Douglas County, Illinois - The whole text, 1876 (part 2 of 2)

Patterson's spring, a fine fountain of living water, is situated upon the farm of R. Patterson in setion 33, 16,9,011 the Embarras and near Camargo. It has been for many years a favorite place for camp meetings and so forth.

The township, in the public service of the county, has contributed liberally of her citizens. John D. Murdoch, Associate Justice in 1859, re-elected in 1S61. John Brown in the same position in iS6^. Wm. H. Lamb, formerly a merchant in Camargo, was the commissioner to transfer from the records of Coles county those belonging to the county of Douglas, and was elected County Clerk in the fall of 1S65. Parmenas Watson was made Sheriff in November, 1S60, and S. S. Irwin was Superintendent of Schools from the fall of 1861, serving two years. Dr. John C. Parcel was elected County Clerk in November, 1S69, serving one term of four years.

The Supervisors of the township have been: Geo. W. Henson, the first in 1S68; F. Hesler, 1S70; J. W. McKinney, 1871-72; Martin Rice in 1S69-73-74-75-76, being the present Supervisor. The population of the township, per 9th Census. 1870, was 1,808.

Garrett Township is situated in the northwest part of the county: has forty-eight sections of land, equal to 49 square miles, or about 31,344 acres. It receives its name from the Garretts, Isom and his sons, Cale1^ and Nathan. Isom Garrett is living- and able to attend to business at the advanced age of Si years. Caleb Garrett represented the county of Vigo in the Legislature of Indiana in 1S42, at the age of 26 years, and was re-elected. He settled in Douglas county in 1S47, and served on the first Grand Jury of the county: was Justice of the peace for some years and the first Supervisor of the township. He is the fit representative of a family of giants, being six feet in height and weighing considerably over 300 pounds.

Harvey Otter, Thomas Goodson, James Drew, Jacob Mosbarger, Dr. Meeker, William Howe and William Ellars were of the early settlers. Mr. Howe arrived in 1S3S; went to California in 1S50, returning in 1S53. He is the present Supervisor, having been elected in 1S76. Wm. Ellars' family came from Ohio, settled on the Okaw timber near the north county line in 1S49, at which time there was not a settler on the prairie to the west. He was the second Supervisor of the township, a position he held by re-election for four years.

Joseph Moore, or to put it more exactly, "Old" Joe Moore, arrived in Douglas, formerly Coles, county in 1832. He is the repository, as well as the authority, for all the jokes, good, bad and indifferent, illustrative of the manners and customs of the early days. He still lives at a hearty old age, and who, in the west end, knows him not, argues himself unknown.

In the early days a principal part of the living was venison. Thomas Goodson once killed two deer with a single ball, on what is now the large farm of William Brian. He also assisted in exterminating the last family of wild cats in the Okaw timber. He relates having cut a large tree for rail timber in the exact spot where he had cut a similar one thirty-six years before, as if the timber is holding its own notwithstanding the large quantities used for fuel and improvement. It is a notable fact, in this connection, that in those days the timber belonging to actual settlers remained in good condition much longer than that on Government or non-resident lands. Non-resident's lands were called ''speculator's lands." Whether the timber on such lands should be respected was considered a "moot case."

John Lester and his sons, Samuel and Sigler H., were of the most notable of the earlier settlers in this part of the county. The sons entered large bodies of land, leaving large estates which are now enjoyed, for the most part, by their numerous descendants. They were men of great natural force and decision of character, and anecdotes of them are not few. As illustrative of the times: John having cut a large bee tree converted it into a "gum," put a slab over it and left it for a more convenient time. Goodson, as it happened, had just killed three deer, and finding the "gum," not seeing the honey, he filled it up with tallow, this to preserve it from the ravens, for at that time ravens were plenty - larger than the common crow - since extinct in this region. Lester returned first and finding the tallow could not understand how anybody could rob him of his honey and leave tallow in exchange, the latter being much more valuable.

Another event of the times - one of our "causes celebres" - has been so often repeated to the detriment of the character of Sigler H. Lester, that it is desirable to give the facts of the case, even were the incident not a part of the history of the county. This was the well known assault with intent to kill, said to have been committed by Lester upon Samuel Johnson.

