Jersey County, Illinois - Chapter 11: Early Settlers, 1919

Pre-Emption Law

During the term of Shadrach Bond as territorial representative in Congress, the pre-emption law was enacted. This statute secured to the settler on public lands, the right to enter his lands at $1.25 per acre within three years from date filing thereon, and thereby secure his home and all of the improvements he had made since his settlement thereon. Many of the early settlers were poor; money was scarce, and prior to the passage of this law, speculators and others with money had entered the settler's lands getting all his improvements, and turning him and his family out of their home ; but through it he was made secure against such treatment. This security furnished a strong incentive for those desiring to secure homes to move further north of the settled part of Madison County, into that portion thereof, which in 1821 became Greene County. That part of Greene County which is now Jersey County received the greater portion of these settlers for a natural reason. Those going north from Madison County, had to pass over the present Jersey County in order to reach what is now Greene County.

Union, a member of the Territorial Council from Madison County, was in 1822 a candidate for lieutenant governor on the ticket with Governor Coles. He was defeated for that office by Adolphus F. Hubbard, al¬ though he carried Greene County over Hubbard who was elected by 224 majority. He, with his brothers-in-law, John D. and Ezekiel Gillham, in 1818, settled in what is now Mississippi Township, in what was hence¬ forth known as Lofton's Prairie, so named in honor of its most eminent citizen. For a number of years this settlement was the center of the most intelligent, enterprising and progressive people of the county, and it was the most closely settled. Mr. Lofton was the first judge of probate in the new county of Greene. Under the administration of President John Quincy Adams, Mr. Lofton was appointed receiver of the land office at Lewiston, Fulton County, Ill., which office he held for two years, and then resigned it, and returned to his home in Lofton's Prairie, where he remained until his decease in 1837, leaving his widow and three sons, Thomas C., Samuel A. and John W. Lofton.

The Earliest Settlers

Thomas McDow, Robert McDow, and Joab White all married sisters of John G. Lofton, and all settled in the vicinity of Lofton's Prairie. In fact this settlement was largely made by the Loftons, Gillhams, Mc- Dows, Lurtons, Whites, Beemans, Cummings, Carrolls, Waggoners, Slatens, Cockrells, Darlingtons, Swains, Utts, Piggotts, Chappells, Briggs, Spauldings, Browns and their relatives, either of blood or marriage.

Pioneer Conditions

This period was the day of large families, and intermarriage between the children of the settlers naturally cemented the pioneers into a more compact body, and greater unity and contentment prevailed in their home relations, social enjoyments and religious observances.

House Raising

Their first dwellings were log cabins, and to construct them required help from the neighbors and more distant friends, who upon invitation to the house raising, all turned out, both men and women, the men, who were all expert woodsmen, to cut, haul, raise and notch the logs at the corners, on the building-, put on the poles for the gable roof, saw down the logs for door and windows, and put in the joists ready for the puncheon or plank floors. Some of the cabins were made double, with one side open between the other two. The women who came to these gatherings, all assisted in the cooking for the men and themselves, and in the evening, after supper, the young folks had a social dance, played games or participated in other amusements as best suited their tastes.

Social Diversions

At their log rollings, chopping bees, corn huskings, apple parings, wool pickings and quiltings and other gatherings, there were similar social entertainments and evening festivities as those of the house rais¬ ings. There Avas always some available person to play the fiddle or lead in the games and amusements. If any person was in need of help, by reason of sickness, or other misfortune, the neighbors would get together, chop, haul and prepare wood, husk corn, harvest the wheat or oats, furnish provisions, or to do anything to relieve and comfort those in need. These actions flowed from a natural kindliness of heart and a common feeling of mutual dependence the one upon the other. They Avere pioneers, way out in the Avilds of Illinois, and entirely dependent upon their own resources.

Pioneer Life

Husbands and wives Avere partners in the highest sense of the word, and each voluntarily and cheerfully assumed the responsibilities per¬ taining to his or her part of the Avork of establishing and maintaining the new home. The men cleared the land, built their houses, fences, planted crops, and orchards, provided the lhre stock, including horses, if any, cattle, sheep, hogs, poultry, wagons or carts, Avooden mould plows, wooden harrows. The harness for horses was woven straw collars, Avooden liames, rawhide tugs, ox yokes for the oxen. No carriages, buggies or other spring vehicles Avere in use then. Hand looms, spin¬ ning Avheels and crude cooking* utensils Avere possessed by all. Cooking or heating stoves were unknown in those days. The cooking Avas all done in the fireplace, either with the coals, or in pots and kettles hanging upon the crane which was attached to one side of the fireplace, and Avhich swung in or out as necessary. The Avomen cared for the cabins, made garden, milked the cows, made butter and cheese, picked the burrs from the fleece of the sheep, carded the wool into rolls, spun the rolls into yarn, wove the yarn into cloth, from which they made clothing for themselves and the men. They also wove blankets and other bed clothing, and carpets, when they had any, knit socks and stockings all by hand. They made quilts at home, or at quilting parties. The daughters of the household were all trained in all of this work, and those who were the best skilled in all of these duties were regarded as the most desirable wives by the young men of the neighborhood.

