Edgar County, Illinois - The whole text, 1879 (part 13 of 24)

Game of all kinds was plenty here at the first settlement of the country. Deer and wild turkeys, bears and other species of birds and animals were abun¬ dant. Prairie wolves were more than plenty. Col. Blackburn describes a wolfhunt he and nine others had one day in midwinter, when the snow was deep. They would start up a wolf, gallop after it, and the man with the fastest horse would knock the wolf down with a club. By the middle of the afternoon they had killed ten and he had knocked down nine of them. He had a good horse, was fond of the sport, and when a wolf was started, he says it was kill wolf or kill horse. The wolves wTere the great pests of the people, as it was almost impossible to raise pigs or lambs on account of them. Col. Blackburn says he

Col. Mayo and John Stratton brought the first lot of sheep from Kentucky introduced in Edgar County. It consisted of 130 head, which they sold at $2 apiece to people in this section who wished to embark in the business of raising sheep. Col. Blackburn says he mowed the first timothy meadow in the county, and sold the first load of timothy hay ever sold in Paris. It took him and a hired hand all day to cut and cure a load, and put it on the wagon, and took him with two yoke of cattle another day to haul it to Paris, and then he would get §2 for the load. He sold the first lot of fat cattle sold in the county. It consisted of twenty head, principally twro, three and four year old steers, and for the lot he got two $100 United States notes. The buyers took them to White River and shipped them to New Orleans.

First Shops, Roads, Officers, Etc

Michael Step was one of the first blacksmiths in the towmship. It is thought by some, however, that there was a shop before him, down on or near Sandford's farm, though the name of the man wrho kept it is now forgotten. Samuel Trogdon also was a blacksmith, and kept a shop early in this neighbor¬ hood. The first settlers in this part of the country went to mill at Shakerstown, near Vincennes, Ind. Afterward a mill was built near the mouth of Brouillett's Creek, which transferred the custom to that locality, as noted in the history of Hunter and Brouillett Townships. And these outside mills, as they might be termed, were the sources of supply, until a mill was built at Ver¬ milion, which nowr supplies the demands of a large section of country. A hat¬ ter's shop was opened in this township at a very early day, and was the first institution of the kind in the county. It wras carried on by James and Thomas Butler, who settled about a mile east of where Col. Morrison now lives. They sold out in a few years and moved aw'ay. The first regularly laid out road through the township was from Paris to Durgis Ferry, on the Wabash River. From Blackburn's Cemetery to Paris, that old original road is still used. The next road was one striking oft' from the one just mentioned and running to Terre Haute.

The first Justice of the Peace in the town was Hiram Newlon, who held the office so long ago that no one can tell when he wTas first appointed. Josiah Harrison was also one of the early Justices of the town, probably the next after Newlon. The present Justices are John Duck and James Castle. When the oounty adopted township organization, Stratton and Hunter being then all one town, John Hunter, now of the latter, wras elected the first Supervisor from Stratton Township, and wras chosen Chairman or President of the Board of Supervisors. The present Supervisor is Benjamin Allen, and David Mason is I own Clerk. A full history of the formation of Hunter Towmship (which was made mostly from Stratton and leaving it fractional in size) is given in

Hiram Sandford, a son of Isaac Sandford, and an esteemed citizen of Paris, is supposed to be the first white child born in Stratton Township. The first death was the wife of a man named Laswell, who died in 1821, and was buried' near Col. Blackburn's, and where the beautiful little burying-ground known as Blackburn Cemetery has since been laid out and deeded to the neighborhood by him. When this lady died, Blackburn went to a workman, who lived seven miles distant, for a coffin. The man worked on it all night, and finished it the next morning, when Blackburn carried it home before him on his horse. Another cemetery was laid out on the Sanford farm, and still another, at the Christian Church at Little Grove. The first wedding that occurred in the township is not remembered. That there has been " marrying and giving in marriage,"' the present population is prima-facie evidence.

The first school in Stratton was probably taught by Richard Kimbrough in the winter of 1825-26, in the schoolhouse that stood on Trogdon's farm, and is supposed by some to have been the first schoolhouse erected in the county. William Doning taught a school soon after this in the schoolhouse that stood near Blackburn's. He was a good, honest old Kentuckian, who had been edu¬ cated under the old dispensation ; had learned to spell from Dill worth's old speller, and perhaps had never seen any other. In such words as half and calf, it gave the " 1 " its full sound, and ge-o-graph'y was spelled thus, with the accent on the third syllable. As stated, the schoolhouse near Trogdon's was the first schoolhouse in the township, and the one at Blackburn's was the next. The latter was torn down last fall, after having served as a schoolhouse for over forty years. The town has now seven schoolhouses and seven districts, besides the village of Vermilion, in all of which excellent schools are maintained for the usual term of months each year. In a word, the schools of Stratton are in a flourishing state and liberally patronized.

Rev. Samuel McGee is one of the first preachers remembered in Stratton Township. He was from Tennessee, and came to the settlement as early as 1825. Rev. Mr. Ward came a few years later. They first preached the New Light doctrine, but is what is now the Christian Church belief. The Little Grove Church was built under the administration of Rev. Mr. McGee, and was one of the first church edifices built in the county. The society was originally formed in a schoolhouse at Sassafras Grove, about 1832-33, and the first church built in 1834-35. It was a frame building, 36x40 feet, and in this edifice they wor¬ shiped until 1864, a new house was built, 30x40 feet, at a cost of $800. They have had no regular Pastor since the Rev. J. G. Burroughs, who was with them about three years ago. David Kimbrough and A. G. Fitzgerald are Elders in the Church, and conduct religious services. There is at this time a membership

Blackberry Chapel, of the M. E. Church, was built about eight or ten years ago. Rev. Mr. Dillon was the first preacher. The Church membership is small, it being merely a neighborhood organization. Rev. Mr. Hedges is the present Pastor. He has in charge this Church, and the " North Arm " Church, that at Vermilion, together with one or two others. The Church his¬ tory will be again alluded to in the history of the village of Vermilion. Col. Blackburn says he is the only one now alive of the first members of the Pres¬ byterian Church in Paris. Though he was not one of the original organizers of it, he became a member at the first meeting after its formation.

Topography, Politics, Etc

Stratton Township is generally rather level, though sufficiently rolling to drain well. It has no water-courses of any consequence, Coal Creek and one or two other small branches running through it. The town is pretty well diver¬ sified between timber and prairie, the former, perhaps, predominating. It is traversed from east to west by the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad, which has proved of great value to the town and its inhabitants, both in giving them a market at home, and in moving the large quantities of grain and stock pro¬ duced in the neighborhood. As a full history of this road is given in the gen¬ eral county history,, we will not go into details of it in this chapter. Stratton is bounded on the north by Hunter Township, on the west by Paris, on the south by Elbridge, and on the east by the State of Indiana, and, as elsewhere stated, is only about two-thirds the size of a Congressional town.

Politically, Stratton is one of the Republican strongholds of this Demo¬ cratic county. In the early days, and when Whigs and Democrats were the two great political parties, it was Whig, and since the organization of the Re¬ publican party, it has been of that color on the questions of the day, giving usually some 200 Republican majority. In the late war, no township of its population turned out more soldiers. As an example of their loyalty : A son of Col. Morrison's, a son-in-law, a brother-in-law and two hired men left at one time for the army. This left him alone, and at the time he had 1,500 head of sheep and about 80 head of cattle on hand, and no one but himself to take care of them. In our war record, in another department of this work, will be found the names of all who went from this township, as well as all who went from the county.

^ ermilion, a village of several hundred inhabitants, is situated on the I. & bt. L. R. R., about eight miles east of Paris. It was surveyed and laid out by Edward W olcott, County Surveyor, in 1856, for James S. Vermilion, the pro¬ prietor of the land. But few lots were sold, one of which was bought by Abram Showalter, and on it he hired Vermilion to build him a storehouse and residence. Showalter opened a store in it about 1856-57, and the house is now occupied as a saddle and harness shop, by John Rafferty. A post office was established in 1860-61, and Christopher Showalter was the first Postmaster. The present Postmaster is A. J. Boyer. Quite an extensive business is carried on here in grain. J. C. Besier, Sims and Burns all handle grain, and a large amount is annually shipped from this point. There are two large grain ware¬ houses, capable of storing some 20,000 bushels of grain. One belongs to J. C. Besier and the other to Burns. Vermilion is also a large shipping-point of stock, principally hogs. A large flouring-mill was built in 1861 by Henderson Burson at a cost of about $23,000. It is a five-story frame building, with three runs of buhrs, and is capable of doing a much larger business than the demands of the country at present require. It is rented by Thomas Parrott, who runs it but little over half the time, we are told.

A summary of the present business of Vermilion is about as follows: Two dry goods stores, Christopher Showalter and J. C. Besier ; two drug stores, William Valker and Dr. Ferris; two grocery stores, Samuel Dancy and A. J. Boyer, the latter is Postmaster; agricultural store, millinery store, blacksmithshops, harness and saddle shops, wagon-shops, house carpenters and joiners, and shoe-shops, butcher-Ghops, etc., etc. It is quite a business town, live and wide¬ awake, and its citizens energetic and prosperous. Several very handsome brick buildings, a number of elegant churches, and an excellent public school-build¬ ing are ornaments to the place.

