Cass County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 13 of those read), 1882

THE world is now taking time to look back and the story of the pioneer is becoming one of absorbing interest. Illinois was for a long time considered "out West," and its people, scarcely yet out of the prairie wastes, took little interest in those traditions relating to a condition of society but little removed from their own. But the onward rush of the quick march of civilization, has pressed back the western frontier, making the once northwestern territory the central link in the brilliant chain of states. This awakening to the true value of the pioneer history of this country comes in many respects too late. The children of the pioneer settlements have been fast gathered to the rest of their fathers within the past decade, and the old landmarks, one by one, have decayed and passed away with those that placed them.

The men who first burst into the native sod that hugged the hills and valleys of Oregon Precinct; the men whose axes rang first along its winding groves, where the foot-prints of the red man were imprinted in the sands; the men whose bullets first pierced the bounding deer that played and hid among its countless hills, have long since passed away ; their lips are hushed in sleep that never can impart the hunger, and hardships, and trials of their pioneer struggles. " The half can never be told." It must rest in secret and in silence in the pulseless bosoms that know no wakening.

We honor those pioneer veterans for their self-sacrificing devotion in opening up for us such a country of richness, of happy homes and of glowing prospects for the future.

The path which men pursue in life, the dark waves they struggle to repel, the rough waters they endeavor to traverse, and their temporal happiness, depends almost wholly upon surrounding circumstances. See the life and pursuits which the pioneer has chosen; he knew there was but hardship, privation and long suffering in store for him; the vigorous years of his manhood must be given, and the strong muscular frame must be weakened with age to secure a brief respite from toil in the autumn of his declining years. Such was the character and make-up of the first settlers of Oregon Precinct, and the success of their labors, and the realization of their most sanguine expectations, no one will question ; the churches, school houses and beautiful homes that everywhere meet the eye, are the monuments of their pioneer industry.

Oregon Precinct, like Richmond, is rather too undulating for convenient travel over its roads. There seems to be nothing but hills, over one only to be at the foot of another, and so on throughout the precinct; yet as broken and bluff-like as the country seems to a passing traveler^ it contains some of the best and most productive farm lands in the county.

The land that is too broken for cultivation, makes admirable pastures for sheep and cattle, and the fanners with their improved and imported stock, find abundant wealth in the Oregon hills.

There are three streams that form the principal drainage of the precinct. Coxe's Creek, running through the Western part, is quite heavily timbered; some portions of this timber, in the past has been of more than an ordinary growth, but the best part has been cut down, and a dense, thrifty growth of young trees has taken rapid possession of the ground. Panther Creek rising in the centre of the precinct, is rather a small stream whose banks in many places are very high and bluffy; there is also some timber scattered along its banks, and quite a grove where it takes its rise and from which it derives its name. Middle Creek flows through the Northeastern corner, and contains very little water, and has but very little timber growing along its banks till it reaches Richmond Precinct, where it is quite heavily timbered. These streams are comparatively small, and only in places contain water the year round; they invariably cease running about the first of June, and in very dry seasons scarcely any water can be found in the entire length of their channels. While in the dry portions of the summer they can scarcely be termed creeks of the smallest character, in Spring, after the heavy rains, they become raging, roaring rivers, sweeping through the lulls with such velocity and force that bridges,

Timber is more or less scattered throughout the precinct. It is mostly of a young growth that has started since the prairie fires ceased to rage and sweep over the country. The best and most timber is found in the southeast portion of the precinct, and in the western part along the banks of Coxe's Creek.

The first settlement in Oi'egon Precinct was on Middle Creek. Mr. McDonald and Mr. Redman were the first to penetrate the pathless wilds and seek homes among the Indians and wild beasts that roamed over the hills and woods of the country. They built their cabins near the present site of Newmansville, in 1824, and lived there in the solitude and silence, with Salem their nearest post-office, and Eli Cox, who had settled at Coxe's Grove in 1830, their nearest neighbor, till 1828, when Bartlet Conyers and Henry Hopkins were added to the little settlement.

