Cass County, Illinois - Chapter 10, 1882

Benevolent Institqtions, Etc., Etc

CHRISTIAN truth is the superstructure on which every society which approximates perfection, must rest. Said an old minister of the (xospel : " It used to make my heart sick in the early years of my ministry to dismiss members of my charge to churches in distant regions, and have brothers and sisters and neighbors leave us for the new settlement in the opening Territories. But as I have grown older and followed these emigrants to their new homes, and have found them far more useful in church and State than they ever could have been in the regions they have left behind, where others held the places of influence - as I have seen them giving a healthy and vigorous tone to society, while the separation causes a pang of sorrow, the good accomplished more than compensates for the pleasure lost." It was to such emigrants as those mentioned in the foregoing extract, that Illinois is indebted, for the Christian civilization she to-day enjoys. The good seed brought hither by these humble pioneers, have produced an hundred fold.

The first Church Society formed in Virginia was by the Protestant Metho.lists. They built a church edifice upon the site of Traphagan's horse barn, in the rear of Mrs. Freeman's. It was a frame structure about 30x50 feet, and without any of the modern improvements. . The Protestant Methodist organization his been extinct in Virginia for a number of years.

The Cumberland Presbyterian Church was the ne.xt organized in Virginia. It was formed of meml)ers principally from Shiloh church, by Rev. Thomas Campbell, February 26, 1842. Among the original members were: William Naylor, BMijamin Bjasley, William Shilly, Harvey O'Neil, William Blair, David Blair, Daniel Cornell, Louise O'Neil, Susan Beasley, Melville Blair, Mary A. Cornell, Margiiret Weaver, Mary A. Lindsley, Mary Lorance, and Elizabeth Biddlecome. The first elders were William Naylor, Benjamin Beasley, and William Shilly. Their first place of worship was the old court house, which stood where the public school building now stands. In 184:3, they built a frame church on Job street, opposite Dr. Tates, which would seat about 250 persons. The new church, which stands in the eastern part of the city, was built in the summer of 1879, by J. F. Black, and cost about $4,600. It is a handsome brick edifice of modern architecture, and will seat some fifteen hundred people. Rev. J. E. Roach is the present pastor, and the membership is perhaps fifty. A Sunday school of some fifty or sixty children is maintained, under the superintendence of Mr. S. A. Gould.

The Church of Christ, of Virginia, was reorganized in 1875 (of its previous history we were unable to learn anything definite), by electing C. W. Elder and .1. E. Turner as church elders, and C. W. Black and J. B.

Black, deacons. These officers resigned in 1877, and C. W. Elder, J. F. Black, and F. A. Wade were elected elders; C. W. Black, I). D. Wilson, J. B. Black and T.J. Kemper, deacons. M. Graves, Joseph F. Black, T. J. Kemper and J. E. Turner were elected trustees, John Wear holding over, making five trustees. The church began holding Sunday meetings in 1873, without electing officers, elder C. W. Elder preaching occasionally until the organization was perfected. He was then employed by the -church, and preached until 1878, when elder J. L. Richardson was employed, remaining two years, when he resigned, and accepted a call to Europe. He preached there one year, and then returned and resumed his charge here in 1881, and is now pastor of the church. During the time Eider Richardson was in Europe, Elder James McGuire was engaged as pastor. Up to the fall of. 1879, services were held in the old church building in the west end of the town. The house was then torn down, the material removed, and a new church erected (in 1879) on the corner of Cass and Beardstown streets, at a cost of about $4,000, including furniture. It was dedicated by Eider B. J. Radford, president of Eureka College, in Woodford County. J. F. Black was architect and builder of the new church edifice, and displayed much taste in the design. The church now has 143 members.

The Sunday school was organized contemporaneously with the re-orgauization of the church, and has continued ever since. The present superintendent is Charles Martin; Dr. D. G. Smith, assistant, with an average attendance of about 85 children.

The Ladies' Christian Missionary Society of this church, was organized November 7, 1880, with eleven members, of whom Mrs. J. A. McGuire was elected President; Mrs. James Black, Vice-president; Mrs. Mattie Rummel, Secretary, and Mrs. A. A. Leeper, Treasurer.

The contributions of the society for the first year, were twenty-three dollars. Its present officers are Mrs. Charles Black, President; Mrs. James Black, Vice-president, and the Secretary and Treasurer as above given. The society is growing in strength and increasing in usefulness. Its contributions will probably reach near thirty dollars the present year.

The Catholics have had a partial organization in Virsrinia since about 1840. For a number of years mass was said in the houses of catholic families, until something like organization was effected, when they used as a church an old building which stood on the south side of the square, in the west end, and in which the present St. Luke's Catholic church was fully organized. The present handsome church was commenced in 1880, and is about 40x90 feet. When finished, its cost will be near 810,000, and it is by far the most elegant church edifice in the city. The painting and frescoing is just finished, and reflects great credit on Messrs. Peters & Son, the firm who did it. Rev. Father Michael Ryan has been pastor of St. Luke's church since 1876. About 45 families compose the present m mibership of the church, and a Sunday school of about 50 children is regularly maintained.

The Methodist Episcopal Church ol Virginia was organized about 1 836, as a pai t of the Petersburg circuit, under the Presiding Eldership of Rev. Peter Cartwright. Among the first members were Rev. Levi Springer, a local preacher, and his wife, P. S. Ough en and wife, M. H. Baadles, G. W. Harris, ! nd his wife and daughters, and others not now remembered. Rev. Enoch Faulkner was one of the first pastors, and when this church was a part of a circuit, large in extent. For some time the society held its meetings in t. e old Protestant Methodist Church, already frequently alluded to in these pages, and afterward the court house in the West End was used as a place of meeting. The pr. sent

IVaino church, standing on Springfield street, west of tiie court house - was erected in 1856, at a cost of about $2,500. The membership is now 120, and is under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Auer. The Sunday school has a regular attendance of about 100 children; Mr. Henry lierry is the superintendent, and devotes considerable attention to its interests, and the moral improvement of its members.

The Presbyterian Church of Virginia. - The following sketch was furnished by Rev. J. P. Dawson, the pastor : Although the present house of worship was erected in 1857, and was occupied as a Dreaching station, by stated supplies, there was no regular Presbyterian organization until the year 1803.