The facts seem to be that the trouble arose from a systematic plan of annoyance adopted, in pure mischief, by the "boys," they knowing Lester to be or" a very excitable temperament. They robbed his hen roosts and wood piles, disturbed work he had laid out, hid his gearing, emptied his water jug, generally pursuing a plan of petty mischief, taxing their invention to the utmost, and then purposely threw them selves in his way to hear him express himself.

Upon the last occassion - for there was a last occasion - when the "boys" had played a trick of surpassing aggravation, they unadvisedly took occasion to be at hand. Mr. Lester, having by this time, a pretty good idea as to the identity of his persecutors, was so decidedly expressive that Sam. Johnson "lit" off his horse to fight, or at least to make a show of fight, for they thought there would be no fight. Each gathered a club, met and broke both, and "clinched.''' Lester had a knife in his hand with which he had been at work, and aggravated beyond endurance, not only at the persistent previous annoyances, but by the now almost certain knowledge that these were his tormentors, and moreover that this was a "set up" job, he, in what he really thought was self defence, reached around Sam. and nearly cut him in two.

Mr. Lester was tried, convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary, but, upon a proper representation of the facts, was promptly pardoned by the Governor. He was defended by Abraham Lincoln. No one regretted the affair more than Mr. Lester, and in a subsequent residence of mam- years, up to the time of his death in 1S64, he established and maintained a character for uprightness and honor second to none. His brother Samuel died in September, 1S60, and both left large estates.

The trial of Samuel Evans, for the murder of his wife, occurred in 18^3-4. lie was a farmer near the present location of the Hoots school house on the Okaw, section 1, 1 ^, 7. It was charged that he killed her by beating, and, being tried in Clark county on a change from Coles countv, he was convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary for eight years. After serving somewhat more than one year he was pardoned by Governor Matteson. Usher & Ficklin for the accused; Linder for the State. Drs. J. H. Apperson and J. W. McKinnev having held a post mortem in the case, their evidence in the trial was important. This trial and the attendant circumstances caused the expression of much difference of opinion in the neighborhood, leading, in some eases, to enmity which time finally cured.

Francis C. Mullen arrived and entered land in section 28, 16, 7, in 1S50. He was the second Countv Judge of Douglas, 1S61. He came from Delaware.

About this time he was traveling towards his home from Yaudalia, where he had been entering land, and upon reaching Sullivan, in Moultrie countv, his traveling companion was urgent that they ihould repair at once to the hotel saloon and take a drink. Mullen preferred to first take care of the horses, and order dinner, and prevailed, which made some delay, and as they afterwards went toward the tavern and saloon they met a man who told them there had been trouble there; that William Campbell had been robbed of one hundred and fifty dollars in gold; that every man in the saloon, of whom there were many, had been searched, and the money not found. It is interesting to speculate as to what might have been the consequences to Mullen on this occasion had he not been fortunately delayed a little while, for he had just arrived in the country, was a perfect stranger to every bod v, and had upon his person just exactly "one hundred and fifty dollars in gold."

The I., D. & S. Railway, traverses it from east to west, and the township aided in its construction with a voted subscription of $13,000 # The bridge of this road, across the Okaw, was maliciously burned on the night of July 3, 1873. The fellow who committed the crime has, by withholding his name, lost the distinction of . being Douglas county's greatest scoundrel.

The town of Atwood was laid out by the railroad company in 1S73, on the lands of Harvey Otter and Geo. Nolind, in Douglas county, and on the lands of the Ritchie's in Piatt countv. It is a thriving village with good surroundings and will eventually secure the trade of a wealthy neighborhood, which has hitherto been divided between Tuscola and Bement.

Mackville, in Piatt county, on Lake Fork, a branch of the Okaw, is a mile northwest of Atwood, and exercised some control over the trade of this region until the advent of the railroad, which passed half a mile south and made Atwood. The pet name of this village is "Lickskillet."

