Madison County, Illinois - Biographical sketches (2 of 2 so headed), 1882 (part 9 of 12)

One of the pioneer citizens of th-e county, Don Alonzo Spauldiug, is still a resident of Godfrey township, which has been his home since the year 1832. He was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1797. He acquired a good education in the common schools and in a private academy, and taught school. While his time was divided between farm work and teaching, he studied surveying. With the object of finding employment in surveying the public lands, he left home in May, 1818, and with a pack on his back which contained his clothes and a compass, he journeyed on foot to Olean, New York, a distance of three hundred and seventy miles. Here he met four other young men and joined with them in purchasing a flat boat, for which five dollars was paid. In this they floated and paddled down the river to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, making the distance of three hundred and fifty miles in twenty-one days. Here his companions left him, and he fell in with a family going down the Ohio who had a better boat, and with them made arrangements to board and travel. He landed at Massac. His first service as a surveyor was surveying a twenty-one acre tract of land for the county seat of Johnson county. This work took him six days, and for it he received twentyfive dollars. He made his way on foot by way of Kaskaskia, to Edwardsville, where he arrived in July 1818. He knew Hail Mason, then a resident of Edwardsville, and also brought a letter to Dr. Caldwell. He says there was not a good house in the place at that time. During the winter of 1818-19 he was employed in surveying a tract of land thirty miles north of Alton. During the two months in which he was so engaged he did not see a single white man, except the members of his party, and only four Indians.

During six months of the year 1S19 he taught school in Edwardsville. He was elected surveyor of Madison county in 1825, and held that office ten jears. In 1834 he took a contract to survey a tract of land forty mihs southeast of Chicago. In 18-58 and 1839 he surveyed public lands in Illinois in 1844 and 1845 in Missouri and Arkansas, and in 1818 and 1849 in Wisconsin. From 1849 to 1853 he was thechief clerk in the surveyor's office in St. Louis, and in December, 1853, was appointed Surveyor General of the district compri.sing Illinois and Mis.souri with his office in St. Louis. In 1854 he received an appointment as clerk in the general land office at Washington, and soon afterward was sentto Florida to adjust the accuuntsof the Surveyor-General of that stale, and for three years was stationed at St Augustine. Mr. Spaulding, in the year 1 8-'8, settled on section twenty-uine of this township, and four years later on section twenty-eight, where he has since retidtd He is now eightyfive years of age, and has probably done more active work in surveying the public lands of the United States than any other person now living. He united with the Baptist church in Vermont, and assisted in the organization of the Baptist church at Alton.

Joel D. Spaulding, father of Don Alonzo Spaulding, became a resident of Madison county in 1825. After living some months in Edwardsville he moved to Rattan's prairie, and from there moved to Godfrey township in 1828, and settled on the place where Don Alonzo Spaulding now lives. He died in the year 1844. Henry Spaulding, brother of Don Alonzo Spaulding, became a resident of the township also in 1828. He served as a justice of the peace for a number of years. He died in Macoupin county.

Among the early citizens of the southern part of the township was Major George W. Long, who died in the year 1881. He was born at Hopkinton, New Hampshire, in 1799. He entered the Military Academy at West Point as a cadet in 1820, and graduated in 1824. After his graduation he was one of the corps of instructors at West Point for a year. He was subsequently employed as a government engineer in Louisiana and Florida till 1836 From that time till 1839, he held the position of State engineer for the state of Louisiana. In 1830 he entered land in sections thirty-three and thirty-four, and here during the year 1831 and 1832 he built the large brick house which was his subsequent^residence. At the time of the erection this was probably the largest and best building in the county. It was occupied by his youngest brother, Edward Preble Long, for some years, and became the home of Major Long on his retiring from the profession of an engineer in 1839.

His brother, Dr. Benjamin F. Long, now a resident of Godfrey township, became a citizen of the county in October 1831. He was born at Hopkinton, Massachusetts, in 1805, graduated in the medical department of Dartmouth college in 1830, and the next year came to Alton on a visit to his brother. Deacon Enoch Long, then intending to enter on the practice of his profession in Louisiana. He, however, remained at Upper Alton and practiced medicine there for twenty-one years. He assisted in the organization of the Illinois Mutual Fire lusuraif-e Company, was a member of its first board of trustees, and was its president for nearly a quarter of a century. He is the only surviving one of five brothers - Colonel Stephen H. Long, Deacon Enoch Long, Major George W. Long, Dr. Benjamin F. Long, and Edward Preble Long - who were among the most useful and respected citizens of the county. Col. Stephen II. Long was connected for many years with the Uuited States Engineering forces. He made several early explorations under the direction of the government of the West and the Northwest, and secured a national reputation for scientific achievements and engineering skill. He retired from active service in 1862. For some years he resided at Upper Alton. Deacon Enoch Long became a resident of Upper Alton in 1821. In 1844 he removed to Galena, and in 1863 to Sabula, Jackson county, Iowa, where he died.

Moses B. Walker was one of the first settlers on the Grafton road. He was a native of Tennessee, and came to the township about the year 1828. His wife was a .sister of Samuel Thurston, one of the proprietors of the town of Clifton. Walker first worked at the mill in Clifton when he came to the township, and then entered land in section twenty-nine, on which he lived till his death. He filled the office of constable for a number of years, serving in that capacity while Henry Spaulding acted as justice of the peace. Mr. Copley, a native of j\Iassachusetts, entered land, and settled in section twenty-seven. His sons, John and George Copley, live on the place where their father settled. The farm now owned by Charles Merriraan, adjoining the Copley place, was entered by Mr. Buckley. Parker Delaplain was also one of ihe settlers in this part of the township.

William Squire, who was born in the year 1814, in Devonshire, England, came to this country in 1835, and became a permanent resident of Godfrey township in 1838. He was a good citizen, and for many years an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He died on the twelfth of March, 1865. His sons, James, William Frank, and Heber Squire, are now residents of the township. James Squire filled the office of justice of the peace four years, and in 1877 was elected to represent the township in the board of supervisors, and has been re-elected every year since. Wm. Frank Squire served as township assessor twelve years, and is the present collector of the township.

Elijah Frost became a resident of the township in 1840. He was born near Troy, New York, in 1812, and emigrated to Illinois in 1837. He lived at Kane, Greene county, till 1840, and then came to this township, first settling on Coal branch. In 1841 he built the house in which he has since lived The land had been entered by a man named Emerson, but Mr. Frost bought it of Robert W. Finch. He was one of the original members of Bethany Methodist Episcopal church. He taught school at the Bethany church in 1840, and has, altogether, taught thirty-six terms of school, mostly in Godfrey township. Ho has served eighteen years as township treasurer.

Among the early residents of the village of Godfrey was '- Timothy Turner, who was born at New Haven, Connecticut, 1 in 1784. He became a resident of Godfrey in 1839. He opened a small store, which was the first in the place. Ou the establishQieat of the p )s.-jlfica iu lS4rJ, he was appointed post master, and held the office till 1-569, when he resigned on account of advancing age and debility. He died in August, 1863. His son, Jarius B. Turner, still resides iu ' Godtiey.

Abijah W. Corey, who, for many years, was a resident of the village of Godfrey, was born iu Orange county, New York, in the year 1803. He taught school in early life and intended to enter the minittry, but his feeble health obliged him to relinquish this purpose. From 1825, with slight intervals, to the time of his death, he was an agent of the American Sunday School Union. He came to this county in 1837. While in the employment of the Illinois Temperance Society, he edited for five years The Temperance Herald, published at Alton, a journal devoted to the interests of temperance. He was appointed financial agent of Monticello Seminary in 1838. At the time of his death, which occurred in May, 1880, he was a member of the Board of trustees of the seminary.

John Pattison, a native of the State of New Jersey, was one of the early residents of the township-. His son, Michael H. Pattison, is living on the place which his father improved. Isaac G. Howell, Benjamin S. Howell, H. Howell, U Howell, and James Howell, all came from New Jersey ; Uriah and Henry in 1836, and the others in the spring of 1837. They assisted iu the building of the seminary, and then settled iu the township Henry followed the carpenteriucr business in Godfrey. In company with his brother, Uriah, now a citizen of Jerseyville, he built the mill at Godfrey in 1857. He is now living at Princeton, New Jersey. Isaac G. Howell married the daughter of George Debaun, and is now living in the township. Henry Caswell built a house at an early date on the site now occupied by the residence of Benjamin Webster. This place was also the residence of Father Chamberlain, a Presbyterian minister, an early citizen of this part of the county.

