Logan County, Illinois - The whole text, 1878 (part 6 of 11)

Logan County in 1822, he came through Springfield, ^nd this store was the only one of consequence there. John Williams was clerk. He was was then getting ten dollars per month ; but Major lies gave him $150, $30 more than the agreed price for the year, and entered into an agreement with him to clerk for five years for $200 per year. At the end of the time he purchased the store of Mr. lies, and was for many years a very successful merchant. This was the trading point for severaJ years after the settlement of this part of (then) Sangamon County. It must bo remembered by the reader that until 1839 all Logan County, and much more territory was included in Sangamon County.

The following year, after the location of the settlers already noticed, ther6 came in the Spring, Benjamin Briggs, who lived at the wove, on Richard Latham's place. In his family, was Emily Hubbard, his wife's eister, who about 1824 was married to Richard. It is a matter of some dispute as to whether this was not the first marriage within the limits of the county. It has been found impossible to settle the question definitely. Mr. Briggs afterward went to Tazewell County, where he accumulated a comfortable competence and lived until his death. Aquilla Davis came from Kentucky. After living a while in this county he went to Sangamon County, where he lived a number of years. He returned, however, to Lake Fork, where he lived during the remainder of his life. This same season several others located. They, however remained, only a short time, and can hardly be classed among the early settlers of this county.

About a year after, Robert Musick settled on Sugar Creek ; he was joined by Ezekiel Hopkins. This latter pioneer came with his family from Indiana. He remained, however, only about two years, when he returned to that state. He and Mr. Musick were the earliest settlers here. Mrs. Judy remembers that when they arrived, her father prepared a small cabin, and that they at once made it their home. On the afternoon of the day of her arrival, she, her mother and her sister, *^* Hetty," as she was called, went out into the woods, and proceeding but a short way therein, discovered two fine bee trees. These were soon after felled, and furnished them an abundant supply of this most delicious of native sweets. The finding of these trees was a very compion affair, so abundant were they. The Indians possessed a remarble instinct for finding honey. For many years following the early settlement of this country, honey was commonly used to sweeten coffee, and at the table, instead of asking if the visitor would take sugar in his coffee, the inquiry would be, " Do you use honey in your coffee ?" Sugar was a costly article then unless made from the native sugar tree, which could be done by all, and honey being plenty and to be had only by a few hours labor, was made its substitute. Col. R. B. Latham says, ^^ If all the walnut trees destroyed in this county for the sake of the wild honey found in them, were collected now, they would yield a handsome fortune to their possessors."

The same might be said of many other forest trees. In the Spring and Summer of 1822, Robert Buckles, James Turley and Jerry Burks located on Lake Fork. Mr. Buckles came from White County to this locality. lie and Mrs. Buckles came in the Spring on horse-back, and remained (with Mr. Burks, who bought Mr. Chapman's claim. In June they -eturned to White County, following Indian trails, and in October came again to this settlement, and located for the Winter in a small cabin neat the month of Lake Fork. It was a rude structure^ little better than a rail pen, but served the purpose of a home to those two and their smiUl family during the Winter.

A few cabins had been built along the eastern side of the timber, by some early settlers, but vacated for fear of the Indians* Mr. Buoklea entered one of these in the Spring of 1823, and opened a farm. It extended into the prairie some distance. On the bottom near him, Jeremiah Burks broke about forty acres of prairie. This field was noted for many miles over the country, as one of the largest prairie fields cultivated. Mr* Latham was, however, the first to cultivate prairie soil in the county. At first all emigrants to this county settled in the timber. Many of them had no means of cultivating the prairie. It is narrated that one of the most prominent men in Bureau County settled on the prairie to the great surprise of his pioneer neighbors, and not long after, being on a ticket for the Legislature, was defeated for no other reason than that he was at the time making preparations to cultivate his claim. His constituency declared that a man who knew no more than to venture out on the pt'airie to farm, did not know enough to represent them in the state councils. Equally absurd opinions have been entertained by other votei*s since then, though it |is doubtful if more sagacious men than the defeated candidate have entered any legislatnre. One reason of the settlement in the timber was the natural protection from the cold winds. This was a most sensible move, and in the poor condition of the houses then, doubtless many lives were saved from the winter's cold, or merciless winds. Another reason was, nearly all these pioneers came from a wooded country. Man learas only by experience and by example. Hence many pioneers would dear out a field in the woods, and expend vastly more labor preparing it for the plow, than would be required to plant and cultivate several crops. Another objection was the poor tools with which to do the work. The "bar-share " was the only plow then in use. It had a wooden mouldboard, and was with difficulty made to clean properly. Yet it was made to do good work. Several yoke of oxen would be hitched to it, and froca mere force, if nothing else, it was drawn through the ground. It was in time displaced by a mould-board made of iron rods, steel faced. This was quite an improvement, and was for many years the standard breaking plow. The first attempts to cultivate thB prairie in this part of the state, were made in Sangamon County by William Drennan. It is thus narrated in Power's Early Settlers of Sangamon County: ** Early in 1818, William Drennan, his half-brother Joseph, his son-in-law, Joseph Dodds, and George Cox, left their families near Alton, and with their teams,, farming implements, provisions, and all the young men and boys belongn iiig to the families who were able to assist in making a home, started,] piloted by a young man, named William Moore, who had belonged to company that had been over the country before in fighting the Indians^ He was called an Indian Ranger. Arriving at Sugar Creek, they took day or two for exploring and on March 10, 1818, drove to the spot oi which William Drennan built his cabin, and which proved to be sectroi 32, town 14, range 5 west, when the Grovernment made its survey. Itii on the northwest side of Sugar Creek, and twelve miles nearly due soutlib of Springfield, and near where the Sugar Creek Cumberland PresbyteriaiA)

Chiireh now stands. Immediately after their arrival they built two cabins. One was occupied by Geo^e Cox alone ; the other by William and Joseph Drennan and Joseph Dodds. As they had not the slightest idea of cultivating the prairie, these three men agreed to clear all the land they could in one body, and have a crop from it that year in common. They cleared the timber from about fifteen acres, fenced it, plowed as well as they could among the roots and stumps with a little, ahoTt, wooden mould-board plow, and planted it in corn and pumpkin seed. The isoil in the timber was very light, so much so that in many places they ^rouldsinkin almost over their shoes. In fencing this land they inclosed about three-fourths of an acre of prairie. After they had plowed and planted their crop, one of the men suggested that it was quite a waste to have that under fence and nothing growing on it, and proposed that they break it up and plant something on it. In order to make sure work, they uncoupled one of their wagons, hitched four horses to the forward wheels, and fastened their wooden mould-board plow to the axle.

Try as they would, the plow would not enter the sod, and they reluctantly gave it up. While they were taking off the team and plow, one of the boys full of fun and mischief, took up a hoe and began to shave off the grass, saying he could break the prairie with his hoe. That suggested the idea to one of the men, and he also took a hoe and began shaving the grass. It was the work of but a few moments to remove the sod from a spot several feet in diameter. He then called to the other men, and proposed that, as they were well advanced with their work, and there were seven or eight of them, and all had hoes, that they call all hands together, and shave the grass from the whole piece, plant something on it, and see what would be the result. The man spoken to first, lauded at the idea as ridiculous ; but after studying a moment, he fell in with it, and the men and boys were all called up, the grass shaved off, holes dug, and com and pumkin seed planted. They did not touch it any more ; that killed the grass. The crop was twice as large in proportion to the area, as that planted among the stumps, and the next Spring it broke up the nicest of any land they had ever seen.

By the year 1823, some improvements in farming implements were made, and the settlers of Logan were beginning to profit by their introduction.

The cabin which Robert Buckles entered in the Spring of 1823, was a very fair sample of almost all occupied then. It contained neither a nail, brick, nor sawn board. The doors were hung on ia wooden hinge. The chiipney was made of mud and sticks, and the floor of split puncheon. The roof was made of walnut shingles, split outand held on by weight poles. The cupboard was made of a walnut log, hollowed out square, and notches made therein, on which split shelves were placed to hold the few dishes they owned. A cradle was commonly made out of a hollow sycamore log^ sawn the necessary length.

About this year, one of the first deaths in this county occurred, that <jd Sarah Finders. The coffin was made of a walnut log, hewed out to -receive the body, which, after being placed in the cavity, was verv neatly oovered by. a slab made to fit closely over it. She was buried in the Turley grave-yard.

meats. These were known as the Elkhart, the Sugar Creeks the Lake Fork, and the Salt Creek settlements. Afterwards, about 1827, Kickapoo was added. In tracing intelligently the early history of Logan County, it will be necessary to follow each of these settlements in detail. As the names of the pioneers will be given, a short sketch of each will appear, as accurate as can now be obtained. It is well known to all inteUigent readers, that absolute certainty in these dates can not now be ascertained ; also, that in giving t^ese names and incidents, some names will be ommited^ others inserted who did not come so early, and that very many interesting incidents ^re now lost. The memory of all is, at best, not always correct,: and ad nothing has been preserved in writing concerning these pioneer days, the recollection of the old persons is all that can now be obtained. It is thought that no names are omitted, and that something is told of every settler of any prominence, who saw the face of Logan County before the deep snow.

