Johnson County, Illinois - The whole text, 1925 (part 1 of 12)

Errata

Page 393. The seventh line from the top of page is omitted and should read "question. He lived to be eighty eight years old. J. C. B. Heaton."

Mrs. P. T. Chapman

This book is dedicated to my husband, Pleasant Thomas Chapman, who has spent his life in the community of his birth and has never faltered in his loyalty to its interest.

Preface

We will never realize what it meant to the men and women of a hundred years ago to leave their homes and all that was dear to them and lay the foundation of a new civilization in the unbroken forest. The heart aches, the deprivations, the longings for old friendships and home we will, it is hoped, never experience. Most of us have a tendency to smile at the rude hut, primitive customs, and lack of comforts of the pioneer, but rather let us reverence their determined course in founding a civilization from which you and I are reaping the results. The North West, think of her wealth, population and power, and to whom it is due.

Several years ago I was asked to prepare a paper on the early history of Johnson County to be read at a Teachers Institute. In looking up material for this I found what seemed to me, some very interesting documents; also in writing to Mr. G. B. Gillespie, then as now, a resident of Springfield but a native of this county, for some data he suggested that this county should have a history and that I should write it.

Having been a housekeeper for years and with no experience in writing for publication, I began, perhaps foolishly, to gather material for this work. The times I have censured my friend for his suggestion, I could not number, but/l'itfit" rrjjy hand to the plow" I did not have the courage to turn back. I have met with discouragements and hindrances, yet most people have been exceptionally willing to help me.

Heretofore this county has had no history except some biographies appearing in the Tri-County History of Massac, Pope and Johnson, and since there is but one other county in the state without a published history and ours being so rich in interesting events and records of pioneer days, not common to other localities, I felt that I should like to try to perpetuate at least some of them.

This book is not perfect. I have tried to be accurate with circumstances and dates but in the biography I fear there are many mistakes owing to the manner in which I was obliged to gather much of the information, sometimes over the telephone, through letters not clearly written, and from older people whose memory was inaccurate as to names.

Please do not say "I could have told her correctly." No doubt you could, but I did not know it. And if inclined to be too critical all I ask is that you undertake to trace a large family from the first to the sixth generation. Perhaps some would say biography isn't history, but it appears to me, that the history of a place is the history of its people.

I appreciate the many kindnesses shown me in my work and feel deeply grateful to each one who has contributed in the least to this self imposed task of mine. Hoping it may interest the older ones, assist the younger ones, and that this imperfect effort will not be entirely fruitless, 1 present to you, kind reader, the result.

Part

The first civilized government that was extended over Johnson County was, no doubt, the authority of England. When, in 1609, King James granted to the London Company "All those lands, countries, and territories called Virginia, from the cape or point of land called Comfort, all along the seacoast, to the northward two hundred miles, and from the said point on the coast southward two hundred miles, and all that space and circuit of land lying from the seacoast of the precinct afore said, up into the land throughout, from sea to sea, west and northwest." Johnson county became theoretically, at least, part of the possession of England. Although the charter of the London company was renewed and then annulled, Virginia always insisted on her from "sea to sea" grant and thereby included in her domain this tiny speck of mother earth called Johnson County, with all the other vast, unexplored territory.

But for Gain and the Gospel, we might still be undiscovered. France had no claim in the new country by right of discovery, but she set about securing her portion by other means. As early as 1504 French fishermen had visited the region of New Foundland. In 1609 Champlain, a Frenchman, discovered the lake which bears his name. He went back to France, and in 1615, returned to America with four priests. He established missions in Canada, and with the Missions opened trade with the Indians. He was unfortunate with his warfare on some of the tribes and so caused strife among the Indians, and the fur trade was paralyzed, for twenty years. Finally a truce was made and trade was resumed. The French trader who recognized the vast wealth in the fur trade, the soldier of fortune who longed to plant the Lilies of France on every available spot, and the humble Jesuit whose consuming desire was to plant the Gospel in every human heart, encroched step by step into the Northwest Territory.

In 1678, Joliet, in the interest of the French Government and Marquette in the interest of the church, explored the Mississippi as far as the mouth of the Ohio. This ex- pedition had carried the authority of France far to the south and almost around the English settlements. The advantage to France of completing the circuit can easily be discerned. In fact LaSalle, in 1667 had seen the advantage to be gained for his country by discovering the mouth of the Mississippi. He pursued this idea with relentless vigor and when in 1682 he descended this father of waters to its mouth, he took possession of this wonderful valley in the name of the sovereign of France, calling it Louisiana in honor of Louis the XIV, and we became, figuratively speaking, Frenchmen or citizens under the French Government. But all these heroic efforts to make the Mississippi valley French by colonization, to secure wealth from her vast store-house, and make us all good French Catholics, came to an end. The Treaty of Paris, 1763, made us again an English possession.

We were not destined to remain English for any great length of time. The restless people of the Atlantic coast were pushing out irito the great Northwest. Tennessee, Kentucky, and the southern part of Illinois were being settled, even though still menaced by the Indians. Then by declaring themselves "free and independent," in 1776 the Colonies made us for a short time Virginians. In 1779 the "County of Illinois" was established. Captain John Todd was appointed "County Lieutenant Commandant" but the government was never effective and soon ceased altogether.

These changes in government disturbed the citizens of this county very little. Certain it is, nevertheless, that there were people living in Johnson County, in the latter part of the 18th century. 'Boggs says there were 650 families living along the Ohio .river in 1801 and this river washed the shores of the first Johnson County for many miles. Victor Collet also states there were seven or eight families living near Ft. Massac in 1796. This fort was in Johnson when the county was organized. Reynolds tells us the Flanneries settled in Alexander County in 1777 which was also Johnson County territory at that time. The seat of government being so far away and the means of communication so very difficult, the people of this section, like all other frontier communities were a law unto themselves.

Location

Johnson County is in Southern Illinois, in that part of this great commonwealth that lies south of the Ohio and Mississippi railroad running from Vincennes across the state to St. Louis, excepting St. Clair County. This section is not designated on the school geographies as 'Egypt,' but by common usuage and politically it has been known in the state for many years by that name. Different reasons have been given for this appellation, and whether of odium or honor, depends on the point of view.

The most obvious reason for such a name having been attached to this region is that many of the towns in the section bear the names of those in the older Egypt of the African Continent: Cairo, at the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi, Thebes, on the Mississippi, and Karnak, on the Big Four railroad. Alexander is the name of the most southern county in this section and is the masculine for Alexandria, another ancient city of Egypt. Some are unkind enough to say the name comes from lack of education and progress in this section. That Egypt where Joseph fled from Herod with Mary and the Babe and from which we take our name, was noted as the home of ancient civilization, learning, marvelous public improvements, and historic cities. Our modern 'Egypt' may not boast of all the attributes of that country but she is proud of her pioneer families, native population, and patriotic record. Others say that the name came from the following incident : In the summer of 1821 there was not a bushel of corn raised in Central Illinois. The old settlers of the southern part of the state had plenty and the farmers of the central section, like the brethern of Joseph, had to go down into Southern Illinois to get corn.

Johnson County was once very proud of her area. At its organization it included all the land between the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and from 70 to 80 miles north of the Ohio. As early as 1837, J. M. Peck, an historian, of Illinois, said of Johnson County, "It was organized from Randolph in 1812 and is situated in the southern part of the state. It is bounded on the north by Franklin, east by Pope, south by the Ohio river, and west by Union and Alexander counties. It is from 25 to 30 miles long and eighteen miles wide. Its area is about 486 square miles. This territory is watered by Cache and Big Bay Creeks. Between these streams, and ten or twelve miles from the Ohio, which makes its southern boundary, is a line of ponds interspersed with ridges and islands of rich land." This was written before Massac and Pulask were organized.

At present the county is bounded on the north by Williamson, on the east by Pope, by Massac and Pulaski on the south and Union on the west. The most southern line of the county is, at its nearest point, four or five miles from the Ohio river, and the western line in some places is as near as twenty miles to the Mississippi river. It is situated between 88 degrees, 44 minutes and 89 degress, 4 minutes west longitude ; 37 degrees, 20 minutes, 37 degrees, 38 minutes north latitude, about the same latitude as the city of Richmond, Virginia.

Organization

Up to 1790 the settlers who had braved the wilderness and Indians and located in southern Illinois knew little of laws and government, but in that year St. Clair came as Governor of the Northwest Territory, and began to bring order out of chaos. He organized ft county and named it after himself, the eastern boundary running through the eastern part of the present Johnson County and terminating at or just above Ft. Massac, on the Ohio River. Cahokia was the county seat. The little strip of Johnson county beyond the eastern boundary of St. Clair was in what was then known as Knox County. Randolph County was organized in 1795 from St. Clair, with Kaskaskia as the county seat, but a small strip of Johnson still remained in Knox till 1801 when Randolph's boundaries were changed.

