Fulton County, Illinois - Chapter 2: Early Settlement. - Continued, 1879

Chapter 2: Early Settlement. - Continued

Early Preachers. - Je.sse Williams and Peter Cartwright were among the earliest preachers of the county. John M. Ellis was, however, not much if at all behind them in paying attention to this field. There were in the vicinity of Canton a good many Regular Baptists, who organized a church in the Eveland neighborhood at quite an early day, probably before, certainly not later than, 1825. We take the following from Canton History :

"James Tatum, one of their pioneer preachers, used to edify his congregation by relating his call to preach, in the words and figures that follow, to wit :

"'My dearly beloved brethering-ah and sisters-ah, my blessed master-ah has called me to dispense his everlasting gospel-ah. For one night-ah, in a vision, in a vision of the night-ah, I dreamed-ah that I had swallowed a stiflF-tongued four-horse wagon -ah, and me thought-ah that the tongue of the wagon-ah was a stickin' out of my mouth-ah, and the chains were hanging down beside my chin-ah, and the chains were a rattlin'-ah, and the tongue was a waggin'-ah ; and my beloved brethering-ah and sisters-ah, I knowed that God had called me to preach his everlasting gospel-ah ; and I'm a-goin' to preach it-ah until the day that I die-ah.

"'My dear brethering and sisters-ah, when a -soul is once converted-ah, it allers stays converted-ah. Its just like me the other day-ah. I was going to Canton-ah, and as I rid past old Mr. Eggers-ah, old sister Eggers ran out-ah, and she hollered, ' Brother Tatum-ah, won't you take a coon-skin to town-ah, and sell it and buy me a plug of smokin' terbacker-ah ? ' And I said, ' Sartiu, sister Eggers-ah ; ' and I took the coon-skin-ah, and when I got to town I tried to sell it to Joel Wright-ah, but he said coonskins wern't of much account now-ah, and he wouldn't buy it-ah ; so I took it to Mr. Stillman-ah, and he wouldn't buy it ueither-ah ; then I tried to give it to Mr. Stillman-ah, and he wouldn't have it -ah, and then I took it back to Joel Wright-ah, and tried to give it to hini-ah, but he wouldn't have it neither-ah. So I bought sister Eggers a plug of terbacker-ah, and tied the coon-skin to my saddle-ah, a thinkin' for to lose it-ah, and I started for to go back -ah, and when I got most back to sister Eggers-ah, I heard somebody behind me a hoUerin', "Mr. Tatum-ah, Mr. Tatum-ah ;" and mv brethering and sisters-ah, when I looked back-ah, I seed a man a comin'-ah with that very coon-skin in his haud-ah, a hollerin' " Mr, Tatum-ah^ you've lost your coon-skin-ah." And so mv brethering and sisters-ah, it is with religion ; you can't sell itah, vou can't give it away -ah, and you can't lose it.'" fraininy Day. - The following graphic account of the first training Harrison P. Fellows witnessed in Illinois is but a picture of others, and will illustrate the scenes of training day much better than we could describe them. AVe take the stor^', as furnished by Mr. Fellows, from the Canton History.

" It Avas in the summer of 1830, we had just moved to the countrv, and my father, Hiram Fe}lows, had rented part of Captain Haacke's house. I soon found out in some way that Haacke was a captain of a militia company ; and as I had some knowledge of militia captains in Xew York, where we came from, I was tilled with an intense awe of the Captain. One day I mustered up courage to ask him if I might see them muster some time, and received akiud and cordial invitation to accompany him to the next training. I was in ecstasies, and looked forward with great anxiety to the expected day. It came at last, and the Captain notified me to be ready by the time he was. I ran into our part of the house, and, I tell vou, it was but a short job for me to wash, change my shirt, comb my hair, and make my appearance in the front yard to await the coming of the Captain and his regimentals. I did not venture to go into Haacke's part of the house, but timidly peeped through a crack in the door, to get a sight at the gorgeous trappings with which, I had no doubt, he would be arraying himself. It is said that great men never appear well at their toilet, and I must have verified the observation, as I remember going back to mother telling her I guess Captain Haacke was not much of a captain after all ; any how he did not dress up like one.

" In due time the Captain presented himself in readines-; for the parade-ground. Let me try to describe his dress. On his head he wore a hat of home-braided wheat straw, the braid was notched and the crown round. There was a band around it of red calico, with loose ends several inches in length floating in the breeze. His coat was made of homespun blue jeans, cut long in the skirts, - so long, indeed, I fancied that he was in danger of throwing himself, by stepping on his own coat-tail. This coat was closely buttoned before with old-fashioned brass buttons, placed at intervals of perhaps two inches apart. The collar was short, stiff and standing, the upper end resting under his broad hearty jaws, thus keeping his head proudly erect. His pantaloons were of the same homespum material, cut very wide in the legs^ and corresijondingly short. He wore no socks, and I noticed that his pantaloons and ^stogas' did not break joints by abont six inches. The 'stogas' aforesaid were his crowning glory. They were built of cowhide, very wide in the heels. Very broad in the toes, and of considerable length. They were tied with buckskin whangs, while the huge counters were sewed to the quarters with other whangs, perhaps from the same defunct deer. It had rained the day previous, and the shoes had become covered to a considerable depth with clay ; they had then been dried in the sun, until their deep wrinkles were hard as bone. Mrs. Haacke had that morning undertaken the task of cleaning and greasinp; them. I cannot sav that her efforts had been entirelv suecessful, as particles of yellow clay were interspersed with unmelted hog's lard, over their broad surface.

" The Captain held in his hand a formidable-looking sword, encased in a leathern scabbard. I noticed hair on the hilt, and, as at that time I was not so familiar with natural history as I have since become, I could not tell whether it was human hair or hog bristles. The discovery filled me with a due appreciation of the Captain's ferocity; so much so, indeed, that I followed him with some misgivings, and at a respectful distance ; when he would look back over his shoulder to see if 1 was keeping up, I would stop and tremble, until his face was turned in a forward direction again.

" On our arrival at Holcomb's, we found the company waiting for the Captain. He strode into the house with all the pomp and circumstance of glorious warfare, and I could see that by his bearing he was making an impression upon his subordinates that must be conducive to good discipline. I ventured to peep into the cabin, to get a glimpse of CJaptain Haacke's staff, and noticed that he was the best dressed, and by no means the worst-looking of the ]iarty.

