Christian County, Illinois - A Brief Sketch Op the Yortii-West Territory Geographical Position, 1880 (part 2 of 3)

"Fort Chartres, when it belonged t) Francs, was the seat of the government of the Illinois. The headquarters of the English commanding officer is now here, who, in fact, is the arbitrary governor of the country. The fort is an irregular quadrangle. The sides of the exterior polygon are four hundred and ninety feet. It is built of stone, and plastered over, and is only designed for defence against the Indians. The walls are two feet two inches thick, and are pierced with loopholes at*regular distances, and with two portholes for cannon in the fades, and two in the flanks of each bastion. The ditch has never been finished. The entrance to the fort is through a very handsome rustic gate. Within the walls is a banquette raised three feet, for the men to stand on when they fire through the loopholes. The buildings within the fort are, a commandant's and a commissary's house, the magazine of stores, corps de garde, and two barracks. These occupy the square. Within the gorges of the bastion are a powder-magazine, a bake-house, and a prison, in the floor of which are four dungeons, and iu the upper, two rooms and an out-house belonging to the commandant. The commandant's house is thirty-two yards long and ten broad, and contains a kitchen, a dining room, a bed-chamber, one small room, five closets for servants, and a cellar. The commissary's house is built on the same line as this, and its proportion and the distribution of its apartments are the same. Opposite these are the store-house, and the guard-house, each thirty yards long and eight broad. The former consi.sts of two large store-rooms, (under which is a large vaulted cellar), a large room, a bedchamber, and a closet for the storekeeper. The latter of a soldiers' and officers' guard-room, a chapel, a bed-chamber, a closet for the chaplain, and an artillery store-room. The lines of barracks have never been finished. They at present consist of two rooms each for officers, and three for soldiers. Thev are each twenty-five feet square, and have betwixt a small passage."

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

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

During the few years immediately succeeding the completion of Fort Chartres, prosperity prevailed in the settlements between the Kaskaskia and the Mississippi rivers. Prairie du Rocher, founded about the year 1722, received considerable accessions to its population. Among the earliest French settlers to make their homes here were Etienne Langlois, Jean Baptiste Blais, Jean Baptiste Barbeau, Antoine Louvier, and the La Compte and other families, whose descendants are still found in that locality. New settlements sprang up, and the older ones increa.sed in population. At Kaskaskia, the Jesuits established a monastery, and founded a college. In 172-5 the village became an incorporated town, and the king, Louis XV., granted the inhabitants a commons. The Bottom land, extending upward along the Mississippi, unsurpassed for the richness of its soil, in the process of being rapidly settled by the larger number of new arrivals in the colony. Fort Chartres, the seat of government and the headquarters of the commandment of Upper Louisiana, attracted a wealthy, and for Illinois, a fashionable population.

tion by which Louisiaua was declared free to all his subjects, and all restrictions ou commerce were removed. At this time many flourishing settlements had sprung up in Illinois, centering about Kaskaskia, and the inhabitants were said to be more exclusively devoted to agriculture than in any other of the French settlements in the West.

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

La Buissoniere succeeded as commandant at Fort Chartres. In 1739 a second expedition was undertaken against the Chickasaw country. La Buissoniere joined Bienville, then Governor- General of Louisiana, with a force of two hundred Frenchmen and three hundred Indians. The wIkjIc f irce under Bienville was twelve hundred French and five hundred Indians and negroes. His men suffered greatly from malarial fevers and famine, and returned the following spring without conquering the Chickasaws, with whom afterward, however, amicable relations wei'e established.

The period from 1740 to 17-50 was one of great prosperity for the colonies. Cotton was introduced and cultivated. Regular cargoes of pork, flour, bacon, tallow, hides and leather, were floated down the Mississippi, and exported tlience to France. French emigrants poured rapidly into the settlements. Canadians exchanged the cold rigors of their climate for the .sunny atmosphere and rich soil of the new country. Peace and plenty blessed the settlements.

La Buissoniere was followed, in 1750, by Chevalier IMacarty as Governor of Upper Louisiana, and Commandant of Fort Chartres. Peace was soon to be broken. The French and English war, which terminated in 1759 with the defeat of !Montcalm on the plains of Abraham, and the capture of Quebec, began with a struggle for the territory on the LTjiper Ohio. Fort Chartres was the depot of supplies and the place of rendezvous for the united forces of Louisiana, and several expeditions were fitted out and dispatched to the scene of conflict on the border between the French and English settlements. But France was vanquished in the struggle, and its result deprived her of her princely possessions east of the JMississippi.

Character Of The Early French Settlers

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

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

By the treaty of Fountainbleau, 1762, the vast possessions of France, east of the Mississippi, with the exception of the island of New Orleans, passed under British control. Foi-t Chartres and the other Illinois posts were surrounded by an impenetrable barrier of hostile savages, friends to the French and enemies to the Encrlish, and the French officers were authorized to retain command until it was found possible for the English to take possession. M. Neyon do Villiers was commandant of Fort Chartres, and upon his retiring in 17G4, St. Ange d'Bollerive took upon himself the duties of that position. It was the time of Pontiac's conspiracy, when the Indian tribes, inflamed by the savage spirit of that warrior, were precipitating themselves on the English settlements from Canada to Carolina. The French commandant of Fort Chartres was besieged for arms and ammunition to be used against the English The French flag was still flying over the Fort, and the fact of the territory having been ceded to Great Britain was not generally known except to those in authority. The commandant was visited by cmba.ssios from the Illinois, the Delawares, Shawnees and Miamis, and finally Pontiac himself, at the head of four hundred warriors, entered the council hall. St. Ange d'Belierive, unable to furnish arms, offered instead his good will. The reply was received with dissatisfaction. The Indians pitched tiieir lodges about the Fort, and for a time an attack was seriously apprehended. Finally Pontiac dispatched a chosen band of warriors to New Orleans to obtain from the Governor there the assistance St. Ange refused to grant.

Pontiac was killed a few j'ears after. Disappointed by the failure of his plans against the English, he retired to the solitude of the forests. In the year 17(i9, he suddenly made his appearance in the neigiiborhood of St. Louis. Arrayed in the French uniform given him by the Marquis JMontcaIra a short time previous to the latter's death on the Plains of Abraham, he visited St. Ange d'Belierive, who at that time had removed from Fort Chartres to St. Louis, where he had become one of the principal inhabitants and commandant of the Spanish garrison. While at St. Louis, he crossed the Mississippi to attend a .social gatiiering of Indians at Cahokia. Becoming intoxicated he started to the neighboring woods, when an Indian of the Kaskaskia tribe, bribed by an English trader with a barrel of whiskey, stole up behind him and buried a tomahawk in the brain of the renowned warrior. St. Ange procured the body, aud buried it with all the honors of war near the fort under his command in St. Louis. The tramp of a great city now sweeps over his grave.

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

On the surrender of Fort Chartres, St. Ange with his garrison of twenty-one soldiers retired from the countrv, and became commandant at St. Louis, an infant settlement just founded. A large number of the Fx'ench residents of Kaskaskia and other settlements refused to live under English rule. Many of the wealthiest families left the country ; some removed across the Mississippi, to the small village of Ste. Genevieve, under the impression that on the west bank of the Mississippi they would still find a home under the government of France, while in truth that territory had been ceded to Spain by a secret treaty in 17C2. Others joined in founding the city of St. Loui.s. The French settlements in Illinois, at a period immediately preceding this date, were at the zenith of their prosperity. From that day the French inhabitants have declined in numliers and influence. In 176.5, the population of the Illinois settlements was computed as follows: White men able to bear arms, seven hundred; white women, five hundred ; white children, eight hun<lred and fifty ; negroes, nine hundred ; total, two thousand nine hundred and fifty. One-third of the whites, and a still larger proportion of the blacks, removed on the British taking pcsscssion. A population of less than two thousand remained. Few English, or Americans, with the exception of the British troop<, were in tiie country.

Captain Stirling, who now had command of the Fort, issued a jiroelaraation guaranteeing the inhabitants the liberty of the Catholic faith, permission to retire from the country, aud enjoyment of their full rights and privileges, only requiring an oath of fidelity and obedience to His Majesty, the English King. Cai)tain Stirling died some three months after his arrival. In the period tiiat elapsed before the coming of his successor, St. Ange d'Belierive returned from St. Louis, and discharged the duties of connnandant. Major Frazier, from Fort Pitt, exercised for a time an arbitrary power, and his successor, Col. Reed, proved still worse. He held the office eighteen months, and during that time aroused the hatred of the settlements by his oppressive measures. Lieutenant Colonel Wilkins assumed command in 1708.