Johnson was wholly within the bounds of Randolph county until 1812, when Governor Edwards with Alexander Stewart, Jesse B. Thomas, and Stanley Griswold, Territorial Judges, acting as a Legislature, defined and named Johnson county as follows: "Beginning at the mouth of Lusk Creek (which is in what is now Pope County on the Ohio River) thence with a line of Gallatin to Big Muddy thence down Big Muddy and the Misissippi to the Ohio River, and up the Ohio to the beginning, I do appoint the house of John Bradshaw to be the seat of justice for Johnson County. Done at Kaskaskia, 14th of September, 1812, by the Governor, Ninian Edwards." These boundaries included what is now

Madison and Gallatin were organized at the same time, these three being the third counties set out in the state. In 1816 Jackson and Pope were organized, making a direct line almost across the state from Big Muddy on the west to Saline river on the east. All below this line from the Mississippi to the Ohio was Johnson and Pope, the eastern line of Johnson being a little west of its present location and extending to the Ohio river. Again in 1818, there was an attack by the organizers and Union was taken wholly from Johnson county territory. Alexander was defined the following year, including part of Pulaski. In 1843 Johnson county was encroached upon once more by the formation of Massac and Pulaski and the consequent reduction of Johnson to its present limits of 340 square miles. It thus became one of the smallest counties in the state. It comprises a little over nine townships, and is almost square in shape. About eight miles of the southern boundary is formed by Cache river. Along this section the county extends about two miles further south than the rest of the southern boundary.

The division of the county into townships was begun early in the county's history. On January 15, 1813, when the first court was held at the house of John Bradshaw in Elvira with Hamlet Furguson and Jesse Griggs as judges, under the Territorial law which empowered them to transact the business of the county, the townships known as Big'- Bay, Muddy, Center, Clear Creek, Cache and Massac were laid off. These were the militia districts which had been created by the Governor for the defense of the settlers against hostile Indians. These townships were described as follows: "The district that lies on the eastern corners of this county on the Big-Bay waters and at present known by the name of Captain Whiteside's company and agreeably to the boundaries of said company, as laid off by a board of officers, shall be created into one township and called the township of Big-Bay, and the militia company of Captain Griffith's on Muddy, (described) in like manner, shall be called the township of Muddy." This township was located in the northwest part of the county, on what is now called Big Muddy river. Captain Bradshaw's company bounds

Captain Green's company bounds was named Clear creek township, which was located in the southwestern part of the county on the Mississippi river. Captain Lamb's Company on the northeast side was called Cache ; Captain Fox's company made Massac township.

One can readily see these townships were immense at the time they were laid off. Big-Bay township, being the southeastern corner, included portions of what is now Pope and Massac counties. The township of Muddy included parts of the present counties of Williamson, Jackson and Union. The township of Center included, no doubt, sections of the present Johnson and Union, possibly Alexander. Clear Creek township was the counties of Alexander, Pulaski, and perhaps parts of Johnson and Union. Cache township when first established was in the northeastern part of the first bounds of Johnson county including possibly some of Saline, Pope and Williamson. Massac township included Massac county in its present form, with possibly a little of Johnson and Pope. These militia districts had been laid off according to Territorial law and while they were called townships, they were not the size and shape of the present township and might more properly be called districts.

In 1814, the court divided the township of Center and the bounds of Captain William Thornton's Company, being a militia company, was formed into a new township to be known as Elvira. At the March term the court created some new townships and changed the boundaries of some of the old ones as follows : "All that part of the county that lies between what is called the ponds and the Ohio river be created into a new township to be known by the name of Massac, and all west of the center line dividing range three shall form a township by the name of Elvira and all east of the aforesaid line as far as the county line of Pope shall be known by the name of Cache." At the September court, 1819, held at Vienna, the name of Cache township was changed to Bloomfield and that of Elvira to Vienna township. These boundaries "and names were changed from time to time. In 1871 the names of the townships are given as follows: Saline, Sulpher Springs, Bluff, Elvira, Buncombe, Cache, Flat Lick, Simpson and Vienna. That same year the question of the county taking on the township form of government was submitted to the people and carried at the November election. Issac Wise, Bluett Bain and John C. Albright were appointed to divide the county into townships. Their report was given in December term 1872. The new townships were Burnside, Tunnel Hill, Goreville, Elvira, Bloomfield, Simpson, Grantsburg, Vienna and Cache, these names and divisions have continued till the present.

Name

Johnson county was named in honor of Col. Richard M. Johnson, a native of Kentucky and a friend of Governor Ninian Edwards, who was also from that state. He was 'born at Bryants Station in 1781 ; was educated at the University of Transylvania Lexington, Kentucky. He selected the profession of law and began his career at the age of nineteen. He served in the war of 1812 as Colonel of Volunteers. Colonel Johnson has been given the credit of killing Tecumseh at the battle on the Thames river, but this fact has been disputed by some who say that Tecumseh was not killed until later. But Johnson did kill in this battle a famous Indian warrior who might have been Tecumseh. He was wounded himself during the engagement. President Madison in his message to Congress, December 7, 1813, referring to the results of the Campign in the North West, speaks of him in the following manner: "Colonel Johnson and his mounted volunteers, whose impetuous onset gave a decisive blow to the ranks of the enemy, with others (referring to General Harrison) forced a general action, which quickly terminated in the capture of the British and the dispersion of the Indians."

Colonel Johnson represented first his district in the Legislature of Kentucy, was next elected as a Jackson democrat to the United States Congress when not quite 25 years of age. He then served two terms as United States Senator ; was elected to the Vice-Presidency with Van B'uren in 1836. He was defeated for that office in 1840 but later elected to the State Legislature of Kentucky and died in Frankfort, November 19, 1850.

Physical Features And Soil

Wabash to the Ohio river is about as hilly as Hertfordshire, England. It is intersected with streams and interspersed with natural meadows ; these are very irregular and are dotted with clumps of trees like English Parks." Such a description gives a fairly animate general picture of Johnson County. It is one of the most hilly and broken counties in Illinois. It is crossed from west to east in the northern part by an elevated ridge, known as the Ozark Uplift, which is in reality the foothills of the Ozark Mountains. This ridge enters the state from Missouri and extends across the entire northern part. The highest points of this ridge in the county rise to an elevation of 800 feet above sea level. The lowest part of the county lies along Cache River where the elevation decreases to about 300 feet. The Ozark Ridge forms the watershed or divide between the streams which flow toward the north and those which flow south. The fall of the streams on the northern slope is slight and the erosion is, therefore, not great. On the southern slope the streams have a very rapid fall; erosion has been active so that the most broken part of the county lies in the central and southern section. The small streams have cut out canyon-like gorges, sometimes as much as 200 feet in depth; the sides of these gorges are often formed by almost perpendicular cliffs that wind through the uplands so unnoticeably that one does not suspect their presence until very near them.

A broken and irregular line of cliffs cross the county parallel to the Ozark Ridge and two or three miles south of it. Although these cliffs and rocky gorges are most frequent in the part of the county south of the Ozark Ridge, they occur also in other sections, especially in New Burnside and Grantsburg townships. Between the ravines are broad rolling ridges. The surface in general may be characterized as rolling and hilly. The rocks of this area are sand stone, limestone and shale. This is not our only asset from stony lands. They are things of beauty, have been, and will be a joy forever. No one can look on the towering cliffs without being thrilled with their grandeur and made to wonder at the mighty force that must have been in action to make them as they are. Some are gray, some red, some brown, and yellow, covered with lichens, moss and flowers ; the myriads of long fronded ferns, the drooping branch, the secluded cave, the ever green of the cedar, the trickling stream, all combine to draw you to their inviting nooks. They are not so monstrous they awe you, so bare they repel you, but seem to say, "Come bring your baskets, we have cool shade, quiet, rest and protection for you.

It can well be imagined that this topography creates all kinds of attractive nooks and corners, particularly adapted to that well loved recreation, a picnic. Ferndale, a beautiful spot with its rocks, shady dells, ferns, and streams, situated a short distance south from Tunnell Hill, directly on the Big Four railroad, has long been a favorite picnic grounds. People may reach it from points on the railroad both north and south. Benson's Bluff, five or six miles north of Vienna on the old Marion Road, is another ideal place for the basket lunch but it can be reached only by local conveyance. Near Simpson is some very beautiful scenery of the type described above; also some mineral springs said to be very fine in a medicinal way. This is a lovely spot to camp. Fern Cliff is a most attractive place of natural beauty and a resort quite widely known. It is situated in Goreville township and about a mile and a half from the Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad. Several years ago a company of Marion citizens bought 20 acres in the heart of the scenery and built a club house and used it as a resort. Leon Dennison was the moving spirit of the corporation and after his removal from Southern Illinois, Miss Emma Rebman, of this county bought it and occupies it as a home. It is hoped that some time it will be a county park through her generosity. It is now known as "Redman- Park Fern Cliff," Redman Park, in honor of Miss Redman's brother, Thomas, who was associated with her in her office of County Superntendent of Schools. This spot must be seen to be appreciated, huge walls of stone, bowlders, caves streams, trees, wildflowers, ferns, all contribute to make up an ideal place in which to spend a day, a week, a month, shut in with nature and your companions.