Beardstown or Salem were the only places where farm produce or grain could be sold, and groceries and household necessaries purchased. At this time, however, there was but one store at Salem, kept by Messrs. Hill & McNamer. In reaching either of the above named places, the early settlers found much difficulty; the country was rough, the streams unbridged, and the only way farmers could travel was for several to go together and double up their yokes of cattle in the bad and difficult places of the road, and help each other through. And after getting their grain to market through these trying circumstances they could realize but 10 cents per bushel for their corn and 40 or 50 cents for their wheat, the corn being shelled and the wheat threshed by hand.

iiig; went into the field with their brothers and fathers; mowed, reaped, bound, raked, and cut wood, were strong, rugged, and perfect pictures of health. But very little luxury was enjoyed on the part of the pioneer in these days; during the big snow of 1830 and '.31, many families lived exclusively for months on corn bread and parched corn, the meal being prepared in a mortar, as there were no mills that could be reached.

In 184-1: we find in the other portion of the jirecinct the following settlers: Mr. and Mrs. Cress; G. Wood, on Sec. 34; Elijah Carver; James Garner, See. 3; Geo. Beggs, Sec. 34; John Sherrer, Sec. 3. In 1846 the cabin of Joseph Allison was put up with no other neighbor but Amos Garner, who lived then on the farm now owned by his brother William. Much of the land in Oregon was sold for 50 and even 25 cents per acre, and there was government land as late as 1854; the farm now owned by R. P. Bell was sold that year, among one of the last pieces, at the low government price of 25 cents per acre.

Game, as in other parts of the county, was very plenty. It seems buffalo and elk once hid their habitation here, as many of their bones and horns were seen by the early settlers, strewn over the prairies and through the forests. Wolves were very numerous, though seldom doing violence to human beings; yet no one cared to risk himself at night among them without some sort of protection. There is but one instance in the county where a man was attacked by them, and that was Daniel Troy of Bethel, who returning late with a quarter of beef, was forced to give it up and to beat a hasty retreat to protect himself.

Thomas Boycourt was one of the most distinguished hunters in the precinct while residing on Section 34. His eagle eye allowed no deer or wild turkey to escape when once his trusty rifle was leveled upon it.

was principally dancing. An old settler tells us, notwi.hstanding the dancers had a rough punclieuii floor and no better beverage to enliven their spirits than home-made whisky, sweetened with maple sugar, yet it is doubtful if the anniversary of American Independence was ever celebrated in the State by more joyful and harmonious gatherings than those who danced the scamper down, doubleshuffle, Western swing and half-moon, in the frontier-cabins of our early settlers, here in the county.

Newmansville was laid out in 1858, by Mr. W. Newman, who built a blacksmith shop and rented it to Thomas Joyce ; he afterwards sold it to Alexander Robinson, who has been in active business ever since. A wagon shop is also connected with the blacksmith shop, where considerable repairing is done in that line.

Thomas P. Way built the first and present store building, and did a good business for three years, when he sold out to Pilcher and Murphy, who continued the business for seven or eight years, when they sold out and moved to Chandlerville. The store then changed hands very frequently for several years, or till 1881, when the present occupant, J. S. Struble, purchased the stock, and has since been doing a fair business for an inland country trade. There are six residences in the village.

The first doctors in Newmansville were Kilburn Hathwell and James Galloway. As the country began to settle, Dr. Logan came in 1857, and has continued in active practice til! within a few years; liis health failing him, he was compelled to give up the greater portion of his ride. A young physician, Charles Matthew, has been practicing for the past four years with very good results.

The M. E. Church, known as the Orogon Chapel, was first organized in 1848, by the following persons, holding class and prayer meetings at the residence of John S. Boycourt, Joseph Allison, R. Robinson, Amos R. Garner, John and Joseph Allison, Jr., Jam>s Wyatt, and James R. Garner. These men were the first movers in the Christian cause which has developed into the strength and prosperity of the present church. The Society for a time held its meetings at the residences of the different members. In 1855 the Oregon school-house was built, and after that the Society held their meetings there. Brother I. Groves being the first minister, who preached two years. The Society continued to hold their regular Sabbath services at the school-house for fifteen years. During this time the church was aroused, and the community, awakened by some soul-stirring revivals. Brother Geo. Wolfe in one winter drew about thirty converts to the church by his zealous preaching. Brother Warfield several years after brought the community to a sense of Christian duty by pointing out the wickedness and careless neglect of the world. Many were brought to Christ and drawn into the safe confines of the church. Many other revivals, says Brother Allison, have been held, though not so enthusiastic and full of interest, yet great good has been done.

