Henderson County, Illinois - The whole text, 1882 (part 22 of 23)

William, and his mother of Goochland county, Virginia. Mr. Taliaferro remained on the farm, working and managing it, until the age of twenty-two, when, surrendering it to a brother, he entered the law ofKce of Hon. Charles M. Harris, of Oqnawka, as a student. His early education was limited to the common schools of Virginia and one year in an academy, before coming to Illinois ; since then to what he could "pick up'' by judicious reading and practical business experience. After being admitted to the bar he removed to Keithsburg, and was for a number of Acars in partnership with John (\ Pepper ; then alone; next with J. E. Griffin, and again with Benjamin F. Brock, of Aledo, Mr. Taliaferro having his office in Keithsburg, and Mr. Brock in Aledo. In 1881 Mr. Taliaferro removed to Aledo, and formed a partnershij) with James II. Connell in law and abstract business, which \vas dissolved upon Mr. ConnelFs removal to Pueblo. Colorado, in the spring of 1882 ; and Mr. Taliaferro associated his son, Bobert B., with him in the abstract department of his business. In 1848 he was appointed master in chancery for the circuit court in Mercer county, a position he held for nine consecutive years. During his residence in Keithsburg he held a number of municipal offices, and is the present village attorney for Aledo. In 1876 he was elected to the state senate from the then twenty-second senatorial district, comprising Mercer and Knox counties, and served in the thirtieth and thirty-first general assemblies. He had the honor of presenting to the latter tlie great home-protection petition containing 175,000 names, and of being its special champion in the senate. He has been prominently connected for years with the temperance work, in which he has been ably assisted by his wife, both having frequently lectured on the subject in this and adjoining counties. He was the author of the farm drainage law now in force in this state, and of several other laws, of equal importance, now on our statute books. He also introduced a bill to "establish the Western Institution for the Deaf and Dumb," which failed to pass for want of time for its consideration. He became a Mason in 1850, and is still a member, having attained the Royal Arch degree, and frequently filled important offices in the order. March 15, 1852, he was married to Mary A. Pepper, of Utiea, New York. They have four children : ( 'ora B. (at home), Frank E. (married, resides in Springfield ; secretary State Board of Health), Ralph E., and Robert B. (both still at home). Mrs. Taliaferro and daughter belong to the Baptist church, of Aledo ; no others of the family connected witli any church. Mr. Taliaferro and his sons are all i-epublicans. Mr. Taliaferro is one of the early settlers; has a wide circle of acquaintances and friends ; stands high socially, professionally, and politically.

Isaac Newton Bassett was horn in Lewis county, Kentucky, September 8, 1825. His early life was spent on his father's farm, where he received such educational advantages as were afforded by the common schools of that day. He tried merchandising for a while, but not finding it as remunerative as he had hoped, studied law, and has practiced for over thiity-tive years, attaining a name and reputation tliroughout the state ; one of prominence and honor of which he may well feel proud. In 1852 he removed to Mercer county, settling in Keithsburg, and as a member of the firm of Johnson, Willits & Bassett commenced the practice of law here. In 1855 he was elected county treasurer, holding the office for four years. He removed to Aledo in 1857 when the county seat was removed, and has ever since been a leading and honored resident of the village. In 1847 he married Miss Scienda T. Moore, by whom he had six children, five of whom are still living : Fletcher S., lieutenant United States navy; Thomas W., attorney at law, Lacqui Parle, Minnesota; Flora, wife of William IST. Graham, cashier of Farmers' Bank, Aledo ; iS^ota, and Lulu, both at home. His wife died in 1861. In 1862 he married Mrs. Caroline H. i erty, a sister of J. E. Harroun, who had one child. Miss Clara, who is still at home, and who, with Miss Xota Bassett, is conducting a book, stationery and millinery business, under name of Bassett cfe Yerty. By his second wife Mr. Bassett has liad four children, two of whom have died; Victor Hugo, a boy of eleven years, and Bessie, a girl of eight years. From 1847 to 1870, he was connected with the Methodist Episcopal church, but in the latter year joined the Congregationalists, to which he still belongs. He has also been a Mason for many years. While not what is termed rich, Mr. Bassett has made for liimself a good home, surrounded by the comforts and luxuries of life. His family hold a leading and enviable position in society, and in the church which is honored by their membership. Mr. Bassett is at present the senior member of the firm of Bassett tfc Wharton, the latter now serving his second term as state's attorney, and they enjoy a large and lucrative practice in the circuit, appellate, state, and federal courts.

Samuel Marquis was born in Washington count}-, Pennsylvania, October .2, 1834, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah Ann (Lysle) Marquis. His early life was spent on a farm, where he received a common school education, or so much- of one as could be obtained during the winter months. His mother died about thirty years ago, and his father died in Galva, Kansas, in 1880. In 1855 he came west, stopping for a while in Davenport, Iowa, and in 1857 he came to this county, locating on the home farm in Mercer township. In 1 862 he settled in Aledo, and went into the dairy business, in which he has ever since been engaged. He was married to Miss Anna Signor, November 16, 1867. They have liad six children, all of whom are still living : James Lorell, Dappie, Sarah Kate, Vance, Carrie, and Mavnard M. Mr. Marquis is industrious, honest and conscientious, and while not wealthy he has acquired a comfortable home and his business is sure and safe, fairly remunerative and free from great risks or temptation to speculation. He is a good citizen; one of the kind to honor the place of his residence.

J^uiEs H. CoNNELL was bom in Toronto, Canada, November 5, 1843. His father's name was William Connell, his mother's Isabella Leishman. They were both born in Scotland, and moved to Canada in 18-12. In 1818 they moved to Chicago and from there to Sycamore, DeKalb county, Illinois, in 1819. Mr. Connell's education is such as he received at the Sycamore high school and a commercial college in Chicago. He worked in the "'True Republican" office, in Sycamore, three years ; went to Chicago in 1801, and kept books in the wholesale drug house of H. Scovil. In 1861 he enlisted in Co. F, 132d reg. 111. Inf., and served until the war closed. He went to Aledo in 1865, at the close of the war, and studied law in the office of J. R. and I. N. Bassett, and was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court of Illinois, in March, 1868. He then went into partnership with I. N. Bassett, in March of that year, and continued until January, 1874. He was married to Lallie Arthur June 8, 1870. She is the daughter of Mrs. M. C. Geiger, and step daughter of John Geiger, of Aledo, Blinois. Mr. Connell was appointed master in chancery, of Mercer county, Illinois, in November 1879, and resigned the same in May, 1882. He owned the abstract books of Mercer county, from 1868 to 1874, with I. X. Bassett, and from 1874 to May, 1882, was sole proprietor, when he sold them to B. C. and R. B. Taliaferro. He was one of the originators of the Mercer County Scientific and Historical Association, and was elected secretary of the association when it was organized, and was re-elected from year to year until the spring session, 1882, when he declined further election as he was preparing to move to Colorado. He was tendered the position of attorney-general of Montana, by President Garfield, in 1881, but declined the office. In August, 1881, he formed a partnership with Senator B. C. Taliaferro, and dissolved the same in May, 1882, for the purpose of removing to another field farther west. ,He left Aledo in May, 1882, and moved to Pueblo, Colorado, where he is now engaged in the practice of law. To Mr. Connell, as one of the members and secretary of the historical society, the publishers are under many obligations, and much of what

William H. Gladman, New Windsor, was born in Fulton county, Illinois, July 30, 1843. His father, Washington B. Gladman, was a native of Ohio, and was among the early pioneers of Fulton county in this state, having come to that county about the year 1820, where he resided until the spring of 1853. He removed to Henry county, Iowa, where he died in the fall of the same year. His mothei*, whose maiden name was Catherine Druinm, was a native of Yii-ginia, and survived her husband until 1879. In 1862 AVilliam H. enlisted in Co. K, 25tli reg. Iowa Vol. Inf., commanded by Col. Stone, and served with that regiment in the Fifteenth Army Corps until the close of the war. He was in twenty-three engagements and escaped without a scratch until the last one, which was at Bentonville, North Carolina, where he received a slight wound in the shoulder. When mustered out of the army he returned to his old home in Henry county, Iowa, remaining there until the following year (1866), when he removed to Oneida, Illinois, where, in connection with his brother, he established a wagon and carriage shop. In 1869 he moved to New Windsor, where he engaged in the same business, which he has continued until the present time. Mr. Gladman is a man of excellent natural meehanicai ability, being able to do what but very few men can accomplish, namely: manufacture a carriage complete, doing the work of the wheelwright, the blacksmith, the painter, the top builder, the trimmer, and upholsterer, and when done it will compare favorably in quality, style and finish with the workmanship of specialists in any of the departments. He was married April 16, 1868, in Oneida, Illinois, to Miss Lizzie T. Conyers, who was a native of Bath county, Kentucky. Her father, Thomas Conyers, was a native of the same county and state, and died there when only twenty-five years old, shortly before the birth of his daughter, which event occurred August 4, 1843. On this account her mother gave her the name of her father for a second name. Her mother, whose maiden name was Nancy Kerns, was a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky. She came from Kentucky to Oneida in 1864, and now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Gladman, in New Windsor. A sister of Mrs. Gladman also makes her home with her. Mr. and Mrs. Gladman have four children living: EmmaF., born January 25, 1870; William K., born December 16, 1871; Lucy E., born April 29, 1873 ; Nellie A., born January 4, 1876.