Captain Pitman, to whose book on " The Present State of the European Settlements on the Mississijipi " reference has already been made, gives the following description of Kaskaskia, as it appeared \n 1766 :

The viUage of Notre Dame de Cascasquias is by fiir the most considerable settlement in the country of the Illinois, as well from its number of inhabitants as from its advantageous situation.

" Mons. Paget was the first who introduced water mills in this country, and he constructed a very fine one on the river Cascasquias, which was both for grinding corn and sawing boards. It lies about one mile from the village. The mill proved fatal to him, being killed as he was working it, with two negroes, by a party of Cherokees, in the year 1764.

" The principal buildings are the church and the Jesuits' house, which has a small chapel adjoining it; these, as well as some of the other houses in the village, are built of stone, and, considering this part of the world, make a very good appearance. The Jesuits' plantation consisted of 240 arpents (an arpeut is 85-100 of an acre) of cultivated land, a very good stock of cattle, and a brewery which was sold by the French commandant, after the country was ceded to the English, for the crown, in consequence of the suppression of the order.

" Mons. Bcanvais was the purchaser, who is the richest of the English subjects in this country; he keeps eighty slaves; he furnishes 86,000 weight of flour to the King's magazine, which was only part of the harvest he reaped in one year. Sixty five families reside in this village, besides merchants, other casual people, and slaves. The fi)rt which was burnt down in Octf>ber, 1766, stood on the summit of a high rock opposite the village and oil Uie opposite side of the river. It was an oblong quadraiiLcks of which the extreme polygon measnred 290 by 251 feet. Jt was built of very thick square timber, and dove-tailed at the angles. An officer and twenty soldiers are quartered in the village. The officer governs the inhabitants under the direction of the cnmniandant at Fort C'hartres. Here are also two companies of militia."

Of Prairie ilu Uoclier, Pitman w rites that '' it is a small village, consisting of twenty-two dwelling-houses, all of which are inhabited by as many families. Here is a little chapel, formerly a chapel of ease to the church at Fort Chartres. The inhabitants are very industrious, and raise a great deal of corn and every kind of stock. The village is two miles from Fort Chartres. It takes its name from its situ.ation, being built under a rock that runs parallel with the Mississippi river at a league distance, for forty miles up. Here is a company of militia, the captain of which regulates the police of the village."

In describing the distance from Fort Chartres, the author, doubtless, refers to Little Village, -which was a mile or more nearer than Prairie du Roclier. The writer goes on to describe "Saint Philippe" as a "small village about iive miles from Fort Chartres on the road to Kaoquias. There are about sixteen houses and a small church standing ; all of the inhabitants, except the captain of the militia, deserted in 17G5, and -went to the French side (Jlissouri.) The captain of the militia has about twenty slaves, a good stock of cattle, and a water mill f >r corn and planks. The village stands on a very fine meadow about one mile from the Mississippi.

From the same authority we learn that the soil of the country is in general rich and luxuriant. It was favorably adapted to the production of all kinds of European grains, which grew side by side with hops, hemp, flax, cotton and tobacco. European fruits arrived to great perfection. Of the wild grapes a wine was made, very inebriating, and in cdlur and taste much like the red wine of Provence. In the lute wars, New Orleans and the lower parts of Louisiana were supplied with flour, beef, wines, hams, and other provisions, from this country. At present, its commerce is mostly confined to the peltry and furs which arc got in traffic from the Indians; f n- which arc received in turn such European eomniddities as are necessary to carry on that commerce and the supjiurt of its inliabitants."

On the breaking out of the War of the Eevolution, It is probable that the British garrison (removed in 1772 from Fort Chartres to Fort Gage, opposite Kaskaskia,) had been withdrawn. Illinois was remote from the theatre of action, and the : colonists were little disturbed by the rumors of war which came from the Atlantic coast. The French inhabitants were rather in sympathy with the Americans than the English, but probably understood little the nature of the struggle. Illinois belonged to the jurisdietiou of Virginia. George Rogers Clarke, who visited Kentucky in 1775, seems to have been the first to comprehend the advantages which would result from the occupation of Illinois by the Americans. He visited Virginia, where he laid his plans before Patrick Henry, the Governor of the State. Clarke received his instructions, January, 1778, and the following month set out fir Pittsburg. His instructions were to raise seven companies of men, but he could only succeed in enlisting four, commanded by Captains Montgomery, Bowman, Helm, and Harrod. On Corn Island, opposite Louisville, on the Ohio, , Clarke announced his destination to the men. At the mouth of I the Tennessee, a man named John Dutf was encountered, with a jiarty of hunters, who had recently visited Kaskaskia, and also brought the intelligence that one Rocheblave, a French Canadian, was in command at that point, that he kept the militia well drilled, and that sentinels were posted to watch for the " Long Knives," as the Virginians were called, of whom the inhabitants were in terror. Securing his boats near Fort Massacre (or Massac,_) Clarke undertook the journey across the couutrv, one hundred and twenty miles, to Kaskaskia. It was accomplished with difficulty. On the afternoon of the fourth of July, 1778, the exhausted band of invaders came to the vicinity of Kaskaskia, and concealed themselves in the hills to the east of the town- A''ter dark Clarke proceeded to the old ferry-house, three-fourths of a mile above the village, and at midnight addressed his troops on the banks of the river. He divided his force into three parties. Two were to cross to the west side of the river, and enter the town from diffi>rcnt quarters. The third, under the direction of Clarke himself, was to capture the fort on the cast side. Kaskaskia at that time was a village of about two hundred and fifty houses. The British commander last in charge bad instilled in the minds of tha people tin impression that the Virginians, otherwise the "Long Knives," were a ferocious baud of murderers, plundering houses, slaughtering women and chiU dren, and committing acts of the greatest atrocity. Clarke determined to take advantage of this, and so surprise the inhabitants by fear as to induce them to submit without resistance. Clarke effected an entrance to the fort without difficulty. The other parties at a given signal entered Kaskaskia at the opposite extremities, and with terrible outcries and hideous noises, aroused the terrified inhabitants, who shrieked ia their alarm, " The Long Knives!" "The Long Knives arc here!" The panicftrickeu townsmen delivered up their arms, and the victory was accomplished without the shedding of a drop of blood. M. Iloclicblave, tlie British commandant, was unconscious of tlie presence of tlia enemy, till an officer of the detachment entered his bed-chamber, and claimed him as a prisoner. In accordance with his original plan of conquering the inhabitants by terror, and then afterward winning their regard and gratitude by his clemency, Clarke, the next day, withdrew his forces from the town, and sternly forbade all communication between it and his soldiers. Some of the principal militia oflicers, citizens of the town, were next put in irons. The terror now reached its height. The priest, and a deputation of five or sis elderly men of the village, called on Clarke, and humbly requested permission to assemble in the church, to take leave of each other and commend their future lives to the protection of a merciful God, since they expected to bo separated, perhaps never to meet again. Clarke gruftly granted the privilege. The whole jjopulation convened at the church, and after remaining together a long time, the priest and a few others again waited upon the commander of the American forces, presenting thanks for the j)rivilege they had enjoyed, and desiring to know what fate awaited them.

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

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

Land Tenures

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

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

Individual grants were likewise made. Under the French system, the lands were granted without any equivalent consideration in the way of money, the individuals satisfying the authorities that the lands were wanted for actual settlement, or for a purpose likely to benefit the community. The first grant of land, which is preserved, is that made to Charles Danie, May 10th, 1722. The French grants at Kaskaskia extended from river to river, and at other places in the Bottom the}' commonly extended from the river to the bluff. Grants of land were made for almost all the American Bottom, from the upper limits of the Common lield of St. Phillip's to the lower line of the Kaskaskia Common Field, a distance of nearly thirty miles.

The British conuiiaudants, who assumed the government or. the cession of the territory by Fi-ancc, exercised the privilege of making grants, subject to the approval of his JMajesty, the King. Colonel Wilkins granted to some merchants of Philadelphia a magnificent domain of thirty thousand acres lying between the village of Kaskaskia and Prairie du Kocher, much of it already covered by French grants previously made. For the better carrying out their plans, the British officers, and perhaps their grantees, destroyed, to some extent, the records of the ancient French grants at Kaskaskia, by which the regular claim of titles and conveyances was partly broken. This British grant of thirty thousand acres, which had been assigned to John Edgar, was afterward patented b)' Governor St. Clair to Edgar and John Murray St. Clair, the Governor's sou, to whom Edgar had ))reviously conveyed a moiety by deed Although much fault was found with the transaction, a confirmation of the grant was secured from the Uniteil States government.

