 13.. 

Highland Sect. 13.. 

Dc'd Jan. 4, '76 

Dee'd , '60 



Farmer and highway commissioner 

Wife of Christ Baumann 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of Valentine Bellm 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of Francois Blacet 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of Joseph Buchanan 

Farming 

Farming 

Farmer 

Father of Julia, Sarah and Ephraim Cuddy 
Mother of Julia, Sarah and Ephraim Cuddy 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Father of Isaiah and Henry Dela-ssus 

Mother of Isaiah and Henry Delassus 



Canton Bern, Swtzld.. 
Canton Bern, Swtzld.. 
Laugenbruchen, Bdn.. 
Canton Luzern,Swtz'd 
Dept. Aisne, France... 
Canton Voud, Swtzld.. 

Madison co., Ill 

Jefferson CO., Ky 

Madison co.. Ill 

Madison co., Ill 

'Madison co., Ill 

Tennesee 

Madison CO., Ill 

Madison co.. Ill 

'Madison co.. Ill 

Dept. Aisne, France... 
Dept. Somme, France 



1862 
1850 
1845 
1833 
1853 
1840 
1852 
1871 
1852 
1850 
1859 
1816 
1821 
1857 
1859 
1849 
1849 



580 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



HELVETIA.-CONTINDED. 



POST OFFICE. 



f Delassus, Edward 

I Leah R. Treinblay 

( Drancourt, Hippolyte 

I Ernestine, Rogier, nee DnjnrjiD 

( Good, Jacob 

] Louise Burclvard 

f Hagnaiier, Wni 

I Elizabctli Mueller 

f Heinrich J. Gottlob 

1 Christina Rohrauer 

I Koehler, Melchior 

I Catherine Guentei- 

iKeilbach, Franz 
Christine Gundli 
Koch, Fritz 
Leh na Wi n ter 

f Latzer, Louis 

I Mary Wilt 

I Luehni, Albert 

I Luehm, Eliza 

1 John Leder 

I Luehm, Barbara, (uee Biei.od) 
f Luehm, John.» 

< Elizabeth Werndli 

( Anna Sehaft'ner 

j Lebeque, Jules 

1 Neree Rogier 

f Lorenz, Frank 

j Louisa Hausle 

( Meyer, J. Henry 

] Caroline Andres 

j Malan, Louis 

( Helena Demoulin 

j N^ittier, Emil, Sr 

K Eliza Josephine Nattier... 
( Dina Ledouble 

Ramsey, William S 

f Rosier, John B 

1 >Liry Brauchaud 

I Rietmann, A 

I Sophia Wyss 

( Schmiedlin, John F 

1 Virginia J. vSchiele 

J Schlicht, Jacob 

( Bertha Lang 

(Streif, C. Michael, Jr 

I Louisa B. Schmidt 

Storbech, Friedrich 

A. Mary Good 

Siippiger, Robert 

Mary Hagnauer 

Vuliiet, Louis F 

Athaliah Sevceriat 

f Walter, Albert 

j Sophia Bender 

I Widmer, Maurice 

( Magdalena Rail 

I Yann, John 

I Caroline Hochulie 

1 Zobrist, Henry 

I Eliza Leutwiler 

j Zobrist, Edward 

1 Miry A. Gruonig 

f Zolk, Sebastian 

< Amansia Gundli 

i Rosa Rail 

I Zoller, Armand 

1 Blanch Paris 

f Zilles, John 

1 Dorothea Brackhahn 



Highland . 



RESIDENCE. 



De.e'd 1867 
Highland., 



OCCUPATION. 



Sect. 13 Farmer and school director 

Sect. 13 Wife of Edward Delassus 

Sect. 26 Farmer and stock raiser 

Late wife of Hijipolyte Drancourt 

[Sect. 28 Farmer and stock raiser 

.ISect. 28 Wife of Jacob Good 

.ISect. 31 jFarmer, stock raiser and school trustee.. 

.ISect. 31 iWife of William Hagnauer 

Sect. 21 'Fai-mer and stock raiser 

. Sect. 21 IWife of J. Gottlob Heinrich. 

. Sect. 18 

I Sect. 18 
.ISect. 33, 

Sect. 33, 
.'Sect. 10 



Dc'd July, 73. 
Highland 



Dc'd Dec.12,'77 
Highland 



Deceased.. 
Highland. 



Farmer and stock raiser., 

Wife of Melchior Koehler 

Farmer 

Wife of Franz Keilbach 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Sect. 10 jWifeof Fritz Koch 

Sect. 17 Fanner and supervisor 

Sect. 17 jWife of Louis Latzer 

Sect. 19 ! Farmer and stock raiser 

Sect. 19 [Wife of Albert Luehm 

Sect. 19 |Re tired farmer 

Sect. 19 iMotherof Albert Luehm 

Sect. 30 (Farmer and stock rai.ser 

First wife of John Luehm 

Sect. 30 'Present wife ot John Luehm.. 

Sect. 13 1 Farmer and stock raiser 

Sect. 13 jWife ot Jules Lebeque., 

Sect. 32.... 
Sect. 32.... 
Sect. 31.... 



.Madison CO., Ill 1851 

,lClinton co., HI {1862 

,iDep't Somme, France. 1849 
.Dep't Nord, France... 1851 

. Madison CO., Ill Il855 

.Madison CO., Ill 1857 

.{Madison CO., Ill {1842 

.;Canton Aargau, Swt'd|1855 
. Waiblingen, Wurt'bg.|l854 
. Waiblingen. Wurt'bg. 1856 

, ;Ei!ena(;hSa!ien Woimar 1859 

, [Riseaach Snxeo Weimar 

.(Baden 

. Canton St.Gallen,Sw'd!l842 
. Canton Aargau, Swt'd.'1857 
. Schaumberg, AVurt'bg. 1867 

.'Madison co.. Ill 1848 

, Madison CO., Ill 1852 

Madison CO., Ill 1850 

, Highland, 111 ilS52 

{Canton Aargau, Swt'd.{1845 
. Canton Aargau, Swt'd. 1848 

Canton Aargau, Swt'd. 11861 
.'Canton Aargau, Swt'd. 1861 
.Canton Aargau, Swt'd. [1855 



1859 
1852 



Sect. 13 
Sect. 13 
Sect. 12, 



Favmer 

Wife of Frank Lorenz 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Late wife of J. Henry Meyer 

Farmer and school director 

Wife of Louis Malan 

Farmer City of Chaunev, Dep't 

First wife of Emil Nattier.. .City of Chauney 

Present wife of E. Nattier.. .City of Chauney 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of John B. Rogier 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of A. Reitmann 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of John F. Schmiedlin 

Fanner and stock raiser 

Wife of Jacob Schlicht 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of C. Michael Streif, Jr 

Farmer and stork raiser 

Wife of Friedrich Storbech 

Miller 

Wife of Robert Suppiger 

Preacher of French Congregational church. 

Wife of Rev. Loui.s F. Vuliiet 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of Albert Walter 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of Maurice Widmer 

Sect. 3 'Farmer and stock raiser 

Sect. 3 !Wife of John Yann 

Sect. 7 IFarmer and stock raiser 

Sect. 7 {Wife of Henry Zobrist 

Sect. 20 IFarmer and stock raiser, 



Sect. 12 

Sebastopol 

Sect. 24 

Sect. 24 

Sect. 3 

Sect. 3 

Sect. 21 

Sect. 21 

Sect. 20 

Sect. 20 

Sect. 29 

Sect. 29 

Sect. 20 

Sect. 20 

Sect. 5 

Sect. 5 

Sect. 6 

Sect. 6 

Sect. 18 

Sect. 18 

Sect. 29 

Sect. 29, 



France 

Orchies, France 

Germany 

Switzerland 

St. Gallen, Swt'd 

Madison co., Ill 

Piedmont, Italy 

Dep't of Nord, France. 

Deslaine, France 

yDep't Deslaine, Fr 



1851 



1843 
1851 
1855 
1842 
1858 
1861 
1860 
1856 

Dep't Des'aine, Fr 1856 

Sebastopol 1843 

Orchies, France 1851 

Canton Vaud, Swt'd... 1850 

vSt. Gallen, Swt'd 1848 

Citv of Berne, Swt'd... 1851 

Mu'ehlheim, Baden 1854 

Trenton, N. J 1855 

Waiblingen, Wurt'bg. 1856 
Canton Aargau, Swt'd. 1 1 855 



St. Louis, Mo 

Marine, 111 

Osterberg, Prussia 

Madison co., Ill 

Sursee, Switzerland.... 

Madison co., Ill 

Canton Vaud, Swt'd... 
Paris, France 



1852 
1851 
1861 
1846 
1845 
1842 
1848 
1862 
Phillippsburg, Baden.. 1854 

Madison co.. Ill 1843 

Highland, 111 1854 

Madison co., Ill 1854 

Jefferson co., Kv 1871 

Madison co.. 111." 1861 

â–  " 1846 
1846 
1850 



.Sect. 20 

.iSect. 20 



Dc'd Sep. 10,'61 
Highland| 



iSect. 20.. 
Sect. 10.. 
Sect. 10.. 
Sect. 24., 
{Sect. 24., 



Wife of Edward Zobrist 

Farmer and stock raiser 

First wife of Sebastian Zolk.... 
Present wife of Sebastian Zolk. 

Farmer and stock I'aiser 

Wife of Armand Zeller 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of John Zilles 



\argau, Switzerland.. 
Atlantic Ocean 
Madison co.. Ill 
Canton Berne, Swt'd...!l866 
Langenbruecken, Bdn 1852 
Canton,St.Gallen,Sw'd 1842 
Atlantic Ocean '1841 



.Alsace, France 

.'St. Louis, Mo 

.(Hesse Darmstadt.. 
.Brunswick 



1877 
1870 
1867 
1867 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



581 



CITY OF COLLINSVILLE. 



Auwater, Charles R 

Anibrosius, C. A 

Berkey, J. J 

Berry, John 

Becker, John 

Blake, G. W 

Berka, Joseph 

Beavers, Wesley 

Berry, Mrs. William.... 

Clayton, James 

Chilton, J. N 

Degenhardt, Henry B.. 

Davis, J. W 

Gang, Gus 

Gardiner, W. D 

Finke, August 

Heintz, J. L 

Hite, B. R 

Haas, William O 

Heddcn, William H.... 

Hutlendiik, Henry 

Juda. Joseph S 

Kuhlenbeck, John H.. 

Kreider, Charles 

Killinger, John 

Kalbfleisdi, J. C 

Kalbfleisch, George.... 

Kalina, Joseph, Jr 

Kropf, John W 

Lueuers, Henry A 

Loyel, John L 

Loyet, Valentine 

Marshall, H. J 

Meier, John H 

Miiller, C 

McKeag, W. H 

Nelson, D. L 

Neustadt, Anton 

Oatman, Charles R 

Peers, James N 

Powell, A. M 

Pabst, C. H 

Robinson, Luther 

Steele, Daniel 

Snodgrass, Austin R... 

Schroeppel, M. G 

Strong, H. L 

Thomas, P. J 

Turner, J. W 

Vujtech, Bart 

Wilbort, Philip 

Wilkiiis, C. W 

Wilhelm, M 

Wicklirte, J. H 

(Wendler, A 

[ E. Caroline Metz 

Zucker, Max 



CoUinsville . 



POST OFFICE. KESIDESCE. 



OCCUPATION. 



WHrN 

X.^TIVITY. tcoMK 

jTO CO. 

. CoUinsville General merchant Baltimore, Md 1858 

" Coal operator Hesse Cassel, Ger 1849 

" Farmer Somerset co., Pa 1819 

" Attornpy-at-law : Huntingdou co., Pa... 1881 

" Proprietor Becker mills and mayor of city... New York City 1864 

.' " Proprietor livery and feed stables Madison co., Ill 1849 

" Proprietor of saloon Hohemia 1851 

" Engineer Wayne co.. Mo 1866 

" Proprietor Berry house Madison co.. Ill 1825 

" Proprietor of saloon Cheshire co., Eng 1874 

" Merchant ....";.... Durham, England 1866 

" Rector Sts. Peter and Paul's church Madison co., Ill 1855 

â– ' Physician and surgeon Fleming co., Ky 1862 

" Barber Germany 1854 

" Dealer in hardware and agricult'l impl'ts.... Madison co., N. Y 1869 

" Real estate dealer Hanover, Germany.... 1860 

.; " Coal operator St. Louis, Mo 1852 

" Farmer and township supervisor Marion CO., Ill 1866 

" 'Carpenter and builder Boonville, Mo 1876 

" Agent St. Lawrence CO., N.Y. 1849 

" Proprietor of hotel and saloon l^ussia 1877 

.' " Contractor and builder Bohemia 1860 

" General merchant Hanover, Germanv.... 1853 

" Blacksmith Hesse Darmstadt,."..... 1849 

'' Engineer Abbey mine No. 3 Lancaster, Pa 1876 

" General merchandising Perry co.. Mo 1851 

" General merchandising Perry co.. Mo 1851 

" Proprietor Jos. Exchange Madison co., Ill 18.55 

" Seedman, florist and nursery Bavaria, Germany 1S.'54 

.! " Physician and surgeon Hanover, Germany.... 1881 

.! " General merchant Madison co., Ill ,1843 

.; " Proprietor of meat market Madison co.. Ill 1858 

" Dry-goods clerk St. Louis, Mo 1861 

" Cigar manufacturer Hanover, Germany.... 1864 

" Barber and hair weaver Bavaria, Germany 1874 

.i " Baker, confectioner and grocer Cape May, X. J 1868 

.' " Postmaster , Blair co.,"Pa 1850 

â– ' .\ttorney-at-law Bohemia 1856 

" Phvsician and surgeon St. Clair co.. Ill 1875 

.: " Publisher of weekly Herald Madison co., 111... 1853 

.1 " Physician and surgeon Henderson co., Ky 1863 

,.| " . ..' General merchant Madison co.. Ill 1847 

,.; " J. P., dlr. in boots & shoes, & music teacher Madison co., Ill 1850 

,.' " Proprietor of American house Stattbrdshire, England 1875 

.1 " General merchant Bond co.. Ill 1859 

. I " Contractor, builder, & undertaker Madison eo., Ill 1865 

" Physician and surgeon Pittsfield, Mass 1845 

" Proprietor post-office saloon Wales 1864 

" Proprietor North End meat market Sus,sex co., Del 1852 

" Proj)rietor of saloon Bohemia '1855 

" Proprietor of saloon Prussia '1864 

Merchant Sussex co., Del 1838 

..j " Furniture dealer and undertaker Saxony, Germany 1851 

" Coal operator Madison Co., Ill 1840 

" Blacksmith and veterinary surgeon Bavaria, Germany 1847 

" Wife of A. AVendler Saxony, Germany 1852 

'• Cigar manufacturer and news dealer | Bremen, Germany 1869 



COLLIXSVILI.E TOWNSHIP. 



iAndcnon. Mrs. M. L. (nM Cre«mes.)....ICollinSville 
Anderson, John Dc'd Apr. 9, '76 

f Brum, Daniel CoUinsville 

t Rachael S. Dillon " 

(Collins, D.D ' " 

( E. M. Anderson 

(Cox, S.M 

( Mary A. Lawrence 

iEickmann, Joseph F.... 
Eickmann, Michael 
Helena Albrecht 
Gerding, L. F 
Anna Schuricht 



Sect. 



Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect, 
Sect, 
Sect, 
Sect, 
Sect, 
Sect 
Sect 
Sect, 
Sect, 



23 iRetired. AVidow of John Anderson 'St. Clair co.. Ill Il862 

iLate husband of M. L. Anderson ;New Jersey 1822 

26 iFireman Confidence mine Delaware co., Ohio 11880 

26 IWifeof Daniel Brum Wavne co., Ind [1880 

27 JRetired farmer Portland, Me 1843 

27 IWifeof D.D. Collins Madison co.. Ill 1826 



Farmer Boone CO., Ill 1850 

Wife of S.M. Cox La Salle co.. Ill 1853 

Farmer jSt. Louis, Mo 1869 

Father of Joseph F. Eickmann Switzerland 1869 

Mother of Joseph F. Eickmann Prussia 1869 

Engineer Washington co.. 111... 1873 

Wife of L. F. Gerding jMadison co.. Ill 1854 



582 



niSTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



COLI.INSVILLE TO^VNSHIP.- continued. 



iHartmann, Henry 
Anna Gassling 
Hammon, John 
Catherine Bohnen 

(Hall, Henry C 

I Lucy A. Moore 

j Hazzard, W. C 

(Elizabeth Kelley 

Hecht, Hermann 

f Johnson, ^\'altfr 

IMary E. Wethers 

j Johnson, Jem'a A. ince ckner) 

j Johnson, Stephen 

( Jones, James T 

1 Elizabeth Blythe 

j Krome, Anna C. (me ww.itr)... 
I Krome, Charles Williams.. 
(Kohler, Fredericlv 

} Doris Zwigman 
Lanhani, Hartley 
Sarah F. Clark.." 

liUraaghi, Joseph 

ILemen, Caroline (nee M»rotj)... 
Lemen, Joseph L 
Lindley, Richard 
Sarah Burns 

f Lange, C. W. F 

I Maria C. Krome 

f Monck, Frederick 

1 Wilheluiine Fink 

J Mathews, A. J 

I Harriet Walters 

f Mathews, George 

I Emma Gregory 

' Mayer, Goodlip 

Margaret Mayer 

Niehaus, John Henry 

Anna Maria Beckering 

Martha V. Steinert 

Elizabeth Rad 

John Henry Niehaus, Jr... 

Joseph Niehaus 

Karl Niehaus 

Franz Niehaus 

William Niehaus 

Ostermever, Herman 

Peters, William 

Dena Barlmeir 

Caroline Neenian 

Picton, John T 

Ann King 

Renfro, J. J 

Nancy E. Gasskill 

Shirmer, William 

Elizabeth Rapp 

I Smith, Felix 

1 Elizabeth Johnson 

I Tetherington, John 

I Mary Irene Renfro 

fWitte, J. D. C 

I Lizzie S. Krome 

f Wooldridge, Fielding 

\ Julia Squire 

I Sophronia A. Slice 

I Wendler, J 

I Rosina Kalbfleish 

j Weisenbergcr, Jule 

1 Mary Czerney 

j Wendler, Henry 

1 Elizabeth Richter 



POST OFFICE. 



RESIDENCE. 



Collinsville Sect. 

Sect. 

iScct. 

" jSect. 

" 'Sect. 

" iSect. 

:Scct. 

" 'Sect. 

" 'Sect. 

Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 



OCCUPATION. 



Dc'dAug. 9,76 
Collinsville 



Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 



16 Farmer. 

16 Wife of Henry Hartmann. 

83 Farmer. 

33 Wife of John Hammon.. 

34 Pit boss of Lumaghi mine.. 

34 Wife of Henry C. Hall. 

27 Blacksmith. 

27 Wife of W. C. Hazzard.. 

1 Farmer. 

28 Farmer. 

28 [Wife of Walter Johnson 

28 Farming 

Late husband of Jemima A. Johnson. 

27 'Engineer of Heintz mines. 

27... ' ' 

9.... 



Dc'd Dec. 5,76. 

Troy 

Troy iScct. 

Collinsville iSect. 

'Sect. 

Sect. 

Sect. 



Wife of James T. Jones.. 

Retired 

Late husband of Anna C. Krome. 
Farmer 



Dc'd Sep. 13,78 
Collinsville 



1 'Wife of Frederick Kohler.. 

21... 
21... 

27.., 
36.. 



Dc'dDec.14,'55 
Dc'd Spring '63. 
Collinsville 



Sect. 

Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 



27. 



11... 
11... 
17... 

17... 
14... 

14 [Wife of 

14 Fiirmer 



Farm er 

Wife of Hartley Lanham 

Coal Operator 

Retired 

Late husband of Caroline Lemen. 



Pru.s8ia, Ger 1852 

Prussia, Ger 11852 

Germany 11860 

Germany 1860 

Wood CO., W. Va 1870 

Lewis CO., W. Va |1871 

Luzerne co.. Pa :1874 

Mahoning co., Ohio. ..11874 

Bavaria, Gcr !l864 

Madi-son CO., Ill 1841 

Madison CO., Ill 1843 

Tennes.see 11819 

Worcester co., Mass... 1818 
Montgomery co., Kv..ll875 

Kentucky..'. "...11875 

Hanover, Ger j 18.50 

Hanover, Ger 

Hanover, Ger 

Hanover, Ger.... 
St. Louis, Mo.... 
Madison co.* 111. 
Madison co., 111. 



