Jefferson County, Illinois - Chapter 9 (2 of 2 so headed), 1883

THERE is no truer saying than that of the philosopher that oiir lives are what we make them. In the city, the village or on the farm is this true, but it is preeminently tnte of the farm. If farming is only given over to ignorant and unkempt boors, it will to that extent be forbidding to the growing young men. If the ritral popiilation inform themselves and pursiie their bus - iness in the most ennobling way, their every movement giiided by a type of intelligence that brings the best adaptation to the natii ral means surrounding them, it will become the most inviting puraiiit for the best men and women. There is no foolish notion that more urgently needs to be exploded than the prevalent onB which makes a coiintry life below the ambition of a young man of education and spirit, and which regards towns and cities as the only places in which men"^ rise to distinction and usefulness. Farming is called a tame and monotonous vocation, but can anything better be claimed for the plodding, exacting and exhaustive piirsuits which nine-tenths of those who live in cities are compelled to follow? It is a great mistake to siippose that the population of a city is made up of great capitalists, proprietors, manufacturers and eminent lawyers and surgeons, and that it is an easy thing for a yoitng man endowed with the quality of "smartness" to achieve wealth and distinction, or even independence, in the fierce, pitiless whirl of city life. The wrecks to be encountered in city streets every day disprove it. Comparatively few persons amass fortunes in cities, and fewer still retain them. It has been estimated that where one man becomes independently rich in a city, a hundred never get beyond moderate livers, and five himdred are but little better than beggars. That riches in cities take wings and fly away is proven by the fact that in at least five "^cases out of ten of a wealthy business man in middle life, he will die penniless.

Farming is not subject to these rapid and ruinous chances. In this pursuit industry, economy and good management, aided by the increase which time itself brings, will insure a competence in fifteen or twenty years; and it is a property of substance accumulated in farming, that, unlike fortunes acquired in mercantile pursuits, jgenerally lasts through life. IFew thrifty, industrious farmers die poor; few prosperous merchants who continue in business die rich. The farmer's profits come in slow and small, it is true, and often he does not find himself in comfortable circumstances until middle age. But it is in the middle of old age he most needs the comforts of independence, and if he is wise enough to keep oi;t of debt, the moderate competency which he has managed to accumulate through his better years will come unscathed through the storms and convulsions that sweep away towering fortunes in the business world. These reflections are suggested in consequence of writing of townships that are devoted almost wholly to agricultural pursuits, and it is our wish to impress upon the young men of the country their own power to make their lives just what they would have them to be. There is no better pursuit or no more ennobling one than that of a farmer, if we choose to so make it.

The history of this township and the one immediately south of it is so interwoven that it is hard to separate them, and we shall therefore incorporate them in one chapter. The history of Moore's Prairie is really the history of both townships, and outside of Mount Vernon is the most historical spot of

Pendleton Township lies in the east tier of townships, and Moore's Prairie Township forms the southeast corner of the county. They have for their boundnries Hamilton County on the east, Franklin County on the south. Spring Garden and Dodds Townships on the west, and Webber Township north of Pendleton. The latter is Township 3 south, Range 4 east, and Moore's Prairie is Township -t south and Epnge 4 east, under the Congressional survey. The fine scope of country known as Moore's Prairie, which forms the larger part of one of these townships, and extending far into the other, is probably the finest body of farming land in all the surrounding country. Beautiful rolling prairies, sufficiently undulating to drain well, it is specially adapted for grain and is a wheat-growing region almost unsurpassed. Some of the finest and most valuable farms in Jefferson County are to be found in this extensive prairie. The timbered portions of the townships produce oak, hickory and a few other kinds common in this section. There are no water- courses, except a few small and nameless streams that go dry in the summer season.