John C. Pepper was born in Cambridgeshire, England, September 21, 1829. He came to this country with his parents when about seven years of age, the family settling at Amboy, Oswego county, New

Additional Matter

York, where he passed his early life. When sixteen he left home to attend the academy at Vernon, New York, where he remained two years, after which he entered the Wayne County Institute, pursuing his studies there three summers, and teaching school during the winter seasons. In 1848 failing health induced him to come west; and after staying a year in Peoria he settled in Keith sburg, where he was admitted to the bar January 6, 1851. In the same month he celebrated his nuptials with Miss Mary Ann Martin, who has borne him seven children, three of whom are deceased. In 1862 he raised Co. H, 84th reg. 111. Vol.; being elected captain, he commanded his company with deserved credit at Stone river, and was three times wounded in that battle. Since 1869 he has resided in Aledo. In 1880 Capt. Pepper ran as an independent candidate for circuit judge, but fiiiled of election. During the last two years he has been earnestly and prominently engaged in the temperance movement in this state. W^ith the cooperation of a few friends he started the Illinois State Temperance Alliance, and was president of the organization from September, ISSO, till January, 1882, when it was consolidated with the Illinois State Christian Temperance Union, under the name of the Illinois State Temperance Union.

Dr. Elisha L. Marshall was born near Trenton, New Jersey, September 24, 1823 ; was educated at City University, of iSTew York, and located at Keithsburg, Illinois, August, 1850, at which place he still remains in practice of his profession ; was connected with the 84th reg. 111. Vol. Inf., as a medical othcer in the war of 1861. As a practitioner of medicine and surgery. Dr. Elisha L. Marshall stands deservedly high in the estimation of all, and not the least so in the estimation of his professional brethren. But it is in the department of surgery, perhaps, that the doctor has done his best work, and earned his highest triumphs. But few practitioners outside the larger cities have done a larger number of intricate and capital operations, or met with a more uniform success in operative surgical procedures than has the subject of this sketch. His close observations of pathological conditions, his success in weighing the relations of cause and effect, and his almost intuitive judgment and decision at the bed-side, have secured for him a reputation as consulting physician and surgeon second to none in the county. Generous and hospitable in his home circle, courteous and affable in every day life, strong and enduring in his personal friendships, thorough in his professional attainments, earnest in his warfare against disease, with an almost cliivalric fidelity to the sick and afflicted consigned to his care, Dr. Marshall has stamped the impress of liis stalwart individiialitj upon the history and daily life of the large community in which he has lived and labored for nearly the third of a century.

As the oldest physician and earliest settler as such now resident of this county, we offer the subjoined sketch of the professional life of Dr. Thomas T. Willits, who was born in the state of Ohio December 6, 1805 ; spent the early part of his professional life in the state of Indiana, removing from that state and establishing himself in the vicinity of his present home in 1837, his first location being had a few miles southeast of Keithsburg, at the base of the Mississippi bluffs, at which place he remained in the practice of his profession up to 1840, at which time he removed to tlie town of Xew Boston, where he still resides. Dr. Willits has thus been actively engaged in the practice of his profession for a period of about fifty-four years, forty-five years of which time has been spent, practically, in the same community of people, thus actively in the same avocation for nearly the half century in which he has lived and labored with the co-workers of his profession, inaugurating its inception, as it were ; moving ever in its front ranks ; stamping the impress of liis own ideas and thoughts upon others with whom he came in contact ; all of whom, as members of the medical fraternity, having acknowledged the chieftainship of their great leader and awarded to him the chief place of teacher, tutor and friend, delight to honor him as "the noblest Roman of them all." Having attained more than the allotted "three score and ten " of years, we find him to-day in the fullest possession of a mind sturdy, clear and unclouded, with all of his wonderful power of intellection, without a seeming shadow as reflected from the vast accumulation of hours, days and years since he first saw the light. AVe have but recently had the pleasure of passing a few hours in the society of the subject of our sketch, and although impressed with something of a knowledge of the grandeur of the old veteran's character, through the representations of friends who have known him long and well, we cannot but add our own great admiration of this venerable man, all of which we will try to condense into the one sentence of much meaning when we write that in the person of Dr. Willits we have a fine specimen of an almost extinct species of the c/enus homo, "the typical old school gentleman."

Association

The history of tlie monunient is so interwoven with that of the association, that it woukl be incomplete if treated separately ; but a history of the association would necessarily include all that can be told of the monument. As one who has been intimately connected with the movement looking to the erection of the monument from its incipiency up to the present time, we will endeavor to give a brief and concise history, albeit, much that we nnght wish to say must necessarily be omitted.

About the last of May, 1875, some half a dozen ex-soldiers casually met, and one of their number suggested that it would be a good thing to have a soldiers' reunion at our next fair. After some informal discussion it was decided to call a meeting of the ex-soldiers to further discuss the question, and the Aledo "Record" of June 2, contained a call for a meeting in Aledo on June 11, which call was also published in all the county papers. The dav proved wet and disagreeable and the attendance was small. An adjournment was had to July 1, when the attendance was much larger, but mainly from the central portion of the county. Desiring that the entire county should participate in the arrangements, it was deemed best to call a delegate meeting, and all the townships were requested to choose delegates from among their ex-soldiers to represent them at a meeting on August 12, 1875. At this meeting nine of the fifteen townships were represented.

Up to this time the object contemplated was only a reunion, and possibly the formation of a permanent association, but on August 4: the "Record" published a communication from R. H. Day, of Millersburg township, suggesting that steps be taken to erect a monument, and the suggestion met at once with popular favor. At the meeting on the 12th a number of short speeches were made in its favor, committees appointed to solicit funds, and the amount fixed, to be asked for, at $20,000. A temporary organization was effected, with the following officers : president, Maj. D. W. Sedwick, of Suez ; ^^ice-president, J. E. Harroun : secretary, Capt. E. B. David ; corresponding secretary, L. B. Doughty ; treasurer, J. E. Gilmore ; the last four all of Aledo.

It being deemed inadvisable to hold a reunion during the fair, October 15 was chosen as the date, and the necessarj' committees were appointed to make proper arrangements. It was hoped that the money could be raised and the monument be erected by July Ir, 1876. The work of procui-ing a list of the soldiers from this county who had fallen in the service, was placed in the hands of the officers, who in turn delegated it to the writer. We procured a list from the adjutant general's office in Springfield, but it was necessarily incom])lete, and full of errors, and in order to secure its correction we published it in the "Record'* and "Banner," for a number of weeks, adding names and making corrections as received. The list first appeared in the "Record," of October 13, 1875. Reports were received from canvassers from time to time, and it became evident that $20,000 was too much to ask for, and at a meeting of the executive committee on September 28, it was decided to reduce the figures to $8,000 or $10,000.

The re-union was very largely attended. Through the courtesy of the adjutant general, we were permitted the use of the battle flags of the different regiments represented, and the history of the flags, given briefly by those who fouglit under them, was one of the most interesting features of tlie occasion. Rev. S. Brink made the address, and was followed briefly by lion. A. J. Streeter. Permanent organizatic^n was effected, with the following officers: ])resident, D. W. Sedwick; vice-president, W. ( ). Dungjui ; secretary, E. B. David ; corresponding secretary, Eli Detwiler ; treasurer, J. E. (Tilmore. Books were opened, and 110 ex-soldiers registered their names as members. Constitution was ado])ted and the and Sailors Association " was inaugurated. When the meeting adjourned it was to meet again in reunion on July 4, 1S76, at the unvi-iling of the monument, if it was read}' to unveil. !Mr. Detwiler declined to serve as corresponding secretary, and the writer was aj)pointed by the executive committee at their first meeting. On March T, 1ST6, Major K. W. McClaughrey, warden Illinois state penitentiary, delivered an address in the court-house, in the interest of the monument, and in the evening of the same day spoke in Viola. Meetings were held at diti'erent points in the county, but the work of raising funds was slow, and on April 28 the executive committee employed Mr. Hiram Parkman to make a thorough canvass of the county ; and local canvassers were employed from time to time. In order that the association might purchase and hold grounds for the monument, it was incoi*porated under the general laws of the state, the charter being issued August 21, lS7f'>. This rendered some changes necessary in the constitution, which were made accordingly. We give the following sections I'elating to the object and membership :

^''Preamble. - We, the undersigned, desiring to perpetuate the memory of our fallen comrades and friends, do unite in forming a permanent association for that purpose.

''''Article I. Title. - This association shall be known bv the name and title of "The Soldiers' and Sailors' Association of Mercer County." ''''Article II. Object. - The object of this association shall be the erection and keeping in repair of a monument to the memory of the deceased soldiers and sailors of Mercer county, Illinois, and to buy and hold land for that purpose.

'''-Article III Meinher.'<hip. - Section 1. All honorably discharged soldiers and sailors of the United States anny and navy, residing within the limits of Mercer county, and all who have contribytiod, or may hereafter contribute to the monument fund, shall be eligible to membership in this association.