"The Captain now ordered Orderly-Sergeant Seth Hilton to muster the company and call the roll. This order was obeyed with due formality, and so reported, when the Captain made his appearance before his men. I noticed at the time that he had buckled on his sword. His sword belt was a strip of raw calf-skin, perhaps two inches in width, with the hair on, hair-side out. The buckle was of iron, of the width of the strap, and had, I had no doul)t, been taken off some cow-bell strap; to this belt the sword was attached by a buckskin whang. The scabbard hung loose, and, to prevent its getting tangled among his legs, he had grasped its lower third in his left hand, while the right held the hilt. The Captain stood for one moment in front of the company in dignified silence; looking up and down the living line, he raised his voice to a tone of command and shouted, ' Company, halt ! ' This order was obeyed. The next order was given in a lower tone to the Orderly, and was : ' Seth, I reckon the boys are a gittin' dry ; you come in with me an we'll see what can be done.' The Captain now disappeared into the house, followed by Hilton. They soon re-appeared, Hilton bearing in his hands an old-fashioned wooden-handled ' piggin,' which held per- haps a gallon and a half of Holcomb's whisky. Hilton was ordered to commence at the head of the line and pass the ' piggin/ which contained, in addition to the 'fluid courage/ three small gourds as drinking cups. ' Officers, don't you drink out of the ' piggin, ' ' shouted Haacke. ' You come this way. I'll 'tend to you.' The officers seemed to manifest no disposition toward insubordination, but followed their commander to the rear of the corn-cril), when he proceeded to unbutton his coat and draw from an inside pocket a gourd that would hold perhaps a quart. This gourd was bottleshaped, with the end of the neck cut off smooth, and a corn-cob stopper. ' Here, boys, don't you see I've got a little something nice for us officers? " Oh, my stomach ! ' said the Captain, as he handed it around to the evident satisfaction of the heroic band who surrounded him.

" After this performance had concluded, the serious work of drill commenced, and I soon saw that Captain Haacke was quite proficient in tactics. At one time during the day the Captain's shoes began to hurt his feet, and he ordered the company to ' Hold on, boys, till I sret off these cussed shoes.'

''During the day Captain Saunders brought his company on the ground from his house, several miles further down the Lewistown road. He said they had run out of whisky at his house, and hearing Holcomb had a barrel, had concluded it would be best 'just to march the boys up, you see. Oh, my stomach ! ' "

A Few Fiest Things

First Election. - The first election held in Fulton county, which embraced all of the northern part of the State at that time (1823), was a very exciting one. It was a contest between North and South Fulton. "OssianM. Ross and William Eads were candidates for for the office of Sheriff. The latter lived at Ft. Clark ( now Peoria), and represented Xorth Fulton. The only settlements within the boundary of the county at that time were one near the present town of Rushville, at Lewistown, Canton, Ft. Clark and Chicago. Lewistown was the county-seat and the largest town in the county, and the only place where elections were held. The voters at that time came from Ft. Clark down the Illinois river, a distance of fifty miles, in canoes ; then up Spoon river ten miles ; then on foot through the woods six miles to Lewistown, to deposit their ballots, bringing their whisky with them, without which it was thought impossible to travel or properly exercise the rights of American citizens. Many of those from the south part of the county came a distance of thirty miles.

At this election there were thirty-five votes cast. There were only thirty-three legitimate voters who visited the polls ; but Eads, as he came down the Illinois with his sixteen voters from Xorth Fulton, met two bachelors at "Town Site" (now Pekin, Tazewell county, then in Sangamon county) and " colonized " them, thus giv- ing him a majority over Ross. Every available man was mustered by Ross, even the hermit, Dr. Davison, yet he lacked two votes in order to beat Eads. The following year, however, Ross found no difficulty in being elected to this position over Mr. Eads.

First Foiirth-of-JuIy Celebration. - The first celebration of our national independence in Fulton county was held in 18*23. The celebration was held in Lewistown on the knoll north of the Methodist Church edifice ; Ossian M. Ross was the orator of the occasion, Captain David W. Barnes was marshal of the day ; John, Jacob and Enos Jewell furnished the music. The two former played the drums and the latter the fife. They did not have the stars and stripes to display, but they nevertheless had a liberty pole. F(nthis they secured a tall hickory tree, trimmed it and peeled the ba k, and left it standing in its original place. For a flag to display from its top a hat of Mr. Ross' was substituted. This was a showy hat, being surmounted by two large plumes, and a cockade upon it. Mr. Ross wore this hat when a Major under General Scott in the war of 1812. It was placed upon the top of the pole by W^illiam Ennis, and all joined in cheering the glorious Fourth and drinking egg-nog. Logs were felled for seats and there were about thirty men, women and children in attendance, many of whom were barefoot. The whites had their celebration during the day, and seemingly ignored the Indians, who were not to be denied a glorious time. In the evening the Pottawatomies to the number of a hundred or more assembled at the same place and had a grand war dance. Thus closed the first Fourth-of-July celebration of Fulton county.

First Grain JRaised. - The first wheat raised in Fulton county was in 1823, by O. M. Ross. It had to be cut with a sickle or reapinghook, and threshed with a flail, winnowed with a sheet, ground in a horse-mill, and bolted with a hand bolt. Mr. Ross also raised the first ten acres of corn. The truck wagon was the principal one used in the first settlement of the countv. Thev have been known to do good service on a farm for several years, and there was not a pound of iron or a nail used in their construction.

Circuit and County Clerks' offices now stand, was built of round logs, provided with a mud chimney, and puncheons for floor, seats and. writing-desks, and oil-paper for Avindow glass. Those who are livino; that attended this school are Mrs. Steel, of Canton, for-

First Steam-hont. - The first steam-boat to run up the Illinois river was the "Liberty." Harvey L. Ross was a passenger on board. It was commanded by Captain Samuel Bailey, one of the proprietors of Pekin, and a co-commander with Gen. Stillman of this county during the Black Hawk war. This boat was advertised to run " from St. Louis to Peoria, touching all intermediate ports." It landed at Havana, then nothing but a ferry crossing, and at Pekin, which at that time was known, from its fine location, as " Town Site." A steam-boat was a novelty, and even a mystery, to many of the early settlers. Coming up the river the boat passed Kingston in the night. Hugh Barr, who lived near that point, heard it coming, and being on rather unfriendly terms with the Indians, then quite numerous in the vicinity, concluded that it was some infernal contrivance of theirs to frighten or harm him. Seizing his gun and setting his equally bewildered dog at it, he pursued the offi-nding mystery. The pilot, not being familiar with the channel, ran into Clifton's lake, and finding no outlet, he had to back the boat out. Barr, witnessing this, drew oif his dog, and, though still hugely puzzled to know what manner of craft it was, gave up pursuit. William Haines, who lived at Pekin, hearing the puif of the escaping steam, hastily left his bed, and, half dressed, crossed the street to Thomas Snell's, now the Bemis House, called neighbor Snell out of bed, and inquired as to what manner of creature was coming up the river. Snell replied : '' I don't know. Bill ; but if I was on the Ohio river I would think it was a steam-coat." Old Jacob Tharp, hearing the noise of the paddles and the steam whistle, thought it was Gabriel blowing his horn ; that sure enough the end of the world had come in the night ; and calling up his family, engaged in prayer as a fitting preparation for the advent of a higher and better life.

The First Turning-Lathe. - The first turning-lathe in Canton and perhaps in the county was owned and operated by Deacon Xathan Jones. It was a S])ring-pole lathe, with the cord wound around the stick to be turned, in such a manner t»hat the stick ran half the time one way and half the time the other. Upon this lathe the deacon turned his chair-stuif. This lathe was a part of the outfit of the first chair-maker's shop in Canton. It is related of the deacon, while engaged in this shop, that on one occasion he had carried a lot of chair-stufi' into the kitchen to season by the kitchen fire. The deacon had neglected to provide Aunt Matilda - his wife - with wood, and this neglect had so excited the old lady's ire that she siezed and burnt an armfiil of chair-runsrs. The deacon stood and contemplated the destruction of his chair-rungs in solemn silence for some moments. As the flames began to curl around them, the deacon's lips })arted, and his hand Avas raised, not in anger, but in sadness. He tipped his hat to one side with the uplifted hand, and exclaimed, " Matilda, I wish you were in heaven !" And this, it is recorded, was the most nearly an oath the good old man had ever allowed to escape his lips.