The settlement of James Latham, Richard Latham, James Chapman^ Jerry Burks, Robert Buckles, Hezekiah Davis, Aquilla Davis, John Stephenson, John Porter, Robert Musick and a few others have alreadj b^en noticed. These came during the years 1819 to 1823. After that date the year of settlement can not now be definitely ascertained. The following persons are however known to have settled on the Lake Fork, prior to 1880. Benjamin Davis, a son of Aquilla Davis,, came from Kentucky. He was a Baptist preacher, and was one of the first ministers in the county. In after yeara he removed to Iowa. Charles Turley carae from Kentucky here, and remained until his death. Abram Bowman was from the same state, and is now living in Green County. Samuel Key was a young man when he settled here. He afterward married and remained on his farm until his death. Ezekiel Bowman, with his family, was from Ohio. He died in the county. After the occurrence of the sudden freeze in 1839, he often told of finding frogs frozen with their mouth open, 4ind said he knew the change was so sudden that they did not have time to close them. James Taylor,* a Baptist minister from Tennessee, settled on the Lake Fork ; but in after years moved away. Hugh Depriest was also an early settler, who afterward removed. Washington and Jefferson Turley came with their father, James Tuiley, from Kentucky. He, the former, remained on a farm near his father's until about 1840, when he removed to Mt. Pul^ki,- where he died. The latter married a Miss Trotter, and settled on Rouwi Prairie, in Sangamon County, where he died. Charles Harper,, Sen., was probably on the Lake Fork at the time of the deep snow. He remained until his death. Spen^ce settled about the* same time, and afterward removed^ Humphrey Scroggins was one of the earliest settlers, here, and lived on his farm until his death.. His three sons, Jefferson, who married Lucy Turley, and died in Mt.^ Pulaski ; John, who married Emily Turley, and is yet living; and Leonard, who married Mary Sims, and i8*now a farmer on the Lake Fork, came with him.

Boston Finders, another early, settler,. remained here ^^ring his lifetimie. Carter Scroggins, from Kentucky, settled in 182>. i He died here. Hugh Collins, from Indiana, Charles barney, from the same state, and George Girtman, from Missouri, were all early settlers, and all died here. The latter was known^ far and near, for th^ excellent buckskin he made,.

and which was largely worn by the young men. Hiram Bowman came f^TQm Ohio, but afterward removed to Missouri. William Copeland was among the early settlers. It is stated in the records of the Old Settlers' Association that Mrs. Miller Copeland was the first white child born in the county. This is, however, an error, as Mrs. Martha Turley's birth

E receded hers some time. Drury Martin, John Hueston and Solomon ^lue, old settlers, are all now dead. David Sims came from Kentucky, and is yet l^ing. Jeremiah and Richard Burks were from Tennessee, and are both now dead. William Turner is yet living. Michael and Abram Mann, John Jessee and Thomas Sr. Lucas, and Samuel Myers were from Ohio, and all are now in their graves. Elijah Friend went to Iowa. William Stallings came from Ohio. He removed to Iowa, where he died. Theodore Lawrence married here, and remained until his death. His brothers, John and Robert, are also dead. James and N. R. Cass were from Kentucky, and are now in their graves. Squire Foster is living in Lincoln. Thomas R. Skinner, an early settler, became one of the most prominent men in the connty. He was county surveyor and afterward, for many years, county judge, and was one of the most upright men ever on the judicial bench. He was serving in this capacity at the time of his death. While he was living no man could have been elected against 1am, so much confidence did the people have in him. Judge Reuben C. Ewing, the successor of Judge Skinner, was equally well and favorably known. He was born in Tennessee, in 1801, and came to White County, Illinois, in 1809, where he lived till 18S0. He filled the office of sheriff there several terms. In April, 1880, he came to- Moultrie County, where he resided until 1848, when he was elected to the Legislature, and served several years. In 1854 he came to Logan County, and in 1857 succeeded Judge Skinner to the office of county judge. He filled this office until 1869. In 1876 h3 returned to Moultrie County, where he died on the 10th of July of that year.

Aside from the Latham family, at Elkhart Grove, several otherscame, who generallj'^ remained but a short time, and then went to the other settlements. Among these may be mentioned the Stephenson family, who afterward went to Sangamon County. Dr. Jayne, for many years a prominent physician in the state capital, made rails for Mr. Stephenson, at one time, for fifty cents per hundred. Mr. Latham had twoor three cabins built near his own house, which he ren'ed to persons moving into the country until they could find a locaion. A family by the name of Lackland, from Tennessee, lived in one of these cabins. A Mr. Glover made a clearing in the timber, where it was about one fourth of a mile wide, and opened a farm here. Though a stretch of prafrie, more than eight miles in extent, lay on each side of him, he had no idea - its soil could be cultivated. John and Henry Crumbau rented land of Richard and Mrs. Latham for two years. At the expiration of that time they went to McLean County. The springs of pure water in the grove "were an inducement to locate here. Where water was not obtained by the pioneers in springs or creeks, wells were dug. To supply clothing, flax and cotton were rased, and spun by the women. Shoes were a luxury. Often when a young lady went to church she carried her shoes and stockings until near the place of assemblage, when she would pause and put them on. This was done to save them as much as possible

Who of the young ladies of to-day would do that ? Many of them, did the necessities of the occasion require it. Human nature is not retro* grading, and economy is as much a virtue now as then, and only requires a need to call it out. Springfield was then the post-office, county seat and market for all these settlers. Wheat brought from thirty to forty cents ; corn, six to ten. One pair of shoes lasted a year. Boots were unknown. Some one, about the year 1828 or '29, had a pair of red-top boots made when on a visit to the older state , and on his return wag known, far and near, by those " red-top boots."

The boys often wore buckskin trowsers and buckskin hunting shirts. As long as they were kept dry, they did well ; but when once wet, were almost useless.

Returning to the list of the pioneers, and following the Sugar Creek settlement, after Robert Musick andEzekiel Hopkins, already mentioned, Daniel Lantis is found to be the next settler here. He removed from Ohio with his family, and located on Salt Creek about the year 1823. He, however, soon came to Su(^ar Creek. About 1853 he went to Champaign County, where he died in 1866. His brother, Henry, may have preceded him a short time on Sugar Creek, as he came from Ohio about 1824, and settled at once in that locality. He afterward went to Tazewell County, where he died. John Reed came from Kentucky with his family in the year 1621. He lived on Sugar Creek twenty-seven years, when he went to Lincoln, where he now resides. Jerry Dixon removed from ' Kentucky in 1827, and lived on his farm in this settlement until his death. Abraham Altic came in 1829, and in 1830 moved to Salt Creek. In 18iio, he returned to Sugar Creek, where he died in 1840. Archy Bryant came from Kentucky in 1827, and remained until his death. His wife is still living. William (^^ Pap "") Ryan cama from Kentucky with his family in 1830. He went to Missouri, where he died. His house was for many years the stopping place in this settlement for travelers. Christopher Orendorflf and family came early. He built a mill here, the second or third in the county. Daniel Lantis built a saw mill on this creek, which was afterward convertt d into a grist mill«> When Mr. Robert Musick settled, he went to Jacob Moore, a weaver and blacksmith, for work and repairs. He also had a mortar in which to pound corn. A horse mill was afterward erected on Sugar Creek Ixf Fred. Ewing. Mr. Musick's house was partly constructed out of boarcb sawn by a whip saw. He did the greater part of his trading, as well aa all settlers here, in Pekin as soon as a store was opened there. Mary Ann Musick, now Mrs. Judy, was married April 31, 1829. This wag probably the first wedding in this settlement. Mr. Judy settled in Tace^ well County in 1825. He was personally acquainted with many of the Indians, who were here then in great numbers. He often shot with them on a trial of skill, and generally defeated them. They had three laive villages merged into one near where Bloomington now stands. Here tae Kickapoos, Potawattamies and Dela wares dwelt, and during the Summer months hunted over the prairie now comprising Logan County « The Kickapoo Creek took its name from the tribe of Indians dwelling in its vicinity. Some of these could talk tolerable English. Mr. Judy knew well Jim Crow, a Kickappo.chief, Ti^by White Eyes, of the ISyiawarea, and Big Bull, of the Potawattamies. Robert Musick had lost a toe fitw one foot) and was an object of much curiosity to these children of the forest, who knew him as the *' Man-without-a-toe." He was also a good marksman, and was often challenged by the Indians to shoot at a mark. They much respected him on account of his skill with a gun. Indians «nd deer were a common every-day sight. The former often camped near this stream. They fed on hominy and deer's meat. The former was made by boiling it until' thoroughly cooked. They had procured iron vessels at some of the government agencies. The venison was cut into long strips and slowly cooked over a fire of coals. They had also procured blankets at the agency, and many of the squaws wore bright oolored dresses.