The first settlement in the county was made in Moore's Prairie by one Andrew Moore, for whom the prairie was named. He settled here in 1810, and the event and his unknown, but supposed tragic, death by the Indians is detailed in a preceding chapter, and need not be repeated. He was the pioneer of all the pioneers uf Jefferson County. After Moore's untimely death, no further effort was made at a settlement here until in the spring of 1816. when Carter Wilkey and Daniel Crenshaw came. The latter moved into Moore's cabin and cultivated his patch of ground, while Wilkey raised a crop in the prairie. Robert Cook came soon after Wilkey and Crenshaw, and settled in the lower end of the prairie. In the fall of the same year, Barton Atchison came. He bought Wilkey's crop and settled near Cook. Mrs. Wilkey, Carter Wilkey's mother, and Maxey Wilkey, an older bfother of Carter's, and his family came in October, and during the winter the two last-mentioned families occupied one room of Crenshaw's cabin. But, like the settlement of Moore, these settlements are written up in another chapter, and nothing additional can be said here.

The next settler, perhaps, was Dempsey Hood, who came in 1817, with four stalwart sons, one of whom was a carpenter, and together with Carter Wilkey, also a carpenter, built many of the first houses in the country. In the following winter Theophilus Cook, the widow Hicks, mother of Col. Stephen G. Hicks, and several other families came in and settled in Moore's Prairie. Uncle "Ophy" Cook, as everybody called him, settled near Sloo's Point. He was a most excellent man, and all who knew him were his friends. He was a pure and upright Christian man in his character, was without blemish so far as man may judge, and as friend and neighbor he lived above reproach. The Cooks, W^ilkeys. Mrs. Hicks, Atchisons and Hoods were originally from Georgia. Mrs. Hood 'and Mrs. Atchison were sisters, and their maiden name Hill. Mrs. Hicks was the widow of John Hicks, who, as stated in a previous chapter, was killed in the battle of New Orleans. Soon after the settlement thus mentioned, a man. Hodge, came in. and a little later Mrs. Kobinson came; also about the same time a man named Fipps, Bales, Fannin and Mrs. Moore, widow of Andrew Moore, ruoved in and made settlements, which have been noticed elsewhere. Crenshaw, whose settlement has already been mentioned, sold out in 1822 to Tunstall, and moved to St. Clair County. In 1824, Daniel Wilbanks bought out Tunstall and settled in Moore's Prairie, and since that date the name of Wilbanks has been a prominent one in Jefferson County and closely connected with its history. Daniel Wilbanks was originally from North Carolina, but emigrated to South Carolina, and from the latter Slate came to Illinois about the year 1820. He settled in St. Clair County in a place called Turkey-foot Hill and was engaged in the survey of the lands in that county. But the malaria fastened [on him, and to escape its effects he came here in 1824, and, as we have stated, purchased the Crenshaw place in Moore's Prairie. His sons were Joseph, Robert A. D., William, Daniel, Davis, and several daughters. One of his sons, Robert A. D. Wilbanks, once carried the mail - when Uncle Sam traveled mostly on horseback - from Belleville to Metropolis, a fact, perhaps, that many of the old citizens still remember. He was a prominent man of his time, and held many offices and positions of trust, and had also represented his district in the State Senate. The family is still a numerous one, and the male members are to be found among the leading business men of the county, of whom sketches will be found in the biographical department of this work. Robert Wilbanks, the accomplished and accommodating Clerk of the Appellate Court, is a grandson and an able representative of the old pioneer, Daniel Wilbanks.

Other early settlers embraced the following families: TheHineses, William Jourdan, Isaac Fortenberry, Aaron Jourdan, Samuel Atchison, Lewis Watkins, etc., etc. Hines came very early and left early. There were bad stories concerning him; he kept a tavern on the Goshen road, and there were dark deeds hinted at - travelers stopping at this tavern who were never seen to leave. How true were these stories, we do not pretend to know. The time has been so long ago they are becoming dim traditions. William Jourdan settled here in IS 18. He was the father of a large family, and a number of grandchildren are living in this and adjoining counties. The old house he built is now used by George Walters as a barn. Isaac Fortenberry came soon after Jourdan and settled on Section 18, but afterward sold out and moved to Missouri. C. and Aaron Jourdan settled in 1825, on Sections 9 and 10. Descendants are still living. Samuel Atchison came in early. Watkins had a store and sold the first goods in the precinct. Samuel Bradford settled near where Belle Rive now stands, but some years later moved to Wayne County. James Vance settled south of Bradford about 1820. He was from Tennessee. Others came ,in, including James Bellow, Willis Harderick, Isaac Smith and John Lowrey, and Moore's Prairie was rapidly settled up, as well as the timbered land adjacent to it.

