Jefferson County, Illinois - Chapter 9: More About the Oldest Settlers, 1909

Chapter 9: More About the Oldest Settlers

In speaking of the first citizens of Jefferson county as being men and women of stalwart character for honesty and integrity, we do not mean to convey the idea that they were without their faults, for by tracing their history we find that they had "weak spots," like the rest of mankind. Neither would we lionize them because they lived to a "ripe old age," but because they had for their motto: "What's brave, what's noble, let's do it." And because, as one of them expresses it:

And this is the class of people we are writing about in this chapter - such as the Caseys, the Maxeys, the Johnsons, the Watsons, the Paces, the Baughs, etc. Mr. Johnson alludes to a general fight that took place in New Mount Vernon in 1820, in which nearly everybody took part. It seemed that somebody said that the Caseys and Maxeys were going to rule the county. John Abbott wanted to refute that idea and threatened to thrash the first Casey or Maxey he met - which happened to be Elihu Maxey. At it they went and soon the entire population was interested, excited, and even "Uncle" Jimmy Johnson threw his straw hat high in the air and invited any other man who wanted to fight to come forward. Jim Abbott said, "Anyone that whips John Abbott will have to thrash me." The whole outfit had their coats off, ready for the fray; but in a few minutes the storm blew over and "peace reigned in Warsaw" - or rather, where they "war saw" a short time before. It was no unusual thing for part of the population to settle their differences by fist-i-cuffs, but this was the first outbreak among the better citizens.

Aunt Suky Johnson in her memoirs fifteen years later, also gives Mount Vernon a black eye, when in her account of her new home she says: "We found Mount Vernon a 'hard place.' There were only five professors of religion in town - two Baptists and three Methodists, and the same number of groceries - five. There was no church; two blacksmith shops, three stores and a half a dozen log houses; not a fence in town except crooked rail fences, and these were buried under a luxurious growth of elder, polk and jimson weeds. Saturday was always a lively day. The Moores, Jordans, the Long Prairie and Horse Creek gangs, came to town, and from two to six fights took place, and that A had his nose bitten off, or B had his jaw-bone broken, or C had his eyes blackened> etc., etc., were the items that went to make up the gossip of the day.

But all this was the "other side" of the story of our first settlers. The Christianity of the Caseys, Maxeys and Johnsons and others soon began to tell on the town and county, and has progressed through the succeeding generations until now we find the entire county equal in civilization and refinement to any part of the country, and as to Mount Vernon, it may very appropriately be termed the Athens of Southern Illinois.