Garrett is the fourth township in the county, with regard to population per 9th Census, 1S70, the number of inhabitants being put down at 1,599. It contains an area of 49 square miles in 4S sections of land, several of the sections having considerablv over 1,000 acres. Sulphur Spring, on the farm of Thomas Brian, on the Okaw, section 14, 16, 7, is a fine fountain of living water and a favorite resort for open air meetings.

elected Sheriff in the fall of 1S64; Caleb Garrett, the first Supervisor, 1S6S, succeeded by Win. Ellars, 1S69, who was re-elected in 1S70-1-2. He was followed by J. W. Hackett in 1873; Thomas Owen, 1S74; fosiah Hoots, 1S75, and Wm. Howe, 1S76, the present Supervisor. All of these were old settlers at the time of the institution of the new county in 1859 and were active in its business and politics.

A Primitive School House

Bourbon Township consists of forty-two sections of land in the southwest part of the county, equal to about the same number of square miles, and 27,175 acres. Amongst the first settlers were Geo. Dehart and his sons, Samuel and Lucas. He was road-master in Coles county and his district extended from Sadorus' Grove, on the north county line, to a point six miles south of the Springfield road. Allen and William Campbell were also of the first. Mr. Allen Campbell was, at the time of his death in 1875, with one exception, the largest land owner in the county. Isaac Gruelle, Maiden Jones, Israel Chandler and his sons, were amongst the earliest comers. Of these, Dr. Apperson is living in the township, a large land owner and has an extensive medical practice. He is a nephew of Dr. John Apperson, who was the first physician in Coles county. Maiden Jones, who came in 1840, was Sheriff" of Coles county when Douglas county was parted from it. He was elected in 1S5S, and was elected to the Stace Legislature in 1864 and again in 1S66. Lemuel Chandler was the first Supervisor of the township and served four consecutive terms. The Dehart sons are yet well known active business men. Curtis G. and Campbell McComb, at present citizens of the county, were old residents of Coles at the institution of the new county. Thomas Moore entered wrest half northeast quarter section 23, 15, 7, in 1S31.

John Campbell, called "Uncle Jack," was a brother ol Allen and William Campbell, and was probably the last representative or type of the genuine old-fashioned pioneer, scout and hunter, and wonderful stories were told of his endurance and his ability to follow a trail.

He was widely known in the early days, passing the greater part of his time in hunting. He was found dead in the woods. His son Hiram, who died in 1S64, had the reputation of being one of the best hunters of the time.

Jacob Moore, sr., was one of the earliest settlers in the township and became an extensive cattle dealer and large land holder. He was also a noted hunter of great endurance. His first land was entered in section 1, 14, 7, in April, 1S35. He died July 15, i860, leaving a large estate to numerous descendants.

Isaac Gruelle, of this township, was County Commissioner of Coles county, being elected in 1S43, with H.J. Ashmore. The Constitution of 184S provided for a County Judge and two associates, and John M. Logan was one of the first two Associate Justices. Gruelle and Logan have long since passed away, both leaving large estates.

German speaking people occupy a large area of the north part of the township, the locality being widely known as the "German Settlement." Their farms, compared with western farms generally, are small but exceedingly well cultivated, and the proverbial industry and thrift of this class of citizens is here fully exemplified. The greater part of them having arrived with little or no means, and now with hardly an exception have acquired good and wrell improved farms. The pioneer of this community is Wessel Blaase, who arrived in JS52. There are several ancient artificial mounds on his place in one of which human bones were found in excavating for a building.

In the sonthwest part settled the Amish of some twenty-five families, who were preceded here by M. Yoter, Miller and others in 1864. They much resemble the society of Friends in plainness of attire, integrity and almost total exemption from pauperism. The name is derived from that of the founder of the society who, in the German States of Europe, saw fit to secede from the Menonites, of whom much has been heard lately, with regard to:the emigration of large numbers of them from Russia to the West. The proposed marriages are publicly announced, and a marriage outside ot the Society is "tolerable and not to be endured." They dress plainly, partly to avoid the frivolities of fashion, and partly that there may be no notable distinction between the rich and the poor. They have no churches or meeting houses but meet at each others dwellings, as the spirit moves them. The clothing of the men is often confined with hooks and eyes, but the notion that thsy wear no buttons is erroneous. The heads of the women are lawavs covered with a neat white cap and over the neck and shoulders

Adults only are baptized and that by pouring. Infants are not entitled to this sacrament, they preferring to teach first, for every descendent has a birth-right in the church. Of German extraction and long settled in western Pennsylvania, their speech amongst themselves is an odd mixture of German and English, the "American" part of which can be readily detected by an intelligent observer, and the language is popularly known as "Pennsylvania Dutch." They all speak "American" as well as their neighbors, so that, trusting to the hearing alone, few would suspect the presence of a German speaking person. Almost painfully neat in their housekeeping, forehanded in everything pertaining to the comfort of the inner man, with great hospitality, all educated with industry, integrity and economy, they are a valuable addition to the population and wealth of Douglas county.