''''Sec. 3. Honorably discharged soldiers and sailors, residing w*ithout the limits of the association, may become members of the association and entitled to all the ])rivileges of members belonging to this county. ''

On March 11, 1877, a design was selected by the committee, and on the 23d bids were received and opened. W.W.Webster, of Muscatine, received the award, his being the lowest of nine bids. His figures were $3,110. The highest was $4,635. From the "Market

The Plan Of The Monument

In order to give as correct a description of the monument as possible, we condense from the contract with Mr. Webster the following : The foundation shall be eleven feet square at base, and ten feet six inches square at top, and seven feet deep from top to base ; to be built of good sandstone, of suitable kind and dimension, laid in cement mortar, in a substantial manner. The iii'st base proper of the monument shall be of the best Joliet limestone, ten feet square and eight inches deep or thick. It may be of four pieces or more, finely cut. The second base shall be of the best Joliet limestone, eight feet square and ten inches thick, to be of four pieces finely cut. The third base shall be of the best Joliet limestone, six feet square and one foot thick, and to be in one solid piece, finely cut. All of the monument above the third base to be of the best Italian nuirble for monuments, to be finished with pumice finish, except the granite column, which shall be of red Missouri granite, with glass finish. The plinth for die shall be four feet nine inches square and one foot two inches thick. The die shall be three feet six inches square and four feet high, and after the columns of granite shall be put on corners, the faces of die shall be at least two feet nine inches wide. The caps of granite columns shall be six inches in length and eight inches in diameter. The granite columns shall be three feet long, and six inches in diameter at base and five and one-half inches at top. The plinth of granite columns shall be nine inches in diameter and six inches thick. The die cap shall be four feet six inches square, and one foot two inches thick. The spire shall be two feet six inches square at base and one foot eight inches at top, and fifteen feet in length, exclusive of bands on dap, to be made in three sections of suitable length for good taste. The two bands between the 'sections of the spire shall each be of the same size at spire, and one foot thick or high. The cap of spire shall be two feet six. inches square, and one foot three inches thick. The statue of soldier shall be six feet eight inches in length above column cap, size in proportion. Position in parade rest. The total height from foundation to be thirty-five feet two inches. On the plinth of die shall be in raised letters, this motto,

The names of soldiers on die shall be by regiment and company. Size of letters, three-fourths of an inch in length and of suitable proportion. On the four squares of the plinth spire shall be carvings or figures of sailors or mariners, cavalry, artillery and infantry in raised figures. On the four squares of the band on spire shall be the names of the battles in raised letters. On cap of spire shall be raised stars. All the mouldings, shajjes, etc., shall be finished in good taste, artistic skill and workmanship. The granite columns shall be dowelpinned to cap and plinth of column, also cap of column and plinth of column to cap of die and plinth of die by half-inch brass rods three inches long. The foundation to be raised two feet above the surface ; to be well banked up to top and nicely swarded over. These shall be enclosed by a circular iron fence, eighteen feet in diameter, to be made in a plain, substantial manner of wrought iron, with cast points on each picket, etc. The monument to be com})leted by the first day of November, 1877.

The foregoing account is complete as to how it was to be. The executive committee met October 30, 1877, inspected the monument and unanimously accepted it, showing that Mr. Webster had fulfilled the contract.

The ground chosen for the location is in the north one-half of block 57, village of Aledo, immediately south of block owned by the county, on which are situated the fire-proof county offices. The price paid for ground was $400. The street running between the blocks will be vacated by the village as soon as all arrangements can be completed, and the whole ground enclosed and used as a park. Trees will be planted and walks laid out, and in a few years it will look like the beautiful hallowed place it should be.

After its erecti(m the executive committee had a considerable job in deciding when to have the dedication and unveiling exercises. The near approach of winter and prospective bad weather helped them to decide to postpone it till July 4, 1878, and then to make an effort to have such a gathering and exercises as would long be remembered.

The directors this year are D. AV. Sedwick, E. B. David, II. B. Frazier, J. Y. Merritt, and 11. Parkman, and it is not too much to say that they who have taken so much interest in the cause and spent a great deal of time are among tlie happiest that the work is so near done, and that soon every citizen of the county can point with equal pride and say "'tis ours." But the people cannot soon forget that it is to the untiring energy of the leaders of this movement that it resulted in success at all.

steps for the unveiling of the monument July 4, and it was decided to hold a grand reunion, in which all the citizens of the county were cordially invited to participate, and all soldiers and their friends from adjoining counties. The secretary announced that Maj.-Gen. John A. L(;£ran had been eno;ao;ed to deliver the address.

In addition to the publication of the list for corrections in 1875, it was re-published during the summer of 1877, week after week, and we believe it to be as nearly correct as it is possible to make it.

The reunion and unveiling on July 4, 1878, was an occasion well worth rememberino;. The citizens of Aledo and vicinitv ioined with the executive committee of the association in making the preparations, and everything was perfect. The gathering was the largest ever held in the county for any purpose whatever, the number being estimated foirly at 12,000 to 15,000. Through the courtesy of Col. W. D. Flagler, commander at Rock Island arsenal, and of the secretary of war, a section of artillery, manned by a sergeant and eight men, were sent from the arsenal and lent their aid in the observances of the day. Gen. Logan made a grand address ; the monument was unveiled, toasts given and responded to, and the usual exercises followed, the whole enlivened b}' music from one of the many bands in attendance. It was at once a reunion and a celebration, and as such was enjoyed by all participants.

It would be a pleasure to give a list of the subscribers to the monument fimd, but that is impossible, and we will mention none, for many who gave but little, gave, like the widow with her mite, "more than all these " whose gifts were much larger. One source of revenue, however, from which nearly one-fourth of the entire amount raised was realized, will bear brief mention as the "tax-list fund."

In the fall of 1875 the publishers of the "Record" offered, under certain conditions, to donate the proceeds of the tax list for the next year to the monument fund. A spirit of rivalry led O. P. Arthur, of ^the "Banner," to offer the proceeds for two years, if the list was given to him. His offer was accepted, and tlie amount realized was over $600. In the spring of 1879 Porter <fe Bigelow, of the "Record," published the list, and gave $100 of the proceeds to the fund, to be used in fencing the grounds. The same spring P. F. "Warner, who then owned the " Banner, " proposed to give $100 to the fund, providing enough was subscribed within tliirty-four months to pay off the debt of the association. The money was raised ; he paid the $100, and published the tax list the next spring. Thus the tax-list fund amounted to over $800.

been set to grass and ijlanted with evergreens. They, with the beautiful marble shaft, will ever prove a monument to the patriotism of our citizens, living and dead.

The Soldiers and Sailors' Association has not yet finished its mission. Now that it can point with pride to one of the most beautiful monuments in the state, its further work is to care for, jirotect and beautify the grounds whereon it stands.

The directors for the present year are the same as those last mentioned, and the officers are: D. W. Sedwick, president; J. Y. Merntt, vice-president ; E. B. David, secretary ; L. B. Doughty, corresponding secretary; D. T. Hindman, treasurer. The grounds are in charge of the resident officers : H. Parkman, and secretar}-^ and treasurer. Tlie association is out of debt, has a small balance in the treasury, and there is a considerable amount due in unpaid subscription notes, which will be used, when collected, in improving the grounds.

We can not more fittingly close this article than by giving some extracts from General Logan's dedicatory address, at the unveiling, and giving with it the names upon the monument :

''My friends, this monument that we unveil to-day in commemoration of the virtue and patriotism of the 357 soldiers who fell in the late war, in defense of the principles sanctified by our revolutionary sires, speaks to the world in more eloquent strains than can be uttered by any living orator ; eloquence is not often prompted by depth of feeling, nor as a rule do figures of rhetoric issue from sad and tender recollections. Perhaps one who had less of the jpei'sonal remembrance than myself, might commemorate this event in more fitting language, but none there are whose tribute to the dead has a seat nearer to the heart than the soldier who has felt the warm touch of the comrade's elbow in the fight, and has seen that comrade yield up his life upon the altar of their common pi-inciple. Were this the apj)ropriate time, nothing could afford me deeper satisfaction than to trace the career of every soldier whose name is written upon this stone ; and to recount in the fullest manner the personal history of each one who contributed his part to the privations and sacrifices of a soldier to his country's cause, and sealed the deed thereto by the red drops of life's precious current. You will ])ardon me, however, if in refraining from the detail which each is entitled to in order to prove the full obligation of posterity, I trace a hasty sketch of the organization, progress and achievements of the gallant band of which the fallen dead of Mercer county, with their brave comrades who are here to honor their memories to-day, formed so important a part. After the general rendezvous at Cairo, in 1861, the engagement at Belmont found among others, as particii^ants, the twenty-second Illinois infantry, the twenty-seventh and the thirtieth, in which regiments were some of the soldiers furnished by Mercer county, whose names are now upon this column.

"-From Belmont to Forts Henry and Donelson, where so many brave fellows found an untimely death ; and on to Shiloh and Corinth, at which latter place I had the honor to command a brigade, constituted partly of the thirtieth and forty-fifth Illinois. Of the thirtieth and forty-Hfth regiments, many names of the Mercer county boys are engraved upon the memorial tablets which we unveil to-day.

''The memorable Mississippi campaign, which finally culminated in the fall of Yicksburg, furnished more deaths to the cause of the union, and among these more names for future inscription upon the monument which Mercer county now erects to her sons. Within my command during that campaign were, among others, the thirtieth, forty-iifth, and one hundred and twenty-fourth Illinois infantry.