On the 12th day of June, 1863, the following petition was sent to the Presbytery of Sangamon. ^'' Dear Brethren: - We, your petitioners, members of Providence Church, and others, respectfully ask you to organize us into a separate church, to be called the 'Presbyterian Church of Virginia, Illinois,' under your care and supervision, if in your judgment the same should be for the interest of Christ's cause." (Signed) G. W. Goodspeed, Sarah vV. Goodspeed, Alice H. Goodspeed, I. N. White, George Wilson, Jane B. Wilson, Belinda M. Wilson, John N. Wilson, R. M. Wilson, Wlliam C. Wilson, Rev. J. Dale, N. S. Dale, Eliza J. Dale, G. Clendenin, Helen Clendenin, Mary H. Stowe, Mary McCawly, Mary E. Haynes, Eliza C. Heslep, D. R. Downing, Mary Downing, N. H. Downing, A. G. Angier, Eliza A. Angier, Robert Barr, Jane Barr, Hattie Angier, Grace Suffren, Mildred Berry, .lohn .1. Bergen, S. S. Bergen, James McAllister, William McAllister, Eliza McAllister, Charles Sloan, and Mary A. Sloan.

In compliance with this petition, the Rev. J. G. Bergen, D. D., as commissioner of Sangamon Presbytery, preached at Virginia, on the 4th day of July, 1803, and afterward proceeded to organize the " Presbyterian Church

The organization of the church was largely due to the efforts of Rev. .lohn Dale, who as stated supply of Providence Presbyterian Church, had preached at this point for several years. After the organization the church employed Rev. George K. Scott as stated supply, who labored acceptably for nearly two years. After he was called to another field, a young licentiate named David J. Strain, labored here until April, 1805. The people were well pleased, and through the Presbytery extended to him a regular call to become their pastor, which call was accepted, and on the 20th of June, 1805, the Presbytery of Sangamon met in Virginia, and ordained Mr. Strain to the gospel ministry, and installed him as pastor of this church. The blessing of God followed, and he remained the faithful and efficient shepherd of this flock for more than fourteen years. But on account of failing health he was led to resign the charge, and the pastoral relation was dissolved in July, 1880. In October of the same year the church, employed Rev. J. P. Dawson as stated supply, and at the end of the year extended to him a regular call, which was by him accepted, and he was duly installed as pastor of the church by a commission of Springfield Presl)ytery, on the 23d day of October, ] 881, and he is now (1882) the pastor of the church.

The church is united and prosperous ; has a comfortable house of worship and parsonage; has about 120 members, and a Sabbath school of about 100 members.

Educational. - Through the medium of the common schools are the rising generation of all nationalities assimilated readily and thoroughly, forming the great American people. The common shools are alike open to the rich and the poor, the citizen and the stranger. It is the duty of those to whom the administration of the schools is confided, to discharge it with magnanimous liberality and Christian kindness. Diligent care should be taken by instructors, to impress upon the minds of children and youth committed to their care, the principles of morality and justice, and a sacred regard for truth, love of their country, humanity and universal benevolence, sobriety, industry and frugality, chastity, moderation and temperance, and all other virtues which ornament society.

The early residents of Virginia were alive to the value of education, and opened schools as soon as they could support tiiem. The first school of which we have any reliable account, was taught in the second story or attic of the old Protestant Methodist church, already described. It had been fitted up for a school room, by lathing and plastering to the rafters, making a room about l-txoO feet, and in this unique building the youth of the early town learned the first rudiments of an education. The first teachers were Miss x\nn Jourdan, a Protestant Methodist preacher, a Miss Williams, Mrs. Blackman Ross, now of Jacksonville, Miss Mary Ann Lindsley, now Mrs. John Ruckley, of Philadelphia, and others whose names are forgotten. The first schoolbuilding owned by the city was the old court house, which was purchased by the county for school purposes after the county seat had been moved back to Beardstown, and was occupied as such about 1846. It was used until 1867, when it was torn down and re-built, and has since served the city, until the purchase of the old Cumberland Presbyterian College building, now used by the city for a highschool department, and which will be again referred to further on. The city schools are in a flourishing condition, and compare favorably with any other town in this section of the State of a like popidation.

The High School was organized by Prof. Loomis, the present principal of the city schools, though he has not been principal ever since. Several who have filled the position have become somewhat distinguished men. Prof. J. A. Johnson, one of these exprincipals, is now a practicing lawyer at Oakland, Oregon. Another, Prof. R. H. B !ggs, is the present Superintendent of the schools at Denver, Colorado. We are unable, however, to sketch each and every one of them, and tell whether they rank as great or small, among the men of the time.

The teachers for the ensuing year are as follows, viz.: Prof. John Loomis, Principal ; Miss Lucy B. Duer, Assistant Principal ; Miss Rachel Berry, teacher 6 th, grade ; Geo. J. Kelley, 5th grade ; Miss Monie Tate, 4th grade ; Miss Belle Rodgers, 3rd grade ; Miss Mary Billings, 2nd grade ; Miss Mary E. Wright, 1st grade ; attendance about 350 pujiils. Springer School, Edward Missie, teacher ; about 15 in attendance.

Union College. - The history of this institution is brief, and its career was shcjrt and unprofitable as a school. When tJie Sangamon Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, concluded to build a Seminary, three difl'eriuit p'aces were designated as the point where the school should be located, and the choice was to fall to the most liberal bidder. In other words, the town, which would extend the most liberal contribution toward building the Seminary, was to become the place of its location. This led to the erection of three buildings at as many different points, viz.: at Virginia, Cass County ; at Mt. Zion, Macon County, and at Lincoln, Logan County. The school at Mt. Zion died an early but natural death, soon passing out of existence.

to any extent. It became involved in debt and was finally sold to the city of Virgii'.ia, and is now known as the City High School Building. The school at Lincoln flourished in proportion to the decline of the others. It became a college, then a university, and is now known as Lincoln University. The Virginia school was run under denominational rule from its commencement, about 1865. It was sold to the city about 1870, for $7,500, and the proceeds used to strengthen the Lincoln school, which is still owned by the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

War History. - In a work of this kind, it is not intended to write a history of the late civil war, but to allude very briefly to the part Virginia took in the matter. A war of any sort, from a " war of words" to bloody battles between contending armies, is but a sickly detail of horrors, and a civil war is the most deplorable of all. It would be well if we could drop a veil over our late war between the States, and blot out the remembrance of it forever. It is a species of history better forgotten than perpetuated.