Pioneer Schools

. There were no free schools, and what education the children received, was acquired in their own homes, or at subscription schools. The neighbors would club together and employ a teacher who boarded around, a week with each patron, and received fifty cents to one dollar a week for his or her services, which pay was regarded as very good wages in those days. There were no schoolhouses, and the schools were taught in the homes of the patrons of the schools, as arranged by mutual consent, or in cabins erected for that purpose. There were very few books, and reading, writing and arithmetic in its elementary rules, only were taught. In those days many of the heads of families could neither read or write, although the people of Lofton's Prairie were an exception to that rule, as the leaders were mostly fairly well educated for that period.

There was an abundance of wild game such as deer, turkey, pheasant, prairie chicken, quail, and in the spring and fall seasons, goose, brant, duck and pigeon. The streams were well stocked with fish. In the forest, oak trees supplied acorns called mast, upon which hogs were fed and fattened; and there were hickory nuts, walnuts, pecans, hazel¬ nuts, cherries, plums, grapes, persimmons, red and black haws, paw paws, blackberries, raspberries, dewberries, strawberries, crabapples, mayapples. The hazelnuts and smaller berries grew in the open prairies, or on the skirts of the forests.

Prairie Fires

While there were springs of clear, cool water, the prairie land was covered with a blue stem grass that grew to great height, the burning off of which in the fall of the year made an intense heat and often destroyed everything in its course, the young timber, settlers' improvements, and all animals or persons in its way. The only safety was in backfiring as it was called, that is, the person in danger, before the fire reached him, had to start a fire where he was, and after it had burned a sufficient distance, he would go over the burned tract, and thus escape from the main fire. Then there was also danger from the forest fires, started by hunters, campers or other careless persons, among the forest leaves, and in case of a heavy wind, or even a strong breeze, the fire would spread, and be as dangerous as the prairie fires. Whole neighborhoods of settlers, men, women and children of sufficient size, would be called out to fight the fire, and continue the contest day and night until it was headed off, usually by clearing the ground of its coat of leaves, and backfiring, and then watching for flying branches or burning leaves which would be carried by the wind beyond this backfire barrier. These would be attacked with wet sacks, or other means would be taken to extinguish the fire before it could get another start.

Unusual Emergencies

These were strenuous and dangerous emergencies, taxing the courage and physical endurance of the early settlers, whose farms were along the skirt of timber, and extending out into the prairie, where this was possible. Many of the pioneers went into the timber because they had to get wood for their buildings, all of their other improvements, and for their fires. Many were born and bred woodsmen, and found security and safety in the timber, and were afraid of the open prairie with its annual fires, insecurity from attacks from the Indians, and supposed hardships and impossibility of hauling sufficient timber to improve and maintain the rude appliances then possessed by them. There in the timberland, which skirted the streams, springs were to be found which supplied them with cool water for both the family and live stock.

Early Mills

The nearest mill during pioneer days, for grinding wheat or corn was at Woodriver, near Upper Alton, about twenty miles from Lofton's Prairie. It was a horse-mill, with a large platform wheel, upon which horses or oxen were hitched to a beam and traveled up an incline and thus forced the platform to revolve for the motive power. This was a slow process, and as it was the only means of supplying a large territory, the patrons had to wait for their turns, which sometimes took several days to make the trip, get the grist and return home. There was no bolting apparatus, and customers were compelled to have sieves to sep¬ arate the bran from the flour or meal. Another means of obtaining flour or meal was to make a crude appliance by punching holes in a sheet of tin, nailing it to a board, over which the ears were rubbed. The mortar and pestle were also used.

Primitive Methods

There were no percussion matches, and in case the fire was extin¬ guished, the settlers had to go to a neighbor, sometimes a mile or more away, and get live coals, or rub sticks together until the friction created fire. If there were powder in the house, and punk on hand, a blaze could be started, or one could also be obtained with a flint and steel and punk. Funk was a fungus growth from dead trees, much used by the pioneers, and it was regarded as very important that each family keep a supply of the punk on hand at all times.

There were no roads, except those for convenience between neighbors, and these were made upon the most direct routes without reference to congressional lines or surveys, and farm improvements were made with reference to these primitive roads. The live stock was marked with the owner's mark, and ran at large. Sheep, cows and horses usually were belled, the bell being fastened around their necks by thongs, or straps. Each settler was familiar with the sound of his bells, and thus could trace and find his stock, no matter how far strayed away from home. There were no butchers, or fresh meat markets, and if a settler wanted some fresh meat, he killed an animal, reserved what he desired for his own use, and distributed the rest among his neighbors, and they in turn did likewise when they butchered. If a visit was to be made with relatives or friends at a distance, the calves were turned out with the cows, the family loaded themselves into the wagon or cart, the cabin door was shut, and one, two or three weeks were occupied with the trip. The neighbors looked after the live stock, and there w7as no need to hurry back.