The Caseys

The Casey family was the most numerous at the start, both in the south, and in the first settlement of Jefferson county. We have already given the life and services of Zadok Casey. His father was Randolph, a warrior under Gen. Francis Marion. Of his children - Zadok, Samuel, Levi, Isaac, all came to Jefferson county, and have been noticed. We are just in receipt of a letter from Oakland, California, from Mrs. Mellie Casey Rockwell, in which she says: "My father, William B. (Buck) Casey, was born in Jefferson county, Illinois, in June, 1821, the second male child born in the county - son of William and Amy (Barker) Casey. Uncle Blackford Casey, my father's oldest brother, was born in June, 1815, and was the very first male child born in what is now Jefferson county. My mother is still living at the age of eighty-three ; my father died in 1884. Uncle Blackford Casey passed away in December, 1892. His oldest son, Greetham Casey, who was born in Jefferson county, seventy years ago, now lives in Covine, Los Angeles county, California. My mother taught school in Mount Vernon in 1850." This reminds us that there are fewer Caseys in old Jefferson today than there were in those early days. They have moved on with civilization and become less prolific, perhaps. The same may be said of the Maxeys, and Johnsons, also, for they are fewer now than then. William Casey, Jr., came here in 1836; he was the father of Blackford, Maletna, Buck, Abraham, Drury B., Thomas, Melissa and Zadok, Jr. He used to live northwest two miles on what is now the Centralia road. Abraham T., William's brother, married Valinda Maxey, located on Salem road and preached "around." His children were Harriet, who married Dr. W. S. Van Cleve; Catherine, who married Mont Morrow; Belveretta, who married J. R. Walker; Elizabeth, who married John Sproul; Martha, who married Dr. Shirley, and Lafayette, an itinerant preacher. Thomas M. Casey, afterwards known as "Uncle Tommy," married Harriet Maxey. They had eleven children and we remember: Clinton M., Jane, WiUiam, Cynthia, Mary, Barger, Rebecca, Nanny, Abraham and Rhoda. Abraham P. died in Missouri, leaving his children; John C, Green P., Franklin S., Martin S., Isaac, Clarissa and Elizabeth, in this county. John C. married Polly Casey, Green P. married Margaret Watkins, Franklin S. married Rhoda Taylor. He lived on the Richview road, near Grand Prairie, and died there. Thomas J. and Robert were his sons. Mrs. Lew Beale was his daughter. Lewis F. Casey, in giving an account of his father's family. Green P. Casey, says: "My grandfather was Abraham P. My grandfather on my mother's side was Lewis Watkins. My parents were married in Mount Vernon in 1820, went to farming out in the woods, with nothing but bears, deer and coons to molest them. My brothers, Abraham and Hiram, died in childhood; my sisters married as follows: Harriet married George Seward ; May A. married John T. Smith ; Nancy A. married Henry Phillips; Sarah A. married John WiUis; Mahala P. married Dr. John Murphy; Margaret married Capt. D. M. Short, of Texas, and Rhoda Ellen married Alfred Galbreath. Also two sisters, Arabella and Isabella, both of whom died young. Green P. died in 1857, and his wife in 1866, mourned by all who knew them." Lewis F., the surviving son of this family, was made surveyor of Jefferson county at the age of twenty; was Commissioner to take the census of the county m 1 845 ; was lieutenant of Company H, Second Regiment, in Mexico; represented his native county (Jefferson) in the Legislature in 1847. He moved to Texas in 1852, was chosen Prosecuting Attorney; elected to the State Senate in 1861 ; was surrounded by secession sentiment and served the cause until it railed; then returned to Illinois; began to practice law at Centralia, and died there a few years ago. His wife was Mary J., daughter of Governor Z. Casey. Samuel K. Casey, eldest son of Governor Casey, bought the old homestead (now the Chance place) and lived and died there after serving in both houses of the Legislature, serving as warden of the penitentiary, and being largely instrumental in securing Mount Vernon her first railroad. He is survived by Samuel Casey, a prominent real estate dealer of Mount Vernon. Thomas S. Casey, son of Zadok, also served in both houses of the Legislature, as Circuit Judge, and for a while as colonel in the war, and for many years he was prominent in the law and at one time was on the Appellate Court bench. Newton Casey, another son of Zadok, also served in the Legislature, and other public positions. Mahala, his daughter, married a Mr. Dwight and Judge Samuel L. Dwight, of Centralia, is their surviving child. He married Capt. R. D. Noleman's daughter. The other Casey descendants in Jefferson county have proven themselves good useful citizens in the private walks of life, and none of them have ever wrought disgrace on the Casey name, and Jefferson county may consider herself fortunate in having the Caseys for her first inhabitants. Suffice it to say that the Casey family have left their impress on Jefferson county, although the greater number of them

The Maxeys

In the early settlement of the county, the Maxey family comes next. Jesse Maxey, of Tennessee, had several children: William, Edward, Walter, John and Elizabeth. William, who was married, came to Illinois in 1818, and was appointed Justice of the Peace. He tried to marry Ransom Moss and Anna Johnson, and "broke down" completely. Some say he commenced on the Declaration of Independence; backed off and tackled the Constitution of the United States, and finally got through, but Governor Casey twitted him with saying that the Lord instituted matrimony in the days of men's "ignorance" instead of "innocence." He finally concluded with the invocation: "And may the Lord have mercy on your souls." And thus ended the first marriage ceremony ever "pulled off" in Jefferson county. Mr. Maxey was a good man, if not very learned. His children were: Clarissa, Henry B., Bennett N., Elihu, Harriet, Vylinda, Charles H., JoshuaC, William M. A. and Jehu. Burchett Maxey came in time to buy a lot and build the first house ever built in Mount Vernon. He married Peggy Taylor and their children were: Eliza, who married Col. S. G. Hicks; W. P., Thomas B., Elizabeth (married Breeze) ; Elihu K., John H., James C, who married Nancy Moss, and still lives in Mount Vernon; Edward K., Jehu J., Henry B., Franklin C. and Harvey M. Walter S., Henry, Oscar and Frank, are sons of James C. and Nancy (Moss) Maxey; Mrs. Sugg, her daughter.