The original village of Bourbon, section 14, 15, 7, was laid out by Maiden Jones, in October, 1S53, an<^ 's the third town in priority, having been preceded by both Camargo and Fillmore. An addition was made in the following January by Benjamin Ellars. At the institution of the county this was a thriving village of some dozen business houses and the most important trading point in the county. L. C. Rust, Dr. J. D. Gardiner, Jos. Foster, Wm. Chandler, Benjamin Ellars, G. W. Flynn and others flourished here at the time. The location of the Illinois Central Railroad some four miles to the east, giving rise to Tuscola and Areola, interfered with the future prospects of the place to the extent that the merchants, for the most part, not only removed to the new towns on the railroad but took their buildings with them. One of these, a two-story frame, was put upon runners made of large sticks of timber, and with some fifteen yoke of steers, under the conduct of Uncle Daniel Roderick, was hauled in nearly a straight line over the snow to Areola. "Uncle Daniel" still lives on his farm in section 1, 15, 7. He entered this land on March 13, 183S. Samuel Sharp, of Bourbon, took Rust's store to Areola in a similar manner.

Bourbon has a two-story brick school house, which was built about 1S57, and is therefore, probably, the first brick built in the county. There is also a neat Baptist Church lately erected by the influence and means of citizens yet remaining. The place, however, has about lost the character of a village, there being at present neither a store or post office, the nearest being at Chesterville on 'the I. M.

Railway, which is a small station about one- half mile south of the ancient site of Fillmore. Fillmore had been laid out by H. Russel in 184S, on section 35, 15, 7, and the firm of Bales & Trowbridge, afterwards Bales, Osborn & Co., controlled the trade of a large area; but the business of this house was removed to Areola, and Fillmore is among the things that were. Mr. Bales was Associate Justice of the county in 1861, and Supervisor of the township in 1S72. Bagdad is a point on the Okaw three miles west of Areola.

The town of Arthur, one of the most recent enterprises of the kind, is in section 30, 15, 7, and was laid off by the Paris & Decatur Railroad, on the lands of Warren in Moultrie county, and the Murphy's of Douglas. It is a thriving place with several stores and elevators, and having in it some of the best business talent of the country. Its importance as a shipping and trading point is being reluctantly acknowledged by neighboring towns. The first business house was put up by Jacob Sears. The population in 1S75 was about 300.

Newton I. Cooper, of this township, was elected Sheriff of the county in the fall of 1870, up to which time for a period, he had been Township Collector. In the following March he disappeared suddenly, leaving between five and six thousand dollars of township funds unaccounted for. Cooper, a recent comer in the neighborhood, was a man of pleasing address aud appearance, and that, together with his rather notable business qualifications, inspired confidence in all who had dealings with him.

On Thursday afternoon, November 4, 1S75, Mr. R. P. McWilliams, a well known and highly respected citizen of Bourbon township, was instantly killed at the highway crossing of the Illinois Midland Railwray, west of Areola cit) and near the residence of Jacob Moore. He was driving a mule team attached to a wagon. He approached the crossing and, as he thought, allowed the train to pass and began to resume his way, probably, naturally looking at the train, but he was unfortunately caught by the latter part of the train, which had f ccome uncoupled. The team escaped.