Lack Of Physicians

There were no regular physicians. The neighbors looked after the sick with such remedies as they were accustomed to use, and some of the older women acted, when need arose, as midwives.

No Shopping Facilities

There were no towns or stores nearer than Edwardsville or St. Louis, and if any shopping had to be done, a neighbor would take his wagon and team, load on it whatever the other settlers desired' to send to market for sale, and take with him a memorandum of purchases to be made. He would make his trip, sell the goods, make his purchases, collect whatever mail matter there was at the post office for the settlers, and upon his return distribute his load.

Pioneer Postal Regulations

The postage of letters had to be paid at the office of delivery, and as money was very scarce, a letter would sometimes lie in the post office for a month before the addressee could raise the twenty-five cents necessary to defray the postal charge. All of these conditions prevailed a century ago when the first settlements were made in Lofton's Prairie, and the same ones were applicable to those who settled in other parts of Jersey County at about the same time, and for more than a decade later.

First Settlements

The settlements north and west of Edwardsville were retarded for several years by reason of the Indian claims of ownership thereof; and during the pendency of this controversy, Governor Edwards warned all settlers to keep off this land. In 1817 or 1818 Auguste Choteau and Benjamin Stephenson, as commissioners in behalf of the United States, in a treaty with the Kickapoo Indians, at Edwardsville, purchased all of the rights of the said Indians, in 10,000,000 acres of land, lying between the Illinois River on the northwest, the Kaskaskia River on the south¬ east, the Kankakee River on the northeast, and the Mississippi River on the southwest, which purchase included all of the lands in Greene and Jersey counties. As soon as possible after the execution of this treaty, the lands were opened for settlement. It is impossible to de- termine accurately the time when the first settlement was made in the present limits of Jersey County. The first settlers were mostly poor, and money was scarce, and difficult to secure for the entry of land, and therefore, in some instances, the settlers merely squatted upon the land "without any right. In other instances they filed pre-emption claims which gave them three years in which to raise the money and enter the land, or to sell their pre-emption rights to others, and let the purchaser enter the land. We have no record of these pre-emption claims, or any transfer of them.

Jehu Brown

One of the very early settlers was Jehu Brown, who took 880 acres of land, in what is now English Township, prior to 1830. He had sold a farm in St. Louis County, Mo., for a large sum, and determined to move to Illinois, where the government price of land being only $1.25 per acre, with a few thousand dollars, he could secure title to a large amount of land. His lands were along the edge of the timber, and extend¬ ing into the prairie on the east, where that was possible. Otherwise his land was wholly in the timber. This rule was followed by many of the early settlers. Their training had made woodsmen of them, and they were as a rule timid about going into the prairie any distance from the timber, first on account of the disastrous prairie fires and secondly on account of the difficulty in securing sufficient timber for building pur¬ poses and fuel. These reasons were regarded as very important ones in determining the settlers upon their location in opening up a new farm. As "Uncle" John Gunterman stated to the writer in 1870:

John Gunterman

"My father settled on the Illinois River bottom in 1821. and after living there several years, I had an attack of chills and fever, which per¬ sisted for two or three years, and from which I could obtain no relief. I finally concluded that the malarial atmosphere arising from the low bottom land was the cause of my diseased condition, and that I must get away from it, onto higher grounds further east. So I went to my old friend Mathew Darr, who lived in the skirt of timber, his farm ex¬ tending out into the prairie. I spent a week there, and we talked the matter over from every point of view for the entire week, and the con¬ clusion that we reached was that a man's life was too short to prepare and haul lumber out onto that prairie to improve a farm, and if he did, he would freeze to death in the winter, or the prairie fires would burn everything up." In accordance with this decision, Mr. Gunterman en¬ tered the land upon which he was living in 1870, which was northeast of Fieldon in Richwoods Township. He said that at the time that he was at Mr. Darr,'s, all of the land, so he supposed, between there and Vincennes, Inch, was open for settlement. It may be added that the most valuable and productive farms in this county are now upon those lands that Mr. Gunterman refused to enter. This feeling of dislike for the prairie lands was general at that time, and for several years there¬ after.

