Jersey County, Illinois - Chapter 3: Geology, 1885 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 3: Geology

The geological structure of Jersey county presents, with the exception of Calhoun, the most interesting and varied field for investigation of any county in the state. The outcrops of the stratified rocks include a thickness of over one thousand feet of strata, ranging from the lower coal measures to the Trenton limestone of the Lower Silurian period. Sonic time after the deposits of the carboniferous period were made, some great convulsion of the pent up forces of nature caused an upheaval of the strata, and a mountain, or rather the half of a mountain, arose, whose highest point was in the southern portion of Calhoun county, with the foot of the elevation extending in a half circle from Alton through a part of Madison, Jersey, Greene and Calhoun comities to the southwest corner of Pike county, on the Mississippi river. This singular mountain doubtless presented on its southern and western side a mural wall, showing the whole range of the Paleozoic strata, from the St. Peters sandstone of the calciferous period to the coal measures, including over 100 feet of the latter formation. Jutting up against the base of this precipice, the rocks, with the coal measures on top, lie in their natural positions, though somewhat distorted, as if they

This mountain was eroded away by the drift period, which, according to the theory of Agassiz, was an immense glacier, miles in thickness, and the finishing stroke in the earth's creation. The erosive forces of the drift period left the site of the mountain on a general level with the surrounding country. The stream known as Otter Creek has its source over tne coal measures, in the prairie near the city of Jerseyville, ami its course in a western direction, for a dozen miles to its mouth, passes directly over the exposed edges of the rocks raised by the upheaval, thus presenting nearly the whole series of rocks in the county. This locality, from the number of strata exposed in so limited an extent, makes it the most interesting field for the study of geology of which there is any knowledge in this part of the state of Illinois or the United States.

The following section will show the position and comparative thickness of the different groups in the county. The names of the groups given are some of the local, but are those by which they are

We shall now proceed to describe the strata represented in the above section, taking them up in their order of sequence, ami giving some of the more prominent features that have attracted our attention.

In the Quarternary system we include tin- Alluvium, Loess, and Drift, comprising all the loose superficial material that overlies the stratified rocks. The alluvial deposits of Jersey county are the bottom lands bordering on the Illinois river, and on the Piasa, Otter and Macoupin creeks. The bottom along the Illinois river is a deep, sandy loam.

differing somewhat in localities, by being formed wholly from the sediment deposited by the annual overflow of the river, or mainly formed from the wash from the highlands of the adjacenl bluffs. These bottom lands are exceedingly fertile, producing annually large crops of grain and vegetables, which are grown year after year on the same ground, with hut little perceptible diminution in the value of the crops. These lowlands are now gradually being elevated from year to year by the the causes already referred to; the swampy portions are filling up or being drained, and the arable area constantly increasing. The alluvial lands of Jersey county will, at no distant day. he very valuable.

That portion of the county bordering on the rivers has, adjacent to the bottoms, a range of high bluffs, cut up Indeep ravines and narrow ridges. These bluffs are covered with a heavy deposit of loess, varying from twenty to sixty feet in thickness. The term loess is applied by geologists to certain deposits of partially stratified marly sands and clays, mainly restricted to the vicinity of our great river valleys. The deposit is in a finely comminuted condition, ami contains the remains of fresh water and land shells, as well as some of the bones of animals of that period. It was doubtless formed after the deposition of the true drift, and when the Mississippi valley more resembled a lake than a flowing river. Where the deposit of loess is well developed, the bluffs usually present a series of bald knobs, which form such a marked feature in the topography of the county alongthe rivers.

This formation, from its peculiar nature, is easily manipulated by the farmer, and yields excellent crops. The loess seems more especially adapted to fnuts and vines, and some of the finest orchards and vineyards in the county are in this formation. It does* not extend far back from the river, except in the valleys of the creeks and streams, which are tilled with the deposit, in some instances, three to six miles from the Muffs, an evidence that the valleys were excavated by other agencies than the water winch now Hows in them. In many places in the deposits of loess in the county are found curious concretions, which go by the names of petrified potatoe or petrified walnuts. Some of these are very singular, but none of them are fossils, being simply secretions, and their presence is without doubt due to some chemical action among the materials of which the loess is composed.

Drift

The drift deposits are those accumulations of clay, sand and gravel which overlie the stratified rocks. The upper part of this deposit in this county is a yellowish, brown clay, furnishing an inexhaustible supply of material for the manufacture of brick. It is also used in the manufacture of coarse pottery, by being mixed with the blue clay beneath it. The middle division of the drift is usually a gravel bed, with clay or sand intermingled, and is the main supply of water for our wells. Boulders of granite, sienite, greenstone quartz and porphyry ate often washed out of these graved beds, and are seen in the course of all the. streams. They are sometimes called "lost rocks," a name quite suggestive, as they are indeed far away from their original ledges. The sand in the streams is all washed out of the drift.

The base of the drift in this county is a blue, plastic clay, in which are often found fragments of the vegetation of the period. A large proportion of the materials occupying the drift deposits have been derived from regions far beyond the limits of the state, and consist of water-worn fragments of primitive rocks from the Lake Superior region, and beyond, and which have been transported southward by the combined action of ice and water, and were distributed over the valley of the Mississippi as far south as the Ohio river, wdiere the whole valley was covered by a vast sea of water.

Sometimes fragments of valuable minerals, such as gold, silver, copper and lead, are found in the drift, and have been the cause of leading many persons to give many fruitless search for mines supposed to be hidden below. All over the country, in digging wells, pieces of coal are found that have been dragged away from the coal measures, and deceive the unwary by their presence. Occasionally in digging wells, after penetrating the drift deposits, an old soil is discovered. This is generally found in ancient valleys that existed previous to the drift period. Other creek cuts through one of these ancient valleys not far above the iron bridge, and there is plainly to be seen, below the base of the drift, a curious black or dark brown formation, almost wholly composed of the limbs, leaves and fruits of trees mingled with a true soil. From a cubic foot of this old deposit we extracted perhaps a score of perfect cones, from an inch to three inches in length, that belonged to some old eonifer tree. Of the vegetation of this period but little is known: the same may be said of the animals. They wire, however, without doubt tittrd to live in a cold climate. We have some remains of an animal found in the drift deposits near Grafton. It was an animal as large as an ox, and had long tusks, very different, however, from those of an elephant; it is unknown to science. From the same locality we have the teeth of a mammoth species of elk or reindeer, together with the remains of rodents of unknown species. On the Piasa. Macoupin and Otter creeks a number of the remains of the huge and peculiar mammals of the drift period have been found. Relics or remains of this kind, found in digging wells or other excavations should he preserved, as they are the fragmentary pages of a lost history.

Although no beds of the Tertiary age have been identified in this country, certain indications have been observed that would go to show that this formation existed in local patches at least, in tlie valley of the Illinois river. While digging a well on the William's farm on bottom, four miles from the Illinois river, at the depth of twenty feet, a stratum of marl and sand was discovered, in which were fossils undoubtedly of the Tertiary age. One of these fossils, in our possession, is a well preserved shark's tooth, some four inches long. The river valley at this point is three to four miles wide, and seems to he rilled with true drift deposits, beneath which was found the shark's tooth.

Coal Measures

The rocks that belong to the coal measures in this county have a thickness- of about '-'ihi feet, embracing three or more seams of coal of workable thickness. These coal beds under-lie the eastern portion of the county. There is no coal of any value west of the Jacksonville and Alton railroad, which runs through the county from north to south. On the western side of this coal region the measures, if any are found, are thin and of no great value, hut as we proceed easterly the measures increase in thickness, and the seams of coal become more numerous.

The following section is compiled from various local exposures, examined by the stale geologist as well as myself, and given in his report, from which we draw largely in writing this chapter. The section may be taken as the approximate thickness of the coal measures of the county:

The upper beds of this section, including the two upper coal seams, can be seen in one locality near the town of Brighton. The coal beds in the state of Illinois are numbered from one to twelve, commencing with the lower scam , which is known as No. 1. In the rocks, in immediate connection with each one of these coal seams, are certain fossils that are peculiar to them, generally in the shale, limestone or sandstone that form the roof over the coal. By these fossils, with which any one can with a little study become familiar, the position and proper horizon of each coal vein is ascertained.

The two coal veins, near Brighton, on the eastern side n{ the county, are known by the associating fossils as Nos. 5 and 6, in the series of veins in the great coal fields in the state. These are the best workable beds in Illinois, being the greatest in thickness, and furnishing the most valuable coal.

These two coal beds both crop out along the eastern portion of the country, and are separated by 20 to 30 feet of shales. They are both underlaid by a calcareous clay shale, passing into limestone. The lower bed is overlaid by a brown limestone, which sometimes forms the roof immediately over the coal, or is separated from it by a {hin bed of bituminous shale. The coal bed No. 5 furnishes most of the coal mined in the county, as it does in the state. It, no doubt, underlies the greater part of townships 7 and 8, in range 10, andmay be found still further west, but so near its outcropping edges its presence is uncertain.

least we have failed to find any evidence of their presence. There is, however, a third coal seam exposed on the I'iasa creek, east of Delhi. This coal seam has been opened at various localities along the banks of the creek, and is reached by a shaft on the farm of Silas Bates. The coal varies in thickness from two to three feet, and is overlaid by a few inches of bituminous shale, which passes upward into a brown clay shale. It is underlaid by four or five feet of fireclay and about 10 feet of sandy shale and sandstone, which lies directly upon the St. Louis limestone. There is no coal seam below this one, and it is probably the lowest of the series, and equivalent to No. 1. It is not so good a coal as Nos. 5 and 6.