The name of this township is derived from that of Bourbon county, Kentucky, which was represented by several of the first settlers. The people voted bonds in aid of the I. M. Railway to the amount of $35,000; and it ranked the fifth in the county in point of population, by the Census of 1S70, the number of inhabitants being put at 1,457.

in 1859 and again in 1861. Caleb Bales was Associate Justice for a term beginning November, 1S61, and was also Supervisor in 1S72. Samuel B. Logan was the first Sheriff of the county, 1 S59. Newton I. Cooper was made Sheriff in 1S70 Lemuel Chandler served as Supervisor in 1868-69-70-71, and had also charge of the interests of the county in realizing from the State the amount due from swamp lands. M.D.Bartholomew was Supervisor in 1873, and was succeeded by Andrew Ray in 1S74, who was returned in 1S75. The present Supervisor is J. F. Bouck, who came from Ohio in 1S66. fie served with a Captain's commission in the 154th Regiment of that State in the war of 1S61.

Puncheon Skat

Bowdre Township has 481^ square miles of territory. When Township organization was adopted in 186S, this township was called Deer Creek, after the water course of that name which traverses it, and had heen a part of Collins Precint in Coles county. At the first meeting of the Board of Supervisors it was discovered that there was a Deer Creek Township in Tazewell county, whereupon the name was changed to Bowdre, in honor of Benjamin Bowdre, who was one of the oldest settlers. He is yet living on his farm in the township. The Emharras river runs through the northeast part and receives Scattering Fork in the north. It is traversed by the Illinois Midland Railway, from the west to the southeast, a considerable deflection having been made in the line of the road that it might pass within a mile of the centre of the township, upon which condition and for other reasons, the people of the township voted bonds in aid of the road to the amount of $30,000. The legality of calling the election and of voting the bonds having been called in question, and being now in litigation, whether these bonds will finally have to be paid or not is unknown.

The town or village of Hindsboro is situated in section 6, 14, 10, and was laid out by the railroad company upon the lands of the Hinds Brothers in 1874, the plat covering about sixty-two acres. The railroad here runs about southeast and the plan of the town is in conformitv with it, the principal streets being at right angles and parallel with the line of the road. The place is improving rapidly and has claims as a shipping point which can not be ignored. Here Lodge No. 571, I. O. O. F., was instituted April 12, 1875, tne m'st officers of which

The village of Bridgeport, situated in section 13, 15, 9, has a post office called Hugo, and is the the scene of about the last appearance of Indians in the county, a trading store having been kept here by one Vessar in 1S29-30.

Among the earlier settlers was Isaac Davidson, who arrived in 183S, and is still living on his farm, section 19, 15, 9. Jas. A. Breeden, built the first house between the Okaw timber, eight miles to the west, and the well known "Wallace Stand," west of Hickory Grove. He settled in 1S53 on section 9, 14, 9, where he still lives. The "Wallace Stand" was the residence of the family of A. G. Wallace, of Tuscola, who was the first Ciicuit Clerk of the county, a position he held by re-election for over twelve years.

John Davis, Shiloah Gill, John Barnet and others lived here in the years of the early settlers. John Barnet - called "Jack" by everybody - came from Kentucky to the Little Vermillion in 1S32, and to his present residence, then Coles county, in 1S42. The life partners of several well known prominent citizens were taken from his family. John Davis, the father of Issachar Davis the present County Surveyor, entered his land in 1S33, and arrived in the State from Brown county, Ohio, in September, 1S34. He died March 5, 1865. A residence of thirty years in this township had earned him the respect and confidence of all. Shiloah Gill arrived here in 1852 and settled on land which had been entered b) his father in 1S33.

Lines L. Parker, of this township, was elected Sheriff of Vermillion county in i856, and removed to Douglas in 1S6S. Mr. Parker is the largest m in in the county, his weight being 336 pounds. He is, nevertheless, notable for physical vigor. He served as a commissioned officer in company "D" 25th Illinois in the war of 1S61.

At the February term - 1S71 - of Douglas Circuit Court, O. P. Greenwood was indicted for the murder of Geo. Musset, near Hugo, (Bridgeport.) He met him in the woods and shot him. Greenwood was tried in Charleston, Coles county, on a change of venue, and sentenced to the penitentiary for twenty-one years. He had surrendered himself to the officers and as there was some probability of self defense as well as of justification in the ease, domestic difficulty being the cause of the quarrel, and extenuating circumstances generally, a petition has lateiv been in circulation praying for his pardon.

