Coles County, Illinois - The whole text, 1879 (part 8 of 21)

The Court House

The first brick house erected in Charleston was the present Court House, which was built some time before Col. Norfolk's residence, mentioned a little space ago. As noticed in the general county history, the first Court House in Coles County was built in the south part of the town, near where the Christian Church now stands, and was a log structure. The present brick Court House was built in 1835, by Leander Munsell, of Edgar County. His agreement with the County Commisioners is dated December 4, 1834, and covers nearly four pages of the record-book. The original building was the then prevailing style of architecture of an old Kentucky tobacco-barn ; was perfectly square with the roof, running up from all sides to a point in the center. "A steeple to extend five feet, with a ball about ten inches in diameter, to be covered with gold leaf, and a spear to extend six feet above the ball with a fish or chicken on the top." The contract price for the building was $5,000, and, at the next March term of the Court, Munsell was to receive " one-half for the labor performed and material furnished, provided there are sufficient funds in the treasury to do it." The foundation of the house was built of the rock taken from the cut through the Embarrass River hills of the grade for the old Terre Haute & Alton, now the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad. This building served the county many years as its temple of justice without alteration; but as the people increased in wealth and importance, and became proud and high-strung in their notions, they were at length seized with an extravagant fit, and had the old building renovated and " rejuvenated," until the very rats, that had grown gray under its floors, did not know it. The building was enlarged, porticoes added and the entire structure modernized generally, so that it now presents a very attractive and imposing appearance, and is quite an elegant and commodious Court House. The court-room is in the second story, is large, airy and well furnished, with jury-rooms, consultation-rooms, etc., adjacent, while on the first floor are the offices of the County and Circuit Clerks, the County Treasurer and Sheriff", and also the Jail. The " square " is filled with young sugar maples, well set in blue grass and surrounded by a substantial iron fence.

Charleston makes no pretensions to a wholesale mercantile trade, but its retail business in this line is excellent, and its merchants are live, wide-awake, energetic business men, who are well up to the times, with large and complete stocks of goods sufficient to fill all demands. But few cities of its population have as good a class of business houses as Charleston, many of them being of a style and quality that would look well in more pretentious cities. Our space will not admit of the particularization of the diff"erent mercantile houses, and we pass with this general compliment to their worth and honesty.

The banking business was begun in Charleston as early as 1853. In the fall of the vear mentioned, T. A. Marshall and others established " The Farmers' & Traders' Bank." This bank flourished until 1857-58, when in the great financial crash that swept over the land in those dark and gloomy years, it, like hundreds of others, went down. About 1860-61, Marshall & McCrory commenced a private bank, which, with some changes in its name and partners, finally became the Second National Bank, and as such is still in existence. The President of this bank is Isaiah H. Johnston, and Charles, Clary, Cashier.

The First National Bank of Charleston was developed from the private banking firm of T. G. Chambers & Co. This firm had been doing a general banking business since 1866, and, about 1868, together with another private banking firm, consolidated and formed the First National Bank, with Thomas G. Chambers, President, and William E. McCrory, Cashier, which positions both gentlemen still hold. Both the First and Second Nationals are sound.

healthy establishments, officered by men who have a long experience in banking and who possess the entire confidence of the people and the community at large.

One of the largest, perhaps the largest, manufacturing establishment in Charleston is the Broom-Factory of Traver & Nixon. Although it has been in operation but a few years, their business has increased almost beyond belief. They manufacture many thousand dozen of brooms annually, which are shipped to all parts of the country, but principally south - New Orleans being one of the best points, Georgia and Texas next. Three salesmen are continually on the road. Their business sums up about |60,000 a year ; seventy hands are employed at an expense of $15,000 per year. They cultivate about five hundred acres of broom-corn in addition to v/hat they buy. Since the establishment of this factory by these energetic men, the cultivation of broom-corn has become an extensive business among the farmers. A dozen years ago, there were scarcely so many acres of broom-corn grown in the county ; now thousands of acres are annually produced, and the business is increasing every year. The firm owns the Charleston elevator and broomcorn compress for baling and rebaling broom-corn for shipping, and are the only parties in this section owning such a machine. R. A. Traver, the senior member of the firm, is the author of " Traver's Broom-corn Culturist and Broom-maker's Manual," an interesting work devoted to the raising, cutting, curing and preparing broom-corn for market, from which we make a few extracts, as being of general interest to our readers. Speaking of the cultivation of broom-corn, he says: " At the present time Illinois is the acknowledged head-center of broom-corn growing in the United States, its rich and fertile prairies being well adapted to its growth and development. Chicago, Cleveland and Philadelphia broom manufacturers say that the finest and best broomcorn comes from the section of country bordering the Illinois Central Railroad, between Charleston, Coles County, and Champaign City. It appears the soil is naturally adapted to it so as to grow a fine article of hurl and brush corn, just as some sections of the United States are better adapted to the raising of tobacco than others. Chicago has become the acknowledged broom-corn market of the United States, and at present controls the market. * * *

In raising broom-corn, the first thing necessary is good land ; that is, what is considered good Indian corn land, and it will always pay to plow the land just before the planting, so that the broom-corn can get a start of the weeds. In fact, it never ought to be planted on weedy land. The best land for a certain crop is a sod, subsoiled, and then there is no trouble with weeds. The land should be thoroughly harrowed and in fine condition, and then the seed should never be put into the ground until the soil is thoroughly warm, so that it will come up soon and keep ahead of the weeds. * * * * the broom-corn, and the sooner it is cut the better, so that, when dried, it will be a bright pea-green color, as that color commands the highest price in the market ; the brush also weighs heavier, and is tougher and wears better when made into brooms. The ditFerence in price in all of the large markets between bright-green and ripe red brush generally runs thus : red, per lb., 2 cents ; green hurl, per lb., 8 cents - or in about that proportion; so it will be seen that it is of very great importance that it be cut and cured so as to be of a bright-green color." A great deal more of valuable information is given in this interesting little pamphlet.

The Charleston Foundry, owned by A. N. Bain, are quite an extensive establishment. In 1857, he and his brother, William Bain (now dead), came to Charleston and erected a small frame building for a foundry and machine-shop. For several years, their receipts were small, and, it was not until 1863 that they commenced the manufacture of stoves, which they continued until their popularity and business increased to a voluminous extent, and they manufactured fifty-two different kinds and sizes of stoves. A trade was built up that extended from Indianapolis to the Rocky Mountains. House-fronts and ornamental veranda work was added to their business, and many towns in Illinois show fair specimens of this line of work. William Bain died in 1875, since which time the business has been owned by A. N. Bain alone.

The Woolen-Mills of Messrs. Weiss & Frommel, are quite a large institution of the kind. It was originally established by Henry Weiss, at whose death Gruenther Weiss, one of the present proprietors, purchased an interest. His partner, Frederick Frommel, first engaged with Henry Weiss as a traveling salesman, and, after Mr. Weiss' death, he also purchased an interest in the mills, since which time the firm has been Weiss k Frommel. They do a large business in the manufacture of woolen goods, and are highly-respected, energetic business men of the city.

The pork-packing establishment of I. H. Johnston is a large concern, and in the days gone by did a large business, but for the last year or two has not been operated to its full capacity, but during the winter season does a good deal in its way.

Among the early munufacturing establishments of Charleston might be mentioned the brickmaking of George Tucker. He was, some years ago, the largest brick manufacturer in Coles County, and large building contractor ; has built a majority of the brick buildings in Charleston. He is a prominent Mason and Odd Fellow, and to him we are indebted for a history of these fraternities.

There are several other manufactories of less note, such as plow, wagon and carriage factories, which do quite a thriving business, but do not manufacture on a large scale. Charleston, we have no doubt, will, in time, become quite a manufacturing city. All that is needed is a little capital to develop the coal-fields, which lie but a few hundred feet below the surface. Time will do the balance.

Village Organization

Charleston was organized as a village in 1853, and, of the first Board of Village Trustees, Nathan Ellington was President. In 1865, it was incorporated as a city, with L. P. Tomlin as the first Mayor, and the old Board of Trustees acting as Aldermen. The Council and city officers at present are as follows, viz.: Hon. W. R. Patton, Mayor. Aldermen - R. Alexander, R. A. Traver, Harvey Said, E. H. Clark, W. S. Coon, Robert Stewart, H. M. Ashmore and James Skidmore. The City Clerk is Andrew Kershaw; George Steigman, Treasurer ; A. C. Ficklin, Attorney ; William Jeff"ries, Marshal, and W. Goodman, Superintendent of Streets. The city has an excellent Fire Department, consisting of Engine, Hose Company and Hook and Ladder Company, wellorganized and equipped. Water Works have been added to the city's convenience, welfare and safety, which, in connection with its splendid Fire Department, have saved the city many thousands of dollars. The Water Works were built in 1875, and are of a substantial character. The water is brought two miles, from the Embarrass River, thus utilizing that beautiful little stream in another capacity than mills and navigation.