The first school taught in the village of Vermilion was by Edward Eldridge, and the first schoolhouse built in the town was sold some years ago to the Universalist Church. The present elegant brick was erected in 1870, at a cost of about $5,000. It is modern in its arrangements, well-furnished and well-adapted to school purposes. The school at present is in charge of Prof. Chilcoat. Thus it will be seen that the little village is well-supplied with educational facilities, and none need be deprived of these benefits.

The first church built in the village was by the United Brethren, and was built about 1856. It cost originally about $500, and is now occupied by the Missionary Baptists, they having bought it. The present elegant brick church of the United Brethren was built at a cost of about $2,500. The pres¬ ent preacher is Rev. Mr. Peters, who has in his charge a large and flourishing membership. The Pastor of the Baptist Church is Rev. Jarrett Riley, with a membership of some thirty or forty. The M. E. Church was built in the summer of 1865. The foundation of it was built with brick from the old brick church that stood on the Sandford farm, and the body of the build¬ ing is a frame, the whole costing about $1,500. Rev. Mr. Hedges is the Pas¬ tor, with a large and flourishing membership. A brick church, and the one referred to, was built on Sandford's farm about 1842, and belonged to the M. E. Church. It was the second church edifice in the township. As already noted, the Universalist Church was originally built for a schoolhouse, and bought by the Church when the new schoolhouse was built. They remod¬ eled it, and made quite a handsome little church of it. They have no regular Pastor, and but a small membership. Rev. Mr. Bunn was their last Pastor.

* Both the Masons and Odd Fellows are represented here by flourishing Lodges: Stratton Lodge, No. 408, A., F. & A. M., was organized in Jan¬ uary, 1863. The first officers were D. A. Morrison, Worshipful Master; Na¬ than Sanford, Senior Warden ; F. T. D. Vale, Junior Warden, and Ira K. Elliott, Secretary. The present officers are as follows: Charles A. Sisk, Worshipful Master ; William M. T weeding, Senior Warden ; 0. N. Kountz, Junior Warden, and D. A. Kimbrough, Secretary, with sixty members.

Lecture Lodge, No. 563, I. 0. 0. F., was organized January 13, 1875. L. P. Besier was the first Noble Grand ; C. A. Sisk, Vice Grand ; and J. A. Castle, Secretary. The present officers are G. A. Kimbrough, Noble Grand; J. E. Mason, Vice Grand, and S. J. Sheppard, Secretary. In connection with the Masonic fraternity, they own an elegant hall worth about §3,000. It is a brick edifice, and the lower part is owned by Showalter, while the upper story belongs to the Masons and Odd Fellows. The latter organization was organized in the village under the following circumstances : Something more than four years ago a man named William Given, a minister of the Lmited Breth¬ ren Church, advertised to deliver a lecture at Vermilion, on the baleful influ¬ ences exercised by secret societies. All secret organizations were included in the reverend brother's ecclesiastical condemnation, but Masonry and Odd Fellowship particularly were, in the slang of the period, to be "sat down on." He had once been a Mason, or, more properly speaking, belonged to the Order - a true Mason he never had been. He was a member of the lodge at Vermilion, and just before the lecture made a request to withdraw from the lodge, on the grounds that "his Church was opposed to secret societies.' After his lecture was over, Col. Morrison, a leading member of the Masons, said to Mr. L. P. Besier, whom he knew to be an Odd Fellow, " Whv don't you start a lodge of Odd Fellows ; now is a good time to do it." Said he, " We have no place to meet. Morrison told him he would use his influence with the Masons for the Odd Fellows to have the use of their hall six months, rent free. Besier went to work, and in a few days their lodge was organized ; and to-day they have a flourishing body of sixty members or more. Another proof that these mighty institutions, embracing almost every people under the sun, cannot be disturbed by the puny opposition of a few religious fanatics.

A ermilion was incorporated as a village April 1, 1872, and the following Board of Trustees elected, viz., D. A. Kimbrough, James Frazier, Geo. W. Tilley, R. B. Wright and W. A. Koho. The Board organized by electing Ik Kimbrough, President, and George V. Tilley, Clerk. The present Board are V illiam M. Meadows, F. T. D. Vale, G. W. Sims, C. H. Showalter and M. A\ hitehead. William M. Meadows is President of the Board; J. J. Sva n, Clerk; John Rafferty, Police Magistrate. As already stated, Vermil- ion was laid out by James S. Vermilion, and received its name from him. The original plat embraced the south half of the southwest quarter of Section 12, Town 13 north, Range 11 west, and since its first laying-out several additions have been made, until the little town covers considerable space.

The Village Of Kentucky

This village "was surveyed and la'd out by J. Mayo, Deputy Surveyor for C. B. Jones, County Surveyor, for Isaiah Welsh, the owner of the land embraced in the original plat, and is on the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 11, Town 13 north, Range 11 west. The plat is recorded November 23, 1854. An addition wras made to the village of Kentucky August 30, 1806, by D. A. Morrison, being a part of the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 2, Town 13 north, Range 11 west, and was surveyed by Lewis Wallace, County Surveyor.

Kentucky at one time was quite a little village, with two or three small stores and groceries. James Gordon kept the first store, and, perhaps, the largest the town ever had about 1866-67. He continued in business about a vear, when he sold out and went to the village of Redmon. A man named Henderson also kept a small store, and another of the name of Ewing. The railroad put in a side-track, and for a time much grain and stock were shipped from the place. A depot was put up by Morrison at his own expense, and a grain warehouse. Morrison and Allen built a saw-mill here and operated it for ten or twelve years, then sold it for a stave-factorv. After changing hands a few more times, it took fire and was burned to the ground.

But after Vermilion was laid out, the glory of Kentucky began to wane. It grew more rapidly than the latter ever had, and is, perhaps, the most eligible site for a town. The trains quit stopping at Kentucky, and finally removed the side-track. Morrison tore down the depot building which he had himself built and hauled it away. Those who had been in business there sought other fields, and the place that knew the village of Kentucky, now knows it no more. Passe.

Historically speaking, Brouillett holds a front place among the townships of Edgar County, with a record running back nearly threescore of years. Yes, almost sixty years have dissolved in the mists of the past since the echoes of the woodman's ax first resounded through the lofty forests of Brouillett, as he felled the trees for his cabin, or cleared away the timber for a " patch " of corn or garden " truck." Its forests and prairies, where erst the red man trapped the Avolf or pursued the bounding deer, are now fertile fields, dotted here and there Avitli lordly mansions, while the Indian yell has died away forever on this side of the Father of Waters. The young men have grown old, and the old men are in their graves, who first saw it in its pristine beauty and joined

Brouillett Township occupies a place in the eastern range of towns, and is bounded on the east by the State of Indiana, on the north by Prairie Township, on the west by Edgar, on the south by Hunter, and is about one tier of sections short of a full Congressional township. It is pretty well divided between prairie and woodland ; is rather level, except along the margin of Brouillett's Creek, the north fork of which meanders diagonally through its center. Most of the woodland is rather thin soil, but is covered, or was at the time of early settlement, with a fine growth of white and black oak, hickory, elm, ash, and a light sprinkle of -walnut along the edge of the prairies. The old Indian bound¬ ary line passes between this and Edgar Township, and is more particularly referred to in the general county history. No railroad tracks mar the sacred soil of Brouillett, neither are there any cities or large towns within its borders, but wholly oblivious as to the wickedness of the great cities of the outside world, its quiet citizens move on in the even tenor of their ways, engaged in agricul¬ tural and domestic pursuits.

Early History And Settlement

Robert J. Scott, Sr., the oldest settler living, perhaps, in Brouillett Town¬ ship at the present day, came from the Buckeye State in 1825. In March of that year he came to Illinois on a trip of inspection, and among other points visited was Edgar County. Paris, this lovely little city of the plain, he says, upon his arrival he found to contain some ten or twelve newly-built log cabins, covered with "clapboards," or "shakes," as the "Yankees" called them. There was quite a settlement on the "North Arm" of Grand Prairie, which runs into this section of the county, and contains the site of the first settle¬ ment, not only of Edgar County, but the first settlement made in the eastern part of the State, as noticed in another page. Being highly pleased with the country he had seen, he returned to his old home in Ohio, to make immediate preparations for immigrating to Illinois. In August following his first visit, he removed to Edgar County, bringing with him his family, and also his mother and her family. The latter consisted of his mother (his father having previously died) and two sons and two daughters, while his own family con¬ sisted of his wife and five children. They came by water to Terre Haute, making the voyage in a boat built by Mr. Scott himself, and from there to the place of their settlement, in a wagon. For a time, they occupied a cabin on the "North Arm Prairie, owned by Aloysius Brown. They were nearly all sick on their arrival, and the elder Mrs. Scott died within a week after their coming to the settlement. In addition to the sickness in his mother's family, and her death, four of his own children, says Mr. Scott, "had the ague every day for three months, ' nor did he escape altogether, but occasionally joined in the " shake himself. But when the swallows took their flight to the " south- land," and the cold breezes burdened with the snowflakes came down from the north, it, like the yellow plague of the Southern States, disappeared. In those early times, the ague was one of the natural foes to be met with in the wilds of Illinois. During the fall and winter, Mr. Scott built a cabin in the forks of Brouillett's Creek, into which he moved with his family in January, 1826, and where he has since resided. For more than fifty years he has occupied this place without change, except the erection of more elegant and commodious buildings. He says that when he settled on his present farm, his nearest neighbors were Wells Morgan and a Mr. Carlin, who lived northwest of his place, in what is now Edgar Township, and about two and a half miles distant, while two or three miles further away lived Judge William Lowry, Col. Wm. Wyatt, and a few others who had settled there in 1824. In the spring of 1827, Matthew R. Scott and John Fuller settled on lands adjoining Robert Scott, and they, as well as himself, being in rather limited circumstances, did most of their farm work with a partnership team. M. R. Scott lived in Stratton Town¬ ship a year or two before he settled here. He is one of the honored and respected citizens of this township.