When Virginia ceded Illinois, it was stipulated that tin Fjench and Canadian inhabitants, and other settlers, who had professed allegiance to Virginia, should have their titles confirmed to them. Congress afterwards authorized the Governor to confirm the possessions and titles of the French to their lands. In accordance with this agreement, Governor St. Clair, in 1790, issued a proclamation directing the inhabitants to exhibit their titles and claims to the lands which the}' held, in order to be confirmed in their possession. Where the instruments were found to be authentic, orders of survey were issued, the ex[)ense of which was borne by the parties who claimed ownership. The French inhabitants were in such poverty at this time that they were really unable to pay the expenses of the surveys, and a memorial signed by P. G,ibault, the priest at Kaskaskia, and eighty-seven others, was presented to Governor St. Clair, praying him to petition Congress for relief in the matter. In 1791, Congress directed that four hundred acres of land should be granted to the head of every family which had made improvements in Illinois prior to the year 1788. Before this, in 1788, Congress had also directed that a donation be given to each of the families then living at either of the villages of Kaska.-kia, Prairie du Rocher, Cahokia, Fort Chartres, or St. Phillips. The.se were known as " bead-right " claims.

At an early date, speculation became active in the land claims of different kinds ; bead-rights, improvement rights, militia rights, and fraudulent claims were produced in great numbers. The French claims were partly unconfirmed, owing to the poverty of that people, and these were forced on the market with the others. The official report of the commissioners at Kaskaskia, made in 1810, shows that eight hundred and ninety land claims were rejected as being illegal or frauilulent. Three hundred and seventy were reported as being supported by perjury, and a considerable number were forged. There are fourteen names given of persons, both English and French, who made it a regular business to furnish sworn certificates, professing au intimate knowledge, in every case, of the settlers who had made certain improvements upon which claims were predicated and when and where they were located. A Frenchman, clerk of the parish of Prairie du Rocher, " without property and fond of liquor," after having given some two hundred depositions in favor of three land claimant speculators, " was induced," in the language of the rejiort, " either by compensation, fear, or the impossibility of obtaining ab.?olution on any other terms, to declare on oath that the said dei)ositions were false, and that in giving them he liad a regard for something beyond the truth."

The report of the commissioners raised many doubts in regard to the validity and propriety of a number of confirmations by the Governors, and much dissati-sfiietion among the claimants ; and in consequence. Congress, in 1S12, passed an act for the revision of these land claims in the Kaskaskia district. The commissioners under this law were jMieliael Jones, John Caldwell and Thomas 8I00. Faets damaging; to persons who occu- ]iied ]i(isitions of high respectability in the community, were disclosed. They reported that the English claim of thirty thousand acres confirmed l)y Governor St. Clair to John Edgar and the Governor's son, John Murray St. Clair, was founded in neither law nor equity, that the patent was issued after the Governor's power ceased to exist, and the claim ought not to be contirmeil. Congress, however, confirmed it.

For a period of several years, emigration was considerably retarded by the delay in adjusting laud titles. The act of Congress passed in 1813, granting the right of pre-emption to settlers, was influential in bringing the public lands into market. Emigrants poured into the country, and improvements were rapidly made.

Civil Organization

The history of Illinois has been traced while a possession of France, and when under the British government ; and the formation of Illinois as a County of Virginia has been noted. The several States afterwards agreed, on the adoption of "the Articles of the Confederation, to cede their claims to the western land to the General government. Virginia executed her deed of cession Jlarch 1st, 1784. For several years after, there was an imperfect administration of the law in Illinois. The French customs partly held force, and affairs were partly governed by the promulgations of the British commandants issued from Fort Chartrcs, and by the regulations which had subsccjuently been issued by the Virginia authorities.

By the ordinance of 1787, all the territory north-west of the Ohio not constituted into one district, the laws to be administered by a governor and secretary, a court was instituted of three judges. A general assembly was provided for, the members to be chosen by the people. General Arthur St. Clair was selected by Congress, as Governor of the north-western territory. The seat of government was at Marietta, Ohio.

In the year 1793, Governor St. Clair divided St. Clair County. All south of a line running through the New Design settlement (in the present County of iMonroe) was erected into the County of Randolph. In honor of Edmund Randolph of Virginia, the new county received its name.

Shadrach Bond, afterward the first Governor, was elected from Illinois, a member of the Territorial Legislature which convened at Cincinnati, in January, 1799. In 1800 the Territory of Indiana was formed, of which Illinois constituted a part, -with the seat of government at Vincennes. About 180G, among other places in the West, Aaron Burr visited Kaskaskia in an endeavor to enlist men for his treasonable scheme against the government. In 1805, George Fisher was elected from Randolph County a member of the Territorial Legislature, and Pierre Menard was chosen member of the Legislative Council.

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

For nearly four years after the organization of the Territorial Government no legislature existed in Illinois. All electidu for representatives was held on the eighth, ninth, and tenth of

October, 1812. Shadrach Bond, then a resident of St. Clair County, was elected the first Delegate to Congress from Illinois. Pierre Menard was chosen from Randolph County member of the Legislative Council, and Georg3 Fisher of the House of Representatives. The Legislature convened at Kaskaskia on the twenty-fifth of November, 1812.

In April, 1818, a bill providing for the admission of Illinois int(} the LTnion as a sovereign State was passed by Congress. A Convention to frame a Constitution assembled at Kaskaskia in the following July. The first election under the Constitution was held in September, 1818, and Shadrach Bond was elected Governor, and Pierre Menard, Lieutenant Governor. Illinois ^vas now declared by Congress admitted to the Union as on equal footing in all respects with the original States. The Legislature again met at Kaskaskia in January, 1819. This was the last session ever held at Kaskaskia. Vaudalia, the same year, was selected as Cajiital of the State. It was stipulated that Vandalia was to be the Capital for twenty years. At the end of that period it was changed to Springfield. Below we give list of governors and chief officers of Illinois.

Officers Of The State Of Illinois

Believing tliat it will bo interesting to the younger readers of our work, we subjoin the following list of PresiJents of the United States : jK^ - ^ssSIHE scttlctnont of Christian county, began the year that Jfe ^|i Illinois was admitted into the Union as a state. Prior to iS V^^ ''"* period, the whole country was occupied by different C^^^'^CjI tribes of Indians, many of them hostile to the whites, and warring against each other. A few words concerning the aborigines will not be out of place. Never did a race inspire more romantic contemplation, or suffer more speedily or completely a disastrous fate. They perished when they came in contact with our civilization, almost as the hues of sunset fade when you look at them through the telescope; or as the odor of the rose vanishes while you attempt to analyze it. Before they could be studied as men or as nations, as families or as tribe?, either by their traditions and literature, by their customs and affinities they had disappeared ; or at least had been so degraded as to seem to have fallen below the level of even scientific observation. Their origin is a mystery, their history is a myth. Their manners and customs are chiefly romance. We can study them little, and by scarcely another light than conjecture, as to facts, and very unreliable inference as to the conclusions 1-eached. These tribes or nations were by no means the first denizens of the soil. America appears to have been the home of a prior race, who have totally disappeared, leaving behind them a singular poverty of records. A few mounds, some beads, a small variety of earth-made ware, stone hammers, implements for dressing skins, and now and then, one of thoir own idols of religious worship, together with a few personal articles of luxurj', or dissipation, or ornament, are all of their domestic or public life loft to us. "We find scattered in many parts of the country their gimlets, arrow-heads, spear-heads, saws, flesh-scrapers, spades and hammers, all made of stone, and demanding almost infinite patience for their mauufiicture. It seems a wonder that a people having power to concentrate the mind on such difficult work as shaping flint-stones, should have been so barret; in all the graceful and elevating arts. We alternately pity and despise them ; admire their sublime stoicism and sicken at their cruelties. We praise their valor and denounce their selfishness. They gave us their country and left us none of their customs. We use the maize which they sometimes cultured, and stupefy ourselves with the smoke of tobacco which they taught us to consume. These are their sole contributions to the world's progress in profit and comfort. Is it strange that we should forget them, or that we should readily persuade ourselves that such an idle, unprogressive people should scarcely have a right which an enterprising, andsitious and needy race should respect? Their whole ideas, habits, wants, aspirations and beliefs were so different from those of our race that we can scarcely rise to any sympathy with them or their interests. This portion of country was known in an early day as the " Black-Hawk Hunting-ground," and was widely noted as a fine hunting region. Game of all kinds was very aliuudant. Hither came in pursuit of game from the nortiiward, inidrr the command of their famous chief, the stalwart warriors ol' the Sac and Fox tribes.