Dr, Silas Hamilton

The year 1830 was made a prominent one in the history of the ter¬ ritory now known as Jersey County, by the coming of Dr. Silas Ham¬ ilton. He was a native of Vermont, born at Tinmouth, May 19, 1775, a son of Elisha and Mary (Smith) Hamilton. The later was a descend¬ ant of one of the founders of the city of Worcester, Mass., and her father and brother were with General Wolfe in his attack upon Quebec, during the French and Indian War, and were both killed upon the Plains of Abraham, in the same battle in which General Wolfe was slain. At the age of twelve years Silas Hamilton was afflicted by what was then known as a fever sore, or white swelling in his right hip, which resulted in his being a cripple, and from which he suffered much pain and inconvenience all the rest of his life. His father had a large family, and with but limited means, he was unable to give them an education, but his son, Silas, having an indomitable will, and a determination to succeed, which characterized him in all his after life, at the end of three years, and before he was able to walk or leave his room, organized a school there, which he taught for one term. Later on, he had improved so in health, that with the aid of crutches, he could walk a few steps, and he then moved his school to a log cabin near his home, and with his crutches, resting at intervals upon a chair carried for him by his youngest sis¬ ter, Elizabeth, who later married Gilbert Douglas, he was able to reach his school. He pressed on through these obstacles and endured count¬ less hardships, and secured his preliminary education, and then entered the office of his elder brother. Dr. Ziba Hamilton, and by thorough and exhaustive study and close application, prepared himself for the prac¬ tice of medicine, which he followed for several years in his native state.

with his brother Ziba. Later he removed to Wallingford, Vt., where he remained for some time, having a marked success in his profession, in 1801 he was married to Hannah Ives, a daughter of a prominent cit¬ izen of Wallingford. In 1806, realizing that the frail condition of his health would not permit him longer enduring the rigors of the cold, bleak winters of his native state, he determined to remove to a milder climate, farther south, and in the fall of that year, traveled overland through the states of Virginia and Kentucky, reaching Nashville, Tenn., where, upon invitation, he and his family spent the winter at the "Her¬ mitage," as guests of Gen. Andrew Jackson. There Doctor Hamilton met and made the acquaintance of many of the leading citizens of the state, and in the following spring opened an office at Nashville, and practiced his profession there for several years, and later removed to Natchez, Adams County, Miss., then the capital of that state, and the most important social and commercial center upon the Mississippi River, above New Orleans. He achieved marked success, both professionally and financially, and at the same time educated his only child, Silas Hamilton, Jr. Having accumulated a considerable fortune, and being an opponent of slavery, as practiced in the "cotton belt," where slaves were more cruellv treated and used than cattle or horses, he determined to open a plantation, stock it with slaves, in charge of his son, and by humane and kindly treatment, lead his neighbor slave owners to modify their cruel usage of their slaves and inaugurate a better policy. He secured a plantation, and stocked it with nineteen slaves, under the charge of his son, and planted a crop of cotton in the spring of 1823, but unfortunately on July 11 of that year, Silas, Jr., died. This was a severe blow to his father, but he continued to operate his plantation un¬ til 1829, when he concluded to retire from the active practice of med¬ icine and from his attempt to Christianize his neighbor slave owners, and remove to a free state. So he assembled his relatives and friends about him, and started out to spend the remainder of his life in the quiet enjoyment of their society. Having matured his plans and ar¬ ranged with his neighbors in the vicinity of Kingston, Adams County, Miss., to co-operate with him in his removal and settlement, he and his wife embarked from Natchez for New Design, Monroe County, Ill., the home of his nephews, Thomas M. and Daniel Hamilton, sons of his brother, Capt. Nathaniel Hamilton. The latter had removed from Ver¬ mont to Ohio in 1797 and settled on the Muskingum River, above Mari¬ etta, then the capital of Northwestern Territory, where he remained until the winter of 1817-18, when his sons built a flatboat, on which they loaded all of their families and effects and reached New Design in April, 1818, in time to vote for delegates, to the Constitutional Con¬ vention, which enacted the Constitution under which the State of Illi¬ nois was admitted to the Union as a state, that same year. They re¬ mained there until their removal to Jersey County. Nathaniel and Betsy (McClure) Hamilton both died at New Design, as also did Han¬ nah Ives Hamilton, wife of Dr. Silas Hamilton.