There has been so much said in previous chapters of this work upon the early settlement of Moore's Prairie, that really but little additional can be said here without repetition. Moore's Prairie is a historic section, and deserves considerable space, and we deem no excuse necessary for the prominent place we have accorded to it.

The beauty of the country pleased the eye of these pioneers when they first came here, and the abundance of wild animals gratified their passion for hunting. They were surrounded by an enemy subtle and wary, but they flinched not from the contest. Even their women and children often performed deeds of heroism from which the iron nerves of manhood might well have shrunk in fear.

They had no opportunities for the cultivation of the arts and elegances of life - of refined life. In their seclusion, amid danger and peril, there arose a peculiar condition of so cioty, elsewhere almost unknown The little Indian meal brought with them was often expended too soon, and sometimes for weeks andjmonths they lived without bread. The lean venison and the breast, of wild turkey they taught themselves to call bread, while the fatter venison and the flesh of the bear was denominated meat. This was a wretched "makeshift," and resulted in disease and sickness when necessity compelled them t.> indulge in it too long, preceded by weakness and a feeling constantly of an empty stomach^ and they would pass the dull hours in watch-1 ing the potato tops, pumpkins and squash vines, \ hojsing from day to day to get something to 1 answer the place of bread. What a delight and joy was the first young potato! What a jubilee when at last the young corn could be pulled for roasting ears, only to be still intensified when it had attained sufficient hardness to be made into a johnny-cake by the aid of a tin grater. These were harbin gers from heaven that brought health, vigor and content with the surroundings, poor as they were, and were only still further surpassed when mills were built and put in operation.

This was the manner in which the people lived, for the first years of their settlement here, and is a very brief and feeble sketch of some of their trials and hardships. The difficulties they encountered were very great, and would have utterly discouraged men and women less brave and resolute. They were in a wilderness, far removed from any cultivated region, and ammunition, food, clothing and implements of industry were almost unattainable.

Prairie are devoted principally to grain, and as we have before stated, is the finest v^heatgrowing section of the county. It is too exclusively devoted to wheat for the good of the farmers. If they would divide their attention between grain, stock and fruit, they would soon find a great improvement financially in the results of their farms. Then when wheat or fruit failed they would have the other, together with their surplus stock, to fall back on.

The early churches and schools of these townships were on a par with other portions of the county. The schoolhouses were of the primitive log-cabin style, often described in this work, and the first religious meetings were held in the cabins of the people, or in summer beneath the spreading trees. The first schoolhouse of which we can learn anything was a log cabin on Section 7 of Pendleton Township, and the first teacher was a man named Gibbs. The township of Pendleton now has nine schoolhouses, and Moore's Prairie has six. These are all comfortable buildings - palaces, when compared to those the first settlers built and in which their children obtained their meager learning. The first church was organized in the northwest part of Pendleton Township, and the Estes family wei-e among the original members. Of this organization, however, we obtained very little information.

Pendleton and Moore's Prairie Townships are closely connected historically, as previously stated, and not easy to separate the sketch of them. Originally they comprised Moore's Prairie Precinct. Upon the adoption of township organization by the county in 1869, they were divided and the south end retained the old name of Moore's Prairie, while the north half was called Pendleton, as we have been informed, for George H. Pendleton, the able Democratic statesman of

Ohio, who was the Vice Presidential candidate on the ticket with Gen. McClellan in 1864. Since the adoption of township organization, the township officials of Pendleton have been as follows:

These townships, particularly Pendleton, are well supplied with villages. Lynchburg was laid out in 1852-53, by VV. H. Lynch, who immortalized himself by giving it his name. It is located in Sections 5 and 8 of Pendleton Township, and originally comprised four blocks of eight lots each. Mr. Johnson gives the following introduction to the history of Lynchburg:

