Marion County, Illinois - The whole text, 1909 (part 5 of 27)

Level's Grove church was organized by William Chaffen sixty years ago. It was first known as Bee Branch, and built a small log house, which was set on fire by a forest fire and destroyed. The church then held meetings for a time in the Omega school house, and later built the present neat frame on the Omega road about a mile east of the original site. This church has grown in numbers and is one of the best country churches, quietly doing good. It maintains regular preaching.

Harvey's Point church, on the Salem and old Foxville road, was established about forty-five years ago by Elders Mulkey, James Snow and William C. Hill. This congregation built a large frame church on the spot where Captain Harvey was killed many years ago, hence the name, Harvey's Point. This congregation is now weak in point of numbers by reason of withdrawals of membership to unite with other congregations of

BRINKERHOFFS HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOISdisciples. The old house was torn down some years ago and a small, neat church built in its stead. Preaching is had part time.

The Christian church at Patoka was organized on the fourth Lord's day in May, 1875. by Elder Samuel Hawley, of Odin. Illinois. This church for five years after its organization dragged along seemingly without making much progress. On the fourth Lord's day in May, 1880, it was reorganized by Elder J. D. Morgan, of Odin. At this time the total membership was twenty-nine males and eleven females. From this time they began to grow. A Sunday school was organized, and in about 1882 a church building was erected, and in 1905 an addition was built, making it one of the neatest of the smaller churches in the county. The present membership is one hundred and ten. and regular preaching is maintained. A fine Sunday school is kept up. equipped with all necessary helps. Several of the members are acceptable speakers and every Sunday is meeting day with this church.

Odin Christian Church

On the first Sunday in March, 1878, James M. Hawley organized the Odin Christian church, with sixteen members, in Smith's Hall. In the fall of 1879 they built a neat frame church, thirty-two by fortyfour feet, at a cost of two thousand dollars, and on the first Lord's day in January the congregation occupied their new home. Many noted ministers have preached for this church, and during the last fifteen years regular preaching has been kept up. The last year the pulpit has been acceptably filled by Shorland Fannon, eldest son of Rev. F. O. Fannon, who, though young in the work, successfully led them to a better work. The church now numbers about one hundred and seventy members and is in good working condition, with an active Sunday school and a live Endeavor Society.

The Turkey Creek Christian church was organized in 1867, but has not progressed much, either in point of work or of membership. It is a country church and has preaching only occasionally.

Sandoval Christian church was first organized by Elder A. Martin, with a membership of forty, but for several years languished and almost died, but a faithful few held together, and about twenty years ago employed Elder Boyer to hold a meeting in which one hundred and seventeen additions to the church were received. The congregation immediately began to build and have /since been housed in a beautiful modern frame church home. They now number over two hundred and keep a resident minister.

Within the last twenty years churches have been organized and houses built at several points in the county. Twenty-one years ago a few brethren living in what is known as the Young neighborhood resolved to organize and build. Preaching had been held in the schoolhouse near for more than forty years, but no regularly organized body ex-

BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOISisted. In August, 1883, Elder Brinkerhoff laid the cornerstone, with appropriate remarks, and the present neat chapel, known as Young's Chapel, was built. Between Christmas and New Year, 1883, Elder ]. A. Williams held a short meeting and organized, with about twenty members. Elder Brinkerhoff was engaged to preach for them once each month, and held this relationship for six years. Elder Morgan, of Ashley, preached a while also for them, and they have steadily grown to number about eighty members. This church has been a great blessing to the community and is still active in the work.

About 1886 N. G. Huff, an elder of Old Mt. Moriah, but who lived about six or eight miles from his church home, prevailed on Elder Brinkerhoff to visit the Huff schoolhouse once a month and preach for the people. After a year of this work they resolved to organize and build a church. They were organized in the school-house in the spring and numbered forty-two members, mostly from Mt. Moriah and Harvey's Point churches. They immediately selected a site and built the Gaston Grove church. The last of August of the same year Elder Brinkerhoff held a ten days' meeting and added forty-two more, all by immersion, thus doubling the membership. This church has always prospered and is alive in all good works, and although it has lost at least fifty members by removals to Salem and elsewhere, it is still a strong country church, with one of the best Bible schools in the county.

Within the last few years churches have been built in Kell, in Donoho Prairie, at New Union and at Scutchfield Prairie, also at luka. Each is young and has but a small membership.

The Christian Church At Kinmundy

In 1900 the congregations at Centralia and , Salem loaned their pastors. Reverend Smart, and Reverend Rowe, to the little band of disciples at Kinmundy, to hold a meeting and organize a church. The result was so encouraging that a church was organized and the present beautiful brick church was built. From that time the church has been harmonious and constantly growing. Elder F. O. Fannon has for the last five years served them half time and has made it the leading factor in church work in Kinmundy, numbering about two hundred members.

This paper ought not close without a brief sketch of the one man whose labors for more than sixty years were largely the factors that made this grand result possible. We refer to that grand old soldier of the Cross, John A. Williams, who was born in Shelby county, Indiana, July 31, 1818, and came to Marion county, Illinois, at the age of sixteen. They settled near Walnut Hill and made a farm out of the timber land onehalf mile east of the village. Mr. Williams was converted at Mt. Moriah church and began to preach occasionally as early as 1846. He was ordained as a minister in 1850 and began immediately to preach the word regu- larly, often going on horseback from fifty to one hundred miles to all parts of Illinois, from Shelbyville to Cairo and from the Mississippi to the Wabash, planting the good seed everywhere. For more than sixty years he preached constantly. Mr. Williams was gifted with superb physical powers, being over six feet tall and of fine physique. His mental powers were far above the average and his sermons were clear, logical and convincing. His manner was winning and his knowledge of the Bible profound. He died at the home of his daughter at Sailors Springs, Illinois, November 4, 1907, and was buried at Salem after the body lying in state in the beautiful new church one day. The funeral sermon was by Elder Brinkerhoff. assisted by Elder Roseborough. After the sermon an opportunity was given any to speak, when from the immense congregation, gathered from many congregations of Southern Illinois, about twenty pronounced eulogies on the life of one they had loved so well. His funeral was one of the largest and most impressive ever held in Salem. Truly "his works live after him."

The Methodist Episcopal Church South

The Methodist Episcopal church South in Marion county was the outgrowth of political animosities engendered before and during the Civil war. Political intolerance split churches and even families into warring fragments. Many of the Methodist faith felt themselves aggrieved at the attitude of the church, among whom was Rev. J. W.

Wescott, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church. He withdrew from the Methodist Episcopal church and called a convention to meet at the court-house in Salem June 22, 1864. The following ministers were present at the meeting : J. W. Wescott, Thomas L. Middleton, William Findley, James B. Gray, Thomas Deeds and William Layson, and lay brethren, Thomas Borring, Arthur Foster, Thomas Smith, Charles Smith, James M. Charleton, John J. Holt, J. C. McConnell, Elijah Wernberly, Isaac Misenhammer, Mordecai Smith and a few others. This convention organized under the name of the Evangelical church. The first class was organized in Romine Prairie at the house of John J. Holt. Reverend Wescott was present and led the exercises. The second class was organized at Old Union. The third at Mount Zion church on North Fork, and the fourth at Harmony. The first council was held at Mt. Zion church in September, 1864. The council divided into districts. The Salem district embraced all the county except the Romine church, which was included in the Xenia district. As most of the members of Evangelical church had come out of the Methodist Episcopal church, they, in 1867, changed the name to Methodist and were received into the connection of the Methodist Eiscopal church, South, with all the privileges of the conferences, by Bishop David S. Daggett. Eighteen societies were organized in the county and for a time kept pace with other churches, but as the passions of men subside the necessity for sepi48

BRINKERHOFF'S HISTORY OF MARION COUNTY, ILLINOISaration of forces seems to be less apparent and the church today seems not to have the vigor of earlier times.