In sinking a well for the city of Jerseyville, a few feet of micacious sandstone was passed through, which, in all probability, belongs to the coal measures. The rocks exposed in the streams north of Jerseyville belong below the coal measures. The irregular borders of the formation, without" doubt, run in an northeast direction from that city. There is plenty of coal in Jersey county for the use of the inhabitants. Its easy access, on account of its nearness to the surface, and consequently small outlay for sinking shafts, should make it very cheap to the consumer.

Chester Limestone

Passing below the coal measures, we come directly upon the lower, or subcarboniferous rocks. In several places about the head branches of Otter creek are exposed thin outliers of the Chester group, which is not more than 15 feet thick. On a branch of Otter creek, near

Beatty's Mound, there is a stratum of white sandstone three or four feel thick; below this, several feet of thin-bedded sandstone is seen, which rests on the St. Louis limestone. This sandstone. which, however, is really a silicious limestone, contains many beautiful fossils, among which are Retzia vera and Athyris ambigua, familiar forms in the Chester group. At Cooper's quarries, three miles southwest of Jerseyville, the same beds are partly changed into a brown, ferruginous, shaly sandstone, in which are curious nodules of good iron ore. In this formation are found some beautiful pentremites, with a triangular base, and of an undetermined species.

St. Louis Limestone

the underlying work along the outcropping edges of the coal measures. It has considerable development through the central portion of the county, and its maximum thickness probably readies from a hundred to one hundred and fifty feet. This rock, from its central position, is more generally used than any other rock in the county for building purposes. It has its greater development on the Piasa, and thins out in the northern part of the county, until it is not more than about thirty feet thick north of Jerseyville. There are many good quarries on the I'iasa. and the abutments of the railroad bridge across that stream are built of this rock, from quarries in its vicinity. It out-crops on the farm of James Lamb, and there are excellent quarries both south and west of Beaty's Mound on Otter creek, and at Cooper's quarry, three miles southwest of Jerseyville. It is the underlying rock beneath the city of Jerseyville, and is sometimes reached in digging deep wells in that locality. In the lower part of this formation in Jersey county there is a bluish, dove colored hydraulic limestone, which is as soft in some places as to have the appearance of a bed of blue clay. It out-crops on the I'iasa near its mouth, where there is a manufactory fin' making cement. It is simply burned in a kiln to deprive it of water, and then ground into Hour. It makes an excellent cement, ami when mixed by water with two-thirds of its bulk of clean sand, will soon harden into a body having the consistency anil hardness of rock.

The bed worked at the hydraulic mills is eight feet in thickness. Overlying the hydraulic limestone is a brownish magnesian limestone, in which are found < >rthis dubia, spirifer lateralis, and a beautiful little pentremite peculiar to this formation. This hydraulic limestone seems to be present wherever the St. Louis limestone is found in the county. Beds of it are exposed near Beaty's Mound, and it underlies the city of Jerseyville, where we have seen it brought up from the bottom of wells that were less than a hundred feet in depth. The western limits of the St. Louis group in Jersey county, would form an irregular line running from the Mississippi about midway between the mouth of the Piasa and the town of Elsah, north, one mile west of Beaty's Mound, thence to Macoupin creek. Five mill's above Grafton the St. Louis limestone is found, forming a part of the river bluff. It is not, however, in its original position, but seems to have been thrown down by the dislocation oi the strata caused by the upheaval of the Cap au Grey axis, which crosses the Illinois river a short distance above. These rocks at Dinsmore's lime kiln resemble the upper beds at Alton, and makeexcellent lime. This bed of rocks will, at some future day, be a great source of revenue to the people of the county.

Keokuk Limestone

This group underlies the St. Louis limestone, and has a thickness in this county of about 150 feet. It is generally thin bedded, seldom affording strata more than a foot in thickness. Almost the entire thickness of these rocks can be seen in the Mississippi bluffs above the mouth of Piasa creek. Fine exposures are also to be seen on Otter creek and its affluents, between Jerseyville and Grafton. The rocks on Otter creek at the iron bridge, for a half a mile above and a mile below, belong to this group; it is also exposed on the Macoupin, northwest of Jerseyville. The rocks of this group are not near as valuable as the St. Louis limestone, being shaly, thin bedded, easily broken, and liable to crumble on exposure. It was formerly used to some extent in walling cellars and wells, for which purpose, as well as for foundation walls, it answers very well.

One peculiarity of this group of rocks, is its beds of geodes, which occur in the shaly limestone strata, sometimes so thickly disposed as to press against one another. Many of them are hollow spher.es of quartz or chalcedony, with their interior cavity lined with beautiful crystal of quartz, calcite, dolomite, gypsum, aragonite, pyrites, pearl spar, silicate of alumina, and many other minerals in a crystalline form. It is said that there is no formation in the state that presents such attractive and interesting specimens of crystallized minerals, as are to be found in the geode beds of the Keokuk limestone.

On some of the branches of Otter creek after a severe rain storm, hundreds of these geodes can be seen lying loose in the bed of the stream. The Keokuk rocks are noted for their fossils, and the beds of this formation in this county are rich with the remains of ancient life. Fossil shells, corals, encrinites and bryozoans of many beautiful and varied forms are abundant. Among the fossil shells, the most common are Spirifer Keokuk, S. cuspidatus, Productus puntatus and Platyceras equiletera. Of the corals, the most abundant are Zaphrentes Dalii, Sphenopolerium, obtusum. Of the bryozoans, the curious screw shaped Archimedes Owenana is most common. A familiar acquaintance with the specific of the above named fossils, will enable anyone to identify the Keokuk rocks wherever they may be observed. Forty-eight species of fossil fish have been determined from this group, and are figured in the state reports. The temple at Nauvoo was built of this stone.

Burlington Limestone

This group of rocks lies below the Keokuk limestone, from which it is separated in this county by cherty layers of considerable thickness, and which form beds of passage from one limestone formation to another. On the farm of Mr. Wm, McAdams, on Otter creek, a good section of this chert bed, some 20 feet in thickness, can be seen with the overlying Keokuk beds, and beneath it the fossiliferous beds ot the Burlington Limestone. Itisan excellent locality for the student of geology to see a plain line of demarcation sepat rating two periods.

The Burlington strata below the chert is a heavy bedded, light grey crinoidal limestone, largely composed of the remains of crinoidea, interspersed with shells and corals that must have grown in remarkable abundance in that ancient quiet sea. In the formation of the chert bed these conditions seem to have been changed the exuberance of life is wanting the few fossils in the chert bed plainly showing the terrible struggle during an age of convulsions, for existence. The shaly beds of the Keokuk group, above the chert, show plainly that different conditions were ushered; the convulsions ceased, the storms gradually subsided, new forms of life, strange and beautiful, came slowly in the new seas, and the wonderful process of creation was continued.

The cleavage of the Burlington limestone is generally through the joints of the crinoidea, which gives the freshly-broken surface a crystalline appearance. The thickness of this group in the county is about 200 feet. The formation of these rocks seems to have been subject, at different times, to disturbing influences of the elements, alternating with periods of tranquility, and cherty bands are interspersed through the formation, causing much of the strata to be easily broken into sharp, angular fragments, and is useless for building purposes. There is, however, some good building rock in this formation in the county.

.me place. 190 to 2(A) feet high. The formation is exposed at the head of the hollow through which the road lends out from Grafton to Jerseyville. It is also seen where the Jerseyville and Grafton road crosses the south branch of Otter creek. Fine exposures of rock in the ravines west of Otterville, on the poor farm and in the bluffs and ravines near Fieldon. Among the fossils, those generally seen are Euomphalus latus, Spirifer Grimesi, Ortnis Michelini, with Actino crinus turbanatus, and many beautiful and singular crinoids.

The Burlington rocks forming the bluffs on the Mississippi river in this county, form perpendicular cliffs nearly 200 feet high. These being capped by 40 or 50 feet of loess, makes the entire elevation from 225 to 250 feet high. From the river they present a picturesque and beautiful appearance, the whole formation being weathered and worn into straight columns and buttresses that, at a distance, have the appearance of being the ruins of some old feudal castle, with towers and bastions and buttressed walls.

Kinderhook Limestone

This formation forms the basis of the lower carboniferous limestone series in this county, and rests directly on shales belonging to the Devonian epoch. Between Elsah and Grafton, where this group is exposed in the bluff, it seems to be about 100 feet in thickness. It consists of thin-bedded, ash-colored, impure, earthy limestone, with an occasional heavy layer of dolomitic limestone. At Grafton, up the hollow in which the road runs to the north, the formation is represented by 50 feel or more of gray, impure limestone, sometimes magnesian, with marly partings between thenaeds. These beds contain nodules of crystallized carbonate of limestone, with a silicious crust, resembling geodes in appearance, but having no cavity within. At Grafton, in the Kinderhook, which overlies the upper quarries, there is a heavy-bedded, bluish, compact limestone, called by Prof. Swallow, in Missouri, lithographic limestone, from its general resemblance tn the celebrated German stone used in lithography. The Missouri lithographic limestone, in all probability, occupies the same horizon as these compact heds of the Kinderhook in this county. This rock breaks with a smooth, conchoidal fracture, and from its compactness and fine texture would, no doubt, receive a high polish. Fossils are found in this group, but not in such abundance as in the Keokuk and Burlington.