The bar of Charleston (not the one where you look upon the wine when it is red, for Charleston is a red-ribbon town) stands high, and combines an array of legal talent that will compare with any community. Space will not permit particular mention of all as they deserve, hence we shall not attempt it. But the names of Connely, Cunningham, Ficklin, Wiley, Neal, Peterson, Adams, and others will be recognized as men of eminence and ability.

The medical fraternity, too, is able and deserving of a more particular mention than our space will allow. It embraces men who stand high in their profession, and have held high positions in the medical societies and institutions of the community.

The religious history of Charleston is as old as the town itself. The first religious services were held under the auspices of the old Predestinarian Baptists, who, at one time, were quite numerous in the town and county, but are rather scarce at the present day. Once they had a church-building in Charleston, with a flourishing society and several ministers, among whom were two or three of the Parkers and Elder Newport. The organization, we believe, is still kept up, but they have no regular preacher, nor regular church services, and but few members.

A society of the Old- School Presbyterians was organized June 13, 1835, by Rev. John McDonald and John Montgomery, with thirteen members, as follows, viz.: James Lumbrick, Thomas 0. Roberts and wife, Rosina Letner, Adam Mitchell and wife, James Mitchell and wife, William Collom and wife, Eugenia Campbell, Arthur G. Mitchell and wife, of whom only three are now living, viz.: Mrs. Esther Mitchell (widow of James A. Mitchell, afterward married to James Lumbrick, and again a widow), Mrs. Eliza CoUom and Mrs. Arthur Mitchell. The following preachers have administered to the Church since its organization, mostly as "stated supply "' : Rev. John McDonald, from organization to the spring of 1843, with the exception of about one year in 1840-41, when Stephen A. Hodgeman preached as stated supply. Rev. H. I. Venable supplied the pulpit for about one year in 1844-45, when Rev. Joseph Adams was called, and preached from 1846 to 1849. Rev. Robert A. Mitchell was then called, and labored as stated supply from 1849 to the spring of 1853. Rev. H. I. Venable* was recalled in the spring of 1853, and continued in charge until the close of 1855, when Rev. R. A. Mitchell was again called, and labored as stated supply from early in 1856 until 1858, when he was installed Pastor, upon the completion of the new house of worship. He continued as the Pastor until April, 1870, when he resigned the charge, having labored in this Church, altogether, for about sixteen years. Rev. R. F. Patterson was then called, and commenced his labors in October, 1870, and continued until the close of the year 1873, when he resigned on account of the ill-health of his wife. Rev. James A. Piper was then called to the charge, and labored one year as stated supply, when he was elected and duly installed Pastor, a position he still holds, beloved by all, making the seventh minister who has served this Church since its organization.

The first church edifice was commenced about 1842, and finished in 1845 - a frame building, costing about $1,000. The second building was commenced in 1857 and completed in the summer of 1858, and was dedicated to the service of God in August of that year. The dedicatory sermon and prayer was by Rev. Dr. Newell, of Paris, 111. It is a brick structure, and cost, originally, about |!9,000, with an additional cost of $5,000, for improvements, made the "memorial vear," in which the two churches - the new and the old - were united, thus making the sum total of the cost of building and improvements about $14,000. Membership, about two hundred and ten.

The following persons have acted as ruling Elders of the Church since its organization, in the order mentioned, viz.: James A. Mitchell and James Lumbrick, elected at organization ; William Collom and Stephen B. Shellady, elected October 14, 1837 ; James M. Miller and Dr. R. H. Allison, elected April 26, 1845 ; George S. Collom and James E. Roberts, elected October 25, 1851 ; John A. Miles, elected in 1853; John McNutt and William Miller, elected December 9, 1854; A. Carroll and Richard Roberts, elected February 27, 1864; Robert F. McNutt and T. C. Miles, elected October 13, 1866 ; Willliam E. Adams and T. C. Miles (the latter re-elected), March 28, 1871.

The Sunday school was organized about 1842 or 1843, and has been kept up nearly, or quite all the time since, except during the winter season prior to the completion of the first church-building in 1845. W. J. Ashmore is the present Superintendent, and there are on the roll the names of about two hun- dred and fifty children. Mr. J. M. Miller is Clerk of the Session, and to his courtesy and kindness we are indebted for the interesting history of this venerable Church.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of Charleston was organized in 1837.* Robert Lightfoot and family settled in the neighborhood in 1836, and Mrs. Barthenia Lightfoot, his wife, was a member of the Methodist Church. Being joined by parties who had recently moved from Ohio, and James Y. Brown and others, who were members of the society which had been organized east of town, they united in forming the first Methodist Church of this city. The name of the minister who originally organized the society cannot now be ascertained. The first church edifice erected was a large frame building, very large for that early day, and was built about the year 1839, on the block where Dr. Van Meter's residence now stands, and was of so frail a construction that it was only used about two years, when it was pulled down to give place to a much more elegant and durable frame building. The Church worshiped in this temple until 1857, when the present brick edifice was erected, under the direction of Rev. Timothy B. Taylor, Pastor in charge. It is a very neatly constructed building, two stories high - the basement containing one large room and two small class-rooms. The entire cost of this building, including the spire, was about $10,000. It was dedicated by Rev. Hiram Buck, who is still a leading member of the Illinois Conference. There has recently been added to this church property a convenient and valuable parsonage. The present active membership is 201, under the pastoral charge of Rev. J. B. Wolfe. The Sunday school was organized in 1840, and has an average attendance of about one hundred and fifty ; the Superintendent is Charles Clarey.

The history of the Christian Church in Charleston is of more modern date than that of the societies already given. It was originally organized about 1842, by Elder Samuel Peppers. The first church was built in 1846-47, which was used for a number of years and then sold to the Catholics, and the present brick edifice erected in the south part of the city, a short time previous to the beginning of the late war. We were unable to obtain the names of all the Pastors, but of those who have administered to the spiritual welfare of the Church since its organization are Elders Tyler, Tully, Young and Peppers. The present Pastor is Elder Walter S. Tingley, formerly of Indiana, and he has in his charge over two hundred members. The Sunday school was organized about the same time as the Church. It has a large attendance, and is under the superintendence of William Wright.

The Universalist Church is of comparatively recent organization in Charleston. The society was originally formed in 1868, by Rev. W. W. Curry, and the church edifice erected in 1870. The only two regular Pastors since the organization of the Church were Revs. Curry and D. P. Bunn. Death and removals have reduced the membership to thirty-six, though it has far exceeded

*There had been an organization previous to this, one and a half miles east of Charleston, but of it we were unable to obtain anything definite.

this number. The Sunday school was organized in 1870, and has an average attendance of eighty-seven ; Joseph Gtiffitli, Superintendent, and Neil. S. Dew, .Assistant Superintendent.

The Missionary Baptist Church was organized by Rev. Mr, Riley, now of Paris. They have an excellent Church and Sunday school, of which Harvey Said is Superintendent ; but, as the minister does not reside in Charleston, we were unable to learn much about it.

The St. Charles Roman Catholic Church was organized a number of years ago. Their first church was bought from the Christian society, and after being used a short time was blown down in a storm. In 1871, their present brick church was erected, at a cost of about $5,000, and is 60x30 feet in size. The present Pastor is Rev. Father C. Kuhlmann, and about sixty families worship at this church. The Sunday school was organized in 1871, is well attended and is superintended by Mrs. J. W. Dikob.

There is also a society of the Episcopalians in the city, but they have no church edifice, and, we believe, no regular pastor. They keep up the organization, however, and have occasional preaching.

Benevolent Organizations

Freemasonry was introduced in Charleston at an early day. Charleston Lodge, No. 35, was organized October 9. A. D. 1845, A. L. 5845. The charter members were William D. Gage, Edmund Roach, Adam Mitchell, Green G. Guthrie, Thomas C. Moore, James Watson and Jacob Linder. of whom William D. Gage was Worshipful Master ; Edmund Roach, Senior Warden, and Adam Mitchell, Junior Warden. The present officers are : E. B. Buck, Worshipful Master ; Harvey Said, Senior Warden ; J. W. Tucker, Junior Warden ; Charles Clary, Treasurer ; J. I. Brown, Secretary ; H. C. Barnard, Senior Deacon ; John A. Ricketts, Junior Deacon ; George Burton, Tiler, and George Tucker and H. M. Chadwick, Stewards. The records show about seventy members. The Lodge sustained a heavy loss by fire some years ago, but has recovered from its eifects, and is now in a flourishing condition.

Keystone Chapter, No. 54, Royal Arch Masons, was organized August 4, 1859, by virtue of a dispensation issued by the Most Excellent Grand High Priest of the State. The first officers were : H. P. H. Brorawell, High Priest ; G. W. Teel, King, and N. W. Chapman, Scribe. The present officers are : S. B. Walker, High Priest; G. W. Burton, King; George Tucker, Scribe; W. W. Fisher, Captain of Host ; William Chambers, Principal Sojourner ; W. S. Coon, Royal Arch Captain ; C. J. Endsly, Third Vail ; Jo Watkins, Second Vail: Benjamin Dawson, First Vail ; I. Winters, Treasurer; J. I. Brown, Secretary, and J. A. Ricketts, Tiler, with twenty-three members on the roll. H. P. H. Bromwell, mentioned as the first High Priest of this Chapter, and now a resident of Denver, Colo., was one of the brightest and most talented Masons of Southern Illinois, and once served the craft as Grand Master of the State.