We insert the following communication from the Hon. William F. De Wolf, of Chicago, believing that it will be interesting to his many friends and acquaintances in Madison county. He came to the county in 1836, and was for several years a resident of Godfrey and Alton :

At your request I write a few of my recollections of dear old Madison county. I fear they will be meagre and uninteresting for all of my papers and memoranda of early experience iu Illinois were burned up in the great Chicago fire of 1871. Indeed all the original matter I can give you must be taken from a memory, none too retentive. I say dear old Madison, for there I really began active life. There with a young wife, I looked back on our ancestral homes in New England and having left the comforts, not to say luxuries, of highly cultivated society, undertook to breast the storms of life amid the new and uncultivated fields of the vast West, Illinois then being comparatively a frontier State. In Nov. 1836 in company with my wife and brother, Fitz Henry De Wolf, now of Bristol, R. I. I left our native state and after nearly a month's travel reached St. Louis, and after a few days' stay in that city, then containing about 12,000 inhabitants, started for Alton, our destination, on the steamer Alps. The steamer was a frail bark, and I remember that when we met the strong current at the mouth of the Missouri it seemed as if the trembling vessel could hardly stem the rush of waters that came pouring from that mighty river. I remember having pointed out to me the widow Gillham's farm on the Illinois side, as an old place- On this farm I could see from our deck, an orchard of apple trees, large and thrifty and in lull bearing. The farm lay on the river bank while behind it the vast forest of m nense trees stood intermingled with groves of smaller growth. Alas "the orchard, the grove, and the deep tangled wild wood " have all been swept into the Mississippi. We arrived at Alton after dark and found shelter at the Alton House. Such an hotel in almost any town or village in Illinois, would now, 1882, be considered very inferior. But we had made up our minds to meet the deficiencies of the new West with the best grace we could, and soon came to enjoy the life about to be entered upon. In a few days we removed to Liberty Hall, Upper Alton, kept by Mr. Randle. Here we passed three weeks very comfoi'tably and then removed to the Piasa House in the " Lower Town." This hotel had just been finished by the owner. Judge Hawley, and was well managed by Mrs. Elizabeth Wait, a motherly, kind-hearted old lady whom I shall always remember with pleasure and gratitude. At the Piasa my first child was born. Judge Hezekiah Hawley, referred to, was a native of New England who had passed most of his life iu Kentucky. He was a gentleman of the Henry Clay period and an enthusiastic admirer of the great Kentuckian. To Judge Hawley, Alton owed much of her early prosperity. Her enterprise was such that many thought she would be the successful rival of St. Louis. Indeed in 1836 and for a time after, the great firms of Godfrey Oilman & Co., Stone, Manning & Co., C. B. Roff & Co , Simeon Ryder, Lewis K&llenberger and mauy others compared favorably with the largest wholesale houses in St. Louis. But two large cities could not exist so near to each other, and the capital of St. Louis, together with the splendid location, won the day at the time spoken of; Madison county already contained a very superior population. No county of the State could boast of better citizens than Capt. Benjamin Godfrey, Benjamin Ives Oilman, George Churchill, VVinthrop S. Oilmar, Capt Simeon Ryder, Dr. Marsh, Cyrus Edwards, Robert Smith, Alfred Cowles, Dr. Btnjamin F. Edwards, John T. Lusk, Judge William Martin, John Bailhache, Moses G. Atwood, and a host of others somewhat advanced in age, not to mention the younger men then just buckling ou their armor for the battle of life, among whom I will name the now venerable Judge Joseph Gillespie, J. Russell Bullock, since United States Judge in Rhode Island, Newton D. Strong, Junius Hall, John W. Chickeriug, George T, M. Davis, the talented but erratic Usher F. Linder, and the still more brilliant McDougal, afterward United States Senator for California. Among the clergy I remember with ever growing esteem Graves, Norton, Depuy and the vener- able Father Rogers of the Upper Town. Soon after Hon. Nathaniel Pope and David J. Baker took up their residence in Middletown, and increased the intellectual and social attraction of the neighborhood. About the year 1S42, 1 removed from the city of Alton into Godfrey township. Here among my neighbors I counted Major George W. Long, Don Alonzo Spaulding, the Mason and Scarritt families, and many others, all of whjm I look back upon with the kindest neighborly remembrances. Six of my eight children were born in M idison county. I take pride in saying two of my sous, both born in that county, served in the war for the suppression of the Rebellion. The eldest entered the service as a private at the breaking out of the war, leaving a lucrative position in the office of the President of the Illinois Central Railroad. He was one of the famous " Taylor's Battery," composed of some of the best young men of Cook county, and commanded by Capt. Ezra Taylor, of Chicago. After participating in several battles, among others, Donelson and Belmont, at the last named receiving a wound, young De Wolf was promoted for merit to a 2d Lieutenancy in the Regular Army, to wit: Battery C. 3d Regiment of IJ. S. Artillery, commanded by Capt. (now General) Horatio Gates Gibson. At Williamsburg, Va., in his iirst engagement after his promotion on the 4th of May, 1862, he was mortally wounded while gallantly leading his men He was taken to VVashington, where at the hospitable residence of the Hon Isaac Arnold, then member of Congress from Cook county, after three weeks' suffering, he laid down his life on the altar of his country. His mother wa.s with him from the first moment ishe could reach him, after he received his wound, till he clo-ed his eyes in death. After knowing him for j-ears. Gen. McClellan, then Comraauder-in-Chief, endorsed an application for his promotion to ihe Regular Army in these words, " no better appointment can be made from civil life." Capt. Gibson, Commander of Battery C. under date June 7, 1862, thus writes a friend in Chicago:

" In the battle of Williamsburg, one of my subalterns (a handsome, gallant boy from Chicago, named De Wolf), was wounded, and I regret to .say has since died. I was much attached to him, and if your friends know his family please assure them of my sincere sympathy with them in their bereavement, and my high appreciation of his coolness and gallantry in the midst of no ordinary danger. Poor fellow ! he joined my battery on the 4th of April; was wounded on the 4th of May, and on the 4th of June he was dead." I have dwelt upon the services and death of this young hero because I feel sure that the people of Madison will rejoice that the noble old county gave birth-place to such a man.

Some remarkable events occurred during my residence in Madison county. The first was the murder of Elijah P. Lovejoy, and the riots preceding. On the 2d of November, 1837, was held a public meeting, of which I was secretary, called ostensibly for the purpose of endeavoring to allay tlie excitement then existing, growing out of Mr. Lovejoy's advocacy of anti-slavery doctrines in the Observer. The meeting was soon found to be in the hands of those not willing to allow Mr. Lovejoy the rights of an American citizen, so far as public discussion was involved. This meeting.

which will ever remain a disgrace to the American character, adjourned after the passage of some resolutions only calculated to influence the mob, and which I will not disTjrace these pages by (juotiug. This meeting, had it been properly conducted, would have prevented the attack on the warehouse of Godfrey Gilman & Co., of the 7th of the same mouth, with all its horrible and appalling results. During the session of this meeting, 'Sir. Lovejoy made his great speech in defence of his principles and expressing his determination, with the help of God and protection of the laws, to maintain his rights. I have heard many remarkable arguments in my life - some of the best efforts of Webster and Clay, and others of the great men of our country, and I have read of others uttered under the most thrilling circumstances; but never did I listen to or read of such an appeal to the judgment and feelings of men as I did on that 2d of November, 1837. I cannot except the immortal defense of Paul before Festus. In spite of the hateful spirit which possessed the breasts of his foes, many of them wtre made to shed tears. But I can pursue this subject no further now, except to add the expression of my belief to those who have recorded the praises of Lovejoy, thdt he died fur his country, and did more than any one man, by so doing, to bring about theabjlition of slavery ; thus wiping a vile disgrace from the constitution of our country. I was attending court at Carrollton, Greene county, on the 7th of November, when the assault on the warehouse and the killing of Lovejoy took place, and thus escaped being present on the occasion which proved a lasting disgrace to Alton and left a blot on the American name ever to be regretted.

The second event alluded to was the explosion of the powder stored in the magazine situated on the bluff behind the old penitentiary. A large amount of powder was there placed for safe-keeping, and it is supposed that fire was communicated by some evil-disposed person, though what his particular object was could not be determined. So powerful was the effect produced that in St. Louis, twenty-four miles distant, it was distinctly felt, and people left the theatre and other buildings, fearing that an earthquake was about to topple the city into ruins. Almost every pane of glass in Second street, Alton, was broken, doors and windows blown in, plastering shaken down, and in one case at least a rock as large as an ordinary water-pail was thrown some twelve or fifteen hundred feet, falling on the roof of a house and breaking through a chamber, where a sleeping couple were suddenly awakened by the dreadful crash.

The third event to which I have alluded was the great flood of 1844. In the month of June the " Father of Waters" ro.se higher than at any time previous or during the present century. Large steamers received and discharged freight from and into the second story windows of the warehouses on the levee at St. Louis. At Alton the same thing was done. Opposite St. Louis (now East St. Louis), then called Illinois Town, the river was from eight to twelve miles wide, and of sufficient depth for steamers to cross to the bluffs, to a place then called "Paps's" or '' Paapstown," where large transactions in cattle and swine, for the New Orleans and St. Louis markets, were made. The done bj' tlie overflow was as great, in proportion to the population, as that caused this year (1882) on the Lower Mississippi. Indeed, so great was the destruction of property that the Legislature, at its next session, exempted from taxation, for a time, that portion of the State which had sulfered so much.

In 1846, while living in Godfrey township, I was elected to the State Legislature, my colleagues being William Martin and Curtis Blakeman. After a rather stormy session, during which many important questions as to the location and termination of certain railroads were discussed, we adjourned in the utmost good feeling. While at Springfield, I had heard great things of the then " coming Chicago," and in the autumn of 1846 removed to this city, then containing about fourteen to sixteen thousand people. I will not dwell upon the years that have passed'. Suffice it to say, I have^ lived to see the State of Illinois become the fourth in the galaxy of States composing our glorious Union, and the city of Chicago grow from less than 16,000 to 600 000 in population. I have twice rode on horseback from Alton to Galena, and from Galena to the head waters of the Wabash, and from thence to Cairo, returning to Alton along the shores of the Mississippi, when the whole State did not con tain a population equal to that of one division of the city of Chicago at this date. Orchards, now forty years old, are growing on lauds which once were prairies that I have crossed, without a farm for forty miles ; and yet I ara a newcomer in comparison with some of the old settlers notv living in Madison county. Since my removal to Chicago, I have pursued a quiet life, not aspiring to office or political preferment. I have been Treasurer of the city, and for four years a Justice of the county of Cook. As my record here would not be germain to your history, I here bid you goodbye, always assuring you, and through you the citizens of dear old Madison, that I remember my stay in that county with unalloyed pleasure, and look back upon it as a green ?pot, an oasis, in the great desert of life.

