De Witt County, Illinois - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 6 of those read), 1882

Pioxeers And Early Settlers

A complete record of the brave men who first settled in this county, was obtained from two honored members of that small band, Mr. J. J. McGraw, and his friend, Mr. A. L. Barnett. The pioneers, through uureniitting toil and hardship, through sacrifice and danger, have made possible the degree of comfort and culture now enjoyed by many thousands, and jointly with the settlers of other sections, have assisted and brought about the progress of science, letters and philosophy in this great valley. The germ of our beneficent system of free schools was planted by their hands, and nursed by their care. They brought with them the elevating ceremonies of a pure religion, and the great idea.? of personal freedom and the brotherhood of mankind.

We are heirs and also debtors of the past- It is not creditable to us, that we so easily forget our great obligation to the hardy men and women who more than half a century ago traveled westward into this part of the great Mississippi valley, and changed the wilderness into fertile fields of plenty. Most of their numbers have gone to the narrow house appointed for all the living, and the tombs which received their worn frames, received with them the host of recollections, anecdotes and reminiscences of almost priceless value. A few, blessed with stout hearts and robust health, frugal and virtuous, still survive, and by their very appearance gladden the hearts of the generation of this day, for whom they have done so much. From them have beeu gathered, directly and indirectly, the facts recited in this chapter. They deserve well of their country ; and as we reap the grand harvests their hands have sown, we can at least cause them to feel that they are held in high honor, and that their deeds, trials and distresses will be ever held in grateful remembrance.

It seejus clear tli it they were not the first denizens of the soil but America was the home of a prior race, and evidence is not wanting that this race was preceded by another. Of the race directly preceding the Indians, there remains but a meagre record. A few mounds, some beads, a small variety of earthmade wares, stone hammers, implements for dressing skins, and now and then one of their idols of religious worship, together with a few articles for ornaments are all of their domestic life left to us.

The Indian race which succeeded the mound-builders was numerous, less than a century ago, but we know little of them. They were a race of hunters; they practis<:d scarcely any of the arts of peace. They were sheltered by wigwams ; they had rarely fixed bouadarie.s fir their tribes. And so we can remember ouly a brief day of their history. They preceded us, but left the county no better for their labors. We can scarcely be grateful. We find their gimlets, arrow-heads, spear-heads, fleshscrapers, spades and hammers, all made of stone, and demanding infinite patience for their manufacture. They delved as patiently as their neighbors, the beavers, yet despised labor, and imposed it as a degrading burden on their women. We alternately pity and despise them ; even admire their sublime stoicism, but sicken at their abominable cruelties. We use the maize which they sometimes cultivated, and enjoy the smoke of the tobacco they taught us to consume. Their modes of life were individual rather than social. They were cunning and cruel, cautious and brave. Like the lion, they sprang unawares from ambush upon their victim, and from a lurking place would speed the arrow into the back of an enemy. Yet they could endure torture with stoic indifference, and look a single foe in the face with Spartan determination.

The Kickapoo Indians occupied this portion of the country before the advent of the whites, and a remnant of this once powerful and warlike tribe was found here, when the first settlements were made. This tribe was at peace with the whites, so that there are no blood curdling tales of midnight attacks on defenceless settlements to recount. Fully ten years before the organization of the county, the last of the Kickapoos had been removed to their reserve in the eastern part of Kansas. Civilization has subsequently crowded the poor remnants of the Kickapoo away from their beautiful Kansas home.

The history of De Witt county differs from that of many sister counties in this, that its pioneers became permanent settlers. The " squatter," so frequently met in a new county, was of rare occurrence in De Witt.

The pioneer proper is the skirmisher of the vanguard of civilization, and rarely goes into permanent quarters. He sows the seed, but leaves others to gather the harvest. He is never happy, but when upon the frontier. When the columns of those seeking homes app2ar, he plunges deeper into the western wilderness. Let him not be despised. His mission is to spy out the land, and direct the footsteps of the swarming millions behind him.

"They were rough in personal appearance, yet kind, social and generous. They were hunters and stock-growers, and confined their agricultural operations chiefly on corn. They were brave, prompt and decided in war, yet liberal and magnanimous to a defeated and subdued foe. They were hospitable and generous,

The first settlers in the present limits of De Witt county were a party of six persons : Zion Shugart, Edom Shugart, their mother, Elisha Butler, and his wife and John Coppenbarger, of whom the only living member is Edora Shugart, who now resides in Jlarysville, Nebra ka. The party arrived in what is now section 7, Tunbridge township, (on the Emily Hays farm), on October 29th, 182-4. They put up a hastily constructed log-cabin, and made ready for winter.

During the winter of 182 1, Nathan Vester, with a large family, moved in and settled a short distance from the Shugarts, and in the spring John Coppenbarger moved his family into the neighb irhood, and thus was commenced the settlement of that portion of the Illinois territory now known as De Witt county.

During the winter of 1824, a little girl of Nathau Vester died, and was buried on the hill, near Emily Hay's residence- As there was no lumber in the country, a coffin was made by splitting slabs out of trees, and hewing them into shape. The nearest settlement to the Shugarts' at that time, was the residence of a man named Laughery, ten miles down Salt creek, in what is now Logan county.

The next settlement of which we have any rec ird was that of John Barr, and Prettyman Marvell, in Big Grove, 'now Waynesville), in February, 1826. After them, cajiie Ezra Knapp, Tarusey C'line, Abram Onstott, Samuel Glenn, Benj. Day, Tim. aad Samuel Hoblit, Hiram Chapin, Tilman Lane, Samuel Curtright, Samuel Spencer, the Scotls, Josiah Clifton, Matthew Martin, and others, until this became the most populous settlement iu the county. About the year 1832, the town of Waynesviile was laid out by George Isam, and for a long time was the principal trading point of the county. As to who sold the first goods in Waynesviile, there has been discussion. The following account is given by Hugh L. Davenport, and it is considered correct :

" The first goods that were sold in this part of the countrv, I hauled for a man named Jerre Greenman, who kept them in a log-house, owned by a man named Davis, and Thomas Dunham was his clerk. I hauled the first load from Pekiu, on the Illinois river; one article was a barrel of good peach brandv, which found some warm friends soon after its arrival. Where these goods were sold, in a short time there sprang up a small town, which was afterwards called New Castle ; it was located near where Atlanta now stands. In 1831, 1 think a man by the name of Isam laid out the town of VVaynesville, on the south side of Kickapoo creek, and a man named Post, kept the first goods there, if my memory is correct."

The next settlement iu the county was made iu the north-east part of the county, near where Farmer City now stands, in what was then called Hurley's Grove, about the year 1830. Dennis Hurley, Richard Kirby, Henry Huddleston, Nathan Clearwater, and Daniel Webb, being the earliest settlers, coming in the order in which they are named.

The next settlement was made in what was called Fork Prairie, in the vicinity of the present town of Marion or De Witt, in 1831 and 1832; the first settlers being Thos. R. Davis, James Morris, John Miller, Benj. Lisenby, Alex. Dale, Josiah Harp, Chas. McCord, and Hugh Davenport.