Kickapoo Lodge, No. 90, I. 0. 0. F., was organized October 17, 1851, by Grand Master H. S. Rucker. The charter members were B. M. Hutchason, Elijah C. Banks, A. D. Walker, D. S. Gales and A. M. Henry, of whom B. M. Hutchason was Noble Grand, and E. C. Banks, Vice Grand. The present officers are : Moses Kershaw, N. G. ; John W. Mock, V. G., and J. I. Brown, R. S. Number of members admitted since organization, 250.

Charleston Lodge, No. 609, I. 0. 0. F., was organized March 8, 1876, by Grand Master John H. Oberley. Ten members were embraced in the charter, and Dr. Denman, of Kickapoo Lodge, was appointed Special Deputy by the Grand Master, and instituted the new Lodge. The present officers are : E. H. Clarke, N. G. ; Andrew Stimmols, V. G. ; J. C. Hall, R. S. Coles Encampment, No. 94, was organized several years ago, and is the highest body of the Odd Fellows. The officers are : F. Frommel, C. P. ; John Rail, H. P., and J. I. Brown, Secretary.

The Public Schools. '

High school was organized January, 1871. First graduating class, June, 1873. Total number of graduates, 125; of these, 54 are teachers, or have been, 4 lawyers, 3 doctors, 1 dentist, 2 druggists, 4 merchants, 9 clerks, 3 have died, and all are conducting themselves in such a manner as to win the respect and confidence of the community. The high-school course embraces three years.

In pursuit of such an education, the studies of our schools serve as efficient means toward an end, but they are not the end sought. The higher and better uses of all studies are their indirect uses, the benefits that flow through their proper prosecution, in greater power of attention, enlarged comprehension, quickened curiosity, greater self-control, and wider and more far-reaching influence over others. Our schools are striving to attain these results. They are divided into three departments - high school, grammar, primary. The primary is divided into four grades, and each grade into three classes ; the grammar into three grades, and each grade into two classes. The present corps of teachers are :

Central Building - Mrs. Nellie Bain, Principal, high school ; Miss Emma Bain, Assistant, high school ; Miss Kate Whittemore, third grammar department ; Mrs. J. T. Terrill, second grammar department ; Miss Stella Hitchcock, first grammar department; Miss Sarah Gray, primary department.

Of the present corps of teachers, eight are graduates of the high school. An Alumni Association was formed in 1874, and meets every June. Present Superintendent, Prof. M. Moore, is now serving his ninth year.

The public-school buildings of Charleston are all elegant brick edifices, of modern architecture, and present a very fine and imposing appearance, particularly that in the Central District. It was built in 1870-71. The cornerstone was laid in the spring of 1870, by the Masonic fraternity, and the building was completed in time for the session of 1871. It cost about $50,000 ; is well arranged for school purposes, and supplied with all modern improvements in the way of school furniture.

The Newspapers

we read to-day the news from the capital of the Russias; from the southern extremity of the Grecian Archipelago, from Athens, from Paris, from to John S. Theaker, who published it till October, 1866, and sold it to Dunbar BrothBrs. Albert Dunbar, one of the proprietors, died in 1875, when Lucian Dunbar continued to publish it until in May, 1878, when he sold it to McConnell & Co., the present proprietors. It is Republican in politics, and a live, energetic newspaper.

George Harding, after his retirement from the old Courier in 1857, established the Charleston Ledger, which he published about two years, and sold it to John M. Eastin. He sold it to McHenry Brooks, who published it until 1867, and sold it to Shoaff and Underwood. About this time the name of the Courier had been changed to that of Plaindealer, and ShoafF & Underwood changed the Ledger into the Courier. Shoaff sold his interest in about a year to Major Miller, who now publishes a paper in Tuscola, and in about a year more, Miller sold to E. B. Buck, who, with Underwood, published the paper until about 1873-74, when Buck bought out Underwood and has published it ever since. Mr. Buck is an editor of considerable experience and an able newspaper man, and has filled the oflBce of President of the State Press Association. His paper is true blue Democratic, and a faithful exponent of the principles of that party.

The grain trade of Charleston is not very extensive, from the fact that a large proportion of it is fed to stock by the farmers. Among the grain-buyers of the city is the firm of Messrs. McDonald and Zink, who use the elevator on the railroad owned by Traver k Nixon, and who, in the grain season, do a very large business.

A feature of Charleston is the studio of Charles Briggs. He was the first house and sign painter in Charleston, and from that has taken up portrait painting. We have seen several portraits of old citizens of Charleston, which show considerable talent of the artist for this kind of work. He has made a specialty of painting fine stock bred in this county, in which he excels. Specimen paintings of hogs from Shepard & Alexander's herds look so natural that one naturally expects to hear them grunt and squeal.

The Infirmary of Dr. Van Meter, mentioned in another page, was, some years ago, one of the largest institutions in Charleston. But years of labor, and ill-health compelled the doctor recently to close it and retire from active business life.

Mound Cemetery, Charleston's beautiful little city of the dead, is located about one mile west of town, and is well adapted for cemetery purposes. The name is well chosen, being a large mound in the center, and the land sloping down in all directions. The first cemetery is now in the city limits and becoming pretty well filled. Mound Cemetery was laid off, as stated, one mile west of the city.

This township, named from the city of Mattoon, is the middle one in the western tier of townships in the county. It contains thirty-six sections of land - one Congressional township - and is principally prairie land.

The Little Wabash courses through the southern part, flowing southward until it finds an outlet in the larger stream of that name. In the southern part, skirting this stream, is a strip of timber, known as the Wabash Point Timber, and is the locality where the earliest settlements were made. It is the only grove of native forest-trees, of any size, in the township. The best timber has long been cut away for use in the settlement of the country, what is left being used chiefly for firewood.

The Little Wabash aff'ords the principal drainage in the township. Its east^ ern part is known as the "Divide," as the water naturally runs in opposite directions from that point. It is almost the highest land in Illinois.

Away from the timber to the north, the face of the country is generally quite level, broken only by long undulations. It is almost entirely prairie land in this part, and was allowed to remain uncultivated until after the opening of the railroads. It was largely used for pasturage during this period, and often presented signs of great animation as the herds of cattle, under the care of their drovers, moved about over its grassy, slightly undulating surface.

The prairies are now the chief producing part of the township. They easily admit of good drainage and, though to some extent rather level, are exceedingly productive. Corn is the principal cereal grown. The others do w^ell, but throughout this part of Central Illinois are not the staple article of agriculture. Cattle and hogs are raised quite extensively. Mr. Elisha Linder and a few others have been for many years prominently engaged in this business. The railroads at Mattoon give a direct outlet to all the chief markets of the world and should maintain a constant sale for farm produce.

A curious phenomenon exists on the farm of W. M. Champion, in the southwest part of this township. When digging for a well in March, 1871, after attaining a depth of thirty-one feet, a drill was used which was sunk a few feet farther, and a vein of carbonate gas struck. It was observed that Avhen the drill was withdrawn the water gurgled up at irregular intervals, and as a vein Avas supposed to be found preparations were made to wall the well. No smell was attached to the gas, and no thoughts of it being then entertained. From the peculiar motion of the water it was feared by one of the men that there might be poisonous gases in the well, and"bne of them went after a wisp of hay and another for some shavings. The latter returned first, and, lighting his bunch, was hallooed to by the other to " Throw it down." /. e., on the ground. Thinking he meant throw it in the well he did, and a frightful report and sheet of flame burst forth. Mr. Tremble and one or two others who were near were severely scorched about the face, and all were tremendously amazed. The gas soon burned out, but would soon accumulate. Various experiments were made with it. An iron tube was inserted and the gas allowed to escape in a small stream. When lighted it burned with a brilliant light. The well soon became notorious and was visited by scores of people from all sections of the West. Finally, Mr. Champion bethought himself to utilize the gas, and, conducting it by pipes to his house, soon had it in use in his kitchen to cook by, and in other stoves it was used as fuel. It made an excellent light, and he has all the appliances of a city in that regard. He walled the well, and now water stands in it, all seasons, so that from one well he gets light, fuel and water, all without any tax or license.

Attempts have been made to obtain petroleum in the township, but all have proved unsuccessful. Coal can be had as it was found in exploring for oil, but at such a depth that it will hardly pay to work.

Early Settlements

As has been intimated, the earliest settlement in this township was made near the timber on the Little Wabash, in the south part of the township. Emigration to this part of the county came after that part along the Embarrass River had received its first influx of settlers, hence the locality was known before any came to live.