Henry N. Maxey was in the War of 1812, and with General Jackson at New Orleans. His children were: Emily, William H., James J., Charles H., Joshua C, Eliza and Thomas J. William and James were preachers. Elihu, the one who whipped Abbott, married EveHne Taylor, then Sarah Guthrie, built a horse mill, was a benefactor and met accidental death. He had ten children - Talina, married Mervel Smith; Perrigan T., Henry, William C, Thomas, Elizabeth, Margaret and Eliza.

Charles H. was the son of William and married Sally Bruce. His children were: Caroline, Mary, Martha, Drucilla. F. S. Parker married Caroline, Joseph Burke married Mary, C. D. Frost married Martha, G. A. Collins married Susan, and James M. Swift married Drucilla. Joshua Cannon, son of William, married Susan Criswell, and their daughters were Mrs. M. A. Cummins and Mrs. John C. Tyler and son. Thomas, who died recently.

Dr. William A. Maxey, youngest son of William, married Edna Owens. He was both physician and preacher. His children were: Simeon W., Samuel T. (spoken of elsewhere), William C, Harriet J. (Mrs. Satterfield), Sarah C. (Mrs. S. Hill), J. Van, and Nelson, who married Miss Burgen and lives in Iowa.

John Maxey, son of Jesse, came in 1823 with William and Jonathan Wells, removed to Wayne county and died. Such, in brief, was the Maxey families, who first came in to help make the county and mould sentiments of good citizenship, and along both lines they have been eminently successful.

The Johnsons

Like the Caseys and Maxeys, the Johnsons one and all have been prominent from the earliest settlement of the county. Benjamin Johnson, the ancestor of our Jefferson county Johnsons, was a Marylander. John, a son of his, was the father of our pioneers. Lewis, the son of this John Johnson, was among our very first settlers. He had nine children - Milly, Anna, Lucy, married L.

Foster and they lost their house by fire and their infant son was cremated; James E. Johnson was the eldest son of Lewis. He was quite a preacher and improved the farm where John T. Johnson raised his family. John T., the next oldest brother of James, was licensed to preach when but twenty years old. He joined the conference and took regular work. Nicholas lived in Grand Prairie and died there. Elizabeth married G. B. AfP.ack, of Richview. Nancy married James Barnes, of Richview. Susan married A. Witherspoon, and went to Kentucky. James Johnson second son of John, married Clarissa Maxey in Tennessee, and came here in 1818. His eldest son, John, married Sarah Hobbs and they were the parents of our present Dr. A. Curt, James D. and John N. Johnson, Mrs. Henry T. Waters and Mrs. David H. Summers. He was an enterprising man, a physician, but chose rather to do other business. He merchandised and built several houses in Mount Vernon, among them the Johnson House, the big brick near the Methodist Episcopal church, in 1854. He died, much missed and lamented, in 1 858.