First Mills. - Ossian M. Ross built the first horse-mill, Jacob Ellis built the first water-mill. Who erected the first steam-mill we are -not able to say. There was one erected at Canton at a verv earlv dav, and one at Vermont. John H. Gardner, of Joshua township, also put up one among the first of the county.

First Distiller u. - As eariv as 1833 Rafe Dixon, Ensley Touts and George Smith owned and operated a small distillery on Duck creek. This was a small, old-fashioned cop]>er still, and made pure if not palatable whisky from corn. It is related of some of the pioneers that they would, when in need of their accustomed beverage, shell a bushel of corn, put it on a horse, mount on top, and ride to Gabriel Walling's little band-mill on Copperas Creek, get their grist ^'cracked," then ride over with it to the Duck-creek Distillery and wait until it could be turned into "sperrits." They were some times plagued very much while at the distillery by a fellow of the name of Garron, who, it was asserted, would drink the whisky as fast as it ran from the still.

First Sale of Land. - The first conveyance of land contained within the boundary of Fulton county ever made was that of section 8, Kerton township. On this 6th day of May, 1817, John DoMott transferred this section of land to Richard Berriam. The first on record was the northeast quarter of section 30, C^ass township, which was transferred May 20, 1818. Both these deeds are recorded at Edwardsville.

First Two Children Born. - The first white child born in the county was Lucinda C. Ross, relict of the late Judge Williani Kellogg, and a resident of Peoria, 111. She was born at Lewistowu Oct. 17, 1821. Abner C. Barnes, son of Capt. D. W. Barnes, was born in the following month, and was the first male child born. He is an attorney at law and resides at Bushnell, 111. A son of John Eveland was one of the first children l)orn on the Military Tract, if not the first. His birth occurred while Mr. Eveland was residing in Calhoun county.

First Cotton-Gin. - In an early day cotton was quite extensively grown in this county. During the period when the pioneer women manufactured all the clothing of the family from the raw material, cotton and flax might be found growing on every farm. Jacob Ellis erected a cotton-gin that proved a source of great help to the settlers. They would come for many miles to this mill to have their cotton ginned. Hon. L. W. Ross has a pair of quilts that were made by his mother in 1825 or '2(j^ when they lived where

First Hotel. - The first hotel in the county, perhaps in the Military Tract, was built at Lewistown in 1827, by John Jewell, and kept for many years by Truman Phelps. It was then considered the best hotel in the West. Such men as Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, O. H. Browning, Cyrus Walker, Gen. E. D. Baker, Wm. A. Richardson and other prominent men of early times were often guests of this hotel.

Organization of Fulton Counfi/. - In the latter part of the year 1822 it was thought by "some of the enterprising settlers of this section that a sufficient number of inhabitants were living here to justify the organization of a county. An effort was at once made, and on the 28th day of January, 1823, the organization was granted by the Legislature and ai> election appointed to be held on the 14th of April, for the election of county officials. The law required that a county should contain 350 legal voters before an organization could be effected, yet there were scarcely that number of individuals within the boundaries of Fulton county, although it embraced the entire northern part of the State. The same territory now contains a greater portion of the wealth of the State and a population of about two million souls. On the organization of Illinois Territory in 1809 it was subdivided into the counties of Randolph and St. Clair. Fulton was included in the county of St. Clair. On the admission of the State into the Union Avhat is now Fulton county was a part of Madison. Afterwards, by an act of the Legislature approved June 30, 1821, it was placed within the boundaries of Pike, which is the oldest county in the Military Tract.

When Fulton county was organized, and for over two years thereafter, it extended east and west from the Illinois to the Mississippi rivers, and from the base line near where Rushville, Schuyler county, now stands, to the northern boundary of the State, including the country where Rock Island, Galena, Peoria and Chicago now are. It was indeed a large county, and embraced what is now the wealthiest and most populous portion of the great West. The great lead mines of Galena had not yet been discovered, and Chicago was only a trading and military post. As will be seen in the following chapter the officials of Fulton county- exercised full authority, so far as the duties of their respective offices were concerned, over all this vast region. In 1825 the Legislature created Peoria county and attached to it for all county purposes all the country lying north of it within this State on both sides of the Illinois river as far east as the third principal meridian. The Commissioners' Court of that county convened for the first time March 8, 1825. Thus was Fulton county greatly diminished in size.

Soon the Military Tract began to settle up quite ra])idly, and a year had scarcely passed before Knox county was cut off of Fulton. This was done by an act approved Feb. 10, 1826. At that time, however, there was not a settler within the boundaries of that county, and although laid off it was still attached to Fulton county for all judicial purposes. In the early part of 1828 the pioneers appeared in that county and it was rapidly settled. On the loth of May, 1830, a meeting was held in Henderson township to inaugurate steps for the organization of the county. A committee consisting of Riggs Pennington, Philip Hash, Stephen Osborn and Dr. Chas. Hansford was appointed to present a petition to the Hon. Richard M. Young, Judge of the Fifth Judicial District, praying for the organization of Knox county. These gentlemen shortly afterwards came to Lewistown, where Judge Young was holding Court, and laid their petition before him. The Judge, believing the county contained 350 inhabitants, the number required by law, and that a majority desired the organization, did, on the 10th day of June, 1830, declare by virtue of the power invested in him, the said county of Knox to be organized and entitled to the same rights and privileges as other counties of the State. An election was held July 3, and three Commissioners chosen. These gentlemen convened in official capacity on the 7th and perfected the organization of Knox county, which completely severed all the vast territory outside of the present boundaries of Fulton that at one time belonged to our grand old county. This reduced the county to its present size, which in number of acres ranks fifth in the great Prairie State.

By an act of the Legislature approved Jan. 28, 1823, as above mentioned, Fulton county was given authority to organize. A commission consisting of Hugh R. Colter, John Totten and Stephen Chase was appointed to locate the county-seat. A full account of their labors is given in the following chapter. An election was held on the 14th day of April, 1823, for the selection of three Commissioners, a Sherifl' and a Coroner. The only voting place was at Lewistown, and men came from so great a distance that it consumed several days in making the trip. William Fads of Ft. Clark was elected Sheriif over O. M. Ross, and Wm. Clark, Coroner. David W. Barnes, Joseph Motfatt and Thomas R. Covell were chosen County Commissioners. They convened for the first time on the 3d of June, same year. We refer our readers to the following chapter for a full and detailed account of all the important labors of this Court.

Trade. - The earliest commercial transactions carried on in this county were but neighborhood exchanges, in great part. True, now and then a farmer would load a flat-boat with beeswax, honey, tallow and peltries, with perhaps a few bushels of wheat or corn or a few hundred clapboards, and float down the Illinois river to St. Louis, where he would exchange his produce for substantials in the way of groceries and a little ready money with which he would return by some one of two or three steam-boats then running ; or if the period of the trip was before the advent of steam-boats he would ;urn his load into cash and come home on foot.

