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

Wm. L. Hammer was born in Kentucky, November 2d, 181 7, and at the age of ten years emigrated with his father to Sangamon county. 111., in 1827, where he lived till the spring of 1837. At this date he removed with his father and family, and settled on the Flat Branch, in Prairieton township. At the first general election held after the organization of the county, in August, 1839, he was elected constable of Stonington precinct, and as such officer he guarded, at the first term of court, the Grand Jury, as it held its session in open air, where the present brick jail now stands. He acted as deputy sheriff in 1844. In 1846 was elected sheriff. He was politically a " Whig," and was very popular and influential in that party. October 11, 1853, he was married, in Taylorville. to Jliss Isabella East. In December, 1854, he moved to Decatur, 111., where he continues to reside.

In 1837, Thos. P. Chapman came to this county, and joined the Stonington Colony, at Old Stonington, where he continued to live till his death, January 16th, 1867, at the ripe age of seventy-five. He was born in Stonington, Conn., September r2th, 1791. He served his country in the war of 1812, in the capacity of a drummer-boy. In early days he was a strong Democrat. Upon meeting a new acquaintance his first question is said to have been, " Be you a Whig or a Democrat?" His strong patriotic feelings led him, during the late rebellion, to be a " \rar Democrat," which culminated in his becoming a Republican, and voting for Abraham Lincoln for

President in 1864. On the formation of the county in 1839, hewa,s chosen one of the first members of the court, which station he filled with honor to himself and credit to his constituency. To his industry and perseverance the citizens of Stonington settlement were much indebted for the establishment of a post-office in their midst; he was its first postmaster, and carried the mails weekly to and from Taylorville on horseback. He held several offices of trust, and was extensively known throughout the county, and highly esteemed for his many social virtues. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and at his death was buried with Masonic honors.

Nicholas Sanders, a native of Rhode Island, born April 7th, 1805, emigrated to Christian county in the .=pring of 1837. and improved a farm on Flat Branch. He opened a store of general goods at this point in March, 1852, and remained in business for sixteen years. His store formed the nucleus of a town called Saudersville, in Section 35, of Stonington township.

Among others who came to the county this year were Elijah B. Hymen, a native of Virginia; Presley Peek, born in Kentucky; Rev. Paris Praj', nativity Connecticut ; John Hill, Sr., from Kentucky, with his sons, James H., Terry, and CTabriel ; and Thomas S. Leachman, ahso from Kentucky.

Joseph A. Haley, a native of Kentuck}- ; S. B. Sheldon, native of Massachusetts ; Frank Haines, a native of Virginia ; and James Ferguson, of Virginia, were among those who came in 1838.

During 1839, the year the county was organized, there was a Lirge influx of population. Prominent among those who arrived at this date were Morgan Goode, born in 1808, at one time county treasurer ; William Hargiss, a Kentuckian ; Joel Traylor, a native of South Carolina ; and Levi W. Goodan.

David Rutledge, the " Deer Slayer" and "Nimrod" of the Flat Branch, was a native of Tennessee, born in Dickinson county in 1813. He emigrated to Christian county in 1840. Was married to Miss Anna Harris, a daughter of Silas Harris, in 1844. He was a resident of May township. He was ver}- fond of the chase, and devoted much time to hunting. It is said that he killed, in one winter, fnrtv-eight deer, besides a large amount of smaller game.

John W. Wheat was born in New York, September 25, 1819, and came to this county in 1840. In that year he taught the first school in Tavlorville. He was by profession a lawyer ; was elected the second school commissioner of the county in August, 1831, for the term of two years.

Daniel De Camp settled in the county in June, 1843. He was born in Virginia, August 31, 1824. For several j-ears he was connected with Allen's Great Eastern Stage Line, which ran through this couutv- He married, October 7th, 1847, Miss Pernccy Langley, a daughter of Jesse Langley. He purchased the " Blue Point " farm and "Stage Stand" in February, 1851, and moved there the ]March following. His farm embraced over two hundred acres of choice land, on which the town of Edinburg is now located. Mr. De Camp was fond of hunting in his younger days. Has been justice of the peace, and held other offices of trust in his town and township. He served as Captain of Company D, of the 130th Regiment Illinois Volunteers, in the late rebellion.