In the summer of 1826, Mr. Charles Sawyer, a resident of Kentucky, came to this part of Illinois looking for a home. He remained a short time with the Trues, in what is now La Fayette Township, and examined the country to the south and west of them. Selecting a location at the north side of the timber, on the Little Wabash, he returned to the True settlement, and hired a man named Bates, for $10, to build him a cabin, while he should return to Kentucky for his family. Mr. Bates hired Levi Doty, a young man living in the neighborhood, to build the cabin, and, by winter, a very comfortable home was ready for " Uncle Charley " when he should return. This cabin was the first habitation for a white man known to have been built in the bounds of either Mattoon or Paradise Township. It stood near the site of Mr. John Sawyer's house in Section 28, and until a few other pioneers could erect similar habitations, was the home of the emigrant while he was selecting and preparing his own fireside.

During the interval from the completion of the cabin by Mr. Doty, and what few pioneers he could call to his aid, and Mr. Sawyer's return in the spring of 1827, one family made it a temporary home until they could build their own cabins. The family was that of James Nash. They were living in the cabin when Mr. Sawyer arrived. Some among the early residents state that another family, that of Miles Hart, occupied the cabin. Mr. John Sawyer is, however, not of this opinion. It may be that Mr. Hart remained in it only a few days, while Mr. Nash seems to have used it longer. Which of the two statements is accurate, it is now difficult to determine, but we are inclined to the opinion that only Mr. Nash lived in the cabin, and that Mr. Hart did not come until later, as is mentioned further on. When "Uncle Charley," as he Avas afterward always known, returned, he brought with him his two sons-inlaw, John Young and Henry Cole, who each brought a small family. Mr. Young settled where B. F. Mooney now lives, and Mr. Cole immediately north and adjoining Uncle Charley. These three pioneers had not been long in their frontier homes until they were joined by John Houching, known as "Uncle Jack," who settled the farm now owned by Azariah Sanders. The Hart families, one of whom, Miles H., has already been noticed, came about the same time, and joined the infantile settlement. Miles H. ^as joined by his father, Thomas, and his brothers Silas, Jonathan, Moses and Thomas, Jr., all of whom brought families but the last named, who was yet a single man. The Hart family settled in what is now Paradise Township, and will be found noticed there more fully. If they all came at once, then the assertion of Mr. John Sawyer, that Miles H. did not live in his father's cabin prior to the latter's permanent removal, is correct. These families, with James T. Cunningham and Jefferson Coleman came together, and were the pioneers of Paradise Township. The entire settlement at that date was, however, counted as one.

These persons were about all that came in 1827. They formed the first settlement and may be truly named the pioneers of that part of the county.

The next year, John Sawyer, brother of Charles, located on the east side of the timber. About the same time that he came, George M. Hanson and Dr. John Epperson, the first physician in the county, arrived. Mr. Hanson settled the farm now owned by John E. Tremble, and the Doctor located farther south, just over the line in what is now Paradise Township. Though an early settler there, and one whose history properly belongs to that township, some account of him here will not be out of place.

He w^as for many years the only physician of all this part of the country, often riding twenty and thirty mile^i to visit his patients. He was uniformly kind and faithful in his attentions to the sick, and was greatly respected. Even after old age came on and he earnestly requested none to call on him for professional advice or aid, his old neighbors and acquaintances would not give him up, but came again and again for him. If he could not go to the patient, they would ask for prescriptions and advice, and as long as the old Doctor lived, he could not deny them this. He remained at his old home until his death, which occurred only a little over a year ago. The old settlers of this part remember well the golden wedding which he and his faithful wife were privileged to celebrate a few years ago.

About a year after the settlement of the Doctor and Mr. Hanson, came James Graham and family, Avho located a little east of Charles Sawyer. Mr. G. was a local Methodist preacher of commendable zeal, and a faithful, earnest,

Christian man. He was one of the pioneer ministers in the western part of the county, and was a man extensively known. Soon after he settled, Elisha Linder arrived with his mother, two sisters and one brother, and settled south and adjoining Mr. Graham. Mr. Linder had been out here in 1829, and selected a location, remaining about two months. Early in 1831, he returned, planted a crop, raised a cabin, and then returned for his mother and family, arriving with them in October. They were from Hardin County, Ky., where many of those we have mentioned had lived, and, like their predecessors, came to Illinois to find a new home, and where they could grow with the growth of the county. Mr. Linder is still living on his old homestead, in the enjoyment of the comforts a long, busy life has gathered around him.

James Nash, of whoiii mention has been made, died soon after his settlement. His was the first death in the community, and, for want of better tools, his coffin was made of split walnut puncheons. Mr. John Sawyer, Sr., now an old man, states that he was among those who made the coffin and dug the grave. He was a boy then, but distinctly remembers the circumstances. No train of carriages or gilded hearse bore his remains to their last resting-place. The few neighbors, true to one another, gathered silently at the cabin of their late associate, and, after a prayer, a song, and a few remarks by the good old Elder, laid him away in his rough coffin and lonely grave. Mr. Nash's death was the result of an injury received from carrying a log, with which to make a bee gum, on his shoulder. His death occurred on December 24, 1829. He was buried on Christmas Day, on a small bluff on the Little Wabash, near what is now the home of John Thomas, on the road from Mattoon to Paradise. This was the first grave dug for a white settler at the Wabash Point. One of his children has since been buried near him. The place Mr. Nash settled fell into the hands of William Langston, another early settler. It is now owned by William Clark. George Morris settled west of Mr. Langston's, his farm being the one now owned by the widow Langston. Next west of Mr. Morris was old Mr. Champion, father of Richard and William Champion. Further on south and west of the timber, in what is now Paradise Township, were the Curry s. Moores, Mclntoshes, Alexanders, Crosses, Brinegers and the Drakes. These were among the early settlers in this neighborhood, and in Paradise Township, where they are more particularly noticed.

On November 11, 1830, Mr. Hiram Tremble came to the infantile settlement, pitching his camp near the cabin of " Uncle Charley." He says it was the common camping-ground for all, and Uncle Charley was looked upon as the center of the little group. He was always a true friend to all who came ; was a devout, earnest Christian, a Methodist, and was among the first to aid in planting that church at the Point.

Mr. Tremble is a local minister in that denomination, and is now living on his old homestead. He has been quite active in advancing the interests of this part of the county ; was a contractor and builder of part of the two railroads centering at Mattoon ; helped build the first grain warehouse there, and was one of the first merchants in the town. He will be well remembered by many residents in his sketches of the early times here, published in the Mattoon Journal, under the title, " Forty Years Ago," and ft-om which we have obtained much of our information respecting the early days of the western part of the county.

The settlers mentioned include about all who came prior to 1882. During this interval. Coles County was formed, and a voting-place established in this neighborhood. The first who came generally lived in their wagons until they could erect a cabin. These cabins were built of round logs, notched at the ends, so as to fit closely together. They were generally cut the required length in the woods, and, on the "raising-day," were hauled to the place selected for the future home of the pioneer. As fast as they were brought to the ground, they were notched and rolled into their place, two of the best men in the party acting as "end men."

When the cabin had reached the required height, the four last, or top, logs were often made three or four feet longer than the rest, thereby projecting over their fellows. The end pieces forming the cone were made each one shorter than its predecessor, until an apex was reached. On this, from end to end, was laid a stout center-pole, projecting like its fellows three or four feet at either end. About two feet below it, another was placed, and on down until the ends of the outstretching logs were reached. These were covered with split oak slabs, one-half inch thick, about a foot wide and often four feet long. They were held in their places generally by " weight poles," /. e., poles placed over each " lap" of the clapboards, held in their places by short sticks placed endways between them. Sometimes stones were laid on the roof in addition to these- The cabin was now a simple pen, with no means of ingress and egress, and no apertures for light, save the cracks between the logs. They must not be left unclosed, as but little or no protection could be afforded with them open. A bed of " mud " mortar was made, the heart pieces of the oak, from which the clapboards or "shakes" had been made for the roof and puncheons for the floor and doors, were taken, inserted edgways between the logs and held in their places by pins driven into auger-holes in the logs, and all covered well with the mud mortar ; when thoroughly dry, the chinking and daubing completely covered the cracks and rendered the cabin comfortable.

An opening for the door was made in the side of the house by cutting a space about three feet in width by six feet in height, leaving the upper and lower logs half cut through, one to form a door-step, the other a secure upper-part. '- Jambs " were next pinned to the ends of the logs, both to hold them in their places and to form a better door-frame. The door was made of split puncheons pinned to cross-pieces and hung on wooden hinges. The latch was made on the inner side of the door, and was raised from the outside by means of a leather thong passing through a gimlet-hole a few inches above the latch. At night, it was drawn in and the door was practically locked. It was always out in the daytime, and was considered by the pioneer an open invitation to all to enter and partake of his hospitality. It was, in its mute way, a sign of welcome, and gave rise to the popular, earnest proverb, " My latch-string is always out." This was exemplified by the fact that when it was withdrawn it was considered that, for some reason, the invitation was for the time also withdrawn.