A feeble remnant nflliis oikt jjowerful tribe are now in Ktuisas. Here also came the braves of the Pottawatomies, distinguished from other Indians by the swarthiness of their complexion. What is left of this triba once so renowned in war are living in Kansas. This was one of the fiercest, bravest and most intelligent tribes of their race. Another with members of which the early settlers became familiar, was the Kickapoos.

remained as residents of the county a fragment of tlie Kickapoo tribe. " Bassena," the chief, said this land was theirs ; that they had occupied the territory of South Fork " more moons " ago than there are tracks of the buffalo upon the plain or feathers upon tin wild fowl's back. An amusing anecdote is related in connection with one of the pioneer settlers of this county, by the surveyorgeneral, when passing through this section in 1818. He had formed the acquaintance of young Martin Hanon ; and wishing to play a joke, he went to the chief, and told him Hanon was about to enter some of the land he was measuring off, and that he wanted a wife. Upon hearing this news, the young squaws, gathered around the young candidate for matrimonial honors, as if they meant business. All of them wanted a white man "if he would hunt!" The Surveyor got out of the difficulty - by informing them nmch to his regret, he was a "poor hunter," and so would make but a sorry husband.

The first men of our race, so far as is known, whose glad eyes looked upon the beautiful portion of Illinois now embraced within the boundaries of Christian county, were a baud of hunters and trappers who left Vincennes in the fall of 1811, and following an Indian trail traversing this county in a north-westerly direction, to the Illinois river and stopping for the winter at Peoria lake to trap, hunt and fish. They were Frenchmen, and belonged to the mission at Vincennes. Ou their return trip, the following spring, they were robbed of a portion of their furs and peltries and two of their number slain by the Indians.

First Settlement And Early Settlers

The honor of being the first white resident of the couutry now comprised within the limits of Christian county, belongs to Martin Hanon. He was a native of Tennessee, born in April, 1799, near the city of Nashville. He came to the territory of Illinois with his father, Michael Hanon, in the year 1812, and .settled in Gallatin county, where he resided until his death in 1817. The year following his father's death, young Martin, in charge of his mother and family, emigrated and settled in Christian county, in the fall of the year 1818. At first he pitched his tent on the south side of a large fallen tree. Their meat in one end of a sack, and other provisions in the other end, were balanced in the crotch of a tree, until a log cabin was extemporized. The scent of it soon attracted a pack of hungry wolves, and they were only kept at bay by occasionally throwing a fire-brand in their midst. There is nothing more terrifying to the wolf. He first settled and improved what afterwards was known as the Squire Council farm. John 8. Sinnet, a brotherin-law of Hanon's, and Claiborn Matthews with his family - Jacob Gragg, Eli Alexander andKenchen - "the well-digger" - all came to and settled in the county Nov. '21st, 1818 - only a few days after Hanon. Their nearest neighbor in this county in 1820, was Ephraim Cooper, living on the North Fork. Martin Hanon, realizing that it was not good for man to be alone, soon after improving his claim determined to take to himself a wife. He went down into Egypt, wooed and won one of the fair daughters of that land, and was married in Shawneelown, on the 10th of October, 1823, to Miss Sally Miller. Among the usual attractions presented on such occasions to his young bride was that he possessed ou his farm a thousand bearing apple trees. Judge of her feelings when on reaching her new home of which she had become joint proprietor, her husband directed her attention to ten acres of thrifty crab-apple trees. Young Hanon's wife proved to be a thrifty, industrious woman. She frequently delighted in telling how she spun her dozen cuts of yarn in a day, and at the same time performed her other household duties.

The walls of her cabin home, were lined with numerous bundles of spun yarn and flax, which she wove into cloth - using a part to clothe the family, and bartering the balance for articles of household use at the store. " Calico at tliat time cost 37* cents per yard.

There were no educational facilities in the territory when Hanon was a boy, and his education was consequently limited. For a short time he attended a school taught by Timothy Rodgers, on Horse creek, in Sangamon county. Eli Matthews and James Funderburk, of this county, were his classmates. The school-house was a regularly built cabin, with paper windows and one end open, forming a huge fire-place. This is said to have been the second school taught in that (Sangamon) county.

It is related that Hanon was very fond of attending all the railmaulings and corn shuckings, far and near ; he was a lover of athletic sports, and he and Moses H. Brents were accounted the most popular gallants of the da}'. They often extended their tours far into the Rochester prairie, till within hailing distance of the capital of the state. Martin was one of the best hunters of that da)'. On one occasion John S. Sinnet, Jake Gragg (mentioned below) and himself were out hunting. Sinnet wandered ofl' and got lost from liis companious. They came across three Indians, which moved them to hunt Sinnet. The Indians followed close behind them. They stopped and dismounted ; so did the Indians. Hauou, not being well acquainted with the Indian character, became somewhat alarmed at their strange actions: and more especially as he knew Gragg to be a rash man. They examined their guns and ])icked their fliuts ; and the Indians did likewise. Gragg, then, in a threatening manner ordered them to " puclc-a-chee" (i.e., light out) and they did. Gragg turned to Hanon and said, if Sinnet had been present he would have shot one of the Indians. It was the opinion of Hanon that they made a narrow escape. In that day Indians were quite numerous iu this part of the country.

On one occasion, while Hanon was out hunting alone, he saw a number of them on the banks of South Fork, near the old Elgan mill. They had killed sixty-eight muskrats, and were skinning and eating them.

In one of his hunting excursions, about the year 18'2o, when skirting the ti:nber west of Taylorville, he killed a panther near by a small stream, which measured nine feet from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. This circumstance caused the stream to be called Panther creek, by which name it has been known to this day.

During the " deep snow," he, in company with Vandeveer and three or four others of the "Richardson Settlement" in South Fork, started for O'Banning's horse-mill, then located on a farm about three miles north-east of Taylorville. At that date the latter jdace did not exist. They made a bee-line, passing through the prairie north of the present county seat. Vandeveer had a horse ; the others ox-teams. The}' had to break the snow ahead ; thus making but poor headway. They finally abandoned their wagons, placing the sacks on the backs of the oxen ; and, mounting on top of them, resumed their journey. Vandeveer, having a horse, pushed through first; and, when night came, built signal-fires to guide the others. They all battled their way through that night, but suflered much from the intense cold. Manysueh hardships did the pioneers have to brave in securing a subsistence. The summer following the " deep snow " there was frost during every montli, rendering the corn raised unfit for seed. Hanon gave a yearling heifer for one bushel of old seed-corn, iu the spring of 1832. It was that spring that the steamboat " Talisman" ascended the Sangamon river to Springfield with a cargo of corn. It sold readily for $2.50 and 83 per bushel for seed-corn.

time, on the west side of Spring branch, where afterwards stood the old " Forrest mill," south of Taylorville. He returned again as a resident of South Fork. In 1834 he purchased an interest in the " Knuckols & Wallace " water mill, afterward more familiarly known as the " Elgan mill." He moved his family, and settled on the banks of the Sangamon, near the mill. It was here bis aged mother died in 1838. Soon after this sad event he sold out his interest in the mill to Jesse Elgan ; and iu 1839 .settled permanently on his farm, five miles north-west of Taylorville. It was on the north side of Horse-shoe Prairie, lately owned by Josiah A. Hill. On this farm he resided nearly a quarter of a century. Here his aged partner died on the 28th of May, 1862. She was buried in the Horse-shoe grave-yard. He had a flimily of eleven children. After the death of his wife, the children having grown up and gone to houses of their own, he sold the old homestead, and retired from the active cares of life. Mr. Hanon was a man of fine physical development and constitution, and was highly respected fi)r his many virtues. The latter years of his life were spent with his daughter, Mrs. Mason, near Sharpsburg, this county, where he died, April .5, 1879; thus ending a most eventful life. He would have been eighty years old during that month. Capt. Jesse Hanon, Jr., is the eldest son of Martin Hanon, the first settler. He was born in this state, and is now a resident of Ricks township, this county. (See biographical sketch.)

As mentioned above, Hanon's brother-in-law, John S. Sinnet, C'laiborn Matthews, with his fiimily, Jacob Gragg, Eli Alexander, and a man by the name of Kenchen, all came and settled in the county soon after Hanon's arrival. The exact time of the arrival of these parties seems to be a conflicting question. In some instances we find that they came iu the year 1818, and again in 1819; but it is undoubtedly correct to say that they came late in the fall of 1818, a short time after IMartiii Hanon settled, as he (Hanon) has stated.