1860 
1843 
1843 
1856 
1840 
1860 

St Clair CO.'. 11840 

St. Clair CO 1840 



Pit boss of Confidence mine lEngland . 

Wife of Richard Lindley 

Farmer and stock raiser 

Wife of C. W. F. Lange 

Farmer 

Wife of Frederick Monck 

Farmer 

A. J. Mathews 



1863 
1863 

1855 
1850 
1877 



England 

Prussia 

Louisville, Ky, 

Prussia 

Prussia 11877 

Buckingham co., Va... 11846 

Pittsburgh, Pa [l846 

Madison co., Ill 1853 

Sangamon co., Ill 11874 



Wife of George Mathews 

Farmer 'Baden, Germany 11846 

Wife of Goodlip Mayer IPennsylvania. 



Dc'd Oct. 16,'72! 

Collinsville Sect. 

Sect. 

ISect. 

" Sect. 

Sect. 



Sect. 

Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 



Farmer. 

First wife of John H. Niehaus 

Second wife of John H. Niehaus 

22 ;Present wife of John H. Niehaus 

22 Son of John H. and Anna M. Niehaus.. 

22 Son of John H. and Anna M. Niehaus.. 

22 iSon of John H. and Elizabeth Niehaus. 

22. 
22 



Venice 

Venice 

Collinsville. 



Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 

" Sect. 

" Sect. 

" Sect. 

Sect. 

" ISect. 

Deceased i 

Collinsville JSect. 

'Sect. 

ISect. 

Sect, 

" Sect, 

:Sect. 

" Sect. 



Hanover, Germany. 
Prussia, Germany... 

Saxony , 

Prussia 



Hanover, Germany. 
Prussia 



Sou of John H. and Elizabeth Niehaus 
Sou of John H. and Elizabeth Niehaus 

Farmer 

Farmer 

First wife of William Peters 

Present wife of William Peters !Prussia 

Engineer Confidence mine | Wales 

Wife of John T. Picton |Staffordshire, Eng 

Farmer and stock raiser Madison co., Ill 

Wife of J. J. Renfro.. 



1838 
1851 
1865 
1873, 
1873 
18.30 
, Madison CO., Ill 1839 



1851 
1854 
1856 
1855 



Ten-mile house, general merchant Rhein, Germany. 



Wife of William Shinier., 

Engineer Confi<lcnee mine 

Wife of Felix Smith 

Farmer 

W^ife of John Tetherington 

17 Farmer and thresher 

17 Wife of J. D. C. Witte 

18 1 Farmer 

jFirstwifeof Fielding Wooldridge 

18 Present wife of Fielding Wooldridge.. 

35 iFarmer 

3-5 jWifeof J. Wendler 

27 Superintendent Confidence mine 

27 'Wife of Jule Weisenbergcr 

35 Farmer 

35 Wife of Heniy Wendler 



Bavaria, Germany. 

St. Louis, Mo 

Madison co.. Ill 

St. Clair co 

Madison CO., Ill 

Germany 

St. Louis, Mo 

Kentucky 

Madi.son eo., Ill 

Madison co.. Ill 

Bavaria 

New York 

St, Clair co 

Madison co.. Ill 

Bavaria 

St, Louis, Mo 



1865 
1857 
1875 
1859 
1852 
1858 
1845 
1850 
1830 



1847 
1849 
1853 
1853 
1847 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



583 



VENICE. 



Bain, Walter 

f Brown, R. J 

I Martha J. Kinder 

Byrnes, E. J 

f Brandes, August 

I Christian Stoiber 

Fletcher, John J 

Fecht, John 

Grayson, William H 

Kohl, Fred 

J Kahle, Fritz 

I Catherine Helbruck. 

Merritt, B. V 

Mueller, Jacob 

Miller, H. AV 

r Mabee, Nancy Ann.. 

I Henry Course 

I John Wood 

[Calviu Kinder 

McFee, T. P 

Pinckard, Jiunes 

( Poulson, Neal 

I Catherine Shaw 

Robinson, Henry 

Richardson, John T. 

Rittman, Henry 

Sippy, B. F 

Sippy, William H.... 

f Sippy, William 

\ Nancy J. Kinder 

Selb, Theodore 

Youree, C. S 

Weigh, William 



POST OFFICE. 



RESIDENCE. 



OCCUPATION. 



NATIVITY. 



Venice Venice jSupt. Venice Elevator Canada 

Sect. 25 [Farmer Ireland 

" 'Sect. 25 jWife of R. J. Brown Macoupin co.. 111.. 

" IVenice 'Farmer and proprietor of saloon St. Clair co., Ill 

" Sect. 12 [Farmer Germany 

" Sect. 12 (Wife of August Brandes jGermany 

" Venice Supt. Union stock yards jSt. Clair co.. Ill 

" " 'Tobacconist and manufacturer of cigars Switzerland 

" " Physician and surgeon 'Wythe co., Va. 

" " General merchandise and farm machinery... Bavaria, Germany. 

" Sect. 1 iFarmer Germany 

" ]6ect. 1 iWife of Fritz Kahle Germany 

" IVenice jContractor and builder [Madison co.. Ill 

" " Proprietor of saloon and farmer [Saxony, Germany.. 

" " Clerk C. & A. R. R St. Louis, Mo 

" " Farming , Scott co., Ky 

Dc'd Feb. 6, '50 First husliand of Nancv Ann Jfabee Marvland. 

Dc'd Nov.23,72! " ' "' ' - • - 

Dc'd Feb. 18,'80 

Venice Venice. 

Venice Venice. 

Nameoki Sect. 1. 

Nameoki Sect. 1 . 



Sec'ind luisband of Nancy Ann Mabee [Pennsylvania 

Third luisband of Nancy Ann Mabee ^Pennsylvania 

Weigh master Venice elevator iFayette co., Pa 

Postmaster and telegraph operator Jersey co.. Ill 

Farmer and stock raiser 'Denmark 

Wife of Neal Poulson St Louis, Mo 

Venice Venice General merchant and justice of the peace... St. Louis, Mo 

R. R. clerk [New Orleans, La... 



Sect. 23.. 
Sect. 23., 
Venice.. 



1880 
1854 
1852 
185i 
18-19 
18G2 
1874 
1880 
1879 
1852 
1854 
1854 
1848 
1857 
1862 
1835 
1835 
1834 
1824 
11879 
1874 
1876 
11870 
|lS54 
1872 



County supt. of schools [Madison co.. 111. 

Proprietor of Union hotel Madison co.. III. 



Farmer . 

Wife of William Sippy 

Township supervisor; prop'r of saloon. 

Druggist and coroner 

J. P., and prop'r of Aurora saloon 



Madison co., Ill 

Madison co.. Ill 

Baden, Germany... 
Lafayette co., Mo.. 
Hesse Cassel, Ger., 



'1848 
1852 
1838 
1843 

i8.';4 

1868 
1871 



NEW DOUQLAS. 



Alsop, Samuel 

Salina Pegg 

Alsop, Robert 

Sarah E. Young 

Allen, Abram 

Matilda C. Mulligan.. 

iBaldwine, Edward 
Lena Grabert 
Earlv, John A 
Early, M. R 
Elizabeth .1. Surrells... 

j Eiubrt'y, William 

\ Mary Fiindrrburk 

j Eisenbach, Herman.... 
j Mary Guenther 

! Foster, Alonzo 
Caroline Crowder 
Geest, Henry 
Geest, Martha 

f Holbrook, Amos 

< Susannah Painter 

I Mary E. Lamb 

j Jones, Edward West.. 
1 Harriet Rodenhouse... 

f Kelly, .lohn 

( Margaret Casey 

j Kennedy, John O 

I M.artha"Ri)Ss 

I Long, Joseph F 

iHattie M. Martin 

j McMullen, Arthur 

I Bridget Cook 

(Sutton, Samuel 

I Emily Allen 

Traueriucht, Albert J 

I Vollintine, J. J 

I Alice E. Watson 



New Douglas... [Sect. 

" " ...;Sect. 

" " ...[New 



" ...Sect. 
" " ...[Sect. 

" " ...iSect. 

Dc'd June 9, '76J 

Alhambra iSect. 

Alhambra jSect. 

New Douglas... I New 

... New 

â– ' ...tSect. 

. . . ISect. 

New 



Dc'd Oct. 26,77 
New Douglas. 



4 'Farmer 

4 [Wife of Samuel Alsop 

Douglas... General merchant 

" Wife of Robert Alsop 

Farmer, J. P. and notary public 

Wife of Abram Allen 

Farmer and saloon keeper 

19 Mother of Edward Baldwine 

19 Farmer 

19 iFarmer. Father of John A. Early 

ILate wf of M. R. Early; mother J. A. Early 

30 Farmer ". 

30 jWife of William Embrey 

Douglas... I Lutheran minister 

Douglas... Wife of Herman Eisenbach 

16 Farmer 

16 Wife of Alonzo Foster 

Douglas... Carpenter 

Wife of Henry Geest 

Retired farmer 

First wife of Amos Holbrook 

Douglas... Present wife of Amos Holbrook 

28 Farmer 

28 'Wife of Edward West Jones 

8 'Farmer 

8 Wife of .John Kelly 

Douglas... Principal New Douglas public school 

... AVife of .Tolin Kennedy and 1st ass't teacher.. 

" ...'Tinner and townsliip supervisor 

'' ...[Wile of Joseph F. Long 

Sect. 8 Fanner 

...'Sect. 8 Wife of Arthur McMullen 

... Sect. 3 IFarmer 

... Sect. 3 [Wife of Samuel Sutton 

...Sect. 8 [Farmer 

...JN'ew Douglas... [Dealer in feed and grain 

... New Douglas... Wife of J. J. Vollintine 



New 

.[Sect. 
...jSect. 
...!Sect. 
...ISect. 
... New 



England 11852 

England 1852 

Jersey CO., HI 1852 

Madison CO., Ill 1853 

Trigg CO., Kv 1837 

Bond CO., 111". 11844 

Madison co.. Ill 'l854 

Alsace, France 11853 

Madison CO.. Ill 1854 

Washington, Ind 11848 

Clay CO., Ill 11854 

Butler CO., Ky [1845 

Madison co., Ill 1847 

Morgan CO., Mo 1875 

Saxony 1876 

Maine 1819 

Kentucky 1829 

Germany [1872 

'Christian co., Kv I186I 

Franklin co.. Ga II88I 

Tennessee ' 

Madison CO., Ill 1831 

Macoupin co.. Ill il«76 

Vincenncs, Ind [1876 

Co. Caven, Ireland 1856 

,Co. Meath, Ireland 1856 

IDearboru co., Ind ,1874 

Ohio '1878 

Louisiana '1875 

New Hampshire !l875 

!Co. Derrv, Ireland ....11872 

Co. Caven, Ireland |1872 

Madi-sonco.. Ill 1837 

Macoupin co., Ill 1858 

Hanover, Germany 1865 

Bond CO., Ill 1874 

Sackett's Harbor,N. Y. 1 874 



58-i 



SISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



HAMEL. 



POST OFFICE. 



Barnett, Thomas J lEdwardsville... Sect. 30. 

Sarah A. Stephenson Edwardsville... Sect. 30. 

jBlocniker, F.E Hamel Sect. 13. 

" Sect. 13. 

" {Sect. 27. 

Dc'd Mar.26,'79l 

Hamel 'Sect. 27. 

Carpenter [Sect. 20, 

Hamel |Hamel . 



1 Mary Miller 

( Cammon, Henry... 

< Martha J. Owens . 
[Martha B. Larkin. 

Eaton, William P, 
j Engelmann, G. A. 

(Charlotte Flachmeier Hamel jHamel 

( Fruit, Jefl'erson lEdwardsville...lSect. 34 

< Elizabeth A. Vawter. 

i CatbiTine M. Bishop, (Deejohost 

(Fruit, John ' " ...Sect. 34 

t Judith F. WillsoD ' " ...Sect. 34 

Figge, Chas. H Hamel Sect. 14 

Gaerdner. H. C, Jr Hamel Hamel 

Graney, Michael JEdwardsville... Sect. 31 — 

fLehrke, H. G 'Carpenter ISect. 9 

1 Bertha Ukeua " Sect. 9 

Miller, Fred. W " Sect. 8 

j Spruner, Charles " jCarpenter , 

JKieke Kuhle " Carpenter. 



OCCUPATION. 



Farmer |Madison co., Ill 1824 

Wife of Thomas J. Barnett STrigg co.,Ky Il835 

Farmer lOst Friesland, Ger !1875 



Wife of F. E. Bloemker Madison co., Ill 

Farmer iGermany 

First wife of Henry Cammon Madison co.. 111.... 

Present wife of Henry Cammon iBrunswick co., Va 

Farmer " â–  Edwards ville 

Wagon manufacturer Hanover, Ger 

Wife of G. A. Engelmann Prussia 

^ Farmer Madison co., 111.... 

Dc'd July27,'72' iFirst wife of Jefferson Fruit iHopkins co., Ky 

Edwardsville...Scct. 34 " ' "" " ^ "â–  ^ ^' ^ " -- ^" 



Logan CO., Ky 1832 

Germany 1857 

St. Louis, Mo 1872 



Wife of John Fruit. 

Farmer and justice of the peace.. 

Hotel and saloon keeper., 

Farmer 

Shoemaker iHanover, Ger |1867 

Wife of H. G. Lehrke jOst Friesland, Ger 1888 

Farmer Germany 1852 

Hotel and saloon keeper iBavaria, Germany 1877 

Wife of Charles Spruner Madison co.. Ill |1858 



PIN OAK. 



Barnsback, Mi.ss Annie M.. 
f Barnsback, N. S., we wait)... 

[ Barnsback, William J 

j Browner, James H 

I Nancv A. White 

f Barnsback, Wm. W 

I Annie M. Willoughby 

! Ba r n si I :uk.N..T.i nee Montgomery) 
Barnsback, Thomas J jDc'd Mar.9, '80| 

( Barnsback, Jacob H Edwardsville... Sect. 31 



Edwardsville . . . ISect. 31 . , 
... Sect. 31.. 

Dc'd Sept. 4, '72l 

Edwardsville... Sect. 15., 
...iSect. 15., 

Troy Sect. 13. 

" jSect. 13. 

Edwardsville... Sect. 30. 



I Laura Kinder 

Blair, Henry Jr., 

\ Blair, Henry Sr., 

( Rachel McDougal 

( Dunn, Michael 

1 Catharine Maloney 

J Dankenbrinsr, Henry F.. 

(Helen L. Take 

j Eickniann, John 

Anna Brandes. 



...ISect. 31 

...Sect. 4 

Dc'd Jan. 10,'80l 

Edwardsville... Sect. 4 

...|8ect. 3 

... Sect. 3 

Trov Sect. 28 

"â–  Sect. 28 

Marine Sect. 13 

I " ISect. 13 



( Gonterman, C. B Edwardsville... ISect. 17.. 

â–  Lvdia Bartlett " ...:Sect. 17.. 

â–  Hauskins, Eliaf I " ... Sect. 10.. 

Marv V. Stevenson Dc'd Feb. 10,'66i , 

Sani'h Bartlett I Edwards ville... 'Sect. 10.. 

' Handlon, K. M., ineeYo.teii!...| " ... Sect. 20.. 

Handlon, James H 'Dc'd.Dec.24,'79| 

Handlon, George jTroy ISeet. 32.. 

Henderson, J. meeHandiom....! " Sect. 32.. 

Henderson James A Dc'd.Jan.19,'77 

' Judy, Thomas J !Edwardsville... Sect. 5... 

Nancy M.McKee I " ... Sect. 5... 

' Jahns, Charles IMarine Sect. 24).. 

MaryKrauck " Sect. 24.. 

Loos, George " Sect. 13., 

Elizabeth France 1 " Sect. 13.. 

' May, William | " Sect. 24. 

Elizabeth Wittmer ' " Sect. 24. 

Minter, Thomas lEdwardsville... Sect. 19. 



At home IMadison co., Ill | 

Farming Warren co., Ky |1817 

Late husband of Nancy S. Barnsback jMadison co.. Ill 1813 

Farmer I White co., Tenn 1840 

Wife of James H. Browner ^Williamson co., Ill 1858 

Farmer IMadison co.. Ill 1844 

Wife of Wiiiiam W. Barnsback jMadison co.. Ill 1845 

Farming JMadison co., Ill |1821 

Late husband of Nancy J. Barnsback [Madison co., Ill 1817 



1855 
1856 
1857 
1852 
1852 
1836 
1848 
1852 
1848 



Farmer and stock raiser [Madison co.. Ill 

Wife of Jacob H. Barnsback Madison co.. Ill 

Farmer Madison co., Ill 

Father of Henry Blair, Jr jTennessec 

Widow of H. Blair, Sr., motherof H. Blair,Jr.!Kentucky 

Farmer „ [Ireland 

Wife of Michael Dunn Ireland 

Farmer 'St. Louis, Mo... 

Wife of H. F. bankenbring [St. Louis, Mo... 

Farmer iHanover, Ger 1848 

Wife of Joiin Eickmann Brunswick, Ger 1848 

Farmer and stock raiser iMadison co., Ill 1834 

Wife of C. B. Gonterman Madison co., Ill 1837 

Farmer Madison co., Ill 1833 

First wife of Elias Hauskins [Howard co.. Mo 1854 

Present wife of Elias Hauskins IMadison co.. Ill 1844 

Farmino- Macoupin co., Ill 1851 

Late husband of Ehoda M. Handlon 'Madison co., 111... 

Farmer [Madison co.. 111... 

Farming ' Madison co.. 111... 

Late husband of Jane Henderson IBotetourt co.. Va 

Farmer IMadison co.. 111... 

Wife of Thomas J. Judy jMadison co., 111... 

Farmer iGermany 

Wife of Charles Jahns St. Clair co 

Farmer Bavaria, Ger 

Wife ofGeorge Loos Bavaria, Ger 

Farmer IBavaria, Ger 

Wife of William May iBavaria, Ger 



1 Minter, John 

f McKee, James B 

I Helen F. Otwell 

I Ottwein, Valentine.. 
J Louisa Wehmiller... 
(Anna Shlafer 



Marine 

Dc'd.MaylO,'76 
Marine 



..ISect. 19 

Sect. 3 

Sect. 3 

Sect. 12 



Sect. 12. 



1823 
1825 
1830 
1836 
1846 
1848 

|1868 

1873 

1859 

1859 

1846 

1855 

Farmer Montgomery co., 111... 1830 

Farmer and brother of Thos. Minter JIadison co.,Ill 1831 

Madison CO., Ill ,1828 

Madison CO., Ill 1827 

Madison co,Ill 1848 

Franklin co.. Mo 1875 

Madison co.. Ill 1854 



Farmer 

Wife of James B. McKee 

Farmer 

First wife of Valentine Ottwein 

Present wife of Valentine Ottwein.. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



580 



PIN OAK.-CONTINUED. 



POST OFFICE. RESIDENCE. 



j Prott, Louis Troy 

\ Sophia Fel tnieyer 

I Posey, Bennet " 

I Catharine A. Cies " 

J Reinke, Fritz Edwardsville... 

\ Mary Heuser Eiiwardsville... 

( Smart, Alsey S Trov 

â– ^Rhoda Giger Dc'd Jul.25,'62 

( Mary J. Joslyn Dc'd Aug.10,'74 

! Smith, John H Marine 
Susannah Maria Smart ; " 
Smith, James Henry | " 
Elizabeth Polegar " 

J SchafTer, George D Troy 

I Mary D. Blakeman .'..., " 

iStolia, Herman " 
Dimia Schortemeier " 
Smitli, Sidney L Marine 
Julia Dietz..." , " 

J Smith, Willi^tm Alsey \ " 

I Pha'be Alvina Shadwick..| " 

IZimmerschied, John W.... Edwardsville... 
Margaret Weast ! '' 

Zimmerschied, John P j " 

Anna Hofiman " 



OCCUPATION. 



NATIVITY. 