A window for the humble home was made, commonly opposite the door, bv cutting out a space about two feet square and placing therein a window containing two or four window-lights. In early pioneer times in the West, when glass could not be obtained, either owing to the distance to the settlements or the poverty of the pioneer, greased paper answered the place of glass, the windows, however, having only a dimension of the width of one log, and probably two feet long. Sometimes, especially in schoolhouses, several feet in length of a log was cut out and a window made in this manner. The next thing necessarv to complete the cabins was the chimney or fire-place. That was always at one end of the cabin, aitd was often five or six feet wide and nearly three feet deep.

An aperture was made in the logs of the required length, and a space measured off outside, and covered either with clay or more often with flagstones. Split pieces of oak were made, one end of which was placed just inside the logs of the wall, the other projecting outward, where it was crossed by a similar stick, both notched to fit closely together. The inclosure was built up in this manner until the required height was reached. The inside was securely covered with stones or a thick layer of mud, more commonly the former, to prevent the chimney from burning. On the top of this pen, a chimney was made of stipks and mud firmly cemented together. At the bottom, it was of the same size, or nearly so, of the fire-place, but grew narrower as it neared the top, where it was often not more than one foot square. This chimney, when properly constructed, was perfectly safe, and possessed an excellent draught. On the inner side, a crane was hung, to which were suspended the various pots and kettles used by the good wife or her daughters in their cooking. No stoves at this date were to be seen. Even had they been easily obtained, the poverty of the average pioneer would have prevented him from obtaining one.

The floor was laid with puncheons split, like the clapboards for the roof, with a frow, from a clean, straight-grained oak-tree. They were from four to six or eight feet in length, and were laid, commonly, on short, round poles, a few inches above the ground. Often the pioneer's cabin did not possess even the luxury of such a floor, the earth, tramped hard, answering the purpose. If a loft was desired, it was made by running stout poles, three or four feet apart, from the top of the last round of logs on one side of the cabin to the other, and on these were laid puncheons similar to the ones on thfe floor beneath. A ladder, leading from below, stood' in one corner of the cabin, generally just behind the door and near the fire-place.

The early emigrants rarely brought an extensive outfit for housekeeping. They were mostly poor, and in this regard were all equal. The cabin had been built, it will be observed, without a single piece of iron being put into its construction, pegs answering the place of nails. Where beds, tables, chairs and other such articles were needed, they were made. The bed was a rude, strong affair, made in one corner of the room, by placing an upright post about four feet from one wall, and six or seven from the other. Poles were laid from this post to both walls, slats laid thereon, whose outer end extended through between two logs, and on them the bed was spread. Dried prairie-grass was often used until feathers could be obtained. Under this bed, a smaller one was made that could be pulled out at night, and shoved under again in the morning. We have seen them in this manner, and have also seen, about two feet above the main bed, another made, and at the same distance above that, another, not unlike the berths in a steamboat. A table was made of a stout oak plank, or two of them fastened together with cross-pieces pegged on and supported by four upright posts inserted at auger-holes near each corner. Stools were made in the same manner, only they were small and commonly three-legged. Pegs were driven in auger-holes in the wall, on which the wearing apparel of each one could be hung, or where any article not needed could find a resting-place, were it something adapted to that way of support. Shelves for dishes were made from small split boards, placed either on pegs or inside two uprights made in the same way, and held to their place by means of notches.

These were the main features of the cabin-home. Many did not possess as many articles as we have enumerated, and some had more, and often much better habitations. The luxuries of life were generally not seen the first years of the settlement, but appeared as the residents could obtain them.

After the neighborhood had become established in this part of Mattoon Township - for by such boundaries must they be designated, even though the townships did not then exist - some of the young men and women concluded they could get along better together, and a new home was to be provided for them. Land was plenty and cheap, and not so much was required then to commence married life as now. A cabin, similar to the one we have described, was erected for the young couple, and was commonly dedicated with a dance or frolic, in which all the young folks of the community joined.

When the young couple repaired to their new home, generally on horse-back or on foot (if by the former method, both^ on one horse), they found it ready for use, with its puncheon table, tripod stools, slab cupboard and wide chimney. It would contain a few articles of household utility given by the parents of the pair ; for a bride's dower consisted then of a few such articles, some good advice, and, mayhap, a horse and side-saddle. The young husband had an ax, a few other tools, a few farming implements, and, possibly, a horse. Thus equipped, they started in life. The young bride had no confidential friend ; knew nothing of milliners and mantua-makers ; did not take a fashion-journal or the New York Weekly to beguile leisure hours and give her foolish nothings to think about. She entered on life conscious of a duty, fully prepared to do her part, with a healthy body, vigorous, crude mind, and earnest purpose. Before a few years elapsed, other tripods were needed for the children that had come to the frontier home ; and comforts and blessings of life, though they entailed hardship and toil, came to the rude, cheerful home.

As much as old people love to dwell upon these pleasant memories, we cannot but think there are equally brave and willing brides to-day, who, though they do not meet trouble in the way our ancestors found it, find it in other ways, -calling for as much resolve and resolution as of old, whose trials are met as bravely as those met and overcome by their grandmothers of the early day of Central Illinois.

As soon as the old cabin-home had been established, the next care was the planting and cultivation of a crop. A space was cleared in the woods (as they had no plows that would turn the prairie sod), and, after being turned by the barshare plow, was planted in corn, potatoes and a few other garden vegetables, while a portion was sown in wheat, could any be obtained. Corn, however, then, as now, was the main staple. It furnished the meal for food, and, by boiling in strong lye, made by filtering water through wood ashes, an excellent and nutritious hominy was produced. Honey was abundant at this day, the woods abounding in bee-trees. In a year or two after the first settlers located, maple-sugar and molasses were additional articles of food, and most excellent ones, too. No molasses brings as high a price as maple-sirup now, owing to its scarcity ; the sugar, however, is not considered possessing the same qualities as other kinds, hence is not much in demand. These articles, found so abundantly in frontier life, added much to its comforts. Cornmeal could be made on the old grater or mortar, and, when baked as the native Kentucky housewife knew how, made a most nutritious and palatable article of food. The appetites of the pioneers were generally sharpened by violent exercise in their daily vocations, and did not need any tempting viands to induce them to eat.

Pork was obtained by allowing the hogs to run wild in the woods, subsisting on the mast then so plenty. To prevent them from roaming over the cultivated fields, a brush fence was made by felling a great number of small trees with their tops altogether in a continuous line around the field. Hogs fattened on the mast made good pork, and as corn was not so abundant then as now, and mast plenty and free, they were allowed undisturbed access to it. They often became in a measure quite wild when allowed to roam, and when wanted at killing season generally had to be shot. While young, they were kept near the house and securely penned, as the wolves soon evinced a fondness for fresh, tender pork, and did not scruple in the slightest to take all they could get. When the pigs were large enough to resist the wolf, they were allowed their freedom.

Deer, bears, wild turkeys and prairie chickens provided an abundant supply of wild meat for the settlers. Deer were as plenty as cattle now, and it was not an uncommon affair, for the pioneer to shoot one from his cabin-door did he want a fresh venison steak for his breakfast. So common was the article it was not considered the luxury it is now, and was not thought as much a company dish as pork or beef. Turkeys grew very fat when the mast became ripe, and were very tender eating. Prairie chickens were not often eaten, their flesh not being considered very palatable. Bears, while they were not so plenty here as in some parts of the West, were by no means a rarity, and often furnished food for the settlers. Buffaloes were very scarce, even if any were to be found. Their bones, old settlers tell us, were thickly strewn over the prairies when they came, but the live animal was a rarity.

Wolves were the most troublesome animals to be found. They would kill the young pigs, depopulate chicken-roosts, carry off young lambs, slay their mothers, and all the time render night hideous with their bowlings. They were very numerous, too, so mnch so, that grand hunts were organized to exterminate them. Mr. Elisha Linder tells how that in one winter he killed one hundred of them, generally by riding them down and clubbing them, or shooting them. The wolf was generally a great coward, preferring to pillage at night. During the day they would retire to their dens on some little knoll or in the edge of the timber. After the country began to settle, bounties were offered by the counties for wolf-scalps, whereby many paid their taxes. Now they are all gone from this part of Illinois, and should one adventurous wolf show himself, such a hunt would be organized to capture him, as would almost rival the hunts of

We have departed, somewhat, from the direct thread of the narrative, to notice the accidents to which the first pioneers were liable in the erection of their cabins, and their start in their new homes. We will now return, in part, to the narrative of the settlement, and note a few subsequent events.