" Hon, William F. De Wolf was for many years an honored citizen of this county, and her able and faithful Kepresentive in the Legislature. He was one of the few citizens of Alton who took a stand in favor of sustaining the right claimed by the lamented Lovejoy, of expressing his opinions on the subject of slavery, as well as all other questions of ff public character, being amenable to the laws for the abuse of such a right, and if the counsels of Mr, De Wolf had prevailed we would have been spared the necessity of havii g to apologize for the greatest iniquity of the nineteenth century ; the atrocious murder of one of the greatest and best men in the land, by a worthless mob, for the exercise of a right guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the country. But the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church, and Elijah Lovejoy's blood fructified the whole land- In his death he pulled down the temples of Dagon. Mr, De Wolf was a fine lawyer, an affluent and influtntial public servant and blameless in all the walks of life. He was fortunate and unfortunate in his family. Fortunate in rearing a large family of most estimable and aflfectionate children ; but sorely tried in the furnace of affliction in the loss of four lovely daughters by the explosion on the ill-fated steamer Bay State, in September, 1853, which was followed in 1862 by the death of his noble and heroic son, William De Wolf, Lieutenant Co. C, Srd Regt., U. S. Artillery, who was mortally wounded while gallantly leading his command at the battle of Williamsburg, Virginia. Young De Wolf had been previously wounded at the battle of Belmont, showing that he was ever in the front, at the post of danger. Although he entered as a private into the service of his country, he very soon so signalized himself as to be transferred to the regular army. He was taken ofl' at the age of 21, with brilliant prospects, and hopes of rapid preferment before him. He together with his brothers and sisters were born in Madison county, and we have a right to be proud of him. I am gratified to be afforded this opportunity of paying ihis feeble tribute of respect to so worthy a scion of my esteemed friend Hit> whom I have spent so much time at the Courts and iu the Halls of Legislation, He and I are in the sere and yellow leaf, but I trust he may be spared many years to bless his family, and reflect honor upon his country as he has so well done in times past."

The early residents of the township were obliged to indure the discomforts usual to pioneer life. Wild animals iu early days were numerous. The wolves killed in one night, nineteen sheep belonging to Joel, Finch, and in one night iu the winter of 1842, six, out of nine sheep, belonging to James Meldrum. It is said of Ezra Oilman, that he killed a panther with no other weapon than a heavy stick. His dog, a large, heavy one, was in pursuit of a wolf, and ran around the head of a hollow, which Gilman crossed, to find that a panther had clinched his dog, and that the two were struggling together, Gilman took a stake from his sledge, and beat the panther on the head till he killed him, and thus saved the dog. Panthers were seen iu the township as late as the year 1850.

Land Entries

The earliest entries of land were made by Jacob Lurton one hundred and six acres, in section six, October 13, 1820, Josiah Cummings, Oct 13, 1820 ; N. E. quarter section six ; Isaac Scarritt, one huudred and seven and sixty-two-one hundredthsacres, section four, January 17, 1821 ; Joel Finch, I D Maurop, and M. Malary, eighty acres in section 26, January 28 1822 ; Joseph S. Eeynolds, eighty acres in section twenty-three, March 2, 1822 ; and John Murray, east half of northeast quarter of section twenty-six, eighty acres. May 24, 1822.

Physical Chaeacteristics

Though the whole or part of thirty six sections are comprised in this township the area is but little in excess of thirty square miles. The northern tier of sections is cut by the line dividing Madison from Jersey and Macoupin counties, and the southwestern sections are materially encroached upon by the Mississippi river. A small portion of the township in the northeast is prairie ; the remainder was originally covered with heavy timber. The surface in the prairie portion of the township is level ; the rest is mostly rolling, but well adapted to agriculture. There is scarcely au acre that is not susceptible of cultivation in some form. A range of Rocky bluff lines the Mississippi. There area number of small streams, but only two of sufficient importance to have received a name. The Piasa creek, running through the wcbtern part of the township into the Mississippi, and Coal Branch in the southeast, emptying into Wood river.

Beside the usuatagricultural products of corn, wheat and hay, much attention s devoted to the raising of fruit. Large quantities of apples, peaches, pears aud smaller fruit are shipped annually to the St. Louis aud Chicago markets. The bluff lands along the Mississippi have been found to be peculiarly adapted to fruit culture, aud numerous orchards and vineyards have here been planted.

A fruit distillery was established by John Castagnetta, about a mile north of the village of Godfrey, in 1872. He manufactured large quantities of apple, peach, and grape brandy and champagne cider. Of cider he makes six or eight hundred barrels each year, and in 1880 he made one thousand barrels.

Mention has already been made that the first school in the township was taught in the barn of Nathan Scarriit, whose daughter Laura was the teacher. Sixteen children attended this school. A school was also taught in the years 1829, 1830, and 1831, at the residence of George Debaun. Abigail Scarritt and Elizabeth Pettr were the teachers. About the year 1832 or 1833, a tchool was established at the Bethany church, and for some years afterward this was the only school in the township. A West Point cadet, named Johnson, taught this school in 1839. Elijah Frost, now living in the township, took charge of the school in 1840, and taught it three years. This was still at that time the only school in the township, aud pupils came to attend it from Clifton and Jersey county, boarding in the neighborhood. Subsequent teachers were Mrs. Russell Scarritt, Mary Jane Scarritt, the youngest daughter of Nathan Scarritt, and William Cunningham. The township was organized for school purposes in the year 1842. The first Sunday-school was taught in the barn of Nathan Scarritt in the summer of the year 1829.

Early religious services were held at the house of Nathan Scarritt, and here the first sermon was preachfd in the summer of the year 1828, by the Rev. John Hogan, a Methodist minister, now a resident of St. Louis, Mo. Mr. Hogan was then carrying on the mercantile business at Edwardsville, subsequently became a resident of Alton, and afterward of St. Louis.

A Methodist clasi was organized at the lime of the fir.''t settlement of the township, but no regular church organization existed till 1842. On the 26tli of Diceniber of that year Bethany church was organized Among the original members were Hail ^lason, Nathan Scarritt, Josiah Randle, Simon Peter, James Meldrura, John Mason, Jr., Aaron P.

Mason, Richard Blackburn, Elijah Frost, David Rood aud William Squire. The name of Bethany was suggested by Henry P. Rundle. Simon Peter gave to the society the ground on which the church was built. The Randies, Scarritts and others were warm supporters of the Methodist church, aud it was usual for them on Wednesday nights to get a big wagon and drive around the neighborhood, collecting a goo<lly number to go to Upper Alton and attend the weekly class. The Sunday-school, formed in 182D, had an irregular existence till 1841, when on the 6th of May a Sunday school was organized at the Bethany church, which has since permanently continued. The Rev. N. H. Lee is the present pastor of Bethany church

"The Church of Cfirist," in the village of Godfrey, was organized on the 2d of November, 1839, with twenty-six members. At the first meeting, of which the Rev. Theoron Baldwin was moderator, a constitution, confession of faith and covenant were adopted, aud Timothy Turner and Benj. I. Gilman appointed elders. Soon after James Howell was added to the session, butou account of infirm health, resigned in October 1840. Rev. Theoron Baldwin was installed pastor of the church on the 22d of November, 1840. Abijah W. Corey was appointed elder in October, 1841. Capt. Benjamin Godfrey, who had united with the Alton Pre.«byteriau church in 1833, became a member of the church at Gotlfrey in 1844, and on the 5th of October of that year was appointed an elder. In the fall of 1842 a large addition was made to the church. The Rev. Eiisha Jenny was at that time supplying the place of the pastor, who was absent in the East. In the spring of 1844 the Rev. Mr. Baldwin re- .signed the pastoral care of the church, and the Rev. George Pyle was the pastor from that time till 1846. The Rev. C. W. Clapp is the present pastor. The house of worship was built at the joint expense of the congregation and Monticello Seminary, on land belonging to the si minary. The church was organized on an independent basis, and not connected with any denomination. Twelve of the original members were from Presbyterian churches, four from Reformed Dutch, and only two from Congregational churches. The Rev. Theoron Baldwin, the 6rst principal of the Montioel.o Female Seminary, and the Rev. J. M. Sturtevant, of Illinois College, were the leaders in its organization. In 1854 the church became strictly Presbyterian, and united with the Presbytery of Alton. In 1867 the church withdrew from the Presbyterian connection and returned to its original independent basis.

The Bap ist church, on the south line of the township, adjoining North Alton, was built in 1858. Rev.Mr. Bevins now has the pastoral charge. With thechurch a large and prosperous Sunday-school isconnected. There is a Congregational church at Melville, of which the Rev. H. D. Piatt, of Brighton, is pastor. A church building stands three miles west of the village of Godfrey, and is known as the White Oak church. It was built under Congregational auspices, and services are held in it occasionally.