Sect. 26 Farmer IGerinany '1861 

Sect. 26 Wife of Louis Prott St. Louis 1862 

Sect. 33 Farmer Madison co., Ill 1823 

Sect. 33 iWife of Bennet Posey Germany 1847 

Sect. 3 IFarmer " Germany I860 

Sect. 3 Wife of Fritz Rinke Germany 1857 

Sect. 25 'Farmer and stock raiser Madison co.,Ill 1827 

[First wife of Alsey S. Smart Madison co.,Ill 1833 

iLast wife of Alsey S. Smart Madison co.. 111.. 1840 

24 IFarmer Frederick co., Vti 1849 

24". Iwifeof John H.Smith Madison co.. Ill 1831 

26 IFarmer ]Madison co., Ill 1850 

26 Wife of JamesH. Smith jSwitzerland 1851 

27 Farmer lladison co.. Ill jl856 

27..!!.'. Wife of George D. Schaffer 'Madison co., Ill |l858 

27 Farmer Prussia, Germany 1863 

27! Wife of Herman StoUa Prussia, Germany [1863 

26 Farmer Madison co,, 111 il859 

26 Wife of Sidney Smith Madison co., Ill 1860 

26 Farmer Madison co., Ill 1856 

26 Wife of William A. Smith Madison co.,Ill :1856 

3 Farmer (Jermany [1857 

3 Wife of John W. Zimmerman Germany Il857 

3 Son of M. and J. W. Zimmerman Germany !l857 



Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 

Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
Sect. 
;Sect. 
Sect. 



3 IWife of John P. Zimmerman Switzerland. 



il845 




CONSTITUTION OF ILLINOIS. 

Adopted in Convention at Springfield, May 13, a. d. 1870; Ratified by the People July 2, 1870; in 
Force, August 8, 1870 ; and Amendments thereto, with the Dates of Eatification. 



PREAMBLE. 
We, the people of the State of Illinois — grateful to Almightj' 
God for the civil, political and religious liberty which He hath so 
long permitted us to enjoy, and lo.iking to Him for a blessing 
upon our endeavors to secure and transmit the same unimpaired 
to succeeding generations — in order to form a more perfect gov- 
ernment, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, provide 
for the cfimmon defense, promote the general welfare, and secure 
the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity ; do ordain 
and establish this constitution for ihe State of Illinois. 

ARTICLE I. 

BOUNDARIES. 

The boundaries and jurisdiction of the State shall be as fol- 
lows, to wit : Beginning at the mouth of the Wabash river ; 
thence up the same, and with the line of Indiana, to the north- 
west corner of said State; thence cast, with the line of the same 
State, to the middle of Lake Michigan; thence north, along the 
middle of said lake, to north latitude 42 degrees and 30 minutes ; 
thence west to the middle of the Mississippi river, and thence 
down along the middle of that river to its confluence with the 
Ohio river, and thence up the latter river, along its northwestern 
shore, to the place of beginning : Provided, that this State shall 
exercise such jurisdiction upon the Ohio river as .she is now 
entitled to, or such as may hereafter be agreed upon by this 
State and the State of Kentucky. 

ARTICLE II. 

BILL OF RIGHTS. 



i 1. Inherent and Inalienable Rights. 

g 2. Due Process of Law. 

g 3. Liberty of Conscient^e Guaranteed. 

3 4. Freedom of the Pross-Libcl. 

I .^. Right of Trial by Jury. 

g G. Unreasonable Searches and Seiz- 
ures. 

g 7. Bail allowed— Writ of Habeas Cor- 
pus. 

g 8. Indictment required— Grand Jury 
Abolished. 

g 9. Rights of Persons Accused of 



^ in. Self-Crimination- Former Trial. 
i 11. Penalties proportionate— Corrup- 
tion — Forfeiture, 
g 12. Imprisonment for Debt. 
I l:j. Compensation for Property t.aken. 
g IL Ex post facto laws— Irrevocable 

Grants. 
3 1.5. Military Power Subordinate. 
3 10. Quartering of Soldiers. 
g 17. Right of .\ssembly and Petition. 
i 18. Elections to be Free and Equal. 

19. What Laws ought to be. 

21). Fuudamenlal Principles. 



? 1. All men are by nature free and independent, and have 
certain inherent and inalienable rights — among these are life, 
libertv, and the pursuit of happiness. To secure these rights 
and the protection of property, governments are instituted among 
men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the gov- 
erned. 

? 2. No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property, 
without due process of law. 

I 3. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession 
and worship, without discrimin.ition, shall forever be guaranteed; 
and no person shall be denied any civil or political right, privi- 
lege or capacity, on account of his religious opinions; but the 
liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be construed to 
dispense with oaths or affirmations, excuse acts of licentiousness, 
or justify practices inconsistent with the peace or safety of the 
State. No person shall be required to attend or support any min- 
istry or place of worship against his consent, nor shall any pref- 
erence be given by law to any religious denomination or mode of 
worship. 

? 4. Every person may freely speak, write and publish on all 
subjects, beinc respon.sible for the abuse of that liberty ; and in 
all trials for libel, both civil and criminal, the truth, when pub- 
lished with good motives and for justifiable ends, shall be a suffi- 
cient defense. 



I 5. The right of trial by jury as heretofore enjoyed shall re- 
main inviolate; but the trial of civil cases before justices of the 
peace by a jury of less than twelve men, may be authorized by law. 

^ 6. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, 
hiiuses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and 
seizures, shall not be violated ; and no warrant shall issue with- 
out probable cause, supported by affidavit, particularly describ- 
ing the place to be searched, aud the person or things to be 
seized. 

I 7. All persons shall be bailable by sufficient suretie.s, except 
for capital offenses, where the proof is evident or the presump- 
tion great; and the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall 
not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion 
the public safety may require it. 

I 8. No person shall be held to answer for a criminal offense, 
unless on indictment of a grand jury, except in cases in which 
the punishment is by fine, or imprisonment otherwise than in the 
penitentiary, in ca.ses of impeachment, aud'^in cases arising in the 
army and navy, or in the militia when in actual service in time 
of war or public danger : Provided, that the grand jury may be 
abolished by law in all cases. 

I 9. In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall have the 
right to appear and defend in person and by counsel ; to demand 
the nature and cause of the accusation, and to have a copy there- 
of; to meet the witnesses face to face, and to have process to 
compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf, and a speedy 
public trial by an impartial jury of the county or district in which. 
the offense is alleged to have been committed. 

i 10. No person shall be compelled in any criminal case to give 
evidence against himself, or be twice put in jeopardy for the same 
offense. 

^11. All penalties shall be proportioned to the nature of the 
offense ; aud no conviction shall work corruption of blood of for- 
feiture of estate ; nor shall any person be transported out or the 
State for any offense committed within the same. 

§ 12. No person shall be imprisoned for debt, unless upon re- 
fusal to deliver up his estate for the benefit of his creditors in 
such manner as shall be prescribed by law; or in cases where 
there is strong presumption of fraud. 

i 13. Private property shall not be taken or damaged for public 
use without just compensation. Such compensation, when not 
made by the State, sh.all be ascertained by a jury, as shall be pre- 
scribed by law. The fee of land taken for railroad tracks, with- 
out consent of the owners thereof, shall remain in such owners, 
subject to the use for which it is taken. 

i 14. No ex pnsl facto law, or law impairing the obligation of 
contracts, or making any irrevocable grant of special privileges or 
immunities, shall be passed. 

^ 15. The military shall be in strict subordination to the civil 
power. 

§ 16. No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any 
house without the consent of the owner; nor in time of war ex- 
cept in the manner prescribed by law. 

§ 17. The people have the right to assemble in a peaceable 
manner to consult for the common good, to make known their 
opinions to their representatives, and to apply for redress of griev- 
ances. 

i 18. All elections shall be free and equal. 

I 19. Every person ought to find a certain remedy in the laws 
for all injuries and wrongs which he may receive in his person, 
property or reputation ; he ought to obtain, by law, right and 
justice freely, and without being obliged to purchase it, completely 
and without denial, promptly and without delay. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



587 



? 20. A frequent occurrence to the fundamental principles of 
civil government is absolutely ueeessar)- to preserve the blessings 
of libertv. 

ARTICLE III. 

DISTRIBUTIOX OF POWERS. 

The powers of the Government of this State arc divided into 
three distinet departments — the Legislative, Executive and Ju- 
dicial , and no person, or collection of persons, being one of these 
departments, shall exercise any power properly belonging to 
either of the others, except as hereinafter expressly directed or 
permitted. 

ARTICLE IV. 

LEGISLATIVE DEPARTifEXT. 



Gcner.al Assembly elective. 

Time of Election — Vacancies. 

Who are Eligible. 

Disqunlification by Crime. 

Oath Uiken by members. 

Senatorial .\pporlionraents. 

& 8. Minority Representation. 

Time of me eting — General Rut 

Sfcrctary— .Vdjoumment — Journ- 
als, Protests. 

Style of Laws. 

Oriein and passage of Bills. 

Reading— Printing-Title— Amend- 
ment.s. 

Privileges of members. 

IMsabilities of members. 

Bills making .\ppropriations. 

Payment of money — Statement 
of Expenses. 



\ 18. Ordinary Expenses— Casual Defi- 
cits — .ippropriations limited. 

3 10. Extra Compensation or Allowance. 

i 20. Public Credit not loaned. 

i 21. Pay and mileage of members. 

i 22. Special Legislation proliibited. 

I 23. Against Release from Lial'ility. 

3 24. Proceedings on Impeaohim-nt. 

i 25. Fuel, Stationery, and Printing. 

i 21!. St.-ite not to be sued. 

i -Zi Lottery and Gift Enterprises. 

I 2S. Terms of Office not Extended. 

fi 2^1. Protection of operative miners. 

^ 30. Concerning Roads — public and pri- 
vate. 

3 31. Draining and Ditching. 

* 32. Homestead and Exemption Laws. 

I 33. Completion of the State House. 



? 1. The legislative power shall be vested in a General As- 
sembly, which shall consist of a Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives, both to be elected by the people. 



? 2. An election for members of the General Assembly shall 
be held on the Tuesdxty next after the first Monday in November, 
in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy, 
and every two years thereafter, in each county, at such places 
therein as may be provided by law. When vacancies occur in 
either house, the governor, or person exercising the powers of 
governor, shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies. 

ELIGIBILITY AND OATH. 

§ S. No person shall be a senator who shall not have attained 
tlic age of twenty-five years, or a representative who shall not 
have attained the age of twenty-one years. Ko person shall be 
a sen.itor or a representative who shall not be a citizen of the 
United States, and who shall not have been for five years a resi- 
dent of this State, and for two years next preceding his election 
a resident within the territory forming the district from which he 
h elected. Xo judge or clerk of any court, secretary of state, 
attorney general, state's attorney, recorder, slieritf, or collector of 
public revenue, member of either house of congress, or person 
holding any lucrative office under the United States or this State, 
or any foreign government, shall have a seat in the general as- 
SL^mbly : Provided, that appointments in the militia, and the offi- 
ces of notary public and justice of the pe.ice, shall not be con- 
sidered lucrative. Nor shall any person, holding any office of 
honor or profit under any foreign government, or under the gov- 
ernment of the United States, (except postmasters whose annual 
compensation does not exceed the sum of $300,) hold any ofiice 
of honor or profit under the authority of this State. 

I 4. No person who has been, or hereafter shall be, convicted 
of bribery, perjury or other infamous crime, nor any person who 
has been or may be a collector or holder of public moneys, who 
shall not have accounted for and paid over, according to law, all 
such moneys due from hira, shall he eligible to the general as- 
sembly, or to any office of profit or trust in this State. 

§ (J. Members of the general assembly, before they enter upon 
their official duties, shall take and subscribe the following oath 
or affirmation : 

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the oonstittition of the 
United States, and the constitution of the State of Illinois, and will faithfully 
discharge the duties of senator (t.r represent.itive) according to the best of my 
abilitj^ : and that 1 have not, knowingly or intentionally, paid or contributed 
anything, or made any promise in the nature of a bribe, to directly or indi- 
rectly influence any vote at the election at which 1 was chosen to fill the said 
office, and have not accepted, nor will I accept or receive, directly or indirect- 
ly, any money or other valuable thing, from any corporation, company or per- 
son, for any vote or influence I may give or withhold on any bill, resolution or 
appropriation, or for anv other official act." 

2 



This oath shall be administered by a judge of the supreme or 
circuit court, in the hall of the house to which the member is 
elected, and the secretary of state shall record and file the oath 
subscribed by each meniber. Any member who shall refuse to 
to take the oath herein prescribed, shall forfeit his ofiice, and 
every member who shall be convicted of having sworn falsely to, 
or of violating, his said oath, shall forfeit his office, and be dis- 
qualified thereafter from holding any office of profit or trust in 
this State. 

APPORTIOXMEXT — .SE.VATORIAL. 

? 6. The general assembly shall apportion the State every ten 
years, beginning with the year 1871, by dividing the population 
of the State, as ascertained by the federal census, by the number 
51, and the quotient shall be the ratio of representation in the 
senate. The State shall be divided into .51 senatorial districts, 
each of which shall elect one senator, whose term of office shall 
be four years. The senators elected in the year of our Lord 1872, 
in districts bearing odd numbers, shall vacate theiV offices at the 
end of two years, and those elected in districts bearing even num- 
bers, at the end of four ye.irs; and vacancies occurring by the 
expiration of term, shall be filled by the election of senators for 
the full term. Senatorial districts shall be formed of contiguous 
and compact territory, bounded by county lines, and contain as 
nearly as practicable an equal number of inhabitants ; but no 
district shall contain less than four-fifths of the senatorial ratio. 
Counties containing not less than the ratio and three-fourths, 
may be divided into separate districts, and shall be entitled to 
two senators, and to one additional senator for each number of 
inhabitants equal to the ratio, contained by such couutie.s in ex- 
cess of twice the number of said ratio. 

Note — By the adoption of minority representation, p 7 and 8 of this article 
cease to be a part of the constitution. Under ^ 12 of the schedule, and the vote 
of adoption, the following section relating to minority representation is substi- 
tuted for said sections : 

MINORITY REPRE^EXTATION. 

?§ 7 and 8. The house of representatives shall consist of three 
times the number of the members of the senate, and the term of 
office shall be two years. Three representatives shall be elected 
iu each senatorial district at the general election in the year of 
our Lord, 1872, and every two years thereafter. In all elections 
of representatives aforesaid, each qualified voter may cast as 
many votes for one candidate as there are representatives to be 
elected, or may distribute the same, or equal parts thereof, among 
the candidates, as he shall see fit; and the candidates highest in 
votes shall be declared elected. 

TIME OF MEETING AND GENERAL RULES. 

? 9. The sessions of the general assembly shall commence at 
12 o'clock, noon, on the Wednesday next after the first Monday 
in January, in the year next ensuing the election of members 
thereof, and at no other time, unless as provided by this consti- 
tution. A majority of the members elected to each house shall 
constitute a quorum. Each house shall determine the rules of 
its proceedings, and be the judge of the election returns and 
qualifications of its members; shall choose its own officers; and 
the senate shall choose a temporary president to preside when 
the lieutenant-governor shall not attend as president or shall act 
as governor. The secretary of state shall call the house of repre- 
sentatives to order at the opening of each new assembly, and 
preside over it until a temporary presiding officer thereof shall 
have been chosen and shall have taken his seat. No member 
shall be expelled by either house, except by a vote of two-thirds 
of all the members elected to that house, and no meniber shall 
be twice expelled for the same offijnce. Each liouse may punish 
by imprisonment any person, not a member, who shall be guilty 
of disrespect to the house by disorderly or contemptuous beha- 
viour in its presence. But nosuch imprisonment shall extend be- 
yond two hours at one time, unless the person shall persist in 
such disorderly or contemptuous behaviour. 

^ 10. The doors of each house and of committees of the whole, 
shall be kept open, except in such cases as, in the opinion of the 
house, require secrecy. Neither house shall, without the consent 
of the other, adjourn for more than .two days, or to any other 
place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. Each 
house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, which shall be pub- 
lished. In the senate at the request of two members, and in the 
house at the request of five members, the yeas and nays shall be 
taken on any question, and entered upon the journal. Any two 



588 



EISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



members of either house shall have liberty to dissent from and 
protest, in respectful language, against any actor resolution which 
they think injurious to the public or to any individual, and have 
the reasons of their dissent entered upon the journals. 

STYLE OF LAWS AND PASSAGE OF BILLS. 

? 11. The style of the laws of this State shall be: Bcitcn- 
acicd by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the Gen- 
eral Assemhly. 

i 12. Bills may originate in either house, but may be altered, 
amended or rejected by the other; and on the final passage of all 
bills, the vote shall be by yeas and nays, upon each bill sepa- 
rately, and shall be entered upon the journal ; and no bill shall 
become a l.aw without the concurrence of a majority of the mem- 
bers elected to each house. 

? 13. Every bill shall be read at large on three different days, 
in each house ; and the bill and all amendments thereto shall be 
printed before the vote is taken on its final passage ; and every 
bill, having passed both houses, shall be signed by the speakers 
thereof. No act hereafter passed shall embrace more than one 
subject, and that shall be expressed in the title. But if any sub- 
ject shall be embraced in an act which shall not be expressed in 
the title, such act shall be void only as to so much thereof as 
shall not be so expressed ; and no law shall be revived or amended 
by reference to its title only, but the law revived, or the section 
amended, shall be inserted at length in the new act. And no act 
of the general assembly shall take effect until the first day of 
July next after its passage, unless, in case of emergency, (which 
emergency shall be expressed in the preamble or body of the act), 
the general assembly shall, by a vote of two-thirds of all the 
members elected to each house, otherwise direct. 

PRIVILEGES AND DISABILITIES. 

? 1-1. Senators and representatives shall, in all cases, except 
treason, felony or breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest 
during the session of the general assembly, and in going to and 
returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either 
house, they shall not be questioned in any other place. 

g 15. No person elected to the general assembly shall receive 
any civil appointment within this State from the governor, the 
governor and senate, or from the general assembly, during the 
term for which he shall have been elected ; and all such appoint- 
ments, and all votes given for any such members for any such 
offices or appointment, shall be void ; nor shall any member of 
the general assembly be interested, either directly or indirectly, 
in any contract witli the state, or any county thereof, authorized 
by any law passed during the term for which he shall have been 
elected, or within one year after the expiration thereof. 

PUBLIC MONEYS AND APPPvOPRIATIONS. 

? IG. The general assembly shall make no appropriation of 
money out of the treasury in any private law. Bills making ap- 
propriations for the pay of members and ofiicers of the general 
assembly, and for the salaries of the officers of the government, 
shall contain no provisions on any other subject. 

§ 1 7. No money shall be drawn from the treasury except in 
pursuance of an appropriation made by law, and on the presenta- 
tion of a warrant issued by the auditor thereon ; and no money 
shall be diverted from any appropriation made for any purpose, 
or t.aken from any fund whatever, either by joint or separate 
resolution. The auditor shall, within 60 days after the adjourn- 
ment of each session of the general assembly, prepare and pub- 
lish a full statement of all money expended at such session, spe- 
cifying the amount of each item, and to whom and for what 
paid. 

?18. Each general assembly shall provide for all appropriations 
necessary for the ordinary and contingent expenses of the govern- 
ment until the expiration of the first fiscal quarter afterthe adjourn- 
ment of the next regular session, the aggregate amount of which 
shall not be increased Avithout a vote of two-thirds of the mem- 
bers elected to each house, nor exceed the amount of revenue au- 
thorized by law to be raised in such time ; and all appropriations, 
general or special, requiring money to be paid out of the State 
Treasury, from funds belonsing to the State, shall end with such 
fiscal quarter : Provided, the State may, to meet casual deficits or 
failures in revenue, contract debts, never to exceed in the aggre- 
gate $250,000 ; and moneys thus borrowed shall be applied to 
the purpose for which they were obtained, or to pay the dclit thus 
created, and to no other purpose ; and no other debt, except for 



the purpose of repelling invasion, suppressing insurrection, or 
defending the State in war, (for payment or which the laith of 
the State shall be pledged), shall be contracted, unless the law 
authorizing the same shall, at a general election, have been sub- 
mitted to the jieople, and have received a majority of the votes 
east for members of the general assembly at such election. The 
general assembly shall provide for the publication of .said law for 
three months, at least, before the vote of the people shall be 
taken upon the same ; and provision shall be made, at the time, 
for the payment of the interest annually, as it shall accrue, by a 
tax levied for the purpose, or from other sources of revenue ; 
which law, providing for the payment of such interest by such 
tax, shall be irrepealable until such debt be paid: And provided 
further, that the law levying the tax shall be submitted to the 
people with the law authorizing the debt to be contracted. 

