Hancock County, Illinois - Chapter 12: The Hancock Bar, 1880

Chapter 12: The Hancock Bar

Among the members of the Bar of Hancock county may be counted a number who have acquired a wide and even national reputation. Not all of them have made the county their homes; bat many, while residing in adjacent counties, have x^racticed more or less in our Courts, and are therefore justly entitled to notice in these pages. Probably most conspicuous among them have been those from the older counties of Adams and Schuyler. Indeed, in the earlier days of our legal histor}', the Rushville and Quincy Bars supplied the only legal talent we had, we believe, with one exception, Robert R. Williams. If we mistake not, the county was without another attorney until 183-1 or '35, when Mr. Little located at Carthage.

In 1S36, when the writer of this first knew the county, there were three attorneys at the county-seat, viz: Sidne}' H. Little, James W. Woods, and John T. Richardson; and about that time Messrs. Calvin A. Warren and Isaac N. Morris were locating at Warsaw. We begin, then, with those who are gone from among us:

Robert R. Williams - A native of Kentucky, and brother to Wesley Williams, the first County Clerk, and to Hon. Archibald Williams, of Quincy. But little is known of Mr. Williams; he died at an early day, and consequently his acquaintance with the people was limited. He settled in the county about the date of organization.

Sidney H. Little - Was a Tennesseean by birth. But little is known of his early life. He came to Carthage about 1834 or '35, and began the practice of law, and soon took rank among the able young attorney's wlio frequented this Bar from abroad. Mr. L. was a man of decided talent, a good speaker, a clear reasoner and affable and urbane in his intercourse with the people. In a word, he was popular, and in the election of 1838 was chosen by the Whigs and elected to the State Senate. In this body he took a leading position as an active working member. With Secretary Douglas, he took a leading part in obtaining for the Mormons their celebrated charters in the Legislature - charters which, gotten up in haste and without due consideration, contained powers and conferred privileges the application and use of which could never have been anticipated by him. Mr. Little's tragic death, by being thrown from his buggy by a runaway horse, occurred on the 10th of July, 1841.

the Legislature in 1836, and, although so confident of election as to bet freely on it, came out hindmost of four candidates, with a score of 18 votes! Tliis result disgusted him with the county and he left it for Iowa Territorj', where in time he became a lawyer of some prominence.

John T. Richardson - Only remained one summer in the county - that of 1836 - when he went further west. He was a genial, good sort of a fellow, with no special talent for the law. Of his nativity or after career, we know nothing.

Isaac Newton Morris - This gentleman's death was recent - at Quincy, October 29, 1879. The press notices thereof furnish the following: " He was the son of Hon. Thomas Morris, of Ohio, long a Free-Soil Senator in Congress; was born in Clermont Co., O., Jan. 22, 1812, came to Illinois in 1835 and settled in Warsaw in 1836. A few years afterward, having married a Miss Robbing, of Quincy, he removed to that city, where he continued to reside till his death, engaged chiefly in the practice uf the law. Mr. M. was a strong Democrat in politics, was twice elected to Congress in this district, in 1S56 and in 1858, and always made an industrious and active member." He held other ofhces of honor and trust, both under State and national authority. The Carthage Gazette says of him: " Col. Morris was a man of strong character. He possessed fine natural ability, was a good speaker, was full oi vim, a warm friend, and a bitter, unrelenting enemy."

Louis Masquerier - We had almost forgotten the learned, the eccentric, communistic Masquerier. .French in his origin, he had imbibed the theories of the French philosoph}^, and came West to disseminate them, and practice law. In this last he met with indifferent success; in the other, had he lived on another planet where human nature was not in the ascendant (if there be such an one) he might have succeeded better. He was a theorist only; had no practical ability with which to buffet the world's selfishness. He had resided in Quincy; in 1S36 he was in Carthage, but soon went back to New Yoi-k.

'Thomas Ford - -Of Gov. Ford we have so much to say in other chapters that little must suffice here. He was a Prosecuting Attorney for the Circuit in the early years of the county. As such there are few who remember him. He attended Court here only a few times, often enough, as he states in his History of Illinois, to conclude that the people here were a "hard set." Mr. Asbury, of Quincy, speaks of him thus kindly: " All agree that Tom Ford was a bright, conscientious and just man. In 1833, when the cholera was raging in Quincy, he was here and stood his ground and helped the sick, like a man."

