Knox County, Illinois - Chapter 7: Pioneer Life, 1878

Chapter 7: Pioneer Life

We shall, in this chapter, give a clear and exact description of pioneer life in this county, commencing with the time the sturdy settlers first arrived with their scanty stores. They had migrated from older States, when the prospects for even a competency were very poor, many of them coming from Kentucky, for, it is supposed, they found that a good State to emigrate from. Their entire stock of furniture, implements and family necessities were easily stored into one wagon, and sometimes a cart was their only vehicle.

As the first thing after they arrived and found a suitable location, they would set about the building of a log cabin, a description of which maybe interesting to the younger readers, and especially their descendants, who may never see a structure of the kind. Trees of uniform size were selected and cut into pieces of the desired length, each end being saddled and notched so as to bring the logs as near together as possible. The cracks were "chinked and daubed" to prevent the wind from whistling through. This had to be renewed every fall before cold weather set in. The usual height was one story of about seven or eight feet. The gables were made of logs gradually shortened up to the top. The roof was made by laying small logs or stout poles reaching from gable to gable, suitable distances apart, on which were laid the clapboards after the manner of shingling, showing two feet or more to the weather. The clapboards were fastened by laying across them heavy poles called "weight poles," reaching from one gable to the other, being kept apart and in their places by laying pieces of timber between them called "runs." A wide chimney place was cut out of one end of the cabin, the chimney standing entirely outside, and built of rived sticks, laid up cob-house fashion, and filled with clav or stone,- - often using two and three cords of stone in building one chimney. For a window a piece about two feet long was cut out of one of the wall logs, and the hole closed, sometimes with glass but oftener with greased paper pasted over it. A doorway was also cut through one of the walls, and the door was made of spliced clapboards and hung with wooden hinges. This was opened by pull- inw a leather latch-string which raised a wooden latch inside the door. For security at night this latch-string was pulled in, but for friends and neighbors, and even strangers, the "latch-string was always hanging out," as a welcome.

In the interior, upon one side, is the huge fire-place, large enough to contain a back-log as big as the strongest man could carry, and holding enough wood to supply an ordinary stove a week; on either side are huge poles and kettles, and over all a mantle on which was placed the tallow dip. In one corner stood the larger bed for the old folks, under this the trundle-bed for the children; in another corner stood the old-fashioned large spinning-wheel, with a smaller one by its side; in another the pine table, around which the family gathered to partake of their plain food; oyer the door hung the ever trustful rifle and powder-horn ; while around the- room were scattered a few splint-bottomed chairs and three-legged stools; a rude cupboard holding the table ware, which consisted of a few cups and saucers and blue-edged plates, standing singly on their edges against the back, to make the display of table furniture more conspicuous.

These simple cabins were inhabited by a kind and true-hearted people. They were strangers to mock modesty, and the traveler, seeking lodgings for the night or desirous of spending a few days in the community, if willing to accept the rude offering, was always welcome, although how they were disposed of at night the reader cannot easily imagine; for, as described, a single room was made to serve the purpose of kitchen, dining-room, sitting-room, bed-room, and parlor, and many families contained six or eight members.

Selections Of Homes

The early settlers universally settled in the timber or along its margin. Judge Clark tells us that the people in general thought the Yankees who settled G-alesburg had done themselves a great injury by going so far out on the prairie. Old Joseph Latimer, one of the earliest pioneers of the county, and the ancestor of the several families of Latimer now residing in the county, often remarked about the fine range the settlers would always have for their stock. All they would need to do would be to turn their stock out upon the vast prairies from year to year. Thus the cost of raising stock would be nothing. But where now can stock find an open prairie to graze upon? Certainly not in Knox county.

We often hear remarks made in regard 'to the pioneers settling along the timber, in a manner as though the selections of such locations implied a lack of judgment on the part of the fathers. But when we consider that they had always lived in the shelter of groves, it certainly is not strange that they should select such sites fur their homes in a new country. To many of them the cultivation of the prairies was an untried experiment, and it was a prevailing opinion that the timber would soon become very scarce, a fear since proven to be without foundation. So the pioneer laid his claim on a timber quarter, knowing when the state of his exchequer permitted there would be plenty of prairie land to buy if not to enter.