§ 19. The general assembly shall never grant or authorize extra 
compensation, fee or allowance to any public officer, agent, ser- 
vant or contractor, after service^has been rendered or a contract 
made, nor authorize the payment of any claim, or part thereof, 
hereafter created against the State under any agreement or con- 
tract made without express authority of law : and all such un- 
authorized agreements or contracts shall be null and void: Pro- 
vided, the general assembly may make appropriations for expendi- 
tures incurred in suppressing insurrection or repelling invasion. 

I 20. The State shall never pay, assume or become responsible 
for the debts or liabilities of, or in any nuinner give, loan or ex- 
tend its credit to, or in aid of any public or other corporation, 
association or individual. 

PAY OF MEMBERS. 

? 21. The members of the general assembly shall receive for 
their services the sum of f 8 per day, during the first session held 
under this constitution, and 10 cents for each mile necessarily 
traveled in going to and returning from the seat of government, 
to be computed by the auditor of public accounts ; and thereafter 
such compensation as sh.all be prescribed by law, and no other 
allowance or emolument, directly or indirectly, for any purpose 
whatever ; except $50 per session to each member, which shall 
be in full for postage, stationery, newspapers, and all other inci- 
dental expenses and perquisites ; but no change shall be made 
in the compensation of members of the general assembly during 
the term for which they may have been elected. The pay and 
mileage allowed to each member of the general assembly shall 
be certified by the speaker of their respective houses, and entered 
on the journals and published at the close of each session. 

SPECIAL LEGISLATION PROHIBITED. 

? 22. The general assembly shall not pass local or special laws 
in any of the following enumerated cases, that is to say: for — 

Granting divorces ; 

Changing the names of persons or places ; 

Laying out, opening, altering, and working roads or highways; 

Vacating roads, town plats, streets, alleys and public grounds ; 

Locating or changing county seats ; 

Regulating county and township affairs ; 

Regulating the practice in courts of justice ; 

Regulating the jurisdiction and duties of justices of the peace, 
police magistrates, and constables ; _ _ 

Providing for change of venue in civil and criminal cases. 

Incorporating cities, towns, or villages, or changing or amend- 
ing the charter of any town, city or village ; 

Providing for the election of members of the board of super- 
visors in township's incorporated towns or cities; 

Summoning and empaneling grand or petit juries; 

Providing for the management of common schools; 

Regulating the rate of interest on money ; 

The opemng and conducting of any election, or designating 
the place of voting ; 

The sale or mortgage of real estate belonging to minors or 
others under disability; 

The protection of game or fish; 

Chartering or licensing ferries or toll bridges ; 

Remitting fines, penalties or forfeitures ; 

Creating, increasing, or decreasing fees, percentage or allow- 
ances of public officers, during the term for which said officers, 
are elected or appointed ; 

Changing the law of descent ; 

Granting to any corporation, association or individual the right 
to lay down railroad tracks, or amending existing charters lor 
such purpose ; 
3 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



589 



Granting to any corporation, association or individual any spe- 
cial or exclusive privilege, immunity or franchise whatever ; 

In all other cases where a general law can be made ajiplicable. 
no special law shall be enacted; 

1 23. The general assembly shall have no power t* release or 
extinguish, in whole or in part, the indebtedness, liability, or ob- 
ligation of any corporation or individual to this .State or to any 
municipal corporation therein. 

IMPEACHMENT. 

^ 21. The house of representatives shall have the sole power of 
impeachment ; but a majority of all the members elected must 
concur therein. All impeachments shall be tried by the senate ; 
and when sitting for that purpose, the senators shall be upon 
oath, or affirmation, to do justice according to law and evidence. 
When the governor of the State is tried, ibe chief justice shall 
preside. No person shall be convicted withmit the concurrence of 
two-thirds of the sen.ators elected. But judgment, in such case^, 
shall not extend further than removal from ottiee, and disqualifi- 
cation to hold any office of honor profit or trust under the gov- 
ernment of this St.ite. The party, whether convicted or acquit- 
ted, shall nevertheless, be liable to prosecution, trial, judgment 
and punishment according to law. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

2 25. The general assembly shall provide, by law, th.'.t the fuel, 
stitionery and printing-i)apcr furnished for the use of the h'tate ; 
the copying, printing, binding and distributing the laws and 
journals, and all other printing ordered by the general assembly, 
shall be let by contract to the lowest res|)Onsible bidder; but the 
general assembly shall fix a maximum price; and no member 
thereof or other officer of the State, shall be interested, directly 
or indirectly, in such contract. But all such contracts shall be 
subject to the approval of the governor, and if he disapi)roves 
the same there shall be a re-letting of tlie contract, in such man- 
ner as shall be prescribed by law. 

I 26. The State of Illinois shall never be made defendant i.i 
any court or law of equity. 

I 27. The general assembly shall have no power to authorize 
lotteries or gilt enterprises, for any purpose, and shall pass laws 
to prohibit the sale of lottery or gilt enterprise tickets in this 
State. 

§ 28. No law shall be passed which shall operate to extend the 
term of any public officer after his election or appointment. 

I 29. It shall be the duty of the general assemoly to pass such 
law 5 as may be necessary for the protection of operative miners, 
by providing for ventilation, when the same may be required, and 
the construction of escapement-sliaf'ts, or such other ai)plianccs 
as m.ay secure safety in all coal mines, and to jirovide for the en- 
forcement of said laws by such penalties and punishments as 
may be deemed i^roper. 

I 30. The general assembly may provide for establishing and 
opening roads and cart-ways, connected with a public road, for 
private and public use. 

I 31. The general assembly may pass laws permitting the own- 
ers and occupants of lands to construct drains and ditches, fur 
agricultural and sanitarj- purposes, across the lands of others. 

I 32. The general assembly shall pa-ss liberal and homestead 
and exemption laws. 

i. 33. The general assembly shall not appropriate out of the 
State treasury, or expend on account of the new capitol grounds, 
and construction, completion and furnishing of the State-house, a 
sura exceeding in the aggregate, S3,50(l,000, inclusive of all ap- 
propriations heretofore made, without first submitting the propo- 
sition for an additional expenditure to the legal voters of the 
State, at a general election ; nor unless a majority of all the voti s 
at such election shall be for the proposed additional expenditure. 

ARTICLE V. 

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. 



. Officer** of this Departmen'. 

. Of the Statfl Treasurer. 

. Time of Electine; State Officers. 

Keturo!!— Tie— Contested Election 
. Eligibility for office. 
. GoTernor— Power an.l Diitv. 
. His Messaae anil Statement. 
. Convening the Oeneral .\s3embly. 
. Proroguing the General A.saembly, 
. Nominations by the rjovernor. 
. Vaoaneies mav be filled. 
. Remorals bv the Governor. 
, Reprieves, Commutations, Pardons 



. Governor aa Commander-in-Chief. 
. Impeaehment for Misdemeanor. 
. Vett> of the Governor. 
. Lieutenant-Governor as Governor. 
. As President of the Senate. 
. Vacancy in tiovernor's Office. 
. Vacancy in other Slate (-iffices. 
. Reports of Slate Officers. 
. Great Seal of State. 

Fees and Salaries. 

Definition of 'Office." 

Oath of Civil Officers. 



EXECUTIVE DEPAKTMEST. 

I 1. The executive department shall consist of a Governor, 
Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary of State, Auditor of Public Ac- 
counts, Treasurer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and At- 
torney-General, who shall each with the exception of the Treas- 
urer, hold his office for the term of four years from the second 
Monday of January next after his election, and until his succes- 
sor is elected and qualified. They shall, except the Lieutenant 
Governor, reside at the seat of Government during their term of 
office, and keep the public records, books and papers there, and 
shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by law. 

I 2. The Tre;isurer shall hold his office for the term of two 
years, and until his successor is elected and qualified ; and shall 
be ineligible to said office for two years next after the end of the 
term for which he was elected. He may be required by the Gov- 
ernor to give reasonable additional security, and in default of so 
doing his office shall be deemed vacant. 

ELECTION. 

I 3. An election foT Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary 
of State, Auditor of Public Accounts and Attorney-General, shall 
be held on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, 
in the year of our Lord 1872, and every four years thereafter ; 
for Superintendent of Public Instruction, on the Tuesday next 
after the first Monday of November, in the year 1870, and every 
four years thereafter ; and for Treasurer on the day last ahr.ve 
mentioned, and every two year.i thereafter, at such placis and in 
such manner as may be prescribed by law. 

I 4. The returns of every election lor the above named officers 
shall be sealed up and transmitted, by the returning officers, to 
the Secretary of State, directed to " The Speaker of the House 
of Representatives," who shall, immediately after the organizii- 
tion of the house, and before proceeding to other business, open 
and publish the same in the presence of a majority of each house 
of the general assembly, who shall, for that purpose, assemble in 
the hall of the house of representatives. The i>erson having the 
highest number of votes for either of the said tffices shall be de- 
clared duly elected ; but if two or more have an equal and the 
highest number of votes, the general assembly shall, by joint 
ballot, choose one of such persons for said office. Contested 
elections for all of said offices shall be determined by both houses 
of the general assembly, by joint ballot, in such manner as may 
be prescribed by law. 

ELIGIBILITY. 

§ o. No person shall be eligible to the office of governor, or 
lieutenant-governor, who shall not have attained the age of 30 
years, and been, for five years next jireceding his election, a citi- 
zen of the United States and of this State. Neither the gover- 
nor, lieutenant-governor, auditor of public accounts, secretary of 
State, superintendent of public instruction nor attorney general 
shall be eligible to any other office during the period for which 
he shall have been elected. 

GOVERNOR. 

S ('). The supreme executive power shall be vested in the gov- 
ernor, who shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed. 

? 7. The governor shall, at the commencement of each session, 
and at the close of his term of office, give to the general assembly 
information, by message, of the condition of the State, and shall 
recommend such measures as he shall deem expedient. He shall 
acc<mnt to the general assembly, and accompany his message 
with a statement of all moneys received and paid out by him 
from any fiinds subject to his order, with vouchers, and at the 
commencement of each regular session, present estimates of the 
amount of money required to be raised by taxation for all pur- 
jioses. 

'i 8. The governor may, on extraordinari- occasions, convene 
the general assembly, by proclamation, stating therein the pur- 
pose for which they are convened; and the general assembly 
shall enter upon no business except that for which they were 
called together. 

I 9. In ca,se of a disagreement between fhe two houses with 
respect to the time of adjournment, the governor may, on the 
same being certified to him, by the house first moving the ad- 
journment, adjourn the general assembly to such time as bethinks 
proper, not beyond the first day of the next regular session. 

I 10. The governor shall nominate, and by and with the advice 
and consent of the .senate, (a majority of all the senators elected 
concurring, bv veas and iiavs,) appoint all ofiiccrs whose offices 
4 â–  " 



59(1 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



are established by this constitution, or which may be created by 
law, and whose appointment or election is not otherwise provided 
for ; and no such otiicer shall be appointed or elected by the gen- 
eral assembly. 

g 11. In ease of a vacancy, during the recess of the senate, in 
any office which is not elective, the governor shall make a tem- 
porary appointment until the next meeting of the senate, when 
he shall nominate some jierson to till such otfice ; ami any person 
so nominated, who is confirmed by the senate (a ni:iinrity of all 
the senators elected concurring by yeas and nays), shall hold his 
office during the remainder of the time, and until his successor 
shall be appointed and qualified. No person, after being rejected 
by the senate, shall be again nominated for the same office at the 
same session, unless at the request of the senate, or be appointed 
to the same office during the recess of the general assembly. 

? 12. The governor shall have power to remove any officer 
whom he may appoint, in case of incompetency, neglect of duty, 
or malfeasance in office ; and he may declare his office vacant, 
and fill the same as is herein provided in other cases of vacancy. 

1 13. The governor shall have power to grant reprieves, com- 
mutations and pardons, after conviction, for all offences, subject 
to such regulations as may be provided by law relative to the 
manner of applying therefor. 

'i 14. The governor shall be commander-in-chief of the mili- 
tary and naval forces of the State (except when they shall be 
called into the service of the United States) ; and may call out 
the same to execute the laws, suppress insurrection, and repel 
i:iva.sion. 

2 1.). The governor, and all civil officers of this State, shall be 
liable to impeachment for any misdemeanor in office. 



? 16. Every \jA\ passed by the general assembly ; hall, before it 
becomci a law, be presented to the governor. If he approve, he 
shall sign it, and thereupon it shall become a law ; but if he do 
not approve, he shall return it, with his objections, to the house 
in which it shall have originated, which house shall enter the 
objections at large upon its journal, and proceed to reconsider the 
bill. If, then, two-thirds of the members elected agree to pass 
the same, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the 
other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered ; and if 
approved by two-thirds of the members elected to that house, it 
shall become a law, notwithstanding the objections of the gover- 
nor. But in all such cases, the vote of each house shall be de- 
termined by yeas and nays, to be entered on the journal. Any 
bill which shall not be returned by the governor within ten days 
(Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, 
shall become a law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless 
the general assembly shall, by their adjournment, prevent its re- 
turn ; in which case it shall be filed, with his objections, in the 
office of the secretary of State, within ten days after such adjourn- 
ment, or become a law. 

LIEUTENANT-GOVEESOE. 

? 17. In case of death, conviction or impeachment, failure to 
qualify, resignation, absence from the State, or other disability 
of the governor, the powers, duties, the emoluments of the office 
for the residue of the term, or until the disability shall be re- 
moved, shall devolve upon the lieutenant-governor. 

§ 18. The lieutenant-governor shall be president of the senate, 
and shall vote only when the senate is equally divided. The 
senate shall choose a president, joi'o tanpore, to preside in case of 
the absence or impeachment of the lieutenant-governor, or when 
he shall hold the office of governor. 

^ 19. If there be no lieutenant-governor, or if the lieutenant- 
governor shall, for any of the causes specified in I 17 of this 
article, become incapable of performing the duties of the office, 
the president of the senate shall actasgovernoruntil the vacancy 
is filled or the disability removed; and if the president of the 
senate, for any of the above named causes, shall become incapa- 
ble of performing the duties of governor, the same shall devolve 
upon the speaker of the house of representatives. 

OTHER STATE OFFICERS. 

3 20. If the office of auditor of public accotmts, treasurer, sec- 
retarv of State, attorney general, or sui)erinteiident of public in- 
struction shall be vacated by death, resignation or otherwise, it 
shall be the duty of the governor to fill tlie same by appointment, 
and the appointee shall hold his office until his successor shall 
be elected and qualified in such manner as may be provided by 



law. An account shall be kept by the officers of the executive 
department, and of all the public institutions of the State, of all 
moneys received ordislmrsed by them, severally, from all sources, 
and for every service iieituruied, and a semi-annual report thereof 
be made to the governor, under oath ; and any officer who makes 
a false report shall be guilty of perjury, and punished accordingly. 
i 21. The officers of the executive department, and of all the 
public institutions of the State, shall, at least ten days i receding 
each regular session of the general assembly, severally report to 
the governor, who shall transmit such reports to the general as- 
sembly, together with the reports of the judges of the supreme 
court of the defects in the constitution and laws ; and the gover- 
nor may at any time require information, in writing, under oath, 
from the officers of the executive department, and all officers and 
managers of state institutions, upon any subject relating to the 
condition, management and expenses of their respective offices. 

THE SEAL OF STATE. 

? 22. There shall be a seal of the State, which shall be called 
the " Great seal of the State of Illinois," which shall be kept by 
the secretary of State, and used by him, officially as directed by 
law. 

FEES AND SALARIES. 

? 23. The officer; named in this article shall receive for their 
services a salary, to be established by law, which shall not be in- 
creased or iliniinished during their official terms, and they shall 
not alter the expiration of the terms of those in office at the 
adoption of this constitution, receive to their own use any fees, 
costs, perquisites of office, or other compensation. And all fees 
that may hereafter be payable by law for any service performed 
by any officer provided for in this article of the constitution, 
shall be paid in advance into the State treasury. 

DEFIXITIOX AXD OATH OF OFFICE. 

I 24. An office is a public position created by the constitution 
or law, continuing during the pleasure of the appointing power, 
or for a fixed time, with a successor elected or appointed. An 
employment is an agency, for a temporary purpose, which ceases 
when that purpose is accomplished. 

^ 2.). All civil officers, except members of the general assembly 
and such inferior officers as may be by law exempted, shall, be- 
fore they enter on the duties of their respective offices, take and 
subscribe the following oath or affirmation : 

I do solemnly pwear (or affirm, as the ca«e may be) that I will support the 
constitution of the United States, and tho Constitution of the State of Illinois, 

and tliat I will faithfully discharge the duties of the ofBce of according 

to the best of my ability. 

And no other oath, declaration or test shall be required as a 
qualification. 

ARTICLE VI. 

JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT. 



. Judicial Powers of Courts. 

. Seven Supreme Judges — Four 

Decide. 
. Qualifications of aSupreme Judge 
. Terms of the Supreme Court. 
. Three Grand Divisions— Seven 

Districts. 
. Election of Supreme Judges. 
. Salai'ies of the Supreme Judges. 
. Appeals and AVrits of Error. 
. Appointment of Reporter. 
, Clerks of the Supreme Court. 
, Appellate Courts Authorized. 
, Jurisdiction of Circuit Courts. 

Formation of Judicial Circuits. 

Time of holding Circuit Courts. 

Circuits containing Four Judges. 

S d.iries of the Circuit Judges. 

Qualifications of Judges or Com- 



3 18. County Judges— County Clerks. 

i 10. Appeals from County Courts. 

I 20- Probate Courts Authorized. 

^ 21. Justices of the Peace and Con.t^ta- 
bles. 

3 22. State's Attorney in each County. 

3 2:J. Cook County Courts of Record. 

3 24. Chief Justice- Power of Judges. 

8 'Si. Salaries of the Judges. 

i S!6. Criminal Court of Cot k County. 

§ 27. Clerks of Cook County Court. 

i 28. Justices in Chicago. 

i 23. Uniformity in the Courts. 

3 :jo. Removal o'f any Judge. 

6 :u. Judges to make Written Reports. 

§ 32. Terms of Office— Fdling Vacan- 
cies. 

§ 33. Process- Prosecutions— P o p u 1 a- 
tion. 



I 1. The judicial powers, except as in this article is otherwise 
provided, shall be vested in one supreme court, circuit courts, 
county courts, justices of the peace, police magistrates, and in 
such courts as may be created by law in and for cities and incor- 
porated towns. 

SUPREME COURT. 

I 2. The supreme court shall consist of seven judges, and shall 
have original jurisdiction in cases relating to the revenue, in 
mandamus, a.n^ habea-f corpus, and appellate jurisdiction in all 
other cases. One of said judges shall be chief justice; four shall 
constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of four shall be neces- 
sary to everv decision. 
5 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



591 



? 3. No person shall be eligible to the office of judje of the 
supremo court unless he shall be at least thirty years of a^e, and a 
citizen of the United States, nar unless he shall have resided in 
the State five years next preceding his election, and be a resi- 
dent of the district in which he shall be elected. 

I 4. Terms of the supreme court shall continue to be held in 
the present grand divisions at the several places now provided 
for holding the same; and until otherwise provided by law, one 
or more terms of said court shall be held, for the northern 
division, in the city of Chicago, each year, at such times as said 
court may appoint, whenever said city or the county of Cook 
shall provide appropriate room therefor, and the use of a suitable 
library, without expense to the State. The judicial divisions 
may be altered, increased or diminished in number, and the times 
and places of holding said court may be changed by law. 

I 5. The present grand divisions "sh.all be prcsen-ed, and be 
denominated Southern, Central and Northern, until otherwise 
I)rovidcd by law. The State shall be divided into seven districts 
for the election of judge, and until otherwise provided by law, 
t'.iev shall be as f dlows : 

First DUtrkl.— The counties of St. Clair, Clinton, Washing- 
ton, JelTorson, Wayne, Edwards, Wabash, Whits, Hamilton, 
Franklin, Perry, K.andolph, Monroe, Jackson, Williamson, Saline, 
Gallatin, Hardin, Pope, Union, Johnson, Alexander, Pul.aski and 
Massac. . 

Second District. — The counties of Madison, Bond, JIaiion, Clay, 
Eichland, Lawrence, Crawford, Jasper, EiRngham, Fayette, Mont- 
gomery, Macouoin, Shelby, Cumberland, Clark, Greene, Jersey, 
Calhoun and Christian. 

Third Diffrirt— The counties of Sangamon. Jfacon, Logan, De 
AVitt, Piatt, Douglas, Champaign, Vermilion, McLean, Living- 
ston, Ford, Iroquois, Coles, Edgar, Jloultrie and Tazewell. 