Wm. A. Richardson. - Why he was always called "Dick" Richardson we never knew. He resided at Rushville, and liad considerable practice in this county. Like his friend Douglas, Col. Richardson was best known as a politician. He was at one time Prosecuting Attorney for this Circuit. He was not distinguished as a mere lawyer, tlioue;h his sturdy, hard sense and experience, rather than study, made him successful. As an officer in the Mexican war he was brave and acquired distinction. After his return home it was that he became famous, not only in his district but in the House of Representatives and the Senate at Washington, as a politician. He was born in Kentucky, and died in Qnincy on Dec. 27, 1875.

Archibald Williams. - This " Nestor of the Bar " in the Military Tract was a Kentnckian, and settled in Quincy as eai-ly as 1825 or '26, where he continued to i-eside and practice his profession many years, acquiriTig a very high reputation. He had not an extensive practice in this count}^, but was often called to take part in cases of great magnitude; and his management was always such as to gain him a wider and more enduring fame. He was not an orator, in the common acceptation of the term; but his direct, plain and earnest reasoning always made an impression on a court or jury. He talked to convince; never aimed at rhetoric, or descended to vulgarity or abuse. He served for a short period as U. S. Attorney for the District of Illinois, and was appointed by his friend President Lincoln, Judge of the U. S. District Court in Kansas. He died Sept. 21, 1863 (we believe in Kansas), and his remains sleep in Woodland cemetery, in tlie city he had so long made his home, and where he had established an enduring fame.

Charles Oilman. - Mr. Gilmau was better known as a lawreporter than as a lawyer, liad a good education, fine literary taste and acquirements, and industrious habits. His reports have become standard publications. His practice was limited in this county, but as a partner with Mr. Sharp, for a period, he became somewhat known to our citizens. He was from Maine, resided, and died in Qnincy, of cholera, about the year 1S4S.

Edward D. Baher - A resident of Springfield and a compatriot with Murray McConnell, John C. Calhoun, the Ed wardses, Abraham Lincoln and others, and possessed finally of a national fame, " JMed Baker," may be classed as belonging to our Bar. His appearance at our Courts was not frequent; yet when he did appear, the occasion was sure to be an important one. Mr. Baker may justly be ranked as among the finest orators the country has produced. His speeches made in the Carthage court-house have been among the ablest and most impressive ever made there. He possessed all the natural gifts of an orator, an easy flow of language, a good imagination, an attractive and graceful manner and an earnest honesty of purpose. He went in command of a regiment to the Mexican war, and achieved distinction at Cerro Gordo, removed thence to the Pacific coast, where he became a U. S. Senator from Oregon. In the Senate he stood high as a statesman and an orator. He resigned to take a position in the Union army, and laid down his life for his adopted country at Ball's Bluff. Gen. Baker was by birth an Englishman, and was raised in Adams county, Illinois.

Nehoniah £ushnell. - Of the man}- attorneys who have practiced at the HaTicock Ear, no one has gone to the Bar be^-ond, leaving a brighter fame and a purer reputation, perhaps, than Neheniiah BushnelL To Mr. Henrj' Asburj's " Slcetches of Bench and Bar," reference to wliich has been heretofore made, are we indebted for a portion of what follows, in regard to Mr. BushnelL He came to Quincy in 1887, and entered into a law partnership with Mr. Browning, which was only terminated by the death of the former. He was a New Englander, a graduate of Yale College and a highly educated and finished gentleman. Mr. B. was fond of books, was one of the best read men in the State and had accumulated a most valuable library. " Perhaps Illinois never held a more modest and unassuming really great man than Bushnell; and perhaps few, if any, really intellectualh' stronger men than he." Mr. B. was a very pleasant speaker, though not what the world calls an orator. His manner was graceful, dignified and earnest. " It has been alleged that he was too exhaustive and diffuse in argument, and in the production of his authorities." This is true, and it was nearly the only fault that could be found with the matter or manner of his addresses to Court or jury. " Perhaps no two lawyers ever lived better suited as law partners than Browning and Bushnell;" and we state but a well-known fact when we add that, perhaps, no partner was ever remembered with a kindlier feeling. Mr. Bushnell was an active worker in behalf of the Quincy & Galesburg railroad, the city of Bushnell, on said road, being named in his honor.