John, the youngest brother of Lewis and James, came later, in 1 834, and located in Mount Vernon. He died here in 1 858. His children were Doctor T. B., who died in Kentucky in 1870; the wife of Blackford Casey; J. Fletcher; Washington; G. Wesley, J. Benson, a girl and boy who died in childhood, and Adam Clark, the faithful historian of the pioneers of Jefferson county. John Johnson, "Uncle Jacky," as we knew him in our boyhood days, was born in Virginia, in 1 783 - born in poverty and left an orphan. By the help of a slave he learned the alphabet, and after he was converted in his teens, he could not read intelligently. But by the light of pine knots he studied the Bible at night, after hard days' work, and on Sunday, at some cabin on the hillside he would proclaim the Gospel with a pathos and power that always carried the hearts of his rustic hearers by storm. He had a voice of unusual power and could be heard two miles away. His discourses were brief, but always plain, practical and convincing. Yet with all his rugged vigor his heart was as tender as a woman's, with a sympathy that extended even to the insect at his feet. He was to all intents and purposes, a pioneer preacher of the Cartwright order, except that he had none of the great preacher's belligerency. He traveled the country from Ohio to Natchez, in Mississippi, and preached at every opportunity. His allotted work led him through much uninhabited country, among Indians, wild animals and equally wild men, but always trusting in the Lord. He was certainly a great preacher and a very remarkable man. Over sixty years ago we heard him preach from the text: "What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" and we have never forgotten the text, the sermon, nor the man. His widow died here in 1895, and his sons are all gone, except Washington S. The descendants of J. Fletcher and G. Wesley are still in our midst, and rank among our very best people. His death was peaceful, and triumphant. Many of his descendants are valued citizens of Mount Vernon.

The Watsons

Dr. John Watson came to Jefferson county in 1 82 1 , "squatting" for the winter at Mulberry Hill until next spring. John H. and Asa B. built a large crib on their claim north of town (the old Watson place), and they moved to it. In this they lived until the hickory log house was built. They tended a crop near Union the first year, but had their own place ready for business by the next season. The head of the family was a physician - the first to locate in the county. His quinine cost him ten dollars and fifty cents an ounce, and he sent east for an ounce of veratrum, and it cost him forty dollars, which showed that there were "trusts" in those days as well as now, but they would not trust the country doctor for medicines. The people in those days were quite healthy and never thought of having the new-fangled diseases that prevail in this enlightened age. The doctor found time to assess the entire county, and still keep up his practice, for which service he received seventeen dollars - about enough to buy an ounce of quinine. The dressed fawn-skin in which he carried his Assessor's books is still in the Clerk's office. He left the farm work entirely to the boys, while he attended to his professional and official duties. The wife died March 3d, and the doctor died June 3, 1845, beloved and respected by all who knew them. Their children were : Virginia, who married John Summers, whose mill and home east of town was always considered the most hospitable place in all the country; John H., who married Betsy Rankin, and their children were: John R., who married and died in Iowa; William D., who at an advanced age, resides in Colorado, and has raised a large family; Thomas P., who recently died without offspring; Milly F., beloved wife of the writer; Samuel H., long prominent in the politics of Jefferson county, now residing in Los Angeles, California; Joel P., postmaster at Ashley; Dr. J. H., practicing physician at Woodlawn; Amelia, deceased, wife of B. S. Miller, and Nancy, who died in youth. Then came William B., who married the Leonard girl and who resided in St. Louis. Then Asa B., who married Diana Ham, and their children were: Andrew J., Thomas J.. Mrs. Lydia Collins, Mrs. Carrie Pavey, Mrs. Lew ToUe, Mrs. Hal Goodwin and Mrs. R.

House. Then came Joel F., for many years County Clerk, and who married Elder Taylor's daughter, and they were the parents of Doctor Walter, Attorney Albert and Howard Watson. The latter lived in St. Louis, and died but recently. Joel's second wife is still living - a noble. Christian woman, who was Tom Pace's widow. The youngest was Harry M., who married a Cummins, and left two daughters, both now living in the far West.

The Baughs

Downing Baugh came early, acted well his part as a business man. Judge, Justice of the Peace, enterprising and useful citizen, and above all, as a Christian. Some years ago he moved to Mc- Gregor, Iowa, and but recently died there at a ripe old age of - perhaps ninety-five. He left his imprint on the early history of Mount Vernon, and left with us his posterity, of which we are justly proud. His children were: Mrs. J. J. Fly, who is still with us, at an advanced age, and is the mother of Walter, Oscar and Addison Fly, and Mrs. Carrie Spiese and Amy, at home; Mrs. H. H. Wilkerson, who moved to Chicago and died; Thomas J. (dead) ; John W., our well known express agent - whose children are: Frank and Nellie; Joe V., the present editor of the Mount Vernon News, whose children are: Ernest and Harry, and Mrs. "Hat' Thurston, living in Dakota. The writer well remembers being one of the charivari party who "serenaded" Mrs. Fly and Mrs. Wilkerson - both having been married the same night, over fifty years ago. The Baughs then lived on what is now Herrin's corner. We were sent over to Aunt Mariah's, who kept gingerbread and cider about where George Carter now lives, for the "treat" and it was a good one - ^just such a one as Aunt Mariah (colored) delighted to give.