"To the gal lent men then composing my command was assigned the honor of taking possession of Vicksbiu-g, upon its surrender, just fifteen years ago to-day, an honor not lightly esteemed by those who, at Champion Hills, fought and won one of the sharpest, fiercest, and most brilliant victories of the campaign, the importance of wliich, in the subsequent f;ill of Vicksburg, can only be estimated by a demonstration of the enemy in a precipitate retreat to their stronghold, destined so soon to fall into our hands. Afterward, upon taking command of the Ffteenth Army Corps, the following regiments of Illinois troops, partly made up from Mercer county, embraced apart of my command: The Twenty-Sixth, Thirtieth, Forty -Fifth, and Forty-eighth Illinois infantry. At a subsequent period I commanded the army of the Tennessee, made up of regiments of infantry, cavalry, and batteries of artillery from the States of Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Among the regiments from the other states mentioned were thirty-eight from Illinois, and among these, made up in part from Mercer county, were the Ninth, Twenty-Sixth, Thirtieth, Forty-Fifth, Forty-Eighth, and One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth Illinois infantry, and of and from these are many of the names in the roll r)f honor inscribed on this monument, and with these names are many from other and different commands, who were equally brave and patriotic, and entitled alike to all honor and all praise. The famous march to Atlanta and to the sea has passed into history as one of the nu)st brilliant cam[)aigns, considered in detail and as a whole, wliich has ever been recorded in the annals of war. The pen of the historiographer has drawn the picture of that campaign in outline, and has attempted to throw in the details of individual action. Its general results M'ere soon felt and realized, when the army which had cut the confederacy "in two were ad\ancing from the south to meet their comrades under the conquerer of the Potomac, who was driving everything before his invincible hosts. The result in general, I say, has l)een outlined, and some attem])t has been made to do justice in detail. So far as the otticers, who justly won distinction on those memorabk'' fields, are concerned, the attempt has been as successful, perha])s, as might from the nature of things be expected. But the sufferings, privations, hardships, stub})orn perseverances, renuirkable and unexcelled gallantry of the heroes in tlu' i-anks, can never receive the record to which they are entitled, though we may freely accoi-d flu- uwvd of praise, which, regardiuii' the results of their united efforts, hails them as the saviors of this country. From the intrepid conduct at Kesacca, as also at Dallas, at both j)laces the commaiul of which the most of your troops were a ])art, took the brunt of the movement; through the assault on Kenesaw mountain, with its abattis and earthworks, and ci-oss fire of artillery, bullets, rocks and stones, to the celebration of the Fourth of -July, 1864, by an artillery fight with Johnson's rear guard ; from this to the desperate struggle before Atlanta, which eventuated in the fall of that city, where, on July 22, one of the great battles of the war was fought. ISTo pen can describe it in detail, and no orator's vivid imagination can make the mind comprehend the scene. Then through the campaign of the Carolinas witli increased hardships, in swamps and streams, through Columbia, Goldsboro, Fayettville, and Raleigh, where the close of the war occurred, the same lofty spirit of patience under suffering, of hope under discouragement, of increased detei'mination under disappointment, of invincible resolution to win or die, characterized them to a degi'ee which stamped^iem as ])atriots worthy of this great country. In thus j^articularizing the patriotism of the Illinois troops which fell under my more immediate charge and su})ervisi()n, I have no jnn'pose to discriminate against the gallant soldiers from other states, who also formed a ])art of the army. As ' Agamenmon found it an invidious affair to give the prefei'ence to any one of the (-Jrecian heroes,' so should any one of us find it impossible to draw distinctions between union soldiers fighting for the })erpetuity of their government.

But, my friends, we are here to-day not alone in tiie acknowledgment of the services of those who periled their lives for their country, but to dedicate a monument in testimony of the gratitude of the neighbors, immediate friends and fellow soldiers of those who uin e up that for which a man will baiter all othei- things, A/.v //'f/-: a monument which we hope shall stand so long as the principles of free government.

''The roll of honor bearing the names of Mercer county's heroes who fell in defense of their country during the years from 1861 to 1865, and which are transcribed in imperishable letters upon the beautiful monument we are about un yelling, has been placed in my hands and I now avail myself of the privilege of having them read to you."

One Hundred and Tirenty-Sixth Reg.., Company B. - Henry Debaun, Isaac A. Linn, Andi-ew Landreth, J. Martindale, David Yan Meter, James ]\L Rodgers, Jacob Fender, George Lavery, (t. Landreth, James Swartwout, George Yolkal.

One Hundred and Fortieth Reg., Company F. - Edward B. Har-. ris, Jonathan Mounts, Joseph W. Shawyer, John W. Maury, Alfred F. Noble, Z. P. Warren.

Gen. Logan continued: "What a glorious roster to transmit to posterity I Well might thert^ have been i-ngraved upon the stone as representing the united sentiment of Mercer county, the memorable words of the Roman mother: 'These are my jewels." Three hundred and tifty-seven men who deliberately walked up to the rebel cannon's mouth, and swore upon their lives that the union of our fathers should be presented ! That oath was registered on high, and it has been graven upon the works of men. It is here as the indorsement of our o;eneration. Mav it stand for more than a thousand vears, to re-echo it through the future centuries. Three hundred and lifty-seven heroes about represent in number the Spartan band under Leonidas who defended the i)ass of Thermopylae, and gave up their lives for their country. Let this monument speak to the coming ages, as did that of the Spartan heroes, in words which shall bid the traveler go tell their countrymen that they lie upon the iield of battle in obedience to their country's welfare. Such a tribute as is conveyed by this bea\itiful work is an expression of the patriotism of the living in ap])Iauding the patriotism of the dead. It is a shaft to conmiemorate the virtue of the departed, but also signalizes the appreciation of virtue by the living. To the dead it is a token of remembrance, to the living a testimony of character. Valuable as is this work of art, its worth is far greater to the living than to the dead. No panegyric which we may make can reach the body in its luirrow house, nor the spirit in that land where the clash of arms and sound of strife mar not the unbroken peace. But to the living it stands as the representative of a sentiment; it is a declaration of principle, it ratifies a past act, it ])r(> claims a future i)olicy, it enunciates in words which cannot be mistaken the patriotism of Americans and their determination to ]>erpetuate their free institutions, and to u]>hold their motto of "Many in One." It is a token of grief for the departed, but it is also a warning to those who remain I It is a tear of sorrow for the slain, l)ut the promise of })unishment to the future slayer. The men whose names we are hero to-day to honor are forever hidden from our view beneath their mother earth, but from their sacrificed bodies this cohimn rises as a tree from the root, and gives another ilkistration of the truth of the aphorism sanctioned by all the ages of the past, that 'the blood of the martyr is the seed of the church/ Here we understand the purport of this monument and the motive which prompted its creation. As fellowcitizens of our great commonwealth, as fi-iends, we are here to drop a tear of sorrow over our loss, and to extend the word of comfort to the weeping relatives, whose loss is greater than our own.

' ' Does this mass of people come here to-day in obedience to a meaningless formality, or is their presence the representative of a sentiment? Shall these names upon this monument stand as the simple enumeration of 357 unfortunates who rashly rushed to their death ? Or shall they receive the homage of that tribute so beautifully rendered in the lines of the poet Collins :

" ' How sleep the brave who sink to rest, By all their country's wishes blest; By fairy hand their knell is rung,. By forms unseen their dirge is sung; Their honor comes, a pilgrim gray, To bless the turf that wraps their clay, And freedom shall awhile repair, To dwell a weeping hermit there.'

" Fellow-citizens of Mercer county, you have done a noble act ; you have proven that you worthily belong to that great bulwark of our nation's safety, its citizen soldiery. At the sound of danger you left the pursuits of peace and threw yourselves into the breach of war, and when you conquered a principle, you erected an enduring shaft of honor to those who have lost their lives in maintaining it. As one who stood upon the field with those brave fellows, I am here co re-echo your declaration, that their deaths have not been in vain. I am here to mingle my sorrow with yours, and to say, come weal, come woe, I am with you to the end in placing the flag of our country so high as to be beyond the reach of its despoilers, which, in proudly floating on the breeze, shall say to all the world : ''Here dwells the undivided luition of peace. '

Sixty-Fifth Regimknt

This was called the "Scotcli Regiment,"" from the number of that nationality who marched in its ranks. It was organized at Camp Douglas, Chicago, by Col. Daniel Cameron, Jr., and mustered for serv'ice May 1, 1862. In company B were thirty-eight soldiers from Mercer county, belonging to tlie townships of Greene, Mercer, Millersburg, Preemption, and New Boston. The regiment was ordered to Martinsburg, Virginia ; and when Col. Miles surrendered at Harper's Ferry, September 15, it was among the prisoners taken. Being next day paroled, it returned to Chicago and remained there till April, 1863, when, having been exchanged, it was ordered to the Eastern Kentucky army, and, returning to Camp Nelson via Cincinnati, joined Burnside's expedition into East Tennessee for the pur]K)se of co-operation with Gen. Rosecrans, who was at that time m<jviug on Chattanooga. It fought at Knoxville November 25th and 29th, in the defense of that stronghold against Gen. Longstreet, and repulsed him with slaughter. The following winter was one of severe campaigning to this regiment. It "veteraned," and went home on furlough in March, 1S64. On its return it overtook Slierman's army at Kingston, Georgia, and took its place in the second brigade, commanded by Col. Cameron, and the third division, Gen. J. D. Cox commanding, oi' Gen. Schotield's twenty-third coi-ps. The 65th had a shar}) encounter with the enemy between Lost and Kenesaw mountains, June 15. and skirmished briskly every day until the 20th, when tifty volunteers from the regiment charged across a bridge and drove the enemy's infantry and artillery in handsome lashion, and effected a permanent hxlgment on the other side. It continued to tight with spirit until the close of the campaign, taking part in the flank movement around Atlanta and the battle of Jonesboro. It returned north in pursuit of Hood, and was transferred from Dalton to Nashville by rail. It then advanced as far south as Pulaski, and November 25th and 26th was engaged at Columbia, losing tliree otflcers and tifty men. On the 30th it received the attack of Hood's army at Franklin, and when the battle ended 200 of the rebel dead and wounded lay stretched in its front. It carried to Nashville that night the colors of the loth Mississippi rebel regiment as a trophy of the conflict. An equal share with otlier troops was borne December 15th and 16th, in the battle of Nashville, and it went in pursuit of Plood's broken columns, pausing only when it had reached Clifton. From thence, January 15. 1865, it was transferred by boat and rail to Wilmington, North Carolina, assisting in the capture of that place.