The Joneses and Samuel Littlefield were from the pine forests of Maine, and settled in Hunter Township early as 1819, where they are mentioned among the early comers to that neighborhood. They spent their first winter West in Terre Haute, and in the spring of 1819, crossed the raging Wabash and settled in Hunter, as above stated. They resided there until 1826, when they removed to Brouillett Township and settled permanently. Jacob Jones was a man of some prominence, and possessed considerable property. He died in 1851, in the neighborhood where he had settled more than a quarter of a century before. Samuel Jones was his son, and came to the West at the same time, but located first in Vigo County, Ind., and while living there made the first brick ever made in that county, and with which the first brick house was built in Terre Haute. He removed to Brouillett Township in 1826, and entered the land where his son, Z. T. Jones, now lives. He died in 1876. Richard Jones, a younger son of Jacob Jones, settled north of the others, in what is now Prairie Township, and is noticed further in the history of that town. Little¬ field was a son-in-law of Jacob Jones, and removed to this section with the Joneses. He was quite a noted man in the community, and owned a large body of land. His death occurred in 1845, but his widow still survives at the ripe old age of fourscore years ; and a son, Thomas B. Littlefield, lives in the neighborhood. Sylvester Barker is also a son-in-law of Jacob Jones, and hails from the granite hills of New Hampshire. He came to the Western country in 1816 and stopped at the future city of Terre Haute, then a feeble settlement of two or three cabins, standing in the shadow of the walls of Fort Harrison. Here he remained until 1826, except short visits now and then at Fort Har¬ rison, when the unpleasant proximity of hostile savages rendered a residence beyond its frowning battlements perilous in the extreme. He settled in Prairie

Township in 1826, and the next year removed into Brouillett Township, where he lived until 1839, then removed to Paris, and has since resided there, spend¬ ing the evening of his days in peace and comfort.

In 1850, Mr. Barker went to California, making the trip overland. In making the overland trip to the Pacific coast, during the gold fever, it was the custom for about four men to band together and make up a team between them. This was not only for company and convenience, but for safety, as affording the better means of protection. Barker's partners on the long, dreary trip w ere his son, J. H. Vance and Henry Hignot. While they did not make an immense fortune in the Golden State, they perhaps made a little more, for the time they remained, than they would have made on their farms for the same period. Samuel Jones crossed the plains in 1849, at the first breaking-out of the gold fever, and was very successful in his mining operations, digging out as much as 81,000 in ore in two days. The lead, however, did not long hold out at that rate

Mr. Barker has in bis possession a pencil-drawing of old Fort Harrison, which is said to be a very true and correct representation of the old fort, w'here the early settlers were often forced to take shelter, when that most horrible of all cries to the pioneer - " Indians ! " - was wont to startle the community. It stood about three miles above the present railroad bridge, on the Indiana side of the Wabash River, and was built of heavy timber. The council house, which was about forty feet square, stood just outside of the walls of the Fort, and was the scene of many a powwow between the red man and his pale-face neighbors, when the doughty warriors thrilled their audience with their fiery, native elo¬ quence. It show's also a number of huts where the Indians used to stay when they came to the Fort to exchange their furs for powder and " fire-water.'' A squad of Indians came there once in midwinter, during a very cold spell of weather, to barter their furs to a Frenchman named Pierre Brouillett, an Indian trader from Vincennes, who made this a stopping-place a part of the season. Next morning one of the Indians was found dead, and upon investigation, a ver¬ dict was rendered that the Indian had come to his death from drinking so much of the Wabash, in order to get a little of old Brouillett's whisky, that the " water had congealed in his stomach, thus producing congestion of the bowels " - a learned decision for that day and time, and one that w ill doubtless startle the medical savants of the present day.

Edward Wheeler was also a son-in-law of Jacob Jones. He came from New York to the North Arm settlement in 1822. a young man, and married Narissa Jones, the family living at the time in Hunter Township. After marriage, he took his bride to New Y^ork. where they remained until 1830, when they returned to Illinois and settled in Brouillett Township. Their marriage is else¬ where noticed as the first occurring in Hunter Township. A son, Andrew Y. Wheeler, lives in the neighborhood and is one of the liberal-spirited citizens of the town. He donated the land on which Mount Carmel Church stands, as elsewhere noted.

Among the early settlers of this town, in addition to those already noticed, Aye may mention the following, most of whom settled here previous to 1880: Jonathan and Sanborn Basford ; David Light, Godfrey, Isaac and Abraham

Evans, John S. Brown, William Allen, William Hurst, Daniel and Lewis Camerer, John Clarke, Jesse Moore, William C. Trimble, John Wilson, John Somerville, Enos Martin, William Beard, Stephen Parker and a brother, Augustus Wyatt, Reuben Lowry and Joseph Barkley. The Buckeye State

Coffman, Daniel and Lewis Camerer, William Hurst, David Light, Simon Camerer, and perhaps others Avho are entitled to rank as old settlers. Godfrey and Isaac Wilkins were brothers, and settled here in 1829. Abraham Wilkins Avas a son of Godfrey Wilkins, and settled in the neighborhood about 1887, Avhere he still lives. His father died here many years ago. Isaac Wilkins the toA\7nship in 1828, where he still lives. Hurst settled here in 1826, and had a large family, but all have removed to other sections, and none are now living in the toAvn. The old gentleman died about 1865. John Clarke settled in Brouillett in 1829, and married a daughter of Godfrey Wilkins. He bought eighty acres of land of Sylvester Barker, upon AA'hich he built a carding machine in 1841. It Avas propelled by horse-power, and A\Tas for carding ayooI into rolls. These were spun by the AArives and daughters, and Avoven into cloth for the family clothing. We are thus particular in describing the process, because the young people of the present day are totally ignorant of this home employment of the early times, and our modern girls, Ave doubt not, knoAv as little of the abig wheel '' and loom their mothers and grandmothers Avere so familiar Avith, as the Hottentots knoAv of the Ten Commandments. Clarke died some tAventy years ago, on the place where he built his carding machine. The Camerers, though coming to this settlement from Ohio, Avere originally from Pennsylvania, and emigrated to Clermont County, Ohio, in 1809, settling there in the midst of the Indians, then very plenty in that section of the coun¬ try. They remained in Ohio until 1830, AAThen they removed to Illinois and settled in Brouillett Township. At that time there aauis but one county orga¬ nized north of Edgar County, and the earliest settlers in Brouillett had been located four or five years. Daniel Camerer died upon his original farm, in 1850, at the age of seventy-one years, and his Avife six years later, at the age of seventy-two years. LeAATis Camerer died in 1855, in the same log house he built Avhen he first came to the toAvnship. David Light came in 1837, and after living in the town seA'eral years, remoAred to Prairie Township, where at present he resides. He tells the folloAving story of an encounter he had with a avoH in the early days, when AA olves Avere a spontaneous growth in the country : Hear¬ ing a young calf in his yard making a noise as if in distress, he Avent out to see AA'hat was the matter, and found a Avolf making hostile demonstrations toward it. As the wolf attempted to jump through a crack of the fence, he caught it by its hind legs and essayed to knock its head against the fence, but every time he gave it a backward swing for that purpose his dog would catch hold of it, which made too heavy a load to swing both. The wolf finally got his hand in its mouth, and from its bite his hand is still crippled. Mr. Light has two or three sons living in the neighborhood where he first settled.