In 1869 or 1870 Joseph Allison gave to the society a lot for a church, upon which the present edifice was built at an expense of $1,500. The building committee were J. M. "Wyatt, H. Monroe, Wm. Watkins, and Wm. Garner. The first trustees were: .John M. Wyatt, Charles Deadorf, Samuel Hitchey, Wm. Garner, Hooker Monroe. Rev. P. Lyons was the first pastor after the church was completed. The present pastor is Rev. George Fower. Present Trustees, Joseph Allison, Wm. Garner, M. Arthurbury, Wm. Watkiiis niid Mary Wyatt.

A Sunday school has always been kept up in connection with the church. The first superintendent was John S. Bo^'court ; he began with twenty-five scholars, and now the school has more than double the original number. W. S. Garner, John M. Wyatt and Samuel Hinchey, have had charge of the Sabbath school as superintendents most of the time since the time of J. S. Boycourt.

The church has never been without a regular pastor since it was built. The members are earnest in the work, and can boast of sixty-seven active members.

Newmansville M. E. Church society was first organized at the residence of Bartlet Conyers, a resident of Menard County, living just across the line. In the spring of 1829, Rev. David Carter preached at his cabin, which was the first meeting and preaching in that community ; the following families wore present : David Williams and wife, Joseph Regsdell and wife, and Mr. Conyers and wife. That constituted the nucleus around which the early religious interest clustered. Rev. Mr. Carter resided in the county and visited the neighborhood often on his pious mission. The first circuit ministers were Revs. McKane and Benson.

In 1840, the Church Society united with the community in general, built a school house with the understanding that it should be used for church purposes as well as school. In 1855, the society built their present church, where they have held regular Sabbath services ever since.

Peter Cartwright was the first presiding elder. The church is progressive, and has a membership of sixty, with a flourishing Sabbath school of nearly the same number.

The school house known as the Quebec school, was built about the year 1840, by Messrs. Mathews, Garner, Carver and Wood. Previous to the building of this school house, the children of the community were much neglected, as they were compelled to walk from three to five miles, a distance that would exhaust both mind and bod^', and a pupil could do but little in applying the mind alter such a distance had been traveled. Some of the first scholars were William, Martha and David Crews, Nancy Carver, Charles Carver, Henry, Jerry, and Katie Sherrer. Wm. Pallett and Miss D. Major, were among the first teachers. The school has been in active operation ever since, employing the best teachers, and a high grade of studies are usually taught.

The Oregon school house was built in 1855. This was a good work, from which much educational fruit has been realized. The first teacher was Jefferson Boycourt, and some of the first scholars were Ellen and James Robinson, Amos Wilson, Martha Wyatt, Mary Boycourt. This school is among the most progressive of the precinct

THIS precinct in almost every respect is superior to any other in the county. Its fertile soil, valuable timber, winding streams and beautiful lakes, cannot fail to be appreciated bj' the most indifferent or sluggish mind. Its garden-landscape, spreading out from the river till its undulating folds lap over the feet of the hills, which stand like martial sentinels guarding the plumed fields that diversify the bosom of that extended scope, is a scene of which the eye can never tire. Sangamon river, that deep, swift stream, winding along its northern border; Clear Lake and various gorges or chasms which are cut deeply into the soil, disslosing perpendicular embankments, furnish abundant material upon which the hand of art in future years may labor. Each lake, each stream, each hill and vale, will be in time associated with some event around which the fairy fingers of hallowed recollections will entwine the sweet flowers of other years. Even at this early day local names spring up from surrounding events, names that will live when those persons associated with them, have long since passed into oblivion. Other names will come, as time sweeps onward, and for the pleasure and satisfaction of those who live in the future, these, and the circumstances which gave them birth, must be carefully recorded.

"The sweet remembrance of the just, Like a green root revives and hears A train of blessings for his heirs When dying nature sleeps in Just."

A greater portion of Hickory Precinct is made up of bottom land, the Sangamon River forming its northern boundary, and from which on each side a broad strip of deep, rich and sandy soil extends. This is the best and most productive farm land in the county; all kinds of grain and all manner of fruit that the climate of Illinois will permit to grow, flourish here in rich and luxuriant abundance; extreme seasons, whether wet or dry, do not seem to affect the yield of grain or the abundance of fruit; it is land that never fails, or, at least, never has failed, to produce a grain crop since the first settler touched his plow to its virgin soil. " It is a land that flows with milk and honey."

