Jefferson County, Illinois - Chapter 13 (2 of 2 so headed), 1883

ELK PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP - TOPOGRAPHY AND PHYSICAL FEATURES - COMING OF THE PALE FACES - INCIDENTS OF THEIR SETTLEMENT - HARD TIMES| ETC. - ROADS, MILLS AND BRIDGESSCHOOLS AND SCHOOLHOUSES - CHURCHES, ETC. - TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS - VILLAGES, ETC.

TO illustrate the life the people lived in the pioneer days of Southern Illinois, we give an extract from the diary of an early citizen of this portion of the State, and which was written in 1824. It is true of the times in which it occurred, and is as follows: " I well recollect the first time I ever saw a teacup and saucer, and tasted coffee. My moth- er died when I was six years old. My father then sent me to Maryland, to school. At Bedford, everything was changed. The tavern at which I stopped was a stone house, and, to make the change still more complete, it was plastered on the inside, both as to the walls and ceiling. On going into the diningroom, I was struck with astonishment at the appearance of the house. I had no idea there was a house in the world not built of logs; but here I looked around the house and could see no logs, and above I could see no joists. Whether such a thing had been made so by the hands of man, or had grown so of itself I could not conjecture. I head not the courage to inquire anything about it. I watched attentively to see what the big folks would do with their little cups and spoons. I imitated thein, and found the taste of the coffee nauseous beyond anything I had ever tasted in tuy life. I continued to drink, as the rest of the company did, with tears streaming from my eyes; but when it was to end, I was at a loss to know, as the little (uips were filled immediately after being emptied. This circumstance distressed me very much, and I durst not say I had enough. Looking attentively at the grand persons I saw one person turn his cup bottom upward and put his lit tie spoon across it. I (.)bserved after this his cup was not filled again. I followed his example, and to my great satisfaction the result, as to my cup, was the same." This is the experience of a rough, backwoods boy, who bad been raised in Southern Illinois when the country was but a wilderness. There are, however, many old peojiJe to be found who can give episodes in their own lives of equally as rude a character.

Elk Prairie Township lies in the south tier of townships in Jefferson County, and contains considerable fine fariuinjj lands, thouerh it is rather rough and broken aloncf the streams. The township is bounded on the north by McClellan To\vnship, on the east by Spring Garden, on the south by Franklin County, on the west by Bald Hill Township, and by Government Survey is Township No. 4, south of the base line, and is in Range 2 east of the Third Principal Meridian. Big M uddy Creek Hows south nearly through the middle of the township, receiving numerous small streams in its course. Casey's Fork touches the east portion. Mowing in a southerly direction between this township and Spring Garden. Along these streams was originally heavy timber, and there is still considerable of it left, principally oak, hickory and walnut. The land is rather hilly and rough along the streams, but back from them some distance it becomes of a more even surface, and has some small prairies. Elk Prairie, from which the township derives its name, is an excellent body of land, though of rather small extent. It takes its name from the number of bones and horns of elk found here by the early settlers. Some very excellent farms may be seen in this township.

Of the early experiences of Elk Prairie, there is little to be said. There was nothing out of the usual, every- day pioneer life to individualize the community. It settled up much as other portions of the county did, and as other settlements were made. As to the name of the first settler in this division of the county, where he came from and the spot whereon he settled, we can say little, for we failed to learn anything definitely. Among the early settlers we can mention the Stephensons, William King, the Whitmans, Ezra Lanier, James and Martin Teeters, John D. M. Cockram. Willis Holder, the Picketts and some ef the Wilbankses, and others whose names are not now remembered. The Stephensons - John, Edward and Isham - came from Tennessee, and settled here in an early day. William King first settled in Gun Prairie, but afterward came here. He was not very strict in his moral characteristics, and followed Solomon's lead in a plurality of wives. He finally sold out to Uriah Compton.took his brother-in-law's wife, leaving two or three of his own behind, and left the country. Cockram first settled here, but afterward moved into Spring Garden and settled near the village of that name. Teeters first settled in Moore's Prairie. Martin Teeters was James' father, and they came form Alabama originally. The old man did not come here until some fifteen years after James Teeters had settled here. But we can not follow the settlement of the township further. So much has already been sai i in preceding chapters of this work, of the coming, the settlement and life of the pioneers, that anything further can be little else than repetition.