The Paces

Joel Pace, tiring of the carking cares of office, moved to his farm (now General Pavey's home) and began to raise his own corn-dodgers. Flis twin brother, Joseph, was doing the same on his farm, south of town. Both had interesting and industrious families. Uncle Joel's children were: Charles T. (than whom Mount Vernon never had a better citizen) ; Dr. W. C, of Ashley; Samuel F., who died early; Edward C, who became banker, and died at Ashley; Newton C, deceased, who was captain in the army, and afterwards, for several years. Mayor of his native town; Addison M., who chose the great West as his home; Mrs. James Haynes (mother of George M., lawyer and historian) ; and Mrs. General Pavey, still on the "old hill." Aunt ParmeHa went home in 1877, and Uncle Joel followed her in 1879 - having served the town and county long and well. He has been extensively noticed in preceding chapters.

Uncle Joseph Pace died near the same time, full of years and honors that always come to a good man, who loves his neighbors, and serves God. He was father of Thompson Pace, so well known by many yet living; also of Mrs. George and James Dillingham; Mrs. Black Allen and Mary. None of the Paces have ever brought reproach upon themselves or upon Jefferson county.

There are many other families that deserve special mention, such as the Summers, the Andersons, the Mills, the Shorts, the Grays, the Baltzels, the Bowmans, the Newbys and many others of the very early days, but for the present we must hasten on, and as we have already given a brief account of the first marriage, perhaps we had bfetter refer to the second one - or rather to the three in one; six souls that beat as three, were made happy just over the line of what is now Shiloh township. The Maxeys and Caseys had already "mixed up" considerably and they seemed to like it. Mr. Maxey had a house full of pretty girls, and the Caseys wanted them, so it was determined that on a certain evening Thomas M. Casey (afterwards Uncle Tommy) and Harriet Maxey, Abraham Casey and Vylinda Maxey, and Bennett N. Maxey and Sally Overbay (who was raised by the Maxeys and went by that name) should be made one - no, we mean three - the first, and perhaps the only triple wedding that ever took place in the county.

In the "good old times" of which we write, it was the correct thing for a man to be the head of a family, and for a woman to be the queen of the household. Loving and working together, without impairing each other's personality or individuality, was the rule. They seemed to realize that the strongest worldly love is that of husband and wife - that love that makes "two hearts beat as one" - that love that unites them not only in acts of conjugal bliss, but in every department of life made them feel that they were not "unequally yoked together." To this usual mode of everyday life we attribute much of the "harmony of those days" when elopements and divorces were unheard of - when happy marriages was the rule and not the exception.

The identical evening came, so did everybody, and the pranks, jests and capers and good, hearty laughs that rang out on the night air, would have shamed a modern charivari party. But the triple ceremony was performed, everything went merry as a half dozen marriage bells, until after the repast. Then it was discovered that it was growing late - too late to go home till mormng, and the house, although large, contained but one room - and what should be done with these six, nay, three, hearts that beat as one, two, three. After the old folks got their heads together, it was decided to erect beds for them in the cook-shed and smoke-house. All hands turned out and with poles and clap-boards, they had soon erected three bedsteads, wonderful to behold, but sufficiently substantial for the occasion, and two of the happy pairs were disposed of in the smoke-house and the other in the cook-shed. It was an event long to be remembered - in fact, the most remarkable event of the kind that has ever occurred in Jefferson county. But it was pertinent as showing what the Caseys and Maxeys could do when they "put their heads together," after which it was always an easy matter to get other things going their way. And the Casey-Maxey combination was largely typical of many other "old settlers'* of Jefferson county.