The Nineteenth Illinois Infantry was the first regiment that drew anything like a company from Virginia and vicinity. Company F was from this place, and was officered as follows; Luther S. Allard, Captain; K. H. Chandler, First Lieutenant; and James G. Campbell, Second Lieutenant. Captain Allard resigned December 1, 18G1, and Lieutenant Chandler was promoted to Captain, and afterward killed in buttle, when Lieutenant Campbell became Captain, who remained as such until the expiration of the regiment's term of service. Upon the promotion of Lieutenant Campbell, Samuel L. Himilton was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and then to First Lieutenant, and mustered out with the regiment. John Hill was promoted Second Lieutenant, January 2, 1863, and resigned (says the Adjutant-general's Report), " for the good of the service." The same authority makes the same report of Silas W. Kent, who was promoted Second Lieutenant on the 3rd of June, 1803.

Of the service of the Nineteenth, the Adjutant-gonerars report gives no record, further, than that it was mustered out of the service at the close of its three years term of service.

The Thirty-third Illinois Infantry was the ne.xt regiment in which Virginia was represented. In the Thirty-third almost an entire company was enlisted from Virginia and the immediate vicinity. Company K was the Virginia company, and Charles E. Lippincott was its Captain. None of the other commissioned officers, however, were from Cass County, except Second Lieutenant William H. Weaver, who was from Beardstown. Lieutenant Weaver resigned March 22, 1862, came home and raised a company for the 100 days' service, of which company he was Captain. Capt. Lippincott was promoted to Lieutenant-colonel, March 1, 1863, and to Colonel on the 5th of September following, he was mustered out of the service with the regiment, and was promoted Brigadier-general for gallant and meritorious services. We have not space to give the names of the entire company, but from the Adjutant-general's report will give a synopsis of the history of the Thirty-third, of which Company K formed a part.

The Thirty-third Infantry was organized at Camp Butler, Illinois, in September, 1861, and mustered into the United States service by Capt. T. G. Pitcher, U. S. A. Its first service was in Missouri, where it did little but scout duty, until March, 1862, when it moved into Arkansas, and was engaged in a number of skirmishes, and several rather severe battles. It remained in Arkansas until in the spring of 1863, when it was ordered to St. Genevieve, Mo., from whence it embarked for Milliken's

Bend, La. Attached to the 'I'hirtepiith Army Corps, it participated in all its battles - Port Gibson, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, siege of Vicksburg, siege of Jackson, etc. In August it was ordered to New Orleans, where it was engaged in several raids and expeditions, and in November was ordered into Texas, where it did considerable manoeuvering, if nothing more serious. The regiment re-enlisted in the spring of 18G4, and on the 14th of March arrived at Blooming ton. 111., where they received veteran furlough. It was reorganized in April, 18ii4, at Camp Butler, and proceeded to New Orleans. It remained in Louisiana on guard duty at dilferent points, and in March, 1865, was ordered to join the Sixteenth Army Corps. On its way the train was thrown from the track, and 9 men killed and 70 wounded. Company K had fortunately remained behind, guarding transportation, and escaped the catastrophe. After the capture of Mobile the regiment moved to Montgomery, Ala., where it arrived on the 25th of April, and where it received the news of Lee's surrender. It was mustered out of the service November 34, 1865, at Vicksburg, and was sent home to Camp Butler for final dischare, after more than four years continual service.

The One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Infantry contained two companies from Cass County, one from Virginia and one from Beardstown; the latter company will be written up in the chapters devoted to Beardstown. Company ]). was Irom Virginia, and was organized with the following commissioned officers: Benj. C. Berry, Captain, Thos. S. Berry, First Lieutenant, and David N. Downing, Second Lieutenant. Capt. Berry resigned January 3 ', 1865, and George H. Martin was promoted Captain June 26, 1865, but mustered out as Sergeant August 3, 1865. Lieutenant Thomas S. Berry was honorably discharged May 15, 1865, and Henry D. Freeman was promoted June 3ti, 18 35, to First I^ieutenant, but mustered out as Sergeant with the regiment. Second Lieutenant Downing died at Duckport, La., May 22, 1863. The following facts are gleaned from the Adjutant-general's reports of the movements of the regiment to which this company belonged.

Tiie One Hundred and Fourteenth was recruited during the summer of 1862, and mustered into service on the 18th of September at Camp Butler, Illinois. The regiment left for Memphis, Tenn., on the 8th of November, arriving on the 26th, and starting at once on the Tallahatchie campaign. Early in I860 it returned to Memphis. It was ordered to Louisana, and on the 2nd of May returned to the rear of Vicksbnrg, and was engaged in the battle of Jackson, Miss., where it lost five men, killed and wounded, and arrived in the rear of Vicksburg on the 18th, participating in the siege, with a loss of twenty in killed and wounded. It did little but scout and guard duty until in .lune, 18'i4, when it went against Generals Forrest and Lee at GunJ;owu, Miss. The battle at this place commenced early in the afternoon, and the troops, worn down and exhausted by a double quick march of three miles, were hurried into action, and after fighting five or six hours, were repulsed. The 114th reiuained as rear guards, and assisted in holding the enemy in check during the whole of the first night's retreat. Out of the 397 men of the 114 th engaged, it lost 205 in killed, wounded and missing. Among the wounded was Lieutenant T. S. Berry, of Company D.

The regiment, from this time until August, was engaged in numerous scouts and expeditions, and had many skirmishes with detachments of the enemy, in which it did considerable severe fighting. In August, 1864, it was ordered to Duvall's Bluff, Ark. It left Brownsville, Ark., in pursuit of Gen. Price, and marched to Cape Girardeau, Mo., in seventeen days on ten days' rations. After long and tedious marches, and travel by rail and boat, it reached Kansas City, whence it was ordered to St. Louis, arriving there November 15. From St. Louis it was ordered to Nashville, Tenn., where it arrived in time to take part in the battles of the loth and IGth of December. The One Hundred and Fourteenth was attached to McMillan's brigade, McArthur's division of Gen. A. J. Smith's corps, which brigade was especially coinpliniented by Gen. Thomas in his report to the War Department. After the surrender of Mobile, the regiment marched to Montgomery, Ala., arriving April 24, 1865, and bridging the Alabama river with pontoons, remained on duty at the bridge until July 17, when it was ordered to Vieksburg, and mustered out of service August 3, 18G5. It arrived at Camp Butler, Illinois, on the 7th of August, and on the 15th was paid off and discharged. These regiments are all that contained anything like an organized body of men from Virginia. A number of men from the city and vicinity, were scattered through various other regiments, but none in organized bodies. From the foregoing sketch of the 33d and the 114th, it will be seen that Virginia's gallant sons performed their duty nobly, during those four long and dreary years, and that some of them came not back when the contest ended. From bloody fields of war and carnage, they crossed over the river to join the grand army on the other side. Thev need no mausoleum ! Their fame is a part of the nation's history; their epitaph is engraved upon the hearts of men. In the language of the gallant O'Hara :