One of the largest Indian towns was not many miles from the present town of Pontiac, county seat of Livingston County. Another village was on what was called Monk Creek, a small tributary of Sangamon River. After the settlers began to take possession of Logan County, the Indians gradually withdrew, until within a few years, by 1836, none were to be found. At the salt spring on Salt Creek was a* famous place for their gathering before the whites came. Here they made salt, and annually made a visit to the place for this purpose. The spring seems to* kave been equally well known to all the wild animals for many miles around it. Old settlers inform the present generation how they have seen the place when for several rods around the spring the ground was* eaten away to the depth of several inches. This had been done by the wild animals, who, having a fondness for the salty taste imparted to the earth wherever saturated by the water, would come to the spring whenever liature demanded more of this element for their food, and satisfy their taste by slowly eating the salty earth. After the establishment of Indian agencies east of this locality, the Indians of other tribes would occasionally pass through the county on their way to and from the agency. They would almost always stop a day or two near some of the streams, and hunt in order to obtain a supply of food. Their manner of hunting the deer was for a number of the warriors to surround a certain scope of cbuntry, and gradually close in upon whatever game they could secure. As they advanced nearer and nearer together they would commence a series of yells and vociferations, which would thoroughly frighten the deer, who would run from one side of the ring to another, only to hear tlie same outcry, and if sufficiently near, a shot would be fired at them by 9ome of the hunters. These being mounted on ponies, and riding at a fari6us gait, would be very uncertain in their shots, and seldom brought the deer down until within close range. The hunter did not sdways seem t<^ oare as to the result of his shot, as the excitement of the chase was to Urn quite enchanting, and he pften prolonged it to gratify himself. After Ae chase they would remove the best part of the carcass, and, building a fire in an excavation in the ground, would suspend the meat over the fire after it had burned to coals. Here it could slowly cook, and would in this manner 'become excellent eating. It would also keep for many cjays, which was the Indian's primary object in the proceeding. Somettmes they would become tired of the venison, and would go to the settlers' houses to exchange it for ^^ hog-ee meat,"* as they called it. As they eared more for the quality than the quantity, they would often get only a small piece of *^ hog-ee meat" in ezdiange for a large pieOe of x6

On one occasion several of them came on this enand to one of the settlers. One of them brought with him his gun, a large smooth bore rifle. While at the house the white man showed the Indian, who appeared to be a chief, his gun, a small rifle, and by signs indicated to him he would like to exchange. The Indian, after looking it carefully over, raised it to his shoulder, and sighting it, gave an ejaculatory ^^ tush,^ throwing his head to one side. He then picked up his own gun, sighted it, and giving another ^' tush," inclined his head toward the earth. The pioneer knew the first movement indicated that the hunter supposed that if the deer was hit by a ball from such a small rifle, it would only shake its head in disdain ; but if struck by a ball from his gun, it would fiaU dead to the earth.

After the *Black Hawk war, the most of the Indians went to their ifeservations west of the Mississippi, while the remainder gradually left the country on the approach and settlement of the white man.

In speaking of the Indians, Mr. C.'C. Ewing, now a resident of Lawndale, and an early settler, says : ^^ They were of the Kickapoo tribe abont our place. The government permitted them to remain and hunt, after 'having treated with them for their lands." He further says : " These savages were a fearful sight to us boys, they being the first we had ever seen. Some were painted different colors ; others haa heavy rings in their ears, or had notches cut in them. Their camp was close to our place, and we visited them frequently. They were quite friendly, and we could easily learn their peculiarities. They would spread their deer hides around their wigwams and cut the venison in small slices, and place these on the hides to dry in the sun. Their dogs, which were numerous, had first ehoioe in these pieces, and were generally undisturbed. When a deer would come in sight, the entire squad of braves would rush for their ponies and ride pell-mell after it, shooting from the backs of their ponies. As soon as the deer fell it would be slung across the back of a pony trained to the purpose and brought to camp. On Sundays all was quiet in the village ; no hunting was allowed on that day. When their dinner was prepared of venison and soup, the warriors arranged themselves around the pot in a circle, spoon or ladle in hand. The chief placed himself in a prominent position, and amid deep silence, pronounced a harangue in the Indian tongue, which,*' says Mr. Ewing, ^^ we sypposed was saying grace. The moment he concluded, each Indian rushed for the pot as if on a race for life, and rapidly began to devour its contents.*' Their habits were disgustingly dirty and filthy. The favorable opinion of the early settlers concerning these natives was very much changed when the Black Hawk war broke out, and they committed some startling atrocij^es. These were not, however, within the confines of this county, but generally further north.

The third settlement in the county was made on Salt Creek, so named from its saline springs, after Mr. Chapman's location and selling to Mr. Burks in 1822. The next settler here was probably Samuel McClure. He located on Salt Creek in 1823. William McGraw was another pioneer ; also William Long. In 1825 Philip Suiter settled in what is now Broadwell township. Solomon Wood located near the Rocky Ford; Nicholas Moore at Hurricane Point in 1880. He afterward went to Iowa and died there. EUtst of the mouth of Lake Forit, on Salt Creek, Abram Vande venter settled in 1828. In 1826 or '27V Charles Council and Montgomery Warrick. Samuel Musick located in 1828 or '24, near the present village of Middletown. In 1826 John Barnes came with bis family from Kentucky. He lived two years in one of Richard Latham's cabins and then moved to Salt Greek, settling in what is now Corwin Township. James Latham had by this date removed to Peoria, having been appointed Indian agent by President Adams in 1824. He lived here but two years^ when death occurred. Between the years 1824 and 1827 or '28, John, Robert and James Downing, David Laughery and James Morrow settled. Harry Crocker came from the south part of the state, married and died here. Henry Dement settled about

1829. Moses Moore, a nephew of Nicholas, located about the same time. Stephen Moore settled here, but afterward moved to Postville, where he was among the first county officers. He again moved, this time going to Iowa. J. D. and William X>ement were from Kentucky, and are now dead. Joseph Bowles purchased a faim of a Mr. Dotson, an early settler about

1830. Mr. Bowles went to Sangamon County, but returned to Logan in 1840 or '41, where he died. Brooks Randolph came from Virginia about the time of the Deep Snow. He remained dnring his lifetime. Jamea Randolph was a .native of the same place ; his widow is yet living. Wil* loughby Randolph also came from Virginia. He removed . to Iowa. John vande venter was &om«th^ Old Dominion, and lived on Salt Creek until his death. Alfred and Edmond Sams were natives of Tennessee) and are both' in their graves. Preston Pendleton and wife came from Kentucky in 1829, and settled on what is now the John Martin farm. After various removals they located at the Big Grove timber on the, Kickapoo, where Mr. Pendleton died in 1871. His widow still lives. Peter Bashaw settled near the Rocky Ford about 182/. About ten years after he went to Missouri. John Ciitz is yet ^living on the old home<- stead. Hifi father went to Dewitt County, where ha died. Samuel Evans settled about 1827 or '28. He afterward moved to the place known as the Boren farm. He next established *a ferry at the Lincoln Cemetery. This he changed to a toll-bridge, which he in after years sold to the county. He then removed to his farm, where he died about 1849. Berryman Vaugn was from Ohio, and settled here on James Chapman's farm, which he purchased. He died on his homestead. Peter J. Cowarden also died on his homestead. Thof. Briggs settled early ; he died here. These are all the names that could be obtained. There were many settlers here shortly after the Deep Snow, and there may be those not named who settled prior to that memorable winter.