Cyrus Walker. - For ability as a lawj'er, and for persistence and force in the prosecution of a case, there were no superiors at the Hancock Bar to Cyrus Walker. He had been a successful practitioner in Kentucky, and was a man of middle age when he settled at Maoomb. He had a good deal of practice in the " hard " cases, not only in this, but in other counties in the Circuit and out of it. "He was very strong in criminal cases, both on the side of the people, and in the defense. When Cyrus Walker was thoroughly aroused, and in dead earnest, with a determination to win the verdict from the jury, he was as terrible as an army with banners."

William Elliott - Was a citizen of Fulton county, and was Prosecuting Attorney here for some eight j'ears, embracing the period of our Mormon difficulties. He was regarded as a lawyer of medium ability, but not an eloquent orator. In the celebrated trials growing out of Mormon aflairs, he usually had associated with him in the prosecution lawyers of more decided reputation. He afterward served as Quarter-Master in a volunteer regiment in the Mexican war, and died at home soon after the war was over.

George C. Dixon - Was a Quincy lawyer who sometimes - not often - practiced at our Court. He was from New York, where he had previously practiced; was a well-educated and well-read lawyer, and withal a good speaker, though he never became popular with our people. He removed to Keokuk, Iowa, where he died some j-ears ago.

Robert S. Blackwell. - Genial "Bob Blackwell," admired and esteemed by all who knew hini. Kesiding in liushville, he was a frequent practitioner at our Bar. Urbane, companionable, witty, lively, generous, he soon gained a position among our lawyers, and might have made - did make - a shining light in our midst. Some of his speeches, while Prosecuting Attorney, it is remembered, were among the ablest ever made in our Court, and compared favorably with those of his opponents, among whom we may name Browning. Walker and others. Mr. Blackwell was evidently a rising man when he left our Courts and settled in Chicago, in a broader field of usefulness, where he died several 3'ears ago. Mr. B. had a most remarkable memory, was always ready with his authorities, quoting book and page with the greatest facility.

Jackson Qrimshaio - Of Pike, afterward of Quincy, was for man}' years well known in our county and had considerable practice at onr bar. He was always regarded as a strong lawyer and able to cope with the best. Mr. Asbury says of him: "Mr. Grimshaw possessed an active, perceptive and vigorous mind, was well grounded in the law, and was pre-eminently strong before a jury in any and every case where an analysis of the testimony and motives of witnesses might be brought into view. A prevaricating witness or a mean defendant had to snifer from his terrible denunciations. Mr. G. would not pander to a mean prejndice in Court or jury, and his most scathing comments and denunciations only fell where he -felt that the right, the honor and the virtue of the case was on the side he represented." But Mr. Grimshaw was, perhaps, best known to our people as a stump orator, having been on several occasions before the people of the District in that capacity, either as a candidate or a volunteer in aid of his party.

Ahneron Wheat - Was a Quincy attorney, an able lawj'er, who years ago had considerable practice in this county. Whether still living we are unable to state. The same may be said of

H. Johnson - Excepting that he died a number of years ago. Mr. J. was an active member of the " Peace Committee of 100 " from Quincy, during the last Mormon troubles, and through his influence and skill probablj' the destruction of much life and property was averted.

William H. Roosevelt - Was a scion of a rich family in New York city. He settled in Warsaw about 1836 or '7, and acquired large interests there. His practice at the Bar was merely nominal, being better known as a politician, a trader and land speculator. He was intimately identified with the interests of Warsaw, and labored hard to advance her prosperity. He was genial, goodnatured, high-minded and held many honorable positions. He was several times a candidate for the Legislature, and was elected to that position in 1S5S. His deatli occurred soon after the commencement of the Rebellion.

politician ; ^vas a candidate for the Legislature in 1840, but defeated by Dr. Charles. In 1839 he had been elected to the office of Probate Judge; was afterward appointed by the County Commissioners to the responsible position of School Commissioner, and died while holding the office.

Thomas Morrison. - This gentleman was 'a Tennesseean, and settled in Warsaw about the year 1842 or 1843; afterward resided in Carthage. He was a good lawyer, though he never obtained a large practice. He was a politician of the Whig school, and was elected to the Legislature in 1846. His death occurred not long afterward.

Messrs. Roosevelt, McGregor and Morrison were brothers-in-law - married to the Misses Wells, sisters of James M. Wells, one of the Warsaw proprietors.