Fourth District. — The counties of Fulton, MiDonough, Han- 
cock, Schuyler, Brown, Adams, Pike, Mason, Menard, Morgan, 
Cass and Scott. 

J'ifth District.— The counties of Knox, Warren, Henderson, 
Mercer, Henry, Stark, Peoria, Marshall, Putnam, Bureau, Lasalle, 
Grundv and Woodford. 

Sixth District. — ^The counties of Whiteside, Carroll, Jo Daviess, 
Stephenson, Winnebago, Boone, McHenry, Kane, Kendall, De 
Kalb, Lee, Ogle and Ilock Island. 

Seventh District. — The counties of Lake, Cook, Will, Kankakee 
and Du Page. 

Ths boundaries of the districts may be changed at the session 
of the general assembly next preceding the election for judges 
herein, and at no other time ; but whenever such alterations 
shall be made, the same shall be upon the rule of equality of 
population, as nearly as county boundaries will allow, and the 
districts will be composed of contiguous counties, in as nearly 
compact form as circumstances will permit. The alteration of 
the districts shall not afl'ect the tenure of an office of any Judge. 

I 6. At the time of voting on the adoption of this constitution, 
one judge of the supreme court shall be elected by the electors 
thereof, in each of said districts numbered two, three, six and 
seven, who shall hold his office for the term of nine years from 
the first Monday of June, in the year of our Lord 1870. The 
term of office of judges of the supreme court, elected after the 
adoption of this constitution, shall be nine years ; and on the 
first Monday of June of the year in which the term of any of 
the judges in office at the adoption of this constitution, or of the 
judge then elected, shall expire, and every nine years thereafter, 
there shall be an election for the successor or successors of such 
judges, in the respective districts wherein the term of such judges 
shall expire. The chief justice shall continue to act as such 
until the expiratiim of the term for which he was elected, after 
which the judges shall choose one of their number as chief jus- 
tice. 

^ 7. From and after the adoption of this constitution, the 
judges of the supreme court shall each receive a salary of $4,000 
per annum, payable quarterly, until otherwise provided by law. 
And after said salaries shall be fixed by law, the salaries of 
the judges in office shall not be increased or diminished during 
ths terms for which said judges have been elected. 

i. S. Appeals and writs of error may be taken to the supreme 
court, held in the grand division in which the case is decided, or, 
by consent of the parties, to any other grand division. 

? 9. The supreme court shall appoint one reporter of its deci- 
sions, who shall hold his office for six years, subject to removal by 
the court. 

i, 10. At the time of the election for representative in the gen- 
eral assembly, happening next preceding the expiration of the 



terms of office of the present clerks of said court, one clerk of 
said court for each division shall be elected, whose term of office 
sh.all be six years from said election, but wiio shall not enter upon 
the duties of his office until the expiration of the term of his 
predecessor, and evcrj' six years thereafter, one clerk of said 
court for each division shall be elected. 

APPELLATE COUETS. 

I 11. Afterthe year of our Lord 1874, inferior appellate courts 
of uniform organization and jurisdiction, may be created in dis- 
tricts formed for that purpose, to which such appeals and writs 
of error as the general assembly may provide, may be prosecuted 
from circuit and other courts, and from which appeals and writs 
of error shall lie to the supreme court, in all criminal cases, and 
cases in which a franchise, or freehold, ( r the validity of a .stat- 
ute is involved, and in such other cases as may be provided by 
law. Such appellate courts shall be held by such number of 
judges of the circuit courts, and at such times and places, and in 
such manner, as may bo provided ly law; but no judge shall sit 
in review upon cases decided by him ; nor .shall said judges re- 
ceive any additional compensation for such services. 

CIRCUIT cour.T.s. 

I 12. The circuit courts shall have original jurisdiction of all 
causes in law and equity, and such appellate jurisdiction as is or 
may be provided by law, and shall hold two or more terms each 
year in every county. The temis of office of judges of circuit 
courts shall be six years. 

J 13. The State, exclusive of the county of Cook and other 
counties having a population of 100,000, shall be divided into 
judicial circuits, prior to the expiration of terms of office of the 
present judges of the circuit courts. Such circnits shall be formed 
of contiguous counties, in as nearly compact form and as nearly 
equal as circumstances will permit, having due regard to busi- 
ne ;s, territory and population, and shall not exceed in number 
one circuit for every 100,000 of population in the State. One 
judge shall be elected for each of said circuits by the electors 
thereof. New circuits may be formed and the boundaries of cir- 
cuits changed by the general assembly, at its session next pre- 
ceding the election for circuit judges, but at no other time: Pro- 
vided, that the circuits may be equalized or changed at the first 
sessim of the general assembly, after the adoi)tion of this con- 
stitution. The creation, alteration or change of any circuit shall 
not affect the tenure of office of any judge. Whenever tlie busi- 
ness of the circuit court of any one, or of two or more contigu- 
ous counties, containing a population exceeding 50,000, shall oc- 
cupy nine months of the year, the general as.sembly may make 
of such county, or counties, a separate circuit. Whenever addi- 
tional circuits are created, the foregoing limitations shall be ob- 
served. 

I 14. The gener.al assembly shall provide for the times of hold- 
ing courts in each county ; which shall not be changed, except 
by the general assembly next ])receding the general election for 
judges of said courts; but additional terms may be provided for 
in any county. The election for judges of the circuit courts shall 
be held on the first Monday of June, in the year of our Lord 
1873, and every six years thereafter. 

^15. The general assembly may divide the State into judicial 
circuits of greater population and territory, in lieu of the circuits 
provided for in section 13 of this article, and provide for the elec- 
tion therein, severally, by the electors thereof^ by general ticket, 
of not exceeding four judges, who shall hold the circuit courts for 
wliich they shall be elected, in such manner as may be provided 
by law. 

? IG. From and after the adoption of this constitution, judges 
of the circuit courts shall receive a salary of $3,000 per annum, 
pay.able quarterly, until otherwise i)rovidcd by law. And after 
their s ilarics shall be fixed by law, they shall not be increased or 
diminished during the terms for which said judges shall be, re- 
spectively, elected ; and from and after the adoption of this con- 
stitution, no judge of the supreme or circuit court shall receive 
any other compensation, iK'rquisite or benefit, in any form wh.atso- 
evcr, nor perform any other than judicial duties to which may 
belong any emoluments. 

? 17. No person shall be eligible to the office of judge of the 
circuit or any inferior court, or to membership in the " Doard of 
county commissioners," unless he shall be at least 25 years of age, 
and a citizen of the L'nited States, nor unless he shall have re- 
sided in this State five years next preceding his election, and be 
a resident of the circuit, county, city, cities, or incorporated town 
in which he shall be elected. 
6 



592 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



COUNTY COURTS. 

I 18. There shall be elected in and for each county, one judge 
and one clerk of the county court, whose terms of office shall be 
four years. But the general assembly may create districts of two 
or more contiguous counties, in each of which shall be elected 
one judge, who shall take the place of, and exercise the powers 
and jurisdiction of county judges in such districts. County 
courts shall be courts of record, and shall have original jurisdic- 
tion in all matters of probate ; settlement of estates of deceased 
persons ; appointment of guardians and conservators, and settle- 
ments of their accounts ; in all matters relating to apprentices ; 
and in proceedings for the collection of taxes and assessments, 
and such other jurisdiction as may be provided for by general 
law. 

? 19. Appeals and writs of error shall be allowed from final 
determination of county courts, as may be provided by law. 

PROBATE COURTS. 

I 20. Thcgener.ll assembly may provide for the establishment 
of a probate court in each county having a population of over 
50,000, and for the election of a judge thereof, whose term of 
office shall be the same as that of the county judge, and who 
shall be elected at the same time and in the same manner. Said 
courts, when established, shall have original jurisdiction of all 
probate matters, the settlement of estates of deceased persons, 
the appointment of guardians and conservators, and settlement 
of their .accounts ; in all m.atters relating to apprentices, and in 
cases of the sales of real estate of deceased persons for the pay- 
ment of debts. 

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE AND CONSTABLES. 

I 21. Justices of the peace, police magistrates, and constables 
shall be elected in and for such districts as are, or may be, pro- 
vided by law, and the jurisdiction of such justices of the peace 
and police magistrates shall be uniform. 

state's ATTORNEYS. 

? 22. At the election for members of the general assembly in 
the year of our Lord 1872, and every four years thereafter, there 
shall be elected a State's attorney in and for each county, in lieu 
of the State's attorney now provided by law, whose term of office 
shall be four years. 

COURTS OF COOK COUNTY. 

I 23. TIic county of Cook shall be one judicial circuit. The 
circuit court of Cook county shall consist of five judges, until 
their number shall be increased, as herein provided. The present 
judge of the recorder's court of the city of Chicago, and the pres- 
ent judge of the circuit court of Cook county, shall be two_ of 
said judges, and shall remain in office for the terms for which 
they were respectively elected, and until their successors shall 
be elected and qualified. The superior court of Chicago shall be 
continued, and called the superior court of Cook county. The 
general assembly may increase the number of said judges by ad- 
ding one to either of said courts for every additional 50,000 in- 
habitants in said county, over and above a population of 400,000. 
The terms of office of the judges of said courts hereafter elected, 
shall be six years. 

^ 24. The judge having the shortest unexpired term shall be 
chief justice of the court of which he is judge. In case there 
are two or more whose terms expire at the same time, it may be 
determined by lot which shall be chief justice. Any judge of 
either of .said courts shall have all the powers of a circuit judge, 
and m.ay hold the court of which he is a member. Each of them 
may hold a different branch thereof at the same time. 

§ 25. The judges of the superior and circuit courts, and the 
State's attorney, in said county, shall receive the same salaries, 
payable out of the State treasury, as is or may be paid from said 
treasury to the circuit judges and State's attorneys of the State, 
and such further compensation, to be paid by the county of Cook, 
as is or may be provided by law ; such compensation shall not 
be changed during their continuance in office. 

^ 26. The recorder's court of the city of Chicago shall be con- 
tinued, and shall be called the " criminal court of Cook county." 
It shall have the jurisdiction of a circuit court, in all cases of 
criminal and yiw.si criminal nature, arising in the county of Cook, 
or that may be brought before said court pursuant to law ; and 
all recognizances and appeals taken insaid county, in criminal and 
quasi criminal cases shall be returnjible and taken to said court. 
It shall have no jurisdiction in civil eases, except in those on 
behalf of the people, and incident to such criminal or quasi crim- 
inal matters, and to dispose of unfinished business. The terms 
7 



of said criminal court of Cook county shall be held by one or 
more of the judges of the circuit or superior court of Cook 
county, as nearly as may be in alternation, as may be determined 
by said judges, or provided by law. Said judges shall be ex- 
officio judges of said court. 

I 27. The present clerk of the recorder's court of the city of 
Chicago, shall be the clerk of the criminal court of Cook county, 
during the term for which he was elected. The present clerks of 
the superior court of Chicago, and the present clerk of the circuit 
court of Cook county, shall continue in office during the terms 
for which they were respectively elected ; and thereafter there 
shall be but oiie clerk of the superior court, to be elected by the 
qualified electors of said county, who shall hold his office for the 
term of four years, and until his successor is elected and qualified. 

I 28. All justices of the peace in the city of Chicago shall be 
appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent 
of the senate, (but only upon the recommendation of a majority 
(if the judges of the circuit, superior and county courts,) and for 
such districts as are now or sh.all hereafter be provided by law. 
They shall hold their offices for four years, and until their suc- 
cesssors have been commissioned and qualified, but they may be 
removed by summary proceedings in the circuit or superior court, 
for extortion or other malfeasance. Existing justices of the peace 
and police magistrates may hold their offices until the expiration 
of their respective terms. 

GENERAL PROVISIONS. 

I 29. All judicial officers shall be commissioned by the gover- 
nor. All laws relating to courts shall be general, and of uniform 
operation ; and the organization, jurisdiction, power, proceedings 
and practice of all courts, of the same class or grade, so far as 
regulated by law, and the force and effect of the process, judg- 
ments and decrees of such courts, severally shall be uniform. 

^ 30. The general assembly may, for cause entered on the 
journals, upon due notice and opportunity of defense, remove 
"from oflice any judge, upon concurrence of three-fourths of all 
the members elected, of each house. All other officers in this 
article mentioned, shall be removed from office on prosecution 
and final conviction, for misdemeanor in office. 

I 31. All judges of courts of record, inferior to the supreme 
court, shall, on or before the first day of June, of each year, re- 
port in writing to the judges of the supreme court, such defects 
and omissions in the laws as their experience may suggest ; and 
the judges of the supreme court shall, on or before the first day 
of January of each year, report in writing to the governor such 
defects and omissions in the constitution and laws as they mav 
find to exist, together with appropriate forms of bills to cure such 
defects and omissions in the law.s. And the judges of the several 
circuit courts shall report to the next general assembly the num- 
ber of days they have held court in the several counties compos- 
ing their respective circuits, the preceding two years. 

?-32. All officers provided for in this article shall hold their 
offices until their successors shall be qualified, and thev shall, re- 
spectively, reside in the division, circuit, county or district for 
which they may be elected or appointed. The terms of office of 
all such officers, wdiere not otherwise prescribed in this article, 
shall be four years. All officers, where not otherwise provided 
for in this article, shall perform such duties and receive _ such 
compensation as is or mav be provided by law. Vacancies in 
such elective offices shall "be filled by election; but where the 
unexpired term does not exceed one year, the vacancy shall be 
filled bv appointment, as follows : Of judges, by the governor ; 
of clerks of courts, by the court to which the office appertains, or 
by the judge or judges thereof; and of .all such other officers, by 
the board of supervisors or board of county commissioners in 
the countv where the vacancy occurs. 

? 33. All process shall run : In the name of the People nf the 
State of Illinois : and all prosecutions shall be carried on : In 
the name and by the authprity of the People of the State if Illinois; 
and conclude; Against the peace and dignity of the same. "Pop- 
ulation," wherever used in this article, shall be determined by the 
next preceding census of this State or of the United States. 

ARTICLE VII. 



SUFFRAGE. 



Who ure entitled to Vote. 
All Votins to be by Ballot. 
Privileges of Electors. 
Absence on Public Business. 



Soldier not deemed a Resident. 
Qualifications for Office. 
Persons Convicted of Crime. 



1. Every person having resided in this State one year, in the 



HISTORY OF MADISOI^ COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



593 



county 90 days, and in the election district 30 days next preced- 
ing any election tliereiii, who was an elector in this State on the 
first day of April, in the year of our Lord 184S, or obtained a 
certificate of naturalization before any court of record in this 
State prior to the first day of January, in the year of our Lord 
1870, or who shall be a male citizen of the United States, above 
the age of 21 years, shall be entitled to vote at such election. 

I 2. All votes shall be by ballot. 

\ 3. Electors shall, in all" cases except treason, felony, or breaih 
of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their attendance 
at elections, and in going to and returning from the same. And 
no elector shall be obliged to do military duty on the days of 
election, except in time of war or public danger. 

? 4. No elector shall be deemed to have lost his residence in 
this State by reason of his absence on business of the United 
States, or of this State, or in the military or naval services of the 
United States. 

i 0. No soldier, seaman or marine in the army or navy of the 
United States shall be deemed a resident of this State in conse- 
quence of being stationed therein. 

i 6. No person shall be elected or appointed to any office in 
this State, civil or military, who is not a citizen of the United 
States, and who shall not have resided in this State one year 
next preceding the election or appointment. 

^ 7. The general assembly shall pass laws excluding from the 
right of suffrage persons convicted of infamous crimes. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

EDUC.\TIOX. 

a :. Free Schools Est.ihlishrd. I i 4. School Officer."! not Illtercsteil. 

3 2. (iifts or Grants in .lid of Schools. | i, County Superintendent of Schools, 
g 3. Public Schools not to be Sectarian.! 

? 1. The general assembly shall provide a thorough and effi- 
cient system of free schools, whereby all the chiltlreu of this 
State may receive a good common school education. 

I 2. Ail lands, moneys or other properties, donated, granted or 
received for school, college, seminary or university jiurposes, and 
the proceeds thereof, shall be faithfully applied to the objects for 
which such gifts or grants were made. 

I 'i. Neither the general assembly nor any county, city, town, 
township, school district, or other public corporation, shall ever 
make any appropriation or pay from any public fund whatever, 
anything in aid of any church of sectarian purpose, or to help 
support or sustain any school, academy, seminary, college, uni- 
versity, or other literary or scientific institution, controlled by 
any church or sectarian demomin.ation whatever ; nor shall any 
grant or donation of land, money, or other personal projierty ever 
be made by the State or any such public corporation, to any 
church, or for any sectarian purpose. 

I 4. is'o teacher, State, county, township, or district school offi- 
cer shall be interested in the sale, proceeds or profits of any book, 
apparatus or furniture, used or to be used, in any school in this 
State, with which such officer or teacher may be connected, 
under such penalties as may be provided by the general assembly. 

? 5. There may be a county superintendent of schools in each 
county, whose qualifications, powers, duties, compensation and 
time "and manner of election, and terra of office, shall be pre- 
scribed by law. 

ARTICLE TX. 



REVENUE. 



? 1. Principles of TnX'tion Slated. 
i 2. Other and further Taxation. 
I :). Property Exempt from Taxation. 
i 4. Sale of Real Property for Ta.Kes. 
i .5. Right of Redemption therefrom. 
I r., Relca'<e from Taxation Forbidden. 
\ 7. Taxes paid into State Treasury. 



^ 8. Limitation on County Taxes. 
i n. Local Municipal Improvemeuts 
g 10, Taxation of Municipal Corpora- 
tions. 
3 11. Defaulter not to he t^lifirible. 
g 12. Limitation on Municipal Indeht- 



l 1. The general assembly shall provide such revenue as may be 
leedful by levying a tax, by valuation, so that every person and 
corporation shall pay a tax in proportion to the value of his, her 
or its property — such value to be ascertained by some person or 
persons, to be elected or appointed in such manner as the general 
assembly shall direct, and not otherwise; but the general assem- 
bly shall have power to tax peddlers, auctioneers, brokers, hawk- 
era, merchants, commission merchants, showmen, jugglers, inn- 
keeper-i, grocery keepers liquor dealers, toll bridges, ferries, insur- 
ance, telegraph and express interests or business, venders of pat- 
ents, and persons or corporations owning or using franchises and 
privileges, in such manner as it shall from tinietutime direct by 
general law, uniform as to the chtss upon which it operates. 



l 2. The specifications of the objects and subjects of taxation 
shall not deprive the general assembly of the power to require 
other subjects or objects to be taxed in such a manner as nuiy be 
consistent with the principles of taxation fixed in this constitu- 
tion. 

'i 3. The properties of this State, counties and other municipal 
corporations, both real and personal, and such other property as 
may be used exclusively for agricultural and horticultural socie- 
ties, for school, religiou.s, cemetery and charitable purposes, may 
be exempted from taxation ; but such exemption shall be only 
by general law. In the assessment of real estate encumbered ty 
public easement, any depreciation occasioned by such easement 
may he deducted inthe valuation of such property. 

? 4. The general assembly shall provide, in all cases where it 
may be necessary to sell real estate for the non-payment of taxes 
or special assessments for State, county, municipal or other pur- 
poses, that a return of such unpaid taxes or assessments shall be 
to some general officer of the county having authority to receive 
State and county taxes ; and there s'hall be no sale of said prop- 
erty for any of said taxes or assessments but by said officer, upon 
the order or judgment of some court of record. 

I 5. The right of redemption from all sales of real estate for 
the non-payment of taxes or special assessments of any character 
whatever, shall exist in favor of owners and per.sons interested 
in such real estate, for a period of not less than two years from 
such sales thereof And the general assembly shall provide by 
law for reasonable notice to be given to the owners or parties in- 
terested, by publication or otherwise, of the fact of the sale of 
the property for such taxes or assessments, and when the time of 
redemption shall expire : Provided, that occupants shall in all 
cases be served with personal notice before the time of redemption 
expires. 

I 6. The general assembly shall have no power to release or 
discharge any county, city, township, town or district whatever, 
or the inhabitants thereof or the property therein, from their or 
its proportionate share of taxes to be levied for State purposes, 
nor shall commutation for such taxes be authorized in any form 
whatever. 

I 7. All taxes levied for State purposes shall be paid into the 
State treasury. 

I 8. County authorities shall never assess taxes the aggregate 
of which shall exceed 75 cents per $100 valuation, except for the 
p.aymcntof indebtedness existing at the adoption of this constitu- 
tion, unless authorized by a vote of the people of the county. 