The first settlement about Clinton was made by Joseph or Josiah Clifton, in 1830. He erected a cabin on what is now known as the Pascal Mills farm, one mile west of Clinton. The early settlers of this county were generally Kentuckians, although there were a few from some of the other southern states. They came into the county by the way of Springfield ; the route from Kentucky being by way of Indianapolis, Danville, Springfield, and thence up the streams.

Coming from a timbered country, they held the prairies as of no value, and settled along the edge of the timber, thinking that no one would ever settle upon the prairies, they could hold it forever for grazing; it was not until after the Illinois Central Railroad was built through the county that the prairies became of any value. The prairies in those days are represented as presenting a lovely sight in spriug and summer, being covered with large bright flowers. The grass grew so high that a man riding through it after a rain was literally drenched. The county abounded in game, and for years there was scarcely a day that the settlers' tables were not bountifully supplied wiih venison or wild tu key. The early settlers had few wants to supply, being simple in their habits and dress. Their greatest difficulty was getting bread-stuffs ; mills being few and far between, thej' very often had to go from thirty to sixty miles to get a sack of corn ground They were a social and hospitable people, and a stranger was warmly welcomed and aided on his way, while a new settler was helped iu building his cabin, and getting a start in this new world. As an illustration of the character of the people of that day, we give an incident related by John J. McGraw.

Mr. McGraw and a neighbor got out of corn one winter, and had no money to buy any. The neighbor said he thought he could get some from John Barr, who lived near Waynesviile. So they mounted their horses and rode to Barr's, and arrived towards evening. Upon making their errand known, Mr. Bair told them that they could have the corn, and they could pay for it by making rails in the spring. Said he, " A man came along the other day, and wanted to buy some corn, saying he had the money to pay for it. I told him that if he had money he could buy corn almost anywhere, and I would save my corn for some one who had no money." McGraw and his neighbor shelled each a sack of corn, and the next morning took it to a horsemill and had it ground. In the spring they paid for the corn by making rails ; and Mr. McGraw says he never made better rails, nor gave better count, than he did in paying that debt.

The nearest post-office was Springfield, and the postage on a letter from Kentucky was twenty-five cents. If a man got a letter ouce in three or six months, he thought he was doing well. They really had no market for their produce, Pekin, bt. Louis, and Chicago being their nearest trading point, and thirty cents per bushel for wheat and ten cents for corn was the ruling price. Of money there was little or none, all transactions being carried on by trading. For a number of years there was little more raised than was necessary for home consumption. While the early settlers suffered from lack of what we term necessaries of life, they performed but little labor, in comparison with the people of to-day, and seemed to enjoy life in their way better than we of to-day, while their simple life seemed to prolong their years, as is evidenced by many of the early settlers who are living in this county to-day. Indeed it is astonishing to see how closely is connected the early settlement of this county with the present day, for daily, men may be seen on the streets of Clinton who have seen this county grow and develop from a wilderness to a productive and thickly-settled county.

A history of De Witt county without an account of the "deep snow" would be like the play of Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark, and a short description of it, and an incident which occurred at the time, as related by one who passed through that remarkable winter, may follow here. The snow commenced falling about the 8th of December, 1830, and snowed, either day or night, for twenty-one days, until it was four feet deep on a level in the timber, while around the edge of the groves it drifted from fifteen to twenty-five feet high. Several settlers from the vicinity of where Clinton now stands were over to a mill about two miles from where Waynesville now stands. The weather was mild, and the snow fell very fast. They got their grist and started for home. At that time there was no house from the timber on Kickapoo to Ten-Mile Creek, near Clinton, a di.-tance of twelve miles. When they got about three miles from Kickapoo timber, it snowed so fast that they could not see any distance before them, and their team (two yoke of oxen), gave out. The wind changed, and they got lost. The snow was from two to three feet deep, and it began to get very cold, and their clothes froze hard on them. They did not see any timber, and could not tell which way they were going. Finally they unyoked their cattle, and let them go their own way. One of the oxen took a straight course, and they followed him till one of the party, John Clifton, gave out and laid down. The other two dragged him through the snow and cuffed him about to keep him awake. About sunset it quit snowing, and they could see timber and a house about three miles away, and their ox guing straight towards it. But it was getting colder, and their pilot gave signs of giving out. They drove the ox before them and dragged their comrade, the ox going a few rods and then stopping to rest, while they rubbed their comrade and cuffed him about, to keep him and themselves from freezing. About dark a crust had formed on the snow hard enough for a man to walk on So they got their sick comrade upon his feet, and left the ox, to walk upon the snow. The sick man was the first to get to the house, he being the lightest, while the others would occasionally break through the crust down into four-feet of snow, causing them hard labor to regain their footing on the crust; they were nearly frozen to death by the time they got to the house. The house was that of John Robb, who lived on Rock Creek, four or five miles east of Waynesville. They got their oxen to the house in about three days ; but their sled and meal laid where they left them until the next spring.

The names of the three men were Josiah and John Clifton, and David Moffit. " The snow was so deep, and the sharp hoofs of the deer penetrated the crust so easily, that we could ride up to them, and jump from our horses' backs on to their backs and cut their throats with a hunting knife. They were so plenty, we could kill all we wanted. Our corn was generally out in the field, and we had to wade through the snow up to our wastes, gather it in sacks, and carry it on our backs, to feed our stock, make hominy, or pound it in a mortar.

"The wolves g ew fierce, and attacked man and killed calves and sheep, carried off small pigs, c?me close to our houses in daytime and killed our dogs."

The territory now embraced by De Witt county was first embraced in Sangamon county, which, in the early hi-itory of the State, embraced all the northern part of the State- Afterwards we fell unto Tazewell county, which was again divided up, and this territory was placed in Macon and McLean counties. Through the exertion of Hon. James Allen, of Bloomington, the Legislature, in 18.39, passed an act organizing De Witt county, from territory taken from the counties of Macon and McLean; the county line between those two counties running four miles south of the present northern boundery of De Witt county.

We are informed by the old settlers that they could have, very easily, gotten another tier of townships from Macon county, embracing the present town of Maroa ; but the country then presented such a low, flat appearance, that it was thought it would never be settled to any extent, and it would prove more a burden than an advantage to a new c juuty. That county now produces the best crops of corn of any section in central Illinois.

The county then embraced what is now known as Atlanta township (then known as Four by Six), Blue Ridge, Goose Creek, and Sangamon townships, in Piat county.

On the sixth day of May, 1839, an election was held for county officers and for permanent location of county seat, when four hundred and ninety-three votes were cast.