Sanborn Basford and his father, Jonathan Basford, were from the Green Mountains of Vermont. They came to Brouillett Township in 1828. The elder Basford, it seems, was in poor health, and died at the house of Samuel Jones, in a few years after moving into the township. They had located first in Indiana, near the Illinois line, but remained there only a short time, when thev came to this town. After the death of his father, Sanborn Basford removed to Missouri, where he was still living at last accounts of him. Enos Hobbs was from Tennessee, and had a son named Thomas, who served in Cap¬ tain Mayo's company during the Black Hawk war. Thomas removed to Missouri, and was living at Trenton three years ago, since which time nothing has been heard of him. His father brought to this section a very fine race-horse, of the " Brimmer " stock. He was considered very fast - the horse was, not Hobbs - for that remote period, when such feats as have been performed by Longfellow, Goldsmith Maid, Rarus, and a host of other celebrities of the turf, were not dreamed of. But then he was a hero of the times, and Hobbs used to make many races with him. The Hobbses came to the town about 1828, and the old gentleman, as well as his son, removed to Missouri many years ago, and there died. James Murphy came from the Old Dominion, the home of states¬ men and the birthplace of Presidents. He is among the first settlers of this township, where he lived some years, and then sold out, removed to Missouri, where he died several years ago. William Allen is another Virginian, and set¬ tled in Brouillett in 1828-29, but removed into Ross Township, a few miles west of Chrisman, about six years, remaining there about four years, then removed into the village of Chrisman, where he now lives, a hearty old gentleman, seventy-five years of age.

Irom old Kentucky, famous for its fine stock, pretty women and good whis ky, came the following sturdy pioneers, and made settlements in this township : lhomas Evans, George W. Haws, John Brown, William C. Trimble, John W ilson, John Somerville and Jesse Moore. Thomas Evans settled here in 1827, and remained a good citizen of the town until about fifteen years ago, when he removed to Kansas and there died. He had an uncle who was one ol the early settlers of this township. His first name is not remembered, nor the exact date of his settlement. He died at Charleston where he was at the time engaged in some kind of business, but his family were living in this township. John S. Brown came here with his father about 1826, and is still living. George V . Haws came to the settlement in 1833, and is one of the largest land-owners in the township. In coming from Kentucky to Indiana, his father, mother and five children rode two horses and carried all their earthly possessions. After remaining there some years, they came to Edgar County, as stated above, in 1833, driving through from Indiana in a wagon drawn by oxen, with two horses hitched in front of them. He is still living in the town, one of its solid farmers. William C. Trimble came in 1826, and made a set¬ tlement where he lived several years, and then moved away, it is believed, to Missouri, where he died many years ago. He served in Mayo's company in the Black Hawk campaign. John Wilson and John Somerville came to the settle¬ ment in 1826, and both were Black Hawk soldiers in 1832, and served under Capt Mayo. Some years ago, both moved to Oregon but whether still liv¬ ing or not, we are unable to say. Enos Martin is another Black Hawk soldier, and settled in Brouillett in 1827. He died here many years ago, but where he came from we failed to learn. Jesse Moore is a native of Scott County, Ky., and settled in this neighborhood in 1831, where he lived for more than forty years on one farm. He now owns a large farm in Edgar Township, and resides in the village of Chrisman. His wife's family, the Morgans, are early settlers of the county, and mentioned in the history of Edgar Township. Joseph Barkley and the Parkers were among the early settlers of Brouillett Township. The former settled here in 1827, and served in the Black Hawk war. He died in the town many years ago. Stephen Parker and his brother, C. L. Parker, came in about 1829-30, and made settlements. Stephen is still living, but his brother has been dead a number of years.

The foregoing pages comprise the history of Brouillett Township and the settlements made in the territory now embraced within its borders previous to the Black Hawk war. In the wake of the retiring savages came immigrants in such numbers as to preclude the possibility of mentioning all in the order of their coming, or to give the localities from which they came. They poured in by hundreds, and soon there was not a half or quarter section of land to be found in the town. Previous to the Black Hawk war, settlements were con¬ fined principally to the eastern border of the county and along the Wabash River. West of the old Indian boundary, Illinois was a wilderness except here and there, on what was called the Sangamon Trace, a grove of timber in which some hardy pioneer had squatted. From Mr. Scott we learned that when he came to the country, in 1825, there was quite a settlement over on the Wabash. York, Darwin and Palestine, Ill., Terre Haute and Vincennes, Ind., were con¬ siderable villages. Danville, Ill., was quite a village, and soon after attained to the dignity of a county seat, becoming a place of considerable prominence. From a communication written by Robert J. Scott, Sr., we extract the follow¬ ing information pertaining to the early history as according to his recollection of it. He says: "The people were generally friendly and sociable. It was not uncommon for a man to go four or five miles to help his neighbor raise a cabin, and sometimes, if be heard of it, he went without further notice. Log rollings were common in the timbered sections. Another custom prevailed at public gatherings. People thought it no harm to have a little whisky, and of the inebriating beverage some partook freely." The phase of society was not in the least exalted, as we learn that many paid little respect to the Sabbath* but made it a day of hunting, fishing and other amusements. This, however, we have noticed to be usually the case in a new country, and Brouillett was no exception to the general rule. Many of the first comers are often a class of extremely hard characters, while the next importation following them are a hardy, worthy class, from which the bone and sinew of the country is derived, and the best citizens produced. Again quoting from Mr. Scott's communica¬ tion, we give the following : " I will here observe that I believe that a majority of the early settlers were of very limited circumstances, from the fact that so many of them resided on the public lands for years before they became freeholders. The most unpleasant feeling that existed among the people was occasioned by unprincipled scamps who would rather rob the poor than work themselves, com¬ ing in and purchasing lands upon which honest, industrious men had made good improvements. Such scamps seldom prospered ; their neighborship was but little courted, but rather neglected, or refused altogether." But after the close of the Black Hawk war, which ended forever the reign of the red man in the Prairie State, a great change came over the scene in this section. Emi* grants came in rapidly, a better class of buildings were erected, and far more attention paid to improving and cultivating the land. Schools and churches were organized, society gradually improved, and the foundation laid for the civilization and refinement which have ever been a strong and distinguishing characteristic of Brouillett Township.

But many years passed before all the comforts and luxuries of the older settled States were to be had on these wild frontiers. The hard times of Illinois, still remembered by many, and which reached their culmination about 1837-38, began to dawTn at the close of, if not previous to, the Black Hawk war. For years during these hard times, the prices for produce, grain, pork, labor, etc., scarcely deserved to be mentioned as an equivalent for these commodities. Wheat sold as low as 37 J cents per bushel ; corn often for 10 cents per bushel. A good cow and calf, we are informed, could be bought for $10, a good horse for $40, and the best of farm hands could be hired for $8 and $10 per month. All other items were in the same proportion, and other branches of business on a par with the facts mentioned. So that, for a long period, in this portion of Illinois, the pioneer's road was a hard one to travel.

There were plenty of Indians in the Wabash Valley, as elsewhere noticed in this work, even after the close of the war of 1832. But after the star of Black Hawk had ingloriously sunk on the field of Bad Axe, they troubled the whites but little in this section, beyond stealing little things occasionally when opportunity offered. Mrs. Barker tells of a large number encamping at her father's, Jacob Jones, one night, and the young people went down to the encampment during the evening to have some fun, taking with them a quart bottle filled with fire-water, for the purpose of "stirring up the lions." To the great annoyance of the family, they succeeded beyond their most sanguine expectations. Like the wild beast, when he has tasted blood, they had got a taste of the liquor, and all night long they howled around the house, begging for . more "fire-water." A young warrior "took a shine" to Mr. Jones' youngest daughter, and sought her of her father, for his squaw. He made his appearance at her father's house, dressed in the most grotesque style, but which, doubtless, to the untutored mind of the savage, inspired his companions with as much awe as the modern hotel clerk with his hair parted in the middle, used to inspire Mark Twain, and offered Mr. Jones two ponies for "the white squaw." Upon being refused, he went away in a melancholy mood, and apparently very much surprised that so generous an offer should be most emphatically declined. Before passing, we will state that the young lady - - Miss Experience Jones - who inspired the brawny warrior with the tender passion, afterward married a gentleman named Craig, and, as the story-writers say, lived happy ever afterward. The following citizens of Brouillett Town¬ ship shouldered their guns and marched to the front when Black Hawk dug up the hatchet and donned his war-paint : Simon Camerer, Matthew R. Scott, Thomas Hobbs, William C. Trimble, John Wilson, John Somerville, Enos Martin, Augustus Wyatt, Reuben Lowry, William Bond and Joseph Bark¬ ley, and served in Captain Mayo's company.

Pierre Brouillett, the Indian trader, after the discontinuance of Fort Har¬ rison, established a trading-point at the mouth of Brouillett's Creek, where, for a number of years, he kept a kind of store, and exchanged trinkets with the Indians for furs. But time rolled on, and the period came when the red man took up his line of march westward, with the star of empire. The prairies of Brouillett, the ravines and hills, the forests and breaks, where, long years ago, he hunted the wolf and panther, and pursued his game, have changed into productive farms and happy homes. His war-whoop and his death-song have long since died away, his council-fires are extinguished, and he himself lives only in fire-side stories.