Johnson County has its largest area covered with what is known by soil experts as Memphis silt loam. This surface soil is an important and extensive type ; its color varies from pale yellow to reddish yellow and it runs to an average depth of ten inches. When dry, this soil is loose and nonadhesive. Its looseness is partly due to the small percentage of clay. It is called "clay land" although it does not show the heavy, sticky qualities of clay. This soil is very porous, very absorbent, and retentive of moisture. With the exception of the rough, stony land, the entire surface of the upland is covered with Memphis silt loam. This loam also occurs as low ridges along lower Cache and is often called "second bottom" being considered in these sections of great agriculture value. A variety of crops may be grown upon this type of soil : corn, wheat, oats, Irish and sweet potatoes, clover, alfalfa, cowpeas, timothy, and fruits of most every variety. The fruits grown in this county are, however, on the ridges on high ground where the climatic conditions make them less liable to the late frosts.

Waverly silt loam covers the next largest area of the county and ranges from whitish yelldw to a light brown color. When dry it is loose and floury ; but is slightly sticky when wet. It absorbs rain readily. It is an alluvial soil, being made by material washed off the hills, brought down by the streams, restored and deposited by the overflow of the streams. Leaves, twigs, and other forms of organic matter have been covered by these deposits, making this soil very productive in such crops as corn, hay and alfalfa. There is still a great deal of timber in the section where this soil is found. These wooded tracts are very valuable as pasture land. This soil is found only along the streams or in places where streams have been. The principal acreage of this soil is found along Cache River, in the South West part of the county, some also along Lick, Dutchman, Little Cache, and Big Bay creeks, while smaller tracts are found along the lesser streams. Elvira, Cache, Vienna, Grantsburg and Simpson townships are the only localities in which any considerable area of this soil lies.

Lewis C. Beck in 1823 says : "This county of Johnson has a large proportion of level land, which is generally well wooded. Its soil is sandy, as yet, it is but thinly populated, owing perhaps to the unhealthiness caused by the overflowing of the Ohio River and the marshes which abound near the southern boundary. When these shall be drained and the inhabitants turn their attention to the cultivation of tobacco, cotton, and the grape, all of which would yield profitable crops, it will no doubt, become flourishing and wealthy."

with the "Yazoo Clay." Its color is a dark brown, caused by the large amount of organic matter it contains. It is a heavy silty loam or clay, quite granular and rather sticky. This type of soil is found only along the Cache River and in the southwestern part of the county. It is just coming under cultivation, since the days of drainage and gives a very high yield of corn and hay.

Rough stony land may be found in Johnson County, also, in which the soil is so broken and the underlying rocks rise to the surface so frequently that the land is of little agriculture value. In some cases there are cliffs that are more than 150 feet high. At the foot of these cliffs are found large bowlders, weighing many tons, which have broken off from the rocks above. Between these bowlders are patches of soil which support a heavy growth of timber, giant ferns and wild flowers of every kind and color. The sections of rough, stony land are usually found in narrow strips, winding through the country or forming bluffs along the streams. They are most frequent along the southern slope of the Ozark Ridge, but they are also scattered over the entire county. These stony areas are by no means complete waste lands. Inexhaustible springs of water, always found among the cliffs, greatly enhance their value as pasture lands and they have become an everlasting supply of stone. One of the principle railroads in the state works a quarry from which it has ballasted hundreds of miles of road.

Climate

The average rainfall for this county is 43.72 inches. The heaviest rainfall comes generally in March, May and June; August, September and November show the least. But with the possible exception of August or September there is seldom a month in the year that has not some rain. In the occasional deviation from this general rule the climate resembles that of California as being "unusual." One conspicuous variation came in the year 1854 when no rain fell from June until December. Crops were short and many people had to haul water from neighboring wells and springs for family use and for their stock to drink. However, in general, the foot hills of the Ozark Mountains which cross the northern part of the county have an appreciable

The temperature varies somewhat, rarely going below zero and then for not more than a few hours at a time. In the hotest months, June, July and August the theremometer hovers between 75 and 85, on the warmest days rarely going as high as above 90. Ordinarily the winters are not extreme and while there is always some snow and ice, it is for short periods only. The winter of 1917-18 will long be remembered as the one of the deep snow. The snow began to fall about December 8, 1917 and continued to fall at intervals for three or four weeks. The ground was not visible for almost two months and the drifts were so deep in many places as to make the roads impassable. While our poor boys were digging trenches before the Germans, many people in the county were digging roadway trenches in the snow to get from house to barn, to the neighbors or to the nearby market.

Winds are, of course, prevalent during March and April though they are not strong enough to be called storms. The strongest winds come with the rain which is almost always accompanied by heavy thunder and vivid lightning in the spring and hot months.

During the spring of 1866 Johnson county was visited by a terrible cyclone. It entered the county near what is now the present site of West Vienna and crossed the county to the northeast. It seemed to rise and fall in its course and where it touched, it swept houses, barns and fences from their foundation. It also took its toll of human life. Two members of the family of Jesse Davis who lived where Newton Murrie now lives were badly injured. In the family of Hirman Worley, who lived on what is now known as the Coleman place, one boy was killed outright, two other members died from injuries, and one son was left a cripple for life. This was in Blomfield Township. The cyclone lifted here for a few miles, then struck the homes of Joseph Harper and John Jones who lived in Ozark township. It killed a babe and injured others of Mr. Jones' family and seriously injured some members of Mr. Harper's family. It not only took lives and laid waste homes, but giant forest trees were taken up by the roots ; articles were carried for miles in its

Frosts come with a good deal of regularity. The average date of the last killing frost in the spring is the middle of April, the latest one occuring not later than the middle of May. For fall the average date is about the middle of October. The Ozark Ridge renders fruits less liable to killing frosts than in the lower parts of the county. Slight frosts sufficient to tinge the leaves on the trees often come earlier. With the first turning of the leaves there is presented a scene of almost surpassing beauty. First there is a tinge of yellow, then the reds appear. One tree will be an immense bouquet of green, yellow, and red of every conceivable shade. Looking out from some elevation of our winding roads to a forest of these trees all painted by the hand of nature forming a back ground for a green meadow, one will have a picture never to be forgotten.

Health

For some time in the early history of the county, the health of the inhabitants was menaced by a mild form of malarial fever. The heavy growth of timber which constantly decayed on the swamp land and the pools of stagnant water were the breeding places for myriads of mosquitoes that transmitted the malaria to all adjoining districts. In fact, it seemed for many years that Johnson County was the home of malaria as well as the wine-sap apple. Every fall the ague "chills" was the local name, appeared in due time with their "shakes" and fever. The ague though very annoying was not necessarily a fatal disease. But the draining of the swamps and the consequent elimination of rotting timber have made this section as healthy a place as will be found in the state.

The winter of 1918-19 is more indelibly fixed on our minds than the deep snow through the terrible ravages of the Spanish Influenza. This peculiar and unfamiliar disease began its drive on the United States about October, 1918. At first it was thought it only thrived in the cities and towns where people came together in crowds. It was a little late reaching Johnson County and we thought, from our isolation we might be exempt, but in November it fell upon us in all its fury and seemed to grow more fatal in its progress. The situation in this county was desperate, in many places a whole family was all in bed at the same time. The fact that many thought it contagious kept those who were well from giving their attention to their neighbors. In some cases there were none able to care for the dead. In one known case the sick and the dead were in the same 'bed, and there were many cases in which nurses could not be had. In some families as many as four would die in a day or two of each other. It seemed to be particularly fatal to those appearing to be the most healthful and strong looking. It took many of our best, physically speaking, and many old people. This terrible scourge has returned each winter for three years but has not proved so fatal.

Johnson County is not a county of wealth, yet there are many farmers that are well to do, really prosperous. Most all of them live well and the majority of them live in a frame or brick dwelling, have fine barns, the best breed of stock, good driving horses, buggy, surrey, or automobile ; many have heat, light, and modern plumbing in their homes. Of course, every farmer does not have all these conveniences but he can have them if he wants them. In fact, any of the modern improvements are ours at will, except the good roads and we see them coming. Some farmers do not want anything modern, not even hard roads. One farmer gave as an excuse for being against the $60,000,000 bond issue, that it would make his farm worth so much more and his taxes would be higher. But on the whole, this class of farmers is small, most of them are progressive, anxious to know the best methods and have the best equipment in all lines. The value of the farm buildings in the county according to the last census was $1,869,960. The value of the land and improvements excluding building from the same source was $6,263,009. Implements, machines, $325,545 ; live stock $1,698,224; average price of land per acre, $32.44. The average size of a farm in this county in 1840 was 15 acres, in 1900, 92 acres. It has now increased to 110.8 in 1920. The number of farms in county, 1920, 1742, land in farms, 193,077 acres. Of course, much of this land is not improved. There is a large acreage of land in the county not under cultivation and very few farms that do not have their acreage of wooded land for pasture and fire wood. One writer said of Southern Illinois in 1883, "If by magic Southern Illinois could be transfered just as it is to the northern or central part of the state the land that now sells for $10.00 and $15.00 per acre could not be bought for $500.00 an acre." He further says the reason land is cheap here is because its value is not known as people do not travel across this section of the state as they do in Central and Northern Illinois. County farm lands sold in county in 1896 for $25.00 per acre.