We had brought the story down to the year 1832. About this year, Charles W. Nabb, now a resident of Mattoon, came up from Lawrence County, 111., purchased the farm of George M. Hanson, and became one of the permanent settlers. Mr. Hanson went to Whitley's Point and settled on the farm where now Deck Dole lives. Among other old settlers of this date, may be reckoned David Hanson, from Virginia, who may have been a year or two earlier than 1832; John Young, from Kentucky; William Moore, who removed first from Kentucky to Cumberland County, then to Coles ; James Waddill, an early teacher ; Barton Randall ; James James, another early local preacher ; Nathan Curry, who came in the spring of 1830, raised one crop, then moved to Shelby County, where he lived many years ; and a few others, whose names we have not been able to obtain. These are, however, the majority, of those who came to this settlement prior to the Black Hawk war. Until after that event, there were very few residents in the territory included in the present bounds of Mat- toon Township. The settlement was all one, though it extended over many miles of country. All were neighbors ; all were poor ; all were ambitious, and nearly all came to enjoy the comforts of life they expected to find as the fruit of their privation and toil.

Thewinter of 1830 and 1831 was one of unusual severity. It is known in the annals of the West, especially in the northern part, as the " winter of the deep snow." The snow fell almost continuously from the latter part of November till late in January, covering the ground in Northern Illinois to the depth of nearly four feet. In the southern part of the State, it was not so severe or lasting, and was a little more than half that depth. The winter wa^, hoAvever, very cold, and as the settlers were generally poorly provided against any such contingencies, much suffering ensued. About the latter part of February, a warm spell came, which quickly melted the snow, covering the entire face of the country with water. At this juncture, a reverse of temperature arose, and a continuous glare of ice was the result. People could not go anywhere with horses or oxen, as they were not able, in a majority of cases, to shoe their teams. Had skates been as common then as now, what glorious sport the boys would have enjoyed ? While this ice was on the ground, a few emigrants arrived, after a tedious journey over the icy prairies. Often the women were obliged to walk, the emigrant teams scarcely able to draAV the wagons. The ice was succeeded in the spring by another thaw, the like of which has rarely been seen since. The people were obliged to resort to various measures to obtain meal, fuel, meats, etc., while they were compelled to carry water and food to their stock, none of which could travel over the smooth surface everywhere presented. During this time, the old mortar and grater came vigorously into, use to supply cornmeal, and many evenings did the male members of the family devote their energies to one or the other, generally the former, to supply food for the rest. Neither was an easy task. The grater was made by puncturing the bottom of an old tin pan with a nail a great many times. On the outer edges of the rough pieces of tin thus presented, the ear was rubbed until worn to the cob. This could be successfully done only when the corn was a little soft. When hard, it would shell from the cob too easily. Then the mortar came into use. This instrument w^as made by burning a hollow in a block or stump, of a sufficient depth to hold about a peck of shelled corn. A pestle was then made of a heavy piece of wood, that would fit the cavity tolerably closely. Sometimes, to give it more weight, an iron wedge was fixed securely in the end. Corn would now be placed in the hole and pounded fine with the pestle. Ofttimes, to render the task easier, the pestle was rigged to a pole, not unlike a well-sweep, and worked in this way. When rigged to the sweep, it was a great saving of labor, and could be made much more effective. The meal made in this manner was not very fine, it was true, but it could be sifted, what went through the sieve being taken as the meal while the rest was made into what was known us beaten hominy.

Before the pioneers made outdoor ovens, bread was baked in a skillet or on a board before the fire. Corn-bread made in this way had a peculiar relish, it is claimed by the old settlers. Probably their appetites had much to do with the relish. Mush and milk was also a favorite which even yet has not lost its strength.

The season following the "deep snow " produced a very fair crop. A few more emigrants came to the settlement, and helped swell its numbers. No troubles with the Indians, who were very few, had been experienced in this part of Illinois, and everything here seemed in a fair way to prosperity. The northern portions of the State had, however, not been so fortunate in this regard. The Sac and Fox Indians, whose villages were near the junction of the Mississippi and Rock Rivers, had refused to leave their homes and remain beyond the Father of Waters. Black HaWk was chief of the Sac nation, whose principal village was on a romantically commanding site just above the mouth of Rock River. It had been their home for more than one hundred and fifty years, and was endeared to them by all the ties of home and human nature. By the seventh article of the treaty of 1804, the lands belonging to this nation were actually to accrue to the United States whenever they were sold to private individuals. Until such a time the Indians could remain on them and hunt as usual. In 1816, Black Hawk recognized the validity of this treaty ; but when, in 1829, some of the land in his native home was sold by the General Government and became thereby the property of others, he refused to recognize the treaty and to leave his village. Adjacent to it was a large field of nearly seven hundred acres which had been the common field for the cultivation of corn, pease and squashes. This field some of the more lawless whites seized before they had a right to it, and by wanton acts of cruelty to the Indian women and children provoked the savages to retaliatory measures. The whites also brought considerable whisky, which they sold and traded to lawless Indians, against the law and the express commands of the chiefs, which so enraged them at the carousals it produced, that in one or two instances the exasperated chieftains went to the houses of the settlers, and, knocking in the heads of the whisky barrels, emptied their contents on the ground. One thing brought on another until war was declared. The first call for volunteers was made by Gov. Reynolds early in the spring of 1831. No county south of St. Clair and east of Sangamon was included in this call, as it was thought the Indians could be easily driven across the Mississippi, where they had been for a time living. Black Hawk refused to go, and force was used. At first the Indians conquered the whites, and more calls were made for volunteers. Numbers responded from every part of the State. In these calls, Coles County furnished but few men, and the Wabash Point less than a dozen. Those that went were required to furnish their own guns, ammunition, horses, etc., and provisions enough to last them to one of the forts where the general rendezvous took place. There they were supplied with ammunition and food, and were attached to some regiment.

The recruits generally went in companies under self-appointed leaders. The State militia law was then in force, and each man knew, or thought he knew, the. tactics of war. The sequel showed some ludicrous sides of human nature. Many brave men at home were cowards on the field, and ready to run at the first opportunity. It was observed, then, that the bravest were the modest ones, and those that commonly had the least to say about their own valiant deeds were the ones who merited praise.

It might not be amiss to mention the " old muster-days," as they were called. They were days of a general gathering, when all able-bodied men were required to meet at some designated point and drill. The day began to be regarded as one of general frolics, rather than muster, for, as the danger from the Indians decreased, the need of the militia diminished, until, so apparent did its uselessness become, and so obnoxious to those who could not spare the time, that, by a common decree of the people, who ridiculed the day in every way they could, it was abolished by the General Assembl3^ From the return of the troops from the Black Hawk war down to the opening of the railroads in 1855, but few things occurred out of the regular course of events. That war settled the Indian question in Illinois, and peace, with the red men in her borders, was the result. They were gradually withdrawn from their homes in the Prairie State, and, in a few years, none were to be seen. They followed the course of the westward sun, and seem destined, erelong, to be swallowed up by the mighty race which has taken their country.

Emigration set in anew to the West, and throughout the entire length and breadth of Illinois a continuous train of settlers poured in. Chicago was now coming into prominence, and Utopian visions of wealth began to dazzle the eyes of the denizens of Illinois. Before proceeding to note the rise of the improvement system and its inglorious end, we will notice two events of unusual occurrence which happened, and which many of the old residents in Mattoon Township will remember. The first of these is

The Meteoric Shower

A most remarkable phenomenon occurred on the night of November 12, 1833, known as the " Falling Stars," which it will be well to notice here. It appears to have occurred all over the Western country, if not over the entire United States. Mr. Tremble gives a stirring account of it in his sketches, which we here reproduce. He says :

" I was on my way home from a mill, west of Shelbyville, and had arrived at the cabin of an early friend and brother in the ministry, about four miles west of the town, then a village of about two hundred inhabitants. As I was twenty-six miles from home, and had only an ox-team, I desired the brother to get me up at 3 o'clock in the morning, so that I could get home that night. After a pleasant evening, we retired. My landlord was up at the designated hour, and, going out of the cabin-door, saw a sight that utterly bewildered him for a moment. All the stars seemed to be falling, and he at once concluded the heavens were falling and that the final day had come. Returning into the cabin, he aroused the family and myself, assuring us that the day of judgment had come, and for us to prepare to settle our accounts with our Maker. We were all up in a few moments, and beheld a sight never to be forgotten. The air was full of falling drops of fire, that immediately expired as they neared the ground. Sometimes they would alight on a leaf of a bush or tree, and go out with a peculiar noise, difficult to delineate in orthography. It sounded something like " tchuck," given with the shortest possible sound of the vowels. After gazing on the grand sight awhile, I asked the good lady to prepare me a little breakfast, while I fed and yoked my cattle. While I was eating my breakfast, the good minister remarked that he could not understand how I could eat so unconcernedly, when on the threshold of eternity. I noticed he was indeed in deep earnest, and sat part of the time with his head bowed between his knees, clasped in his hands, and apparently engaged in earnest thought. He arose when I prepared to go, protesting against my journey on such a solemn occasion, as the world would soon be on fire and the end of all all things be. I told him that if his conjectures proved correct, I might as well be out on the highway, driving my ox-team, as anywhere else. Bidding them adieu, I rigged my team, bestrode the near ox, and, with a flourish of ray whip, started. It was noAv about 4 o'clock, the air was a little cool, and a slight frost lay on the ground. At the start, I had nearly a mile of timber to pass through. The meteors were falling all around me as thick as hail or as raindrops in an ordinary shower. Some of them were so large they cast shadows on the trees. Many of them came in contact with trees in falling, and burst, throwing off" a myriad of sparks, illuminating the forest all about me. It was the grandest freak of nature I ever beheld, and passes my poAvers of description. Emerging from the timber to the prairie, the sight was even more grand and inspiring. A rain of fire-drops came down. All about and above me, the air was full of the falling sparks, none of which touched me or my oxen. They would frequently fall nearly to the ground on some bush, but none touched me that I saw or felt, though I endeavored to catch some on my hand to experience a personal contact. None reached the ground that I saw ; all expired as they neared it. The storm of fire continued with no abatement that I could see until the approach of day, when the light caused it to gradually disappear, just as the stars retire on the approach of the morning sun.