Black Slate

The Devonian system is not very extensively developed in Jersey county, the whole extent probably not exceeding 40 or 50 feet. It is divided into two groups, the first of which is known by tke name of black slate. This group comprises a series of dark-blue, green or chocolate-colored shales, which pass locally into a black bituminous shale, from which it derives its name, which was given to it by early investigators of western geology. In the deep hollow going north from Grafton, this formation can be seen on the eastern slope, of a deep blue color, and somewhat resembles the hydraulic limestone of the St. Louis, hut is without its constituents, being a shale. In this same hollow the black slate changes its local color from blue to a greenish, brownish hued shale. In Graham's hollow, five miles northwest of Grafton, this forma-^ tion is a black shale, highly bituminous. On Otter creek, near the bluffs, in the lateral branches, we find exposures of this formation. These black shales have a resemblance in color to coal, and at a distance has very much the appearance of an outcropping seam of fine bituminous coal. This has lead many people to believe that coal existed in this locality, and much search has been made, and money and time expended uselessly. This formation occupies the horizon of the great oil producing zone of Ohio and Pennsylvania, but the bituminous beds of this county are not thick enough to promise any considerable yield of oil. The exposures of this formation extend in this county only from Grafton to the mouth of Otter creek, the lines of the outcropping group becoming shorter and narrower as we approach the center of the upheaval.

Hamilton Limestone

This group also belongs to the Devonian, and together with the black slate comprises all the deposits of that system in the county. It may be proper to state here, that the scarcity of fossils from the black slate makes it questionable whether it belongs to the Lower carboniferous series, or to the Devonian. There seems to be a plain line between the black slate and the Hamilton group; indeed, the line of demarcation is more plainly observable than between the black slate and the Kinder- hook. There is found a Lingula in the black slate that is identical with the Lingula found in the Devonian in other states, and its stratagraphical position would seem to place it in the Devonian. The Hamilton limestone, furnishes many fossils characteristic of the Devonian system. A thin strata of the group exposed in Graham's hollow, a few miles north west of Grafton., is literally made of the fossil inhabitants of that old Devonian sea. Some of these fossils are very perfect. Slahs of this fossiliferous strata make beautiful cabinet specimens. In some of the deep ravines, near the mouth of Otter creek, many of these fossils are weathered out, and can he picked up among the debris. In this locality corals are seen in remarkable profusion; there being at one time, possibly, a rural reef in the shallow Devonian ocean. The fossil most characteristic of the Devonian rocks of Jersey and Calhoun counties is a coral of the genus Heliophyllum, of these is one or more of the undescribed species. These Heliophyllums are called by some of the local collectors, "petrified cows horns," and in fact they greatly resemble a short, thick, curved cow's horn. The Hamilton in this locality is almost merged into a sandstone, is quite soft, and the fossils an; easily weathered out, making the vicinity a most excellent one for collecting cabinet specimens. The Hamilton is exposed in a narrow belt in the ravines and creeks between Grafton and the mouth of I >tter creek. It is not more than 10 or 15 feet in thickness in the county. In Graham's hollow, a few miles from Grafton, this formation is saturated with petroleum. Upon taking a portion of the rock, freshly broken from the bed, it has the smell of coal oil, and the petroleum can be seen filling the cavities in the rock. At two or three points in this locality borings have been made through black slate, Hamilton limestone, and sonic distance into the Niagara rocks below, in search of oil, but no paying quantities were discovered. These rocks are. however, in the same horizon as the petroleum districts of Pennsylvania and Ohio. The unmistakable presence of petroleum in the upheaval and outcropping edges of this system, in its limited exposure in the county, is significant at least. All the rocks of the county have a strong inclination downward toward the northeast, on account of the upheaval mentioned at the beginning of this chapter. If these rocks were tapped by boring on the eastern side of the county, where the rocks lie conformable and in a horizontal position, who knows but that coal oil may be found in quantities?

Niagaba Limestone

Underlying the Devonian system of rocks in Jersey county is the Niagara group of the Upper Silurian system. This group of rocks is important, from the great value of its material as a building stone. This formation is well exposed in the deep hollows and ravines, from the mouth of Otter creek to the town of Grafton, where it forms the principal part of the bluff on the Mississippi.

A mile below Grafton it disappears beneath the bed of the river, and we believe is seen no more in Southern Illinois. It has .a thickness in this county of about 120 or 125 feet, and is a buff-colored dolomitic limestone, in regulaT beds, which vary in thickness from four inches to three feet. At Grafton the group is very evenly bedded, and dimension rock, almost any required size, can be easily obtained from the quarries, which are situated directly on the bank of the Mississippi river, with the very best shipping facilities. The rock has a firm, even texture, cuts easily when freshly quarried, and can be readily worked into forms for ornamental purposes. It hardens on exposure, and is remarkably free from chert or deleterious material. Beautiful fossils are found in the quarries at Grafton, the most abundant of which is a trilobite, Calymene Bluman bachii, and a large multivalve shell, Orthoceras Annulatum. There are six or seven species of these curious crustaceans, known as trilobites, some of them very large. There are also several species of orthoceras, with bivalve shells, cronoids and corals. These fossils, especially the trilobites, are found in great perfection, apparently in exact positions as when living; in some instances a mark is left behind them, apparently the track of their travels, the whole indicating a sudden death. The crevices and apertures, caused by the shrinkage in the strata in this formation, often contain the most beautiful stalactites, or a beautiful encrustation of stalagmite on the floors and sides of tin' caverns. Fine crystals of calcyte are frequently met with. This formation contains the most valuable building stone to be found in the state, and are a source of wealth to the owners of the quarries. Some of the finest buildings erected in St. Louis had their wall

Cincinnati Limestone

This group of the Lower Silurian system is represented in the county by 40 or 50 feet of agillaceous shales. It appears to be mainly a soft, bluish clay shale, that weathers on exposure about where it outcrops, to a pure clay, that apparently might be suitable for a potter's clay. This clay has somewhat the appearance of some of the fire clays of the coal measures, but has not the same consistency. It is filled with innumerable small, lancet shaped crystals of gypsum or phosphate of lime. Many of the crystals are double; some are half an inch in length, perfectly transparent, and exactly resemble the point of a physician's lance. Many of the crystals are found adhering together, forming curiously complicated groups. Great numbers of these crystals are seen wherever we have seen these clay shales weathering out in the county. No analysis of the crystals or the clay has ever been made to our knowledge. They may prove to be of commercial value. The outcrop extends from Mason's landing, or Upper Grafton, where the blue clay is exposed at the base of the old quarry back of the mill, to within a short distance of Coon creek. Although this formation furnishes characteristic fossils in adjoining counties, we have found but few in Jersey, enough however to know it occupies the same horizon.

Trenton Limestone

has a limited outcrop in the county. It is well exposed on the farm of S. P. Pinsmore, and extends in a northeast direction less than a mile, and is mostly confined to section 9, T. 6, R. 13. 40 t<> 50 feet of this formation is to be seen in this locality. The rock is thin-bedded, compact, and of a light-gray or white color, splitting easily, with uneven cleavage. It has been quarried and burned for lime, of which it makes a good quality, but not equal to that made from the St. Louis limestone. It is filled with the peculiar and characteristic fossils of the Lower Silurian ape. Among those most familiar arc Orthia testudinaria, Spirifer lynx, Strophomena alternata, S. deltoidea, two or three species of Pleurotomaria,< (rthoceratites, and a large specie of Keceptaculites, or " sunflower coral," with remains of trilobites and crinoidea.

Early Settlement

To the reader of local history, this chapter is of general interest, but to the pioneer himself it is more. Here he has himself, and friends and neighbors, as in days past they first sought out the western wilds and fought for existence in the wilderness. See him, as he takes the book in hand, slowly, critically poreing over every word, recalling in his mind the pictures of a vanished past at the mention of some well-known name, or smiling as recollection brings back some ludicrous adventure in the early days of his settlement. His old associations, the trials and tribulations incident to a new country, the battles against hunger and cold while settlers were scattered thinly over a large expanse of country. All these rise up before him as he reads. Even now, in memory, he hears the wind moan round the humble cottage that first sheltered him, and hears the wolves howl as they did in days of yore. The picture of the past rises up vividly before him, and* he once more rejoices in the pride of youth. Now the thought comes over him that by and through his efforts he has helped to make this wilderness blossom as the rose, and emerge from a state of nature into a well developed and thrifty land, and views with satisfaction the growing towns and villages and fertile farms that dot the landscape over. But, perhaps, the brow will cloud ami the eye dim as memory's mystic voice recalls the dark and painful side of those early experiences. The loved wife of his bosom fading slowly away before the breath of the cold destroyer, or some laughing, prattling babe, the joy of the household, laid away under the sod in solemn silence, by the hands of roughappearing but sympathizing neighbors. Time has healed those wounds, but today, as memory is fast unlocking the chambers of the mind, the silent tear will well itself to the surface and drop as a tribute to the loved and lost of that by -gone time.