Then many of their cabins were poor, half- finished affairs, and protection from the driving storms was very desirable. The timber also sheltered stock till such times as sheds and out-buildings could be erected. That the time soon came when intelligent, enterprising farmers saw that their interest lay in improving prairie farms, and ceased clearing fields, when there were boundless acres presenting no obstacle to the most perfect cultivation, argues nothing to the policy of sheltering for a time in the woods. Even 35 years ago scarcely anything could have been seen through this portion of the State, in the way of human habitation, save these log cabins. The railway was a greater factor in opening up and developing the prairie than any other, and this the pioneer knew nothing about; and instead of it showing a lack of judgment in selecting homes in and along the timber, we conclude it augured in their favor, and showed them to be men of superior judgment.

Clearing of timbered land was attended with much hard labor. The underbrush was cut away, piled into heaps and burned. The large trees were in many cases left standing and deadened by girdling. This was done by cutting through the bark into the wood, generally through the " sap," all round the trunk.

Not the least of the hardships of the pioneer was the procuring of bread. The first settlers must be supplied at least one year from other sources than their own lands.

Milling

But the first crops of the earliest settlers, however abundant, gave only partial relief, there being no mills to grind the grain. Hence the necessity of grinding by hand power, and many families were poorly provided with the means of doing this. Another way was to grate the corn. A grater was made from a piece of tin, sometimes taken from an old, worn-out tin bucket or other vessel. It was thickly perforated, bent into a semi-circular form, and nailed, rough side upwards, on a board. The corn was taken in the ear and grated before it was quite dry and hard. Corn, however, was eaten in various ways.

Soon after the county became more generally settled, enterprising men were ready to embark in tlie milling business. Sites along the streams were selected for water-power. A person looking for a millsite would follow up and down the stream for a desired location, and when found he would go before the County Commissioners and secure a writ of ad quod damnum. This would enable the miller to have the adjoining land officially examined, and the amount of damage by making a dam was named. Mills being such a great public necessity, they were permitted to be located upon any person's land if the miller thought the site desirable. The first year after Mr. Amos "Ward arrived in the county, he took a bag of corn on his horse and went to Andover mills. On arriving there he found they had stopped running during the dry weather. He returned home and the following day went to Centerville. There the miller, a Mr. Leek, was grinding a little when he could. Mr. Ward left his grist and in a few days returned for it, but it was not ground; returned the second day, and even the third; and not discouraged, he kept going until he got his bag of corn ground, traveling over 100 miles to accomplish it. In the mean time Mr. Ward and Mr. Thompson, a neighbor, were compelled to resort to grating corn. They gathered green corn from the fields and grated it on a lantern. This meal was made in batter-cakes, which was an excellent and palatable article of food. The sides of the lantern referred to were made of perforated tin. The lantern had no glass about it. Often in after years they would take this mode of preparing corn to remind themselves and to show their children how they lived in olden times.

Mr. Ward's next method for a grater was the use of a tin pan, which had been found. This was thickly perforated with nail holes and fastened, rough side out and concave side in, to a board. This was used for four weeks, when the corn became too hard to grate. Then came a rain which raised the water in the streams and they could get their milling done.

Frank Ward, a son of Amos Ward, relates some very interesting experience in going to mill. He took a grist to Rochester on Spoon river, some 15 miles distant. The low water necessitated his return without his meal. After every shower his father, anxious to have food for his family, would send Frank back to mill, hoping his grist had been ground. JSTot until he had made his tenth trip did he succeed in getting his meal !

It was well for the people in those days that civilization was not so far advanced as to have introduced rats; for had rats been as numerous then as now Frank would have had very little grist left.

Mr. B. Bruington says when he first came to the county he had to go at different times to Moline, which was 60 miles distant, to Rushville, which was 75 miles, and to Aurora, which was 125 miles, to get his grist ground. He went with an ox team and a heavy " Hoosier wagon." He also made several journeys to Chicago with wheat, consuming on each trip two weeks' time.

John Montgomery, an early settler of Knox township, made several trips to mill at Rushville, with two yoke of oxen, each trip taking him 14 days.

William Lewis returned to Sangamon county after flour and bacon, and not having the money to purchase the articles, had to work until he earned enough to pay for them. He had to swim the Illinois river at Beardstown with two yoke of cattle, and when he returned home to Knox county a companion came with him bringing also a load. Coming to the river, and neither having enough money to pay ferriage for both wagons (which, by the way were nothing but two-wheeled carts), they put all'the meal upon one cart and drove upon the ferry, Lewis himself again swimming the river with two yoke of oxen and cart. One of his oxen swam faster than the other, and thus caused nearly all to be drowned. They, however, reached home after four weeks of absence.