No mention of any Methodist Episcopal church can be found of record before the year 1830, although it is probable that preachers of that denomination had now and then preached to the people in passing through, but in that year the Grand Prairie Mission was formed, taking all the territory between the Wabash and the Kaskaskia rivers, and all Illinois south of Vandalia to Maysville, except that part embraced in the Mt. Vernon circuit, which covered a small portion of the south part of Marion county. In 1830 Simeon Walker was sent to this mission field and preached the first sermon by a Methodist minister ever preached in Salem. In 1831 he organized the first Methodist church in the county at the home of a Mrs. Jones. At this time S. H. Thompson was the presiding elder. In 1832 Phillip T. Corder took the work at this point and the next year James Graham was sent and the name changed to Salem mission. These men not only preached at Salem, but at Sandy Branch, Walnut Hill and Fosterburg, then flourishing, but now decayed and gone. James Harsha was the next circuit rider and as there was no church-house he preached like his predecessors in private houses. Phillip Moore succeeded Harsha in 1835, and in time was succeeded by Justice R. Ryman, with James H. Dickens as his colleague. Salem was then a village of about fifteen families and the Methodist Episcopal church at this place was at a low ebb, but the old log court-house was bought and for many years this was the only church on the circuit. This year witnessed an increase of about two hundred in the entire circuit, about twenty of whom were to the Salem body. The old court-house was used until 1850, when Isaac Groves was sent to the circuit and the first Methodist Episcopal church house was built. It was a frame and stood where the new Episcopal church now stands on West Main street. It was dedicated by James Leaton, and was used until 1865, when it was removed to make room for the new church, which was commenced that year. The first Methodist Episcopal Sunday school was organized in 1850 in the new frame church. In 1851 the Walnut Hill circuit was formed, embracing the south part of the county. In 1856 conference was held in Salem and Salem was made a station, with Rev. Thomas A. Eaton in charge. During this year a protracted meeting was held, at which one hundred conversions were reported. In 1858 T. F. Houts, who had left the law for the ministry, was in charge. In 1865 Rev. Joseph Harris was pastor, and to his zeal and energy is largely due the removal of the old frame church and the building of a large new brick church, which was used until 1906, when it was torn down, the lot sold and the erection of the splendid new stone-faced church, on land purchased just north of and facing the court-house square. During the two years of the building the Rev. J. G. Tucker, in charge, was the head and fount of the enterprise. It stands a monument of beauty and will last for generations. It cost about thirty thousand dollars.

no Methodist preaching until after the formation of Walnut Hill Circuit, and probably not earlier than 1854, when the church at Centralia was organized, and was a part of the Walnut Hill circuit. The first house of worship was in what is now called South Town and was a small frame building. It was afterward moved to South Poplar street and used until 1865, when it was sold and a good brick house erected on the corner of Broadway and Elm streets. This building cost about six thousand dollars, and at that time was the best church house in the county. In 1901 the quarterly conference1 appointed a committee to build a new church and were empowered to sell the old one. The old church was sold in 1903 and on July 28, 1903, a contract was entered into with S. Legried, a Centralia contractor, for the erection of a new building at a cost 01 about thirty thousand dollars. It is a beautiful structure of mottled brick trimmed with Bedford stone, and handsomely finished inside, with Sunday school rooms and all conveniences. The congregation is large and composed of many influential people. The building was dedicated in 1904.

Methodist Episcopal At Kixmundy

In the summer of 1858 a local minister of Salem preached a few sermons at Kinmundy. James Woollard was the first regular pastor, and he was followed by G. W. Waggoner, and he by John Thatcher, all acceptable preachers. The first class was formed during the pastorate of Woollard and consisted of nine members, four males and five females. It may be of interest to know who they were, so we give their names: Waller Hensley and wife, Samuel Lawrence and wife, George Marsland and wife, Malinda Sprouse and William Blurton. The Kinmundy circuit was formed in 1863 and P. P. Hamilton was the preacher, and by his efforts the frame meeting-house was built, which was torn down about four years ago to make room for the present beautiful structure. The first church was dedicated by T. F. Houts. Elias Neil was the first superintendent of the Sunday school, which was organized in 1862. From that time until the present the church has had a steady growth and now numbers about two hundred communicants. The new church cost about ten thousand dollars, and is an ornament to the city as well as a monument to the zeal and liberality of the members.

Odin and Sandoval were for many years one charge, and in each place is a neat church building, and at each place there is at present a congregation of over one hundred members, but no important information that is reliable is obtainable.

Patoka circuit, formerly called Fosterburg circuit, was cut off from the Salem circuit. Originally five neat chapels were on this circuit and all still exist. In some places, however, preaching is had only occasionally and the buildings are not all properly kept up, but in all Sunday schools are maintained. In the village of Patoka there is a good church building and regular services held. The circuit is in fairly prosperous condition.

There is a good parsonage at Patoka and in former years this circuit maintained one of the best camp meeting grounds in the county, but of late years the camp meeting has disappeared as the necessity has disappeared for their use. Fosterburg is no more, but the Patoka circuit is active and doing a great work in its particular field.

The luka circuit is the remainder of the original Salem circuit. It has four appointments and they are all supplied from luka. They maintain four church houses and four Sunday schools. The membership of this circuit is about three hundred and fifty.

There is at present in the county about twenty-two church buildings, valued at about two hundred thousand dollars, and a membership of about twenty-two hundred (estimated). The circuit rider, who in an earlier day braved all danger that he might carry his message of peace and love, is only now a name. No more in this county is he to be seen with saddlebag and Bible journeying from appointment to appointment, heeding not the summer's heat, nor the winter's cold, but now the preacher comes to his appointment with horse and buggy, preaches and drives home again. The old way has given place to the new; may the new prove as effective as the old.

Presbyterian Church

The Presbyerian church never was strong in this county, only a few congregations existing until the union a few years ago. One at Kinmundy, one at Salem that was dissolved twenty years ago, one at Centralia and later one near or at Foxville are all, so far as we have been able to find, and no data is at hand as to their history.

Episcopal Church

There are a few Episcopal churches in Marion county. One at Centralia, St. John's Parish, was organized October 31, 1858. Bishop Seymour, of the Springfield diocese, visited the parish as early as 1878 and confirmed a class of nine. This church, never large, has, however, continued to exercise all its duties and functions to the present time.

Salem church was organized about five years ago and is known as St. Thomas mission. It is supplied by a rector from Carlyle. This mission has just completed a beautiful though small stone church on Main street on the lot where the Methodist Episcopal church stood.

Catholic Church

The Centralia church is quite strong and has a large, beautiful church building and school and parsonage. A priest is located here and the church is in a flourishing condition.

Kinmundy, Patoka and Salem have but small buildings and only a few adherents. They have services by priests from other charges once a month.

Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Marion county belonged to the Illinois Presbytery and the first preaching was done by Jonathan Brittain. It was preached in the house of Abner Stewart about 1830. David Campbell followed in 1833 and preached in the barroom of Ricker's Hotel in Salem. These two men preached for several years in the county, but the man who organized nearly all the Cumberland Presbyterian churches was Rev. William Finley. The first church organized was at the house of James Eagan, September 7, 1840, by Wlliam Finley. It was called Mt. Carmel, afterward Kinmundy. In 1842 they established a camp meeting grounds near Kinmundy known as Mt. Carmel camp ground, and out of the meetings held there grew most of the congregations of the county-

Good Hope church at Omega was organized by William Finley November 9, 1844, and the same year Bethel was organized and the Metcalf or Old Bethel camp ground was long a noted point in church history.

The Salem church was also organized by William Finley in 1846. This congregation, largely through the efforts of Mr. Finley, built the first house of worship of the church in the county. This church grew rapidly and was the strongest congregation of Cumberland Presbyterians in the county, and in 1901 built a beautiful brick church, the first of the beautiful churches in Salem to be erected. A congregation was organized at Patoka and one at Vernon. Neither was ever strong.

In 1905 the congregation at Salem, and as far as we know, all in the county, voted to unite with the Presbyterian church and drop the name Cumberland. The Old Bethel church built a beautiful new church two or three miles north of the old one and virtually now has two houses, although they are two congregations.

To the Baptists belong the honor of having the first preaching in the county and they were also the first to organize and build a house of worship (Mt. Moriah, now Christian, in Raccoon township). The various kinds or classes of Baptists somewhat confuse, as the earlier records often do not say just what branch of the church ;s meant. Of the eighteen Baptist churches that have been organized in this county, Bethel, Union, Marshall Creek. First Salem, Zion Hill and Patoka are connected with what was known as the Vandalia, and sometimes Centralia. Association, while Harmony, First Centralia and Odin were in the Louisville Association. Pleasant Grove, Bethel and Zion were in the Salem Association, while the Second Centralia and Second Salem were in the Mt. Olive Association. The last two are colored churches and the Salem church has disappeared.

Bethel Baptist church is the oldest Missionary Baptist church in the county. Rev. J. M. Peck and James and Moses Lemen organized this church at the house of Colonel Jolliff in May- 1832, with fourteen members. Rev. Samuel Shook was the first preacher in charge. I. Anderick was the clerk and James Joliff, who had organized the Sunday school two or three years before, was made deacon. After some years the congregation moved the house from Central City to the country, about half way from Odin to Centralia, where the organization is still kept up, although the membership is not large. This church . has preaching still and has sent out to other fields many workers in the harvest.

The Union church was organized about 1834. This church never built a church home, but held services in a school-house north of Sandoval in Carrigan township. No reliable information of the formation of this church can be obtained and the organization is virtually abandoned.