At the time Lynchburg was laid out, Jonathan Belieu lived at Mount Vernon, making himself conspicuous as an eshorter, in a protracted meeting. Lynch moved a small log house to the southwest corner of his town, and into this moved Belieu. The latter built a frame addition to the end of the house, for goods, but by this time he had no means left. To replenishj his treasury, he resorted to measures not becoming a good Christian and an exhorter. He took one horse from Mr. Smith in Mount Vernon and one from a negro near town. These he took to Fairfield, sold Smith's horse and was retu^-niug home on the othei", intending to turn him loose on Black-oak Ridge and walk home. But he missed his calculations by about half a mile. Just before he came to his place to change cars, he was met by Capt. Newby, who at once recognized him and the horse, and marched him on to town. Into jail he went. He was visited by his poor, afflicted wife, who brought him an auger, with which he bored the door in twain and made his escape. Dr. Gray found him, brought him back to town, and again he was incarcerated, this time in the dungeon. Then he tore his blanket into strips, and by its aid got through the scuttle hole up stairs, and when Mr. Thorn went to pass his breakfast down to him, he slipped out in his sock feet and again made his escape. This was the last beard of him and his family soon followed. This was quite a blow to the town, but Barnet Lynch moved into the deserted house and built a small shop east of it. Then \V. H. Lynch and Stephen G. Hicks built a storehouse and opened out a stock of goods. Lynch bought out Hicks, and in 1854 sold to Russell Brown. D. E. Lynch came about this time and built a blacksmith shop east of Barnet's shop. Soon after selling out to Brown, Lynch died and Brown undertook to make an addition to the town, when the fact was developed that there was no town on record to add to. So he waited till the Legislature assembled, when he got Gen. Anderson, then in the Legislature, to put a bill through, by which the original survey of Lynchburg was legalized and the title of purchasers established. This act is dated February 17, 1857, but Brown's Addition beai-s date July 31, 1854 A little later a post ofl&ce was established. T. O. Brown joined his brother, Eussell, in the store, but a year or two afterward they sold out to Dr. Bhort. He (Short) was a leading and active spirit until his death, which occurred in 1859. He built a house just north of town, and also a mill, and practiced his profession. Charles Kahm traded his farm for Anderson & Mills' stock of goods at Mount Vernon, and moved it to this place, where he flourished for a brief season.

At one time Lynchburg had a fair, even flattering, prospect for a railroad, and it appeared accordingly. Houses were built, stores opened and business flourished. Benjamin Brewer built a house; Davenport also improved; Richard Lyon, from Mount Vernon, opened a stock of goods and built one or two houses, thus making times pretty lively. Frank Parker built a two-story house and Dr. Stonemets came to where Major Estes lives. Brown made a second addition to the town and Romine also made an addition. Dr. Gray for several years had a business house. About the year 1862, a schoolhouse was built, with a hall above. But the poet of Bonny Doon tells us that the likes of "men and mice gang aft aglee," so it was with Lynchburg. When the St. Louis & Southeastern Railroad was built it passed

Lynchburg "by on the other side. " AVith the railroad came Opdyke and Belle Rive, and Lynchburg went. Montgomery and Stonemets went to Opdyke; Davenport went to Belle Rive, and so the town scattered. There is but little left of it now but a store and a shop or two, with a few dwelling houses.

Belle Rive was laid out April 1, 1871, on Section 27 of Pendleton Township. It was surveyed by Mr Williams for Moses Waters, William Caniield and Jesse Laird, the owners of the laud upon which it is located. The original plat was sixty-seven blocks; WatCTS afterward four blocks and Laird eight blocks, and like all new railroad towns, it improved rapidly. It drew inhabitants from the other hamlets in the county until they were left almost depopulated. Lynchburg and Spring Garden particularly suffered in this respect. A number of men came from the latter place; Bai-bee moved in from the prairie and put up a mill. Drs. Hughey and Eaton, from Harris Grove, moved in, and Mr. Wall came from Farrington; Boudinot came from St. Louis and opened a store, and Howard opened a lumber yard; other mills were built. A schoolhouse was built, and soon every branch of business is represented in the live little town. At present the business of the place is about as follows: R. J. Eaton, W. S. Chaney, J. W . Wright, S. T. Grimes, general stores; S. C. Guthrie, di'ugs; J Guthrie & Son, dry goods and post office; R. M. Seeley, M. D. Guthrie, J. Parks, J. Griffin, grocery stores; T. L. Boswell, hardware; G. P. Yeakley, tinware; Hunter & Davenport, lumber and farming implements; John Garner, harness and saddlery; J. W. Miller, fui-niture; J. H.