Notwithstanding the cares and adversities that clustered round the cabin door of the pioneer, these hardy Argonauts led a happy life. Here all were free and equal, and the absence of the restraining presence of wealth and position was to him a source of comfort and satisfaction. The rough hospitality, the hearty feeling of brotherhood, among these vanguards of civilization were the spontaneous overflow of hearts full of regard for humanity, and was practiced more as the natural prompting of their nature than from any teaching of a Christian duty. They were men in the highest acceptance of the

French Explorations

Early in the spring of 1673, according to the most authentic accounts, Father Marquette and Joliet, a furtrader of Quebec, with five hearty voyageurs, began to make preparations for a grand expedition to discover the mighty river in the west, of which they had heard from the Indians, and which is now known by the name of Mississippi. On the 10th of June, of that year, they started on their momentous trip. Crossing the water-shed dividing the Fox from the Wisconsin river, they journeyed to the latter stream. On the 17th of June, their two canoes entered the broadmajestic currentof the Mississippi river. They landed and remained for six days at the mouth of the DesMoines river, near the present site of Keokuk, enjoying the hospitality of the Illinois Indians. They then re-embarked, and sailing on down the mighty stream, came to the confluence of the Illinois with the Mississippi. Here, upon the 2nd of July, they disembarked upon what is now the soil of Jersey county, ascended the bluffs for the purpose of viewing their surroundings. They did not linger long but soon entered their canoes and passed on down the river as far as the present site of Memphis, Tennessee. On account of the exposure to the malarial air, and the toil of striving against the strong current, some sickness prevailed, but none were seriously affected, except Father Marquette. They were informed, when hearing the mouth of that stream, by friendly savages, that the Illinois river was a shorter cut to the lakes. They therefore turned the prows of their canoes up that stream. Its languid current was easier to overcome, and in the journal of the voyage, kept by Father Marquette, himself, is given their highly drawn pictures of an earthly paradise, which, although at the time were treated by all that read them as wild fancies, but were found to be simply the statements of facts.

The next visitors to this county, were doubtless some of the command under LaSalle, in 1679. He started Father Hennepin down the Illinois river to its junction with the Mississippi, and which was then to proceed up that stream towards its headwaters. Thus Hennepin was the first of this band to gaze upon this beautiful land. In 1680, while in search ofTonti, his lieutenant. who had been left at Fori Creve-cceur, and who had Keen deserted by most of his men, and compelled to leave the defense, came down the Illinois river, until he saw the mighty "Father of waters." He landed on the prominent point on the bank of the river, above Grafton, and set up a sign, so that it would attract the attention of Tonti, if he should come that way, and fastened to it a letter directing him to come on to the lakes. He then proceeded back up the Illinois.

Two years had hardly elapsed when this portion of Illinois was again visited by these adventurous Frenchmen. La Salle with 23 white men and IS Indians, again descended the beautiful Illinois, and reached its mouth on the 6th of February, 1682. It was their intention to descend the Mississippi to its mouth. but on reaching this point, he found that the great river was tilled with floating ice, and it was determined to camp and await the clearing of the stream. It has been conjectured that this camp was in the immediate vicinity of Grafton, but no clue exists in La Salle's account, further than a very vague description of the place, and the circumstance, that he could not cross the river through the ice so he most likely camped upon the soil of Jersey county. Here he remained a week. This expedition was the first to explore the giant river to its mouth. Many of the early settlers of Kaskaskia andCahokia came by this same route, the Illinois. Rut no settlement was made within the limits of what is now Jersey county, by these early French settlers, as far as known, hut, probably the timbered bluffs of the south and west of Jersey may have held many hunting parties in these almost, pre-historic days.

During the war of 1812-15, the Indians, incited by British influence, were very hostile to the settlers, and depredations w-ere of almost daily occurrence. Great numbers of block-houses or logforts, were built for the security of settlers' families, at intervals from Kaskaskia to the Illinois river. One of these log forts stood near the tile site of the present town of Grafton, at the mouth of the Illinois, opposite the town of Portage des Sioux. Here were stationed Mime rangers under ('apt. John Whiteside The troops marching to and fro, between, the settlements down the river, and the Indian villages above, crossed the territory of what is now Jersey county, several times.

Rut with the close of the war emigration set in toward the rich lands of Illinois in a strong and steady flow. Congress passing in 1813, the pre-emption act, contributed to tlii> to a large extent, a- prior to this the incomers were compelled, in most cases, to -- squat " on the public lands, without righl or title to the improvements that they might make, and were in danger of losing them every day. In 1815, the settlements began to push themselves out northward from Madison county, and in five years had dotted most of the country now known as Central Illinois. It seems that the Indian title to this land had never been extinguished, so, we are told, in about the year 1817, Auguste Chouteau and Benjamin Stephenson, on the part of the United States, bought at Edwardsville, of the Kickapoo Indians, 10,000,000 acres of land, lying between the Illinois river on the northwest, the Kaskaskia on the southeast, the Kankakee on the northeast, and the Mississippi on the southwest. On the 20th of August, Benjamin Parke, also, bought for the United States, all the lands on the Wabash, owned by the same tribe. In consequences of these purchases, the richest lands in the State were thrown open to settlement.

In the fall of the year 1815, six men, Daniel Allen and his three sons, John, .1 ainrs and Daniel and two brothers, Paul and James Harriford, left their native state - Tennessee, to search out a new home. They came as far as the Wood river settlement, without finding any place that suited them, and on arriving at that place, after some deliberation, started on furthernorth. They settled within the limits of what is now Jersey township, south of the Macoupin creek, nearly opposite to the mouth of Taylor's creek or branch, on Section 13. Their nearest neighbors were 20 miles south of them and north of them much further off. During the year 1816 these pioneers raised a crop of corn, and enjoyed themselves. During the fall of thai year Daniel Allen, Sr., and his two sons, James and Daniel, Jr., moved westward about six miles into what is now Greene county. The Harrifords removed to Missouri.

on Section 2, of what is now known as English township. He brought his family here from Upper Alton and installed them therein. At this place, on the 20th of January, 1820, was born Jarrett T., his son, who is supposed to be the first white child born within the limits of the county, now living. Philip Grimes resided in the cabin until 1822, when he purchased the improvements of Thos. Lynn, on section 23, of the same township, and moved there. Mr. Grimes was born August 2(5, 1782, in Virginia, and was united in marriage to Polly Boyett, June 4, 1808, in Davidson county, Tennessee. Mrs. Grimes was a native of that county and state, born March 10, 1790. She died September 29, 1853, and Mr. Grimes, October 4, 1851.

Philemon Higgins is believed to have settled on the banks of the stream called after him, Phill's creek, in 1817, as he was found there by those who passed that way early in the following year. He made this his residence for many years, and finally died in this county.

Jacob Lurton, Sr., came to Jersey county, in the spring of 1817, and built a cabin near the east line of section 1, in what is now Elsah township. He remained here but a short time, when finding the water not very good in that locality, moved a short distance east of it to the neighborhood of a spring, but which still left him in Jersey county. He lived in this latter cabin until his death in 1827. His son Judge Jacob Lurton and grand children are still residents of the county.

of June, 1817. Tradition has it that a party, among whom were the above mentioned, Edward Carroll, and others came through this section of the state looking for a home, the most of them going as far north as Sangamon county, but these two gentlemen liking the looks of the country hereabouts, stopped and made settlements. James Whitesides settled upon section 25, in what is now English township, where he lived for several years. He made another improvement besides this, and in 1S21, sold out and removed to Greene county.

William Bates made a settlement in Elsah township among the very first to locate in that sub-division of the county. He erected his cabin on section 25, in 1817, and resided there some years and finally removed to a farm near Upper Alton, where he died at a later date. With William Bates came his son, James, a married man with a family.

John W. Huitt came to what is now Jersey county, and located on the northeast quarter of section 31, in Ruyle township in 1818. This land was entered at the land office on the 23d of Oetober, 1820, in the name of H. and John, Jr. The elder Huitt remained here about two years, removing, in 1820, to the neighborhood of Carrollton on a farm, and later to the city of Carrollton, where he died in 1882. He was one of the pioneers of the state having located in Madison county in 1804.

The pioneer settler of Piasa township was John Wilkins, who came to this county in 1818, and located upon the southwest quarter of section 31. He improved a farm there, but in 1824, removed to section 18, near the present site of Delhi. He lived there some twenty years, keeping a stage station most of the time. He then went to Jerseyville to live with his daughter, Mrs. Harriet Silloway. Shortly afterwards he went to Paw Paw Grove, Illinois, to live with his daughter, Sarah Baker. While there he died. He was a brother-in-law of V. R. and S. A. Lurton.

William Larue made a settlement in what is now Rosedale township early in 1818, where he lived, on section 8, until 1837, when he sold out and removed to Greene county.

Jesse White came to Jersey county, in 1818, locating in what is now Mississippi township. He was born in Madison county, Illinois, January 5, 1807. He is now dead.

Edward Carroll was one of the early settlers of what is now Elsah township; he having located with his family on the center of section 23, on July 17, 1818. His settlement should probably date a little farther back, as he selected his location in 1817, and returned to it in the early spring of 1818, having everything in readiness for his family when they arrived, in charge of his brother-in-law.