At SandtowH creek it captured tliree cannon and 350 rebels. March 6 it went to Kingston. From there the first five companies, except veterans, were ordered to Chicago, to be mustered out. On the 21st it entered Goldsboro, where Sherman's cohimns from the south made connection witli Schofield on the 23d. From lialeigh the non-veterans were sent home for muster-out, and the remainder of the regiment went to Greensboro. May 1 four ccnnpanies of recruits were added ; and, in June, four officers and 250 men of the 92d Illinois, two officers and 120 men of the 112th Illinois, and twenty-five men from the 107th Illinois were assigned to the 65th, and Lieut. -Col. Stewart was mustered as colonel. The regiment was mustered out, and started, July 13, for Chicago, where it arrived July 22, and from whence, after final payment, the discharged men returned to their homes.

Eighty-Third Regiment, Company D.

Company D was enlisted in Mercer county, one-fourth of the members being from the southwest corner of Henry county. It was officered with Joshua M. Sn3(ler, of Viola, as captain ; Hugh M. Robb, of Mercer township, as first lieutenant ; and Francis M. Sykes, of Oxford, second lieutenant. The regiment was organized at Monmouth, in August, 1862, by Col. Abner C. Harding, and was sworn into the service on the 21st. On the 25th it proceeded by Burlington and St. Louis to Cairo, and on September 3d moved to Fort Henry. On the 5tli one-half of the regiment marched to Fort Donelson. three companies remaining at Fort Henry, and two at Fort Ileiman. These subsequently moved to Donelson, and the 83d was stationed at that post until September 20, 1863, when the right wing was transferred to Clarksville. Roving bands of guerillas filled the country and lurked particularly on the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, and skirmishes were of frequent occui'rence ; some of these were especially severe, as the one at Waverly. In October, 1862, accompanied by other troops in })ursuit of Gen. John H. Morgan, it had a sharp fight at Garretsburg, Kentucky, and drove and punished the enemy severely. But it was on February 3, 1863, that it achieved its fame as a fighting regiment. Forrest was threatening the river communication at Palmyra, on the 2d, and Colonel Harding telegraphed to Paducah foi' re-inforcements, his garrison consisting of the meager force of nine com])anies of the 83d, a battalion of the 5th Iowa cavalrv, Flood's battery, and a

At two o'clock on tlie afternoon of the 3d the enemy, coming down the river, confronted the fort on the east and began the attack in force, being 8,000 strong. The fort contained but a small supply of anmiunition, and the men, instructed by their cool and calculating commander, liusbanded what they had with effective care. They wei-e directed to iire steadily and deliberately, so that every shot should count ; while the battery was handled with skill and j)recisioii, single pieces being moved about as circumstances required. Col. Ilai-ding displayed the finest spirit and best judgment, and was at all })<)ints overseeing the defense (a defense sure to be historic), animating and encouraging his followers. The cavalry was dismounted and fighting on foot. The battle had raged with fury for several hours ; in the meantime the rebels had made a number of ineffectual charges, supported by their artillery, which was skillfully used. At length a shout went up in the rebel lines, which told that they had completed the investment on the three sides undefended by the river. And now came a flag of truce from Gen. AVheeler demanding a surrender. This was promptly refused. Then followed a confident and furious onset of the enemy; in charge after charge the rebels rolled u]) against Harding's blazing line, but each time they staggered back with bleeding ranks. The artillery rained destruction upon the thick-set columns, and especially the 32-])ounder was galling the foe with severity, when lie decided u])on its capture. Before the attempt was made a second flag was sent renewing the demand for a surrender, which was met with a firmer refusal, if that were possible, than before. A storming force advanced rapidly ujion the saucy gun. The gunners doubleshotted the piece and waited. AVhen the assailants were close upon the works they swung it round, trained it full in their faces and let go the savage charge, which made a ghastly, gory lane through the solid formation of the terrified foe. They fled in complete rout. No further attempt was directed against the big gun.

At eight in the evening help came at the moment of extremity, when the rebels were massing for a final assault. When Col. Lowe at Paducah received Harding's appeal for succor his forces were away on a scout, but knowing that Capt. Fitch was going uj* the river with his fleet, he sent him word to co(")perate with Col. Harding, and instructed the latter to hold the fort till dark, when assistance would reach him. Fitch divided his gunl)oats, and stationing a ])art above and the i-est below the fort, while Harding ensconced his men in safe places out of reach of the naval missiles, poured grape and shrapnel in enliladiug and pitiless torrents into the writhing lines of rebels. They could not stand it. In twenty minutes not one, except slain and wounded, was left on the Held. Of the former there were 250, of the latter 600. The besieged had taken 105 prisoners. The 83d had 13 killed, 51 wounded, 20 captured. Xot long after, as a recognition of this gallant defense. Colonel Harding was wearing the single star of a brigadier. Lieutenant-Colonel A. A. Smith was immediately promoted to the vacant colonelcy. The former soon resigned to accept a seat in congress. For nearly two years subsequent to the second battle of Fort Donelson the 83d was patroling and guarding communications, of which it had not less than two hundred miles to protect, and at the same time was doing a heavy scouting service, which was prolific of much small fighting. In 1864, when Forrest and AVheeler were making daring efibrts to sever Sherman's communications, the 83d formed a part of the efiicient force so energetically employed by General Rousseau in driving those rebel leaders, with their commands, from Tennessee. In the winter of 186-1-5 the regiment went to Xashville on provost duty, and on the 26th of June it was mustered out in that city, and on the 30th arrived in Chicago where it was finally paid and disbanded. Of 1,050 men who went to the field, 640 returned. The only change in the line ofiicers of Company D was when second lieutenant Sykes resigned in August, 1864. Hugh B. Frazier, who had been promoted from the ranks to sergeant and then to first sergeant, was at once commissioned to fill the vacancy.

One Hundred And Twenty- Fourth Regiment Company

This was sworn into the United States service at Camp Butler, September 10, 1862, with Col. Thomas J. Sloan in command. Company G was raised at New Boston by Lyman H. Scudder and Ezra S. Benedict, of that place, in the last half of July and the first part of August. The members were principally from New Boston township ; some were residents of Eliza and Millei-sburg, and a very few of adjoining townships. The organization took place August 15, and the company was officered as follows : L, H. Scudder, captain ; E. S. Benedict, first lieutenant ; and Benton Pratt, second lieutenant. On the 28th, taking wagons, the company drove to Oquawka Junction, then the nearest raih-oad station, and proceeded from there by way of Galesburg and Camp Point to Springfield. There each man received forty dollars in cash, this being one-fourth of the $100 bounty, two dollars premium, and one month's pay of thirteen dollars, all tendered by the government. Uniforms and arms were drawn, the latter xVustrian muskets, barely tit for practice in the manual of arms. On October (3, the regiment started for Cincinnati ; but on arriviug at J3ecatur the order was countermanded, and its destination was changed to Cairo, from whence it went to Jackson, Tennessee, arriving on the l>th. It advanced to La Grange November 4, and on the 28tli, as a part of Gen. Grant's expedition to the Yocona river,, drove the rebels across the Tallahatchie. The regiment had been assigned to the first brigade, Col. John E. Smith ; thii-d division, Gen. Logan ; seventeenth corj)S, Gen. McPherson. Returning from the Yocona, it reached the Tallahatchie December 24, and La Grange January 7, 1863. The same month it marched to Memphis ; from there it went, February 22, to Lake Providence; and April 18, moved to Milliken's Bend. It was reviewed on the 22d by Gov. Yates and staff, and on the 25th started on the i^^icksbui'g campaign. It was in the engagement at Port Gibson (Thompson's Hill), May 1 ; Raymond, May 12 ; Jackson, May 14 ; Champion Hill, May 16 ; and the siege ofYicksburg, including the fearful assault of May 22, and the still more terrible one of June 26, when the mine at Fort Hill was sprung. The regiment went on the brief campaign to Monroe, Louisiana, under Gen. Stephenson, which left Yicksburg August 21, and returned September 2. From October 14 to the 20th, it was with Gen. McPherson on the Brownville campaign, and participated in the battles at that place on the 16th and 17tli.