Secret and Benevolent Institutions. - Benevolent institutions have existed so long, that no records tell of their organization, and they will, doubtless, continue, "until time shall be no more." The history of Free Masonry is veiled and clouded by almost unwritten centuries ; yet amidst the political fluctuations of the earth, and the downfall of States and Empires, its traditions have been borne to us on the current of time, and been gathered together by the Masonic student for the meditation and instruction of the Craft. All who have considered the origin of Free Masonry have been convinced that the germ from which it sprang was coeval with that wonderful command of Jehovah: "Let there be light," and from the coincidences found to exist between it and the ancient mysteries, they were very similar in character. We know that the aims of these institutions are good, because the results achieved are so grand and glorious. We believe that the world is better for their existence, secret though they are in their workings, and agree not with those who believe that everything is evil which is veiled in secrecy, and hidden from the eyes of tlie curious.

Free Masonry is represented in Virginia by the Blue Lodge only. The institution, it seems, has never flourished very vigorously here - the more 's the pity. Like the seed that fell in stony ground, it has probably been choked by the briars and brambles. Virginia Lodge No. 544, was organized under dispensation, April 2, A. L. 5867, and was chartered October 1 following. The charter members were G. F. Hellig, W. A. Harding, L. P. K. Yaple, Casper Magel, F. Underwood, H. H. Hall, James Smith, James M. Rodney, William Cox, L. S. Allard, Lee Carpenter and H. Barden. The first Master was G. F. Hellig ; the first Senior Warden, William A. Harding ; and the first Junior Warden, L. P. R. Yaple. The lodge now has some thirty members, and is officered as follows: G. F. Hellig, Worshipful Master; D. G. Smith, Senior Warden; A. A. Leeper, Junior Warden; Thomas Dunnaway, Treasurer; T. M. Hubbard, Secretary; George Davidson, Senior Deacon ; Parker Thompson, Junior Deacon; and Robert Chettick, Tiler.

There has never been a Chapter, Council nor Commandery of the order in the town, and, as we remarked above, the institution, from some cause, has never flourished here as in the majority of Illinois towns. With the amount of first-class material at hand, however, the time will come, perhaps, when it flourish here as it deserves to flourish everywhere.

Odd Fellowship, the twin-sister of Free Masonry, though comparatively modern in organization, possesses the same virtues, and exerts the same wide-spread influence for good. It is represented in Virginia by Saxon Lodge No. 68, which was instituted in Virginia by Deputy Grand Master James Leonard, March 14, 1850, with P. O. Bryan, N. B. Newman, R. S. Lord, I. N. White, Charles Boyd, W. H. H. Carpenter, and William Collins charter members. The first officers were: R. S. Lord, N. G.; W. H. H. Carpenter, V. G.; I. N. White, Secretary; and N. B. Newman, Treasurer. Charles E. Lippincott (now General Lippincott), was the first member admitted into the new lodge. He was a member of mini Lodge No. 4, at Jacksonville, and as soon as Saxon Lodge was instituted, took out his card of withdrawal, presented it for admission to this lodge, and was elected a member. H. H. Hall, now of Jacksonville, was the first initiate, being elected and initiated at the first meeting.

The first hall or place of meeting used by the lodge, was in a church that stood near where Traphagan's livery stable now stands, and was burned in 1872. This building was used for town hall political meetings, school house, and preaching place for all religions denominations, and was not the most secret and retired room for the meetinsrs of a lodg-e. It was used however, for four years, and in 1854, the lodge moved to the upper room of the frame building on the southwest corner of the square, now occupied by D. J. McConnell as a grocerv store. After remaining here two years, it was moved to the West End, where most of the business of the town was then done, and occupied the brick building now used by Harry Thompson as a residence. In 1860, it bought the property now owned by J. G. Campbell, and occupied by the Dan Leonard saloon, on the west side of the square. It used the upper story for a lodge room, and rented the lower story until 1864, when, owing to the rapid increase of membership, which had reached fifty-four, it became necessary to again move to larger quarters, and the property was sold to Mr. Campbell, and the lodge rented the room over the Farmers' National Bank, which gave it very commodious quarters. With the proceeds of the sale of its old building, it bought the lot on the north side of the square, on which it afterward built a hall. It bought also at the same time the lot adjoining it on the east. The lodge remained, however, in the room in the bank building until 1873, during which time it had accumulated something over $1,300. It now determined to build on its ovpn lots, and accordingly contracted for a brick building 20x80 feet, two stories high, to cost about $5,000, and with its $1,300 issued bonds to the amount of $3,700, which were sold, and in the fall of the same year the building was completed. The lower room was occupied by John Rodgers' furniture store, and the upper room was occupied jointly by the Odd Fellows' and Masonic Lodges. The crisis of 1873-74 caused many of its members to drop out of the lodge, and the debt under which the lodge was laboring so embarrassed it.

that in 1881, after struggling long and hard against many difficulties, it succeeded in reducing its debt to $3,600, had $175 in the treasury, and but twenty-two members on the roll. Under this state of circumstances it proposed to the bond-holders to give theia the $175, and a deed to the property, to be released from all further obligation, which was accepted. The lodge then rented the upper room for one year, and at the close of 1881, rented the suit of rooms now occupied in the Skiles building, on the southwest corner of the square, and moved into them in January, 1883. Here it has one of the best arranged halls in Central Illinois, and at the present time (1883), has a membership of over ninety, comprised of the best men in the county.

The present officers of Saxon Lodge are as follows : Henry H. Berry, N. G., Geo. L. Warlow, V. G., Geo. J. Kelly, Recording Secretary; George R. Berry, Permanent Secretary, and MattYaple, Treasurer.