In recording the names of tho.se men who have been connected with the history and development of Christian county, that of the late Major D. D. Shumway must not be forgotten. Though he did not become a resident until 1843, he made an honorable record; but, like many others, did not live long afterwards to enjoy it. He was born in Massachusetts, September 28, 1813, where he lived until he reached the years of manhood. In 1834 he came west and settled, first in Zanesville, Ohio, where he remained till 1837, when he came to Montgomery county, 111. He was elected and served a term as one of the connty commissioners' court of Montgomery county ; was also appointed Major of the State militia. June 3d, 1S41, he was married to Mi.ss Emily R. Roundtree, daughter of the late Hon. Hiram Roundtree, of Hillsboro, 111. In the spring of 1843 he removed to Christian county, first .settling on wild prairie land, about four miles east of Taylorville, where he improved a fiirm of several hundred acres. In 1851 he became a resident of Taylorville, where he engaged in merchandizing, his occupation in former years, which he continued with success until 1858. He then retired from active business life, having accumulated considerable wealth. He was a member of the legal profession, and for many years held the office of Master in Chancery of the count)".

The, JIajor was a gentleman of culture and taste, possessing a noble, generous disposition, and was highly esteemed among his fellow-citizens. In politics he was a democrat. During his residence in the county he was elected, in 1845, a member of the legislature from the counties of Christian and Shelby; and at the fidlowing session was elected clerk of the State Senate. In 1848 he was a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and took an active part in its deliberations; was elected county judge in November, 1857, for a term of four years. He was also connected with both the county and state agricultural societies, and one of the incorporators and directors of the Springfield and South-eastern railroad, and discharged the duties of many minor offices. Much credit is due him, wliile in the legislature, for the location of the Terre Haute and St. Louis R. R. through the southern part of this county, where have sprung into existence the flourishing towns of Pana and Rosemond. He was also a prominent Mason.

Dr. Calvin Goudy was a native of Ohio, born June 2d, 1814, emigrated with his parents to Indiana in 1826, from thence to Illinois in 1832, locating at Vandalia. He graduated at the St. Louis Medical College in the spring of 1844. Soon thereafter, in May, 1844, he located in Taylorville, where he acquired a lucrative practice, and continued to reside until his death. (A biographical sketch may be seen on another page.)

Dr. J. H. Clark, a Kentuekian, emigrated and settled first in Johnson township, this county, in the spring of 1844. The doctor was a member of the county court when the present court-house was built.

Joseph Edwards, a native of Ireland, settled on Coal creek in this county March 26, 1845. He was one of the noted eighteen voters of "Stone Coal Precinct." He was a man known for his candor and integrity, and exercised a commanding influence in tiiat section of the count}'.

Another early and prominent settler in " Stone Coal," now Pana, was Wm. Pryce, born in England, Feb. 28th, 1817; came to this county in 1845 ; taught the first school in that part of the county, was deputy tax collector in 1845, and held other offices of trust.

Joseph Edwards, an Irishman by birth, settled in Pana township March 2Gtli, 1845. His house was a voting place for the precinct for a number of years. He was a justice of the peace and a gentleman highly respected for his moral worth. He died in October, 1855, aged sixty-eight years.

Elijah Duncan, nativity North Carolina, settled in this county on the west side of Bear Creek in 1847, where he died Dec. 14th, 1861, aged about sixty-four years. He was a man firm and decided in his convictions of right. He had sixteen children, some of whom are still residing in the county.

Wm. A. Welch, a native of Tennessee, settled on South Fork Dec. 25th, 1849. The late Wm. S Berry settled four miles south of Taylorville in 1849, and died in 1874 or '5. He was one of the most successful deer-hunters of whom Christian county can boast, having killed over four hundred during the twenty-five years of his life in the county.