After the advent of steam-boats a new system of commerce sprang up. Every town would contain one or two merchants who would buy corn, wheat and dressed hogs in the fell, store them in warehouses on the river at some of the "landings," and when the river opened in the spring would ship his winter's accumulations to St. Louis, Cincinnati or New Orleans for sale, and with the proceeds visit New York and lay in six months' siip])ly of goods. So far as the farmer was concerned in all these transactions money was an unknown factor. Goods were always sold on twelve months' time and payment made with the proceeds of the farmers' crops. When the crops were sold and the merchant satisfied the surplus was paid out in orders on the store to laboring men and to satisfy other creditors. When a days' work was done by a working man his emplover would say, "Well, what store do you want your order on?" and the order was always cheerfully accepted.

Hogs were always sold ready dressed. The farmer, if forelianded, would call in his neighbors some bright fall or winter morning to help "kill hogs." Immense kettles filled with water had been boiling since dawn. The sleds of the farmer covered with loose plank formed a platform for dressing, and a cask or half hogshead, with an old quilt thrown over the top, was prepared in wliich to scald. From a crotch of some convenient tree a projecting pole was riffffcd to hold the dead animals. When everything was arranged the best shot of the neighborhood loaded his trusty rifle and the work of killing commenced. To make a "hog squeal" in shooting or "shoulder-stick," i. e., run the point of the knife used into the shoulder instead of the cavity of the breast, was a disgrace. As each hog fell the "sticker" mounted him and plunged a long, well sharpened knife into his throat, and others caught him by the legs and drew him to the scalding tub now hilled with hot water, into which a shovel-full of good green-wood ashes had been thrown. The cleaners now took the departed porcine, immersed him head first into the scalding tub, drew him back and forward a time or two, tried the hair, and if it would "slip" easily the animal was turned and the other end underwent the same process. As soon as taken from the water the scrapers with case-knives went to work and soon had the animal denuded of hair, when two stout fellows would take it up between them and a third man to manage the "gambrel" (^which was a stout stick about two feet long, sharpened at both ends to be inserted between the muscles of the hind legs at or near the hock joint), the animal would be elevated to the pole and the entrails removed by some skillful hand.

When the work of killing was completed and the hogs had time to cool, such as were intended for domestic use were cut up, the lard tried out by the women of the household and the surplus taken to town to market. In those davs almost every merchant had, at the rear end of his ])lace of business or at some convenient neighboring building, a "pork-house," and would buy the pork of his ens- tomers and of such others as would sell to him, and "cut" it for market. This gave employment to a large number of hands in every village cuttiug pork - work which lasted all winter ; also to a large number of teams hauling to the river, and coopers making pork barrels.

Prices of p(.)rk then were not so high as at present. Thousands of hogs dressed for market have been sold in this county at $l.l25 to $1.50 per hundred lbs.; sometimes they were sold by the dozen, bringing from $12 to $18 per dozen, owing to size and quality. When, as the county grew older and communication easier between the seaboard and the great West, prices went up to $2 and $2.50 per 100 lbs., our farmers thought they would always be content to raise pork at such a fine price.

There was one feature in this method of buying pork that made any town in Fulton county a paradise for the poor man in winter. "Spare-ribs," "tender-loins," "pigs'-heads" and "feet" were not considered of any value, and were given freely to all who asked. If a barrel were taken to any pork-house and salt furnished, the barrel would be tilled and salted down with tender-loins or spare-ribs for nothing. So great in many cases was the quantity of spare-ribs, etc., to be disposed of, that they would be hauled away in wagon loads and dumped in the woods out of town.

In those days if wheat brought half a dollar per bushel the farmer was satisfied. The writer once knew a farmer to sell five hundred bushels of corn to a distillery, for which he received five cents jier bushel, and took his pay in whisky at thirty-five cents per gallon.

A good young milch-cow could be bought for from $5 to $10, and that j)ayable in work. In those days one of the wealthiest farmers in the county was notified that there was a letter in the postofficQ to his address, and that the postage was twenty-five cents. He went home immediately, killed a fat cow, took her to Canton and peddled her meat in the hope that in the transaction he would get his quarter in cash to "lift" his letter ; but when the cash proceeds were footed up he found he had but twenty cents, and had to borrow the balance before he could set his letter.

Those might truly be called close times, yet the citizens of the county were accommodating, and no case of actual suffering for the necessaries of life was known to exist before each vied with the other to relieve it.

Early MiUhir/. - One of the greatest difUculties encountered by the early settlers was in having their milling done. By a liberal application of enterprise and muscle they experienced but little trouble in producing an abundance of the cereals, but having it converted into breadstuff was a source of much hard labor. The hand-mill introduced was a great improvement over the mortar or tin grater, a description of which is given elsewhere in this volume. Then the band-mill was introduced. John Walters tells us that he and his brother AVilliam used to strap their sacks of corn upon their back in knapsack fashion and take their guns and go eight or ten miles to mill. They often went to Jennings' band-mill. These mills ground only corn, and in order to have wheat ground the settlers would have to go to some distant water-mill. Pioneers often were gone an entire week with a load of grain to one of these mills. Mr. Jacob Silvernail relates that upon one occasion he went to the Little Mackinaw mill on the east side of the Illinois river, a distance of 25 miles. He took some 40 bushels of M'heat, and was gone from home nine days before he got his grist and, as Mr. Silvernail savs, "the ague at the same time." There are a multitude of milling incidents that would be interesting to read, but space in this chapter forbids the giving of others. These suffice to illustrate the difficulties the early settlers encountered in procuring breadstuff.

Wild Hogs. - Among the settlers who came to Fulton county previous to 1835 were many who, accustomed to the advantages of an older civilization, to churches, schools and society, became speedily home-sick and dissatisfied. They would remain perhaps one summer or at most two, then, selling whatever claim with its improvements they had made, would return to the older States, spreading reports of the hardships endured by the settlers here and the disadvantages which thev had found, or imagined thev had found, in the country. These weaklings were not an unmitigated curse. The slight improvements they had made were sold to men of sterner stuff, who were the sooner able to surround themselves with the necessities of life, while their unfavoraV)le report deterred other weaklings from coming. The men who stayed, who were willing to endure privations, belonged to a different guild ; they were heroes every one, - men to whom hardships were things to be overcome and present privations things to be endured for the sake of posteritv, and thev never shrank from this duty. It is to these hardy pioneers who could endure, that we to-day owe the wonderful improvement we have made and the development, almost miraculous, that has brought our State in the past sixty years, from a wilderness, to the front rank among the States of this great nation.