This is a community in which the farmers own and cultivate their own land, at least 75 per cent of the farms are run by the owners. They have learned to rotate and plant the crops most suited to the soils and by fertilizing, keep their farms up to the highest state of productiveness. An experiment station has been maintained in this county by the Agricultural Department of the University of Illinois for many years which has been a great advantage to our farmers. There are only 16 farms operated by managers and 363 operated by tenants as against 7 by managers and 506 by tenants in 1900. There is practically one system of renting here, the share system; very few farms are rented for cash.

Farming was at first confined almost entirely to the ridges and high lands. What is now the most productive land we have, since it has been cleared, ditched and drained, was till after the sixties, swamps and pools of stagnant water during the spring and early summer. This trans formation has been accomplished through the drainage system which is explained under drainage. Dennis Dwyer, who came to this county from Ohio in 1857 was the first to ditch, the bottom land on a small scale, and bring it under cultivation for grasses which would thrive in low places. He also introduced the raising of Timothy hay in this section. His wife, Aunt Eliza, as she was known and who was for many years a resident here, brought the seed from their home state, when she made a visit to her mother.

The principal products of the county are corn, wheat, oats, hay, fruit, and vegetables. The upland is not well adapted to corn and the yield is not very high. Corn does much better on the bottoms and as more of this section is being brought under cultivation, the corn yield increases. Some land will grow as much as ninety bushels to the acre while the upland would not yield 25, and in a dry season much less. Wheat is grown less than in former years, but a great deal more is grown than is used in the county. The average yield is about 15 to 18 bushels to the acre. Timothy and clover are the main hay crops ; alfalfa is grown to seme extent ; cowpeas are cut for home use as hay ; oats are produced for home use only. The principal agricultural exports from the county are wheat, corn, hay, vegetables, and fruit.

Being entirely an agricultural county and our resources all coming from agricultural pursuits, cattle raising is naturally a business. Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn are raised for beef. N. J. Mozley was a pioneer in the raising of Heref ords ; his herd having been the best in this section of country for many years. It has furnished the beginning of many herds, over all the west and south ; has always brought a fancy price because of their care and breeding. He has probably taken more blue ribbons at county fairs, with his herd than any one in Southern Illinois. J. K. Elkins, D. W. Whittenberg, Elijah Ragsdale, Geo. Mozley, Chas. Trulove, and Chas. Nobles also have raised this breed. Henry Cover who lived at Tunnel Hill owned about the first herd of Angus cattle in this county. J. M. Brown, A. M. Webb, and Dr. A. E. McKenzie also raise the Angus. The late D. F. Beauman, also of Tunnel Hill Township introduced the breed of Shorthorn cattle and this was likely the first herd of good cattle in the county. Holstein and Jersey are dairy breeds of this locality. Wra. Moore, J. C. Chapman, A. Veach and numbers of other dairy farmers have one or the other of these kinds of cattle. Many car loads of beef cattle are collected and sent into market from this county each year. In fact this has been a paying enterprise until the decline in the price of cattle and other farm products which has caused many to slacken their efforts along this line. The raising of hogs is, one might say, necessarily a part of cattle raising. The principal breeds are Chester Whites, Berkshires, Hampshires. Duroc Jersey and Poland China. From 200 to 300 car loads of hogs, possibly more, are shipped to market from this county in a year. The raising, buying, and feeding of mules for sale to the southern cotton planter has been a paying business in this section for several years till within the last few years when the price of mules suddenly dropped, likewise the castles of the mule dealer.

There is not any thing that will grow in a temperate climate that can not be grown in Johnson County. Our soils are, of course, better adapted to some crops than others and will produce them in more paying quantities. Flax was raised in small quantities in our very earliest history. Cotton and tobacco were grown extensively for some years before and after the Civil War. The price of these commodities during the war made them a very profitable crop. In 1875 there were 3,000,000 pounds of tobacco grown in this county and this was after the decline in price which finally resulted in the exclusion of tobacco and cotton from our crops. A very small quantity of tobacco is still grown for market and a little for home use. From an old contract between Bridges & Chapman D. Y. Bridges, father of the late Mrs. Bratton, and F. J. Chapman, son of S. J. Chapman, the pioneer of Vienna, dated 1852-53, and J. H. Russell, who was buying tobacco for Hendenburg of St. Louis, Russell agreed to pay Bridges & Chapman $4.50 per hundred for all tobacco prized by them and $4.37% per hundred for what he took without prizing. He agreed to take 75,000 pounds more or less. This gives an idea of the value of this weed as a crop and shows that it was a staple product of the county. Some good cotton was grown here in 1923 as an experiment. There are prospects for it to be again a staple crop of this county.

There is quite an industry which has grown up among us in the last fifteen years, especially along the Chicago and Eastern Illinois railroad, called truck farming. This includes the growing and the shipping of such vegetables as tomatoes, asparagus, rhubarb, sweet potatoes, cucumbers and cantaloupes. Another comparatively new resource in this section during the last ten years, is the keeping of dairy cattle and the shipping of their products. A number of cows of the Holstein breed have been brought from Wisconsin and New York states and with the Jerseys already well established here, there is sent out about 5,000 pounds of butter fat per week, even at the present price which is not nearly so high as during the world war, makes this a profitable business in more ways than one. It brings a weekly or monthly income of cash to the farmer, enriches the pastures, and is adapted to lands that would not produce grain. The total receipes from sale of dairy products for 1920 were $156,653. Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and a few cherries are grown here. The first named are among the by-products of the county and are produced quite extensively. Our berry crops follow those just south of us and ripen before the northern berry, making it a very profitable crop which seldom fails. The markets for the vegetables and small fruit crops are Chicago, Cleveland and Indianapolis. In 1897, there were 1234 cases of strawberries snipped from Vienna, although this was not the main shipping station for that crop. As much as $500,00 has been realized in one season from three acres of ground planted in strawberries.

The raising of poultry for the production of eggs is also rather a new industry for this community. While all farmers have always kept chickens for home use and to produce enough eggs to buy the sugar and coffee, no one has heretofore made a specialty of it. But now during the winter when the farmer does not have so many duties in the field and the price of eggs is high he devotes his time to the care of "biddy" which usually pays him well. The value of chickens and eggs in 1920 was $1,240,981. Receipts from sale of these two products $130,359. The leading strains are Plymouth Rock, Rhode Island Red, Leghorn, Buff, Orphington and Langsham.

Many people do not appreciate the 'bird family and look on them as pests, instead of an asset, although some of them do as much harm as good, others are very helpful to farmers and horticulturists as insect destroyers. We are very fortunate in this county in having so many kinds. Some are prized for their beauty, others for their music. Aside from their economic value, the esthetic phase of the bird family must not be overlooked. Most everyone enjoys watching birds as they typify life in its most active state and the songs and calls of many of them are a source of pleasure. Their presence in great number means an increase of these forms of enjoyment.

When the first settlers came here, they found the entire surface of the country covered with a heavy growth of timber, the finest in the Mississippi valley. Black walnut, hickory, white oak, poplar and maple, now so rare and highly prized, were used for fence rails and fire wood. Beside those mentioned there was found in abundance elm, locust, sycamore, mulberry, cottonwood, pecan, sassafras, persimmon, gum, cedar, black oak and along the low swampy areas the tall straight cypress abounded. As fine logs of walnut, ash, oak and poplar as ever grew were rolled into huge heaps and burned. In fact, the farmer looked upon the timber as an incumbrance where he wanted a field. That it would be valuable later on never occurred to him. Of course, in later years much fine timber of this county was made into lumber. The cutting and floating of these logs down the streams to mills situated near the Illinois Central railroad was a very lucrative business for many years. Only within the last ten years has the timber 'become so scarce as to make this source of revenue prohibitive.

We have no factories or mines like some of our neighboring counties. While there is surface coal in many sections of the county which is worked for local use, there has never been any mined for commercial purposes except at Burnside. There has been a number of attempts since 1910 to discover oil in this county but the wells sunk never reached the fountain; although experts contend there is oil here. Near the village of Belknap there are some tile ovens as the clay in that locality is suitable for this business. The ovens are operated only part of the year. Charcoal is also manufactured in shipping quantities at this plant.