Mr. Lewis made a buckskin flour sieve, which he used for years, and the old gentleman avers that it was better than any sieve of the present day.

A. Kendell ground corn and wheat in a coffee-mill at his house in Henderson township. He then took it down to the creek and ran it by water power.

John Snyder and brother went to Chicago in 1846 with two loads of wheat, each drawn by two yoke of oxen and contained 50 bushels of wheat. They got 56 cents a bushel and had to take half in trade. On arriving home they had $3 each, in money. Another instance a man sent his two sons from Galesburg with a load of wheat, giving them $10 to defray their expenses. They returned with just $10 in money, thus taking the proceeds of their load to pay expenses. The lowest price we have any record of Knox county wheat being sold in the Chicago market was by Sheldon W. Allen, who has sold wheat in that city for 37i cents a bushel.

Jones and Dellart, two young men who lived on the farm where Amos Ward afterwards so long resided, made themselves one of the original corn-mills of this country. These mills were usually made by boring a hole in the top of a large stump, and then burning it out in the shape of a mortar ; then, attaching a pounder to a long, bent spring-pole, they pounded their corn and grain, making unbolted meal or flour, which although not so delicious, perhaps, as bread made from fine bolted flour was more healthful.

Judge Dennis Clark in an early day often went to mill for the neighbors. One trip he made to Ellisville with three yoke of oxen. The weather was quite cold. As usual he had to wait several days, and his provision, which he always took along, gave out. He had not a, penny of money, so he untied one of his sacks of corn, and in the -dirt and ashes in a part of the mill he parched it. He ate corn and drank water, his only food, for two or three days. Finally, late one evening, his grist was given him. So anxious was he to get home that he started, although the shades of a moonless night were fast gathering, and he had a wild country to travel through with his six oxen. He kept on, crossing bridgeless streams, going through timber and over prairie, yelling at his oxen. Often the dismal road -over the prairie would be obliterated by the burning of the grass. Many times during that dark night did Mr. Clark go ahead of his oxen :and on his hands and knees feel around for the road, being able to distinguish the track where the grass had been killed by wagons from the burnt stubble. He arrived home safely, but the memory of that night's trials will never be obliterated from his mind this side of the grave.

The earliest mode of baking was to place the dough on a smooth board or piece of iron placed on the hearth, slanting toward the fire. When lard was plentiful, the bread was well shortened, and called " Johnny cake." Some baked in a Dutch oven when that article could be obtained. Sometimes the dough was made into lumps, which, when baked, were called "corn dodgers." Others raised the dough with yeast and baked in a Dutch oven ; this was called "pone." Mush and milk was a common diet, especially for supper. Hominy and roasted corn were also used to a great extent.

Native Animals

The wild animals infesting; this countv at the time of its settlement, were the deer, wolf, bear, wild-cat, fox, otter, raccoon, wood-chuck or ground-hog, skunk, mink, weasel, muskrat, opossum, rabbit, and squirrel ; and the principal feathered game were the quail, prairie-chicken, and wild turkey. Several of these animals furnished meat for the early settlers ; but their principal meat did not long consist of game. Pork and poultry were soon raised in abundance. The wolf was the most troublesome animal, it being the common enemy of the sheep. It was quite difficult to protect the sheep from their ravages. Sometimes pigs and calves were also victims of the wolf. Their howling in the night would often keep families awake, and set all the dogs in the neighborhood to barking. Their, yells were often terrific. Says one old settler : " Suppose six boys, having six dogs tied, whipped them all at the same time, and you would hear such music as two wolves would make." To efFect the destruction of these animals the county authorities offered a bounty for their scalps, and besides big hunts were inaugurated for their destruction, and " wolf hunts " are prominent among the memories of the early settlers. Such events were generally turned into a holiday, and everybody that could ride a nag or stand the tramp on foot joined in the deadly pursuit. A large circuit was generally made by the hunters, who then closed in on every side, driving the hungry wolves into the center of the corral, where they were dispatched. The return home with the carcasses was the signal for a general turn-out, and these " pleasure parties " are still referred to by old citizens as among the pleasantest memories of early life in Knox county. Many a hungry wolf has been run down on the prairies where now is located a town or fine farm residence. This rare old pastime, like much of the early hunting and fishing the pioneers indulged in here, departed at the appearance of the locomotive.

The following notice was published in several numbers of the Knoxmile Journal of 1853. The hunt proved a success both in the interest manifested and in scaring the wolf from that region.