The Village Of Godfrey

and highly improved agricultural region. It is at the junction of the Jacksonville branch, with the main line of the Chicago and Alton railroad, and the numerous trains to St. Louis make it an admirable point for suburban residence. The name of the town, which was laid off by Capt. Benjamin Godfrey and Enoch Long, is placed on the records as Monticello, but it is now universally called Godfrey, that being the appellation of the post office and railway station. The town plat was ri corded. May 30th, 1840. A town of Godfrey, ar joining the original Monticello, was laid out in town lots, by James fc^quire, in 1882, and is northeast of the old town. Tlie Monticello Female Seminary is the most prominent object of interest in Godfrey. Its proximity to Alton has prevented any great business devflopment. The first store was opened "by Timothy Turner, in a small building, which still stands on the lot on which is his former residence. Mr. Turner was also the first postmaster, and was appointed to that pcsition on the esiablishment of the office in 18-10. Previousto that time the citizens got their mail at Alton. Turner resigned the office in 1860, on account of old age and debility, and Thomas P. Walworth, who had formerly been his clerk, received the commission. He held the office only a short time, and was succeeded by Benjamin Webster, who was postma.«ter from 1801 to 1881, when he was succeeded by the present incumbent, Edward A. Masun. Few post offices in the state show such a record of infrequent changes, two of the post masters, each having held the office for twenty years.

There are now two grocery stores kept by Edward A. Mason and John F. Boyd, and one in which dry goods and groceries are sold, of which George Churchill is proprietor. John Roberts has a restaurant. The business of blacksmithiug and wagon making was carried on extensively by Aaron C. Mason and T. Baldwin, but is now conducted by Mark Robidou and the firm of Wirth & Weber. X. Maier and Carl Wenzel, have shoe shops. A flouring mill was built here in the year 1857, by Henry and Uriah Howell, who disposed of it to Richard Blackburn, who after running it about three years, died. Sears & Dodgson were the next proprietors. The mill was finally moved to Clifton, where for a time it was operated as a cement mill. The schoolhouse is a neat structure, containing three rooms. The principal of the school is James Squire, with Fannie A. Burgess as assistant. The colored school is in charge of J. M. Anderson.

In the extreme southwest corner of the township, was laid out by D. Tolman and Hail Mason, and the plat recorded October 10th, 1840. A cement mill was established at this point and quite extensive arrangements made for the manufacture of cement, but it was never operated with success. A saw mill was built by Daniel Tollman and Samuel Thurston, about 18o5, and was in operation for a few years. Louis Steritz, who has the largest vineyard in the township, keeps a place at which he dispenses the product of his vineyard) and which is often visited by parties from Alton.

within less than a mile of Clifton. There are about half a dozen houses in the place. Mrs. Louis Schmidt has a small store, and has charge of the post office. There is a Congregational church and a public school, of which George F. Long is teacher. A distillery was formerly carried on at this point.

Coal Branch

In the southern part of the township, not far from North Alton, is a settlement comprising about twenty families. The inhabitants are mostly engaged in mining coal. There is one store, of which John and Hugh Pierce are proprietors. The Coal Branch is the name of a small stream, along which out-croppings of coal are visible. Coal was mined by Joseph and Richard Whyers, at an early date. They supplied the first coal usid in the penitentiary at Alton. The coal was procured by a drift, extending into the bank. The first pit was opened by James Mitchell, in the summer of 1848. A few months later a pit was sunk by Thomas Dunford. After ihe opening of the Chicago & Alton railroad considerable quantities of coal were shipped to Springfield, Bloomington, Chicago and other points in the northern and central parts of the state. Not only has this traffic ceased, but Alton itself is now largely supplied from more distant points. The coal is of superior quality, equal to the best mined in the state, but the vein only has a thickness of thirty inches, and the coal can not be mined as cheaply as in a larger vein. The shafts range from fifty to one hundred and twenty feet in depth. The vein is now nearly exhausted, and it is only a question of a few years when the working of the pits will be abandoned. The owneis of the pits are Dennis Noonan, James Mitchell, Peter Robinson, Charles Crowson and William Watte, Henry Camp, Peter Taylor & Co., Nathan Sydcl, Henry Conlon and John Rutledge.

^Vas the name of a former post office which has now changed to that of North Alton. James Strong, a native of Cumberland, England, in the fall of 1837, built a large frame building, over the doorway of which the antlers of a buck were suspended, and opened it as the Buck Inn. This building stood on the south line of the township, where the Grafton road leaves the road to Godfrey. The building was burned down in 1 855, and the present brick structure was then erected. James Strong died in 1869, and his son, Jacob Strong, has since carried on a store at this point. The post office of Buck Inn was established in 1868, and Capt. P. J. Melling was the first post master. The office was kept at his house in the present"<jlodfrey township. After two years. Captain Melling was succeeded by William Hall> who removed the office to the present town of North Alton. The office was called Buck Inn, up to the time of the incorporation of the town of North Alton. In this part of Godfrey township, Adolphus Denz built a steam mill in I860. The machinery was transferred in 1882 to a new mill erecf ed just north of North Alton, on section thirty-five. There

Supervlmrs. Tohn M. Pearson, elected in 1876-77 ; was succeeded by James Squire, in 1877-78, and by re-election, Mr. Squire has represented the township to the present.

Roland J. Ingham

The Emerald Isle has contributed many of her sons to America who have taken high rank in literature, in art and in science. Among such may be properly classed the Ingham family, who lived in Dublin, and who in their native home were liberal patrons of art. Thomas and Jennie Ingham came to this country in 181(3. lauding first in New York city, thence to Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. Thomas was the son of a gentleman, a lauded proprietor of Dublin. He had a family of five sons and four daughters. A son Charles, was an artist, in which pursuit he excelled. Of his paintings at least two, "The Lovers ' and " Death of Cleopatra," have received recognition of critics as masterpieces. Thomas, a retired merchant in New York city, and now the sole survivor of the family; Roland J., the subject of this sketch; Sydney, who was lost at sea in 1841 ; Oscar, who lived with Roland and died here in 1870 ; Florence, Paulina, Augusta and Jane Rowena. Roland J. Ingham was born in Dublin, Ireland, March 6ih, 1.^07. In 18:j."), with his father's family became west, locating about a mile from the present home of Lucretia Ingham. His father returned to Utica, New York, a few years after, where he died January 9th, 1817. Mr. Ingham's first wife was Rebecca Peutzer, by whom he had five children, three of whom are living. Two of his sons, Charles and Theron B., were soldiers in the United States service during the rebellion. On the 22d of April, 18.5:i, he was united in marriage by Rev. Washington Wagoner, a Methodist Episcopal minister, to Lucretia M Ragsdale, formerly of East Tennessee, although a Virginian. By this marriage there were b3rn eight children, seven of whom are living. Names as follows ; Emma Augusta, Thomas Cassius, Julia Paulina, James Arthur, Sydney Roland, Jane Rowena and William Eilward.

great love of art. His beautiful home bespeaks his taste. He was an earnest Republican in p )litic3, and a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church in religious faith. Progressive in his views, his days were all days of activity. Eminently social in his home, its attractions were shared by neighbors and friends. Loved and respected and full of years, he died February 2d, 1881.

John Castagnetta

It is a peculiarity of the institutions of the United States in contradistinction to the institutions of every other country, that they assimilate different and discordant nationalities. Every year hundreds of thousands of emigrants arrive from different countries, accustomed to other forms of government speaking other languages, observing different customs; yet are absorbed and assimilated into a nationality. In fact we are a nation of foreign elements. Italy has contributed many of her sons since Columbus discovered the islands along our eastern shores. John Castagnetta was born in Genoa, Italy, April 18, 1829. In 18.53, he reached New York to try his fortune in the new world. His first employment was as a railroad hand on the Charleston and Memphis railroad, then as a baker and confectioner, which he learned in Charleston In 1855, he made his way to St. Louis, thence in November to Alton. In 1856, he locited where he now resides, in Godfrey township, where he engaged in the manufacture of wines, brandies, etc., a business he has since prosecuted with great success. He married Julia Gro.«jean, July 4th, 18,58. She was a native of Paris, France, from whence she came to Highland when a child. They have three children living, Louis, James and Louisa. Mr. Castagnetta is prompt, energetic and awake to business.

One of the representative men of bis township, was born ill New Hampshire, August 5th, 1806. His father and grandfather were also natives of the old granite state. When quite young his parents moved to New York, and during the war of 1812, moved to Vermont. Here he acquired a fair common school education. In October, 1837, they came to Illinois and settled where his widow now lives. He was married to Perlina Pond in Vermont, in 1833; by her he had three children, Ann Louisa Havens, now living in Chicago, Illinois ; Charles Henry, killed by the falling of a tree, and Hekn Perlina, wife of William B. Hancock.

His second wife was the widow of a printer, Henry K. Stockton, who died in Upper Alton in 1838. Mrs. Stockton's maiden name was Cynthia Northway. She was born in New Hartford, New York, August 8th, 1798. From 1840 to 1844, she was matron in Monticello Seminary. She was married to John Mason, May 1st, 1846. Few men in the community where he lived were more thought of than John Mason ; the counsel of few was more sought. Earnest in all his undertakings ; faithful in the discharge of all his duties, he was respected of all. His death was mourned by many friends.

Son of Asaph and Eunice Andrews Merriman, was born in Wallingford, Connecticut, on the 14th of August 1811. His parents were both direct descendants of Lieutenant Nathaniel Merriman and Nathan Andrews, original settlers of the town of Wallingford in 1669. He was the fifth born of six children, and lived at home on the farm until his seventeenth year, when his father died. He went to New Haven to learn the carpenter's trade; thence to Boston, ]\Iass., where he was united in marriage with Miss Edith Bishop on March 29th, 1834. This marked an epoch in his history, since by virtue of it he became, as was his wife, an earnest and zealous member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, in which relation he remained until his death. Mr. Merriman was not free from the ambitions of this life. In the summer of 1835, leaving his wife and infant son Charles in Midd'etown, he started west, going first via the lakes and canal to his brother's in Granville, Ohio. Tarrying but a short time he proceeded by horse and buggy westward, reaching Teoria, Illinois, in the early autumn time of 1835. There he presented his church letters to Bishop Chase, who said to him : " You are the very man I want, come along with me." Arrangements were made for him to accompany the Bishop to the site of his new college. There he and the Bishop worked together in the construction of the famous " Robin's Nest," so called because composed chiefly of mud and sticks.