Goreville, a prosperous village in the northern part of our county, has a cannery. It is owned and operated by John Terry and while it does not boast of its capacity, it is said to store up in tin the very best quality of tomatoes and beans that can be found. The Charles Stone Quarry is situated in the southwest part of the county on the farm orginally owned by Pleasant Axley at the village of White Hill. This community is made up of the employees of the Quarry which is owned by the Charles Stone Company, most of whom live in Marion, Illinois. This industry was established in 1913 and has a capacity of 7,000 tons a day. They manufacture lime stone, for farms, chat for road dressing and railroad ballast. This plant has been recently sold for $225,000 to the Robert Youtzsee Sand Company, of Chester, Illinois.

The largest farm of the county in one body is owned 'by Charles Marshall of Belknap township and contains 2,810 acres. Mrs. Charles Mason of the same township has a farm of 1,400 acres. The late A. M. Webb of Tunnell Hill owned about 1,500 acres; Chestnut Hill farm, four miles west of Vienna, was developed by James Brown. It contains 1,050 acres, is owned by P. T. Chapman and operated by E. Mathis.

Twenty-five cents a day was considered a good price for a farm hand in the early history of this section, but when it gradually increased to 75 cents before the Civil War, the farmer thought it was extortion, almost as much so as the income tax in this year of 1925. Wages for farm hands in 1900 were $15.00 a month, for a single man, including board. A man with a family was paid $20.00 and furnished a house ; during the World War wages reached the height of $2.50 a day and board, from that to $5.00 during harvest. These prices have receded till the present farm hands receive on an average of $1.00 per day and board.

The first organization that was instituted for the benefit of the farmer was the Grange. For some reason it did not accomplish the purpose for which is was organized and soon was a thing of the past. The F. M. B. A., organized 1888, took up the cause of the farmer and flourished here for ten years or more. Some prominent in the order were T. J. Muray, J. W. Damron, G. N. Thacker, T. H. Verhines, R. R. Ridenhower, S. B. Robertson and Henry Anderson. There were about 20 lodges in the county and it appeared on the surface to be fulfilling its mission to the farmer but suddenly it terminated in a political institution and thus ended its usefulness. There have been other and various associations in our midst for the benefit of the farmer: "Fruit Growers,'' "Dairy," "Horticulture," "Shippers and Growers," "Breeder," and perhaps others. The one that has lived the longest and accomplished the most for the farmer is the "Farmers Institute," organized in 1900 with J. F. Buckner as president and William Grissom, secretary. The next important step was to organize a Farm Bureau. This was done in 1918 with J. C. B. Heaton, president; J. C. Chapman, vice-president; J. V. Carter, secretary; J. L. Veach, treasurer. L. M. Smith was special on fruit; Guy Beauman on soils; Charles Marshal, live stock; William Moore, dairy; Charles Truelove, crops. O. M. McGee was secured as Farm Adviser for the county and the main industries of our county have been on the up grade ever since its organization. James McCall, a native of this county, graduate of Oklahoma Agricultural and Medical College, Stillwater, Oklahoma, was our second Farm Advisor, employed 1921. Our county also boasts one unit of the "Home Bureau" under Williamson County supervision. This is known as the "Ozark Unit" and is made up of women principally from Burnside Township.

Drainage

DRAINAGE Cache River is the most important stream in Johnson County. It enters near the center of the western boundary, flows southeast, to the northern part of Sec. 30, S. range 3, east in Vienna Township, where it turns almost directly south, then southeast again, making a large bend by again turning southwest and forming the southern boundary of that portion of the county. Its principal tributaries are Lick, Dutchman, and Little Cache, or Town Creek, the first of which rises in Union County and runs into Cache in the western part of Elvira Township. Dutchman rises in Goreville Township, running in a southeast direction and receives Little Cache, or Town Creek, in section seventeen, township thirteen and empties into Cache in section thirty of the same township. It is interesting to note that the description of the east fork of Cache given by J. M. Peck in 1837 is practically correct for today. "This stream rises in Tunnel Hill Township, flows south and a little west by Vienna and into Dutchman in section seventeen."

Big Bay Creek rises in Johnson County, receives Cedar, which with the other tributaries, drains the eastern sections. The northern portion is drained by the tributaries of Saline and the northwestern section, by the streams that flow into Big Muddy River. The streams that flow to the north have narrow valleys with little low land along them. Cache is naturally a slow and sluggish stream. It has carved out a valley varying from a quarter to two miles in width. Along its feeding streams, also those of Big Bay, lie large tracts of bottom land, which are subjected to overflow and have been for many years since the Ohio River receded from them.

But in recent years there have been organized several drainage systems which have for their object the straightening of the main streams and the reclaimation of large and valuable tracts of land. Such improvements make these localities much more healthful. The first intimation of drainage in this county is a record of the appointment of Thomas Jones as "Drainage Commissioner" for the county 1852 or 1854, and of his giving a bond of $10,000 with Wesley Reynolds, Nathan Rushing, Jefferson Jobe, William Mounce, D. Y. Bridges and B. F. Hayward as security. This appointment, however, was not made with the view of organizing a drainage system. When in 1850, the U. S. granted to the several states all the swamp land lying within their limits and in 1852 the states in turn granted this land to the counties and there were, consequently 23,087.24 acres of such land in this county, there was evident need for a drainage commissioner in title at least. The law said "counties shall not dispose of more than is necessary to complete the drainage except they may apply the remainder to roads and bridges. The counties land to be under the control of the commissioner."

As late as the fifties, swamp land sold in this county as low as 25 cents an acre; between 1870 and 1880 some Chicago capitalist became interested in swamp land in the vicinity of Belknap and Post Creek, but for some reason the scheme to drain it failed. Members of the State Legislature tried for several sessions to get aid from the state in making a survey to determine the practicability of a drainage system for Cache River. Trousdale, of Massac, P. T. Chapman, of Johnson, in the Senate and George Martin, of Pulaski tried in the House at different sessions to secure this legislation. It failed of passage until the 43rd General Assembly when Senator Helm, of Massac and C. M. Gaunt, of Pulaski were successful. An appropriation of $10,000 for a survey of this territory was then made. A. H. Beli, of Bloomington, was employed as chief engineer and William Moyer, of Pulaski County, as Assistant.

Belknap Drainage District was organized about 1903. It lies wholly within Johnson County and extends from near Old Foreman, southwest to Rago. It was, in fact, a levee system and protected about 6,000 acres of land. It was financed by issuing bonds, and cost $40,000. The first Board of Commissioners was S. D. Peeler, Charles Mason and W. P. Brown. The present members are Charles Marshall, D. C. Casper and T. M. Bean (1922). The system was completed in about two years but the commissioners have since, in conjunction with Cache River Drainage System, con-

The "Cache River" drainage system is by far the most important undertaking of its kind in this section of the country. Its territory includes portions of five counties, Pope, Massac, Johnson, Pulaski and Union. The commission for the Cache River drainage system was organized in the spring of 1911, after a very pointed argument for the need of a drainage system had been furnished by the high water of 1910. The loss to Johnson County from this high water in crops, roads, bridges and farm improvements amounted to some $100,000. The head of this system begins a little more than a quarter of a mile east from the Big Four R. R. in Township 12, Sec. 6, S. Range 3 east, of Johnson County, running through sections six and seven in a slightly southeast direction to Township 14, Sec. 13, S. Range 2 east about 2% miles and is known as the Foreman Flood way, serving both Belknap and Cache River systems. The main ditch, or "Cache River Cut off" begins in Pulaski County at the mouth of Post Creek, and the course of Post Creek is changed by it in an exact opposite direction so that it flows out of Cache instead of into it and empties into the Ohio River several miles above the original mouth of Cache. Cache is, thus stortened about 60 miles. This ditch is a little less than five miles long, sixty seven feet deep at different places and 350 feet wide at some points.

S. D. Peeler, of this county, was a member of the Drainage Board for nine years and was chairman of it for seven. He gave much time and energy to this project, the value of which can not yet be estimated. This drainage project has been financed in the usual way at a total cost of $330,000. When completed over 80,000 acres of land will be drained. The main ditch was begun in 1912 and finished in 1916, but the entire system is not yet finished, (1924).

Vienna Drainage District was organized about 1911. The commissioners were D. W. Whittenberg, J. C. Chapman, O. H. Rhodes, C. J. Huffman, secretary and treasurer. This system has two divisions, the eastern one, beginning on Town Creek at the bridge on the Bloomfield road near the Big Four Station, running in a southwestern direction and meeting the western section. The latter section begins on Dutchman, just below where the bridge crosses that stream on the West Vienna and Vienna Road and runs in a southeast direction. On J. C. Chapman's farm, in section 7, the east and west branches, become one ditch to Ballow Bridge, in Section 17 on the Belknap and Vienna Road, where it meets the main stream of Dutchman. The work of digging this ditch was not begun till 1915. It was completed in 1916 at a cost of $25,000. It drains almost 6,000 acres and is being paid for in the usual manner, the taxes meeting the interest and a portion of the bonds each year.