The contest between Marion and Cliuton was hot ; and as in those days voting had to be done vim voce, it may be said that a vast deal of dodging had to be done. The founders of Marion were as ambitious as their neighbors in Clinton, and the magnitude of the town and its prospects for prosperity had been heralded to the world by advertisements and posters. One of the latter, dated July, 1836, is as follows: -

"Marion is located on the head branches of Sangamon River. The first glance at the geographical situat on of this town is sufficient to discover its great importance. There will and must be one great central town in Illinois where the internal improvements of the State will cross and intersect, and this point appears to have been destined by nature for that purpose. High, healthy, and beautifully undulating, the prairie is about four miles across, nearly surrounded by a splendid mill-stream, which affords a number of seats- Mills are now building and contemplated which will be ample for any amount of lumber for building. The timber is as fine as can be found in the Western States, and is inexhaustible. A number of important roads already cross at this point, and the east and west railroad, now locating, passes near enough for all the purposes of commerce. The north and south railroad will pass directly through Marion. The first house was put up last winter ; it is already quite a village, affording one store, one grocery, and a number of dwellings, and others now building. Within the last six weeks our lauds have been nearly all taken, and such is the present prosperity of this country, that there must be a speedy and great advance on property in a short time.

We have already mentioned that the county of De Witt had a voting population of about five hundred at the time of its oro-anization. The list of voters contained in the poll-books of the first election has been lost with those books. Hon. John J. McGraw, for what purpose he does not now remember, took a complete census of all the voters of the county in August, 1844.

Former citizens of the county now no more - Clinton Precinct. - Levi Spencer, Lorenzo D. Scott, Thomas Bevan, Thomas Jenkins, James Brown, a physician, zealous member of the Lyceum (see it) ; Nelson Davis, a teacher ; Poetan Bennett, Peter De Spain, at one time county treasurer ; Greenberry Hall, John McAboy,

Jonathan Curtright, Rufus Mills, Dawson Beatly, Darius Hall, Josiah Downen, Thomas Hutchin, G. W. Cox, Jacob Krauish, Pascal Mills, Archibald McCullough, Thomas Blalock, William Neal, Fred. Troxel, B. R. Warlield, Isaac Hutchin, G. \V. Mills, Alfred JIurphy, Joseph Malson, W. McPherson, John Lowry, Lewellen Hickman, John Springer, J. B Allsup, Ezekiel Lane, James Ennis, Joseph Howard, Thomas Allsup, Gabriel Watt, R. Richards, Mahlou Hall, a Virginian, settled on section 33 in township 20 R. 1 East in 1830 ; was in 1839 the largest landholder in the county, owning 1200 acres of land, valued at S4,600, died in 1850; Reuben Thomley, VVil Ham James, Jesse Blankenship, died in Mexico in the service of the U. S. ; James Cantrall, Henry Cuudiff, A. Gideon, William Coppenbarger, James French, John French (a great tigliter, and addicted to drinking; many amusing anecdotes are told of him. His visits to the town of Clinton had frequently ended by his landing in the county jail, and so on one occasion he took the precaution of spiking the key-hole in the lock on the jail-door, by driving nails into it, thus keepiug out of the dungeon for once. The usual fine for a fist-fight was S3, and whenever French was arrested on a charge of the kind, he would state that his antagonist was the meanest man in the county. He had occasion, however, to modify this asserdon in this way: Squire J. J. McGraw, iudig. naut at the repeated transgressions of French, and iu ordtr to make a more lasting impression ou the mind of the culprit, fined him at one time some S25 for an assault. French took it to heart, and whenever afterwards he asserted that such and such -was the meanest mau of De Witt county, he would qualify it by stuttering out, (excepting Scjiiire John J. McGraw, who is ten thousand times meaner), John Winn, T. J. Mills, John Copijeubarger, Edward Thornley, John Walker, Jeremiah Kellev, James Stephens, Joshua Dale, Henry Fordice, Solomon Cross, Benjamin Cross, George Carlock, Calvin Pain (in Mexican war), John Lane, Sam. Duncan, William Lowry, Ralph Rosencrans, John :Miller, Dudley Richards, Noel Blankeusliip, David Hood, W. Belford, James Henson, Joseph Pollock, Hugh Davenport, Jeremiah Thompson, Melvin Lowry, John Clifton, Reuben Parkhurst, Alvin Potter, Moses Kenney, James Lowrey, Joha Hutchin, James Wilson, Alex. Dale, James S. Brown, Joel E. King, William Wallace i^in Mexican war,!, Solomon Ely, Harrison Lane, B. T. Lowry, Walter Karr, James Sraallwood, J. B. Smallwood, James Pollock, Samuel Curtright, E. W. Fears, Melvin Lowry, Daniel McGennis, Thomas Lamb, David Willis, Major Farris, William Coon, Richard Murphy (in Mexican war was a brave man, and rose from the ranks to a lieutenancy), Andrew Wallace, Henry Brown, Rob. F. Barnett (shot dead by one Hill), Jefferson T. Cross, Thomas Fruit, Washington Allsup, M-iles Gray (first post-master of Clinton), Joseph Bowles, Daniel Bauta, Jetse Stout, W. Cundiif Tolbert Allsup, Hugh Glenn, Henry Summers, B. H. Farris (in Mexican war), J. P. Mitchell, Daniel Newcomb, Franklin Barnett, John W. Scott, W. Mitchell, James K. Scott.

The following have been lost sight of, and are in all probability now in their graves: Johu Davis, Henry Thomas, Anderson Johnson, Matthew Harvey, James Hall, Da iel French, Thos. Coon, Solomon Miller, Henry Foster, G. W. Karr, J. W. Karr, Hiury King, Fleming Lynch, Newtou Lynch, Jacob Cross, John Thompson, H. Benuett, Henry Clerage, T. R. Areherd, Job. Clilton, Lewis A;kinson, Joseph Karr, William Matthews, Phil. Farmer, Guslavus Shelley, Dennis Provine, W . A. Knight, Joshui Gardner, L-onard A. Provine, James Tuttle, and Jameson Wright.

The following have removed from the county, and most of them are known to be living: Burnell Martin, Kansas ; EliB. Fruitt, Ohio; Martin Scott, Mo.; Matthew Miller, Mo.; W. Hutchin, H. H. Hall, A. B. Wright, Kansas; Charles Hutchin, Landers SUtten, R. Peyton, Mo., Wm Clifton, Vernon Brown, Uriah McKenney, Kansas ; Elisha Littler, Kansas ; Murrell Paine, Egbert Hill, Mo. ; Will. Gadberry, Mo.; Johu Bruner, B. Ely, Mo.; Sidney Gay, Mo.; Henry Bowles, William Allsup, Samuel Beebe, Mo. ; F. G. Paine, the probate judge, went to Texas ; Jacob Silver?, Texas; Henry Thompson, Thomas J Rodgers, Jordan Bantea, David Maiken, Ervin French, Ky ; J. M Ftars, California; Will. Hickman, Joel Hall, Mo.; Sam. Brown, Chicago ; Will. Hill, California.

Of those two hundred and thirty voters of the old Clinton precinct, living there iu 1844, only thirty-seven survive; the reader will find their names under the heading of " The Old Guard," below.