The remaining settlers, before the Deep Snow, located on Kickf^oo Creek. The first settler here did not arrive until 1826. Prettyman Marvel arrived near the eastern limits of the county in the timber skirting this stream in February, 1826. He and his wife scraped away the snow from beside a large log, kindled a fire, wrapped themselves in their blankets and slept during the night. They came from Gibson County, Indiana. They moved to* near Waynesville, DeWitt County, where Mr. Marvel died in 1842. Mrs. Marvel is yet living. One week after their arrival John Barr and wife came from the same place and located near them. They came in an ox cart, and camped out while on the way. Mr. Barr is yet living. In the biographical portion of this book a full history

-of this family will be found. Felix Jones settled near the present Atkin* son place, andjs now dead. Dr. Throgmorton brought his family here from Indiana. He removed to Mason County, where he died. Chauncy Speai*s and Matthew Robb are both in their graves. Thomas, Robert, James and Samuel McClure settled near the junction of Salt Creek and Kickapoo, about 1823. John and Reuben Ewing, Hiram Chapin, Benjamin Shipley and Abraham Hamilton are all dead, and were all early residents* Timothy Hoblit located about 1829. He was from Ohio. William Hutchinson came from Indiana. Andrew Brock and Hiram Bowman from Ohio. The first two are dead. Mr. Bowman was one of the first teachers here. He was a Baptist minister, and in - after years went U> Missouri. Joseph Rodgers removed to Spoon River, and there died. Samuel Hoblit came from Ohio to Sangamon County in 1827. He icemoved to the Big Grove in the Spring of 1829 where he resided until his death. The Hoblit family are now very numerous, and are among the best citi-r zens of the county. Samuel Hoblit was for many yeai-s the only mechanie in this part of the county, and performed all repairs on the farming im^ plements used at that time. John Scott owned a small corn mill built by Zion Sugars, in 1828, on tlfe Kickapoo. It was run by water, and had one set of stones. It was the first mill in this part of the -county. Wheat was ground on it, and bolted by hand. It was afterward changed to a saw mill. Thomas Lucas, from Ohio, died here. Charles Council moved to Iowa, Thomas Davis to Missouri, James Ennis, from Tennessee, to the same state. Joseph Clifton settled on a hill near Jerry Bently's. Adam Stephens and wife came from Ohio. They are yet living. Mat* thew Martin came from Indiana, and afterward settled in DeWitt County, where he died. Ezra Knapp is dead. Oabriel Watt probably came from Indiana. He, William Lee and a Mr. Overstreet were among the first Methodist preachers here. George Clark moved to Delevan Prairie. Levi Johnston is dead. James Barr, lately deceased, was an early settler here^ and a prominent man.^

The first Post Office and trading point for these settlers was Springfield. The next were Bloomington, Pekin and Waynesville. This small town in DeWitt County was laid out by George Isham. Here the settlers first attended church. Many of them went to Peoria for trade. It was then better known as Fort Clark. In addition to the early settleis^ mentioned, several names jvill be found in the history of Atlanta. They are those who located in its vicinity. The habits of life of these pioneers were the same as those previously narrated. Their early life was as full of interest as any. John Barr had one clevis when he came. He and others used hickory withes in fastening implements together where any strengfth was required. They broke ground with three or four yoke of oxen, and when one gave out, would go out, drive in a wild steer, compel him to enter the yoke, and go on.

Between the various streams on which were the settlements, already described,*no persons located until later years. The country remained unbroken in many places until the advent of the railroad in 1853. When J. T. Chestnut settled in what is now Prairie Creek township there were but three houses in that part of the county. Delevan was his trading point. Thomas Fletcher was the first settler here. Before closing this it will be very interesting to read the experiences of some of these pioneeis

BB narrated by them in letters and at the gatherings of the old settlers. In a letter written to the Secretary of the Old Settlers' Association, Mr. C. C. Ewing, in narrating the early experiences of his father's family, says : *' I emigrated with my parents from Tazewell County, about the 30th of May, 1829. We settled upon the border of Kickapoo, about one mile west of where the present village of Lawndale now stands. My father brought with him one hundred and sixty head of cattle, beside other stock. We had to settle on raw land, there being but little cultivated. We broke sod and planted sod-corn until about the 25th of June, on which to winter our stock. The fall was very favorable and the corn matured well. There was any quantity of blue stem prairie grass. Of this we availed ourselves abundantly. Yet we had to buy corn and haul it four miles, that being the winter of the deep snow. We hitched two or three yoke of oxen to a sled and drove after the corn in the morning, and would frequently find our trail completely covered on our return. The sqow was two or three feet deep. Sun-dogs frequently followed the sun all day, and the weather was often bitterly cold. We got through the winter with a lot of very poor stock ; but the grass being abundant the following apring, we soon forgot the hard winter.

Wild game was remarkably plenty, and all settlers had an abundance -f meat. The county seat of Tazewell county was then at Fremont, about thirty miles distant. To neither it or Springfield was there a road. Each one on making a journey to either of these towns followed an Indian trail. As Pekin was rather a poor market, the settlers determined to try Ohici^o. The journey there would occupy about four weeks. Wheat could be sold there at from 75 to 90 cents per bushel, while in Pekin it would bring but fifty or sixty cents. Salt, sugar, coffee and other articles needed in the settlement would be brought back. Purchases could be made cheaper in Chicago than Pekin, and on the return of the party could air ways be sold in the settlement. Mr. Ewing further says : " The item of milling was the most to be dreaded. Cooking stoves were very rarely seen, while a match was not thought of. In our long drives to (Jhicago, we had to keep a supply of flints, steel, tow and punk. With these we made our fires in camp. My father made what he called a mortar in which to make meal, by hollowing out a solid block of wood and making a pestle to fill the cavity. He fastened an iron wedge in the end of the pestle, which was attached to a sweep, with a round through it at the proper height for the hand. At this grinder, thus roughly made, the boys would have to put in their idle time. Another mode for making meal was to make a grater out of tin. We often preferred these rude mills to going thirty or forty miles to a horse-mill, and wait for those ahead of us. The journey would often require three or four days, time. Flour was a rarity here, and when obtained was of a dirty, sandy color. This was caused by threshing the wheat on a ground floor, by driving horses over it. When it was cleaned it was ground in one of those, venerable horsemills, then so few. Yet this was all we could afford. Biscuit was eaten once a week, - on Sunday."

At this date there was a small store at Bloomington and one at Joliet, where the settlers on their way to and from Chicago stopped. They often came here to trade. The comfort of the settlers was somewhat advanced by the erection of OrendorfiTs grist mill. It was built on Sugar Creek; and was since known as Morgan's mill. The burrs were made out of the "lost rocks," t^ they are called, which were found scattered about over the prairies. . They were undoubtedly brought here by the action of water ages ago. They are very hard and durable, and are commonly known as " Nigger heads." This mill was a great convenience to the Sugar Creek and Kickapoo settlers and had an extensive patronage. A water mill was erected on Salt Creek about the same time, but was useful only in high water time, and was then not considered very safe. The first water mill in Logan County was built on a small creek, near where David Evans now lives. It was built by John Glenn, before the Deep iBnow. The Orendorff mill would grind wheats but the flour was of an inferior quality.

As soon as settlers began to go to Chicago for supplies, Pekin, profit-^ ing by the admonition, began to improve. Men in mercantile pursuits knew if it was profitable to go to that market for supplies, it was profitable for them to meet the demand, and they acted accordingly. Until the jrailroad came, this town was the chief market, and grew rapidly.

Mr. Ewing thus describes the post of Chicago as seen in the fi^ of 1835: **The village of Chicago was very small. There were two or three grocery stores on the north side of the river and a dry goods store and grocery on the south side, near the lake shore. The river was spanned near its mouth by a single bridge. The most attractive part of the village at that time was Fort* Dearborn, garrisoned by United States soldiers. This had been made necessary by the united hostilities com*- mitted by contiguous Indian tribes. These, after being conquered, came to this agency for supplies, and for the payment of the lands purchased of them by the government. Many of them were here awaiting these payments before leaving their possessions. They were encamped near. I was told that bad whites, with provisions and liquor, would first make the Indians drunk and then rob them of their money. Part of the payfnent had been made. It was all silver and was invariably tied securely in a corner of the Indian's blanket. The whisky would sooni make the Indian sleepy, when the white man would watch his chance and cut off that part of the blanket containing the money, and pocket it. In this way the Indians lost much of their money. The prinqipal Sacs^ t^oxes, Kickapoos, Dela wares and Potawattamieshad their representativeshere, and were about equUUy robbed." When Mr. John Hawes, Sen., came to what is now Eminence township, the Indians had just vacated their hnds preparatory to going beyond the Mississippi. What able bodied Itken there were in the county at the time of the Black Hawk war, generally went to aid in expelling these native sons of the forest, who in many places were very troublesome.

The annual gatherings of the old settlers are generally well attended. At these meetings many of the oldest residents narrate their early life here. This is fraught with items of interest, and to give the reader an' ititelligent idea of these meetings several speeches made on these 0008*^ sions are here subjoined. At the meeting in 1877, Col. Latham said he had never attended an old settlers' meeting before, but supposed that reminiscences would be in order. He was a child of one of the fiist settlers, and came to the county when he was a little over a year old4^ Fifty-seven years ago not a white person lived in what is now L(^4i

OoUntj. Those who were present at this meeting were the children of the pioneers. His father settled at Elkhart Grove in 1819. In February of that year he built a cabin, and his family came on in September. H^ thought his father's family the first that came to the county, though there were several who came in 1820, and probably James Musick settled on Sugar Greek in the fall of 1819. Mr. Turley and others came soon after. His first recollection of a plow was of one made wholly of wooda barshare. Next was the Gary plow, the share of which was partly of iron. The principal Indian tribes then in the county were the Potawattamies and the iJelawares, but they soon gave way to the settlers* When his father came they went a mile below Edwardsville (a distance of over a hundred miles) to mill. In a few years a little mill was put up on the Sangamon. His father erected a horse mill about the year 1S20, and it was looked upon as a very inportant enterprise. Men would Qooie great distances and camp out for a day or two while their grinding was being done. All were neighbors and friends then and much sociability existed. He thought this was always the case in the settlement of a country. People enjoyed themselves as well as they do now. . The early settlers were vigorous, enterprising men. It did him good to meet the friends of his boyhood, especially upon such an occasion as this ; hence he was in favor of these gatherings.