When the earliest pioneer reached what is now Fulton county game was his principal food until he had conquered a farm from the forest or prairie, - rarely, then, from the latter. As the countrv settled game grew scarce, and by 1850 he who would live by his rille would have had but a precarious sulisistence had it not been for "wild hogs." These animals, left by home-sick immigrants whom the chills or fever and ague had driven out, had strayed into the woods, and began to multiply in a wild state. The woods each fall were full of acorns, walnuts, hazelnuts, and these hogs would grow fat and multiply at a wonderful rate in the bottoms and along the bluffs. The second and third immigration to the county found these wild hogs an unfailing source of meat supply up to that period when they had in the townships contiguous to the river become so numerous as to be an evil, breaking in herds into the farmer's corn-fields or toling their domestic swine into their retreats, where they too became in a season as wild as those in the woods. In 1838 or '39, in Banner township, a meeting was called of citizens of the township to take steps to get rid of wild hogs. At this meeting, which was held in the spring, the people of the township were notified to turn out en masse on a certain day and engage in the work of catching, trimming and branding wild hogs, which were to be turned loose, and the next winter were to be hunted and killed by the people of the township, the meat to be divided pro rata among the citizens of the toAvnship. This plan was fully carried into effect, two or three days being spent in the exciting work in the spring.

In the early part of the ensuing winter the settlers again turned out, supplied at convenient points in the bottom with large kettles and barrels for scalding, and while the hunters were engaged in killing, others with horses dragged the carcasses to the scalding platforms where they were dressed; and when all that could be were killed and dressed a division was made, every farmer getting more meat than enough for his winter's supply. Like energetic measures were resorted to in other townships, so that in two or three years the breed of wild hogs became extinct.

Many amusing anecdotes are related of adventures among the wild hogs." Esquire W. H, Smith of Banner township relates the following incident: "I had gone to help one of my neighbors catch and mark some hogs that were running out in the bottom. He knew where his hogs ran, and we had no difficulty in finding them. Our dogs were called into requisition, and we had dogs then trained to the business, and soon I had a shoat down and was marking it when I heard a shout of warning, and looking up I saw my companions making for the nearest trees while a herd of wild iiogs, led by a powerful boar, was rushing through the grass and was almost on me. It was no time for argument I saw, and like my neighbors, I 'stayed not on the order of my going, but went at once' to the most convenient sapling, up which I found my way with a celerity that would have astonished those who know me now, and I was not in a hurry to come down until the herd had left."

D. F. Emry, one of the early surveyors of this county, relates that once while surveying in the bottom he had his compass standing in a path used by the wild hogs, and while adjusting his needle observed a very large boar with tushes five or six inches long coming do'svn the path toward him. "When the boar observed the obstruction in his pathway," says he, "he began to come sideways, champing his teeth and erecting his bristles in a way to convince me that I had better give him right of way, which I proceeded to do with commendable speed."

Instances of adventures with wild hogs might be indefinitely multiplied, but space forbids. That these animals were dangerous those who have seen the tusks - in many cases still preserved - six and even in some instances eight inches long, will understand.

The Deep Snoiv. - The big snoAv of 1830 will be vividly remembered by all the old settlers. The snow began falling on the night of the 29th of December, and continued to fall for three days and nights, until it reached an average depth of about four feet, but drifting in places as high as from eighteen to twenty feet. Great suffering was experienced in consequence. The settlers relied for their daily food upon Indian corn which they were enabled to raise, together with wild game, which was abundant at that time. Plenty of the former was raised to supply the wants of all until the next season's crop ; but when the snow fell very little had been gathered. Game could not be had. The great depth of snow was a barrier to all travel, and it may be well imagined the sufferings of the people were very great indeed.

This was the heaviest snow that ever fell in Illinois within the memory of the oldest settler of this part of the State. According to the traditions of the Indians as related to the pioneers, a snow fell from fifty to seventy-five years before the settlement by the whito people, which swejjt away the numerous herds of buffalo and elk that roamed over the vast prairies at that time. This tradition was verified by the large number of bones of these animals found in different localities on the prairies when first visited by the whites. The deep snow is one of the landmarks of the pioneer. He reckons, in giving dates of early occurrences, so many years before or so many after the deep snow. He calculates the date of his coming, his marriage and l)irth of liis children from it, and well might It make a lasting impression upon their minds. Could we picture the suffering of that winter ; the dark forebodings that crept into every cabin, starvation staring the inmates in the face; the meagre meal that for months was their only portion, we, too, would never forget it. But human tongue or pen can never adequately picture the trials endured by the pioneers who were here during that long and eventful winter. For weeks the sun was not visible, and so intens(; was the cold that not a particle of snow would melt upon the south sides of the cabins. People were for weeks absolutely blockaded or housed up, and remained so until starvation compelled them to go forth in search of food.

So much extra work was to be done in the building of homes that in the fall the pioneers did not gather in and crib their corn. They let it remain in the field until winter came before gathering. The big snow therefore found many of the settlers without any j)reparation for a long siege. They would go out into the field, and where they could see the top of a corn stalk sticking up through the snow they would dig down until they came to the ear. To get wood they would cut the trees at the top of the snow, and when spring came and the snow had disappeared, they often found the stump long' enough to cut into fence rails. The snow lay on the ground until about the first o£ April ; and we have little doubt that many a weary one during that long winter sighed for the comforts of the "old home;" still, notwithstanding its great dreariness and the greater sufferings of the people, none became disheartened, for we find them in the s])ring of 1831 as determined as ever to carve out for themselves a home in this truly beautiful country.

. During this winter, from Dec. 29, 1830, till Feb. 13, 1831, it snowed nineteen times. After the snow had melted we are told that the bones of deer were so numerous in some places that for onequarter of an acre one could step from bone to bone over the whole surface, so many deer had perished there. The season following the winter of the deep snow was a very late one, and frost came every month in the year. The crops were jjoor, as may be well supposed, and the corn did not ripen.

The longest winter ever experienced since this country was settled by the whites was that of 1842-3. The cold Aveather set in November 4, and lasted until the following April.

Sudden Change. - The most extraordinary atmospheric phenomenon occurring within the knowledge of the oldest settler took place in January, 1836. The intensest suffering was caused to man and beast by this sudden change. Quite a snow had fallen the day ])revious to the change, and upon that day a slow, drizzling rain fell, makiny, of the snow a " slush." The storm came from the northwest, and the clouds, upon its approach, assumed a threatening and extraordinary aspect, those higher being dark, and those below of a white frosty appearance. As fast as the storm advanced it instantaneously changed the temperate atmosphere to that of frigid coldness. Incidents are related in connection with this sudden change which are indeed marvelous. During the sudden change John Walters tells us that he was out hunting, and had just killed a large buck deer. He heard a terrible roaring in the northwest, and upon looking in that direction saw a black cloud. The cold came on so suddenly and became so intense that he started for home on a run, leaving his game. Before reaching his home he had frozen his feet and ears very badly.