Henry Stephens - Was a New Yorker, and is said to have read law in the office of Millard Fillmore. He settled in Warsaw about 1840, and arose to the rank of Brigadier-General in the Militia. Gen. S. was not an able lawyer, neither was he an orator, yet by his industry, energy and methodical habits, he attained to considerable practice.

Sterling P. Delano - Was raised in Hancock county in the vicinity of Warsaw. He studied with Browning and Bushnell, of Quincy, and entered into practice in that city with Messrs. Buckley and Macy. He enli>ted in the army, and was elected Captain of a company of cavalry. He was unfortunately wounded by a pistol ball accidentally discharged in the hands of his First Lieutenant, Catlin, which lodged in the spine and proved mortal. He died at his home in Quincy after months of extreme suffering. Mr. Delano's career as a lawyer was short but honorable. He was greatly esteemed by the members of the Bar, and died regretted. We are not aware that he had practice at the Hancock Bar, but as a Hancock boy this notice is due to his memory.

Of the Hancock attorney's now living away, we can recall the names of Jason H. Sherman, Jacob C. Davis, William C. Wagley, N. W. Bliss, George W. Batchelder, and Robt. W. McKinney.

Of old attorneys, non-residents of the county, and who formerly practiced at this Bar, we mention Hon. Orville H. Browning, Hon. James W. Singleton and Calvin A. Warren, Esq., all of Quincy, and all now venerable in age. And we must not omit to mention the younger attorney, who though a Quincy man and a citizen there, is a native of Hancock county - Gen. Elisha B. Hamilton.

Present Bar

Of the present members of the bar in Hancock county, it does not become us to speak, only to name them. A number are elderly men of established legal reputations, who have long been in practice among us and are growing gray in the service. Perhaps a majority are young men, who have yet, in a great degree, their reputations and fortunes to make.

Chaptee Xiii Anecdotal

In this chapter we collect together numerous incidents, anecdotes and occurrences, without reference to the order of their dates. Some of them were overlooked in the regular course, and some have come to light as we have progressed with our work.

When Sheriff Deming was in Warsaw looking for the defendants in the Smith murder cases, he was treated very shabbily. He put up for the night, and when he started to leave in the morning, he found that some ruffian had shaved his horse's mane and tail. He mounted him, however, and started to leave. Coming to where some citizens were standing, he halted, and remarked: "My horse got into bad company last night." " Most generally is, I reckon," retorted one of the by-standers. The General rode on, thinking it unnecessary to parley with such a crowd.

Here is a story told of a certain Rushville attorney. We don't give his name because we really have forgotten it, but no matter. He practiced at the Hancock Bar, or at any rate attended Courts here for that purpose. But, if the truth must be told - and there is where the joke comes in - he practiced also at the bar of Charley Main's grocery. It was in the early days, when Courts were held in the log cabin south of the square. But earl}' as it was, there had been a circus perambulating the country, and one had exhibited a few days before on the square, and left its ring in the soil. So one night after a parcel of attorneys and others had been "indulging" at Main's, our Rushville friend started to go to his hotel alone. Coming to the circus ring, he took the track and followed it round and round for some time, till others coming along, asked what he was doing. "Doing!" replied he; "I'm going home; but I didn't know this town was so big. I've been half an hour on my way, and I've passed ever so many houses just like that over there." The next day the story got out, and the lawyers had a high time over it. We believe it was Sidney Little's suggestion that he was going to be candidate for Judge, and was only 2)racticing how to run the circuit.

got "hung" under a Cottonwood tree not far from the court-house which liad been appropriated for a jury room. Mr. Constable Duff had been deputed to watch them, and make them hang together. But the case was a knotty one, and the^^ couldn't agree. One of them, becoming tired and saucy, said he was going home, and started. Duff told him he could not go without first whipping him. At it they went, aud Duff whipped him into obedience. But still they could not agree upon a verdict. Again the refractory man began to rebel, and go home he would. Duff' was again under the necessity of whipping him in; and thus kept him until a verdict was rendered.

Jesse B. Winn, a citizen of Carthage, had a mule that strangely enough died a natural death, during the session of one of these earl}' Courts. The fact caused great comment among the lawyers. Among them was one from Quincy, a native of Kentucky, who had no business at the town ; but his associates started the story that he came to attend the mule case; that it was good law in Kentucky that a mule never died, and their associate came especiall}' to investigate the reason why the law was not equally good in Illinois. The attorney decided that the mule in qustion had lost his hray^ and consequently had to give up the g-gko-o-st!