The Supervisors who have represented the interests of the township at the county seat are: Benjamin Bowdre, who was elected in 1868 and returned in 1869. He was succeeded by Oliver P. Hunt, in 1870, who was re-elected in 1871 and again in 1872. Marvin Y. Coykendall was the Supervisor in 1S73-74-75. The present Supervisor is F. M. Reeds, who arrived in Coles county in 1848, being elected to his present position in the spring of 1876.

Issachar Davis was elected County Surveyor in November, 1S63, and again in 1867, and the third time in 1875, the first two being terms of two years each. Under the Constitution of 1870 it has become a term of four years.

Newman Tov\rnship has an area of about 48 square miles and is nearly all prairie, though there is considerable timber in the south part along Brushy Fork. It has 30,756 acres. The north part of this township rises into a considerable elevation known as the Ridge, a view from which is more extensive than can be obtained from any other part of the county.

In June, 1S71, about three years after Township organization, an effort was made to create a new township off the north end to be called "Ridge Township," and at the same time a remonstrance was filed, which prevailed.

Amongst the first inhabitants of this part of Douglas county may be mentioned Enoch Howell, who was one of the Associate Justices of Coles county before the partition of Douglas. He died in February, 1S54, leaving a large estate. The Winkler's preceded and sold their lands to the Hopkins'. James, Cornelius, William and Robert Hopkins being amongst the best known of the earlier settlers. James Hopkins settled on his present farm, section 5, 15, 14, in October, 1S41. Robert Hopkins was one of the Judges of Coles countv at the time of the separation of Douglas in 1859 and was elected to fill the same office in the new county. He died in 1S63 leaving a large unincumbered estate, and his brother William is also lately deceased at an advanced age and was also a large land owner.

Jas. M. Cooley and Win, W. Young arrived in 1S53. Young d'ed in 1S69. The father of Isaac Skinner came from Vermillion county, Ind., in 1S39, and Isaac is, with one exception, the oldest living inhabitant of the township. Win. Shute came in 1S54.

The largest contiguous body of land in the township is owned by C. M. Culbertson, of Chicago. It contains 2,340 aeres, upon which a large amount of money has been expended in the way of improvement: twenty-two miles of hedges, fifteen wells, forty-nine gates. This farm contains a natural grove of about forty acres which, being very conspicuous from its elevation on the Ridge and its isolation, had been for many years, before the days of regular roads, a valuable landmark for travelers. It is well and widely known as "Culbertson's Grove." The ancient name was "Pill's Grove." This farm has been under the charge of J. L. Connolly, of Camargo, since 1S64.

About 1S40 there came from Kentucky to this neighborhood one Robert Matteson, who entered the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 13, 15, 9, in 1S35, accompanied by his slaves, some twelve or fifteen in number. His neighbors being fcr the most part from the free States, entertained the idea that the slaves would be free after remaining in a free State one year. For various reasons Matteson was not pleased with the country and proposed to return to Kentucky accompanied by his hi nds, and to that end made preparations for departure in their company. Major Samuel Ashmore, who had settled near the mouth of Brushy Fork as early as 1830, and others of the same mind had agreed that they would endeavor to prevent the return of the slaves to Kentucky. A few, however, went with their owner. Others, by one means and another, were left behind, and some finally went to Liberia, but one of them, at least, Simeon Wilmot, declined to return to Kentucky or to go to Liberia, but remains a citizen of Douglas county to this day. A suit at law grew out of the matter, in which Abraham Lincoln and O. B. Ficklin were opposing counsel. Mr. Ficklin was a large land owner and former resident of this countv. He now lives in Charleston, Coles county, and has a large quantity of land in this county at present. He represented Coles countv in the Legislature in 1S3S, 1842 and was elected to Congress in 1842, 1S44 and 1S50

The city of Newman is situated on section 31, 16, 14, on the line of the I., D. & S. Railway, and the original town was laid off by the same company which instituted Tuscola and at abovit the same time. It was named for 1>. Newman, one of the proprietors, who was a sonin-law of Peter Cartright, the celebrated itinerant preacher. The town was laid out in December, 1S57, in Coles countv, and in the advertisements ot the place the proprietors preaicted that a new county would be formed, and that the railroad would be built. The new county was formed in 1S59 an(^ the ^"Iroad came along in 1S72.