Otter Creek Prairie

During the fall and winter of 1829, Doctor Hamilton and his nephew, Thomas M. Hamilton, on horseback, explored the western part of Illi¬ nois as far north as Adams County, seeking a suitable location for the proposed colony. Its main requirements were, first, a sufficient amount of United States government land subject to entry ; second, a location within a reasonable distance of the Mississippi River ; third, fertile soil, well watered and drained, suitable for the purposes of farming and stock raising, and well supplied with timber for fuel, building and all farming purposes. After due consideration, Doctor Hamilton for his own purposes selected the east half of section 11, and the west half of section 12, township 7, range 12 of Otter Creek Prairie. The adja¬ cent lands on the east, west and south were selected for his family rel¬ atives and those to the south and south of them for his Mississippi and other friends. These plans were carried into effect by the entry of the lands subject to entry, at the United States land office at Edwardsville, and by the purchase of such lands as had been entered in the territory selected for this settlement. At the time Doctor Hamilton came to Illi¬ nois to perfect his arrangements for the location of his colony, there were but 320 acres of land actually entered in town 7, range. 12, and his entry of AVLo SE 12-7-12, bears the date of April 9, 1830. He had made the acquaintance of the Loftons, Gillhams, McDows, Whites, Slatens, Lurtons and others in Lofton's Prairie, and his proposed col¬ ony being near them on the west, and the country being but sparsely settled mostly by pioneers of limited means, the coming of a man of wealth and influence, with such advanced ideas, was naturally a topic of much interest to the community, and there was such a general rush to participate in the benefits of identification with this new enterprise, that many entries of land were made with this purpose in view. Doc¬ tor Hamilton returned to Mississippi, closed his business there, took his twenty-eight slaves to Cincinnati, Ohio, and manumitted them, giving bond that they should not become a public charge. He brought with him Henry Walker and his wTife, Venus, and George Washington, the two first named, known as Uncle Henry and Aunt Venus, as house servants, and George to be educated as a missionary to his own people in Africa. He had already arranged for the settlement of his relatives around his plantation, and his Mississippi friends on the adjoining lands in Otter Creek prairie, and in 1832-33 this was the most densely pop¬ ulated community in this part of Illinois. Among his relatives were his nephews, Thomas M. and Daniel H. Hamilton, Ezra Hurd and Polly (Hamilton) Hurd, a sister of Doctor Hamilton, both of whom died in the fall of 1831 at their Otter Creek home, leaving their sons, J. Montgomery, William and Ezra, Jr., and Caroline Ripson, their daughter, surviving, and also Gilbert Douglas and Elizabeth, his wife, a sister, and William and Aaron Hamilton, his brothers. Henry Noble, James and William Dougherty and John S. Lamb were old neighbors from Mississippi, and were all possessed of ample means for the im¬ provement of their new homes, and to assist their neighbors to do like¬ wise. Among those neighbors wTere the Terrys, Brooks, Waggoners, Whites, Buckles, McDows, Beemans, Smiths, Slatens, Stilwells, Cooks, Sansoms, Curtis', Dabbs and McDaniels. These all had large families, and through correspondence with their relatives and friends in their original homes and through intermarriage, rapidly increased the num¬ ber of residents of Otter Creek Prairie settlement. The generally trav¬ eled road from Madison County to Carrollton, the county seat of Greene County, was through Lofton's Prairie and Otter Creek Prairie, and due north, through the Patterson and Brown settlements. Carrollton wTas seventeen miles north of Otter Creek. At that time there was no settle¬ ment at Jerseyville, and no road ran through the Jerseyville prairie.

While at the land office at Edwardsville, Doctor Hamilton became acquainted with the prominent men there, among whom were former Governors Edwards, and Coles, and James Mason, the latter a brotherin-law of Henry Von Phul, one of the leading merchants of St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Mason had made extensive entry of land at Bloomington, Quincy, Springfield and Edwardsville. St. Louis was a small city at that time, and was especially opposed to having a rival city in Illinois, at Alton. After repeated conferences between Doctor Hamilton, Mr. Mason and his St. Louis friends, an arrangement was made between them that Mr. Mason should enter the lands along the river where Graf¬ ton is now located, establish a ferry across the river, and another across the Missouri River, so that easy communication might be made with St. Louis and the Carrollton and Grafton road be established, so that all of the business of Greene County could be concentrated at Grafton with easy access to St. Louis. Carrollton and the Lofton and Otter Creek settlements were all interested in the enterprise. Grafton was only six miles from the two latter neighborhoods, twenty-three miles from Carrollton, and located on the Mississippi River just below the mouth of the Illinois River. There were no railroads at that time, and river transportation was a necessity for the rapid development of the country. Mason made the entries of land, established Grafton and the ferries. The Carrollton and Grafton road was opened as arranged, and Mason erected the first house in Grafton in 1832, and placed his brother, Paris Mason, there. He opened a store and took general charge of the enterprise. At the session of the Legislature in 1833, James Mason and Silas Hamilton and such other persons as they should as¬ sociate with them, were incorporated as The Grafton Manufacturing Company for the purpose of erecting grist, woolen, and cotton mills, and doing a general mercantile, manufacturing, trading and shipping business at Grafton. James Mason died at St. Louis in July, 1834, and Silas Hamilton died November 28 of that year, and nothing was ever done under that charter. The two principals having died, and there being no person of sufficient capability and influence to successfully prosecute the plans of the originators, it naturally languished. Paris Mason still remained at Grafton, and some years later Sarah (Von Phul) Mason, widow of James Mason, and her daughter. Maria, removed to and made their home there, and there Mrs. Mason died many years later. The town was surveyed and platted, and quite a number of stores, shops, warehouses and other business enterprises were opened and con¬ ducted with reasonable success, and until the great flood of 1844, in the Mississippi River, it was the main trading point in Jersey County. The principal stores and warehouses being erected upon the bottoms, thev were flooded and had to be abandoned in that vear. -

Marriage Licenses

On January 9, Elam Brown and Salley Allen were married by Charles Gregory, county commissioner. On January 30, Cyrus Tolman and Polly Eldred were married by Samuel Lee, a justice of the peace.