With Mr. Carroll came his brother-inlaw, James Moffit, who made a settlement on land adjoining Carroll's. He resided here a few years, but moved back to Ohio, where he died.

John Carroll, also, settled in the same locality in 1819, and resided there until 1837, when he died. He was the father of Thomas Carroll, at one time county commissioner, and prominently identified with this county. The latter gentleman died July 24, 1870.

George Finney, who had been a soldier in the regular army, on receiving his discharge, in 1819, came to this county, and located upon the Illinois bottom land, within the present limits of Quarry township.

John G. Lofton and John D. Gilliam came to Jersey county in 1819, and made a settlement in Mississippi township, the former on section 31. This neighborhood received its name of Lofton's Prairie from the former of these gentlemen. Judge Lofton resided lure nearly always after this, with the exception of a short time spent in Fulton county, until the day of his death in 1837.

John D. Gilliam was a South Carolinian, but came here from Kentucky, and later from Madison county, 111., where he had settled as early as 1800. He settled, on coming here, on section 28, where he resided until the coining of death, in October, 1852.

John Grain settled in this county in 1819. He was a North Carolinian who had settled in Tennessee in 1800, where he was married to Heriba Rumney. In 1811 they came to Illinois, settling in St. Clair county, where they resided

Walter Cresswell located in the present township of Rosedale, in 1819, and is said to have b^en the first justice of the peace ever appointed within the limits of what now constitutes Jersey county. He received this appointment in the year 1820.

Daniel McFain settled in what is now Richwoods township, on section 20, in 1819. He built a cabin at the foot of the bluff in the same year, and gave his name to McFain's lake. He was one of the early justices of the peace of this county. He died while a resident of the county, in 1830. He was a Pennsylvanian by birth.

John Gunterman, a native of Kentucky, came into what is now Jersey county in the spring of 1819, and settled upon a farm on section 5, in the present Richwoods township. On the 10th of January, 1821, he entered a quarter section of land here, on which he lived until 1832, when be died.

Josiah Cummings and his sons, James and Jacob, made a settlement in Mississippi township in 1819, the former locating upon land on section 11, where he lived until his death. James subsequently moved to Oregon. Jacob died in this county.

Thomas Cummings, another son of Josiah Cummings, came to Jersey county in 1819, and assisted his father in agricultural pursuits until 1824, when he was married, and purchased a farm adjoining his father, where he resided until his death in 185(5.

Sanford Hughes and the others. He was a native of Tennessee, and had served some live years in the regular army. On his discharge he came here, as above, and settled on Lofton's prairie. He married Hannah Bates in 1821, this being the first event of that nature in that precinct.

James Thompson, settled in the present township i>t Elsah, about the year 1819. He afterward removed to the state of Texas, and has been lost sight of.

Joseph Basey, came to the county as early as 1819, and settled neighbor to James Thompson. He is reported to have been the first justice of the peace in this township or precinct, having been elected to that office in 1822.

Jehu Brown, commonly called "Judge," came to Jersey county about the year 1820, He was a native of South Carolina, but came here from St. Louis county, Mo. He. on the 5th day of January, 1821, entered 880 acres of land, in sections 1 and 2, in English township. He died while a resident of this county in 1835.

John Brown came to Jersey county in 1820, and settled on section 25, of what is now English township. He lived here until bis death which occurred about the year 1873.

Abirani McKinney settled on the Illinois river bottom land in Richwoods township, in 1820, but in October, 1821, having entered land on section 23, he removed thither, where he lived until 1822, when he removed to section 24. where be did die in the year L840. James McKinney, Ins son, came with him. The latter died here but his widow is still living in Kansas.

John Stall, settled on section 3, Richwood township in 1820, where he built a cabin, which he vacated the following year, going over on the Macoupin creek, cutting logs, and drifting them down to St. Louis.

Major (iersbom Patterson was one of the settlers, coming late in 1820, and entering land in what is now English township, in January, 1821. Before coming here he had lived in St. Clair county for some time. He was known as an enterprising man, and built the first brick bouse, the first mill and the first distillery within the present limits of Jersey county. He. was captain of a company in the Black Hawk war, and was afterwards made a major of the state militia. He was a zealous member of the Methodist church, and became an exhorter in that faith. He died in 1857, a resident of this county.

Major Patterson had a large peach orchard on bis place, and he put up a copper still, about 1828 or 1829, and entered into the manufacture of peach brandy. The quality of the product is described as having been very good, and as the liquor was very cheap, there being then no revenue tax, the capacity of the still was often taxed by applicants for the brandy, who would come with their jugs to be filled. Such goods are said to have been then much purer than they can be obtained at the present time, and were much used by the bardworking pioneers while at their labors. Still, it is said, there was little or no drunkenness among the early settlers. Major Patterson made a financial success of bis pioneer distillery, and after about ten years, quit the business, having accumulated considerable money and property. He sold the still to some

John Gill worth made a settlement in this county in 1820, in what is now Rosedale township, where the Otter creek passes through the bluff. In 1830 he removed to the township of Ruyle, entering a tract of land in section 29. He has since died.

John R. Black made a settlement in what is now Mississippi township, in 1820. A sketch of him will be found in the chapter entitled: "National, State, and County Representation," he having been the first treasurer of the county.

Samuel J. Kincade, came to Jersey county in 1820 or 21, and settled in what is now Mississippi township. The circuit court of Greene county, (of which this was then a portion,) in 1821, appointed him one of the judges of election for the company district, as it was called, to preside over the election of militia officers.

John Waddle, was another settler of the same year, as is evident by the record, he being one of the judges of the same election. With him came David Waddle and William Waddle. They probably settled within the limits of Mississippi township. These old pioneers are now numbered with the dead, but have descendants living in Jersey county.

William Davidson made a settlement in what is now Otter creek township, about the year 1820 or 21, coming from the American Bottom. After a short residence here he returned to that locality, where he eventually died.

Nathaniel Rowdon made a settlement in the present Richwoods township in 1820, where he lived for many years. He married a daughter of Abiram Mc- Kinney, who afterwards died. He is said to have lived, at one time, in a big hollow sycamore tree. He left here, going to Texas, where he is believed to have died.

William Dixon and Ira Kelley made settlements in this county early in 1821. They have long since passed away from the memory of the oldest inhabitant, but they filled positions as judges of election in 1822, as appears from the records.

James Barnes, who settled in Elsah township, was an incorrigible bachelor, and remembered by old settlers as wearing a heavy beard and whiskers.

Samuel Gates settled on section 9, Richwoods township, about 1820, and removed to Greene county in 1827, where he died in 1842. He was the first justice of the peace in the precinct, being appointed to that office in 1828.

John and William Buck came about 1820, and located in the vicinity of John Smith's settlement, in the northwestern portion of Richwood township. They removed to Greene county in 1823, and died there.

John Cox, who made homes for themselves within the limits of what is now Rosedale township. Elisha Fowler removed to Calhoun county, and died while a resident there in 1858, at an advanced age.

Thomas Cresswell and Samuel Cresswell, settled in Richwood township in the spring of 1820, where they resided for many years. Thomas located upon the southeast quarter of section 9, and Samuel on section 4.

Moses Seeds was the next settler in the fall of 182!). He located in Richwoods township, on section 17, where he lived until 1825, when he sold out and removed to the American Bottom, in Madison county.

John Thornton came to Jersey county in 1820, and in January, 1821, entered 280 acres of land on section 23, of English township, where he resided until 1824, when he disposed of this farm to Mathew Darr, and removed to Richwoods township, where he subsequently died.

Among the pioneers of 1821 or 22, was Joseph White, who settled in what is now Otter creek township. He died, a resident of the county, previous to 1830.

Silas Crain, Sr., settled in Jersey county in 1821, on some land one section 15, in what is now English township. He afterwards removed to Rosedale township. He died at the residence of James McKinney, of consumption.

John Medford made a settlement on section 8, Richwoods township in the spring of 1821. He was an Englishman but came here from Cape Girardeau, Mo.. He built his cabin, and started back after his family and brought them here and settled down to

Thomas White and Samuel Lofton made a settlement in Mississippi township in 1821. They resided here for two or three years, when they removed to Otter Creek towaship, where they lived for many years.

Jesse Watson came to Jersey county in 1822, and located on a farm in Richwoods township, where he hewed out a clearing and put up a cabin. Here he lived until his death which occurred in 1838.

John Neal made a settlement in Richwoods township in 1822, on a 40 acre tract on section 14. in the timber, one of the first to enter land on the bluff. He afterwards removed to another state.

Francis Colean, was another of the pioneers of the year 1*22. In April, of that year he entered the west half of the southwest quarter of section 13, in what is now English tow«ship, where he lived until the day of his death, in 1846.

A man by the name of Richardson, the father-in-law of Ashur Chase, made a settlement in Mississippi township in 1822, or 1823. He removed, sometime afterwards, to Scott county, where he was drowned.