? 9. The general assembly may vest the corporate authorities 
of cities, towns, villages, with power to make local improvements 
by special assessment or by special taxation of contiguous prop- 
erty or otherwise. For all other corporate purposes, all munici- 
pal corporations may he vested with authority to assess and col- 
lect taxes; but such" taxes shall be uniform in respect to persons 
and property, with the jurisdiction of the body imposing the 
same. 

I 10. The general assembly shall not impose taxes upon muni- 
cipal corporations, or the inhabitants or property thereof, for cor- 
porate purposes, but shall require that all the taxable ])roperty 
within the limits of municipal corporations shall be taxed for 
the payment of debts contracted under authority of Law, such 
taxes to be uniform in respect to persons and property, within the 
jurisdiction of the body imposing the same. Private property 
shall mt be liable to he" taken or sold for the payment of the cor- 
porate debts of a municipal corporation. 

? 11. No person who. is in default, as a collector or custodian 
of money or property belonging to a municipal corporation, shall 
be eligible to any office in or under such corporation. The fees, 
salarv or compensation of no municipal officer who is elected or 
appointed for a definite term of office, shall be increased or di- 
minished during such term. 

i. 12. No county, city, township, school district, or other_ muni- 
cipal corporation, .shall be allowed to become indebted in any 
manner or for any purpose, to an amount, including existing in- 
debtedness, in the aggregate exceeding five per centum on the 
value of the taxable property therein, to be ascertained by the 
last assessment for State and county taxes, previous to the incur- 
ring of such indebtedne.ss. Any county, city, school district, or 
other municipal corporation, incurring any indebtedness, as afore- 
said, shall before, or at the time of doing so, provide for the col- 
lection of a direct annual tax sufficient to pay the interest on 
ouch debt as it falls due, and also to pay and discharge the prin- 
cipal thereof within twenty years from the time of contracting the 
same. This section shall no't he construed to prevent any county, 
city, township, school district, or other municipal corporation 
8 



591 



HI&TORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



from issuing their bonds in compliance with any vote of the 
lieople which may have been had prior to the adoption of this 
constitution in pursuance of any law providing therefor. 

ARTICLE X. 



! 8. County Officer?— Terms of Offic 
J i>. Sal:iries and Fees in Cook Count 
1 10. Sahiries fixed by County Board, 
i 11. Township Officers — Special Law 
! 12. AH Futare Fees Uniform. 
I l;i. Sworn Reports of all Fees. 



i I. Formation of New Counties. 
\ i. Division of any County. 
\ ;i. Territory stricken from a County. 
3 4. Removal of a County Seat. â–  â–  
3 S. Method of County Government. 
I n. Board of County Commissioners. 
I -. County affairs in Cook County. 

I 1. No new county shall be formed or established by the gen- 
eral assembly, which will reduce the county or counties, or either 
of them, from which it shall be taken, to less contents than 400 
Brpiare miles; nor shall any county be formed of less contents ; 
nor shall any line thereof pass within less than ten miles of any 
county seat of the county, or counties proposed to be divided. 

I 2. No county shall be divided, or have any part stricken 
therefrom, without submitting the question to a vote of the peo- 
ple of the county, nor unless a majority of all the legal voters 
of the county, voting on the question, shall vote for the same. 

? 3. There shall be no teiritory stricken from any county, 
iiniess a majority of the voters living in such territory shall peti- 
tion for such division ; and no territory shall be added to any 
county without the consent of the majority of the voters of the 
county to which it is proposed to be added. But the portion so 
stricken off and added to another county, or formed in whole or 
in part into a new county, shall be bolden for, and obliged to 
pav its proportion of indebtedness of the county from which it 
lias been taken. 

COUNTY SEATS. 

? 4. No county seat shall be removed until the point to which 
it is proposed to be removed shall bo fixed in pursuance of law, 
and three-fifths of the voters of the county, to be ascertained in 
such manner as sliall be jirovidcd by general law, shall have 
voted in favor of its removal to such point ; and no person shall 
vote on such question who has not resided in the county six 
months, and in the election precinct ninety days next preceding 
such election. The question of removal of a county seat shall 
not be oftener submitted than once in ten years, to a vote of the 
people. But when an attempt is made to remove the county seat 
to a point nearer to the centre of a county, then a majority vote 
only shall be necessary. 

COUNTY GOVERNMENT. 

? 5. The general assembly shall provide, by gener;;l law, for 
township organization, under which any county may organize 
whenever a majority of the legal voters of such county, voting at 
any general election, shall so determine, and whenever any county 
sh.all adopt township organization, so much of this constitution 
as provides for the management of the fiscal concerns of the said 
county by the board of county commissioners, may be dispensed 
with, and the affairs of said county maybe transacted in such 
manner as the general assembly may provide. And in any county 
that shall have adopted a township organization, the question of 
continuing the same may be submitted to a vote of the electors 
of such county, at a general election, in the manner that now is 
or may be provided by law; and if a majority of all the votes 
cast upon that question shall be against township organization, 
then such organization .'^hall cease in said county ; and all laws 
in force in relatii m to counties not having township organizations, 
shall immediately take elTect and be in force in such county. No 
two townships shall have the same name, and the day of holding 
the annual township meeting shall be uniform throughout the 
State. I 

I 6. At the first election of county judges under this constitu- 
tion, three shall be elected in each of the counties in this State, 
not under township organization, three oflicers, who shall be 
styled " The Board of County Commissioners," who shall hold 
sessions for the transaction of county business as shall be provided 
by law. One of said commissioners shall hold his office for one 
year, one for two years, and one for three years, to be determined 
iiy lot ; and every year thereafter one such officer shall be elected 
in each of said counties for the term of three years. 

? 7 The county affairs of Cook county shall be managed by a 
board of commissioners of fifteen persons, ten of whom .shall be 
elected from the city of Chicago, and five from towns outside of 
said city, in such manner as may be provided by law. 



COUNTY OFFICERS AND THEIB. COMPENSATIONS. 

I 8. In each county there shall be elected the following county 
officers : County judge, sheriff, county clerk, clerk of the cir- 
cuit court, (who may be ex-officio recorder of deeds, except in 
counties having CO,0(in and more inhabitants, in which counties 
a recorder of deeds sliall be elected at the general election in the 
year of our Lord lS7:i,) treasurer, surveyor, and coroner, each of 
whom shall enter upon the duties of his office, respectively, on 
the first ]\Ioaday of December after their election ; and they 
shall hold their respective offices for the term of four years, ex- 
cept the treasurer, sheriff and coroner, who shall hold their office 
for two years, and until their successors shall be elected and qual- 
ified. 

I 9. The clerks of all the courts of record, the treasurer, sheriff, 
coroner and recorder of deeds of Cook county, shall receive as 
their only compensation for their services, salaries to be fixed by 
law, which shall in no casebe as much as the lawful compensation 
of a judge of the circuit court of said county, and shall be paid 
respectively, only out of the fees of the ofliee actually collected. 
All fees, perquisites and emoluments (above the amount of said 
s-.ilaries) shall be paid into the county treasury. The number of 
the deputies and assistants of such oflicers shall be determined 
by rule of the circuit court, to be entered of record and their 
compensation shall be determined by the county board. 

I 10. The county board, except as provided in | 9 of this arti- 
cle, shall fix the compensation of all county oflicers, with the 
amount of their necessary clerk hire, stationery, fuel and other 
expenses, and in all cases where fees are ])rovidcd for, said com- 
pensation shall be paid only out of, and shall in no instance ex- 
ceed, the fees actually collected ; they shall not allow either of 
them more per annum than $1,500, in counties not exceeding 
20,000 inhabitants ; $2,000 in counties containing 20,000 and not 
exceeding 3'>,000 inhabitants ; $2,500 in counties containing 30,- 
000 and not exceeding 50,003 inhabitants; $3,000 in counties 
containing 50,000 and not exceeding 70,000 inhabitants ; J 3,500 
in counties containing 70,000 and not exceeding 100,000 inhabi- 
tants; and $4,000 in counties containing over 100,000 and not 
exceeding 250,000 inhabitants; and not more than $1,000 addi- 
tional compensation for each additionod 100,000 inhabitants: 
Provided, that the compensation of no officer shall be increased 
or diminished during his term of office. All fees or allowances 
by them received, in excess of their said compensation, shall be 
paid into the county treasury. 

I 11. The fees of "township oflicers, and of each-class of county 
officers, shall be uniform in the class of count'es to which they 
respectively belong. The compensation herein provided for shall 
apply only "to officers hereafter elected, but all fees established by 
special laws shall cease at the adoption of this constitution, and 
such oflicers shall receive only such fees as are provided by gen- 
eral law. 

? 12. All laws fixing the fees of State, county and township 
officers, shall terminate with the terms, respectively, of those 
who may be in office at the meeting of the first general assembly 
after the adoption of this constitution ; and the general assembly 
shall by general law, uniform in its operation, provide for and 
regulate the fees of said oflicers and their successors, so as to re- 
difce the same to a reasonable compensation for services actually 
rendered. But the general assembly may, by general law, classify 
tlie counties by population into not more than three classes, and 
regulate the fees according to class. This article shall not be 
construed as depriving the'gencral assembly of the power to re- 
duce the fees of existing officers. 

5 13. Every person who is elected or appointed to any office in 
this State, who shall be paid in whole or in part by fees, shall be 
required by law to make a semi-annual report, under oath to 
some ofticei- to be designated by law, of all his fees and emolu- 
ments. 

ARTICLE XJ. 



CORPORATIONS. 



Established only by General L.iws. ! 
. Existing Charters— How Forfeited.! 
. Election of Directors or Managers. [ 
. Construction of Street Railroads. 
. State Banks Forbidden- General | 

Law. 
. Liability of Bank Stockholder. 
. Suspension of Specie Payment. 
. Of a Gener.al Baalcing Law. 1 



Railroad OfFice.Books and Records 
, Personal Property of Railroads. 

Consolidations Forbidden. 
, Railroads deemed Highways- 
Rates Fixed. 
, Stocks, Bonds and Dividends. 
. Power over existing Comp.Tnies. 
Freight and Passenger TaritTre.gu- 
lated. 



? 1. No corporation shall be created by special laws, or its char- 
ter extended, changed or amended, except those for charitable, 
9 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



695 



educational, penal or reformatory purposes, which are to be and 
remain under the patronage and control of the State, but the 
general assembly shall provide, by general law, for the organiza- 
tions of all corporations hereafter created. 

i 2. All existing charters or grants of special or exclusive 
privileges, under which organization shall not have taken place, 
or which shall not have been in operation within ten days from 
the time this constitution takes elfect, shall thereafter have no 
validity or oll'oct whatever. 

I 3. The gcncr.il as-serably shall provide, by law, that in all 
elections for directors or managers of corporated companies, 
every stockholdcrshall have the right to vote, in person or by proxy, 
fir the number of shares of stock owned by him, for as many 
persons as there arc directors or managers to be elected, or to 
cumulate said shares, and give one candidate as many votes as 
the number of directors muUiidicd by the number of his shares 
of stock, shall equal, or to distriliutc them on the same principle 
among as many candidates as he shall think fit; and no such 
directors or managers shall be elected in any other manner. 

I 4. No laws shall be passed by the general assembly, granting 
the right to construct and operate a street railroad within any 
citv, town, or incorporated village, without requiring the consent 
of "the local authorities having the control of the street or high- 
way proposed to be occupied by such street railroad. 

B.\XK . 

I 5. Xo State bank shall hereafter be created, nor shall the 
State own or be liable for any stock in any corporation or joint 
stock company or association for banking purposes, now created, 
or to be h.^reAfter created. No act of the general assembly au- 
thorizing or creating corporations or associations, with banking 
powers, whether of issue, deposit or discount, nor amendments 
thereto, shall go into effect or in any manner be in force unless 
the same shall be submitted to a vote of the people at the general 
election next succeeding the passage of the same, and be ap- 
proved by a majority of all the votes cast at such election for or 
against such law. 

I G. Every stockholder in a banking corporation or institution 
shall be individually responsible and liable to its creditors over 
and above the amount of stock by him or her held, to an amount 
e:iual to his or her respective shares so held, for all its liabilities 
accruing while he or she remains such a stockholder. 

§ 7. The suspension of specie payments by bankin ; institu- 
tions, or their circulation, created by the laws of this State, shall 
never be permitted or sanctioned. Every banking association 
now, or which may hereafter be, organized under the laws of 
this State, shall make and publish a full and accurate quar- 
terly statement of its affiiirs, (which shall be certified to, under 
oath, by one or mire of its offi.ers,) as may be provided by law. 

? 8. if a general banking law shall be enacted, it shall provide 
for the registry and countersigning, by an officer of state, of all 
bills or p.iper credit, designed to circulate as money, and require 
s2curity,to the full amount thereof, to be deposited with the State 
treasurer, in United States or Illinois State stocks, to be ratedat 
ten per ce:it. below their par value; and in case of a deprecia- 
tion of said st')cks to the amount of ten per cent, below par, the 
bank or banks owning said stocks shall be required to make up 
Slid detijiency, by depositing additional stocks. And said law 
shall also provide for the recording of the names of all stock- 
holders in such corporations, the amount of stock held by each, 
the tima of any transfer thereof, and to whom such transfer is 
made. 

RAii^RO.vns. 

I 0. Every railroad corporation organized or doing business in 
this State, u ider the laws or authority thereof", .shall have and main- 
tain a public office or place in this State, for the transaction of 
its business, where transfers of stock shall be made, and In which 
shall be kept for public inspection, books, in which shall be re- 
corded the amount of capital stock subscribed, and by whom ; the 
names of the owners of stock and amount by them respectively, 
the amount of stock paid in and by wiiom, the transfers of said 
stock; the amount of its assets and liabilities, and the names 
and place of residence of its officers. The directors of every 
railroad corporation .shall, annually, make a report, under oath, 
to the auditor of public accounts, or some officer to be designated 
by law, of all their acts and doings, which report shall include 
such matters relating to railroads as may be prescribed by law. 
And the general assembly shall pass laws enforcing by suitable 
penaltiei the provisions of this section. 

J 10. The rolling stock, and all other movable property belong- 



ing to any railroad company or corporation in this State, shall be 
considered personal property, and shall be liable to execution 
and sale in the same manner as the ))ersonal property of individ- 
uals, and the general assembly shall pass no law exempting any 
such property from execution and sale. 

J 11. No railroad corporation shall consolidate its stock, pro- 
perty or franchises with any other railroad corporation owning a 
parallel or competing line; and in no case shall any consolida- 
tion take place except upon public notice given, of at least sixty 
days, to all stockholders, in such manner as may be provided by 
law. A majority of the directors of any railroad corporation, 
now incorporated orhereafterto be incorporated by thelaws of the 
State, shall be citizens and residents of this State. 

§ 12. Eailwavs heretofore constructed, or that may hereafter 
be constructed in this State, are hereby declared public high- 
way. s, and shall be free to all persons for the transportation of 
their persons and property thereon, under such regulations as 
maybe prescribed by law. And the general assembly shall, from 
time to time, pasi laws establishing reasonable maximum rates 
of charges for the transportation of passengers and freight on the 
different railroads in this State. 

I 13. No railroad corporation shall issue any stock or bonds, 
except for money, labor or property actually received, and ap- 
plied to the purposes for which such corporation was created ; 
and all stock dividends, and other fictitious increase of the capi- 
tal stick or indebtedness of any such corporation, shall be void. 
The capital stock of m railroad corporation shall be increased 
for any purpose, except upon giving sixty days' public notice, in 
such manner as may he provided by law. 

§ 14. The exercise of the power, and the right of eminent do- 
main shall never be so construed or abridged as to prevent the tak- 
ing, by the general assembly, of the property and franchises of 
incorporated companies already organized, and subjecting them 
to the public necessity the same as of individuals. The right of 
trial by jury shall be held inviolate in all trials of claims for 
compensation, when, in the exercise of said right of eminent do- 
main, any incorporated company shall be interested either for or 
against the exercise of said right. 

I 15. The general assembly shall pass laws to correct abuses 
and prevent unjust discrimination and extortion in the rates of 
freight and passenger tariffs on different railroads in this State, 
and enforce such laws, by adequate penalties, to the extent, if 
necc-ssary for that purpose, of forfeiture of their property and 
franchises. 

ARTICLE XII. 



Privilege from .^rreet. 
Records, Banners and Relies. 
Exemption from militi.i duty. 



? 1. Persons composing the Military. 
I i. Orxanization—Eq u ipment— Dis- 
cipline. 
I 3. Commissions of Officers. 

? 1. The militia of the State of Illinois shall consist of all able- 
bodied male persons, resident in the 8tate, between the ages of 
eighteen and forty-five, except such persons as now are, or here- 
af"ter may be, exempted by the laws of the United States, or of 
this State. 

§ 2. The general assembly, in providing for the organization, 
equipment and discipline of the militia, shall conform as nearly 
&i practicable to the regulations for the government of the 
armies of the United States. 

g 3. All militia oflicers shall be commissioned by the gover- 
nor, and may hold their commissions for such time as the general 
assembly mav provide. 

I 4. The militia shall, in all cases, except treason, feloiiy or 
breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their at- 
tendance at musters and elections, and in going to and returning 
from the same. 

'i, .5. The military records, banners and relics of the State, shall 
be preserved as an enduring memorial of the patriotism and 
valor of Illinois, audit shall be the duty of the general assembly 
to provide by law for the safe keeping of the same. 

I C. No ptirson having conscientious scruples against bearing 
arms, shall be compelled to do militia duty in time of peace : 
Provided, such person shall pay an equivilent for such exemp- 
tion. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

WAREHOUSE!?. 



I 1. What deemed Public Warehouses. 
4 -1. Sworn weeltly statements required 
i 3. Examination of property stored. 
'i I. Carriers to deliver fnll Weight. 
1.) 



;,. Delivery of Grain by Railroado. 
1 i;. Powernnd Duty of the Legislature. 
i 7. Grain Inspection— Protection o( 



iOG 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



? 1. All elevators or storehouses where grain or other property 
is stored for a compensation, whether die property stored be kept 
separate or not, are declared to be -public warehouses. 

I 2. The owner, lessee or manager of each and every public 
warehouse situated in any town or city of not less than 100,000 
inhabitants, shall make weekly statements under oath, before 
some officer to be designated by law, and keep the same posted 
in some conspicuous place in the otlice of such warehouse, and 
shall also file a copy for public examination in such place as 
shall be designated by law, which statement shall correctly set 
forth the amount and grade of each and every kind of grain in 
such warehouse, together with such other property as may be 
stored therein, and what warehouse receipts have been issued, 
and are, at the time of making such statement, outstanding there- 
for ; and shall, on the copy posted in the warehouse, note daily 
such changes as may be made in the quantity and grade of grain 
in such warehouse;" and the different grades of grain shipi^ed in 
separate lots, shall not be mixed with inferior or superior grades, 
without the consent of the owner or consignee thereof. 

I 3. The owners of property stored in any warehouse, or holder 
of a receipt for the same, shall always be at liberty to examine 
such property stored, and all the books and records of the ware- 
house in regard to such property. 

? 4. All railroad companies and other common carriers on rail- 
roads shall weigh or measure grain at points where it is shipped, 
and receipt for the full amount, and shall be responsible for the 
delivery of such amount to the owner cr consignee thereof, at 
the place of destination. 

g 5. All railroad companies receiving and transporting grain 
in bulk or otherwise, shall deliver the same to any consignee 
thereof, or any elevator or public warehouse to which it may be 
consigned, provided such consignee, or the elevator or public 
warehouse can be reached by any track owned, leased or used, 
or which can be used, by such railroad companies ; and all rail- 
road companies shall permit connections to be made with their 
track, so that any such consignee, and any public warehouse, 
coal bank or coal yard, may be reached by the cars on said rail- 
road. 

? 6. It shall be the duty of the general assembly to pass all 
necessary laws to prevent the issue of false and fraudulent 
warehouse receipts, and to give full effect to this article of the 
constitution, which shall be liberally construed so as to protect 
producers and shippers. And the enumeration of the remedies 
iierein named shall not be construed to deny to the general as- 
sembly the power to prescribe by law sucli other and further 
remedies as may be found expedient, or to deprive any person 
of existing common law remedies. 

I 7. The general assembly shall pass laws for the inspection 
of grain, for the jirotection of producers, shippers and receivers 
of grain and produce. 