They roomed together, sleeping on a rude sapling bed under which the chickens roosted. As soon as the Bishop and family were comfortably housed, Mr. Merriman left for St. Louis. For nine years he remained here plying his trade, as carpenter and builder. In 1844 he commenced farming operations in St. Louis Co., Missouri. Here he carried with him his devotion and influence as a Christian man, and was the means of establi.*hing a mission at Bridgeton, a town near his home. In 1845 his wife Edith died, leaving to his care one son and one adopted daughter. In 1850 he, accompanied by his son Charles, then fifteen years of age, went to California, crossing the plains e/i route, here he remained two years, returning via the Isthmus and New Orleans, settling finally on the farm in Godfrey township, now occupied by hia son Charles. In 1873 he moved to property purchased by him in North Alton, near the chapel, and devoted much of his time to church labor. He was married to Lucinda Wells on the 15th of December, 1845. He died August 13, 1881. At the time he was Senior Warden in the church in whose success he took so great an interest. For nearly a half century, amid the ups and downs of a more or less wandering life beset by its strong temptations, he was found always faithful and true to his trust. His memory is held in dear esteem by hosts of his friends who knew him, as an honest, upright. Christian man.

James Mitchell was born in Scotland, December 21st, 1811. His parents were Robert and Mary Mitchell. His father was well liked by his fellows, among whom he was somewhat a leader. When he determined on bettering his condition by seeking an American home, he brought with him some three hundred colonists. His objective point was Nova Scotia. On the 4th of July, 1829, they landed at Pictou, a seaport in that province, brought over safely by the brig " Hero of Gdnnock." In all, Robert had a family of eleven children, six daughters and five sons, of whom James was the eldest. Not altogether satisfied with Nova Scotia, they determined on emigrating to the " States," as then called, and made their way to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, in 1834. The subject of this sketch obtained a fair education in the common-schools of Scotland in his youth ; he was a clerk in a g.»neral store. When he reached his majority he worked in coal-mines, first in Nova Scotia, then in Pennsylvania. In 1835 he made his way t) the salt works on the Kanawha river, in West Virginia; thence to Kentucky, stopped at a village on the Ohio river, about 130 miles below Louisville, thence to New Orleans. Aftor a few years spent thus in looking about, he visited his old Nova Scotia home. While on this visit, he met and was united in marriage with Mary Smith, a native of the Island of Cape Breton. The marriage rites were celebrated in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, on the 7th of October, 1839. Soon thereafter he returned to the States, this time to Missouri, and in 1848 to Madison county. To him belongs the honor of having opened the first coal mine in Coal Branch, above Alton. By his first wife he had eight children, foUr of whom are living. She died October 4th, 1857. He was married to his present wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Bird, November 3d, 1857.

Politically Mr. Mitchell is an earnest, unswerving Republican. His first ballot was cast for William H. Harnson. He has never failed attending a local Republican convention since the organization of the party, when physically able to do so. Although thoroughly awake to party spirit, he never would accept office, save the supervisorship, which was forced upon him one terra. He has been often a member of the central committee, and has ever proved himself a most loyal citizen. Farming and operating in coal have engaged mjst of his attention since locating in this county.

The present popular supervisor representing Godfrey township in the county board, is a young man possessed of many commendable traits of character. He was born December 11, 1843. His parents were William and Lydia Squire (Widaman). His father, William, was a native of Devon" shire, England, where he was born August 9th, 1814. He came to America in 1835, locating first in Coshocton county, Ohio, from whence he came to Madison county, 111., in 1839. Arriving in Alton he commenced wrk as a laborer, but, upon his refusing to work on Sunday, he quit his employment, and moved to Godfrey, where he became foreman on Godfrey's farm, a place he held for years. His wife, Lydia Widaman, «as a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where she was born March 8, 1818. Her father was a teacher - a vocation he pursued first in Germany, then in this country. On the first of March, 18-13, she and William Squire were united in marriage by Rev. I. B. Randle, of Edwardsville.

James Squire received a fair common-school education, which was aided by attendance at Shurtleff College. It is related that when attending school taught by Miss Corbett, he'and his brother Frank encountered a panther in their pathway. Quite terrified, they hurried home, telling the story to their parents, who thought it incredible ; but the following day parties dispatched the monster, and established the correctness of the boys' story. During the war James Squire enlisted in the service of the United States in the 144lh Regiment Illinois Volunteers. He has been quite uniformly engaged in farming and teaching. In both pursuits he has been successful. He was married to Mattie Braden, March 25, 1874, by whom he has two children living, Vinnie Grace and Mattie Pearl, and one dead, James William. His wife died May 14, 1882. She, was a daughter of Isaac Braden, one of the pioneers of Nameoki township.

Politically he is an earnest, outspoken Democrat; is a member of the Democratic Central Committee ; was elected supervisor from Godfrey township in 1877, and has been annually re-elected ever since. When it is considered that this is a Republican stronghold (Garfield's majority being 66), his election can only be accounted for on the ground of personal popularity. He is a member of both the Masonic and Odd Fellow's orders ; has been a justice of the peace, and was deputy sheriff under R. W. Crawford ; has taught thirteen years, and is at present principal of the Godfrey school.

William Lindley

WILLIAM LINDLEY Was born in Lincolnshire, England, May 10th, 1810. His father, George Lindley, was a mason by trade, and brought up his family in the ways of industry. At the age of nineteen years William came to America, landing at first in New York City. Thence he went to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he engaged his services in print works. In 1839 he made his way westward, and with his savings entered laud near Carlinville, Macoupin county. Breaking prairie, howevi-r, and waiting for returns until a farm could be made was too slow for him, hence he went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he engaged in the dairy business. Here it was he met Mary C. Straw, now his surviving widow. Engaged in selling milk from house to house he had for a patron a family named Paterson, formerly of Quincy, and who had brought with them as one of the family Mary, to whom he was married November 22d, 1842. She was born in Germany near the river Rhine, and came with her people to America, in 1823. Her family located first in Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio; from thence she went with a sister to

Quincy, Illinois, and then to St. Louis Together they continued the dairy business successfully until 1851 when they moved to Madison county, Illinois, where Mrs. Lindley yet lives. There were born to them in all eight children, seven of whom yet live. By name they are Sarah, Mary C , George, William E Horace, John A., and Samuel S. All are straightforward, honest and energetic citizens During his life Mr. Lindley was an earnest Republican and impressed that political doctrine indelibly upon his sons. He was a member of the Episcopal Church. Active and energetic, honest and frank, ever ready to help a friend or do a kindness, he succeeded well in life. He died March 2d, 1869. His widow, a woman of more than ordinary business qualities, survives him and has continued farming with great success. She has cleared a hundred and twenty acres of land since her husband's death, and bought an additional farm in Jersey county. She relates her only transaction whereby she made money without work as being the sale of gold when it was worth two hundred per cent, at a bank in Alton.

Venice

^ S situated in the southwestern part of the county. It is irregularly shaped because of the river course which forms its western boundary. It is bounded on the north by Chouteau township, east by Naraeoki, south by St. Clair county and west by the State of Missouri, from which it is separa- ^ ^ , , ^ ted by the Mississippi river. Geograph- ,S ically it embraces township 3 north, range

10 west. It is mostly low and level land, part of the great American bottom. Much of it is sandy, and is subject to overflow, against which citizens have tried in vain to protect it. Trending north and south at a short distance from the river bank is the American bottom levee, built for the protection of lands from overflow of the ri\-er. Its height varies from three to twenty feet. Separated from the main land, by a slough of the same name, is Cabaret (French tavern) Island, containing in all, about 1,042 acres of land. Much of this is overgrown with willow with here and there a sycamore, soft maple or other wood. The acreage embraced in Venice township is nearly eleven sections, or 6,970 acres. There are within the limits, in all, over fourteen miles of railroad track, divided quite equally between the Chicago and Alton, the Indianapolis and St. Louis and Wabash, St. Louis and Pacific railroads, which run parallel, passing diagonally across the south-half of the township, which they leave on section 13.