High Water. - We have spoken of the deep snow and the sudden atmospheric change ; we now wish to record the seasons that the greatest amount of water fell. It is claimed that the greatest rainfall that has ever occurred in this country was in 183". There waf> no record kept of the amount of water that fell by any of the methods in use at the present time, and all we have to judge by is the high water in the streams. The Illinois, Spoon river and their tributaries are said to have been higher than at the breaking up of the big snow in the spring of 1831, or at any time since. The rains commenced falling in the early springand continued throughout the early summer. There have been, perhaps, other seasons just as wet, but the streams were never so high at any other time. During this period there were many hard rains. In the early part of July a storm of rain, thuuder and lightning occurred, which for severity has scarcely ever been equaled. It spread throughout the West. The great prairies, then uncultivated and undrained, were a vast lake, and fish were plenty in almost every locality. The large ponds found here and there over the prairies in an early day contained fish large enough for domestic purposes. These ponds would dry up in the summer but in spring-time were well filled with water, and how the finny tribe managed to get there is a query the " old settler" cannot answer in a more satisfactory way than " they rained down when small." During this season but little in the way of crops was attempted to be raised. Hogs were fattened in the fall upon the mast, and those that were not killed for food had to subsist during the winter upon acorns; with them it was literally "root hog or die."

The Severe Winter of 1842 - 3. - To add to the popular excitement occasioned by Rev. Miller's prophecy of the end of the world, and by the unprecedented comet of 1843, etc., one of the longest and severest winters ever known in this region, happened to be that of 1842-3. Xov. 7, 1842, it commenced to rain; the 8th was cloudy; and on the 9th 18 inches of snow fell, which did not go off altogether until the 12th of the following April! Soon after the snow fell a rain came upon it, and a crust froze so strong as to make it almost impossible for a time to work or travel. A hunter, however, could walk on the ice-covered snow, and deer were more easily caught than domestic swine are nowadays. When alarmed by the proximity of the hunter they would attempt to run, but breaking through where the snow was very deep, they would lodge there almost helpless. Turkey and other wild game were abundant and easily obtained. On account, however, of the abundance of game and a sufficiency of grain, the people lived very comfortably.

The years of 1844, 1851, and 1858, are also notable as years of great rain-fall. During the early history of the county, when there were no bridges, great difficulty was experienced in getting from place to place in the spring-time on account of the high waters. At such times ferrymen were allowed to charge double fare for carrying people or goods across the streams. It is remarkable that so few lives were lost during these seasons of high water, ])ut the pioneers were all expert swimmers, and it was very seldom one was drowned.

Moneu. - Monev''was an article little known and seldom seen among the earlier settlers. Indeed, they had but little use for it, as all business was transacted by bartering one article for another. Great'ingenuity was developed in the barter of their commodities, and when this failed longJ,credits contributed to their convenience. But for taxes and postage neither the barter nor credit system would answer, and often letters were suifered to remain a considerable time in the po.stoffice for want of twenty-five cents, which was then tlie postage on all letters from any great distance ; nor were they carried on the fast express or mail trains. It was only every week or so that a lone horseman, with mail bag thrown astride, would ride into a settlement or village. If, however, the village was on the line of a stage route, the old stage-coach would make its apj)earance as often. It was not common, then, for persons to get many letters; indeed, one or two a month was considered a large mail. Nor did three cents pay the postage upon a letter at that day. It seldom took less than twenty-five cents, or two "bits," as Kentuckians would say.

To illustrate how very scarce money was in an early day we record the following incidents : Mr. Joseph H. Gardiner, of Joshua township, tells us that although he owned a farm of six hundred acres, with stock, grain, etc., he could not raise cash sufficient to pay postage on letters that came to him. They would often have to lie in the postoflfice for weeks before he could get them out. At one time in the early history of the country he had a legal dispute and was sued, the party getting judgment for |oO or 160 against him. He sent East for money and it came in a $100 bill. He ofFered it in payment of judgment ; they could not change the bill, nor could they find enough money in Canton to do it with ; consequently the judgment was not paid for some time afterwards.

A member of one of the leading business firms iu Canton had noticed that his partner had charged to himself fifty cents cash each week. This. caused him so much uneasiness to know that cash was being withdrawn from their business that he took his ])artner to task about it. He admitted the fact, of course, and explained that it aatis to pay postage on letters received from a young lady in the East, perhaps his sweet-heart, which, though money was scarce, must be attended to.

Coon-skins passed as currency in many places up to 1835, and values were frequently expressed in coon-skins. Whisky was one coon-skin per quart. Childs Stillman, of Canton, were selling it at that price, and their store was a place of resort in consequence. The counter of this store was a rude affair, and the front of it not closely jointed : indeed, there were interstices between the clapboard panels through which a coon-skin could be readily pulled. One day Jesse Dollar called for a quart of whisky, and in payment handed over his coon-skin. The coon-skin was tossed" under the counter, and the whisky drank among the crowd. Dollar had a ramrod in his hands with a wiping-screw on the end. This he slyly inserted through the cracks in the front of the counter, and, twisting it into the fur, drew it out, and with it paid for the second quart, which was also passed through the admiring crowd. Dollar was liberal, generous, indeed prodigal, with his one coon-skin, making it pay for five quarts of whisky in almost that number of minutes. Childs & Stillman were pleased at their prosperous trade. The crowd were pleased at the joke, and Dollar was glorious.

The Beautiful Prairies. - The large prairies of the eounty presented a most beautiful sight before they were settled. The following very descriptive lines on "The Prairies of Illinois/' by Captain Basil Hall, graphically portrays their beauty in their wild and native state :

''The charm of prairie consists in its extension, its green, flowery carpet, its undulating surface, and the skirt of forest whereby it is surrounded ; the latter feature being of all others the most significant and expressive, since it characterizes the land^icape, and defines the form and boundary of the plain. If the prairie is little, its greatest beauty consists in the vicinity of the encompassing edge of forests, which may be compared to the shores of a lake, being intersected with many deep, inward bends, as so many inlets, and at intervals projecting very far, not unlike a promontory or protruding arm of land. These projections sometimes so closely approach each other that the traveler passing through between them, may be said to walk in the midst of an alley overshadowed by the forest, before he enters again upon another broad prairie. Where the plain is extensive, the delineations of the forest in the distant background a])- pear as would a misty ocean beach afar off. The eye sometimes surveys the green prairie without discovering on the illimitable plain a tree or bush, or any other object save the wilderness of flowers and grass, while on other occasions the view is enlivened bv the groves dispersed like islands over the plain, or by a solitary tree rising above the wilderness. The resemblance to the sea which some of these prairies exhibit is really most striking. In the spring, when the young grass has just clothed the soil with a soddy carpet of the most delicate green, but especially when the sun is rising behind a distant elevation of the ground and its rays are reflected by myriads of dew-drops, a more pleasing and more eye-beneflting view cannot be imagined.

"The delightful aspect of the prairie, its amenities, and the absence of that sombre awe insjiired by forests, contribute to forcing away that sentiment of loneliness which usually steals upon the mind of the solitary wanderer in the wilderness ; for, although he espies no habitation, and sees no human being, and knows himself to be far ofl' from every settlement of man, he can scarcely defend himself from believing that he is traveling through a landscape embellished bv human art. The flowers are so delicate and elegant as apparently to be distributed for mere ornament over the plain ; the groves and groups of trees seem to be dispersed over the prairie to enliven the landscape, and we can scarcely get rid of the impression invading our imagination, of the whole scene being flung out and created for the satisfaction of the sentiment of beauty in refined men.