Marshall Creek Baptist church, located seven or eight miles northwest from Salem, was organized about 1835. John Wright, who was visiting here, obtained the consent of Revs. Arnot and Boyakin to hold a meeting here, and Morgan Nichols and wife, although not church members, opened their little log house to hold the services in. A meeting lasting about sixteen days was held and an organization formed by Rev. Nathan Arnot. This church continued to grow and is now in good condition, both as to numbers and spiritually. They have a very

First Baptist church in Salem was organized in the old log court-house by Revs. Arnot and Boyakin. After years in the old court-house they moved to a new brick church, the first brick building in the county. The lot was owned by Mr. Lester, who had bought the Ricker property: He offered a lot to the first Baptist minister who would settle in Salem, and Rev. Boyakin received it. Mr. Boyakin was one of a committee to locate a female seminary. Miss Rand offered five hundred. dollars for this purpose, and it was located at Salem. The church property was deeded to the seminary trustees in 1841. Elder Boyakin held a meeting in this building about this time and nine of the seminary young ladies Were added to the church. The church continued to worship in this building until it was destroyed by a storm in 1844. From this time until 1858 the Baptists worshiped mostly in the Cumberland Presbyterian church, until 1858, when they built a frame church on the old church lot. (This lot is in the east part of town two blocks south of Main street and two east of Broadway.) This frame was burned on the night of January 28, 1865, from an over-heated stove. The Christian church, the hall of the Southern Female College and the Circuit Court room were tendered the congregation as a place of worship. On the 26th of March, 1870, the congregation resolved to build again, and on October 21, 1871. services were held in the new building, but the church was not dedicated until the fourth Sunday in September following-. G. J. Johnson, D. D., of St. Louis, delivering the sermon. Judge Silas L. Bryan was long a member of this church and by his death in 1880 the church suffered a great loss, both from a financial and spiritual' point of view, as he was a most devout man and truly a God-fearing Christian. To this church belongs the honor of instituting the first Sunday school in 1832. Reverend Peck organized the school and donated a number of books from the Baptist Publication Society as a nucleus for a library. From 1843 to 1858, while without a church of their own, the Baptists united with the Methodists and Presbyterians in a union school, but from the time the new church was built to the present they have maintained a school of their own. This church has suffered loss by wind and fire and the loss of many members, who moved farther west, yet it has kept the faith and bravely struggled on, and now, with greater Salem, have come new members, bringing new cheer and the promise of a brighter day.

Pleasant Grove church, situated about a mile east of where Foxville was, is one of the old churches of the county, and one of the stronger ones among the country churches. It was established in 1840 and has built two log and two frame houses, each an improvement on its predecessor. It is an active, zealous church and is keeping pace with the growth of the community in which it is located.

it virtually was out of existence, but was reorganized in 1864 by I. S. Mahan, who was appointed by the Baptist Home Missionary Society for that purpose. A three thousand dollar house was built and the church soon became the strongest in Centralia, but in 1873 the pastor resigned and for fifteen months the church had no preacher and the church scattered until it was the weakest. In March. 1874. a minister was again employed, and from that time to this the church has not ceased to grow. The old church building has been replaced by a handsome modern brick and is today one of the strongest and best Baptist churches in Southern Illinois.

The Bethlehem church, generally known as the "Nation," was organized in 1867. It, too, like Zion Hill, is a country church that has kept up its organization and worship, and while not large in point of numbers, the congregation is faithful and zealous.

A Baptist church was organized in Patoka in 1867 and struggled along until in the eighties without a house of worship, which greatly retarded their growth. After the building of their church they began to grow, and now have a good congregation.

Bethel church, five miles east of Foxville, like Zion Hill and Bethlehem, is a country church and keeps up its services. Its membership is quite large and they have preaching regularly.

The Second church of Centralia is also a colored church, and since its organization in April, 1867, has been varied in its experiences. It is still in existence and doing a good work among the colored people of the city.

The Old School, or Primitive, Baptists have five congregations in the county. Liberty, five miles northwest from Kinmundy, is probably the oldest. Summit Prairie, five miles north of Salem ; Turkey Creek, two miles south of Odin; North Fork, three miles west of Patoka, and Pleasant Grove, five miles south of Salem. None of these churches are strong in numbers and some of them have only occasional preaching, while others have regular preaching once a month, and all are connected with the little Wabash Association.

NOTE - The Reverend Boyakin mentioned in these notes died in the early fall of 1908, at the age of one hundred years and a few months. During the summer of 1908 he journeyed from Kansas, where he had lived many years, to Illinois, where he delivered an address before a meeting of Baptists in the central part of the state. On July 4th he delivered an oration at his home in Kansas. This remarkable man was one of the gifted Boyakins of this county, who are remembered by the older citizens.

Haines township, the southern township of the third tier from the west and numbered town i, range 3 east of the third principal meridian, was named for Edmond Haines, who was one of its earliest settlers. Originally it was mostly timber, but much of it has been cleared up and is cultivated farm land. The extreme western part is the watershed between the Wabash and Kaskaskia rivers. It is a high prairie ridge extending in the general directions north and south. This prairie is called Romine Prairie, after the first settler, Abram Romine. This township was a favorite game country. John Boucher settled in the township as early as 1815, and built a mill. This is the same Boucher who creased the horse as told in the county section. James McDaniel and Jeptha Mount settled in the south part of the township and Green De Priest in the north part from 1818 to 1820. In 1824 David Fulton came from Tennessee and settled on section 2. He was ninetyfour years old when he died in 1877. William Hill, with a company of about thirty, moved from South Carolina in 1808 and settled in Randolph county, and in 1825 came to Marion county and settled in

Haines township. He was a soldier in the War of 1812 and in the Black Hawk war. He was married to Jane Hill, his second cousin, in 1819, and they lived together over sixty years. His children, James, Samuel, William and Robert, all now dead, were all honored citizens of this township. His son, James McD. Hill, was born on section 2 in 1827, and lived and died within a half mile of the same spot. He died about ten or twelve years ago and his son, W. D. "Pete" Hill, lives on the same farm.

Mary Wilkins and her husband settled in this township in 1829. She lived to be about one hundred and two years old, and died never having seen a railroad or a train of cars. She left numerous descendants, many of whom still live in this township. She died in 1882 or 1883.

Ruber Chance was an early settler, but the exact date of his locating here is not known, but it was in the twenties. Jeremiah Fields came about 1830 and Millington 'Easley and Thomas Williams settled in 1827, and about the same year Durham Tracy came to the township. He was a very prominent man in the affairs of the county, and was County Judge several terms. He was a very intelligent man, fairly educated and well liked by his neighbors. In 1829 Isaac Charlton came by wagon and settled in the north side of the township. He died in 1875. Joseph Stonecipher and wife with ten children came from Tennessee in 1834. He settled on section 22 and was the founder of the numerous Stonecipher family in this county.

The next year Joseph Wham came from Tennessee in a wagon he himself had made, and drawn by a couple of yoke of oxen, and settled in section 5. He and three of his sons served in the Mexican war and all lived to return. Robert McM. Wham was the last surviving son. He died about four years ago. Benjamin died soon after his return from Mexico from disease contracted in the service. John Blackburn came to Marion county in 1833. He had a family of eleven children and his descendants are about two hundred in this and neighboring counties. John Storment came in 1836 and Jarett Purdue in 1838. He was born in Tennessee in 1799 and died in 1874, and his family consisted of himself, wife and eight children. They came in two ox-carts. The family is now numerous and stand high in their township. James Telford settled in 1836 on section 19 and William Beasley on section 23 in 1839.

The first sermon preached in the township was by John Benson. The early preachers were David R. Chance and William Chaffin, Christian; Reverend Pritchet, Baptist; W. F. Boyakin, Missionary Baptist. There are now several churches in the township.

Doctor Middleton was the first practicing physician. David Fulton, the first wheelright, Thomas Cahorn the first school teacher. He was from Philadelphia and taught in log school-houses in 1827. The first grave yard was in section 2 and is known as the Fulton graveyard. The Wham graveyard was laid out in 1841 by Joseph Wham and Mrs. Wham was the first buried there.

Old Foxville was for many years the only "town" in Haines. Fox (S. M.) Haines laid it out and hence called it Foxtown. The first house was built in 1867 and the first store was opened in 1868 by John Palmer. It was a post-office and it is said the name selected was Romine City. James Martin was in Congress and when the name was to be given Martin had forgotten, but he knew "Fox" Haines well and called the office after him, Foxville. Since building the C. &

E. I. Railroad a dozen years ago, Cartter, near the north side of the township, and Kell, near the south line, have grown on the line of the road and Foxville is a memory only. Cartter is but a small village of two stores and a shop or two and a dozen houses. Kell is a thriving little town of three or four hundred people and is a good business point. It has several stores, a bank, shops and three churches, and is growing steadily.