Venice township was settled as early as 1804, but there are only meagre traditional accounts of such settlements. A few years afterward several families located here, among them George Cadwell, on section 13, and George Richardson, on the same section. Robert McDow, Johu Atkins, Daniel Lockhart, and possibly others, were all here prior to the war of 1812. George Cadwell was a live, enterprising Yankee, who combined the practice of medicine with tilling the soil. In 1815 he was appointed by Ninian Edwards, Governor of Illinois, a justice of the peace. He brought with him a family of three daughters and a son. In 1818 he was elected a Senator to the First General Assembly of Illinois. Not altogether suited with this section of country he emigrated to Morgan county at an early day, George Richardson, a farmer, a friend of Cadwell's, lived near him and also went to Morgan county, where he was drowned in Santa creek, near Jacksonville, during a freshet. A daugh- ter Nancy, was married to A-her Cliaso, an eastern man. This was, perhaps the first niarriige in the township ; that of Moses S''e(1s to ^Irs. Mary Wad lie. of date October 10, 1818, bpiug the second. R ibert McDow, a Kentuckian, was an ejiterpri.'ing, energetic man, and had a large family. He was the first to erect a horse- raill, which he did on section 24. Upon leaving the country to go north he disposed of his mill to Benjamin Merritt. John Atkins located on section 1, prior to the war of 1812. He and two sons were engaged in that war and were present at the treaty made at Portage des Sioux, a short distance above Alton, on the Missouri side of the Mississippi. A remarkable fact in connection with Atkins' family is that in order of birth they were: William, John, Jr., Charles, Everett and James, and in order of death exactly the reverse, James being the first to die, then Everett, Charles, John, Jr. and William, who lived to be seventy seven years of age. John Atkins was originally from Kentucky; he and his sons were all large, able-bodied men, models among pioneers. Daniel Lockhart located on an elevated ridge, a short distance northwest of where now stands the Venice Elevator, on section 35. At present there are representatives of but one of these families living within the limits of Madison county, - that of John Atkins. The others are gone, and the records left of them areind.'ed meagre. A little later, perhaps in 1815, came a very eccentric pioneer, John Anthony, by name He was of the Pennsylvania Dutch stock. His was the first house built on the site of the old village of Venice, and was of hewed cotton-wood timber. Although it contained but one room, Anthony kept lodgers and served up meals to travelers. Ou a shelf was the bottle a,lways charged with " aqua miraculous." He kept a number of skiffs which he hired to parties desiring to cross the river, at a shilling a trip, passengers doing their own rowing. Ou section 25, a family named Blum, settled about the same time of Anthony's coming. They, too, were Pennsylvanians. In 1818, Abraham Sippy, a young married man, came from Pennsylvania to try his fortunes in the then "far west." Mr. Sippy's father came to this country a soldier under Lafayette. After the battle at Yorktown he deserted the ranks, determined to remain here instead of returning to France. His name was Joseph Trimeau, but upon determining to remain in America he took his mother's name of Sippy. He became the father of seventeen children. Many of their descendants arc scattered throughout the west, and are energetic, thrifty citizens wherever found.

Anthony's ferry, operated by skifls, after a few years time, proved unequal to the demands made upon it, whereupon Matthew Kerr, a merchant of St. Louis (and for whomKerr's Island was named), commenced a horse ferry, in 182G. The boat was named Brooklyn Since that time ferry-boats have run regularly to and from St. Louis. In 1842, Lieutenant Robert E. Lee, commander in-chief of the Confederate forces, during the war of the rebellion, built a dike running from Kerr's Island to the head of Bloody Island. This necessitated a change in the lauding place of the" Brooklj-u," and the company operating the ferry obtained 81,600 damages from the United States Government. This 81,600 was devoted to the c^-nstruction of a bridge connecting Kerr's Islanii with the main land. The national road - the great wagon refute connecting the east with the west - terminated here, and across Kerr's Island, about a third of a mile north of the present elevator, was the principal street of Venice. The " National Way," as it was called, was a hundred feet wide. It soon became the centre of a large trade. Two hotels ca'ered to the wants of travelers ; two livery stables supplied the trade with horses and vehicles; three general stores and two blacksmith shops completed the business industries- One of the stores, kept by Peter Smith, was the first brick building erected in the township. The flood of 1844 swept everything away except the brick store building, a livery stable, also of brick, and a part of one of the hotels. During the prevalence of the high waters, one of the blacksmiths, a German, in a fit of desperation, jumped from the bridge as it was being carried oflT and committed suicide. His was the first smithery in the township, erected in 1837. As soon as the waters receded the work of repairing commenced. A finer bridge soon spanned the slough, and business revived. Trade was represented by Peter Smith, James Morris and Charles Pearee, enoraeed in general merchandise. All went well with Venice until 1S51, when high waters again swept her away. iSIuch of the beautiful island «as carried off, so that the former terminus of " National Way" was far out in the Mississippi. The bridge was not rebuilt. A solitary brick building remained on the once busy site of Venice. - that is now gcme. The original town was named by Dr Cornelius Campbell, of St. Louis, a gentleman largely interested in the old ferry. At the time Venice was fir^t attracting attention in 1837. a pist-office was established on Cad well's tract, section 13, called Six Mile. It was first kept by Joseph Squire; he was proprietor of a public house, called the " Western." This was the first established house, wor.hy the name, in the township. It was a large frame building, and, as a hotel, was quite popular with stockmen from above Alton, who made it their heaiquarters. Large numbers of hogs and some cattle were annually driven this way to St. Louis, following what was called the slough road from Alton. The first burial ground was on Cad .cell's tract, and his son, Bach, was the first person interred therein. The exact date is impossible to obtain. It was, however, prior to 1820. The first land entries were by John Atkins, September 14, 1814, north fraction i, section 1, 43.8 acres; George Richardson, August 17, 1814, southeast fraction section 12, 361 acres; William Gillham, August 15, 1814, west side southeast i section 13,78 acres, and Juhn McDow, August 16, 1814, several acres in section 24. Prior to any of these entries there were numerous claims made. Some of them by heads of families, on account of actual settlement, others as militia claims, consequent upon service prior to 1790. Among the first, which comprised 400 acres each, within the limits of township 3 north, range 10 west, were claim 1,865, by Alexis Bryalte, in 1809, to whom it was confirmed; that of Nicholas Jarrot, situated ou the banks of the Mi.s^i-sippi, opposite Cabarat Island, and near the Kinder Station, and claim 637, bv James Kinkead, lying within sections 25 and

26, two miles above Venice. Among claims confirmed to persons founded on act of Congress, granting a donation of one hundred acres of land to each militia man enrolled and doing duty in Illinois on the 1st day of August, ITStO, within the district of Kaskaskia, were, in this township: - Claim 1,258, Francis Campeau, confirmed in 1809 to Johi Rice Jones, survey lies in sections 1 and 12; claim 485, Pierre Clement, confirmed to John Briggs, on the bank of the Mississippi, in section 36, extreme southern p )int of township. Adjoining claim 12.58, were claims of nine other ])arties, by name: Pierre Martin, Jr., J. B. Raplais, Jacque Mnlott, Louis Harmond, Joseph Poirer, Dennis Lavertue, Philip de Boeuf, James Lamarch and Constant Longtemps. Ill addition to these, bearing date January 4, 1813, among claims granted by the governors of the northwest and Indiana territories, in pursuance of Act of the 3d of March, 1791 (other than those which were reported in the affirmed ]i.<t of the late board of commissioners for the ditrict of Ka.-kaskia), and which, in the opinion of the present commissioners, ought to be confirmed is claim 548, original claimant, Jean Baptiste Becket ; confirmed by Governor Harrison to Etienne Pencenneau This covers a part of the town plat of Venice. Evidences are not wanting, particularly in sections 1 and 12, to prove that some of these claimants or their representatives were the first settlers of this townchip The French had correct ideas of how to settle a vast empire when they followed the Mississippi in the very heart of the continent, but were unable through paucity of numbers, and through their plan of living in stockaded hamlets or villages, to accomplish their purpose. The first preaching was by Revs. Chance and Jones, two Baptist misssonaries, who preached at the house of Mr. Cadwell as early as 1812. George Cadwell was the first justice of the peace, appointed in 1815, by Governor Edwards. A Mr. Hart was the first constable. The '- Little Jim " was the first steamboat to ply between Kerr's Island and St. Louis.

A straggling village was commenced on the island opposite the present village soon after the running of the ferryboat Brooklyn, and in 1841 the name of Venice was given the place by Dr. Cornelius Campbell, who, in conjunction with Charles F. Stamps, laid out the town. It was made a matter of record November 22d, 1841. Its progress and reverses have already been presented up to its complete annihilation in 1851. For years thereafter its growth was slow. June 24th, 1873, an election was held to determine whether the town should be incorporated. It resulted in seventy-nine votes for and one against incorporation. Prior to this a public meeting was held June 6th, 1873, to consi. ler the propriety of an incorporation under the General Laws of the State. A petition was drawn up, and thirtyseven residents signed it. The act of incorporation was consummated June 28, 1873, and Henry Robinson, Joseph Froehly, Theodore Selb, Francis McCambridge, William R iberts and John Kaseberg were elected members of the first board of trustees July 22d, 1873. Henry Robinson was chosen jresident, and Thomas "W. Kinder secretary. At present the members are: Henry Robinson, J. Fxoehly, Theodore Selb, Fred Kohl, Frank McCambridge. Henry Robins m. president, and C. S. Youree, clerk. Several of the first elected members have served continually since. Under the management of the Board improvements of a valuable character in the way of grading and macadamizing have been set on foot and successfully prosecuted. The jSIethodist Episcopal church building was erected in 1870, at a ost of 81,500. Seating capacity, 300. Catholic church, built 1881-'2, is an attractive house of public worship. Venice has long been proud of her graded school. The building occupies a pleasant site, half a mile from the principal business street of the village, and is a handsome two story brick edifice, well adapted to its uses. It was erected in 1868. The Venice Elevator was erected in 1871 by a stock company. Messrs. R. P. Tansey and John J. Mitchell were the prime movers, as they have since been the earnest ab-tturs of the enterprise. At first its capacity was 300,000 bushels grain. During the year 1881 this was doubled, so that the present capacity is 600.000 bushels. During the year 1881 over 3,000,000 bushels wheat were handled here. Its accessibility to both rail and river will commend it to shippers, so that a prosperous future awaits it.