The progress of the place was slow from its beginning, in awaiting the advent of the read, since which time the advance has been rapid. During the long weary waiting of fifteen years for a railroad, much of the lands adjacent to the town plat had been gradually sold off into small tracts and subsequently converted into town lots, so that the present plat of the town, covering the greater part of the section, is made up of some sixteen different additions, and in some cases parties have made the third addition under the same name.

In the original pint a park 260 feet square is dedicated to the city provided a seminary of learning was erected on it within four years from December, 1S57, and eight feet upon the borders of all streets is dedicated for sidewalks and shade trees.

The school facilities of the city consist in the main of an excellent two-story brick building with accommodations for about 300 pupils, and finished this year at a cost of about $10,000.

Two large two-story brick blocks have recently been erected, containing several commodious business rooms below, having upon the second floor good halls, one of which'is owned by the Masonic Society. Cash's brick store of two stories, his brick dwelling and the brick residence of Hancock, indicate the progress of the place in the way of permanent buildings.

The Banking House of Murphy, Hancock & Co. gives facilities to business men. It was established January, 1S7 3. A Methodist and a Christian Church have been erected.

The "Independent," a weekly newspaper - C. Walls, editor and proprietor - now in its second volume, keeps up the record of the local news and looks after the interests of the Republican party.

Of Benevolent Societies the Masonic Lodge, Newman, No. 369, was instituted June 27, 1861. The first W. M. was Dr. W. A. Smith. I. W. Burget was Secretaiy and Isaac Howard, Treasurer. The present membership is 89.

built in 1S72. The charter of the Decatur & Indianapolis Railroad Company was dated March 21, 1853; that of the Illinois & Indiana Central bears date of December 30, 1852. It had been a proposed road for twenty years and partly graded for a long time. This township took stock in the road, by a vote of the people, to the amount of $£2,ooo, payable in fourteen years with ten per cent, interest. The taxes paid by the road in 1875 balanced the interest.

A proposed railroad, the line of which has been surveyed and approximately located, is a nearly straight line from Homer, in Champaign county, to Newman, with prospective extensions both ways, and a preliminary survey was made on the line ot the Mattoon & Danville road which also crosses the township.

Of the various offices in the public service of Douglas county, Mr. Robert Hopkins was one of the first County Board, having been elected in 1859. He died in the spring of 1S63. Daniel O. Root was elected County Clerk in November, 1873, and is the present officer. Mr. Root came from Athens county, Ohio, in October, 1S54. He was assistant Marshal in the Ninth Census, 1870. J. W. King, the present Superintendent of Schools, was placed in that office at the November election, 1875, to fill an unexpired term which closes in the fall of 1S77, the term being four years.

The Supervisors who have been chosen to represent the interests of the township were : B. W. Hooe, elected in 1S6S, as the first Supervisor, re-elected in 1S69, and returned in 1S71-72-73. Mr. Hooe was one of the older residents and died in January, 1S75. D. Todd was elected in 1870. F. F. Barber in 1874 and again in 1S75, and having resigned to remove from the county, W. R. Brown was elected to fill out the unexpired term, and was re-elected in 1S76, being the present representative. Mr. Brown has the distinction of being the only county officer born within the bounds of Douglas county, (1845.) He served three years in the 79th Infantry in the war of 1861.

The population of this township, by the 9th Census, 1870, was 1,077, Demg at that time next to the smallest, but as the city of Newman has rapidly increased since that time the township now ranks third or fourth in the county in the number of inhabitants. The population in the city of Newman was over 1,000 in 1876.