The township received its name from the old Indian trader, Pierre Brouil¬ lett, mentioned above. After establishing the trading-post at the mouth of the creek, as already noticed, he explored the creek and gave to it his name, which is properly spelled Brouillett, and not Bruellett, as it appears on the county maps. Hon. A. J. Hunter, while on a visit to Vincennes, two years ago, met with a grandson of Monsieur Brouillett, from whom he learned the particulars given above, of his exploring and naming the creek, and the correct spelling of the name, which Mr. Hunter noted down at the time. Thus, at township

* Robert J. Scott, Sr., was the first Justice of the Peace in Brouillett Town¬ ship, and was commissioned as such as soon, almost, as he settled in the country. At present the township officers are as follows: J. Murphy, Super-, visor, John Legg and C. S. Reed, Justices of the Peace. The mill facilities, for years after the first settling up of Brouillett, were very limited. A saw and grist mill were built at the forks of Brouillett's Creek at an early day, and proved a great convenience to the people. But as the country filled up, it could not supply the increasing demand, and the people were forced sometimes to go twenty and thirty miles to Eugene and Armysburg to mill. Usually, in summer-time, the journey was made perforce at night, on account of the "green-heads," a fly that was so annoying to stock they could not travel by day in any peace. In 1825, says Mr. Scott, the wheat crop wTas good, but there ^was no demand for it beyond home consumption. There were no man¬ ufacturing-mills then, and no way of getting wheat to market but to haul it to Chicago, Louisville or Cincinnati in wagons. Hence there was little raised by the people, except for their individual use. The first store, or the first goods sold in the town, was by Samuel Littlefield, who opened a small store in his own house for the accommodation of his neighbors, about 1838-39, and after a year or two built a house especially for store purposes, in which he did business until failing health forced him to retire from active life. Edward Nanee kept a blacksmith-shop in the town as early as 1836, and was, perhaps, the first.

The first sermon preached in the township was by Rev. W. J. Mayo, the father of Col. Mayo, of Paris, who was a Methodist minister. He used to come up and preach to the heathen of Brouillett - as Mrs. Barker expressed it - and used the residence of the Barkers for holding religious services, before the building of churches. The first temple of worship erected in the township was the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the village of Logan. It was begun in 1845, but the work progressed rather slowly, and it was not completed until 184i. Rev. William Cliff, an Englishman, was the first preacher. The Church is in quite a flourishing condition, was entirely remodeled in 1868, and presents a very handsome and imposing appearance.

The Sugar Grove Church, located in the eastern part of the town, and belonging to the Protestant Methodists, was built in 1853, under the pastorate of Rev. Jerry Williams, who dedicated it to the worship of God, upon its com¬ pletion. It is quite a handsome frame building, witli a flourishing society and a good Sunday school. Mount Carmel Church is located near the center of the town, and was built by the United Brethren, about five years ago, and on its completion was dedicated by Bishop Edwards. The land upon which the church stands was donated by Andrew Y. Wheeler, a son of Edward Wheeler, one of the early settlers of the township. It is an elegant frame building, and has a large congregation for a country church, with a flourishing Sunday school.

Attention was paid to education at an early day. The first school in the township was taught in a cabin belonging to Samuel Littlefield. He and' Rob¬ ert J. Scott hired a man to teach by the month, and all the neighbors who had children old enough, and felt disposed to do so, patronized the school, and paid for the time, at the rate of so much per month. The first schoolhouse in Brouillett was built about 1833, and Christopher Ward was the first teacher to occupy it. From that time to the present, educational facilities have increased and developed, until they are sufficient to afford every child a good commonschool education at the public expense. The early settlers, in many cases deprived of the advantages of education, took steps to secure to their children that which they themselves had lost, and almost their first move after becoming permanently located was in the direction of schools. So that to-day no town¬ ship in the county, perhaps, is better provided with good schools, comfortable schoolhouses and efficient teachers than this.

John K. Jones, a son of Samuel Jones, was the first white child born in the town, and was born in March, 1827. Leonard Barker was born December 6, 1827, and was perhaps the second birth that took place in the settlement. Abraham Wilkins and Hannah Littlefield is supposed to have been the first marriage in Brouillett. While speaking of weddings, Sylvester Barker, men¬ tioned as one of the early settlers, and as a son-in-law of Mr. Jones, though married in Hunter Township, before his removal to Brouillett, bought the first marriage license issued from the Clerk's office of Edgar County. As to the first who crossed over the dark river, from this township, we have been unable to ascertain. But the little grave-yards here and there bear their silent record that many have gone to the land of death during the fifty-odd years that have passed since the first settlements were made in this section.

In the years gone by, when the two great political parties of the country were known as Whigs and Democrats, Brouillett was one of the Whig strong¬ holds. But when the old Whig party was swallowed up by that of the Repub¬ lican, the town became about as strongly Republican as it had been Whig before, until the last year or two, the divisions of politics have so bewildered many individuals they scarcely know upon which plank of the political platform they stand. In the war of the rebellion, no town of its population did a better part than this in turning out soldiers. Abner Hostetter recruited a company, of which many were from this township. Capt. Hostetter died in the army, and was succeeded by Capt. Sprague, who was killed in battle. Sprague came home on a furlough and spent some time with his friends, and before leaving again for the front took dinner at Mr. Barker s, in Paris. In a week from that time, the gallant Captain fell to rise no more. The following are a few of the names from this township : W. W. Light, Company G, Twenty-eighth Illinois

Infantry ; A. Y. Wheeler, Company G, Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry ; a son of Thomas Scott, whose first name we failed to learn ; S. H. Light, Company A. Seventh Illinois Cavalry, in which he served over four years, and during several years' residence in Kansas, previous to the war of the rebellion, he assisted in putting down the notorious border war of that period, which was occasioned by that phase of the slavery question known as the Missouri Com¬ promise. Dr. James P. Slaughter served in Company C, Seventy-third Illinois Volunteers. Many other citizens from this town were in the army during the rebellion, but their names we failed to obtain.

The Village Of Logan

This little hamlet, scarcely aspiring to the dignity of a village, is situated a little south of the center of the township, and consists merely of a store, post office, physician, church and some half-dozen residences. It was surveyed and laid out in May, 1853, by B. F. Lodge, County Surveyor, for Isaac Wilkins and John Jones, the proprietors of the land upon which it was located. The plat embraces the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 14, Town 15, Range 11, and a part of w'est half of southeast quarter of Section 14, Town and Range as above of Isaac Wilkins, and a part of east half of northwest quarter of Sec¬ tion 23, same towm and range, of John Jones, wrhich was divided into lots and laid out with streets and alleys, " for the benefit of the people forever," and the plat recorded May 21, 1853.

The only store in the place is carried on by John E. Roberts k Co., the firm consisting of J. E. and P. B. Roberts and I. D. Sayre, who do an exten¬ sive business for so small a village. They succeeded Adams Brothers in 1876, and since then, under the present firm name, have been the only merchants here, or even in the township. They also keep the post office in their establish¬ ment. Dr. James P. Slaughter is a physician of considerable merit. k< What's in a name, ' sang the bard of Stratford-on-Avon, and though the Doctor is Slaughter by name, he is not in the least addicted to slaughtering his patients, but may be termed a very successful practitioner. After leaving the army, where he served some three years, he attended college at Crawfordsville, Ind., and afterward studied medicine and graduated at one of the medical colleges at Louisville, Ivy. He has been practicing in this vicinity since 1873. The M. E. Church of I jOgan has been noticed in the church history of the town¬ ship. This, together with the half-dozen or so pretty residences, comprises the history of the little hamlet of Logan.

V e find upon the records in the clerk's office a plat of the village of Brouillettville, but no one seems to remember anything about it. It was surveyed and laid out by Brown \Y ilson, County Surveyor, for Robert Shields, the owner ot the land, and embraced the northwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 25, of Town 15 north, Range 11 west, which is included in the pres¬ ent town of Brouillett ; the plat is recorded July 14, 1837. The main street was 66 feet wide, running north and south, and the cross streets 33 feet, and alleys 12 feet. Beyond this record, we could learn nothing of this village. There is no trace of it left to tell where it stood, if, indeed, it ever stood any¬ where but on paper.

This township is situated in the middle of the extreme western part of Ed¬ gar County, and is, at its nearest part, nine miles from Paris, the county seat. It contains forty-four sections of Congressional Towns 14 and 15 north, and 13 and 14 west. It is bounded on the west by Coles and Douglas Counties, and on the north, east and south by Shiloh, Buck and Kansas Townships. It is crossed from southeast to northwest and west by Catfish Creek, a branch of the Embarrass River, into which it empties after leaving the township, forming a junction with that river in Coles County, eight or ten miles west of the town¬ ship line. The creek, it is said, derives its euphonious name from the catching of a monster catfish by Thomas Dohhette, one of the earliest settlers of this region.

The Embarrass River, from which the name of the township is taken, is the largest river in Southeastern Illinois. It rises near the center of Champaign County, and, pursuing a general southerly direction, passes through Douglas, Coles, Cumberland, Jasper, Crawford and Lawrence Counties, and empties into the Wabash a few miles south of Vincennes. Embarrass Township is the only one in the county entirely drained by this river ; therefore the propriety of calling the township by that name. In former years, the name was pronounced almost universally "Ambro," or "Ambrah," accenting on the first syllable, but the more modern pronunciation is in accordance with the English method.

The Paris & Decatur Railroad, mentioned more at length on another page, was built in 1871, and affords communication with the county seat and other points along its line, and also an outlet for the products of this portion of the county. It crosses the township from east to west, in almost a direct line.