"In the summer the prairie is covered with tall grass, which is coarse in appearance, and soon assumes a yellow color, waving in the wind like a ripe crop of corn. In the early stages of its growth it resembles young wheat, and in this state furnishes such rich and succulent food for cattle that the latter choose it often in preference to wheat, it being no doubt a very congenial fodder to them, since it is impossible to conceive of better butter than is made while the grass is in this stage.

"In the early stages of its growth the grass is interspersed with little flowers, - the violet, the strawberry-blossom, and others of the most delicate structure. When the grass grows higher these disappear, and taller flowers, displaying more lively colors, take their place ; and still later a series of still higher but less delicately formed floMers appears on the surface. AVhile the grass is green these beautiful plains are adorned with every imaginable variety of color. It is impossible to conceive of a greater diversity, or discover a predominating color, save the green, which forms a beautiful dead color, relieving the splendor of the others. In the summer the plants grow taller, and the colors more lively ; in the autumn another generation of flowers arises which possesses less clearness and variety of color and less fragrancy. In the winter the prairie presents a melancholy aspect. Often the fire, which the hunters annually send over the prairies in order to dislodge the game, will destroy the entire vegetation, giving to the soil a uniform black appearance, like that of a vast plain of charcoal ; then the wind sweeping over the prairie will find nothing which it might put in motion, no leaves which it might disperse, no haulms which it mlirht shake. No sooner does the snow commence to fall than the animals, unless already frightened away by the fire, retire into the forests, when the most dreary, oppressive solitude will reign on the burnt prairies, which often occupy many square miles of territory."

Prairie Fires. - Fires would visit the grassy plains every autumn. The settlers who had pushed out from the timber took great precaution to prevent their crops, houses and barns from being destroyed, yet not always did they succeed. Many incidents are related of prairie fires. The great conflagrations were caused either accidentally, or designedly from wantonness, or with a view of bewildering the game. The fire often spread further than it was intended it should. Wherever were extensive prairie lands, one-half was burned in the spring and the other half in the autumn, in order to produce a more rapid growth of the naturally exuberant grass, destroying at the same time the tall and thick weed stalks. Violent winds would often arise and drive the flames with such rapidity that riders on the fleetest steeds could scarcely escape. On the ajiproach of a prairie fire the farmer would immediately set about "burning back," - that is, burning ofi: the grass close by the fences, that the larger fire upon arriving would become extinguished for want of aliment. In order to be able, however, to make proper use of this measure of safety, it was very essential that every farmer should encompass with a ditch those of his fences adjoining the prairie. When known that the conflagration could cause no danger, the settler, though accustomed to them, could not refrain from gazing with admiration upon the magnificent .>;pectacle. Language cannot convey, words cannot express, the faintest idea of the splendor and grandeur of such a conflagration during the night. It was as if the pale queen of night, disdaining to take her accustomed place in the heavens, had dispatched myriads upon myriads of messengers to light their torches at the altar of the setting sun until all had flashed into one long and continuous blaze.

''Soon the flres began to kindle wider and rise higher from the long grass; the gentle breeze increased to stronger currents, and soon limned the small, flickering blaze into fierce torrent flames, which curled up and leaped along in resistless splendor ; and like quickly raising the dark curtain from the luminous stage, the scenes before me were suddenly changed, as if by the magician's wand, into one boundless amphitheater, blazing from earth to heaven and sweeping the horizon round, - columns of lurid flames sportively mounting up to the zenith, and dark clouds of crimson smoke curling away and aloft till they nearly obscured stars and moon, while the rushing, crashing sounds, like roaring cataract? mingled with distant thunders, were almost deafening ; danger, death, glared all around; it screamed for victims; yet, notwithstanding the imminent peril of prairie fires, one is loth, irresolute, almost unable to withdraw or seek refuge."

Incidents of Pioneer Life. - The amusements of the pioneers were peculiar to themselves. Saturday afternoon was a holiday in which no man was expected to work. A load of produce might be taken to "town" for sale or traffic without violence to custom, but no more serious labor could be tolerated. When on Saturday afternoon the town was reached, "fun commenced." Had two neighbors business to transact, here it was done. Horses were "swapped." Difficulties settled and free fights indulged in. Blue and red ribbons were not worn in those days, and whisky was free as water ; twelve and a one half cents would buy a quart, and thirty five or forty cents a gallon, and at such prices enormous quantities were consumed. Go to any town in the county and ask the first pioneer you meet, he will tell you of notable Saturday-afternoon fights, either of which to-day would fill a column of the Police ^^eics, with elaborate engravings to match.

Rough, ready to fight, as these pioneers were, their latch-string was always out. Xo stranger ever stopped at their cabins without receiving a heartv welcome. Mrs. Commodore Joshua Barnev, whose husband was famous in the war of 1812, and who was a daughter of Elbridge Gerry, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, in her old age told a chapter of her experience in Fulton county in 1829 that graphically illustrates pioneer life. She had gone with her husband from Washington City overland to the Mississippi river, and crossing the Illinois at Ft. Clark (now Peoria), the party stopped late at night at a log cabin near Utica. The hail, "Hallo ! the honse," was given, and in answer to the inquiry, "Can we get to stay all night with you ?" they were told, "Certainly ; come in ; there is always room in this country." "On entering the cabin" says Mrs. Barney, "we found a room twelve feet by sixteen in which there was a fire-place, table, bench or two, a couple of rude chairs and three beds ; but worse than all, when our party got in, there were nineteen persons to stay all night ! Supper was almost ready when we arrived. It consisted of the usual corn bread, fat bacon, honey and in this case genuine store coifee. When bed-time came the men were ordered to step out of doors, and beds were spread, consisting of blankets and buffalo robes, over the whole floor, and we women - there were ten of us - told to go to bed, married women in the center. The men were now called in and each husband lay down by his wife, the single men outside. We were so thick, occupying the entire unappropriated space of the floor, that when we desired to turn over the word of command would be given, 'Spoon,' and we would all turn over at once."

The settler in the early days was not only hospitable but also philanthropic, and never neglected an opportunity to aid a neighbor. House-raisings were hiw special delight. Let a new-comer arrive in the neighborhood and all were ready to help him. One would send a bushel or two of potatoes, another a piece of meat, another some other article that could be used to eke out the larder ; but when the new-comer had his logs cut and all ready for the raising, then the fun commenced. Teams, men, axes, all were on the ground at an early hour, logs were hauled, scored, one side hewed, it may be, and before night willing hands had erected a residence as comfortable and commodious as anv in the settlement, and at night was ready for the "house-warming," where dancing was kept up until the "wee short hours," and where all enjoyed themselves in a manner unknown to the people of to-day. Let a neighbor get sick in the fall, as frequently occurred, and some neighbor would inaugurate a "chopping bee" or corn-gathering for his benefit, when all his fall work would be done in a day, - corn gathered and cribbed, wood chopped and hauled, and everything put in good shape for winter. After the day's labors were completed, song and dance were in order, and until morning perhaps the younger members of the community would keep up their hilarity.

The only amusements of the pioneers had a hospitable, kindly core and were connected with some helpful act for needy neighbors. It was not only in amusements, but in all other acts of life that this kindliness was manifested, as an anecdote which living witnesses can testify to will illustrate.