John S. Sinnet was a native of Lexington, Ky. ; born March 10, 1796. When three years of age his father moved to Missouri, where young Sinnet remained until the war of 1812. He enlisted, and served his term in that war, and was honorably discharged. Soon after leaving the army he came to Illinois, then a territory. In the year 1818 he was married to Miss Rhoda Hanon, a sister of Martin Hanon's. Soon after this event they settled in what is now Christian county. He located on land now including the southeastern part of Taylorville. He built a cabin on the east side of the old Fair Grouuds spring, in 1826. He sold this to Col. Thomas S. Young in 1829, and built another in the ravine, a little south-east of the junction of the O. and M. and W. St. L and P.

On the 8th of Jlarch, 1840, he moved from Christian to Tazewell county, where he resided until his death, January 13, 1872, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.

Sinnet was twice married ; the second time to a Miss Elizabeth Perdue. He had ten children by his first wife, and three by the last one. He was a great hunter. Mr. Sinnet was a member of the Methodist Church for over fifty years, and died in that faith. He was a member of the pioneer M. E. church of this county, which held its meetings at John Brents' and Father Young's.

Of the early history of Jacob Gragg, better known as " Jake " Gragg, and the " tall man," there is but little known. He was a ranger in the war of 1812. At one time during the war he with oth rs were taken prisoners by the Indians. Some they instantly killed, and others were reserved for more severe torture. Gragg used to tell that he successfully run the gauntlet from one end to

When Gragg first came to Illinois, in 1803, he settled near Troy, in Madison county. He first squatted on the place, afterwards owned by Martin Hanon, on Horse-shoe jirairie, Christian county. He, too, was a celebrated hunter, and, with JMartin Hanon and John S. .Sinnet, hunted the deer and the honey of the wild bee in the forest.

Alexander Matthews is a native of Tennessee. He is the son of Claiborn Matthews, one of the first settlers in the county. His mother's maiden name was Moore. Both his father and mother were natives of North Carolina. They were married in that state, and emigrated to Tennessee; thence to Illinois in 1817. First located in the southern part of the state. Alexander was about five years of age when his parents settled in this county the following year. They settled in what is now South p\irk township, near the stream known by that name. He is the only surviving member of the family, and has always continued to live near where they first settled. Is now past sixty-six years of age, having lived over sixty-one years in the county. Has been twice married, and has raised a family of four children. He is justice of the peace in Buekhart township.

The Brents were an old pioneer family in this cuunty ; settled liere in 1820. William C Brents was born in Livingston county, Ky., in 1814, and came to this county with his widowed mother and fiimily when about six years of age. They settled and improved a farm about five miles north-west of Taylorville, now owned bv Joel Potts. The place where their rude cabin home stood, on the east side of the old orchard, supposed to have been made by them, is still visible. In 1824 the family removed to the farm half a mile south of Taylorville, where William C. breathed his last, February 3d, 1861, aged forty -seven years. IMany of tlie older settlers remember the old Brents' cabin and its huspilable inmates, all of whom have passed away.

William C. Brents was held in high esteem, and was the recipient of several offices of trust. He was several times elected as constable, and served as sheriff in 1854-5. He was generous to a fault ; the latch-string of his house was always out, and many a one he aided and succored in time of need. His brothers, .Simeon and John, came here at the same time. The latter owned and made the first improvements on the Hall farm two miles east of Taylorville, before the "deep snow," in 1830. He sold it, in 1834, to Jesse Langley, and returned to Kentucky. In 18:U the first Methodist meeting in Taylorville township was held at his house.

Simeon Brents was in the Black Hawk war. He was married November 19, 1839, to Miss Mary \V. Blalook, at the residence of Morgan Goode, J. P. This was the first marriage in Taylorville.

The land on which Taylorville is located was entered by Daniel C. Goode in 1835. Goode was a Kentuckian by birth. He settled in Horse-shoe prairie, this county, in 1821 ; was a resident of Sangamon county as early as 1819. Daniel C. Goode was a true type of the pioneer. In parson he was portly and erect ; his bearing noble and commanding; his forehead high and broad ; his features regular, expressive, strong and masculine. He was possessed of nmny marked traits of character. Firm, decided and uncompromising in his own views, he quailed at no danger ; a warm friend, but bitter enemy. He was what might be termed a pioneer statesman. His judgment of men and things was good. In polities he was a democrat, and maintained the doctrines of the party without fear, and exercised a great influence at elections. He was also a great hunter, and fond of sport. He assisted in raising the first loc-house in Springfield. It was often his custom to wear a buckskin hunting-shirt and breeches. He died March 28, 1845, and

Miss Hannah Hanon, a sister of Martin Hanon, married Samuel Miller in Kentucky. They emigrated to this .state in the fall of 1823, and settled in South Fork township, on a fi\rm near " Elgan's Mill." Miller died in 1833.

Samuel Wydick, a native of Pennsylvania, emigrated and settled on the Flat Branch, in Prairieton township, in 1824. He was about the first white man in that section, coming one year before his nearest neighbor, Peter R. Ketcham, who settled about six miles below' him. Game was then so plentiful in that section that he often stood in his cabin door and shot deer. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and also in the Black Hawk war.

At seeing the soldiers mustered for the contest of the late civil war his heart was fired with all the patriotic spirit of old ; he joined Capt. Long's company in August, 18G1, and marched to Decatur. The " boys in blue" had great respect for the aged veteran. So robust and active was he that he passed muster easily, giving his age at forty-one - though eighty-one years old - at Camp Pugh, Decatur. His company formed a part of Col. Pugh's regiment, which marched to St. Louis the same week. A correspondent says of him : " He endured the hardships incident to the tented field with as much bravery and spirit as did his more youthful companions in arms." He died in his country's service, in St. Louis, April 22d, 1862, at the ripe age of eighty-two years.

Daniel Miller was a man familiarly known to the early settlers, and is well remembered by many of the citizens of the county at this date. He, like many of our pioneers, was a self-made man, and rose to considerable prominence in the county. He was born in Kentucky, in 1818, and at the age of five years came with his father's fiimily to this county, settling in South Fork township in 1823. His early years were spent on his father's farm, devoting his leisure hours to reading and study. He attended school about four months in all ; was a pupil of Elijah Hanon, who taught the first school in Christian county in 1827, in a log-cabin, two miles northeast of Taylorville. After this he built a small cabin on the Reese farm, in South Fork, below old Esquire Council's homestead, where, in 1828, he mastered arithmetic, and made progress in other studies. At the early age of seventeen he taught school. He took an active part in the formation of the county. Under the nom de jjlume of " East Sangamon" he wrote and published in the Springfield iJtTJuWican several able articles advocating the division of Sangamon county. In August, 1843, he was elected constable of South Fork precinct, and served for a time a? treasurer of the school fund. Soon after the location of Taylorville, he made it his residence. He was a candidate for county clerk in 1840, and was defeated by only a few votes ; was elected county school commissioner August 4th, 1845, without opposition. At one time he was a deputy sheriff. He was admitted to the bar in this county, and as a practicing attorney received a liberal share of the cases in court. In August, 1847, he was elected county clerk for a term of four years, but died the following year, November 9, 1848.

Gabriel j\IcKenzie settled in the county at an early date. He was a great fiddler, and played for all the dances and frolics in this part of the country. Was born in 1797, and died in Taylorville, October 22, 1862.

R. Preston Langley, now a resident of the Horse-shoe prairie, came to this county in 1831. He is a brother of Jesse, Josiah, and Thomas Langley ; he is the only survivor of the brothers.

Another old pioneer was Jesse Murph}', who came here in 1829, and sojourned for a short time in Horse-shoe prairie. He taught school here in 1831, about two miles west of Ta_vlorville. We will here give a passing notice of a few of the very ear!)- settlors who lived in close proximit}' to Horse shoe. Among the number was John B. Pittman, father of Mrs. R. P. Langley. He was born in Ireland in 1776, came to America, and settled in Christian count)' in 1830, and died in 1834. His wife's name was Elizabeth Langley. They lived and died on Clear creek, one mile north of Horseshoe. Thomas Jones and family lived one mile west of Pittnian's, in 1829. They moved to Missouri in 1840. Joseph Denton, father of Isaac Denton, lived on Clear creek before the "deep snow," and not far di^tant from Horse-shoe prairie.

In 1824 Solomon Meads and his brother Joseph came, and first located below "Elgan's Mill," in South Fork township, where they lived a few 3'ears, then moved to Bear creek. Solomon died December 12th, 1871, at the age of ninety years, six months and nineteen days, and was buried in the Catholic cemetery on Bear creek.