Horticulture

Although the farmers of Johnson County since early settlement have generally had small orchards to supply fruit for home use, the growing of fruit on a commercial scale was begun about twenty-five years ago. The adaptability of the Memphis silt loam to the production of fruit has made this one of the most, if not the most, important industry of this county. The most extensive orchards are in Burnside Township, but fruit growing is not confined to this locality entirely. The orchard area is spreading to all parts of the Ozark Ridge lying in the county. A. G. Benson, living in Tunnel Hill Township had, in 1918, twenty-six acres in bearing trees, from which he realized in cash $3,300. Another fruit grower in the same township, Guy Beauman, made on his eighty acres of trees, $15,000. The large orchards are well cared for, pruned and sprayed. The apples are usually sold on the trees, the buyer picking, barreling and shipping. Other orchard growers are F. B. Hines, R. F. Taylor, Mrs. Mary McAvory, Dr. W. R. Mizell, Dr. LaRue, John Underwood, Gingrich Bros., Norman Casper, Hugh and P. G. McMahan and the Centralia Fruit Farm.

The most extensive fruit growers we have in the county are Heaton Brothers of New Burnside. They are known in all parts of the United States as apple growers, and have blue ribbons and medals from all kinds of fairs and expositions. They have been in the business for about thirty-five years and have four hundred acres in trees. The early varieties they raise are Transparent and Duchess; the winter or keeping varieties are Winesap, Ingram and Kennard's Choice. The average yield from an acre of orchard is $100. The following is quoted from the pioneer orchardist of the county : of 1888 by J. C. B. Heaton. Southern Illinois was then a dumping ground for tree peddlers with left over nursery stock. Mr. Heaton went into the nursery business for a time that he might get trees true to name, and with a hope that he might be able to direct an industry that would raise his neighbors from a state of semi-poverty to affluence and independence. Seeing that nursery men and orchardists were everywhere giving their efforts to growing fall and winter apples and that there was an increasing demand for early apples, which no section was yet making an effort to supply, he began growing and planting early varieties. While he was considered visionary at the time by many people, there were a few who were willing to risk his judgment and followed his example in planting early varieties. Those who gave attention to their orchards and brought them into bearing, reaped such a valuable harvest as to cause their neighbors to sit up and take notice. It was not long until everybody wanted an orchard of early apples, and went at it in earnest."

From a few local shipments in 1895 the industry grew to more than 150 car loads in 1920. During all this period there has been no year that a well cared-for orchard has failed to pay expenses. There has been no such thing as a total failure and probably never will be. It is admitted by our State Horticultural Department that no section of the state gives better care to the orchards than the New Burnside section. The United States apple census in the June report of 1918 says that Johnson and Union Counties have the largest early apple industry in the United States. Mr. Heaton also says, "The New Burnside vicinity will double its output within five years, trebble it in eight years, and quadruple it in twelve years at the present rate of planting. Good orchard land easily accessible to New Burnside, the shipping point, can be bought for $30.00 to $60.00 an acre. But good orchards in bearing, readily sell for $300 to $400 an acre. These prices are not based on estimates, but actual sales. Apples grown near New Burnside captured a gold medal at Louisiana Purchase exposition; also at St. Louis in 1903, a silver loving cup at the State Horticultural Show, and many minor premiums. In fact, Heaton Bros.' apples exhibited anywhere have never failed to get their portion of premiums. While this is one of the smallest counties in population, it is a pleasure to note that two thirds of all her land is as well suited to the production of early apples as the section of New Burnside. There is no place in the United States that offers better opportunities for a young family to grow themselves into a fat living than Johnson County. The current expression "Go West and grow up with the country" might well be applied here to read "Go to Johnson County and grow up with an orchard of early apples and live on the fat of the land."

A former resident of New Burnside Township writes a little history of a farm he knew in his boyhood days which he says, could not be given away, but which really would have sold high at $20 per acre owing to the rocks and poverty of the soil. This farm has been planted in orchard and sold in 1922 for $500 an acre. This fact substantiates the assertions of Mr. Heaton in his contribution to this subject. Ozark has recently built a packing house for the benefit of the Cooperative Fruit Growers of that section which is the first of its kind in the county. There are few peaches grown in this county for market although they are a most profitable crop when they withstand the late frosts. This crop is so frequently destroyed that there are no large orchards planted in this section. Chapman & Hooker took a first prize on Elberta peaches at the Buffalo Exposition, New York, 1901, which proves that the best peaches can be produced in this locality. The number of acres of commercial orchard in this county in 1922 was at least 6,000.

Clark'S Trail Part Ii

Parish, an early historian of Illinois says, "In 1792 M. Juchereau with 30 Canadians and Father Jean Mermet left Kaskaskia to form a French settlement and to build a fort on the Ohio River. He erected a palisade, a cabin or two, and a store house. His purpose was ostensibly trading. Mermet established a mission nearby and called it Assumption. This place was deserted a few years after on account of trouble with the Indians and if it was named, all records have been lost." Other historians tell us it was occupied by traders in 1710 and 1711, but remained unimportant till 1756. During the French and Indian War the French in retreat under Aubrey landed here, threw up earth works and erected a stockade with four bastions furnished with eight cannons and quarters for a hundred men. From that date it has been known as Fort Massac. The origin of its name is no more certain than its other early history. It was ceded to the British in 1783, but they never occupied it with troops, which made it easy for Clark to enter the Illinois country.

Fort Massac is not now in Johnson County, but it was at one time and the history of any place in Southern Illinois can scarcely be written without mentioning this old landmark. This fort was built by the French sometime in 1700, as a trading post and mission. Later a fort was constructed here forming one of the chain built by the French to be used in the defence of their claim to this part of the country known as the Northwest Territory. It was occupied by the French at different times and garrisoned by the U. S. in 1794. Victor Collet, a Frenchman tells us in his notes "On a Journey in North America," that Captain Pike was commandant of Fort Massac in 1796. His garrison consisted of one hundred men and the batteries were mounted with twelve pieces. Near the fort were seven or eight houses or huts inhabited by Canadians. From its isolation Fort Massac was sometimes the rendezvous of conspirators; here Genet, Powers, Wilkinson, the famous Aaron Burr with Blenerhasset, plotted wild schemes against this government, just what was never known. Here, no doubt floated the first American flag in this state which the valiant General George Rogers Clark brought with him on his journey of conquest, if he possessed one, if not, he carried the salute in his loyal heart. At least here he touched soil, camped and began his victorious march across Illinois. There has been some contention as to which route or trail General Clark took from this ancient fort to Kaskaskia. There seems to have been three known routes between these two places in 1778; number one lead from Fort Massac east and north to avoid the swamps, into Pope County; then turned westward past what is now Allen Springs entering Johnson County about two or three miles from Double Bridges and north of the site of Simpson, passed through Moccasin Gap, Sec. 3 township 12, range 4 east, Reynoldsburg, Sec. 33, township 11, range 4 E, Ezekiel Choat's, Sec. 30, township 11, range 4 east, Charles Burton's place near Parker, Salem Church then to Sulphur Springs about a mile southwest of Creal Springs and on into Williamson County, through old Bainbridge and out into the prairie country.

The second route circled Massac Lakes to the westward cutting in between them and the canyons of Cache River, entering Johnson County near what is known as Indian Point, then running north of northwest crossing Dutchman Creek a short distance above Forman then up the east side of Cache crossing the Ozarks through the Buffalo Gap. Johnson County on into Williamson meeting the upper trail at old Bainbridge. It is not necessary to describe the third route because it could be used only in the dry weather.