J. H. Lawton, of Plymouth, tells a story of this same Winn mule, and his mate. Traveling once from Warsaw to Carthage, and near where Elvaston now stands, he found these mules hitched to a wagon load of corn, stuck fast in the mud. and no owner to be seen. He had stalled, and had gone off to town for help. An idea seized Lawton; truth was, tlie mules had not been well fed. So he took an armful of corn from the load and laid it on the ground a little way from the mud-hole, before the mules, when they quietly walked out with the load, up to the corn, and he left them eating.

The morning after the murder of the Smiths, Gen. Deming gave Mr. Joshua C. Hobert authority to collect all the men he could find in town and guard the place. He did so, and at breakfast time had mustered thirteen men, kU told. Among the countrymen who came in during the day was Mark Phelps - everybody knows Mark. He was mustered into the company, a musket put into his bands, and ordered to guard in a certain district. This he did to perfection. Another countryman, Mr. Thomas M., came along, and was about to start for home. This Mark forbid ; he couldn't go until he had first obtained a pass from Gen. Deming. Hobert came along and found them in a high state of excitement. "Shall I shoot him?" exclaimed Mark, ready to execute military orders.

At Fountain Green, at the store of C. 0. Tyler, we were shown the journal belonging to the firm of Tyler & McClaughey (Stephen H. Tyler and Matthew McClaughey) doing business as merchants in ISiJr, in that place - both now deceased. In it is a memorandum in the hand-writing of C. C. T^'ler's father, then the bookkeeper, in the following words:

" This night, at five o'clock P. M., Joseph Smith and Hyrum Smith, his brother, were mobbed and shot at Carthage, 111." Dated June 27, 1844.

Whose was the boot with a foot in it, found in the woods a mile or two from the village of St. Mary's, a quarter of a century or so ago? Or, rather, whose foot was in it? - not so much matter about the boot. That is one of the questions which has never been solved to the satisfaction of the people in that vicinity. There was likely a dark deed committed in connection with that boot and foot, which " somebody " could explain. Many were the guesses and surmises; but that is all. They were said to have been found in the vicinity of the-vNorthern Cross R. E. track, which was then building, or had just been built. Who was that "somebody'"?

Several glass beads attached to a ribbon or piece of cloth were, in the early days, found up in the forks of a tree, in St. Mary's township, by hunters. Row did those beads get there, and what were they there for? are questions the people frequently ask. Two theories are suggested; one, that they were ornaments about some Indian, who died or was killed near there, and that the beads were carried into the tree by bird or beast, in devouring the dead body. Another is, that after his death, his remains were suspended up in the ti-ee, after an Indian custom of disposing of dead bodies, sometimes practiced by them.

The old settlers about Carthage used to tell the following good one on a certain j'oung mail-carrier in the olden time. An old gentleman in the county, well known, and who has held many honorable positions, had the contract for carrying the mail east from Carthage to Rushville. On the route, distant from any postoffice, resided a farmer to whom the nearest P. M. had been in the habit of sending his papers by the hand of the carrier, outside of the mail. One day the contractor being sick, his son was put on to go the trip. As he passed the house of the farmer alluded to, he was hailed - " Say, have you brought my papers to-day 1" " 1 don't know; I'll see," replied the sagacious youth; and jumping from his horse, he took the mail bag and began to fumble at the lock; then feeling in his pockets, he exclaimed, " Blame that Postmaster! he's forgot to give me the key!"

Near Neighbors

Allen Melton, of Plymouth, tells the following: "Soon after the arrival of his company to settle, they had occasion to use a cross-cut saw and a frow, to make clap-boards for a cabin. Hearing that Mr. Phillips, a few miles below, had the articles, he was called on by them and asked if he could lend the articles. He replied that he could; but at present another neighbor had them, Mr. Ebenezer Rand, who resided at Camp Point, 25 miles away. Mr. R, was accordingly interviewed and the tools obtained."