" Just at daylight, I entered the village of Shelbyville, where I found the inhabitants grouped about the corners, discussing the strange wonder. Many appeared to be greatly alarmed. The opinion that the end of the world was at hand strongly prevailed. T did not stop to discuss the question with them, but left them to solve it as best they could, and Avent on my way. All along my journey homeward, wherever I met any settlers or travelers, the " fire " was the theme. I could not explain it, nor could they. I could only think it was

These various meteoric showers have never been very satisfactorily explained. They have occurred at different intervals for ages, and for many years were regarded with supernatural awe by all classes of people. It is a common practice among the inhabitants of any part of the earth to so regard any unnatural phenomenon, which they cannot readily explain. The commonly accepted theory among modern scientists is that they originate in certain nebulous bodies revolving in space in a elliptical orbit about the sun, the aphelion of which meets the orbit of the earth at the time of its annual exhibitions. This is in a measure verified, as the showers appeared in less brilliancy for three successive seasons after 1833, and agai^i in 1841, and in 1846. None were so brilliant by fiir, however, as the exhibition of 1833, whose grandest display was at Niagara, where it is said to have been of such remarkable vigor as to surpass comprehension.

The fall of meteoric stones is an occurrence often noted in the history of the country. The appearance of comets are also mentioned, which caused wide-spread alarm, many preparing to meet the judgment which it was positively asserted they portended. That event has never visibly occurred yet, and it is safe to conclude comets, meteors and other irregular heavenly bodies have nothing whatever to do with it. They are now pretty satisfactorily explained, and only the ignorant fear them. To those who study the heavenly bodies they are objects of great interest and are studiously watched.

The 20th day of the month referred to had been rather warm. A slight rain fell during the forenoon, turning the few inches of snow on the ground into slush, and filling the creeks and ponds with water. About the middle of the afternoon, a heavy cloud was noticed coming rapidly from the northwest. It came at the rate of twenty-five or thirty miles per hour, as was afterward ascertained, and was accompanied with a terrific, roaring noise. As it passed over the country, everything was frozen in its track almost instantly. Water that was running in little gullies or in the streams was suddenly arrested in its career, blown into eddies and small waves by the wind, and frozen before it could subside. Cattle, horses, hogs and Avild animals exposed to its fury were soon chilled through and many frozen in their tracks. Where a few moments before they walked in mud and slush, was now frozen, and unless moving about they were frozen fast. In some instances where individuals were ex- posed to the fury of this wave and unable to reach shelter, their lives were lost. One man was found afterward standing frozen in the mud, dead, and still holding the rein of his horse in his hand. He had apparently become bewildered and chilled, and freezing fast in the mud and slush, remained standing.

Mr. Elisha Linder, in speaking of this storm, says : " I was near my house feeding some stock, when I noticed the storm-cloud approaching. Thinking it would be a severe windstorm and possibly rain, as it was misting at the time, I started to the house. I went as quickly as I could, but the storm caught me before I reached the door. It was so piercing in its coldness and so strong I could not walk against it. The water was frozen as it blew into little ridges, and the mud and slush soon became as hard as stone. A good many chickens and other fowls perished. No little suffering was experienced by many persons who were illy prepared for such an unlooked-for event."

It is related of a young man named Samuel Munson, in the western part of the county, who had gone, or was going for his marriage-license, that, while on the journey he was overtaken by the wave, and, finding he could not cross the Okaw or one of its tributaries, turned his horse's head up the stream and partly against the storm. He could not make the horse travel in the face of the storm and, dismounting, tried to lead him. He could not do this either. When he tried to mount the horse again, he found his clothing, especially his overcoat, wet with the rain of the forenoon, frozen so he could not mount. He threw it off, then hastily mounted his horse and started at a full gallop in the course of the storm, determined to find shelter before it was too late. Coming to a grove of trees, possibly Dead Man's Grove, he saw a cabin, and, riding up to it, dismounted and went in. His hands and feet were by this time partially frozen, and he was so benumbed he could hardly talk. He was obliged to remain there overnight and to postpone the wedding a day or two.

Mr. Tremble and other old settlers who experienced this "sudden freeze," all give a similar description and corroborate the statements made. The wave came from the northwest, passing over the central part of Illinois, lower down in Indiana, and is last heard of about Cincinnati, Ohio, where it arrived at 9 o'clock in the night, freezing some emigrant wagons and teams in front of a tavern at Lebanon, a few miles above Cincinnati, while their owners were bargaining for a night's lodging. Its width was from about where Ottawa in Illinois now is, then barely started, to a short distance below Coles County. It is not heard of much above or below either place. Its origin has never been found, to our knowledge, nor has it been satisfactorily explained that we know of. Iowa was thinly settled then, and as it came across its northern border, we have only meager accounts concerning it there. It originated somewhere in the vast northwest, and only lost its force and fury when it encountered a warmer clime.

Returning again to the subject of emigration, the growth of the State and the internal improvements, we find Coles County, especially its western part, gradually filling with settlers. The scheme of building railroads and canals came now prominently before the people, and roused their expectations of future wealth and power to the highest pitch. As early as 1835, the subject received the attention of the Illinois Legislature, and in the message of Gov. Joseph Duncan to that body at the session of 1835-36, mention is made of it, and the General Assembly urged to act upon it. It responded in a manner exceeding the Governor's highest anticipations. Immense preparations were made, great sums of money appropriated, and work began on the Illinois & Michigan Canal, and on several proposed railroads, among them the Illinois Central and the Terre Haute & Alton. The issue of so much money, based on the faith of the State, and its entrance into all channels of business, had the effect to draw an immense flood of emigration to Illinois, all anxious to share in the general prosperity. Somehow, the more the money was issued, the cheaper it became, and the dearer everything else grew. Acts of the Legislature in vain tried to hold it at and above par; but it steadily declined, until it reached 16 cents on the dollar in gold, and in some instances 14. Either the feith of the State was correspondingly below par or the money was cheap because it was too plenty. From the Solons of the day down to the most common class of people, all saw, in the start, wealth created out of nothing, only to see it gradually vanish before their eyes. As it declined in value, work began to stop here and there on detached parcels of the railroads, until finally on every rOad it was abandoned, and only with the wisest financiering was it kept going on the canal. State banks grew out of the scheme, and a currency, as fluctuating as varied, appeared all over the country. Merchants in New York were obliged to accept notes on banks in Illinois and Indiana, which they could only realize on by returning them through brokers to some place in the West, and get all they could out of them. The fall of the system and the conse(iuent depression of business was keenly felt all over the State. Exorbitant values had arisen on every class of property, and when the shrinkage occurred, the losses were felt. No work was done on either the Central or the Terre Haute & Alton Railroads in Coles County ; but the eff'ects of the rise and fall of values were noted here as well as elsewhere. Money was as scarce as in the earliest pioneer times, and for awhile it looked as though ruin would be the result. The prairies were, however, naturally very productive, and though emigration for awhile shunned the State as if struck by a pestilence, it soon began to rally, and before a decade of years had passed the enormous debt was safely provided for, and prosperity of a real kind again came over the land.

It was not until after 1850 - more than twelve years after the first rail was laid on the track at Meredosia, on the Illinois River, on what is now the Wabash Railway - that the subject of railroads assumed a permanent, tangible form. In February of that year, the Chicago ct Galena road was finished as far as Elgin, and a train of cars made the first trip from the city on the lake to the one on the Fox River. From this date, the erection of other roads began - this time, by individuals. The State had enough of this experience, and did not care to venture again into such schemes. The Terre Haute & Alton was among those sharing in the revival, and, as some work had been performed on it, chiefly on the eastern and western divisions, a new company took the work, and, in about four years' time, had it in running order. About the same time, the Illinois Central, through its magnificent grant of land from the General Government, came to a completion. These roads, crossing in Mattoon Township, formed the nucleus for a new town which capitalists were not slow to take advantage of, and the city of Mattoon was the result. Indeed, they had been watching to see where the crossing would be, and had located the town as soon as the question was decided, not waiting for the completion of the roads. As the history of railroads in the county forms a separate chapter, we will only refer to them briefly here.