On January 2, William Gillham and Martha Munson were married by Thomas G. Lofton, a justice of the peace. On March 20, John R. Caldwell and Elizabeth Slaten were married. On June 27, James Nairn and Victor Colean were married by John Brown, a justice of the peace. On July 19, George Stamps and Franky Henson were married by John Brown, a justice of the peace. On September 25, Thomas Cummings and Mary Ann Carroll were married by Thomas G. Lofton, a justice of the peace.

On April 8, Charles Dodgson and Polly Lofton were married by Thomas G. Lofton, a justice of the peace. On November 4, William Waddel and Sally Gillham were married.

On February 15, Tarlton F. Brock and Lucinda Slaten were mar¬ ried. On September 13, Jesse White and Tabitha Carrico were married by John Brown, a justice of the peace.

On April 28, John Gunterman and Melinda McKinney were married by I). McFain, a justice of the peace. On October 16, Stephen Gorham and Lueretia Brush were married by S. C. Prince, a justice of the peace.

On March 18, John E. Lofton and Jane White were married by John Osbun, M. G. On April 11, William McDown and Delilah Wag¬ goner were married by J. J. Bayse, M. G.

On March 31, Richmond Henderson and Mary Ann Douglas were married by John Brown, a justice of the peace. On September 19, J. M. Terry and Mary Ann Waggoner were married by John Brown, a justice of the peace.

On April 29, James J. Randle and Jane Lofton were married. On September 11, Richard Spalding and Sarah J. Gillham were married by J. J. Bayse, M. G.

Dougherty were married by J. J. Bayse, M. G. On July 9, Nathaniel Hamilton and Mary B. Dougherty were married by Gilbert Dougherty, a justice of the peace. On August 27, George Noble and Sarah Swan were married by J. J. Bayse, M. G. On September 3, Moses Cockrell and Caty Ann IJtt were married by Thomas McDow, a justice of the peace. On October 15, Aaron Hamilton and Elizabeth Jackson were married.

On January 26, J. M. Hurd and Lydia Noble were married by J. J. Bayse, a justice of the peace. On October 27, John W. Slaten and Ann F. Piggott were married by T. McDow, a justice of the peace. On December 4, Jacob Utt and Mary B. Swann were married by T. McDow, a justice of the peace.

On January 7, Orange F. Howland and Sarah Ann Terry were married by A. King, a justice of the peace. On March 23, George B. Slaten and Clementine Lewis were married. On April 13, Wright Casey' and Mary Frances Curry were married byr William Jerome, M. G. On April 22, Zadock Reddish and Sophia Medford were married by D. Myers, a justice of the peace. On May 4, LaFayette McCrillis and Mary E. Mason were married by Alvin Bailey, M. G. On June 11, Moses Amburg and Eliza Cope were married by J. M. Hurd, a justice of the peace. On December 14, Jeremiah Stilwell and Ann Eliza White were married by J. M. Hurd, a justice of the peace. On December 21, Peter C. Randle and Susannah Beeman were married by T. McDow, a justice ot the peace.

On January 4, Benjamin M. King and Louisa Lemon were married by William Hill, M. G. On September 16, Asa Snell and Priscilla E. Landon were married by' Joseph Crabbe, a justice of the peace. On October 18, Jarrett T. Grimes and Charity Brown were married by Urial Downey, a justice of the peace. On December 27, Virgil Noble and Hannah J. Utt were married by Moses Lemon, M. G. On Decem¬ ber 25, Isaac Scarritt and Martha Ann Mason were married by E. Rog¬ ers, M. G.

On January 3, Charles D. Hodges and Ellen C. Hawley were mar¬ ried by A. T. Bledsoe, M. G. On January 8, Ezekiel Gillham and Mary Cowan were married by T. McDow, a justice of the peace. On Jan¬ uary 17, Allen Gillham and Nancy Murphy were married by T. Me¬ llow, a justice of the peace. On January 31, James Lamb and Cath¬ erine Curtis were married by Moses Lemon, M. G. On March 7, George Spangle and Priscilla Utt were married by J. M. Hurd, a justice of the peace. On April 2, Elias Cockrell and Mary McFair were married by R. S. Spencer, a justice of the peace. On June 13, William Hurd and Esther Ann Buckles were married by J. M. Hurd, a justice of the peace. On July 2, Thomas Ford and Mariah Adams were married by Joseph Fowler, M. G. On July 23, Edmund Douglas and Harriet Curtis were married by A. P. Brown, M. G. On September 30, Joseph H. Colean and Mariah Gillham were married.