The Venice Branch Union Stock Yards were established in 1874. They have a capacity for handling ten thousand head of hogs and five thousand head of cattle. W. A. Ramsay, Manager ; J. J. Fletcher, Superintendent. In the matter of mills Venice has been unfortunate. Bell Bros., of Indianapolis, Indiana, erected an extensive saw-mill on the banks of the Mississippi, on the original town site of Venice, in 1877. It had a capacity for rawing from eighteen to twenty thousand feet of lumber per diem, and gave employment to twenty-five men. In 1882 it was moved to Memphis. The Venice Flouring Milh were built by Glenn Bros, in 1871, at a cost of 822,000. They were afterward doubled in capacity, and 823,000 were expended in additional machinery and building. They had five run of burrs, and were capable of turning out tour hundred barrels of flour daily. Keohler Bros, were the proprietors. On the 13th of March, 1882, they were entirely destroyed by fire.

General Business

Aurora Lodge, Knights of Honor No. 325, instituted July 11, 1876, by members of the Seymour Lodge, K. of H., St. Louis, Mo., with fourteen charter members: C. S Youree, John F. Richardson, Fritz Reiske, Seaborn Miller, Burrell O^letree, John Ohrist, Preston Bishop, William Weyh, Alonzo Towsey, John Ballet, Frederick Ibig, D. S. Fries, D. Fennell and I. G. Wright. This Lodge has sustained eight deaths : John Ohrist, Fritz Ibig, H. Linkerman, H. C. Moss (murdered), August Breathuhn, Peter Marks, S. G. Williams and E. Hall. Present Officers-J. T. Richardson, P. D. and Rep. ; B. Ogletree, D. ; Charles Spann, V. D ; William Weyh, R. ; R. J. Brown, Chaplain. The Lodge is in a flourishing condition, having an active membership of forty-seven.

Local Branch No. 18, Order Iron Hall, was organized July 28th, 1881, with twelve charter members: Jas. B. Pinckard, C J. ; Walter Bain, P. C J. ; H. W. Muller, Acct. ; W. H. Grayson, Trea-s. ; J. T. Richardson, Adj. Its object is similar to the K. of H., offering insurance. Members are paid such insurance during life.

The population of the town of Venice, according to the census of 1880, was 613. Its future is bright with promise. Its railroad facilities are constantly being increased. Its manufactories just commencing to attract attention, will make Venice in time a large suburb of St. Louis.

The town of Newport was laid oS' by I. W. Blackman, of St. Louis, Mo , and plat recorded April 27, 1858. It is situated on Survey 604, Claim 637, or, more properly. Section 26. It has never attracted any particular attention, and consists of a few dwelling-houses only. On Section 24 is the station of Kinder, near which, on S. E It Sect. 13, is a neat church building, now occupied by the Gsrman Lutherans as church and school-house. It was erected at first as a school building by special legislation, obtained through the efforts of Calvin Kinder and others. For a time it was used as intended, for school purposes and church without regard to sect, but passed from such control into the hands of the present management. It is a brick building, two stories high. Since the inauguration of township organization in 1876, Theodore Selb has uninterruptedly represented this township in the county Board of Supervisors The population of the township in ISSO was 1120.

Olive

0 named in honor of the Olive family, who were early settlers, comprises all of town six, range six. It is bounded on the north by Macoui)in county, on the east by New Douglas, on the south by Alhambra, and on the west by Omph-Ghent township. It is drained by Silver creek and its tributaries, flowing princii)ally through the eastern and central part. Along this stream a considerable quantity of timber is found. The soil of the township is good and in a fair state of cultivation.

James Street, James Keown, Thomas Kimmett, Samuel Voyles, David Hendershott, and Samuel McKittrick, who settled here in 1819, and prior to that date. Abram Carlock was the first. He located on section 34 in 1817, where he lived a few years and then left. His cabin stood near a spring, on the north and west sides of Silver creek, near the bank and also near the south township line. He made a small clearing eait of the cabin. An old settler says that in 1833 saplings as large as a man's arm had grown ou his improvement.

The next settler was John Herrington, Jr. He built quite a large cabin in the west edge of the township, section 7, ill 1817. It had no opening f)r light, except the door.

This was made out of heavy puncheons aud swung like double barn doors, the upper part bi'ing left open for light in pleasant weather. When securely closed, this cabin was inaccessible. Herrington's latch-string seldom hung on the outside. lu 1819 he sold out to Samuel McKittrick, who entered one of the first tracts in tiie township, Augu.«t 18, 1819, 45 acres, in section 6 The same day, James Street entered 80 acres in section 36. Mr. McKittrick planted an orchard on the Herrington place in 1819 or '20, and a tree that he set out has attained to a circumference of eight feet eight iuches, and is in bearing at this writing. In 1827 Ephraim Best, a native of North Carolina, purchased this place, where he continued to reside until his death in 1876 His widow still survives him, aged seventy-eight, and lives on the old place. They raised a family of ten children, six now living. He acquired a good properly here. In the early settlement of the county, he was Constable for several years. For a long period of time, the Methodists held their meetings at his residence. Among the early preachers were Ballard, Renfro, and Collins. Mrs. Best says when they settled on this place, the first house on the road to Edwardsville was that of Francis Roach, and the nest was on the Barnett place

James Street located on section 36 as early as 1818. He was one of the first land-holders in the township, as above stated. He made a small improvement here, but his principal business was that of making powder and combs - two articles that found a ready market among the pioneers. After the country began to settle up, he sold out and left.

The first settlements in the northeast part were made by Samuel Voyles and David Hendershott, in 1»18. They built cabins near each other, in the northwest part of section 13, on the west side of Silver creek. Voyles was from South Carolina; he raised quite a family of children, and resided here until his death. Robert Y. Voyles, a grandson, is the only one of the name now living in the township. Nancy Stephenson a daughter of Samuel Voyles, lives in the settlement. Abel, Henry and Samuel H. Voyles, sons of Samuel Voyles, improved farms in the' settlement, where they resided until their deaths ; the two former raised families. Hendershott lived here only a short time, and then moved to Iowa.

Thomas Kimmett, an eastern man, located on the southwest part of section 12, in 1819, where he lived a few years, and then returned to the east.

James Keown, Sr., a half-brother to John Keown, the father of Andrew Keown, settled the southeast 80 acres of section 35, as early as 1819. He afterward removed to Smart's prairie, where he died in 1S61. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and was in the engagement of New Orleans. Wiley Smart located south of the Vincent place, a short distance, in 1819 or '20. Ishara Vincent went from North Carolina to Kentucky, and from that State came to Madison county in 1817, and was one of the well known old citizens. He first stopped in the vicinity of Troy, where he taught one of the early schools. After three years he came into what is now Olive township, and settled on section 36, now the Ed. Wardman place. He erected a cabin on the north bank of a little stream ; his hou?e stood due north of where the grave-yard now i-", on that section. Hi, housa was on the Hillsboro and St. Louis wagon-road, and for years this was a general stopping-place. He kept a barrel of whiskey in his cabin, aud was always ready to supply the thirsty. At his cabin for many years the votes were cast for Silver creek precinct, then comprising all the northeastern part of the county. In the early times it was the custom for the candidates to attend the different polls and treat to whiskey and make speeches, and on some occasions election day was a lively one, all the little neighborhood disputes being settled on that day, generally in the afternoon. Vincent had a horse mill, with a bolting chest, for a number of years in the early times, and made a good quality of flour for that day. He was a "Hard-Shell Baptist," and for many years meeting was conducted at his residence. William Jones, Thomas Ray, and James Street were the early preachers. For many years he filled the office of Justice of the Peace. He resided on the place he improved here until his death, February 26, 1846, aged seventy-seven years. His wife survived him only eleven days, and died at the age of sixty-four years. They had a family of eight children. Four daughters grew to womanhood, viz., Elizabeth, who married Peter Long ; Mary, who married John Keown ; Barbara, who married William W. Pearce, and Martha, who married Isaac W. Pearce, who is now dead ; her present husband is William Eves.

The grave-yard south of the Vincent place was started by the Vincent family, Edwin, a son, being the first buried there, about the year 1S24.

James S. Breath located in section 36, among the early settlers, where he entered 80 acres. He lived here some time, and then went into the Marine settlement. John W. Keown came out with his brother Andrew, in 1825'; he afterward married Polly's^. Vincent, daughter of Isham Vincent, and settled a place in sectiou 25, where he improved a farm and resided until his death. He raised a family of four children - Larkin C, Isham, Margaret, who married Matthias Pearce, and John, all now deceased but Larkin C, who is a well-known citizen of Edwardsville. Thomas Porter Keown settled east of his brother John's on section 25, where he improved a farm and resided until his death, in the fall of 1867. Previous to his locating here, he lived for a time in what is now Alhambra township. His family that grew to manhood and womanhood, were William H., Margaret, who married Jesse Olive, Alfred, who died in the late war, Sinai, who married Joseph Ricks, and Mary, who became the wife of Thomas Tabor. Robert Keown settled in the edge of the timber southwest of Lewis Ricks' place, in 1*^29, where he resided until his death in 1856. He raised only two children that lived to rear families, Hester, who married S. H. Farris, and Robert. The Keowns all came to this their new country on pack-horses. Robert and his wife came through in the dead of winter. They were a young married couple, having started immediately after the nuptial knot was tied. After his death, she became the second wife of Lewis Ricks. Her death occurred July 1, 1875, at a good old age.

1828, and bought a small improvement started by a man named Ringo, iu the southwest quarter of section 36. Reaves lived here many years. He died at his son's, Wesley Reaves, in New Douglas, October, 1876. His wife preceded him several years. They raised a family of nineteen children, five now living. Wesley is the only one of the family residing in the county. At the residence of Tobias Reaves the Methodists held their early meetings.