About one-third of the township was formerly covered with timber, but the early pioneers considerably reduced that proportion. All of the earliest set¬ tlers located primarily along the stream of water, and a number of them actually cleared the land covered by the timber to make themselves farms. The best of the land is outside of the timber belt, though there is but little of it which can be termed poor. The prairie produces the best corn, while it is claimed the timber farms are the best for wheat. Large crops of both these standard grains are raised.

Like other early-settled portions of the county, the vicinity of Catfish Creek was occupied mainly by southern people, from the State of Kentucky ; but later Ohio and the Eastern States sent a large proportion.

John Crist is said to have been the first settler in the township. But few now living remember him, as he removed to Texas a couple of years after locat¬ ing here. He built a little cabin, but made no improvement of any consequence besides, as he supported himself and family by hunting. This was, to a man with but little means with which to improve land, an easy method of providing for the household. Deer, turkeys, prairie-hens and other game were as plenty as* domestic animals and fowls are now. It would be a poor marksman that could not bring in enough game in a day to last a family a week. Crist had it all his own way for a year or two. His nearest neighbors were eight or ten miles away, over on the Embarrass, in Coles County. South of him, at the head of the North Fork of the Embarrass, lived a few families - the Boyers, Pinnells and Wait - and these were distant a dozen miles, at least. Not a soul lived in all the territory now known as Buck, and as for the country north, you could have traveled forty miles without coming upon the track of a human being, either white or red ; for the Indians, like the whites, stuck close to the timber, which afforded them the most of their living.

But Mr. Crist did not long remain in undisputed possession of all this vast hunting-ground, as he had evidently hoped to do, for, in a year or two after locating here, several other families unloaded their wagons near him, built cab¬ ins and began farming, hunting and catching big catfish, to the no small dis¬ gust of Mr. Crist. He soon began to feel himself somewhat cramped for room, and, when about five families had permanently settled, he sold out his little improvement and went where he imagined he might spend his years in peace, unmolested by the report of any other hunter's rifle. In 1828, Benjamin Wayne, Nathaniel Wayne, Thomas Darnall and Isaac, Joel and Thomas Dohhette made their appearance at Catfish.

The first-named of these was also a noted hunter. He it was who bought out the claim of Crist. He, with all others named, was from Kentucky, though all were not from the same part of that State. Wayne had a faculty, ora weak¬ ness it may have been, for telling marvelous stories about his hunting expedi¬ tions. It was nothing for him (in his words) to bring down two or three deer at one shot, and to send a rifle-ball through the heads of a dozen wild turkeys that happened to be roosting on a limb in range with his eye was a feat which he boasted but few could perform beside himself. He was as great on pulling teeth as on killing turkeys. He claimed to have extracted with an old pair of pullicans, in his time, no less than three bushels of molars. He died a year or so after his settlement here.

Nathaniel Wayne was not a relative of Benjamin. This Wayne was a hotel-keeper, or, rather, a "tavern-keeper,' as they were then called. The W avne Tavern was a small double log house, which, most of the residents of the town will remember, stood, until four or five years ago, near the timber, at the crossing of the Springfield road. Doubtless, it will strike some of our readers as a singular place, as well as an unpropitious time, for the erection of a hotel. W ithin an area of a hundred square miles there were not more than three families, including his own ; but this road was the highway over which numerous emigrant-wagons passed daily, and to accommodate this class of travel, Mr. Wayne erected such an extensive house, and called it a tavern. Mr. Wayne removed to Wisconsin thirty or more years ago, where he has since died. The Dohhettes were three brothers, who fell in love with the Wayne family (that is, the Benjamin Wayne family), and married the most of them. Wayne had three daughters, and marriageable maidens were scarce in this country then - so were young men. So it is not to be wondered at that the affinity mentioned should culminate in the espousal of the three couples. We do not know whether the preliminary arrangements were in process at the same time, or not, but presume they were. If so, the reader is left to imagine the amount of billing and cooing there was going on at one time in Old Man Wayne's little cabin ; how the three boys all rode the same old gray mare back and forth from the Dohhette house to that of Wayne; how the bridal outfits of the three pro¬ spective ribs were gotten up with so much care from the homespun linsey-w^oolsey, and the future benedicts were in a quandary how to procure the extra blue jeans for so important an occasion ; and the many other details which must have been in those early times intensely interesting. Weddings were not such exclusive affairs as we now find them. No one would think of getting married without inviting all of the neighbors, and no greater affront could be put upon one than to omit him from the list of invitations.

In 1832, one of the Dohhette boys - Thomas, we believe - accompanied the regiment raised in this part of the State to rid the country of the presence of Black Hawk and his allies. None of any of these families now live in the county, all having removed to other parts.

Thomas Darnall will be recognized as one of the pioneers of Grand View. After residing there for about six years, he removed to this part of the county, and lived here until his death, which occurred nearly forty years ago. Aaron Darnall was a son of the above, and settled in this township at the same time. He was a preacher of the Gospel, and followed that profession here and at other places until three years since, when he died in Edgar Township.

Joseph Smart settled in the southeastern part of the township, at the head of Catfish Creek. He had also formerly lived in Grand View for a short time, but doubtless finding himself crowded (there being then fifteen or twenty families in that township), concluded to find a place where he would have room commensurate with his strength. Nor did he long experience that freedom which he desired, but moved again in about 1855, this time to Wisconsin. Mr. Smart was a native of Kentucky. He came to Embarrass Township in 1829.

In 1830, James Scott settled at the head of Catfish Creek. He was also from Kentucky. Mr. Scott is said to have been one of the best informed men in the country in his time. He was not a great orator, but from an extensive reading had become well posted in history, literature and the sciences. He took especial pleasure in the higher mathematics, and algebra, geometry and astronomy were his favorite studies. As he increased in years his passion for these studies grew more and more intense, and when he was unable to move about, he was seldom seen without one of these favorite works in his hand. For a number of years before his death, he was the only man in this part of the State who believed in the feasibility of crossing this country with railroads, and who predicted that they would be built through this section. He died thirty years ago. A son of his still resides here, and a daughter lives in the village of Redmon. Another Kentuckian, James Flack, now living near the village of Dudley, came in about 1830. Mr. Flack has always been counted one of the most reliable men of this part of the county, both financially and morally. The first Methodist Church in the western part of the county was organized at his house, and the meetings of the same were held there until a building was erected, Mr. Flack being the Class- Leader. His ideas of the religion of peace, however, did not prevent his taking his gun on his shoulder to pursue the fleeing Sacs under Black Hawk, in 1832. Mr. Flack believed with Jackson, then Presi¬ dent of the United States, in peace, even if he had to fight for it. Another soldier in. the Black Hawk war was Henry Ousley. He and his son William came from Kentucky and settled here a year or two before the Indian trouble. He died here near thirty years since. William Ousley was one of the most highly respected citizens in this part of the county, and the manner and causes leading to his death are of most mournful character. He had suffered for a great many years from asthma, during nearly all of which time he had not been able to lie down to sleep an hour. Life was, therefore, a great burden, which he seemed unable longer to bear. A year before his death he began 4' setting his house in order " by paying all of his debts, making repairs about his farm and house, and then, when all was arranged to his satisfaction, caused his own death by swallowing poison. A two-ounce vial of laudanum found by his side after his death, told the story of his years of constant suffering. In his pocket was found a written paper in which he recounted his sufferings, and in which he stated that he had contemplated this act just a year before, and that he had only just completed his arrangements for his demise.

George Roberts and L. R. Noel were also soldiers in the war of 1832. They were brothers-in-law, both having married daughters of James Scott. Roberts died three years ago in Paris, to which place he had removed. The other members of the family still reside there. Roberts was from Kentucky.

Col. Noel was a good business man and filled several important positions of honor and trust, among which was that of Receiver of the Land Office at Dan¬ ville. I his office he filled for eight years. He was also a member of the State Legislature, being elected to the Lpper House. He died some years since at Perryville, Ind. He was a native of Kentucky.

James A\ ilkinson, mentioned in Grand View as being the first bridegroom in that section in 1823, came with his family to this settlement in 1831, and resided here four years. At the end of that period he removed to Texas. The Lone Star country the next year (1836) rebelled against Mexico, and for some time a kind of guerrilla warfare was kept up between Texas and the govern- ment of Mexico. Mr. Wilkinson enlisted in the Texan army to fight the " Greasers." While engaged in this, he contracted a disease from which he never recovered. After a residence in Texas of eight years, which saw the annexation of that country to the United States as one of the members of this country, Mr. Wilkinson returned to this county, and both he and his wife died.

William Blood, Joseph Bradbury, Jacob Housel, Isaac Keller, and the Hollis brothers were all old settlers, coming to this township during the years 1832-36.

Bradbury, a brother-in-law of Blood, now resides in Paris, where he has lived twelve or fifteen years. We believe he is also a native of England.

Jacob Housel died about fifteen years ago. His two sons, Eli and Frank, are well known in this part of the county. Eli lives on the old homestead. They were natives of New Jersey.

Isaac Keller was from Kentucky, formerly, but had lived a couple of years in the vicinity of Big Creek where he had located, about 1830. Mr. Keller died many years since - probably thirty-five. John Keller, a son of the above, is a minister in the Christian Church.