Foster township is the northernmost of the second tier of townships, east of the west line of the county. Its survey numbers are town 4, range 2. This township is drained by both the north fork and the east fork of the Kaskaskia and many tributary creeks. The first settler in the township was Hardy Foster, after whom the township was named. He was born in Georgia, but had moved to St. Clair county, Illinois, in 1814. and in 1823 came to this county and settled on section 17. In 1831 he moved to the northwest corner of the township and made improvements en section 8. He built a stage stand about halfway between Salem and Vandalia on the road connecting the two places and kept the stand many years. In 1833 a post-office was established and he was made postmaster and held the office at the time of his death in 1863, or thirtv years. He was prominent in the early affairs of the county; was a Justice of the Peace many terms and a member of the Legislature one term. He put up the first horse mill in the township in 1833. This mill was operated until 1850.

The next settler in the township was a widow Jones, who with her family of four children, all about grown, came to the township in 1826. Her sons were Eli W., Joseph A., and Samuel B. Her daughter soon after they settled here married J. F. Holt, son of Harmon Holt, the first settler of Patoka township. This was the first marriage in the two townships. The Jones family was very numerous in this township many years, but is now somewhat scattered, although a good representation still remain.

The first teacher, Thomas Moon, came from New York and settled on section 16. The school-house stood near his cabin on the same section. He died about thirty-five years ago, in Missouri.

In 1836 Mark Cole, Jonathan Green and the Doolens, Jesse and Daniel, settled near the north fork. They each improved farms and raised families and their descendants are still residents of this and adjoining townships. Ross Jones came from Salem to this township about 1836. M. Smith settled in this township in 1831, and died on the farm he settled, near the north fork, some years ago. John Arnold, the founder of the numerous Arnold family, came from Georgia in 1844, and settled near the township line, between Foster and Kinmundy. He put up a horse mill and run it many years. He lived to be very old and died about twenty years ago.

The first death in the township was that of Elizabeth Morris, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Morris. She was buried in a box made of puncheons, split out of logs and dressed, and made into a rude coffin by the neighbors. She was buried on the old Hardy Foster place in 1827.

On March 6, 1854, Fosterburg was laid out by Hardy Foster. William Doolen built a house and put in a stock of general merchandise the same year. The year before, Samuel B. Jones, William Eagan and A. H. Foster had put up a saw-mill, which they run many years. William Ritter and James Arnold afterward built another mill, near the same place. Daniel McConnel, S. B. Jones, Thomas S. Jones and J. W. Arnold were the store keepers. At one time Fosterburg was one of the most promising towns in the county. It had three stores, a blacksmith and wagon shop, a mill, Methodist Episcopal church, physician, Dr. William While, and was a post town. Now nothing remains of this village. The town house since built is all that exists of Fosterburg.

"Foster township was named for Hardy Foster, who was a member of the Legislature, County Judge, and a prominent man in general. Old Fosterburg was laid out and named for him. This old village is now but a memory, but it was once the center of a great tract of country. Here was the "manse" of the Methodist circuit rider; here dwelt the Justice; here was the singing school, the spelling school, prayer meeting, preaching and all things social. On the common, now covered by an orchard, men as raw volunteers were marched and counter-marched by Captains Waddell and John Foster, and by William Crowder, once a colonel of Tennessee militia. The site of Hardy Foster's house which was a log one of a story and a half and which after being torn down and rebuilt is now doing duty as a bam, is occupied by the residence of his son, Harmon Foster. I have seen many men who when young hauled grain and drove turkeys to St. Louis and Belleville from this place.

"On North Fork creek about eighty yards from the bank and a half mile of Patoka and Foster town line can be found the faint outlines of an old well, dug about the year 1818. Where the house stood can yet be seen. In plowing over the spot last spring I found many pieces of dishes of the blue flowered style. This was the residence of Mrs. Mary Jones, grandmother of Fountain, M. L. and E. W. Jones, and from whom all of the name of Jones in our township descended. She was born March i, 1771. and died Christmas day of 1847. I have seen two of her sons, and in tracing lines of descent of different families I find that she is the ancestor of nearly all in Foster township. She is buried at Sandy Branch I have seen her grave; it is well kept and well marked. Within a few rods of this old house site an Indian trail crossed the creek. It is yet very distinct in as many as three different places in the course of a mile. It lies in a southwest direction and passed very near the Doojen school-house. Northeast of the school-house about threefourths of a mile is a stone of considerable size, hollowed out basin-like, where the Indians made meal. I have seen many persons who played around this old Indian mill. I myself have searched for it. It is in a small tract of woodland; it is supposed the creek (Bear creek) changed its course and buried it. It is more than likely the trail led by this spot. The early settlers of this township were southerners; Foster, Holt, Mrs. Jones, Arnold, all originally from Georgia. Foster and Holt both married daughters of Mrs. Jones. At the present time no less than nineteen grandchildren of this woman are living. Later came others from Kentucky and Tennessee.

Tonti township was najned from the Chevalier De Tonti, a contemporary of Jolborders and is crossed in the southeast corner by the Chicago branch of the Illinois iet, and was one of the early French ex- Central Railroad, having one station, Tonti, plorers of Illinois. It is north of Salem a hamlet of four or five houses, a store, a

William Pursley, who settled on section 14 in 1820, but did not enter any land until 1823, in which year he entered the west half of the northwest quarter of section 14. He deeded the land to his wife, who was Miss Lydia Little. She was the heroine of the rescue of Thomas Higgins in his desperate encounter with the Indians. The following is an account of the fight as given by Governor Reynolds in his pioneer history of Illinois:

"Thomas Higgins was born in Barren county, Kentucky, in 1790. He came to Illinois with his relatives in 1807, and located on Silver creek, near the Bradsley's. He received a very limited education, as his parents were in humble circumstances, and he himself was not much in love with a school-house. He possessed a good mind, but would, in defiance of danger or anything else, employ himself in harmless mischief, yet he was as brave a man as ever existed. He was in his manhood, very strong, muscular and active. He was not so very tall, but compactly formed for great strength and activity. During the whole War of 1812 he was actively engaged on the frontiers in defending the settlements. I personally knew him to be a member of the company commanded by Capt. William B. Whitesides, in most of the war. In 1814 he joined another company and was one of the party under command of Lieut. John Journey at Hillsfort, situated six or eight miles southwest of the present town of Greenville in Bond county. Journey had eleven men in his corps, and on the 2Oth of

August, 1814, Indian signs were discovered near the fort, and next morning at daybreak, Journey and party mounted and went out to reconnoitre the country. They had not marched far before they entered an ambuscade of a large party of Indians. The warriors fired on them and Journey and three of his men were killed instantly, William Burges and John Boucher wounded, Boucher slightly. The horse of Higgins was shot in the neck and fell to the ground, but soon rose again. Higgins remained a moment "to get a pull at them," as he said. He took deliberate aim at an Indian and shot him dead. He then mounted his horse and was about to return to the fort, when a familiar voice hailed him from the grass, and said, "Tom, you won't leave me?" Higgins hollowed out to him to "come on." "I can't, my leg is smashed to pieces," answered Burges. Higgins dismounted instantly and was getting the wounded man on his horse, but the horse scared and ran off. Higgins told Burges to limp off on three legs and he would protect him. Burges crawled off through the grass and saved himself, while Higgins was left behind to fight the most bloody and terrible battle that ever the same number of men - three Indians and one white man - were engaged in. Higgins had loaded his gun, as soon as he had killed the Indian, and was ready for the enemy again, but all at once three Indians made their appearance near him. He saw a small ravine close to him and ran for it, so he could defend himself against so many Indians. While he was running, he disi6o covered for the first time that his leg failed him; he was wounded at the first fire but did not know it at the time. One of the Indians was a very large and stout man - as large as Higgins. The others were small and not so courageous as the large one. Higgins was satisfied he must receive the fire of the large Indian, and attempted to dodge it, but the bullet lodged in his thigh, and he fell, but rose instantly. By this time the other two had also fired at him, and both balls hit him. He fell, badly wounded, but soon again was on his feet, with his loaded gun in his hand. The Indians threw down their guns as they had not time to load them again and rushed, whooping and yelling on Higgins, with their spears, tomahawks and knives. When they advanced near him, he presented his gun at them and that kept them off a while. Higgins often told me that the large Indian was as brave as a lion, he could not daunt him or intimidate him in the least, but when the two small ones came near him they quailed under his furious looks. They could not look him in the face, "but the large Indian could look the devil in the face," as Higgins expressed it. The bold Indian was rushing on him, and he shot him dead. It is supposed that the large Indian did not believe Higgins's gun loaded, or he would not have rushed on certain death. The Indian had a great soldier (Higgins) to contend with. When the other Indians saw their main man killed, it made them more fierce. They raised the war whoop louder and rushed with greater vigor on poor wounded Higgins, who had in his body four Indian balls, and had lost much blood, was weak and almost exhausted, had an empty gun and no other weapon. He was near many Indian warriors besides the two pressing on him, who were armed with spears, tomahawks and knives, and were strong, having lost no blood, nor were they wounded as Higgins was. They gave Higgins many flesh wounds, as his shirt and body were literally cut to pieces. One of the Indians threw a tomahawk at him, cutting his ear nearly off, and laid the bone of his head and side of his neck entirely bare. This blow knocked him down, and when they rushed on him with their spears, he kicked them off. When one of the Indians presented his spear at the breast of Higgins, while he was stretched on the ground, he caught the spear and the Indian pulling it, raise Higgins up by it. Then it was that he took his gun and literally knocked the brains, out of one of the Indians. This blow broke the skull of the Indian and likewise Higgins's gun. It was shattered to pieces, and the barrel was bent. Then he had 'but one Indian to fight, but he was nearly exhausted. During most of this fight, it was in sight of the fort, and a woman - a Mrs. Pursley, became excited, and said she could not stand to see so brave a man as Higgins murdered by the Indians. She mounted her husband's horse, and started to his rescue. The men in the fort could not see a woman go alone and followed her. As soon as the Indian fighting Higgins saw the rangers coming, he fled. They found Higgins prostrated on the ground,