ARTICLE Xn^ 

AMEXDMENTS TO THE COXSTITUTIOX. 

£ 1. By a Constitutional Convention. 1 § 2. Proposed by the Legislature. 

I 1. Whenever two-thirds of the members of each house of 
the general assembly shall, by a vote entered upon the journals 
thereof, concur that a convention is necessary to revise, alter or 
amend the constitution, the question shall be submitted to the 
electors at the next general election. If a majority voting at 
tlie election vote for a convention, the general assembly shall, at 
the next session, provide for a convention, to consist of double 
the number of the members of the senate, to be elected in the 
same manner, at the same places, and in the same districts. The 
general assembly shall, in the act calling the convention, desig- 
nate the day, hour and place of its meeting, fix the pay of its 
members and officers, and provide for the payment of the same, 
together with expenses necessarily incurred by the conventicn 
in the performance of its duties. Before proceeding, the members 
sljall take an oath to support the constitution of the United 
States, and of the State of Illinois, and to faithfully discharge 
their duties as members of the conventi(m. The qualification of 
members shall be the same as that of members of the senate, 
and vacancies occurring shall be filled in the manner provided 
for filling vacancies in the general assembly. Said convention 
shall meet within three months after such election, and prepare 
such revisions, alterations or amendments of the constitution as 
shall be deemed necessary, which shall be submitted to the elec- 
tors for their ratification or rejection, at an election appointed by 
the convention for that purpose, not less than or more than six 
months after the adjournment thereof; and unless so submitted 



and approved by a majority of the electors voting at the election, 
no such revisions, alterations or amendments shall take effect. 

? 2. Amendmenti to this constitution may be proposed in either 
house of the general assembly, and if the same shall be voted 
for by two-thirds of all the members elected to each of the two 
houses, such proposed amendments, together with the yeas and 
nays of each house thereon, shall be entered in full on their re- 
spective journals, and said amendments shall be submitted to the 
electors of this State for adoption or rejection, at the next elec- 
tion of members of the general assembly, in such manner as may 
be prescribed by law. The proposed amendments shall be j ub- 
lished in full at least three months preceding the election, and 
if a majority of electors voting at said election shall vote for the 
proposed aniendments, they shall become part of this constitu- 
tion. But the general assembly shall have no power to propose 
amendments to more than one article of this constitution at the 
same session, nor to the same article oftener than once in four 
years. 

SEPARATE SECTIONS. 



Illinois Centrfil Railrsfl'l. 
Illinois and Michigan Canal. 



•ipal Subscription to Corpora- 



No contract, obligation or liability whatever, of the Illinois 
Central Railroad Company, to pay any money into the State 
treasury, nor any lien of the State upon, or right to tax property 
of said" company, in accordance with the provisions of the charter 
of said company, approved Feb. 10, in the year of our Lord 1851, 
shall ever be released, suspended, modified, altered, remitted, or 
in any manner diminished or impaired by legislative or other 
authority ; and all moneys derived from said company, after the 
payment of the State debt, shall be appropriated and set apart 
for the payment of the ordinary expenses of the State govern- 
ment, and for no other purposes whatever. 

MrXICIPAL SUBSCKIPTIOXS TO EAILnOAD.S OR PRIVATE COErORA- 
TlOXiS. 

No county, city, town, township or other municipality shall ever 
become subscriber to the capital stock of any railroad or private 
corporation, or make donation to, or loan its credit in aid of such 
corporation : Provided however, that the adoption of this article 
shal not be construed as affecting the right of any such munici- 
palitv ti make such subscriptions where the same have been au- 
thori"zel, under existing laws, by a vote of the people of such 
municipalities prior to such adoption. 

CAXAL. 

The Illinois and Michigan Canal shall never be sold or leased 
until the specific proposition for the sale of lease thereof shall 
have first been submitted to a vote of the ]ieople of the State, at 
a general election, and have been approved by a majority of all 
the votes polled at such election. The general assembly shall 
never loan the credit of the Slate, or make appropriations from 
the treasury thereof,' in aid of railroads or canals : Provided, that 
any surplus earnings of any canal may be appropriated for its 
enlargement or extension. 

SCHEDULE. 

g 1. Laws in force remain valid. 

i i. Fines, Penalties, and Forfeitures. 

I 3. Recognizances, Bonds, Obligations 

That no inconvenience mav arise from the alterations and amendments made 
in the constitution of this State and to carry the same into complete eflect. it is 
liereby ordained and declared : 

? 1. That all laws in force at the adoption of this constitution, 
not inconsistent therewith, and all rights, actions, prosecutions, 
claims, and contracts of this State, individuals or bodies corpor- 
ate, shall continue to be as valid as if this constitution had not 
been adopted. 

S 2. That all fines, taxes, penalties and forfeitures, due and 
owing to the State of Illinois under the present constitution and 
laws, shall inure to the use of the people of the State of Illinois 
under this constitution. 

I 3. Recognizances, bonds, obligations, and all other instriinients 
entered into or executed before the adoption of this constitution, 
to the people of the State of Illinois, to any State or county officer 
or public bodv, shall remain binding and valid; and rights and 
liabilities upo'n the same shall continue, and all crimes and mis- 
demeanors shall be tried and punished as though no change had 
been made in the constitution of this State. 

I 4. County couns for the transaction of county business in 
I counlies not having adopted township organization, shall continue 
in existence and exercise their present jurisdiction until the 
11 



I ? 4. Present county Courts continued 

? 5. .\11 existing Courts continued. 
I i 0. Persons now in Oifice continued. 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



697 



board of county commissioners provided ia this constitution is 
organized in pursuance of an act of tlie general assembly; and 
the county courts in all other counties shall have the same power 
and jurisdiction they now possess until otlicrwise provided by 
general law. 

I 5. All existing courts which are not in this constitution 
specially enumerated, shall continue in existence and exercise 
their preseat jurisdiction until otherwise provided by law. 

§ G. All persons now filling any olEce or appointment shall 
continue in the exercise of the duties thereof according to the^r 
respective commissions or appointments, unless by this constitu- 
tion it is otherwise directed. 



I IS. All laws of the State of Illinois, and all official writings, 
aud the executive, legislative and judicial proceedings, shall be 
conducted, preserved and published in no other than the English 
language. 

I lO. The general assembly shall pass all laws necessary to 
carry into effect the provisions of this constitution. 

§ 20. The circuit clerks of the diflforent counties having a pop- 
ulation over sixty thousand, shall continue to be recorders (ex- 
officio) for their respective counties, under this constitution, until 
the expiration of their respective terms. 

I 21. The judges of all courtsof records in Cook County shall, 
in lieu of any salary provided for in this constitution, receive the 
compensation now provided by law until the adjournment of the 
first session of general assembly after the adoption of this con- 
stitution. 

§ 22. The present judge of the circuit court of Cook county 
shall continue to hold "the circuit court of Lake county until 
otherwise provided by law. 

? 23. When this constitution shall be adopted, and take effect 
as the supreme law of the State of Illinois, the two-mill tax pro- 
vided to be annually assessed and collected upon each dollar's 
worth of taxable property, in addition to all other taxes, as set 
forth in article fifteen of the now existing constitution, shall cease 
to be assessed after the year of our Lord one thousand eight 
hundred and seventy. 

I 24. Nothing contained in this constitmtion shall be so con- 
strued as to deprive the general assembly ot the power to author- 
ize the city of Quincy to create any indebtedness for railroad or 
municipal purposes, for which the people of said city shall have 
voted, and to which they shall have given, by such vote, their 
assent, prior to the thirteenth day of December, in the year of 
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine: Provided, 
that no such indebtedness, so created, shall in any part thereof 
be paid by the State, or from any State revenue, tax or fund, but 
the same shall be paid, if at all, by the said city of Quincy alone, 
and by taxes to he levie<l upon the taxable property thereof: 
And provided, further, that the general assembly shall have no 
power in the premises that it could not exercise under the pre- 
sent constitution of this State. 

§ 2o. In case this constitution and the articles and sections 
submitted separately be adopted, the existing constitution shall 
cease in all its provisions ; and in case this constitution be adopted, 
any one or more of its articles or sections submitted separately 
be defeated, the provisions of the existing constitution (if any) 
on the same subject shall remain in force. 

§ 26. The provisions of this constitution required to be exe- 
cuted prior to the adoption or rejection thereof shall take effect 
aud be in force immediately. 

Done in convention at the capital, in the city of Springfield, 
on the thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord one thou- 
sand eight hundred and seventy, and of the independence of the 
United States of America the ninety-fourth. 

In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names 

CHARLES HITCHCOCK, President. 



AVilliam J. Allen, 
John Abbott, 
James C. Allen, 
Elliott Anthony, 
Wm. E. Archer, 
Henry I. Atkins, 



Robert A. King, 
Jas. JIcCov, 
ChaidesE." -McDowell, 
William C. Goodue, 
Joseph Medill, 
Clifton H. Moore, 



James G. Bayue, 
R. M. Benjamin, 
II. P. II. Brownwell, 
O 11. Browning, 
Wm. G. Bowman, 
Silas L. Bryon, 
II. P. Buxton, 
Daniel Cameron, 
William Carv-, 
Lawreucc S. Church, 
Hiram H. Cody, 
W. F. Coolbaugh, 
Alfred M. Craig, 
Robert J. Cross, 
Samuel P Cummings, 
John Dement, 
G. S, Eldridge, 
James W. English. 
David Ellis, 
Ferris Foreman, 
Jesse C. Fox, 
Miles A. Fuller, 
John P. Gamble, 
Addison Goodell, 
John C. Haines, 
Elijah M. Haines, 
John W. Hankins, 
R. P. Hanna, 
Joseph Hart, 
Abel Harwood, 
Milton Hay, 
Santuel Snovvden Hayes, 
Jesse S. Hildrup, 



Jonatlian Merriam, 
Joseph Parker, 
Samuel C. Parks, 
Pelcg S. Pcrlcy, 
J. S. Poagc, 
Edward Y. Rice, 
James P. Robinson, 
Lewis W. Ross, 
William P. Pierce, 
N. J. PiUsbury, 
Jno. Scholficld, 
James M. Sharp, 
Henry Sherrell, 
W. li. Snyder, 
O. C. Skinner, 
Westel W. Sedgwick, 
Charles F. Springer, 
John L. Tincher, 

C. Truesdale, 
Henry Tubbs, 
Thomas J. Turner, 
Wm. PI. Underwood, 
Wm. L. Vandeventer, 
Henry W. Wells, 
George E. Wait, 
George W. Wall, 

R. B. Sutherland, 

D. C. Wagner, 
George R. Wendling, 
Chas. Wheaton 

L. D. Whiting, 
John H. Wilsou, 
Orlando H. Wright. 



Attest : — John Q. Harmon, Secretary. 

Daniel Shepard, First Assistant Secretary. 
A. H. Swain, Second Assistant Secretary. 

Office of Secretary. 

I George H. Hahlow, Secretary of the State of Illinois, do hereby certify 
that the foregoing is a true copy of the constitution of the State of Illinois 
adopted ia convention the 13th dav of May, 187ii, ratified by a vote of the peo- 
ple the 2nd day of July, 1870, and in force on the Sth day of August, 1870, and 
now on file in this office. In testimony whereof I hereto set my nana and aflSx 
the Great Seal of State, at the city of Springfield, the 31st day of JIarch, A. D. 
1873. 

GEO. H. HARLOW, Secrelanj of StaU. 



AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 

Amending section 31, article 4. Proposed by the General Assembly, 1877, 
ratified by a vote of the people November 5, 1878, proclaimed adopted by the 
Governor November 2D, 1878. 

Section 31, Aeticie 4. 

The General Assembly may pass laws permitting the owners of lands to con- 
struct drain?, ditches, and levees for agricultural, sanitary and mining purposes 
across the lands of others, and provide for the organization of drainage dis- 
tricts, and vest the corporate authorities thereof with power to construct and 
mainiain levees, drains and ditches, and to keep in repair all drains, ditches 
and levees heretofore constructed under the laws of this State, by special as- 
sessments upon the property benefited thereby. 

Amending section 8, article 10. Proposed by the General Assembly, 1879, 
ratified by a vote of the people November 2, 1880, proclaimed adopted by the 
Governor' November 22, 1880; 

Section 8, Aeticlk 10. 
In each county (here shall be elected the following county officers, at the 
general election to he held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 
A. D. 1882: A county judge, county clerk, sheriff, and treasurer ; and at the 
election to be held on the Tuesday after the first Jlonday in November, A. D. 
1884, a coroner and clerk of the circuit court, (who may be er-officio recorder of 
deeds, except in counties having nn.nno and more inhabitants, in which coun- 
ties a recorder of deeds shall be elected at the general election in 1884). Each 
of saiil officers shall enter upon the duties of his office, respectively, on the 
first Monday of December after his election, and they shall hold their respec- 
tive offices for the term of four years, and until their successors are elected 
and qualified : Provided, that no person having once been elected to the office 
of sheriff, or treasurer, shall be eligible to re-election to said office for four 
years after the expiration of the term for which he shall have been elected. 

12 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 



AVlien, in the course of luiinan events, it becomes necessary 
for one people to dissolve tlie political bands wbicli have con- 
nected them with another, and to assume among the jiowers of 
the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of 
nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to 
opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes 
which impel them to the separation. 

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are cre- 
ated equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain 
unalienable right? ; that among these are life, liberty and the 
pursuit of happines^i. That to secure these rights, governments 
are instituted among men, deriving their just powers Irom the 
consent of the governed ; that, whenever any form of govern- 
ment becomes destructive of the:ie ends, it is the right of the 
people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new govern- 
ment, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing 
its powers i^n such form as to them shall seem most likely to ef- 
fect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate 
that governments long established should not be changed for 
light and transient causes ; and, accordingly, all experience hath 
shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are 
sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to 
which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses 
and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a 
design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, 
it is their duty to throw off such government, and to provide 
new guards for their future security. Such hus been the patient 
sufferance of these colonies, and such is now the necessity which 
constrains them to alter their former systems of government. 
The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of 
repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the 
establishment of an absolute tyranny over these States. To 
prove this let facts be submitted to a candid world : 

He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and 
necessary for the public good. 

He has forbidden his Governors to pass laws of immediate and 
pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his 
assent should be obtained ; and when so suspended, he has utterly 
neglected to attend to them. 

He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large 
districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right 
of representation in the legislature ; a right inestimable to them, 
and formidable to tyrants only. 

He has called together leglislative bodies at places unusual, 
uncomfortable, and "distant from the depository of their public 
records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance 
â– with his measures. 

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly for oppos- 
ing, with manly firmness, his invasions on the rights of the peo- 
ple. 

He has refused, for a long time after such dissolution, to cause 
others to be elected ; whereby the legislative powers, incapable 
of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their 
exercise; the State remaining, in the meantime, exposed to all 
the danger of invasion from without, and convulsions within. 

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States ; 
for that purpose, obstructing the laws for naturalization of for- 
eigners; retusing to pass others to encourage their migration 
hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands. 
He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing 
his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers. 

He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the ten- 
ure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. 
He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither 
swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their sub- 
stance. 

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies, 
without the consent of our legislature. 

He has affected to render the military independent of, and 
superior to, the ci'S'il power. 

He has combined, with others, to subject us to a jurisdiction 
foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws ; giv- 
ing his assent to their acts of pretended legislation. 



For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us. 

For protecting them, by a mock trial, from punishment, for 
any murders they should commit on the inhabitants of these 
States. 

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world: 

For imposing taxes on us without our consent : 

For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by 

jury : 

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended of- 
fences : 

For abolishing the free system of English law in a neighbor- 
ing province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and 
enlarging its boundaries, so as to render it at once an example 
and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into 
these colonies : 

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable 
laws, and altering fundamentally, the powers of our govern- 
ments : 

For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves 
invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever. 

He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his 
protection, and waging war against us. 

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our 
towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. 

He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign mer- 
cenaries to complete the work of death, desolation and tyranny, 
already begun, with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely 
paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the 
head of a civilized nation. 

He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on the 
high seas, to bear arms against their country, to become the exe- 
cutioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by 
their hands. 

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has eii- 
deavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiere, the merci- 
less Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undis- 
tinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions. 

In every stage of these opjiressions, we have petitioned for re- 
dress, in the most humble terms ; our repeated petitions have 
been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose charac- 
ter is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is 
unfit to be the ruler of a free people. 

Nor have we been wanting in our attention to our British 
brethren. We have warned them from time to time, of attempts 
made by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction 
over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our 
emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their 
native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them, by 
the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these usurpations, 
â– which â– n'ould inevitably interrupt our connections and correspon- 
dence. They, too, have been deaf to the voice of justice and 
consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, 
which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the 
rest of mankind, enemies in w-ar, in peace, friends. 

We, therefore the representatives of the UNITED STATES 
OF AMERICA, in GENERAL CONGRESS assembled, appeal- 
ing to the Supreme Judge of the AVorld for the rectitude of our 
intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good 
people of these colonics, solemnly publish and declare. That these 
United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, FREE AND 
INDEPENDENT STATES ; that they arc absolved from all 
allegiance to the British crown, and that all political connection 
between them and the State of Great Britain, is, and ought to be, 
totallv di-ssolved ; and that as FREE AND INDEPENDENT 
STATES, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, con- 
tract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and 
things which INDEPENDENT STATES may of right do. 
And for the support of this declaration, and a firm reliance on 
the protection of DIVINE PROVIDENCE, we mutually pledge 
to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. 
JOHN HANCOCK. 



13 



CONSTITUTIOi^ OF THE UNITED STATES. 



We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more 
perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquillity, 
provide for the common defence, promote the general welfare 
and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our pos- 
terity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the 
United States of America. 

ARTICLE I. 

Section 1. All legislative powers herein granted shall bo 
vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of 
a Senate and House of Representatives. 

Section 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed 
of members chosen every second year by the people of the sev- 
eral States, and the electors in each State shall have the qualifi- 
cations requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the 
State Legislature. 

No person shall be a Representative who shall not have at- 
tained to the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a 
citizen of the United States,' and who shall not, when elected, be 
an inhabitant of that StiUe in which he .shall be chosen. 

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among 
the several States which may be included within this Union, ac- 
cording to their respective "numbers, which shall he dctermiiud 
by adding to the whole number of free persons including those 
bound toservice for a term of years, and excluding Indians not 
tiixed, three-fifths of all other persons. The actual enumeration 
shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the 
Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term 
of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The 
number of Representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty 
thousand, but each State shall have at least one Representative ; 
and until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New- 
Hampshire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, 
Rliode Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five, 
New York six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware 
one, Maryland six, Virginia ten, North Carolina five, and 
Genrsria three. 

When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, 
the Executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to 
fill such vacancies. 

The Ilr.usc of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and 
other officers, and shall have the sole power of impeachment. 

Section 3. The Senate of the United States shall be com- 
posed of two .Senators from each State, chosen by the Legisla- 
ture thereof, for six years ; and each Senator shall have one vote. 

Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of 
the first election, they shall be divided as equally as may be into 
three classes. The seats of the Senators of the first class shall 
be vacated at the expiration of the second year, of the second 
class at the expiration of the fourth year, and of the third class 
at the expiration of the sixth year, so that one-third may be 
chosen every second year ; and if vacancies happen by resigna- 
tion, or otherwise, during the recess of the Legislature of any 
State, the Executive thereof may make temporary appointments 
until the next meeting of the Legislature, which shall then fill 
such vacancies. 

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained to 
the age of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the 
United .St >tcs, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant 
of that State for which he shall be chosen. 

The Vice President of the United States shall be the President 
of the Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally di- 
vided. 

The Senate shall choose their other ofiicers, and also a Presi- 
dent pro tempore, in the absence f>f the Vice President, or when 
he shall exercise the office of President of the L'nited States. 

The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. 
When sitting for that purpose they shall be on oath or affirma- 
tion. When the President of the United States is tried, the 
Chief .Tuitice shall preside. And no person shall lie convicted 
without the concurrenee of two- thirds of the members present. 

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further 
than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and en- 



joy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States; 
but the party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject 
to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment aci^'ording to law. 

Section 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections 
for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each 
Stat J bv the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any 
time by law, niake or alter such regulations, except as to the 
places of choosing Senators. 

The Congress shall iissemble at least once in every year, and 
such meeting shall be on the first Monday in December, unless 
they shall by law appoint a diflerent day. 