Advance Encampment No. 139, was instituted November 39, 1871, at Paxton, Ford County, 111., and the charter members were Stacey Daniels, A. F. Blake, Charles Guthman, Dan. Guthman and H. C. Funk. The original charter was destroyed and a new one issued by T. Warren Floyd, Grand Patriarch, October 13, 1874. The Encampment was removed to Virginia, and re-organized under a dispensation June 23, 1880, from W. E. Carlin, Grand Patriarch. The first officers at Virginia were S. M. Colladay, C. P., F. E.

BEARDSTOWN - CITY AND PRECINCT - LAYING OUT OF THE TOWN - ITS LOCATION - ORGANIZATION - FIRST OFFICERS - THE COUNTY SEAT QUESTION-CHURCHES - SCHOOLS - THE PRESS - RAILROADS - THE PROFESSIONS - EARLY SETTLERS - BUSINESS INTERESTS- WAR RECORD, E'IC.

THOMAS BEARD and Enoch C. March entered the northeast quarter of Section 15, in Township 18, North of Range 12 West, on Sept. 23, 182G, and Oct. 8, 1827; the same parties entered the northwest quarter of said section. Thomas Beard entered the west half of the southwest quarter of the aforesaid section on Oct. 10, 1827, and March and Beard also on the same date entered fractional section 10 in said Township, embracing ail the lands upon which Beardstown is now located, except the southeast quarter of section 15, and the west half of section 14, which two last mentioned tracts were donated by Congress, in lieu of the deficiency of section 16 for school purposes. The School Commissioner of Morgan county divided this land into 173 blocks and fractional blocks, which was designated as the School Commissioners' addition to Beardstown, and the first sale or blocks in said addition was on April 16, 1832, when seventy-five blocks were sold therein, and the remaining blocks were subject to private entry at affixed prices.

The original town of Beardstown was laid off and platted by Enoch C. March and Thomas Beard, Sept. 9, 1829, and recorded at Jacksonville, Morgan County, in Book B, page 228.

The town having grown rapidly, an addition was made, called " March & Beard's" addition to Beardstown, recorded March 6, 1833. Soon afterward, Mr. March, having sold his interest in Beardstown to N. A. Ware, another addition was made by Beard & Ware May 10, 1836, and also a further addition was made by Beard & Arenz, July 1, 1837.

There were also additions made to Beardstown by John Ayres, David Clendenin, A. B Dennison, and many school blocks have been subdivided into lots.

The location of Beardstown is a very favorable one, being situated on the Illinois River, about midway between Peoria and St. Louis. It is connected directly with St. Louis and Chicago, by the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, and with Springfield and Southwestern Illinois to the Ohio River at Shawneetown, by the Ohio & Mississippi Railway. Another railway from Burlington to the Ohio River is contemplated, running through Beardstown, which in all probability soon be built.

For purposes of manufacturing, Beardstown is not surpassed by any town in Illinois, possessing all facilities; for there is plenty of water at all times, and coal, timber and other building materials can be obtained in its immediate neighborhood.

The first licensed ferry across the Illinois River was granted by the County Commissioners of Schuyler County, to Thomas Beard June 5, 1826.

The first organization of the town government of Beardstown, was by the election of a Board of Trustees in September, 1834. Haywood Reed was elected President of the I Board; John B. Fulks, Clerk; Edward Tull,

This town government continued from year to year, by the election of new oiBcers, until Feb. 4, 1850, when a city organization was established.

"By an act of the General Assembly of March 3, 1837, declaring the County of Cass to be one of the counties of the State of Illinois, Beardstown, the largest town in Cass County, and having the most numerous population in said town and immediate vicinity, was designated to be the county seat, provided the citizens or corporation of Beardstown raise the sum of $10,000, to defray the expenses of erecting public buildings, and that the Corporation of Beardstown shall be allowed the period of one, two and three years, for the payment of said sura, in three equal payments. The court house shall be erected on the public square of Beardstown."

At that time it was not a very easy matter to raise $10,000 at short notice, and the hand}' mode of running a town in debt by the issuing of bonds had not then been discovered. There was also a great diversity of opinion among the people of Beardstown ; some would much rather pay nothing, alleging that the county ought to pay for its own buildings; others objected to erecting the buildings on the public square; and others, although willing to furnish their proportion of the funds required, were unwilling to foot the bill alone.

Therefore, in order to raise the amount re- (juired upon equal terms, an act of the legislature was obtained July 21, 1837, authorizing the corporation to levy a tax of six per cent, per annum on all real estate in Beardstown, according to the value thereof, for the purpose of raising the sum of $10,000.

But the County Commissioners, then in office, Amos Boiiney, Joshua P. Crow, and Geo. F. Miller, were determined to locate the county seat at Virginia.

February 24, 1838, the board of trustees at Beardstown appointed a committee to inform the County Commissioners that Beardstown will comply with the requirements of the law, establishing the county seat at Beardstown. This committee consisted of Thomas Graham, Edward Tull and Thomas R. Saunders, and having brought the matter by the County Commissioners, reported to the town trustees that they had presented the matter to said County Commissioners' Court, while in session, and Mr. Bonney, the presiding officer of said court, had treated the same with contempt.

In March, 1838, another eifort was made by the board of trustees to satisfy the Commissioners' Court, if possible, by informing said court that Ben. H. Gatton had made proposals for building the court house and other public buildings at Beardstown, to which the following answer was returned by order of said court:

"I am directed by the County Commis- " sioners' Court to inform j'ou that they have "considered the propositions submitted to " them from B. H. Gatton through your " board, and regret that they do not feel "themselves authorized by law to acceed to

The County Commissioners had entered into an agreement with H. H. Hall, a resident and large property holder of Virginia, on the 21st of April, 1838, for erecting a court house and jail, at Virginia; and said Hall reported at the September term, 1839, that said buildings were completed ; whereupon the commissioners accepted the same, and notice was given at said Septemijer term,

The manner, in -which the county seat of Cass was thus located was by no means satisfactory to the citizens of Beardstown, and the western portion of the county, and it is to be regretted, that out of this proceeding, arbitrarily and highhanded, as some called it, and a desire that Beardstown again wished to obtain, what Virginia then had got, grew up that unfriendly feeling between these two places, which existed, and still exists, to the detriment of both.

That the county seat has never been any material benefit to either place, has been demonstrated, for each town has had it long enough to prove this. The only benefit in reality is the convenience of access to the records, offices and courts. The strife for county seat, between the two rival places, has cost the people immense sums of money, caused much hard feeling, and prevented or ruined many a useful enterprise.