The evidence gathered from Clark's correspondence is in favor of the second route ; he says "on the third day out we reached prairie." This would have been impossible owing to the distance on the first route. He further says they were very much afraid of being discovered, another reason why they would take the least traveled or second route. He ordered his guide to find Kaskaskia trace when they thought they were lost, which would not have happened had they been on the original trace or the one known as route one. It had been marked by the French and was, no doubt, easily followed. A U. S. Survey notes an Indian trail which is described in "Roads." This central route was probably the same as this survey and shorter by seventyfive miles, another reason Clark would select it. The Daniel Chapman Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution of V ienna were so thoroughly convinced from these reasons and Draper's manuscripts of Clark's Memoirs, 1791 in the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, also from authority of Hurlburt in his history of this route, that this was the route Clark traveled on his historic journey, that they marked it with four markers of stone set in concrete bases with suitable inscriptions in 1913. One of these is located at Indian Point on the right of way of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, just inside the Johnson County line, and where the state hard road crosses into Massac County. This was Clark's first camp out of Fort Massac. These trails always followed the ridges and passed near water, consequently they placed one on the West Vienna road near a spring two and one-half miles west of Vienna about where the trail would naturally cross the present road. Clark's men, no doubt, tramped on up the ridge toward Goreville through Buffalo Gap where there is a break in the range of hills. The third marker was placed here by the permission of the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad, this being an old crossing used by the native buffalo, and made by nature. The fourth was placed on the Vienna and Marion road at the Pink Thornton Farm as the spring where they most likely camped the second night out of Fort Massac is just off the road, about three-fourth of a mile, near the present site of Pully's Mill and only a short distance from where the stone is located. The Egyptian Press, a local paper of Marion, Illinois, describes the marker as follows : "On his second night out from Fort Massac, General Clark and his men camped at a spring which is located near the Thornton home, two miles north of Goreville on the Marion and Goreville road. Here is now to be seen one of the monuments but recently located by the Daughters of the American Revolution. This monument is a granite marker standing above its heavy solid concrete base about two feet. It has a beveled and polished face measuring about 18 by 24 inches and bears the following inscription : 'Second Camp of General George Rogers Clark, on his March from Fort Massac to Fort Kaskaskia, 1778. Erected 1913 by Daniel Chapman, Chapter D. A. R.' "

Our first roads were trails made by the Indians. Reynolds tells us that in 1800 the old road leading from Ft. Massac to Kaskaskia was plainly marked, the number of miles having been cut or burned on trees and painted red. Just how long this road or trail has been in existence, we have no way of telling. We know, however, that it was laid out when Fort Massac and Assumption were built, which time varies from 1702 to 1711. Thus our first road was constructed early in the 18th century as Fort Massac had been a depot for emigrants from almost the beginning. Reynolds says, "from time immemorial." These emigrants had floated down the Ohio River on rafts and settled in southern Illinois. This road after leaving Fort Massac made a great curve to the north into Pope County to avoid the swamps of Cache and Big Bay, entering Johnson County about section 13, township 12, range 4 east, thence through Moccasin Gap, section 3, township 12, range 4 east, thence through Reynoldsburg, section 33, township 11, range 4 east, on to the northwest by or near Parker City leaving the county about a mile southwest of Creal Springs at or near Sulphur Springs going into Williamson County, passing Ward's Mill, Old Bainbridge and on into Jackson County. This was, without doubt, our first road though possibly not much more than a trace in 1800 as most of the travel was by foot or horseback. Reynolds says there was not a single house on the road from Hull's landing, a few miles above Fort Massac, on the Ohio to Kaskaskia in 1800. Good roads were just as necessary to civilization in the early day as now and among the first things that the county court did after its organization was to begin laying out roads. September 13, 1813, the court having taken into consideration the necessity, ordered Issac D. Wilcox to open a road from Massac the nearest and best way to William Style's in Center Township, and to make or cause the same to be made passable for carriages; that Moses Evans, Joseph Eubanks and Wm. Styles be appointed to view the road. Joseph Eubank's estate was settled in Massac Township indicating he lived in what is now that county. No doubt, some part of this road is in use as the road from Vienna to Metropolis at the present time. The second highway we have a record of is where Ezekiel Wells, Thomas Green and Solamon Penrod were appointed to view a road from Earth- man's ferry, which was on the Mississippi River. The terminus of this road is not given, but doubtless was Elvira in which case it would cross the present Union County. This order was made sometime in the year 1813. January 1814, the court ordered that all the inhabitants for eight miles on either side of this road from Earthman's ferry should work this road. January 12, 1814, a petition was presented to the court for a road from "Col. Furguson's opposite the mouth of Cumberland River, in what is now Pope County, to Cape Girardeau; the present mail route." This was a long route extending from one river to the other and, no doubt, left Vienna to the north. "Green's old ferry road passed through Vienna. Reynolds says there was an old road from Massac to Cape Girardeau." Tradition called it a military road. Levi Graham, William Lawrence and Abraham Price were to have charge of the road from Cache to Cape Girardeau and John Pritchard, James Titsworth and John P. Givens were to have charge from Col. Furguson's to Cache. Wm. Lawrence had a mill and a still on Cache and from the best evidence to. be obtained he lived in the extreme southeast corner of the present Union County or perhaps, just over in Pulaski. W. N. Moyers, County Superintendent of Highways of Pulaski County describes the two crossings or trails from one river to the other made first, by the Indians and later used by the new settlers as follows : One of the trails from Fort Massac west, followed down the Ohio River beyond old Fort Wilkinson and the head of the Grand Chain, thence west to the present site of Levings, thence north by west to Cache River about the corner of Sec. 16, 17, 20 and 21, Township 14, S., R. I. East. This is the first point at which the high lands reach the bank of that stream after leaving the Stratton Bridge site. The other route reached Cache about where the Black Slough empties into it. If Cache was high, the traveler went up the slough a short distance where it could be forded and skirted the scatters of Cache to Indian Point where the trail followed the ridge in a northwest direction and the one, no doubt, used by Gen. George Rogers Clark. An old United States Survey says that an old trail skirted the north banks of Cache basin near the east end. The Vienna and Metropolis road crosses it in Township 14, range 4 east near the center of the range. Grand Chain and Belknap road crosses it in R. 2 east, township 14. These old trails were, no doubt, referred to as roads in the early days of Johnson County's organization. At the May term of court in the year 1815 the people petitioned for a road from Elvira to intersect the road from Furguson's to Cape Girardeau at Cache Post Office (The United States Post Master General's Office says, "there was never a post office by that name until recent years there was one established in Alexander County"). The above road order was taken from the county records. In 1815, the court ordered that Robert Lott and William Thornton be appointed to view a road the nearest and best route from Johnson Court House to William Lawrence's mill. At the same session, 1815, George Smiley, Joseph Palmer, and Henry Earthman were ordered to lay out a road from Elvira to Earthman's ferry on the Mississippi to be governed as far as possible by the township line between townships 11 and 12. About this time William Simpson and John Robinson are allowed to establish a ferry on the Mississippi, below the mouth of Apple Creek, and to it they must have a road. Giles Palmerly, Jacob Craft, Thomas C. Patterson and Andrew Cochran were appointed to lay out said road. Joshua Davis, William Simpson, Thomas C. Patterson and John Byers were given the task of laying out a road from Johnson Court House (Elvira) to Big Muddy so as to meet the road from Kaskaskia to Muddy. A petition was presented in 1815 by the inhabitants to have the road leading from Johnson Court House to Furguson's ferry viewed and opened. John Reed, who served as commissioner in Pope County in 1825 and must have lived near the present Johnson County line, judging from another road ordered, Jacob Littleton and James Whiteside were viewers of this road. This was later known as the old Golconda and Jonesboro road. It ran through Bloomfield Township across the farms of Joseph Plater, Mrs. Davis, John Veach and Gus Casper and crossed Dutchman where the second site for a county seat was selected. This road also passed through Simpson, by Pleasant Ridge church house, crossed the old Marion road near the John Veach place and merged with the present Buncombe road near the Soper farm. At a court held in 181(5 Levi Graham, Absalom Lankston were appointed to view a road from Smith's ferry on the Mississippi to Wm. Lawrence's mill on Cache. John Bowman was to open a road from Johnson Court House toward Furguson's ferry as far as McFatridges. In 1817 Peter Clark, Henry Sams and

Benjamin F. Clark were appointed to view a road already established to Hay's ferry from Elvira till it intersected the road leading from Dutchman settlement, which was about two miles southwest of Jonesboro and at that time in Johnson County, to Brownsville, a town on the north bank of Big Muddy River and the first county seat of Jackson County, by way of Patterson's, who lived in what was afterward Rich Precinct, Union County, "Peter Clark is made supervisor of that part of the road, from Elvira to Brownsville, from his home to where the road intersects the road leading from the Dutch settlement. "The same year John Weldon, John Robinson and John Tweedy were ordered to lay out a road from Earthman's ferry on the Mississippi to intersect Greens road, near Tweedy's Mill." Another road built about this time was from Johnson Court House to Gallaher's old place on the Mississippi, below Green's ferry, John Bradshaw, John Grammar and Joseph Palmer, all were residents of Union at its organization, are viewers of this road. The description of the road is as follows: "Beginning at the court house and running by William Townsen's farm thence near to John Bradshaw's, leaving his house to the left, crossing Big Creek at the mouth of Wallace's branch, thence passing along between the plantations of John Grammar, and Sophronus Standles, thence by John Whitekers and thence to Gallaher's old place on the Mississippi, all of which we have marked," signed John Grammar, John Bradshaw, David Vance, David Arnold." Report on road leading to Robinson and Simpson's ferry on the Mississippi. "To-wit : Beginning at the court house thence agreeably to the way newly marked out to Thomas C. Patterson's and through his land, thence to Tripp's thence to the old Indian trail, where it crosses Drury's Creek thence to Palmer's, thence passing the widow Craft's and leaving her home to the right from there to Earthman's ferry." (Formerly Robinson and Simpson's ferry) . This report was given in 1815 and Giles Parmerly was appointed supervisor at this same court. The commission appointed to lay out the road to Muddy, having failed to act T. C. Patterson, William Simpson, William H. and Josuha Davis were appointed instead.