Governor Reynolds states that Higgins never fully recovered and that he received a pension to the full amount of the law. Such a woman was the first white woman to live in Tonti township. Some of her descendants still live in this county. In 1823 William Marshall settled in the east part of Tonti township. He was a farmer, teacher, Justice of the Peace and a fiddler. It is told of him that he would walk to the home of a bride-to-be, perform the marriage ceremony, and then take his fiddle, play all night for the wedding dance and often the fee was not more than "two bits." Marshall was the first County Surveyor. In 1838 he moved to near what is now Fairman in Carrigan township, where he died. John Eddington also came to Tonti in 1823. William Nichols also settled in the northwest part of the township in 1823. He owned one slave and moved to Missouri in 1826. William Marshall bought his place, which afterward was owned by John S. Martin, who was -an enterprising, intelligent man of considerable means and who owned at his death about two thousand acres of land in the neighborhood of this farm. The Nichols land is still in the Martin family. John S. Martin was the father of Gen. James S. Martin, who commanded the One Hundred and Eleventh Illinois Infantry in the Civil war. John S. Martin died at Alma in 1865. Thomas Allmon came from Tennessee in 1827. He was the founder of the Allmon family in this county and from him is den rived the name of the Allmon peach, noted in this county, as one of the most perfect of cling peaches. John Davidson was a settler in 1828 and lived in this and Carrigan township many years. Robert Nichols improved a farm in this township in 1823 and lived on it until he died in 1836. He was the eldest of eighteen children, several of whom lived in this county.

Britton Smith came to Tonti in 1827. When he came to the township, there were only seven families in the township, he making the eighth. They were the Widow Pursley, a sketch of whom is given above, William Marshall, Thomas Allmon. John Eddingten, Ross Jones, John Davidson and Robert Nichols. Mordecai and Britton Smith came to Salem in 1829 and their father, Abraham Smith, followed them to Marion county in 1831 and settled in Tonti township, where he died in 1854. Britton was a stage driver on the Vincennes and St. Louis route a long time. He afterward married and settled on section 5. where he died. Israel Jennings moved from Walnut Hill and settled on section 31 about 1831.

James Black, of whom mention is made in the county section, settled on section 17, in 1831. He raised a family of ten childern and the Blacks and their descendants are allied to many of the best families in the county. Charles Purcell came from Tennessee in 1832 and settled on land in section 2. He died here in 1846. He raised a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, one of the sons, Thomas, still

J. D. Gray, a Methodist minister located on section 17 in 1840 and was the first minister settled in the township. Lemuel Ballance came in 1836 and was the founder of the Ballance family of this township of whom there are but few left. Gen. Josiah Woodward came from Ohio in 1840 and settled in Tonti, but afterward went back to Ohio. His son, Charles, who died a couple of years ago, lived on the place until about 1902 or 1903. William Woodward, of Salem, and Jay Woodward, of Tonti, are the grandsons of General Woodward.

The first school-house was a log, structure built in the heavy timber on section 10. William Marshall was the first teacher. The Baptists built the first church near the school house quite early in the forties. It was of logs and was long since replaced by a neat frame church known as Fredonia. Cubbage Chapel, a neat frame church, was built afterward on the Fredonia road by the Methodist people. Both have good membership and have exercised a wholesome influence. Moriah church is also in this township and has exerted a good influence in its neighborhood. It also is a Methodist church, but when not in use like the others is open to any respectable minister.

The Borden farm in this township is one of the notable things of the county. Mr. WT. L. Borden, son of Gail Borden of condensed milk fame and a successor to his father in the business, purchased a tract of about one thousand acres of land and improved it with fine buildings as a sort of summer home. Here he built dwellings for himself and for his help;,built barns, mills, poultry houses, carriage houses, etc., so that approaching one thinks he is surely coming to a village. Mr. Borden spent over one hundred thousand dollars beautifying the Borden farm and as he once said to the writer, "just for the satisfaction of having a place where he could retire for a few months each year and rest and be free from business cares. The place is .still kept up by his heir.

During the building of the Illinois Central Railroad through this township, a sensation was caused by finding, the dead body of a man hid in a shock of fodder, by a farmer. The circumstances were these : During the winter the farmer had occasion to haul out fodder to feed his stock. Approaching a shock of fodder he observed a pair of boots sticking out from under the shock and thought some one had hidden them there and was congratulating himself upon finding a good pair of boots. Imagine his horror upon pulling them out of the fodder to find the dead body of a laborer. The dead man was supposed to have been killed by other laborers on the railroad and hidden in the fodder. The mystery was never cleared up.

The first settler in Salem township was also the first settler in the county, as has been related in the sketch of the county. His name was Capt. Samuel Young, and from him is derived the numerous families of Youngs in this part of the county. He was a widower when he came to the county and had a large family. James Young was his eldest son, and was a married man, and soon the old man turned over to him the cares of the farm, while Captain Samuel put in his time hunting and fishing, and in other backwoods occupations. He was an original character and like all backwoods men, he had a strong aversion to anything that smacked of style, which in his later years, was sometimes seen in the travelers on the highway from Vincennes to St. Louis. It is related of him that being in Salem one day he saw a couple of young men who offended his sense of taste by their slighting remarks. They were easterners who were going to St. Louis. Young hastened home and getting his gun watched for the youths and as they arrived about where Ike Shanafelt's house now stands, confronted them with his gun and made them dismount and dance a hornpipe for the amusement of the backwoods man, which he made them keep up until well-nigh exhausted, when he permitted them to proceed on their way, while the old man went chuckling home, but he who laughs last laughs best, and the old man was not done with dancing. The youths on arriving at Carlyle related the circumstance and learning of the intention of a couple of travelers to journey to Vincennes, prevailed on them to pay the old man in his own coin, which they did by watching for him, and at the muzzle of a pistol made the old man give a half-hour exhibition dance in the middle of the road and then rode away leaving the old man in doubt as to who had the best of it.

The history of Salem is largely the history of the county for the first few years, so far as civil history goes. The township was about half timber and half prairie, but now is largely cleared and in cultivation. The main watercourse is Crooked creek, which flows southwest across the township from section 24 to 31. The Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad runs about two miles south of the north line of the township, and nearly parallel to it, while the old Vincennes road parallels the railroad, about a half mile north. The C. & E. I. Railroad enters the township at the northeast corner, bends to the west about one mile to the city of Salem, and then bends to the east, passing out of the township near the southeast corner of section 24.

The Illinois Southern enters the township on the west near the southwest corner and runs to the city of Salem, its northern terminus. The Chicago branch of the Illinois Central crosses the northwest corner of the township, but has no station in Salem township, but Tonti in Tonti township is only three miles from the city of Salem, and gives good shipping facilities, by that road. It is said that a narrow policy held to by the citizens of Salem when the road was being built prevented the Central coming to Salem. If such was the policy of the fathers it is certainly not of the sons for when the C. P. & M. was projected, Salem citizens gave eleven thousand dollars cash and. the right of way through the township as an inducement to deflect from a straight line, so as to touch Salem, and they also gave the right of way to the Illinois Southern, when it was extended from Centralia.