Removed from County. - James A. Lemon, in California; J. A. Jackson, west ; James Harp, Kansas ; James Vandeventer, west ; Daniel Baker, Indiana ; Thomas Smith, west ; Alex. Harp, west ; J. E. Daugherty, west ; Hiram Beebe, west ; Thomas Swain, Bloomington ; Heury M. White, west ; John E. Harris, west ; P. M. Gideon, north ; Pleasant Smith, west ; Greenbury Donar, west ; and W. R. Detherage, west. - 1 6.

Lost sight of , probably dead. - William Webb, William Pearson, A. B. Danner. Ben. Newbury, N. W. Cox, J. P. Williams, Rob. Williamson, Harrison Blake, Joseph Brown, Hiram White, and A. F. Rogers. - 11.

Remov'd from County. - David White and Phineas Page, west ; E. Shinkle, north ; Isaac Parmeuter, west ; Byron Covey, west ; Patton Camel, west ; and W. H. McFall, west. - 7.

Removed from the County. - John Chatham, William Chatham, J. J. Chatham, Isaac Chatham, Andrew Brumfield, William Spencer, Alex, and A. K. Scott, William Anderson, James Anderson, Wilson S. Fears, and Nathan Lundy, all west. - 12.

The Old Guard

Of the 623 voters of De Witt county in 1844, 214 are known to be alive at this day, December, 18^1 ; 122 of whom live in De Witt county or its immediate vicinity; 275 of those 623 are known, and 134 others are supposed to be dead.

The youngest of the survivors must be at least fifty-eight years of age ; many have crossed the three-score, and not a few have gone beyond the scriptural three-score and ten. De Witt U well stocked with hale and hardy old men, and the writer was grejtiy pleased to see so many of them iu what might be called beauteous old age.

The pioneers of De Witt county sent a number of their men to protect the State against the inroads of hostile Indians, and in Mav, 1832, we see the following residents of the county take the field in the Black Hawk wir. They had enlisted in Ciptain James Johnson's company - their names, as far as could be ascertained, were as follows;

Walter Bowls, 3d sergeant, died in 1865 by his own hand ; George Coppenbarger, corporal, dead ; Asher Simpson, now a resident of Kansas; Elisha Butler, dead; G. D; Smallwood, still living in DeWitt county; John Henderson, lelt the State during the civil war ; James Funis, dead ; John Clifton, returned to his native state, Kentucky ; John Murphy, dead ; S. Troxel, living ; Thomas Davenport, still hale and hardy, and ready to run another foot race with hi-s friend J. J. .\IcGraw, who defeated him, then considered the fleetest man in the State, in a foot-race fifty years ago, and would do it again ; William Adams, still in the county ; William Hooper, emigrated to Missouri, and Jos. Clifton, dead.

pioneers is exhibited in the minutes of their early Lyceum, as they call a debating club organized in autumn, 1839, for the purpose of improving our minds, as expressed in the preamble to their simple constitution.

Hon. J. J. McGraw, a pioneer in the forest as well as an efficient, conscientious and respected magistrate and county officer, from the birth of the county to this very day, has thoughtfully and with care preserved the minutes of this Lyceum.

On the 26th of November, however, the members discussed the following question : " Which would be the more politic course under now existing cireuiuitaaces for the legislature, to prosecute or to abandon their Internal Improvement System f " *

The districts of which the present county of De Witt formed a part in 1837 and 1838, were represented by George Henshaw, of McLean, and W. G Reddick, of Macon. Both voted in favor of the system John J. McGraw and William Dishou had previously selected the parties for discussing the subject.

* Tlie impetus to the system of internal improvements at tlie e.xpense, or more properly speaking, on tlie credit of the state, was given by George Forquer, a senator of Sangamon connty in 1834 ; his plans, however, failed. J. M. Strode, senator of all the country, including and north of Peoria, had a bill passed in 183-5, authorizing a loan of half a million of dollars on the credit of the state. This loan was negotiated by Governor Duncan in 1836, and with this money a commencement was made on the Illinois canal in the month of June of that year. The great town lot speculation had reached Illinois about that time, The number of towns multiplied so rapidly, that it seemed as though the state would be one vast city. All bought lots, and all- dreamed themselves rich ; and in order to bring people to those cities in embryo, the system of internal improvements was to be carried out on a grand .scheme. The agitation became general, and the indifference of the busy farmer was taken for tacit consent. The legislature, in 1837, provided for the building of about 1,300 miles of railroads, and voted eight railliona of dollars for that purpose ; two hundred thousand of which were to be paid to counties not reached by those proposed railroads as an indemnity. In order to complete the canal from Chicago to Peru, another loan of four millions of dollars was authorized. And, as a crowning act of folly, it was provided that the work should commence simultaneously on all the proposed roads at each end, and from the crossings of all the riveis.

No previous survey or estimate had been made, either of the routes, the costs of the works, or the amount of business to be done by them. The arguments in favor of the system were of a character most difficult to refute, composed as they were partly of fact, but mostly of prediction. In this way it was proved, to general satisfaction, by an ingenious orator in the lobby, that the state could well afford to borrow a hundred millions of dollars, and expend it in making internal improvements.

None of the proposed roads were ever completed; detached parcels of them were graded on every road, the e.xcavations and embankments of which have long remained as a memorial of the blighting scathe done by this legislature.

The next legislature voted another $800,000 for the system. A special session in 1S39 repealed the system, and provided for winding it up, for it had become apparent that no more loans could be obtained at par. Under this system a state debt of ?14, 237,348 had been created, to be paid by a a population of 476,183 souls. - Gui'. Ford's History of Illinois.

From the annexed foot note, the readers will observe that the question itself was still a burning " one at the time of the debate." Most of the participants in the debate have paid that tribute to nature which is due by all mortals. Let the survivor or survivors recite the details. Mr. Woodard and Josiah Downing acted as judges and decided that John J. McGraw and his side had produced the best arguments. That same night the club or lyceura prepared a by-law, from which fact it is to be inferred, that the club had previously adopted a constitution. The by-law reads as follows : " Be it enacted by the members of thi< lyceuni, that it be considered a breach of good order for any person, who may attend the meetings of said body, and in time of business not to keep his seat, or to talk."