When they were completed, much of the prairie-land in the township, and, in fact, all this part of the county, was yet open. It was still used for pasturage, and the settlements confined exclusively to the timber. The railroads opened the country, however, and from that time until all was taken, it was rapidly settled. The growth of the country went steadily forward from the time of the improvement period until the late war. By that time, it was pretty thickly settled. Mattoon Township furnished her quota of men for the fray, and the city saw a regiment depart from her midst gathered almost wholly in the surrounding country.

When the war closed, another season of great commercial prosperity ensued, owing to the sudden circulation of a vast amount of currency, based on the faith of the General Government. From this arose another series of fictitious values, and many farmers mortgaged their land to capitalists at a semi-annual interest of 10 per cent, expecting the '"flush times" to continue. When the value of money came to the recognized standard, a shrinkage in values occurred, causing at the present time great difficulty among many to pay debts contracted on the currency basis. Many farms in this part of Coles County have been sold to meet these claims, realizing little, if anything, more than the amount loaned. The effect of all this will be to divide the large farms, and, ultimately, it will in that way be for th^ good of the county. The people of Mattoon Township are all engaged in agriculture, and, if a steady purpose in this pursuit is adhered to, no debts contracted beyond their ability to pay, and the same study devoted to that pursuit as is given to that of the law or medicine, abundant success is sure to crown the effort. Take it all in all, no occupation is so sure of a living, so independent and so safe as intelligent agriculture.

Religious And Educational Interests History Of Coles Couijty

The first settler in Mattoon Township, "Uncle Charley," was a devout Methodist, and in hia cabin the first praise and thanks to the Giver of all good were heard. Many of the others who came in 1827 were "members of the same religious body, and, as soon as they could arrange their temporal matters, steps were taken toward the establishment of a church. James Graham, George M. Hanson, Miles H. Hart, Samuel Thompson, Barton Randall, George W. Rollins, and others among the early pioneers of Wabash Point, were in the local ministry of the Methodist Church, and all were earnest workers. The "circuits were large, yet these men, laboring faithfully to supply their own wants, and avoid being any burden on the infantile settlement, went regularly on their rounds of preaching.

The places of worship at first were in the pioneers' cabins centrally located, or, when the weather would permit, in some pleasant spot in the woods. The first benches were simply split logs, the flat side dressed smooth with a broad-ax, and supported by stout, short sticks for legs. No backs were made. When not in use, the benches were piled in a corner of the cabin-yard, until the time of service, when they were carried into the cabin and arranged to the best purpose that habitation furnished. The most interesting time among the adherents of this church was the regular camp- meeting. That was almost always held in the woods, as no cabin could hold a tithe of the crowd that gathered. A rude pulpit or platform was made, where three or four trees aff"orded a good place for one, benches were made and arranged over the ground in front, and the place was ready.

We have mentioned James Graham as one of the pioneer Methodist ministers in this part of the county. He was little a eccentric in his ways, and, withal, was not afraid to speak what he deemed right, even if the remarks touched closely on some weak brothers or sisters. A good anecdote is preserved of him by his colleague, Mr. Tremble, another local minister, yet living. As it illustrates other modes of life, we think it well worth a place in the history of the county.

Among the class of wandering tradespeople, or peddlers, were a set known as the "wooden-clock peddlers." These were nearly all Yankees, regarded by the Southern people as a trafiicking, tricky set, ready to sell a wooden nutmeg or any other sham. They, in turn, looked on the Kentuckians as a lazy, shiftless class, subsisting on hog, hominy and corn-bread, and willing tools in their hands. The peddlers did not scruple in the slightest to cheat them, or any one, whenever they could. The cheating, in their opinion, was all right ; the detection was what they feared. It seems these itinerant tradesmen had become a nuisance to the good residents of this part of the county, and had merited their disapprobation. Father Graham, among the rest, had suffered at their hands, and rather smarted under the treatment.

Their common mode of procedure was first to canvass a district, selling all the clocks they could, warranting them for a year or any length of time suitable to their scheme. In a month or so, they would retrace their route, starting from where they began with one clock, pretty well regulated. It would run three or four days very well, and that was all they wanted. Part of the original agreement was to replace the clock first sold in case it did not fulfill the warrant. In that lay the trick. When they reached the first customer, they found, as they expected and hoped, that the clock did not fulfill the contract, and they at once replaced it with the one they had, charging a small fee for the transfer and repair. Taking the clock they obtained here, they went on to the next place, where the process was repeated, and so on till the end of the route. For a few days the clocks went all right, and every one was delighted. But after awhile, when they, too, began to keep all sorts of time, the settlers began to grumble, and on comparing notes, discovered the cheat. The lesson, however, did not always bear fruit, as erelong they were caught on the wooden nutmeg, gilded jewelry and kindred appliances. They, like every one else, seemed often to forget that nothing good can be obtained for less than its value, however plausible the arguments in its favor may be.

While Father Graham was holding one of his camp-meetings, he was some- Avhat disturbed by one of these itinerant merchants, who not only being a cheat in business, was also a worthless character, and, as such, disturbed the meeting. Father G., after vainly endeavoring, by private means, to reform or get rid of him, determined to use decisive methods with him. At the morning service on the Sabbath, the good minister, in his prayer, closed as follows :

" 0 Lord, thy servants have been wonderfully annoyed by the bad actions and wicked conduct of a fellow known all over this camp-ground as ' Wooden- Clock Peddler.' 0 Lord, if it is possible there be mercy lor such a wicked wretch, may he find that mercy to-day, so that he repent of his great wickedness, turn about and do better. But, 0 Lord, if he is, as he appears to be, a doomed wretch, why suff"er him to stay here as a hindrance to Thy great work ? 0 Lord, may he see that ' discretion is the better part of valor,' and leave forthwith. But, 0 Lord God, if he will not leave, kill him a little on the spot, and save us from all wooden-clock peddlers forever. Amen ! "

"If ever I saw," says Mr. Tremble, "the eyes of a congregation turned in search of an object, in was the eyes of that congregation, when they arose from their knees at the close of the prayer." But the " wooden-clock peddler " was seen only in the distance making rapid strides for some other locality. He was seen no more on that camp-ground.

Enough adherents to this denomination had arrived by the year 1832 to warrant the erection of a house of worship. A site was chosen near the present Capp's Mill, and the people gathering together erected a log church. This was rather a primitive affair, and for awhile served its purpose. The settlement formed a kind of nucleus around which gathered three churches, not to speak of those in Mattoon. This fact, in a measure, caused the Church here to disband, and gather into three others, all out of the township, save one, which again.

about five years ago, erected the brick church, known as the "Little Wabash Methodist Church." It is near the creek of that name, about four miles southwest of Mattoon. It is a very comfortable church, while near it Avas built a neat brick parsonage. The congregation numbers now about one hundred members.

Among the early settlers were several professing the Baptist and Cumberland Presbyterian creeds. The former of these built a church in Paradise Township, the first church there. It is referred to in the history of that Township. The Cumberland Presbyterians have maintained pretty regular services since their emigration, commencing before 1830. They have attended church at Paradise generally until lately and did not build a church in Mattoon Township until about 1873, when they completed a very neat frame edifice, at an expense of $1,600, which they now occupy. Theirs and the Little Wabash Methodist Church are the only two houses of worship in the township outside of Mattoon.

It has been rather difficult to determine the first year school was taught in the Wabash Point settlement, and by whom. There was probably a school taught in a cabin in the winter of 1827-28, or the next spring. Mrs. Elisha Linder says she recollects going to a school, she thinks, the next summer, and that James Waddill was the teacher. Mr. Tremble says in his sketches, that about 1831, Ujicle Jack Houching, with a few other neighbors, undertook to burn brick, and built a small cabin for the benefit of the hands, just north of Mr. John Thomas' spring. The brick project proved a failure and the cabin was abandoned. The settlers not long after appropriated the cabin for school purposes and fitted it for that purpose. Long slab seats, puncheon floor, and a writing-desk from "end to end" at one side, were put in, the fire-place made safe, and, taking out one of the side logs, covered the place left with greased paper, and the house was ready. The teacher, Mr. Tremble, too, thinks was James Waddill. He was paid so much per scholar, the idea of taxation for education not then prevailing. The price per scholar depended on the number of scholars promised. If twenty-five or thirty were subscribed the price was generally $2.50 or $3 each. The teacher commonly " boarded 'round," a practice not now indulged in. Teachers were always hired by the quarter - three months - and when they were not paid in money, accepted common articles of barter. Capt. W. E. Adams, in his Centennial Address, refers to this school as follows: The first schoolhouse in that section was a cabin, built in 1830. Before it was occupied as a school, a man named Ledbetter moved his family into it. Soon after this, George Hanson went down to order him out. Ledbetter, however, was master of the situation, and chased Hanson oS" with a meat- ax. Hanson, in his fiight, stubbed his toe and fell down, and in his fall Ledbetter split the back of his coat-tail open with the ax. After school had been held in this cabin a term or two, it was removed to the old log church, built on the site of Capp's mill or near it, and referred to in the history of churches just noted. This school was, it must be borne in mind, in