The early settlers feared these bottoms; many, looking for land and homes, passed by and settled on farms that by years of culture, and with thousands of dollars worth of improvements, to-dav is not worth one-half as much per acre as the bottom land without fences and unimproved, which they could have purchased for less money. They feared the ague floods, and fevers, and would not expose themselves and families to such supposed dangers. The land which they could have purchased for $1.25 per acre, now sells readily for $100 per acre.

The upland, of which the Southern portion of the precinct is composed, is very hilly and broken. It is largely used for pasture lands, as there is comparatively but little that can be conveniently cultivated. There is considerable timber over this broken territory.

It formerly was found only along the streams a:i(l ravines that wind around among the hills, but of later years it has been gradually creeping up the sides of those miniature mountains, until their bald heads have become completely covered with a young and rapid growth of of timber. There is also some good timber found in the northwestern corner of the precinct, on the banks of the Sangamon.

Many small ravines have furrowed broad and deep channels through the soil in their course to the river. There are no streams, however, that continue to flow the year round except in very extraordinary wet seasons.

Job's Creek, passing through the Northeastern corner of the precinct, is, in some seasons of the year, a very extraordinary stream. It empties into a small chain of lakes which in places are never less than several fathoms in depth. In high water this miniature river almost becomes a Niagara, roaring, rushing and sweeping everything before it.

The first settlers that dare risk life and health on the sickly bottoms of the Sangamon, of wiiich there was so much dread, were John Baker, Amos Hager, John Carr with his sons Elish, Peter, William, Benjamin, Jeremiah and Divid, and John Wagner, a son-in-law of Mr. Carr's; of these, John Baker was the first, and probably came as early as 1823. Mr. Hager and Mr. Carr and family came sometime during the year of 1824. Mr. Baker settled on the land now owned by Thomas Knapp, and Mr. Carr and family on the site of what is now called the Brick Corners. S. Richardson, Solomon Penny and I. Revis came about 1827, Mr. Richardson occupying the land now known as the Frederick Bower farm, and Mr. Penny settling on the land now owned by Richard Tink. Of all of these there is but one living, Mr. James Carr, who resides in Fulton County. There are but two grandsons of John Carr remaining in the precinct, David and Dallas Carr. These are the sons of David Carr, Sen., who married Miss Julia A. Wells, who is still living, as almost the only representative of the early settlors of Hickory Precinct. She at present resides in Chandlerville, and to her we are indebted for much of the early history that is connected with the first settlement of the precinct.

In 1828 and 1829 the following families were added to the scattering community; Daniel Wells, Robert Ivers, Widow Stuart and Benjamin Horrom. Mr. Wells came with nine sons and one daughter, and settled three miles West of Hickory.

The first settlers were compelled to go to Jacksonville for their mail, groceries, etc., till Thomas Pogne and Augustus Knapp started a small store at Beardstown. When Mr. Daniel Wells came to Beardstown, in 1828, Thomas Board was keeping a hotel in a small log cabin. Mr. Wells came up the Illinois riverin the steamer known as the Dewitt Clinton the first trip she ever made. The settlers that were on the bottoms during the deep snow were John Baker, Amos Hager, I. Revis, Solomon Penny, S. Richardson, Daniel Wells, John Carr, John Wagner, Jeremiah Bowen, William Scott, Michael Pearson and a Mr. Anderson.

During the autumn of 1830, previous to the big snow, wild fruit was very abundant; plums, berries, and grapes have never seemed so plenty since. Wild bees were numerous and honey very plenty; bees seemed to flourish in a wild state better than they have later years. The bottoms were then, during the summer months, but a vast and unbroken ocean of beautiful flowers, whose sweetness were ample to the wants of the buzzing millions which fed upon them.

reach mills, towns, or any place where provisions and clothing could be procured. Many families had no greater luxuries for months than cracked and boiled corn, with now and then a little venison. Deer during that winter became very poor, and so reduced by hunger that they entered the yards of the settlers in search of hay and scattering husks. At this time there was no nearer mill than Salem; people found it very difficult and tedious to to travel that distance, and a Mr. Street, taking in the situation, put up a horse mill about half way between Hickory and the present site of Virginia, and did an immense business, running night and day year after year. Farmers, in order to secure their turn in time to return the same day, often would start at midnight, or even before, and remain nearly all day at the mill before they could secure their grist.