It is not, perhaps, possible to name all who were early settlers in the county, but we have aimed to mention all the earliest and most prominent in its history and development. Many who came remained but a short time, when they went back to their old homes, or moved away to a newer country, as the settlements began to fill up. Thus the settlers may naturally be grouped into two classes, the pioneers and tiie permanent settlers. As stated in the beginning of this chapter, the pioneer is not to be despised, for he is a man with a mission. But pre.'sing closely on his footsteps, came the other class, scarcely less inured to hardships and fatigue, or fitted to combat the dangers and difficulties on the frontier, but animated by different hopes, and pursuing a nobler ambition. These left the abodes of civilized life, not from love of adventure or dislike of society; they came where land was cheap and soil rich, in search of a permanent home. They brought with them a love of church, and an appreciation of the bles.sings of civilized life, and the ''wilderness and solitary place were glad for them, and the desert rejoiced and blossomed as the ro.se." In the township histories and the biographical department may be fi)und more fully recorded the characters, trials and struggles of the earlier settlers. The chapter on the "Civil History" treats fully of the birth of the county, and contains all records pertaining to its origin.

Pioneer Marriages

The following marriages were celebrated within the bounds of the territory now embraced within the county of Christian. The first one recorded in the county clerk's office, in Springfield, is as follows :

These parties lived on the North Fork. George Dickson afterwards was favorably known to many of the citizens of the county. He was a member of the count}' court for many years; and was elected to other offices of honor. His wife was a sister of the pioneer, Ephraim Cooper, the oldest settler in the north part of the county, in 1820. It shows that they were married and given in marriage in those primitive times. Another was m the words following: "I certify that on the 21st day of September, I joined in wedlock, Eli Matthews and Miss Susanna Hanon."

This was the first pioneer wedding in South Fork township. The parties came to the county in 1818, about the time of the advent of Martin Hanon, the first settler of the county. Here follow four others: -

Nov. 9lh, 1827, Gabriel McKenzie, of Flat Branch country, to Miss Elizabeth Gray. Gabriel, was ahvays held in the liveliest remembrance by the youngsters for his violin entertainments on festive occasions.

Sept. 14th, 1828, James K. Lucas, to Miss Elizabeth Harris, daughter of Esquire Isaac Harris, who lived on his farm four miles east of Tuvlorville. This couple were among the first families to settle in Taylorville, after its location.

The ftillowing were among the pioneer ministers who preached to the early settlers and married parties at the dates appended to their names:

After the organization of Christian county the first marriage licen.se was issued July 10th, 1839, to Josepluis Durbin and Miss Elizabeth Simpson, a daughter of Esquire Richard Simpson, of Bear creek township. They were united in wedlock by Joseph P. Durbin, J. P.

The twenty-fifth was issued to Simon Brents and Miss Mary Blalock, Nov. 19th, 1840, by Eli Mathews, J. P. This was the first marriage in Taylorville.

The twenty-sixth wedding was that of Jnhn Gilbert to Miss Clarissa Ann Young, daughter of Esquire E. .S. Young, then county clerk, January 1st, 1841, by Aaron Vandeveer, M. G. This was the second wedding, and the bride, the first death in Taylorville.

Voting

At the organization of the county the people voted viva voce. This plan, by manv, was considered as the most independent one ; others viewed it in a diifereut light. If the .sy.stem had no other merit, it certainly gave a controlling influence to intriguing politicians. With the adoption of the ballot system, their power was dwarfed. In this county, at that early day, there were two large familv connections, by the name of Durbin's and Young's. They composed a large portion of the voting population. It was not an uncommon remark that as these two sections voted - so weut the election. Politically they were in sympathy with each other and with the " Whig " party.

Gavin Ralston, an old line Whig, and a candidate for the office of countv commissioner, being interrogated as to his prospects for an election, replied: "Very good, as both the Durbin and Young wing are with me in a solid column." It is scarcely necessary to say he was elected. Daniel Guode and William C. Brents, both old settlers and political leaders, exercised great influence over the parties. The constitution of 1848, substituted the ballot for the viva voce system. This worked well, and the people have been enabled to vote their honest convictions, without being branded as a " turn-coat." The old parties were well disciplined and very ])owerl'ul. If a member of either broke ranks he was soon hounded down !