The Young family emigrated from Kentucky to Cliristian county in l82o. "Old Johnny Young," his sons, William, fother of Peter Cartwright Young, Ezekiel, commonly called "Black Zeke," ami Jarret, all came together. The father, John Young, settled and improved the John S. Fraley farm, four miles east of Taylorville. where he died in 1834. His son Thomas, familiarly known as " Big Tommy Young," did not arrive til) 1829. He purchased a small improved claim, and settled on it, which was a short distance south of the present E. P. Langley place on Horse-shoe prairie. He was celebrated for breeding fine hogs, and always keeping the best stock in the country. Jarret Young was only fourteen years old when he came with his parents to this county.

" Old Field Jarvis " is well remembered by many of the older settlers; he came also in 182-5. He was very tall in stature, and often had to stoop to pass into many of the cabins; and, when within, not unfrequently his head would be above the loft. On one occasion when thus situated, he asked, " Who lives here ?" The lady of the cabin replied, " Come down and see."

Peter and Christopher Ketcham were natives of Alabama. Peter Ketcham was born about 1805, and at the age of twenty came to this county and settled on Flat Branch, about eighteen miles northeast of Taylorville, in 1825. He wa.s one of the early settlers in that part of the count}'. Was a Methodist minister, and is said to have organized the first M. E church in the county, in 1828, at his own residence, where meetings were held for a number of years. He was elected justice of the peace for Buckhart precinct (Sangamon county) ill 1835, and re-elected in 18i9, after the organization of Christian. He administered the oath to the commissioners at Allenton, before they located Taylorville as the county seat. Was elected a member of the county commissioners' court, August 4th, 1845. His son, Green B. Ketcham, was elected coroner of the county in 1844. Before the Rebellion the family moved to Texas, where most of them were killed by Indians. His brother, Christopher, who came to the county with him, improved a farm adjoining, where he resided until his death.

JIartin Miller, a native of Kentucky, born October Gth, 1820, emigrated when only five years old, with his father to the territory now embraced within this county. He was one of the pupils of the first school taught in the count}' by Elijah Hanon, in a log-house, two miles east of Taylorville.

William Wallis, a native of Xorth Carolina, emigrated with his wife to Sangamon count}' in 1819, from which place he moved to this county in the full of 1825, and opened a small farm one mile east " 5

A hardy old pioneer was John Durbin, better known as "Stumpy John." He, with his sons, John Z., Josephus, and Leonard, emigrated from Kentucky in 1828, and pitched their tent in the " Richardson Settlement," lower South Fork precinct. He died in 1831, and was buried on Bear creek. The vear they came, 1^28, was the exciting Presidential contest between General Jackson and John Quiucy Ailams, and John Z. Durbin walked all the way to Springfield, and cast his first vote for the old hero of New Orleans. He raised fine crops of flax and cotton in 1829. It is said that John Z. was the first person married in Christian county. He was quite a hunter in his younger years. Many wolves and deer have been brought to grief by his trusty rifle. He was at one time proprietor of the " Durbin Owaneco" business hou.se on the county road from Pana to Taylorville.

Jesse Langley was born in Kentucky, April 18th, 1790; emigrated to this county in 1828; purchased and settled on a small improvement made by a Mr. Armstrong, on the south side of " Horse-shoe," about six miles west of Taylorville. In 1834 he moved to and improved the place formerly occupied by John Brents, one and a half miles east of Taylorville, where he settled permanently. Here he erected a horse-mill, and built a distillery in 1837. He often wore the garb so common with pioneers - a wolf-skin cap, buckskin hunting shirt and breeches. He died March 4tli, 1847, aged fifty-one years.

In 1827, William George, a native of Virginia, emigrated to this county, and settled in Buckhart township, a few miles north of Edinburg. He died soon after he located there, in the same year, aged ninety-four yeans. He had a family of six children, three boys and three girls. His son, John George, was eight years of age when he came to this county with his latlier, and has cinitinued to reside in the county ever since. Dui-ing most of this time he lived on his farm in Buckhart. In 1874 he moved to Taylorville, and subsequently purchased an interest in a flouringmill in Pana, which burned down in 1875. In connection with W. F. Minnis, he reljuilt, and went into operation in February, 1876.

James Barker, a Kentuckian liy birth, came here in 1828, and settled in ilt. Auliurn township. He built a water mill on the north fork of the Sangamon river, familiarly known as " Barker's Mill." Was a constable and justice of the peace for many years. He also took a great interest in all agricultural movements, and introduced some of the first thorough-bred stock in the county. He was an industrious farmer, good citizen, and a kind neighbor. Died at the advanced age of eighty-two years on the 4th of February, 1869. His wife died three years later at the same age; eighty-two years.

The first settlement of the Bear creek region of the county began in 1829. Three families, viz., Esquire Joseph P. Uurhin, a native of Kentucky ; Nathaniel Painter, and old Grandfather Durbin, all came together in one wagon, drawn by a yoke of oxen, and settled near each other on Bjar creek. They suffered many hardships incident to the pioneer. They were compelled to go thirty or forty miles to niill, and to do their trailing. Esquire Durbin dressed a pair of mill-stones, and constructed a rude horse-mill, which did good service during the " deep snow." At one time he owned a distillery ; was justice of the peace for many years; first elected in August, 1835, whilst under the jurisdiction of Montgomery county. In 1850 he moved to Locust township, and settled one mile .«outh of Owaneco, where he continued to live until his death, October 5th, 1875. At one time there was a large caunection of the Durbiu family living in this county. They wrre all ailluicnts nf the Roman Catholic religion, ami they lonknl u|i to the I'lsiiuire as a kind (if spiritual iather ami adviser in the ahsenee of a j)riest.

The Kiehardsons all came from Christian county, Ky., and iiiniieil what has been known as the " Kiehardsou Settlement," in is-J'J. I>aae Uiehardson, Jr., came with his i)arents to this county; liKt his arm by accident in a threshing machine. Was a member of the iirm of Aujos Kiehardson it ]>rii. in the dry-gonds business in Tavliirville at the time of his death, January li), l.S.")l. He was a baclieliir. William Uiehardson, brother of Robert Richardson, was a native of North Carolina ; emigrated to Kentucky, and from thence, with his brother, to this county in 1829, and settled on the cast side of the prairie. His wife's name was Jemima Richardson. They had nine children born to them. Isaac Richardson, Sr., died January IS, 1872 ; Harvey Richardson died IMay 10, 1878. These two brothers lived about a mile north-west of " Ralston's Bridge," and both lie buried in the Finley grave-yard.

I!i bert Richardson, a native of North Carolina, born July od, 178.J. Married a Mi.ss Elizabeth West in 1805. Emigrated to Kentucky in 1809, and from thence to Illinois in 18:^9, settling on a farm ten nnles \ve>t of Tayhu-ville, where he lived until his death, Novcudur 17, ]8"i.j. His tiiim was on the west side of the prairie, and his brother William's on the east. They both had large families, and many of their descendants are still living in the county. Robert Avas a great friend and supporter of religion, and through his energies a IMethodist society was organized at an early date. Services were held in the school-house near by till the erection of a new house of worship. It is now known as the Bethany M. E. church. When he arrived in the county, Sijj4th Fork had but few inhabitants. He put up a double log-house, with an entry between. It was late in the fall, and he did not get time to make doors, but hung up quilts instead, which atlorded poor protection against the cold winds and drilling snow.

Amos Richardson was born in Kentucky, November C, 1811 ; was married in Sangamon county, and had a large family born to him. He held several offices in the county. Elected constable August .jth, 1839. Was the first deputy sheriff in 1839. Was elected sheriff August 1, 1842, and a member of the county court November 6, 1849. Was an active member of the Metliodi.~t church, a good citizen, and highly esteemed for his moral worth. Died in Taylorville, November 1, 18o2.

Jesse Richardson lived on a farm near his father's for many years, but subsequently moved to Tayhuville. He came with his jiarcnts to the county in 1829. lie never married. Was elected county treasurer in 1849. Died September 23, 1855.

James Minnis came to this county also in 1829, and settled and improved a farm on " Horse-shoe prairie," six miles north-west of Taylorville, where he died in 1860. His wife survived liim until 1873. They had ten children, most of whom are yet living.

An old veteran of the war of 1812, and a soldier in the Black Hawk war, was Shadrack J. Cam])!)ell, born in East Tennessee. He emigrated early in the fall of 1829, with his family, to this county, and settled on Section 3, T. 14 - 3 west. The South Fork timber projected out into the prairie at his place, and it took the name of "Campbell's Point," by which it was familiarly known for years. Soon after his settlement he was elected a justice of the l)cace - probably in 1831. He held that office until his death in 183G. He was a candidate for the legislature, which then held its sessions in Vandalia, r.ud was defeated by only one vote. His wife, a noble, self-sacrificing, kind, and hospitable woman, survived him over thirty-three years.