In January, 1864, the 124th competed for a i)rize banner offered by Gen. Leggett to the regiment in his division which should excel in drill, and present the most cleanly appearance and soldierly bearing. It bore the legend, " Excelsior Regiment, Third Division, Seventeenth Army Corps," and the 124th received it from the hands of Gen. McPherson. In February the regiment acconipanied Gen. Sherman on his famous raid to Meridian, and at Chunky Station, on the 14th, had a severe fight with the rebels. It returned to Yicksburg, and on May 4, moved with the expedition under Gen. Mc Arthur to Yazoo city, returning the 21st, having fought on the 7th and 10th at Benton. Between July 1st and 9th it was operating on the Jackson campaign under Gen. Slocum, and was in brisk engagements at Jackson Cross Roads on the 5th and 7th. In October it went on the White river campaign, under Gen. Dennis, and was absent from Yicksburg- from the 14th to the 26th. It did provost duty until February 25, 1865, and then was ordered to j^ew Orleans and was assigned to the third brigade, Col. Geddes ; third division. Gen. E. A. Carr ; sixteenth corps, Gen. A. J. Smitli. It embarked, March 12tli, for Mobile, and on the 29th began the siege of Spanish Fort, occupying the left of the investing line and driving the enemy within his works. On April 8 the third brigade and one other of Carr's division, stormed the fort, mounted the ramparts, secured a lodgment three hundred yards in extent, and, darkness having come on, waited for the morning light to continue their progress, but at one o'clock tlie rebels offered to capitulate. Away oft' in Virginia Lee followed suit a few hours after. The regiment marched the 13th with the expedition to Montgomery. There it remained till July 17, when it started for Chicago, where it was mustered out August 15, 1865. The 121:th fought ten battles and fourteen skirmishes ; it went through two sieges of forty-seven days and nights and thirteen days and nights, respectively, and traveled by land and water 7,000 miles. It was drolly called by ''the boys" in the army, " The Bully One Hundred and Two Dozen.*'

One Hundred And Twenty-Sixth Regiment Company

Company B had thirty-four enlisted men, and one commissioned officer from Mercer county, all except one private belonging to Duncan and Perry ton townships. The original officers were Henry D. Cline, ca]3tain; John B. Mitchell, first lieutenant, and James H. Coff'man, of Perryton, second lieutenant. The i-egiment was organized at Alton by Col. Jonathan Richmond, and was mustered into service September 4, 1862. It moved November 20 to Columbus, Kentucky, and from there to Bolivar, Tennessee, reporting at the latter place to Gen. Brayman. On December 11) six companies were dispatched to Jackson, Tennessee, as a reinforcement, and afterward advanced to Humboldt, skirmishing some, being joined there by the other four com})anies early in 1863. On March 25 the regiment returned to Jackson, and was assigned to the second brigade, second division, Sixteenth Army Corps. It was transported by rail to Memphis, where it embarked down the river to assist in the siege of Vicksburg, and landed at Haines^ Bluft" June 2. It did honorable service to the end of the campaign, and on Julv 24 embarked for Helena, Arkansas. From thence it moved with (ien. Steele's army against Little Rock, figliting on the way, and occupying the ])lace on Sei)tember 10. The regiment went next to DuvalFs Bluif', and remained there on (^arrison dutv, with Col. Richmond as i>ost commandant, until August 11>, 1804. On June 26 it was in action at Clarendon. It nuirched to Pine Bluff, going by way of Little Rock; on February 12 it moved to the mouth of White river, and June 4 returned to Pine Bluff', where it was mustered out July 12, 1865.

Company F of this regiment was raised in Mercer county, in May, 1864, by A'^an R. Harriott, of Viola, and George Boone and R. S. Osborn, of Aledo, and was mustered in June 18th, with eighty men, for lOO days. The othcers were : (Jsborn, captain ; Boone, tirst lieutenant, and Harriott, second lieutenant. The company rendezvoused at Rock Island, ]\Iay 9th ; from there it went to Dixon, and thence to camp Butler. The regiment was stationed at Lafayette, Tennessee, and also did duty at Memphis, but was never in action. Some members of company F had a ffght at Lafayette, August 8th, with bushwhackers, and Edward B. Harris, of Perryton, and John W. Maury, of Aledo. were killed, and Alfred F. jXoble, of New Boston, Robert Breakey and Milton M. Jones were wounded, the former mortally. The following died of disease : Jonathan Mounts, Joseph M. Sawyer, and Zachariah T. Warren. The 140th was mustered out October 29, 1864.

This regiment was raised by the famous orator and philanthropist Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, and was rendezvoused at Peoria, and mustered into service in December, 1861. In company C were fifteen or more men from Mercer county, nearly all of them from Suez to\^Tiship. George W. Freeman, then of Galesburg, now of Ambov, Lee county, Illinois, was cajjtain ; Charles E. Johnson, of Ionia, first lieutenant ; and Moses T. Lewman, of San Jose, second lieutenant. George W. Greenwood, of Po])e Creek, was first sergeant, and rose regularly to the ca])taincy.

Company H had in its ranks several men from Henderson county. Capt. John C. Knowlton was a Henderson county man. All the first lieutenants that the company ever had (Francis Le Clair, Henry M. Cornell, James G. Hull, and James R. Reasoner) belonged to the same county. Cornell was first sergeant, and once promoted. Reasoner was second duty sergeant, and promoted first and second lieutenant. Hull was the last of the three captains. Unhappily no memoranda of the movements of the Eleventh have been oflicially preserved, and time is too short for the research that would be necessary for a sketch, brief as it would have to be.

Contributkd Hy .1. Simpson, Esq

Henderson eountv, which once formed a part of Warren county, is situated upon the western border of the state, and is comprised of eight full townships and six fractional townships, aggregating about 400 square miles. It is bounded on the north by Mercer county, on the east by Warren county, on the south by McDonough and Hancock counties, and on the west by the Mississippi river. Numerous streams break the surface in their passage from the eastern part to their outlet, the Mississippi nver. The largest of these streams is Henderson river, which rises north and east of the county, and passes in a southwesterly direction, and empties into the Mississi])pi about midway between Oquawka, the county seat of Henderson county, and Burlington, Iowa. Cedar creek rises in Knox county, and empties into the Henderson in township 12 N., 4 W., in the northeastern part of the county. It is a small stream, but in times of heavy rains it leaves its banks and spreads over a large space, doing great damage. Fall creek, North and South Smith creeks are small streams which empty into Henderson a little east and north of Oquawka. South Henderson rises in the eastern part of the county and enters Henderson a half of a mile north of the town of Gladstone. Farther to the south Ellison creek runs from east to west through the county, and empties into the Mississippi above the town of Carman. Still farther south in the county are Honey and Dugout creeks, running in a westerly direction. The prairies of this county comprise something less than half of its area. The soil of the prairie is excellent for agricultural purposes, consisting of a blackish loam underlaid with a brown clay. On the high lands that bound the streams the soil is lighter and less productive. These high lands were formerly covered with timber ; but improvidence in its use and ravages of lire have, in a great measure, denuded these ridges, and the process of destruction still goes on. The common growth was the different varieties of oak, with some hickory, with an undergrowth of hazel interspersed with some sumac. On the lower lands, and in the bottoms we find the various species of elm, linden, ash.

maple, box-elder, cottonwood, buckeve, black walnut, butternut, honey and black locust, aspen, wild cherry, hackberrv, nnilberrv, coiFee tree, crab-ap})le, redbud, and many other varieties of small growth of timber. From the north end of the county to near Camp creek on the south extends a belt of bottom land of an average width of about two and one-half miles. A portion of this belt is rich black loam, very fertile and producing heavy crops. However, the overflow of the Mississippi in spring time renders business of farming these lands very uncertain. Along this belt extends between the bluflf and river, for nearly the entire length of the county, elevations or sand ridges, embracing many square miles of unproductive land, although a portion of these sand lands are cultivated with success, producing remunerar tive crops. This sandy soil is especially adapted to the culture of sorghum or sugar cane, which is at the present time being (juite extensivelv cultivated. And in view of the success attending the use of improved machinery in other portions of the state, there is every reason to expect that the future value of these sand lands will be greatly enhanced.

This county is favored with numerous springs of excellent water, furnishing a constant and copious supply, sufficient for the necessities of large herds of cattle. Little difficulty is found in obtaining a water supply in wells at a very moderate depth, varying from ten to fifty feet. There have been found some mineral springs of some value, but few, if any, have been subjected to a chemical analysis, so as to determine their medicinal qualities. However, it is known that copperas is the mineral most commonly held in solution by their waters. Henderson county has an abundant supply of building stone, which may be said to be inexhaustible. It is of the species called by geologists Burlington limestone, and is found in and along the blufl^s, extending the entire length of the county, and to some extent along the bluffs of the creeks which find their outlet in the Mississippi. This rock is found to be light colored massive limestone, standing exposure well and the effects of the weathei". There are many quarries of this stone open and worked along the bluffs of Ellison and Henderson creeks. The most extensive (juarry in the county is on South Henderson, and is worked by August Wallbaum, Esq., near the town of (iladstone, on the line of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad. Here an extensive business is carried on in quarrying and finishing stone for buildings of all kinds. Many of the best buildings in the state are furnished with material from this (quarry. The court-houses in Freeport and Macomb are built of this stone. The government buildings at Omaha are likewise built of stone from this quarry. As many as seventy -five hands are constantly eniployt'd tlie greater portion of the year in carryino; on this business. This county is so unfortunate as to tind but a yery small supply of coal within her limits. On Sees. 24 and 26, T. U N., 4W., a thin seam has been found, ])Ut this supply is but a scant amount and that of an inferior quality. IVIany hope yet to find coal in adecpiate suj>ply, but scientific examination giyes small })romise for the realization of their ho])es, and this county may expect to depend upon more favored localities for her sup])ly of coal. The soil of the county is well adapted to the prt)duction of corn, wheat, and other grains, and fruit of all kinds, ada])ted to this latitude, is ]>roduced in abundance, although along the bluff lines orchards thriye better than on prairie or bottom lands, and in the bottoms and upon the timbered ])ortion of the sand ridges, the wild grape grows luxuriantly, yielding a grape that produces an excellent wine.