Rev. J. R. Lowrence had not been before the people before as an old settler. He came to the state in 1830, and lived here nearly all the time since. No railroads when he came. He camped at the foot of the hill below PostviUe when there were no houses in the town.

He told of a young man who saw a young lady taking a grist of corn to mill, and was so pleased .with her conduct that he married her. The lady was the mother of one of our merchants. He enumerated what were considered accomplishments of the two sexes in those early times.

John Gritz came to Rocky Ford in 1827, where Mr. Smith now lives* His father went away and he built a pottery. Mr. Gritz told about the^ deep snow. At that time the prairies could not have been given to him. He had worked in this state for seven dollars a month and never got more. Mrs. Roll was an early settler of Indiana. When she first saw thie^ state the prairies were burned black. All bad log cabins then, with mud chimneys. She settled fifteen or twenty miles from any store. They went to Ghicago for salt. She picked brush and did general work on the farm.

J. T. Hackney answered to calls by saying that he could not make a speech. He was not a pioneer, but came to the county forty-ont years agOk In 1840 he knew almost all the men in Logan Gounty, when it polled less than five hundred votes. In December, 1836, he and one or two others went up Salt Greek and stopped at the farm where he now lives. The earth was wet from recent rains. Suddenly a cold wind came,, which almost seemed to whiten the earth in its progress. As they went^the ice became thicker and thicker and the cold more intense, and they were obliged to stop for the night at the house of Alfred Sams. All old settlers would remember that sudden and wonderful change of temp* erature. His father began teaching in 1836 in a log cabin within a hundred yards of where he (the speaker) was now talking. The schoolhouse was called " brush college.

James Randolph was called out. He said he was not one of the first settlers, bqt came forty-five years ago, before the winter of the deep snow. He came, a small boy in a colony of fifty who settled together. There was but one house then from the Widow Cruser's, to the county line. They came from a warm country, and their men spent the fall weather in hunting, instead of finishing up their cabins. Only two houses in the colony had chimneys. The snow came about Christmas. It was very hard to travel with horses, and there was no corn nearer than ten miles. They had plenty of meat. By spring, forty-nine of the fifty were in the two cabins that had chimneys. Nearly all were sick, but there was only one death during the winter. They had no doctor. A good many of the colony became discouraged and went back. In 1882 his father built A hewed log house, the same one in which Wm. Donnan now lives.

The President said he came to the county in 1841. In 1842 or 1843 he attended an ^^infare," at which were present Seth Post, Jerome Grorenv Anson Packard and Dick Oglesby, all of Decatur. The family lived in » small house, and the guests expected to go to Yankoetown for lodgings^ but a rain came up and they were forced to remain and sleep on the flo(Hr« He remembered that Oglesby made a pillow of a skillet which he had turned upside down for the purpose.

At a stand were a few relics representative of early times. One was a piece of old-fashioned strap rail, such as was used on the first railroads. Mr. D. W. Clark had a silver spoon made by a brother of his wife's grand<»> mother, and a primitive looking but substantial two-tihed hay-fork, once the property of his great, great grandfather. Mr. Fletcher had ^ rifle brought from Virginia, and a pair of antlers taken from a buck sliun by the gun thirty years ago. Some preserved ground-cherries were shown as a sample of what pioneer housewives used to do in sweetmeats.

Joshua Day responded to a call by saying that he was not a pioneer, though an old settler. He came forty years ago, lacking a month, and he thanked God for it. He landed at Commerce, near Nauvoo, forty-eight years ago, having left Massachusetts when not quite twenty-one. Near Nauvoo he saw Blackhawk and over five hundred Indians. He took din* ner with the chief several times. The year after he came he helped bury two or three of his neighbors. They had no physicians. He had only ** six bits" when he came, and shook with ague nine months. Would have gone back but couldn't. Like many others, the impossibility of returning gave him pluck to endure. Afterward he came to Lake Fork, which they said was a healthier country. He came after the arrival of the Budkleses, the Lucases, the Scrogginses and the Lathams. John Buckles and others in the assembly before him knew how times were then. When scouring plows came in, one old man stuck to his wooden plow for three years, because he thought the new plow "would kill the ground," it turned it over so sleek. .

L. K. Scroggin was called out. His father and mother came to Illi^ nois in 1811 and he was born in the southern part of the state in 1819. He came to Logan County in 1827 and had remained ever since. He thought the young would go on improving the country as their fathers had done for those who, in turn, would follow then. We should not destroy, but build up. The country should go on in its career of devblopment.

Mr. J. M. Edwards, of thU city, was the next to speak. He moved to Springfield in the year 1829, when that town consisted of about one hundred log houses. He came to Lake Fork in 1829 and bought land of Buckles. He lived there a number of years. Mr. Edwards spoke of the -struggles of the pioneers, of grating com for meal and of traveling long distances to mill.

Wm. M. Allen said he had been in the county 38 years. He told 8om^ laughable stories of pioneer life. The first mill on Salt Creek had no roof over it ; they bolted the flour by hand, and when the miller turned on the water he ran for fear the mill would fall. The Colonel then traced the successive stages of improvement through which the state has passed to her present greatness.

Joshua Howser said he came to the state in 1835. It was very thinly settled. He entered forty acres of land five miles south of Wolf Grove. He' narrated stories of wolf hunting in early times. He also told of sickness and other privations attending life as an early settler. He was no great hunter, as some of the others were, but could fish successfully then and now.

Wm. B. Bock came to the county in 1839 and entered land a mile from timber. The neighbors laughed at him, thinking the country would never be settled so far from the woods.

At the meeting held in Lincoln the previous year, Henry Johnson one of the oldest settlers in the county, said : My father came in Septem^ her, 1826. They lUsed a crop the next year, and gathered it themselves' The women attended to the household duties, and many a time he had helped his mother and sisters with the spinning. The second day after they came his sisters went to the creek for water, while he and^ young man named Bean went hunting. Returning at dusk, they came to where his sisters were, who, mistaking them for Indians, hurried toward the eabin. The boys overtook them, and had some difficulty at first in allaying their fears. At another time, while he was cutting oats, he stopped to whet his scythe and placing the whetstone in his pocket, when hearing a noise he stopped and looked around, when he encountered a six-foot ludian grinning at him. After talking as best they could a while, Mr. Johnson went to the hous^, where he found a number of Indians, who were returning from a long hunt for Winter provisions. Inquiring of them how many deer they had, they replied, ** about two hundred." They were soon on their ponies and off again. Mr. Jacob Judy said his wi^ came in 1819, and he in 1825. He lived a long time with a Mr. Moberly, near Mackinaw, and attended to the jensang and coon-skin department * of Mr. Moberly's business. A young man at one time came to Mr. Moberly for a license to marry, and having no money, offered to pay in coon skins. Twelve of these were accepted. This was the first marriage in Tazewell County.

Rev. John England said his father moved to the American Bottom in 1817, and a few months after to the Sangamon River, where he built the first cabin in the neighborhood north of that river. They took slabs split from a tree and made a table ; took a hollow buckeye tree and put a board on the bottom and made a churn. Levi Gantrell moved in and erected a horse mill, and tanned the first leather here by using ashes in a sycamore trough and bark beajien in a mortar. Another speaker, in referring to the made impressions on me I shall not forget. The first thing we saw oa* entering a school-room were several long rods standing in the corner. The majority of the teachers were Yankees, who cared for little save the money." D. W. Clark, president of the Association, said, ^^ he started from Marion County, Ohio, on September 28, 1830. He walked all the way to Sangamon lUver, except when crossing the stream. When he was married he borrowed the money of his brother, who was getting eight dollars per month for work. At a wedding at his house not long after^ the party were detained over night by the ram^ Among them were Dick Oglesby, Jerome Gorin and Seth Post. Mr. Oglesby used an inverted skillet for a pillow, all sleeping on the floor, save the married couple, who occupied the only bed in the house." The first Fourth of July celebration held in this county, says Mr. Hackney, occurred in 1839, on the fam of Michicel Hinricksen in Chester Township. It was gotten up by the people of Salt Creek and Lake Fork. They raised one hundred dollars, Mid employed John Turley to prepare the dinner. There were about four hun* dred persons present, and a most enjoyable day was passed. William Hackney was the orator of the day, and G. W. Turley^ Sen., read the Declaration of Independence. These narratives teM their own story, and show most graphically the trials early settlers must endure to overcome any new country. Tet these were their happiest days, and are recalled by them with only feelings of the greatest tenderness. ) , '