Early in January, William H. Allen and Martha Maria Mason were married under a Greene County license. On January 25, Thornton Hughes and Elizabeth Waggoner were married by T. McDow, a justice of the peace. On April 24, Isaac Harbert and Mrs. H. M. Shull were married by J. Fowler, M. G. On April 23, Christopher Kirchner and Elizabeth Thurston were married by Nathaniel Hamilton, a justice of the peace. On March 12, Albertus Lofton and Lucinda Chappell were married by T. McDow, a justice of the peace. On April 29, Augustine Stalder and Polly Lance were married by John Keys, a justice of the peace. On May 28, Perley Silloway and Harriet Wilkins were married by J. Crabbe, a justice of the peace. On June 18, Daniel McFain and Mary Cooper were married by J. W. Lowder, a justice of the peace. On August 25, George Stafford and Ann E. Cresswell were married by Silas Crain, a justice of the peace. On September 10, Caleb Noble and Susannah E. Gillham were married by W. Jerome, a justice of the peace. On October 15, William Noble and Elizabeth Hamilton were married by M. Lemon, M. G. On October 22, Thomas Smirl and Euphemia Dougherty were married by W. Jerome, M. G. On December 17, John N. English and Elizabeth A. Belt were married by W. S. McMurray, M. G.

On January 3, Hiram English and Mary A. Grimes were married by H. N. Belt, a justice of the peace. On January 19, Elisha A. Bar¬ ton and Rebecca Lofton were married by S. Crain, a justice of the peace. On February 4, William Post and Hannah W. Calhoun were married by J. Harriott, a justice of the peace. On March 4, Jonathan Plow¬ man and Elizabeth Crull were married by S. Crain, a justice of the; peace. On April 8, William Millross and Mariah Noble were married by W. Jerome, M. G. On June 3, David T. Bonnell and Sally A. Kirby w'ere married by L. Ljmns, M. G. On September 9, William B. Nevius and Laura Goodwiteh were married by L. Lyons, M. G. On October 7, Benjamin C. Rhodes and Amanda Darr were married by G. W. Lowder, J. P. ' On October 10, Philip Pennington and Mary A. Cummings were married by E. Dodson, M. G. On November 7, William Chap¬ pell and Elizabeth Hooper were married by George Hoffman, a justice of the peace. On December 9, John Massey and Mariah Brown were married. On December 13, Henry Darlington and Marian Noble were married by W. Jerome, M. G.

On January 20, Aaron Dodson and Margaret M. Diggers were mar¬ ried by Nathaniel Hamilton, a justice of the peace. On February 10, Aaron Rue and Catherine S. Howell were married by T. Baldwin, M. G. On March 3, Andrew Gillham and Margaret Darlington w7ere married by W. Jerome, M. G. On March 2, Uriah D. Howell and Alice Nevius were married by L. Lyons, M. G. On June 20, Robert Gardner and Julia Carroll were married by E. Rodgers, M. G. On October 27, Henry Utt and Matilda Dougherty were married by L. Anderson, M. G. On October 27, David Dunsdon and Julia B. Hackney were married by J. Harriott, a justice of the peace. On December 22, Hugh N. Cross and Antoinette Van Home were married by L. Lyons, M. G.

On February 2, Thomas B. Ruyle and Mary Pruitt were married by D. Myers, M. G. On February 22, Eleazer Smith and Susan Har¬ riott were married by John Brown, M. G. On June 10, Robert W. Eng¬ lish and Rebecca Grimes were married by John BroAvn, M. G. On September 28, Charles H. Smith and Elizabeth A. White were married by Thomas McDow, a justice of the peace. On October 3, Joseph C. Beeman and Elmina Maria Bray were married by Thomas McDow, a justice of the peace. On October 17, William M. Deeds and Elizabeth Walden were married by Nathaniel Hamilton, a justice of the peace. On October 25, John L. White and Martha L. Sansom were married by S. Allen, M. G. On October 25, Charles H. Bowman and Mary Hooper were married by J. Crabbe, a justice of the peace. On November 2, Nathaniel Smith and Emily Darr were married by L. Lyons, M. G. On December 25, John Maltimore and Lydia Court were married.

On January 3, Archibald Craig and Catherine Hankinson were married by J. Harriott, a justice of the peace. On February 22, Thomas A. Eaton and Louisa M. Dougherty were married by W. Jerome, M. G. On April 23, William Rhoades and Elizabeth Swan were married by Thomas McDow, a justice of the peace. On March 20, William Kirby and Experience Perrings were married by L. Lyons, M. G. On May 16, Joseph B. Schroeder and Priscilla Paterson were married by C. D. James, M. G. On June 19, Reuben Noble and Harriet Cordelia Doug¬ las were married by W. Jerome, M. G. On July 3, Dr. James B. Veitch and Marilda McDow were married by E. J. Palmer, M. G. On August 8, Robert Darlington and Harriet Colean were married by Joel Terry, M. G. On March 21, Charles N. Adams and Nancy Bell wrere married by C. D. James, M. G. On August 20. Ephraim Fredinburg and Mary Lofton wrere married by C. IT. Goodrich, a justice of the peace. On June 22, Benjamin F. Slaten and Mariah Askew were married by M. Lemon, M. G. On October 15, Benjamin S. Griggs and Mary Slaten were married by C. PI. Goodrich, a justice of the peace. On October 27, William L. Jerome and Elvina Gillham were married by W. Jerome, M. G. On October 29, Adam Slendennin and Elizabeth J. McRevnolds were married by H. Barr, M. G. On December 25, Benjamin B. Ham¬ ilton and Mary Ann Chandler were married by Nathaniel Hamilton, a justice of the peace.