John Ballard came to what is now Jersey county, in 1821, and located on section 30, of what is now Jersey township, but in the year 1823 he sold out to John Falkner, who died there in 1824. Ballard then removed to the present site of Jerseyville, and erected a cabin. James Falkner, in 1826, purchased the improvements of Ballard, and the latter

Mathew Cowan, who had settled in Madison county, in 1812, came to Jersey county in 1822, and made a settlement within the limits of Ruyle township where he lived for many years. He was a native of Virginia and died a resident of Jersey county. He was known by the nickname of "Doctor," and for many years had spells of insanity, but was capable of doing business between them.

John Falkner came to this county in 1823, and purchased the place on section 30, occupied by John Ballard, and commenced to open up a farm. He was a native of Pennsylvania and an excellent farmer. He was frozen to death in the winter of 1824-25.

John C. Whitlock was one of the pioneers of 1823, coming to Jersey county, and locating in what has since been known as Ruyle township. He was a native of the "Old Dominion" - Virginia, but came here from Kentucky. He died sometime in 1879.

William Gillham, the father of John D., following his son, came into the county in 1823, and made a settlement in Mississippi township, on section 29, where he died two years afterward.

Mrs. Jane Gillham, a widow with her family, came from South Carolina, in 1823. and made a settlement on section 28, in what is now Mississippi township. She died here about the year 1828.

Thomas McDow, a native of South Carolina, came here from Missouri, and settled on section 32, Mississippi township, in 1823. He had, previous to going to Missouri, lived on the American Bottom, being one of the pioneers of the state, where he was married in 1819, to Mary L. Lofton. He died a resident of this county in 1874.

Jacob Cummings settled on section 15, in the year 1823. He was from Madison county, and made an entry of his lands, shortly after coming here. He lived and died a resident of this county from that time on. The last event took place in 1825.

John Findley located on section 22, in Mississippi township, in the fall of 1823, but after a year's stay sold out and moved from the county.

A settlement was made by William G. Waddle, in 1823, on Section 33, Mississippi township. He was a native of South Carolina, but raised in Madison county, this state. He lived and died a resident of the county.

AshurChaseis numbered among the early settlers of Mississippi township, locating there, on the Stone place, in 1823. He afterwards moved to Knox county, and a few years ago was alive. With him came his father, Abel, who is numbered among the oldest settlers. The latter died a resident of this county.

Mathew Darr came to Jersey county in 1S24. He had been running a horse mill on the American Bottom, but liking the looks of this county, came here and purchased the farm of John Thornton, in English township. He resided here until is.").'*,, when he was removed by the hand of death.

John McDow, father of Thomas, came in 1824, and settled on section 2:',. on land now owned by Joseph Knight. He came from Smith Carolina, and was a powder maker by trade, having owned a mill in that state. He lived on the old homestead in this township, until his death, in 1835.

Thomas Cuimnings, a brother of Jaei ill's, made a settlement just east of the latter in the fall of 1824. He died a resident of this place. His descendants are among the citizens of the county.

Orman Beeman, in the fall of 1824, made another settler of the county, locating on section 30, in Mississippi township. He was a native of South Carolina. He died here at an advanced aire, about eight years ago.

Joab White, a blacksmith by trade., made his appearance in Mississippi township in the spring of 1824, and settled upon the northeast quarter of section 30, and opened a forge, which was the first in the county. He died a resilient of this county. He was a native of North Carolina.

James Hinson made a settlement in what is now Mississippi township in 1824. He died on the homestead which he took up then, and all of his children have followed him to the land of shadows.

Alexander P. Scott and David Gilbert made settlements and cleared land in the woods of Rosedale township, about the year 1*24 or 1825. Here they lived for many years.

came to Jersey county in 1S25, and settled in Jersey township, where he lived for many years. He died at his resilience here in 1885. He was a bachelor, and disposed of his property to schools, churches, ami relatives.

John Ryan was a settler of 1825, in Mississippi township. He located at first, about five miles southeast of Jersey ville, on the Caleb Stone place, but afterwards removed to the neighborhood of Carrollton. In 1840, he returned to this county, and settled on section 27, Ruyle township. Here he died, January 27, 1865.

James Falkner settled on the present site of the town of Jerseyville, in 1826, and lived here until about 1880 or 1831, when he removed to Quincy.

James Dabbs, a native of South Carolina, moved thence to Barren county, K\\, several years after his marriage, which occurred in 1802. There he resided until 1819, when he came to Illinois, and settled on Wood river, north of Upper Alton. In 1826, he came to Jersey county, and located on what is now the McAdan.s farm, but in 1829 or 1830, he removed on section 9, of Otter creek township, where he resided until

Charles Dodson settled on section 31, Mississippi township during the year 1828, where he resided severel years. He was a son-in-law of Judge Lofton. He afterwards went to Greene county, where he died.

In 1828, William Starr, Coe Edsall, R. C. Baugh and James Perry made settlements in Rosedale township. James Perry removed from the county years ago, and Baugh, Starr and Edsall died here, after lengthy residences.

Jesse C. Ennis first settled just west of Jerseyville in 1828, and afterward moved to Rosedale township, settling on section 16, near a spring of water. He and his wife died about 1833, and were buried in Rosedale cemetery, being the first interment therein. They were natives of Tennessee. Mr. Ennis, while a strictly honest, conscientious man, was rather noted in this locality for his aptitude for pretty tough yarns. One of these was, in describing the timber of this country, he said that he had cut down a sumach tree, from which he split out some fourteen joists for a house. At another time he related a long story about taking the fiddle and sitting down near some rocks commenced to play, whereupon thousands of snakes came out of their dens, as they will, and that laying about with a club he killed some three thousand of them. Many other stories he did tell all dealing in the same exaggerations.

Gregg McDaniels and family settled in Otter Creek township, in the spring of 1828, locating on section 7, where Charles McDaniels now lives.

In 1828, Jasper M. Terry, afterwards associate justice of this county, lodated on section 24, in Otter Creek township. He died in 1876. He is noticed at length in connection with his official position further on.

Richard and Samuel Rhoads came to what is now Jersey county in 1828, and made settlements. Both these gentlemen were natives of Kentucky, and located in what is now Ruyle township.

John Hart made a settlement in English township, in 1828, and in 1829, opened a small stock of goods in his cabin. He remained here a few years, when he left for other scenes. - W. D. F. Slaten made a settlement in the present township of Quarry, in March, 1829.

Ezekiel Chance, a North Carolinian, came to Jersey county from Madison county in 1829, and settled in Otter Creek township, but two years later settled in Richwoods township, where he died about 1879.

With Mr. Chance, came Maurice Armstrong, who was in partnership with Mr. Chance, but in 1831 they dissolved this and moving to Richwoods, settled down as neighbors. Mr. Armstrong was a very prominent figure in the county in those early days. He removed from here to Montgomery county, but later to Girard, Macoupin county, where he died. His son is a prominent merchant in that city at the pTesent.

Elias and William Palmer made a settlement in what is now Ruyle township, in 1829. They were fir m Vermont, of which state they were natives. William located on section 13. He died on this farm afterwards.

- During the years 1830-31, -John D. Combs, David and George Settlemier, James Cummings, Benjamin J. Harrison, William Harrison and Joseph Andrews also made settlements in Piasa township, in Jersey county, and are numbered among the gallant pioneers of this section of the state. John D. Combs has long been numbered with the dead. His widow married Levi M.Xeil. George and David Settlemier emigrated to Oregon. James Cummings moved to Montgomery county, locating in Litchfield.

A. L. Carpenter and wife settled on the site of the town of Jerseyville, purchasing the "Old Red House," a stageing station, or inn, on the present site of the Cheney mansion, as is more fully detailed in the account of the history of that town.

James B. Pinckard, Levi McNeil, Joseph Richardson and Samuel Clarke made settlement in what is now Piasa township in 1830, among the first in that section of the county.

Rev. George Slaten made a settlement in this county in the spring of 1829. He was a. minister of the M. E. church. He located in Mississippi township, where he resided until the day of his death, in 1844.

Dr. Silas Hamilton was a settler of this county during the year 1830, coming to what is now Otter Creek township in the spring of that year. He was a practicing physician. He died in 1834.

James Derick and Solomon Dixon both made settlements near Otterville, during the year 1830. The latter died in 1830; Derrick moved to Missouri. He was a member of Captain Carlin's company of militia, in the Black Hawk war. /

William Hamilton, a brother of Dr. Silas Hamilton, with his three sons, came to Jersey county in the fall of 1830, and located on section 13, Otter Creek township. He died in 1846, in Calhoun county.

William Moore made a permanent settlement on section 20, in Jersey township in 1831, but came to the county two years earlier, living in Mississippi township until then. He was frozen to death during the winter of 1835-6.

After this the settlement grew more rapidly, and many sought this paradise on earth. The details of the settlement of these and many other pioneers will be given at length in connection with the histories of the several townships, where biographical sketches of many of them are given.

Historic Items

The oldest living white child born in Jersey county was J. T. Grimes, commonly known as "Tram" Grimes. He was born Jan. 20, 1820, and is a son of Philip Grimes. J. T. now lives about one mile northwest of Jerseyville.

The first child born in the county is believed to have been a daughter of James and Julia Moffit, born in 1819. It lived only a short time, when it died.

The third white child born in Jersey county was Thomas Edward Carroll, son of Edward and Mary C. Wright Carroll. He was born on the 2d day of Feb., 1820, about three weeks after the birth of the second white child. He now lives near the east line of Macoupin county, not far from Litchfield, 111.