These two important events mark an era in the early life of the pioneers of Logan County. Those living in the county now who passed through Ihem, refer to them as times never since repeated. The snow began falling about Wednesday, between Christmas of 1830, and January, 1831, and continued falUng until it attained a depth of nearly three feet on the level. There was a tradition among the Indians that a similar snow fell about thirty years before. Reference is made to it in the History of the Northwest, published in this volume. So completely did the snow cover everything, that wild game perished in great numbers. Over the snow a crust formed, and, the temperature remaining low, everyone . walked over the coiintry on this. If a track was broken, the snow would fall, and ere long it would be filled. The people were often put to great straits to preserve life and property. Mr. Powers, in his history of Sangamon County, tells of a man named Stout, living alone on Sugar Creekt who, to preserve his life, felled a large tree near his cabin, cut off a log, and hollowed out a cavity laree enough to contain his body. He made his bed on shavings, as he had done before, placed the trough along side it, and, lying down, would pull it over him. The warmth of his body soon filled the cavity, and he was preserved from freezing. When the - weather was extremely cold, he would remove his fire just before retiring, scraping the coals and ashes carefully away, and make his bed where the fire had been. Mr. E wing relates that deer, wild cats, catamounts, foxes, ground or hedge hogs, badgers, raccoons, foxes, oppossums, and prairie wolves were abundant during the autumn. The deer were fat and abounded in great numbers. So plenty were they that people did not care to hunt them. The crust overspreading the snow would allow all ^animals, as well as man, to pass over it in safety. The deer runs by a sucoession of leaps, and the faster the run the greater the force with which their feet strike the ground. Their feet being small and hard, when pursued the deer would break through this crust, and fall an easy prey to the wolves and other animals in its pursuit. The wolves would generally seize the deer hy the throat, and suck its blood. The hunter, following and finding the carcass, would find it untouched, and he had only to take the choice parts for the venison. Mr. Ewing says : ^^ My brothers and myself concluded we vronld catch some deer and tame them. Accordingly we captured a few choice ones, but found they could not be easily tamed, or made to eat, and we were soon compelled to release them."

. Not a few persons became lost during this winter, and perished. Their bodies were hot found until in the spring, when the suqw passed qS with a great freshet.

The sudden change occurred on the afternoon of December 20, 1886. It was one of the most remarkable phenomenons ever recorded. Rev. John ^England says : ^^ I moved down near Athens, and was gettii^ out puncheons for the floor of my cabin when the big snow fell. It was all I oeuld do during the day to keep wood enough cut to last all night, and walk a mile and a half to get corn to feed my hog and horses." Mr. Powers says, concerning this sudden change, "That Mr. Washington Orowder remembers that on the morning of December 20, 1886, he s'tarted from a point on Sugar Greek aboiit eight miles south of Springfield to the latter place, for the purpose of obtaining a license for the marriage of timself and Miss Isabel Langhlin. There wei^ several inches of snow on the ground ; the rain was then falling slowly , and had been long enough to tarn the snow to slush. Every time the horse put his foot down it went through the slush, splashing it out on all sides. Mr. Crowder was carrying an umbrella to protect himself from the rain, and wore an overcoat reaching nearly to his feet. When he had traveled something like half the distance, and had reached a point about four miles south of ' Springfield, he had a fair view of the landscape, ten or twelve miles west and north. He saw a very dark cloud a little north of west. It appeared to be approaching him very rapidly, accompanied by a tei-rific, deep, bellowing sound. He thought it prudent to close his umbrella, else the wind mi^ht snatch it from his hands, and dropped the bridle (ein on the neck of his horse for that purpose. Having closed the umbrella and put it under his arm, he was in the act of taking hold of the bridle rein when the cold wave came over him. At that instant water was dripping from every thing about him ; when he drew the reins taut, ice rattled from them. The water and slush were almost instantly turned to ice. Mr. Orowder says that in fifteen minutes from the time the cold wave reached him, his horse walked on the frozen snow. Arriving in Springfield, he attempted to dismount at a store on Fifth Street, near where Bunn*s bank now stands, but was unable, his coat holding him as firmly as if it had been made of sheet iron. He then called for help, and two men came, who tried to lift him off, but his clothes were frozen to the saddle, which they ungirted and carried man and saddle to the fire, and then thawed them apart." Mr. Crowder obtained his license, returned the same day, and was married the next. This event fixes the date in his Band beyond a quest;^on.

Two brothers in Douglas County were overtaken by the wave, while cutting a bee tree, and froze to death before reaching their house. Their bodies were foundabout ten days after. Andrew Herideth, a former merchant in Cincinnati, collected a drove of from one thousand to fifteen hundred hogs and started with them for St. Liouis. The country was so thinly settled he found it expedient to take three or four wagons loaded with corn to feed on the way. When a load was fed out, there were

Generally a sufficient number of hogs exhausted to fill the wagon. Mr. [erid^th had reached a point on the prairie about eight miles south of Scotville, Macoupin County, when the cold wave overtook him. Finding that men and animals were likely to perish, he called the men together, upset all the wagons but one, in order to leave the corn and hogs together, righted the wagons, and with the men in them, drove to the nearest house. Before they could reach it, all were more or less frozen, but none lost their lives. The hogs thus abandoned piled on each other. Those on the inside smothered, and those on the outside froze. A pyramid of about five hundred hogs was thus built. The others wandered about and were reduced to skeletons by their sufferings from the cold, the whole proving a total loss. The blow was too much for Mr. Herideth, who was making superhuman efforts to retrieve his lost fortune, and he not long after died. The most remarkable case of suffering recorded concerning this change happened to James Harvey Hildreth, of Logan County, and a young man named Frame. Mr. Hildreth could never after be induced to speak of it except with great pain. Frame died at the time. Mr. Hildreth was then abouf twenty-four years old, and a very stout^ ruggecf young man. He was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, about the year 1812. He came to Illinois in 1838 or 1834, and settled near Georgetown, Vermillion County, and engaged in cattle trading. He left home on the 19th of December, 1836, in company with Mr. Frame, both intending to go to. Chicago on horseback. On the second day out, Dec. 20, they ' entered a large prairie, the next timber being many miles distant, on Hickory Creek, a tributary of the Iroquois River, and now in Iroquois County. It rained all the forenoon, and the earth was covered with water. They encountered a slough containing so much water they did not like ta cross it, and turned toward the northeast, riding several miles. Coming to a narrow plade in the slough they crossed it, and turned northwest to regain their course. This was about the middle of the afternoon. It suddenlv ceased raining, and the cold wave came in all its fury, striking them squarely in the face. They were then out of sight of any human habitation. Their horses becoming unmanageable, drifted with the wind, or across it, until night closed in upon them. How long they discussed what was best to do is not known, but they finally agreed to kill each other's - horse. They dismounted, and Hildreth killed Frame's horse. They took out the entrails and crawled into the cavity,- and lay there, as near as Mr. Hildreth could judge, until about midnight. By this time the animal heat from the carcass became exhausted. They crawled out, and just then the one having the knife by some means dropped it. It being dark, they could not find it, and being foiled in their purpose, they huddled about the living horse until about four o'clock in the morning. By this time Frame became overcome by the cold, and sank into a sleep from which his companion could not arouse him. He never ^wakened. Says Mr. Powers, from whose book these items are obtained : ^^ The feelings of Hildreth at this juncture can only be imagined. He managed by jumping about to keep from freezing until daylight, when he mounted his horse and started in search of shelter. In mounting he lost his hat, and was afraid to get off for it, for fear he could never mount again. Bare 'headed he wandered about some time, until he reached the bank of a stream, supposed to be the Vermillion River. Seeing a house on the opposite bank, he halloed as loud as he could, until he attracted the attention of the man, who, after learning what he wanted, said he could not assist him. A canoe was near the man, but he said he was afraid of the running ice. Mr. Hildreth then offered him a large price if he would cut a tree and fell it over the stream 8Q he could cross. The man still refused, and directed Hildreth to a frove, which he said was a mile distant, where he would find a house. [e went, but it proved to be five miles, and the house to be a deserted cabin. He returned to the river bank, called again for help, and was again refused. He then dismounted, crawled to the water's edge, and found that the ice had closed and was strong enough to bear him, and he crawled over. Arriving at the fence, the brutal owner of the place refused to aid him, when he tumbled over it, and crawling into the house, lay down by the fire. Here he begged for assistance, and when the man ' would have relented and done something for him, his wife prevented him. The man's name was Benjamin Russ, that of the wife is not known, nor do any care to remember either, save in ignominy. Mr. Hildreth lay before this fire until four o'clock in the afternoon, when some hog drovers coming, took him to another house, where he was properly cared for.*' The inhuman wretches who refused him aid were compelled to flee to escape the righteous indignation of their neighbors. Mr. HHdreth always expressea his opinion that they imagined he had a large sum of money, and they could secure it in case of his death. Such conduct was very rare among the early settlers, who were always noted for their hospitality to travelers.