The roads up to this time most all seemed to be in the direction of the Mississippi River, but when Union was organized and the county seat changed, the roads began their trend in other direction. At the July court, 1818, William McNorton, John Copeland and John W. Gore were appointed viewers of a road the nearest and best route, from the new seat of justice toward Jonesboro, as far as the county line." This is, in part at least, the present Anna ana Vienna road having been laid out a little more than a hundred years ago. imagine, if you can, the work and money that has been spent on this road in the past one hundred years. If they had built less than one quarter of a mile each year we would now have a good road to our neighboring city. Perhaps these pioneers were excusable, although the Appian way had been constiucted before the Christian era, but the present day citizens are not excusable as they know all about hard roads, how to build them and have plenty of material at hand in this county. Yet the process of wasting money on roads continues in this section. "Adam Harvick, Joel Johnson and John Grisham are appointed at this same court, 1818, to view a road from the new seat of justice to Golconda, as far as the county line of Pope." All persons living north of the road to within one half mile of the old Elvira and Jonesboro road and all living south within five miles of said road shall work this road." September, 1819, the court ordered that Richard McGinnin, who lived at Pleasant Grove, the present home of Willis Elkins, Millington Smith, whose home was on the present farm of Stanley Beggs, and James Jones, who lived on the farm now divided and owned by Fred Shetler and John M. Brown, be appointed to view the nearest and best practicable route for a road from John Gore's plantation, so as to meet the road lately laid out from Vienna to Jonesboro at the county line. "This road began at John W. Gore's thence by George Brazell's mill to Jane Lizenby's, thence along the ridge leading down Cache River to the same, thence on a ridge to William Russell's farm leaving the same on the left, thence the safest and best route to meet said road from Vienna to Jonesboro. The meaning is a little obscure as there had been a commission the year before to lay out a road from Vienna to Jonesboro, but it is possible they did not complete it farther than John W. Gore's, another theory is that the first Vienna and Jonesboro road led south and then west instead of the present direction owing to the high water directly west of us. The road leading from Vienna south to Caledonia, Mound

City and Cairo and passing Indian Point was laid out in 1821. In 1824, John Copeland and John S. Cooper reported on a road to Wilcox's warehouse, which was on the Ohio River in section 7, township 15, range 3 east. A Mrs. Riley owns the farm on which this warehouse and landing was located. It was first called Copeland's landing. James Copeland operated a ferry there about 1824. It was later called Mabery landing. Tradition says most of the roads leading from the north came to this landing. It was on what is now the county line between Massac and Pulaski Counties, almost directly south of Vienna and doubtless the port from where our imports came and our exports were shipped. At this time Johnson County had a road leading out in every direction to the neighboring towns and, no doubt, many settlement roads. In 1819, David Elms was appointed supervisor of the old Golconda and Jonesboro road, from the corner of his farm, this farm now owned by J. H. Taylor and J. R. Hill, to Pope County line; Squire Choat from the same corner east to Bloomfielcl Township line; Alexander McGowan from there to Dutchman Lick (No knowledge of Dutchman Lick possibly it is what is now Lick Creek.) from Dutchman Lick to Union County line. William Gothard was appointed. These supervisors must have lived on or near the sections of road to which they were assigned. Stanton Simpson was appointed supervisor, for the new road, from Vienna toward Golconda as far as the Pope County line 1824. In 1820 it was ordered that : "James Bain, Lewis Simpson and Levi Casey be appointed to view a route from Vienna to Saline Lick and that Milton Ladd be appointed to survey it." The following men were designated to work this road that ran toward Saline Lick, passing Lewis D. Simpson's which was the present Simpson road, William Simpson, Sr., Levi Casey, Jacob Cannady, Ishmael Veach, Joseph McCorcle, William Hendry, Robert Little, James Copeland, Ivy Reynolds, Benj. Carroll, G. Morris, Irvin Morris, William Huckam, Francis Geehen, James Bain, Henry Adams, Martin Harvick, David Elms, Reuben Wright, William S. Cooley, George Giles, Squire Choat, Benjamin Bowman, William Abraham and Noah Shelby, Willis Simpson, and John Fisher. The supervisors were allowed $1.00 per day for summoning hands to work the road, in 1823. For December, 1821, Joseph McCorcle, James Jones and Mathew

Mathis were appointed by the court to view and mark out the nearest and best route for a road from Vienna toward the Saline so as to intersect the road leading past Lewis Simpson's.

Hezekiah West, Thomas Standard and Moses Cochran were appointed to view the nearest and best practicable route for a road from Vienna to Wilcox's ferry on the Ohio River, so as to intersect the county line between Johnson and Union Counties near Concord meeting- house. 1821 Joel Johnson, Levi Casey and Lewis Simpson were appointed to view a road from Vienna to meet the road from Elvira to Saline Lick. In 1821, Abraham Hendry, Jesse Canady and Martin Harvick were designated to view a road from Vienna to cross the creek below Joseph McCorcle's tan yard, which was about where Joseph McDaniel's house stands at present, on east main street, proceeding from there so as to intersect the Massac road at or near a place called Indian Mounts, this side of the bridge on what is called Black Slough. Indian Mounts, was, no doubt, the same as Indian Point. "Ordered that Robert Axley, Thomas Standard and Richard Mercer be appointed to view a road the nearest and best route for a road to be laid out from Concord meeting house to some point on the Ohio River near Wilcox's ware house." Concord meeting house must have been near the cemetery of that name which is near the line of Union and Johnson and one half mile due north of the old William Yearly Davis place. At September court, 1823, Isaac D. Wilcox, John L. Cooper and John Copeland were appointed to view a route for a road from Vienna to Wilcox's ware house on the Ohio River. They reported on this road in 1824 and were appointed supervisors of same ; all living within three miles of the road to the bridge must work this road and all within seven miles must work it beyond the bridge to the ware house." It evidently took a great deal of work and time of the citizens to make roads at that time; one can scarcely decide which the greater burden to work and open up new roads as they did in those days or to keep them up at the present. Three notches on a tree indicated a public road, a blaze on a tree marked a neighborhood road. The following men were appointed to supervise certain sections of these roads, 1823. "The road from Golconda to Jonesboro," that part of said road that lies between the bridge on Cache and the county line of

Pope." John Peterson to superintend that part between the afore said bridge and the town of Vienna. " Ivy Reynolds from Vienna to Simpson and Samuel Stanton Simpson from his house to the county line of Pope." "On the old road from Golconda to Jonesboro; Joshua Elkins to superintend that part of said road which lies between Dutchman Lick and the county line of Union." "Samuel McGowan from said Lick eastward as far as the line that divided Vienna and Bloomneld Townships." William Shelby from the north east corner of his land to the county line of Pope." The road from Golconda to Jonesboro passing through Vienna was divided into two districts, known as eastern which extended from the county line of Pope to Vienna, and western district which extended from Vienna to the county line of Union. Ivy Reynolds was appointed supervisor for the eastern district for the year, 1826 and William Elkins for the western district for the same year. The old road running through Bloomfield was divided the same way, the same year with Washington McFatridge in charge from Pope County line to Bloomneld and Henry Mangum was supervisor from Bloomfield west to Union County line." To the honorable judges of the court of Johnson County, Greeting - In pursuance of an act of the General Assembly, approved January 15, 1825. "We, your petitioners pray that you would lay out a road beginning at the county line, between Johnson and Pope Counties, near Thomas Reeds on Big Bay, thence through the settlement of Mark Rentfro thence the nearest and best -route to Hardy Johnson's on the old road, from thence to intersect the old Kaskaskia road at or near Ezekiel Choats on the little Saline, as we believe it will be a road of great utility and that yon appoint suitable persons to review it. Signers - (the only names legible were) : Hardy and Joel Johnson." J. H. G. Wilcox presented a petition to the May court, 1827, praying for a road from Vienna, by Reuben Wilson's on Georges Creek, to his ferry on the Ohio River. It was granted and Anderson Douglas, Martin Harvick and John Shearer were ap pointed viewers of the road. (Reuben Wilson entered land, 1836, which is now owned by J. L. Broadway.) In 1828, a number of citizens petitioned for a road beginning at Pope County line near Thomas Reed's on Big Bay thence through the settlement of Mark Rentfro thence to Hardy Johnson's on the old road, from thence to intersect the old Kaskaskia road at or near Ezkiel Choats on little Saline. In 1856, the following road was ordered : "Beginning at H. Carson's and running in a northwest direction to Williamson County line passing 0. Francis, F. Boyt's, D. C. Chapman, E. F. Francis, H. M. Ridenhower, James Parish and the widow Ollis, L. W. Fern and D. C. Chapman were reviewers." This is a later date than others but is used to complete the middle Marion road.