On February 25, Minor S. Gowins and Nancy Beeman were married bv B. Stafford, M. G. On March 14, Charles C. Rhodes and Emeline Darr were married by Jacob Rhodes, M. G. On April 6, Andrew Span- gle and Susan Hughes were married by A. Lofton, a justice of the peace. On May 1, Jacob Reddish and Hannah Weeks were married by H. Webster, a justice of the peace. On May 20, Samuel J. M. Dough¬ erty and Elizabeth Cook were married by C. D. James, M. G. On June 25, Isaac Snedeker and Caroline Sunderland were married by E. J. Palmer, M. G. On October 15, James J. Hay craft and Matilda Rhodes were married by S. J. Haycraft. On October 22, Isaac R. Ely and Mary Christopher were married by E. J. Palmer, M. G. On November 24, Jonathan Plowman and Rachel Crull were married by J. Brown, M. G.

On February 2, Mathew C. Stanley and Elizabeth Armstrong were married by G. C. Wood, M. G. On February 25, Eli Linley Hupp and Jane E. Turner were married by B. Stafford, a justice of the peace. On March 18, Joseph W. Brown and Harriet J. Downey were married by Asa Snell, a justice of the peace. On March 28, John Daniel and Mary Palmer were married by W. Roberts, M. G. On April 17, Wil¬ liam Evans and Louisiana Noble were married by C. H. Goodrich, a justice of the peace. On May 9, John H. Reddish and Mary Turner were married by IT. Webster, a justice of the peace. On June 21, Henry 0. Goodrich and Amelia J. Knapp were married by G. W. Wood, M. G. On July 4, John A. Wallace and Elizabeth Thompson were married by B. Stafford, a justice of the peace. On August 16, Benjamin Wed¬ ding and Tabitha Johnson were married by R. C. Baugh, a justice of the peace. On August 26, James W. Calhoun and Mrs. Lucinda Rob¬ bins were married by Asa Snell, a justice of the peace. On September 30. William P. Jarboe and Harriet M. Hansel were married by E. J. Palmer, M. G. On October 5, Joseph Lane and Hannah Ann Piggott were married by J. Anderson, M. G. On October 8, John H. Belt and Matilda Bramlett were married by W. Hill, M. G. On November 11, Nelson Colean and Sarah J. Waddle were married by Joel Terry, M. G.

On January 6, Lebbeus L. Kirby and Sarah Post were married by W. F. Boyakin, M. G. On April 25, John G. Dougherty and Susan Millross were married by J. M. Terry, a justice of the peace. On May 28, AVilliam A. Scott and Elizabeth J. Lurton were married by J. Crabbe, a justice of the peace. On October 1, David Stafford and Elizabeth C.

Gower were married by B. B. Hamilton, M. G. On December 19, W. Edsall and Mrs. Lydia Edsall were married by Minor S. Gowins, a justice of the peace.

On January 27, Enoch W. Wallace and Julia A. Bray were married by M. S. Gowins, a justice of the peace. On February 4, William S. Dougherty and Elizabeth Brown were married by J. M. Terry, a jus¬ tice of the peace. On March 8, Francis Colean and Mary J. Belt were married by A. Dickerson, M. G. On March 2, William Noble and Thirza Chappell were married by J. M. Terry, a justice of the peace. On April 15, William Buckles and Harriet Ripson were married by E. J. Palmer, M. G. On August 31, John Arthur Allen and Jane Elizabeth White were married by G. C. Wood, M. G. On September 2, William G. Thompson and Nancy A. Smith were married by William Williams, a justice of the peace. On October 25, George D. Morgan and Margaret Millross were married by B. B. Hamilton, M. G. On November 21, Joseph Marshaw and Sarah A. McDow were married by B. B. Ham¬ ilton, M. G. On December 20, George Kirby and Margaret Utt were married by J. Buckley, M. G.

On February 26, Martin B. Miner and Laura L. Miner were married by G. C. Wood, M. G. On March 20, Dr. James Bringhurst and Mary Ryan were married by G. E. Warren, county judge. On March 20, Samuel C. Ellis and Mary Matilda Edsall were married by Nathaniel Hamilton, a justice of the peace. On April 14, Hiram Leonard and Amanda Powell were married by S. B. Knott, a justice of the peace. On April 18, William S. Hawley and Caroline Fisher were married by J. Buckley, M. G.