Mr. Hildreth met with a heavy loss by his failure to get to Chicago. He was conveyed to his brothers in Vermillion County, where all the toes were taken from his feet, and the bones of all his fingers, except one joint on the thumb of his right hand, which enabled him to hold a pen, or a driver's whip. He moved to DeWitt County, there married, and afterward came to near Mt. Pulaski, where his death occurred from disease of the lungs, contracted at the time narrated, and from having a leg amputated, the stump of which never entirely healed. Mr. Ewing, of Lawndale, speaking of this change, says it occurred about two o'clock in the afternoon, and it became so dark that many chickens went to roost. They were nearly all frozen. Persons out on the prairies with teams had to hurry home, and in nearly all cases had to cut the harness from their horses. Many cases of death resulted from the exposure at this time, and during the winter and spring much sickness followed. What few doctors there were had all and more than they oould do.

Abe Larison's father had a narrow escape from death at the time, his clothes being frozen on him, and he frozen to the saddle, when he Arrived at his house.

veached Lebanon, Ohio, about nine o'clock that evening, and froze some wagons fast in the mud while their owners were bargaining for lodging. The velocity was probably about forty miles an hour. Some, however, think it greater. The incidents narrated show its terrible force, and its equally terrible effects. It will always remain vividly impressed on the minds of those living then, and to them marks an era in the settlement of the country.

After the year 1840, the settlement of the county was gradual ajid constant until the completion of the railroads, in 1853, when it became very nlpid, and continued so until the war. By this time the country further west demanded the attention of emigrants, and the increase of population has principally been that of the natural growth of the county*

Its people are now chiefly engaged in agricultural pursuits. The railroads furnish excellent facilities for the transportation of its resources^ and its trade. The people are intelligent and industrious, and if they go on improving the county as their fathers have done, before the present generation passes away, it will equal any commonwealth in the Union.

The history of Logan County would be incomplete without that of Postville, the old county seat. As it was an important place at one time« and contained the first county buildings, it is inserted here, instead of under ^he head of the *' City of Lincoln," a part of which it now is.

was laid out by Russell Post, from whom it received its name, in the year 1835. He discovered here a beautiful site for^ a town, and, being fliDmething of a speculator in Western town sites, at once entered the land» and laid out a village.

John Sutton soon after erected a small hotel, where the travelers from Springfield would often stop for refreshment, when on their way to and from the state capital. The first store, a primitive structure, was built by Ackman & Rankin, on a lot of land near that now occupied by John Melton.

They were soon followed by James Prim and S. M. Tinsley, in a similar enterprise. Mr. Prim's store stood near where Mr. John Boy now lives. Mr. Prim was thef first postmaster in the town. He was succeeded in the office, about 1848, by Mr. Solomon Kahn, who retained the office until the union of Lincoln and Postville, and the removal of the post-office to the latter place. Ackman & Rankin's store was the first house built on the town plat. It was erected during the spring and summer of 1836. Mr. Hiram Edwards had the contract for its construction, and received f70, in hard money, for the work. Mr. John Edwards hewed the logs for its construction. These were hewn to a thickness of six inches, and as wide as the log would make. The whole was roofed with clapboards. After its erection, the proprietors divided it into two rooms, using the rear room as a storeroom.

Mr. Sutton's house being too small for the entertainment of travelers, a more commodious structure was built, on the corner of the square, by William McGraw. Another was afterward added by Dr. John Duskins. It fronted the court-house. It is now occupied by the family of Mrs. Margaret Sluns.

As Postville was on the direct road from St. Louis to Chicago, it became a regular stopping place for stages. A large amount of merchandise was taken from St. Louis, by this route, to Springfield, Bloomington and Chicago. Chicago was yet a village, with scarce a hope of future greatness.

The erection of the county, and the location of the county seat at PostviUe, aided much in its prosperity. The commissioners appointed, in the act of incorporation, to locate the seat of justice for the new county, selected Postville, it being near the center of the county, and donating a square of land, and four or five lots in addition. A court-house and jail were at once ordered erected, and work upon them commenced. The court-house was built in the center of the square, faced the south, and was two stories high. Its entire cost was not likely more than two hundre*? dollars. -

Strong as this jail was made, it could not always be depended on, as the following incident will show : Not many years after it was built a man named Bartlett was arrested and confined in the jail for shooting at the stage driver. He was an exceptional villain, stirewd, cunning and brave, and was noted for his adroitness in escaping. In order to be doubly sure of his keeping, a strong guard was stationed about the prison day and night. One da}^ on taking him his food, he was discovered to have^ made an attempt at liberty by tearing loose one of the inside planks, his only instrument being a case-knife and his boot heel. Manacles were then brought and placed on his wrists; but these being large and his hands small, he would quickly slip the irons off and hand them to the astonished jailor, with the quiet remark, ^^ I do not wear iron jewelry/' Manacles were then brought and fastened to his feet. No sooner was he left to himself than he commenced a constant rubbing' together of these irons until the friction would wear away some weak spot between his feet, and he would remove these to hand them to the jailer, with the same dry remark. Sometimes he would keep up this incessant rubbing for days in order to accomplish his purpose. One day» during his confinement, he managed to attract the attention of Mr. J. P. Evans, then a lad some fourteen years of age, to whom he offered a *' fortune" if he would bring him a watch, no matter what kind, or whether it was of any value. The boy, though tempted by the ** fortune " offered, consulted his father, one of the guards, before acquiescing in the wbh of the prisoner. Mr. Evans told him that Bartlett only wanted it, in all probability, to make some kind of tool out of the mainspring with which to effect 4iis release. The watch was accordingly not obtained. Baffled on all hands, Bartlett now determined on his escape, let the difficulties be what they would. The distance between the lower and upper floors was fully twelve feet in height, more than twice the height of the prisoner. By a little practice, and being naturally very athletic, he became able to spring up and catch in the bars of the trap door above. Clinging to one of these bars with one hand, he drove a part of the window sash under the door, which would not quite close, until he wrenched the staple, through which the padlock was inserted, from its place. His strength was prodigious ; he would often spring up to the door, swing by one arm and talk to any one who desired to converse with him. Raising the door, he went to the outer door^ by some means opened it, and observed the guards were not on the watch, having left their guns in their part of the jail, and retired to the court-house square to the shade, and for conversation.

Bartlett quickly and quietly descended, and leisurely made his way southward toward a drove of horses in the prairie, observing them slowly, as though designing to purchase. While there one of the guards noticed him and remarked to his comrades, ^^ That looks like Bartlett/* "It can't be," said another; "he could not get out of jail.'' One of them ran to the jail and immediately calling to them, confirmed their suspicions. Not seeing the guns at first, it was thought the escaped convict had them and would defend himself. He had secreted them under the bed used by the guards. Just at this moment, however, he was seen to leave the horses, having worked his Y^y toward the timber, and to run for it with all the fleetness he possessed. A pursuit was at once started, which traced him to Salt Creek and there lost him. After diligent search, he was however found secreted in the water, underneath a tree which had fallen nearly across the stream. This the pursuers had unintentionally surr6unded, to deliberate on what was the best method to adopt to effect his capture. While standing there, one of them happened to look closely at this tree and saw in the water the form of the fugitive with his face just out of the water. He was at once taken into custody and remanded to jail, where he was securely ironed and hardly ever after left unseen. His trial occurred soon, when he Vas sentenced to ten years' -imprisonment in the penitentiary, where it is believed he died. While there he narrated his manner of escape from the Logan County jail, and also told his listeners that at one time his pursuers were

Histoby Of Looak Oouhtt. 2S5

«o close upon him he could, have seized one of them, Evans, and pulled him into the water. He said that when captured he was '^ nearly &oze,^ and would have been compelled to leave the water soon.

This old jail stood some distance northeast of the court-house square aad was used until 1847, when the county seat was removed to Mt. Pulaski. The court-house and square were sold to Mr. Solomon Kahn for three hundred dollars ; the same gentleman purchased five additional lots belonging to the countv, in Postville. The jail was also sold, and the logs comprising its strong floor and sides were used for ties on the railroad* For several years after the settlement, a large pond of water near by afforded water for stock, and during the winter a skating place for the vouth of the village. It was in this pond that a man named Willis lost his life, and whose death remained so long a time. a mystery. About the year 1838 or '89, Willis was emploved to look after and feed the stock of a Mr. Wheeler, who desired to maKe a visit to his old home in Kentucky* One night, Willis went to town carrying with him his ax, a very peculiarly shaped one, the blade being so made that it would with erdinary blows sink deep into the hardest wood. While in town, Willis imbibed too much whisky, and late in the evening started for home. He was never afterward seen alive. In the course of a day or two, his absence being noticed, search was made for him, but to no avail ; persons on horses would ride into this pond, the water coming up on the side of the saddle, bjat could find no trace of Willis. At last he was given up for lost, various opinions being hazarded as to the probability of his whereabouts. After seven years had passed away, the pond one dry summer dried up, leaving a bare piece of ground near its cejiter. One evening, as a woman from the village was seeking her cows, she chanced to cross this bare spot, when to her great astonishment she discovered the skeleton of a man. Hastening to town, she narrated her discovery to several, who at once went to the spot. The skeleton was there, and in removing it the ax was found. Rom its construction it was at once recognized by the older ones as Willis' ax. The mystery of his mysterious disappearance was now solved. He had wandered into the pond and perished. For further proof, it was recollected that one of Willis' legs had been broken, and an -examination of the right thigh corroborated the fact that the remains were those of the unfortunate man. They were at once removed and given a respectful burial.