The next comers after Young and his sons-in-law Snodgrass and Piles, did not settle in this township for some years. James Roberts was the first; he came from Indiana in 1819. He brought his wife and four children, two sons, Jesse and William, and two daughters, both married, one Mrs. John Walker, the other Mrs. William Frost. This family made the second settlement and Roberts having selected section n, began improvements, where the city of Salem now stands, thus increasing the population by eight adults. Roberts sold his holdings to Rufus Ricker and Mark Tulley in 1824 and moved back to Indiana with his entire family. Mark Tully, who came to the township in 1821, was the second son of an Irish emigrant and wife and was born near Harpers Ferry, Virginia, then went to Tennessee, thence to Indiana and from there to Illinois in 1821. He first settled about three miles west of Salem, in the neighborhood of the Youngs. He brought his wife and four children of his own and two step-children, having married ,a widow. Nine more children were born to them after coming to this county, one of whom is still living in Salem, and is well known to almost every citizen of the county, who has been here anytime. \Ve refer to Mr. Ander Tully, Esq., and from him we get most of the facts pertaining to the family. Mr. Tully soon after his settlement moved to a place north of Salem and in 1824 in partnership with Rufus Ricker bought out James Roberts and confirmed the deed of gift of thirty acres of land made by Roberts to the county in 1823, in consideration of the county seat being located on his land. Ricker and Tully and their wives signed the deed in 1826, Mrs. Tully signing by mark as Suckey Tully-

The Tully family by their number unites in strains of blood more or less closely most of the old families of Salem, among whom are the Hulls, the Bryans and the Ogles, and through their children, many others. Mr. Tully was a man of fine character and was endowed with the clear brain and kind heart of his Irish forefathers. He was the first Sheriff of the county and for many years was one of the guiding spirits of the destinies of the new county. He was left the second of five children when quite young to the care of his mother, made a widow by the unprovoked murder of his father. The story as I have it from Mr. Ander Tully is as follows : west of what is now Harper's Ferry. They possessed but little of this world's goods, but with cheerful bravery proceeded to wrest fortune from the hand of destiny. Mr. Tully was employed as a teamster for the proprietor of a store, a day's journey from the ferry, and was accustomed to take trips lasting three or four weeks with a five horse team and an immense freight wagon, there being no other way to transport produce from or goods to the country store of his employer. On these trips Mr. Tully would camp by the wayside to feed and cook meals or pass the night, often not seeing a person for days unless chancing to meet a traveler like himself. On one occasion he was returning with a load of salt, driving his five horse team (two teams and a "spike" leader, driven by a single line, the driver riding one wheel horse) when noon overtook him about six miles from his journey's end and he stopped to feed and rest his team. While so resting a settler passed going to the store and spoke to Mr. Tully and passed on. Arriving at the store he told the proprietor his team would be in soon as he had passed it some miles back. The settler did not return that way, but went home by another route. The storekeeper looked for the team's coming, but it had not appeared at sundown. He waited until nine o'clock, then thinking Tully must have broken down, got another man, and taking lanterns with them started to look for the team and driver. When they arrived at the place where the friend had seen Tully taking the noon hour rest, they found the wagon and team with the best horse missing and a worn-out horse in its stead. A search of the ground showed evidence of a struggle and blood stains. They followed the track marked by blood drippings to the ferry, which was of the flatboat kind, held in place by a rope across the river and a running pulley propelled by poling. The ferryman had been absent during the day, but his wife on being asked said a man and woman in a one-horse wagon accompanied by a man on horseback, were ferried over by her that afternoon, and being asked if she noticed anything about the buggy, she said there was blood dripping from the rear end, but as it was a daily occurrence for hunters to have a deer or bear just killed, she thought nothing of it. She indicated the way the trio went. A posse was obtained and pursuit made the next day ami on the morning after a pole with a man's head stuck on it was standing on the river bank. The murderers were the notorious Harpe brothers known throughout the West as Big Harpe and Little Harpe. The head was that of Big Harpe. Little Harpe and the woman escaped. Little Harpe was killed in New Orleans years after and confessed before he died that he and his brother killed Tully, and thus concluded Uncle Ander. My father has told me many times of the death of my grandfather and from that time the ferry was called Harper's Ferry. Mrs. Mark Tully died in Salem in 1857. Mr. Tully retired to his farm in Tonti township and lived a retired life until his summons came in 1869, October ijth, when he slept the last sleep.

Rufus Ricker came in 1819 from Indiana most probably with Mark Tully, as they were friends and associates in business, he and Tully buying out Roberts, as has been mentioned before. He was popular and took prominent part in the affairs of the new county. He was the first postmaster, being appointed in 1825. After several years he went to Iowa. The first marriage in the township was Samuel Young's daughter. Patsy, to Jacob Albert, a soldier of the second war with Great Britain. Abia Lee, a Justice of the Peace, performed the ceremony. This wedding was in 1816. The first child born was a daughter of this couple, and the first male child was John, a son of Matthew Young, who at the age of nineteen married Miss Sarah Ware. John, or Farmer John Young, as he was called, lived and died within a few hundred yards of where his father and mother began life together. John lived to a ripe old age, and died in 1906. Several sons and daughters of Matthew and Sarah Young are still living in the county, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Matthew's wife survived him three or four years, but died about eighteen years ago. The writer knew them "well in life, and in death, as minister, laid them to rest as well as their eldest son, John Young. The first death in the township was William, son of Robert Snodgrass, and Jane Snodgrass, his wife, which occurred in 1816. The deceased was buried at Young's graveyard in section 16. This was the first graveyard in the county. A rude log hut was built in 1824 near James Young's on section 16 as a school-house, and as it was only used in summer it was not even chinked and daubed. The first teacher was William Hadden, who taught the three "R's" "Readin', Ritin' and Rithmetic." Preaching was at private houses as often as possible and by 1825 the passing preacher became a regular preacher, leaving his appointments sometimes months ahead, and today there is one preacher who had preached every year on the same Sunday in the year for forty-four years. We refer to Elder J. D. Morgan, of Odin, and the place is at Young's this township. The celebrated Lorenzo Dow, Thomas Cole, Leonard Maddux and Elder Patterson were among the first preachers and often the funeral sermon of a deceased friend was preached a year or more after interment. Those of today cannot know the toil and hardships these early soldiers of the Cross had to bear that the message might be brought to those hungering after the bread of life. The preaching day was "norated" abroad and when it arrived the neighborhood met at the house where the preaching was to be, coming for miles on foot, in oxcarts, wagons and on horseback. The preacher at the hour of service arose and lined the opening hymn, sometimes reading the entire hymn first and then lining it. This was necessary, as perhaps the only hymn book in the audience was that carried by the preacher. The manner of lining was as follows : The preacher would read, say,

All immediately sang these lines and thus alternately reading and singing, the hymn was finished, nor was the effect so grotesque as one might think, as practice rendered the singers adept at beginning at the right time with right tone and pitch. Often in my young days in Illinois I have listened to this kind of singing and thought it excellent.

stood on Main street near the place where Mat Marshall's house now stands. It was a horse mill, but passed into the hands of Mark Tully in 1823 and after running it some years he made it into a steam mill. No trace of it now remains. The township is now fairly dotted with fine farms, good -houses and barns, large orchards, and all that goes to make rural life worth living. Schools are plentiful, with good school houses and the best equipments and a fine corps of teachers. What a change a few short years have brought about. Where the wild Indian whoop was heard a few years ago is now heard only the hum of quiet industry and the silent arches by nature built has given place to the homes of men. May they be happy homes of virtue, love and peace.

The City Of Salem

The city of Salem, county seat of Marion county, is within a mile or less from the geographic center of the county, that is, the northeast corner of the city is within less than a mile of the northeast corner of the township, which is at the exact center of the county. The original town was an exact square around which was an alley, twentyfeet wide. The city inside of this alley was divided into four squares by two principal streets at right angles to each other and crossing each other at what is known as the bank corner. Each square was again divided into four equal square blocks by streets fifty feet wide, the two principal streets, Broadway, running north and south and Main street, running east and west, being one hundred feet wide. The blocks in turn were divided into eight lots each fifty-six by one hundred and twelve feet. Block three in square one was reserved as a county square and is still, and forever must be by the terms of the gift, the court-house square. The land within the twenty foot bordering alley, was donated to the county in accordance with the act of the Legislature creating the county, by James Roberts, who was the owner by right of squatter sovereignty and entry in 1819. Although he did not deed the land, but left that to his successors in title, Rufus Ricker and Mark Tully, who confirmed the gift by deed dated June 6, 1826. The Commissioners acting for the county were John S. Davis, Leonard P. Pyles and Benjamin (Blackbear) Vermillion.

The first house in Salem was a log house built by James Roberts ; it stood on the south side of Main street, east of the square, but was not in the original town. It is still standing, having been repaired and weatherboarded and now has the appearance of an old frame house. The second house was built by Mark Tully as a stopping place for the Vincennes stage, which route was in use as early as 1820. This house was built about the time that Ricker and Tully bought Roberts out and stood as the homestead of A. R. Bryan until his death, with, however, many improvements and additions it has sheltered three generations and still stands a commodious and substantial building.

The first store was kept by Martin Hill. It was in a small frame building about the middle of the block west from the courthouse, and north of Main street ; it has disappeared. Hill kept a few groceries and notions, perhaps the entire stock was brought from St. Louis by one wagon. The next store stood where the National Bank now stands. Thomas Higgins was the proprietor, and was the first to sell dry goods in Salem.

The first church was built by the Presbyterians. It stood northeast from the courthouse, near the old creamer) site. It was sold to the Colored Baptists, and is now gone. It was built in 1846.