The first death in the county was that of Thomas Carroll, which occurred in July or Aug., 1819. The family of his brother Edward had come to the county, the year before, and settled in what is now Elsah township. Thomas had been keeping store in St. Louis before coming here, to live with his brother Edward. Not two months had elapsed after his arrival in the county, until he had contracted an illness which speedily resulted in his death. His body was placed in a skiff, and taken down to St. Louis for burial. He was the youngest brother of Edward Carroll.

The pioneer store of Jersey county was established in the latter part of 1829, at the foot of the bluff on which the town of Eminence was laid out, by Henry Mills, who had been running a store across the river at Portage des Sioux, in St. Charles county, Mo.

The third store in the county is believed to have been opened in 1830, by Woodbury Massey, at Mason's landing, but in 1831 moved to the forks of Otter Creek. He remained here but a short time when he removed to Galena, where he was wantonly murdered by two men by the name of Smith, in September, 1835. The cause of dispute was a lead mine that Massey was operating at the time. Henry L. Massey, a brother of Woodbury's, shot the elder Smith down upon the street, and Louisa Massey, a sister of the murdered man, arming herself, called Smith out of a store or saloon, discharged the pistol into his breast, and he likewise was called to his long account. Public opinion being in favor of Miss Massey, no action of any moment was taken by the authorities.

The first postoffice in what is now Jersey county was established at Eminence, in Elsah township. Isaac N. Piggott was the first postmaster.

In the year 1821, John L. Evans built a grist and saw mill on the Macoupin creek, on Sec. 33 or 34, T. 9, R. 13, This was a sash saw, and grist mill and had two run of five foot buhrs. One run of these buhrs is in C. C. Buzby's mills in Fieldon, at the present time. This on the authority of Moses Ward, of the latter village.

Gregg McDaniel erected a grist mill run by water power, in the county, and also the first saw mill. The saw mill was built in 1828, and was located on section 7, Otter Creek township, on the south bank of Otter creek. The grist mill was erected in the spring of 1S30, on the opposite bank of the creek. The dam afterwards washed away, and as steam mills were then being built in this vicinity, the damage was not repaired, and the mills were allowed to go to decay.

The second grist mill erected, actually within the present limits of Jersey county, was that of Major Gershom Patterson. It stood right east of what is now known as the John Brown place, about two miles from Jerseyville, and was built in 1828. The grinding machinery was operated by a treadmill run by cattle. It would grind about 30 bushels per day. He had a small bolter, which turned by hand, but the wheat was generally not cleaned before grinding, and the bolter, working very slowly, the bran generally had to be separated from the flour by the customer himself, after arriving at home.

The first brick house built in the county was that of Gershom Patterson. It was built about 1827, and was blown down by a wind storm in the spring of 1830.

James Redden and Nancy Bates, then residents of what is now Jersey county, were one of the first couples in the early settlement to be married. Greene county (Jersey was then a part of Greene) had just been set off from Madison, and no court was yet organized in Greene. So, Redden went to Edwardsville, got a license in Madison county, and then came back to get his intended bride. They traveled on horseback until sure they were in Madison county, then lighted a fire under a large tree and were there married by a justice of the peace. They then went back to Bates' to live.

John Clark, a Baptist,' was one of the early preachers. He went about on foot ministering to the spiritual wants of the pioneers. He is described as a tremendous tobacco chewer, though this in no wise interiered with his efficiency as a minister of the Gospel.

County Government

When the state of Illinois was admitted into the Union as a great sovereign state, in December, 1818, the territory now known as Jersey county was a part of Madison county, that then stretched away north to Chicago. In 1820, the inhabitants of this and Greene county put forth an effort for a separate organization, and the matter was brought to the attention of the legislature, that convened at Vandalia, in the winter of 1820-21. In accordance with the wishes of the people, an act was passed, organizing the county of Greene, which was approved by Governor Bond, January 20, 1821. This sub-division was made to include the present counties of Greene, Jersey, Macoupin, Morgan and Scott, and was named in honor of General Nathaniel Greene, of revolutionary fame. For a history of the government while Jersey and Greene counties remained as one, the reader is referred to the history of Greene county, in this volume. But that no item of history may be lost, it would be well in this connection to briefly mention some of the minor events that occurred in this end of Greene" county. It is of record that in 1821, the court laid the county off into military districts, for militia purposes; these were called company districts. The first district comprised what are now the townships of Quarry,

Elsah, Rosedale, Otter Creek, Mississippi and Piasa, and an election for officers - one japtain, one lieutenant and one ensign - was ordered, and John D. Gillham, John Waddle and Samuel Kinkead were authorized to act as judges of election. The second district was also in this county, and embraced the present townships of Richwoods, English, Jersey and Fidelity, and Gershom Patterson, William Adair and Nathaniel Rowdon were appointed as judges ef election. At the same time, Ira Kelly, Samuel Kinkead and Jehu Brown were recommended to the governor, Shadrach Bond, as suitable persons for the offices of justice of the peace. Jurors were also selected at this term of the county court, to serve as such at the next meeting of the circuit court, and among those drawn were the names of the following residents of what is now Jersey county: Ezekiel Gilham, William Davidson, Gershom Patterson, John D. Gilham, James Whitesides and Philip ( i rimes. The first probate judge of the double county was John G. Lofton, who received $30,121. for his services, and $5 for recording deeds. Among the jurors for the spring term of 1822 were the following residents of what is now Jersey county: Edward Carroll, Joseph White, Robert Avery, Joseph Piggott and John Gunternian.

As the southern part of Greene county increased in population, the idea of a separate organization began to enter into the minds of the people, and was agitated seriously. Greene county was at this time represented in the general assembly by two members, one of whom it was the custom to elect from the territory south of Macoupin creek. In 1838, Edward Daley was the member from this section, and it is somewhat due to his exertions that the new county organization was effected. The people generally were in favor of it, Col. John N. English canvassing the county for signatures to a petition to be presented to the legislature, in favor of the measure, securing several hundred names. Many people in Greene county were not averse to the measure, but some opposition was manifested in the town (it Carrollton, the citizens fearing that taking off so large a portion from the south end of the county, the removal of the seat of justice from that place to a more centrally located one would soon ensue. A vote on the question of separation was therefore taken, on the 5th of August, 1839, which resulted in 1,239 voting in favor of the erection of the new county, and 714 against it, a clear majority of 525 in its favor. So the separation took place. The larger part of the later emigration having come from the state of New Jersey, the new county was christened Jersey inhonorof that noble state, and Jerseyville was elected the county seat without opposition. At this time the government of the counties of this state was vested in a county commissioners' court.

were Thomas Cummings, Solomon Calhoun and Amos Pruitt, and the first court held by them was a special term, which met on Monday, Oct. 4, 1839, at Jerseyville, when all three of the commissioners were present. In the absence of the clerk elect, who had not yet qualified for the office, the court appointed Robert L. Hill, as clerk pro tern., to hold the same until the duly elected clerk should tile his bond and be sworn in, whereupon Robert Hill, filed his bond and entered upon the discharge of his duties. His bond, which was ordered to be recorded, was for the sum of $1,000, and was signed by Edward M. Daly, John Brown and Joseph Crabb, as sureties. The first business brought before the court was the appointment of trustees for the townships, and a county agent, Joseph Crabb, being the gentlemen selected to fill the latter position. Robert L. Hill was instructed to purchase a stove, and Edward M. Daly, the books, seals, papers, etc., necessary to carry on the various offices of the county government. It was also ordered:

"That Solomon Calhoun and Robert L. Hill lie appointed to contract for, and superintend the erection of a building, to lie located on the public square in Jerseyville. for the use of the county of Jersey, and to obtain from the trustees of Jerseyville a lease oi the said square; the said building to be 18 feet square, and one story high, and tolie built in a strong and workmanlike manner, and to he paid for out of the county treasury."

The second meeting of the count)' commissioners' court was also a special one, held Oct. 28, 1839, when John R. Black, the newly elected county treasurer, filed his bond for $15,000 and qualified. His sureties were Joseph Crabb and E. Van

Horn. At this meeting of the court the following were appointed as road supervisors of the various road districts of the county: John Utt, Joseph Duncan, Pollard Kirkland, John Gilworth, H. N. Belt, William Tompkins, George Stamps John Cowan, Joseph Crabb, George Settlemiers, Perley Silloway, Henry Ripson, William McDow, Thomas Cresswell, William Williams, Ezekiel Gillam, John Simmons and Jacob Lurton.

Richard Graham, who had been elected to fill the office of clerk of the commissioners' court, came forward, at this meeting, and filing his bond for one thousand dollars, with John Anderson and R. H. Van Dike as sureties, was duly qualified, and entered upon the discharge of his duties.

The first regular session of the commissioner's court was held in December, 1839, commencing on the 2d of that month. The house, contracted for by Messrs. Calhoun and Hill for the use of the county, having been finished by the contractor, Peyton C. Walker, it was received from his hands by the commissioners, and the clerk ordered to draw warrants for the sum of $220, in payment for the same.