Jesse Murphy, who figured quite prominently in the organization of the county, was a native of Tennessee, born February 6, 1792, and came to this county in 1829. He settled and improved a farm about two miles west of Taylorville. He raised a large family, several of whom still reside in the county." He was appointed, April IGth, 1839, the first collector. In 1843 he was elected assessor and treasurer for the county, and re-elected in August, 1847. In 1856 was elected to the office of coroner for a term of two years. He died in Taylorville, November 3d, 1865, aged seventy-three years.

John Gore, Sr.. known as the " twenty-five cent man," settled on a farm four miles west of the county seat in 1830. He was called the "twenty-five cent man" from the fact, that in selling his surplus corn crop, lie would never take less than twenty-five cents per bushel ; nor would be ever charge more, even if the market price was fifty cents per bushel. He was a zealous member of the M. E. church, and his house was a noted stopping-place for the preachers of that denomination.

The second school in the county was taught by Wm. McCullough, in 1831, in an old log-house, about two miles east of Taylorville, above the Hall's wood pasture, on the Flat Branch road, John Brents then osvued this farm, and the school-house was on his land. BlcCullough is said to have been a good teacher, but at times a little intemperate, and on such occasions many amusing things would happen in his school.

The first settler on east Bear creek was Walter Clark, born in Virginia, April 12th, 1788. Married a Miss Young, daughter of Peter Young, in Ohio, by whom ho had six children. His son, Dennis Clark, was judge of Knox county. 111., for a number of years. Mr. Clark came with his family to Illinois in 1821, and after several i-emovals to different parts of the state, he settled on Bear creek, in this county, March 26th, 1831. He located on th3 east side of the creek timber, not far from Palmer. They came from Sangamon county on foot, not able to own a team, bringing with them a yearling heifer, a gun, axe, and hoes. They soon built a log-cabin, 16 by 18 feet in size, with a large fire-place and puncheon floor. That spring they cleared five acres in the edge of the timber, and, with their hoes, dug places in the ground, dropped the corn, and attended it the whole season with nothing but the hoe, and raised a fair crop. The following winter was a trying one on the family ; with no team to go to mill, they beat their corn in a mortar, and used a ]nece of punctured buckskin, drawn over a hoop, for a sieve. At this date deer and all kinds of game were plentiful in this section, and they did not want for meats. In 1832, John Baker, who settled about three miles north, was his nearest neighbor. Christopher Durbin was also living in the neighborhood. There were three hundred and fifty Indians encamped over Sunday on Bear creek. They were very religious, and held services on the Sabbath. An Indian preached. The Durbins had Clark arrested for killing an Indian who was very troublesome in the neighborhood, but he was acquitted on trial, and those causing his arrest were ea^er to secure again the friendship of Walter Clark. He moved to Alton in 18i6, and died in St. Louis, April 12th, 1846.

John Davis settled on the Sangamon, in ]Mt. Auburn township, in 1831. His son, Henry Davis, was an early merchant in the town of Mt. Auburn.

Esquire AVm. M. Thompson was a Kentuckiiiii, and emigrated to this county in 1832. His first wife died in 1846. Tiieir duugliter was the wife of Samuel Brents. December 6th, 1847, Thompson married, again, Mrs. Poll)' Wallis. They are now both dead. The Esquire was a soldier in the war of 1812, under Gen. Jackson, to whom he was devotedly attached. He was elected justice of the peace on the organization of the county in 1839, and held the office successively for over fifteen years, till his death. A great many amusing stories are told about Thompson, that occurred during his official life ; he was greatly respected.

In 1833 came Thomas Young, Sr., a native of South Carolina. He settled about one mile south-west of the c juntv seat. Five of his sons came to this county - Col. Thomas S. in 1829, and James in 1830, spoken of above ; and the other three, Frederick, Ezekiel S.. and John "\V., came with their father in 1833. Old Father Young died on his farm, March 24th, 184-5 ; his wife followed him a year or two afterwards.

Gavin Ralston, Sr., was a native of Scotland. Married a Miss Cynthia Vandeveer in Indiana. Emigrated and settled in South Fork township, on the banks of the Sangamon, in 1834. The bridge over the stream has taken his name. Kalstim was a member of the first county court; he died in 1846.

Gabriel R. Jernigan, born in North Carolina, May 9, 1802, came with his family to this county early in 1835, settling on Bear Creek. They lived with Walter Clark until a cabin was built on his place. He was an active Democratic partisan, and took a prominent part in the formation of the county. On its organization he was appointed, by the county court, the first county treasurer. In 1840 he was elected to the same office for a term of two years. Was also elected sheriff of the county; and in November, 1849, he was elected one of the associate justices of the county court for a term of four years. He was also honored with an election as state senator in November, 18-52. He held the office of police magistrate of Taylorville in 185S, and other minor offices. Died August 3d, 1866."

Jesse Elgan, nativity Marvland, came in 1835, and located ten miles north-west of Taylorville, near " Elgan's Mill," which he owned for a time. He was one of the contractors in building the first court-house. Was twice elected a member of the county court.

Bee-Hustixg

The destinj' of the Indian, is to recede before the approach of the white man ; it is the province of the honey-bee to act on the reverse, and precede the advance of civilization. The approach of the honey-bee was always a sad harbinger to the Indians ; for they knew the pale faces were not far behind. At an early period bees were very numerous in Illinois, in the groves and along the .skirts of timber; hence the product of the hive became a desirable commodity in trade and commerce; and when the farmer wished a little " land office " money, this was about the only article that would readily command it. They would take their beeswax, deerskins and peltries to the leading water-courses, and descend in their canoes or improvised boats, constructed for the purpose, to the St. Louis market.

Bee-hunting excursions were of annual occurrence. In the spring of 1822, says an old settler (Samuel Williams), bees were very plenty in the timber in the northern and north-eastern part of Christian county. " Father and I concluded to go on a bee-hunting excursion. With covered wagon, and necessary outfit, we started eastward from Campbell's Point. The first night we camped in

Buckhart Grove; the next night on ^Mosquito creek, near the blu2 mounds in the |irairie. Not far from this point, we pitched our tent, and rL'niaiued three or four weeks. In the timber along the.se streams, we found thirty bee trees. On one favorable day found ten, the greatest number we ever found in one day ; the common average on good days being from two to seven. We secured this trip f.)rty-five gallons of honey and sistv pounds of beeswax. Soon after our return homo I went to Springfield, then just laid out, to sell our wax. This was my fir^t visit to the town, then containing less than a dozen houses, the destined capital of a great state. Elijah Isles was then the only merchant in the little town. He kept his store in a log-house, about one block west of the 'Alton Depot-' I found him at leisure; h; was affable and quite social, and we soon made a trade, he giving me 25 cent-- per pound for my wax, but chiefly in goods. In the fall of 1822, my father and I went out the second time to hunt bees, camping at the same localities as in the spring. Hunted along the North Fork tindjer. We found about forty bee-trees this time. During the first afternocm of our encampment, a Pennsylvania Dutchman came into our camp on horseback in a drenching rain. He was on his way to the Military Tract to examine .some land. He passed the night with us, but seemed quite discouraged. Looking down the high bluff, at the North Fork, he inquired its name. On being informed, he seemed much dejected, and exclaimed in bis Dutch accent: 'If dat ish the Sangamon river, (if which I heard so much, I ish badly deceived.' He was on the point of turning back for home, when he was encouraged and persuaded to prosecute his journey. During all our travels in these two hunting excursions, we saw no white man save the traveling Dutchman !"

"On the 4th of March, 1823, my father and myself started east on our third bee-hunt. The third day being warm, I found three trees on Mosquito creek. From this jioint we nuived off to the right of the North Fork, and found seventy on the first branches of the Okaw or Kaskaskia river. We cut forty, and left the rest till fall. In August of this year, my father died, and in the fall one of my brothers accompanied me to cut the bee trees left on our last trip. In the spring and fall of 1824, I was employed by Elias Thompson to hunt bees. He was the only man I ever hunted with, who could equal me in finding bee-trees. At the close of the season, we came out about even, finding 150 each. If Maj. Isles has his old mercantile books, they will show that Mr. Thompson and myself dealt with him on a liberal scale in beeswax for two individuals about the dates specified. In all our hunting for miles up and down the difl!erent branches of the various streams, and in all our travels back and forth, we found no place where one white man had either settled or commenced an improvement. Thus ends our bee-hunting excursions in an uninhabited country - a country literally 'flowing with milk and honey' - in central Illinois, during the years 1822-24."