Section 5. Each house shall be the judge of the election, 
returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of 
each shall constitute a quorum to do business ; but a smaller 
number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to 
compel the attendance of absent members in such manner, and 
under such penalties as each house may provide. 

Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, pun- 
ish its members for disorderly behaviour, and, with the concur- 
rence of two-thirds, expel a member. 

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from 

time to time publish the same excepting such parts as may in 

their judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and n.ays of the 

members of cither house on any question shall, at the desire of 

j one-fifth of those present, be entered on the journal. 

I Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without 

the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor 

j to any other place than that in which the two houses shall be 

sitting. 
â–  Section 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a 
compensation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and 
paid out of the Treasury of the United States. They shall in 
all eases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace, be 
privileged from arrest during their attendance at the session of 
their respective houses, and in going to and returning froni the 
same ; and for any speech or debate in either house they shall 
not be questioned in any other place. 

No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which 
he was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the author- 
ity of the United States, which shall have been created, or the 
emoluments whereof shall have been increa-sed during such 
time ; and no person holding any office under the United States, 
shall be a member of either house during his continuance in 
office. 

Section 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the 
House of Representatives ; hut the Senate may propose or con- 
cur with amendments as on other bills. 

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representa- 
tives and the Senate, shall, before it becomes a law, be presented 
to the President of the United States ; if he approve he shall 
sign it, but if not he shall return it with his objections to that 
house in which it shall have originated, who shall enter the ob- 
jections at large on their journal, and proceed to reconsider it. 
"if after such recon-sideration two-thirds of that IIou.se shall 
.agree to pa.ss the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objec- 
tions, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be recon- 
sidered, if approved by two-thirds of that House, it shall become 
a law. But in all such cases the votes of both houses shall be 
determined bv yeas and nays, and the names of the persons vot- 
ing for anrl asainst the bill" shall be entered on the journal of 
each house respectively. If any bill shall not be returned by 
the President within ten days (Sundays excepted), after it shall 
have been presented to him, "the same shall be a law, in like man- 
ner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their adjourn- 
ment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. 

Everv order, resolution or vote to which the concurrence of 
Senate "and House of Representatives may be necessarv (cxceiDt 
on a question of adiournment), shall be presented to the Prcsi- 
djnt of the United States ; and before the same shall take effect, 
shall bo approved bv him, or being disapproved by him, shall be 
repassed by two-thirds of the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives, according to the rules and limitations prescribed in the 
case of a bill. 
14 



600 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



Section 8. The Congress shall have power — 
To lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, to pay 
the debts and provide for the common defense and general wel- 
fare of the United Slates ; but all duties, imposts and excises 
shall be uniform throughout the United States ; 

To borrow money on the credit of the United States; 

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the 
several States, and with the Indian tribes; 

To establish a uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform 
laws on the subject of bankruptcies throughout the United 
States ; 

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign 
coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures ; 

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities 
and current coin of the United States ; 

To establish post-ollices and post-roads ; 

To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by secur- 
ing for limited times to authors anc" inventors the exclusive right 
to their respective writings and discoveries; 

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court ; 

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the 
high seas, and offences against the law of nations ; 

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make 
rules concerning captures on land and water; 

To raise and support armies, but no appropriation of money 
to that US3 shall be for a longer term than two years ; 

To provide and maintain a navy ; 

To mxke rules for the government and regulation of the land 
and naval forces; 

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of 
the Union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions; 

To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia, 
and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the 
S3rvice of the United States, reserving to the States, respectively 
the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training 
the militia aci^ording to the discipline prescribed by Congress. 

To exercise legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such dis- 
tricts (not exceeding ten miles square), as may by the cession of 
particular States and the acceptance of Congress become the 
seat of the g wernment of the United States, and to exercise like 
authority over all places purchased by the consent of the Legisla- 
ture of the State in which tlie same shall be, for tlie erection of 
forts, magazines, arsenals, dock-yards and other needful build- 
ings; — and 

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for car- 
rying into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers 
vested by this Constitution in the government of the United 
States, or to any department or officer thereof 

Section' 9. The migration or importation of such persons as 
any of the States nowcsisting shall think proper to admit, shall 
not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand 
eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on 
such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person. 

The privileges of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be sus- 
pended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public 
safety may require it. 

No bill of attainder or ex-post facto law shall be passed. 

No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid unless in pro- 
portion to the census, or enumeration hereinbefore directed to 
be taken. 

No tax or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any 
State. 

No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce 
or revenue to the ports of one State over those of another ; nor 
shall vessels bound to, or from one State, be obliged to enter, 
clear, or pay duties in another. 

No money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in con- 
sequence of appropriations niaile by law ; and a regular statement 
and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money 
shall be published from time to time. 

No title of nobility sliall be granted by the United States ; 
and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, 
shall without the consent of Congress, accept of any present, 
emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, 
prince, or foreign State. 

Section 10. No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or 
confederation ; grant letters of marque or reprisal ; coin money ; 
emit bills of credit ; make anything but gold and silver coin a 
tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, tc^o.'i! 
facto law, or law impairing the obligation of conti'acts, or grant 
any title of nobility. 



No State shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any 
imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be ab- 
solutely necessary for executing its inspection laws, and the net 
produce of all duties and imposts laid by any State on imports 
or exports, shall be for the use of the Treasury of the United 
States ; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and 
control of the Congress. 

No State shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any 
duty on tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, 
enter into any agreement or compact with another State, or with 
a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded or in 
such imminent danger as will not admit of delay. 

AETICLE II. 

Section 1. The Executive power shall be vested in a Presi- 
dent of the United States of America. He shall hold his office 
during the term of four years, and, together with the Vice Presi- 
dent chosen for the same term, be elected as follows : 

Each State shall appoint, in sucli a manner as the Legislature 
thereof may direct, a number of electors equal to the whole num- 
ber of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be 
entitled in the Congress ; but no Senator or Eepresentative, or 
])erson holding an office of trust or profit under the United 
States, shall be appointed an elector. 

[*The electors shall meet in their respective States and vote 
by ballot for two persons, of whom one at least shall not be an 
inhabitant of the same State with themselves. And ihcy shall 
make a list of all persons voted for, and of the number of votes 
for each ; which list they .shall sign and certify, and transmit, 
sealed to the seat of the government of the United Slates, 
directed to the President of the Senate. The President of the 
Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be 
counted. The person having the greatest number of votes shall 
be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole 
number of electors appointed ; and if thai'c be more than one 
who have such majority, and have an equal number of votes, 
then the House of Representatives shall immediately choose by 
ballot one of them for President ; and if no person have a major- 
ity, then from the five highest on the list the said House shall in 
like manner choose the President. But in choosing the Presi- 
dent, the vote shall be taken by States, the representation from 
each State having one vote ; a quorum for this purpose, shall 
consist of a member or members from two-thirds of the States, 
and a majority of all the States shall be necessary to a choice. 
In every case, after the choice of the President, the person 
having the greatest number of votes of the electors shall be the 
Vice President. But if there should remain two or more who 
have equal votes;'the Senate shall choose from them by ballot the 
Vice President.] 

The Congress may determimc the time of choosing the elect- 
ors, and the day on "which they shall give their votes; which day 
shall be the same throughout the United States. 

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the 
United States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, 
shall be eligible to the office of Prcsiclcnt; neither shall any per- 
s m be eligible to that office who shall not have attained (he age 
of thirty-five years, and been fourteen years a resident within 
the United States. 

In case of the removal of the President from offic?, or of his 
death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and 
duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice 
President and the Congress may by law provide for the case of 
removal, death, resignation, or inability, both of the President 
and Vice President, declaring what officer .'hall then act as 
President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disa- 
bilitv be removed, or a President shall be elected. 

The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a 
compensation which shall neither be increased nor diminished dur- 
ing the period for which he shall have been elected, and he shall 
not receive within that period any other emolument from the 
United States, or any of them. 

Before ho enter on the execution of his office he shall take the 
following oath or affirmation : 

" I do solemnlv swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute 
the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best 
of mv ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of 
the United States." 

*This clause witliia brackets lia^ been superseded and aunuUed by tlie 
XII Amendment. 

15 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



601 



Sectiox 2. The Presiileiit shall be commander-in-chief of the 
army and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the 
several States, when called into the actual service of the .United 
States; he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal 
officer in each" of the Executive departments, upon any subject 
relating to the duties of their respective offices, and he shall have 
power to grant reprieves and pardons for ofience-s against the 
United States, except in cases of impeachment. He shall 
have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, 
to make tre.ities, provided two-thirds of the Senators present 
concur ; and he shall nominate, and by and with the advice of 
the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers,^ 
consuls, judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of 
the United States whose appointments are not herein otherwise 
provided for, and which shall be established by law ; but the 
Congress may by law vest the appointment of such inferior 
officers as they think proper in the President alone, in the courts 
of law, or in the heads of departments. 

Tlie President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that 
may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting com- 
missions which shall expire at the ind of their weyA sessions. 

Section 3. He shall from time to time give to the Congress 
information of the state of the Union, and recommend to their 
consideration such measui'cs as he shall judge necessary and ex- 
pedient ; he may, on extraordinary occasions, convene both 
Houses, or either of them, and in case of disagreement between 
them, with respect to the time of adjournment, he may adjourn 
them to such time as he shall think proper; he shall receive 
ambassadors and other public ministers ; he shall take care that 
the laws be faithiully executed, and shall commission all the 
officers of the United States. 

Section 4. The President, Vice President and all civil officers 
of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeach- 
ment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes 
and misdemeanors. 

ARTICLE HI. 

Section 1. The judicial power of the United States shall be 
vested in one Supreme Court and such inferior courts as the 
Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The 
judges, both of the Supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their 
offices during good behaviour, and shall, at stated times, receive 
for their services a compensation, which shall not be diminished 
during their continuance in office. 

Section 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in 
law and equity, arising under tliis Constitution, the laws of the 
United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under 
their authority ; — to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public 
ministers and consuls ; — to all cases of admiralty and maritime 
jurisdiction ; — to controversies to which the United States shall 
be a party ; — to controversies between two or more States ; — 
bctwe:'n a State and citizens of another state; — between citizens 
of different States; — between citizens of the same State claiming 
Ian Is under grants of different States, and between a State, or 
the citizens thereof, and foreign States, citizens or subjects. 

In all cases affe.ting ambassadors, other public ministers and 
consuls, and those in which a State shall be a party, the Supreme 
Court shall have original jurisdiction. 

In all the other cases before mentioned the Supreme Court shall 
have appellate jurisdiction both as to law and fact, with such ex- 
ceptions, and under such regulations as the Congress shall make. 

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall 
be by jury ; and such trial shall be held in the State where_ the 
said crimes shall have been committed ; but when not committed 
within any State the trial shall be at such place or places, as the 
Congress may by law have directed. 

Section 3. Treason against the United States shall consist 
only of levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, 
giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of 
treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same 
overt act, or on confession in open court. 

The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of 
treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of 
blood or forfeiture, except during the life of the person attainted. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Section 1. Full faith and credit shall be given in each State 
to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other 
State And the Congress may by general law prescribe the man- 



i 



ner in which such acts, records and proceedings shall be proved 
and the effect thereof 

Section 2. The citizens of each State shall be entitled to the 
all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several States. 

A person charged in any State with treason, felony or other 
crime, who shall flee from justice and be found in another State, 
shall, on demand of the Executive authority of the State from 
which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having 
jurisdiction of the crime. 

No person held to service or labor in one State, under the 
laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any 
law or regulation therein, be discharged from such service or 
labor, but shall be delivered up on the claim of the party to 
whom such service or labor may be due. 

Section 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into 
this Union ; but no new State" shall be formed or erected within 
the jurisdiction of any other State ; nor any State be formed by 
the junction of two or more States, or parts of States, without the 
consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned, as well as of 
the Congress. 

The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all 
needful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other 
property belonging to the United States ; and nothing in this 
Constitution shallbe so construed as to prejudice any claims of 
the United States, or of any particular State. 

Section 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State 
in this Union a Republican form of government and shall pro- 
tect each of them against invasion, and on application of the 
Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be 
convened) against domestic violence. 



ARTICLE V. 

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem 
it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Co nstitution, or 
on the application of the Legislatures of two-thirds of the several 
States, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which 
in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as a 
part of this Constitution, when ratified by the Legislatures of 
three-fourths of the several States, or by conventions in three- 
fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification niay 
be proposed by the Congress. Provided that no amendment which 
may be madeprior to the year one thousand eight hundred and 
eight shall in any manner 'affect the first and fourth clauses in 
the ninth section of the first article ; and that no State, without 
its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. 



ARTICLE VI. 

All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the 
adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the 
United States under this Constitution as under the Confedera- 
tion. 

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which 
shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or 
which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, 
shall be the supreme law of the land ; and the judges in every 
State shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or 
laws of anv State notwithstanding. 

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the 
members of the several State Legislatures, and all Executive and 
judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several 
States, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to sujiport this 
Constitution : but no religious test shall ever be n-quired^ as a 
qualification to any oflice of public trust under the United States. 

ARTICLE VII. 

The ratification of the Convention of nine States shall be suffi- 
cient for the establishment of this Constitution between the 
States so ratifying the same. 

Done in Convention by the unanimous consent of the States 
present, the seventeenth clay of September, in the year of our 
Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven, and of the 
Independen"e of the United States of America, the twelfth. In 
Witness Whereof, We have hereunto subscribed our names. . 

GEO. AVASIIINGTON, 
Pi-esideM and Deputy from Virginia. 
16 



602 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



J^ew Hampshire. 
JonxLANGDON, 

Nicholas Oilman. 

Massachusetts. 

Xathaniel Gokham, 
RuFUS King. 



Wm. S.vml. Johnson, 
RoGEK Sherman. 



Xcio York. 
Alexander Hamilton. 



JVew Jersey. 

AViL. Livingston, 
Wm. Patterson, 
David Brearly, 
Jona. Dayton, 

Pennsylvania. 

B. Franklin, 
Robt. Morris, 
Tho. Fitzsimons, 
James Wilson, 
Thomas Mifflin, 
Geo. Clymer, 
Jared Ingersoll, 
Gouv. Morris. 



Delaware. 
Geo. Read, 
John Dickinson, 
Jacob Broom, 
Gunning Bedford, Jb. 
Richard Basset. 

Virginia. 

John Blair, 
James Madison, Jk. 

Maryland. 

James M'Henry, 
Danl. Carrol, 
Dan. of St. Thos. Jenifer. 
Attest: 



North Carolina. 

Wm. Blount, 
Hu. Williamson, 
Rich'd Dobbs Spaight. 

South Carolina. 
J. Rutledge, 
Charles Pinckney, 
Chas.Cotesworth Pinckney 
Pierce Butler. 

Georgia. 
William Few, 
Abr. Baldwin. 
WILLIAM JACKSON, Secretary. 



-^=€Se^^<(^9^^ 



AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Proposed by Congress, and raiijied by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth article of the original Constitution. 



ARTICLE I. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establisliment of 
rcli:;ion, or prohibiting tho free exercise thereof; or abridging 
the'^frcc:lom of speech, or of the press ; or the right of the people 
peacefully to as.?cmble, and to petition the government for a re- 
dress of grievances. 

AETICLE II. 

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a 
free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not 
be infringed. 

ARTICLE III. 

Ko soldier shall in time of peace be quartered in any house 
without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a 
manner to be prescribed by law. 

ARTICLE IV. 

The right the of people to be secure in their persons, houses, 
papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, 
shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue but upon prob- 
able cause, supported by oath or affirm.ation, and particularly 
describing the place to bo searched, and the person or things to 
be soizc'l. 

ARTICLE Y. 

No person shall be hold to answer for a capital or otherwise 
infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment by a 
Grand Jury, except in cases arising ill the laud or naval forces, 
or in the militia when in actual service in time of war or public 
danger; nor shall anv person be subject for the s.ame offence to 
be twice put in jeopardy of lifa or limb ; nor shall be compelled 
in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be de- 
privcfl of life, libertv or property, without due process of law ; 
nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just 
compensation. 

ARTICLE VI. 

In all criminal prosecutions, tho accused shall enioy the right 
to a speedy and public tri.al, by an impartial jury of the State and 
district wlieroin the crime shall have been committed, which dis- 
trict shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be 
informed of the nature and cau^e of tho accusation ; to bo con- 
fronted with the witnesses against him ; to have compulsory 
process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the 
assistance of counsel for his defense. 

ARTICLE VII. 

In suits at common law where the value in controversy shall 



exceed twenty dollars, the right of tri.al by jury shall be pre- 
served, .and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined 
in any court of the United States", than according to the rules of 
the common law. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

E.xcessive bails shall not be required, nor excessive fines im- 
posed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted. 

ARTICLE IX. 

The enumeration in this Constitution, of certain rights, shall 
not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the 
people. 

ARTICLE X. 

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitu- 
tion, nor prohibited by it to tlie States, are reserved to the States 
respectively, or to the people. 

ARTICLE XL 

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed 
to extend to any suit in law or equity commenced or prosecuted 
against one of the LTnited States by citizens of another State, or 
by citizens or subjects of any foreign State. 

ARTICLE XII. 

The electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by 
ballot for President .and Vice President, one of whom at least 
shall not bo an inhabitant of the same State with themselves ; 
they shall name in their ballot the person to be voted for as 
President, and in distinct ballots the person voted for as Vice 
President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons voted 
for .as President, and all persons voted for as Vice President, and 
of the number of votes for each, which list they shall sign and 
certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of government of the 
United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The 
President of the Senate shall, in presence of the Senate and 
House of Representatives, open all the certificates, and the votes 
shall then be counted. The person having the greatest number 
of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be 
a majoritv of the whole number of electors appointed ; and if no 
person h.ive such majoritv, tlien from tlic persons having tlie 
highest number not exceeding three on tho list of those voted 
for .as President, the House of Representafives sh.all choose im- 
mediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the Presi- 
dent, the" vote shall be taken by States, the representation from 
each State having one vote ; a quorum for this purpose shall con- 
17 



HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS. 



603 



sist of a member or members from two-thirds of the States, and a 
majority of all the States shall be necessary to a choice. And if 
the Hoiise of Representatives shall not choose a President when- 
ever the right of choice shall devolve upon them, before the 
fourth day of March next followin<;, then the Vice President 
shall act as President, as in the case of the death or other Consti- 
tutional disability of the President. The person having the 
greatest number of votes as Vice President, shall be the Vice 
President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of 
electors appointed, and if no parson have a majority, then from 
the two highest numbers on the list, the Senate shall choose the 
Vice President ; a quorum for the purpose shall consist of two- 
thirds of the whole number of Senators, and a majority of the 
whole number shall be necessary to a choice. But no person 
constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eli- 
gible to that of Vice 'President of the United States. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

Section 1. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except 
as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly 
convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place 
subject to their jurisdiction. 

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article 
by appropriate legislation. 

ARTICLE XIV. 

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United 
States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the 
United States, and of the State wherein they reside. No State 
shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges 
or immunities nf citizens of the United States ; nor shall any 
. State deprive any person of life, liberty or property without due 
process of law, nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the 
equal protection of the laws. 

Section 2. Representatives shall be appointed among the 
several States according, to their respective numbers, counting the 
whole number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not 



taxed ; but when the right to vote at any election for the choice 

of electors for President and Vice President of the United States, 
Representatives in Congress, the executive and judicial officers of 
a State or the members of the Legislature thereof, is denied to 
any of themale inhabitants of such State, being twenty-one years 
of age and citizens of the United States, or in any way .abridged, 
except for participation in rebellion or other crimes, the basis of 
representation therein shall be reduced in the proijortion which 
the number of such male citizens shall bear to the whole number 
of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such State. 

Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in 
Congress or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any 
office civil or military, under the United States or under any 
State who, having previously taken oath as Member of Congress, 
or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State 
Legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to 
support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged 
in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or com- 
fort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may, by a vote of 
two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. 

Section 4. The validity of the public debt of the United 
States authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment 
of pensions .and bounties for suppressing insurrection or rebellion, 
shall not be questioned. But neither the United States 
nor any State shall assume or pay any debt of obligation in- 
curred in the aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United 
States, or any loss for emancipation of any slave, but such debts, 
obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void. 

Section 5. The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by 
appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article. 

ARTICLE XV. 

Section 1. The rights of citizens of the United States to vote 
shall not be denied or abridged by the United States on account of 
race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 

Section 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by 
appropriate legislation. 
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