Thomas Cummings having, with Chilton Smithe, been appointed a committee to confer with the county commissioners of Greene county, and to adjust the claim of Jersey county to apportionment of the internal improvement fund, at this meeting presented a report stating that they had secured the sum of $6, 000 and an agreement to make a final adjustment "under and after the census of 1840." Thomas Vance was at once appointed as an agent to loan this fund at a rate of 10 per

On Thursday, December 5, 1839, James C. Perry, a native of England, came before the court, and having taken the oath of allegiance, was duly naturalized a citizen of the United States, the first in this county after its organization as a separate county.

" Whereas, Elijah Van Horn, Solomon Calhoun and Thomas L. McGill, a committee appointed by a meeting of the citizens of Jersey county, to superintend the erection of the public buildings for said county, this day presented to the court a draft of a plan and explanations thereof, of a building for a court house ami jail for said county, which plan and explanations are ordered to be tiled. And it is further

" Ordered, that if the citizens of Jerseyville and its vicinity will build, at their own expense, a building according to the said draft and explanation, the said building will be received by the commissioners' court of Jersey county, tor the use of said county, as a good and suitable court house and jail for the said county of Jersey."

But little was done by this court, beyond the usual routine work, laying out roads, building bridges, auditing claims, etc. In March, 1840, however, they appointed John Kimball, assessor for the county, and George W. Lowder, collector.

The county commissioners' court that met on the 7th day of Sept., 1840, was composed of Amos Pruitt, Chauncey Brown, and Cyrus Tolman, the latter two of whom produced their certificates

" Whereas, Solomon Calhoun, E. Van Home and Thomas L. McGill, a committee to superintend the erection of the court house and jail of Jersey county ,this day presented to the court a statement, marked C, showing that the enclosing of tiie court house is under contract, and also showing the probable cost of finishing the court house and jail to be §2,170, and the said committee exhibited to the court, subscriptions, notes and obligations, to be applied to the public buildings, for the sum of 82,189.51 over and above the amount under contract and expended, and also an obligation to make up the deficit, should the above not he enough; and whereas, also, a deed from the trustees of Jersevville to the county of Jersey, for the public square in said town, being more than an acre oi ground, whereon the court hou.se now stands, duly recorded by the recorder of Jersey county, as appears by certificate thereon, has been presented to the court, which is ordered to be tiled. Therefore, it is ordered that it be entered on record, that the court is satistied that the citizens of Jersevville ami vicinity will comply with the provisions of the sixth section of the act of the general assembly of the state of Illinois, entitled, an act to create and establish the county of Jersey, approved Feb. 28, L839."

" Whereas certain-subscriptions toward the public buildings of Jersey county, have been made payable to the county commissioners of said county, and according to their terms are not binding on the subscribers until they are entered upon the records of said court, it is therefore,

"Ordered, that the said subscriptions be entered of record, and that the said subscribers pay their subscriptions to the committee appointed by the citizens of the county to superintend the erection of the public buildings, as other subscriptions."

The court which met at the regular September term in the year 1842, was composed of Chauncey Brown, Cyrus Tolman and William Palmer, the latter taking the place of Amos Pruitt. The court first assemhled on -the 5th of September. The regular routine work of auditing claims and hearing road petitions was gone through with, and the regular tax levy ordered. This latter was for thirty cents on the hundred dollars for county purposes.

In September, 1844, Maurice Armstrong became a county commissioner, the court for this year consisting of Armstrong, William Palmer and Thomas Carroll. At the June term, 1845, of this court, they appointed Thomas L. McGill, as the agent of the county for the collection of the subscription of the citizens to the fund for the erection of the court house and jail, in the town of Jerseyville.

county of Greene, and slate of Illinois, be and he is hereby allowed the sum of $900.00 in full payment for a certain farm situate and being in the county of Jersey and state of Illinois, containing 166 acres; it beingthe same tracts or lots of land heretofore owned by Thos. Vance, and conveyed by the said Vance to the said Samuel H. Perry, which said farm the court has this day purchased for the purss pose of establishing a poor house thereon ; and it is further ordered, that the clerk deliver to the said S. R. Perry, the aforesaid sum of 8900, in Jersey county orders, upon receiving the -and of conveyance of said premises."

In December of the same year, the county commissioners established a county poorhouse, on this farm which is located several miles northeast of Jerseyville, on which was a house already for occupancy; it was, at once, used for the purpose intended.

Maurice Armstrong, Ambrose S. Wyckoff and Benjamin Cleaver, constituted the county commissioners' court for the year commencing Sept. 7, 1846.

On the 6th of September, 1847, when court was duly opened, James McKinney, who was, on the 2d day of August, 1847, elected county commissioner as the successor of Maurice Armstrong, presented his certificate of election, and after due qualification took his seat.

James A. Piggott, James McKinney and Ambrose S. Wyckoff, comprised the county commissioners' court, from the 1st day of Sept., 1848, and on account of the change in the mode of government, consequent upon the adoption of the state constitution of 1848, held over until the following December, 1849, when the county commissioners' court gave place to

The first meeting of this court was held on the 3d day of Dec, 1849, was presided over by George E. Warren, county judge, assisted by Jacob Lurton and .lames McKinney, associate justices. The commission of the judge being read and placed upon the records, court was opened in due form, and proceeded to the transaction of the business of the county. The usual routine work of laying out roads, building bridges, auditing claims, etc., was gone through with. At the January term, 1850, the contract for the superintending of the poor-house for the term of one year from the first of March following, for which proposals had been invited, was awarded to Ira Moore, who had offered to do it for the sum of $235. About this time, on account of expenditures of the county exceeding the income, county orders became somewhat depreciated and Judge Warren gave considerable attention to the matter of repairing the credit of the county and restoring the warrants to a par value. One of the methods employed was to pay interest at the rate of six per cent, per annum, on all warrants or orders for which the treasurer had no funds on hand to meet. This was partially a success, the credit of the county being strengthened.

In December, 1852, Jasper M. Terry became associate justice of this court, in place of Jacob Lurton, entering upon the duties of his office at once. The question now came up before this court of the county subscribing the sum of $50,000 in bonds toward the building of the Jacksonville & Carrollton railroad and it was placed before the people who voted upon it on the 26th of March, 1853, and a majority of the voters of the county being in favor of the said subscription, the court

"Ordered that George E. Warren, county judge, or his successor in office, be, and he is hereby, authorized and empowered to subscribe, on behalf of Jersey county, 500 shares, equal to $50,000 of the capital stock of said company, and to issue the bonds of the county, in sums not less than $50, bearing six percent, interest, payable annually, and redeemable in the year (if our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-rive (1875), to pay such subscription in such installments as may lie called for by said company."

On Monday, December 5, 1863, the term of the office of the judge and associate justices having expired, George E. Warren having been re-elected to the position of county judge, and Jasper M. Terry to that of associate justice, together with Charles H. Bowman, the other newly elected associate-justice, came together, and presenting their commissions, and having been duly sworn, opened court in form.

In September, 1854, the court purchased of .lames C. Graham, 20 acres of land off of the west side of the farm owned by the said Graham, lying east of Jerseyville, on the Carlinville road, and including the house fronting on said road, together with the orchard and other improvements. The sum paid was $2,000. This was used as the poorhouse, as soon as possession was had.

On Thursday, Sept. the 10th, 1857, the Jacksonville, Alton & St. Louis railroad company presented a request ''that the court issue bonds to said company for the amount of the capital stock, $50,000, subscribed by the county of Jersey to the said Jacksonville, Alton & St. Louis railroad company, "agreeably to the provisions of an act of the legislature of

" It is therefore ordered, that said bonds be issued in behalf of said county, for the sum of $50,000, in sums of $500 each, bearing date in this day, and payable at the American Exchange bank, in the city of New York, on the 1st day of March, 1875, with interest at the rate of six per cent, per annum, payable on the 1st day of March in each and every succeeding year, at the said American Exchange bank. And that the judge and associate justices of the court sign said bonds, and that the same be attested by the clerk of the court, under tin- seal thereof. And that the clerk of this court sign the interest warrants, to be attached thereto, for the accruing interest on each of said bonds, and deliver said bonds to the said company upon the receipt of the certificate of stock, to which the said county of Jersey is court for the year 1857, there was an entire change in the composition of the same. At that time, 0. P. Powel,' county judge, Richard R. Ely and William Williams, associate justices, presented their commissions, filed their official bonds, aud being duly qualified, entered upon the discharge id' their duties.

With the December term of 1861, came a new county court, consisting of Richard I. Lowe, county judge, Jacob Lurton and Larkin Richardson, associate justices. In I860, at the June term of this court, $3, 4(H) was placed in Unhands of Richard I. Lowe, for the purpose of making the necessary additions and repairs to the courthouse according to plans and specifications submitted by William Embley, and adopted by the court, the additions to be made by Embley & Coddington.

--Whereas, upon the representation of many of the citizens, who are large tax-payers in the county, that by the offering of a bounty of $50.00 to encourage enlistments, a draft to lill the required quota of Jersey county may he averted, and at the earnest request of such citizens, a special term of the court is called on this day. And the court bei.ig satisfied that it is the general wish of the tax-payers of the county, that enlistments should be encouraged, both by individual and county bounties; therefore,

'-It is ordered, that the sum of $10,000.00 be and the same is hereby appropriated by the county court of Jersey county, for the purpose of paying a bounty of $60.00 to each person who shall volunteer from Jersey county on or after the 19th day of September, 18U4, until her quota shall be Idled.