The next election about the county seat resulted in favor of Beardstown, and at the March term of the County Commissioners' Court, H. E. Dummer, Esq., on behalf of the corporation of Beardstown, presented before said court, a deed from Thomas R. Saunders, to the County of Cass, for Lot 1, in Block 31, in Beardstown ; also a receipt from B. W. Schneider, contractor for building the courtliouse at Beardstown, and a receipt from Thomas Beard, contractor for the erection of a jail, and also the certificate of the sufficiency of said buildings from the Hon. Samuel D. Lockwood, presiding judge of the Cass Circuit Court; all of which papers were ordered to be filed. Upon which the Court adjourned, to meet at Beardstown, on Monday, March 3d, 1845. Beardstown remained in possession of the county seat until 1875, when it was removed to Virginia, after the election in 1873 had been contested and carried tiirough the courts, resulting finallj' in a decision that said election had been in favor of Virginia by a majority of eight votes.

Aldermen of the 1st ward - Thomas Eyre and Jesse Riggins; 2nd ward, James Hope and Joseph Stehlin; 3rd ward, George Gucnther and Jacob Ritcher.

Aldermen of the 1st ward - H. C. Meyer and S. O. Buck; 2nd ward, B. F. Epler and H. B. Wilson; 3rd ward, H. Schmoldt and Henry Huge; 4th ward, George F. Frauman and H. Schroeder.

Churches. - The first church was erected in 1S41 or 1843, at the corner of Fifth and Washington Streets, and designated as, "the German Evangelical Church at Beardstown." Mr. Beard and wife executed an amended deed for the lot of ground, upon which it had been built in June, 1842.

Mr. George Kuhl, Christian Kuhl and William Hemminghouse, were elected trustees of said church, to hold their offices until successors should be elected and qualified. The church was open to all denominations, and independently of synods, bishops or conferences. For some years it proved to be a very useful institution, filled to its full capacity on Sundays for worship, and for school purposes on other days of the week. After the expiration of several years, some of the most orthodox members came to the conclusion that, in addition to services on Sundays, there should also be held prayer- meetings and religious exercises on certain evenings during the other days of the week. In this movement Mr. Hemminghouse and Mr. Geo. Kuhl were the leaders, and for a considerable time such meetings were held in the town school-house, or in a building on Main Street, belonging to Geo. Kuhl, and resulted finally in the organization of the German Methodist Church, about the year 1845.

Although the German Evangelical Church continued on for several years, it decreased in members, because other religious societies had been established, erecting places of worship of their own until finally it was dissolved as a church organization, and the building was sold in 1881, to Mr. H. T. Foster, who constructed it into a dwelling house, which he now occupies as a family residence.

The second church in Beardstown was erected at the corner of Third and Washington Streets, in 1845, as a Presbyterian Church, but in February, 1850, the Congregational form of government was adopted, and it became, " the first Congregational Church at Beardstown."

Horace Billings and Dr. V. A. Turpin were the first deacons. Mr. Billings continued to hold office until his removal to Jacksonville in 1867. The Rev. Socrates Smith was the first minister of the church, and Dr. B. F. Grey is pastor now.

The Methodist Church was organized in Beardstown at an early day, supposed to be in the year 1837 or 1838, and a church was built on the corner of Fifth and State Streets in 1848, and an addition in 1874.

Rev. J. K. Miller is the present pastor. In the year 1846, the German Methodists erected a building for worship on State street, which was also used for school purposes. In 1848, when William Bauermeister was pastor, a dilTerence arose between the members about some question of belief, or government, of the nature of which we are not informed, and a division occurred, Mr. Bauermeister and thirty-two members withdrawing from the church and forming the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

In 1851, the German Methodists built their church at the corner of Fifth and State streets, and the old building was converted into a dwelling for the pastor.

The members who had withdrawn from the German Methodist Church with William Bauermeister organized as " the First Evangelical Lutheran Church at Beardstown," with William Bauermeister as pastor, and in 184S erected a building used as church and schoolhouse, and shortly afterward erected a church at the corner of 4th and Lafayette streets, in 1850. This church has a fine organ, and is well fitted out. Rev. William Bauermeister was its pastor from May 22, 1848, until October, 1850. The present pastor is Rev. John Bond.

The church increased rapidly in members, and in 1871, when Rev. Robert Knoll was its pastor, dissention arose between the members, an'd the result was that the pastor with his adherents withdrew, and established another Evangelical Lutheran Church on 6th street. This later church claims the same name as tho former ; the one on 4th street adhered to the synod of Illinois, and is now connected with the general synod, whilst the church on 6th street is under the Missouri synod.

In 1871 the church on 6th street built a house, which was used for a place of worship and school purposes, and in 1873 erected a very neat church at the corner of 6th and Jefferson streets. This church contains a fine organ, and the windows are of stained glass.

The erection of this church shows what can be acoompHshcd by determined ]3eople. Although the number of members was small at first, they nevertheless put up buildings costing over $8,000, without calling for any aid outside of its own members. Both the Lutheran Churches are in a very flourishing condition. The services on Sundays are well attended, and each congregation keeps up a school, with a teacher.

In 1853 a commodious school-house was erected on block 36, on 4th street. This building and the former court-house are now used for public school purposes, but additional buildings are much needed.

The Catholics and two Lutheran Churches have also schools of their own. There is also outside of Beardstown a school-house near Casp. Stock's farm.

The enumeration of children in township 18, range 12, of which Beardstown alone contains nearly the whole population, in July, 1882, shows that there are

Ifeicsjyapers at Heanlstoten. - The first newspaper was established by Francis Arenz, and was published in 1833 and 1834; Francis Arenz, editor, and J. B. Fulks, publisher. It was called The Beardstown Chronicle and Illinois Military Bounty Land Advertiser. Then for some time there was no newspaper published here, until in 1845; S3'lvester Emmons established and published The Beardstoicn Gazette, the first number being issued in August, 1845. At this time the newspapers nearest to this place were published, to wit: one at Jacksonville, two at Springfield, two at Quincy, two at Peoria, and one at Burlington, Iowa. In 1846, the Gazette published the delinquent tax list for the counties of Cass, Mason, Schuyler and Brown, it being the only paper located nearest the county seat of the respective counties. This paper was continued by Mr. Emmons until 1852, when it was sold to C. D. Dickerson who published the paper about eighteen months; when it was sold to J. L. Sherman, who afterward sold out to B. C. Drake, who issued the paper, and for some time also published a daily; then the paper was published for a time by a Mr. Mitchell, and afterwards passed into the hands of L. U. Reavis. Mr. Reavis having published the paper for several years, it passed into the hands of a committee, composed of members of the Republican party, of which J. A, Arenz was the chairman. This committee were the owners of the paper for several years, and it was published by different persons, until in 1867, the paper came into the hands of John S. Nicholson.