In the fall of 183-i, the first subscription school was organized, and taught by B. F. Nelson in a vacated log cabin on the premises of David Carr, Sen. Early in the autumn Mr. Nelson made his appearance in the settlement, and solicited the privilege of getting up a school. Mr. Carr gladly gave him the use of the cabin above mentioned, and furthermore, agreed to board him while engaged in the mission of teaching. He was a man of prepossessing appearance, a scholar and a gentleman, but after getting nicely initiated into the work, he was found to be a man decidely wanting in energy and industry, and at times beastly intemperate, and in no way fitted to stimulate the morals and minds of bis pupils. But as no other teacher could be secured, he was tolerated, with a fair attendance of scholars, till sometime in the last of February or the first of March, when, by gross neglect, he left the fire in such condition when leaving the building that it caught fire and burned up, thus bringing the school very suddenly to a close.

The cabin was located within a few rods of the present residence of Jacob Houke. Some of the scholars that attended this were: John Wells, Harvey, Elizabeth and Nancy Carr, Eliza Ann Turner, Philora Willis, John Hagor, Jacob Monroe, David Wagner, Peter Wagner, and the boys of Wm. Cole. The second school that was taught in the precinct, was on the premises of Wm. Cole, who built a small cabin, especially for that purpose, and freely donated its use to any one qualified and willing to teach. Qualification then and now were decidely two different things. At that day any one that had the mechanical skill to cut out and trim up a quill pen, an 1 read and figure interest, was considered well qualified if he had the muscle necessary for applying the rod or ruler. The first teacher that availed himself of Mr. Cole's generous offer was Carlatan Logan, who, in the winter of 1830, taught a very good and satisfactory school. Some of the scholars that attended this school were C. Bowen, Ruth and Margaret Bovven, Jacob Pearson, Sallie and Austin Scott, William and Naomi Revis, Mary Jane Briar, children of W. Cole, and Carrie and Oliver Carr. The school was well attended, and many others attended, whose names cannot be recalled.

About 1840, a log school-house was erected at Hickory, David Carr, Sen., giving the land upon which it was built. A Mr. .lames Grant was among the first teachers. Hs, taking his bitters a little too frequently, which often got the better of him, was the greatest objection that the community had against him.

In 1857, a wooden frame building was raised near the site of the old log house, where school was continued till the present neat and convenient brick building was completed. It is nicely finished, seated and painted, and is said to be one of the nices; country school-buildings in the county. It was begun and completed in 1881, and coit

$1,200. The committee that had the planning and building in charge was made up of David Carr, Jr., William Taylor and Andrew Schaad; they being the directors elect, were considered competent without oiEcial instruction to design and complete the work.

Previous to the building of the present brick, L. U. Re vis taught some five years in succession. He was considered among the best and most active teachers that ever taught ill the district. He is a man now well known over the entire United States, as the author and able advocate of moving the national capital to St. Louis, and those who have read his speeches and pamphlets on that subject cannot but be impressed with the weighty and forcible logic of his arguments.

The district was formerly much larger than at the present time. In ISfiO or 1861, the voters began to talk about replacing the old building with a new one, but the northern portion of the district objected unless the new building was so placed that it divided more evenly the distance between the northern and southern portions of the district ; this was refused, and the northern part of the original district seceded and built a school-house for themselves, where they have been very progressive and earnest in keeping up a lively interest in their school. This school is known as the Secession school, a term synonymous with its origin. There is one other school in the precinct, which is known as the Cotton Wood school. This is situated in the western part of the precinct, on section 11, and is among one of the progressive schools of the county. Hickory school pays the largest salary to teachers. The directors there pay from 140 to $(50 per laonth. The people are fast realizing that a few dollars per month in a teacher's salary is not at all to be considered or com]5ared to a poor school in the hands of a cheap teacher. ^ interest connected with the history of the precinct, facts that will stand associated with the names of the great actors that gave them birth, when the marble and bronze upon which their epitaphs are lettered and their names engraved, have crumbled and been defaced.

Stephen A. Douglas, the great American orator and statesman, made his first public speech in Hickory Precinct, under a walnut tree, long since dead and removed. The little American giant and the giant of the forest alike have yielded to the withering touch of time and decay, and passed away. Several years ago the old walnut died, and Gen. Lippincott in his deep veneration for the the name of the great American champion, purchased the tree, had it made into furniture and canes. The latter he presented to his friends, and they are .now carried in almost every State of the Union, and will be treasured by father and son for generations to come as relics of priceless value. Gen. John J. Harding, who was killed in the Mexican War, lost his eye on the Sangamon Bottoms, in Hickory Precinct, while pursuing a deer. Col. E. D. Baker, who lead the Union forces across the Potomac at Ball's Bluff, and died so nobly in defending the Hag of his country, the man who, if he had lived, would have risen to have smothered treason in the very birth-place of liberty, often hunted on the bottoms of the precinct, coming annually for years to pursue the chase, and rest from the fatiguing and confining labors of his e.xtensive law practice. But he is gone, and died the death of a patriot.