The next meeting was ordered to be held on the fourth of December next, and one question to be discussed was: " Would it be right, as things now exist, for the legislature to legalize the suspension of the State Bank of Illinois ?" It was arranged that Charles Maltby, William Dishon, Dr. Thomas Laughlin, Henry Dishou, Daniel Fourdice, J. S. Warfield, E. W. Fears, and R. Post should speak in favor of, and K H. Fell, Dr. James Brown, William Lowry, John J. McGraw, F. G. Paine, Dr. J. C. McPherson, and J. W. Sapp, against, the proposed measure. The debate was conducted with some feeling, as the very question at issue had occupied the minds of all people for years. The judges presiding at the meeting, James Vandeventer and John Hughs, could not agree. The president of the club, concurring with Vandeventer, decided that Charles Maltby 's side had the best of the argument, and that the legislature ought to legalize the suspension of the Bank.*

* Illinois State Bank - It is but recently that the United States has seen a new party - '' Greenback party,'' for short - spring into life, with the avowed object of abolishing the use of gold and silver as measures of value, or money, and substituting for it their fiat money. The older people of our state have had some experience in this matter, and the few remarks introduced here are intended for the generation now starting out into political life. It i.s presumed to he known by all, that almost every person residing in Illinois about the year 1820 was virtually a bankrupt; that is, he could not jiay any debt, however small it was, and despite his possessing many acres of land, etc., simply because there was no money in the state. Well, it was a glorious time for *' fiat" money, and the legislature created it, by chartering a bank, the Stale Bank of Illinois, without a dollar in its vaults, and wholly on the credit of the state. It was authorized to issue notes of various denominations.ditfering from the notes of regular banks only in being made interest-bearing (2 per cent, per annum) and payable by the state in ten years. The bank and its branches, officered by men appointed by the legislature (politicians, of course, and not business men) weredirected by law to lend its bills to the people, to the amount of $100 on personal security ; and upon the security of mortgages upon land for larger sums. These notes were to be received in payment of taxes, costs, fees, salaries of ofiicers, etc., and if tendered to a creditor, and by him refused, the debtor could stay the collection of the debt due him for three years by giving personal security. The Solons at Vandalia {mmen et omen] actually believed, that these notes would continue to be worth their face value in gold or silver, and the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States was requested by a resolution of the legislature to receive those notes into the land offices in payment for the public lands. Governor Ford tells an amusing anecdote in reference to the adoption of this resolution in the State Senate : " When it was put to the vote in the Senate, the old French Lieutenant- Governor, Col. Menard, jiresiding over the body, did up the business as follows : - Gentlemen of de.Senale, it is moved and seconded dat de notes of dis bank be made land office money. All in favor of dat motion, say aye, all against it, say no. It is decided in de affirmative. And now, gentlemen, I bel yon one hundred dollars he nerer be made land offiee money. The banks went into operation in 1821, and their officers, finding it easier to lend than to refuse, had soon scattered some $300,000 of their " fiat " throughout the state. It was takm at first at 75 cents per dollar, but soon came down to 25 cents. A large number of people who had *' borrowed"

" Well, George Washington could not tell a dissimulation, and our minutes do not state how the question was decided ; but from subsequent proceedings one might infer that the discussion was ' spirited 'for a ' By-Law,' creating the responsible position of a prosecuting attorney was enacted that very day, and Charles Maltby elevated to the place. William Lowr_v was elected President, and John J. Mc Graw, Secretary for the next Jour weeks, December 1], 1839. How Democratic! Rotation in otfice, 12 , times during the year."

" Which has been of the greatest advantage to mankind the discovery of the art of printing, or that of the magnetic needle?' was mooted on the 18th of December and decided in favor of printing. - Henry Cundiifand Mr. Long acting as judges.

H. Dishon proposed for discussion at the next meeting, on the 27th of December, the question: "Who has been the most imposed upon, the Negro of the United States, or the Indian?" J. W. Sapp and K. H. Fell selected the speakers, to wit; - J. W. Sapp, W. Dishon, F. G. Paine, Dr. Laughliu, Dr. iMc Pherson, John Lowery and S- M. Richardson for the Indian, and K. H. Fell, W. Lowry, H. Dishon, John J. Mc Graw, J. S. Warfield, William Mitchell and Dr. James Brown, for the Negro. E. W. Fears and D. Fourdice, acting as judges, gave the following verdict : " We believe the Indian has been most imposed on."

A much more difficult subject : " Which has the greatest restraint on the minds of mankind, the laws of nature or the laws of man?" was debated on the 3d of January, 1840. Four of the members appointed to speak for the laws of nature dodged the work, leaving it to the care of the three physicians, Lnughlin, Brown and Mc Pherson, and they handled the subject well. They were opposed by the Dishons, the probate judge, the clerk, the recorder, by D. Fourdice and J. S. Warfield, who got worsted, the President deciding in favor of the Doctors.

F. G. Paine was elected President, K. H. Fell, Secretary, and Dan Fourdice, Prosecuting Attorney. It was resolved to devote next Tuesday evening to the trial of those members of the Lyceum who had disobeyed the Constitution and By-Laws of said Lyceum. The minutes do not state what was done with the criminals

The question : " Which does mankind esteem the highest, wealth or education?" was discussed on the 16th; Daniel Fourdice, the valiant, William Lowry, John Lowery, Henry Dishon, the sage, the warlike Warfield and the sarcastic Fell broke their lances in vain for education. John J. Mc Graw and the three doctors, speaking for wealth, laid them out on the sand, so declared by F. G. Paine, Harvey Bradshaw and the president, acting as Judges.

Another subject of interest, now and then, as well as hereafter was to be debated at the next meeting. It had been selected by Dr. Brown, and ^^'illiam Lowry: "Would it, or would it not be better for the people of the United States to abolish all laws now in existence which compel men to pay their contracts? '

The criminals were brought to justice on the 17th of January, to wit : John S. Warfield, E. W. Fears and Dr. Mc Pherson, tried on a charge of contempt, and fined each, 12J cents.

from the banks, of course, thought that their transactions with the banks terminated then and there. The idea of ri:payiu(j was. and remained foreign to them. The real troubles commenced four or five years later, and the history of the state from then for a period of almost twenty years was a series of financial misery and disaster. All honor to James Vandeventer and H. Dishon (?) the president of the Be Witt County Lyceum for their decision.

The Secretary reported an income of 81 25, and the expenditures amounted to SI. 051, leaving a balance of 183 cents in the Lyceum's cash box.

Strange to say. this question was decided in' favor of abolishing capital punishment, although two of the doctors argued in favor of retaining this mode of killing. The discus-iion came off on the 31st of January; two new men, Josiah Downen and Mr. Cox acting as judges.

" Which is the stronger passion, love or anger ?" was discussed. The doctors, or a majority of them, were on the love part, and were defeated, but a resolution ^vas passed, to discuss this question again at the next meeting - but, alas, there was no next meeting.

The Lj'Ceum may have lived, and been wide awake, but the minutes are silent in regard to all proceedings until January 6, 1841. A meeting was then held. Miles Gray was elected President, and Harvey Bradshaw, Secretary. This seems to have been a re-organization of the first Lyceum, many of whose members re-appear, to wit : J. J. Mc Graw, the three Doctors, Charles Maltby, Harvey Bradshaw, K. H. Fell, J. W. Sapp, William Dishon and F. G. Paine. The Liwry's, Henry Dishon, Dan Fourdice, Sheriff Fears, and Warfield are missing, while Miles Gray, the old post-master, and Eli Fruit seem to be new members.

The debates commenced again on the 14th of January, 1841 when it was decided, " That Capital Punishment was justifiable by the laws of justice and humanity." The three doctors had this time been -successful.