The first school-house was built in 1840, and stood in the same part of the town as the Presbyterian church. It was built in 1840. It was a small frame building and stood many years, and has only disappeared with the last decade. It must not be inferred that the children received no education from 1823 to 1840, but during those seventeen years school had been kept at such times and places as teachers and patrons could make convenient. The city did not graw rapidly. Indeed, it was only the county seat and a stopping place for stage coaches for many years and consisted of some half a dozen houses. By 1837 the hamlet had grown so that the subject of incorporating was agitated and a meeting was called for July i, 1837, to consider the advisability of incorporating Salem as a town. The meeting was held in the store of Col. W. N. Dobbins, and Uriah Mills was elected as chairman and Thomas Ray as clerk. They were both sworn to do the duties of their offices to the best of their abilities. The minutes of the meeting as preserved among the county records are unique, and are here copied verbatim :

"On motion of Col. W. N. Dobbins, W. D. Haynie explained the object of the meeting and on motion of N. B. Nelems, the house proceeded to ascertain by vote the sense of the meeting. Whareuppon William D. Haynie, Jas. Marshal, N. B. Nelems,

William X. Dobbins, Uriah Mills, W. H. H. Barens, John Harner, George W. Pace and Thomas Ray, voting in favor of incorporating the said town. No opposition voats. We certify that thare ware nine voats in favor of incorporating the town, as above, and none against."

We have preserved this unique document in wording and spelling that modern methods may be compared therewith. Just what was accomplished by the meeting it is difficult to see, as no further action seems to have been taken and there is no evidence that the town was legally incorporated at that time, nor was any further action taken until1 the spring of 1854, when a proposition to organize as a village was submitted to the voters. The proposition was carried by a vote of seventy-six to thirteen against. An election was called and the following five trustees was elected: Thomas Day, B. F. Marshall, S. W. Cuningham, T. O. Leffingwell an Samuel Hull. W. W. Jennings was chosen constable. Salem remained under the village charter until 1865, when it was made a city by special act of the Legislature. W. E. McMackin (afterward lieutenant colonel of General Grant's regiment) was elected first Mayor.

In 1829 Salem contained five families, viz., those of Rufus Ricker, Mark Tully, James Chance, James Pyles and Martin Hill. Ricker was Clerk of the Court and postmaster ; Tully was Sheriff, Chance was a blacksmith; Hill a storekeeper, and

Pyles a farmer. Today Salem has three thousand five hundred people, three railroads, three miles of brick paved streets, about ten miles of granitoid sidewalk, a large three-story school building, two bank buildings, the finest in Southern Illinois; four hotels, two steam flouring 'mills, steam brick-making plant ; two large and six medium dry goods houses, the larger carrying a thirty thousand dollar stock, the others from six thousand to ten thousand dollar stocks ; three millinery stores ; one china store: two clothing stores, each with large stock : one machine shop, four butcher shops, two furniture stores, one of which is the largest establishment of its kind south of Springfield ; ten grocery stores, one poultry house, two jewelry stores and two drug stores. The city is lighted by electricity, the city owning its own plant. Until 1905 the city's growth was very slow, the census of 1900 giving it but one thousand six hundred and forty-two inhabitants, but in 1905 the C. & E. I. Railroad removed their repair shops from St. Elmo to Salem, a company of citizens buying and giving to the company a strip of land one thousand feet wide and two miles long for yards. The company also made Salem a division headquarters with offices of superintendent, engineer, freight and dispatcher's headquarters of the division, thus doubling the population in less than a year. Salem still needs two things to make it an ideal city: waterworks and good country roads leading to the city limits. Both are being agitated and both will come and that, too, in the near future.

Salem also boasts of the largest seedcleaning establishment in the state if not in the world that makes an exclusive business of handling Red Top seed. Thousands and thousands of bushels are handled every year. The seed is said to be shipped to Europe and there used in making an excellent dye for fabric coloring.

The Salem mine, now being rebuilt after the fire of last December is, as has been stated, one of the deepest in the state, nine hundred and one feet to the bottom of the sump. The vein is four feet and six inches thick, but of an excellent quality, burning without clinkers and giving an intense heat, and is equal to one and one-half times the unit of other coal.

The city cemetery, known as East Lawn, is situated in the eastern part of the city and contains about twenty acres. It is beautifully located and well cared for and speaks well for the people's remembering their dead. A small soldiers' monument occupies the circle in the center of the cemetery. It was erected by the Woman's Relief Corps to the memory of the deceased soldiers of the Civil war. The cemetery as a burial place dates back to 1830, and a man by the name of Hammers is supposed to have been the first interment.

About twenty-four years ago, when the excavation for the basement of the present Cutler & Hays building was being dug, the workmen dug out of an old abandoned well the skeleton of a woman, which was covered by .the debris that had accumulated in the old well. As an old house had been standing many years on the spot the report started that someone had been murdered and thrown into the well years before. Great excitement prevailed and the wiseacres began to tell of this one and that one who might have been murdered, drawing largely upon their imaginations, and dark hints as to who the murderers were, filled the minds of the ever-increasing crowds. People from the country around flocked to town day after day until the excitement grew so great it was thought best to clear up the mystery, as some of the best citizens were coming under the suspicion of the unreasoning throng. It was quietly let leak out that the whole thing was a grewsome joke and the perpetrators confessed to having hid the skeleton in the well the night before its discovery. The jokers were Dr. G. S. Rainey, now chief surgeon for the C. & E. I. 'Railroad; W. S. Slack, now proprietor of the Salem Marble Works, and Dr. Will Mc- Mackin, since dead. The crowd of excited citizens vanished and everybody said, "I knew it was some joke of Doctor Rainey's."

Raccoon township is the southernmost of the second tier of townships, east of the third principal meridian. Its survey numbers are town i north, range 2 east. The name is taken from one of the denizens of the forest with which one-half of this township was once covered. Its principal stream also bears the same name. Small glades of prairie land project into this township among which Walnut Hill, Romine and Tennessee prairies form most of the open land. Little prairie is wholly in this township and was little more than an open glade amid the forest. Much of the timber land has been cleared and nothing remains in many places to show that a forest ever occupied the soil, but instead of the forest, orchards of apple, peach and pear trees greet the traveler's eye. Tennessee prairie, so called because settled by Tennesseeans, is in the northwest and extends to Little prairie, to which it is connected by a narrow strip. Like all settlements of Illinois, the 'first settlers chose the timber land; first, because they found it more convenient to build and for fuel; second, because they were used to timber and loved its 'protection from the summer sun and the blasts of winter ; third, the flies with which the prairie was infested, especially the green-heads, rendered it almost impossible for horses to work during the heat of the day.

are good citizens of the county. Two families of North Carolina settled in this township near Walnut Hill. Their names were Sherwood and McKinney. John Adams came from Kentucky in 1828 and settled in Raccoon township. He, his wife and six children came in one wagon. The children all are dead, but several grandchildren still live in various parts of the county. John Wilson settled on section 32 in 1819. He also had six children; all are dead, but a few grandchildren represent the family. He was from North Carolina. Jbsiah Fyke, a veteran of the War of 1812, one of General Jackson's Tennesseeans, at the battle of New Orleans, settled in section 17, in 1830. He was the first Justice of the Peace in the township and served in the Black Hawk war. Several of his descendants still reside in this township and a few in other townships of the county.

Samuel Hays was the founder of the large and influential Hays family, and in 1828 he settled on section 32, near what is now the Bundyville school. He was from Alabama and had a large family of seven boys and two girls, all of whom are now dead. Elijah, the fifth son, was a man of an exceptionally large mind and lived until a few years ago. His widow, of whom mention is made in the sketch of Odin township and the Deadmond family, still lives on the old home farm at the age of ninety-one. Elijah Hays was an original Free Soil man and was one of the two men living south of Springfield, who voted for John G. Birney for President in 1852. The descendants of Samuel Hays are numerous in the southern part of the county and rank with our best people.

John Bundy, from North Carolina, settled in Jefferson county in 1819, but moved to Raccoon township soon after and made a home in section 6. He had eight children. Three of the boys were in the Mexican war and one. Rev. Isaac Bundy, was a well known Methodist preacher for many years. The children are all dead but one, William Bundy. who still 'lives, a sturdy representative of a stock that made the wilderness blossom as a rose.

In 1822 Samuel Huff settled on section 31. He came from Tennessee and was a noted character in the early days. He was one of the celebrated Illinois Rangers, who did so much to protect the frontier settlements from cutthroats, who nocked to the new settlements to hide from justice, as well as from the Indian depredations. His home was always the home of the traveling preacher, who at that time was to be found ever on the road doing his Master's work and preaching the \Yord as opportunity offered. One of these itinerant preachers who stopped at the Huffs was the celebrated Lorenzo Dow, who preached from a wagon on the text "The End of All Things Is at Hand ; be ye, therefore, sober and watchful unto prayer." This trait of keeping the preacher seems to run in the family and was kept up by the sons and daughters, more especially by his daughter, Cynthia, and her husband. Mr. Mercer, whose home

The Copple family came from Indiana in 1835, and the founder, Andrew Copple, has numerous representatives in this and other townships. The Telford family came in 1831. The father, Joseph Telford, brought his family from South Carolina in a fourhorse wagon. He made his home in section 33. where he cleared a farm. This family is also represented by numerous descendants who are active citizens and public-spirited men.