About 1838, quite a delegation arrived from Ohio. Samuel and Milton Burt (father and son), Levi D. Gillis and Richard Turley were relatives, and came out to this place together. We believe Turley and Gillis were both sonsin-law of the elder Burt. Samuel Burt has been dead about thirty years. Milton resides in Paris, and is the proprietor of the Exchange Mill, in that city. Turley continues to reside in the township. Gillis died some twenty years since, but his widow and sons are still here. Henry Jarvis was one of the earliest settlers of this section. He died many years ago and left a large family, who have since all moved to other parts.

This is surely one of the most prolific regions in the State. We had learned of one family of twenty-three, and another of twenty-four, but now cometh Thornton Lansdown, who saith he "can see that last and two better." Doubtless Lansdown, had he lived until the present, would have been a "granger" ignoring the small merchants and middle-men. They could do so much better buying directly from the manufacturers, hats, shoes, calico and all kinds of eatables not produced on the farm. School-books could be bought by the dozen, at a good discount ; and when the circus came along it would be so much cheaper to buy a family ticket. It was somewhat amusing to hear the teacher call the roll in the evening - three Lansdowns to one of every other name. It took four baskets to carry the dinner.

But time and space will not allow us to introduce more of these old pioneers. It would be pleasant to do so, but most of those coming after the last date named are mentioned in the biographical part of this work. The township

At the organization of the county, this part of the county was named Fairfield Precinct, with its voting-place at Paris ; but about the date of our last arrival, which was some ten years after the location of the pioneer, Crist, and fourteen after the organization of the county, a voting-place was established in the midst of the Catfish settlement. This order of things was kept up with little variation until 1856, when the township of Embarrass was formed, with bounds co-extensive with what we now find them. By that time, the popula¬ tion of the township had increased to nearly four hundred, and the number of voters to about one hundred.

The first township meeting for the election of officers and other business was held April 7, 1857, at which the following persons were elected to the respective offices : Charles Brown, Supervisor ; James B. Downs, Assessor ; Jabel Bandy, Collector; William Hollis, Clerk; William Ousley and William McCord. Justices of the Peace; Joseph and Robert E. Smith, Constables; David Smith, Moses Burnett and Henson Hollis, Road Commissioners, and Alexander Wilson, Overseer of the Poor. The township, at the last date given, was all occupied either by actual settlers or by speculators, but many of the large farms have been divided to accommodate additional settlers ; also two thriving little towns have sprung up within its borders, so that now we find the population of the township more than trebled. The population, as given in the census of 1870, was 1,250; but from the number of votes cast at some of the recent elections, it is safe to put the estimate at not less than 1,600. The highest number of votes cast has been 320. The present township officers are : 1\ . M. Casteel, Supervisor ; Peter Chesrown, Assessor ; T. A. Buckler, Col¬ lector ; George W. Brown, Clerk ; Charles Merkle, Eli Honsel and Thomas Ferguson, Commissioners of Highways ; Charles Merkle and Jesse Borton, Justices of the Peace, and George Kees and Andrew Hambleton, Constables.

The first attempt at a system of instruction for the youth of this neighbor¬ hood was made in 1834. There were then about fifteen families scattered up and down the creek, and though some of them were illy situated as to circum¬ stances and location, to avail themselves of the advantages of a school, they nevertheless organized it, and the school was voted a great success. We very much doubt if the children in these days had the poor advantages of the pioneer children, that they would do as well, educationally, as did they of the olden time. The honor of being the pioneer educator of this section is said to belong to Edward Brown. The school was taught in an unoccupied cabin, and was attended by fifteen or twenty scholars. It may be guessed that the character of the instruction was of the most rudimentary kind, being simply a little spelling, reading and writing. A year or two later, a tempo- rary log cabin was erected for the purposes of education and religious meet¬ ings. This building was erected on the mutual-assistance plan, the neighbors meeting together on an appointed day bringing with them such tools, axes, saws and hammers as they happened to possess, and putting it up without the help of architect, plans or details. In this hnmble temple of learning, we are credibly informed, Samuel Wood first essayed to "wield the birch and ferule' and "teach the young ideas how to shoot." This school was located near the timber, near what is still known as the " Smart Place," and near where the United Brethren Church now stands. The schools, prior to 1855, were, in the main, taught by subscription. A dollar to a dollar and a half was the usual amount paid as tuition for a term of three months for one pupil, and if several children were sent from one family - like the Lansdowns - the price was discounted a little. Included in the price of tuition was board, which the teacher obtained at the different cabin residences in the neighborhood, squatting on each family for a week at a time. When teachers began to receive wages sufficient to enable them to contract board at a single house for the term, some of the old pioneers took offense at the plan, construing this into an insinuation that their establishments were not of the high-toned character to suit the fastidious teacher.

Edward Eggleston, in one of his works, entitled the " Hoosier Schoolmaster," describes the methods and customs pertaining to an imaginary locality in an adjoining State, which, with the change of a few names and an increase in respectability of the characters, might well fit the old-time schools of this region.

A wonderful change for the better has come to this part of the county in methods of instruction, in schoolhouses and in the interest manifested in the education of the children. The old idea, as Eggleston expresses it, "Lickin' and Lamin', Lickin' and Lamin'," has given place to the improved methods as taught in institutes and normal schools ; and the true meaning of the word educate - to lead out - is made the object of the school. The little old log cabins, with puncheon seats and oiled-paper windows, have long since been transformed into hog-pens or grain-bins, and are scarcely considered good enough for the modern pig and his feed ; and, in their places, wre find the neat, white modern schoolhouses, dotting the prairie all over, with comfortable seats and desks, blackboards, and all the comforts and conveniences adapted to the wants of the school.

As early as 1882, a class of the Methodist Episcopal denomination was organized here, with James Flack, William Ousley and James Jarvis, their wives, and Mildred Keller and Sarah Keller as members. Preaching was had occasionally, sometimes in the grove, and at other times in the schoolhouse. Class-meetings were held in the dwellings of the members. Rev. Mr. Lane is remembered as the first preacher to minister to the congregation.

Five or six years after the organization of the class, through the influence of John McReynolds, the building since used by the society was erected. The society honored Mr. McReynolds by naming the building " The McReynolds Chapel." This Church has prospered well and done a great deal of good in this community. Rev. A. P. Forsyth, Member-elect to Congress from this district, has preached for the Church occasionally for the last few years. Rev. W. C. Lacey is present Pastor.

The Baptist Church, at Monca's Point, though on the line between this and Coles County, draws much of its support from Embarrass Township. The Church was founded about forty years ago by Rev. John Shields, an eccehtric though earnest and successful preacher of that denomination. A story is related of a brother of the divine that will bear mentioning. The brother, Robert by name, w^as far from being pious, and, though often pleaded with and prayed for by his reverend brother, continued his crooked ways, to the no small regret and mortification of his pious relatives. On one occasion, some strange preacher, coming to the neighborhood, happened to be introduced to this "black sheep, ' as he was called. They had heard of the Rev. John Shields, as his reputation for piety and sound doctrine were not confined to Edgar County ; and one of the clergymen remarked that he had heard of him before. Robert replied that " probably it was his brother of whom they had heard the good report." The minister then said, " There are two of you, then ; and are you both preachers ? " Robert, determined to support the good impression already made, replied in the affirmative. " Of what denomination are you ? " further queried the divine. Bob, seeing himself now cornered, and his con¬ science not allowing him to further impose on his pious friends, replied, laugh¬ ing : u Oh, John he preaches Souls Salvation, and I preach H - 1 and D - na¬ tion ! This society, many years ago, built for its use a small frame house of worship, in which the meetings were held until about two years ago, when their present substantial edifice was erected. Rev. Andrew Patton is the present Pastor.

The United Brethren organized a Church of that denomination, in the eastern part of the township, about fifteen years ago, and built a church edifice five or six years after. This has been an important organization here, and is the mother of the church at Redmon.

This denomination also have a church in the western part of the township, about a mile west of the village of Isabel, of which Rev. Samuel Ross is Pastor.

Ihe history of any locality is said to be incomplete without a tragedy; and in this particular Embarrass Township answers the demand, one of a very disgusting and aggravated character having taken place here a few years ago. A respectable citizen, by the name of B. Wood, was murdered under circum¬ stances which naturally caused the greatest excitement and indignation. Mr. ^ ood had employed a young man to assist him in his farm labors, and between them there seemed to be nothing but the most cordial feeling ; though subse¬ quent events prove that there must have been some powerful incentive to the commission of so heinous a crime as that of the one taking the other's life. The season was well advanced, when it was noticed^that Mr. Wood was absent from home. Upon inquiry, the balance of the Wood family, including the laborer, professed ignorance of his whereabouts. Strict search and due inquiry were made for him far and near, in which the man who was subsequently con¬ victed of his death joined, but he could nowhere be found. Some time after Mr. Wood's disappearance, some one, in passing along the road, noticed a dog in the adjacent field scratching at something, as though he was in search of some animal burrowed there. Upon coming nearer, what was his horror in finding that the object of the dog's search was the body of Mr. Wood ! It was after¬ ward proven that the laborer had shot him, buried him here, and, to conceal the spot, had plowed over the grave. The man was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to the Penitentiary for life. Mrs. Wood was also arrested as an accomplice, but the evidence adduced failed to convict her, and she was set at

Village Of Isabel

The location of the Paris & Decatur Railroad was the signal for a system of town-building ; and, indeed, in the case of those located in this township, it seemed to be a part of the scheme, as the incorporators of the railroad were largely interested in the real estate constituting the town plats.