The next subject for discussion was : " Does the credit system as it now exists, promote the interest of the country or not ?" but the Lyceum had ceased to be ; on motion of Dr. Laughlin, the meeting adjourned ! Oh, those doctors !

" The Adelphic Society of Clinton," founded in November, 1841, by William Lowry, John Wealch, J. J. McGraw, Charles Maltby^ W. W. Williams, C. H. Moore, R. Post, and D. Newcomb. This society started out with a constitution of Six Articles, subdivided into numerous sections, and supplemented by a large number of by-laws, but the objects sought were those of its dead predecessor. The first question selected for discussion is being discussed to this day, to u<it. : " Is the intemperate use of ardent spirits the greatest evil amongst mankind '!" The doctors were divided on this question. Dr. Brown, iu co:nmon with C. H. Jloore, J. J. McGraw, and others, argued it was, while Dr. Laughlin, Dan. Newcomb and others, said no. The chair and the judges decided in favor of Dr. Brown. Turnuig to stateeconomy, our intellectual pioneers, ou the 18th of November, discussed the question : " H;ive chartered institutions been beneficial to our county?" and proved that they had been beneficial. "Should capital punishment be inflicted?" This question was decided in the negat'rve; all honor to the judge and jury!

At the next meeting, December 8th, 1841, the question: "Should the internal improvement system of the State of Illinois be abandoned ?" was decided in the negative. At a club meeting on the 27th of December, C. H. M jore gave notice that he would offer for adoption at the next meeting the following I resolution : Resolved, That it is the opinion of this club, that ; the signs of the times do not indicate the perpetuity of our republican institutions." The club met again on the 30th of

December, when the above resolution was brought in, and on motion of R. Post, the following araendinent to the above resolution was adopted, to wit. : strike out the words " republican institutions," and insert " Federal Institutions." The resolu ion thus amended, was after a most animated discussion rejected. There is but one other resolution mentioned in those minutes. It was brought in by Wibiam Lowry : " Besotved, That it is the opinion of this club, that immediate measures should be taken to compel the State bank to resume specie payment." The resolution wa^ lost, and so were the minutes of later proeetdin;.s of the club.

William Jones, Polly Cantrall, May 2d, 1830, by Josiah Porter, Presbyterian minister. William Clifton, Partheny Paine, June loth, 1S39, by Kubert Ilensun, M. G. James Brown, Milarea Blount, July -Jth, LSSil, by Pa.xton Cummings, M. G. David Hood, Sarah Ann Brown, August 2.5th, 1839, by J. C. McPherson, M- G. John S range, Nancy Scott, August 22d, 1839, by J.iha Mjntg )Hi.'ry, Ju-stica of the pjacj. Janiei G. Hobbs, Mary Hay, Sept. 10th, 1839, by John Montgomery, Justice of the peace Thomas Davison, Caty Ann Hoblett, Oct- 10th, 1839, by M. S. Hoblett. Levi Cantrall, E. G. Robb, Oct. loth, 1839, by Josiah Porter, Pastor of Waynesville. J. D. Morgan, Miss L. Graves, November 10th, 1839, by John Hughes, Justice of the peace Jesse Griffin, Nancy Stipp, November 10th, 1839, by David Montgomery, Justice of the peace. W. Wills, Lyilia Hurley, November 14ih, 1839, by Henry Maynard. W. L. Fruit, Isabel C. Glenn, December 31st, 1839, by James Glenn Statistical reports of subsequent marriages are given in the chapter on Civil History - under the subhead of Land and Peojile.

First Justices Of The Fe.Yoe

William Anderson was also an acting justice of the peace. His bond however is not on file, and he seems to have been a justice for McLean county.

First Coxstables

Isaac M. Cudy was fined six dollars for contempt of court by Esquire Anderson on the 12th of September, 1839. Isaac paid his fine. Probably the first case of contempt of court in the State was committed by Joseph Marrie, a Frenchman, in autumn 1794. The justice, Jean Dumonlin, at Cahokia, pronounced the fine, when Joseph extended a very insulting invitation to Dumonlin. The latter jumped upon Monsieur "and admitted a merciless " thrashing. Dumonlin was indicted for assault and battery, but acquited. Monsieur Marrie, who had prosecuted Dumonlin in the name of the State, had to pay the court costs besides.

Hiram Bernard, assault and battery, ten dollars, and Daniel Fourdice, two cases of assault and battery, sis dollars, all by Squire Anderson, September 2, 1839. Hiram's battery must have been of a more violent character than Daniel's two. cases.

Henry Summers, October 12, 1839, assault and battery, three dollars, and John French on December 2, 1839, assault and battery, twenty-five dollars, J. C. McPherson justice of the peace.

Noah Grant, November 1, 1839, assault and battery, three dollars, and Cornelius Cavey, same day and same offence, five dollars, fines assessessed by R. H. Pool, J. P.

Cost of the county government in pioneer times, I\Iay to December, 1839: Compensation of county-officers, $221.00 ; furniture for court house and office rent, §181.74 ; roads, $104.62 ; elections, S.54.35 ; paupers, 81.25 ; total, S562 96.

The first failure to pay taxes occurred in the third year of the county's existence- The following citizens had failed to make the required payment : Daniel Smith, dead, due by him, 40 ets.; H. Hornbaker, removed to Sangamon county, 74 cts. ; David Graham, removed to Iowa, 81.15 ; Xoah Sneddaker, removed to Otawa, 46 cts. ; Jesse Dalby, removed to Ohio, 81.00 ; J. C. Bellew, removed to Bloomington, 67 cts. ; Clark Bousine, removed to Logan county, 35 cts. ; Ervin Bergen, dead, 46 cts. ; W. W. Allen, removed to Tazewell county, 80 cts. ; total loss, 86 03.

The first assessment of taxable property is mentioned in the chapter on Civil History. The readers perceive that the pioneers of their county were by no means in poor circumstances, a large number of the then residents had good farms. About 35,000 acres of land had become taxable by having been entered at least five years previously. The lands were owned by about one hundred and sixty resident and fifty non-resident citizens, and were valued at over 8150,000. Horses - not numbered - were assessed at 817,420, and cattle at 811,600, other property in propoition, the totals approximating a quarter of a million of dollars.

A few capitalists wore met in the county at that time, we mention W. Morris with 8800, Thomas Ward with 8400, John Hobblett with 8200, Sam Bevan with 8100 at interest.

James Glenn was credited with a forty dollar watch - must have been a gold one. A number of taxpayers were sporting carriages, for instance, S. M. Richardson, the merchant ; Dr. Wheeler, Daniel Dragstrem, Sam Hammet. R. T. Doolittle, Joel Jackson, Thomas Ward, Jos. Cantrall, F G. Paine, the probate judge, and E. W. Fears, the sheriff', whos-e carriage, not a very expensive one, was assessed at 823.00.

Several of the pioneer officers nf the county mu.«t have luokwl upon their respective offices with disgust, as a great number of resignations w. re tendtred.