Court Anecdotes

About forty years ago, in the region of Bolivar, in the northwestern part of this county, lived one John S. Thompson, a justice of the peace. He was a large, stout, big-fisted Kentuckian. Sam Smith wa-s brought before him on a charge of assault and battery. Sam soon became boisterous, and began to abuse the justice. Esquire ad moni.shed him to keep quiet; but all to no purpose. Sam grew worse and worse until the burly Esquire's patience was exhausted. "Sam," said the Esquire, "I know but little about the power the law confers in keeping order in court, but I know very well the power the Almighty has given me, and .so shall you." Suiting the action to his words, the Esquire seized a chair and sent Sam whirling to the floor, and then at the end of his boots, relieved the office of his presence. Smith then went before another justice, filed an affidavit of a.ssault and battery, and had Esquire Thompson arrested. The defense set up a plea that the ju.?tice was a relative to the prosecutor, which point was adjudged well taken, and the justice entered a judgment of acquittal. Not satisfied with the decision. Smith filed another affidavit before Esquire C .

Thompson was again arrested and arraigned before the justice. He employed counsel, who moved for his acquittal on the ground that he " could not be put in jeopardy twice for the same offence," under the constitution. The Esquire, after consulting various evidences, sustained the plea, and Esquire Thompson was again triumphantly acquitted. From that time forward there was as good order in the office of Esquire Thompson as in the supreme court-room of the State of Illinoi.s.

against John W , then residing within three miles of Hillsboro, in Montgomery county. Summons issued to constable William Torrance, with instructions to serve the same ; which he accordingly executed, and judgment was entered up, b}' the Esquire, for forty dollars and costs of suit. The execution was issued in due time and constable Torrance, who again entered Montgomery county, made a levy, took a delivery bond, and in time made the debt, and returned the execution satisfied ; neither party knowing the force of the county lines between them.

larceny, his lawyer, from Springfield, a bombastic speaker, informed his client that the case was desperate, and that he must be governed strictly by his directions. Said he, " My speech will be divided into four parts: first, historical; second argumentative; third, the reply ; fourth, the pathetic. You and your wife and children must sit quiet till I come to the fourth, or pathetic part; and then I want you all to burst out aloud and cr)', groan and take on as I proceed to the close. The moment I stop, rise and throw your arms around your wife's neck, and kiss the baby." The trial was opened; the jury empannelled and evidence heard. The prosecuting attorney opened the case with a speech of great power. Lawyer Bombast rose with all eyes centered on him, and began as follows: "If the court please, gentlemen of the jury, look at my client ; look at his poor wife and little babe ; look at the afflicted parents, weighed down with sorrow and grief, sinking as it were to their graves! Oh, gentlemen of the jurv, can you find it in your hearts to send him to the Penitentiary?"

As he uttered these last words the prisoner set up a loud howl, threw his arms around his wife's neck, and kissed the babe, while the rest of the family joined in the chorus. The lawj-er was dumbfounded; the court lookeil in astonishment, the jurors looked at each other and wondered what it all meant, but the bombast took in the situation at a glance, and explained : " Nothing, only a mistake of my client, your honor and gentlemen of the jury. He mistook the ' historical ' for the ' pathetic ' part of my speech." The blunderer lost his case.

A number of very interesting and humorous stories are told of William M. Thomas, J. P. ; two or three of which we will relate. In a trial before him a man by the name of Gunn, was a witness. The man hesitated not a little and seemed unwilling, after much persistent questioning, to tell what he really knew ; when the

Esquire became impatient and said - " Come.Mi"- Gunn, don't hang fire 1 " After the examination closed the bystanders were convulsed with laughter by the old Esquire adding - "Mr. Gunn, you can go of}", you're discharged ! "

The Esquire is also credited with the following decision : - " The fiict is, Peter Smith, the jail is an old rickety affair, as cold as an iron wedge. You applied to this court for release on bail, giving it as your opinion, that you would freeze to death there. It is the desire of this court to be humane; and as the weather has not moderated, and to keep you from freezing, I will direct the sheriff to hang you at 4 o'clock this afternoon."

In another case before Thomas, - James Fundcrburk vs. Sam Brents, - In trial of Right of Property. It was a jury case, composed of old Dicky Simpson and others. Capt. H , suggested to the plaintiff, to take a jug of good old bourbon and treat the court and jury. Fundcrburk acted on the suggestion, and it proved to be a happy thought. The court drank ; the jury drank, and all felt good. The Esquire gave an inkling of his decision in advance. He said, " There's no use going into trial in this case, for the Right of Property is not in Sara Brents, and he is subject to the execution by G - d, sir."