" Wolf Hunt. - The citizens of Orange township invite the neighboring towns to join in a circular hunt Saturday, April 15 (1853), The following arrangements it is hoped will be fully carried out :

" Mr. Isaac B. West will take charge of the men meeting at Knoxville, and form a line from Knoxville to Isaac Dempsey's. Mr. Dempsey will with his men form a line to Rev. Wm. Clark's ; Mr. Clark will take charge and form a line to Maquon ; David Housh will form a line to Chas. McGrew's, near Mt. Harmony ; Mr. McGrew will form a line to Harrisonville, from which place John Teri*y will form a line to Dawdy's ; Mr. Dawdy will form a line to Abingdon ; from which place Capt. Ellison will form a line to Louisville ; Mr. Swartz will there form a line to Mr. Crawford's ; Mr. Crawford will form a line to Abr'm Lightner's ; Mr. Lightner will from there form a line to Knoxville, the place of beginning.

" No guns or fire arms allowed in the company. If either of the gentlemen named above cannot attend, they will please appoint a suitable substitute. Let there be a general turn-out, that we may rid the country of a great pest."

Another grand hunt was had, the centre of which was on the prairie southwest of Galesburg, the hunt extending from Knoxville to Monmouth. Dr. Hansford had command of the eastern division. Many deer as well as wolves were enclosed, but a break in the line came near making it a failure.

Andrew Thomson, with three other men, started a wolf in the spring 1843 on the farm now occupied by Chris. Burrell, but then open prairie. It ran into the edge of Galesburg, then north to Henderson Grove, thence east along the south side of the grove. With the assistance of others they succeeded in keeping him out of the timber, and he ran on to where Wataga now is located, then turning south ran over the mound and to the creek in which he was captured.

Cooking

To witness the various processes for cooking in those days would alike surprise and amuse those who have grown up since cooking stoves and ranges came into use. Kettles were hung over the large fire, suspended on trammels which were held by strong poles. The long-handled frying-pan was used for cooking meat. It was held on the lire by hand ; or, to save time, the handle was laid across the back of a chair. This pan was also used for baking short-cake. A better was a cast-iron spider, which was set upon coals on the hearth. But the best thing for baking bread was the flat-bottomed bake- kettle, of greater depth, with closely fitting cast-iron cover, and commonly known as the " Dutch oven." With coals over and under it bread and biscuit would quickly and nicely bake. Turkeys and spare-ribs were .sometimes roasted before the fire, suspended by a string, a dish being placed underneath to catch the drippings.

The agricultural implements used by the first farmer here would in this age of improvements be great curiosities. The plow used was called the bar-share plow. The iron point consisted of a bar of iron about two feet long, and a broad shear of iron welded to it. At the -extreme point was a coulter that passed through a beam six or seven feet long, to which were attached handles of corresponding length.

The mold-board was a wooden one split out of winding timber, or hewed into a winding shape in order to turn the soil over. Sown seed was brushed in by a sapling with a bushy top being dragged over the ground. In harvesting the change is most striking. Instead of the reapers and mowers of to-day, the sickle and cradle were used. The grain was threshed with a flail, or trodden out uy horses or oxen.

A pioneer wagon was a wonderfully constructed vehicle; and if one was drawn down the busy thoroughfare of our cities, it would be such a curiosity that everybody would rush to have a view of it. A. W.- Miller, of Walnut Grove township, came to Knox county with one of these wagons, and used it for some time afterward. It was all made of wood, there being no iron about it. The wheels were about 10* inches thick and 2^ feet in diameter. Thus we see the wagon wasquite low. These wheels were sawed from the end of a log, and were solid. A plank was pinned on the side to prevent season-crackings The axles were about six inches square, rounded at the ends for a sixinch hole in the wheel. Four or five yoke of oxen were hitched to the wagon, and it was slowly dragged over the prairies. When in use it would be known for miles around by its terrible squeaking, even when well greased with soft soap. One load of wood, such as this wagon was capable of hauling, would last the family nearly all summer.