J. C. McPherson, the first treasurer of the county, resigned before the expiration of a year. He certainly could not have been afraid of the great responsibilities of his office, for he never had as much as §2-5.00 in the county's cash box. Peter D. Spain elect d treasurer in August, 1840, threw up his commission on the 8th day of Juue, 1841. Charles Maltby beat this record by one day, as bis resigna'i n was filed on the 7th of June, 1842. E. W. Fears held out three months longer as collector, resigning on the 5th of Sepember of that year. William Mitchell did nut serve that long by two week", as he resigned on the 23d of August. He too had been treasurer. F- G. Paine, probate justice, served five years and two mouths. He chose Independence dav, July 4, 1844, for the date of his resignation.

Be it known to thee that I, Richard Murphy, constable of DeWitt county, do hereby resign my office for to depart for Mexico, therefore I pray thy honor to receive my resignation this June 11. 1845. Richard Murphy.

There is no man in the county more intimately connected with its entire history than the honorable judge, this fugleman of the Old Guard. None has ever carried the three score and ten with better grace and more vigor than he, the very picture of healthful beauty in age. His forty years in the harness of official life scarcely tell on him. His broad shoulders are still unbent, his stalwart arms would crush a foe as surely now as half a century ago, and writing these lines, methinks I could see that bright old face, beaming with intellect and benevolence, before me. He was the friend of Lincoln in our days, he remembers the festivities of the fiftieth anniversary of the Republic, the day on which the sage of Monticello closed his weary eyes, he remembers the visit of Gen. Lafayette, and further back, in his schoolboy days, in his South Carolina home, heard the proud Albion had triumphed over the great Napoleon and that the famous " Old Guard " had died, man after man, on the fields of Waterloo.

Born in South Carolina of Irish parents in the year 1806, he came to Illinois in 1830, and as stated heretofore, was a resident of what is now De Witt County, before the winter of the " deep snow." At the time of the organization of the County, he was elected County clerk and remained in that office until 1857. On the 16th of May, 1839, he was appointed superintendent of schools, was subsequently elected and repeatedly re-elected to said office until 1855, when Lawrence Weldou succeeded him, served the people of the County as master in chancery from 1839 until 1865, assisted the circuit clerk in the first years of the County's existence, held the office of County treasurer by app intment during a vacancy caused by the resignation of Jesse C. McPherson, was an acting and active justice of the peace during that period of time, was elected Couuty judge in 1877' resigned that office April 12, 1881, and Ciucinnitus like, took charge of the modest office of justice of the peace. Such is McGraw! The records of the county will forever show the careful and accurate work, written out in the bold John Hancock style, of this her faithful servant.

The readers will observe that there is no gap in the early history of the Couuty, and this fact i.-^ due to the judge's diligence and conscientiousness.

A good portion of the ink, with which the maunscript of these sketches is written, was dipped from the very inkstand carried hither by the judge in his saddle bags in 1830.

We have above stated that the original settlers of De Witt hailed from Kentucky and other southern states, and it should be said to their credit, that none of them made an effort to bring slaves into the state, which, under the then existing laws of Illinois, could have been done very easily. But, more than that, these very men selected Illinois for their future home to escape from the curses of the institution of slavery. William Lowry, of whom we shall speak below, stood not alone as an advocate of freedom, but had the support of the Barnett's, McGraw, Hall, Kenney, Wallis, Bowles and others, and it is proper that a few words be said of them. The Barnett family are of Scotch-Irish stock, and made Virginia their home in the beginning of the eighteenth century. Alexander Barnett, the grandfather of Alexander L. Barnett, the present surveyor of De Witt County, was born in Virginia about the year 1754, and served during the revolutionary war as regimental surgeon in the Virginia continentals. Some of his books and writings are still in the possession of his grandson as highly treasured relics. Being a cotemporary of Thomas Jefferson and a glowing admirer of the liberal and broad views of the writer of the declaration of independence, he firmly resolved that his descendants should dwell on a soil not tainted with slavery. He did not get to see this land of freedom, but in his will he arranged that his sons and their families should carry out his wishes. In those days a father's will was gospel to his children.

Two of the three sons of Alexander, Robert and William, died without issue, a daughter, Eliza, was married to J. G. Brown, and John, the surviving sou, and the sire, of the Barnetts in De Witt, was intrusted with the execution of the old Dr's plans. The family had removed to Kentucky after the close of the revolutionary war, and settled in Bourbon county, where two large farms, one of 390 and one of 320 acres, were purchased. The former was the homestead of the old man Alexander, and the latter that of hi-i son John. It was arranged in the will of Alexander, that these 320 acres should be sold, and the money thus realized be invested in real estate in free soil for the benefit of John's and his sister's desoendents, and the 390 acres were willed to John in fee simple. John, who had served in the army of the U.S. in the war against England, in 1812 and 1813, made two exploring trips through Indiana and Illinois, in 1829 and 1830, and decided to locate in the latter. His son Franklin had accompanied him on his second expedition, and remained in Illinois - the first Barnett to settle in the present limits of De Witt county. He bought 160 acres of land in section 33, T. 20, R. 1, east. He was a member of the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th, board of county commissioners from 1841 to 1847. He removed to Kansas in

Roliert F., the oldest sou of John Barnett, arrived in 1832, and settled on lands previously entered by his father in Section 34, T. 20, R. 1, and Sec. 2, T. 19, R. 1, east. Robert represented his county in the House of Representatives in the r2th General Assembly, 1840 to 1842, in the Senate of the 13th General Assembly, 1842 to 1844, and again in the House the 17th General Assembly, 1850 to 1852. For years, terra after term, our readers will find him presiding at the numerous ses-ions of grand juries. The time and manner of his death is mentioned elsewhere. Five sons are still surviving him. Nathan M. as supervisor of Barnett township, wore out a manJaimis of a United States Court, as he expressed it How it was done will be told in the township history. His brother Lyman, formerly Sheriff of De Witt, is at present wearing out another mandamus, but does it in a less unpleasant way. Alexander L. Barnett, the 3d son John, born Oct. 15, 1810, came to De Witt in 1831, and made the township of Clmtonia his home in 1834.

He was elected county surveyor in 1839, against George D. Smallwood, after quite a hot contest, and was re-elected, terra after term until 1859, when he retired voluntarily on account of failing sight. His friends gave him a re^t of twenty years, when in 1879 they re-elected him to the office. Mr. Barnett was at that time on a deer hunt in Mi .souri, little dreaming that theodolite and Jacob's stail' were again awaiting him on his return. He told the writer but a day ago, that, dispite the three score and ten with an odd one added, he intended to serve the people to the end of his term - providence willing.

It should also be stated that John Barnett, the father of Robert, Franklin and Alexander, spent the eyeing of his life in De Witt county, to which he had removed from Kentucky years after his sons had come there.