The jury nodded assent; as they were in a nodding mood. The constable retained possession of the property, and the plaiutiH', Fundcrburk, got his raone}'.

Another case before Esquire Thompson, in which Benjamin Williams was defendant. The trial did not result to the satisfaction of said defendant, and he charged that the Esquire did not do him justice. His insulting remarks were overheard by the esquire, and on his coming out of the court-house, he gathered hold of a hooppole, exclaiming, " By G - d sir, I'll give you a more substantial justice! " and lampooned him most unmercifully.

Lc Roy Hill, of Sangamon, was a defendant in a suit instituted before Tiiompson. He asked for a change of vtnue, giving as a reason that " he didn't like to be tried by steam ; " over which the Esquire became wrathy, and " by the eternal," swore a perfect streak ! However the change was granted and the case taken before another justice.

after the "locating peg" had been driven by the Commissioners. This was the inauguration of affrays which continued for several years at the county seat, greatly to its discredit. Persons harboring ill-feelings or any grievances against a neighbor, would, on meeting him, throw out a challenge to meet on "muster day," or some other public occasion and settle the matter. Time did not seem to abate their hostility ; the hate once engendered, still rankled in their bosoms, and public opinion deferred to this mode of settling old grudges, and it required no little moral courage to with.stand it. The condiatants at the appointed tinip, would, with their friends, be on hand; draw their coats, gird their loins and enter tiie''bull pen," - which at that time consisted of the public .square, in the absence of a " stray pen." It was not uncommon for a half dozen such cases to be adjusted in one day. On such occasions, large crowds often assembled, and there was usually on hand a bountiful supply of " sod e(jrn."

containing a cask of " tangle-foot,'' and his .stentorian voice could be heard far and near to repeat - " ' ho all ye thirsty come and drink.' It is warranted to keep you cool in the summer and warm in the

There were times when some of the most prominent men in the county w'ould be engaged in these melees. It was on one of these memorable occasions, when Gabriel and others were engaged, that the necessary authority, mounted the court-house steps and in tones of thunder "commanded the peace" His admonitions not being heeded, he threw off his coat, waded in, exclaiming that he would he suddenly " right about fiiced " and left on " double quick," with his long ringlets streaming in the air, as the excited crowd and the captain's commissary closed in the rear ! These sovereigns would suffer no interference on these warlike occasions. It was looked npon as cowardly to use knives and pistols, and it was very seldom that such was the case.

In the earlier history of the county the military spirit ran high, and many aspirants for position used it as a " stepping-stone " to power. Previous to the formation of the county, the people had to travel fifteen or twenty miles to Rochester to do military duty. This was a great inconvenience, and at length the county was laid ofl' into military districts. Elections were ordered in each of the company districts for one captain, one first lieutenant and one ensign. Soon after the organization of the county, the following order was issued : -

'- Mii.iTi.v IN D.iXE, Notice. Lient. Col. White's Reglnii'iit, incliuling all the coiinlv of Dane, will parade for Review and Inspection at Taylorville, on Friday, June 27, 1S39.

By this order, the captains were required to be in the field with their respective commands, " armed and equipped as the law directs." The great and memorable day came. The parade ground was early filled with waving plumes and crowds of anxious citizens. The ground where Taylorville had been located a month previous, was dotted over with white tents. Soon the adjutant on a splendid grey charger came galloping into the field with orders : " Officers to your places, marshal your men into companies, separating the barefooted from those who have shoes. Placing those who have guns, sticks and corn-stalks in separate platoons, and then form the line ready to receive your superior officers." Thomas P. Bond had been elected colonel of the regiment. The order was executed Col. Bond was seen coming in the distance accompanied by the old Lieut. Colonel, with his aids. The lines were wheeled into a column and made to perform some fine military evolutions, and were eventually brought into position for review by the colonel and his staff.

The grand column then moved with the colonel at its head, to a field half a mile west of town, with its bayonets, sticks and cornstalks glittering in the sunshine.