The experiences of the people here were similar to other pioneer settlements, as we have said. They lived in log cabins, wore home-made clothing, subsisted upon game and the products of the soil, and indulged in the recreations common to the rest of the county. With all the growth and activity, which assumes larger proportions in the recital than in actual experience, the community which gathered in what is now Elk Prairie Township, was essentially on the frontier at that time, and the people experienced all the hardships and discomforts incident to frontier settlements. For the first few years, supplies were brought from a distance; mills were built rather early, but owing to a lack of power or adequate machinery, most of the meal and flour were obtained only by going long distances and enduring tedious delays. The general settlement was of slow growth, but siu'e; here and there the smoke curled upward in the air from the scattered log cabins, as the busy pioneer protracted the clearing-up of his farm long into the night.

Deer were shot in large numbers, while wolves and panthers, "Congress hogs," a few bears and the whole class of small game found in this section, and afforded wholesome meals or rare hunting sport. The distance from any market was long felt among the farming community, and did much to retard growth and prosperity. But these inconveniences were lived over.and as civilization increased, comforts and luxuries increased also.

same inconveniences i-n the lack of roads and mill facilities. The first settlers used the mortar and pestle to pound their corn, the finest of which was used for meal and the coarser for hominy. A few years later, horse mills were buiU. These were a great improvement on the mortar and hand mills, but we of to-day would think it a poor way to obtain bread. Some of the pioneers, doubtless, still remember the bustle and prejiaratioD for "going to mill." The shelling of the corn the day before, the rising long before day in order to make the trip in one day if possible, the careful wi-apping up in cold weather, rhe cautions about the creek or branch crossings, and the anxiety felt at home if " the boys " were gone much longer than was expected. But as settlements became more niimerous, mills were built at shorter intervals, and the inconveniences in this respect passed away. The first roads were only trails through the township from one neighbor's to another's, or to the horse mill. But these also Were improved and increased with the demand for them, and the settlements were soon well supplied with good roads. Bridges of substantial build now span the streams where all the important highways cross them, thus rendering travel comparatively safe and pleasant.

The early educational history of Elk Prairie Township is involved in considerable obscurity, and it is not definitely known now when or by whom the first school was taught, nor where the first pioneer schoolhouse was erected. At the present day the township devotes as much attention to e lucational interests as any portion of Jefferson County. There are eight good, comfortable schoolhouses, all well and commodiously furnished in the most approved style. These schoolhouses are located respectively on Sections 6, 10, 11, 13, 15, 20, 27 and 32, and in them

Christianity in the township dates back to its first settlement by white people. Many of the pioneers had been active members of different churches in the States from whence they came, and this soon led to the organization of religious societies here. Meetings were held in private houses, and in the summer time in the groves until the building of schoolhouses, when they were utilized for religious worship as well as for school purposes. Thus churches were organized by these sitnple pioneers in an early day. There are now two church buildings in the township. A Methodist Church near Mr. Dare's, which is a neat and substantial frame edifice. East of it is a Campbellite or Chi'istian Chm-ch. The building was originally put up for a schoolhouse, but a few years ago the township built a new schoolhouse in the district, and sold the old one to the Christians. They repaired it, and have made quite as neat and tasty church building of it. It has a good membership for a country church.

This township was originally Elk Prairie Election Precinct. In 1869, the county adopted township organization, when this became what it is now - Elk Prairie Township. Since then, the following is a complete list of township officials:

Justices of the Peace - A. J. Sweaton, Eli Gilbert, VV. Hampton, A. J. Sweaton, Eli Gilbert, H. R. Dare, A. J. Kelly, L. T. Coffman, H. R. Dare.

The village of Winfieldwas laid out by A. M. Grant for J. J. Fitzgerrell, the owner of the land. It is situated in Horse Prairie, in the northwest quarter of the northwest quarter of Section 32 of Elk Prairie Township, and the plat is dated March 26, 1860. The original survey (which is all there is of the town) consisted of four blocks of fom- lots each. The first store in the village was opened by Isaac Boswell. Some years later the Wards opened a store. A Mr. Graham also opened a store. A mill was built by Isaac Clampet. It afterward passed into the possession of John Knowles, who operated it several years, and finally it became the prop- erty of the Wards. They greatly improved it, and xnade it an excellent mill, Dr. Gee came to the place in 1867, and afterward married Mr. Fitzgerrell'd daughter. Dr. White was also a citizen for some years, and then moved to his farm. A good schoolhouse with a hall above was built some years ago. Also a church building has been erected. The town is not as large as Chicago - perhaps it never will be - perhaps it has already attained its full growth. It is in the midst of a good farming region, however, and ought to be quite a prosperous place.

This comprises a brief history of Elk Prairie Township, from its settlement by the pale-faced pioneers to the present time. It is one of the line agricultural townships of the county, and its citizens are an intelligent, industrious and prosperous class of farmers. No more need be said of them.