Churcli sent an appointment into a neighborhood in what is now Isabel township, to preach. The honse wliere services were to be hekl did not belong to a Church member, but no matter for that. Boards were raked up from all quarters with which to improvise. seats, oue of the neighbors volunteering for this work, while the man of the house, trusty rifle on shoulder, sallied forth in quest of meat, - for this was truly a "ground-hog" case, the preacher coming and no meat in the house. The preacher had to come from the "Sangamon Settlements," and the few neighbors had assembled on his arrival. In the mean time the host of the occasion killed a deer and sent a boy on horseback with directions on what "point" to find it. After services, which had been listened to with fixed attention by the pioneers, "mine host" said to his wife, "Old woman, I reckon this 'ere preacher is pretty hungry, and you must git him a bite to eat." "What shall I get him?" asked the wife, who had not seen the deer; "thar's nuthin' in the house to eat." "Why, look thar," said the old gentleman ; "thar's a deer, and thar's plenty of corn in the field ; you get some corn and grate it while I skin the deer, and we'll soon have a good supper for him." It is needless to add that venison and corn bread made a supper fit for any jiioneer preacher, and was thankfully eaten.

Sometimes the amusements of the pioneers were rough, almost to the point of fatal results, - sometimes, as in the case we are about to narrate, more witty than rough. In the early days of Canton a church buildiup: belonoiny: to the Presbvterian denomination stood in the public square. This church had a steeple and bell, probably at that period the only one in the county. The belfry of this church always stood open, and one night a party of wild fellows conceived the idea of a huge practical joke to be played upon the citizens by means of this bell. Several balls of twine were procured, and after everybody had got to sleep an adventurous spirit mounted to the bell and tied one end of the twine around the clapper of the bell, throwing the ball of twine out at the window. The knot around the clapper was so arranged that by pulling on an extra cord the twine could be loosened and made to disappear. When one o'clock, "the hour when grave-yards yawn," approached, this cord was taken to a second-story window opposite, where, out of sight above any night passer, it was pulled, setting the bell to tolling solemnly and sloNvly. It tolled for an hour, when those who had awakened at its first stroke with a yawn began to wonder what it all meant, and one by one windows here and there were opened and heads peered out into the darkness. Soon curiosity began to get the better of sleepiness, and here and there a man might be seen going towards the church to see what the bell was tolling for. On reaching the church the bell cord was found hanging as usual with no mortal ringer pulling it; still the bell tolled on, ding - dong - ding ! Others came, from every cabin in the town a representative, still the l)ell tolled on with no visible mortal sexton swinging its iron tongue. "What is the mys- tery?" eager tongues asked of eager ears; ''what does it mean?" Some one suggested that some straggler had elind)ed up into the belfry and was doing the ringing, and one or two adventurous spirits climbed to the belfry to learn if such was the case, only to report that no mortal hand was tolling the bell ; and now the mystery deepened. Men with solemn faces spoke to men whose countenances marked deep concern, and declared that the end of the world must certainly be approaching. Some suggested that it was Satan, others his heavenly opponent, Michael, who was tolling the knell of a world about to depart; still the bell tolled on. At last James Wright, for a "spiritual" consideration, volunteered to solve the mystery. ' Of course the parties pulling the bell had confreres in the crowd, and, when Wright mounted into the steeple, gave the signal, and the cord was disengaged ; the bell stopped tolling; but the mystery was not solved. The mysterious bell furnished food for talk and texts for wise homilies for weeks, until at last the joke got too heavy to hold, and the parties dropped it, to the infinite relief of many a superstitious soul.

What the Pioneers Have Done. - Fulton county is a grand countv, in many respects second to none in the State, and in almost everything that goes to make a live, prosperous community, not far behind the best. Beneath our fertile soil is coal enough to supply the State for generations; our harvests are bountiful; we have a medium climate and many other things that make us a contented, prosperous and happy people ; but we owe much to those who opened up these avenues that have led to our present condition and happy surroundings. Unremitting toil and labor have driven off the sickly miasmas that brooded over swampy prairies'. Energy and perseverance have peopled every section of our wild lands, and changed them from wastes and deserts to gardens of beauty and profit. When but a few years ago the barking wolves made the night hideous with their wild shrieks and howls, now is heard only the lowing and bleating of domestic animals. Only a half century ago the wild whoop of the Indian rent the air where now are heard the engine and rumbling trains of cars, bearing away to markets the products of our labor and soil. Then the savage built his rude huts on the spot where now rise the dwellings and school-houses and church spires of civilized life. How great the transformation ! This change has l>een brought about by the incessant toil and aggregated labor of thousands of tired hands and anxious hearts, and the noble aspirations of such men and women as make any country great. What will another half century accomplish ? There are few, very few, of these old pioneers yet lingering on the shores of time as connecting links of the past with the present. What must their thoughts be as with their dim eyes they view the scenes that surround them? We often hear people talk about the old- fogy ideas and fogy ways, and want of enterprise on the part of the old men Mdio have gone through the experiences of pioneer life. Sometimes, perhaps, such remarks are just, but, considering the experiences, education and entire life of such men, such remarks are better unsaid. They have had their trials, misfortunes, hardships and adventures, and shall we now, as they are passing far down the western declivity of life, and many of them gone, point to them the finger of derision and laugh and sneer at the simplicity of their ways? Let us rather cheer them up, revere and respect them, for beneath those rough exteriors beat hearts as noble as ever throbbed in the human breast. These veterans have been compelled to live for weeks upon hominy and, if bread at all, it was bread made from corn ground in hand-mills, or pounded up with mortars. Their children have been destitute of shoes during the winter; their families had no clothing except what was carded, spun, wove and made into garments by their own hands ; schools they had none ; churches they had none ; afflicted with sickness incident to all new countries, sometimes the entire family at once; luxuries of life they had none; the auxiliaries, improvements, inventions and labor-saving machinery of to-day they had not; and what they possessed they obtained by the hardest of labor and individual exertions, yet they bore these hardships and privations without murmuring, hoping for better times to come, and often, too, with but little prospects of realization.

As before mentioned, the changes written on every hand are most wonderful. It has been but three-score years since the white man began to exercise dominion over this region, erst the home of the red men, yet the visitor of to-day, ignorant of the past of the county, could scarcely be made to realize that within tliese years there has grown up a population of 50,000 people, who in all the accomplishments of life are as far advanced as are inhabitants of the counties of older States. Schools, churches, colleges, palatial dwellings, beautiful grounds, large, well cultivated and productive farms, as well as cities, towns and busy manufactories, have grown up, and occupy the hunting grounds and camping places of the Indians, and in every direction there are evidences of wealth, comfort and luxury. There is but little left of the old landmarks. Advanced civilization and the progressive demands of revolving years have obliterated all traces of Indian occupancy, until they are only remembered in name.

In closing this chapter we again would impress upon the minds of our readers the fact that they owe a debt of gratitude to those who pioneered Fulton county, which can be but partially repaid. Never grow unmindful of the peril and adventure, fortitude, selfsacrifice and heroic devotion so prominently displayed in their lives. As time sweeps on its ceaseless flight, may the cherished memories of them lose none of their greenness, but may the future generations alike cherish and perpetuate them with a just dev^otion to gratitude.