William Lowry, whose name appears in the roster of the county officers, merits more than a passing notice. He was a member of the state legislature in 1822, representing the county of Clark. This legislature had succeeded by foul means, to call a convention, with the avowed purpose of introducing or more properly legalizing the system of slavery in this state. Lowry voted in opposition to this measure and became a member of those famous " Fifteen," w ho prepared an address to the people of Illinois, in which they boldly denounced slavery. Speaking of it, they say : What a strange spectacle would be presented to the civilized world, to see the people of Illinois, yet innocent of this great national sin, and in the full enjoyment of all the blessings of free government, setting down in solemn convention to deliberate and determine whether they should introduce among them a portion of their fellow beings, to be cut off from those blessings, to be loaded with the chains of bondage, and rendered unable to leave any other legacy to their prosperity than the inheritance of their own servitude 1 The wise and the good of all nations would blush at our political depravity. Our professions of republicanism and equal freedora would incur the derision of despots and the scorn and reproach of tyrants. We should write the epitaph of free government upon its tombstone." The address closes with the following pathetic and eloquent appeal : "In the name of unborn millions who will rise up after us, and call us blessed or accursed, according to our deeds - in ihe name of the injured sons of Africa, whose claims to equal rights with their fellow men will plead their own cause against their usurpers before the tribunal of eternal justice, we conjure you fellow citizens, to ponder upon these things."

There were fifteen members of the legislature who signed this appeal to the people of Illinois, to wit: Risdon Moore and Jacob Ogle, of St. Clair, William Kinkade, from Wayne, George Cadwell, of Morgan, Andrew Bankson, of Washington, Curtis Blakeman and George Churchhill, of Madison, Abraham Cairnes of Lawrence, William Lowry, James Sims, of Sangrmon, Daniel Parker, of Crawford, G. T. Pell, of Edwards, David McGahey, of Crawford, Stephen Stillraan, of Sangamop, and Thomas Mather, of Randolph.

The strenuous eftbrts, the undaunted spirits and the energetic labors of these men and their friends have saved the State frora slavery. The stupendous consequences which would necessarily have resulted from the success of the pro-slavery party, could of course not be realized in 1822 ; we, who have lived throughout the civil war of 1861 to 1865, may now contemplate them with a silent shudder.

De Witt county may well be prjud of her pioneer AVilliam Lowry, who ra.ide the county his home some time after the year 1830. Lowry wasanative of Kentucky, had b3en associatejudgeof Greenup county, and came to Clark county at an early day. After the organization of Edgar county, formerly a part of Clark county. 111 , Lowry served for a time as circuit clerk, and became the first recorder of the new county of De Witt, on the 16th of May, 1839.

James Ki;xney, a Kentuckiau, of Scotch Irish descent, a friend of John Barnett, located in town 19 R. 1, about the year 1834. The town, laid out by his sons, was named after him.

Andrew Wallis, (Wallace,) another pioneer of this class, arrived in 1831, and settled in Tunbridge township. Walli^, like John Barnett, had served in the war of 1812 and 1813. He lived to a high old age, being over eighty years of age when he was called to the grand reveille on the other side of Jordan.

Hugh Bowles, a native of Bourbon county, Ky., came to Sangamon county, 111., in 1830, and removed in the spring of 1831 to what is now called Tunbridge township, De Witt county. He served as county commissioner of Macon county prior to the organization of De Witt.

PRExrYMAN Marvel, the first settler of Waynesville, came from Georgia in 1825. He died in 1842, leaving a numeorous family, most of whom are still living in the county. His widow married again in 1S47, and is now loved and honored by all, the oldest resident of the county. John Barr, her brother, came with the Marvel family to Illinois, and is now a resident of Logan county.

The Glenns, who followed in the next year, were from South Carolina. The sire of the family, John Glenn, was an old man when he arrived ; he remained only a few years. Thomas M. Glenn, a son, had come with his father, and remained in the county for nearly thirty years. Later, about the year 1856, he emigrated to Iowa. S. P. Glenn, another son, came in 1827- S. P. was a man of family at the time; he was probably the first bona fide land owner in De Witt county. S. P. Glenn, now the patriarch of the county, represented it in the State's legislature frora 1846 to 1848, and the first county assessment charges hira with the ownership of a watch valued at forty dollars ; his watch must have been the first gold watch brought into the county.

John Donner was one of the actual froutierraen who never come to stay until death overtakes thera. Donner had raade the township of Santa Anna his home as early as 1830, a few years later he folded his tent and continued his course westward. He is said to have perished on his way to California in 1846.

The Harps. - One of the finest townships of the county is named after them. Tyre and Joseph Harp were originally from Tennessee, and had first lived in or near Waynesville. The brothers were ardent friends of public education, and made great personal sacrifices in order to raise funds out of which to pay competent teachers.

Edom Shugart, one of the first five white people in the county, taught school in Harp's dwelling as early as 1836. Edom is still livii'g, he resides now in Nebraska.

G. B. Lemen arrived in 18.36, and is still an honored citizen of his county, which he repre.sented in the constitutional convention of 1847. Mr. Lemen was also associate county justice from 1854 to 1857.

Thomas Davenport, a Kentuckian, had removed with his father to Illinois as early as 1820, and made De Witt his home prior to the " deep snow." His f jot-race with Judge McGraw some fifty odd years ago is mentioned in the township sketches.

Reuben Lisenby, father of Abraham, the first settler in Creek township, had been a soldier in the revolutionary army, and had lost his life in the service. Abraham Lisenby died within a year of his arrival in De Witt, when Benjamin Lisenby became the head of the family.

The ScoTTS, came with their kinsman, S. P. Glenn, in 1827. They were Carolinians, and held in high esteem by their pioneer brethren. James K.Scott represented the county of De Witt in the state legislature for two consecutive terms, 1842 to 1846.

The American pioneer, as a rule, brings up a large family. Malthus' Essay on Population, and the evils occasioned by a rapid increase of population, has not found its way to the frontier. Contemplating this numerous progeny - families of from eight to twelve children seem to have been the rule - one may suppose that Oliver Goldsmith's Vicar of Wakefield, or at least the first sentence of the first chapter was put into practical use. The worthy vicar opens his memoirs with a philosophical remark, " I have always been of the opinion," says he, " that he, who marries and brings up a large family, does better service to the state than he who continues single and only talks of population." Little did the Vicar at the time dream of the troubles and sorrows to be caused to him by a wayward daughter, not to speak of his son Moses, who sold a valuable colt for a number of worthless green spectacles.

The few who remain may look with just pride upon the present prosperity of the county. Their labors have not been in vain. The little " patch " of corn has grown into immense fields of plenty, beautiful and comfortable habitations occupy now the sites of the windowless log-hut, stately school-houses are scattered all over the county, and Edom Shugart, the pioneer teacher of the county, rejoices to hear, in his Nebraska home, of the prosperity of the public schools in De Witt. The ox-cart of the early times is not seen any more. The substantial wagon, the giy carriage have been substituted, not to speak of the railroads traversing the couuty in all directions.