Sargent Township consists of fifty-two sections of land in the southeast part of the county and has an area of about 46^ square miles, several of the so-called sections being quite small, and was once a part of Oakland Precinct in Coles county. It contains 29,813 acres, and received its name in honor of Snowdon Sargent, Esq., who was one of its earliest and most influential citizens. He made his first visit to the State in 1S30, entered 400 acres of land at Palestine, and in the first years of his residence passed through with his family, all the trials and privations incident to pioneer life. He eventually became one of the largest land owners in the county, and died in 1875. Eli Sargent entered a large body of land here in 1830. Other well known original settlers were Andrew Gwin, the Reddings, Samuel Allison, Casebeer, B. F. Coykendall, I. W. Burget, Wm. Hancock, and Wm. F. Murphy. Mr. Gwin visited the Richman's the first settlers, in 1S30. He has the largest farm in the county, 3,100 acres. Josephus Redding was born in Edgar county in 1S29 and came to this township when two years of age. Samuel Allison arrived in 1833 Wm. Hancock was the first Assessor and Treasurer of the county, a member of the State Board of Equalization in 1S67, and, living in Newman, is a member of the banking firm of Murphy, Hancock & Co. Mr. Coykendall came to Coles, now Douglas, county in 1847. W- Burget arrived in 1S39. Since Township organization in 1S68 he has served six consecutive terms as Supervisor of this towniship, in which he has a large and well improved farm. Wm. F. Murphy bought his first land here in 1S50, and now has a large farm upon which valuable improvements have been made. He is the present Supervisor of the township and a member of the banking firm of Murphy, Hancock & Co., Newman.

The township of Sargent is about one-half timber, being traversed by the Embarras river, which receives Brushy Fork, a branch, in section 28, 15, to. Deer Creek, a considerable drain, empties into the Embarras in this township.

Brushy Fork timber was a favorite place of resort for the early settlers and was the scene of some of the earliest improvements in the county.

There is no trading point of any importance in the township, the business being divided between the neighboring towns of Newman and Oakland, in Coles count)-, the local pet name of which is "Pin Hook." The onl\ post office is Brushy Fork, in section 22, 15, 10, commonly called "Nipantuck." Columbus, a town, was laid out in February, 1841, on section 35, 15, 10, now unknown. The Illinois Midland Railway crosses about two miles of the township in the southwest corner, passing through Oakland in Coles county, which, being near, is equivalent to railroad facilities, and routes for several proposed roads which cross a portion of its area have been surveyed.

Sargent Township enjoys the distinction of being the ov\y township in the county which has no voted railroad debt as a township. In population it is the smallest in the county. The number of inhabitants per Ninth Census, 1870, was 1,035.

The following citizens have been charged with the care of the county public business: Wm. Hancock was the first Assessor and Treasurer of Douglas county, having been elected in 1S59. Jas. H. Shawhan was elected to the office of Sheriff, in 1S71, to fill the unexpired term of Cooper, who had left the country. Of Supervisors, I. W. Burget was the first, having been elected in 1^68, re-elected in 1S69-70-71-72-73. He was succeeded by S. M. Long in 1S74, who was again returned in 1S75. The present Supervisor is Wm, F. Murphy, who was elected in LS76.

America Tramp, Tramp, Tramp

In the prison cell I sit, Thinking, mother dear, of you And our bright and happy home so far away ! And the tears they fill my eyes, Spite of all that I can do, Though I try to cheer my comrades and be gay.

boys are marching; Cheer up! comrades, thay will com?, And beneath the starry flag, We shall breathe the air again Of the Freeland in our own beloved

In the battle front we stood, When the fiercest charge was made, And they swept us off, a hundred men or more ; But before they reached our lines, They were driven back dismayed, And we heard the cry of vict'ry o'er and

So within the prison walls, We are waiting for the day That shall come to open wide the iron do;r ; And the hollow eyes grow bright, And the poor heart almost gay, As we think of seeing home and friends

Star Spangled Banner

Oh sav can you see, by the dawn's earlv "light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming, Whose hroad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming; And the rockets red glare, the

On the shore dimly seen thro' the mists of the deep, Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses; Now it catches the gleam of the

And where is the band, who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war, and the nation's confusion, A home and a country should leave us no more - Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution! No refuge can cave the hireling

Blessed with victory and peace, mav the Heaven-rescued land Praise the power that has made and preserved us a nation ! Then conquer we must, when our

Hail Columbia

Let its altar reach the skies, Firm, united let us be Rallying round our liberty, As a band of brothers joined, Peace and safety we shall find.

Heroes, patriots, rise once more, Guard jour rights, defend your shores; Let no rude foe with impious hand, Let no rude foe with impious hand, Invade the shrine where sacred lies Of toil and blood the well earned prize; While offering peace sincere and just. Place in heaven your manly trust, Truth and justice shall prevail, And all schemes of bondage fail. Firm, united let us be, etc.