Peter Long improved a place iu the southeast quarter of section 25. He was a minister of the Baptist denomination, and is often spoken of in this work as one of the early preachers. He was four times married, and now lives at Old Ripley, Bond county, a very old man, but still continues to preach.

Elisha Sackett was one of the early settlers. He never owned any land, but lived here until about thirty-two years ago. Nine of his descendants are now residents of the county. Joel Ricks was married in Kentucky to Miss Ellen Martin ; he came here in 1829, and located in section 34, iu the edge of the prairie, northwest quarter, where he resided until 1845. He then joined the Mormons, went to Nauvoo, 111., and subsequently to Utah, where he now lives. Lewis Ricks, one of the old residents of this township, was born in Nash county. North Carolina, October, 1800. His father, Jonathan Ricks, emigrated to Christian county, Kentucky, since cut oft' into Trigg county, in the year 1802, where he lived and died. Lewis married Miss Mary Anderson, in Stewart county, Tennessee, and in the fall of 1833 came to Madison county, and the following year built a cabin on section 26, where he has continued to live. He has been twice married, and raised a family of ten children by his first wife, three of whom are now living, viz.. Temperance, Alfred and Virgil. The two sous are farmers of the township. The daughter married James Pearce, and now resides in Kansas. Mr. Ricks for many years was deputy county surveyor. He taught school, at an early day, in a schoolhouse that was built on the southwest quarter of section 26. John W. Reynolds was the first to teach in this building. Mr. Ricks represented his county in the State Legislature of 1857. He has acquired sufficient of this world's goods to ease his declining years, and is now quite an old man, well preserved in body and mind, for one of his age. John Hoxsey was a native of Virginia, and came to Madison county in 1817. His wife, Mary Martin, a native of Kentucky, emigrated in 1819. Mr. Hoxsey was the father of John F. Hoxsey, who is a farmer and stock-raiser, now residing in section 32. His wife, Elizabeth Spangle, is a native of Tippecanoe county, Indiana.

leaving a family of six children, all married and settled in life, viz , Jesse, Joel H., Jonathan, Frank, William, and Charity, who married Henry Tabor. The old gentleman filled the office of Justice of the Peace many years, and lived the life of a much respected citizen. John Olive, a brother, was one of the early settlers, but lived in the township only a short time. For some years he followed tailoring in Edwardsville and Alton. Subsequently he studied and began the practice of medicine, and now lives in Staunton, Illinois. James Olive came to Alton in 1833. He was then a boy si.xteen years of age. The following spring he came to this township, and shortly afterward married the widow of James Tabor. She was, before this marriage, Sinia JIartin, of Kentucky, and had one child by James Tabor, now Mrs. Elizabeth Ann Lyon. After Mr. Olive's marriage, he began farming on his wife's place in section 22, where he resided until 1845 or 46. They then sold their home here and went to Nauvoo, Hancock county, Illinois, and located north of that place, where they continued to reside until the Mormon trouble, when he returned to xMadison, and bought the place where he now resides, of his nephew, Je.sse Olive. He had the misfortune to lose his wife in April, 18G4. The following November he married Mrs. Mary Shumate, widow of Michael Shumate. Mr. Olive has raised quite a large family, and as a farmer has been successful in life. For many years he has filled the offices of Justice of the Peace and Supervisor of the township. John A. Wall, as early as 1830 or '31, settled the James H. Meyers place, where he lived for several years. He then sold his improvements to James Keown, who located here and resided until his death. He lived the life of a bachelor, his widowed sister, Mrs. Margaret Embrey, keeping his house. Sackett settled the Francis place, and Jarrett Cudd, from Trigg county, Kentucky, the place just north, in section 23, about 1832. John Coleson, from the same county, came in 1834, and located on the west side of section 14, where he improved a good farm ; he now resides with his children. The following gentlemen have represented the township in the Board of Supervisors: James Olive, elected in 1876, was re-elected each succeeding year to 1882; he was Chairman of the Board in 1880-'81. James McKittrick was elected in 1882, and is the present incumbent. The first school on the west side of Silver creek, in the south part of the township, was taught in an abandoned cabin on section 34, by Matilda Thompson. The grave-yard on the north side of section 34, on the William Olive place, was started in 1834, the first grave being dug for the remains of George W. Olive, son of Abel Olive. Toe Christian church on section 34 was erected in 1862 ; it is a neat frame church, and is now attended by a good, liberal congregation. The Lutheran church on section 18 was built in 1870.

HE Township of Fosterburg is situated in the northwestern portion of the county, bounded on the north by Jersey and Macoupin counties ; east by Moro ; south by Wood River, and west by Godfrey. It comprises all of town 6, range 9 west, being the northern tier of fractional sections. The lands are drained by the West and East Forks of Wood River and their tributaries ; the former entering the township in the northwest corner, passing in a southpasterly direction, leaving it on section thirty-two ; and the latter entering in the northeast corner, meandering in a southwesterly course, passing out on .section thirty-five. These streams furnish a good system of drainage, and give an abundant supply of water for stock purposes. The surface is generally quite broken, and on approaching the streams, in many places, it becomes very rugged. About three-fourths of this township was originally covered with timber, the greater portion of which has been cleared and made into beautiful and productive farms. The soil is rich and well adapted for the growing of all the cereals.

It is impossible to ascertain, at this writing, when or by the first settlements in Fosterburg township were made. We are informed by some of the oldest settlers, that when they arrived, there were several small log-cabins in the southern part of the township, which had been deserted by some hardy pioneers who, no doubt, became dissati.-fied with the location, and plunged deeper into the wilderness.

It is related that Joseph S- Reynolds was the first settler, and there is a good foundation for the assertion. We find in the records, October 11th, 1814, that Joseph S. Reynolds entered thirty-one acres in the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter, and forty acres in the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter section thirty-three. This was the first land entry made in this township. Reynolds lived here until about 1822, when he moved to Godfrey township, and afterward went to Greene county, in this State.

Orman Beeman stopped and made some improvements on section 28, just south of the Wood's place, in 1816, and remained there until 1828. A man by the name of Honeycutt was a very early settler. He located on a small branch of the West Fork of Wood river, which has ever since been known as Honeycutt creek. About the same time, James Dabbs settled on another branch, a mile northwest from Honeycutt, which has since been knoivn as Dabbs' creek.

He left about the same time, and probably with Honeycutt. An old lady, known as " Granny McAfee," settled on section 28 in 1816, and she and her family remained here four or five years, and moved to Greene county. William R. Rhodes entered and settled the Wood's place in 1818 or '19, and sold it to Joshua Wood in 1821. October 11th, 1820, there were four more land entries made in this township, by Lorenzo Edwards, Daniel Wagoner, William W. Gallop and Jacob Deck. William Edwards entered the east half of the southwest quarter of section thirty-three, 80 acres. He lived here but a short time. Mr. Wagoner entered 160 acres in section thirty-five. This settlement was made on the Gulp place. He was a single man, and remained there for a short period. William W. Gallop entered the east half of the southwest quarter of section thirty-one, 80 acres. It is not known that he ever lived here. Jacob Dt ck entered 160 acres, the southwest quarter of section thirty-five, and was the first permanent settler in the township. As above stated, this was in 1820. John and Isaac, brothers of Jacob Deck, were also early settlers in the neighborhood. These families were all quite large, and a number of their descendants are yet living in the county and in the state.

Green W. Short, a native of Tennessee, came to Illinois in the fall of 1818, and located in the Wood river settlement, where he remained for two years, when he purchased the claim of Abram Sells, on section thirty-four of Fosterburg township, where he remained until his death. He had a family of seven children, only one of whom is now living - Perry W. Short - on the old homestead. He was born here in 1826.

James Dooling was another very early settler, a native of Ireland, and left his native country for America in April, 1818. He landed in New York city in July and came directly to this county, arriving at Edwardsville in the fall of 1818. In the spring of 1819 he moved with his fiimily, and settled in Greene county, where he remained until the spring of 1821, when he returned to Madison county, and purchased a small improvement of George Wood, in the northeast quarter of section thirty-four, in Fosterburg township. He soon afterward entered 80 acres adjoining his purchase. Mr. Dooling continued to reside here until his death, in 1845 He had a family of six children, four of whom are now living, viz : Edmund, Elizabeth, widow of Christopher Coyne, living in Alton ; Catharine, wife of John S. Titchenal, in Macoupin county ; and John, in Grundy county. Edmund Dooling was born in this township, Oct. 4, 1824, and has always lived on the old homestead. He is among the best citizens of the county, and haa held several offices of trust in his township, and was several times elected to represent Fosterburg in the board of supervisors.

Oliver Foster was a native of New Hampshire, and married a Massachusetts lady. They emigrated to Illinois, and settled at Alton iu January, 1819, and from there moved to this township iu 1825, making his home one mile north of the village of Fosterburg, iu section eleven. Mr. Foster entered the land upon which he located: It had been improved, however, by a squatter named Blackburn. The ruins of the log cabin, which had been partially destroyed by fire, could be seen for some time after their arrival. Mr. Foster remained on this place until his death in 1855. He had a family often children, all of whom lived to maturity, and five are yet living, viz: Oliver P., who resides in Fosterburg ; Alonzo, at New Douglas ; Aurora B., the wife of Jonathan L Woods, in Macoupin county ; James Monroe, in Macoupin ; and Ruse V., widow of Richard Jenkinsou. The township and town of Fosterburg are named after Oliver P. Foster.