John C. Whitecraft, a native of Tennessee, was born in November, 1784. His father emigrated and settled in Kentucky when he was a boy, where he lived to manhood. He was married in Kentucky in 1816 to Miss Rachel Arnett. Being attracted with the glowing accounts of the great " Prairie State," he emigrated with his f;imily in the fall of 1835, and settled in Christian county, on Clear creek, about twelve miles west of Taylorville. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land of a Mr. Rathbone, which he improved as his homestead. He completed and run the mill, which was partly built on his place, for a number of years. In time his children grew up, and mo.st of them settled around him. They arc among the pniminent and respected citizens of the county. From numbers and position the location has been known as the " White- crrift St'llkmeat." Tlic old gentleman was gathered to bis fathers on"the2-Jth of July, 1S47, at the age of sixty-three years. His widow was accidentally killed by being thrown from a wagon, with a rnn away team, in Springfield, 111., Sept. 2.'!, 1875.'"

1836. He first located and lived for many years on a farm in Mosquito township. At that early day there were Init few settlers living in tliat section; probably not over eight or ten lamilies. He relates nianv of the hardships and inconveniences of tlic early settlers. They had no milk, no stores, no markets for their surplus produce. St L mis, Beardstown and Springfield were the nearest trading points. Elder Northcutt attended the first religious meetings in the county, and was among the fir.st to preach the truths of the gospel in this section of the country. He was several times honored with oflicial position by his fellow citizens. He was an aUive justice of the peace in Sangamon before the formation of this county, and was one of the first justices of the peace after its orgainzation in 1830, which ofiice he continued to till for eight years; was a member of the first board of supervisors in 181J6, and served in that capacity for a term of four years. He has been a life-long whig and republican. In 1854 he changed his residence to Prairieton township, settling on the Esquire Hammer farm, on Flat Branch, where he still resides. For more than thirty five years he has been an officiating minister of the gispcl in th: Christian church.

Here it is proper to make mention of the name of a man who is unquestionably the mo-t distinguished citizen of the county - a man who came here in the pioneer era, and began life a poor boy, but who, with a commendable energy and industry, has risen to influence and wealth. That man is Judge H. M. Vandeveer; a name that has become a household word in the county of his adoption. He is a native of Indiana, born in Washington county, March 1, 181G. His father, Aaron Vandeveer, removed to Sangamon county, Illinois, in the autumn of 1829, and improved a farm on Horse creek. Hero the judge lived until the age of twentyone years, with his fiither, and most of the time toiled on the farm. He attended a pioneer, log-cabin school about three mouths. Most of his education was acquired by poring over his books at noon, while the jaded plow horse fed, and at night while the sluggard slept, and tlie thoughtless dissipated their time in idle amusements. He very early acquired a taste for the reading and study of books. Whilst thus engaged, he attracted the attention of the Hon. Jno. T. Stuart, of Springfield, who tendered him the use of his valuable library, by means of which he acquired some knowledge of the law. In 1836, he taught school in a log-cabin on Andy Finley's farm, about twelve miles west of Taylorville. In time he was admitted to the practice of law, and soon became prominent in the profession. He participated in the organization of the county, and at the first election, hehl on the 1st of April, 1839, he was elected county recorder. A few days later he was appointed by the county court as school commissioner, which caused his removal to the countyseat June 1st, of the same year, he was appointed by Judge Treat, clerk of the Circuit Court, which otRce he held for many vears. lie was elected a member of the House of Kepresentatives in 1842 over Martin White, the former representative, and Henry T. Luckett, both popular men.

elected a justice of the peace; he was subsequently appointed postmtister of Tavlorvillc. In 1846 he answered to the first call of his country, and raiseil a company of .soldiirs for the Mexican war, and was elected its captain ; but the company was rejected by the Governor, as the call of the Government had been filled. He was short')' afterwards appointed by President Polk as Assistant Quartermaster in the United States Army, with the rank of Captain, and served in that position in the Mexican war. On his return home, at the close of the war, his name was prominently mentioned as a candidate for Congress, but he withdrew his name in the convention. Ho had been twice elected as Judge of the county. In 1860 he was again returned to the Legislature, and two years later he w'as elected to the State Senate. In June, 1870, he was elected Judge of the Tenth Judicial Circuit, and re-elected in 1873. The Juilge has been a successful practical practitioner for a quarter of a century. In politics he is a stanch Democrat.

Thomas Simpson migrated from Kentucky in 1835, and settled near Mechaniesburg, Sangamon county. In 1846 he moved to Christian county, and purchased Col. Thomas P. Bond's farm on Bear creek, where he continued to reside until his death, December 6th, 1856. He had seven sons, the most prominent of whom is Judge Andrew Simpson ; he is the eldest son, and came with his parents to this county when a boy. He was born October 22d, 1830, on the banks of Licking river, Ky. He is a man possessed of a strong, vigorous minil, and early turned his attention to the study of law, ami now takes rank among the best lawyers of the county. On the breaking out of the late rebellion he volunteered his services, and raiseil the first company from this county, and was elected its captain. The company became a part of the Fourteenth Kegiment. He was severely wounded in the hand at the battle of Pittsburg Landing, which unfitted him for actual duty ; was honorably discharged. In November, 1865, he was elected county Judge. It was during his administration that township organization was effected. He was a candiihite for Congress on the Republican ticket in 1874; the district being largely Democratic, he was defeated.

James Funderburk, a pioneer of Sangamon county, was born in Tennessee, in the year 1810. His father, Henry Funderburk, was one of the eai'lv pioneer emigrants to Illinois; he came from Tennessee in 1815, and settled first for two years on " Turkey Hill," in St. Clair countv. From here he moved to what is now Sangamon county, in the spring of 1817; squatted on a. piece of land on Horse Creek ; built a cabin, and raised a crop that 3'ear with the assistance of William Nelson. It is related that he was the first settler, and that this was the first crop raised in Sangamon county.

James R. Lucas, born in Tennessee, October 7th, 1807, emigrated with his father, Edward Lucas, to Sangamon county, 111., when twenty years of age, and settled on Horse Creek in 1827. ' He was married to Miss Elizabeth M. Harris, dtxughter of Isaac Harris, September 14th, 1828. He came to this county September 7th, 1836, and first located on the west side of Flat Branch timber, where he lived about five years, when he moved to Taylorville, in April, 1840. He was the first landlord of the "Taylor Hotel,' since known as the "City Hotel." Jlr. Lucas was elected the first constable in Taylorville precinct, after the organization of the county. He died June 2d, 1862.

Lewis H. Jernigau was born in Tennessee in 1808. Emigrated to this county, and settled on Bear creek in the year 1836. Married, in Tennessee, Miss Sally Currie. They came in wagons drawn by oxen.

Isaac Harris, a native of Nashville, Tenn. ; born in 1780. Was married to Miss Rhoda Parker, of Virgiiiia, in 1802, and emigrated to Sangamon count)', 111., in December, 1820. He moved to Christian county in the fall of 1836 ; located and improved a farm four miles east of Taylorville, where he spent the remainder of his years.

Among others who came during the year 1836, were Ellington Adams, a native of Kentucky, who emigrated with his family, and settled, and made a farm on the ridge, five miles above Stonington. Hiram Walker, a native of Virginia, purchased and located on a farm six miles north-east of Taylorville, bordering on the skirts of the Flat Branch timber. Eev. Isaac Haines, a native of Virguiia, b;)rn in 1809; emigrated to this state, and preached for two years, 1836-37, on the Buckhart circuit; he was highly esteemed for his many Christian virtues. He died in September, 1838. Many of his descendants are now residing in this county. Henry Dickerson came also in the spring of this year. He served as constable and justice of the peace in Taylorville precinct for many years, and (lied in Johnson township.

Judge William S. Frink, who figures prominently in the early liistory of this county, was born in Connecticut, in DL'cembcr, 1790 ; moved with his father to Stonington, Conn., where he lived until he was forty-one years old. In 1831 he went to New York city, where he engaged in business for three years. In Maj', 1837, he, with his family, emigrated to this state, and settled at Allenton, in this county, where he resided until January, 18-33, when he moved to Taylorville. He was a .soldier of the war of 1812. He was elected probate judge, August 7th, 1843, for a term of four years. On court days the judge could be seen entering town with the archives of the office in a basket on his arm. He is still residing in Taylorville, respected and esteemed by all for his sterling virtues and purit}' of character.