From the time of sale by Mr. Emmons, the name of the paper was alternately the Gazette and Central Illinoisan, which latter name it still retains.

Mr. Nicholson has published the paper regularly, and under many trying circumstances, to the present day. It was first located in the building known as " the Great Western," which burned down. Then he moved the printing office into the Billing's block, in the third story, when in the night of Nov. 26, 1875, the entire block was consumed by fire, which destroyed the press and everything belonsring to the office. The Illinoisan is now

]iublished up stairs in the building owned by Siieriff Sielschott, on Main street. From its long publication, and faithfully and ably advocating the interest of Beardstown, it deserves the patronage of the citizens of Beardstown.

In 1876 another paper was established, called The Cass County Messcmjer, of which Mr. George Dann was editor and publislior. This paper was purchased by Joseph P. Sailor in 1880, who changed its name to Cass County Democrat. The paper is published on the second floor of the building owned by the estate of H. Mohlmann, at the corner of Main and Jeiferson streets. Mr. J. P. Sailor is its editor, and the paper is well gotten up and full of news.

The German newspaper was first established in 1877, by Rev. A. Sehaberhorn, under the name of The JBeohachier am Illinois Fluss. Mr. Sehaberhorn being the editor and proprietor until 1878, when it was purchased by Mr. Theodore Wilkins, who edited the same under the name of The JBeardstoim Wochenblatt, until his death in 1881, when the paper was purchased by Ross & Son, who continue to edit and publish the same.

This paper has a very large circulation, and is gotten up with considerable ability and industry. It is of large size with a supplement to each number, and deserves the support and patronage it at present enjoys among its German readers.

liaiiroads. - When the era of railroads had come, causing a great revolution in business matters, benefiting some places, and cutting off the trade of towns which were not so fortunate as to obtain a railroad, Beardstown was for some years at great disadvantage, and desperate efforts were made by its citizens to secure railroad facilities.

Large sums were subscribed by the corporation, and large amounts were subscribed 1)V private citizens, and Beardstown has now the benefits which arise from two railroads,

The first subscription of the corporation was made March 1, 1857, to the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad Co., of '1^.50,- 000, and between Dec. 1, 1857, and Feb. 1, 1SG9, another subsci'i[)tion of $10,000 was made to the same conipaiiy, and on Nov. 1, 18G0, a fuither subseri()tion was made to the same company for §12,000.

Bonds were issued for said amounts, running twenty years, and bearing interest at the rate of six, seven, and ten per cent., respectively. The whole amount issued is §150,- 000, of which §125,000 remain unpaid at this time.

The Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis R.R. is now in the possession of the C, B. & Q. R. R. Co., and the Pana, Springfield & Northwestern is now controlled by the O. & M. R. R. Co. The Ro kford. Rock Island & St. Louis was completed between 18Gi( and 1871, and the Pana, Springfield & Northwestern in 1871.

Lmiyyers and Doctors. - The lawyers of Beardstown are: J. Henry Shaw, who is now the oldest practicing attorney here; Thomas H. Carter; Charles E. Wyman, city attorney; R. Hewitt, prosecuting attorney of Cass County; B. F. Thacker.

Danls. - The Cass County Bank is managed by F. A. Hammer, president, and Charles E. Fulks, cashier; and the People's Bank. J. H. Harris, president, and Thomas K. Cou-

Secret Societies. - The Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Honor, Druids, A. O. U. Workmen, Mutual Aid, Young Men's Social Club, and other societies have lodges here.

f Ettsiness Affairs at JBeardstown. - Before the railroad era, when the rivers were the main channels for carrying merchandise and ])roduce, Beardstown was in possession of the most extensive pork trade of any western town, competing even with Cincinnati.

Among the firms most largely engaged in pork-packing, of which some were large dealers in grain, were: Houston & Co., Cincinnati, Ohio; Gano, Thoms & Talbot, Col. McKee, Wheeling, Va.; Sydam, Sage & Co., New York.

The Beardstown grain dealers were: Nolte & McClure, S. M. Tinsley & Co., H. F. Foster, Horace Billings, D. Kreigh & Co., John McDonald, H. Chadsey & Co.

Among the dealers in grain before the railroad era, were Knapp & Pogue; Basset & Taylor; George Kuhl; Chase, Rich & Parker; George Volkmar & Co.; E. J. Dutch & Bro. ; Thompson & Eatnes; J. W. Thompson & Co.; H. F. Foster & Co,> four bakeries, four boot and shoe stores, four barber shops, four blacksmith shops, four butcher shops, one brick yard, one brewery, nine boarding and eating houses, four clothing stores, five dry good stores, one distillery, four drug stores, one foundrj', two flouring mills, two furniture stores, eleven grocery stores, eight halls, three hardware stores, three hotels, ten large ice houses, four jeweler stores, two lumber yards, two livery stables, four millinery stores, one opera house, two photograph galleries, two saw mills, three saddle and harness shops, one scouring and dying establishment, three dealers in sewing machines, three stores of general merchandise, two tinware and stove stores, two undertakers, four watch a;id clockmakers, one sash and door factory.

There are also the shops of the C. B. & Q. railroad located here. Two railroad depots, one telephone office, having also connection with the city of Virginia, 13 miles distant.

Among the prominent men, now resting among the dead, who whilst living her.', spent much of their time and means for promoting the interests of Beardstown, should be mentioned: Thomas Beard, Francis Arenz, Thomas and John Wilbourn, Thomas Graham, Knapp and Pogue, Thomas and Edward Saunders, B. W. Schneider, Bassett and Taylor.