A military muster and election in the early days of Carthage, is thus described by one who was there: There was to be an election of oiEcers'and a parade and drill that day, and all the warlike people were in town, and the groceries had plenty of whisky on hand for the occasion. The crowd had been brought together on the public square - a goodly number - and the electioneering began. The two principal candidates for Captain were a Mr. Howard and a Mr. Perkins. The respective merits of the two men were being discussed, when Howard called out, " All who wish to belong to Captain Howard's company come over to the grocery and take a drink!" Nearly all started. Perkins tried the same experiment, but he was too late; the boys were already drinking Howard's whisky. " No use, boys," said he to the few around him; " let's go over and make it unanimous." And they went. So, through the list, the crowd each time drinking at the successful man's expense. Perkins, failing of the Captaincy, was, by way of soothing his feelingE, chosen First Lieutenant. After election, tlaey went out on the square and tried to drill. But it was poor work. " Shoulder arms!" they could not, for they had none to shoulder. "Right about face! " always turned them the wrong '^a.y. But when the oiBcer, giving it up in despair, shouted, " All who belong to Capt. Howard's company come and drink; forward, march !" they reached the grocery with alacrity, if not in good order. And the election and muster were over.

It is 'not generally known that the township of St. Mary's - four north, five west - has no military bounty land in it. The reason for this is said to have been, that when the grant was made to the soldiers the survey of that township had not been completed, or was in some way defective, and hence was excluded from the grant. The survey was finished at a later day. Hence all the settlers in that township came into possession of their homesteads through entry at the Quincy Land-ofEce, and there are fewer controverted titles there than in other parts of the county.

Mr. Valincourt Yan Ausdal, of the " Point," though never a citizen on this side, was often at Fort Edwards, and had much intercourse with our people. He says he came to the Point with his brother-in-law, Stillwell, to trade with the Indians, and had permits from Government, At the time of the Black Hawk war, during the scare, the women and children were taken down to the fort, while the men remained on guard. The American Fur Company then had a station at the Point. Mr. V. assisted often to ferry people across the rivei'. In answer as to how they got wagons and teams across m those days, he replied: "They were taken across on two ' dug-outs,' lashed together just near enough for two wheels to stand in each ; and the horses were swam across at another trip, the men in the canoes guiding them." In that way, wagon, horses, family and " plunder" were got across in safety. Mr, V, remembers the following steamboats on the river before the Black Hawk war: Indiana, Mexico, William Wallace, Josephine, and Warrior.

Bear stories are always in order; so here is one of the Cartilage bear: "A bar! a bar! take the children in! a bar! " rang out one afternoon in the fall of 1835, from the stentorian lungs of Mr.

which he was at work, and ran toward his home on the south side. And sure enough there was a large bear, pursued by a couple of liorsemen and a lot of dogs, who had chased it from the Big Meadow, a few miles south of town. Of course the sight of a bear in the street was an occasion for alarm, and " a bear! a bear! " was re-echoed from house to house through the village. The animal had been chased so long that he was quite tired, and now being closely pressed he made for a pond of water that stood in the ravine southeast of the public square. Here he lay for some time in the water, while men and boys were gathered around pelting him with clubs and stones, and with all the dogs in town snarling and barking around him. ISTow and then a luckless cur, encouraged by the men, would approach too near, and get a hug and a clawing for his temerity, that would send him oS limping and howling. At length Bruin spied a cottonwood tree that stood a short distance away, and running to it, climbed it up to a fork, where he found a good resting place. In the meantime a gun had been brought, but it took several shots from the excited crowd to bring liim down. As he fell tumbling and crashing through the dead branches, the forty-seven dogs around coTicluded that their time had come, and ran yelping and howling from the scene. Aud so the trophy was won. As all had had a hand in the slaughter, or had at least been spectators, it was decidedthat the carcass should be divided, giving all a taste of bear meat. And the Carthage bear story is told even unto this day.

And here is another - a bear that was not a bear: In dividing up the aforesaid bear, among others, Mr. John H. Lawton, then in his teens, obtained one of the paws. This he kept about as a relic for some months. In the early spring he had occasion to pass on foot from Montebello to Fort Edwards, along the river road. In doing so he was surprised and alarmed at discovering a bear track in the snow, at a point near where the Hamilton depot now stands. He hurried on to the fort and informed Mr. James Gregg, then residing there, of his discovery. " But are you sure it was a bear track?" inquired Mr. Gregg. " Of course I am. Haven't I had one of the paws of the Carthage bear at our house all winter? and I reckon I know a bear track by this time." Well, a bear hunt was just the sport for Gregg, and procuring a companion and trusty riiles, with Lawton for a guide, they started for the chase. A walk of five miles or so brought them to the place where the bear tracks had been seen. Lawton triumphantly pointed them out, and said, "There! isn't that a bear track?" Gregg looked, examined it more closely, and " Humph! Squaw! " with a laugh that made the woods resound, was the answer he gave.