the solitary settlers in the early days of their pioneer struggles, rejoiced to hear the early messengers of God proclaim the glad tidings of great joy, or wept at the story of Pilate, the crown of thorns and the agonies of Golgotha and Calvary. It is a fact highly commendable to the early settlers of Hickory Precinct, that with all their trials incident to settlement in a new and undeveloped country, nought but hardships and poorly compensated labor to weary and burden the mind, they did not forget nor forsake their God, the source of all life, light and happiness.

On the fifth Sabbath of July, 1848, we find a few Christian families assembled about five rods east of the present residence of Robert Taylor, under a temperary shelter made by setting a few posts into the ground and hastily covered with brush. The services were conducted by Rev. Daniel Bell, who was then residing in Mason County, at Bath or thereabouts, and being a special and intimate friend of Mr. Morgan, then a renter. on the premises where the meetings were held, and having a vacation about that time, he was induced by him to come and preach to a few families under the circumstances above mentioned. After continuing the meetings about one week, and finding so much religious interest manifested, it was thought advisable to continue the meetinars and secure additional clerical assistance. Revs, .fames White, then residing on a farm at Clary's Grove, and Nathan Downing, of Virginia, were then sent for, and in the meantime the place of meeting was moved to or near the present site of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church building, in a grove (since cut away). A stand was prepared between two native cherry trees, for the ministers, and rude seats arranged under the cooling canopy of leaves, for the audience. These meetings continued about three weeks in this beautiful grove, people gathering from far and near to hear God's glorious truth proclaimed amid the

"The groves were God's first temples." These meetings were, no doubt, the most interesting ever held along the Sangamcm bottoms; about sixty souls were converted and added to the believing followers of Christ.

In August, 1848, a session was convened for the purpose of completing the organization of the church, consisting of Revs. Downing and White, and Lachlin McNeil, Elder of Mount Pleasant church, and opportunity being given to join the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, the following members came foward and gave a relation of their experimental acquaintance with the religion of Jesus Christ, which was considered satisfactory, and they were received as members of the church, viz : Thomas Wilson, George, William, Charles, Elizabeth and Ellen Briar, Susan, Mary Jane and Cyrus Horrom, Wni. Cook, Thomas Montgomery, James Fairon, Thomas and Ann Cooper, Emeline Anderson, Elizabeth Richardson, Hannah Capper, Susannah Harrington, Mary Carr, Sarah Horn, Aiigeline Torry, Manelis More, an 1 J.Coolv. These after being duly enrolled, were soon afterward baptized by the Rev. N. H. Downing. The church also received the following by experience: John Horrom, .J.un^s Briar, Mary Briar, Joseph Cook, Sidney Ann B iar, Mary Briar, Janet Taylor, Eliza Canby and Wright Gill, all of whom had been previously baptized.

The above named converts having expressed a desire to organize a church, Robert Tavlor having presented a certificate of membership in Mount Pleasant congregation, desired to unite with them, and was unanimously accepted and became a member.

and Robert Taylor, Thomas Wilson and George Briar, were elected by the Congregation to the office of ruling Elders, and were ordained by Rev. N. H. Downing, and Thomas Wilson was elected Session Clerk.

After the above mentioned elections and business transactions, they decided to continue regular weekly meetings at the Hickory school house, where they met regularly every Sabbath till 1849, when they built their present church at a cost of $1,000, besides the labor that was voluntarily given.

The lot of the chuich was purchased from H. Horrom, and deeded to the trustees of the church. The building committee was made up of the following members, viz.: John Horrom and Archibald Taylor. The following members were elected trustees of the church: Robert Taylor, John Horrom, Archibald Taylor, Win. Briar, and Ralph Morgan; of these, Robert and Archibald Taylor are the only two living members, and virtually the only trustees of the church. Rev. N. H. Downing was the first pastor of the new chuich; and.the most prominent ministers from that time to the present were: Abram Goodpasture, Wm. Bell, David Jolley, R. S. Schull, Amos Cox, J. E. Roach, and David Jolley, the latter being present pastor; also was pastor some fifteen years previous. The church has never been without a regular salaried minister since it was built. Peace and prosperity have attended the growth and progress of the society; God has blessed it, and great good has been accomplished, and its influence has reached far and wide.