Some of these honored dead have loft no children or near relations living here to furnish a narrative of their lives, and a short sketch is therefore prepared by one who knew these men personally. The most of them were doing extensive business here at an early day in Beardstown. Messrs. Knapp and Poo-ue occupied the front rank in business affairs at the time when Beardstown became a town, and when that firm finally failed in business, Mr. Pogue acted as justice of the peace, until his death. Mr. Knapp went to New Orleans. The firm built several large business establishments, among which was

(hat capacious storehouse called " the Great Western," none of which buildings are now standing. Messrs. Thomas and John Wilbourn, among other buildings, erected a large mill, which afterwards burned down, and upon the lot where it stood, Messrs. Baujan & Co. erected a few years ago, their new mill. Wilbourn built also a store building upon the lot upon which the opera house now stands. That firm dissolved, and Nolte and McCluie purchased their store goods. This latter firm moved their store to Main street, where for many years they transacted a very large amount of business, erected several sulistantial buildings, and contributed very materially to advance the interest of Beardstown.

Thomas Graham was a native of the city of Philadelphia, where his father was a prominent business man. He came here at an early day, and for several years kept store. His wife, also a Philadelphia lady, brought with her a piano, which was the first and only piano for several years in this part of the country. After the death of his wife, and reversals in business, he returned to Philadelphia.

Messrs. Basset & Taylor came here from Springfield and entered into the forwarding and commission business, dealing also in pork, grain, dry goods, groceries, etc., for many years. After the death of Mr. Bassett Taylor left here.

Thomas and Edward Saunders came from Philadelphia at an early day. They were engaged in business here for several years. Thomas R. Saunders was Recorder of Cass County. He died in Beardstown, leaving a widow and several children. Edward Saunders went to Chicago, where he died some years ago.

B. W. Schneider came to Cass County in 1834; was engaged in farming near Arenzville for several years. He then came to Beardstown and purchai^ed from F. Aenz his store on Main street, which he occupied as a liquor dealer and for other purposes. He purchased the lot of ground upon which the Opera house now stands, and erected a large hotel, which was carried on by himself and others, called the " Schneider House." He erected also other houses, but none of those buildings are now existing. He died here, leaving a widow and several children, none of whom are now living in Beardstown.

Mr. Thomas Beard was born in Granville, Washington County, N. Y., in 1795, from whence his father moved to Burton, Geauga County, O., in 1800.

Thomas Beard came to the State of Illinois in 1818, and for some time lived about Edwardsville and Alton, where he formed the acquaintance of Enoch March. Then he came to Beardstown in 1820, where his immediate neighbors, for a considerable time, were Indians and a few white people. He established the first ferry across the Illinois river, and obtained a license therefor from the County Commissioners' Court of Schuyler County, in 1826. In 1827 he, with Enoch March, a man of means, entered the land upon which Beardstown is located, and in 1829 the original town of Beardstown was laid out, platted and recorded; and several additions were made t the town afterward.

Mr. Beard was tveice married. His first wife was Sarah Bell, by whom he had three children, of which only one is now living, in Nebraska. This marriage proved unhappy, and after his wife left him, a divoice was obtained in 1835, Mr. Beard retaining the children. Some years afterward he married a widow Dickerman, who had an only son, Willard A. Dickerman, who afterward became Colonel of the 103d Illinois Regiment, and fell in battle near Atlanta, Georgia, in the war for suppressing the Rebellion.

Mr. Beard, although he had not the advantages of a superior education, neve theless was a man who had educated himself to such degree that he could get along very well in ordinary business matters. For industry, liberality, kindness and honesty, he had no superior.

Mr. Horace Billings was a native of the State of Vermont, and came to Boardstown in the year 1843. Having been engaged in business in New York, Canada, and other places, he dashed into business hei-e at once. There was nothing salable or purchasable in which he did not trade. Trading and speculating seemed to be his element. He was very quick of perception and in deciding the course to pursue, and there was no enterprise in or about Beardstown wherein Mr. Billings had not a leadi^^ hand. Sometimes he would miss his aim and sustain a loss, which, however, he bore like a true philosopher, neither lamenting nor fretting; but he generally succeeded, and his pork and grain speculations at times brought him very large returns, which he again applied to the extension of his business, and new enterprises. No one man has done more to build up the town and put it on the track to future prosperity than Mr. Billings. Among the many buildinsrs he erected, the Park House is one. Some of these buildings are now standing, and some were consumed by fire. His energy was also directed to discover new channels for employment and traffic, and he added much to increase the population of Beardstown by inducing skillful mechanics and business men to settle here. Mr. Billings was a very good citizen, strictly temperate in his habits, using neither

Mr. Billings married twice. His first wife, a very estimable lady, from New York, with whom he had two daughters, died here. His second wife, a very highly educated and very worthy lady, he married here, with whom he had one daughter.

When advanced age prevented Mr. Billings from active business engagements, he took up his place of residence in Jacksonville, in 1867, where he died in 1870.

Henry E. Dummer came to Beardstown about the year 1812, after he had resided in Springfield and Jacksonville before, and was the first, and for several years the only attorney-at-law, and his influence and counsel has been of very material benefit to the citizens of Beardstown. Very amiable and kind in disposition, and reliable in his counsel, he enjoyed the esteem and respect of all classes. Although a man of law, he never encouraged, instigated or favored litigation, and always advised amicable settlements and compromises, if possible; but when a case was carried through court he advocated faithfully and skillfully the interests of his client. He was very moderate in his charges, and felt more disposed to render services to his fellow men than to make money. In Beardstown he married Miss Phebe Van Ness, a very worthy young lady, which marriage proved to be a very happy event for both.

Mr. Dummer made himself useful when and wherever his fellow citizens desired his services. He served in the town and school board, as Alderman, City Attorney, Judge of Probate, member of the Constitutional Convention, State Senator, and other offices, all of which he filled with honor, and for the best interests of the people. He joined the church here, and became a sincere, true Christian. In 1805 Mr. Dummer removed to Jacksonef^/yn.£^^^ ville, whore he at once ohtainoil a lucrative practice until the time of his death, about two years ago. He left a widow, two sons, and three daughters. As a lawyer he occupied the front rank, and as a citizen he had no siipc lior. His memory will live in the hearts of his many friends until they also moldor in their graves.

War Record. - The following comprises the names of the persons, who entered into the service of the United States from Beardstown and Piecinct, for the suppression of the late Rebellion:

Thirty-second Illino's Regiment, Co. G.: First Lieutenant, Charles A. Eames; Second Lieutenant, William Hitchcock, and musician, William J. Center.

The names of the persons serving during this war in the United States army, from the adjoining precincts of Arenzville, Indian Creek, Hickory and Monroe, are not herein given.