The early settlers of Hancock and adjoining counties were much subject to the prevalent diseases of fever and ague ; and during the fall months, and often far into the winter, many of the citizens of all ages would take their turn at the " shakes," as the disease was called. Sometimes whole families would be stricken down with it; yet a death very seldom occurred. A doctor relates that on one occasion he visited a large cabin, the residence of an early settler, on business. He wrapped at the door for admission, and receiving no answer, he pushed it open, and on looking about, counted ten persons, old and young, big and little, some on beds and some on the floor - all shaking with the ague. On inquiring of them if they needed anything, the old man replied, between shakes, that he g-g-g-uessed t-t-t-hat if they h-h-ad s-s-ome q-q-q-ui-nine, and the h-house w-wouldn't f-f-fall down, they w-would g-get along." It is needless to add that the kind doctor furnished the needed remedy, and got them on their feet again.

Hon. Thomas H. Owen was a man well remembered by old citizens of the county. Besides being a minister of the gospel, he was a strong politician, and a popular one at that, for he was several times elected to the Legislature. His friends tell the following good joke on him; and if they tell it, there is no harm in recording it here. Once/ when traveling in the north part of the county on an electioneering tour, he saw a man as he supposed some half mile away in a field; and not wishing to pass any one without giving his views, he hitched his horse to the fence and struck out on foot to speak to him. He had quite nearly approached the object, before he discovered it to be a " scare-crow," placed there to frighten the birds away. He didn't secure a vote on that occasion, but he thought the joke too good to keep.

Samuel Gordon, Esq., of Moutebello, tells the following: "In the month of May, 1832, on one pleasant afternoon, while the inhabitants of Montebello were quietly pusruing their usual vocations, some one happened to look across tlie river and spied a large fleet of canoes quietly floating down the current, and not a person to be seen. It was at once surmised that the fleet was loaded with hostile Indians, intending to land below town, and on the return of darkness destroy the settlement. The alarm was quickly spread, and a douncil convened to determine upon the best plan to be pursued. It was soon decided to fortify the court-house, as a place of safet}' for the women and children of the neighborhood. All hands went energetically to work, and by dark the windows and doors of the court room, which was about 20 feet square, were secured by thick oak shutters, and the women, children and other valuables were gathered into the fort.

The veterans of the war of 1812, and of the Indian wars subsequent thereto, collected and organized to defend their homes and little ones from the dreaded attack of a savage foe. They were armed with a great variety of weapons known to a knew country. Guards were stationed, and the small force at hand was posted to the best advantage, to ward ofl' the expected assault.

The hours of the night came to an end at last, when it was ascertained that the supposed savages were only a lot of half-breeds on their way down to the Point (now known as Keokuk) on a trading expedition.

Among the pioneers who participated in the heroic defense of the town may be mentioned Major Bedell, "as General-in-chief; Capt. A. P. Cochran, Samuel Steele, Cyrus Felt, JoJm Gordon, William Vance, John Waggonner, John Cochran, Sr., John Cochran, Jr., and perhaps others.

To our old friend, Elisha Worrell, Esq., of Chili, we are indebted for the following incident, illustrating the neighborly kindness that prevailed among the pioneers of an early day. The deep snow which fell in 1S30-'31 caught some of the settlers with a scant sup- ply of provisions; indeed, abont all of tliera were in that predicament. One, however, had plent3- - John Harding, who was one of the first settlers in the neighborhood, and whose name appears on the first jury list. He had a number of fat hogs, one of which he would kill at a time, and liitching his horse to it would monnt and make the circuit of the neighborhood, dragging it through the snow and allowing each family to cut oif according to their necessities. Was not that obeying the divine injunction under difliculties?

Chaptek Xiv

Which in the anti-slavery vernacular means the Under- Ground Rail Road. As Hancock county lies in a direct line between the South and Her Majesty's Dominion of Canada, one or more lines of this road was early established through it, on which considerable transportation of sable freight was efiected. Conductors resided all along the line from the Mississippi to Detroit; and several had homes in this county, chiefly about Augusta, Eound Prairie, and other eastern neighborhoods.

These conductors wore no insignia of office, but knew each other as if by intuition. They were generally intelligent and sharpwitted men, could tell a white sheep from a black one on the darkest night, and would make their way through a dense forest or trackless prairie, with no better guide than the north star or the moss on the sides of trees.