The land on which the town of Isabel now stands was formerly owned by John Stokes, who subsequently sold to James M. Sherman. In 1868, John Corzine came from Ohio, bought the land and moved to the farm the next year. The railroad was not then thought of, and the only public attraction peculiar to this locality was the little village of New Athens adjacent.

In 1871, the road was built, and the next year Messrs. Corzine, Timmons & Housel laid out the town. The platting and surveying were done by George W. Foreman, then County Surveyor, April 8, 1872.

But few ladies are honored in the manner that Mrs. Corzine has been. Queen Victoria, and a few other notables, have namesakes in the shape of towns and cities, but at this moment we cannot recollect, out of the fifteen hundred towns and cities in the State of Illinois, more than five or six named after women. Isabel Corzine's name, therefore, is bound to go down through the ages to come as worthy of having a town named in her honor.

The house now occupied by John Corzine, at the time of the laying out of the town, had already been built nearly twenty years ; but the first improve¬ ment really made after the town was laid out was by J. W. & C. D. Pearce. This was the store-building now used by L. Bolen. The Pearces had been keep¬ ing a store and the post office at Catfish Point, which institutions they moved to the place, and began business in 1872. These gentlemen have continued in business here most of the time since. John Stokes soon after built a storehouse, and put in a stock of groceries. This house is now vacant. Lewis Kees followed, with a store-building and dwelling-house, and also a grainhouse. This last has since been transformed into a dwelling. Mr. Kees has since removed to Oakland. Then Corzine & Walls built a grain-elevator, and began buying grain. Mr. Corzine had previously bought a little grain on the track.

Dr. J. G. Mulvane came from Ohio and settled here in 1872, and began the practice of medicine. He also built a dwelling and storehouse and put in a stock of drugs. There were, at the time of the founding of the town, twTo stores, a blacksmith-shop and a dozen other houses in New Athens ; most of these have since been moved to Isabel. Prior to 1877, school was kept in a part of a dwelling-house ; but during the year mentioned, a neat frame build¬ ing for school purposes was erected at a cost of about $500. James Browning is in charge of the school at present. The population of the village has increased to about one hundred, at this writing., Isabel is nicely located in the western part of the township.

Village Of Redmon

Bedmon, situated in the eastern part of the township, was laid out for J. B. Warnick and Joseph Redmon, after the latter of whom it was named, by George W. Foreman, County Surveyor, January 9, 1872. The first buildings were erected, as nearly as can now be remembered, in the order in which they are mentioned. J. S. Gordon erected the store-building now occupied by him, and opened the first stock of goods, though, in reality, one house now occupied by D. B. Fitts, had been built a number of years before the town was thought of.

A ery soon after the improvement was made by Gordon, E. B. Thompson and David McCall came and put up a blacksmith-shop, the latter also erecting a dwelling-house.

\\ illiam Roth, now of Chrisman, Philip Ray, John Steele, James Crafton, now of Paris, and William Deem, were amongst the first to erect dwellings. John Mason, also, about the same time built his storehouse. The store now occupied by Stanley Casteel was erected in 1876 by Thomas B. Roth.*

James S. Gordon was appointed first Postmaster ; and, notwithstanding liis political views, they being somewhat in opposition to the party in power, has continued to hold the same under two administrations. The only explanation that any one could give us of this unusual state of affairs was that Mr. Gordon not only gave the Government good satisfaction, but that the inhab- Kmts of the vicinity were also pleased with his administration of postal matters.

The United Brethren of this place, two years ago, erected a very neat and commodious church-building, at an outlay of $1,300. Of the congregation worshiping here, Rev. Samuel Ross is Pastor.

An organization was effected by the Presbyterians of Redmon and vicinity, last year. They have no church edifice of their own, but expect to build soon. At present their services are held in the United Brethren Church. Rev. Mr. Mitchell, of Kansas, is Pastor.

New Athens

This was once a thriving little village, situated near the present site of Isabel, but the advent of the railroad through the township blasted the bright anticipations of its proprietors, and it contains only a half-dozen lonesome buildings ; and any one passing through the place would be as liable to inquire at one of them "the way to New Athens," as at any other four corners he might find. It was laid out in 1840 by John Potter.

This place has a history similar to that of New Athens. It was laid out in 1851 for John W. Sanders ; but the same road that killed Hitesville was the means of its desolation. No business of any kind is done here now ; and all that can be said of it is, that " it was a good place for a town," but it still "lacked the one thing needful," in these latter days - a means of trade and com¬ munication with the outside world. The village is, or was, situated on the

This was not a regularly laid out town, though considerable business has been done here. There is still a mill, a store and a blacksmith-shop to be seen. The name of the town or hamlet is not legally recorded, but to perpetuate the ancient name, and the event in which Thomas H. Dohhette and an admirable specimen of the piscatorial family figured very largely, we give it as above.

One morning in May long ago, a young man rode across the Illinois prairies with a friend. They passed on over the boundless expanse, far out of sight of any human habitation, thousands of flowers blooming around them everywhere, their beauty and fragrance surpassing all that they had ever dreamed of floral loveliness and perfume. It seemed as if the whole world had been converted into green grass, blue sky, blooming flowers and glorious sunshine. The scene was one that might have inspired the sweet "Southern" singer, when she

Hundred of people, abounding with poetical sentiment, have essayed a description of the great prairies of the West, and made hysteric attempts to por¬ tray their feelings when first beholding them. No doubt they were " grand and gorgeous " (the prairies, not the people) in their pristine beauty, before the husbandman came to mar and destroy their loveliness, by turning things (liter¬ ally) " upside down." Whether or not the little scene noted at the beginning of this chapter occurred in Prairie Township, long ago, when its territory was the undisputed possession of the gopher and the prairie wolf, we cannot say^ We have the authority, however, of a gushing writer of the period, that it did occur somewhere in Illinois, and so we apply it to this section, on the strength of its adaptability. Nearly the entire town is prairie land, and is a part of the Grand Prairie, which, as already stated in this work, extends into Edgar County. There is but little timber, and that along the margin of some of the streams passing through the township. Of these streams, all tributaries of Brouillett's Creek, we may mention Jonathan Creek, Lick Run, Salt Fork, Crab Apple Creek and Bonwell's Branch. Some of them are small, and perhaps wholly dry up in summer, but afford excellent drainage of the land.

Prairie Township lies in the northeast part of Edgar County, and is the very " corner lot " of the county. It is bounded on the north by Vermilion County, on the west by Ross Township, on the south by Brouillett Township and on the east by the State of Indiana. It is one of the best farming districts in this section of the country, and has a large number of highly-cultivated and productive farms. Its fine rolling prairies are especially adapted to agriculture, and the amount of grain annually produced is not equaled, perhaps, by any township in the county. Much attention is paid to stock-raising, many of the farmers carrying this branch of business to a considerable extent.

Settlement

Prairie Township, being almost destitute of timber, was not settled as early as some of the other towns and sections, abounding in timber. The pioneers did not believe the prairies would ever be good for anything but cattle range, and hence, the prairies were the last land to be settled. The first cabin erected in Prairie was by Sylvester Barker, whose history is pretty thoroughly given in Brouillett Township. In the spring of 1825, he and a brother-in-law, Rich¬ ard Jones, and an uncle of his wife, David Wise, located in this town. Mr. Barker s cabin being the first one put up after they came to the place. But owing to the wild nature of the country, and also deeming it sickly, Barker remained but about six months, returning whence he came, and spending the winter at his father-in-law's, Jacob Jones. In the following spring, he located in Brouillett Township, as noted in the history of that town. Their experience in

Prairie was quite interesting, though during most of the time it was also unpleasant. They were young when they settled there, and had but one child, just old and large enough, says Mrs. Barker, to be everywhere and into every¬ thing; Mrs. Barker had a long and severe spell of sickness, and, as they had no close neighbors (only two other families in the town, and they some distance off), when Mr. Barker had to leave the house, he would either take the child with him, or tie her to the bedpost until he returned. Mrs. Barker informed us that the opossums were so plenty in the country, and so troublesome they would come in the house while she was sick, get in the victuals, and annoy them very much.

The other two families mentioned, Jones and Wise, remained permanent set¬ tlers of Prairie Township. Jones, who was a son of Jacob Jones, an early settler of the county, and noticed in the history of both Hunter and Brouillett Townships, settled on the site of the present town of Scotland. He remained a resident of this township until 1870, when he removed into the city of Paris, where he died about 1873. As stated, Wise was an uncle to Jones, and to Mrs. Barker, and came from the State of Maine. He settled half a mile west of Scotland, and both he and his wife have been dead for years. Their children, too, are all dead, except two sons, one of whom lives in California, and the -other at Cherry Point, in this county.