With this brief geograj)hical view of the territory, it is proper now to pass to the organization of the county. As stated in the beginning, this county was formerly embraced in, and formed a part of, Warren county. In the year 1S41 an act was ])assed by the general assembly, and duly ap])royed, creating the county of Henderson, the following being a correct copy of the act :

A/i Act to EstdhJish the County of ITendermi) : - Si:( tion 1. J3e it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the general assembly : that all that part of the now county of Warren lying west of range three of the third principal meridian, be, and the same is hereby created, into a new county, to be called the county of Henderson.

Sec. 2. The county seat of said county of Henderson shall be, and is hereby permanently located at the town of Oquawka, in said county of Henderson ; pvovidrd^ the pro])rietors of said town of ( )(juawka shall donate and convey to the count}' commissioners of Henderson county, (for the time being) for the use and benefit of said county in fee sim})h' not less than two hundred of the average of the unsold or unim])roved lots, in said town of Oquawka, the proceeds of the sale of said town lots, or so much thereof as may be required, shall be appropriated exclusively to the erection of public buildings.

Sec. 8. In case of the removal of the county seat from said town of Oquawka, the public buildings and the lots upon which they may stjind shall revert and become the property of said proprietors and their heirs forever thereafter, and also all lots remaining unsold at the the time of removal.

Sec. 4. The legal voters of the county of Henderson shall meet at the usual places of holding elections in said countj^, on the first Monday in April, 1841, and proceed to elect all county officers, except one commissioner and the justices of the peace and constables at present residing therein, who shall continue to discharge the duties of their offices, respectively, in and for the county of Henderson, in the same manner as though Warren county had not been divided. The officers elected under the provisions of this act shall hold their offices until the next regular election, and until their successors are elected and qualified.

Sec. 5. The county commissioners of said county of Henderson shall meet in the town of Oquawka, on the third Monday of April, 1841, and after being duly qualified, shall proceed to hold court and perform such duties as are required by law of other county commissioners' courts. Of the commissioners elected under the provisions of this act, the one receiving the highest number of votes shall hold his office for the term of three years from and after [the] first Monday in August next; the one receiving the second highest number of votes shall hold his office for the term of two years from and after that period.

Skc. 6. The county commissioners shall, whenever in their opinion the interests of the county may demand and require the sale of the whole or any part of the lots donated as aforesaid, proceed to sell the same, in such manner, and on such terms they may deem advisable for the interests of the county.

Sec. T. The election returns for the officer herein provided to be elected, shall be made in the same numner, and within the same time as all other elections, except that the returns shall be made to John B. Patterson, an acting justice of the peace, of said county, or in case of his death or inability to act, any other justice of the peace of said county, who shall call to his assistance two other justices of the peace of said county,, and proceed to open the returns of the election, and in all things perform the duties required of the county commissioners' court and justices of the peace in like cases.

Sec. 8. The county commissioners' court at their first term to be holden on the third Monday of April, 1841, shall proceed, together with the proprietors of the said town of Oquawka, to select the number of town lots herein before provided to be donated, and so soon as the selection shall be made and agreed upon, the jiroprietors shall immediately thereu])on execute a deed in fee simple for said lots to the county commissioners for the time being, for the use and benefit of said county, which deed when so made and acknowledged and received shall be entei'ed upon the records of said court, and also be recorded as other deeds are in the office of the count}^ recorder.

Early Settlements

Sec. The school commissioner of Warren county shall pay over to the commissioners of Henderson county, upon demand being made by said county commissionei-s, or their legally constituted agent, all moneys, notes and other papers which may be in his hands at the time of such demand, and which may rightfully belong to said county of Henderson, by reason of the sale of any school lands located within the county of Henderson, and also its proportion of the interest arising from the college and seminary fund, the basis of which payment shall be made upon the late census of Warren county.

Sec, lU. All officers elected under and ])ursuant to the jjrovisions of this act, shall be required to take such oath or affirmati(jn and give such bond and security as are or may be required of like officers in other counties, and upon a failure so to do, the same penalties and forfeitures shall ap[)ly as in similar cases under the laws of this state.

Sec. 11. It shall be the duty of the county commissioners' court of Henderson county, at their first meeting on the lirst Monday of A])ril next, as provided in tlie tifth section of this act, to proceed to levy a tax for state and county ])urposes, as required by the law in relation to the ])ublic revenue, in the same manner as though they had met on the tirst Monday of March, as now re(|uired, and shall also do and perform all other things necessary and lawful to insure the collection of the state and county revenue in said county of Henderson.

The general assembly of the state also passed an act, approved February 19, 1841, entitled, ''An act to authorize the election of an additional county commissioner in Henderson county."

Section 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the general assembly, that on the first jNIonday in August next, there shall be elected in the county of Henderson, one county commissioner for said county in addition to the members already })rovided to be elected by the act entitled "'An act creating the county of Henderson, approved January 20, 1841," who shall hold his office for one year from and after said first Monday of August next, as aforesaid ; and thereafter election for county commissioners shall be held, notice given, and returns made thereof in the same manner as now required by law. Approved February 1841. The bouiularies of the county remain as at first designated by the general assembly.

Did time and sjjace, and the limits of the writer of this article pemiit, a volume could be written of the early settlement, growth and prosperity of this county. The struggles and ])rivations of the pioneer are but repetitions of experiences of frontier life, which are full of incidents that, portrayed in all their minuteness, would form volumes of instructive and interesting history. The vast west, the continually receding frontier demanded then, as now, daring, self-sacrificing men and women, who were willing to make sacrifice of the pleasures derived from the society of the older and populous states, and seek in western wilds to assist in laying the foundations of new empires. It is well that it is so. How else could these almost limitless i-eo-ions have ever been settled ? That spirit of enterprise, that love of adventure, that reckless braving of all dangers, seems to have been an inheritance of those men and women peculiarly raised up to meet the demands of the great west, in filling her borders with a vigorous, intelligent and self-reliant people. Looking back into the past we have seen generati(m succeed generation in the older states, men content to live where their iiithers lived, and die where their fathers died, without that restless desire for roaming that has characterized our people in later days. With the opening of new states and territories we have witnessed a new S])irit infusing itself into our population. The home of childhood, the graves of ancestors, have been but feeble ties to bind the restless spirit whose vision was fixed in the direction of the setting sun, and saw spread out before him the field where wealth and honor were to be won. The world has looked on and wondered, as they have seen the mighty tide of emigration moving westward with such quiet and resistless force, breaking down all barriers, overcoming all obstacles, and oi'ganizing states as if by magic, filled with intelligent, thrift:}' and orderly people. Powerful Indian tribes have melted away and given place to a refined commercial people. Neighboring nations who seemed to stand in the path of our onward progress, have, after short conflict, or direct diplomacy, given ground and souglit })eace at the price of dismembered territory, which was added to our almost boundless empire. No wonder that tlie poet sang :

" Oh, vale of Kio Bravo, let tliy sinii)le children weep, Close watch about their holy tires, let maids of Pe>-os keep. For lo, the i)ale land seeker comes with ea<rer eyes of gain Wide-si)reading like the Bison herd on green Salada's plain. Full hot and fast the Saxon rides with rein of travel slack And bending o'er his saddle leaves the sunrise at his back."

The nature and character of the country demanded such a people, and they s})rang forth; they had a mission to fulfill, and they addressed themselves to the task of fulfilling it. That mission was the peopling of new states, establishing societies founded on law and order, subduing the wilds of the unknown west, and with cajiital and labor combined preparing this vast region of country as a lionie for the teeming millions of the future. Those men by their energy and braverv. gave us safety wliere tliey found danger, gave us quiet and }»eace where they found savage warfare. We reckon it almost in days since the time when, where we now sit surrounded by all comforts and luxuries of <iivilized life, the wild prairie grass waved in the wind, and the ponderous buffalo galloped over the plain unmolested by the pale hunter, and to quote an eloquent writer, "Here lived and loved another race of people. Beneath the same sun that shines on us the Indian hunter pursued the panting deer; gazing on the same moon that nightly smiles on us, the Indian lover wooed his dusky mate. Here, too, they warred, and when the tiger strife was over, here curled the smoke of peace.'' This has all ])assed away, and the pioneer has gone.

"... Joyful on his way To wed renob.sct)t's water to San Francisco's bay, To make the rufified places smooth and sow the vales with grain. And bear with liberty and law the bible in his train."

It is no easy task to determine with certainty who was actually the first to make a permanent settlement in this county, and if a slight error shall be found in this §ketch, it will only show the liability of any one to fall into an error, while trusting to memory of others as to dates and events running back for a half of a century. The writer has sought what seemed to be the most reliable source of information. Little could be found recorded to throw light upon the questions.