The Radcliffs, Boggs and Morrison families next came and settled in this township. The settlers of this township were from the first a church-loving and a church-going people and the first thought after the home was built was a meeting-house. The first meeting place was either at Mt. Moriah or Antioch, but both places claim the distinction. Certain it is they are the oldest churches in the county and were built at the same or about the same time: Antioch by the Methodists and Mt. Moriah by the Baptists. The Moriah site was a camp-meeting ground, and was used before the church was built, and is beyond doubt the first land set apart for religious purposes in the county. It was first a Baptist congregation, but at an early day decided to call themselves Christians, by which name it is now known. The first church built here was a small log cabin, eighteen by twenty-two feet, unchinked. Other and larger houses were built from time to time until now this historic ground is occupied by a neat frame chapel, about thirty by forty-five feet. It stands on the original site and is surrounded by ten acres of church land, a part of which is used as a burial ground. This is the oldest graveyard in the township and perhaps the second in the county. The first grave dug was for an Indian child who was drowned, and was buried by the white settlers. This spot had been used for burial purposes by the Indians and a few graves were scattered about when the whites came. Both of these churches still flourish and are regarded with veneration in their neighborhoods.

A coal shaft was opened in 1846, in section 4. It did not amount to much and was abandoned. A stone quarry was opened on section 21 in 1834 by B: J. Crane. The stone is a soft sandstone, which hardens by exposure to air, but is of inferior quality, and was only used for neighborhood purposes. It has not so far developed any commercial value. The old Vincennes trail passe through this township. And across its glades and through its forests, Clark and his men marched on their famous expedition to conquer Vincennes. The first school was taught by one Jeff Dow, near the present site of the Bundy school. It was taught in an old log cabin. The first school-house was erected in section 18, in 1832. It had a chimney and fire place and no floor, but mother earth. The first teacher in this primitive school-house was Robert Mayberry.

Samuel R. Martin built the first mill. It was a horse mill and answered the needs of the settlers for a time. This was very early, but the date cannot now be ascertained. It was in section 15. I^ater, in 1832, John Myers built a horse mill on the same section. It was a twenty-bushel mill. Next Joseph Baldriclge built a tread mill, run by oxen, with a capacity of forty bushels per day. This mill was on section 20. In 1848 a postoffice was established at Raccoon, at the home of John Parkinson. It was afterward moved a short distance southwest, where it continued with a short intermission until it was superseded by the Rural Free Delivery system.

Raccoon township has always been a township of religious people. The Covenanters were at one time strong, while Christian, Baptist, Methodist, each has several strong organizations, and perhaps no township in the county has so many places of public worship nor so many appointed preachers.

The name Patoka is of Indian origin, west tier of townships and borders on Fayevidently, but its significance is, so far as ette county on the north. Its survey numbers the writer is concerned, lost. It is the fourth are town 4 north, range I east of the third township north from the base line in the principal meridian. The Illinois Central

Railroad passes from north to south across the township, about two miles from the west line, and has two stations in the township, Patoka, toward the south side, and Vernon on the north.

Harmon Holt was the first man to settle in this township and he settled on section 14, in the winter of 1826. At that time the township was an unbroken wilderness, part timber and part prairie. Harmon Holt remained on this tract until his death a few years later. He left a widow and six children, four of whom were daughters and two sons, one of whom owned the old homestead until his death less than twenty years ago. Henry was sixteen years old when his father came to the township.

The next spring John Cole and family settled near the Holt cabin, but did not stay long, and went to Arkansas and until 1829 these two families, the Holts and Coles, were the only inhabitants of the township. In the latter year Jeptha Meador came from Tennessee and settled near Holts, on section 14. He raised a family of eight children and his son, Stephen, lived on the original farm many years. There are quite a number of his descendants living in the vicinity. The next accession to the little colony was Stephen Hopkins, who settled on section 13, but he was a "mover" and did not stay long in any place, but was continually changing places. At last he went to Fayette county, where he died.

Fayette county line on the west, but afterward sold his improvements to William Brown, who on the 3d of February entered the forty-acre tract that he had bought of Anderson. It was the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 6, and was the first piece of land entered in the township. The second piece was the forty that his father had improved and had lived on seven years before its entry. '

Henry Holt married a daughter of Jesse Nichols in 1832 and had a family of ten children, all of whom but one we believe is dead. Henry Holt and wife lived to a good old age upon the same place where they began life together in 1832.

The farm generally known as the old Walton place was first settled by Joseph Meador in 1830, but in 1832 he sold it to a man named Epperson, who lived there several years and improved a farm on Flat creek. He afterward went to Missouri. Labon Gallion also settled forty acres in section 4 in 1832. He did not enter the land until 1836. Gallion afterward moved to Fayette county. Ayers Conant settled on section n in 1830. He was a man of some education and was the first Justice of the Peace in the township. He also was afflicted with the moving worm and moved to Missouri and back in a few years and finally died in Foster township.

Young Edwards located in the township in 1831 and Levi Stiles in the same year, Stiles improving the old Peter Smith place, but after living here many years, moved back to Tennessee. He afterward returned

Solomon Cross settled in this township on section 23. His wife died soon after, and her death was the first in the township. Martha Holt was the first child born in Carrigan. She was the daughter of J. F. and Elizabeth Holt, and afterwards married William Eagan.

The Altom family was founded by John Altom, who came from Tennessee with his father to Clinton county in 1842. He moved to this county and settled in Patoka township. He died in the village of Patoka in 1877, leaving a large number of descendants.

The first school-house in the township, like those in other townships, was built of logs. It stood on section 14. Isom Finch was probably the first teacher. From then to now what a change! The little log schoolhouse of that day is replaced by neat frame buildings, the old slab benches have been replaced with patent folding desks: the old blue-back speller and McGuffey's reader by a dozen books if no better, at least more attractive; the untrained teacher, half farmer, half backwoods man, by more or less trained teachers and with sanitary surroundings. Verily, the change is great and surely for the better.

Patoka as a village, like all the cities, towns and villages in the west tier of townships, owes its existence to the Illinois Central Railroad. The village was laid out on Independence Day, 1854, by Clark and

Brigham. C. F. Jones laid out an addition May ii, 1855, and the railroad another the same day. The beginning of the village was the building of a station house by the Illinois Central Railroad, which was used as a boarding house by them for their workmen, while the road was building. A man by the name of Crawford was the boarding boss.

Cyrus Walker built the first house in Patoka in 1854 and kept a small general store in it. It afterward was a part of the Walker brothers' house. Mr. Walker succeeded Crawford as boarding boss and when the road was built became the first agent at Patoka. He was instrumental in getting a post-office established, even before the road was completed and the mail was for a while carried from Fosterburg. As Walker wanted the post-office established that he might get his own mail regularly, he submitted the proposition to the Government that he would carry the mail for the proceeds of the office. Walker could not, under the law, be both postmaster and mail contractor, so he obviated this difficulty by securing the appointment of a farmer by the name of Alexander Rodman to be postmaster, who kept the office in Walker's store, Walker doing all the work of the office as well as carrying the mail, but the completion of the road soon stopped this inconvenient way of getting mail. Walker also built the first purely business house in 1856 and to this building moved his stock of goods. This building was afterwards occupied by and known as Dr. E. M. Beach's building. Walker was a public spirited man and built many buildings and was prominent in building up Patoka, keeping his interest in Patoka active until his death which occurred in 1872. In 1855 Richardson and Gray opened a produce store in Patoka. It was the second business venture. They sold feed, flour, meal, etc., and as the crops of 1854 in this section were almost a total failure, they supplied the farmers with feed.

Later in the same year, Williams & Kessner built the third business house. All these business houses were on the west side of the track, Walker's residence alone being on the east side. Patoka grew rapidly the first few years, but then for many years ceased to advance, but in the last three or four years seems to be imbued with new life. In 1857 Snider and Harrison opened the first blacksmith shop. Snider also repaired guns. They put in a steam engine and manufactured many kinds of farm implements. Cyrus Walker built a grist mill in 1861. It was only a two burr mill, but the next year he enlarged it, but sold the machinery in 1865, and moved the building to the site of the Patoka Milling Company. It was remodeled and was then one of the most complete mill properties in the county, and under the firm name of Walker & Sons, was operated until 1873, when they were succeeded by the Patoka Milling Company. The first saw-mill began operations in 1863. Its owner was Alexander Wickersham. Later Squire Fanner and Jesse Altom opened a saw-mill, the first of which has long since ceased operations, and the other is still working.