Now that the days of slavery are over, and they can do so with perfect safety, these men love to rehearse the stories of their exploits on those U. G. trains. And they do so with as much fjuslo as if they had not been engaged in breaking the Constitution of their country all to flinders. It is of no use now to argue with them; they are as incorrigible as they were before secretive and adventurous. So we just tell their stories as told to us, leaving the matter with their consciences.

One of these conductors who resided, and yet does, in a southeastern township, furnishes us witli the following, as part of his experience in that kind of raih-oading, which we give as nearly as we can in his own words: in town. He asked me to come up to his hoase after dinner, which I did. "Went to the barn, and climbed up over the girtbeam, and found two colored men. I asked them if they were steering for Canada. They said, ' Yes, Sah !' I told them it was a cold, desolate country. The oldest one replied that he knew it, as this was his seventh trip from Missouri there as pilot. This time he came back for his wife. He said, ' I could not get her, so I have brought my youngest brother.'

Detroit in November of 1848, and stepped into a barber's shop to get sbaved. I asked the barber if he knew anything about Benjamin and James Penuey. He said ' No,' I saw by their looks that they did. So I said, 'Boys, you needn't be afraid of me; I am an old stager; I helped those boys along on their trip.' The barber then told me that Benjamin, tlie eldest one, caught a severe cold while on that trip, and died of consumption the next summer; the younger, James, is at school in Chatham, getting a good education. Hearing this, I felt fully paid for my trouble in helping them to escape from slavery.

"The next December I was wakened by a rap on the door about two o'clock at night. I opened "it, and found three square-built black men, with a friend of mine from Adams county. I took them in, and while my wife was preparing breakfast, they showed me their passes to go where they chose from Christmas till New Years. I asked the boys if they were not taking a rather enlarged view of those passes. They thought pei-haps they were. Before sunrise they were guided on to the next station in safety. The next I heard of them they were in Farmington, Fulton county, at memorandum book. Within a week, three slave-hunters came along. They inquired of a drayman if he had heard of any runaway slaves. He told them he had not seen any, but if any had been went over to the deacon's, and inquired of him. He told them: 'Yes, there were three boys stayed here a few nights ago.' By referring to the memorandum it was proven that they were the owners of the runaways, their names being on the passes.

" This happened about dark, and the deacon kindly invited them to stay all niglit with him, which two of them did, tlie other one returning to the hotel. During the evening, the three daughters of the deacon entertained the strangers with songs and music on the melodeon. One of the girls was quite fleshy. The evening passed very pleasantly, and in the morning the strangers offered to pay for their lodging, which the deacon refused, saying that the black boys stayed without paying, and they were welcome to do the same, adding, that should they return that way, he would like them to stop and tell him what luck they had. On their way to town they met the third gentleman, who had spent the night in town. They, of course, stopped to talk of how thej' had been entertained, not thinking they were overbeai'd by the deacon's hired man, who happened to be behind the hedge. The two said to the one, 'If these are the kind of men that are helping our boys to escape, there is no use in hunting them any more, and I feel rather ashamed of the business, anyway. I believe if I should meet Jerry on the street, I should tell him to go ahead.' They all started back to Missouri.

told of their experience in hunting the slaves in Illinois, and were as often overheard, until, by their own story, they described the country so well, even to the deacon's daughters, that many of the blacks determined to undertake the trip for themselves. Some time after this, there came a rap on the deacon's window one night, and on getting up he found several colored men, and one of them asked, ' Is dis de place where de fat gal plays on de 'lodeon?' He i-eplied that it was, and took them in, fed them, and saw them to the next station. From Farmington it was considered quite safe to travel on by daylight.

" At another time I was going to Quincy with a load of cheese, probably in 1S52. Between Bear creek and Mendon, I met a covered carriage with the curtains down. As it passed me I recognized the near horse as having stayed at my place but a short time before, and suspected what might be inside. I said, 'Hold on; I want to see what you have got.' The driver never saw me in the day-time but knew my voice and stopped. His passengers were badly scared. He said Ije was steering for my house, but now shonld go to Eev. K's. I told him K. had gone to Galesburg. So he struck for Hound Prairie and stopped. Part of the load was a colored woman with a little boy, two years old. Before the next morning she gave birth to another boy. Physicians in that country were all pro-slaver}'; but there were mothers in Israel willing to minister to her wants. She remained there a few days and then moved on to Canada.