In 1828 John Campbell came to this section of country and made his home on Henderson river, about two miles east of Oquawka handing, on what has been for many years known as the "Devil's Half Acre," a name given the locality by Kev. Peter Cartwright in early times on account, as bethought, of its appropriateness. Mr. Campbell improved the land now owned by Newton Wood on the S. "VV. ^ of Sec. 35, T. 11 N., 5 W., being the field that lies north of the Oquawka road and east of Mr. Wood's house. He broke the ground in 1828, and raised a crop on it in 1829. In the year 1828 James Ryerson settled in the territory embraced within this county, on Sec. 3, T. 10 N., 5 W., upon which lie has ever since resided, and broke the land preparatory to a crop for the folh)wing year. In the same year, however, he raised a crop on the land then o\vned by S. S. Phelps on Henderson creek, about two miles southeast of ( )quawka, on what is now known as the Capt. James Findley farm. Mr. Ryerson still maintains his bodily and mental faculties, although upward of eighty years of age. He is often seen on the streets of the town actively attending to liis every-day business. Throughout his long life he has ever maintained a high character as a citizen, and in all the relations of life his character stands without reproach. Prior to 1828 Jeremiah Smith erected a saw-mill near the place where now stands the flour-mill on Henderson, upon the "Half Acre." In the year 1828 Smith and a partner built an addition to the saw-mill and placed two run of stone in it for grinding grain. Shortly afterward Martin Woods settled at this mill locality and became the active miller at that place. He and his son (Newton Woods) still reside upon premises adjoining the mill. This mill property has changed hands many times, and the locality was familiarly called "Jack's Mills," on account of the name of the owner at one time being Andrew T. W. Jack, an eccentric Scotchman, who for many years carried on the milling business. The mill property is at present owned and operated by Jacob Rodmacher, who continues to do considerable business in a small way.

Large mills with all the modern improvements that science has brought to bear, together with the aid of concentrated capital, have wrought out a new order of things in the milling business, by producing a better article of flour, and at a lower price than can be aiforded by small mills run upon the old style of doing business. These large mills have rendered the small ones comparatively valueless, and no longer in demand by the people. So it is in almost every other branch of business. In lumber, the large mill establishments have practically destroyed the small manufacturers, and compelled them to adopt like systems of combination of capital and labor, or see themselves undersold until they are forced to leave the market. In the business of pork packing, in early time, every town upon the Mississippi river had its packing establishments, where a flourishing business was done during the winter months, in cutting hogs and curing the meat, and when spring opened navigation the steamers took this meat and lard in barrel and bulk to St. Louis or New Orleans. Now that is all passed away, and the business now is only carried on in the large cities, where immense structures and improved processes enable them to do the work more economically than can be done in small establishments.

Among the early settlers of the territory now embraced within the present limits of Henderson county was Judge John Pence. He was born January 15, 1776, in Shenandoah county, Virginia. In early life he was a slave-holder, but upon the death of his flrst wife, he freed all of his slaves and removed to Champaign county, Ohio, where he again married and removed to Bartholomew countv, Indiana. Shortlv after he became a citizen of the latter state he was elected countv judge of Bartholomew county, and held the office for a term of six years. At this time his second wife died, and he married for his third wife a widow lady by the name of Record, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Heaton. From Indiana he removed to Illinois and settled near Joliet. where lie lived for a short time, when he again moved and took up his residence in Rock Island county, in an old block house built by an Indian chief. Black Hawk. He raised one crop at this point and then removed to a point on Henderson river, about three miles northeast of Oquawka. where he made his tinal settlement and liome. The ]>lace has ever ^nce been known by old settlers as the "Old Pence Farm." This was in 1n29 that he made his last settlement. In ls3o the county of Warren was organized, and Judge Pence was elected commissioner with Adam ( Sandy » Ritchie, and John B. Talbott. Warren county was then divided into two election precincts ; the eastern being what is now Warren coimty, and the western being composed of what is now Hei derson county, then known as the Yellow Banks precinct. In the latter precinct Judge Pence and Daniel McXeil, Jr., were elected justices. In 1830 the hostilities were commenced by the Indians under the great chief. Black Hawk, and the settlers along Henderson river, near Judge Pence's place, feeling insecure and fearing the attack of savages, assembled and erected a i-ude but substantial fort on the farm of Judge Pence, which immediately became the refuge of settlers in that neighborh<^)od. who gathered in to be in readiness to repel anticipated raids of the savage foe. The site of the old fort is well remembered by the old settlers of this section of country. At this fort, during those stormy times, a son was bom to the judge, who was known, until he became a young man. by the name of Black Hawk. Judge Pence was one of those noble, great-hearted men. always to be found upon the frontiers, ever ready to aid those around him in need. He lived and died loved and resj^ected by all who knew him. His daughter. Mrs. Catharine Shores, thus remembers and speaks of her father : "Often he would bring the sick and afflicted home with him and take care of them, as though they were members of his own family, free of charge. I well remember the sides of bacon, sacks of tiour and potatoes, the gallons of hone}', that he from time to time, distributed among his needy neighbors. Our father, by industry and economy, always manaired to have a jrood supply of necessaries of life around liim. but he always felt that he held this world's goods only in trust for his suti'ering fellow man, as well as for himself While he resided in Ohio and Indiana he was an ordained Baptist preacher, and sometimes, after he took up his residence in Henderson county, he occupied some unj)rovided pul})it and })reached to his neighbors. He was a Christian, and at all times endeavored to live up to the teachings of the bible. He was the father of sixteen children, and raised six orphans besides. He died in 1841, at his old homestead, and his wife survived him two years.*'

Dr. Isaac Garland came to the present site of Oqiiawka, then knowi] as the Yellow Banks, and erected the first honse at that place in 1827. We find in the account compiled for the historv of Warren count V, that the doctor, in giving an account of his building of his house, says : "There were no white men to help him, save his teamster, and in the emergency he hired six or eight Indians, who were encamped at a point of timber below. He had to pay for each log as it was rolled to its place, and then give them a drink all around. As they were unused to such labor, and particularly after they had imbibed two or three drinks of liquor, thereby becoming unsteady in their movements, they were unable to perform heavy work. Often at this stage of the labor, the logs, which were unhewn and of blackjack variety, and coming down on their bare arms and breasts, would tear off great flakes of skin. They would give an ejaculatorv 'ouch,' and at once quit work for the day. Their love of the 'fire-water' was so great, 'however, that they would always return the following day, thereby repeating the process until the house was completed." A few other houses were built during this year (1827). In 1828-9 quite a number of settlers came and located in different pai-ts of the county. Judge John Pence settled on Henderson creek, at what is known as the " old Pence place ;" Jeremiah Smith settled on Henderson creek, about two miles east of Oquawka, near what was afterward known as the "Devil's Half Acre." James Ryason located a little lower down the creek.

Stephen S. Phelps in 1828 purchased the improved claim of Dr. Garland, at the Yellow Banks, and removed his family to their new home. Jeremiah Smith and Beatty settled nearly about the same time. At the election held in Warren county in the year 1830, Stephen S. Phelps was duly elected sheriff. At that election there were cast in the county of Warren, including the present territory of Henderson, forty-seven votes, and every voter in the county was present, save three. John Reynolds received thirty-four votes for governor, and for the same office, William Kinney received eleven votes, Mr. Phelps was a native of the state of New York. As a full biographical sketch will appear in this volume from the pen of Mrs. Phebe Button, his daughter, who is in possession of his journals and papers, it is not necessary here to speak more at length of one who performed a prominent part in the early settlement of the county.

was bom in (jrayson county, Kentuekv, January S, 1808, and removed to Perry county, Indiana, with his parents. Here he remained until he became a man. lie married in Perry county. In 1820 lie came to Henderson county, landing at the Yellow Banks in the summer of that rear, and made a settlement on a farm about seven miles southeast of the latter place. He succeeded, as all enterjtrising and industrious settlers did, opening a large farm and making tine improvements of buildings, orchards and nurseries. In 1847 he removed to Oquawka and engaged in mercantile business with Alexander Moir. He closed his business in Ocjuawka and in 1865 removed to the state of Florida, where he engaged in the cultivaticm of an orange plantation, at which place he died on the 17th (^f June, 1882. Two of his sons still reside in Illinois, one in Minnesota, one in Nebraska, and one in Florida.

In 1838 Messrs. Robinson and Hopper built the first flour mill on the South Henderson creek, at a point where now Biggsville is located, and operated it as a toll mill to accommodate other settlers in the sui-- rounding country. The property changed owners until it became the property of John Biggs, who, after years of experience in running a mill in a new country, disposed of his interest to Messrs. Moirs, of Oquawka, who continued to operate it until about 1 860, when it passed into the hands of others.

Mr. Hopper had, prior to the year 1836, built a lumber mill at the place now known as "Hopper's Mills." Afterward it was changed to a flour mill and has continued as such to the present time. Lambert Hopper, son of the original proprietor, succeeded his father in business at ''Hopper's Mill." He engaged extensively in mercantile business and carried on his business in all its A-aried branches with marked success. He established a woolen mill for the manufacture of woolen cloths, and by his enterprise aided in building uj) a thriving village. He was a man respected and trusted by all his neighbors, and his death was a great misfortune to the community in which lie resided. No one succeeded him to carry on the business he had built np, and it gradually went to decay, and now there is little left to tell of the thriving business of which he was the life.