Many years since the Baptists and Presbyterians united in organizing a Sabbath school. It has been very prosperous and progressives some fifty scholars are in attendance. No nobler work could enlist the united eft'orts of the chiirches. Several years ago an organ was purchased, and more life and interest addid to the school. Mnggie Taylor, Alice

Kendall, Emma Fieldeii, and Miss M. Taylor, have officiated as oi-g mists. D. J. Cole, David Carr, and Robert Fielden have been Sabbath school superintendents most of the time, the latter being the present superintendent.

The Missionary Baptist Church at Hickory, was first organized in a small log cabin on the premises of Wm. Cole, built by him especially for school and religious purposes. Mr. Cole was the prime mover and the most active member in the little society. A man whose purse as well as heart was open to the Christian cause.

Rev. John Daniels, originally from the State of Virginia, was the first minister that preached to the little band of devoted followers of Christ. Services at the little cabin were continued for two years or more, with a growing interest. A Baptist church society was then organized, September 29, 1838, with the following members, viz.: William Cole, John Hicks, Amos Smith, Thomas J. Mosloy, Mrs. Ellen Cole, Lucy Smith and Mrs. J. Logan.

After the society had completed a preliminary organization, T. J. Mosley was appointed to attend the Springfield Baptist Association, to request admittance into their union, which was unanimously granted. Mr. Amos Smith was appointed to write the church letters, with the approval of the pastor.

In 1839, a revival of more than usual interest was held at their regular place of meeting by Rev. John Daniels, and the following persons were converted and baptized: Mary E. Cole, Nancy Cooper, James M. Kemper, Allen Ingram, Robert Cole, Wm. W. Cole, B. J. Smith, Lydia Smith, Eliza Cooper, James Ingram, and M. Ingram ; and Luther A. Jones, Druzilla Jones and Nancy May were received by letter.

house was built near the site of the present school building, and the Baptist Society finding their place of meeting too small to accommodate their increasing numbers, adjourned to the school house, where they continued meeting till their present church was built. They held their services in the school building in winter, and in the little grove near the school building (since cut away) in summer.

It was quite customary in that early day for a large proportion of the settlers to shoulder their rifles and spend the holy Sabl)ath in pursuing the game of the country, as there was little of a religious character to interest a roving, hunting disposition, and at these meetings held in the grove, the hunters would gather from the hills and the bottoms, stack their guns and listen to the sermons of Rev. Daniels, who being a man of eloquence as well as piety, soon converted many of these Sabbath breaking wanderers, and the crack of the rifle on the sacred Sabbath was much less frequently heard. The present church was built in 1853, and Mr. Wm. Cole, Sr., contributed about half the fund; it is a neat convenient frame building, costing some 11,500 to complete it.

The building committee were R. S. Cole, D. J. Cole, L. M. Jones and T. Smith. The church at this time had some thirty members to contribute to its support.

The first board of trustees was made up of the following members: D. J. Cole, Luther M. Jones and James Fielding, the latter being the only trustee of the church remaining in the settlement. Rev. Mr. Hays, in 1854, held an interesting series of protracted meetings at the church, and many were converted and added to the church. Rev. John Daniels was the first and also the last pastor of the church. He was pastor a greater portion of the time from the founding of the church till his death. A subscription is now being taken up to erect a monument to his memory ; money could not be contributed to a worthier cause or nobler purpose. Rev. John Daniels was one of the first ministers of Hickory precinct; long, tireless and faithful were his labors in the service of the Master. He has o-one to his long home.

Since the death of Rev. Daniels, no regular Sabbath services have been held, and no regular salaried minister employed. Many of the old members have moved to other parts, others have died, and are sleeping beneath the changing shadows of the hills, and so weakened the membership of the church, that the few scattered families remaining find it very difficult to revive its former interest, or build up its decaying strength.

In conclusion, we shall only say that farmers of the precinct as a general thing, are well to do, or wealthy and prosperous. They have seen the Sangamon Bottom changed from a wilderness of tangled grass, dense brush, and scrubby trees, overflowed and steaming with poison and miasma, shaking the inhabitants with ague and burning them with malignant fever, to a garden spot of Illinois, surpassing in loveliness and fertility anything we have ever seen.