After exhibiting a fine inilitaiT display, they were formed into line of battle, under the command of the gallant colonel, and a sham battle, with corn-stalks was fought, with great fury, much to the delight of the by-standers.

Sim Brents was placed under arms by his commanding officer for disobedience of orders, in not poising his corn-stalk at an angle of forty-five degrees, in accordance with military usage. A guard was placed over him, who was compelled to holil an umbrella over his head to protect him from the intolerable heat of the sun, then 96' F. in the shade.

The deep snow occurred in the winter of 18.j0-o1. At th:it period the territory now embraced in Christian county was spar^elv settled. The roads were merely trails or bye- paths; and the houses of the settlers were log-cabins, and of a rude style of architecture, and the larder was not well supi)lied with sufficient provisions to carry the settler and his family through the winter. This beinothe case, much suftering occurred. The " deep snow " is one of the land-marks of the early settler. It is the mile-stone, so to speak, from which he counts, in dating event?. He sometimes relies upon it in recounting the date of his coming, his marriage, and the birth of his children. The deep snow was an important and very extraordinary phenomenon. Nothing has equalled it in this latitude for the last century - if the Indians' traditions are correct as to what occurred before the advent of the white man. The Indians had a tradition that about seventy-five years before, a snow fell which swept away the immense herds of bufl'alo and elk that then roamed over these prairies. This tradition was verified by the vast quantity of buffido and elk bones found on the prairies in diHerent localities when first visited by white men.

The snow began falling early in autumn, and continued at intervals, throughout the entire winter. The snow falls would be succeeded by heavy sleet, forming crusts of ice between tlie layers of snow, strong enough in many places to bear up the deer and hunter. Frequently for weeks the sun was not visible, and the cold was so intense that not a particle of snow would melt on the sides of the cabins facing the south. For weeks people were blockaded or housed up, and remained so until starvation compelled them to go forth in search of food. Great suffering, hunger and untold hardships were endured by the people. Game, such as deer, prairie chickens, quails, rabbits, &c., before that time had been abundant, but for years afterwards was very scarce, having perished in tiie snow. As the. snow would thaw, deer were often caught and killed without the aid of fire arms, being unable to get through the snow or walk on top. Later in winter, when the mass of snow or ice had become compact, fences that were staked and ridered were driven over with heavily loaded vehicles, and, in fact the old settlers say in places could not be .seen. The snow in manj- places, where not drifted, was three to five feet deep. In the spring, when this immense amouLt of snow melted, the river streams and marshes became flooded.

The writer, in conversing with a lady, an old settler, elicited from her the following facts and recollections relative to this wonderful and extraordinary atmospheric phenomenon, which occurred a little after noon one day in January, 183G. The lady .says, she and her family had finisbed the noon-day meal, and were sitting around and in front of the old-fashioned large open fire-i)lace, enjoying its generous warmth, chatting and discussing the state of the weather, as during the morning it had been snowing and raining a little: - presently the lady in looking from the window in her cabin, noticed a heavy black cloud lying oil' to the west, whick seemed to be rapidly approaching. Needing some water she took a bucket and went to the well, at a distance of about a 100 yard-, lowering the bucket with a long "sweep" then used in drawing the water, filled it, and starte 1 for the house. Before reaching the house the wind and rain struck her; blew and up;et a portion of the water on her clothing; the cold air seemed to cut like a knife, and before she reached the house, her dress and apron were frozen stiff" in a solid sheet of ice. Ponds which a moment before were free from the ice, were frozen in a solid mass in a few minutes. Many persons were frozen to death who happoneil to be caught away from home ; and many others, before they could get to a place of shelter, had their faces, cars, hands and feel frozen. Immediately preceding the storm the ground had been slightlv Covered witli snow, which from rain falling in the morning had becojne "slushy." Cattle, that were in the fiul.l.<, were held fast by the "slush" freezing about their feet; and it became nece.«sary to cut away the ice to liberate them. Ducks and geese were imprisoned in the same way. It wa- .-carrdy ti-n minutes after the cold wavg swept over the phicf, that the water and melting snow was hard enough to bear up a man on horseback.