The first two-horse Yankee wagon ever in the county - or, at least, the first Judge Clark or Jonathan Latimer ever saw - was brought from New York in 1834:, by a man who settled in Warren county r township 10 north, 1 west. He diad never seen the land until he arrived with his family. They were greatly dissatisfied with the country; thought they would never have any neighbors, and no market for their produce. Jonathan Latimer and Dennis Clark (who was in the employ of Latimer, receiving $5 per month) were breaking prairie within a mile of where this Yankee settled. He became so thoroughly disgusted with the country that he determined to return to New York, but did not have teams enough, some of his horses having failed him. He offered Latimer his wagon, if he would let Clark take an ox- team and big wagon load of goods to Chicago for him. Neither Latimer nor Clark had seen a Yankee wagon before, so they were to take it on trial for a few days. They brought it down to Latimer's home fastened behind their heavy ox- wagon. As they had no harness, they were obliged to bring the Yankee harness also. They finally succeeded in hitching their horses to it, but only after long and tedious work, as they were not accustomed to harness; and Judge Clark affirms that one of the most difficult jobs he ever performed was to adjust the check reins so they would work. He thought they were so* complicated that their use was impracticable. They drove around over the prairies, traveling over the j>resent site of Abingdon, with their new wagon. They thought it was a " pretty good thing - too light for general use, but just the thing to ride to town in." The trade was not made; but the Yankee left the country, and was never heard from afterwards by Clark.

The men were not called upon to endure alone all the hardships and labor of frontier life. The women also had their physical labor to perform, and much of it was quite arduous. Spinning was one of the common household duties. This exercise is one which few of the present generation of girls have ever enjoyed. The wheel used for spinning flax was called the "little wheel," to distinguish it from the "big wheel" used for spinning yarn. These stringed instruments furnished the principal music of the family, and were operated by our mothers and grandmothers with great skill, attained without pecuniary expense, and with far less practice than is necessary for the girls of our period to acquire a skillful use of their costly and elegant instruments.

The loom was not less necessary than the wheel. Not every house, however, in which spinning was done had a loom; but there were always some in each settlement who, besides doing their own weaving, did some for others. Settlers, having succeeded in spite of the wolves in raising sheep, commenced the manufacture of woolen cloth; wool was carded and made into rolls by hand-cords, and the rolls were spun on the " big wheel." We occasionally find now, in the houses of the old settlers, one of these big wheels, sometimes used for spinning and twisting stocking yarn. They are turned with the hand, and with such velocity that it will run itself while the nimble worker, by her backward step, draws out and twists her thread nearly the whole length of the cabin. A common article woven on the loom was linsey, also called linsey-woolsey, the chain being linen and the filling woolen. This cloth was used for dresses for the giris and mothers. Nearly all the clothes worn by the men were also home-made. Rarely was a farmer or his son seen in a coat made of any other. If. occasionally, a young man appeared in a suit of "boughten" clothes, he was suspected of having gotten it for a particular occasion, which occurs in the life of nearly every man.

articles of clothing and with edibles of various kinds, did wheat bread become a common article of food. It is true they had it earlier, but this was only served on extra occasions, as when visitors came, or on Sundays ; and with this luxury they would have a little " store coffee. "

The history of pioneer life generally presents the dark side of the picture; but the toils and privations of the early settlers were not a series of unmitigated sufferings. No; for while the fathers and mothers toiled hard, they were not averse to a little relaxation, and had their seasons of fun and enjoyment. They contrived to do something to break the monotony of their daily life and furnish them a good, hearty laugh. Among the more general forms of amusements were the " quilting-bee," " corn-husking," and the " apple-paring," and, in timbered sections, "log-rolling" and "house-raising." Our young readers will doubtless be interested in a description of these forms of amusement, when labor was made to afford fun and enjoyment to all participating. The " quilting-bee," as its name implies, was when the industrious qualities of the busy, little insect that "improves each shining hour" were exemplified in the manufacture of quilts for the household. In the afternoon ladies for miles around gathered at the appointed place, and while their tongues would not cease to play, their hands were as busily engaged in making the quilt; and desire was always manifested to get it out as quickly as possible, for then the fun would begin. In the evening the gentlemen came, and the hours would then pass swiftly by in playing games or dancing. " Corn-huskings" were when both sexes united in the work. They usually assembled in a large barn, which was arranged for the occasion; and when each gentleman had selected a lady partner the husking began. When a lady found a red ear she was entitled to a kiss from every gentleman present; when a gentleman found one he was allowed to kiss every lady present. After the corn was all husked a good supper was served ; then the " old folks" would leave, and the remainder of the evening was spent in the dance and in having a general good time. The recreation afforded to the young people on the annual recurrence of these festive occasions was as highly enjoyed, and quite as innocent, as the amusements of the present boasted age of refinement and culture. "The little brown jug" found a place in almost every home, and was often brought into use. No caller was permitted to leave the house without an invitation to partake of its contents.