Gilpen, restaurant and family grocery; Belle Rive Hotel, by Jesse Laird; Miller Hotel, by John Miller; Buchanan & Co., lumber yard; physicians, W. R. Ross, W. A. Hughey, E. M. Miller and R. J. Eaton; J. W. Piper, Police Magistrate; Rudd & Maulding, blacksmiths; E. E. Fancher and Smith, wagon and blacksmith shops; L. D. Davenport, blacksmith; L. C. Waters, attor ney; F. M. Goodwin, tailor, and Miss Leake, millinery.

A Masonic lodge was organized in 1871, with C. S Todd Worshipful Master. They meet in a hall over Dr. R. J. EatonV. store. The membership is about forty-five, with C. S. Todd, Master; Edward Miller, Senior Warden; E. IS. Karn, Junior "Warden; R. M. Seeley, Secretary. In 1878, this lodge was consolidated with the lodge of Middle- Ion, Wayne County.

Belle Rive was incorporated under the general law in 1872, and the present are the Board of Trustees: B. R. Gilbert, Jesse Laird, Scott Cook, C. A. Baker, H. A. Shields and "W. A. Hunter. Of this board, B. R. Gilbert is President and J. W. Piper, Clerk.

Opdkye was laid out April 14, 1871, and like Belle Rive, its neighbor, was the result of building the railroad. It is located in Section 17 of Pendleton Township, and had almost as many proprietox's as blocks in its plat. Among them were George D. Edgar, James K., Jonathan, Jefferson H. and Alonzo Jones and D. T. Philips. It covered originally about 160 acres of ground and embraced some sixty- four blocks. The first residences in the new town were built by Dr. Stonemets and another by Dr. Montgomery.

Dr Stonemets built a house which was for some time used as a store room. Joshua Allen then put up a store house; W. S. Ales ander also built a house; also Carpenter; James K. Jones and John Keller put up a mill. The town, like Belle Rive, improved rapidly, and became quite a lively place. Its business still continues, and ^is even growing constantly, as the country increases in wealth.

There are now two mills in the town - Barbee & Co., who own the one built by Jones & Keller, and the Atlas Mills, by Montgomery & Co. William Poole, Rentchler & Smith. AVilliam A. Jones, Jesse D. Jones, general stores; Henry Philips, drugs; A. C. Jones, harness; Estes Brothers, hardvsrare; John Adams and G. Hale, blacksmiths; W. W. Teltz, (iooper shop; physicians, Drs. Stonemets and Montgomery.

A Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1872. At present it has about fifty members, under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Franklin. A good Sunday school is maintained.

A Masonic lodge, which was originally organized at Lynchburg, was moved to this place about 1876. They meet in the room with the Odd Fellows. The officers are M. V. B. Montgomeiw, Master; John Adams, Senior Warden; W. W. Feltz, Junior Warden; and William Young, Secretary.

The Odd Fellows !odge'_was also organized in Lynchbiu-g and removed to Opdyke. The present officers are George C. JIutson, N. G. ; J. J. Jones, V. G. ; Alonzo Gibson, Recording Secretary; and J. W. Estes, Permanent Secretary.

The railroad has been of great benefit to Pendleton Township, and has increased the value of property greatly since it was built. So far, Moore's Prairie Township is without railroads; but as there are several projected roads, and which when built may give it railroad facilities, so the people live in hope. There are no villages in Moore's Prairie Township, nor manufacturing industries. It is an agricultural region entirely, and as such is not sui-passed in the county.