There were several of these ponds about the old town of Postville^ wl^ich have long since been filled, and are now cultivated or enclosed as yards. Where the city of Lincoln now stands was a large marshy piece of gipund, and at one time when Colby Knapp was passing over the site on some journey, he aroused a herd of nearly forty deer. At that time these were plenty, and one could travel from this latter place to Springfield without encountering a fence, or having to follow the wandering of any road. The road, like the line, was direct. On the removal of the seat of justice to Mt. Pulaski, property in Potsville declined considerably in value, and trade and population alike felt the result. The old court house lost its prestige and became a dwelling, and the town no longer was enlivened at stated intervals by presence of lawyers and clients on court days. It was in this old court-room that the illustrious martyred president conducted several cases, and by h^s known honesty won the hearts of the people. As an illustration of this latter, the following incident is given : Mr. Lincoln had been employed by a Mr. Brown to conduct a case for him, and which was to be heard in the Liogan County court. Thinking he could better advance his own interests, and strpposing he could escape detection. Brown gave Mr. Lincoln a very &lse version of his case. This was developed in the trial, when Mr. Lincoln, vexed at the falsity of the man, and caring nothing only for the truth, turned to him in open court, exclaiming, with considerable earnestness, ** Brown, what made you lie to me so ? If I had known the truth in your case, I would have advised you not to bring suit.'' This unflinching regard for principle gave " Honesit Abe " a standing among Logan County people which in after years was never lost.

The old court-house was also used by the religious element of the people for a house of worship, the noted pioneer preacher. Rev. Peter Cartwright, occasionally conducting divine services therein. No house <rf worship was ever erected in the town, the school-house and court-house being used in its stead. The first schools of this settlement were, like those in all parts of the county, subscription schools. It was not uniU ^fter 1840 that a house was erected for no other purpose, rented rooms prior to this time supplying the deficiency.

The town of Postville never recovered from the effects of the removal -of the seat of justice, and when it was united to Lincoln in 1865, the town contained scarcely two hundred inhabitants.

The removal of the county seat to Mt. Pulaski arose from that speculative fever passing over the state ^hen so many counties were organized, and county seats created on a speculative basis. The inhabitants of the north and eastern portions of Logan County, together with sianv residents in McLean and DeWitt Counties adjoininoc, desired to create a new county of the portions of these counties mentiSned, and to locate a county seat at Waynesville, a small village in Waynesville township in DeWitt County. Those about Mt. Pulaski were in favor of the seat of justice being located there, and at an election to decide the matter, owing to these two chief influences, the removal was decided by a stroi^ majority. Those residing about Mt. Pulaski hoped to see a new county oreated from Logan, Sangamon and Macon Counties. These plans were, however, all frustrated by the passage of the new state constitution, which prohibited the organization of new counties until a certain number of inhabitants were Mrithin the prescribed limits, and also defined the area A county must have before being created. This put an end to further agitation on the subject, and ere long the inconvenience of the seat of justice began to be felt. Mt. Pulaski is within six miles of Sangamon County and eight miles of Macon, while it is over twenty miles to the north line of the county, and over fifteen to the western limits. The people living in these parts complained of the long distance to attend to all county business, and a more central location was agitated. The survey of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad being completed, it was urged that instead of re-locating it in the village of Postville, a move most earnestly desired by its citizens, it would be better to locate it on this railroad. Mr. Colby Knapp was then in the legislature, and was mainly instrumental in getting the bill changing the seat of justice passed. Col.

R. B. Latham, John D. Gillett, and Virgil Hickox, the original proprietors of Lincoln, gave to the county four squares of land, two of wliich have been made into parks, one is used for the court-house, and on the other the jail and jailer's residence are located.

Lincoln

A city of about seven thousand inhabitants, and the seat of justice for the county, is situated nearly In its center. Three railroads pass through it, viz- : The Chicago, Alton & St. Louis, completed in 1853 ; the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Western, in January, 1873 ; and the Pekin, Lincoln & Decatur, in October, 1871. These roads give the city direct connection with all important points, and furnish excellent avenues for its trade.

Col. R. B. Latham was engaged to procure the right of way through Logan County for the Chicago & Alton Railroad, and was promised by the chief engineer, Mr. Lee, the location of a station. A depot was already fixed upon at Elkhart, and as the company then made the stations about ten miles apart, section thirty-one of Town 20, Range 2, west, or near Postville, would be another point. Another important matter decided the location here. The people desired a more central seat of justice than Mt. Pulaski, and also wanted it on the railroad. Postville, the first county seat, petitioned for its location, and while the question was being agitated, the Chicago & Alton Railroad was surveyed. As Postville was almost a mile from this road, that fact was against it in the matter. Mr. Colby Knapp was in the legislature the winter of 1852-3, and presented the bill giving the people the right to vote for \hfe removal. The present site of Lincoln was then owned by a Mr. Loose, living near Greencastle, Pennsylvania, who, with his brother, had entered it about the year 1836 or 1837. No sooner had he assented to its sale than Col. Latham started immediately for Pennsylvania to obtain the deed, not wishing to wait its transmission by mail. He purchased the land on behalf of himself, John D. Gillett, and Virgil Hickox, and telegraphed at once to the latter to have inserted in the act the quarter section purchased as the future county seat, instead of Postville. This was done, and the act passed, being approved Feb. 14, 1853. In the spring the survey of the new town began. Conaway Pence, then County Surveyor, laid out the town, the proprietors making the streets parallel with the railroad, instead of following the cardinal points. The entire plat was not completed until some time in the summer. Work was being done at this time on the railroad, and by August construction trains were running from Springfield to this point. Here the company had a large wood shed and water-tank. In one end of the shed they made a depot. The stage company had their stables here, and passengers coming on the construction trains to this point would be taken by stage to Bloomington, there to connect with the Illinois Central Railroad, then just completed. As the Chicago & Alton Road was built, a station was made about every ten miles, when the stage companies would remove their stables to that point and carry passengers therefrom.

the founders of Lincoln, was advertised to take place on Aug. 29, and that morning a construction train was run from Springfield, bringing many buyers, among them Mr. Lincoln, who remarked during the sale, as he walked around inspecting the lots, that they were cheap and desirable, but he was unable to buy. Quite a number of people were here from various parts of the county, especially those desirous of purchasing lots for a future home. Ninety lots were sold, varying in price from forty to one hundred and fifty dollars. The most valuable were those fronting on the railroad, or on Chicago street. The total proceeds were about six thousand dollars, a handsome advance on the purchase price of the land, that being eight dollars per acre, or twelve hundred and eighty dollars* All this had occurred before the vote was taken by the people for the removal of the county seat from Mt. Pulaski. Yet 'so confident were the proprietors of the new town that the change would be made and their location selected, that they caused all this to be done, guaranteeing to each purchaser the location of the seat of justice or a forfeiture of th^ sale. In a short time building began. John Allison erected the first house on the plat - a dwelling. It stands east of the railroad, on Chicago street, and is now the dwelling of Thomas Galvin. A grocery was built on the lot now occupied by N. Pegram's grain office, by Samuel Long. This wasthe first business house in Lincoln. As Postville was near, the carpenters who did not live there boarded at the hotel built there in 1836 or '37* Just south of Long's grocery, E. Boren and Jesse Forbes erected the second store, and began business in December. This store was burned on December 8, 1871, eighteen years after building. Michael Hinricksen

Eurchased a dwelling built by Mr. I. N. Buck, the first station agent, [is house occupied the site of J. H. Danley's music store, and was afterward removed to give place to a store erected in its stead. In January, 1854, Col. Latham, then living at Mt. Puluski, began the erection of the old Lincoln House, afterward known as the Eagle Hotel. He hired two men to do the work, and as soon as the building season opened, broke ground for its construction. Col. R. B. Latham has done more for the city of Lincoln, and through it for the county, than any other. He has erected several fine business houses in the city, and has always been the foremost in advancing its interests. There is not a church, or school, or college, or the Feeble Minded Institute, or any beneficent object therein that has not received pecuniary aid from him, as well as personal endeavors on his part for their advancement. The hotel occupied the site of the